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 California agreed Friday not to enforce its new net neutrality rules -- the toughest state-level internet protections in the nation -- while court deliberations continue over the federal government's underlying rollback of net neutrality.The Department of Justice and internet service provider trade associations, which sued the state for enacting a law that sets different ground rules for internet protections in California, have also agreed to put that lawsuit on hold until 2019.Gov. Jerry Brown last month signed a bill that in effect restored net neutrality rules put in place in 2015 under the Obama administration and overturned by an order of the Federal Communications Commissions in December. The state law, which had been scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, would ban internet service providers (like Comcast or Verizon) from giving certain websites or apps special treatment, such as speeding up downloads of video services that pay the provider additional fees.Within minutes of Brown signing SB822, the Justice Department sued to undo it, arguing that states do not regulate interstate commerce, rather, the federal government does."Once again the California Legislature has enacted an extreme and illegal state law attempting to frustrate federal policy," Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement announcing the suit.More than 20 states' attorneys general along with public interest groups and private businesses filed a lawsuit against the Federal Communications Commission for removing earlier net neutrality rules. Arguments in that case are scheduled to begin Feb. 1."Of course, I very much want to see California's net neutrality law go into effect immediately, in order to protect access to the internet," state Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, who carried the net neutrality legislation in Sacramento, said in a statement. "Yet, I also understand and support the attorney general's rationale for allowing the D.C. Circuit appeal to be resolved before we move forward to defend our net neutrality law in court."A U.S. district judge approved the agreement between California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and the parties suing the state Friday.FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said in a statement that the pact "reflects the strength of the case made by the United States" in its suit. He suggested that California has seen since June, when the FCC's order overturning net neutrality went into effect, that the order has not created an "urgent problem" that the state law needs to address."Indeed, California's agreement not to enforce these regulations will allow Californians to continue to enjoy free-data plans that have proven to be popular among consumers," Pai said.In December, the FCC said it would share the responsibility of investigating and taking enforcement action against "bad actor" internet service providers with the Federal Trade Commission, which had some oversight prior to 2015.San Diego State University lecturer Steven Andres pointed out the irony of the agency that relinquished control over internet protections now arguing that California has overextended its authority."Here they are saying, 'If California is taking it up, we definitely want to deal with net neutrality,'" Andres said. U.S. 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.Bowers's 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 site 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 can't sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, I'm 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 Trump's 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 Sayoc's 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". In a rare public admission of police failure, the city's top cop said Sunday that he is "deeply and profoundly sorry" that the NYPD mishandled and publicly doubted a woman's report 24 years ago that she was raped in Prospect Park.Investigators who doubted the woman's story leaked their concerns to Daily News columnist Mike McAlary, who wrote she may have made up the attack in a story headlined "Rape hoax the real crime.""The survivor of the 1994 Prospect Park rape case suffered a terrible ordeal when she was brutally violated," Commissioner James O'Neill wrote in his apology letter, posted on the NYPD's website."And there is zero justification for the additional trauma she endured when her word was doubted by authorities investigating her claim, and a writer for a major New York City daily newspaper, who -- citing unnamed NYPD sources -- predicted in print that she would soon be arrested for filing a false report."Detectives took a fresh look at the case last year and found DNA evidence that led them in January to identify the woman's attacker as James Webb, 68, an incarcerated "career rapist" serving a 75-year sentence for sexually assaulting four women in 1995. Webb is not eligible for a parole until 2070 -- which means he's likely to die in prison."She had the courage and strength to report a heinous crime, to push our detectives to conduct a full and thorough investigation and to try to help apprehend her attacker and protect other women. But we let her down in almost every possible way," O'Neill wrote. "We were wrong then. I want us to be right today."In the April 26, 1994, Prospect Park assault, Webb grabbed the victim, then 27, from a footpath, pulled her into the bushes and raped her, police say.The victim, a Yale graduate who now lives in another state, was in the midst of organizing a rally opposing violence against gays and lesbians. McAlary wrote three columns about the case and accused her of making up the assault to promote the rally.Her lawyer, Martin Garbus, sued McAlary and The News for $12 million. A judge dismissed the case, finding that McAlary -- who died in 1998 -- accurately reported what police sources inaccurately told him at the time.Garbus told The News on Sunday that O'Neill's letter is "remarkable," and that his client is "grateful" that the commissioner acknowledged the department's mistake."She never believed that she would see the day that there would be such a full and complete apology," Garbus said.But the lawyer said O'Neill could have done better. "It's unfortunate that it didn't go further and highlight the people in the police department that allowed this to happen," Garbus said.Garbus also blasted McAlary's police sources, saying they lied to protect him and the News. He believes the News knew McAlary's columns were not true."You really have to show who the people were who did it. It's not enough to say the institution did it. You have to highlight the people who did it," he said.One of McAlary's sources was believed to be John Miller, who is now the NYPD's deputy commissioner of intelligence and counterterrorism. Garbus has called for Miller's resignation.Miller apologized to the victim in January, the New York Times reported.In an editorial in January, The News acknowledged that McAlary "amplified" police officers' attacks on the woman's credibility and said: "We know this to be true, and must say it without any doubt: Jane Doe was raped in Prospect Park on April 26, 1994." Description GIS 29 October, 2018: A three-day exhibition aiming to disseminate knowledge about the history and salient features of indentured labour in Mauritius through archival documents and heritage was launched on Friday 26 October 2018 at the Municipal Council of Quatre Bornes. The event is one of the several activities that are being organised in the context of the Commemoration of the 184th Anniversary of the arrival of indentured labourers in Mauritius. A three-day exhibition aiming to disseminate knowledge about the history and salient features of indentured labour in Mauritius through archival documents and heritage was launched on Friday 26 October 2018 at the Municipal Council of Quatre Bornes. The event is one of the several activities that are being organised in the context of the Commemoration of the 184th Anniversary of the arrival of indentured labourers in Mauritius. The Minister of Arts and Culture, Mr Prithvirajsing Roopun, the Chairman of the Aapravasi Ghat Trust Fund (AGTF), Mr D. Dhuny, and other personalities were present at the event. The event which is an initiative of the Ministry of Arts and Culture and the AGTF in collaboration with the Mauritius National Archives, the National Library and other stakeholders will be replicated across the island to better disseminate information on indenture and its heritage to the population until March 2019. In his address, Minister Roopun highlighted that the exhibition will help raise awareness and sensitise the population on the Aapravasi Ghat World Heritage Site and the heritage of indenture that goes far beyond the limits of the site. It will also shed light on major periods and the crucial themes of indentured labour such as the Great Experiment, the end of Indenture, its legacy and the universal value of the site, he underpinned. According to the Minister, the story of the indentured labourers also known as Girmitiyas is one of the most inspirational chapters of the countrys history which deserves to be told and retold as it sets an example and also reminds Mauritians of the hard times their forefathers went through. He recalled that Mauritius was the first country to introduce the indentured labour system adding that the Aapravasi Ghat was the first depot where the indentured labourers were kept. The site, he underscored, narrates the stories of more than 462 000 valiant and brave men, women and children who came from different parts of the world along with their traditions and values. Furthermore, the Arts and Culture Minister mentioned about the valuable contribution of Dr Idrice Goomany, who was the only doctor who volunteered to take charge of the Quarantine, where the indentured labourers who were afflicted by epidemic diseases were kept. Mr Roopun also spoke of Flat Island, its stone buildings and structures which are intimately linked with the history of indentured labourers in Mauritius. He made an appeal to the population to visit the exhibition so as to get an in-depth knowledge about indenture history and the various sites linked with the indenture system. For his part, Mr Dhuny highlighted that the Trianon Labourers Quarters also known as the Trianon Barracks, was decreed a National Heritage Monument in the early 1970s and is the third most important indenture heritage site after the Aapravasi Ghat and the Vagrant Depot. As regards the Trianon Barracks, he pointed out that a conservation and renovation project for the restoration and renovation of the Barracks was initiated and is due to be completed within few weeks. The AGTF with the help of the Ministry of Arts and Culture is envisaging to erect a model of an Indian Village which existed during the year 1875 at the Trianon Barracks, he added. Description GIS 29 October, 2018: A ceremony to hand over vouchers for the supply of fertilisers to planters cultivating less than 100 ha of sugarcane was held on Friday 26 October 2018 at the Farmers Service Centre in Saint Pierre. The event was organised by the Mauritius Cane Industry Authority. The Minister of Agro-Industry and Food Security, Mr Mahen Kumar Seeruttun, and other personalities were present. In his address, Minister Seeruttun underlined that the vouchers will provide eligible planters with some 250 kg of fertilisers 17-8-25 per acre as an advance for the upkeep of their ratoon crop. Government, the Minister highlighted, is committed to assist the community of planters of the cane industry to face challenges such as climate change and fluctuations in sugar prices. Accordingly, a series of measures and schemes have been introduced namely: a cash compensation of Rs 1,250 per ton of sugar to all planters; an additional remuneration from bagasse of Rs 1,250 per ton of sugar thus bringing the revenue accruing from bagasse to Rs 2,500 for small planters and Rs 1,700 for other planters; and for planters with less than 100 hectares of cane cultivation, the advance of 80% would be extended on all the revenue received from sugar and co-products instead of the ex-MSS price on sugar only. The Minister further spoke of the diversification of market destinations for sugar exports with a view to increasing the competitiveness of the industry. The aim is to pr o m o t e the d e v e l o pm ent of the ca n e se c t o r by c r ea t ing an en a b li n g en v iro n m e n t with research a n d d e v e l o pm ent so as to m e et cu r r ent a n d f u ture ch a llen g es, he added. Supply of fertilisers to sugarcane planters for Crop 2019 Planters will have to sign an agreement authorising the Mauritius Sugar Syndicate or their Credit Cooperative Society to deduct the cost of fertilisers from their sugar proceeds for 2019. Eligible planters are invited to apply for the fertilisers scheme at the Farmers Service Centre of their region by producing their National Identity Card; Sugar Insurance Fund Board Registration Card 2018; and, Weighbridge receipts (weight of cane milled in 2018). Only the area harvested in 2018 will be considered and fertilisers will be supplied mainly through sales outlets at Farmers Service Centres across Mauritius. Executive Summary Critical Success Factors for the CIO CIO Business Models Legacy Modernization Funding and Procurement Cybersecurity Portfolio Management Data Management and Analytics Digital Government Agile and Incremental Software Delivery Cloud Emerging Technology Conclusion Message from NASCIOs president Foreword Overview: States need bold actions to make progress Survey data analysis Appendix: Acknowledgments and survey methodology Endnotes Advocate for dedicated cyber program funding CISOs as an enabler of innovation, not a barrier Team with the private sector and higher education (Partnering on staffing for services.) With the midterm elections just days away, state government leaders in technology and cybersecurity assembled in San Diego, California, this past week for the National Association of State CIOs (NASCIO) Annual Conference. The presentations, survey results and hallway conversations were compelling - to say the least.No doubt, many new governors will be elected soon who will appoint new Chief Information Officers (CIOs) and even some new Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs). Indeed, several current CIOs and CISOs are serving in an acting capacity to keep things running smoothly until January. There has also been a lot of state government CIO changes and CISO turnover in 2018 Regular transitions to new administrations occur in states every four or eight years. This normal pattern is a part of the NASCIO DNA, and also why the non-profit organization is so unique and critically important. The list of government leaders in Nashville, Tennessee, in October 2019 to celebrate NASCIOs 50th anniversary will certainly be very different.Nevertheless, the participation, commentary and results surrounding these two major surveys is an important baseline and helpful snapshot for both the current public sector leadership, the corporate leaders who support government technology teams nationwide as well as new incoming administrations who will be setting 100-day, 1-year, 2-year and 4-year agendas.The National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO), Grant Thornton LLP and CompTIA have collaborated for a ninth consecutive year to survey state government information technology (IT) leaders on current issues, trends and perspectives.All fifty NASCIO member states completed the survey. Primary respondents were the state chief information officers (CIOs), although deputy CIOs and other senior state IT leaders contributed. A version of the survey results report can be found here, State CIO as Communicator: The Evolving Nature of Technology and Leadership. The table of contents include the following topics:Here are a few excerpts from the executive summary:Critical Success Factors for the CIO: Gone are the days where state CIOs are primarily focused on IT infrastructure. When asked, CIOs consistently ranked communication, relationship-building and strategic thinking as the most critical leadership traits for a successful CIO. In contrast, technology expertise came in at number nine. When we asked CIOs for lessons learned that could be shared with new incoming CIOs, a consistent picture emerged. Key advice that many CIOs shared was the need to build strong relationships with key stakeholders at the governors office, agency and legislative level, and to develop a strong understanding of the budget process and relationships with the budget office. Here are a few of the highlights offered by Government Technology Magazine coverage of the report Grant Thorntons website focused on this: The timing of this years survey is particularly interesting, coming as it does immediately prior to an election cycle that will likely see a significant turnover in the ranks of many states most senior technology officials. Given this, the survey aims to provide the current cadre of state CIOs to offer advice to a new generation of technology leaders that may soon be taking office. Some key themes that emerged from this years survey were the continued evolution of the role of the state CIO, diversity of skills needed to succeed in that role, and the disruption that digital technologies are continuing to impose in the state technology landscape. Every two years, a survey of state CISOs reveals top trends and projects and problems within state government cybersecurity. This Deloitte-NASCIO report is often quoted by major organizations and publications around the world, including the White House budget planning documents.There is so much that can be said about this report, but my top recommendation is to take the time to stop and truly read the report.Yes all of it. The report, entitled States at risk: Bold plays for change, can be downloaded here To start, here are two important quotes from a BizJournals.com press release "We've been surveying state CISOs every other year since 2010 and these top three issues have not changed," said Bo Reese, NASCIO president and chief information officer (CIO), state of Oklahoma. "The reality is that the magnitude of threats is rarely matched in attention and funding in state government. Simply put, the time is now to be bold in state cybersecurity.""While CISOs and CIOs have done a tremendous job over the years developing much needed governance plans and building relationships with state leaders, the funding and talent needed to fully address cyber risk is not there," said Srini Subramanian , principal, Deloitte & Touche LLP, and state and local government risk advisory leader.The outline of the document includes these topics:From the report: While a majority of CISOs have made advancements in establishing their cybersecurity programs, shortages in both funding and cyber talent continue to exist. Based on our 2018 study responses, CISOs overwhelmingly agree that, while they have obtained senior executive support, they continue to be challenged by inadequate funding, struggling to secure a sufficient, reliable budget to develop their statewide security program. In most states, the CISOs only source of cybersecurity funding is derived from the states IT budget, and is not designated as a separate line item. And the percentage of state enterprise IT budgets allocated to enterprise cybersecurity enterprise cybersecurity is still 12 percent, and annual budget increases have not kept pace with the needs of todays security landscape and tomorrows evolving challenges. The report also urges three: bold plays in cybersecurity.Government Technology Magazine offered this article on the NASCIO session that covered the cybersecurity survey report results.Since the release of NASCIOs first cybersecurity report, lack of sufficient funding has remained the No. 1 hurdle state CISOs report. This years study found that while cybersecurity budgets are growing, its at a very slow rate 27 percent of states report no increase since the 2016 report. More than that, most states allocate just 3 percent of their budget or less to cyber.Lettman said CISOs must advocate for dedicated security funding, and communicate to state leadership why that is necessary. Be specific about where you are, where youre going, what metrics it will take to get there how are we securing the state? Lettman said. Those measurable aspects can include number of attacks prevented, cost avoidance for having protections in place and how many people are being protected.Again, I urge readers to take the time to read these two significant NASCIO reports. I think the quick quotes and executive summaries do not do justice to the excellent data and survey results on each question that are offered. I find value in the meat of the reports.While the rolled-up summaries of CIO as communicator and the need for more cybersecurity funding or the need for CISOs to be enablers are not new (indeed identical themes were articulated more than a decade ago for leading states), the data contained in these reports is still eye-opening and very helpful. Also, states that are lagging behind need to take these steps in 2019.No doubt, most security leaders will not see these security recommendations as particularly bold or offering cutting edge answers, but I believe that these two reports offer an excellent as is state of government IT today as it exists today in the 50 states and U.S. Territories.You can also learn more details about each states technology by reviewing the Digital States Survey results from Government Technology Magazine Next year, we will meet more future leaders in state government IT and government cybersecurity.But the future starts right here and right after election night. Dont tread on me (TNS) Spokane, Wash., will lead the $10 billion effort to revamp the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs medical records system, but questions remain about what veterans can expect and the computer program selected to make those changes.VA Secretary Robert Wilkie, who made the announcement Oct. 17 at Fairchild Air Force Base , said Spokane was selected because it has a perfect mix of both rural and urban veterans, the area has a good technology base and its home to Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center.So what we are doing here in Washington, we are testing out the medical health records, which is the largest program the VA has ever undertaken, Wilkie said at the Fairchild event organized by U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers. That will be the template for the entire country.But the system designed by Kansas City, Missouri-based Cerner Corp. has gone anything but smoothly under a similar contract for the U.S. Department of Defense. The same computer system, called Medical Healthcare System GENESIS, is being installed under a separate contract at four military bases in Washington state, including Fairchild.According to an April 30 DOD report , those military personnel trying to install the health care system had a litany of problems that caused them to shut the testing down.MHS Genesis is not operationally effective because it does not demonstrate enough workable functionality to manage and document patient care, the report states. Users were only able to perform 56 percent of the 197 tasks used as measures of performance.When defense officials asked users how effective the new computer system was for its System Usability Scale, it scored 37 out of a 100. The report noted that a score of 70 would indicate acceptable usability.The problems caused an increase in the time required for health care providers to complete daily tasks, the report states. Some providers reported that they needed to work overtime and were seeing fewer patients per day due to delays caused by defects in MHS GENESIS.Sen. Patty Murray grilled Wilkie about those reported problems at a hearing on Sept. 27.I heard about misdirected referrals, long waits, staff that couldnt open the programs in a timely manner, Murray said. That was really not done well and lives were really put at risk. So I just want to make sure that the problems at DOD are not repeated as you move forward.Despite those concerns raised in the April report, Wilkie signed a $10 billion no-bid contract in May to award the massive overhaul of the VA computer system to Cerner.Bret Bowers, spokesman for Mann-Grandstaff, said the local VA staff is excited to finally upgrade a 20-year-old Computerized Patient Records System and the 40-year-old DOS-based VistA system that is used to run all day-to-day functions of the VA hospital in Spokane.The plan is to have GENESIS running in Spokane by 2020 and by 2028 at all of the medical centers and clinics where veterans receive medical care across the country.Its not going to be easy, Bowers said. But it will revolutionize the way the VA provides care. We know that is going to provide positive results for staff but more importantly for the veterans who receive our care.Three local veterans contacted bysaid they were less enthusiastic than Bowers about the proposed changes.During his Spokane visit, Wilkie noted that since the Department of Defense and VA would be installing the same medical records system it would eliminate the need for veterans to carry boxes of military records with them when they reach out for medical care.Charles Bourg, a 64-year-old U.S. Army veteran from Chewelah, criticized the no-bid award to Cerner. He said the VA should have used a request-for-proposal process to allow several companies to submit the best system for the job.They are trying to make it so the VA can talk to the military, Bourg said. But for most veterans, thats not the issue. They need to be able to talk to outside doctors. It hasnt happened yet.For example, Bourg said, the VA once sent him to the VA facility in Seattle for a medical procedure.After I saw that specialist, I tried to get my records on two occasions so I could take them to an outside provider, Bourg said. I never got them.Even something as simple as a doctor appointment at a private doctor in Spokane can cause headaches.You have to go in the basement (of the VA) and get the records you need and request them, Bourg said. And it can take weeks. I did get electronic records from the VA to take to the doctor, but he couldnt even open them up.Bowers, the VA spokesman, said part of the goal is to improve both the speed of getting those records and to make them compatible with the electronic record systems of private providers.We are going to be sitting with (Cerner) arm-in-arm to design an electronic patient care system that will revolutionize our delivery of care as well as increasing our access for veterans and making workflow more efficient for provides and schedulers, he said.Charlie Monroe, 70, of Spokane, served seven-and-a-half years with the Navy Seabees. He and Bourg previously led a monthslong protest to convince VA officials to allow veterans to use exercise equipment at Mann-Grandstaff.Im skeptical of the new computer system, Monroe said. Some of the people Ive talked to, they are not too thrilled with it. Until they get used to it, its going to take more time away from what doctors have to spend with their patients.The current system is so frustrating that some veterans quit trying, said Bob Brodie, a 71-year-old Air Force veteran who lives in Airway Heights.Brodie said he has a neighbor who suffered serious injuries in the Vietnam War.He was getting disability and got cut off because he doesnt have transportation to get to therapy, Brodie said.Brodie worked with his veteran neighbor to give the VA another try.I hooked him up with where to go. We made an appointment and got all the paperwork together to send in, Brodie said.But someone at Mann-Grandstaff scheduled the visit for Labor Day and the veteran arrived to find an empty office.The guy walked across the street and said, I give up. Im not going down there again, Brodie said. They just dont want to fight the system.Brodies other neighbor suffers from severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD. That veteran twice had to be hospitalized with flare-ups, once in California and once at MultiCare Deaconess Hospital in Spokane.In both cases, the veteran called the VA within the required 72 hours to alert them about the emergencies so that he could be reimbursed for the costs. But even though VA officials told him to stay at those facilities, they did not pay either bill and collection agencies began hounding the veteran.This was over a year ago. It still hasnt been paid, Brodie said. He wont even do anything about it. I went to a patient advocate to help him, but nothing works. He just gave up.Thats two of them within a block of me, Brodie continued. So you can imagine how many more there are.In a statement provided Friday, Murray said she will continue to push Wilkie to make good on his promises that the same problems that plagued the rollout of the same computer system for the Department of Defense wont be repeated.On behalf of all service members and veterans, we need assurances not only that any implementation problems are being addressed, but that those same problems wont be carried over to VA, she said. I stand ready to do whatever is necessary to make sure veteran care is not compromised. Businesses, schools, government agencies or others eyeing small driverless shuttles have a new opportunity to try out the technology during a largely free trial.Sacramento, Calif., and Phoenix have been selected as the location cities for the Olli Fleet Challenge , organized by San Francisco-based LM Industries, which makes small autonomous electric vehicles. Groups wanting to explore the development of a shared autonomous shuttle fleet in both cities are encouraged to apply for the challenge. Applications are due by Nov. 5. The winning projects will be announced in mid-December.The challenge implores program applicants to tell us how youre going to use them, said Jay Rogers, co-founder and CEO of LM Industries.It becomes a very robust conversation. Because now theyre not focused on the financing, and theyre focused on all of the good information about how they would use autonomy, he added.Rogers declined to say how many proposals had already been received.We have found some people with incredible use-cases, who maybe dont have all of the grant-writing capability in the world, but they may know more about autonomy than other people have thought about, Rogers said. So were trying to lower the barrier of entry and get those people to just apply.The Olli vehicles are small, eight-passenger electric shuttles capable of traveling about 25 mph. The company will provide a fleet of ideally two to five shuttles per project, with a three-month deployment.The vehicles are going to be free, said Rogers. You will have to pay variable costs like movement or charging, or other things like that, which they would expect to do anyway.The project is viewed as an opportunity for organizations that use fleet vehicles to learn more about small autonomous shuttles and possibly even become customers of LM Industries and a chance for company officials to learn more about the various applications the shuttles can serve.We have found that there is a lot of talk, a lot of chatter, a cacophonous amount of talk about autonomy, and it seems to be stuck in an old conversation. Like, is it safe? Whats it going to cost? How will people use it? Rogers reflected.In order to break through that we felt that there needed to be an olive branch, from a company. And we are in a position to do it, he added.The challenge is viewed by company officials as an opportunity to meet cities, more than halfway, said Rogers.LM Industries officials have been in similar talks with other cities like Atlanta and Seattle about organizing a similar challenge competition. Sacramento and Phoenix were selected as the first cities, in part, because of their enthusiasm.It comes down to people, Rogers said. Mayor [Darrell] Steinberg in Sacramento, he came out to San Francisco He showed up at my office and said, 'Lets do it,' and then he followed up and his staff followed up."They basically just made it happen and said, 'We want to run the fleet challenge,' he continued. Phoenix did the same thing.Arizona is proud to be a place where companies come to test and scale transformative, cutting-edge technology, said Sandra Watson, CEO and President of the Arizona Commerce Authority, in a statement. Watson and California Congresswoman Doris Matsui, D-Sacramento, will serve on the judging panel.The challenge will empower local organizations to participate in shaping the future of autonomous mobility from the operations, public safety and policy perspectives, Watson added.Numerous communities across the country are exploring the use of small, autonomous shuttles, which are often viewed as the future of AV technology in the near term.Autonomous shuttles have a cost advantage by eliminating the need for a driver, as well as having a market readiness, Ellen Dunham-Jones, professor of urban design at Georgia Institute of Technology, said during a recent presentation at the MetroLab Network Summit in Newark, N.J.Without having to pay a driver, the operating cost of your bus system drops dramatically, said Dunham-Jones.So that means instead of having one big bus that comes once an hour, or every 30 minutes, you can have three little shuttle buses that come every 10 minutes. Thats a game-changer for it being convenient to really use transit, she added. Restaurant-industry workers face unusual hurdles in the effort to get to the polls. Photo: BILL WECHTER/AFP/Getty Images Voter turnout has dipped to its lowest point over two decades, but Election Day still isnt a holiday. For many people, simply finding the time to go to the polls can be a struggle, but this year, in the wake of a midterm election where margins are close and so much is at stake, restaurateurs across the country are taking action to boost voter turnout among their employees. A number of companies like Walmart, Lyft, and Patagonia have announced measures to encourage employees to vote, but for workers and operators in the restaurant industry where margins can be razor-thin and labor is notoriously difficult to find the barriers to voting are uniquely high. The work is hourly, those hours are long and odd, and many of the people who work in restaurants are immigrants, people of color, and low-income individuals groups that have historically been subject to voter disenfranchisement. A number of states laws mandate that employers give workers time off to vote, but that time doesnt always have to be paid, and there are often limitations on timing and the types of industries to which the rule applies. Adding to that, many hospitality-industry veterans say the issue isnt as simple as offering their employees the necessary time off. In Sacramento, former bartender Kevin Dowell, now a marketing manager at Fords Gin, remembers feeling too exhausted after a late-night shift to get to the polls before they closed. So this year hes renting a van to drive bartenders to vote before their shifts start. The national Middle Eastern fast-casual chain Cava recently announced that it will offer two hours of paid time off for employees across its nearly 70 locations to vote on Election Day. Cava co-founder Ted Xenohristos says that voting isnt otherwise a priority for many of his employees: If we ask them, When are you going to vote? they are like, When do I have time? I have kids and three jobs. Other restaurant owners reported similar issues. Andrew Chau, the co-founder of the bubble-tea chain, Boba Guys, in New York and California, asked his staff members if they would realistically use paid time off to go vote. They were all like, no, he says so he decided to reward people for voting by offering a bonus hours worth of pay. Emily French-Dumont, the director of operations at Cultivar in Boston similarly tries to incentivize voting. She says most of her daytime employees go straight from work at the restaurant to another job. If I dont give them time, how can I tell them that voting is important? she asks. If I want people to vote, I have to enable them to vote. She offers up to three hours of (unpaid) time off, and anyone who votes will be entered into a raffle to win a Visa gift card. For a restaurant like Cultivar to give staff time off in the middle of the workday isnt as simple as sending out a memo, either it requires significant planning ahead. French-Dumont says shell have to call her evening cooks to come and cover extra shifts during voting hours. Samantha Lee, co-owner of the Chicago taproom and brewery Hopewell Brewing Co., will offer its employees two hours off to vote, and doing so will require Lee to alter her entire production and distribution schedule (Tuesday is typically her busiest day). Even at the large, established restaurant company Union Square Hospitality Group (which will give employees three hours of paid time off), founder and CEO Danny Meyer says that because each restaurant is operated independently, managers will have the added challenge of staying in constant communication with their employees who are voting and making sure there are enough people to cover busy shifts. He says the company also considered closing restaurants on Election Day, but if I close our restaurant for a day or a meal I will never get that back, he says. People wont be able to earn money. To Ksenia Artemyeva, the people operations manager at USHGs Maialino and Gramercy Tavern, the extra time off is a game changer. This month marks not only the start of the busiest time of the year for the restaurants, but it is also her first time voting, as she recently became a U.S. citizen. I didnt realize that everyone is registered to vote at a certain place, and you cant just go anywhere, she says. It means a lot to her to have the opportunity to go and vote and not worry about running late to work. Union Square Hospitality Group also put together a task force that made posters in both English and Spanish to help the staff learn how to register, and distributed prestamped envelopes. The other owners who spoke with Grub Street say theyve also taken steps to help their staff members. At Hopewell, Lee has encouraged employees to vote early, since that option is available in Illinois, and worked with the ACLU to put on a number of voter engagement events. Cava partnered with the organization Vote.org to provide employees with state-by-state breakdowns on when to register, polling hours, locations, and absentee ballots. Of course, awareness doesnt guarantee a boost in turnout, but French-Dumont, for one, believes that the number of issues (immigration, minimum wage) relevant to restaurant workers that are in play during this election will ultimately be enough of a motivation. All these things greatly impact us, she says. We dont want our employees to vote a specific way, but we want them to feel empowered and have the knowledge to do it. (HedgeCo.Net) Two South Florida men have agreed to lifetime bars from participating in penny stock offerings to settle charges brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission alleging that they facilitated a pump-and-dump scheme involving shares of a Sunrise, Florida company that purported to be in the beauty products business. The SEC alleges that attorney Mark E. Fisher of Boca Raton, Florida and businessman Joseph F. Capuozzo of Sunrise, Florida received millions of shares of Valentine Beauty Inc. in connection with a pump-and-dump scheme orchestrated by Eddy U. Marin, who controlled Valentine. Earlier this year, the SEC charged Marin and a stock promoter with fraud for their roles in the scheme. The SEC alleges that Fisher and Capuozzo coordinated with Marin and others to launch a marketing campaign touting Valentines purported operations. Once the promotional campaign increased the liquidity and price of Valentines stock, Fisher and Capuozzo sold a significant portion of their shares, collectively reaping more than $150,000 in stock sale proceeds. In a parallel action, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Florida has announced criminal charges against Fisher and Capuozzo. The SECs complaint, filed in federal court in Miami, charges Fisher and Capuozzo with violating the registration provisions of Sections 5(a) and (c) of the Securities Act of 1933 and the antifraud provisions of Section 17(a) of the Securities Act and Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rules 10b-5(a) and (c) thereunder. The complaint also charges Fisher with violating antifraud Rule 10b-5(b) of the Exchange Act. Fisher and Capuozzo have agreed to settle the SECs charges and be barred from the penny stock industry. Capuozzo also agreed to be barred from serving as an officer or director of a public company. The settlement with the SEC, which is subject to court approval, also permanently enjoins Fisher and Capuozzo from violating the charged provisions of the federal securities laws and provides that the court will decide the amounts of disgorgement, interest, and civil penalties at a later date. Fostering trust among all population groups requires determined efforts from the police, a part of which is student recruitment. Attracting young people of immigrant backgrounds to police studies strengthens trust and interaction between the police and minority groups, he stated in a police event in Helsinki on Friday. More police officers of immigrant backgrounds are needed to ensure everyone feels that the police is there for them in Finland, says Kai Mykkanen (NCP), the Minister of the Interior. Mykkanen drew attention to his discussions with representatives of the Police University College, saying they indicate that the experiences of older generations of immigrants of police officers in their old home country are a major obstacle to becoming a police officer. Parents dont often encourage [their children] to pursue policing. Thats why old recruitment methods arent necessarily effective when it comes to this target group, he viewed. Mykkanen said the Police University College and Helsinki Police Department have both already begun targeting their recruitment efforts at young people of immigrant backgrounds, setting an example also to security authorities. I hope security authorities work actively to ensure their future employees represent the whole population of Finland, he stated. Aleksi Teivainen HT Source: Uusi Suomi STTK, the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK) and the Confederation of Professional and Managerial Staff in Finland (Akava) on Friday voiced their approval of the government's proposal to settle a long-running dispute between over the bill on the condition that they are invited to participate in finalising the bill. Antti Palola, the chairperson of the Finnish Confederation of Salaried Employees (STTK), says he expects the government to offer trade unions a genuine opportunity to influence the ongoing drafting of a bill to make laying off easier for small businesses. A number of trade unions also announced they will suspend their industrial actions against the controversial bill after the condition was accepted by the government of Prime Minister Juha Sipila (Centre). Palola stated on YLE Radio 1 on Monday that the rationale of the bill is relevant particularly when the termination of an employee is brought before a court of law. The Finnish government, he added, has described the bill expressly as a means to make laying off employees easier for small businesses and, thereby, to reduce the risks such businesses take when hiring new employees. If this is indeed their desire, then they should write the rationale of the provisions accordingly. How far are we willing to go? Thats something thatll be evaluated by our experts in the negotiations with the government and officials, said Palola. I also want to state it clearly here that if [the rationale] isnt satisfactory to us, well notify the unions that the conditions for suspending the industrial actions are no longer in place. Our member organisations will then for their part re-evaluate what should be done. This is kind of a timeout to the situation. 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Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe In the history of warfare, tactical missteps can separate conquering hero from blundering loser. Imagine how much longer and bloodier World War II might have been had Admiral Yamamoto not filled the decks of his vulnerable carriers at Midway with fully fueled airplanes awaiting ordnance. What if Hitler, despite his anger at the bombing of Berlin, hadnt switched tactics from downing Spitfires to uselessly attacking London? Battlefield blunders can be as decisive as brilliant tactics, whether they suddenly advance tribal factions toward nationhood, punish a proud military unaccustomed to losing or temporarily swing the balance of power in an utterly unexpected direction. That said, following are five losers who might have wished for a do-over. HAMILTON AT GALLIPOLI During World War I, German General Erich Ludendorff famously observed, The English fight like lions. Yes, a staff officer famously replied, but they are led by donkeys. British General Sir Ian Hamilton might not have been a full-fledged ass, but he was certainly a bumbling Ferdinand the bullshy, courteous and overly accommodating. Unfortunately, Lord Kitchener, Britains Secretary of State for War, gave him command of the 1915 invasion of Gallipolithe amphibious landings by British, French and ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) troops intended to take Turkey, a German ally, out of the war. The campaign demanded an assertive, tactically brilliant, take-charge commander. Instead, the Allies got a kindly uncle who really didnt want to interfere with his brigadier nephews. Not that a promising young Winston Churchill had done any better. As First Lord of the Admiralty in 1915, he proposed that a task force of 18 aging battleships charge through the Dardanelles, the narrow 38-mile-long strait that led toward the Turkish capital at Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul). Forts flanked the high-bluffed Gallipoli Peninsula west of the strait, so Churchills strategy was akin to taking a convoy of vintage Cadillacs on a thunder run through central Baghdad. The British lost five battleships, mainly to mines but also to Turkish coast artillery. This should have been a hint, not that Gallipoli was impregnable, for the Turks really didnt have a modern army or much in the way of good artillery, but that the commanding terrain made a frontal attack potentially suicidal. Indeed, the Greeksthe Turks neighbors and longtime adversarieshad formulated a war plan in case the Gallipoli Peninsula ever needed to be attacked, and it called for 150,000 men. Lord Kitchener scoffed at that estimate. Johnny Turk would cut and run at the first sign of the Allies, he insisted, and half as many troops would do just fine. Thus, early on the morning of April 25, 1915, Hamilton launched his enormously ambitious amphibious landing. An outline of the beachhead assault might read like a description of the D-Day landings were it not for the absence of any specialized landing craft. Armored assault boats did exist back in England, but they remained a well-guarded secret; heaven forfend invaders would use them and thus spill the British beans. Instead, huge warships towed ponderous strings of cockleshellsessentially lifeboatstoward shore, then split the strings and transferred the towing job to slow, shallow-draft launches. Oarsmen stroked the final few yards onto the beaches. The action most often memorialized in paintings of the landing was the beaching of the old steamer River Clyde to allow soldiers to emerge from its sally ports (doors along the hull at the waterline) and stroll ashore on gangplanks. Unfortunately, it was equally easy for Turkish machine gunners on the heights to pick off troopers one at a time as they popped from the sally ports like mechanical ducks in a shooting gallery. Of the first 200 soldiers to step from the ships, just 21 made it to the beach alive. General Hamilton chose the battleship HMS Queen Elizabeth, the grandest ship available, as his command vessel. While it made sense to oversee the battle from somewhere offshore, an oceangoing capital ship engaged in long-range bombardment wasnt the ideal platform. Hamilton was too far from the beaches to see what was going on (chaos, for the most part), and his corps commanders were also literally and figuratively adrift during the crucial early hours of the invasion. Communications both ashore between units and from ship to shore ran the gamut from primitive to nonexistent, so junior officers on the beach were largely left to their own devices. Two thousand Brits had landed at a providentially undefended spot called Y Beach and climbed the cliffs unopposed. Having nothing else to do, no commanders to enact Plan B and no direction from Hamilton, they simply hunkered down and boiled water for cuppas. They heard distant firing but had no idea it signified the slaughter of ANZACs at the beachhead to their north. While the Turkish defenders were relatively few in number, they commanded the high ground with machine guns. A flanking maneuver by 2,000 Tommies could have ended the battle in minutes, but it was not to be. To this day ANZACs havent forgiven the English for sittin on their arses brewing tea and havin a smoke while Aussies and Kiwis who had never before experienced war were dying by the hundreds only hours away. Due to Hamiltons haphazard planning, the beachheads ANZAC forces were able to secure were cramped and highly vulnerable. In fact, British corps commander General Sir William Birdwood suggested an immediate evacuation, to which Hamilton replied: There is nothing for it but to dig yourselves right in and stick it out.You have got through the difficult business, now you have only to dig, dig, dig until you are safe. (Australians have since borne the fond nickname Diggers.) At one point, the clueless Hamilton wired Kitchener, Thanks to the weather and the wonderfully fine spirit of our troops, all continues to go well. After eight months of pointless trench warfare, Hamiltons forces evacuated the bloody beaches. Half a million men on both sides had died for nothing in a true standoff combined British and French losses numbered just 700 men more than Turkish losses. Each year on April 25, the invasion anniversary, Australia and New Zealand celebrate ANZAC Day, marking their painful emergence into true nationhood. BURNSIDE AT FREDERICKSBURG The Battle of Fredericksburg was a humiliating meat-grinder of a defeat for the Union Army, and the fault lies squarely with General Ambrose Burnside. Burnside admitted as much after the war, while many another general played the blame game. The man would be forgotten today but for the fact that he lent his name to excessive cheek hair. Yes, sideburns were indeed originally called burnsides, and Burnside himself looked like he had a pair of squirrels hammocking between his nose and ears. President Lincoln gave Burnside command of the Union Army of the Potomac because General George McClellan had turned out to be diffident, slow-moving and cautious. Burnside, also a West Pointer and among McClellans best friends, was determined not to make the same mistakes. Unfortunately, he made others. In December 1862, Robert E. Lees rebel forces were precariously divided at Fredericksburg, Va., a rail terminus about 50 miles from Richmond, the crucial Confederate capital. Burnside felt that if he moved rapidly and decisively, he could end the war by eliminating the defenses at Fredericksburg and taking Richmond. Burnside commanded some 118,000 troopsthe largest army in U.S. history up to that time. Some of Lees troops were defending Fredericksburg itself; the rest, under the famed T.J. Stonewall Jackson (so named for his stubborn resistance at the 1861 First Battle of Bull Run), were about three and a half miles south at Prospect Hill. A good tactician might have assessed the situation and said, Take Prospect Hill pronto with your superior numbers, turn north and finish off Fredericksburg with a flanking maneuver, then on to Richmond. Game over. Instead, Burnside chose to confront the Fredericksburg defenders with his main force and send General George Meade to deal with the rebels at Prospect Hill. Driven back by Jackson, Meade begged for reinforcements, but by that time Burnside was busy headbutting Fredericksburg. Burnside first tried to traverse the Rappahannock River with pontoon bridgesLee had burned all the existing spansbut Confederate sharpshooters on the far bank proved too much for the exposed, unarmed Union engineers desperately trying to lay planks across the boats. Burnside ultimately used the pontoons as makeshift assault craft to mount one of the earliest amphibious assaults in U.S. history. It didnt help that a sudden December thaw and heavy rain had turned the far bank of the Rappahannock into boot-sucking, wheel-clogging mud. The river crossing cost an entire day, exactly what Jackson needed to force-march his troops to Fredericksburg and link up with its defenders. An infuriated Burnside tried to level Fredericksburg with his artillery, but the Confederates fell back to what would prove to be the finest defensive position Lee would ever hold: Just west of town was a broad cow pasture bordered by a substantial stone wall, built to keep the cattle out of the adjacent sunken road. Confederate soldiers who took up position behind this wall didnt even have to crouchjust stand and deliver. Behind them was a ridge, beyond which Lee emplaced his artillery, hidden from direct fire. Inexplicably, Burnside threw 14 brigades at the stone wall, and rebel infantry scythed wave after wave of blue uniforms. Burnside became obsessed with the deadly Southern redoubt, perhaps assuming the Confederates would at some point run out of ammunition or morale. Neither happened, and by nightfall on December 13, 1862, after nine direct assaults, more than 12,000 Union troops lay dead or wounded, a carpet of blue on a meadow where the temperature soon plummeted to 15 degrees. The thaw had ended. NAVARRE AT DIEN BIEN PHU Hubrisexaggerated pride or self-confidenceoften afflicts Western military men when they confront Eastern armies, navies and air forces. So it was in 1905 at Tsushima when Japanese ships stunningly sank nearly every trace of the imperial Russian navy. So it was in 1942 when superior Japanese Mitsubishis flown by pilots whose skill stunned the Americans and British shot down Grumman Wildcats, Brewster Buffalos and Gloster Gladiators almost at will. And so it was again in 1954 when a Viet Minh peasant army dismantled haughty French commander Henri Navarres 16,000 largely elite troops at Dien Bien Phu. Navarres biggest blunder was to underestimate the courage, capability and skill of General Vo Nguyen Giap and Viet Minh forces. How could rice farmers wearing black pajamas and shower clogs possibly defeat skilled French artillerymen and Legionnaires defending a fortified garrison supplied by aircraftthe latter a technological marvel to which the Viet Minh had no access? Placing a garrison at remote, jungle-bound Dien Bien Phu in the first place was a decision an ROTC freshman might have questioned. The French depended on air support for everything from beurre to bulletsand, above all, reinforcementsbut C-47s couldnt carry enough to keep the fortress supplied. Complicating matters, Navarre somehow got the artillerymans credo backward and took the low ground (Dien Bien Phu was in a valley), which meant Giaps surprisingly skilled antiaircraft gunners could shoot down at landing planes. The weather between Hanoi and Dien Bien Phu was often dicey, and though the base initially had the luxury of two airstrips, the Viet Minh quickly put both out of action, forcing the French to parachute in suppliesabout half of them, including stacks of artillery rounds, landed in enemy hands. When the Viet Minh first attacked Dien Bien Phu in November 1952, it was little more than an outpost, and the tiny French garrison bugged out. It was a logical move, but one that rankled the French, who had been humiliated in World War II. The all-important honneur de larmee was at stake, and they were intent on reoccupying and holding Dien Bien Phu at all costs. Giap has no logistics, Navarres advisers had repeatedly assured him. Au contraire, mon general. Giap had tens of thousands of worker ants chugging everything from trucks to bicycles over impossible mountain roads and trails to the hills surrounding Dien Bien Phu. Giap also understood the vulnerabilities of French logistics. His guerrillas snuck on to French air bases and destroyed countless planes on the ground. On Giaps orders, they ignored the French Bearcats and B-26spowerful combat airplanesand firebombed only the unglamorous cargo craft. Navarre had imagined Dien Bien Phu as a powerful, ornery hedgehog, a prickly offensive base from which French infantry and armor could range at will. Instead, the garrison played possum, its starving defenders, outnumbered four to one, hunkered down in mudholes under relentless fire from artillery Giap had somehow manhandled to the site. The Viet Minh general had placed his main batteries in secure positions behind the ridges and concealed those guns on the forward slopes in spider holes the French artillery was unable to hit. In the end, Henri Navarre lost to a smarter, more focused commander whom he had totally underestimated. Hubris? Navarre conducted his war from an air-conditioned office in Hanoi. Giap commanded from a cave. BARATIERI AT ADWA Only one obscure moviea 1999 Ethiopian docudramarecounts the 1896 Battle of Adwa, in which the Italian army went up against the Ethiopians. Yet like the 1964 Michael Caine classic Zulu, Adwa had all the elements Hollywood loves. Fought on an epic scale over stunning terrain, the conflict involved more than 150,000 menand one woman, Ethiopian King Menelik IIs consort, the Empress Taitu, who headed a reserve force that ultimately drove the Italians into their final, pell-mell retreat. Adwa represented the cliched confrontation between cultured Europeans and benighted Africans, between the forces of enlightened civilization and presumed savages. It also offered the classic David vs. Goliath confrontation, though it could be argued that Goliath was Ethiopian. Props included bronze shields, colorful uniforms and feathered headdresses bright as parrot plumage. Meneliks troops wore the red, gold and green favored today by Jamaican Rastafarians, the Ethiopians ideological descendants. Adwa also had a villain: Italian General Oreste Baratieri, who so badly underestimated his Ethiopian opponents that he suffered the worst European defeat ever at the hands of Africans. But, as is often the case, the defeat wasnt entirely Baratieris fault. Italy had come late to the lets-carve-up-Africa party. England, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Belgium and even Denmark and Sweden had colonized the continent, leaving Italy with impoverished Somalia and Eritrea. If the Italians could finagle a takeover of Ethiopia, the tribal land that sat between the two, they could at least boast a neat arc of captive nations. In order to befriend King Menelik, Italy grandly presented him with thousands of their most sophisticated rifles and fieldpieces, plus tons of ammunition and artillery rounds. It apparently never occurred to them they might someday be facing this very same weaponry. The Italians first attempted to annex Ethiopia through a mix of politics and guile, but failed. Meanwhile Menelik, realizing he was being gulled, beefed up his arsenal with the best guns he could buy from U.S. and European suppliers and quietly trained an army of superbly equipped riflemen and cannoneers. Baratieri did score some initial successes against his opponents. Returning briefly to Rome, he boasted that next time he would bring back Menelik in a cage. The remote settlement of Adwa sat amid a lunar landscapeprecipitous, rocky, pimpled with bare peaks, confusing and featureless. The Italians had poor maps, scant communication equipment and thin-soled boots ill suited to the terrain. Worse still, Baratieri, trying to save a few lira, gave his troops slow-firing Remington rifles that were less accurate than the Ethiopians weapons: He wanted to use up the stocks of obsolete cartridges that fit them. The two armies faced off and waited. Baratieri had 25,000 dispirited troops, most of whom were native Eritreans and either homesick or green, while Menelik fielded more than 100,000 fanatical soldiers, more than half packing high-powered rifles. Both sides were on short rations in this barren land, each trying to outlast the other. Menelik blinked first. He planned to pull out on March 1, 1896. To Meneliks astonishment, however, a mounted scout tore into camp on the eve of the retreat and announced that Baratieri was marching toward them. Menelik welcomed the confrontation. Baratieri had been stung by a telegram from Italian Prime Minister Francesco Crispi, demanding that he take action or consider his status downgraded from hero to coward. The general had little taste for the fighthe knew he was outnumbered, though he had no idea how thoroughly he was outgunnedbut his brigadiers urged him on. Baratieris surprise nighttime assault proved far too complex for the terrain and the mapless Italians. His four brigades stumbled into each other and left miles-wide gaps in the line of advance. Some got thoroughly lost. The actual battle began at first light on March 1 and was over by early afternoon. The Ethiopians were enraged, pitiless and gave no quarter. More than 10,000 of Baratieris troops were killed, wounded or missing, while the Ethiopians lost 17,000 dead and wounded. But in a single morning, Ethiopia had risen from medieval obscurity to claim membership among the modern nations. CUSTER AT THE LITTLE BIGHORN Perhaps no battle in history has been as studied, dissected, analyzed, theorized over and wildly guessed about as the Battle of the Little Bighorn in Montana, where Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer and 200-plus U.S. officers and cavalrymen were slaughtered to the last man (save one Crow scout who ducked out early). Nobody but the attacking Sioux and their allies actually knew what happened, and the Indians werent rushing to admit how brutally they had treated the supposedly crack 7th Cavalry. Only since the mid-1980s have archaeologists methodically cataloged artifacts in a way that allows a picture of the short but intense battle to emerge. Until that time, what registered on the national consciousness were lurid panoramas commissioned by beer companies for display in saloons, showing the golden-haired, long-locked Custer fighting for the glory of his regiment in the midst of a neat defensive perimeter. That Custer was crew-cut at the time of the battle is the least of the mistakes depicted, for the location of bodies, bullets and cartridges suggests it was more a confused, leaderless rout than a battle. The spin continues. Custer graduated dead last in his West Point class, by some accounts an arrogant goof-off who learned little more than how to infuriate his superiors. Yet one 7th Cavalry Web site today proudly notes that Custer graduated 34th in one of the brightest classes that had graduated to date, neglecting to mention there were only 34 men in the class. What is known is that with five companies of about 210 men, including packhorse drivers and mercenary Indian scouts, Custer mounted a frontal attack on some 2,000 infuriated Lakota Sioux and Northern Cheyenne warriors. Their reaction has been likened to what might happen if you jab a stick into an anthill and stir hard. It was the biggest battlefield blunder Custer ever madeand, of course, the last. Why Custer thought he could go hey-diddle-diddle-right-up-the-middle into a swarm of angry Indians remains inexplicable. The Plains Indians were among the finest cavalrymen the world had ever seen, and when the repeating rifle came into their hands, they weaponized that Spanish import the horse. In less than 200 years, they had assimilated two warrior technologies with unprecedented success. For Custers menmany of them immigrants, others inexperienced conscriptspitting their ponderous warhorses against the Sioux was about like a bunch of pickup-driving carpenters challenging a thousand Italian and Brazilian Formula 1 aspirants to a drag race. Some 7th Cavalry horses bolted, balked, even took their luckless riders straight into the Indian encampment. The war against the Plains Indians, which stretched from the 1820s until the final clash at Wounded Knee in 1890, was not a simple territorial dispute. The Indians had little concept of land ownership. To them, it seemed as silly as owning the air: There was plenty of it, available for anyones use. Plains tribes were nomadic. Most of their needs were met by vast herds of American bisona mobile, self-perpetuating crop that provided food, clothing and the raw materials for their tools and tepees. When settlers flooded west, the railroads followed, as did buffalo hunters to supply the work crews. Soon the bison were all but gone, and the Indians fought furiously to preserve their way of life. So furiously the 7th Cavalry never stood a chance. Notes from the battlefield suggest even Custer was stunned when he first saw the encampment of some 7,000 Indians (including women, children and nonwarrior males), yet he attacked at once with tired troops and horses that had just completed a grueling 30-mile march. He maneuvered to block the Indians escapepicture an angry drunk locking a barroom door to trap two dozen Hells Angels wielding broken pool cues. The cavalry held the high ground, and Custer wouldnt have expected the Indians to attack uphill. But they did. Prior to the battle, Brig. Gen. Alfred Terry had advised Custer to await the arrival of two columns (one under Terry himself) before engaging the enemy. These reinforcements were approaching at the time of the attack. So why did Custer disregard Terrys warning? Some historians suggest Custer had lost the element of surprise and was compelled to attack. Author Mari Sandoz suggested it was because he wanted to be president; the Democratic National Convention was to begin in St. Louis in two days, and news of a victory would certainly boost ones presidential ambitions. Dozens of other theories abound. The truth died with Custer and his troopers in the grass along the Little Bighorn. For further reading, Stephan Wilkinson recommends: How to Lose a Battle: Foolish Plans and Great Military Blunders, edited by Bill Fawcett. Originally published in the September 2007 issue of Military History. To subscribe, click here. My son, Adam, recently made a solo journey to Vietnam, visiting many of the places I had been during the war. The following year we went together, and he was able to guide me, knowing, as he did, geography unstained by memory. He also knew the story of Jim Childers, a boy who, at 19, had died when our duty times were switched and he flew gunner on a mission I otherwise would have taken. Flying from our helicopter base near Marble Mountain, he had been shot while landing on a nearby hill. Adam had gone to pay tribute to Jim, climbing to one of the Marble Mountain summits and lighting incense, as he later wrote, in the hope that his muttering, stumbling thank-you was enough for a man I had never met. Traveling together, we drove to Da Nang over the Hai Van pass, a cut in an east-west finger of the Truong Son range. Here lay Khe Sanh, the Ho Chi Minh Trail, the A Shau Valley and, farther south, Kontum, the Iron Triangle, Black Virgin Mountain. Finally, only the names of places had dignity, Hemingway once wrote. Abstract words such as glory, honor, courage or hallow were obscene beside the concrete names of villagesthe numbers of regiments and the dates. En route to Marble Mountain, Adam and I visited Khe Sanh, seeing the now peaceful hills from which the base5,000 Marines surrounded by 40,000 North Vietnamesehad been shelled for 77 days, and where, a year before, U.S. Marines and the Peoples Army had locked together in a 12-day series of vicious battles over Hills 861 and 881. Out of the two main American battalions in the fighting, 168 Marines and corpsmen were killed and 443 were wounded. The North Vietnamese lost more than 1,200 dead. Dozens of dead Marines were found lying beside their stripped-down M-16s: The newly issued weapons jammed frequently because, a congressional inquiry later discovered, the Army had gone cheap on the powder used by the rifle. We drove along Route 9 past the old landmarks of the Rockpile and Razorback Ridge Id flown over as a helicopter gunner during Operation Hastings in 1966, the first American offensive against regular North Vietnamese army troops. Hundreds of Marines and thousands of North Vietnamese had died that summer in these now verdant hills: On the first day of Hastings, the NVA used quad .50 machine guns and 12.7mm antiaircraft guns against our choppers. Our squadron and another lost a total of four helicopters, their strewn wreckage lending the area the sobriquet Helicopter Valley. Men had burned to death in those helicopters, some dying when the aircraft fell on them, the rotors chopping their bodies to pieces. Childers death had been comparatively less painfulor so I liked to think. Coming into Da Nang, we skirted Red Beach, where a battalion of Marines had landed in 1965, initiating the U.S. ground war. At that time, the road from Da Nang was lined with ramshackle cardboard and tin shacks, filled with desperately poor refugees from the countryside. That same road is now well paved, its sides crowded with new housingarchitecture of monotony rather than desperation. The Vietnamese army now occupies the onetime helicopter base. Marble Mountain (Ngu Hanh Son in Vietnamese) comprises five formations, each named after an elementwater, fire, wood, earth, metal. Caves used as Buddhist shrines honeycomb these hills. During the war, the Vietnamese manned mortar emplacements here. One cave that doubled as a Viet Cong hospital lay no more than a mile from our former camp and closer still to Charley Med, the field hospital where Childers died. Standing at the foot of Water Mountain (Thuy Son)Viet Cong territory during the warI hesitated before a series of carved stone steps, feeling I was crossing some internal border, a seam in memory and time. We climbed the steep incline, walked through bullet-scarred gates to a pagoda, then scrambled up a vine-draped cliff. Threading a narrow rock spout, we emerged on a small, stone-crenellated plateau. We now stood on the opposite side of the mountain from the helicopter base, at a height choppers sometimes flew. To the east is the sea. To the west stretches a long river valley site of many battlespatched with jade and gold rice fields. Flanking the valley is the mottled green-and-brown hump of Hill 327, where Childers was shot. I had told myself I wouldnt betray any emotion, be the weepy vet. It wasnt working out. It was all coming together, all the elements, all the deaths focused into that one death that had become a never-paid debt. That boy who died in my place, in our collective name. Then my son came over, put his arm around my shoulders and passed, for me, into manhooda moment of light that had been stolen forever from Jim Childers. Originally published in the September 2007 issue of Military History. To subscribe, click here. As an existing print subscriber it is easy to get FREE access to all our online content. When you click get started below it will walk you through creating an online account to attach your print subscription number to. After your account is created it will ask you to either add a subscription for online access or click on the print subscriber button. Click the print subscriber button header and it will open a dropdown, now click on get started. The page will reload and you will be prompted to enter an account number and a zip code. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO USE THE NUMBER OFF OF THE MOST RECENT ISSUE OR ANYTHING AFTER JANUARY 28, 2019 TO GAIN ACCESS! OLD ACCOUNT NUMBERS WILL NOT WORK The account number and zip code are easily available on your most recent issue of the High Plains Journal or Midwest Ag Journal in the address fields as is shown here. Sometimes the account number has extra zero's in front of it, just ignore those. Subscribing to our services is a three step process. First you have to create an account and then you have to pick if you want to subscribe to digital and or print. Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. WASHINGTON Wildlife campaigners at Humane Society International have expressed their dismay at the news that China is reversing its 25-year old ban on domestic trade in tiger bone and rhino horn. The issuance of a new regulation, announced today by the Chinese State Council, means that it will once again be legal to sell tiger bone and rhino horn domestically. For years, China has been criticised internationally for tolerating tiger farms which breed thousands of captive tigers so that their bones and other body parts can be sold for tiger bone wine and medicinal products. Such trade perpetuates cruelty while fueling demand for body parts from illegally poached wild tigers, of which there may be as few as 3,500. Anti-smuggling investigations and market research have shown a persistent demand for rhino horns in China. The new regulations would allow the use of tiger bone and rhino horn from captive or farmed animals, but the trade it engenders will inevitably increase pressure on animals in the wild. Iris Ho, senior specialist for Wildlife Program and Policy at Humane Society International says, With this announcement, the Chinese government has signed a death warrant for imperilled rhinos and tigers in the wild who already face myriad threats to their survival. It sets up what is essentially a laundering scheme for illegal tiger bone and rhino horn to enter the marketplace and further perpetuate the demand for these animal parts. This is a devastating blow to our ongoing work to save species from cruel exploitation and extinction, and we implore the Chinese government to reconsider. In 2010 the World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies publicly urged its members against using such products. The announcement is at odds with Chinas move last year to close its domestic elephant ivory market. Media Contact: Rodi Rosensweig, 203-270-8929, rrosensweig@humanesociety.org State Sen. Adam Hinds invited Senate President Karen Spilka to the Berkshire on Friday. Senate President Hears Berkshire Transit Challenges, Opportunities PITTSFIELD, Mass. The Berkshires need to re-envision how it handles transportation. That was the message sent to Senate President Karen Spilka on Friday when state Sen. Adams Hinds brought her to the Berkshire Regional Transit Authority's Intermodal Center to discuss rural transportation. The new vision includes east-west rail, rail to New York City, and a Transportation Management Authority. The concept comes about because fixed-route bus services are not doing the trick alone. "This issue of transportation for the business community alongside workforce is the biggest challenge," said 1Berkshire President Jonathan Butler, who stressed that transportation is important in all factors of life in the Berkshires. Doug McNally, who sits on the BRTA Board of Directors, said it is also an issue of aging in place. In his town of Windsor, once somebody gets too old to drive, he or she has to move out because there is no public transit. One of the more recent ideas being kicked around is a Transportation Management Authority. Zach Feury headed a Massachusetts Design Lab, hosted by Hinds, to delve deeper into the issue. At first what came about was the concept of having a "figure 8" route connecting downtowns. But that idea has since morphed. "It is not so much a lack of transportation assets in Berkshire County, but a lack of coordination of those assets," Feury said. Instead, the new idea is to bring those who have transportation infrastructure school buses, Council on Aging vans, companies with shuttles to come together and create an authority to provide rides. The model is aimed to provide transportation to places where there isn't a high enough concentration of people to make it economically feasible to run a typical bus. BRTA Administrator Bob Malnati said the Berkshires don't have the economy of old when rides were mostly only needed during weekdays. Now, the demand is there for nights and weekends. Malnati said the BRTA doesn't have the resources to provide that and that is why it has joined the effort to establish some sort of TMA. "There are a bunch of fleets that are already out there and exist," he said. But exactly how that model will work is still in the process. Butler said in the group's efforts "we haven't found a model that looks like us." Instead, the group is going to have to stitch together other models in existence to craft one that works for the Berkshires. He added that it is going to need private sector involvement. "I can feel the passion and the momentum. I think the more conversations we have about this, the more avenues and more creativity and innovation, I think that will be the answer," Spilka said. Spilka said she knows what underfunded RTAs are like. In her district at first many of her towns weren't legally allowed to be part of an RTA. She was able to change that law and now there is the MetroWest RTA. But even still, she said there needs to be more. "We're not where we want to be. We would love to have evening service, weekend service, we are not there yet but that is one of the reasons I pushed for $8 million more," she said. "We really need a statewide vision, and I stress statewide, in the near future." State Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier emphasized that resources need to go to the Berkshires and not "get stuck on [Interstate] 91." She said often those in state government will boast about giving money to Western Massachusetts but seldom does it find its way beyond I-91 to the westernmost county of Berkshire. Part of that is funding to repair roads. Bernard thanked Spilka for the new allotment of Chapter 90 funds. But, Berkshire Regional Planning Commission Executive Director Thomas Matuszko said funding overall still remains a problem. Matuszko said there are 1,600 miles of local roads and each town gets less than $200,000 in Chapter 90 funds each year. He added there are more than 160 small bridges that are costly to repair. And right now the funding formula puts the small rural towns at a disadvantage. "The funding issue is real for our communities. We don't have the equalized values that others do out here," Matuszko said. Meanwhile, Hinds has been pushing the Berkshire Flyer. The concept is to provide seasonal tourist trains from New York City to the Berkshires. The intent is to bolster the tourism economy by bringing in a new crop of visitors. "We've gone, in 18 months, from an idea to a pilot on the horizon," Hinds said. Twice Spilka voted in favor of it and Hinds said next year he'll be asking for money again for implementation. Yet that pilot program is still ongoing. Butler said the focus now is on providing the "last mile" transportation and developing a marketing plan to reach those living in Manhattan. "We want to bring new people to the Berkshires, people who are not coming here now. We are thinking young couples, and people who do not have vehicles in New York City," Butler said. But advertising in New York City isn't cheap. Matuszko said there is a lack of ride-sharing companies like Uber but that could change if there is a demand. The group wants to identify ways people can get to where they want to go after they get off the train in Pittsfield. "The fixed route won't work right now because of the way it is structured and the time it will come in," Matuszko said. A vendor has been identified to provide those options and Matuszko said the group is working on expanding rental-car options. That would also include the city making space in a new garage but that new garage is not likely to be funded. Pittsfield's Director of Community Development Deanna Ruffer pitched funding for the garage but all indications from the state have shown that the city won't receive funds to build it. Instead, the Columbus Avenue garage is likely to be torn down this winter and replaced with a surface lot. That lot is across the street from where the Berkshire Flyer would be letting passengers off. "Going back to a surface lot will probably squeeze us," Ruffer said. Hinds is hoping for continued support on the issue. Hind repeated his common outlook of the future Hind's sight 2020, perhaps? saying that by 2020 there will be trains from New York City to the Berkshires, by 2020 there will be the Berkshire Innovation Center opened, and by 2020 there will be high-speed internet throughout the county. "There is a lot to be optimistic about right now," Hinds said. Cheshire officials are concerned at the condition of Hoosac Valley Elementary but believe some of the repairs are the responsibility of town of Adams. Cheshire Officials Against Funding Hoosac Valley Elementary Repairs CHESHIRE, Mass. The Selectmen have agreed that they would not support a renovation project at Hoosac Valley Elementary School to address deferred maintenance. Selectman Robert Ciskowski last week shared his notes with the board from a recent tour of the former C.T. Plunkett School in Adams with representatives of the Massachusetts School Building Authority. His perception was that the proposed renovation or building project seems to be moving quicker than anticipated and he said the state wants to know if the regional school district wants to move into the next phase of the project. "This was fast-tracking and has gone a lot further than I thought frankly, I didn't think it would come upon this quickly and it caught me off guard," Ciskowski said. "I got the sense that they didn't think we were ready." The Adams-Cheshire Regional School District submitted its 2018 Statement of Interest to the MSBA earlier this year and was surprised to find that it was one of the 28 districts selected for an initial survey. MSBA representatives toured the elementary school to see if a project was needed and would be supported by the community. The century-old building was last renovated and added onto in 1994; the school district completed a $41 million renovation of the Hoosac Valley High and Middle School in 2012. When Cheshire Elementary School was closed in 2016, school officials said the best solution would be to build a new school on the Hoosac Valley campus straddling the two towns' border off Route 116. Although an MSBA application would surely include this option as well as the renovation of an existing school, some Adams officials said they do not want to close another school in the downtown. Ciskowski outlined his tour and noted that the school is in much worse condition than he originally thought. He said there are multiple leaks in the roof that have not yet been addressed. "Nine roof leaks in the gym. Kids run around pails," he said. "Eleven leaks in the auditorium and water in the art room. There is water leaking down the elevator shaft and collecting and water leaking in the electrical service area." He said he was also alarmed by the lack of security cameras and the continually bursting pipes that have led to evacuations and alarms sounding. "There was actually an alarm on the entire time I was there in the main office on the fire panel," he said. "I guess it had been on for several days." Ciskowski said temperatures were unstable throughout the building and plumbing issues persist. He said music class is held in a dark auditorium and there are no science or computer labs. Selectwoman Carol Francesconi said this in an issue if the district wants to rebrand itself as a tech district. "No computer or science lab yet we are told that we are pushing these STEM projects," she said. Ciskowski said there was also a concern with windows. "There are windowless places, and a lot of windows don't open," he said. "Some windows that open have no screen and it takes Hercules to open some of them." Ciskowski said he wished the initial tours in 2016 when they were deciding which school to close were this thorough. "I think the school's shortfalls affect education and I wish both buildings were critiqued like this by an outside agency before the decision as made," he said. Ciskowski said Adams officials attended the tour and they made clear they did not want to close another school in their downtown. "They do not want another downtown school to close that would be the case if a new elementary school was built," he said. "They noted Adams has already closed many elementary schools over the years so they wanted credit for that we consolidated much earlier than that to a central school in the 1920s." Ciskowski added that Adams still has a downtown and by closing Cheshire Elementary School, the town's only social hub was eliminated. "If Memorial School closing affected them, imagine how closing Cheshire School effected Cheshire," he said of the former middle school on Columbia Street in Adams that closed in 2009. "I was told we were going through a healing time and I almost came out of my chair. I said closing the school was the cherry on top of the sundae, there has been tension between us for some time." Francesconi said she had no issues paying for repairs at Hoosac Valley Elementary if they were to address issues that have occurred after the consolidation, however she had no interest in funding maintenance issues the town of Adams never addressed. "If they put repairs to Plunkett in the district budget that Cheshire has to pay for we have to look for that because we were told Adams would take care of repairs so the repairs should not be included in the budget," she said. "I mean things that happen now yes but not these old problems I am not ready to repair Plunkett." Ciskowksi said the MSBA will hold a conference call with both communities in the near future to see if they are interested in officially entering the next phase of the process during which they create a study committee and hire a consultant. Either way, an MSBA project from start to finish would likely take several years if the project is even accepted. Francesconi said the town wants to do what is best for the children. "An MSBA project that repairs things that should have been fixed before is not something we can support," she said. "I think we want to do what is best for the education of the children and will support something that benefits the entire district." Meghan Molinari of Voter Choice Massachusetts said the Berkshire County chapter is growing. Students were given a chart with 21 preferential ballots to apply to different voting methods. Assistant professor Erin Kiley said there is always a tradeoff and different voting systems satisfy different fairness criteria. Students voted on what their favorite candy was and found different results depending on what voting system they used. PreviousNext MCLA Students Explore Ranked-Choice, Plurality Voting Systems Assistant professor Kebra Ward helps students with some of the math involved in the different voting systems. NORTH ADAMS, Mass. Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts students recently learned the pitfalls of plurality voting and got a crash course in ranked voting. Members of the Quantitative Understanding Across the Curriculum Committee looked to open students' eyes with the help of a little math and some candy to demonstrate that not only are their different methods of voting in an election but some, they believe, are vastly fairer. "We want people to know there are different ways to vote and I think a lot of people think you just fill out a ballot, say what you want to say, and that is it you are done," assistant physics professor Kebra Ward said. "There are other ways to do it." Erin Kiley, an assistant mathematics professor, said ranked choice voting, in which voters rank candidates instead of just casting one vote, is used in Australia, in local elections in Amherst, and for state and congressional elections in Maine among others. She said other communities throughout the country have shown an interest in different voting systems and that the "ball is rolling." "Now seems to be the right time to talk about ranked-choice voting," Kiley said. "There has been so much buzz around it and this is a mathematical topic and we thought we should pull together a workshop." Samantha Pettey, an assistant professor of political science and public policy, first gave the group of 26 students an overview of electoral laws and the consequences of having single-member districts with plurality voting the current voting statewide system in which the candidate with the most votes is the winner. "When you have single-member districts with plurality ... you don't need a majority to win ... you could easily win with 21 percent," she said. "Whoever has the most votes wins ... this type of voting can lead to a two-party system." Kiley handed out workbooks so students could work out how the different voting systems function. "In math, we think of an election as a kind of decision-making process ... it is just a way of using math out in the wild," Kiley said. "With plurality voting, the candidate with the most votes is declared the winner but that type of method might leave out critical information about how each voter ranks the entire list of candidates." Students were given a table with 21 preference ballots each with rankings of letters A, B, C and D. Using the plurality system, students tallied up all the first-place ranked letters and found that the letter A received the most votes with eight first-placed rankings. B came in second with seven first-place ranked votes. Kiley then introduced a "fairness criterion" that she said is used to test an election system to see if it is fair and actually reflects the will of the voters. The group first learned about the "majority winner criterion" that Kiley explained is if any candidate receives a majority of first-place votes the election system should declare that candidate the winner. A majority vote is 50 percent of the number plus one rounded down to the nearest whole number. This means in the mock election, a candidate would need 11 votes to hold the majority. Kiley said if A is the winner but only has eight votes, this would not be a majority, therefore, plurality voting fails this criterion. "If most people want someone in a system that is fair that candidate would be declared the winner," she said. Kiley went on to Criterion 2: The "majority loser criterion" in which if any candidate receives a majority of last-place votes then the election system should not declare that candidate the winner. Students tallied up the last-place votes and were surprised to find that candidate A was the majority loser. "Does that unsettle us a little bit? The majority of people ranked A as last, but A won the election anyway," Kiley said. "So the plurality system does not satisfy the majority loser criterion." Kiley went on to describe another downside of plurality voting the "spoiler effect." She said when two or more candidates are ideologically similar they can divide voters in a plurality system. She also referred to this as the "Ralph Nader Effect." "In the 2000 presidential election in Florida, George Bush had 537 more votes than Al Gore. Nader had 97,421 votes in Florida," she said. "People feel a lot of these votes would have gone to Gore if Nader was not in the election ... that is why they call it a spoiler candidate: they spoil everything." In criterion 3, the "independence of irrelevant alternatives," if a non-winning candidate is removed from the ballot it should not change the winner of the election. Kiley asked the students to turn again to their ballots and noted that B and C were often ranked near each other. Kiley asked that the students remove C. The students found that removing C again changes the results of the election in a plurality system and B is the winner instead of A. With a deeper knowledge of the mathematics behind plurality voting, the group looked at a ranked voting system. "Let's use more information from the preferential table than just the first row. We have this whole table let's use it," she said. "So ranked-choice method refers to any method that uses more than just the first row." Kiley said the most popular ranked-voting system is the instant runoff system. "If they win the majority of first-place votes then the election is done, that candidate is declared the winner. If there is no one that won the majority of first-place votes you eliminate the candidate with the smallest number of first-place votes," she said. "You recount the first-place votes and follow those steps until a winner is decided." Students went through rounds eliminating majority losers until they came upon a majority winner, which in this case was candidate B. Kiley said instant runoff satisfies the majority winner and the majority loser criterion but not the Independence of Irrelevant Alternatives Criterion. She said preference tables also allow head-to-head comparisons of candidates and explained another fairness criterion, the Condorcet Criterion, which states if a candidate wins in every head-to-head comparison with other candidates then that candidate should be the winner. The Copeland's Method election system scores candidates on head-to-head comparisons. Candidates are given one point for a win and a half a point for a tie. The candidate with the highest score is the winner. Kiley said although this satisfies Criterion 4, a tie in this system is possible. She added that Copeland's method meets all the criterion except the Independence of Irrelevant Alternatives. The Arrows Impossibility Theorem, which she summarized as elections with three or more distinct alternatives that can satisfy all criteria simultaneously. "There will always be a tradeoff between certain fairness criterion," she said. "The system voters chose to use depends on what they value in terms of fairness criteria. ... If you want to expand the possibilities of fairness criterion in an election the simple thing would be to switch to a ranked-choice ballot." She added there are more than just four fairness criteria. Meghan Molinari of Voter Choice Massachusetts demonstrated the possibilities in election systems where students voted for their favorite candy after a taste test of course. In a plurality system, Butterfinger was the clear victor, however, after switching to a ranked system, Nestle Crunch Bar came out on top. Assistant professor Samantha Pettey goes over electoral law before delving into different voting systems. Molinari gave the students a brief overview of the groups bipartisan efforts to place a ranked voting system in Massachusetts. "This will have a huge impact that will have a ripple effect not only in Massachusetts but throughout the rest of the country because all eyes are kind of on us," she said. "We are the next state closest to passing ranked choice voting. We have a huge population and if we can do it any state can do it." Some of the students already knew about ranked voting. "I have learned about this before in high school, but I came here because I wanted to be more informed," student Paul Davila said. Some other students heard about ranked voting for the first time and were already converts. "I think that it is definitely an interesting way I didn't know about," student Samantha Harrington said. "I think that it would get more people's voices heard." Molinari also pointed students to a table set up in the Bowman Hall classroom where they could register to vote. "Hopefully one day we will have ranked voting, but it is better to go out and cast a vote in the system that we have than not at all," she said. The MCLA faculty agreed. "Make sure you get out there and vote in November," Ward said. "You have a voice and you should use it no matter what it is." Nurse Practitioner Joins CHP Neighborhood Health Center PITTSFIELD, Mass. Community Health Programs has named nurse practitioner Alison M. Flynn to the primary care team at the CHP Neighborhood Health Center practice in Pittsfield. An adult nurse practitioner, Flynn is a 2010 masters degree graduate of the Sage Colleges; she earned her B.S. in nursing from Curry College. Most recently, she practiced primary care at Family Practice Associates in Pittsfield; she completed her nurse practitioner clinical internships at Berkshire Nurse Practitioners and at 510 Medical Walk-In in Pittsfield. Flynn previously worked as a registered nurse at Berkshire Medical Center and at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. She is a member of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing and received the Excellence in Action Award from Mass General Hospital in 2004. Flynn is accepting new patients at CHP Neighborhood Health Center; call 413-447-2351. St. Josephs Cemetery was first established in 1853 with the purchase of farmland on Pecks Road. Berkshires Beat: Pittsfield Catholic Parishes Launch Campaign for Cemetery Repairs Cemetery campaign The Catholic community in Pittsfield, including all four parishes St. Joseph, St. Mark, St. Charles and Sacred Heart have joined together and launched a campaign titled "Joining Together to Honor our Past and Continue our Legacy" to raise $1.2 million to provide much-needed repairs and restoration work to St. Joseph's Cemetery. St. Josephs Cemetery was first established in 1853 with the purchase of farmland on Pecks Road. Over the years, additional land was added, and the cemetery now consists of 225 acres and serves the entire Catholic Community in Pittsfield. The cemetery is the final resting place for approximately 37,000 people and has enough land to serve for many more years. It is owned and controlled by the parishes and overseen by a Cemetery Commission. But while the cemetery is well-maintained and operated, serious water problems exist especially in the newer upper section. The clay soil and high water table there have led to flooding and icing of the roads and some gravesites after heavy rains. This often leads to problems during burials and visits especially in the winter and spring. The flooding and freezing of the roads have caused a number of the roads to severely deteriorate. While potholes are patched annually, most of the roads need rebuilding or repaving. New drainage lines and regrading are needed to correct the water and drainage problems. This capital campaign will raise funds to permanently fix the drainage problems and to rebuild or repave all existing paved roads in the cemetery. The "Joining Together to honor our Past and Continue our Legacy" Campaign is seeking $1.2 million in order to undertake the needed restoration work at St. Josephs Cemetery. The work will be executed in three phases under the supervision of White Engineering, beginning in 2019. Phase 1 will see the installation of subsurface drains in select areas in the upper section and the lowering of catch basins. Phase 2 will include reconstructing the drainage along the main road from the lower section leading to the upper section of the cemetery to eliminate the flooding that takes place regularly in that lower area. And Phase 3 will reconstruct the most deteriorated roads first and then repave all other existing paved roads. The campaign will run through spring 2019. Those interested in contributing or learning more about the Campaign can call the Cemetery Office at 413-499-1317 or visit the cemetery website. Energy award Southwestern Vermont Health Care's Director of Engineering William Hall was presented with Efficiency Vermont's Energy Leadership Award at the state organizations Best Practices Exchange in Killington, Vt., last month. Efficiency Vermont's Manager of Account Management David Adams presented the award. The work that led to the award includes capital and organizational improvements. The health system has built a new central boiler plant, exchanged pumps with variable speed units, repaired steam traps, and optimized their chilled water system. Altogether, the work is estimated to have saved the health system $115,000 over the past year. Vendors sought Zion Lutheran Church of Pittsfield is seeking vendors for its annual Winter Craft Fair on Saturday, Dec. 1, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the church, located at 74 First Street in Pittsfield. The craft fair will be held in our recently renovated and fully accessible sanctuary. Vendor applications are available on our website (zionlutheranpittsfield.org) or by calling the church at 413-443-2535 and leaving a message with name and mailing address. Veterans breakfast The Civitan Club of the Berkshires and Boy Scout Troop 8 will team up for the 17th annual Not Just a Pancake Breakfast to be held on Veterans Day, Sunday, Nov. 11, from 7:45 a.m. to noon at the St. Charles Church Hall on Briggs Avenue in Pittsfield. Everyone will enjoy pancakes, French toast, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, orange juice, milk and coffee. Tickets are available at the door for $8 per person, $6 for seniors, $5 for kids under 12 and free for kids under 3 In honor of Veterans Day, all veterans will be served breakfast free of charge. Family and friends are encouraged to bring veterans for breakfast. Also, donors may sponsor a veteran's breakfast. To purchase tickets in advance or for more information, call Don Rochelo at 413-822-0535. Veterans dinner All Saints Berkshires Episcopal Church will be hosting a free veterans' dinner to all veterans and a guest on Friday, Nov. 9, from 4 to 6 p.m. in their parish hall, located at 59 Summer St. in North Adams. Immediately following dinner, there will be an Appreciation & Remembrance Service at 6 p.m. Seating is limited and guests must call the All Saints parish office at 413-664-9656 to reserve their dinner(s). RSVPs are requested by Nov. 3. Corridor Gallery The Southwestern Vermont Health Care Corridor Gallery now features dozens of good holiday gifts and decorations. All are handcrafted and include, jewelry, knitwear, and hand-sewn items, among others. The exhibit is open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily through Wednesday, Dec. 12. Pieces in this exhibit are for sale. Proceeds benefit the artists and the SVHC Auxiliary, which has given more than $1 million to support services and equipment upgrades to SVHC over the past 20 years. In addition to the Corridor Gallery, the SVHC Auxiliary manages the hospital gift shop, Personal Emergency Response System operations, and independent vendor sales. For information about joining the SVHC Auxiliary, visit the website or call 802-440-6080. Women's Center banquet The seventh annual New Direction Womens Center fund-raising banquet, held on Oc. 18, featured author Nina Fuller speaking on her choice to carry her daughter, Tess, to term after receiving the prenatal diagnosis of down syndrome. Addressing the audience of 150, Fuller, who later adopted another child with Down Syndrome, said Tess has been a blessing to the family and an inspiration to many people, starting with her brothers. Because Tess was hospitalized for a lengthy period, Fuller said, she got to know the hospital staff. Soon they began calling her to meet with other parents who had just had a baby with down syndrome. She later started a support group for parents. In their home state of Indiana, Tess was the inspiration for the state bill prohibiting abortion for certain reasons, including disabilities like down syndrome. New Direction Womens Center is located at 98 Church St. in North Adams., and offers area women help with a crisis pregnancy in the form of pregnancy tests, material assistance, baby clothes, parenting classes, and limited obstetrical ultrasounds. New Direction has just started a post-abortion recovery group to help women heal if they are hurting after an abortion. Women may participate in the group or have one-on-one sessions. A nutrition class is scheduled to begin in January. All services are free and confidential. For more information, call 413-346-4291. A group of 21 British MPs are the latest to back the IFJs call for a UN Convention on the protection of journalists. UPDATE: 27 MPs are now backing the motion The MPs, from across the political spectrum, have tabled a motion in the UK parliament calling on the government to provide full support for the Convention which seeks to combat impunity and provide greater safety and security to journalists. The motion recognizes that the killing of journalists is a global problem, with an average of two such deaths every weekthat UNESCO has reported that just one in 10 killings of journalists results in a successful prosecution; asserts that there is an unacceptable international climate of impunity that continues to have a detrimental impact on the safety of media workers, public interest journalism and the freedom of the press. Thanks to pressure from other MPs, the Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has agreed to meet with the IFJ to discuss the initiative. Dozens of journalists and media workers unions and associations across the world as well as leading industry bodies including the World Association of Newspapers and the European Broadcasting Union are already backing the Convention and took the case for action against impunity to the United Nations in New York earlier this month. City of London What is Sonia? Introduced in March 1997, Sonia stands for the sterling overnight index average. It has historically been used as a benchmark for overnight unsecured transactions denominated in GBP. The Bank of England (BoE) became Sonias administrator in April 2016, and as of April 2018, has also taken over the Wholesale Markets Brokers' Associations (WMBA, now the European Venues and Intermediaries Association, or EVIA) calculation and publication duties. The rate is in the process of being reformed with a view to it becoming the benchmark more widely used in the debt, structured finance and loan markets as the London interbank offered rate (Libor) is being phased out. Libor has been the dominant rate in the market since its introduction in the 1980s but recent controversy surrounding its manipulation by a number of banks led to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) announcing its discontinuation it by the end of 2021. The overarching framework of reference is the Benchmarks Regulation, which entered into force in January this year and sets out common rules all rates have to abide by to minimise conflicts of interest in benchmark-setting processes. How is it calculated? Sonia is a measure of the rate at which interest is paid on eligible sterling denominated deposit transactions. Its an overnight rate, so by definition it has a backward-looking application. Unlike Libor, where the interest payments are known at the start of the interest period, the interest amount in respect of Sonia-linked floating rate notes (FRNs) isnt known until close to the end of the relevant interest period. When used as a reference rate for FRNs, it can be calculated either on a compounded basis or by taking a weighted average rate over a particular period, and adding a margin to it. Recent Sonia-linked floating rate note issuances have used the compounded basis and also use a so-called five-day observation lag period, meaning the end of the interest observation period lags the interest payment date by five days to provide cashflow certainty. This is different to other instruments, such as FRNs linked to the secured overnight financing rate [SOFR] used in the US, under which a weighted average rate is used, and the same rate is applied for the final four days of the interest period, said Katie Kelly, senior director, market practice and regulatory policy at the International Capital Market Association (ICMA). Unlike Libor, Sonia has no term structure meaning it doesnt have relevant yield curves for different maturities (one-week, three months or even 10-year transactions for example). Libor is also quoted in five currencies including the US dollar and the euro. Sonia is referred to as a risk-free rate (RFR) because its calculation doesnt include the bank credit risk or the liquidity premium inherent in Libor. We are in a situation post-Libor scandal, where the global regulatory community, led by the Fed, the BoE and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, is taking a strong position that says: anything that is transaction-linked is better than something that involves a level of expert judgement, says one market participant on the advisory side. I would argue that there is a role for well-controlled expert judgement or a range of reasons. Because its based on actual transactions, Sonia can be a more volatile rate than Libor, and typically sits a few basis points above or below it at any given time. Similar concerns have been voiced against Sofr, as its calculation is based on transactions in the overnight repurchase agreement market which can be subject to big fluctuations. If Sonia is to follow in Libors steps and become more widely used in the market, some adjustment is needed. The BoEs Working Group on Sterling Risk-Free Reference Rates, established in 2015 to explore RFR alternatives to Libor, consulted until October 26 on how to ensure a broad transition to Sonia. Many other jurisdictions are actually also considering or consulting on moving away from interbank rates to an overnight RFR. But according to the advisor, even if you build a term structure into Sonia, and it becomes a proxy for Libor, there still will be a delta between Sonia and Libor products. How widely is Sonia used? Its been used as the reference rates for GBP-denominated transactions for nearly 20 years. But the BoE has previously stated that while there is awareness of RFRs such as Sonia, there is still huge scope for the market to grow. The Sonia market is estimated to be worth anything between 100 billion ($129 billion approximately) or 150 billion based on the volume of GBP denominated overnight transactions. This compares to the $350 trillion+ Libor market though the value and volume of GBP contracts using Libor as their benchmark remain uncertain. There isnt currently a lot of liquidity in Sonia contracts but there is no reason decent liquidity couldnt build up over time, said David Clark, chairman of EVIA and member of the former BoEs Sonia advisory committee. But this can only happen if work is done to improve Sonia liquidity in various tenors. Nine debt transactions have used Sonia as the reference rate since the beginning of the year, including issuances from RBC, Lloyds, Santander, EuroClear, EBRD and the African Development Bank. The European Investment Bank carried out a small test case issuance in March 2018, following which it sold a 1 billion bond in June. It initially carried out the first ever recorded Sonia-linked issuance, a 300 million issue, in March 2010. There have not yet been any loans issued using the new benchmark. The core point here is shifting to new Sonia-based products, and managing the business conduct and risk around these, said Oliver Wyman partner Serge Gwynne. But for a bank to be able to offer these, they need to understand risks, pricing approaches and timelines. Is Sonia a replacement for or an alternative to Libor? Both BoE governor Mark Carney, and Andrew Bailey, the chief executive of the FCA have said that Sonia doesnt replace Libor but is a GBP alternative to the 30-year old rate. The two rates have historically been built and functioned differently so replacing one with the other wouldnt necessarily be the best way forward. Solving the Sonia issue is different from solving the Libor problem, said Clark. Ultimately, what the market wants and needs is a Sonia curve for it to become a viable and more widely-used rate, but this is not certain to happen before the end of 2021. Preparations are ongoing to transition from Libor to an RFR though there is no concrete plan of action, which some in the industry are growing increasingly weary of. In the eurozone, the European Central Bank (ECB) asked for a stay of execution to migrate to new benchmarks, giving banks the time to prepare for an organised transition and highlighting a degree of uncertainty the EU Commission refused this in October 2018. The European Commission will not grant an extension. Its as simple as that, said Tilman Lueder, the head of its securities markets unit. The ECBs working group on euro RFRs has chosen the unsecured overnight Ester rate (euro short-term rate), which will be published by October 2019. In the UK, the BoEs Prudential Regulation Authority and the FCA sent a letter in September 2018 to the chief executives of the UKs largest banks and insurers asking them for feedback on the firms preparations for transition from Libor to risk-free ratesand ensure they are taking appropriate action now so that your firm can transition to alternative rates ahead of end-2021. What is Sonia+? Work is currently ongoing to turn Sonia into a term rate, and make it forward-looking like Libor the so-called Sonia+ rate. How this can be achieved will be the subject of part 2 of this primer. While derivatives such as futures or overnight indexed swaps may transition more or less easily to Sonia swaps can be written on a more bespoke basis than other products the loan and debt markets rely on forward-looking term structures typical of Libor, making a switch less straightforward. Concerns about not knowing the interest amount in advance are helped by the fact that Sonia tracks bank base rate quite closely, said Kelly. But there may be other issues, such as infrastructure and systems capabilities. Also, one key question remains: is a term rate needed for all products? For some products, its not necessary: for swaps, you can use overnight rates, said Gwynne. But for other parts of the market, in the corporate lending market, there would be real value for the end user to have longer-term visibility. See also PRIMER: the secured overnight financing rate (Sofr) In-house counsel: start Libor transition sooner rather than later 2021 Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC. For help please see our FAQs. Share this article By Peter Koenig October 28, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - The European Parliament has asked yesterday (25 October) for an immediate embargo on the sale of weapons to Saudi Arabia, hence sanctioning the Kingdom of rogue Saudi Arabia which is joining the United States and Israel as the main purveyor of crime throughout the Middle East and the world. France still said they will apply sanctions only if it is proven that Riyadh was indeed involved in the killing of the controversial Saudi journalist. Madame Merkel at least days ago said that Germany would no longer supply the Saudis with arms as a result of the heinous crime committed on Jamal Khashoggi. No doubt, it was a horrible murder that took place in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, with Jamal Khashoggis body possibly sawed to pieces, and according to latest accounts, buried in the Consulates backyard. And all that now admitted, executed by order of Riyadh. To soften the blow, for business purposes, some European countries would like to argue that it may not have been a premeditated assassination, but possibly a mortal accident, which would of course change the premises and lessen the punishment and weapon sales could continue. Its all business anyway. Europe has no morals, no ethics no nothing. Europe, represented by Brussels, and in Brussels by the non-elected European Commission (EC), for all practical purposes is a mere nest of worms, or translated into humans, a nest of white-collar criminals, politicians, business people and largely a brainwashed populace of nearly 500 million. There are some exceptions within the population and fortunately their pool of awakened is gently growing. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Even Switzerland, a neutral country according to her Constitution, not a member of the EU, but a staunch adherent to the (non-) European Union through more than 110 bi-and multilateral contracts, it was revealed yesterday, is assisting in Saudi Arabia converting the Swiss built (civilian) Pilatus helicopter into a ferocious war machine. Pilatus has always had that reputation of its controversial convertibility and was particularly known within Switzerland for that reason but now, they surpass the limit of the tolerable, by helping the criminal and warmonger Saudis to mount a flying war machine in their, the Saudis, country totally against Swiss law and against the Swiss Constitution, but fully tolerated by the Swiss Government. Back to the real issue: It took the horrendous murder of a famous Saudi-critical and Saudi-national journalist, for the Europeans to react and that, mind you, grudgingly. Theyd rather follow Donald Trumps line, why lose 110 billion dollars-worth of arms sales to the Saudis, for the murder of a journalist. After all, business is business. Everything else is a farce. For three and half years, the Saudis have waged a horrendous war on Yemen. They have slaughtered tens of thousands of Yemenis according to the UN Human Rights Commission more than 50,000 children died by Saudi air raids with UK supplied bombs, and US supplied war planes through lack of sanitation and drinking water induced diseases, like cholera and an even worse crime, through extreme famine, the worst famine in recent history as per UNICEF / WHO imposed by force, as the Saudis with the consent of the European allies closed down all ports of entry, including the moist important Red Sea Port of Hodeida. The European, along with the US, have been more than complicit in this crime against humanity in these horrendous war crimes. Imagine one day a Nuremberg-type Court against war crimes committed in the last 70 years, not one of the western leaders, still alive, would be spared. Thats what we in the west have become. A nest of war criminals war criminals for sheer greed. They invented a neoliberal, everything goes market doctrine system, where no rules no ethics no morals count just money, profit and more profit. Any method of maximizing profit war and war industry is good and accepted. And the west with its fiat money made of hot air, is imposing this nefarious, destructive system everywhere, by force and regime change if voluntary acceptance is not in the cards. And we, the people, have become complicit in it, as we are living in luxury and comfort, and couldnt care less what our leaders (sic-sic) are doing to the rest of the world, to the so-called lesser humans, who live in squalor as refugees, their homes and towns destroyed, bombed to ashes, no schools, no hospitals, and to a large extent no food yes about 70 million-plus refugees are everyday on the move, most of them from the west-destroyed Middle-East. Why should we worry? We live well. To the contrary, these refugees they could steal our jobs. Let them not invade our luxury havens. Rather keep bombing their countries into rubble. Yemen, strategically highly sought-for, should, of course, not be governed by the Houthis, a socialist-leaning group of revolutionary Muslims which is part of the Shia Zaidi, a branch of the Shia Imamiya of Iran. They finally became sick and tired of the decades-long Washington manipulation of their government. And who better than the stooges of Saudi Arabia to do the dirty job for Washington? And, yes, they dont have to do it alone. Weapon supplies come from all over Europe, mainly the UK, and France, also Spain, and for a while also from Germany and well, neutral Switzerland. No matter that tens of thousands of children are killed, that according to the Human Rights Commission, up to 22 million Yemenis (out of about 30 million population), are in danger of severe famine, and that includes at least 8 million children children who have for the most part no more access to schools, health services and food an entire generation or more without education, a well-planned and premeditated gap in society, as is the case in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. By killing and depriving children of basic needs, the west is creating a widening gap of educated people, of people that can and would otherwise fight for their countries, for their societies. But they are gone. That makes it so much easier for the west just to take over their strategic position, their natural resources and suck empty the social safety funds accumulated by their labor force. Isnt that a thought for the illustrious populace who live in western luxury, to lean back in their fauteuils and think about? What if, one day the tables are reversed and we, the west would face justice? Is anybody in the west bold and realistic enough to see such a picture? And as we see these days history is advancing in giant steps. Its the 21st Century Artificial Intelligence (AI) has more than made inroads in our society. And what if if those that we consider inferior and our enemies, are in fact a few steps ahead of us in AI science and could reverse the picture rather rapidly? And while we wonder why Saudi-slaughtered Yemenis does not raise a fuss in the western media, but the Saudi killing of a journalist does, all-the-while our linear IMF provided projections increase western GDP by fantastic numbers by 2030, irrespective of the 20% unemployment thanks to AI, that some predict all these contradictory figures are unimportant, while we can make a killing from killing Yemeni children. But it takes the Khashoggi killing that might stop if only temporarily, and if only we are lucky the Saudi war machine. The population of Yemen is unimportant. Why? Why does it take the assassination of a journalist granted, a horrendous and grisly murder by his own countrys government no matter how controversial Jamal Khashoggi was, he has been writing for our western MSM, for the truth tellers, such as the Washington post and the NYTimes. That may have helped making him more important than 50,000 slaughtered and maimed Yemeni children more important in the sense that only through his abject murder, the European maybe will react and sanction the Saudis. But even that is not sure as the Transatlantic Master Trump, has many trumps up his sleeve, that he may offer or coerce the EU puppets into following his heinous example and spare Riyadh from any punishment, especially as far as weapons are concerned. After all its business. Dead children are just that, dead Yemenis, a generation less to worry about. Peter Koenig is an economist and geopolitical analyst. He is also a water resources and environmental specialist. He worked for over 30 years with the World Bank and the World Health Organizationaround the world in the fields of environment and water. He lectures at universities in the US, Europe and South America. He writes regularly for Global Research; ICH; RT; Sputnik; PressTV; The 21st Century; TeleSUR; The Vineyard of The Saker Blog, the New Eastern Outlook (NEO); and other internet sites. He is the author of Implosion An Economic Thriller about War, Environmental Destruction and Corporate Greed fiction based on facts and on 30 years of World Bank experience around the globe. He is also a co-author of The World Order and Revolution! Essays from the Resistance. Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here. ==See Also== Note To ICH Community We ask that you assist us in dissemination of the article published by ICH to your social media accounts and post links to the article from other websites. Thank you for your support. Peace and joy South Africa shares the title of largest African FDI hub with Morocco; Southern, West, East and North Africa all receiving more or less equal FDI; the USA remains the single biggest country investing in Africa, while Western Europe is by far the biggest regional investor. According to Ernest & Young (EY)s latest Africa Attractiveness report, FDI was up across the continent last year, although South Africa experienced a fall in project numbers, on the back of continued weak domestic growth. The EY 2018 report, Turning tides, provides an analysis of FDI investment into Africa over the past ten years. The 2017 data shows that Africa attracted 718 FDI projects which is up 6 percent from the previous year. This was in line with a recovery in the continents economic growth, following a difficult preceding year. Stories Continues after ad The higher project numbers were driven by interest in next generation sectors, namely manufacturing, infrastructure and power generation. Despite the rise in FDI, project numbers remain below the 10-year average of 784 projects (per annum). The report also highlights the countries with the strongest FDI gains, with Ethiopia, Kenya and Zimbabwe experiencing a major uptick in FDI during the 2017 year. By contrast, South Africa, Egypt, Mozambique and Cote dIvoire experienced declines in FDI projects in the same year. Ajen Sita, EY Africa CEO, says, 2017 was in many respects a key year for the continent. We saw multiple changes in leadership across a number of countries, including South Africa, Zimbabwe and Angola. In addition, Kenyas election was drawn out which created uncertainty at the time. Changes in leadership have in turn led to a renewed urgency to implement fresh policies as new administrations move to address slow economic growth. Emerging market investment into Africa slows 2017 saw a noticeable decline in emerging market investment flows into Africa. This is a major turnaround from the previous year when Asia-Pacific investors strongly increased inbound investments. Last year, investments from this region fell 16% while intra-African FDI also fell by 14 percent. The weaker intra-African flows were largely driven by a weaker appetite by both Moroccan and Kenyan investors into neighbouring countries. South Africas outward investment project numbers held steady as weak domestic growth saw companies continue the search for external growth opportunities across the continent. North American (primarily the USA), and Western European FDI flows to the continent remain strong After the USA, which remains the single largest country investing into Africa, three of the remaining top five investors are European, namely the UK, France and Germany. Of the ten largest investing countries in Africa, six are Western European. The report found that South Africa, Morocco, Kenya, Nigeria and Ethiopia were the dominant anchor economies within their respective regions, collectively accounting for 40 percent of the continents total FDI projects. Overall these four major sub-regions each attract similar FDI when measured by project numbers. For the first time ever, East Africa became the single largest beneficiary of FDI with 197 projects (27 percent of total projects). Southern Africa, by contrast, fared lowest of the four major regions, at 162 projects (23 percent). Whilst South Africa remains the continents leading FDI destination when measured by project numbers, for the first time ever the countrys lead is under threat with Morocco increasing its FDI projects by a sizeable 19 per cent to share the top spot with South Africa. Over time and as Africas growth accelerates, we anticipate that South Africas share of inbound FDI will continue to decline, relative to the rest of the continent. This will be driven by sustained strong growth, particularly in the Eastern-hub economies, and revived growth in the West hub. It illustrates the need for South Africa to ensure its leading economic role across the continent is sustained, says Sita. Next steps to increasing Africas FDI There are major opportunities that the continent can benefit from after the recent leadership changes we have witnessed. These opportunities require emboldened leadership to drive renewed policy reforms and implement new initiatives which encourage inbound investment flows. There are some outstanding examples of how this has already worked in some countries, not least Rwanda, which is able to attract FDI well ahead of other economies of similar size, and indeed, ahead of much larger economies, Sita says. By focusing on improving public sector efficiencies and finances, minimizing bureaucratic processes and partnering with the private sector on major projects, more countries can stimulate much needed FDI. In addition, they should continue to focus attention on increasing their scores on the ease of doing business and global competitiveness rankings, he says. By TeleSur October 29, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - Saudi Arabia told the U.K. about their plan of abducting Khashoggi three weeks before the incident took place. The MI6 warned them against carrying out the said operation. The murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi was about to disclose details of Saudi Arabias use of chemical weapons in Yemen when he was killed, as reported by the Sunday Express, a source close to him told the media outlet Friday. This revelation was made as different intelligence sources disclosed that the U.K. was made aware of the entire plot by Saudi Arabia three weeks before the incident took place on Oct. 2. Intercepts by GCHQ of internal communications by the kingdoms General Intelligence Directorate revealed orders by a member of the royal circle to abduct the troublesome journalist and take him back to Saudi Arabia. The report does not confirm or deny whether the order came from the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter They were supposed to abduct Khashoggi and take him back to Riyadh but could take other actions, if the journalist created problems. We were initially made aware that something was going in the first week of September, around three weeks before Mr. Khashoggi walked into the consulate on October 2, though it took more time for other details to emerge, the intelligence source told the Sunday Express Friday. These details included primary orders to capture Mr. Khashoggi and bring him back to Saudi Arabia for questioning. However, the door seemed to be left open for alternative remedies to what was seen as a big problem. We know the orders came from a member of the royal circle but have no direct information to link them to Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman. Whether this meant he was not the original issuer we cannot say. The MI6 had warned their Saudi counterparts to cancel the mission. On October 1 we became aware of the movement of a group, which included members of Ri'asat Al-Istikhbarat Al-Amah (GID) to Istanbul, and it was pretty clear what their aim was. Through channels, we warned that this was not a good idea. Subsequent events show that our warning was ignored. Sunday Express also obtained an anonymous interview from a close friend of Khashoggis who revealed that the journalist was about to obtain documentary evidence of Saudi Arabias use of chemical weapon in its proxy war in Yemen. Iran has previously claimed that the kingdom had been supplying ingredients that can be used to make the nerve agent Sarin in Yemen but Khashoggi was possibly referring to phosphorus which can be used to burn bones. Last month it was claimed that Saudi Arabia had been using U.S.-supplied white phosphorus munitions against troops and even civilians in Yemen. Jamal Khashoggi was a Washington Post columnist who left Saudi Arabia a year ago due to the widespread crackdown on dissent by the crown prince which saw imprisoning of a large number of dissenters and activists in Saudi Arabia. The journalist went to Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2 .to get papers for his marriage and never seen after that. Turkey maintained that he was killed inside the consulate by Saudi authorities but the latter denied any allegations against them for almost three weeks before finally accepting that he indeed was murdered but alleged it to be a rogue operation about which the crown prince had no knowledge. The case of Khashoggi created an international uproar and diplomatic scandals where many countries are deciding to impose sanctions on the country and many companies severed their ties with Saudi Arabia. According to the latest updates, the European Union is considering a ban on arms sale to Saudi Arabia and other sanctions. The EU will make a joint decision on how to punish the kingdom, Germanys Chancellor Angela Merkel said Saturday in Istanbul after Russia-Turkey-France-Germany summit on Syria. A similar sentiment was expressed by Frances Emmanuel Macron. This article was originally published by " TeleSur " - Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here. ==See Also== Khashoggi BOMBSHELL: Britain 'KNEW of kidnap plot and BEGGED Saudi Arabia to abort plans' Note To ICH Community We ask that you assist us in dissemination of the article published by ICH to your social media accounts and post links to the article from other websites. Thank you for your support. Peace and joy Members of Netanyahus Likud Blame Victims of Pittsburgh Pogrom and Echo the Killers Rhetoric As Israeli Minister of Education Naftali Bennett sets out to Pittsburgh, prominent members of the governing Likud Party have blamed the Jewish victims of the neo-Nazi massacre for causing anti-Semitism. By Max Blumenthal October 29, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - Israeli Minister of Education Naftali Bennett has embarked on a visit to Pittsburgh to be with our sisters and brothers in their darkest hour, he said, after a neo-Nazi supporter of President Donald Trump massacred eleven Jewish worshippers at the citys Tree of Life Synagogue. Robert Bowers, the right-wing terrorist, targeted the progressive congregation on the basis of its partnership with the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, or HIAS, a Jewish non-profit that helps refugees from conflict-torn regions obtain asylum in the US. HIAS likes to bring in invaders that kill our people, Bowers stated in a social media manifesto explaining his motives. As Bennett departs for Pittsburgh, some members of Israels governing Likud Party have issued talking points and statements blaming the victims of the anti-Jewish mass murderer for inspiring the attack. One especially prominent Likud member has even echoed Bowers hate manifesto. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Likud talking points blame the victims Hours after the massacre in Pittsburgh, a Likud Party email listserv pumped out talking points addressed to ambassadors of the Likud that claimed the anti-Jewish shooter drew inspiration from a left-wing Jewish group that promoted immigration to the U.S. & worked against Trump. Within moments, Likud party activists like @guyshapira took to Twitter to repeat the talking points word for word. (Shapira followed up by promoting a tweet by the American Jewish alt-right personality Laura Loomer likening the killer to Ilhan Omar, a Democratic candidate for Congress who happens to be Muslim.) A white supremacist terrorist murdered 11 Pittsburgh Jews at prayer yesterday because their synagogue supports refugees. Yet Israeli activists from Netanyahus ruling Likud party say the murderer DREW INSPIRATION from a left-wing Jewish group that promoted immigration to the US pic.twitter.com/IN1Sg0YaHF David Sheen (@davidsheen) October 28, 2018 Israeli journalist Attila Somfalvi said senior Likud officials he spoke to confirmed the talking points as real. The listserv comments were hardly an outlier within the Likud Partys digital fever swamps. The murderer was fed up with people like you In a Facebook post, Yoav Eliasi, aka The Shadow a prominent Israeli hate rapper and Likud Party member in good standing portrayed the massacre as a legitimate response to HIACs progressive agenda. According to Eliasi, Bowers was a man fed up with subversive progressive Jewish leftists injecting their sick agendas into his country. Explicitly echoing the neo-Nazis manifesto, Eliasi added that HIAS brings in infiltrators that destroy every country. The murderer was fed up with people like you. Jews like you brought the holocaust and now youre causing antisemitism. Stop bringing in hate money from Soros. An example of Israelis blaming the victims of the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre: "The Shadow", prominent Israeli rapper with very popular right-wing hate-spreading page: "[The murderer] was a man fed up with subversive progressive Jewish leftists injecting their sick agendas" pic.twitter.com/Pb9m3Ae5Gx Antifa Jerusalem (@antifa_jlm) October 28, 2018 Israels Chief Rabbi slights terror-stricken synagogue While grassroots Likud leaders appeared to justify the massacre, Israels state-funded Chief Rabbi, David Lau refused to recognize Pittsburghs Tree Of Life as a synagogue. Rejecting the terror-stricken congregation on the basis of its alignment with Conservative Judaism, which the Orthodox Jewish establishment regards as illegitimate, Lau referred to the synagogue as a place with a prominent Jewish mark. " ". . . . : , , , . https://t.co/dYpd0dlyH2 Tomer Persico (@TomerPersico) October 28, 2018 Back in 2015, Lau slammed Naftali Bennett for visiting a Conservative Jewish school in the U.S., calling his meeting unacceptable. White supremacist inspiration from Israel In recent years, racist anti-refugee politics have overwhelmed Israeli society. In our mini-documentary, Israels New Racism, Israeli journalist David Sheen and I documented the role of xenophobic vigilantes in influencing the agenda of the countrys right-wing governing coalition. In an article earlier this year, Sheen explained how the anti-refugee policies of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were inspiring white supremacists all over the world to advocate adopting these policies as their own. Back in 2012, Naftali Bennett published an anti-refugee manifesto that advanced many of the same concepts as Bowers social media rant against HIAS. There is a plague of illegal infiltrators in the State of Israel, Bennett wrote on Facebook. He went on to blame the New Israel Fund, a liberal non-profit, for bringing horror & crime to Tel Aviv by defending asylum seekers against deportation. With Bennett on his way to Pittsburgh, his right-wing Jewish Home party has delayed hearings in the Knesset on an anti-infiltration bill authorizing the government to jail and deport all asylum seekers in Israel. Max Blumenthal is an award-winning journalist and the author of books including best-selling Republican Gomorrah: Inside the Movement That Shattered the Party, Goliath: Life and Loathing in Greater Israel, The Fifty One Day War: Ruin and Resistance in Gaza, and The Management of Savagery, which will be published later this year by Verso. He has also produced numerous print articles for an array of publications, many video reports and several documentaries including Je Ne Suis Pas Charlie and the forthcoming Killing Gaza. Blumenthal founded the Grayzone Project in 2015 to shine a journalistic light on Americas state of perpetual war and its dangerous domestic repercussions. This article was originally published by " Grey Zone" - Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here. ==See Also== 11 killed in shooting at Pittsburgh synagogue Pittsburgh synagogue shooting suspect threatened Jewish groups, pushed migrant caravan conspiracies Trumps Caravan Hysteria Led to This: Prior to committing the Tree of Life massacre, the shooter, who blamed Jews for the caravan of invaders and who raged about it on social media, made it clear that he was furious at HIAS, founded as the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society , On Gab, an Extremist-Friendly Site, Pittsburgh Shooting Suspect Aired His Hatred in Full Murder in Pittsburgh and the Targeting of Alternative Social Media: Robert Bowers, the suspected shooter at a synagogue in Pittsburgh, is being used to denounce social media not on the corporate reservation. U.S. Jews Despair Over Pittsburgh Atrocity Is Compounded by Trumps Complicity and Netanyahus Hypocrisy Here Is a List of Far-Right Attackers Trump Inspired. Cesar Sayoc Wasnt the First and Wont Be the Last. Muslim-American Community Raises Money For Pittsburgh Victims More than 20,000 sign letter telling Trump hes not welcome in Pittsburgh: Trump has to denounce white nationalists and reverse his anti-immigration policies first. Trump accuses media of stoking great anger in US Michael Moore Reveals Video of Bomb Suspect Amid Angry Crowd at Trump Rally Mail Bomb Scare Suspect Arrested: Is the targeted individual a legitimate suspect or a convenient patsy? Most likely the latter, but it remains an open question. Four Shots Fired Into Florida GOP Headquarters Note To ICH Community We ask that you assist us in dissemination of the article published by ICH to your social media accounts and post links to the article from other websites. Thank you for your support. Peace and joy By Cesar Chelala October 29, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - My big challenge is how to instill a sense of morality in my students, says Eloisa Delmonte, a high school teacher in Gualeguay, Entre Rios, Argentina. Yesterday, for example, she tells me, I reproached a student because he had been late for class. He apologized to me but told me that while he wakes up every day at 7 oclock in the morning, a boy next door gets out of bed at noon, wears the most expensive clothes and buys everything he wants. How does he do it? Very simple, stealing. Crime inside the school and in the communities is often intertwined with violence among young people. A recent report by UNICEF: A daily lesson: End violence in schools #ENDViolence, provides troubling statistics. Worldwide, almost half of students between 13 and 15 years (about 150 million) suffer violence from schoolmates. For many, school is no longer the place to study and grow in peace but filled with confrontation and danger. In addition, the situation of war and violence in many countries translates into serious attacks against schools and students. According to United Nations figures, in 2017 there were 396 attacks on schools in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 26 on schools in South Sudan, 67 on schools in the Syrian Arab Republic, and 20 on schools in Yemen. As a result of these attacks, many children drop out of school and, as a result, their future education and work possibilities are seriously affected. A report by the Office of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on violence against children describes four main forms of violence in schools: harassment, physical violence, psychological violence and violence that includes a dimension outside the school and is related to the culture of the gangs. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter The phenomenon of bullying, which can include sexual violence, has almost reached epidemic proportions worldwide. A study carried out in Mexico in 2013 showed that 7 percent of boys and 5 percent of girls in high school said they had suffered insults or attacks of a sexual nature from their peers. A smaller percentage of students stated that they had been forced into sexual behaviors. Causes of violence There are numerous causes that explain the current rise in violence, both in schools and outside them. Among the most traditional causes are poverty, marked economic and social inequalities and the vulnerability created by migration processes, particularly when they are forced. Among the most recent causal phenomena is the massive dissemination of drugs, which creates harmful environments in schools for the growth and education of children. Related to this drug problem are the youth gangs called maras in Central American countries that act not only in those countries but also in the United States. In 2013, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the U.S., 12 percent of students ages 12-18 reported that gangs were present at their school during the school year. Many times schools are behind the social changes that influence violence, Professor Delmonte tells me. In addition, a new phenomenon is emerging, such as the great popularity of YouTubers, which often act as models of negative behavior among children at the most susceptible ages. Nor should we forget, she insists, that there are two types of violence: the general and the gender violence, and that both are equally terrible . One shouldnt rule out the influence of the home environment on children. They imitate the behaviors they see on a daily basis. Violence in homes teach children that violence is permissible, and they may later act on this belief as adolescents and adults. To these phenomena, we may now add the problem of cyberbullying, defined by the Cyberbullying Research Center as intentional and repeated damage perpetrated through computers, mobile phones and other electronic devices. It has been shown that victims who suffer from this modality are more likely to consume alcohol and drugs and to be absent from school. Consequences of violence There is a wide range of negative consequences as a result of violence in schools. They include bodily and psychological injuries that can lead to anxiety, depression and even suicide. In addition, in the short term, the academic performance of the students can be seriously affected, while their quality of life is affected in the long term. Absenteeism can also affect the quality of their education. A study carried out in El Salvador, showed that 23 percent of students between 13 and 15 years old, declared that in the last month of the study they had been absent from school because of safety concerns. Children affected by the phenomenon of bullying and cyberbullying are often left with serious psychological consequences that lead to a marked decrease in their self-esteem and that may lead some of them to take their own lives. How to deal with the problem of violence in children and adolescents Some experts consider violence in schools, which also includes the growing phenomenon of violence against teachers, as a public health problem. That is why the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) use a four-step approach to deal with this kind of problem. It consists of 1) Definition of the problem, 2) Identification of the risk and protective factors, 3) Development and testing of prevention strategies, 4) Ensuring their widespread adoption. One of the difficulties in the treatment of this problem is the lack of reliable and up-to-date statistics, so this must be the first step in order to solve violence in schools. In addition, many countries lack legislation to protect child victims of violence, which requires updating the relevant legislation related to this phenomenon. It is necessary that parents, teachers and community organizations act in coordination to disseminate and try to find the most appropriate mechanisms to prevent and deal with violence. Only when all interested parties act together, will it be possible to address it effectively. Home Search ICH Armistice Day ended the War to End Wars; the Treaty of Versailles gave us War Without End By Mike Ferner October 29, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - Historians debate to what extent the Treaty of Versailles was responsible for Hitlers march to World War II, but there can be little doubt that the treaty ending the War to End All Wars continues to be a major factor in our ongoing War Without End. On November, 11, 1918, Europe laid exhausted and nearly bled dry. Just months before the war ended on that date, fresh, motivated U.S. troops entered the fight and assured an Allied victory. As a result, President Woodrow Wilson played an oversized role in the fateful redrawing of borders across half the globe. Wilson was the primary proponent of American Exceptionalism, an idea promoted by the U.S. elite ever since. The myth that somehow America would always advance humanitarian interests attracted many, particularly the dispossessed, encouraged by Wilsons Fourteen Points. The president took to his messianic mission with paternalistic passion but as the record shows, imperialism infected not only European powers, it also drove Wilson. Nonetheless, this outspoken advocate of some vague form of self-determination mesmerized literally millions. He was an empty vessel into which whole nations poured their hopes for a better life. True, there was a stated effort to rise above the centuries-old tradition of to the victor goes the spoils by introducing plebiscites and theoretically grounding decisions more frequently on justice. However, plebiscites were omitted when troublesome and justice often morphed into just us. Regarding the Versailles Treatys effect on Germany and ultimately World War II, Margaret MacMillan provides some illuminating background in her in-depth history of the Versailles negotiations, Paris 1919: Six months that changed the world. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter For context, keep in mind that the horrors of WWI did not visit German soil nor did Germans see occupying troops except in the Rhineland. Few Germans knew that after the Allied advance of August 8, 1918, 16 German divisions disappeared within a few days and the remaining troops fell back miles at a time. They didnt know that a week later General Ludendorff told the Kaiser to consider negotiating with the Allies and the next month demanded peace at any price. Few Germans regarded the armistice for what it basically was, a surrender. As a result, the Nazis myth of how the Kaisers High Command stabbed Germany in the back found ready listeners. MacMillan disputes that Germanys reparations were overly burdensome. Heres what the record shows. France got back Alsace-Lorraine which it had lost in the Franco-Prussian War of 1871 (Prussia was one of several states that formed the nation of Germany in 1871 after that war). Allied troops occupied Germanys Rhineland as a buffer for France. France also got ownership of Germanys coal mines in the Saar which the League of Nations administered until a 1935 in which people voted overwhelmingly to rejoin Germany. Poland was given use of the German port of Danzig/Gdansk as well as ownership of Silesia, with 3,000,000 German-speaking people, 25% of Germanys coal and 80% of its zinc. After Germany protested, an international commission awarded most of the land to Germany and most of the industry and mines to Poland. (Additionally, Poland fought a border war with Russia until 1921 when Lenin agreed to the Treaty of Riga, drawing Polands eastern border 200 miles further into Russia than the Allies recommended and adding 4 million Ukrainians, 2 million Jews and a million Byelorussians to Poland.) Czechoslovakia was given the Sudetenland, a region bordering Germany and Austria with 3,000,000 German-speaking people, as well as Austrias Bohemia that contained another 3,000,000 German-speaking people. Hitler was to make the cause of these lost Germans his own and occupied the former Sudetenland after the Munich agreement in 1938. Denmark regained, via plebiscite, two duchies previously seized by Prussia. The reconstituted nation of Lithuania got the German port of Memel on the Baltic. Germany turned over its entire naval fleet, airplanes, heavy guns and 25,000 machine guns. It was allowed an army of 100,000 and a navy of 15,000, but no air force, tanks, armored cars, heavy guns, dirigibles or submarines. Arms imports were forbidden, and only a few German factories were allowed to produce arms. As for money damages, with so much of Europe in chaos and ashes, it was difficult to determine how much Germany even owed. One U.S. team of Army engineers estimated it would take over two years to arrive at a guesstimate. But superseding any concerns about what was owed was the Allies most important question of all: how much could Germany afford without bankruptcy and chaos, handing it over to the Bolsheviks? (With revolutionary movements in several German cities by the end of the war, this was a real concern to the Allies who invaded Russia at the end of the war with 200,000 troops, aiding the White Russians against the Bolsheviks. Wilson sent 13,000 U.S. troops and a heavy cruiser as Americas contribution.) Initially, Britain wanted $120 billion, France $220 billion and the US $22 billion. They later submitted much smaller bills and the final calculation in 1921 ordered Germany to pay $34 billion in gold marks, apportioned 52% to France, 28% to Britain and the rest divided between Belgium, Italy and others. The U.S. had loaned Britain and France over $7 billion plus another $3.5 billion from U.S. banks. At Versailles, Britain proposed and the U.S. vetoed the idea of cancelling all inter-Allied debts. Between 1924 and 1931, Germany paid 36 billion marks to the Allies, 33 billion of which was borrowed from investors who bought German bonds issued by Wall Street firms. Germany then used that money to pay reparations to England and France, which in turn used it to repay U.S. loans. Anthony C. Sutton, writing in Wall Street and the Rise of Hitler observed, The international bankers sat in heaven, under a rain of fees and commissions made by lending other peoples money to Germany. As for personal culpability, Kaiser Wilhelm, grandson of Britains Queen Victoria, went into exile in Holland. Britains King George V, the kaisers cousin, eventually gave up the idea of a war crimes tribunal but sent Germany a list of several hundred he thought should be tried. Of that number, 12 were. Most were set free at once except for two submarine captains who escaped prison within weeks of being sentenced. One can hardly consider factors which led to Hitlers rise without including a few examples of the highly influential complicity of U.S. corporations. Between the wars, John Foster Dulles, later Eisenhowers Secretary of State, was CEO of Sullivan and Cromwell (S&C), at which his brother, Allen, later Eisenhower and Kennedys CIA chief, was a partner. Foster structured deals that funneled U.S. investments to German companies like IG Farben and Krupp. S&C was at the center of an international network of banks, investment firms and industrial conglomerates that rebuilt Germany after WWI.(1) The Dawes Plan, created to rebuild German industry after World War I and provide reparations to England and France had on its board Charles Dawes, first director of the U.S. Budget Bureau and Owen Young, president of General Electric Co. By 1944, German oil (85% synthetic, produced with Standard of NJ technology) was controlled by IG Farben, created under the Dawes Plan and financed by Wall Street loans packaged by S&C. An internal Farben memo, coincidentally written on D-Day, 1944, said Standards technical expertise in synthetic fuels, lubricating fluids and tetra-ethyl lead was most useful to us, without which the present methods of warfare would be impossible. (2) Even after Hitler took power in 1933, Foster Dulles continued to represent IG Farben and refused to shut down S&Cs Berlin office until partners, tired of having to sign letters, Heil Hitler, rebelled in 35. Throughout the war, Foster protected the U.S. assets of Farben and also Merck from confiscation as alien property. Arthur Goldberg, who served with Allen in the OSS, the CIAs forerunner, and later on the Supreme Court, claimed both Dulles brothers were guilty of treason.(1) An open secret through the 20s was Henry Fords financial support for Hitler. A December 20, 1922 NY Times story claimed links between new uniforms and side arms for 1,000 young men in Hitlers Storming Battalion and Fords portrait and books the Fuehrer prominently displayed in his well-staffed Munich office.(2) In 1938, Ford received the Grand Cross of the German Eagle award. In February 1933, Hermann Goering held a fundraiser at his home for the National Trusteeship, a front group from which Rudolf Hess paid Nazi Party election campaign expenses. Industrialists and financiers pledged 3,000,000 marks including 400,000 from IG Farben and 60,000 from General Electric Corporations subsidiary, AEG. On the board of IG Farbens U.S. subsidiary were Edsel Ford, Walter Teagle, board member of the NY Federal Reserve and Standard Oil of NJ and Carl Bosch, on the board of Fords German subsidiary, Ford AG. One week after that massive infusion of funds the Reichstag was burned. A week later, national elections swept the Nazis into power. In a 1936 memo, William Dodd, U.S. Ambassador to Germany, reported that I.G. Farben gave 200,000 marks to a p.r. firm operating on American public opinion. 1) The Devils Chessboard: Allen Dulles, the CIA and the Rise of Americas Secret Government David Talbot 2015 2) Wall Street and the Rise of Hitler Antony C. Sutton 1976 Vietnam Of the many subtexts of Versailles that grew to historic proportions was that Ho Chi Minh, working in Paris as a kitchen hand and a photographers assistant, appealed unsuccessfully to the American delegation on behalf of the people of Annam (Vietnam). The actual cover note Ho wrote to the U.S. Secretary of State, Robert Lansing, to accompany a list of 8 demands from the Ammanite People, introduced a politely-worded list of demands by stating: Since the victory of the Allies, all the subjects are frantic with hope at prospect of an era of right and justice, which should begin for them by virtue of the formal and solemn engagements made before the whole world by the various powers of the entente in the struggle of civilisation against barbarism. While waiting for the principle of national self determination to pass from ideal to reality through the effective recognition of the sacred right of all peoples to decide their own destiny, the inhabitants of the ancient empire of Annam, at the present time French Indochina, present to the noble governments of the entente in general and in particular to the honourable French government the following humble claims The list contained such basics as freedom of the press and of assembly and the need to construct schools, but never demanded freedom from the French, only a delegation of native people elected to attend the French parliament in order to keep the latter informed of their needs. It finished by saying: The Annamite people, in presenting these claims, count on the worldwide justice of all the Powers, and rely in particular on the goodwill of the noble French people who hold our destiny in their hands and who, as France is a republic, have taken us under their protection. In requesting the protection of the French people the people of Annam, far from feeling humiliated, on the contrary consider themselves honoured, because they know that the French people stand for liberty and justice and will never renounce their sublime ideal of universal brotherhood. Consequently, in giving heed to the voice of the oppressed, the French people will be doing their duty to France and to humanity. In the name of the group of Annamite patriots Nguyen Ai Quoc [Ho Chi Minh] Onward to War Without End The ghosts of Versailles didnt disappear with Vietnam. Versailles left in place the 1917 Balfour Declaration pledging Britains support to the Zionist movements interest in taking over Palestine for a Jewish homeland and the Sykes-Picot Agreement of 1916 giving Syria to France and Mesopotamia to Britain (which already had negotiated contracts with Arab leaders to control oil resources). Had self-determination really been an operating principle in Paris in 1919, there was plenty of testimony to make decisions that would have spared the world much anguish. Solid proof of that is contained in a little-known study, ordered by President Wilson during the Paris peace talks and then buried until 1922, called the Report of the King-Crane Commission. For nearly two months commission members crisscrossed what is now Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Palestine and Lebanon, meeting with all manner of people, official delegations and groups with petitions in what appears to be a very honest attempt to determine public opinion. Their recommendations are nothing short of revolutionary, based on what weve learned in the meantime. We recommend, in the fifth place, serious modification of the extreme Zionist program for Palestine of unlimited immigration of Jews, looking finally to making Palestine distinctly a Jewish State. (1) The Commissioners began their study of Zionism with minds predisposed in its favor, but the actual facts in Palestine, coupled with the force of the general principles proclaimed by the Allies and accepted by the Syrians have driven them to the recommendation here made. (2) The commission was abundantly supplied with literature on the Zionist program by the Zionist Commission to Palestine; heard in conferences much concerning the Zionist colonies and their claims; and personally saw something of what had been accomplished. They found much to approve in the aspirations and plans of the Zionists, and had warm appreciation for the devotion of many of the colonists, and for their success, by modern methods, in overcoming great natural obstacles. (3) The Commission recognized also that definite encouragement had been given to the Zionists by the Allies in Mr. Balfours often quoted statement, in its approval by other representatives of the Allies. If, however, the strict terms of the Balfour Statement are adhered to favoring the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights existing in non-Jewish communities in Palestine it can hardly be doubted that the extreme Zionist Program must be greatly modified. For a national home for the Jewish people is not equivalent to making Palestine into a Jewish State; nor can the erection of such a Jewish State be accomplished without the gravest trespass upon the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine. The fact came out repeatedly in the Commissions conference with Jewish representatives that the Zionists looked forward to a practically complete dispossession of the present non-Jewish inhabitants of Palestine, by various forms of purchase. In his address of July 4, 1918, President Wilson laid down the following principle as one of the four great ends for which the associated peoples of the world were fighting; The settlement of every question, whether of territory, of sovereignty, of economic arrangement, or of political relationship upon the basis of the free acceptance of that settlement by the people immediately concerned, and not upon the basis of the material interest or advantage of any other nation or people which may desire a different settlement for the sake of its own exterior influence or mastery. If that principle is to rule, and so the wishes of Palestines population are to be decisive as to what is to be done with Palestine, then it is to be remembered that the non-Jewish population of Palestinenearly nine-tenths of the wholeare emphatically against the entire Zionist program. The tables show that there was no one thing upon which the population of Palestine were more agreed than upon this. To subject a people so minded to unlimited Jewish immigration, and to steady financial and social pressure to surrender the land, would be a gross violation of the principle just quoted, and of the peoples rights, though it kept within the forms of law. It is to be noted also that the feeling against the Zionist program is not confined to Palestine, but shared very generally by the people throughout Syria, as our conferences clearly showed. More than 72 per cent1,350 in allof all the petitions in the whole of Syria were directed against the Zionist program. Only two requeststhose for a united Syria and for independencehad a larger support. The Peace Conference should not shut its eyes to the fact that the anti-Zionist feeling in Palestine and Syria is intense and not lightly to be flouted. No British officer, consulted by the Commissioners, believed that the Zionist program could be carried out except by force of arms. The officers generally thought that a force of not less than 50,000 soldiers would be required even to initiate the program. That of itself is evidence of a strong sense of the injustice of the Zionist program, on the part of the non-Jewish populations of Palestine and Syria. Decisions, requiring armies to carry out, are sometimes necessary, but they are surely not gratuitously to be taken in the interests of a serious injustice. For the initial claim, often submitted by Zionist representatives, that they have a right to Palestine, based on an occupation of 2,000 years ago, can hardly be seriously considered. What more can be said about the Treaty of Versailles except to ask: what are we doing today that will haunt the world 100 years from now? Mike Ferner served as a hospital corpsman during the Viet Nam war. In 2006 he participated in a five-week, water-only fast with Kathy Kelly and Ed Kinane to protest the war in Iraq and was also convicted of two felonies for painting Troops Out Now on a highway overpass, which cost him two months house arrest and $5,000 Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here. ==See Also== Note To ICH Community We ask that you assist us in dissemination of the article published by ICH to your social media accounts and post links to the article from other websites. Thank you for your support. Peace and joy The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. Search Information Clearing House === Click Here To Support Information Clearing House Your support has kept ICH free on the Web since 2002. Click for Spanish , German , Dutch , Danish , French , translation- Note- Translation may take a moment to load. The Yemen War Death Toll Is Five Times Higher Than We Think We Can't Shrug Off Our Responsibilities Any Longer The absence of credible figures for the death toll in Yemen until now, has made it easier for foreign powers to shrug off accusations they are complicit in a human disaster By Patrick Cockburn October 29, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - One reason Saudi Arabia and its allies are able to avoid a public outcry over their intervention in the war in Yemen, is that the number of people killed in the fighting has been vastly understated. The figure is regularly reported as 10,000 dead in three-and-a-half years, a mysteriously low figure given the ferocity of the conflict. Now a count by a non-partisan group has produced a study demonstrating 56,000 people have been killed in Yemen since early 2016. The number is increasing by more than 2,000 per month as fighting intensifies around the Red Sea port of Hodeidah. It does not include those dying of malnutrition, or diseases such as cholera. We estimate the number killed to be 56,000 civilians and combatants between January 2016 and October 2018, says Andrea Carboni, who researches Yemen for the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED), an independent group formerly associated with the University of Sussex that studies conflicts and is focusing attention on the real casualty level. He told me he expects a total of between 70,000 and 80,000 victims, when he completes research into the casualties, hitherto uncounted, who died between the start of the Saudi-led intervention in the Yemen civil war, in March 2015, and the end of that year. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter The oft-cited figure of 10,000 dead comes from a UN official speaking only of civilians in early 2017, and has remained static since. This out of date statistic, drawn from Yemens patchy and war-damaged health system, has enabled Saudi Arabia and the UAE who lead a coalition of states strongly backed by the US, UK and France to ignore or downplay the loss of life. Casualties are rising by the day as Saudi and UAE-directed forces try to cut off Hodeidah the last port controlled by the Houthi rebels from the capital, Sanaa. Oxfam said this week, a civilian is being killed every three hours in the fighting, and between 1 August and 15 October, 575 civilians were killed in the port city, including 136 children and 63 women. An airstrike on Wednesday killed 16 civilians in a vegetable market in Hodeidah, and other strikes this month have hit two buses at a Houthi-held checkpoint, killing 15 civilians, including four children. Little information about casualties in Yemen reaches the outside world because Saudi and the UAE make access difficult for foreign journalists and other impartial witnesses. By contrast to the war in Syria, the American, British and French governments have no interest in highlighting the devastation caused in Yemen they give diplomatic cover to the Saudi intervention. But their deliberate blindness to the death of so many Yemenis is starting to attract more negative attention, as a byproduct of the flood of international criticism of Saudi Arabia in the wake of the premeditated murder of Jamal Khashoggi now admitted by Saudi officials in Istanbul on 2 October. The absence of credible figures for the death toll in Yemen has made it easier for foreign powers to shrug off accusations they are complicit in a human disaster. That is despite frantic appeals from senior UN officials to the organisations Security Council to avert a manmade famine which now threatens 14 million Yemenis half the population. The crisis has worsened because of the siege of Hodeidah with the city a lifeline for aid and commercial imports since mid June, a situation that has forced 570,000 people to flee their homes. UN humanitarian affairs chief Mark Lowcock warned on 23 October the immune systems of millions of people on survival support for years on end are now literally collapsing, making them especially the elderly more likely to succumb to malnutrition, cholera and other diseases. Just how many people die because they are weakened by hunger is difficult to know accurately, because most of the deaths happen at home and are unrecorded. This is particularly true of Yemen, where half the meagre health facilities no longer function, and people are often too poor to use those that do. Loss of life from fighting should be easier to record and publicise, and the fact this has not happened in Yemen is a sign of the lack of interest by the international community in the conflict. Carboni says ACLED has been able to tally the number of civilians and combatants killed in ground fighting and bombing by drawing on the Yemeni press and, to a lesser extent, international media. ACLED has used these sources, after carefully assessing their credibility, to calculate the number of fatalities. Where figures differ, the group uses lower estimates and favours the claims of those who suffered casualties, over those who say they inflicted them. It is difficult to distinguish between civilian targets that are deliberately attacked, and non-combatants who died because they were caught in the crossfire, or were close to a military unit or facility when hit. A study by Professor Martha Mundy Strategies of the Coalition in the Yemen War: Aerial Bombardment and Food War concludes the Saudi-led bombing campaign deliberately targeted food production and storage facilities. Some 220 fishing boats have been destroyed on Yemens Red Sea coast and the fish catch is down by half. ACLED began counting casualties after the war was under way, which is why it is only now researching loss of life in 2015, with its findings due to be published in January or February. Carboni adds, the trend is for the number of people being killed to rise. The monthly total before December 2017 was fewer than 2,000 casualties, but since then it has always been more than 2,000. Almost all those who died are Yemenis, though the figures also include 1,000 Sudanese troops killed fighting on behalf of the Saudi coalition. The Khashoggi affair has led to greater international focus on the calamitous war in Yemen, and the role of Saudi Arabia and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the conflict. But there is no sign of the US, Britain or France curtailing military assistance to the kingdom and the UAE, despite the likelihood the coalition will fail to win a decisive victory. The true butchers bill in the Yemen war has taken too long to emerge, but it may help to increase pressure on outside powers to stop the killing. By Joseph Kishore October 29, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - The anti-Semitic massacre at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has raised the crisis of American politics and society to a new level. More and more, the conditions in the United States have the character of a civil war, in which the most backward and reactionary forces are being encouraged and promoted. Eleven people were killed in the slaughter in Pittsburgh, which occurred during religious services Saturday morning. Among the predominantly elderly victims were two brothers and a husband and wife, aged 84 and 86. Another victim was Rose Mallinger, 97. The shooter, Robert Bowers, has been charged with 11 counts of criminal homicide and 13 counts of ethnic intimidation. While the United States is no stranger to anti-Semitism, an act of mass violence targeting Jewish people on this scale is unprecedented. As one commenter in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz wrote, the illusion that this cant happen here has been shattered. American Jews will wake up the next day to a new and far more frightening future, knowing not only that it has happened here, but that the attack could portend similar assaults in the future. To understand the significance of this act it is necessary to place it not only in its domestic, but also its international and historical context. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter The attack is a direct product of the open appeals to fascist violence by the Trump administration. Bowers was evidently motivated by a combination of rabid anti-Semitism and anti-immigrant chauvinism. He posted comments on social media just prior to the attack linking his hatred of Jews to the efforts of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS), with which the Tree of Life synagogue is affiliated, to assist refugees fleeing Central America. HIAS likes to bring invaders in that kill our people, he wrote. I cant sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. The language he employed, including the use of invaders to refer to migrants fleeing poverty and violence in Central America caused by US imperialism, is that of the Trump administration. In a speech last week, Trump referred to the caravan of migrants heading for the US border as an assault on our country. He called it an invasion that threatened to destroy your neighborhoods, your hospitals, your schools. In remarks laden with anti-Semitic and fascistic tropes, Trump denounced those who want to turn the clock back and restore power to corrupt, power-hungry globalists The attack on in the synagogue follows the string of pipe bombs sent by a Trump supporter to prominent Democrats. Trump himself is a symptom, however, not an explanation. What brought Trump to power? The consequences of the financial crisis of 2008 and the pro-Wall Street policies of the Obama administration, which enabled the right wing to posture as defenders of the forgotten man. The impact of more than a quarter-century of unending war, 17 years under the banner of the war on terror. The turn by the ruling class and both Democrats and Republicans to ever more authoritarian forms of rule in response to growing resistance from the working class. While Trump seeks to cultivate an extra-parliamentary movement of the far-right, the Democrats promote the FBI, the CIA and the military as the guarantors of stability against those who sow divisions and discontent. The international context underscores the fact that far more is involved than simply the Trump administration. The growth of far-right and fascistic movements and governments is a global phenomenon. In the Philippines, it has produced Rodrigo Duterte, who has praised and helped organize vigilante death squads. In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a member of the fascistic RSS. As chief minister of Gujarat, he helped organize the 2002 riots that killed hundreds of Muslims. In Brazil, elections held yesterday elevated to power the far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro. Throughout Europe, far-right and fascistic parties have been systematically promoted by the ruling class. Particularly significant are the developments in Germany. In the country that produced Hitler and the most horrific crimes of the 20th century, including the slaughter of six million Jews in the Holocaust, fascism is once again a major political force. The fascistic Alternative for Germany (AfD) is the main opposition party, deliberately cultivated by the parties of the political establishment, the Christian Democrats and the Social Democrats, which have at every turn adapted to and embraced its anti-immigrant chauvinism. Last month, AfD head Alexander Gauland published a column in the leading newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung that paraphrased a speech by Hitler. The state, meanwhile, in alliance with the AfD, has moved to criminalize left-wing opposition to fascism. The significance of the rise of fascism in Germany has been almost entirely ignored by the American media, including the New York Times. The efforts of reactionary historians to rewrite German history and relativize the crimes of the Nazis have provoked no opposition from the liberal establishment, including a corrupt academia in the United States. The universality of this process is underscored by the fact that among those countries where fascism is on the rise is Israel itself. The hatred of Jews is a specific form of a virulent brand of nationalism that in Israel is expressed in state-sanctioned and organized violence against Palestinians. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who recently oversaw the passage of the Nation-State Law enshrining Jewish supremacy, has made common cause with far-right and fascistic forces in Europe, including Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Finally, the international growth of fascistic movements must be placed in its historical context. What is the significance of the reemergence of fascism, 85 years after the coming to power of Hitler and nearly 80 years after the outbreak of the Second World War? Today, approaching 30 years since the dissolution of the Soviet Union by the Stalinist bureaucracy, the essentially reactionary character of what transpired in 19891991 is exposed before the entire world. The fascist disease, which was somewhat in remission during the period following World War II, has powerfully reemerged. The end of the USSR produced not a flowering of democracy, as the propagandists of capitalism prophesied, but an explosion of inequality, imperialist war, authoritarianism and a revival of fascism. Fascism is a political expression of extreme capitalist crisis. Leon Trotsky explained in What is National Socialism? (1933) that with the rise of Nazism, capitalist society is puking up [its] undigested barbarism. Fascism, he wrote, is the most ruthless dictatorship of monopoly capital. So too today, capitalism is vomiting up its undigested barbarism. The most immediate targets are migrants and refugees who are fleeing the consequences of imperialist war and capitalist exploitation. In the United States, concentration camps have been erected on the US-Mexico border that are holding immigrantsincluding childrenunder the most barbaric conditions. In one of his last major writings, the Manifesto of the Fourth International on Imperialism and War, published in May 1940, Trotsky wrote: [D]ecaying capitalism is striving to squeeze the Jewish people from all its pores; seventeen million individuals out of the two billion populating the globe, that is, less than one percent, can no longer find a place on our planet! Amid the vast expanses of land and the marvels of technology, which has also conquered the skies for man as well as the earth, the bourgeoisie has managed to convert our planet into a foul prison. Such is the condition facing millions of immigrants today. As the massacre on Saturday has once again demonstrated, a period of political reaction and war is inevitably associated with the revival of anti-Semitism, one of the oldest forms of chauvinism. Among the illusions that must be dispelled is the notion that the existence of Israel is some sort of protection against anti-Jewish persecution and violence. The most fundamental target of right-wing reaction is the working class. Just as fascism arises out of capitalism, so does the class struggle. The development of the class struggle and the growing interest in socialism terrify the ruling class. Masses of workers are moving to the left, not the right. There is deep and growing hostility to social inequality and the preparations of the ruling class for war. It is a sign of the desperation of the ruling class that, at the first sign of social opposition, it calls forward fascist violence. In the 1930s, while fascist movements acquired a mass base, what made possible their ascension to power in Germany, Italy and Spain were the political conspiracies of the ruling elites. Today, the deliberate instigation of fascism from above is an even more dominant factor. Capitalism is again posing before mankind the alternatives: socialist revolution or capitalist barbarism. All the talk in the media about the need to restore civility and end divisive political rhetoric are empty platitudes that evade all the critical issues. What must be abolished is the capitalist system itself. Eighty years ago, in 1938, the Fourth International was founded to resolve the crisis of revolutionary leadership in the working class in response to the betrayals of Stalinism and Social Democracy. At the very center of the political program of the new international was an assimilation of the lessons of the victory of fascism in Germany in 1933, the greatest defeat of the working class in history. The most important lesson was the impossibility of fighting fascism except on the basis of a revolutionary socialist and internationalist program. As the horrors of the 1930s reemerge once more, this understanding must be brought into the working class through the building of a socialist leadership, the International Committee of the Fourth International and its sections in every country, such as the Socialist Equality Party in the United States, which connect the fight against fascism with opposition to inequality, war and the capitalist system. This article was originally published by " WSWS " - Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here. ==See Also== Note To ICH Community We ask that you assist us in dissemination of the article published by ICH to your social media accounts and post links to the article from other websites. Thank you for your support. Peace and joy Home Search ICH US Would Face No Threats If It Kept its Troops & War Machines Inside Its Own Borders By Finian Cunningham October 29, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - So the United States is pulling out of a key arms-control agreement, complaining it is the only party in compliance, and therefore it wants to have the right to deploy short- and medium-range ballistic missiles. John Bolton, the national-security adviser to President Trump, was in Moscow this week meeting Russian leader Vladimir Putin and other senior Kremlin officials. Bolton huffed that the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty was obsolete from the US point of view. Theres a new strategic reality out there, said the American official. The INF, signed in 1987, is a bilateral treaty in a multipolar ballistic missile world. He was referring to countries like China, Iran and North Korea, which the US claims have built up arsenals of ballistic missiles prohibited by the INF. Those countries are not in violation of the said treaty because the INF was an agreement signed only by the US and the Soviet Union, later becoming the Russian Federation. The INF banned ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with a range of between 500km and 5,500km. By quitting the treaty, the US would, in theory, be free to deploy medium-range nuclear and non-nuclear ballistic missiles on the territories of European NATO members. That is, return to the situation of the early 1980s before the INF was agreed by then-president Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. The US would also be free to make similar deployments in its Pacific bases and allied countries, such as Japan and South Korea. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter However, it is doubtful if Washington would be able to do this without causing major political problems with its allies. This week, European leaders strongly protested against the US plan to withdraw from the INF. Even the usually obliging Norwegian head of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, said European countries would not welcome the return of American nuclear missiles on their soil. Washington for several years now has been accusing Russia of violating the INF, for allegedly developing a ground-based cruise missile. Moscow has repeatedly denied the claim, pointing out that the US has not presented any evidence to support its accusation. For its part, Moscow says the US is the party that is in violation of the treaty from its installation of Aegis Ashore missile systems in Romania and Poland. What could be the real cause of American concern is Russias new Kalibr cruise missiles that are launched from navy ships. The missile was used with devastating success against militant groups in Syria, launched from the Caspian Sea, and covering a distance of over 1,000km. Sea-launched missiles are not banned by the INF. In any case, the missiles pertinent to the INF, whether belonging to Russia, China or some other nation, are only a threat to US forces because American military power is increasingly deployed closer to those countries. The US military has troops in an estimated 150 countries around the world. Thats a global military footprint covering nearly 80 percent of all nations on the planet. Given that inordinate spread of US military, it is easy to see why American officials perceive threats. Its a bit like a thief marauding outside homes and then complaining that the homeowners are installing threatening burglar protection systems. By contrast, Russian and Chinese military forces are predominantly confined to their respective national territories. Last month, when Russia conducted its Vostok-2018 war maneuvers in Siberia and the Far East, they were described as the largest-ever military mobilization by Moscow since the end of the Cold War. But lets not forget, Russias war drills are always held within its territory. This week, the US-led NATO alliance is conducting its biggest-ever war drills since the Cold War in the North Atlantic, Scandinavia and Baltic Sea. More than 30 nations are participating with a total of 50,000 troops and hundreds of aircraft and warships. The Trident Juncture mobilization will be held for the next four weeks and comes within 500km of Russian territory. The anomalous imbalance should be glaringly obvious. Russia conducts its war drills within its own borders, which is its sovereign right; while American and allied forces are conducting simulated offensive actions on Russias doorstep. The same double-think applies to the Trump administrations complaint that Russia and others are in breach of the INF. If American forces were not encroaching on the territory of Russia and China, then they wouldnt have cause for perceiving threats. The distance between Beijing and San Francisco on the US west coast is nearly 10,000km. At its closest, the American state of Alaska is about 6,000km from Beijing. Those ranges are beyond the 5,500km upper limit of the INF. The point is that INF-type missiles from China or North Korea do not threaten US mainland territory. The only reason why US interests are threatened is because American forces are deployed in the vicinity of these countries, such as in the South China Sea, or in South Korea and Japan. The next category of missile up is the Inter-Continental Ballistic Missiles (ICMBs). They are covered by the New START treaty. American officials, including John Bolton, are showing a tepid regard about renewing START when it expires in 2021. Many observers, including Americans, are concerned that with the scrapping of the INF by the US, then the last remaining arms-control treaty will also be abandoned. That then could unleash a new global arms race and greatly increase the risk of a nuclear war. Lamentably, the US is tearing up the INF, as it did previously with the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty in 2002, based on irrational arguments. US military forces are only threatened because its forces are in everyones face in far-flung corners of the planet. Short- and medium-range threats would not be threats if America kept its troops and war machines within its own borders. Donald Trump was elected partly on the promise to scale back US overseas militarism. It has turned out to be an empty and futile promise. Thats because American militarism is a vital, incorrigible function of its ambitions for domination of the planet. Ripping up arms-controls treaties is the corollary of such a monstrous military machine. Ironically, the treaties are trashed because the poor little American monster says it is being threatened. Finian Cunningham has written extensively on international affairs, with articles published in several languages. He is a Masters graduate in Agricultural Chemistry and worked as a scientific editor for the Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, England, before pursuing a career in newspaper journalism. He is also a musician and songwriter. For nearly 20 years, he worked as an editor and writer in major news media organisations, including The Mirror, Irish Times and Independent. This article was originally published by " RT " - Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here. ==See Also== Note To ICH Community We ask that you assist us in dissemination of the article published by ICH to your social media accounts and post links to the article from other websites. Thank you for your support. Peace and joy The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. Search Information Clearing House === Click Here To Support Information Clearing House Your support has kept ICH free on the Web since 2002. Click for Spanish , German , Dutch , Danish , French , translation- Note- Translation may take a moment to load. By Slavoj Zizek October 29, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - The "rich" world urgently needs to address the reasons behind mass migration, rather than its symptoms. And understand we live in one world. Migration is, once again, headline news. Columns of migrants from Honduras are approaching the US border through Mexico; African migrants broke through barriers and entered the small Spanish exclave on the northern tip of Africa; Middle East migrants are trying to enter Croatia. Although the numbers are comparatively small, they do signal a basic geopolitical fact. In his World Interior of Capital, the German philosopher Peter Sloterdijk demonstrates how, thanks to globalization, the capitalist system came to determine all conditions of life. The first sign of this development was the Crystal Palace in London, the site of the first world exhibition in 1851. Its structure rendered palpable the exclusivity of globalization as the construction and expansion of a world interior whose boundaries are invisible, yet virtually insurmountable from without, and which is now inhabited the by one and a half billion winners of globalization. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter However, three times this number are left standing outside the door. Consequently, "the world interior of capital is not an agora or a trade fair beneath the open sky, but rather a hothouse that has drawn inwards everything that was once on the outside." Two orbits This interior, built on capitalist excesses, determines everything: "The primary fact of the Modern Age was not that the earth goes around the sun, but that money goes around the earth." After the process that transformed the world into the globe, "social life could only take place in an expanded interior, a domestically and artificially climatized inner space." What Sloterdijk correctly pointed out is that capitalist globalization does not stand only for openness & conquest, but also for a self-enclosed globe separating the inside from its outside. The two aspects are inseparable: capitalism's global reach is grounded in the way it introduces a radical class division across the entire globe, separating those protected by the sphere from those outside its cover. The flow of refugees is a momentary reminder of the violent world outside our Cupola, a world which, for us, insiders, appears mostly on TV reports about distant violent countries, not as part of our reality but encroaching on it. History lessons Thus, our ethical-political duty is not just to become aware of the reality outside our Cupola, but to fully assume our co-responsibility for the horrors outside our Cupola. The hypocrisy of the reactions to the brutal murder of Jamal Khashoggi provides a nice example of how this Cupola works. In a broader sense, he was one of us, well located within the Cupola, so we are shocked and outraged. But our care is ridiculously displaced care: the true scandal that the Istanbul murder caused a much greater scandal than Yemen where Saudi Arabia is destroying an entire country. In (probably) ordering the murder, Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) forgot the lesson of Stalin: if you kill one person, you are a criminal; if you kill thousands, you are a hero. So MBS should have gone on killing thousands in Yemen. So, back to our Leninist question: what is to be done? The first and (sadly) predominant reaction is the one of protective self-enclosure: the world out there is in a mess, let's protect ourselves by all kinds of walls. A New World Order is emerging in which the only alternative to the "clash of civilizations" remains the peaceful coexistence of civilizations (or of "ways of life," a more popular term today): forced marriages and homophobia (or the idea that a woman going alone to a public place calls for rape) are OK, just that they are limited to another country which is otherwise fully included in the world market. The sad truth that sustains this new "tolerance" is that today's global capitalism can no longer afford a positive vision of emancipated humanity, even as an ideological dream. One vision Fukuyamaist liberal-democratic universalism failed because of its own immanent limitations and inconsistencies, and populism is the symptom of this failure, its Huntington's disease. But the solution is not populist nationalism, Rightist or Leftist. Instead, the only cure is a new universalism it is demanded by the problems humanity is confronting today, from ecological threats to refugee crises. The second reaction is global capitalism with a human face personified in socially-responsible corporate figures like Bill Gates and George Soros. Even in its extreme form "open up our borders to the refugees, treat them like one of us." Yet, the problem with this solution is that it only provides what in medicine is called a symptomatic treatment a therapy of a disease leaves the basic global situation intact; it only affects its symptoms, not its cause. Such a treatment is aimed at reducing the signs and symptoms for the comfort and well-being of the patient but, in our case, this is obviously not enough since the solution is obviously not that all wretched of the world will move into the safety of the Cupola. We need to move from the humanitarian focus on the wretched of the Earth to the wretched Earth itself. The third reaction is therefore to gather the courage and envisage a radical change which imposes itself when we fully assume the consequences of the fact that we live in ONE world. Is such a change a utopia? No, the true utopia is that we can survive without such a revolution. Slavoj Zizek is a cultural philosopher. Hes a senior researcher at the Institute for Sociology and Philosophy at the University of Ljubljana, Global Distinguished Professor of German at New York University, and international director of the Birkbeck Institute for the Humanities of the University of London. This article was originally published by " RT " - Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here. ==See Also== Note To ICH Community We ask that you assist us in dissemination of the article published by ICH to your social media accounts and post links to the article from other websites. Thank you for your support. Peace and joy Barcelona ensured that Real Madrid winless streak in the domestic league continues after inflicting a 5-1 defeat on them during their meeting in the domestic league today today. The Los Blancos are now winless in 3 consecutive game in the domestic fixture for the first time since May last year. Barcelona who lost their talisman, Lionel Messi, to injury last week only needed 12 minutes of play to open the scoring and doubled their lead before the quarter of an hour through Luis Suarez. The European champions, Real Madrid, however reduced the deficits through Marcelo and commuted men forward in search of an equaliser before Suarez struck again and the flood gate opened from there on. Barcelona fans then took out time to react on social media with some saying that the scoreline would have been heavier if Messi had played. What they are saying: https://twitter.com/HesAfterMoi/status/1056596796670140416 https://twitter.com/Ryydwan/status/1056595168386793477 https://twitter.com/SocialOutcast47/status/1056596263087603712 Liverpool keep their title aspirations alive by demolishing struggling Cardiff by 4 goals to ome during their clash in the domestic league yesterday. The visitors drew first blood by taking the lead in the first half before the Reds pouneed on them and turn the tie around by putting two goals past them in quick succession. Livepool then put the tie beyond reach for the visitors by adding two more to cap their impressive performance. The Reds players who are yet to lose a single match in the domestic league this season then took to social media to react at the end of the match. What players are saying: https://twitter.com/andrewrobertso5/status/1056240705637699585 https://twitter.com/_fabinhotavares/status/1056139242026557440 https://twitter.com/XS_11official/status/1056242813300604934 The Uganda Police Force has staked Shs20 million as a reward to any individual who can identify a mischievous man whose image was recently captured by CCTV cameras. The man is alleged to be behind the circulation of threatening letters and other messages to the business community in Kampala Metropolitan Areas. He said to be using the bad language as a means to get money from his targets. According deputy police spokesman Patrick Onyango, letters or messages were allegedly written and circulated by a group calling themselves Peoples agency. Stories Continues after ad He said the investigations into the matter were still on ongoing. We would like to appeal to the general public to positively identify for us the criminal in this photograph as he is the man behind the threatening letters to the business community, he said. According to Onyango, the unidentified man and his criminal gang are demanding money in foreign currencies ranging from US$ 30,000 to US $ 45,000 which they say must be given to them within three months. Police has appealed to whoever has any information that may lead to his arrest and prosecution to the nearest police station or ring telephone numbers 0712827702, 0702436325, 0702415982, 0715411689. This Years Edition of Lagos Fashion week might has come and gone, but the memory will forever linger in our mind. The event which is the biggest Fashion show in Nigeria brought together top guns in the fashion industry worldwide to view current collections of African designers. The 2018 event started on the 24th of October and came to an exciting end on Saturday 28th October, and were still in a nostalgic mood. From the Red-Carpet kicking things off to TECNO Mobiles creative Booth showcasing some of its most breath-taking smartphones, this years edition of the LFW definitely went down as the best so far. Every single day of the event attracted models, fashion enthusiasts, buyers, consumers and the media to view the latest creations by several notable African designers. The TECNO Mobile Booth was however one of the major spotlights of the event as people, celebrities trooped in to experience some of the devices on display as well as to take pictures with the Camon X Pro. According to one of the celebrities, Ozina Anumudu during an interview session, she said without technology Fashion will not be at where it was today. The former BBNaija Housemate, Tobi Bakare was the cynosure of all eyes at the TECNO Space as fans, fashionistas trooped in to take pictures with him. Trust the sweet boy himself, there were enough Stew to go around. Below are the mix of various photos taken through the lens of the Camon X Pro. Vanguard TWO persons were, Saturday, reported dead at Bomadi, Delta State, when a commercial bus heading to Bomadi from Ughelli, lost control and rammed into a provision shop along the road. Thisday In spite of the clear provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended that show that President Muhammadu Buhari is qualified to run for the nations presidency, the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said yesterday that it would challenge the presidents suitability in court. The Sun The stage is now set for a total shutdown of the Nigerian economy as the nations Organised Labour last week vowed to commence a nationwide strike November 6, to press home a demand for a new national minimum wage for workers. Daily Times IPOB leader, Nwannekaenyi Nnamdi Kenny Okwu Kanu who resurfaced few weeks ago, took a swipe at President Buhari in a new broadcast today from Jerusalem. Leadership The deputy national publicity secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Mr Yekini Nabena, has lashed out at former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his erstwhile deputy, Atiku Abubakar over the capacity to beat President Muhammadu Buhari in an integrity contest. The Nation The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos has reached out to members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to join what they describe as the struggle to free the state from one-man leadership. Tribune President Muhammadu Buhari has extended heartfelt condolences to the Anenih family on the death of its beloved patriarch and elder statesman, Chief Anthony The Director general of president Muhammadu Buharis reelection campaign organization, Festus Keyamo(SAN) had said when its comes to campaign, theres no hard and fast rule. Keyamo, who accused the opposition party of fighting hard to take the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from the tracks of character and integrity, because the lack such qualities. In a statement by Keyamo on Monday, he trolled senator Ademola Adeleke for almost becoming governor via dancing, saying his point, that a campaign has no universally acceptable way to be run. He also accuses former president Olusegun Obasanjo and his vice, Atiku Abubakar were in their terms in office, busing built their own universities whilst the public ones suffered series of strike. The Director general of the presidents campaign organization hailed Buharis presidencys as the cleanest. See statement below Theyve been fighting so hard to take us out of d tracks of CHARACTER & INTEGRITY in this campaign. Why? Thats where it hurts them. They tell us to focus on other issues. Really? But they cannot set our agenda for us. We should all set their own agenda. The masses will decide. Theres no political encyclopedia anywhere as to d right political agenda a campaign should run. Afterall, someone came close to being governor by just dancing! So, they should set their own agenda & lets set our own. Whyre are they worried about our own campaign strategy? In d era of Initiated & Abandoned (1999 2007) we saw a President & his Deputy grant themselves University licenses in clear contravention of d Code of Conduct. One was building Bell University & the other was building American University. What a competition in corruption! At the time Obasanjo and Atiku were both building their Universities whilst in office, other Nigerian public Universities were constantly going on strike because of poor infrastructure and funding. Yet, they heartlessly carried on. May we never see their type in power again! Were witnessing d cleanest Presidency in our history up till this moment. 1st, no case of in-fighting. Secondly, complete trust b/w the two. Thirdly, no personal scandal involving public funds. Fourthly, no appetite for wealth acquisition. Yes, CHARACTER will be on d table this time Members of Iowa States Student Government make their way through the nights agenda during their meeting on Oct. 24 in the Campanile room of the Memorial Union. The meeting centered on funding for Latinx Initiatives, Rodeo Club, seating at-large members to the finance committee and confirming members to the election commission. SACOM, a Hong Kong-based human rights group, claims that Quanta Computers one of Apples key Taiwanese supplier is employing high school students for assembling Apple Watch units in its factory in Chongqing, China. The claims are based on interviews with 28 high school students who worked at the Quanta Computer factory in Chongqing this summer. The students were sent to the factory by their school on the pretext of internships but they ended up performing the same tasks as other assembly line workers which included assembling Apple Watch units. Worse, the students were forced to work overtime and even night shift which violates the Chinese law. Sacom said it had interviewed 28 high school students at the Quanta Computer factory in Chongqing this summer. The students said they were sent to the factory by their teachers for internships, but performed the same jobs as other assembly line workers and often worked overtime and night shifts, both of which are illegal for student interns under Chinese law. As per the report, there were hundreds of high school children working in the factory. Apple has already started investigating the claims made in the report. The Cupertino company is very strict about the working environment and rules for its suppliers and any violation can lead to Quanta Computers either losing out on its contract with Apple or being penalized heavily. Apples Chinese suppliers have been frequently accused of illegal production practices including employing underage workers, making its workers work above and beyond the weekly limit, and more. Last time around, [Via Financial Times Focus on Lisa Netz, co-owner of The Lavish Loft Submitted by Haleh Rabizadeh Resnick, Federation Business and Community Development Director For the Voice What was your path to South Jersey? I grew up in... Focus on Peter Hecht Partner at Magna Legal Services Tell me about your connection to the South Jersey Jewish Community? I actually grew up in East Brunswick, Exit 9 off the Turnpike. But weve... Focus on Abigail Dahan: Owner of the Bake School Tell me a bit about your life in South Jersey. I grew up in Cherry Hill. We moved here from Paris when I was six... Public Sector Organization Karachi Jobs for Stenographer Latest Public Sector Organization Management Posts Karachi 2021 Public Sector Organization Karachi. Pakistan required applications from experienced candidates for the posts of Stenographer, Personal Assistant, Secretary, Assistant, Senior Assistant, Junior Assistant, Sub Assistant, Driver, Dispatch Rider, Watchman, Naib Qasid and Mali. How to Apply on Public Sector Organization Job Advertisement Apply as per details in job advertisement. In some cases, you may apply online at vacancies after registering at https://www.jobz.pk online. Company Address: P.O Box # 7752, Saddar, GPO, Karachi 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. The government of Uganda and others in Africa should recognise customary rights to water for millions of small farmers who have been sidelined or criminalised by permit systems created during the colonial era, according to a report published on Monday as the continent marks the Africa Water Week in Libreville, Gabon. Restrictive permit systems in Uganda, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa and Zimbabwe have left more than 100 million people without access to enough water, says the report by the Sri Lanka-based International Water Management Institute (IWMI). Those countries should decolonise statutory water law through a hybrid approach, according to the report. Stories Continues after ad A hybrid system that recognises both existing permits and includes customary laws would improve water access for small farmers, says Barbara Schreiner, a co-author of the report. This is critical for expanding smallholder irrigation, says Schreiner, who is executive director of the South Africa-based advocacy group Pegasys Institute. About half of sub-Saharan Africa governments recognise customary rights to water, according to the Washington-based think tank World Resources Institute, but most are restricted to home use and limited farm irrigation. In the five countries surveyed, researchers found that laws restrict small farmers to irrigating less than one acre of land without a permit, says Barbara van Koppen, a co-author and principal researcher at IWMI. Recognising customary rights would help small farmers expand their agricultural production through irrigation, she says. She said state agencies mandated to license water use have concentrated on large commercial users and failed to reach small farmers. While many countries promoted water permits as the best practice in the 1990s, poorly-funded state agencies mandated with this task could not reach millions of small farmers, leaving many at risk of prosecution, the report says. Recognition of customary water rights would also help strengthen land rights for a majority of communities whose land is still untitled across Africa, said Timothy Williams, IWMIs director for Africa. About 90 percent of rural land in Africa is undocumented, according to the World Bank, with most of it held under customary law. 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. 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. Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei will attend a mourning ceremony on Tuesday, which marks Arbaeen, the 40th day after the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (AS). AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei will attend a mourning ceremony on Tuesday, which marks Arbaeen, the 40th day after the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (AS). The Imam Khomeini (RA) Husseiniyeh (religious hall) in Tehran will host the ceremony, which will also be attended by hundreds of university students from around the country. The students will march from the university of Tehran to the Husseiniyeh on Tuesday morning. Arbaeen, meaning the fortieth in Arabic, is observed 40 days after Ashura, the tenth day of the lunar calendar month of Muharram, when Imam Hussein (AS), the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), was martyred along with dozens of his companions at the hands of the tyrant of the time, Yazid I, more than thirteen centuries ago. /257 Jed Emerson, author of a recent book, "The Purpose of Capital," and one of the key promoters of the double bottom line management, speaks during an interview with The Korea Times in front of Fort Mason Center in San Francisco, Oct. 25. Korea Times photo by Oh Young-jin Double bottom line management is an effort to bring social conscience to money-making businesses. In contrast to the conventional bottom line that only tells profits or losses, it introduces the second for social value a given company creates. If the environmental factor is included, it would be a triple bottom line or blended value. During the Oct. 23-26 SOCAP 2018 in San Francisco, The Korea Times spoke with Jed Emerson, author of the recent book "The Purpose of Capital," who has fleshed out this concept of holding corporations and financial institutions to a high standard in social and environmental value. Emerson's bottom line is: businesses can't prosper, if they don't pay attention to these extra financial issues that directly affect people' quality of life. The following is the edited version of interview with Emerson, the first in a series of articles on the increasing importance of social value in the assessment of corporate performance. ED. Double bottom line is tool to holding corporations, banks to higher standard By Oh Young-jin Question: Would you define double bottom line management? Answer: Double bottom line speaks to the reality _ business should advance both financial and extra-financial values such as social values and environmental impact. We know how to assess performance on a financial basis, but it is more difficult to assess it on a social or environmental basis. More often, people use triple bottom line to be clearer in terms of distinguishing these different parts of value proposition. Social returns on investments (SROI) speak to what extra financial returns you are generating by the function of what you are doing. The concept has evolved a lot for the last 20 to 25 years. In the early '90s, a lot of people considered social returns as merely a metaphor. In 1996, the Roberts Enterprise Development Fund I was running published what I think was the first methodology around social returns on investment. In 2000, we published a template investors could use to track the economic value of social impact and tie that back to their investment dollars. That idea was adopted by a new economics foundation in London, which added the voice of stakeholders. Social return is a way of thinking about how to track performance, how to track extra financial performance, a way to connect your investment dollars with street-level impact. Q: How do you propose advancing double bottom line management? A: Investors, asset owners, entrepreneurs need to advance this idea to the public. It is up to leaders in business and social sectors in investing finance and impact investing to advance this conversation and give people options and ways to think about it. I don't think it is helpful to have one metric the same way you have one financial metric to try to take all these elements of extra financial and environmental performances and drive them into a single quantitative metric because that metric won't mean anything. It is looking at intangible things off the balance sheet. Some social and environmental value can be quantified but much shouldn't be quantified. The danger of getting things into a single metric is oversimplifying. Rather we need something like a dashboard where you look at a variety of different indicators, some numeric, some financial, but others qualitative, story-telling and narrative about value in a more holistic manner. Q: How do you implement it for, say, a big manufacturing firm? A: A CEO needs to establish principles, enunciate visions and say what his or her expectations are in terms of elements and aspects to answers he sees in advance. But each company has different market challenges, different opportunities so they should really focus on developing solutions that work best for them. Double bottom line is fine as it is a kind of tool to get there, but the focus should be on value, or the nature of the value the firm is trying to create. Blended value is made up of social and environment components. The CEO needs clarity the value proposition and how that is understood. Then he can use the double bottom line and SROI to capture that value. It is about what the double bottom line allows you to do and how it allows you to create value in the world. Q: SK Group of Korea has adopted this system. What would you say to its chairman, who is trying to have it used throughout the conglomerate? A: He must be visionary in his apparent understanding that the future and long-term value of the firm is founded both in pursuing financial interests and understanding that those interests are combined with the interests of society and the earth. Long term, the performance of a company will be enhanced by taking a wider aperture and looking at the company's operations and capabilities through lens that give us a look at other aspects of value creation that the double bottom line opens for you. The right solution comes out of the process where his people _ managers and employees _ are exploring how we should think about this for us; what is the best metric and best process that brings us to a point where the company is run by the double bottom line. It will take years for it really to evolve. Q: Are there cases of other firms? A: Larry Fink from BlackRock, a U.S. multinational investment firm said in a letter to investors early this year that they were deadly serious about holding their investees responsible for double bottom line performance. Jeremy Grantham of the Britishbased asset management firm Grantham, Mayo & van Otterloo (GMO) is all out to take environmental factors into account. Paul Tudor Jones, founder of Tudor Investment Corp., says it is urgent to rethink how we approach capitalism itself (from extra financial aspects.) All of this indicates we are moving in this direction. This conversation today is a process of discovering we all are involved in finding a better answer. Q: Is the double bottom line a determined path to go? A: There was a time when business pretended social and environmental factors didn't affect financial returns. That time is gone. Today, many investors, even if all they care about is making money, know they will underperform over time, if you don't anticipate things your algorithm doesn't tell you and take account of off-balance sheet issues, things that don't appear in traditional metrics. Part of the value of double bottom line orientation helps you see beyond your current framework and anticipate what is happening in the world, community and markets. Q: About impact investing? A: One of my customers once said, when I said it was a field, it was more like a yard. That is no longer true. Impact investing to my mind is assembling and deploying capital, mission-driven and purpose-driven to make money with the generation of social and environmental impact. You could include socially responsible investing, sustainable finance, environmental, social and governance (ESG) integration. Today $8 trillion in the United States is being managed on that basis and $14 trillion is being managed on that basis in Europe. You don't see that kind of inflow of capital for something that is ill-defined or losing money. Q: Any unsaid words? A: The trick is how to make this idea meaningful in a Korean context. Take the idea and say what this idea is for us, what our responses and our solutions are and how we advance them on terms that make sense for our culture and community. Workers, technicians and officials celebrate the completion of a construction project at the Hwanghae Iron and Steel Complex on Sept. 30. KCNA-Yonhap By Jung Da-min Ri Ki-song in Pyongyang. AP A Pyongyang economist on Monday called for changes in the regime's economic policies to expand the autonomy of enterprises and ensure the responsibility of workers. North Korea's party mouthpiece Rodong Sinmun published the call in a column titled "An important demand to carry on the new strategic route of the party" by Ri Ki-song, a professor at North Korea's Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of Economy, who has promoted the North Korean economy in interviews with foreign media. Ri emphasized the importance of the "socialist system of responsibility management of enterprises," saying that national economic policies should focus more on improving the achievements of enterprises and workers by giving them more autonomy and responsibility. "It is important to take strong and practical measures so that the socialist enterprises, the basic units of production and management, can demonstrate their responsibility, initiative and creativity, with the socialist system of responsibility management of enterprises having effects," Ri wrote. South Gyeongsang Province Governor Kim Kyung-soo answers reporters' questions at the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul, Monday, before attending the first hearing in a trial over an online opinion rigging scandal. He is accused of conspiring with an influential blogger named Druking to manipulate online comments during the presidential election in 2017. / Korea Times photo by Shin Sang-soon By Jung Hae-myoung Current government measures against domestic violence fail to punish the offenders and cannot protect the victims, women's rights activists said Monday. Dozens of members from the Korea Women's Hot Line (KWHL), as well as some domestic violence survivors, urged law enforcement authorities to sternly punish domestic violence offenders during a press conference in downtown Seoul The conference was triggered by a case where a man murdered his ex-wife in an apartment parking lot in Gangseo-gu, western Seoul, Oct. 22. According to his daughters, the man had been abusing the ex-wife and them for 25 years. The KWHL said police mismanagement of domestic violence cases and the courts' lenient rulings resulted in the killing. "In a 2013 report by the National Police Agency, 57.9 percent of police officers said domestic violence should be handled within the family, and 35 percent said there was nothing they could do," said Ko Mi-kyoung, a representative of the KWHL. "Victims are dying at the hands of their male partners because of the poor awareness of the authorities." The participants stressed the survivors' rights are not protected, from the initial steps throughout the court proceedings, demanding the National Assembly revise the relevant law to protect victims during investigation procedures. "I was exposed to constant threats and violence from my ex-husband after I filed a divorce suit," one survivor said. "But the police and the prosecution only believed his claims that wounds on my body were self-inflicted due to a mental disorder." Another survivor, who was abused by her father, said she also called the police, but the officers apparently made jokes with her father. "The officers told me off, saying it was not right for me to report my own father to the police," she said. The KWHL pointed out the fundamental problem lies in the "objective" of the domestic violence law in Korea, which focuses on "keeping the household together" rather than punishing the perpetrator. After the law was established in 1997, at least 824 women have been killed in domestic violence, according to the KWHL. From 2015 to June this year, 99 percent of the people who were detained for domestic violence were released with no time served in prison. According to a separate report released by Rep. Kang Chang-il of the Democratic Party of Korea, police received 1.15 million reports on domestic violence from 2013 to 2017. But only 13 percent of offenders were charged. Those who are arrested for domestic violence are usually given light penalties such as suspended jail terms which can be replaced by taking education courses or community service. "The offenders should be subject to punishment, not counseling," said Kim Myeong-jin, head of arrangement committee for Korean Domestic Violence Counseling Center for Women's Rights. "The number of repeat crimes shows either the law is not effective or the government has no will to protect the survivors." In the Gangseo-gu murder case, the man stabbed his ex-wife to death. One of the three daughters then posted an online petition on Cheong Wa Dae's website, calling for the death penalty for her father. She said the father abused the mother and the daughters for more than 20 years and kept threatening them even after the divorce. By Mozes Csoma Mozes Csoma At the end of October and the beginning of November, Hungarians commemorate the 1956 revolution, when the Hungarian population rose up against communist repression. The uprising also echoed a great solidarity in South Korea. Older Korean generations may still remember the poem of Kim Chun-soo, published with the title "The Death of a Girl in Budapest," after the Hungarian Revolution was repressed. However, it is scarcely known that South Koreans had been collecting donations to support the aggrieved of the Hungarian Revolution, and even personally, Syngman Rhee, head of state, had also provided support to help Hungarians. The textiles purchased from the donations were finally shipped at the beginning of 1957 via the International Red Cross from Incheon harbor. It is also not widely known that, following the overthrow of the Hungarian Revolution, nine students from Yonsei University founded the Volunteer Student Soldiers for the Hungarian Freedom team and asked Kim Yong-woo, then Minister of National Defense, to send them to Central Europe to fight for Hungarian freedom. Of course, this could not happen because of the Cold War's realities. Decades later, the Hungarian state honored the former leader of the organization, Lee Man-sup (1935-2015), who also served as chairman of the Korean National Assembly for a long time. Organization member Yoo Jay-kun, later a representative of the Korean National Assembly, also received honors. In the autumn of 1956, Ban Ki-moon, later U.N. Secretary-General, also expressed his condolences to Hungarian freedom as a high school student, addressing a speech to then U.N. Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold that condemned the intervention of the Soviet Union, which suppressed the Hungarian Revolution. Decades later, the Hungarian state also acknowledged his action with honors. However, the 1956 Hungarian Revolution was not only supported by South Koreans. It is barely known that at that time nearly a thousand North Koreans who had war experience studied in Budapest, arriving there from the Korean battlefront a few years earlier. Since at the time of the outbreak of the Hungarian Revolution, young insurgents mostly college students and high school students did not have war experience, several asked their fellow North Korean students to help with the use of weapons. Many Hungarian memorials underline that in the period of the Hungarian Revolution the insurgents received help from those North Korean students. I, as a university professor of Korean Studies and historian, was particularly interested in the role of North Korean students in 1956, of which I sought to gather all available archival information and personal reminiscences. During my research, the greatest experience for me was that I was able to find two former North Korean students who, after the fall of the Hungarian Revolution, to avoid their deportation to the DPRK, fled to a "third country" through the western border. When listening to their remembrances, it was particularly a great experience for me that I was able to have conversations with them in Korean the language they used 60 years before, and in Hungarian the language they had learned at the time of the Revolution. The results of my research were published in a book in Budapest and Seoul some years ago. The Korean stand for Hungarian freedom carries an important message. It is clear evidence that the two people's desire for freedom does not know compromises. As a professor of Korean Studies, I have always taught my students the history of the Korean Peninsula by paralleling Korean historical events and people with chapters of Hungarian history. Whether we think of peaceful times or war events, in both cases we can find comparable historical figures. For example, medieval Hungarian culture's golden ages related to Matthias Corvinus (1458-1490), who also strengthened the country's position as a military force and created a culture of excellence through the Bibliotheca Corviniana library. He was surrounded by Italian humanists and gained great international recognition. His path can be clearly paralleled by Sejong the Great (1397-1450), who strengthened the military position of the Joseon Kingdom with action against the Jurchen people and his expedition campaign on Tsushima Island, and made a contribution to Korean culture with the creation of Korean national letter writing. The Korean national hero Yi Sun-shin (1545-1598), who at the end of the 16th century took his famous turtle-shaped warships into battle against the Japanese fleet, can be compared with Janos Hunyadi (1406-1456) who, as a brilliant strategist and military leader, successfully tackled the overwhelming advancement of the Ottoman Empire. The decisive battle took place in 1456 in the territory of today's Belgrade (Nandorfehervar in Hungarian), before which Pope Callixtus III ordered the bells to sound every noon in the churches of Europe, to think of Hunyadi Janos' overcoming soldiers. The origin of noon's bell tolling can be traced back to that historical event. Next year, Hungary and the Republic of Korea will jointly commemorate the 30th anniversary of the two countries' diplomatic engagement. In my opinion, exploring the eagerness for freedom and historical connections of the two peoples is a very good opportunity to further develop bilateral relations. As a newly appointed ambassador in Seoul, I believe that, despite the great geographical distance, I may contribute to making our peoples better acquainted with each other's past and their attachments. Mozes Csoma is the Hungarian Ambassador to Korea and a former Korean Studies professor at the ELTE University in Budapest. Josette Altmann Borbon, a former first lady of Costa Rica and the Secretary General of Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences (FLACSO), speaks during a recent interview with The Korea Times at the Costa Rican Embassy in Seoul. / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk Former first lady of Costa Rica underscores long-term strategy By Yi Whan-woo Latin American and Caribbean countries are less known in Korea than the United States, China, the European Union and other major trading partners. And this is where FLACSO, a Spanish acronym for Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences, can help Korea better learn about the regions, according to FLACSO Secretary General Josette Altmann Borbon. Altmann, also a former first lady of Costa Rica from 1994 to 1998, said understanding the regions academically is important to create a "win-win situation" for both sides in the long term. She referred to the risk stemming from a "short-sighted" relationship based on economic interests such as U.S. trade protectionism. FLACSO is an intergovernmental organization aimed at promoting academic research, fostering graduate courses and training specialists in social sciences among the universities of its 18 member countries Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Surinam and Uruguay plus an observer Spain. It is also aimed at sharing its knowledge including research findings with governments, parliaments, nongovernmental organizations and civic societies. Its programs cover a wide range of fields including politics, sociology, economics and culture. "FLACSO is a bridge between the academics and the government," Altmann said during a recent interview with The Korea Times at the Costa Rican Embassy in Seoul. "Korea can learn more about the academic world of Latin American countries and their public diplomacy by getting familiar with FLACSO." She joined an economic forum where she delivered a speech on trade relations between Korea and Central America. Altmann underscored FLACSO as "a window of opportunity" for Korea, referring to its efforts to shift away from economic reliance on the U.S. and China and diversify its economic cooperation. "Opportunities and circumstances are pernicious for both (Korea and the Latin America) because Korea and most of the Latin American countries are aiming for more open-market economies while the U.S., which is the hegemonic power, is looking inward," she said. Altmann suggested Korea bolster its ties through economic and commercial bonds. But she warned their relations will "only last for a short term if you stay with that." "Instead, if you think of a more holistic cooperation, you can have long-term cooperation and that will be a win-win situation for both regions. You will not only have cooperation with FLACSO but also will have a bigger view of Latin America." Altmann is the first FLACSO secretary general to visit Korea since it was founded in 1957. She is the organization's first woman secretary general. Altmann earned her Ph.D in humanities from the University of Leiden in the Netherlands. She also took a one-year study program at Harvard University from 1990 to 1991. By Yi Whan-woo The Korea Foundation (KF), a nonprofit organization under the wing of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Embassy of Singapore in Korea jointly hosted a Singaporean contemporary dance performance in Busan recently. The performances took place from Oct. 18 to 19 at the ASEAN Culture House operated by the KF. Under the theme "The Rite of Passage," the performers from Dance Ensemble Singapore illustrated wedding and other traditions of the Peranakan, the descendents of Chinese immigrants to Singapore. "This piece emphasized the rites of a Peranakan wedding, featuring the interplay between the various aspects of Peranakan culture, such as its ceremonies and traditional bridal culture, presenting a multifaceted dance-drama performance that delivers an exquisite balance of Oriental and contemporary dance movements," the KF said. It said the performance helped Koreans "enjoy the contemporary aesthetics of Peranakan tradition." Among the guests for the two-day event were Singaporean Ambassador to Korea Yip Wei Kiat and officials from the KF and the Busan municipal government. This was the ASEAN Culture House's first hosting of a contemporary dance performance by an ASEAN country since it opened in September 2017. The performance was part of an 18 day-campaign "Easy Access Singapore" on Singaporean culture and tradition from Oct. 11 to 28. The programs included lectures, cooking classes, clay art classes and film screenings. The ASEAN Culture House was built to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of ASEAN. It runs cultural programs on 10 ASEAN countries rotationally during the year. Swiss Ambassador to Korea Linus von Castelmur, right, speaks during a ceremony at the construction site of the new Swiss Embassy in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Oct. 19. / Embassy of Switzerland By Yi Whan-woo Switzerland will open its new embassy in Jongno-gu, Seoul, next May after years of construction. The embassy has been temporarily housed in Yongan-gu since 2014. The new diplomatic mission is designed by Burckhardt+Partner, an architectural firm based in Basel, Switzerland. It combines features of modern Swiss architecture and hanok, a traditional Korean house, according to the embassy. Swiss Ambassador to South Korea Linus von Castelmur called it "a modern Swiss interpretation" of hanok. He said it is made of concrete, wood and glass and is open to the courtyard and closed to the outside. He called it "state-of-the-art construction," featuring human- and eco-friendly designs, such as geothermal energy pumps for heating and cooling, rainwater harvesting and solar power generation. The envoy hosted a ceremony on Oct. 19 at the construction site to offer a glimpse of the new embassy. The ceremony jointly celebrated the Swiss national day. Among the guests were ambassadors in Seoul, First Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Jongno-gu district officials. "I extend a very warm welcome to all of you to the Swiss national day 2018 celebration and the pre-opening of the new Swiss house in Seoul," the ambassador said. "This building is a powerful symbol of our longstanding friendship with the Republic of Korea and of our genuine wish to further expand our excellent and mutually beneficial relations in all fields." He said the embassy will introduce various programs, including exhibitions and conferences, under the theme "Switzerland pushing the limits" for the embassy's opening next year. "So be reminded: This event is only a teaser," von Castelmur said. Meanwhile, the ambassador cited a need for dialogue and sanctions for the denuclearization of North Korea. His remark came amid progress in inter-Korean cooperation without significant denuclearization measures. The U.S. has reaffirmed a call for inter-Korean ties to keep in lockstep with denuclearization progress. "Switzerland is witnessing with great sympathy and relief the detente process initiated by the two Koreas, the U.S., other regional powers and the wider international community," von Castelmur said. "As a proud member of the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission (NNSC) since 1953 and thus a stakeholder in this region, my country is convinced that there cannot be a military solution to the problem. Only a dual-track approach of open dialogue and pressure on the basis of U.N. Security Council resolutions can lead to the goal of a peaceful, prosperous and denuclearized Korean Peninsula." He said Switzerland and South Korea have much to cooperate in trade and investment, science and technology and culture, on top of their bilateral trade. According to the embassy, the bilateral trade volume in 2017 reached $4 billion. The universities and private enterprises, including startups of the two countries, have been bolstering cooperation on health, life sciences, mechanical engineering, nanotechnologies and fintech. Many South Korean musicians are members of Swiss orchestras and Swiss musicians have been invited to perform regularly in Seoul. The works of South Koreans are sold at Art Basel, an international art fair in Basel, Miami and Hong Kong. By Kim Hyun-bin The bereaved family members of farmer activist Baek Nam-ki will receive 60 million won ($52,700) in compensation from three police officers who were involved in the 65-year-old farmer's death which was a result of police water cannon operations. The victim fell unconscious after being hit by a police water cannon during an anti-government rally in November 2015 and remained in a coma for over 10 months before he died of acute renal failure in September 2016. According to police and the Seoul Central District Court, Monday, the three policemen _ Shin Yun-kyun, who was then-chief of the 4th Riot Squad, and two low-level officers who operated the water cannon _ agreed to settle and pay a total of 60 million won, or 15 million won to each of four bereaved family members. The payment is in addition to the government's compensation of 490 million won which was settled in January. On Nov. 14, 2015, Baek took part in an anti-government rally in Seoul, where a physical clash took place between protesters and police officers. He was trying to tie a rope to a police bus and police fired the water cannon that knocked him down and left him comatose. In March 2016, Baek's family filed a compensation lawsuit for 240 million won against the state, former National Police Agency Commissioner General Kang Shin-myung, former Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Commissioner Goo Eun-soo, and policemen involved in the water cannon operation. After Baek's death, the family raised the claim to 700 million won. In January, the lawsuit against the government, Kang and Goo was settled through mediation and the government gave 490 million won to the family, and Kang and Goo apologized to the family. However, Shin and two low-level officers objected to the mediation. Baek's death stirred up a huge public uproar against excessive use of police force against protesters. A probe found the riot police fired water cannons above the chest, which is against regulations. Baek was hit directly in the head by a high-pressure blast of water. By Park Ji-won An international meeting of OECD members and experts will be held in Seoul from Tuesday to Wednesday to discuss digitization of government administration systems. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety is hosting the annual meeting with 100 senior officials from 36 governments of OECD member nations, partner countries and experts to tackle risks in applying the latest technologies to make the public sector more responsive and sustainable. "Digital transformation in the public sector will lead to transformation of a country. Each transformation will shape the future for the entire international community," Interior and Safety Minister Kim Boo-kyum said in a press release. During the meeting, an initiative called "The E-Leaders Without Border" will be introduced. The plan aims to seek joint growth among international communities while seeking to help enhance the e-government capabilities of developing countries by sharing its activities with them. It is also looking for ways to relate with the U.N.'s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). On the agenda of "Digital Transformation: Exploring how emerging technologies meet the needs of a user-driven public sector," participants will share the latest developments and practices of e-government and discuss major challenges to seek its sustainable development. OECD Deputy Secretary-General Mari Kiviniemi, and Gertrud Ingestad, the director-general of the EU Commission's Department for Informatics (DIGIT), will also participate along with other key officials and experts from various countries. On the sidelines of the OECD meeting, the Global Digital Government Forum will be held on Thursday. At this forum, Vice Interior Minister Shim Bo-kyun and Ingestad will deliver an opening speech, while officials from countries using leading e-government systems such as Denmark, Canada, the Netherlands and Finland will join the discussion panel. U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun speaks with his South Korean counterpart Lee Do-hoon at the foreign ministry building in Seoul, Monday. / Yonhap Talks seen to have addressed sanctions issue By Kim Bo-eun The top nuclear envoys of South Korea and the United States met in Seoul, Monday, to discuss North Korea's denuclearization. U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun and his South Korean counterpart Lee Do-hoon, representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, had met in Washington seven days previously. "We have a shared goal here, which is to bring an end to 70 years of war and hostility on the Korean Peninsula, and the primary requirement for us to get to that end is to achieve the final, fully verified denuclearization of North Korea," Biegun said ahead of the meeting at the foreign ministry building. Lee expressed hopes of "seeing (Biegun) with the North Korean representative as quickly as possible to find a breakthrough." He was referring to the current stall in denuclearization talks between North Korea and the United States. Pyongyang has yet to provide a response on when and where its vice foreign minister Choe Son-hui will begin working-level talks with Biegun. Following the third inter-Korean summit last month, Washington invited Pyongyang for working-level meetings in Vienna, Austria. North Korea and the U.S. have also yet to hold another high-level meeting, which U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated would take place soon. The two sides are seen as likely attempting to narrow differences on the issue of allowing exemptions to sanctions for inter-Korean projects. The government has been seeking the exemptions, stating that moving forward with inter-Korean relations will help bring progress in the North's denuclearization. The U.S. which leads the sanctions regime, however, has maintained the sanctions will remain intact until North Korea achieves complete denuclearization. The South and North agreed at a high-level meeting earlier this month to hold a groundbreaking ceremony to connect their respective railway networks in late November or early December. The Koreas also agreed at a meeting on forestry cooperation last week to upgrade 10 of the North's tree nurseries within this year. Because both projects require exemptions from U.N. Security Council and U.S. sanctions on the North, they have seen little progress. The Ministry of Unification said Monday that talks were ongoing with relevant states on a plan to inspect railway tracks in the North, which need to take place for the groundbreaking ceremony to be held this year. The inspection had initially been scheduled to take place in August, but has been delayed for months due to issues concerning the sanctions. Biegun also paid a courtesy visit on Presidential Chief of Staff Im Jong-seok and Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha. Biegun and Kang "shared recent developments concerning denuclearization talks between North Korea and the U.S. as well as the advancement of inter-Korean relations, and discussed means to achieve complete denuclearization and establish a lasting peace system," the foreign ministry said. Biegun will speak with Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon on Tuesday. Meanwhile, speculation had been raised that Biegun might meet with North Korean negotiators at the truce village of Panmunjeom, but this appears unlikely, based on responses from the state department and foreign ministry. This is Biegun's fourth visit to Seoul since he was appointed in August. 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./. By Lee Min-hyung United States President Donald Trump has pinned hopes that North Korea will achieve "economic prosperity" once it continues fulfilling its pledge for denuclearization. "North Korea will become a great economic place," Trump said in an Illinois rally, Saturday (local time). He said the location is good for North Korea, as it is between Russia, China and South Korea. "It is going to be fantastic." The remark came about a week before the U.S. mid-term election which falls Nov. 6, in an apparent move to speak highly of his achievement to bring North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to the dialogue table. This also came at a time when the U.S. leader faces criticisms from U.S. media that Washington failed to generate tangible outcomes in the ongoing denuclearization with Pyongyang after the Trump-Kim summit in June. "I tell my people I do not care how long (it will take for North Korea to denuclearize) as long as there is no nuclear testing," Trump said. With the ongoing deadlock in Washington-Pyongyang dialogue showing little sign of progress, Trump and Kim have recently expressed their willingness to hold their second summit sometime in a near future. Expectations were that the possible Trump-Kim summit might take place no later than the end of this year. But the latest remark from Trump hints at the possibility that the second U.S.-North Korea summit can be held next year. Trump, however, went on to say that "no nuclear testing" of the regime, in itself, is a huge outcome that his predecessors had failed to achieve. He said there are no missile and nuclear threats from the North and the achievement came without any economic concessions to the regime. The U.S. president said he has not given any more concessions to Kim Jong-un beyond meeting with the North Korean leader. President Moon Jae-in presides over a weekly meeting with senior presidential secretaries at Cheong Wa Dae, Monday. Yonhap By Kim Yoo-chul President Moon Jae-in plans to ask the National Assembly to pass the ratification of the Panmunjeom Declaration agreed by the two Koreas at his planned speech in the National Assembly, Nov. 1, a Cheong Wa Dae official said Monday. "The President plans to ask the National Assembly to pass the ratification of the Panmunjeom Declaration to push forward with lots of economic and business projects with North Korea," the official said. Cheong Wa Dae had tried to push the ratification of the April deal as the agreement is required to receive consent from the Assembly for future budget use for the implementation of the agreement. But the agreement, which includes details on how to improve inter-Korean projects, has been pending in the Assembly due to opposition by conservative parties as they say the April deal would waste taxpayers' money and weaken South Korea's war readiness against North Korea. President Moon will also ask for support from lawmakers to pass pending economic and other reform bills at his upcoming speech, Cheong Wa Dae said. "The government plans to maintain Seoul's ongoing peace initiative, but Moon is set to prioritize economic issues. During his speech, Moon will explain specifics about the budget spending and inform lawmakers on why and how," said the Cheong Wa Dae official. Economic indices are worsening, hit by deepening trade friction between the United States and China. In addition, employment has been below the government's expectations and leading conglomerates' investment in facilities, other than semiconductors, remained weak. The Bank of Korea (BOK), the country's central bank, recently lowered its projection of economic growth of South Korea to 2.7 percent from an earlier 3.0 percent. South Korea's KOSPI index dropped sharply by 18 percent for October alone, directly hitting consumer confidence and lowering consumption. By Adam Borowski Richard Branson keeps emphasizing it is crucial to write down ideas. I could not agree more; not because Branson is a billionaire, so it is a sensible move to follow his advice. Rather, having a habit of writing down our fleeting ideas can positively impact our lives. You do not need a piece of paper; you can use notes on your phone, even your laptop. Anything you can use at that precise moment to ensure your precious idea does not fade into oblivion. If you are a writer, then you are probably familiar with the eureka moment, when an idea just pops into your head and you are desperately searching for a way to memorize it. This is the micro-scale. The individual scale. Let's look at the macro scale now the global perspective. How many people around the world have these little epiphanies in their lives, write them down, and then do not know what to do with them? Imagine a platform for exchanging ideas, as they happen, aimed at innovators, creators, writers, etc. Social media for creative thinkers not cat videos getting 100 likes in the first minute. Instantaneous communication between individuals, sharing their ideas, putting the puzzle together, potentially changing the world in the process. No red tape, no bureaucratic jargon. How many people in the developing world are unable to share their ideas with others, because there is no platform serving that specific purpose? A North Korean living in Seoul writes down a brilliant idea and uploads it to the idea-sharing platform, but there is a crucial piece missing; someone in Africa sees the Korean's idea, and expands on it; finally, there's a girl in India who completes the thought process and a world-changing idea is born. I know what you are probably thinking: well, who takes credit for the idea, then? What if someone steals the idea? What if someone has a nefarious agenda? I never claimed it would be easy surely, the benefits outweigh the risks? So much potential is wasted on this planet. Let's find a way to change it. Adam Borowski (adam.borowski1985@gmail.com) teaches English to students on all levels of advancement. By Massimo Introvigne Chinese authorities are undertaking an extensive fake news campaign in Korea to persuade local authorities to deport Chinese members of the Church of Almighty God who have come here to escape religious persecution. With the Ministry of Justice looking to revise the Refugee Act to prevent fake asylum seekers in the wake of the outcry over the arrival this year of around 500 Yemeni refugees, mostly men, China is doing what it can to portray Chinese asylum seekers here as bogus. The Chinese refugees in question are from the Church of Almighty God (CAG), a new Christian religious movement which the government has singled out for suppression, and are among several thousand who have escaped overseas and sought asylum in democratic countries. Several NGOs have submitted evidence to the Human Rights Council of the United Nations that thousands of CAG members have been arrested for the sole reason of belonging to the church. Many of them have been tortured and more than 30 died while in custody in suspicious circumstances. Scholars have also documented that accusations of crimes allegedly committed by the CAG are in fact fabricated by Chinese propaganda. These bullying tactics are stark explanation for the abysmal reputation China has internationally for its handling of political and religious dissidents. Confidential Chinese Communist Party (CCP) documents obtained and published by Bitter Winter, the online publication of my NGO, the Center for Studies on New Religions, show that the campaign of fake news also extends to South Korea. An internal CCP document dated July 3, 2015, which we published in Bitter Winter, explicitly required officials throughout China to investigate members of both the Falun Gong religion and the CAG who had left the country, obtain a comprehensive grasp of their basic situation (including the activities they are engaged in overseas, who their relatives in China are and what they do, and so on), conduct an analysis on a person-by-person basis, and formulate a special work plan for each person. At first, the attempts to force believers back home were quite thuggish. For example, back in May 2016, a woman arrived in Korea with CCP agents and tried to kidnap her husband, who had joined CAG. The husband was lured to a hotel where his passport and mobile phone were taken. He was held for a while against his will but managed to escape. After this failure, the strategy appeared to change. The woman returned twice to Korea and held public protests with the Korean representative of a local pro-CCP magazine. In 2017, the wife of another CAG member who had fled to South Korea was ordered by the political commissar of the Provincial Public Security Department in Heilongjiang, where she lived, to join the CAG community in South Korea and "follow his instructions." Unwilling to do this, she claimed to be suffering from a serious heart disease and fled her home together with her parents. On Nov. 8, last year, the magazine representative brought the relatives of five CAG members to South Korea and held demonstrations outside the court in Jeju, the Seoul Immigration Office, and at CAG's own premises. The family members were required to hold a banner reading "My relative is not a refugee," and request that the court dismiss the asylum bids. At this time, one of the Chinese family members brought to Korea realized that something was wrong and sought the cooperation of Korean authorities to meet with his relative. He discovered far from having been "kidnapped and abused" by the church as the CCP had claimed, his relative was finally enjoying the freedom of belief and was very happy to be allowed to remain in Korea. Now, in the wake of the protests against the refugees from Yemen, China has upped its game. We have learned that the Chinese Ministry of State Security recently pressured the relatives of many CAG members now in Korea to film videos and write joint letters "seeking missing family members." Nobody in China would believe such letters and videos to be spontaneous and genuine, but they are used in Korea to persuade the authorities to deport the CAG asylum seekers. But, ironically, in Korea, such gestures risk being taken at face value. Obviously, the Chinese plan is being implemented in Korea to take advantage of a new climate that is generally unfavorable to refugees. It is something that Koreans, despite the need to maintain good political, economic and cultural relations with China, for the simple reason that it violates their sovereign values as a modern democracy that respects freedom of religion and individual human rights. Massimo Introvigne is a sociologist and the founding director of the Center for Studies on New Religions. The views expressed in the above article are the author's own and do not reflect the editorial direction of The Korea Times. By John Burton Xenophobia is nothing new in U.S. politics, but it appears to be reaching new lows in the latest congressional campaigns ahead of the Nov. 6 elections. One example is a white Democrat candidate in Buffalo, New York, who has been attacked by his Republican opponent for speaking Korean, implying he is un-American. Nate McMurray is a lawyer who graduated from the prestigious University of California Hastings College of Law in San Francisco and studied at the Constitutional Court of Korea under a Fulbright scholarship. He taught U.S. law at the Judicial Research and Training Institute in Seoul. He has also represented U.S. companies in Asia, worked with Barun Law in Seoul and another foreign law firm in China, and served as a legal adviser to Samsung. McMurray earlier this year released a video on social media, where he introduced himself and bowed before the camera before speaking in Korean about his hopes for peace between the two Koreas after the inter-Korean summits. His Republican opponent, Congressman Chris Collins, decided to use the video in an attack ad, which featured McMurray speaking over an ominous music score as captions written by the Collins campaign appear to suggest he was calling for "fewer jobs for usMore jobs for China and Korea." Then another caption appeared stating that McMurray "helped American companies hire foreign workers," while a picture of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un pops up in the background. "You can take Nate McMurray at his word," the ad concludes as he continues to speak in Korean. Although what McMurray is actually saying in the ad about peace is clearly understandable to anyone who knows Korean, the ad paints a sinister image for anyone else by suggesting he is a mysterious figure who is selling out America and consorts with Asian tyrants. The Collins campaign also sent election flyers to local homes that state "Nate McMurray lobbied to send our jobs to China (And Korea too)"and then declared "Nate McMurry: American job exporter. Nate McMurray spent many years in Asia working to identify cheap labor and offshoring opportunities for American companies. He lobbied for trade deals that outsourced thousands of U.S. jobs to China and Korea doubling our trade deficit and devastating American businesses." McMurray, whose Korean wife is a naturalized U.S. citizen, called the TV ad "hurtful" to his family. "I watched that ugly attack ad with my son. His mom is Korean. My son speaks Korean," he tweeted. "He looked at me with a grave sadness on his face." "They've used everything in their power to make it look like the very fact of speaking Korean or Chinese is un-American or wrong," McMurray told the New York Times. The Collins campaign said the attack ad was justified since McMurray had supported the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement, which it falsely claimed had "shipped nearly 100,000 U.S. jobs overseas."PolitiFact, an independent organization that assesses the accuracy of statements made by politicians, labeled the Collins claims as "false." Collins, who was the first person in U.S. Congress to endorse Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential campaign, may have decided he needed to take desperate measures to be re-elected. In August, he was indicted for insider share trading involving a New Zealand drug company he partly owns. Collins denies the charges, but he faces decades in prison if convicted. The district is normally heavily Republican and Collins continues to have a slight lead over McMurray, according to the latest opinion polls. An attack by a Republican on McMurray for his ties to Korea seems somewhat odd since the handful of Korean-Americans running for Congress or other state offices this year are mostly Republicans themselves. In my own congressional district in Arlington, Virginia, for example, a young Korean-American, Thomas Oh, is challenging the incumbent congressman. He is facing an uphill struggle since the district is strongly Democratic. In neighboring Maryland, the campaign for the Republican governor, Larry Hogan, features his half-Korean stepdaughter in a TV ad that extolls her father for helping protect healthcare benefits for citizens. Yumi Kim, Hogan's wife, is an artist and the first Korean-born first lady of a U.S. state. Two other congressional races involving Korean-Americans could help determine whether the U.S. House of Representatives stays Republican or goes Democratic since both districts are considered toss-ups. In southern California, Young Kim, who was the first Korean-American Republican woman to become a state legislator in California, is fighting to retain an open Republican seat. Meanwhile, Andrew Kim, a former defense policymaker in Washington, D.C., and the only Korean-American running as a Democrat for Congress, is seeking to capture a New Jersey seat held by the Republicans. Given the increasing political clout of Korean-Americans, politicians may want to be more careful of engaging in ethnic slurs in the future. John Burton (johnburtonft@yahoo.com), a former Korea correspondent for the Financial Times, is now a Washington, D.C.-based journalist and consultant. Global IT firms seek to sell cloud services to Samsung, Hyundai, LG By Jun Ji-hye Global IT companies such as Google and Microsoft are rushing to enter the Korean cloud service market to take advantage of the strategic location of the nation in their expansion into other Asian countries. Korea is the home of global companies such as Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics and Hyundai Motors, meaning that once IT firms successfully secure clients here, it will be easier for them to attract potential customers in other Asian countries. The Korean cloud services market also has a great potential for growth as not many companies and government agencies have migrated their systems to cloud computing services, while demand for such has been growing to more effectively manage vast amounts of data. According to the National IT Industry Promotion Agency, the scale of the Korean cloud market has increased to 1.9 trillion won ($1.7 billion) this year from 1.5 trillion won last year. "The Korean cloud market has yet to be vitalized. There are a lot of systems here to be migrated to cloud computing services," said an official from a Seoul-based IT company. In a bid to promote its cloud technology and services, Google held the Could Summit in Seoul, Thursday, with high-level officials, including Rhee In-jong, head of internet of things (IoT) business, participating. In February, Google hired Rhee after he resigned as Samsung Electronics' chief technology officer. During the event, which the first time it was held in Korea, Rhee announced Google will join forces with LG Electronics to form a "smart town," IoT, big data and artificial intelligence technology. He also said, "We held the Cloud Summit in Korea because we think the Korean market is important. We are preparing a lot to respond to demands in the market." The internet giant is also reportedly planning to set up a cloud data center in Korea to enhance relevant businesses further. The company said it cannot comment on rumors or speculation. Microsoft has been also moving to secure more customers in the Korean market by establishing a data center here last year. CEO Satya Narayana Nadella is planning to visit Korea next month to attend a conference hosted by the company, during which time he will deliver a keynote address. Industry officials here expect Nadella to introduce the firm's cloud technologies to Korean companies. Amazon Web Services (AWS) has been ahead of other competitors as it opened its data center here in 2016 and secured Samsung Electronics and Hyundai Card as clients. The company plans to hold a conference Oct. 30, which will be attended by game developers and companies, and share the development of cloud-based games. Another official from a Seoul-based IT company noted that global companies have been active to sign business agreements with Korean IT service firms to better permeate into the local market. "To carry out cloud migration, IT companies need to know the systems of their clients well. But it is comparatively difficult for global companies to know domestic systems so they have signed business agreements with Korean firms to enter the market," he said. By Jun Ji-hye LG CNS has received the Search Innovation Award from Google in recognition of its innovative digital marketing activities that contribute to growth of its clients, the Korean firm said Monday. The Search Innovation Award is awarded at the annual Google Premier Partner Awards for expertise and innovation with Google search ads. "Examples include creative uses of auto-bidding or optimizing beyond the last click to help clients achieve their goals online," according to the internet giant. The LG Group IT affiliate was named as a winner in that area at the event held in Seoul, Oct. 19. The Awards are comprised of five parts _ search innovation, mobile innovation, display innovation, video innovation and growing businesses online. LG CNS created a department in charge of digital marketing in 2005. Its clients include LG affiliates and several financial companies. The department, comprised of 50 specialists who possess certificates in Google Analytics and Google Ads, has developed diverse data analysis methods so that ads of its clients can be effectively exposed. "LG CNS has competitiveness in digital marketing based on data as we analyze global market situations as well as data of our clients and competitors," said Kim Chang-eun, a future and new business unit leader at LG CNS. "We will create more synergy as a Google premier partner." By Jun Ji-hye Huawei Korea CEO Shawn Meng General Motors CEO Mary Barra removes her glasses as she testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, April 1, 2014. / AP-Yonhap By Nam Hyun-woo General Motors Chairman and CEO Mary Barra will visit Korea to talk with GM Korea union over their dispute on demerging the Korean unit of the U.S. carmaker into a separate research & development (R&D) body and a manufacturing unit. According to the union, Monday, Barra sent a reply to GM Korea union head Lim Han-taek's letter last Wednesday requesting a meeting. "We think the demerger is an important step to allow both the engineering services company and the manufacturing unit to stand on their own as profitable, viable businesses," Barra said in the letter. "I would like to visit our Korea operation at some point soon and look forward to visiting with you and other key stakeholders then." If she meets the union, it will be her first visit to Korea after she took the chairmanship in January 2016. Barra planned a visit to Korea in August 2016 but canceled it. She has been the CEO of GM since January 2014. Over the timeframe, the union said it hopes for the meeting to take place in November, while GM Korea said it is unlikely to happen within this year because it has to set the schedule with the government and Korea Development Bank (KDB), which holds a 17.02 percent stake in GM Korea. In the letter, Barra said GM has been reiterating its desire to create a "strong, viable and globally competitive GM Korea" and its moves including the agreement with KDB "makes it clear that our hope and intent is to stay for the long term." Over the demerger plan, GM Korea, its union and KDB are staging a trilateral dispute. GM Korea says setting the R&D body will be a technological hub in the region benefiting its ties to Korea, while the union says the move is a prelude to its withdrawal from Korea, by turning the company into an engineering team subcontracting the manufacturing unit. After establishing such a structure, the R&D body can withdraw from Korea more easily, the union claims. KDB, which provided aid to cash-strapped GM Korea and signed an MOU mandating GM's medium- and long-term commitment to Korea, is also taking the union's side. "The creation of a dedicated engineering services company will also further strengthen GM's long-term ties to Korea, and it benefit from focused management, increased transparency on costs, and improved operational efficiency that will make it more attractive for GM to allocate further engineering work to Korea," Barra said. "The GM Korea engineering team has been assigned strategically important global programs and GM will consider awarding GM Korea additional work in the future after the demerger is completed." Over Barra's letter, the union said "it is positive to receive a reply but the content of it is disappointing because it lacks details on the demerger." Ms Olga Chojnacka, First Secretary and head of the consular division at the Czech Embassy in Vietnam, addresses the meeting. (Photo: VNA) Addressing the meeting, Nguyen Muoi, President of the city Vietnam - Czech Friendship Association, said that Vietnam and Czech have both gained from the long-term friendly relationship, which has been maintained and developed. Vietnamese people have always remembered the precious support of Czechoslovakian Government earlier and Czech Government at present during their struggle for national liberation, construction and protection, he said. Over the past years, the relationship has seen strong development in all areas, especially in politics, diplomacy, economics and trade. The two countries have exchanged high ranking delegations, with the most recent being the visit to Vietnam by Vojtech Filip, Vice Chairman of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech parliament. Bilateral trade has continually increased over the past years, reaching USD1.02 billion in 2017, and is expected to hit some USD1.2 billion this year, according to Mr. Muoi. Ms Olga Chojnacka, First Secretary and head of the consular division at the Czech Embassy in Vietnam, thanked HUFO and Ho Chi Minh city residents affection for Czechoslovakia in the past and the Czech Republic at present, considering it a favourable condition for further promoting the traditional relationship between the two countries, bringing practical benefits for the two peoples. She also expressed her hope that the Vietnam - Czech Friendship Association and the Vietnamese who used to study and work in her country would continue to be a bridge helping to enhance mutual understanding and solidarity between the two sides; and promoting economic, trade and investment activities between Vietnamese and Czech businesses to tap into the countries potential and advantages./. Freely accessible local news is vital. Please power our reporters and help keep us independent with a donation today. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe If you're a voter in Anaheim who usually looks to organized labor for guidance on how to vote -- don't expect a clear answer on a key ballot measure this November. Different unions are lining up on opposite sides of a local initiative designed to raise wages for workers in and around Disneyland. Let's take a look at why unions aren't united behind a measure to raise wages. Measure L would establish a minimum wage of $15 per hour starting next year (with $1 annual bumps leading to an $18 hourly wage in 2022). But -- and this is a major but -- it would only apply to Anaheim employers that benefit from city subsidies. "It's heartbreaking to sit in front of your members and have to explain to them how, although this sounds really nice, it excludes you," said Teamsters political coordinator Norma Lopez. That's because while Teamsters in Anaheim drive buses that shuttle visitors between hotels and Disneyland, Lopez says they're not directly employed by any company receiving city tax breaks. "We're not against a living wage, by any means," said Lopez. "But this living wage doesn't go far enough." THE MEASURE'S ORIGIN Measure L was put on the ballot by unions representing theme park and hotel workers. They say Disneyland and hotels surrounding the park pay poverty wages, forcing some of their workers into homelessness. They argue that companies getting lucrative tax breaks from the city should be required to pay their workers more. OPPOSITION The Teamsters say the measure doesn't go far enough. Other unions don't like the proposal at all. Building trade unions in Anaheim say Measure L would dry up the kind of projects they need to keep their workers on the job. If developers can't rely on city tax incentives, their thinking goes, they'll pass over Anaheim -- and thousands of hotel construction jobs will be lost. These fears aren't just hypothetical. Earlier this month, Disney announced it was canceling plans to build a 700-room luxury hotel. The decision came after the project's location was moved, and Disney lost a local tax rebate that would have saved the company $267 million over two decades. The Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building and Construction Trade Council is lining up to oppose Measure L, along with unions for electrical workers, brick and tile layers, sheetmetal workers and iron workers. SUPPORTERS On the other side, support for Measure L is coming from unions representing hotel and resort workers as well as the United Food and Commercial Workers union. Negotiations with Disney have already led to a $15 minimum wage for about 10,000 employees starting next year. But the park has about 30,000 employees in total. And the ballot measure calls for higher wages in years to come. A survey of Disney workers earlier this year found the average hourly wage at the park in 2017 was $13.36. Close to 75 percent of workers said that wasn't enough to cover their basic monthly expenses. THE BACKSTORY UCLA labor historian Tobias Higbie said the dispute highlights questions surrounding development and how it benefits workers. Building trades get work when buildings are being built -- but hotel workers' unions want to make sure those developments come with good-paying jobs for their members. "The labor movement isn't monolithic," said Higbie. "And at this particular juncture, apparently these unions see themselves as having different interests." Complicating things even further, Anaheim's city attorney has said Measure L does not even apply to Disneyland, which recently gave up gave up two lucrative tax deals (more on that here). The city has said future workers at four hotel projects currently underway in Anaheim would be covered. Proponents of Measure L have raised more than $1 million, with the largest chunk of funding coming from Unite Here Local 11, a union representing hotel workers. A spokeswoman for Unite Here declined to comment for this story. Funding to defeat the initiative has come from hotel companies and Disney itself, which has donated more than $300,000 to an Anaheim Chamber of Commerce-led campaign committee. Disney has also contributed more than $600,000 to candidates running for a seat on Anaheim's city council. Get ready for the Nov. 6 election. Here at LAist, we want to make sure Angelenos have all the information they need to cast their votes. To get prepped on deadlines, candidates and ballot measures, check out our Voter Game Plan. And if you liked this election guide, consider supporting us! You can donate here. Freely accessible local news is vital. Please power our reporters and help keep us independent with a donation today. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe Think it's impossible to make anything appear out of thin air? Well, naysayers, meet David Hertz. He and his colleagues have just won the $1.5 million X-prize for water abundance. International teams competed to crack a singular problem: how to create 2,000 liters (528 gallons) of water in 24 hours, at less than 2 cents per liter using 100 percent renewable energy It took David and a partnering team two years, but they finally did it. How? For science geeks: by combining atmospheric water generators with biomass gasification. For the rest of us: by harnessing the same process through which clouds are formed and vaporizing dead trees. FROM HOUSES TO H2O An architect living in Venice, Hertz has devoted his 35-year career to making sustainable stuff. Probably his most well-known is this house in Malibu where he built the roof out of the wings from an old Boeing 747. But a few years ago he was inspired to expand his career. "Water is our most precious resource, and there are very few technologies available to actually create water," he said. "That's what fascinated me." CLOUD IN A BOX I went to visit him at his low-key office, down one of the confusing one-way streets that line Venice Beach. That's where he showed me the first part of the prize-winning machine -- the atmospheric water generator, which can make about 500 liters of water a day. It's a giant gray cube, maybe four feet wide. Attached to it is a tiny spigot. A fan sucks in air through a filter. That air then makes contact with an extremely cold surface to create condensation - drops of water - just like clouds are formed. "It creates a space in between that gets very heavy with moisture and rains," Hertz said. "So it's like clouds in a box, if you will." Oxygen and ozone are added to the water so no bacteria can form. It's then safe to drink - so safe, he's able to hand out bottles to the often homeless people passing by his door. It can produce 150 gallons every day, which is enough to water a small household. And all that happens using energy from the solar panels on the office roof. ALCHEMY To anyone who's curious: it tastes...like water. I expected a more exciting experience but it really does taste like nothing. Which is how Hertz said it should taste, since there's no extra groundwater minerals or tap water chlorine in there. The downside of this machine is it uses refrigerant to create that cold microclimate, which isn't great for the environment. But neither is pumping water from a far-away source. Hertz said it's a step in the right direction. The trophy for winning XPrize's $1.5 million competition sits at the front of Hertz's office in Venice. (Caleigh Wells/LAist) "There's still something about having this water come out of the spout," he said. "That's just still kind of a miracle. There's water in the air and I'm just taking a giant sponge essentially and just wringing it out. People think that's alchemy." CLOUD IN A BOX 2.0 With his atmospheric water generator under his belt, Hertz saw a chance to make something bigger. In 2016, the XPrize innovation competition announced its next contest would be about making renewable water. While he knew how to make water, the renewable energy part was tricky. So Hertz's company partnered up with ALL Power Labs in Berkeley who were researching biomass gasification. That's just a fancy way of describing a process which takes biomass (like dead trees) and vaporizes it by getting it really hot. Like 1300 degrees Fahrenheit hot. When it gets that hot, it releases steam. Hertz and his partners used that steam to supply his atmospheric water generator. But here's the eco-friendly part: another byproduct of gasification is also a lot of heat, which Hertz and his colleagues used to fuel the process instead of outside electricity. That's how creating the water stayed so cheap. And that's how it met Hertz's goal of helping the environment more than it hurts it. Because instead of that dead tree releasing carbon into the atmosphere, it is used to generate the water. The other good news is it's a mobile, self-contained device. THE ANSWER TO WATER SCARCITY? While it's an elegant solution, Hertz said there are downsides. it's great for a place like California where there's plenty of dead trees, but in another climate it could encourage deforestation. "This is just part of a solution of which we're going to need many solutions," he said, adding that the first step to finding those solutions is changing our worldview from one of scarcity to one of abundance. "This is an example of abundance. We know there's abundant water in the atmosphere that's renewable. How do we use our ingenuity to come up with strategies to use that in an efficient way." He said all the prize money will go toward fulfilling the goal that got him in the water business in the first place. "We are going to dedicate it 100% used right back into bringing water to those that need it most." This story is part of Elemental: Covering Sustainability, a multimedia collaboration between Cronkite News, Arizona PBS, KJZZ, KPCC, Rocky Mountain PBS and PBS SoCal. Hey, thanks. You read the entire story. And we love you for that. Here at LAist, our goal is to cover the stories that matter to you, not advertisers. We don't have paywalls, but we do have payments (aka bills). So if you love independent, local journalism, join us. Let's make the world a better place, together. Donate now. A unpublished short story by poet and novelist Sylvia Plath, written when she was a college student, will be released as a standalone book in January. The Guardian reports that Mary Ventura and the Ninth Kingdom, which Plath wrote when she was 20, will be published by Faber & Faber next year. Its one of several short stories the publisher plans to release in England to celebrate its 90th anniversary. Plath wrote the story in 1952 when she was a junior at Smith College. Peter K. Steinberg, the co-editor of a book of Plaths letters, told the Guardian that the story is an important work and different to what Plaths readers are used to seeing. So its exciting that it will shortly be available for reading and consideration. Mary Ventura and the Ninth Kingdom follows the title character as shes escorted onto a train car by her parents, and meets a woman who serves as a travel guide of sorts. Advertisement The Guardian printed an excerpt from the story, which reads: In one of the corn fields a scarecrow caught her eye, crossed staves propped aslant, and the corn husks rotting under it. The dark ragged coat wavered in the wind, empty, without substance. And below the ridiculous figure black crows were strutting to and fro, pecking for grains in the dry ground. Although the story is bound to excite Plaths fans, it didnt impress the editors of Mademoiselle magazine, who rejected it after Plath submitted it, the Independent reports. The story belonged to Plaths estate before it was auctioned off by Bonhams in 2016, selling for $799. The rejection letter from Mademoiselle was part of the lot. Steinberg told the Guardian that he thought Plaths story was inspired by centuries-old literature. I think Plath here is attempting to feminize and modify some biblical stories, as well as Dantes Divine Comedy, by having Mary Ventura enact a journey by modern transport into the underworld, he said. Mary in the end is presented with an opportunity to release herself from a fate she did not choose. Plath was one of the key figures in the confessional poetry movement of the 1950s. She is best known for her novel The Bell Jar and poetry collection Ariel, the latter of which was published after her 1963 suicide. Mary Ventura and the Ninth Kingdom will be one of several standalone stories published by Faber & Faber in Britain next year, the Independent reports. Others include Kazuo Ishiguros Come Rain or Come Shine and Flannery OConnors classic A Good Man Is Hard to Find. While an American publication may be in the works, the U.S. division of Faber & Faber has not confirmed whether the new Plath story will be available here. As we have learned from bitter experience over the years, in Californias ballot initiative process, money talks. On Proposition 8, which aims to rein in profits of the kidney dialysis industry, its been screaming at top volume. The for-profit dialysis industry just set an all-time record in spending, bringing its total war chest to defeat the measure to more than $111 million. That spending has bested the record set in 2016 by the pharmaceutical industry, which spent $109 million to kill a California ballot measure aimed at capping drug prices. If you want to know why U.S. healthcare costs are so ruinous, theres one explanation: Private companies are permitted to charge what the market will bear to build up their profits, and then to spend unlimited amounts in election campaigns to protect those profits. You might wonder where a couple of healthcare firms whose campaign is based on their pleading poverty could find so much money for TV ads. The answer is that even at this record level, their spending is a tiny fraction of the profits theyre trying to protect. Advertisement The two big companies in this field are Denver-based DaVita Inc. and the German health conglomerate Fresenius Medical Care. Together they account for about 70% of the U.S. dialysis market. In California, their 421 clinics account for 72% of the total number, according to the Legislative Analysts Office. The analysts office placed their California revenue at $3 billion a year. The companies spending went over the top on Oct. 24, when Fresenius added $5.4 million to the roughly $28.5 million it already had invested in killing Proposition 8. Still, its a piker compared to DaVita, which has invested nearly $67 million, according to campaign finance reports. If youre a California resident watching TV even in a stupor, youve been inundated with No on 8 ads, some featuring dialysis patients convinced theyll be left to die because DaVita and Fresenius clinics will have to shut down. (More on that claim in a moment.) Weve outlined in prior columns, here and here, the unconstrained financial rent-seeking that has allowed these firms to accumulate the resources needed to safeguard their income. Theyre easily outspending the Yes on Proposition 8 backers, chiefly the Service Employees International Union, which has a war chest of about $23 million. As weve reported, the core of DaVitas and Fresenius wealth comes from their gaming of the U.S. healthcare system, particularly the Affordable Care Act. Until the ACAs protections for people with preexisting conditions became effective in 2014, dialysis patients were virtually uninsurable in the individual market. So Congress in 1973 allowed renal patients to enroll in Medicare at any age. The act effectively made end-stage renal disease the only condition subject to a single-payer program. This turned dialysis into a profitable business. About 10,000 patients were covered in 1973; today, more than 650,000 are. Federal spending has soared to more than $34 billion a year from $1.1 billion (in current dollars) in 1973. But Medicare reimbursements left the dialysis firms with slender profit margins. Enter Obamacare: By remaining outside insurance companies networks, the dialysis firms were able to extract much higher reimbursements from them. Dialysis profits grew fat, and the expense of covering dialysis patientssome of whom allegedly had been counseled by Fresenius and DaVita employees to give up their Medicare coverage and sign up for private insurancedrove some insurers out of the Obamacare system. The spending on Proposition 8 pales not only in comparison to previous corporate spending on ballot campaigns, but to the money the dialysis companies, particularly DaVita, have laid out to settle accusations of wrongdoing brought by patients, whistle-blowers and government regulators. In 2016, Fresenius settled patients lawsuits alleging dangerous practices at its clinics for $250 million without admitting guilt or negligence. DaVita agreed in October to pay $270 million to settle a federal accusation that it inflated claims to Medicare (it did not admit liability). In June, a federal jury in Denver awarded three patient families a total of $383.5 million on their assertions that DaVita clinics misused dialysis drugs (the company says it will appeal); two of the patients were treated in California. In 2015, the company paid a total of $895 million to settle whistle-blower allegations of fraud, including a lawsuit alleging that it was deliberately throwing out unused dialysis drugs in order to inflate claims to the government, and another that alleged it was paying hidden kickbacks to doctors in exchange for patient referrals to its clinics. In those cases the company did not admit to the accusations. Proposition 8 would cap the firms revenue from California operations at 115% of their spending on direct patient care and healthcare quality improvement. The more they spend on those categories, in other words, the more they can collect in revenue and remain within the cap. The companies claim that the initiative would exclude lots of costs they contend are germane to providing services, such as the wages of supervisors, but theyre almost certainly overstating the case. They claim that Proposition 8 would make dialysis so unprofitable that most of the states 580 outpatient clinics, including some nonprofit facilities, would have to close. Their source is a study by a consultancy called the Berkeley Research Group. The dialysis industry calls this an independent study. Campaign finance documents reveal, however, that the No on 8 campaign has paid the Berkeley Research Group about $200,000 this year, so youre free to question just how independent it really is. Under the circumstances, do you want to buy what these firms are selling via the No on 8 television commercials? Keep up to date with Michael Hiltzik. Follow @hiltzikm on Twitter, see his Facebook page, or email michael.hiltzik@latimes.com. Return to Michael Hiltziks blog. Fox Business Network has banned a guest who made inflammatory and unsubstantiated comments about Democratic Party donor George Soros during a Thursday edition of Lou Dobbs Tonight. The guest, Chris Farrell, asserted on Dobbs program that a caravan of migrants currently traveling in southern Mexico was funded by Soros. Farrell is the director of Judicial Watch, a conservative activist group. A lot of these folks also have affiliates who are getting money from the Soros-occupied State Department, and that is of great, great concern, Farrell said on the program. If were going to start cutting money, start cutting money there. The program with the segment about Soros, who is Jewish, initially aired Thursday, and was repeated Saturday a day when other cable news channels were covering the murders of 11 people attending services at a synagogue in Pittsburgh. The program was scheduled to re-air four times on Sunday before FBN pulled it. Advertisement Farrell was denounced in a statement on Sunday by Fox Business Network Senior Vice President of Programming Gary Schreier. We condemn the rhetoric by the guest on Lou Dobbs Tonight, he said. This episode was a repeat which has now been pulled from all future airings. A Fox Business Network representative confirmed that Farrell will not appear on the FBN or Fox News Channel in the future. Farrells comments are the second controversy involving Dobbs in the last week. The host posted two tweets peddling a conspiracy theory that the bombs mailed to Soros, Democratic Party leaders and CNN were a hoax perpetrated by the Democrats. The tweets were pulled down after generating major blowback online. On Friday, authorities arrested a suspect, Cesar Sayoc, 56, of Plantation, Fla., in connection with the pipe bomb deliveries. He has been an active supporter of President Trump. Dobbs, 72, was once the leading anchor for business news on CNN. In recent years he has become a fiery populist commentator on Fox Business Network who has the ear of Trump. Dobbs was among the most vocal proponents of the false claim that former President Obama was not born in the U.S. Lou Dobbs Tonight is the highest-rated program on Fox Business Network, but his polarizing views have limited his appeal to mainstream advertisers who have largely steered clear of the program. stephen.battaglio@latimes.com Twitter: @SteveBattaglio Jet.com is throwing a lifeline to Blue Apron Holdings Inc. Jet, Walmart Inc.s urban-focused website, began carrying four Blue Apron meal kits Monday to help boost its fledgling grocery business. Jets customers in the New York City area can make the meals part of their regular grocery order without having to subscribe to Blue Aprons service. The tie-up aims to deliver more customers to the beleaguered meal-kit company, whose shares have plummeted since it went public last year. After the announcement, Blue Apron shares jumped 11.4% to close at $1.27. This is New York-based Blue Aprons latest move to expand beyond its subscription business, which is reeling from customer defections as more companies including Jets parent Walmart enter the meal-kit space. Advertisement This is a big, big important step for us, Blue Apron Chief Executive Brad Dickerson said, adding that the vast majority of customers would rather order meal kits on short notice, eschewing the traditional Blue Apron subscription model that requires users to plan meals well in advance. The partnership also brings new credibility to Jets grocery ambitions and amps up the fierce battle for New Yorkers online food budgets. Jet is up against Amazon.com Inc.s Prime Now service, Ahold Delhaizes Peapod and closely held market leader Fresh Direct, which are all investing to capture more customers. Acquired by Walmart for $3.3 billion in 2016, Jet is making a play for busy, affluent city dwellers who already shop on Jet for general merchandise and household goods. The company plans to open a fulfillment center in New Yorks Bronx borough this year, and grocery deliveries will be handled by Parcel, a New York logistics company Walmart bought last year. Jet doesnt disclose what share of its sales come from food, but its smaller than we want it to be, President Simon Belsham has said. Jet offers Blue Apron a source of new revenue at a crucial time. The number of people ordering Blue Aprons signature boxes of ingredients to make home-cooked meals dropped 24% in the second quarter compared with the same period last year, leading CEO Dickerson to look for new channels to sell his wares, such as Costco Wholesale Corp. and online delivery services like Seamless and GrubHub Inc. Blue Apron has projected declining sales over the back half of 2018, and before Monday, its shares fell more than 70% this year. The Blue Apron meal kits on Jet each serve two people and can be prepared in about 30 minutes, the companies said. Theyll range in price from $16.99 for the Italian farro bowl to $22.99 for the seared steaks meal. UPDATES: 3:20 p.m.: This article was updated with Blue Apron shares closing price. This article was originally published at 9:10 a.m. Commonly seen as a tech-friendly hub, the U.K. is now targeting the likes of Alphabet Inc. and Facebook Inc. by introducing a digital services tax, joining the growing chorus against cash-rich tech giants. U.K. Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond unveiled the measure in his autumn budget in London. He said the tax, which aims to raise about $500 million a year for the government, was designed to hit the largest internet businesses not consumer or internet start-ups. The introduction of a digital tax makes the U.K. government something of a front-runner. The European Commission is proposing a digital tax on revenue that tech companies make from areas such as ads and data, but commission members have yet to agree on terms. We will consult on the detail to make sure we get it right, and to ensure that the U.K. continues to be the best place to start and scale up a tech business, Hammond said. It will come into effect in April 2020. Advertisement The U.K.s tax will be aimed at big tech, affecting companies that were profitable and with annual revenue exceeding about $640 million. Although a temporary measure, it follows the chancellor of the exchequers comments during a speech at the Conservative Party conference Oct. 1 that the U.K. would go it alone if a European Union version of the tax continues to stall. Representatives for Alphabets Google, Twitter Inc. and Facebook did not immediately reply to requests for comment. Tech companies have been busy expanding in the U.K. in a bid to harness its highly skilled workforce. Alphabets Google is among a host of major tech companies including Snap Inc. and Apple Inc. that are doubling down on expanding their London offices, despite the uncertainty around the U.K.s exit from the European Union. Tension has also continued regarding how much tax these companies pay in Britain. Amazon.com Inc.s U.K. business saw its 2017 corporate tax bill drop by about 40%, even though its profit there tripled. Amazon U.K. Services Ltd., which provides delivery and corporate services to the companys businesses in the U.K., booked revenue of about $2.5 billion in 2017. However, its U.K. corporate tax fell to about $5.8 million, down from about $9.5 million a year earlier. We pay all taxes required in the U.K. and every country where we operate, an Amazon spokesman said in a statement at the time. Google paid just $16 million in U.K. corporation tax from 2006 to 2011 on $18 billion in revenue, according to a government investigation in 2013. Controversially, the U.K. digital tax which will levy a 2% tax on certain business models would target the global revenue of these tech giants and not profits, according to tax practitioners. That could make the U.K. a less attractive place for the companies to supply their services. Start-ups will not be in scope for the tax, Hammond emphasized. The U.K. digital tax joins a number of propositions wielded by politicians and those within the tech industry, attempting to force tech giants to pay more. French President Emmanuel Macron wants the EU to use the tax revenue to help cover a Brexit-induced budget shortfall. In November, San Francisco voters will decide whether to levy an additional tax on large businesses to fund homeless services, part of an expanding effort among West Coast cities to tap cash-flush companies to offset growing income inequality. The EU version of the tax, which cant pass without the blocs unanimous support, is being blocked by countries including the Czech Republic, which argue the cost of collecting the tax would be higher than the revenue it would generate. Russ Shaw, founder of Tech London Advocates, an industry body, said the digital services tax was a prudent step but the wrong approach. Tackling the digital tax question without coordinating efforts with the U.S. and EU as key global partners, he said, will only further entrench Britain in an isolationist position we cannot afford. The digital services tax was first proposed by the U.K. government in a November 2017 report. The EU followed the U.K. with its own version of the proposed tax that it would apply to digital companies with total annual worldwide revenue of about $850 million and EU revenue of about $57 million. Several international bodies, including the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the G20 group of industrialized nations, have been working on ways to crack down on corporate tax avoidance, especially by large internet and software firms. Hammond said this multinational approach was the best option, but that negotiations in these international organizations were slow and the U.K. could not afford to wait. He said that if a better tax solution emerged from the G20 before April 2020, the U.K. would consider adopting that instead of its own policy. UPDATES: 4 p.m.: This article was updated throughout with additional details. This article was originally published at 10:30 a.m. Photo for illustration Of this, arrivals traveling by air increased 16.7% while those arriving by road and sea rose 62.5% and decreased by 2.3%, respectively. Key markets saw sharp growth, especially the Republic of Korea (48.3%), Finland (33.3%), China (28.8%), and Denmark (16.4%). Over the past 10 months, the country served about 67.9 million domestic tourists with 33.1 million tourists staying overnight. Total tourism turnover reached an estimated VND505 trillion, up 20.99%. With this impressive growth, Vietnam will be likely to greet 15-16 million foreign tourists for 2018. China always tops the 10 markets, accounting for 38% of the total. Of this, tourists from Nanning make up the majority traveling to Vietnam by road. It is a key market in the national tourism development strategy by 2020, with a vision to 2030. Over the past years, the country created favorable conditions for Vietnamese and Chinese businesses to carry out travel activities./. Early on in Burning, Lee Chang-dongs masterpiece of psychological unease, Hae-mi (Jeon Jong-seo), a young woman teaching herself the art of pantomime, peels and eats an invisible tangerine. The trick, she tells her companion, Jong-su (Yoo Ah-in), is not to pretend that youre holding a tangerine, but to forget that there isnt a tangerine. The moment comes straight from Haruki Murakamis 1983 short story Barn Burning, which Lee and his co-writer, Oh Jung-mi, have skillfully expanded and transplanted from Japan to their native South Korea. But the ideas that the scene introduces, about the challenges of perception and the limitations of memory, are uniquely fascinating to consider within the confines of a cinema screen. With unusual rigor for an artist working in a visual medium, Lee explores the boundaries of what can and cannot be seen. In his emotionally shattering dramas Secret Sunshine (2007) and Poetry (2010), the director turned everyday images, such as a sunbeam striking a wall, into luminous existential riddles, challenging his characters to study them and glimpse the possibility of transcendence dwelling within. Burning, Lees sixth feature and this years South Korean entry for the foreign-language film Oscar, continues this thematic investigation with extraordinary lucidity and intelligence, but also an abiding respect for its own mysteries. This is the most absorbing movie Ive seen this year, as well as the most layered and enigmatic. Advertisement At any given moment you can be nearly certain of what story is being told a romantic triangle, a crime thriller, a dark comedy of class rage, a parable for a divided nation only for the shape of the picture to suddenly bend, morph and slip once more through your fingers. This is the most absorbing movie Ive seen this year, as well as the most layered and enigmatic. Remarkably, Lee achieves this ambiguity not by coyly withholding information, but by etching his characters and their environments with a startling richness of detail. He begins with an oblique shot of a parked truck before letting the driver, Jong-su, slip into view, keeping his head down as he smokes a cigarette on a sidewalk in Seoul. Jong-su, a deliveryman, is not a guy who stands out, which makes it all the more surprising when Hae-mi pulls him aside, her eyes sparkling with delight and mischief. They once knew each other, she reminds him, when they were growing up in Paju, a small town near the border with North Korea. Jong-su, who still lives and works on his fathers farm in Paju but dreams of becoming a writer, is charmed and slightly thrown by Hae-mis assertiveness. Soon theyre making love in her cramped Seoul apartment, an encounter that clearly affects him much more than it does her. Hae-mi is a dreamer and an emotional whirlwind, whose flirty, spirited manner can suddenly veer into reproachfulness, even contempt. Early on she claims that Jong-su once called her ugly when they were younger, and you might wonder if shes trying to settle a score. That suspicion lingers when Hae-mi asks Jong-su to look after her cat while shes on a trip, from which she returns with a companion in tow named Ben (Steven Yeun). Slick, handsome and prone to soft, cryptic pronouncements, Ben drives a Porsche and lives a life of leisure in Seouls tony Gangnam district. Is he Hae-mis new boyfriend? Its not entirely clear, but either way, she seems insistent on keeping Jong-su around, maybe out of cruelty or, worse, pity. As the three of them hang out in the following days, having tea at a Gangnam cafe or smoking a joint in Jong-sus yard, Bens air of quiet superiority becomes increasingly oppressive. There is his undisguised wealth, of course, but also his polite condescension, the grating little half-smiles that hide a chilling absence of feeling. (Ive never shed a tear in my life, Ben marvels with a chuckle after Hae-mi weepily recalls an emotionally fraught memory from their trip.) Steven Yeun in a scene from Burning. (Well Go USA) Jong-su likens Ben to Jay Gatsby, an association countered by his own identification with his favorite author, William Faulkner. (By pure coincidence, Faulkner wrote a 1939 story also titled Barn Burning, a fact that Lee exploits ingeniously here.) Where Burning falls on the literary spectrum between Faulkner and F. Scott Fitzgerald is a particularly tantalizing question, and Lee never tips his hand as he shuttles between the elegant, gleaming interiors of Bens apartment and the disarray of Jong-sus home. (Even the music feels uncertain: Mowgs swampy score, which at times seems to well up from the sounds of rural activity, at one point gives way to a soulful blast of Miles Davis.) About halfway through the movie, Ben makes an odd personal disclosure that illuminates the meaning of the title, at which point Burning gradually shifts into a darker, more menacing register. Someone vanishes and someone returns. The aforementioned cat plays a surprising role, in an exquisitely Murakamian touch. Past and present family tragedies loom into the foreground, as unignorable as the North Korean propaganda blasting from the speakers near Paju. Jong-sus solitude, a familiar state for him, feels newly charged with tension, violence and a strange, disquieting excitement. Hes a writer, after all, and his feelings of dread, impotence and rage dont entirely cancel out his realization that he might have a killer story on his hands. Lee certainly does. Critics have often hailed his films as novelistic, partly because of their leisurely pacing and narrative density, and also because he was a renowned novelist for years before he turned to filmmaking. But that backhanded compliment overlooks how assuredly he wields the medium, how vividly and forcefully cinematic his stories have become. His visual gifts have matured beautifully, though never at the expense of meaning: While the widescreen images in Burning are composed with crystalline precision (by the cinematographer Hong Kyung-pyo), an elusive tangle of feelings and motivations still anchors every frame. It would be hard to overstate the perfection of the three leads or the skill with which the movie keeps rearranging them, like gemstones that are forever catching the viewers gaze and bending it in different directions. Yeun gives off an especially brilliant shimmer: Well known to American audiences from The Walking Dead and speaking entirely in Korean here, he delivers a flawlessly restrained, sometimes appallingly funny performance, infused with the slyest hint of outsider celebrity. Ben is lofty, charming, maddening and unreachable, and yet crucial to his mystique is the suggestion of a deeper kinship between himself and Jong-su, two men who in very different ways veer perilously close to sociopathy. Yoo, well known in South Korea, meets the challenge of expressing multitudes through a shy, fundamentally inexpressive character. Jong-su isnt wholly withdrawn; in his private moments with Hae-mi, hes capable of understated wit and a disarming emotional earnestness, but the spark goes out whenever Ben and his laughing, smirking friends enter the picture. In one piercing scene, he watches in helpless silence as Hae-mi, egged on by those friends, performs an impromptu dance in front of them, giving voice to an anguished vulnerability that only Jong-su can see. But its not the only scene in which Hae-mi dances; nor is it the only one in which Jeon, making a remarkable screen debut, brings this young woman to beautiful, soulful and defiant life. Hae-mi is in some ways the trickiest character in Burning, which is saying something, but she may also be the most guileless a lonely woman with a deep capacity for feeling, caught between two men who can hardly be said to deserve her. When she isnt on screen, her absence becomes its own troubling presence. The less we see, the more we fear we know. RELATED: Director Lee Chang-dong and actor Steven Yeun on the profound mysteries of Burning The Walking Dead grad Steven Yeun and director Lee Chang-dong talk about why it was important to film Burning in Korea and how it changed Yeuns approach to the part. ------------ Burning (Not rated) (In Korean with English subtitles) Running time: 2 hours, 28 minutes Playing: Opens Nov. 2 at Arclight Cinemas, Hollywood, and Laemmles Royal Theatre, West Los Angeles justin.chang@latimes.com | Twitter: @JustinCChang What happens to a dream deferred? Filmmaker Sandi Tan has had to grapple with that question for the last 25 years. In 1992, the then-19-year-old made an ambitious and ultra-low budget road movie with friends Jasmine Ng and Sophie Siddique that seemed certain to become a cult classic in their native Singapore if only because the countrys film production was essentially nonexistent. But then Georges Cardona, the mysterious, middle-aged American film teacher who was tasked with directing the project, vanished without a trace and took 70 canisters of film, boxes of scripts and storyboards with him. It was a slow drip, the realization, Tan says of having the footage taken. It just kills you slowly. It was months, maybe years before it dawned on us. Its like we remembered what it was like to fly and now we have to walk forever, she continues. You are back to Earth, doomed to never speak of this because theres no proof that it ever happened. Theres no proof you were ever special. Advertisement The whole sordid story is the focus of Shirkers, a Netflix documentary that shares its name and a significant amount of footage with the would-be film. Tans doc is now streaming on the site and playing in limited theatrical release. Cardona, an enigmatic figure with a passion for art cinema and a knack for tall tales, had befriended the group of teens only to snatch their dreams, and Tan ultimately discovered she wasnt the only one this happened to. He was a great storyteller, Tan says. He was very, very talented. If he walked into the room right now, the promise of adventure when he talks to you is so intriguing and so seductive that ... youd want to go off with [him]. With hindsight 20/20 (and now that shes been reunited with the lost footage in a surprising twist of fate), Tan is able to talk about the late Cardona without bitterness. People say Im too kind to him, she says. I dont think I am. He is not my villain, he is my nemesis and there is a difference. It strengthens me to consider myself his equal, therefore Im not his victim. I think thats the way you win over somebody like that. In the documentary, Tan uses the recovered footage to illustrate the backstory of Shirkers before switching gears to unfurl some of the yarns Cardona spun, involving both herself and other young people he took advantage of. It seemed like he would hijack the movie a second time because hes so interesting, she says. But you could not possibly tell our story without telling his story. I think his story is so remarkably fascinating because he was very creative. But his way of creating was to create holes in peoples lives so he could be remembered. Shirkers director Sandi Tan. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) REVIEW: Sandi Tans Shirkers is a captivating journey into a lost cinematic past Tan knew for years that the story of Shirkers deserved to be told, but it wasnt until she was reunited with the footage in 2012, the same year her novel The Black Isle was published, that she began formulating how to make it happen. It took me three years before I could open [the film canisters] and look at them, she says. They were like this vortex of something demonic sitting in my house. I knew the moment I opened them and dealt with them it would be a rabbit hole. And Id be sucked into the underworld like Alice in Wonderland again. She also knew it would be expensive to digitize the 700 minutes of 16-millimeter footage. But after sitting down with a technician in Burbank, she had her first moment of vindication. When I saw the footage I thought, Oh, this is exactly as I remember it, she recalls. It was exactly as shimmering and ambitious as it was in my head all those 20 years ago. And this stranger sitting next to me, who was used to working with amazing footage, his jaw dropped because he had never seen anything like it. And then once he knew the story, he said, OK, wow. This is amazing. Youve got to do something about it. Persuading Ng and Siddique to participate was the hard part. Everybody was afraid of seeming silly that they were taken in [by Georges cons], Tan says. But when you show us as a whole, you realize nobody was silly because these were all intelligent people and we were all enthralled by Georges at one point in our lives. Its such a dark force that has bound us for decades, the three of us, she adds. But as Sophie says, its a double-edged sword because we have a bond unlike that we have with anyone else. Its like having gone through a war together and now were all PTSD soldiers scattered around the world. Sandi Tan as seen in the found footage featured in the documentary Shirkers. (Sandi Tan / Sundance Institute) The process of putting the documentary together was extremely difficult, Tan says. Extremely, extremely difficult. Nobody had any faith in me, really, she says. It was a huge battle for over three years. Working mostly without a producer, Tan struggled to procure the money needed to make the film. Getting funds was very difficult because its not a social-issue doc, she says. In America, those tend to get funding. If youre an outlier or its a strange film, its just really hard. Theres basically two places that will give you little bits of money: Sundance Institute and Cinereach. And I got both. Despite the grants, finding people she could afford to work with remained challenging. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise [though] because then I was forced to be resourceful in the way of the original Shirkers, she says. She hired a 27-year-old skateboarder named Lucas Celler as the editor and they worked on the film in her garage for eight months. We grew together, says Tan. I really believe in having faith in people and everybody growing and stretching. The tight budget also forced her to work over Skype with Israel-based composer Ishai Adar and to begin brainstorming ideas with sound designer Lawrence Everson as early as a year before production began. You have to think ahead if you have no help and no support system, she says. You have to micromanage everything and to think of every aspect from start to finish. Thats the freedom of having no seasoned producer to tell you what to do. Despite the difficulties, Tan says she wasnt discouraged by the doubts or lack of support. The nice thing about coming from a place where everybody is very negative is you really are not easily discouraged, she says with a laugh. I knew this was a good story. I knew I had great footage, I knew I had good interviews, I knew there was going to be a movie here that was going to be compelling. It was just finding my way there, solving this gigantic jigsaw puzzle was going to take time and effort. I love a challenge, she adds. I mean, how can you not find this fun? I just think this is the most fun thing in the world. Sandi Tan (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) Making this film was like rediscovering my confidence in my voice, my passion for making films in the 21st century. Sandi Tan The original Shirkers was inspired heavily by Tans experience growing up in Singapore in the late 1980s and early 90s. Growing up in Singapore, its such a prosaic, staid, boring, stultifying place, she says. Hidebound, full of rules, its pretty sterile. The tourist brochure version of the place is often the [only] version of the place [seen]. The version of Singapore that I saw and loved and discovered on my own personal searching was so different from that that I wanted to have the film be a catalog of all these favorite places that I knew were going to disappear. Those places ran the gamut from mannequin shops, unfinished highways, railway tracks and back alleys. But she also wanted to catalog people. All these funny faces that Ive encountered and thought, You know, these people should be in the movies, Tan says. Things move so quickly and change so quickly that you just want to crystallize everything to make it special. That desire to capture the ephemeral was inspired in part by J.D. Salingers The Catcher in the Rye which hugely influenced Tans script for the original Shirkers and its dreamy narrative about a young woman who goes around saving kids and killing adults. I just really identified with Holden Caulfield, says Tan of the books protagonist. I mean, everybody does, but specifically in the context of Singapore in the 90s. It felt like the U.S. in the 50s theres some correlation there of the world changing and watching your siblings and cousins growing up. These kids that are exceptional and precocious and really adorable and magical, theyre going to grow up into soulless individuals like everybody else. So you want to try to stop that or stem that flow. And while the original Shirkers is unlikely to ever be seen as it was intended, creating a documentary about the experience afforded Tan a second chance at exploring the filmmaking aspirations of her adolescence. Making this film was like rediscovering my confidence in my voice, my passion for making films in the 21st century, [and] knowing that you can use the same kind of DIY methods where youre basically going it alone in your garage, she says. And I find that really exciting. Its very empowering to realize that youre not the sorcerers apprentice anymore, youre the sorcerer. ALSO The Writing Life: Sandi Tan switches genres for The Black Isle Jamie Lee Curtis, Judy Greer and Andi Matichak discuss the powerful climax of Halloween Kevin Hart, Malcolm D. Lee and Will Packer on putting together a motley crew for Night School sonaiya.kelley@latimes.com follow me on twitter @sonaiyak The morning of the Los Angeles premiere of his latest film Suspiria, Call Me by Your Name director Luca Guadagnino pondered recent events as he contemplated how audiences will receive his deliciously divisive art house horror film. Your President Trump yesterday said, I am a nationalist, which makes me shiver a tingle of the uncanny, said Guadagnino, momentarily somber during a breakfast conversation about his witchy new work. Set within an all-female dance company in Germany, where a young woman becomes ensnared in sinister supernatural machinations, Suspiria packs in body-crunching gore, evocative sensations galore and an enthralling Thom Yorke score. Playing out within a divided Berlin as the cloud of Adolf Hitlers legacy hangs over the violent clashes of the German Autumn, this remake of Dario Argentos cult classic of the same name also has much more on its mind than meets the eye. Advertisement Nationalists [are not only] the ones that we discuss in Suspiria, but also and most importantly for America, there is a group of people that define themselves as nationalists theyre white supremacists, they say they are white nationalists, said the Italian filmmaker. And the semantics of the president of the United States are not erratic and casual; theyre really thought out. Someone who doesnt know the history of this country may think, He only said that he defends his own nation but what hes saying is sending a different message, he continued. Maybe watching this movie, someone will think, Lets have a look back into where we come from. Guadagnino added a cautious coda. Im saying that not in a sort of agitprop antagonization of Mr. Trump. I do oppose his idea of the world, but truthfully I think he plays with history and manipulates what we know about ourselves. He quoted the central observer of his Suspiria, the elderly psychoanalyst Dr. Josef Klemperer: Were living in dangerous times. REVIEW: Review: Luca Guadagninos Suspiria remake casts a powerfully brutal, sorrowful spell Dakota Johnson stars as Susie Bannion in Luca Guadagninos Suspiria. (Amazon Studios) Borrowing from the narrative bones of the 1977 Argento original that seared its phantasmagoric horrors into his consciousness as a child, Guadagninos Suspiria connected with audiences in a major way over the weekend. Opening in one theater each in New York and Los Angeles, the Amazon Studios release scored the best per screen average of the year to date, and is set for a significant expansion on Friday. The adaptation unfolds inside Berlins Helena Markos Dance Company, where young American ingenue Susie Bannion (Dakota Johnson) arrives eager to escape her strict Mennonite upbringing for the liberation of feminist German Expressionist dance. There she falls under the spell of company director Madame Blanc (Swinton), who is herself embroiled in internal schisms over the fate of the group and its mysterious namesake, while Klemperer (played by actor Lutz Ebersdorf who in turn is played by Tilda Swinton, under prosthetic wrinkles) begins poking around, nagged by the claims of a missing dancer (Chloe Grace Moretz) that the place is run by a nefarious coven of witches. Where Guadagninos Suspiria goes from there, scripted by his A Bigger Splash collaborator David Kajganich, involves more pointed provocations than those found in Argentos original. Darios movie was a sort of self-contained box of fleshy delicacies, which was not in relationship with the moment it was made, said Guadagnino. It was too much of an opportunity for me and David to actually say, Its 1977 deal with it, lets make it the center of the story. He turned to Suspiria star Johnson, sipping ginger tea to his left, and cracked a conspiratorial smile. I dont take it lightly, the fact that we got away with murder. A two-and-a-half hour movie that is truly its own thing, that utilizes the codes of horror movies in an individual way hopefully successfully, he said. Tilda Swinton as Madam Blanc stars in Suspiria. (Willy Vanderperre/Amazon Studios) The key to launching his remake, Guadagnino says, was getting his leads in place. According to Swinton, Guadagninos muse in 2009s I Am Love and 2015s A Bigger Splash, the pair had been talking about their shared love for Argentos Suspiria for 25 years before joining forces to remake it. He was the first person I ever met with whom I could properly share my inarticulate hots for Dario Argentos film, Swinton said via email. We were both smitten from the first by the pure nutty sensationalism of it, the graphic beauty and savagery of its violence, the wild trippy vortex of its world It was the first of all our shared fantasies. Every other started here. Its a wonderful feeling to know we have scaled this one at long last. While directing Johnson opposite Swinton in A Bigger Splash, Guadagnino recalls, he had a revelation: The Fifty Shades of Grey star was his perfect Susie Bannion. He approached her during filming with the role; preparing for Suspiria, Johnson says, began the moment we spoke about it. She dove into Argentos oeuvre, Sigmund Freuds The Uncanny, and the films of Rainer Werner Fassbinder, another heavy influence on the look and feel of Suspiria. She readied herself physically to play the gifted but classically untrained Susie by training for more than a year, and in her spare time during filming on her Universal bondage sequel Fifty Shades Freed before the Suspiria shoot commenced in the remote mountain town of Varese, Italy, in a long-abandoned former grand hotel. Mia Goth (Nymphomaniac, A Cure for Wellness) plays Sara, a fellow dancer who welcomes Susie into the fold only to cultivate her own suspicions about the companys secrets. I had no dance training at all I had no idea what was about to happen and I remember that first week, everybody was just broken by the end of it, Goth said and smiled. She joined the ensemble of mostly professional dancers by diving into a crash-course of movement training, spending six to seven days a week in the studio, for the long and demanding shoot. But your body starts to have breakthroughs. You start to move differently. You just adapt. In rehearsing and immersing herself in intensive dance conditioning and studying artists like Pina Bausch and Mary Wigman, whose imprints are evident in Suspiria choreographer Damien Jalets ferociously primal dances, Johnson grounded Susies physical and sensual awakening in the catharsis of finding community among the independent women with whom she dances. Susie has just discovered strong women who feel the way she feels, and women who behave as their own human, and women who have their own agency and autonomy, Johnson said. Thats something shes discovering as the movie goes on... and then it becomes something a bit deeper. Together with Swinton she strikes an electric chemistry as the Markos Companys doyenne and star pupil, whose deepening connection drives toward an ultimate goal: The performance of the companys mesmerizing magnum opus Volk, a dance that taps into a power so transcendent it wreaks magical destructive violence in a scene so gory its already gained notoriety with genre fans. Given the time and place in which Suspiria is set, Blancs form of dance, Swinton says, is itself an act of survival and resistance. Women in Germany under Hitler were considered breeders for good Aryan stock: the Nazis decreed that dance must be the exclusive province of fetishised female beauty and the cheerfulness of a devotion to the Third Reich: above all, never intellectual, said Swinton. For Blanc, this rings a deep bell of resistance and outrage. She tells Susie, There are two things dance can never be again: Beautiful and cheerful we must break the nose of every beautiful thing. RELATED: How the makers of new Halloween and Suspiria films took different approaches reimagining hallowed horror classics Lutz Ebersdorf as Dr. Josef Klemperer stars in Luca Guadagninos Suspiria. (Amazon Studios) Of her portrayal of additional characters beyond Blanc, Swinton prefers to say little. There is a very particular thread that connects Mme. Blanc, Mme. Markos and Josef Klemperer which we always intended we would leave oblique, but detectable, she said. As is well known, I play Blanc, Dr. Klemperer is played by Lutz Ebersdorf, who brings us a new face, having never appeared on film before and Mme. Markos is uncredited. Guadagnino, at least, will admit to the trick. There were three elements in the narrative of the movie in terms of character that could be the three aspects of the human psyche in the terms of Freudian psychoanalysis: The id, the ego and the superego, he said. I found it amusing that to do that, only one person could have pulled it off completely and it was Tilda. The fact that Swinton, in her triple roles, plays the only prominent male lead in an ensemble dominated by complex female characters only underscores the films femme-driven power. I think witches are magnificent creatures, said Guadagnino. The problem is that historically a witch was somebody who was persecuted because of her independence. When a woman was not responding to the law of the church and the father, and was trying to have her own independent spirit and maybe sharing that spirit with other women, that was a witch; that was somebody to be killed. Entering theaters in a time of heightened political conflict in America and across the globe, are there lessons for viewers to glean from this socially conscious take on Suspiria? This is a very complex question, and Im shy to answer this. I would say every movie that is made is resonant through time, but speaks for the time in which it is made, Guadagnino mused carefully. I think that if someone watching the movie understands that we are the product of history, that we cannot deny history and if we dont understand that what happens before us is part of what we can decide to be in the future, I think I will be happy. Swinton considered the same question. Those fascists they really get those witches going, she wrote. If we recognize any similarities in our current societal climate, we might do well to understand in what specific ways the historical knee bones are connected to the thigh bones etc. etc the cultural amnesia that has been in vogue in the West for so long is due a re-think. Reflecting on history holds vital keys as it always has for understanding how we might go forward... Nationalism is a dangerous game in the current climate that only willfully ignorant and bombastic self-servers deal in, she concluded. Even [Joseph] Goebbels could have told us that. jen.yamato@latimes.com @jenyamato Playwright, poet and author Ntozake Shange, whose most acclaimed theater piece is the 1975 play For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf, died Saturday, according to her daughter. She was 70. Shanges For Colored Girls, which was nominated for two Tony Awards in 1977, describes the racism, sexism, violence and rape experienced by seven black women. It has been influential to generations of progressive thinkers, including #MeToo architect Tarana Burke and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage. After learning of Shanges death, Nottage called her our warrior poet/dramatist. For the record: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated the play For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf was Tony Award-nominated in 1975. The play was first produced professionally in 1975, opened on Broadway in Sept. 1976 and was nominated the next year. Savannah Shange, a professor of anthropology at UC Santa Cruz, said Saturday that her mother died in her sleep at an assisted living facility in Bowie, Md. She had suffered a series of strokes in 2004. She spoke for, and in fact embodied, the ongoing struggle of black women and girls to live with dignity and respect in the context of systemic racism, sexism and oppression, Savannah Shange said. Advertisement For Colored Girls is an interwoven series of poetic monologues set to music Shange coined the form a choreopoem for it by African American women, each identified only by a color 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, N.J., she went on to graduate from Barnard College and got a masters degree from USC. Her father, Dr. Paul T. Williams, was a surgeon. Her mother, Eloise Owens Williams, was a professor of social work. She later assumed a new Zulu name: Ntozake means She who comes with her own things and Shange means She who walks like a lion. For Colored Girls opened at the Public Theater in downtown Manhattan, 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. It earned Shange an Obie Award, and she won a second such award in 1981 for her adaptation of Bertolt Brechts Mother Courage and Her Children at the Public Theater. Shanges other 15 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 includes 19 poetry collections, six novels, five childrens books and three collections of essays. Some of her novels are Sassafrass, Cypress, and Indigo (1982) and Some Sing, Some Cry, with her sister Ifa Bayeza. Her poetry collections include 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. She worked with such black theater companies as the Lorraine Hansberry Theatre in San Francisco; the New Freedom Theatre in Philadelphia; Crossroads Theatre Company in New Brunswick, N.J.; St. Louis Black Rep; Penumbra Theatre in St. Paul, Minn.; and The Ensemble Theatre in Houston. Shange taught at Brown University, Rice University, Villanova University, DePaul University, Prairie View University and Sonoma State University. She also lectured at Yale, Howard, New York University, among others. In addition to her daughter and sister, Shange is survived by sister Bisa Williams, brother Paul T. Williams Jr. and a granddaughter, Harriet Shange-Watkins. See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour Movie Trailers calendar@latimes.com Twitter: @LATimesMovies Los Angeles police shot and killed a suspect who grabbed one officers Taser inside the locker room of a Hollywood gym Monday morning, authorities said. Officers responded to a call about a battery in the 6300 block of Sunset Boulevard shortly after 8 a.m., according to Officer Rosario Herrera, an LAPD spokeswoman. The officers were directed toward a suspect inside the locker room of a 24 Hour Fitness gym on a busy stretch of the boulevard that also includes an ArcLight theater and several other businesses, according to the LAPD. A confrontation ensued and at one point the suspect took possession of one of the officers Tasers, the LAPD said on Twitter. The suspect was shot and pronounced dead at the scene a short time later, police said. There has been an officer involved shooting within the 6300 block of W Sunset Blvd in @LAPDHollywood . Please stay clear of the area while officers continue there investigation. This is not an active shooter situation. LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) October 29, 2018 Advertisement The suspects identity was not immediately released. One officer suffered an injury that was deemed not life-threatening and was taken to an area hospital. Mike Dougherty said he was inside the gym when several officers came into the locker room and asked him and other patrons to leave as part of an evacuation shortly before 9:30 a.m. james.queally@latimes.com Follow @JamesQueallyLAT for crime and police news in California. UPDATES: 11:35 a.m.: This article was updated with information about the death of the suspect. This article was originally published at 10 a.m. On the eve of a civil court trial, the Los Angeles Unified School District has agreed to pay $5 million to a young woman who was sexually abused as a teen by a middle school teacher. Attorneys for the woman, who is now 20, say the payout is the largest single-victim settlement by the countrys second-largest school district. The girl was 13 when Elkis Hermida, a math teacher at Thomas Edison Middle School, began grooming her, according to a civil suit filed in 2012 by the student. Hermida went on to molest the girl for seven months in his classroom and near the campus, incidents for which the educator pleaded no contest and was sentenced to prison for three years. Attorneys for the school district fought the lawsuit and accused the girl, who was in eighth grade during the abuse, of consenting to the activity. Keith Wyatt, LAUSDs outside counsel, said Hermida used no physical force or threat in performing the sex acts, arguing that the girl consented to having sex with her teacher, who was 30 at the time. Advertisement An appeals court, however, overturned the 2013 jury verdict, saying Superior Court Judge Lawrence Cho never should have allowed such evidence to be presented and ordered a new trial. The landmark case led California lawmakers in 2015 to abolish the so-called minors consent as a defense in abuse cases and set the standards for what is acceptable evidence and argument in childhood sexual abuse cases. She was abused in the classroom and victimized a second time in the courtroom, said John Taylor, one of the womans attorneys. Her courage and persistence will make it easier for other abuse victims to pursue their claims without fear of being blamed for the abuse. Taylor said the settlement was reached Friday, three days before a new trial was slated to begin. She suffered from emotional trauma for years following the abuse, but the hurdles she was forced to jump through afterward are awful, Taylor said. The LAUSD is held accountable for their failure to protect a minor from sexual assault. Officials from L.A. Unified declined to comment saying the agreement has yet to be formally approved by the court. The district has previously insisted officials were unaware of any misconduct by Hermida. The agreement reached Friday includes no admission of fault by the district. In the original lawsuit, LAUSD general counsel David Holmquist said the key issue in the case was not whether the girl bore any responsibility for her abuse, but whether the district knew or should have known that Hermida was abusing her. Evidence in court proceedings, however, showed that schoolteachers and administrators ignored multiple red flags signaling Hermidas alleged inappropriate conduct with female students. The teacher openly hugged female students as they entered his classroom and had them sit on his lap, court documents show. He also was accused of rearranging the furniture in class to create a hidden alcove, where some of the sexual abuse against the girl took place during school hours. Ultimately, the jury decided the district was not liable in the case. When the controversy ignited after the first verdict, the districts top lawyer defended its position. But L.A. Unified eventually severed ties with Wyatt, who said in a radio broadcast that it was a more dangerous decision for a 14-year-old to cross the street in traffic than to have sex with a teacher. After years of fighting, our client can finally close this painful chapter in her life, said attorney Frank Perez, who tried the first case. Her bravery and determination are what led to the passing of SB 14, ultimately changing the law and giving victims like her a chance to get the justice they deserve. richard.winton@latimes.com Twitter: @lacrimes UPDATES: 1:50 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details about the case. This article was originally published at 12:40 p.m. Loren Lieb and Donna Finkelstein were on their way to Lancaster on Saturday to campaign against a congressional candidate who opposes strict gun control laws when the two women received a call with news about a mass shooting in a Pittsburgh synagogue. Eleven people were killed and six injured, in what is believed to be the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in U.S. history. The two longtime friends were stunned. When is something going to change? Lieb wondered. The women bonded nearly 20 years ago after another tragic incident in which a self-professed white supremacist walked into the North Valley Jewish Community Center armed with a semiautomatic weapon and began shooting. Liebs 6-year-old son and Finkelsteins 16-year-old daughter were among the five people wounded. Advertisement Since then, Lieb and Finkelstein have become involved with the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence and are board members of Women Against Gun Violence. We have a special bond, Finkelstein said. We both took this tragic shooting and we became activists. We know that we do whatever we can to prevent future gun violence. The mothers had never met before the Aug. 10, 1999, shooting at the community center. Finkelsteins daughter, Mindy, was a counselor and Liebs son, Josh Stepakoff, was attending summer day camp. That morning, Josh had just finished a game of capture the flag and was walking down the main corridor of the community center when he came face-to-face with a person he thought was a construction worker. The man turned out to be the shooter, Buford Furrow Jr. Of the five people wounded that day, three were children ages 5 and 6. After the rampage, Furrow left the center and fatally shot a mail carrier in Chatsworth. Furrow is currently serving a life sentence. Although Josh was shot in the leg and the hip, he remembers only running. Mindy was with another camper when she was shot twice and managed to escape with the child. On Saturday morning, Mindy Finkelstein was in bed with her 7-month-old daughter and her husband in the Bay Area when she received texts from family members asking if shed heard about the Pittsburgh shooting. As she watched the news, she felt an overwhelming sense of survivors guilt. I also had a deeper sense of sadness that not much has changed in almost 20 years and actually, now more than ever, gun violence and hate are more prevalent than they were when I was shot, she said. Now 35, Mindy criticized the easy accessibility to guns, as well as the sheer power of the weapons available. Saturdays shooting unfolded over 20 minutes at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburghs Squirrel Hill neighborhood, known locally for being the historical hub of the citys Jewish community. The gunman, identified as Robert Bowers, 46, of Pittsburgh, was armed with an assault rifle and three handguns, officials said. During negotiations for Bowers surrender, an officer at the scene radioed that Bowers was saying that all these Jews need to die. He was charged late Saturday on 29 counts, including 11 counts of murder with a firearm, and several hate crime charges such as obstructing the exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death. The Anti-Defamation League reported earlier this year that anti-Semitic incidents in the U.S. rose 57% in 2017 the largest single-year increase on record and the second-highest number reported since ADL started tracking such data in 1979. Mindys daughter is growing up Jewish and she said she wants her to be proud of that. I dont want her to shy away from it or hide it and I dont want to hide it. I want to be proud of my heritage, Mindy said. The leaders of this country have a responsibility to make it known that this hate that is being spewed out everywhere is wrong and its actually killing people. President Trump, in his first comment to reporters on the shooting, called for armed guards at synagogues and implied that lax security by the synagogue was at least partially to blame for the high death toll. If they had protection inside, the results would have been far better, he said. If there was an armed guard inside the temple, they would have been able to stop him, maybe there would have been nobody killed, except for him, frankly. After the North Valley Jewish Community Center shooting, the center installed gates, a guard shack and an armed security guard who worked around the clock, all of which came at a huge financial cost to the organization, according to Nina Lieberman, who oversaw the community center at the time. A Los Angeles police officer kept watch at the site for weeks. Liebermans 6-year-old son was enrolled in the summer camp and witnessed the shooting. The community center saw a small dip in enrollment after the shooting, said Lieberman, who was associate executive director of the Jewish Community Centers of Greater Los Angeles at the time. It was a precursor to a bigger blow just a few years later when parents pulled their kids out of preschools and summer camps in large numbers after the 9/11 terrorist attacks out of fear of sending their children to Jewish centers. The drop in revenue played a significant role in causing a financial crisis for the organization, Lieberman said. The Granada Hills site was shuttered in the early 2000s and the land was sold. Members of the community later joined other groups and formed the Valley Jewish Community Center in Woodland Hills. Still, the tragedy in 1999 brought the greater community together, with preschool held the very next day at an Episcopal church next door, Lieberman said. We made a very conscious decision to act like a community center and provide a sense of belonging, she said. We took it as an opportunity to create a sense of togetherness, to say, We are not going to fall because of your behavior. After Donna Finkelsteins husband called her Saturday with the news, she spent most of the day weeping. So did Lieb. The women would spend several hours together canvassing neighborhoods in Lancaster. As they knocked on each door, Finkelstein was fearful about what could happen. Because you dont know who has a gun, Finkelstein said. brittny.mejia@latimes.com Twitter: @Brittny_Mejia maya.lau@latimes.com Twitter: @mayalau Its Organizing 101: For any social movement to expand and succeed, like-minded supporters need to connect with one another through meetings, rallies or social media. But white nationalism isnt just any social movement. Meetings get canceled when venue owners realize whos renting their space. Rallies come under violent attack by organized anti-fascists. And big Silicon Valley tech companies are coming under increasing pressure to kick far-right personalities off their services. Saturdays mass shooting by a neo-Nazi sympathizer at a Pittsburgh synagogue which left 11 dead and is thought to be the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in American history is likely to redouble the tough scrutiny on how the organized white nationalist movement spreads its message inside the U.S. Much of that scrutiny is already falling on Gab, a social-media service that has served as a safe harbor for white nationalists at a time when the movement has faltered under intense internal and public pressure. The suspect in the Pittsburgh shooting, Robert Bowers, was an active user. Advertisement The white nationalist movements most recent troubles had stemmed in large part from its rally in Charlottesville, Va., last year, where officials say one far-right demonstrator drove his car into a crowd of anti-racism protesters, killing one. After Charlottesville, social-media companies, payment processors and service providers, bowing to public outrage, began to crack down on far-right users and start-ups who were using such mainstream services to post online, host websites and accept donations from fans. White nationalists also pointed fingers internally over who was most responsible for the events chaos and the negative optics of the rally. The movement has been further sapped by members arrests, fundraising problems and embarrassing media coverage of the domestic problems of key figures, including Richard Spencer of the National Policy Institute and Matthew Heimbach of the Traditionalist Worker Party. The leadership of the organized movement is in pretty bad straits, said Heidi Beirich, a spokeswoman for the Southern Poverty Law Center, a nonprofit organization that monitors and sometimes sues far-right groups. But one bright spot has been Gab, a Twitter-like social-media service whose logo is a green frog, which has attracted far-right users for its unwillingness to eject racist users. Bowers account featured neo-Nazi and anti-Semitic memes on his page, and he posted on the site about his plans moments before attacking the synagogue. Bowers was a verified user on Gab, which indicates he was likely a premium account holder who paid to gain access to special features on the site, which claims more than 700,000 users. This image shows a portion of an archived webpage from the social-media website Gab, with an Oct. 27, 2018, posting by Pittsburgh synagogue shooting suspect Robert Bowers. (AP) Gab quickly removed Bowers profile Saturday but has declined to eject other white nationalist posters a no-censorship stance that very much seems part of the start-ups plan from its founding in 2016 to build an anti-establishment right-wing customer base as a pathway to profitability. We welcome everyone, but see a unique opportunity to carve a niche in a massively underserved and unrepresented market, the company said in a June 21 prospectus filed with the Security and Exchange Commission as part of a securities offering. We estimate that there are over 50 million conservative, libertarian, nationalist, and populist internet users from around the world who are seeking an alternative to the current social networking ecosystems. Gabs operators, led by Pennsylvania-based founder Andrew Torba, who owns a majority share in the company, have bristled when mainstream news outlets, including the Los Angeles Times, have focused almost exclusively on the companys troublemaking far-right customers at the expense of less radical Gab users. (Gab didnt respond to a request for comment.) But the far-right users are the ones who make the company so newsworthy. Due to its willingness to accept white nationalists, Gab, in some ways, is the largest hate site on the web, Beirich said. One of Americas most prominent neo-Nazis, Andrew Anglin, who has been banned from multiple platforms but not from Gab has a similar assessment. I am very thankful to Torba for letting me use the site when Jews attempted to literally ban me from the internet, Anglin wrote Sunday on his neo-Nazi website, the Daily Stormer, which has also been kicked off multiple service providers. (Anglin has effectively been in hiding as the Southern Poverty Law Center tries to sue him for directing his readers to harass a Jewish woman in Montana.) Now, after the Pittsburgh shooting, Gab is growing similarly isolated as the payment processors Stripe and PayPal and the hosting service Joyent cut off services to the social-media company. On Sunday, the companys Turkish chief technology officer, Ekrem Buyukkaya, announced that he was resigning from the company, citing the pressure of working for such a controversial employer. The attacks from the American press have been relentless for two years now and have taken a toll on me personally, Buyukkaya wrote in a post Sunday. I wish Gab nothing but the best and will do everything I can to help them transition to a new CTO. Like any start-up, the troubles could pose problems for the young companys viability if they put a dent in its budget or slow its growth. In 2017, Gab reported a net loss of more than $200,000 and a cash balance of $637,291. That same year, the company briefly sued Google for anti-competitive practices for not allowing Gab to be downloaded on the Google Play store. (Gab soon dropped the lawsuit.) In March, Gab reported that an independent audit had expressed substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern, though it expressed hopes more recently that those doubts had been alleviated. The company has reported collecting $1 million in crowdfunded sales of securities in 2017 and said it had hopes to collect another $5 million in another round of sales in 2018. If we are unable to obtain sufficient amounts of capital, we may be required to reduce the scope of our planned development and operations, which could harm our business, financial condition, and operating results, the company reported in September. Gab has been vowing, in posts on Twitter, to move forward as it battles to stay online and to stay alive. New hosting provider secured. Working around the clock to see to it that Gab.com stays online, Torba posted on Gab on Sunday. You cant stop the power of The People in their fight for freedom and liberty against tyranny. FREE SPEECH WILL ALWAYS WIN. matt.pearce@latimes.com Matt Pearce is a national reporter for The Times. Follow him on Twitter at @mattdpearce. More national headlines The Trump administration ordered 5,200 additional troops to the Southwest border Monday, more than doubling the military presence there and widening the Pentagons role in domestic policing operations. The move is in response to a caravan of Central American migrants who may seek to enter the United States through Mexico, officials said. President Trump has characterized the group as an invasion and falsely claimed it included terrorists and was organized by Democrats handing out money, despite denials by national security experts. Trumps critics dismissed the unusually heavy deployment of military troops to assist in border protection as a political ploy by the administration to appeal to its base ahead of the Nov. 6 midterm election. The armed troops will help the Border Patrol harden points of entry and address key gaps around points of entry to keep members of the caravan from crossing the border, Gen. Terrence OShaughnessy, head of the U.S. Northern Command, said at a news conference with the Border Patrol. Advertisement The rapid timetable of the operation would have the 5,200 troops in place by the end of the week. The caravan of approximately 3,500 migrants is still moving through southern Mexico, about 900 miles from the U.S. border, and is steadily declining in numbers. Trump has seized on the immigration issue ahead of next weeks midterm election, even though illegal immigration this year is on pace to be lower than in all but four of the previous 45 years. The president has tweeted repeatedly about the threat posed by the caravan, a characterization that may have played a role in Saturdays deadly synagogue attack in Pittsburgh. In online postings, the purported shooter, Robert Bowers, accused Jewish groups of aiding invaders by helping immigrants and refugees settle in the United States. Though Pentagon officials in the past have emphasized that the military was playing only a supporting role in assisting civilian authorities along the border, OShaughnessy portrayed the military as taking a far more active operational role. As we sit here today, we have about 800 soldiers that are on their way right now. Theyre coming from from Ft. Campbell. Theyre coming from Ft. Knox. Theyre moving closer to the border and are ready to be employed on the border. The first wave of 800 troops will be followed in coming days by additional deployments in Arizona and California. They will include active-duty military personnel from three combat engineering battalions and three helicopter units. About 2,000 National Guard troops are already assisting at the border under a previous Pentagon operation. Among other roles, Black Hawk helicopters equipped with night sensors will be available to ferry Border Patrol personnel exactly where they need to be to spot groups and to fast-rope down to intercept migrants trying to cross the border. Military aircraft will conduct surveillance. The Pentagon is also sending engineers who could build vehicle barriers, walls and razor-wire fencing around the entry points. Soldiers arriving at the border were bringing 22 miles of concertina wire and would have another 150 miles available, OShaughnessy said. The Pentagon is sending riot gear, ready-to-eat meals and tents to equip, feed and house additional Border Patrol agents sent to the border. In addition, the Pentagon is sending four larger transport planes, including three C-130s and a C-17 to ferry the agency personnel to spots along the border where migrants may seek to cross illegally, officials said. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Kevin McAleenan said that the agency is tracking two large groups of between 3,000 and 3,500 migrants each in southern Mexico. He said the groups were preparing to enter the United States within the next few weeks. The Pentagon and the Border Patrol are focusing initially on building up security measures at points of entry across the border, McAleenan said. If the migrants seek to cross the border at more remote locations, the Border Patrol has an additional 830 agents to move to those locations with military assistance, he said. The agency also has two dozen of its aircraft patrolling the Southwest border, he added. Asked why so many troops were needed, McAleenan said migrant groups that had crossed the Guatemalan-Mexico border had recently used violent tactics to overwhelm border guards who attempted to block them. Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen have vowed to stop the caravan, but its been unclear whether the Border Patrol would be able to cope, given an influx of asylum-seeking families this year that recently accelerated. As the president and Secretary Nielsen have made clear, we will not allow a large group to enter the United States in an unsafe and unlawful manner, McAleenan told reporters. In recent days, the Border Patrol had deployed 100 special response team operators to prepare plans to beef up security at each of the 26 points of entry along the border, he said. An additional 1,000 officers, including 250 with training in riot control, are ready to move to the border as well, he said. But the agency sought assistance from the Pentagon due to the large size of the potential caravans that may arrive, McAleenan said. The Pentagon deployment up from an original estimate of 800 that officials said was likely last week would be double the 2,500 U.S. troops in Syria. Critics called the operation a politically motivated misuse of American military. The men and women of the U.S. military work hard to protect us from real threats. It is beyond cynical, and sets a terrible precedent, to exploit them for political stagecraft in the run-up to an election, said Adam Isacson, director for defense oversight at the Washington Office on Latin America, an advocacy group that focuses on Latin America. The migrant caravan is mostly children and families. Most plan to ask for asylum if they make it to the U.S. border, and most will not make it. By the time they get here, the so-called caravan may be just a few hundred people. Unless soldiers are being trained to fill in asylum forms and to care for kids and moms, this is the very opposite of what the U.S. militarys mission is, he added. OShaughnessy said the Pentagon was carrying out Trumps wishes. I think the president has made it clear that border security is national security, he said, adding that our orders are very clear: Were going to secure the border. Under pressure from U.S. authorities to halt the northward flow of migrants, Mexican authorities have broken up one attempted migrant caravan near the countrys southern border and offered temporary residency to Central Americans who agree to remain in the country. McAleenan urged migrants still making their way to the United States to seek asylum in Mexico, rather than attempt to cross the border. Asked whether U.S. officials would permit people in the caravan to seek asylum in the United States, he said, You can only process a certain number of people at a time. The troops will not be involved in interacting with migrants seeking to cross the border, the officials said. Using troops in a support role means they would not violate the Posse Comitatus Act, which bars the federal government from using the military for domestic policing. But the heavier support role suggests that military personnel may come in closer contact with migrants than they have in other recent operations. The Pentagon is sending active-duty troops, rather than National Guard soldiers, because they can mobilize faster and have more aircraft than reservists, officials said. Use of active-duty troops also enables the Trump administration to bypass California Gov. Jerry Brown, who has resisted use of troops along the border in the past. The Pentagon operation is limited to 45 days, meaning the troops would depart in December unless the mission is extended, officials said. david.cloud@latimes.com Twitter: @davidcloudLAT UPDATES: 5:25 p.m.: This article was updated with comments from the news conference and other reaction. This article was originally published at 11:30 a.m. Nearly 10,000 residents dance in local Dolan Maxrap folk style in Awat county in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region on Oct. 9, 2018. (Photo/CHINA NEWS SERVICE) "Not a concentration camp, but a vocational skills education training institution, which aims at the prevention of terrorism and extremism," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying refuted reporters at a regular press conference on Friday. Earlier this week, BBC reported the vocational programs in Xinjiang as a so-called detention center. Hua stressed that the purpose of vocational programs in Xinjiang is protecting the basic human rights of the people from terrorism and extremism to the maximum extent, which is essentially the same as the methods taken by the UK, France and the U.S.. The British government launched a counter-terrorism strategy in June, emphasizing early intervention for those affected by extremist ideas, Hua offered the example, adding that France also announced in 2016 that it would set up de-extermination centers in 12 regions of the country to help its citizens affected by extremism. The U.S. is also trying to use community correction to rehabilitate young people affected by extremist ideas, she said. "The Chinese government has resolutely taken measures in preventing and combating violent terrorist crimes in accordance with the law." Fighting terrorism and de-radicalization are two worldwide challenges and countries should uphold the same standards on the issue of preventive counter-terrorism and de-radicalization measures, Hua noted. She said that all parties should strengthen exchanges on the issue and understand each other's measures taken to safeguard social tranquility in their own countries. As the accusations by a U.S. senator that China is severely violating the human rights of religious minorities, Hua responded that 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. 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. Citing poll statistics from Gallup and Pew, Hua said that 42 percent of U.S. citizens are extremely concerned about ethnic relations in the country, 58 percent of respondents saying they believe racism is a serious problem and 75 percent of American Muslims saying there is a lot of discrimination 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. (With inputs from Xinhua) [ Editor: Zhang Zhou ] In May 2017, Los Angeles City Council President Herb Wesson promised a series of hearings in neighborhoods across the city to discuss policing issues, including the way the officers are disciplined . It was an excellent idea. A series of high-profile officer shootings and other uses of force against unarmed African American men had added a sense of urgency to the nationwide debate over policing. Los Angeles voters had just approved a sweeping change to the LAPD discipline process. There was, and there remains, some concern over how that change is to be implemented, and whether it ultimately will enhance or undermine police accountability. The time was ripe for some meaningful public discussion and input. But in the year and a half since that vote and that promise, the committee Wesson set up for the purpose has met only three times, only at City Hall, and has discussed little of substance. That didnt stop the panel from moving forward last week with a set of marching orders on the very topics that were supposed to be publicly aired but were not, such as whether retired police officers should be allowed to serve among the civilians who hear officers disciplinary appeals. Nothing is in stone until the full City Council acts. Yet there is reason for concern that the promised series of hearings may turn into a kind of road show that is meant simply to sell decisions that already have been made, rather than to allow public testimony to assist in shaping the officer discipline system. Public health and safety require confidence in police integrity, and that means a discipline system that the public and officers alike can trust. Advertisement That would be a shame. Public health and safety require confidence in police integrity, and that means a discipline system that the public and officers alike can trust. There are many ways to go wrong. Consider, for example, what recently happened in Chicago. A week after a jury returned guilty verdicts against a police officer for the 2014 fatal shooting of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald, a panel returned to duty another officer who, in 2012, fatally shot another African American teenager, in the back of the head. The officer had been suspended for a year following a ruling by the Independent Police Review Authority. He was cleared by the Chicago Police Board. Whether it was the right or the wrong decision is not the point, but rather that the lack of public confidence in the Chicago police has been exacerbated by a confusing and changing system of officer discipline. The much-criticized accountability office has since been reconstituted and renamed, but the two remaining civilian panels have not earned the confidence of Chicagoans. A proposed consent decree for the overhaul of the Chicago Police Department is currently in the hands of a federal judge. With luck, it can provide the institutional integrity, and as a result the public confidence, that is currently lacking. Los Angeles has been through similar crises of confidence and has emerged with a discipline system that is generally well regarded but still could stand some well-considered tweaks. The LAPD chief disciplines officers for serious misconduct. Officers may appeal to a three-member Board of Rights, which can sustain or overturn the chiefs decision or reduce the ordered punishment. After the Rodney King beating, voters altered the composition of the appeals boards by including a civilian alongside two command-level police staff. Voters last year changed that again, allowing officers to choose to have their cases reviewed by all-civilian appeals boards. Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute from L.A. Times Opinion But nearly 18 months later, the City Council has yet to implement that charter change because it has not yet made decisions on seemingly mundane, yet highly important, questions. Like that question about whether retired officers ought to be able to serve as the civilian members of the Board of Rights. Thats an emotional touchstone for many police reform activists, who generally object to retired officers serving in oversight positions reserved for civilians. Experience has shown that civilians are more lenient in L.A. police discipline matters than are active officers (a fact that led the police union to seek last years ballot measure allowing them to choose all-civilian boards). Would retired officers on discipline appeals boards act more like active command officers, or more like civilians? And does it matter? The questions and many others like it require study and public input before they are answered. The hearings, obviously, should come before the recommendations. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook When Republican John Cox met with the Los Angeles Times editorial board in April to make a pitch for our endorsement in the gubernatorial primary race, he was curiously cagey when thrown softball questions about policymakers and political figures he admired or who helped shape his political philosophy. He said he wasnt ready to name any names. After a bit of back and forth, Cox did finally offer up one tidbit when asked if there was a governor hed like to emulate. Yes, he answered quickly. Hed gotten to know Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts and thought he had some excellent ideas and smart approaches to issues. At the time, I didnt think much of the comment. For one thing, there was so much else to talk about in his hourlong visit. For another, Cox was one of more than two dozen people running to succeed Gov. Jerry Brown. As is typical of someone who never held elective office, his platform was light on details and heavy on complaints about the current administration. If he should make it to the general election in November, I thought, surely the Chicago businessman seeking the job of running state with the fifth-largest economy in the world would start filling in some of the blanks. Well, Cox did make it to the general election, and yet by the beginning of October there were still a lot of blanks. Cox has continued to speak in generalities about special interests and the status quo, giving up few concrete plans. In the one and only gubernatorial debate since the June primary on Oct. 8, Cox again failed to cite policies he would employ to make California affordable, deal with rampant homelessness or reduce taxes while maintaining services. Advertisement Cox has no record to examine for clues since hes never been elected to public office, though he has run a number of losing political campaigns for Congress in Illinois and one short-lived presidential bid. And though polls suggest that it wont matter because Democratic Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom will beat Cox on Nov. 6 by a wide margin, I have a lot less faith in the predictive ability of polls than I did before 2016. In this context, suddenly Coxs esteem of Nebraskas Republican governor seemed more significant. Maybe looking at Ricketts career might offer some hints as to how Cox might govern. I knew his name, but I cant say I knew much more about Ricketts before delving into newspaper archives of the Omaha World-Herald and Lincoln Journal Star (for stories like this profile of Ricketts) and talking to political observers in the last few weeks. Now, I can see why Cox might identify with Ricketts, who is currently running for a second term. Both are catholic and were born and raised in the Midwest. Both are wealthy businessmen who turned to politics after making their fortunes, eschewing small-time offices for high-profile jobs. Cox, to his credit, made his own money. Ricketts was born into his wealth, the son of Joe Ricketts, founder of the company that is now known as TD Ameritrade. Both Cox and Ricketts are fans of making government more efficient and streamlined. But Ricketts is no moderate Republican, as Cox is portraying himself (Cox likes to say hes a Jack Kemp Republican). Ricketts is an immigration hard-liner and supports voter ID requirements. Hes ardently anti-abortion. (Cox too has said hes proudly pro-life, though he hasnt made a big issue out of it during the campaign.) One of the first things Ricketts did after taking office was to propose a Choose Life specialty license plate, which passed only after a long political fight. This year, he proposed a budget provision denying federal Title X funding to family planning clinics that offer abortion services unless they have separate facilities and staff for those procedures. He strongly supports capital punishment. When the Nebraska Legislature voted to repeal the death penalty in 2015, Ricketts vetoed it. The state Legislature overrode Ricketts veto, and the governor responded by using his considerable wealth to fund a ballot measure the following year to reinstate it. And when it comes to working with the state Legislature to accomplish major policy? Its either his way or the highway. If youre looking for a governor who is partisan and makes no effort to build consensus across party lines or within his own party, Pete Ricketts is your guy, Sen. Adam Morfeld, a Democrat from Lincoln, told me. And legislators who cross Ricketts may find themselves fighting for their jobs. In the last election, Ricketts went after some of the moderate Republicans who clashed with him, funneling thousands of dollars from his own pocket into the campaigns of opponents. Another Nebraska political observer I talked to likened Ricketts and his Lt. Gov. Mike Foley (in Nebraska the two run on a slate. Hmm, thats an idea) to President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence. One is a rich guy who does what he wants while the second in command attacks reproductive rights and immigrants. Im not saying that Cox would be a Rickettss clone. In fact, its unlikely, given the deep political differences between liberal California and conservative Nebraska. But Ricketts is the governor that Cox says he most wants to be like, and Californians should consider whether they want that too. To the editor: During the 2016 campaign, one of then-Republican nominee Donald Trumps tweets included an image of Democratic nominee Hillary Clintons head over a pile of money with a six-sided, obviously Jewish star next to her. Trump denied it was intended as a Jewish star. When the white supremacists and neo-Nazis were marching in Charlottesville, Va., in 2017, the president did not at first specifically call them out during the melee with protesters. Rather, he said there were very fine people on both sides. Trump decries antisemitism. He says the hate has to stop. He says we should all get along. But the words are hollow. The ad with the Jewish star let his supporters know exactly who he is. Daniel Gruenberg, Los Angeles Advertisement .. To the editor: I am heartbroken by the recent killings and attempted killings. I hold Trump responsible. As President Truman said, the buck stops here. Trump has imbued our lives with fear and hate. I heard the news of the Pittsburgh attack as I was driving to my synagogue. I did not turn around. I will continue to live my life as a Jew. Antisemitism will not win. Esther Friedberg, Studio City .. To the editor: Sadly I had anticipated something like the Pittsburgh synagogue mass shooting happening in my lifetime. Every High Holiday, many synagogues have armed guards to protect their congregants. Now armed guards will be required as part of routine planning for weddings, bar mitzvah and bat mitzvah celebrations, and other religious events. Our country is becoming like so many others around the world. What changed? I think I know. It starts at the highest levels of our government. Leon Sturman, Sherman Oaks .. To the editor: I am deeply disturbed by this latest mass shooting. The alleged killer not only expressed his antisemitism through this horrific act but also his contempt and hatred of immigrants and refugees, whom he believes are invaders coming in to kill our people. I cant help but connect his words with what our president has been saying about immigrants ever since he took office that they are coming here to take our jobs and bring crime. For someone already inclined to violence, hearing this message about immigrants on a continual basis could certainly help light the fuse that explodes as a violent act like this shooting. We need new leaders in Washington, ones who can collaborate to take sensible action on issues in a way that does not incite fear and violence. Joanna Ryder, Hermosa Beach Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook Allies balk at Trump administration bid to block Chinese firm from cutting-edge telecom markets By David S. Cloud Britain and Germany are balking at the Trump administrations call for a ban on equipment from Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei, threatening a global U.S. campaign to thwart Chinas involvement in future mobile networks. Both countries are expected to limit Huawei and other Chinese companies from providing core components including routers. But other types of Chinese equipment for next-generation, high-speed communications could still be installed on British and German networks, officials and analysts say. The U.S. push to ban Huawei has provoked a global dispute in recent weeks, with senior U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo, publicly urging NATO allies in Europe to exclude the company and warning that the United States might limit its military presence in countries that did not do so. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Confucius Institutes: Do they improve U.S.-China ties or harbor spies? By Don Lee Hanging red lanterns welcome visitors to the University of Marylands Confucius Institute, the oldest of about 100 Chinese language and cultural centers that have popped up over the last 15 years on American campuses, subsidized by millions of dollars from Chinas central government. But last fall, when four U.S. Senate investigators walked into the Confucius offices in Maryland and spent hours questioning staff, they werent looking for an educational exchange. The committee has been seeking detailed information from the university about the program, including contracts, email exchanges and financial arrangements that school administrators have kept under wraps since it started in 2004. American colleges once viewed these jointly funded institutes as an economical way to expand their language offerings one that could also bring warmer ties with China and, importantly, an influx of Chinese international students paying full tuition. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Watch Live: White House holds surprise news briefing amid government shutdown Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement U.S. policy toward China shifts from engagement to confrontation By David S. Cloud For decades, China had no closer American friend than Dianne Feinstein. As San Francisco mayor in the 1970s, she forged a sister-city relationship with Shanghai, the first between American and Chinese communities. As U.S. senator, she dined with Chinese leaders at Mao Tse-tungs old Beijing residence. And in the 1990s, she championed a trade policy change that opened a floodgate of Western investment into China. Today the Democratic senator sees China as a growing threat, joining a broad array of Trump administration officials, national security strategists and business executives who once favored engagement with Beijing and now advocate a confrontational approach instead. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Mnuchins attempt to calm markets backfires as Trump takes another shot at the Federal Reserve By Jim Puzzanghera An attempt by Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin to calm plunging financial markets backfired Monday, further rattling investors with new fears about whether major U.S. banks have enough cash on top of worries about interest rates, political instability in Washington and a slowing global economy. Adding to the volatile mix was a fresh attack on the Federal Reserve by President Trump, who declared that the central bank was the U.S. economys only problem and that it didnt have a feel for the market. The Fed is like a powerful golfer who cant score because he has no touch -- he cant putt! Trump said on Twitter. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print He speaks to Democratic hearts. But is Beto ORourke a serious White House contender? By Mark Z. Barabak Hes a failed U.S. Senate candidate with an undistinguished congressional record who, for the moment, is a blazing-hot 2020 presidential prospect despite the fact that he may not run and faces long odds if he does. Beto ORourke suggests the will-he-or-wont-he speculation is something he himself cant quite fathom. I think thats a great question, he responded in a Dallas Morning News interview when asked whether his unsuccessful November Senate bid merited a promotion to the White House. I ask that question myself. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Russian disinformation teams targeted Robert S. Mueller III, says report prepared for Senate By Craig Timberg, Tony Romm, Elizabeth Dwoskin Special counsel Robert S. Mueller III. (Associated Press) Months after President Trump took office, Russias disinformation teams trained their sites on a new target: special counsel Robert S. Mueller III. Having worked to help get Trump into the White House, they now worked to neutralize the biggest threat to his staying there. The Russian operatives unloaded on Mueller through fake accounts on Facebook, Twitter and beyond, falsely claiming that the former FBI director was corrupt and that the allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 election were crackpot conspiracies. One post on Instagram which emerged as an especially potent weapon in the Russian social media arsenal claimed that Mueller had worked in the past with radical Islamic groups. Such tactics exemplified how Russian teams ranged nimbly across social media platforms in a shrewd online influence operation aimed squarely at American voters. The effort started earlier than commonly understood and lasted longer while relying on the strengths of different sites to manipulate distinct slices of the electorate, according to a pair of comprehensive new reports prepared for the Senate Intelligence Committee and released Monday. Read more Timberg, Romm and Dwoskin report for the Washington Post. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement President Trump announces Mick Mulvaney as acting White House chief of staff By Associated Press President Trump says budget director Mick Mulvaney will serve as acting chief of staff, replacing John F. Kelly in the new year. I am pleased to announce that Mick Mulvaney, Director of the Office of Management & Budget, will be named Acting White House Chief of Staff, replacing General John Kelly, who has served our Country with distinction. Mick has done an outstanding job while in the Administration.... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 14, 2018 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print It aint over when its over: In Michigan, Wisconsin and elsewhere, losers seek to undermine election results By Mark Z. Barabak Democrat Gavin Newsom has yet to become California governor, but already a candidate for state Republican Party chairman is promoting a recall effort. In Michigan and Wisconsin, GOP lawmakers have rushed through legislation to thwart their incoming Democratic governors and hamper others in the opposing party from doing the jobs voters chose them to do. In Congress, GOP leaders have echoed President Trump and sought to undermine the legitimacy of Democrats strong midterm performance, raising unsubstantiated allegations of fraud and political malfeasance. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print New CFPB Director Kathy Kraninger says she wont be a puppet of Mick Mulvaney By Jim Puzzanghera On her first full day leading the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Kathy Kraninger said she wont be a puppet of Mick Mulvaney, the controversial acting director whom she replaced in the powerful regulatory position. To underscore that point, the former White House aide said she would even reconsider a Mulvaney action that critics saw as a gratuitous jab at Democrats who championed the agencys creation: changing its name to the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection. Kraningers declaration during a meeting with reporters Tuesday addressed one of the main criticisms of her selection. She is considered a protege of Mulvaney, her boss at the White House Office of Management and Budget who has executed a dramatic, industry-friendly shift at the watchdog agency. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trumps pick for chief of staff, Nick Ayers, out of running By Associated Press Nick Ayers, right, with Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch, at the funeral service for George H.W. Bush on Dec. 3. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Associated Press) President Trumps top pick to replace John F. Kelly as chief of staff, Nick Ayers, is no longer expected to fill that role. Thats according to a White House official who is not authorized to discuss the personnel issue by name and spoke on condition of anonymity. Ayers is Vice President Mike Pences chief of staff. The official says that Trump and Ayers could not agree on Ayers length of service. The father of young children, Ayers had agreed to serve in an interim capacity though the spring, but Trump wanted a two-year commitment. The official says that Ayers will instead assist the president from outside the administration. Trump announced Saturday that Kelly would be departing the White House around the end of the year. Thank you @realDonaldTrump, @VP, and my great colleagues for the honor to serve our Nation at The White House. I will be departing at the end of the year but will work with the #MAGA team to advance the cause. #Georgia Nick Ayers (@nick_ayers) December 9, 2018 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement U.S. hiring slows to 155,000 jobs, unemployment rate holds at 3.7% By Jim Puzzanghera Job growth slowed significantly in November but still was solid, indicating the economy remains in good shape but not expanding so quickly that it will lead to sharply higher interest rates. U.S. employers added 155,000 jobs last month, well below analyst expectations and a steep decline from Octobers strong 237,000 figure, the Labor Department reported Friday. Still, monthly job gains are averaging 206,000 this year, the best since 2015. Even the slower pace of 170,000 over the last three months is close to last years average of 182,000 and well above the amount needed to keep up with population growth. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump is expected to pick State Department spokeswoman for U.N. ambassador By Associated Press Heather Nauert at a briefing at the State Department on Aug. 9, 2017. (Alex Brandon / Associated Press) President Trump is expected to nominate State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert to be the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Two administration officials confirmed Trumps plans. A Republican congressional aide said the president was expected to announce his decision by tweet on Friday morning. The officials were not authorized to speak publicly before Trumps announcement. Trump has previously said Nauert was under serious consideration to replace Nikki Haley, who announced in October that she would step down at the end of this year. Trump has been known to change course on staffing decisions in the past. Nauert was a reporter for Fox News Channel before she became State Department spokeswoman under former Secretary Rex Tillerson. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Senate confirms new consumer financial protection chief: Kathy Kraninger, protege of industry-friendly Mick Mulvaney By Jim Puzzanghera The Senate, in a party-line vote Thursday, confirmed White House aide Kathy Kraninger to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and experts predicted a continuation of the industry-friendly shift it has taken since President Trump installed an acting director last year. Kraninger is a protege of acting director and White House budget chief Mick Mulvaney, an outspoken critic of the agency that was created in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis to prevent predatory lending and other abuses that led to it. Democrats and consumer advocates have denounced him for sharply departing from the aggressive watchdog role the bureau had pursued under its first director, Obama-appointee Richard Cordray, including scaling back enforcement and moving to reassess tough new rules on payday loans and narrow the definition of abusive practices by banks and other firms. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Shutdown postponed by two weeks under plan approved by Congress By Erik Wasson Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), shown at the Capitol on Tuesday, says President Trumps border wall is a waste of money. (J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press) Congress passed a two-week stopgap spending bill that will delay the chance of a partial government shutdown until Dec. 22 as lawmakers and President Donald Trump negotiate over his demands to pay for a wall on the southern border. The House and Senate passed the measure Thursday without dissent, and Trump has indicated hell sign the bill before the current shutdown deadline of midnight Friday. Negotiations were delayed by memorial services this week for former President George H.W. Bush. The temporary measure gives Democrats and Republicans more time to find a resolution to their biggest hurdle: funding a wall on the U.S. Mexico border wall. Trump says he wants $5 billion for parts of a concrete wall on the southern border and is willing to shut down the government if he doesnt get it. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York has said Democrats will provide no more than $1.6 billion for border security, because the wall is a waste of money. The presidents demands for wall funding from Congress come after he said during the campaign that Mexico would pay for it. This week he said on Twitter that a $25 billion border wall would pay for itself in two months, without providing evidence. Most of the U.S. governments $1.2 trillion discretionary budget has been appropriated already by Congress for the fiscal year that began on Oct. 1. Departments at a risk of a partial shutdown late this month include the departments of State, Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, Justice, Treasury and Homeland Security. Talks to resolve the differences have been on hold since a meeting among Trump, Schumer and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California originally slated for Dec. 4 was postponed due to Bush memorial events. The three are scheduled to meet on Tuesday, according to a person familiar with the matter. Senate Appropriations Chairman Richard Shelby of Alabama told reporters the rest of the seven-bill spending package being negotiated is basically done. Shelby in recent weeks had tried to broker a compromise in which Trumps $5 billion request would be split over two years, but Schumer has rejected that. Some Democrats have been willing to trade border wall funding for deportation protections for young undocumented immigrants. Pelosi ruled out such a deal in remarks to reporters Thursday. The stopgap government funding measure also would extend the National Flood Insurance Program, which provides subsidized coverage for homes in flood-prone areas, to Dec. 21. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Bipartisan Senate group wants to formally blame Saudi crown prince for journalists killing By Karoun Demirjian Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the G-20 summit in Buenos Aires. (Associated Press) A bipartisan group of senators filed a resolution Wednesday condemning Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as responsible for the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, directly challenging President Trump to do the same. This resolution -- without equivocation -- definitively states that the crown prince of Saudi Arabia was complicit in the murder of Mr. [Jamal] Khashoggi and has been a wrecking ball to the region jeopardizing our national security interests on multiple fronts, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said in a statement accompanying the release of the resolution. It will be up to Saudi Arabia as to how to deal with this matter. But it is up to the United States to firmly stand for who we are and what we believe. The resolution put forward by Graham and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), who are expected to lead the Judiciary Committee together next year, comes just one day after CIA Director Gina Haspel briefed leading senators about the details of the agencys assessment that Mohammed ordered and monitored the killing and dismemberment of Khashoggi in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. Senators emerged from that closed-door briefing furious not only with Saudi Arabia, but Trump as well for dismissing the heft of the CIAs findings. You have to be willfully blind not to come to the conclusion that this was orchestrated and organized by people under the command of MBS and that he was intricately involved in the demise of Mr. Khashoggi, Graham said following the briefing, referring to Mohammed by his initials. He added that Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo and Defense Secretary James N. Mattis, who briefed senators last week, were at best being good soldiers and at worst were in the pocket of Saudi Arabia for presenting the evidence of Mohammeds involvement as inconclusive. The release of the resolution condemning Mohammed also comes as the Senate is preparing to move ahead with debate on a resolution to curtail U.S. support for the Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen. Though the Yemen resolution does not directly address Khashoggis murder, its popularity is a sign of how strained the United States patience with Saudi Arabia is on multiple fronts, including its role in worsening the civilian cost of the war in Yemen, cited by the United Nations as the worlds worst humanitarian crisis. Last week, the Senate voted 63 to 37 to advance the Yemen resolution past an opening procedural hurdle. But Graham and Feinsteins resolution on the crown prince has the potential of drawing broader support, especially from Republicans, who are deeply divided about how fiercely to punish Saudi Arabia over Khashoggis killing. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who has been an outspoken advocate for human rights and is seen as one of the more influential foreign policy voices in the GOP, did not vote for the Yemen resolution last week or sign on to a bipartisan measure last month to sanction Saudi officials and cease weapons transfers to the kingdom. But he is an original co-sponsor of the resolution condemning Mohammed over Khashoggis death. So is Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.), who represents the other end of the GOP spectrum in terms of recent Saudi-related votes and endorsements. Young was an initial co-sponsor of the bill Graham wrote with Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) to sanction Saudi officials deemed responsible for Khashoggis killing and stop the sale of anything but exclusively defensive weapons to the kingdom until it ceased hostilities in Yemen. Young also voted to advance the Yemen resolution something Graham did as well, though Graham has signaled he will not be lending any similar support to the measure, fearing it may establish a precedent of invoking the War Powers Act too broadly. Sens. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) are listed as original co-sponsors of the resolution condemning Mohammed, which also urges Saudi Arabia to negotiate with Houthi rebels to end the Yemen war, work out a political solution to its standoff with Qatar and release political prisoners. But how much sway the resolution has probably comes down to how forcefully the administration decides to heed it -- and thus far, Trump has not shown any interest in condemning the crown prince the way the senators hope he will. Demirjian reports for the Washington Post. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Los Angeles County offices and U.S. Postal Service closed Wednesday in honor of George H.W. Bush By Brian Park The Honor Guard carries the casket of former U.S. President George H. W. Bush following his funeral on Dec. 5 in Washington, DC. (Doug Mills - Pool/Getty Images) The U.S. Postal Service will suspend regular mail delivery Wednesday, which President Trump has declared a national day of mourning in honor of former President George H.W. Bush. All retail postal outlets will be closed, and package delivery will be limited. In Los Angeles, all nonessential county departments, offices and libraries will be closed for the day, L.A. County officials said. The Los Angeles County Library said no overdue fines will be assessed for books, and due dates will be moved forward one week. Los Angeles County Department of Public Health offices also are closed Wednesday. The Sheriffs Department, Fire Department, clinics and hospitals will continue to operate, the county said. The Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health clinics are being operated with reduced staffing, and the department asked patients to confirm or reschedule any appointments. All county courts and the disaster recovery centers for the Woolsey fire in Malibu and Agoura Hills will remain open. Larger federal government operations will be closed Wednesday. To honor the life and legacy of President Bush, the Postal Service will observe the National Day of Mourning. Learn how Postal operations will be affected. https://t.co/Mffch7bPCh pic.twitter.com/vG46BsIOpm U.S. Postal Service (@USPS) December 4, 2018 L.A. County offices and libraries will be closed tomorrow (Dec 5) in observance of the #NationalDayOfMourning for President George H. W. Bush. The Countys Disaster Recovery Centers in Malibu & Agoura Hills will remain open from 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. pic.twitter.com/Sv1J7GoJ7T Los Angeles County (@CountyofLA) December 4, 2018 @LAPublicHealth offices will be closed tomorrow December 5 in observance of the national Day of Mourning for President George H. W. Bush. Essential Services including clinics and other services will remain open: https://t.co/tZGoGGHRlg pic.twitter.com/ypXsV6vlYY LA Public Health (@lapublichealth) December 4, 2018 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick to skip 2020 White House race, sources say By Associated Press Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick speaks during an interview in Boston on Dec. 15, 2014. (Elise Amendola / Associated Press) Former Gov. Deval Patrick of Massachusetts will soon announce he wont launch a 2020 presidential campaign, according to three sources familiar with his plans. They did not say why the Democrat decided against a run. A formal announcement was delayed as the country observed a day of mourning for President George H.W. Bush, one source said. News of Patricks plans was first reported by Politico. Patrick, 62, served two terms as governor, from 2007 to 2015, was assistant attorney general for civil rights in the Clinton administration and since leaving the governors office has been a managing director for Bain Capital. Patrick traveled the country in support of Democratic candidates in the recent midterm election. Earlier this year, some of Patricks supporters and close advisors started the Reason to Believe political action committee, a grassroots organization dedicated to advancing a positive, progressive vision for our nation in 2018 and 2020. Reason to Believe PAC had been holding meetups across the country, including in early presidential primary states. While Patrick is opting against a 2020 run, dozens of Democrats are considering jumping in, including nearly a half-dozen members of the Senate, several House members, and other Massachusetts politicians. On Tuesday, Michael Avenatti, the attorney for adult film star Stormy Daniels and a vocal critic of President Trump, said in a statement that he would run. Patrick had previously expressed some concerns about breaking through if he sought the nomination, telling David Axelrod, a former advisor to President Obama, that he wasnt sure he could stand out in such a large field. Its hard to see how you even get noticed in such a big, broad field without being shrill, sensational or a celebrity, and Im none of those things and Im never going to be any of those things, Patrick said in a September interview with Axelrod. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Former Trump adviser Roger Stone invokes 5th Amendment right and wont testify before Senate Judiciary Committee By Associated Press Roger Stone in 2017. (Joe Raedle / Getty Images) Roger Stone, an associate of President Trump, says he wont provide testimony or documents to the Senate Judiciary Committee. An attorney for Stone said in a letter to Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the committees top Democrat, that Stone was invoking his 5th Amendment right against self-incrimination in refusing to produce documents or appear for an interview. Stone has been entangled in investigations by Congress and special counsel Robert S. Mueller III about whether Trump aides had advance knowledge of Democratic emails published by WikiLeaks during the 2016 election. Stone has not been charged and has said he had no knowledge of the timing or specifics of WikiLeaks plans. In the letter to Feinstein, Stone said the committees requests were far too overbroad, far too overreaching and far too wide-ranging. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Watch live: Vice President Pence and lawmakers honor George H.W. Bush at the U.S. Capitol before he lies in state Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Rebuilding crumbling infrastructure has bipartisan support. But who gets to pay for it? By Jim Puzzanghera The grades for major U.S. infrastructure would give any parent indigestion if they were on a childs report card. Roads: D; bridges: C+; dams: D; ports: C+: railways: B; airports: D; schools: D+; public transit: D-. The nations overall grade: D+, which translates to being in fair to poor condition and mostly below standards with significant deterioration and a strong risk of failure, according to an evaluation last year by the American Society of Civil Engineers. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump calls former lawyer Michael Cohen a weak person who is lying By Associated Press President Trump says his former lawyer Michael Cohen is lying to get a reduced sentence. The president is reacting to Cohens guilty plea Thursday to lying to Congress about work he did on a Trump real estate project in Russia. During a surprise court hearing, Cohen admitted to lying in testimony to the Senate Intelligence Committee about a plan to build a Trump Tower in Moscow. Cohen in his guilty plea said he made the false statements to be consistent with Trumps political message. Cohens lawyer says he continues to cooperate with special counsel Robert S. Mueller IIIs investigation into Russian election interference and possible coordination with Trump associates. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print As California Republicans confront a congressional wipeout, GOP leader Kevin McCarthy faces a reckoning By Mark Z. Barabak When the House voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act, Kevin McCarthy trooped with other Republican lawmakers to a splashy Rose Garden celebration, smiling alongside President Trump as they celebrated the moment. As majority leader, McCarthy had helped round up the votes to narrowly pass the hard-fought legislation, convincing 13 other California Republicans to go along, even though several faced tough reelection fights. Fewer than half will be returning in January. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print As California Republicans confront a congressional wipeout, GOP leader Kevin McCarthy faces a reckoning By Sarah D. Wire When the House voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act, Kevin McCarthy trooped with other Republican lawmakers to a splashy Rose Garden celebration, smiling alongside President Trump as they celebrated the moment. As majority leader, McCarthy had helped round up the votes to narrowly pass the hard-fought legislation, convincing 13 other California Republicans to go along, even though several faced tough reelection fights. Fewer than half will be returning in January. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Michael Cohen, President Trumps ex-lawyer, pleads guilty to lying to Congress about Trump real estate project in Russia By Associated Press Michael Cohen, President Trumps former personal lawyer, pursued a Russian real estate project on candidate Trumps behalf well into the 2016 campaign, he said Thursday while pleading guilty to lying to Congress. Cohen had previously said that the project was abandoned in January 2016, but he now admits he continued to pursue a deal and says he updated Trump and members of his family about the negotiations, according to a new court document. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement James Comey says acting Atty. Gen. Whitaker may not be the sharpest knife in our drawer By John Wagner Acting Atty. Gen. Matthew Whitaker speaks at the Justice Department in Washington on Nov. 14. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais / Associated Press) Former FBI Director James B. Comey apparently isnt too impressed with the mental prowess of President Trumps acting attorney general. Matthew Whitaker may not be the sharpest knife in our drawer, Comey said during a radio interview on Monday night in which he sized up the man Trump installed this month to replace ousted Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions. Comey was asked by WGBH News in Boston if he thinks Whitaker could derail the investigation of special counsel Robert S. Mueller III into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Whitaker has spoken critically of the probe, and Trump as recently as Tuesday continues to call it a witch hunt. I think its a worry, but to my mind not a serious worry, Comey said. The institution is too strong, and [Whitaker], frankly, is not strong enough to have that kind of impact. He may not be the sharpest knife in our drawer, but he can see his future and knows that if he acted in an extralegal way, he would go down in history for the wrong reasons, and Im sure he doesnt want that, added Comey, who was fired by Trump last year and later wrote a book that portrays the president as an ego-driven congenital liar. Whitaker, a former U.S. attorney in Iowa, was Sessions chief of staff before being picked by Trump to lead the Justice Department. Trump has called Whitaker a very smart man. Earlier this year, Trump called Comey an untruthful slime ball. Wagner writes for the Washington Post. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Interior Department watchdog clears Zinke in investigation of Utah national monument By Juliet Eilperin Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, third from the left, and Gov. Jerry Brown tour fire damage in Paradise, Calif., on Nov. 14. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) The Interior Departments Office of Inspector General has cleared Secretary Ryan Zinke in a probe of whether he redrew boundaries of a national monument in Utah to aid the financial interests of a Republican state lawmaker and stalwart supporter of President Trump. In a Nov. 21 letter to Zinkes deputy, David Bernhardt, Deputy Inspector General Mary Kendall wrote that her office found no evidence that the secretary or his aides changed the boundaries of Utahs Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in an effort to help former Utah state representative Mike Noel, who serves as executive director of the Kane County Water Conservancy District. Last December, Trump shrank the monument, first established by President Clinton in 1996, by 46% based on Zinkes recommendation. Noel owns 40 acres that had been surrounded by the monument, but now lies outside its boundaries. The new boundaries also would make it easier to construct the proposed Lake Powell Pipeline, which would deliver water to sites in Kane County that include Noels property. Earlier this year, the Interior Department had proposed selling off 120 acres of federal land from the former monument that lay adjacent to some of Noels land holdings, but later reversed the plan. We found no evidence that Noel influenced the DOIs proposed revisions to the [monuments] boundaries, that Zinke or other DOI staff involved in the project were aware of Noels financial interest in the revised boundaries, or that they gave Noel any preferential treatment in the resulting proposed boundaries, Kendall wrote. Neither the Interior Department nor the inspector generals office would release the actual investigative report. In the letter, Kendall writes that her office will provide the report to Congress no sooner than 31 days from Nov. 21, when it is provided it to Zinkes office. The Associated Press first reported the inspector generals conclusions Monday night, but did not provide details from the report itself. Noel emailed Zinke about the effort to alter Grand Staircase-Escalante, according to emails released by Interior under the Freedom of Informational Act. But those emails do not make references to Noels land holdings. Noel also pushed to rename a Utah highway in honor of Trump, but abandoned that effort in March after some of his fellow Republicans objected to the idea. Noel did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday. The inspector generals office still has at least two ongoing probes of the secretary, including one focused on his real estate dealings in Whitefish, Mont., and another regarding his decision to deny a permit to two Connecticut tribes who were hoping to jointly run a casino after MGM Resorts International lobbied against it. Interior Department spokeswoman Heather Swift welcomed the watchdogs conclusions. The report shows exactly what the secretarys office has known all along that the monument boundaries were adjusted in accordance with all rules, regulations and laws, she said in an email. This report is also the latest example of opponents and special interest groups ginning up fake and misleading stories, only to be proven false after expensive and time consuming inquiries by the IGs office. But Kendalls spokeswoman, Nancy DiPaolo, defended the inquiry, even though she said the report has not been publicly released and we will not be speaking specifically about the matter at this time. The OIG opens investigations based on credible allegations and reports our findings objectively and independently, DiPaolo added. Any time or resources spent investigating conduct or activity that may be a violation of law, regulation or policy is a service to the public, Congress and the Department. Rep. Raul Grijalva of Arizona, the top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee, said in a statement that he still intended to investigate the way Zinke and his colleague redrew the boundaries for Grand Staircase-Escalante and another Utah national monument, Bears Ears, next year. I have great respect for the inspector general, and I accept these findings, but Secretary Zinke should have known the people he listened to while destroying our national monuments had disqualifying conflicts of interest, he said. Should I chair the Natural Resources Committee in the next Congress, the process he and President Trump used to destroy Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante will be front and center in our oversight and investigations efforts. We need to know why they ignored overwhelming public expressions of support for both Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante, why they ignored Native American tribes throughout their decision-making, and why they removed protections on parcels of land with known mineral deposits. Eilperin and Rein report for the Washington Post. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump advisor Larry Kudlow says China must do more to end trade war By Jim Puzzanghera Larry Kudlow, President Trumps top economic advisor, said Tuesday that Chinas response to U.S. efforts to rework the two economic superpowers trade relationship has been extremely disappointing but the planned meeting this weekend between the nations leaders is an opportunity for a breakthrough. They have to do more. They must do more, Larry Kudlow, director of the White House National Economic Council, told reporters ahead of a Saturday dinner between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Group of 20 Summit in Argentina. I think the president is exactly right to show strong backbone when prior administrations did not, to break through these Chinese walls, Kudlow said. Theyre so resistant to change. We have to protect the country. We have to protect our technology, our inventiveness, our innovation. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Watch live: White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders holds a media briefing amid tensions at the border By Los Angeles Times Staff Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Democrat TJ Cox grabs lead over Republican David Valadao in nations last remaining undecided House race By Maya Sweedler Democrat TJ Cox slipped past Republican incumbent David Valadao on Monday to take the lead in the countrys sole remaining undecided congressional race, positioning Democrats to pick up their seventh House seat in California and 40th nationwide. Cox, who trailed by nearly 4,400 votes on election night, has steadily gained as ballot counting continues nearly three weeks after the Nov. 6 election, a pattern consistent with the states recent voting history. On Monday, he pulled ahead by 438 votes after Kern County updated its results. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Former CIA director Michael Hayden hospitalized after suffering a stroke By Deanna Paul Then-CIA Director Michael Hayden testifies before a Senate committee in 2008. (Saul Loeb / Getty Images) Former CIA Director and retired Air Force Gen. Michael Hayden has been hospitalized after suffering a stroke, his family said Friday. He is receiving expert medical care for which the family is grateful, according to a statement issued by his namesake organization. The General and his family greatly appreciate the warm wishes and prayers of his friends, colleagues, and supporters. Hayden, 73, served as director of the CIA and National Security Agency during the George W. Bush and Obama administrations. He retired from the CIA in 2009. Hayden has been a vocal critic of Donald Trumps campaign and presidency. Earlier this year, after Trump decided to revoke the security clearance of former CIA director John Brennan, Hayden was one of several former intelligence leaders who signed a statement in opposition. Criticizing the president for crossing a line, he quickly became one of the individuals whose security clearance Trump threatened to review. Deanna Paul writes for the Washington Post. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump tells troops hes thankful for what hes done for the U.S. and rails against courts and migrants By Associated Press President Trump talks with troops via teleconference from his estate in Palm Beach, Fla., on Thanksgiving. (Susan Walsh / Associated Press) President Trump used his Thanksgiving Day call to troops deployed overseas to pat himself on the back and air grievances about the courts, trade and migrants heading to the U.S.-Mexico border. Trumps call, made from his opulent private Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Fla., struck an unusually political tone as he spoke with members of all five branches of the military to wish them happy holidays. Its a disgrace, Trump said of judges who have blocked his attempts to overhaul U.S. immigration law, as he linked his efforts to secure the border with military missions overseas. Trump later threatened to close the U.S. border with Mexico for an undisclosed period of time if his administration determines Mexico has lost control on its side. The call was a uniquely Trump blend of boasting, peppered questions and off-the-cuff observations as his comments veered from venting about slights to praising troops You really are our heroes, he said as club waiters worked to set Thanksgiving dinner tables on the outdoor terrace behind him. It was yet another show of how Trump has dramatically transformed the presidency, erasing the traditional divisions between domestic policy and military matters and efforts to keep the troops clear of politics. You probably see over the news whats happening on our southern border, Trump told one Air Force brigadier general stationed at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan, adding: I dont have to even ask you. I know what you want to do, you want to make sure that you know who were letting in. Later, Trump asked a U.S. Coast Guard commander about trade, which he noted was a very big subject for him personally. Weve been taken advantage of for many, many years by bad trade deals, Trump told the commander, who sheepishly replied, Mr. President, from our perspective on the water we dont see any issues in terms of trade right now. And throughout, Trump congratulated himself, telling the officers that the country is doing exceptionally well on his watch. I hope that youll take solace in knowing that all of the American families you hold so close to your heart are all doing well, he said. The nations doing well economically, better than anybody in the world. He later told reporters, Nobodys done more for the military than me. Indeed, asked what he was thankful for this Thanksgiving, Trump cited his great family as well as himself. I made a tremendous difference in this country, he said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump contradicts CIA assessment that Saudi crown prince ordered Jamal Khashoggi killing By Josh Dawsey | Washington Post (Susan Walsh / Associated Press) President Trump on Thursday contradicted the CIAs assessment that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had ordered the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, insisting that the agency had feelings but did not firmly place blame for the death. Trump, in defiant remarks to reporters from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, defended his continued support for Mohammed in the face of a CIA assessment that the crown prince had ordered the killing. He denies it vehemently, Trump said. He said his own conclusion was that maybe he did, maybe he didnt. I hate the crime .... I hate the cover-up. I will tell you this: The crown prince hates it more than I do, Trump said. Asked who should be held accountable for the death of Khashoggi, who was killed at the Saudi Consulate in Turkey, Trump refused to place blame. Maybe the world should be held accountable because the world is a very, very vicious place, the president said. He also seemed to suggest that all U.S. allies were guilty of the same behavior, declaring that if the others were held to the standard that critics have held Saudi Arabia to in recent days, we wouldnt be able to have anyone for an ally. Trumps remarks came after he held a conference call with U.S. military officers overseas, during which he repeatedly praised his administration and sought to draw the officers into discussions of domestic policy. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Former FBI Director James Comey gets subpoena from House Republicans By Bloomberg Former FBI Director James B. Comey said he has received a subpoena from House Republicans, according to a Twitter post on Thursday. Bloomberg News reported last week that Comey would be receiving a subpoena alongside former Atty. Gen. Loretta Lynch as part of continuing probes into their handling of investigations into Hillary Clinton and Russian election meddling, according to a top House Democrat. Happy Thanksgiving. Got a subpoena from House Republicans. Im still happy to sit in the light and answer all questions. But I will resist a closed door thing because Ive seen enough of their selective leaking and distortion. Lets have a hearing and invite everyone to see. James Comey (@Comey) November 22, 2018 Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Republican David Valadaos lead slips to 447 votes over Democrat TJ Cox in still-undecided Central Valley House race By Mark Z. Barabak Rep. David Valadao (R-Hanford), right, finds himself in an increasingly harrowing cliffhanger against Democrat TJ Cox. (Bill Clark / CQ Roll Call) On election night, it looked like Rep. David Valadao had survived a close shave and was destined to return to Washington for his fourth term. But on Wednesday, when Fresno County announced its latest vote totals, the Hanford Republican found himself in an increasingly harrowing cliffhanger against Democrat TJ Cox, with his lead in the Central Valley district shrunken to 447 votes. Thousands remain to be counted. Valadao, a repeated Democratic target, finished election night with a lead of nearly 4,440 votes. Cox, an engineer and a business owner who unsuccessfully ran for Congress in 2006, has steadily gained ground in the 21st Congressional District ever since. The trend is consistent with historic patterns showing Republicans in California tend to vote early and Democrats later, meaning their mail ballots continue to stream in past election day. Under California law, ballots postmarked up to midnight on Nov. 6 will be counted. Democrats have already picked up six House seats in California. They ousted Reps. Dana Rohrabacher, Mimi Walters, Steve Knight and Jeff Denham and won the seats of retiring Reps. Ed Royce and Darrell Issa. All six represented districts that backed Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump in 2016. Valadao was the seventh California Republican in a district Clinton won, though his previous successes he last won reelection by a 14-point margin suggested his ouster was a longer shot for Democrats. If Cox prevails, it would give Democrats a 40-seat gain nationwide, far more than the 23 seats needed to take control when Congress reconvenes in January. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump says no new punishments against Saudi Arabia in Jamal Khashoggi murder By Eli Stokols In this Oct. 25 photo, candles are lit in front of a photo of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. (Lefteris Pitarakis) President Trump made it clear on Tuesday that he does not intend to punish Saudi Arabia or Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, an American resident killed by Saudi officials in Turkey in October. In a remarkable statement replete with exclamation points, Trump cast doubt on the CIAs reported conclusions that it has a high degree of confidence that the crown prince ordered Khashoggis murder and sent his closest allies to Saudi Arabias consulate in Istanbul to carry it out. Read MoreThis article has been updated with staff. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Sixteen House Democrats vow to oppose Nancy Pelosi as next speaker By Mike DeBonis | Washington Post House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press) Sixteen House Democrats said Monday that they will vote to deny Rep. Nancy Pelosi another stint as House speaker, a show of defiance that puts her opponents on the cusp of forcing a seismic leadership shake-up as their party prepares to take the majority. Their pledge to oppose Pelosi (D-San Francisco), both in an internal caucus election and a Jan. 3 floor vote, delivered in a letter sent to Democratic colleagues, comes as Pelosi has marshaled a legion of supporters on and off Capitol Hill to make her case. But her opponents said Monday they are convinced it is time to select a new leader. We are thankful to Leader Pelosi for her years of service to our Country and to our Caucus, they wrote. However, we also recognize that in this recent election, Democrats ran on and won on a message of change. Pelosi has expressed complete confidence that she will retake the speakers gavel in January eight years after she lost it following massive Republican gains in the 2010 midterms and 16 years after she was first elevated to the top Democratic leadership post in the House. Come on in, the waters fine, she said Friday about a potential leadership challenge. The signers might not be able to force Pelosi out themselves. The size of the Democratic majority remains in flux, but Democrats have already won 232 seats, according to the Associated Press, with five races still undecided. All those races have Republican incumbents, but the Democratic challenger is ahead in only one of them. If the leads hold in the uncalled races, Democrats would have won 233 seats, a 16-seat majority. That means Pelosi could lose as many as 15 Democratic votes when she stands for election as speaker on Jan. 3. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Democratic senators sue over Whitakers appointment as acting attorney general By Associated Press Acting U.S. Atty. Gen. Matthew Whitaker (Nicholas Kamm / AFP/Getty Images) Three Senate Democrats filed a lawsuit Monday arguing that Acting Atty. Gen. Matthew Whitakers appointment is unconstitutional and asking a federal judge to remove him. The suit, filed by Sens. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Mazie Hirono of Hawaii and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, argues that Whitakers appointment violates the Constitution because he has not been confirmed by the Senate. Whitaker was chief of staff to Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions and was elevated to the top job after Sessions was ousted by President Trump on Nov. 7. The Constitutions Appointments Clause requires that the Senate confirm all principal officials before they can serve in their office. The Justice Department released a legal opinion last week that said Whitakers appointment would not violate the clause because he is serving in an acting capacity. The opinion concluded that Whitaker, even without Senate confirmation, may serve in an acting capacity because he has been at the department for more than a year at a sufficiently senior pay level. President Trump is denying senators our constitutional obligation and opportunity to do our job: scrutinizing the nomination of our nations top law enforcement official, Blumenthal said in a statement. The reason is simple: Whitaker would never pass the advice and consent test. In selecting a so-called constitutional nobody and thwarting every senators constitutional duty, Trump leaves us no choice but to seek recourse through the courts. The lawsuit comes days after a Washington lawyer challenged Whitakers appointment in a pending Supreme Court case dealing with gun rights. The attorney, Thomas Goldstein, asked the high court to find that Whitakers appointment is unconstitutional and replace him with Deputy Atty. Gen. Rod Rosenstein. Rosenstein, the second-ranking Justice Department official, has been confirmed by the Senate and had been overseeing special counsel Robert Muellers Russia investigation. Whitaker is now overseeing the investigation. The Justice Department issued a statement Monday defending Whitakers appointment as lawful and said it comports with the Appointments Clause, the Federal Vacancies Reform Act and legal precedent. There are over 160 instances in American history in which non-Senate confirmed persons performed, on a temporary basis, the duties of a Senate-confirmed position, Justice Department spokeswoman Kerri Kupec said. To suggest otherwise is to ignore centuries of practice and precedent. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Gov. Rick Scott says Sen. Bill Nelson concedes Florida Senate race By Associated Press Republican Senate candidate Rick Scott speaks with his wife, Ann, by his side at an election watch party in Naples, Fla., on Nov. 7. (Wilfredo Lee / Associated Press) Floridas Republican Gov. Rick Scott says incumbent Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson called him to concede defeat in their extremely tight race. Scott issued a statement Sunday saying Nelson graciously conceded their Senate race shortly after the states recount ended. The final results show Scott defeated Nelson by just over 10,000 votes out of 8 million cast. Nelson is scheduled to release a videotaped statement later Sunday. The defeat ends Nelsons lengthy political career. The three-term incumbent was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2000. Before that he served six terms in the U.S. House and as state treasurer and insurance commissioner for six years. Scott spent more than $60 million of his own money on ads that portrayed Nelson as out-of-touch and ineffective. Nelson responded by questioning Scotts ethics and saying he would be under the sway of President Trump. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Orange County goes blue, as Democrats complete historic sweep of its seven congressional seats By Michael Finnegan Gil Cisneros defeated Republican Young Kim on Saturday in the last of Orange Countys undecided House races, giving Democrats a clean sweep of the states six most fiercely fought congressional contests and marking an epochal shift in a region long synonymous with political conservatism. With Cisneros victory, Democrats will constitute the entirety of Orange Countys seven-member congressional delegation, the first time since the 1930s that the birthplace of Richard Nixon, home of John Wayne and spiritual center of the Republican Party will have no GOP representative in the House. Sitting back in the 1960s, I would never have believed this would happen, said Stuart K. Spencer, a party strategist who spent more than half a century ushering Republicans, including President Reagan, into office. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Going, going ... with midterm wipeout, California Republican Party drifts closer to irrelevance By Michael Finnegan For a party in freefall the last two decades, California Republicans learned that its possible to plunge even further. The GOP not only lost every statewide office in the midterm election again, in blowout fashion but Democrats reestablished their supermajority in Sacramento, allowing them to legislate however they see fit After major defeats in Orange County and the Central Valley, two longtime strongholds, Republicans will have a significantly smaller footprint on Capitol Hill. (Democrats hold both Senate seats.) When the vote-counting is finished, the GOP may not even have enough lawmakers in Californias 53-member House delegation to field a nine-person softball team. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Congresswoman-elect Katie Porter says she will support Rep. Nancy Pelosi for speaker By Maya Sweedler Democratic Rep.-elect Katie Porter is congratulated by volunteers at her campaign headquarters in Irvine. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) Congresswoman-elect Katie Porter said she plans to support Rep. Nancy Pelosis bid for speaker of the House and will make campaign finance reform her top priority when she enters the chamber in January. Im going to continue to have conversations, but so far I feel like Leader Pelosi is definitely making the things that were a priority to the families that elected me her priorities, including announcing her support for campaign finance reform and anti-corruption as HR1, Porter said in her first public appearance since being declared the winner in Californias 45th Congressional District on Thursday evening. It means a lot to me that she is a Californian. She understands our state, Porter added. When we talk about environmental protections, this is a person who understands as a Californian how fragile our environment is and whats at risk in things like drilling off our coasts. Porter, a law professor at UC Irvine, defeated two-term Republican Rep. Mimi Walters. The 45th District, covering inland Orange County, has never been represented by a Democrat. Porter became the third Democrat to claim a Republican-held seat in Orange County, following the victories of Harley Rouda in the 48th District and Mike Levin in the 49th. A fourth, Gil Cisneros, is running slightly ahead of his Republican opponent in the race for the open seat in the 39th District, which extends into Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties. Porter attributed the massive political shift in the county, for decades a conservative stronghold, to increased levels of political engagement. Folks here care about education, they care about the environment, they believe climate change is real, they want healthcare that protects preexisting conditions, they want a tax system that doesnt punish California, they want our schools and places of worship to be safe from gun violence, she said. Those are the issues we campaigned on, and to the extent that Donald Trump and Mimi Walters were on the wrong side of those issues, the voters have made clear what direction they want us to go. Porter was flying back from the East Coast when her race was called, she said. She turned on her phone to find 167 text messages from friends and supporters. Among them was Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who was one of Porters teachers in law school and with whom she has remained close. The pair spoke via FaceTime this morning, she said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Bitter battle for Senate seat in Florida goes to hand recount By Associated Press Employees look through damaged ballots during a recount Thursday in West Palm Beach, Fla. (Wilfredo Lee / Associated Press) Floridas acrimonious battle for the U.S. Senate headed Thursday to a legally required hand recount after an initial review by ballot-counting machines showed Republican Gov. Rick Scott and Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson separated by less than 13,000 votes. But the highly watched contest for governor between Republican Ron DeSantis and Democrat Andrew Gillum appeared to be over, with a machine recount showing DeSantis with a large enough advantage over Gillum to avoid a hand recount in that race. Gillum, who conceded the contest on election night only to retract his concession later, said in a statement that it is not over until every legally casted vote is counted. The recount so far has been fraught with problems. One large Democratic stronghold in South Florida was unable to finish its machine recount by the Thursday deadline due to machines breaking down. A federal judge rejected a request to extend the recount deadline. We gave a heroic effort, said Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Susan Bucher. If the county had three or four more hours, it would have made the deadline to recount ballots in the Senate race, she said. Meanwhile, election officials in another urban county in the Tampa Bay area decided against turning in the results of their machine recount, which came up with 846 fewer votes than originally counted. Media in South Florida reported that Broward County finished its machine recount but missed the deadline by a few minutes. Counties were ordered last weekend to do a machine recount of three statewide races because the margins were so tight. The next stage is a manual review of ballots that were not counted by machines to see whether there is a way to figure out voter intent. Scott called on Nelson to end the recount battle. Its time for Nelson to respect the will of the voters and graciously bring this process to an end rather than proceed with yet another count of the votes which will yield the same result and bring more embarrassment to the state that we both love and have served, the governor said in a statement. The recount has triggered multiple lawsuits, many of them filed by Nelson and Democrats. The legal battles drew the ire of U.S. District Judge Mark E. Walker, who slammed the state for repeatedly failing to anticipate election problems. He also said the state law on recounts appears to violate the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that decided the presidency in 2000. We have been the laughingstock of the world, election after election, and we chose not to fix this, Walker said during a morning hearing. Walker vented his anger at state lawmakers and Palm Beach County officials, saying they should have made sure they had enough equipment in place to handle this kind of a recount. But he said he could not extend the recount deadline because he did not know when Palm Beach County would finish its work. This court must be able to craft a remedy with knowledge that it will not prove futile, Walker wrote in his ruling turning down the request from Democrats. It cannot do so on this record. This court does not and will not fashion a remedy in the dark. The overarching problem was created by the Florida Legislature, which Walker said passed a recount law that appears to run afoul of the 2000 Bush vs. Gore decision by locking in procedures that do not allow for potential problems. A total of six election-related lawsuits are pending in federal court in Tallahassee as well at least one lawsuit filed in state court. Walker also ordered that voters be given until 5 p.m. Saturday to show a valid identification and fix their ballots if they have not been counted due to mismatched signatures. Republicans appealed the ruling, but an appeals court turned down the request. State officials testified that nearly 4,000 mailed-in ballots were set aside because local officials decided the signatures on the envelopes did not match the signatures on file. If those voters can prove their identity, their votes will be counted and included in final official returns due from each county by noon Sunday. Walker was asked by Democrats to require local officials to provide a list of people whose ballots were rejected. But the judge appointed by President Obama refused the request, calling it inappropriate. Under state law, a hand review is required with races that have a margin of 0.25 percentage points or less. A state website put the unofficial results showing Scott ahead of Nelson by 0.15 percentage points. The margin between DeSantis and Gillum was at 0.41 points. The margin between Scott and Nelson had not changed much in the last few days, conceded Marc Elias, an attorney working for Nelsons campaign. But he said that he expected the vote tally to shrink due to the hand recount and the ruling on signatures. The developments fueled frustrations among Democrats and Republicans alike. Democrats want state officials to do whatever it takes to make sure every eligible vote is counted. Republicans, including President Trump, have argued without evidence that voter fraud threatens to steal races from the GOP. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Democrat Gil Cisneros pulls ahead of Republican Young Kim as more votes are tallied in Orange and San Bernardino counties By Michael Finnegan Congressional candidate Gil Cisneros (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) Democrat Gil Cisneros pulled ahead of Republican Young Kim in one of Californias undecided congressional races Thursday, an ominous sign for a GOP already reeling from its loss of four House seats in the state. In updated vote counts released by the registrars for Orange and San Bernardino counties, Kim fell 941 votes behind Cisneros in the contest to succeed Republican Rep. Ed Royce in Californias 39th Congressional District. The 39th straddles Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Orange counties. In another unresolved House race, Democrat Katie Porter pulled further ahead of Republican incumbent Mimi Walters in the 45th District, which includes Mission Viejo, Tustin, Irvine, Rancho Santa Margarita and Laguna Hills. Porter, a consumer attorney and UC Irvine law professor, is now 6,203 votes ahead. The Nov. 6 midterm election has been devastating to Republicans in California. If Cisneros and Porter win, the party will have lost six of its 14 House seats in the state, essentially a wipeout in every contest that both parties spent heavily to win. The three Republicans already bounced from Congress are Reps. Dana Rohrabacher of Costa Mesa, Steve Knight of Palmdale and Jeff Denham of Turlock in the San Joaquin Valley. Democrat Mike Levin won the seat of retiring GOP Rep. Darrell Issa of Vista in the fourth district flipped so far. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Florida Senate race likely headed to second recount By Associated Press A Palm Beach County Sheriffs deputy walks past boxes of ballots before a recount on Nov. 15 in West Palm Beach, Fla. (Wilfredo Lee) Unofficial Florida election results show that the governors race seems to be settled after a machine recount but the U.S. Senate race is likely headed to a hand recount. Republican Ron DeSantis is virtually assured of winning the nationally watched governors race over Democrat Andrew Gillum. Florida finished a machine recount Thursday that showed Gillum without enough votes to force a manual recount. Unofficial results posted on a state website show the margin between U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and Gov. Rick Scott is still thin enough to trigger a second review. State law requires a hand recount of races with a margin of 0.25 percentage point or less. Counties have until Sunday to inspect the ballots that did not record a vote when put through the machines. Those ballots are re-examined to see whether the voter skipped the race or marked the ballot in a way that the machines cannot read but can be deciphered. The election will be certified Tuesday. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Pelosi says she has the votes to become the next House speaker By John Wagner Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi speaks during a news conference in Washington on Nov. 14. (Susan Walsh) House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi insisted Thursday that she has the votes to become the chambers speaker despite solid opposition from more than a dozen Democrats who want fresh leadership when the party takes control next year. I have overwhelming support in my caucus to be speaker of the House, the San Francisco lawmaker told reporters. I happen to think at this point, Im the best person for that. A vote within the Democratic caucus is scheduled for Nov. 28. The full House votes on Jan. 3 to elect a new speaker. During her remarks, Pelosi touted the size of the Democratic victory in the midterms, which she called almost a tsunami. With a few races still to be decided, Democrats are poised to pick up close to 40 seats in the chamber. Pelosi called that the biggest victory for the Democrats since 1974, when the Watergate babies came in. Pelosis comments come as she faces solid opposition from at least 17 Democrats, setting the stage for a battle over who will ascend to one of the most powerful positions in Washington. After a campaign in which some Democrats prevailed in competitive districts by promising to oppose her, a coalition of incumbents and newly elected members has denied her a smooth path to the speakership. The defections, if they stand, would leave Pelosi, who has led the Democrats for more than 15 years, several votes short of the 218 she would need when the full House votes for speaker Jan. 3. However, no Democrat has stepped forward to run against her for a job she held from 2007 through 2010. Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio) told reporters Wednesday that shes being encouraged to stand for speaker if Pelosi doesnt have the votes. In an interview with the Washington Post on Thursday, she said she has been overwhelmed by the support from many of her colleagues for her possible entry into the race for House speaker. Over the last 12 hours, Ive been overwhelmed by the amount of support Ive received, Fudge said, adding that there are probably closer to 30" Democrats who have privately signaled that they are willing to oppose Pelosi. Things could change rapidly, Fudge said. Fudge, 66, a former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, said she is building a diverse coalition as she mulls a speaker run, talking with allies in the caucus, moderate Democrats and newly elected members. To this point, Pelosi has enjoyed the strong backing of the Congressional Black Caucus. On Thursday, Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.), one of its members, wrote a letter to colleagues praising her insight, fortitude and strategic thinking and urging support for her speakership bid. Former Atty. Gen. Eric H. Holder Jr., an African American who is contemplating a 2020 presidential bid, also voiced support for Pelosi, praising her in a tweet as an architect of the recent midterm success. Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), a leader of the resistance to Pelosi, said during an interview on CNN on Thursday that Fudge is the kind of new leader that we need in this party. Shes in touch with middle America. She understands what the American people want. Shes a next-generation leader that people will look to and say, Thats the future of our party, thats the future of our country, and thats exactly the kind of leader that I want to see as our next speaker. Wagner reports for the Washington Post. The Posts Robert Costa, Erica Werner, Mike DeBonis, Paul Kane and Elise Viebeck contributed to this report. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement GOP Rep. Jeff Denham concedes to Democrat Josh Harder in Central Valley race By Maya Sweedler Rep. Jeff Denham (Bill Clark / CQ Roll Call) Republican Rep. Jeff Denham has conceded to Democrat Josh Harder in the race to represent Californias 10th Congressional District in the San Joaquin Valley. It has been an absolute honor to serve our community and represent the Central Valley in Congress over the past eight years, the 51-year-old congressman said. The enormity of the responsibility was never lost on me. My wife Sonia and I look forward to starting the next chapter of our lives. Harder said he had spoken with Denham and the two were committed to a productive transition. Denham, an Air Force veteran, previously represented the region in the state Senate for eight years and founded a company specializing in plastic packaging used in agriculture. While a member of Congress, he sat on the Transportation and Infrastructure, Veterans Affairs and Agriculture committees. First-time candidate Harder was born and raised in the district. After graduating from Stanford University, he served as vice president of a Silicon Valley venture capital firm. Since moving back, he has been teaching at Modesto Junior College. Denhams House seat is one of four in California that Republicans lost in the Nov. 6 election, with two contests in Orange County still undecided as of Thursday morning. Jeff Denham called me this morning and we had a very productive conversation. I'm honored that I've been chosen to serve our community in Congress, and we're both looking forward to a productive transition that best serves the people of District 10. Josh Harder (@JoshHarder) November 14, 2018 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Democrat Katie Porter now nearly 3,800 votes ahead of GOP Rep. Mimi Walters By Maya Sweedler Rep. Mimi Walters thanks all of her supporters as she watches election results in Irvine on Nov. 7, 2018. (Alex Gallardo / Associated Press) Democrat Katie Porter opened a 3,797-vote lead Wednesday over Republican Rep. Mimi Walters in Orange Countys 45th Congressional District. In the neighboring 39th, Democrat Gil Cisneros has nearly tied the race against Republican Young Kim. Cisneros now trails Kim by a razor-thin margin of 122 votes. The 39th District straddles Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties; Wednesdays updated ballot counts came from the latter two. There are more than 202,000 ballots left to count in Orange County, which includes parts of seven congressional districts. The 45th is entirely in inland Orange County. In California, the ballots counted first tend to lean Republican and those tallied later skew Democratic. In the Central Valleys 21st Congressional District, Democratic challenger TJ Cox has pulled within 2 percentage points of Rep. David Valadao, who is serving his third term. The Associated Press had projected a win for Valadao on election night, but his 4,839-vote advantage has shrunk to 2,090. Back in CA-21, Valadao (R) wins a batch of ballots from his stronghold in Kings Co., but by a considerably smaller margin (14 points) than his previous ~30-point margin in the county. We're moving to Lean R from Likely R; today a bit scary for Valadao.https://t.co/WqJVUVkqGW Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) November 15, 2018 A spokesman for Valadao told the Fresno Bee that the changes were expected and that [s]tatistically, David Valadao has won this race. Democrats in California have already flipped four House seats, defeating three Republican incumbents and claiming an open seat previously held by the GOP. Reps. Steve Knight of Palmdale, Dana Rohrabacher of Costa Mesa and Jeff Denham of Turlock have already lost their races, and retiring Rep. Darrell Issas San Diego County seat was claimed by Democrat Mike Levin. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump aide departs West Wing after rebuke from Melania Trump By Associated Press First Lady Melania Trump. (Alain Jocard / AFP-Getty Images) Deputy national security advisor Mira Ricardel is leaving the White House, one day after First Lady Melania Trumps office issued an extraordinary statement calling for her dismissal. No replacement was named. Aides said Ricardel clashed with the first ladys staff over her visit to Africa last month. Yet it is highly unusual for a first lady or her office to weigh in on personnel matters, especially the presidents national security staff. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Ricardel would have a new role in the administration. On Tuesday, Stephanie Grisham, the first ladys spokeswoman, released a statement saying, It is the position of the Office of the First Lady that she no longer deserves the honor of serving in this White House. President Trumps White House has set records for administration turnover. Ricardel was the third person to hold the post under Trump. An ally of national security advisor John Bolton, Ricardel began her service in the Trump administration as associate director in the White House Office of Presidential Personnel, then moved to the Commerce Department last year. Bolton brought her into the West Wing shortly after taking the job in April. He is traveling in Asia this week alongside Vice President Mike Pence. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Race for House Minority Leader is Kevin McCarthys to lose By Associated Press (Bill Clark / CQ Roll Call) House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy is running to take over next years shrunken caucus in closed-door elections that will set the tone for the new Congress. The race for minority leader is McCarthys to lose Wednesday. But the California Republican, who is an ally of President Trump, must fend off a challenge from conservative Jim Jordan of Ohio. Jordan is a leader of the House Freedom Caucus. The two encountered questions and finger-pointing during a private meeting with lawmakers Tuesday night as the GOP sorted through the midterm defeat that put Democrats in the majority next year. Elections Wednesday will also determine party leadership in the Senate. Voting for the biggest race, Nancy Pelosis bid to return as the Democrats nominee for speaker, is later this month. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Melania Trump calls for the firing of deputy national security advisor By Justin Sink First Lady Melania Trump arrives at the Chateau de Versailles outside Paris on Nov. 11. (Alain Jocard / AFP/Getty Images ) First Lady Melania Trumps office said she wants Mira Ricardel, the deputy national security advisor, ousted from the White House. It is the position of the Office of the First Lady that she no longer deserves the honor of serving in this White House, Trumps spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, said in a statement in response to a question about reports the first lady had sought Ricardels removal. Ricardel is the top deputy to national security advisor John Bolton. She drew the first ladys wrath after threatening to withhold National Security Council resources during Melania Trumps trip to Africa last month unless Ricardel was included in her entourage, one person familiar with the matter said. Grishams statement comes as several media outlets have reported that President Trump is considering a broader shakeup of his administration, including ousting Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen. Sink and Jacobs report for Bloomberg. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print CNN sues Trump over the suspension of Jim Acostas White House press credentials By Jim Puzzanghera CNN said Tuesday that it is suing President Trump and other administration officials over the decision to suspend the White House press credentials of correspondent Jim Acosta after a conflict at a news conference last week. The suit, to be filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, escalates an ongoing battle between Trump and the cable news outlet that he frequently accuses of disseminating fake news for its aggressive coverage of him and his administration. The wrongful revocation of these credentials violates CNN and Acostas 1st Amendment rights of freedom of the press, and their 5th Amendment rights to due process, CNN said in a written statement. If left unchallenged, the actions of the White House would create a dangerous chilling effect for any journalist who covers our elected officials. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Maxine Waters to take aim at Wells Fargo and Deutsche Bank as new head of House Financial Services Committee By Jim Puzzanghera Rep. Maxine Waters plans to zero in on two big banks Wells Fargo & Co. and Deutsche Bank when she becomes head of the powerful House Financial Services Committee. The Los Angeles congresswoman, now the committees top Democrat, is widely expected to gain the gavel after her party won control of the House in last weeks elections. While Waters has outlined a wide-ranging agenda, she said her focus on bank oversight will target two large institutions she has been tangling with for a while including one, Deutsche Bank, that spills into her bitter feud with President Trump. With Trump in the White House, I know that our fight for Americas consumers and investors will continue to be challenging. But I am more than up to that fight, Waters wrote in a letter last week to her Democratic colleagues on the committee that was obtained by The Times. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Heres how a controversial voting system will decide a congressional race in Maine By Kurtis Lee For the first time in U.S. history, a controversial voting system known as ranked choice is being used to decide a federal election. Its happening in Maine, which adopted the system in 2016. Rather than marking a single candidate, each voter ranks them all, assigning a first-place vote, a second-place vote and so on down the ballot. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print ACLU files suit to stop Trumps new asylum limits By Associated Press A group of Central American migrants march to the office of the U.N.'s humans rights body in Mexico City on Nov. 8. (Rebecca Blackwell / Associated Press) The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a legal challenge to President Trumps order denying asylum to migrants if they cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally. The lawsuit was filed Friday in federal court in San Francisco and argues the new rules are against the law. Attorney Lee Gelernt said the regulations will put families in danger. The suit seeks to declare the regulations invalid and wants a judge to stop the rules from going into effect while the litigation is pending. The new rules were spurred in part by caravans of Central American migrants slowly moving north on foot, but officials say they will apply to anyone caught crossing illegally. Officials say about 70,000 people who enter the country illegally claim asylum. The order invoked the same national security powers Trump used to push through his travel ban. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump on new acting AG: I dont know Matt Whitaker By Associated Press President Trump talks with reporters before departing for France on the South Lawn of the White House on Nov. 9. (Evan Vucci / Associated Press) President Trump is moving to distance himself from Matthew Whitaker as he faces criticism over his choice for acting attorney general. Trump told reporters Friday that I dont know Matt Whitaker and said he didnt speak with Whitaker about special counsel Robert Muellers Russia investigation. Whitaker has made public comments critical of Muellers investigation, and critics have called on Whitaker to recuse himself from oversight of the inquiry. Under former Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions, the investigation was overseen by Deputy Atty. Gen. Rod Rosenstein. Of the scrutiny Whitaker is facing, Trump said: Its a shame that no matter who I put in they go after. He also called Whitaker a very highly respected man. Whitaker was Sessions chief of staff before Trump made him Sessions interim replacement. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg out of hospital after fall By Associated Press The Supreme Court says 85-year-old Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is home after being released from the hospital. She had been admitted for treatment and observation after fracturing three ribs in a fall. The court said Ginsburg was released Friday. Supreme Court spokeswoman Kathy Arberg says she is doing well and working from home. The court had previously said the justice fell in her office at the court on Wednesday evening and went to George Washington University Hospital in Washington early Thursday after experiencing discomfort overnight. Ginsburg broke two ribs in a fall in 2012. She had two prior bouts with cancer and had a stent implanted to open a blocked artery in 2014. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Gun-control activist Lucy McBath defeats GOP Rep. Karen Handel in Georgia By Associated Press Lucy McBath speaks during a rally for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams on Nov. 2 at Morehouse College in Atlanta. (Alyssa Pointer / Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP) Democratic gun-control activist Lucy McBath has defeated Republican Rep. Karen Handel of Georgia in a suburban congressional district long considered safe for the GOP. Handel had to seek reelection after winning her seat last year in a close special election race against Democrat Jon Ossoff. McBath became an advocate for stricter gun laws after her son, Jordan Davis, was fatally shot at a Florida gas station in 2012 by a man angry over loud music the teenager and his friends were playing in a car. McBaths margin of victory was narrow enough for Handel to have requested a recount. The Associated Press declared McBath the winner Thursday after Handel conceded. Handel conceded in a statement Thursday morning, stating that after reviewing all of the election data, its clear she came up a bit short in Tuesdays vote. Handel congratulated McBath, offering good thoughts and much prayer for the journey that lies ahead for her. McBath, who is African American, declared victory Wednesday. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg hospitalized after fracturing 3 ribs in fall By Associated Press Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Jacquelyn Martin / Associated Press) The Supreme Court says 85-year-old Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg fractured three ribs in a fall in her office at the court and is in the hospital. The court says the justice went to George Washington University Hospital in Washington early Thursday after experiencing discomfort overnight. The court says the fall occurred Wednesday evening. Ginsburg was admitted to the hospital for treatment and observation after tests showed she fractured three ribs. Ginsburg broke two ribs in a fall in 2012. She has had two prior bouts with cancer and had a stent implanted to open a blocked artery in 2014. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print White House suspends press pass of CNNs Jim Acosta after heated exchange with Trump By Associated Press The White House on Wednesday suspended the press pass of CNN correspondent Jim Acosta after he and President Trump had a heated confrontation during a news conference. They began sparring after Acosta asked Trump about the caravan of migrants heading from Latin America to the southern U.S. border. When Acosta tried to follow up with another question, Trump said, Thats enough! and a female White House aide unsuccessfully tried to grab the microphone from Acosta. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders released a statement accusing Acosta of placing his hands on a young woman just trying to do her job as a White House intern, calling it absolutely unacceptable. The interaction between Acosta and the intern was brief, and Acosta appeared to brush her arm as she reached for the microphone and he tried to hold onto it. Pardon me, maam, he told her. Acosta tweeted that Sanders statement that he put his hands on the aide was a lie. CNN said in a statement that the White House revoked Acostas press pass in retaliation for his challenging questions Wednesday, and the network accused Sanders of lying about Acostas actions. This conduct is absolutely unacceptable. It is also completely disrespectful to the reporters colleagues not to allow them an opportunity to ask a question. President Trump has given the press more access than any President in history. Stephanie Grisham (@PressSec) November 8, 2018 Contrary to CNNs assertions there is no greater demonstration of the Presidents support for a free press than the event he held today. Only they would attack the President for not supporting a free press in the midst of him taking 68 questions from 35 different reporters... Stephanie Grisham (@PressSec) November 8, 2018 As a result of todays incident, the White House is suspending the hard pass of the reporter involved until further notice. Stephanie Grisham (@PressSec) November 8, 2018 Sanders provided fraudulent accusations and cited an incident that never happened. This unprecedented decision is a threat to our democracy and the country deserves better, CNN said. Jim Acosta has our full support. Journalists assigned to cover the White House apply for passes that allow them daily access to press areas in the West Wing. White House staffers decide whether journalists are eligible, though the Secret Service determines whether their applications are approved. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump spars with reporters at post-election news briefing, ordering several to sit down By Associated Press President Trump assails CNNs Jim Acosta at a White House news conference. President Trump sparred with reporters at his post-election news conference, ordering several to sit down and telling another hes a rude, terrible person. He told another reporter hes not a fan of yours, either. The presidents mood turned sour Wednesday after reporters pressed him on why he referred to a migrant caravan making its way to the U.S. on foot through Mexico as an invasion. Trump ramped up his anti-immigrant rhetoric against the caravan in the final days of the midterm elections. Trump was also pressed on why his campaign aired an ad featuring a Mexican immigrant convicted of killing American police officers and linking the mans actions to the caravan. Several television networks pulled the ad after airing it or declined to air it at all. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Im living one hour at a time at this point By Christine Mai-Duc Republican congressional candidate Young Kim and gubernatorial candidate John Cox campaign in Rowland Heights. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) Republican congressional candidate Young Kim greeted gubernatorial candidate John Coxs giant campaign bus, the words HELP IS ON THE WAY emblazoned across it, as it rolled into the parking lot outside her Rowland Heights field office. Standing beside Cox on Saturday, Kim predicted that a string of GOP victories Tuesday would start with voters repealing the gas tax hike. Can you imagine Gavin Newsom being our governor? Can you imagine Gil Cisneros being your representative? Kim asked the crowd, to loud boos and cries of Nooo! The former state assemblywoman who worked for retiring Rep. Ed Royce (R-Fullerton) is vying for his seat with Democrat Gil Cisneros. She led the crowd in chants of Enough is enough! and, though short-lived, Drain the swamp! Ive served you in Sacramento and Ive seen dysfunction personally, Kim continued. We cannot continue that route. She urged her supporters to stay and help make phone calls or walk neighborhoods. Lets get out there the 72 hours is really critical. Its all going to come down to a few votes, it could be your vote, she said pointing to her left, then pivoting right, it could be your vote. So dont sit back and do nothing. Every night I go to sleep thinking, OK, how many more votes can I get or how many more people can I call tomorrow? Kim said. It can be physically exhausting but Im mentally, emotionally very energized. She listed off her events so far that day and the next one she was heading to. Thats just what I can remember, she said. Im living one hour at a time at this point. Kims campaign invited press to two of her events on Saturday. After she was whisked away to her next event a high tea fundraiser in Walnut, a couple dozen volunteers remained. John Freeman, a statewide field manager for the state Republican Party, tried to pump them up. This is the Super Bowl. Were not in an NFL stadium, were not getting paid millions of dollars, but you know what? Freeman said. Were walking on the field right now. This is that high-stakes-level game. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Its going to be tough out there Democratic candidate Katie Porter speaks to volunteers in Mission Viejo. Jon Bauman, Bowzer from the band Sha Na Na, is in the background. (Victoria Kim / Los Angeles Times ) Judging from the cheers in the crowd, about half those assembled at Katie Porters campaign headquarters in Mission Viejo Sunday morning were old enough to remember 70s rock n roll star Bowzer from the band Sha Na Na. Jon Bauman, as Bowzer is known off stage, said it was her position on senior issues including retirement and social security that has him out supporting Porter over her opponent, incumbent Rep. Mimi Walters. I want you to make sure every phone is called and every door is knocked, he told the crowd of about 80 volunteers. There has never been a more important election. Both Bauman and his nephew, California Democratic Party Chairman Eric Bauman, were interrupted by yells from Trump supporters coming from an adjoining hillside. We love Trump, the voice cried out. We love him too, he makes great fodder, the younger Bauman retorted, before introducing Porter. Porter, a UC Irvine law professor and first-time candidate, acknowledged the uphill battle some of her canvassers might face in this more conservative end of the long-red Orange County district. I know its going to be tough out there, she said, motioning to the hillside. But she said the attacks meant the other side viewed her campaign as a significant threat. This election is going to be close, she said. If we dont fight all the way to the finish line, until 8 oclock on Tuesday, this could slip away. Bowzer then took to a keyboard piano to lead the crowd in a reworded rendition of the song Good Night Sweetheart: Good night, Mimi Walters, he crooned. A woman in a black tank top, jeans and flip flops holding a cup of coffee later joined the crowd with her two sons, 17 and 14, the younger one wearing a Trump 2016 T-shirt. She declined to give her name, saying she was concerned about being attacked, but said she lived up the hill and said she had been the one yelling. She said she was encouraging her sons to talk to people on both sides and make up their own minds. We need to have a government that runs the way government teachers are telling kids its supposed to be run, said the woman, a retired registered dental assistant who voted early for Mimi Walters. Referring to Democrats, she said: Theyve had control over all these years and Californias gone to crap. Among those canvassing was Stacie Campbell, 37, who was at the launch with her husband Jerome and three children, the youngest of whom was 2 months old. Campbell, a Mission Viejo resident who runs a business, had never canvassed or volunteered for campaigns before, and her husband is a French citizen and unable to vote. She said they had been talking to their children the older ones are 5 and 2 about the presidency and the government since Trumps election. Together, they worked on homemade Katie Porter lawn signs and put them up around town. This is the first time its felt like a big deal and there isnt a president up for election, she said. Because her city is a mix of conservatives and liberals her next-door neighbor is an NRA-supporting Republican she the race felt m In this and every election, both sides devote huge resources to getting their partisans to turn out and vote motivating the base, in the jargon of politics. But in many close races in California and around the country, a different group, those who dont like either party or its leaders, could hold the decisive votes. The hold your nose and vote brigade makes up a sizable chunk of the electorate, according to the latest USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll. With election day just over a week away, the poll indicates they lean toward the Democrats. Thats one reason Democrats remain favored to win back control of the House. Overall, this latest poll, conducted last week, finds Democrats leading 57% to 40% when likely voters were asked for which partys candidates they plan to vote, a 17-point edge. Advertisement Thats a notable increase in Democratic support from the previous week, when the poll found Democrats with a 13-point advantage. The increase, which stemmed from small shifts among several groups of voters, may partly reflect timing. The final two days of the poll coincided with the arrest on Friday of a Florida man on charges of sending explosive devices to prominent Democrats and critics of President Trump, and the killing on Saturday of 11 people at a synagogue in Pittsburgh. (Los Angeles Times) In a tweet on Friday, Trump expressed concern that news coverage of the mail bombs might hurt Republicans. Whether either of those events might have a lasting effect on the election is anyones guess. So far this year, however, news events have not had a large or long-term impact. A second measure in the poll that factors in voters estimates of how likely they are to cast a ballot also shows Democrats ahead by a narrower 52% to 42%. In 2016, the same poll consistently showed then-candidate Trump winning. It skewed toward the Republicans by a few percentage points in its estimate of the final vote. Get the latest news from the nations capital on Essential Washington >> Analysis of individual races shows Republicans continue to hold the edge in contests for the Senate, most of which are being fought this year in conservative states. Five Senate races are heading into the final week as toss-ups, polls indicate: Arizona and Nevada, in which Democrats hope to win seats currently held by Republicans, and Missouri, Indiana and Florida, in which Republicans hope to defeat Democratic incumbents. Republicans have a strong chance of defeating Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, the Democratic incumbent in North Dakota. In the House, Democrats need to net 23 additional seats to win a majority. They appeared to have about 17 pickups fairly well in hand going into the final week of campaigning, according to polls and nonpartisan assessments by those who track congressional races. Whether the Democrats will get to their goal or Republicans hold on to their majority will depend largely on the outcome of more than 20 toss-up races, including at least three in Southern California. Almost all of those contests involve districts Republicans currently hold. Republican officials, at least publicly, forecast an outcome very close to an even split. No matter who takes the majority, it will be a razor-thin majority, Rep. Steve Stivers of Ohio, the Republican campaign chief, said Sunday on NBCs Meet the Press. Democrats, by contrast, hope that voter enthusiasm on their side, reflected in part in a torrent of small donations to their campaigns, will push many of the closest contests their way and generate enough upsets to bring about a larger majority for their party. Theyre on track to significantly outspend the Republicans in many close contests, campaign disclosure reports show, thanks in part to last-minute infusions of cash from some big donors. The USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll continues to show roughly equal levels of interest in the election on both sides. Thats an encouraging sign for Democrats, whose voters have lagged significantly in the last two midterm elections. Just under 4 in 10 Democrats and Republicans said they were paying very close or extremely close attention to the campaign. See the results of the most recent USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times polls But with the two sides closely balanced, the outcome in many races could depend on voters who dont easily fit with either party. The poll offers two ways to examine the views of voters who disdain both sides. One simply looks at their views of the party leaders. Likely voters disapproved of Trumps performance in office by 57% to 41%, the poll found. That 16-point gap remains historically bad for a president in a time of strong economic growth. Rep. Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco, the House Democratic leader, is less well known but fared no better among voters with an opinion. Likely voters disapproved of her by 49% to 32%, with 19% unsure. In both cases, a strong partisan gap shaped those approval numbers. In Pelosis case, gender played a strong role, as well: Even after taking party into account, men disapproved of her significantly more than women. Roughly 1 in 6 likely voters disapproved of both. When asked which partys candidate they plan to vote for, that group overwhelmingly favored the Democrats. Thats the reverse of what took place two years ago. In the presidential election, slightly more than 1 in 6 voters said they disliked both Hillary Clinton and Trump. Clinton campaign strategists hoped to win over many of those voters by constantly reminding them of aspects of Trumps behavior that they disliked. In the end, however, those voters heavily favored Trump, according to exit polls. That shouldnt have come as a surprise, say political scientists John Sides of George Washington University, Lynn Vavreck of UCLA and Michael Tesler of UC Irvine. In their new book examining the 2016 election, Identity Crisis, they noted that those double negative voters were disproportionately Republicans. They appeared to be holding their nose and voting their partisanship, they wrote. Thats not the case this time: The double negative voters now those who disapprove of both Trump and Pelosi are more likely to have been Clinton voters in 2016. In addition to asking about Pelosi and Trump, the USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll also asked people to react to some of what each side says about the other in its campaign attacks. Republicans contend that the Democrats, if they get a majority, will try to enact a liberal Nancy Pelosi agenda of higher taxes, greatly increased government spending and large defense budget cuts, the poll told respondents. Democrats say the Republican Party, if it keeps the majority, will try to enact a conservative Donald Trump agenda of Medicare and Medicaid cuts, as well as tax breaks for the rich, and they will end affordable health insurance access for people with preexisting conditions. Those statements dont cover every issue in the campaign, of course, but they reflect several of the main arguments used in ads in swing districts, in which Democrats have focused heavily on healthcare and Republicans have warned of higher taxes. Trump has talked much more about immigration, an issue that motivates many of his core supporters. Hes stuck mostly to campaigning in conservative states with close Senate races, however, avoiding most swing districts, where Republican strategists think he might hurt more than help. More than 9 in 10 likely voters said they thought it at least somewhat likely that each party would try to enact an agenda of the sort described if it had the chance. Almost half called it very likely that Republicans would seek to enact the Trump agenda that was described, and about 3 in 10 said Democrats were very likely to push the Pelosi agenda. The fact that voters found both agendas plausible indicates that the Republicans have not broken through with their counterargument on healthcare, said Robert Shrum, a longtime Democratic strategist and the co-director of USCs Center for the Political Future, which co-sponsored the poll. Theyre all saying, I want to protect preexisting conditions too. I dont think theyre getting traction on that, based on these numbers, he said. Likely voters opposed the suggested Pelosi agenda 55% to 23% and the Trump agenda 70% to 16%, the poll found. Almost 1 in 5 likely voters opposed both, and they split closely on which they disliked more. But by 59% to 34%, they said they expected to support Democrats for Congress this year. Unlike 2016, when the voters who disliked both candidates were disproportionately Republican, those who said they disapproved of both of the agendas described in the poll were more often women and tended to identify as independents, the poll found. This USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll, supervised by poll director Jill Darling, was conducted Oct. 21 to 27 among 3,922 adult Americans, including 3,453 registered voters, of whom 2,350 were considered likely to vote and 577 said they already had voted early. Respondents were drawn from a probability-based panel maintained by USCs Center for Economic and Social Research for its Understanding America Study. Responses were weighted to accurately reflect known demographics of the U.S. population. The margin of error is 2 percentage points in either direction. A full description of the methodology, poll questions and data, and additional information about the poll are posted on the USC website. David.Lauter@latimes.com For more on Politics and Policy, follow me @DavidLauter In a season where we often talk about the October surprise, this penultimate political month ends on tragedy and division. Its the kind of unsettled moment thats become too commonplace in recent times, and one that makes predictions about Nov. 6 the ultimate exercise in futility. THE IMPACT OF PITTSBURGH As authorities released the names of the 11 victims in Saturdays horrific synagogue massacre, there were reminders both of the policy questions gun control and the human, political dilemma posed by heightened fears of hate. President Trump was quick to deny responsibility for any part in raising the national temperature, citing instead Fake and Dishonest reporting of the news media in a Sunday night tweet. He also raised the question of armed security, a reality some Jewish communities are already experiencing amid ever-increasing tensions. Advertisement And the accused gunmans online writings will surely add scrutiny to how the organized white nationalist movement spreads its message inside the U.S. The election is eight days away. October has been a month with so many storylines the Supreme Court fight, immigration, bomb threats and now anti-Semitic violence it feels as though weve been trying to gauge the political impact forever. Sign up for the Essential Politics newsletter THE GOVERNORS The national political currents are poised to affect a handful of key races for governor in states across the nation. Success in several contests would give Democrats a political foothold in states that Trump carried just two years ago and place an important check on Republicans as the states redraw political districts after the 2020 census. Education too has emerged as a key topic. Electing Democrats could serve as proof that states can only cut education so far because they face a kind of revolt, even in deeply, deeply red states, said Charles Franklin, director of the Marquette Law School Poll. NATIONAL LIGHTNING ROUND -- In 2016, voters who disliked both Hillary Clinton and the president broke heavily toward the Republican, handing Trump the victory. This time around, those who disapprove of both sides appear to be favoring the Democrats, a USC-Los Angeles Times poll shows. -- Trump called the Brazilian President-elect Jair Bolsonaro on Sunday to congratulate the far-right populist on his electoral victory. -- Defense Secretary James N. Mattis condemned the killing of Washington Post contributor Jamal Khashoggi as intolerable, minutes before Saudi Arabias foreign minister characterized the global reaction to the murder as hysterical. -- Here are key things you need to know before next Tuesdays midterm election. DECISION CALIFORNIA -- We now have our final snapshot of the money being raised and spent in Californias battleground congressional races. -- Whos stepping up to write checks to the GOP candidates for statewide offices in California other than governor? Almost no one, as I wrote in my Sunday politics column. -- Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders has endorsed Proposition 10, Californias rent control initiative. So has the Los Angeles City Council. Meanwhile, the ballot measure looks to be in serious trouble in the latest statewide nonpartisan poll. -- Early voting has started. Heres where you can cast a ballot before election day. TWO CANDIDATES, TWO FORTUNES The race for California governor features two men with very different worldviews about the role of government. But both Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and Republican John Cox share at least one thing in common: an array of victories in the world of business. For Newsom, the beginning was a wine shop in downtown San Francisco in 1992; for Cox, it was a series of real estate investments in the Midwest in the 1980s. Both men had help: Cox had wealthy investors who helped him buy apartment buildings across three states, while Newsoms fortunes were boosted by his long relationship with oil scion Gordon Getty. Both men report vast financial holdings, but also seem to have taken different things from their experiences. And so far, polls continue to show Newsom with a lead over Cox as the final chapter of the campaign comes to a close. $16 BILLION IN BORROWING Four measures on Californias Nov. 6 ballot ask voters to sign off on sizable new borrowing $16.4 billion in bonds to help build housing for low-income and homeless residents, improve the states watersheds, natural habitats and water treatment facilities and expand a network of childrens hospitals. Most of the cost would go toward the water-related bond, Proposition 3. Total estimated cost of principal and interest over the next four decades: about $26 billion. TODAYS ESSENTIALS -- California officials upped the ante Friday in their fight with President Trump over vehicle fuel economy standards, urging the administration to withdraw its proposal to weaken federal rules and eliminate the states ability to set its own greenhouse gas emission guidelines. -- Gov. Jerry Brown will become the executive chairman of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, the Chicago-based organization best known for its Doomsday Clock that is reset periodically to measure the threat of global annihilation. -- A Sacramento lobbyist who was sued by former San Fernando Valley Assemblyman Matt Dababneh for defamation after she publicly accused him of sexual misconduct is seeking dismissal of the lawsuit. LOGISTICS Essential Politics is published Monday and Friday. You can keep up with breaking news on our politics page throughout the day. And are you following us on Twitter at @latimespolitics? Miss Fridays newsletter? Here you go. Please send thoughts, concerns and news tips to politics@latimes.com. Did someone forward you this? Sign up here to get Essential Politics in your inbox. A war between a healthcare union and the dialysis industry it wants to organize has morphed into one of the most expensive ballot measure campaigns in California history. Proposition 8, sponsored by the Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers, would shrink the profits of hundreds of dialysis clinics across California. If enacted by voters, the measure would require clinics to provide rebates to insurers and pay a penalty to the state on business revenues that exceed 115% of certain costs to deliver care. A coalition led by DaVita and Fresenius Medical Care, the two companies that control a combined 72% of the dialysis market in California, has given $110 million to a campaign to beat the measure contributing to the most money raised for such a campaign in state history. Opponents view Proposition 8 as an existential threat to the dialysis industry and its patients, and say the 95,000-member SEIU-UHW is using the ballot measure to deliver an ultimatum to its foes: Acquiesce to the unions demands or pay for an expensive campaign. Advertisement Proposition 8 puts California patients at risk in an effort to force unionization of employees, DaVita Chief Executive Kent Thiry said in a statement. There is an established and accepted process for employees to vote a union up or down. Instead of following that process, SEIU-UHW is pursuing a dangerous initiative that puts patients at grave risk. Thirys group warns that dialysis clinics may open for fewer hours, or would shutter altogether if the measure becomes law. Dave Regan, head of SEIU-UHW, says his union wants to rein in a dialysis industry he says is predatory. The union has raised $18.8 million for the Proposition 8 campaign. DaVita and Fresenius reported billions in operating income last year and have been accused by critics of various tactics to increase profitability, such as steering patients to private insurance or not giving employees enough time to adequately clean stations. DaVita has been ordered to pay damages and settled lawsuits for more than $1 billion in the last five years, including $253.5 million in damages awarded in June to the families of two patients who died of cardiac arrest after receiving care at its California clinics. The company has said it would appeal that decision. The reason Prop. 8 is on the ballot is because they have a terrible business model and theyre gouging patients and insurers, Regan said. After years of expensive squabbles in the Capitol, Regan traveled to Denver, home to DaVita headquarters, to meet with Thiry for the first time on the eve of the June deadline to withdraw ballot initiatives this year. Assemblyman Adam Gray (D-Merced), the leader of a moderate bloc of Democrats in the Legislature, acted as intermediary. Gray said he spent weeks trying to bring the two sides together in hopes of breaking a stalemate and finding common ground. But the eleventh-hour conversation over dinner came too late to negotiate a cease-fire and call off the proposal. Regan initially described the visit as a social meeting he attended at Grays request. He later said the timing was coincidental and he never intended to strike a deal with Thiry to pull Proposition 8 from the ballot. Nothing consequential even came up, Regan said. Nothing was proposed. There was no kind of an agreement of any sort and it was a social discussion. Thiry said it was definitely not a social meeting, but declined to elaborate. Now voters are left to decide the fate of the 80,000 patients who receive dialysis treatment at nearly 600 licensed clinics each month in California, according to figures from the Legislative Analysts Office. SEIU-UHW argues its measure will provide an incentive to dialysis companies so they invest more money into patient care. Under the measure, clinics could keep more of their profits if they increase costs for care. Kathy Fairbanks, a spokeswoman for the opposition campaign, said the industry believes that voter approval of Proposition 8 would force most clinics in California to operate in the red. You cant keep doing that week after week, month after month, year after year, she said. This is going to devastate the clinics in California and, by extension, all the patients. An analysis by the Legislative Analysts Office, the Legislatures nonpartisan fiscal advisor, said reducing revenues would make for-profit clinics less profitable or could even be unprofitable. Proposition 8 excludes the salaries of managerial staff and some overhead charges from the cost calculation for patient care, which would further reduce profits. This to me is classic labor trying to, not just regulate a business, but affect how they operate, said Rob Stutzman, a Republican political consultant who is not involved in the Proposition 8 campaign. Scrutiny of dialysis clinics sparked a legislative proposal to establish staff-to-patient ratios in the industry for the first time. The bill, sponsored by SEIU-UHW, stalled in the state Legislature last year. Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed another bill this year aimed to halt an alleged dialysis industry practice of encouraging patients to sign up for private insurance and funneling money to nonprofits to help patients pay off premiums. Dialysis corporations make most of their profits off group or individual insurance plans, which are billed much more than Medi-Cal or Medicare for the same services. Right now they have every financial incentive to keep staffing and other direct patient services at a bare minimum because then they reap every dollar in profit margin, Regan said. SEIU-UHW has a history of turning to the ballot amid labor disputes. Regan called off a pair of ballot initiatives in 2012 to limit charges for care at private hospitals and require nonprofits to spend at least 5% of revenues on charity care after the California Hospital Assn. agreed to a partnership that could help the unions organizing efforts. The partnership soured and the union filed two measures the next year to limit prices for care at private hospitals and executive salaries at nonprofit hospitals. The union pulled the initiatives back in 2014 as part of a new agreement with the hospitals to campaign together to raise Medi-Cal reimbursement rates in exchange for an easier path to organizing thousands of potential union members, among other provisions. A Sacramento judge shot down another SEIU-UHW ballot initiative to cap hospital executive pay in 2016. That same year, the union pushed a ballot initiative to increase pay for workers, which helped spark a legislative deal to raise Californias minimum wage. This year alone, the union filed 11 ballot initiatives in California seven at the local level and four statewide initiatives. Most of the initiatives failed to qualify or the union abandoned its effort. One of the local measures would have placed revenue caps on the Watsonville Community Hospital. The union withdrew the initiative after it reached a collective bargaining agreement with the hospital, said Duane Dauner, the former chief executive of the California Hospital Assn. and a leader of the campaigns against the local initiatives. The hospital also agreed to form a committee to monitor and control pricing, said Sean Wherley, a spokesman for SEIU-UHW. SEIU-UHW also sponsored five local initiatives in cities with Stanford Health Care community clinics. Measure F in Palo Alto and Measure U in Livermore, the only two to appear on the Nov. 6 ballot, would limit the amount of money hospitals can charge for patient care. Stanford claims the union pushed the measures to pressure its hospitals to make it easier to unionize. Wherley said the union is not organizing at Stanfords healthcare facilities. He thinks initiatives are the solutions to bypass ordinary labor relations activity and tries to literally force the hospitals, doctors, dentists and others into unionization or he will proceed, Dauner said of Regan. Gray, the state legislator, pointed to several state policy battles this year, including a ban on soda taxes and a deal on consumer privacy protections, as examples of other special interests using the ballot as leverage. I support direct democracy, but I certainly think the initiative process, by everybody, has been used in ways that certainly werent intended, Gray said. Regan said SEIU-UHW didnt qualify Proposition 8 to pressure the dialysis industry to strike a deal. He said the union wants to improve healthcare, and ballot initiatives are an effective way to make important policy changes. He pointed to 17 minimum wage and Medicaid expansion initiatives the union supported in other states since 2016 that he said were not linked to organizing efforts. Most of the stuff that we do is in pursuit of the common good, whether its the minimum wage or Medicaid expansion, Regan said. The dialysis industry should be required to do more than criticize the union because they dont want to talk about their business models or profits. Get the latest California politics news taryn.luna@latimes.com Follow @tarynluna on Twitter and sign up for our daily Essential Politics newsletter. You can see the toll of gun violence on Americas kids by studying hospital records from around the country. And when you do, youll see that its large and it appears to be rising. You dont have to do this for yourself, though, because researchers from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine beat you to it. They published their results Monday in the journal JAMA Pediatrics. Faiz Gani and Joseph Canner of the schools Surgery Center for Outcomes Research scoured data from the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample, the largest database of hospital emergency-room visits across the country. They tallied more than 75,000 children who were sent to ERs seeking treatment for gun-related injuries between the beginning of 2006 and the end of 2014. Then they adjusted the data to make it representative of the nation as a whole. Gani and Canner found that for every 100,000 Americans under the age of 18, 11.3 went to a hospital emergency room after being shot. This figure represents the average incidence of firearm-related ER visits over the nine years of the study. Advertisement The average age of these gunshot victims was 14.8 years, and the overwhelming majority 86.2% were male. Overall, 6% of pediatric shooting victims who came to the ER died of their injuries, the researchers found. Nearly half 49% of the young patients brought to hospital emergency departments with gun-related injuries were shot during intentional assaults. Another 39% of patients were victims of accidents involving firearms, and 2% attempted suicide with a gun. American kids faced the highest risk of a serious firearm injury at the start of the study period, with 15.1 out of every 100,000 minors seeking ER treatment for a gunshot wound in 2006. That figure fell steadily until 2011, when 9.5 out of every 100,000 minors went to the ER after being shot. After rising slightly in 2012, the incidence of gun-related trips to the emergency room bottomed out in 2013 at 7.5 cases per 100,000 kids. It then jumped back to 10.1 cases per 100,000 in 2014. 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 patients per 100,000 people under the age of 18 All minors Boys Girls 0 5 10 15 20 25 Incidence of ER visits for gun-related injuries in U.S. Data: abcdefg hijkl mnop qrstu vwxyz 1234 56789 Karen Kaplan Source: Faiz Gani, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine --> This trend was most pronounced for boys. Throughout the study period, boys were at least five times more likely than girls to require emergency-room treatment for a gun-inflicted wound. The incidence of these injuries among boys was 26.1 per 100,000 in 2006, then fell to 12.3 per 100,000 in 2013 before rising back to 16.5 per 100,000 in 2014. The incidence for girls remained between 2.4 and 4 cases per 100,000 throughout the nine years of the study. The group that experienced the greatest burden of gun-related injuries was young men between the ages of 15 and 17. For this unfortunate cohort, 85.9 out of every 100,000 were taken to an emergency room to be treated for a gunshot wound. Among all minors seen in ERs with firearm-related injuries, 35% were hurt badly enough to be admitted to the hospital. About 1 out of 15 of these admitted patients or 6.6% died as a result of their injuries. In addition, 3.6% of the kids who came to the ER after being shot died before they could be admitted, the researchers found. The cost of treating all these children in the emergency department totaled $259 million over the nine years of the study. Those who required further treatment as inpatients racked up a whopping $2.2 billion in hospital bills. In other words, the overall cost of caring for kids who had been shot was about $270 million per year, on average. The true toll of firearms measured in both dollars spent and lives lost could well be higher, the researchers wrote. They just cant say with certainty because the database they relied on doesnt keep track of what happens to patients after they leave the hospital. But what they could see was enough to make clear that the scope of the problem is substantial, they wrote. The numbers are really humbling, Gani said. karen.kaplan@latimes.com Follow me on Twitter @LATkarenkaplan and like Los Angeles Times Science & Health on Facebook. Health authorities in California have more power to insist that a dog is vaccinated against rabies than to ensure that a child enrolled in school is vaccinated against measles. Thats just one of the frustrations faced by health officials in the first year after California did away with personal belief exemptions that allowed parents to send their kids to school unvaccinated, according to a study published Monday in the journal Pediatrics. In the 2014-15 school year, when parents could still opt out of vaccinations for any reason they chose, only 90.4% of kindergartners in California public schools were fully immunized. Thats below the 94% threshold needed to establish community immunity for measles, according to experts. Gaps like that helped persuade state lawmakers to pass Senate Bill 277, which was signed into law in 2015. It requires every child taught in school classrooms or enrolled in a child care facility to be fully immunized against 10 diseases: diphtheria, hepatitis B, haemophilus influenzae Type B, measles, mumps, pertussis (a.k.a. whooping cough), poliomyelitis, rubella, tetanus and varicella (a.k.a. chickenpox) unless a doctor provides a medical reason for why it would be unsafe to do so. Advertisement It was the first time in 35 years that a state had gotten rid of personal belief exemptions, and it made California only the third state along with Mississippi and West Virginia to have such a strict requirement. By the most basic measure, it worked. In the 2017-18 school year, 95.1% of kindergartners had all of their immunizations, according to the California Department of Public Health. However, the elimination of personal belief exemptions was offset to some degree by an increase in medical exemptions. Prior to the passage of SB 277, only 0.2% of students had a medical exemption, the health department said. By 2017-18, that figure had more than tripled, to 0.7%. Part of that increase was legitimate, the study authors explained: Some parents whose children could have qualified for medical exemptions obtained personal belief exemptions instead because they were easier to get. But many of the additional medical exemptions were bogus, health officials suspect. Though theyd like to crack down and see more kids get vaccinated, there are numerous obstacles in their way, new study revealed. The authors, led by Salini Mohanty of the University of Pennsylvania, reached out to members of the Health Officers Assn. of California to get their perspective on SB277. Forty people responded, including immunization coordinators, communicable disease directors and public health nurses. Together, they represented 35 of Californias 61 local health jurisdictions. Study participants spoke with the researchers for between 15 and 57 minutes each. Heres what they learned: Some medical exemptions are dubious on their face. Health officials told the study authors that parents submitted exemptions that said it was unsafe to vaccinate their children because they had a family history of allergies or autoimmune disorders. Neither of these are valid reasons, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Another source of skepticism was the people who signed the medical exemptions. Some were nurse practitioners, who arent authorized to do so. Others were cardiologists, dermatologists or surgeons, who typically dont treat children. One immunization coordinator shared this far-fetched example: Theres one whos like a medical marijuana dispensary. And Im like, really? Hes a primary care physician for these kids? Medical exemptions can be had for a price. In one case, a study participant said a doctor charged patients to watch a video in exchange for signing an exemption. Another told of a physician who charged for medical tests before vouching for an exemption. In some cases, doctors openly advertised their willingness to sign exemptions for a fee. Another immunization coordinator described a doctor who switched from giving permanent exemptions to offering temporary ones: The parents are being basically duped. Theyre being told you have to renew this every three months. Well, thats not true. Its a business decision on her part. Members of local health agencies said they were not able to challenge questionable medical exemptions. The way SB 277 was set up, parents submit medical exemptions directly to their childs school. If the school nurse or someone else on campus reaches out for guidance, health officials may weigh in. Otherwise, the matter is out of their hands. This was a major source of frustration to officials interviewed in the study. Heres how one participant from an urban health district put it: The law didnt give the health officer any role, and Ill tell you how ridiculous this is. I get to see medical records of dogs and I have the authority to disapprove requests for exemptions for rabies vaccines and for people, we dont have that authority. Health experts would like the California Medical Board to get tougher on doctors who approve questionable exemptions. Many of those interviewed complained that there were no consequences for physicians who supported problematic exemptions. There has been one high-profile exception to this rule since the interviews were conducted, the study authors noted: Dr. Bob Sears, an Orange County pediatrician who is a vocal critic of the CDCs vaccine schedule, was put on probation for 35 months after issuing a medical exemption for a 2-year-old boy without conducting an exam first. The boards actions may serve as a deterrent to other doctors, the authors wrote. Simply keeping track of medical exemptions is enough to make you a target. Only five jurisdictions made an attempt to monitor medical exemptions in the first year after SB 277 went into effect, and one of them was hit with a federal civil lawsuit from parents and nonprofit groups. The suit was eventually withdrawn, but officials who didnt want to get dragged into court cited the case as a reason not to track exemptions in their area. It was really a way to try and scare us away from doing our job and to signal to other local health officers that this is what they have coming to them if they continue to do their job, an urban health officer told the interviewers. Opponents of SB 277 made things personal. An official whose agency was named in the lawsuit said their decision to track medical exemptions resulted in hate mail and death threats across all social media. The agency continued with its tracking anyway, the official added. The system has a built-in conflict of interest. The people who decide on the validity of medical exemptions are school nurses, health clerks, registrars and other staff on campus. But these people are acutely aware that they lose state funding every time a student is absent from school. All of our schools are so small, and there is an impact when kids dont enroll or if they arent able to go to school, an immunization coordinator from a rural district told the study authors. In many cases, medical exemptions are just personal belief exemptions in disguise. And if doctors keep stretching the rules and get away with it it will be like SB 277 never existed, leaving kids susceptible to outbreaks of infectious diseases. We saw a fourfold increase in medical exemptions, one study participant said. If that continues to occur, we may just be in the same position as before with parents pursuing medical exemptions when theyre really personal belief exemptions. karen.kaplan@latimes.com Follow me on Twitter @LATkarenkaplan and like Los Angeles Times Science & Health on Facebook. MORE IN SCIENCE 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 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. 4 1 [ Editor: Zhang Zhou ] An Ocean View High School teacher pleaded not guilty Friday to charges of sexually assaulting a teenage boy, prosecutors said. Andrew Bueno-Potts, 43, of Long Beach faces four felony counts: sodomy by intoxication, sodomy of a person under 18, sexual penetration by a foreign object and intoxication, and sexual penetration by foreign object of a person under 18, the Los Angeles County district attorneys office said. Bueno-Potts is a science teacher and department chairman at Ocean View High in Huntington Beach. The teacher met the victim, who was never a student at Ocean View, at a school event, Long Beach police said. Police said the boy later moved in with Bueno-Potts. The victim contacted police in July 2018 to report three incidents of sexual assault and one incident of attempted sexual assault. One sexual assault occurred in San Francisco, police said, adding that the others took place in Bueno-Potts home, police said. Bueno-Potts provided the victim with alcohol and alkyl nitrate, a stimulant commonly known as a popper, police said. Bueno-Potts faces a possible maximum sentence of 10 years in state prison. Bail is set at $500,000. He is due back in court Nov. 2. julia.sclafani@latimes.com As anticipated, the state has awarded Newport Beach a $1.7 million grant needed to fund a water-wheel trash-collecting vessel for Upper Newport Bay one thats likely to come with a Twitter account. The California Ocean Protection Council adopted the grant award at its Thursday board meeting in Santa Cruz. The city will now work to obtain the necessary regulatory permits. The planned solar and hydraulically powered water wheel will be placed at the top of Upper Newport Bay by the Jamboree Road bridge. It is intended to capture garbage flowing down San Diego Creek from inland Orange County before it can hit Newport Harbor and the Pacific Ocean. From its stationary position, the wheel will funnel debris into an onboard holding bin that will be emptied periodically. The device should prevent up to 80% of the floatable debris that enters the bay from getting past the jetty and hitting the open ocean. The water wheels design lends itself to whimsy. The vessel would look like a snail with a paddlewheel, or a conch shell crossed with a steamboat. In Baltimore, the first city in the United States to use a water wheel, a googly-eyed trash wheel family Mr. Trash Wheel, Professor Trash Wheel and Capt. Trash Wheel gobbles rubbish from the waters around the port city. All three have Twitter accounts. Newport is expected to be the first West Coast city to use the trash-snaring device. With tentative approval from the state lined up, the Newport Beach City Council voted in September to budget the major funding for the water-wheel project and to accept a study that said the trash collector wouldnt have significant, if any, negative effects on the environment. The grant money comes from funding generated by Californias Water Quality, Supply and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014. hillary.davis@latimes.com Twitter: @Daily_PilotHD I am committed to combating airplane noise My old boss, President Reagan, had a plaque on his Oval Office desk that read: There is no limit to what you can accomplish if you dont care who gets the credit. For 30 years, I have traveled back and forth to Washington, realizing many of my colleagues dont have that mindset. Not seeking recognition elicits criticism during elections, and this campaign is a prime example. My opponent claims I havent authored enough enacted legislation. Thats his measure of effectiveness. I believe it is your impact, not the number of bills with your name, that counts. Im proud of what I have accomplished for my district and America, having spent more than forty years of my life serving our nation in the Reagan White House and Congress. My opponent thinks having your name on bills is the only way to do things in Washington. If he is elected, his fixation on that will mirror the history of his life; service to himself. He authored an op-ed in this publication criticizing my handling of airport-related noise over Orange County, which has become substantially worse in recent years. The problem, he seems to understand, is that additional noise can be traced to the Federal Aviation Administrations revamp of U.S national airspace, which consolidated airline traffic routes. Many who live under those flight paths now find the sound unbearable. When an opportunity presented itself, I took action and offered amendments to the the FAA re-authorization bill. One amendment, which I crafted in consultation with the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, appeared ready to pass. Leadership from both parties had signed off on the amendment, which would have required flights transitioning from ocean to land fly as high as possible, subject to safety restraints, to minimize flight at low altitude over communities. At the last minute, the air traffic controllers union opposed the amendment because its priority is not the people who live under flight paths. Sometimes, when you challenge special interests in Washington, you lose. But I dont give up. I introduced the No Noise Act, which would require the FAA to prioritize you over the efficiency of airlines when it designs flight paths. I will keep battling. I dont fear failure when trying to do what is right. Can anyone say the same about Harley Rouda? He supported the radical lefts priorities during the Democratic primary, like Medicare for All, including illegal immigrants. That is just one of many things he promised the progressive Democrats of America. He is now running from those positions, because he knows they are out of step with our district. You deserve better than a self-serving credit-seeker who will say whatever it takes for power. I am grateful to represent you, and humbly ask to do so for another term. We still have much to accomplish together, and I want to continue fighting for freedom on your behalf and having fun doing it. We may not always agree, but youll always know where I stand. I will fight for you, even when special interests block our progress. I dont care about having my name on legislation. I care about getting things done. After all, this isnt about me. Its about you and whats best for America. U.S. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher Costa Mesa The writer is a Republican representing the 48th District in Congress. Stop playing politics with seniors healthcare Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell recently blamed the rising federal debt on Social Security and Medicare, stating on the record that Congress should target these programs for cuts to address the deficit. While McConnells statement made waves in the media, his admission was anything but surprising. We already knew that House Republicans plan to cut $537 billion from Medicare and $1.5 trillion from Medicaid and Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits over the next 10 years, according to their 2019 budget proposal. We already knew that House Republicans, led by Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Costa Mesa), have also been voting year after year after year to eviscerate Social Security and Medicare by billions and billions of dollars. Clearly, Rohrabacher and extreme Republicans in Congress are more interested in advancing cynical political objectives than in passing policies that help everyday Americans in this case, our nations seniors and retirees. Blaming bedrocks of American society like Social Security and Medicare for rising debt is especially rich, considering that the GOPs own tax cut targeted mostly to corporations and the wealthy is projected to add more than $1 trillion to the deficit over the next 10 years. These programs have been the cornerstones of American retirement security for a very long time, and drastic budget cuts would come with devastating consequences for seniors. Medicare would be changed into a voucher system, causing an increase in out-of-pocket costs for seniors, and the Medicare eligibility age would be raised from 65 to 67. Also, Medicaid would be stripped back significantly, making it more difficult for many low-income seniors to afford healthcare. In addition, the budget plan would repeal the ACA and eliminate protections for people with pre-existing conditions, allowing insurance companies to refuse or charge more to patients with health issues like heart disease, diabetes, arthritis or cancer. The plan would also institute an age tax, allowing insurance companies to charge patients aged 50 to 64 five times what they charge younger patients. Adding fuel to the fire is the fact that, while working to roll back the ACA and seniors healthcare programs, Congress has ignored the prescription drug crisis. Americans pay the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs, and seniors bear the brunt of these soaring costs. Its time for our Congress to finally stand up for Americas seniors and retirees. This is one of the reasons why I am running for Congress this November: to ensure that our seniors are guaranteed the level of dignity and well-being that they deserve in retirement. First, we must fight to protect Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, because these programs are vitally important to our seniors health and well-being. Second, we need to regulate and reform the pharmaceutical drug industry to protect seniors from outrageous drug prices. Congress should follow Californias leadership in pursuing greater transparency in drug pricing. In addition, we need to take the shackles off Medicare by allowing it to negotiate lower prices with drug companies. Lastly, we must expand and improve on the Affordable Care Act while pursuing Medicare for All as a long-term solution. Medicare for All would bring the U.S. up to date with the standards of most advanced countries by guaranteeing healthcare coverage as a right for every American. Harley Rouda Laguna Beach The writer is a Democrat running for the 48th Congressional District seat. * How to get published: Email us at dailypilot@latimes.com. All correspondence must include full name, hometown and phone number (for verification purposes). The Pilot reserves the right to edit all submissions for clarity and length. To everything there is a season, including cruise ship menus. Princess Cruises threw a party last week to celebrate its new autumn menu from Australian celebrity chef Curtis Stone. The event included a six-course meal, wine and dessert. Stone, who owns restaurants Gwen in L.A. and Maude in Beverly Hills, also has luxe dining rooms called Share aboard three Princess ships: Ruby, Emerald and Sun. The new menus coming-out party a three-hour foodie event took place aboard the Princess Emerald in the Port of L.A. before it departed for Hawaii and Fiji. Stone and his crew were there to augment Emeralds chefs in the kitchen, which was crowded and pretty hectic. Whenever a chef changes a menu, it is very stressful, said Pierre-Marie LePrince, executive chef for Princess Cruises. Advertisement Stone was reluctant to pause to talk or pose for pictures until several courses had been served. But he didnt have to be nervous. Everyone loved the artful dishes. Guests began with an appetizer, followed by salad and handmade pasta, then main courses from sea and land. They finished with dessert. Among the dishes served were Alaska king crab, Duroc pork chop and almond marzipan cake. Share is a specialty restaurant; a cover charge of $29 per person includes one selection from each course. In addition, new Crafted by Curtis dishes will be served in the main dining rooms on all 17 Princess ships. Passengers will find options such as steamed mussels, chorizo and white wine, beef tenderloin tips and mushroom cobbler. These new dishes join favorites chicken-and-leek pot pie and roasted pork belly. The new menu will be available aboard ships in November. Info: Princess Cruises, (800) 774-6237, or contact a travel agent travel@latimes.com Twitter: @latimestravel A Lion Air flight with 188 people on board crashed into the sea just minutes after taking off from Indonesias capital on Monday. Indonesias disaster agency posted photos online of a crushed smartphone, books, bags and parts of the aircraft fuselage that had been collected by search-and-rescue vessels that have converged on the area. Spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said the aircraft, on an hour-and-10-minute flight to Pangkal Pinang on an island chain off Sumatra, was carrying 181 passengers, including one child and two babies, and seven crew members. Indonesian television broadcast video showing a fuel slick and debris field. Advertisement The National Search and Rescue Agency said the flight ended in waters off West Java that are 98 to 115 feet deep. The agencys chief Muhammad Syaugi said at a news conference that divers are trying to find the wreckage. The Boeing 737-800 plane departed Jakarta about 6:20 a.m. for Pangkal Pinang. Data for Flight 610 on aircraft tracking website FlightAware ends just a few minutes after takeoff. Indonesian television showed dozens of people waiting anxiously outside the Pangkal Pinang airport and officials bringing out plastic chairs. The crash is the worst airline disaster in Indonesia since an AirAsia flight plunged into the sea in December 2014, killing all 162 on board. A report to the Jakarta Search and Rescue Office cited the crew of a tug boat, which had reported seeing a Lion Air flight falling from the sky. A telegram from the National Search and Rescue Agency to the air force has requested assistance with the search. Lion Air is one of Indonesias youngest and biggest airlines, flying to dozens of domestic and international destinations. In 2013, one of its Boeing 737-800 jets missed the runway while landing on the resort island of Bali, crashing into the sea without causing any fatalities among the 108 people on board. UPDATES: 9:15 p.m.: This article was updated with the plane crashing and more information about the search. 8:50 p.m.: This article was updated with background on the flight. This article was originally published at 8:10 p.m. Buoyed by the results of a controversial nationwide referendum, Mexican President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Monday that his administration will cancel construction of a partially completed, $13-billion international airport and instead move forward with plans for a less expensive alternative. The decision is to abide by the mandate of citizens, the president-elect, who assumes office on Dec. 1, said at a news conference. This is democracy. The revised plan, he said, would save Mexican taxpayers the equivalent of more than $5 billion. But abandoning the new airport in the Texcoco area northeast of Mexico City also means the loss of some $5 billion that already has been spent on the project. The airport in Texcoco, which would have been the third largest commercial airport in the world, is about one-third complete. Advertisement Mexico will instead proceed with a less ambitious scheme that involves construction of a new commercial airfield, including two runways and a terminal, at the Santa Lucia military base north of the capital, Lopez Obrador said. The pared-down blueprint also includes upgrading Mexico Citys existing Benito Juarez International Airport which has long operated beyond its capacity and expanding an under-utilized airport in the city of Toluca, about two hours drive from the capital. The entire modified project including rail connections between the various airfields should be completed in three years, the president-elect vowed, and will resolve the gridlock at Mexico Citys over-burdened current airport. The partially built airport at Texcoco. (Miguel Tovar / AP) The Mexican peso began sliding against the U.S. dollar as word of the Texcoco airport cancellation circulated, approaching the 20-pesos-to-the-dollar mark, long viewed in Mexico as key psychological barrier. Lopez Obrador was defiant Monday when asked about his decisions potential impact on Mexicos financial markets and business interests. In his administration, he said, no pressures would be tolerated from economic elites. What I would say to those corrupt businessmen and contractors is that they get used to it, that they take a mental exercise, an exercise in adaptation, the president-elect said, a day after voters rejected the Texcoco project. The decision that the citizens took yesterday is rational, democratic and efficient. The new plan puts Mexicos new leftist president at odds with much of the countrys business and investor community, which largely backed completing the Texcoco project. Supporters said the expansive facility planned for Texcoco would draw additional visitors, investment and businesses to Mexico, while providing a vital transport hub. Backers of Texcoco have also raised doubts about the viability of the planned airfield at the military base. This doesnt improve confidence and certainty, which are fundamental elements for investment and the creation of jobs, Alejandro Ramirez, president of the Mexican Business Council, said during a news conference criticizing the cancellation of the Texcoco airport plan. This decision puts in doubt the possibility of having a true [airport] hub. But critics had assailed the Texcoco project as a corruption-plagued boondoggle and environmental calamity for the dry lake bed where the facility is being built. The president-elects decision was anticipated after Mexicans voted overwhelmingly in a four-day referendum, or consultation, to scrap the Texcoco airport and pursue the more economical option. Critics called the referendum a farce engineered by Lopez Obrador, who has long assailed the Texcoco project as too costly and laden with corruption. Slightly more than 1 million people voted in the four-day referendum, which ended on Sunday. By contrast, more than 56 million Mexicans voted in last Julys national elections, in which Lopez Obrador won a landslide victory. About 69% of voters rejected the Texcoco airport and favored the less grandiose alternative that the president-elect has now embraced. Only 29% of voters favored completing construction of the Texcoco project. For more than a decade, Mexican officials have grappled with plans for an alternative to Mexico Citys Benito Juarez International Airport, which serves some 47 million passengers annually, almost 50% more than its designed capacity, according to a study released in April by the International Air Transport Assn., an airline trade group that backs the Texcoco project. Residential tracts now surround the airport, leaving no room for expansion. The Texcoco airport has been under construction since 2015, with at least an additional three years of work projected until completion. Its price tag has risen from an initial estimate of $10 billion to more than $13 billion. Mexico will guarantee the contracts of the major companies and investors in the Texcoco airport, the president-elect said. Contractors would be asked to switch their labors to the airfield now planned for the military base, he added. The new government would be prepared to meet any legal challenges to its revamped plan, he said. The Texcoco site will now likely be converted into an eco-friendly park and sports complex, the president-elect said. There was no immediate reaction from the Texcoco projects major builders, among them a construction firm owned by billionaire Carlos Slim, Mexicos richest man. Slims son-in-law, Fernando Romero, is one of the architects of the futuristic new airport in Texcoco. But a business group said in a news conference that construction at Texcoco would continue until at least Nov. 30, the last day of the administration of Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto. The Texcoco airport is the outgoing presidents signature infrastructure project. The Times Cecilia Sanchez contributed to this report. patrick.mcdonnell@latimes.com Twitter: @PmcdonnellLAT UPDATES: 1:51 p.m.: The article was updated with President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador vowing to cancel a $13-billion airport project and further reaction. This article was originally published at 12:35 a.m. Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2018 > And #MeToo: Discourse in Indian News Media by Santosh Kumar Biswal Following the suit of actress Alyssa Milano in response to the Harvey Weinstein scandal in Hollywood, And #MeToo movement has arrived in India. Actress Tanushree Duttas allegation has created commotion, taking actor, filmmaker, writer and philanthropist Nana Patekars reputation at stake. Moreover, in the wake of the movement, the Minister of State for External Affairs, M.J. Akbar, has stepped down and readied himself for a legal battle against the accused. The coverage has unravelled a plethora of questions before the media practitioners and media researchers on the lines of modus operandi of the news media, media narratives and a wave of feminism and the feminist movement. It is a bare truth that the novelty of such a campaign on the lines of news values is yet to be abundantly fathomed. Some of the knee-jerk coverages apparently have spilled the beans and the styles of coverage on the given issue have exposed the perennial problems of the mainstream media. Hence, the deliberations on the functioning of the mainstream media continue unabated. Soon after Tanushrees allegation, a number such cases have been brought against the former Minster Akbar, Rajat Kapoor, Alok Nath, Gautam Adhikari, Prashant Jha, Tanmay Bhat, Gursimran Khamba, K.R. Sreenivas, Mayank Jain, Suhel Seth, Sajid Khan, Rahul Johri, Vinod Dua and Chetan Bhagat to Jatin Das. As a result, AIBs film Chintu ka Birthday was dropped. Akshay Kumar postponed to work in film Housefull 4. Even though Jatin Das is accused of sexual harassment, his daughter, actor and director Nandita Das has chosen to endorse the campaign. This movement has allegedly unmasked and unseated many established persons who were involved in sexual harassments. With the advent of such a movement fighting for womens security at workplaces, the discussion on the wave of feminism has come to the fore. It is quite imperative to discuss the waves of feminism if one is discussing the nature of coverage and discourse of the mainstream media on the security of women. The first wave of feminism asserted about the legal issues and primarily on gaining the right to vote. It was often treated as a class struggle. The second wave of feminism laid stress on removing disparities in sex, family, the workplace, reproductive rights, de facto disparities, and official legal disparities. Under this wave, feminism was used to ensure birth control and fight against domestic violence and sexual harassments. Such a wave induced these kinds of social changes. The third wave of feminism signalled the fight against violence on women, reproductive rights, reclaiming derogatory terms, sexual liberation and workplace-related issues like glass ceiling, unfair maternity-leave policies, motherhood support for single mothers by means of welfare and child care. With the arrival of the social media, the fourth-wave feminism has come to limelight. Such kind of wave is technology-oriented as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Tumblr, and blogs give challenge to misogyny to attain gender equality. (Iannello, 2010; Cochrane, 2013; Zerbisias, 2015) The discourse of all waves of feminism is there in the public in the light of And #MeToo movement. However, the mainstream media has attempted to cover the first and second waves of feminism. It has paid minimum heed to the third and fourth waves of feminism, which emanate the opinion of individualism and diversity. Also in general, it is not caring to cover the issues of marginalised and weaker sections of the society. It is an open secret that the mainstream news media is also not bothered to cover the issues of the disabled (Biswal, 2014; Biswal, 2017) and Dalits (Biswal, 2016) in a judicious manner. This apart, the coverage of allegedly sexual harassments has posed several questions on the pattern of functioning of the mainstream media. Needless to say, with the advent of And #MeToo movement, perennial questions pertaining to the role of the media have come up for discussions and hence, the movement needs to be reassessed on the yardsticks of social responsibility. There can be no second opinion that the media has the responsibility to protect citizens human rights. Hence, in the context of womens rights, institutionalisation of sexual violence has to be essentially covered in the media. Several victims have already expressed humiliations and irretrievable loss of their creative years. However, the narratives in news media contents have been marked by both media activism and media trial. Deliberation on the aspect of media activism and media trial is of paramount importance to understand the nuances of coverage of And #MeToo in the mainstream media. Media activism utilises media and communication technologies for social and political movements. The methods could be publishing news on websites, creating video and audio investigations, spreading information about protests, and organising campaigns relating to media and communication policies. It can be used for varied purposes. Researchers have theorised frame-works to demonstrate the use of media for social movements and activism. The role of the media in reporting the Delhi Gang Rape Case was quite appreciable. The media played a wonderful role in covering the widespread protest on the assassination of Gauri Lankesh, editor of the Kannada weekly Lankesh Patrike. However, it was not upto the mark when it covered the murder of Santanu Bhowmik, a journalist who was killed in the North-Eastern State of Tripura while covering the raasta roko by the Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura. (Gupta, 2017) On the contrary, media trial asserts the impact of media coverage on a persons reputation by creating a widespread perception of guilt or innocence before, or after, a judgment from the court. Whenever a sensational criminal case comes to be tried before the court, there is an expected upsurge in public curiosity. Taking mileage of such situations, the media publishes its own version of the facts, which may distort the legal proceedings or derail the legal process. The cases of Jessica Lal and Priyadarshini Mattoo were effectively dealt with by the media, if one looks into the aspect of media trials. Unfortunately, the media was on the wrong when it was dealing with the Aarushi murder and Sheena Bora murder cases, which remained a black spot on the functioning of the media. It is a known fact that the mainstream news media has opted for the ambivalence of media activism and media trials in the coverage of And#MeToo campaign. In a few cases like the Delhi Gang Rape, the media was alert and understood the gravity of womens harassment at workplaces and allocated space and time to it. However, in the current coverage, the media is following the wrong step of media trial in which the coverage has been nuanced as a witch-hunt where powerful men are being allegedly besieged. It is observed that the media has not been nuanced in reporting the current movement. The syndrome of breaking news has again spilled the beans of news values. It is found that the media has not been scientific in reporting the current movement against womens harassments. Initially, in almost all prime time debates in English television channels, the panelists were female. There was lack of male representation in opining their standpoints. It was found that the rhetoric and narration of the issue were half-done. Since the men were allegedly found culprits for which the movement was on, dethroning the men in discussion panels was not ideally warranted. However, things were partially corrected with the passage of time and the coverage on the given issue. It is sending a larger picture that the panels have been prejudiced, resulting in lapses in media ethics and their simultaneous incorporation in the production, distribution and consumption of news. There has been a public discourse on the delay of exposure of alleged sexual harassments at workplaces. Certain hidden agenda is trying to downplay the dishonourable aspect of such deeds. The media should not follow and highlight such discourses; rather it should have a judicious stand which is legal and acceptable. The allegation brought by writer-producer Vinta Nanda can be deliberated in this context. Vinta accused that Alok Nath had sexually harassed her several times 19 years ago when they were working for a TV programme. Here, the media should subscribe to the idea how the woman could muster her courage in the dominant work-culture of men. The media should bring out the public discourse through its societal and activist function. By creating its agenda of social responsibility and empower-ment of women, it should stop cultivating the public discourse of the delay in exposing the sexual harassments. The nature of coverage of the campaign is sending a signal that the media is just covering the issue without highlighting the central theme of the movement. The coverage is apparently episodic and not carried out in a sustained manner in almost all the newspapers. If one looks into the coverage of the allegation against Suhel Seth, the media is yet to project his statement on the mentioned allegation. As if the media is hunting for some other victim so as to turn the public focus on somebody else. Almost all news stories are event-based and lack investigation and analysis. The media has not discussed the culture of womens harassments at workplaces. The media is yet to figure out as to which industry or which profession or which age-group is more prone to sexual harassments. There have been no exploration to find out whether desk job or field work is more prone to harassments. Are institutional policies or personal disorders causing such infamous cases to happen? If it is journalism, the media has not discussed whether newspaper houses or TV channels are more unsafe; whether harassments are more in day shifts or night shifts; whether more harassments are in desk jobs or field jobs; how many victims have proceeded for legal action. To answer all these queries of criticality, the media has to understand the work-culture and timeline study of womens harassments at workplaces. The media should be nuanced and go for fact-checking with thorough investigative package of coverage. Going beyond breaking news, news media should develop the discourse on the laws for workplaces relating to women. The dominant status of men, their power relations and privilege in several workplaces can be re-examined in the light of this emerging movement which attempts to ensure security and dignity to women at workplaces. Without any ignorance and further delay media narratives should be on the lines of the role of men sought in larger perspectives. In a move to manifest its social responsibility and attempt to ensure human rights, it should spur the support of men to take a stand on behalf of women and strongly send out the message against abusive behaviours for ensuring gender equality. The viewpoints of legal persons and human rights, especially womens rights, should be judiciously conceived and sent for public scrutiny. The media should understand that media trial cannot bring justice to the victims at all time. Media trial should be considered as a calculative risk, failing which it can tarnish ones image if someone is clean without any misconduct. If a person, who occupies a higher position in a company, falls prey to this campaign, it may put the employment prospects of women in danger. The media should be alert while reporting the movement to minimise the repercussions at large. At the same time, itshould be extra-cautious while covering the aspect of functioning of news media, media narratives, nature and wave of feminism and the feminist movement to keep the prejudiced coverage at bay. References Biswal, S. (2017, March), Representation of Women with Disabilities in Hindi Cinema, Media Watch, 8(2), 67-74. Biswal, S. (2016, October), Medias Disconnect with Dalits, Mainstream Weekly, 54(43), 11-12. Iannello, K. (2010), Womens Leadership and Third-Wave Feminism in OConnor, Karen (Ed., 7077), Gender and Womens Leadership: A Reference Handbook, Thousand Oaks & California: Sage. Biswal, S. (2014, July- September), Media turning a blind eye to the disabled?, Vidura, 6(3), 15-16. Cochrane, K. (2013, December 10), The Fourth Wave of Feminism: Meet the Rebel Women, The Guardian. Retrieved from October 20, 2018, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/10/fourth-wave-feminism-rebel-women Gupta, M. (2017, September 22), Is the Indian Media Failing to Perform a Necessary Activist Role?, The Wire. Retrieved from October 18, 2018, https://thewire.in/politics/is-the-indian-media-failing-to-perform-a-necessary-activist-role Zerbisias, A. (2015, September 16), Feminisms Fourth Wave is the Shitlist, NOW Toronto, Retrieved from October 20, 2018, https://nowtoronto.com/news/feminisms-fourth-wave-is-the-shitlist/ The author is an Assistant Professor with the Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication (SIMC), Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Pune. Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2018 > Need for Reconciliation with Justice: Babri Demolition and aftermath by Ram Puniyani In a recent judgment, the Supreme Court by a 2-1 majority verdict refused to refer the Dr Faruqui verdict to the Constitution Bench. This verdict had stated that the mosque was not an essential part of Islamic practice. In the recent judgment the dissenter judge felt that the matter needs to be referred to a seven-judge Consti-tution Bench. There was a feeling that the mosque not being a part of essential Islamic practice might have had an impact on the 2010 Allahabad Court verdict which had divided the Babri mosque land into three parts, belonging to the Sunni Waqf Board, Ram Lalla Virajman and Nirmohi Akhada. The argument in favour of the Faruqui case was that Namaz can be offered in an open place as well; so mosque was not an essential part of Islamic practice. On the other side the argument is: worldwide there are so many mosques, why are mosques there if this is not a part of Islamic practice? Surely this point did deserve a deeper consideration as it has larger implication on society. Now the path is paved for the hearing of the land dispute related to the Ayodhya case. Though the Allahabad High Court had divided the land into three parts, the basis of that were not the land records but the faith of a large number of Hindus that Lord Ram was born there. How do we solve land disputes; through land records or through the faith of the people? This faith has been an outcome of the political campaign for the Ram temple orchestrated by the RSS combine, led initially by the VHP and later by the BJP. Can this faith determine the direction of or the judicial system? As far as claims of the Ram temple having been destroyed there over five centuries ago are concerned, this is very doubtful. One recalls that the time when the Ram temple was supposed to have been demolished, one of the biggest devotees of Lord Ram, Goswami Tulsi Das, was living in Ayodhya. He never recorded it in any of his writings. On the contrary, Tulsi Das, in one of his couplets writes: that he has and can very well live in a mosque. The faith that Lord Ram was born there has been constructed over a period of time, intensified during the last few decades. One of the great documentary film-makers of our times, Anand Patwardhan, in his classic documentary Ram ke Naam (In the name of Ram), shows as to how so many Pujaris (Priests) of so many Ram temples in Ayodhya claim that Lord Ram was born in their temple. The period of mythology cannot easily be deciphered into the narrations of history. Now we are confronted with other problems. One is the crime of installing Ram Lalla idols into the mosque, which is very well recorded. We know of the historical circumstances leading to the failure to remove the idols immediately. This was thwarted by the local magistrate K.K. Nayyar, who after his retirement joined the BJPs predecessor, Bharatiya Jana Sangh. The second crime, the one of demolition of the mosque in broad daylight, despite the undertaking by the UP Chief Minister to the Supreme Court, is very well known. The Liberhan Commission, which went into the issue, tells us that it was a conspiracy. BJP leaders Lal Krishna Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharati, who were on the stage from where kar sevaks were being incited, did enjoy the rewards of the crime as they were made Ministers in the Central Government. What is happening to the dictum punish the guilty? The nation witnessed journalists being beaten and their cameras being broken when they were recording the act of the crime. Surely, those who committed the crime of demolition must be punished. Second, the land dispute needs to be sorted out on the basis of land records. The land has been in possession of the Sunni Waqf Board for centuries. In 1885, the Court did not permit the Hindus for construction of a chabutara (platform), in the land adjoining the mosque. Even now the land records should be clear on the issue. There are attempts by some to bring in peaceful solution through out of court settlement of the issue. Some of these initiatives are totally articulating what the RSS combine wants. They are asking Muslims to forego their claim on the land to let the temple come up there. In lieu of that they will be given land to build the mosque somewhere else. There are also threats that through a legislation of Parliament a temple will be constructed there, when the BJP gets suitable majority. Reconciliation is a process where both parties are listened to and with some give and take the issue is undertaken for resolution. This formula to give up all the land for temple construction is a very high-handed attempt to browbeat the Muslims into total submission. What we need is an honest attempt to punish the guilty and abide by the law to solve the problem. There cant be peace without justice. The crime of the Babri demolition is being presented as a Hindu Shaurya Divas (Hindu Bravery Day) by the RSS combine. As such it is a shame for our democracy! It is an outcome of the divisive communal politics, throwing our society into the dark abyss of stagnation and diversion. Our core issues relate to bread, butter, shelter and employment. The RSS combine has built its social and political strength around emotive issues like the Ram temple and Holy Cow at the cost of the genuine issues of society. We do need to build hospitals and schools; we do need to build industries for giving employment. The Ayodhya issue coming up at the time of the forthcoming elections is so unfortunate. Rather than discussing the core issues of society, what will be at the centre-stage will be the question of temple and mosque! How we as a nation can bring back the peoples agenda should be the central concern for all those committed to march towards a society with equality as the central focus. The author, a retired Professor at the IIT-Bombay, is currently associated with the Centre for the Study of Secularism and Society, Mumbai. Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2018 > Keralas Stabbed Modernity by V. Bijukumar The public outrage in favour of protecting tradition after the historic verdict of the Supreme Court on September 28 allowing women of all age-groups into the Sabarimala temple in Kerala shows the advent of creeping irrationality in a progressive society and thereby puncturing Keralas much-acclaimed modernity. While the cohorts of tradition argue that womens entry into the temple would be detrimental to the tradition and belief system related to the deity, the enthusiasts of the verdict argue that it is a radical step towards achieving gender equality in the State and another milestone in the social history of Kerala. The public flare-up of some social groups on the streets and the conglomeration of caste and communal forces in the name of defending tradition and to protect the sanctity of the temple not only reinforces irrationality but also unveils the under-currents of Keralas modernity. In fact, the current mobilisation of upper-caste Hindus and the venom of the Hindu nationalist forces are the outcome of growing tension within Keralas modernity for quite some time. Though outwardly projected as progressive in its essence, Keralas modernity has always had a tilt towards patriarchal values, the interest of the upper-caste Hindus and, to a certain extent, the interest of the economically and politically endowed minority communities. Keralas Modernity A State of Exception Kerala is often described as the most progressive State in India having high social development, protracted civil society and solid social capital, and deep-rooted public rationality which percolates to the civil society and everyday life of the people. In fact, it set an alternative vision of modernity for the postcolonial societies which intended to come out of social autarky, religious orthodoxy and spiritual obscurantism. Kerala is often described as a non-conformist State though it is often captured in the tourist lexicon as Gods own country. For Keralas advances in internationally acclaimed social development, public reason and scientific temperament played important roles. The social reforms movements both in the upper and lower castes, the communist engagements in the society, the peoples literary movements and the peoples science movements contributed immensely to the development of rational values in the State. The development and spread of reason not only socially uplifted various communities but also enlightened the political discourses and thereby strengthened democracy itself. It may be remembered that the progressive social and political movements through consistent political action reversed the centuries-old irrationality that was crippled in the State. Kerala is, in fact, the first State in India, which, through the peoples science movement, popularised non-mystical scientific thinking and technological knowledge among the common people, especially the rural poor and socially marginalised sections. By championing the slogan of science for social revolution, it gave a clarion call to the people that science should become a weapon in the hands of the poor and oppressed in their struggle against feudalism, casteism and the exploitation by the rich minority. The Kerala Shastra Sahitya Parishad (KSSP), through its social and political actions, developed an alternative conception of society imbibed by scientific ethos. In this effort it not only demystified knowledge and practices, but also succeeded, to a certain extent, in transforming abstract and technical rationality of scientific knowledge into public reasoning. Two Manifestations of Irrationality Contemporary Keralas modernity witnessed two perturbing trends in the erosion of rationality and the construction of irrationality. The most important manifestation of the retreat of rationality and the penetration of irrationality is the recent floods in the State. In fact, natural calamities often provide opportunities for the construction of irrationality as people are forced to live in abject suffering and desperation. Such construction give leverage for the obscurantist forces to spit venom and thereby serve their political goals in the most indecent manner. The construction of natural disasters as the wrath of deity not only dilutes public reason but also weakens democracy itself. Perhaps, the most disquieting social media spell was that the devastating floods were the result of Gods anger with the people of Kerala. The fury of Mother Nature was the result of the wrath of Lord Ayyappa of Sabarimala against the favourable observation of the Supreme Court for the entry of women into the hill shrine. According to tradition, Lord Ayyappa is considered to be a Naishtika Brahmachari (eternal celibate) and entry of women would pollute the temple. The eight-hundred-year-old temple tradition bans the entry of women between 10 and 50 years of age (menstruating age), though there is no such restriction in other Ayyappa temples. Perhaps, the most perturbing tweet was made by S. Gurmurthy, former associate of the Swadeshi Jagaran Manch and recently appointed part-time Director of the Reserve Bank of India. According to him, Supreme Court judges may like to see if there is any connection between the case and what is happening in Sabarimala. Even if there is one in a million chance of a link people would not like the case decided against the Ayyappan. The second interpretation of the cause of floods being retribution of God was constructed in relation to the cuisine of the Malayalee people. Accordingly, flood is the result of Gods wrath for killing cows and eating beef. However, relating calamity with food habits is not a new phenomenon. In May 2018, for instance, when the Nipah virus gripped the northern part of Kerala and claimed half-a-dozen people while creating panic among many, an attempt was made to interpret this as the result of Gods anger against Malayalees eating beef. It has to be reminded that in Kerala 80 per cent of people, including the Hindus, eat beef and it is a delicious and staple food for the everyday life of the people. However, the eating habit has become a part of the condescending political campaign in recent years associated with the Hindu nationalist politics. To conclude, the current street protest of the upper-caste Hindus and erstwhile royal families under the leadership of the BJP-RSS against the verdict of the Supreme Court of India for opening up the Sabarimala temple for all age-groups of women is due to the deep malaise of creeping irrationality in the globally acclaimed project of Keralas modernity. In fact, such an outburst is not only unveiling the longstanding contradictions of Keralas modernity and the inadequacies of its developmental model but has also serious implications for the multicultural ethos and radical politics of the State. Dr Biju Kumar is an Associate Professor, Centre for Political Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. The delegation of Vietnamese enterprises features famous brands including Hanoi Trade Corporation (Hapro) and Hello-5 Coffee Corporation. Of which, King Cashew Nut Ltd. Co., which represents Hapro in Hong Kong, has worked with the Vietnamese association in Hong Kong to open a booth featuring Vietnamese dishes at the event. Vietnamese booths showcase a variety of products such as dried rice vermicelli, fish sauce, cashew nuts, dried longan and coffee. According to the organising committee, this year's fair is divided into five areas, with more than 290 booths from many countries and regions around the world. Apart from Vietnam, the carnivals Southeast Asia section in particular also includes booths set up by Thailand and Malaysia. Throughout the carnival, participating countries and territories are also featuring traditional art performances. Previously a biennial event, from this year onwards the Hong Kong Food Carnival will be held annually due to its increasing popularity. Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2018 > Re-Reading Michel Foucault: Present as History by Arup Kumar Sen The heretical French thinker Michel Foucault transformed our understanding of modern regimes of power. To put it in the words of Julian Reid, For Michel Foucault the problem of war is the problem of political modernity par excellence. Reid reminded us in this context that in examining how war is constitutive of modern power relations, Foucault lays down a challenge to the major traditions of political theory and their allied conceptualisations of war. We are further reminded by Reid that for Foucault there is no discontinuity between the functioning of tactics in the individuation of bodies via discipline and the operations of strategies in the constitution of populations biopolitically. The recent developments in India, particularly the arrests of civil/human rights activists and the states counter-insurgency operations in the Kashmir Valley and the tribal land of Chhattisgarh, propel us to re-read Foucaults under-standing of power. In his discourse on the genealogy of power, Foucault observed that by the late eighteenth century, the soldier has become something that can be made: ...in short, one has got rid of the peasant and given him the air of the soldier. The recruitment of the Special Police Officers (SPOs) by the Indian state from the agrarian people in its counter-insurgency operations substantiates Foucaults observation. While addressing the emergence of the modern form of power, Foucault observed: ...wars were never as bloody as they have been since the nineteenth century, and all things being equal, never before did regimes visit such holocausts on their own populations. He further observed: The existence in question is no longer the juridical existence of sovereignty; at stake is the biological existence of a population. If genocide is indeed the dream of modern powers, this is not because of a recent return of the ancient right to kill; it is because power is situated and exercised at the level of life, the species, the race, and the large-scale phenomena of population. Foucaults understanding of power was organically connected with the developments in Europe. The genealogy of power in colonial and post-colonial India may depart from the trajectory of modern regime of power explored by Michel Foucault. But, Foucaults seminal reading of power offers insights, which sharpen our understanding of modalities of power in contemporary India. [The re-reading of Michel Foucault and the quotations from his writings have been derived in the article from Julian Reid, Life Struggles: War, Discipline and Biopolitics in the Thought of Michel Foucault in Michael Dillon and Andrew W. Neal (ed.), Foucault on Politics, Security and War, Palgrave Macmillan, 2008, pp. 65-92] Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2018 > A Revolutionary Turn in RSS? IMPRESSIONS Imagine the Pope criticising Jesus Christ. If that is too ecclesiastical, imagine Sitaram Yechury rewriting Karl Marx. Actually we cannot imagine either because the Catholic Church and the Communist Party are rule-bound doctrinaire establishments that do not brook deviations. So is the RSS. Therefore, technically, we cannot imagine Mohan Bhagwat going against the tenets of M.S. Golwalkar, as sacrosanct in the RSS universe as K.B. Hedgewar. Yet it happened. In his eleventh year as the acclaimed supremo of the RSS, Mohan Bhagwat said that Bunch of Thoughts, the Golwalkar book that has been the Gita-Bible-Koran of RSS cadres, was not to be taken seriously today. Those thoughts pertained to a particular context and need not be considered as eternally valid. Times change and, accordingly, our thoughts, too, must change. Hedgewar himself had said, Bhagwat reminded his people, that we are free to adapt to times as they change. Bhagwat did not stop with Golwalkar. In the course of a three-day lecture series in Delhi, he decimated many Holy Cows of the RSS. When Hindutvavadis had been declaring that they would re-write the Constitution to fit into Deendayal Upadhyayas vision of Dharmarajya, Bhagwat said: The Sangh works after accepting the primacy of the Constitution and we respect it fully. No reference here to the BJPs standing objections to the words secular and socialist in the Constitution. Bhagwat also rejected a view expressed by BJP boss Amit Shah, whose capacity to make coarse statements has been harming the country internally and internationally. Shahs call for a Congress-mukt Bharat had become notorious because it actually meant an Opposition-mukt Bharat lying at the feet of a monopolistic BJP. Bhagwat said: We are for all-inclusive Bharat, we are not about mukt. He even complimented the Congress, which had many great persona-lities who sacrificed their lives and who still inspire us. The concept of Hindutva, too, was revised by Bhagwat. Savarkar, who had coined the word Hindutva, was clear that Hindu Rashtra should be peopled by only those who descended from Hindu culture. Bhagwat turned that theory on its head and said: Hindu Rashtra does not mean that there is no place for Muslims. If it is said that Muslims cannot stay in India, it wont be Hindutva any more. From the same chair Bhagwat now occupies, Golwalkar had referred to the hostility and murderous mood of Muslims and declared: Foreign races must lose their separate existence to merge in the Hindu race. Otherwise they may stay in the country wholly subordinated to the Hindu nation, deserving no privileges. What is going on? How can the RSS head move so far away from the positions his predecessors had taken? Bhagwat is by no means a lesser RSS ideologue. Therefore there must be a reason for him to discard old orthodoxies and embark on a course that looks reasonable, fair, progressive and populist. The explanation most people will accept is that Mohan Bhagwat is merely softening the RSS-BJPs image at election time. Fringe groups like Bajrang Dal and Sri Ram Sene run amok hurting BJPs voter-appeal. Although the RSS helped the VHP to create the Bajrang Dal as a bunch of street fighters in the run-up to the Ayodhya movement, Bajrangis had become an embarrass-ment and the RSS attempt to wrest back control of the VHP and Bajrang Dal did not really succeed. Is Bhagwat giving a message that these groups must be checked, that steps must be taken to remove the impression that lynchers have tacit government backing? It may be too much to hope that Bhagwat also wanted to send a signal to Amit Shah. For all his excesses, Shah is building a grassroots network the RSS always wanted the BJP to do. So, is Bhagwats new stance a genuine attempt to discard the RSS image as a hidebound, overly religious, intolerant and ultimately cold-blooded ideological outfit and recast it in a more acceptable garb suited to the modern age? The farce of Indias HRD Minister rejecting Darwins theory and the Science Minister saying that Vedic theory was superior to E = mc2 has made India a laughing stock among educated people. That such Neanderthals, unknown to the public before, became Ministers of the Republic of India did no good to either the Modi Government or the RSS. If the RSS chief is making an attempt to save his flock from the fossilised minds wearing the Hindu cap, it would be a service to the nation. But can even Mohan Bhagwat get rid of the medievalists in his camp? Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2018 > Dussehra Message of the RSS Sarsanghchalak by Irfan Engineer The RSS Sarsanghchalak, Shri Mohan Bhagwat, urged the Central Government to bring in a law for construction of the Ram temple at the site where Babri Masjid once stood. Shri Bhagwat was addressing the customary Vijayadashami rally of the RSS. In the election year, the RSS seems to have shed its velvet gloves which Shri Bhagwat had earlier attempted to put on for an image makeover in order to widen its appeal when it had invited the former President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, to address their trainees and in the three-day lecture series delivered in Vigyan Bhavan in September 2018. The RSS chief had surprised skeptics by taking a soft Hindutva approach during his talks at the lecture series when he said that the temple should be built where Lord Rama was born and that the case was a matter of peoples sentiments and hence should not be prolonged so much. He had then said that the government should decide if a law was necessary to resolve the case. The transition from government should decide to urging the government to bring in a law has taken less than a month! During the lecture series Bhagwat had attempted to strike an inclusive note, saying that the Sanghs vision of a Hindu Rashtra did not mean it had no place for Muslims. On September 18, Bhagwat had said: The day it is said that Muslims are unwanted here, the concept of Hindu Rashtra will cease to exist. When Bhagwat says that the Ram temple in Ayodhya is peoples sentiment, who are the people and who are the non-people? Why did Bhagwat show readiness to include Muslims in his Hindu Rashtra and on what conditions? With 172 million Muslims, according to the 2011 census, India has the third largest Muslim population in the world in any country after Indonesia and Pakistan. Pakistan is home to nearly 200 million Muslims. The Muslim population in India is larger than in the Arab countries. Although the Sangh Parivar members every now and then show their prowess by asking Muslims to migrate to Pakistan, that does not seem to be a practical solution. Such a large population cannot be thrown out of the country. This realisation on the part of Sarsanghchalak makes them offer another alternativeHinduise the Muslims in order to include them within their Hindu Rashtra. Muslims in the Hindu Rashtra would be accepted only if they are Hinduised. That means, culturally they would be Hindus even though they may be free to pray to Allah in the manner they desire. As it is, Hindus claim to worship 330 million Gods and Goddesses and a God by another name would not make any difference. Perform their life-cycle rituals pronouncing their Arabic mantras. However, they must not be allowed to be guided in their way of life according to the Quranic text or religious ideas. For example, the strong emphasis on justice and equality in Islam cannot be the guiding way of life to the extent it comes in conflict with the ideas of the way of life as propounded by the Sangh. To be cultural Hindu would mean that firstly Muslims would have to sever all relations with Muslims outside the country. Their religious impulse should not come from outside the country. They should not regard or entertain any Islamic thoughts outside the boundaries of the countrybe it Wahabi or Sufi or any jurisprudential or theological explication. V.D. Savarkar, the Hindutva ideologue, problematised the religious communities having their holy land or punyabhoomi outside the borders of the country. Golwalkar wrote in his book, We or Our Nationhood Defined,: The non-Hindu people of Hindustan must either adopt Hindu culture and language, must learn and respect and hold in reverence the Hindu religion, must entertain no idea but of those of glorification of the Hindu race and culture ... In a word they must cease to be foreigners, or may stay in the country, wholly subordinated to the Hindu nation, claiming nothing, deserving no privileges, far less any preferential treatmentnot even citizens rights. Secondly, the heroes of Muslims would have to be from India. Lord Ram must be the hero of all cultural Hindus, including Muslimsnot the prophet of Islam or any other rightly-guided Caliphs or lineage of Imams for the Shia community. Therefore the insistence that Hinduised Muslims must willingly surrender the parcel of land termed as Ram Janmabhoomi by the Hindu supremacists. All Hindus, including the Muslims, should believe that Lord Ram was born there and further believe that there was a Ram Janmabhoomi temple there which was demolished on orders of Babar and the Babri Masjid was constructed there. Justice lies in not following the law of the land and awaiting judgement of the Supreme Court of India on the title suit but adoring Lord Ram, if not worshipping him, and supporting the construction of Lord Rams temple. The Muslim Rashtriya Manch, owing its allegiance to the RSS, has already declared Lord Ram as their Lord. Besides Lord Ram, Lord Krishna, Lord Shiva, and all the 330 million Gods and Goddesses should also be the heroes of Muslims and if their mosques are constructed on the land which the Hindu supremacists proclaim to be their birth-places, such mosques should be demolished and the parcel of land surrendered to the supre-macists for construction of the temple of the Lord whose birthplace they proclaim to be. The proclamation of belief is sufficient and Hindu belief cannot be subjected to any scrutinyeither academic or even in the court of law. The Sangh Parivars proclamation of belief is sufficient proof of the fact of belief and no head-count or survey or poll need to be carried out to establish the fact of belief. The hero of the Hindus, including Muslims, should be, for example, Pushya Mitra Shunga who assassinated the last Maurya Emperor, Brihadrath, and usurped his empire. Thereafter he eliminated Buddhism and re-established Brahminical hegemony of the Peshwas, who established a caste-based hierarchical social structure and oppressed Dalits and women. Emperor Akbar, known for his catholicity, cannot be the hero of Hindus. The religious impulse of the Muslims must come from the Hindu heroes, Hindu culture and Hindu traditions and customs. Muslims should sing the glory of, and practice yoga and suryanamaskar and work for the protection of the cow and its progeny. Thirdly, culturally, a Muslim should be indistinguishable from a Hindu. S/he should appear, behave and talk like a Hindu and not do anything that displeases any Hindu, for example, call for prayers from the mosque through loudspeakers. Their dress cannot be in accordance with their understanding of their religionface veil or purdah/burqa/abhaya are all to be discarded. The family and personal affairs between two Muslims should be governed by Hindu traditions and customs and not by laws and traditions drawn from their religion for the sake of uniformity and unity. They must similarly mistreat the women in the family. Bhagwat, in one of his speeches, said that there is an implied contract in marriages wherein husbands agree to earn livelihood and wives agree to take care of the kitchen, children and home. If a wife does not perform her part of the contract, husbands are free to resort to remedies available to them. He, at another occasion, called upon Hindu women to produce at least four children for the nation. The call for Hinduisation of Muslims is nothing but establishing the hegemony of elite Hindusthe section which controls levers of power within the community and controls the social, religious and educational institutions. The elite are by and large drawn from the Brahmin community but not confined to only Brahmins. It includes some Sanskritised sections of backward castes. Hinduisation of Muslims is nothing but another name of ghar wapsi or conversion of Muslims to Hinduism. Muslims and their Contribution to Indian Culture If only Bhagwat and the Hindu supremacists had bothered to look carefully at the Muslim community they would find the rich contribution of the community to the diverse Indian culture. Many classical musical gharanas are Muslim and traditionally pay obeisance to Goddess Saraswati when they give any performance. The Muslim rulers patronised Indian classical dance. Wajid Ali Shah, the Nawab of Awadh, was a great classical dancer himself. The Sufis have contributed richly to Indian spirituality. Many of Baba Farids compositions are included in the Guru Granth Sahibthe sacred text of the Sikh community. Many Sufis translated Hindu sacred textsVedas, Upanishads, other sacred texts of HindusRamayana and Gita into Persian for the world to understand and benefit from these texts. Saint Kabir as well as Sufi Saint Bulle Shah call upon the believers to undertake introspection of ones conduct and control ones base feelings of desire, jealousy, fear, greed, anger etc. to be nearer to God. Both through their compositions said God is love and in removing the sufferings of humanityGod is not in temple and mosques. The dress Muslims wear are not Arab robes. The clothes they wear are traditional clothes worn only in Indiawhether it is kurta, churidar, saree, paijama, mundu or lungi. They talk only Indian languagesUrdu, Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Bengali, Assameses, just to name a few of them. Muslims also follow the caste and gotra traditions, customs and restrictions, influenced by Hindu traditions and cultural practices. Social stratification among Muslims in India is broadly divided into three Ashraf (upper castes), Ajlaf (OBCs) and Arzals (SCs). Islam did not make them give up the caste-based stratification. It is a fact that Islamic thoughts and jurisprudence do influence the religious impulses of the Muslim community; however, such an impulse is no more or no less than those of other Indians. Even Hindus are not cut off by the borders and their understanding of religion is influenced by religious thoughts from the entire world, including from Hindu citizens of foreign lands. Let us not divide our heritage along religious lines or any other lines as our heritage is the common heritage of humanity received from all sources. Let us test the goodness of our heritage on the lines of how inclusive they are and how much they contribute to the greatest common goodness. Bhagwat and the Hindu supremacists draw divisive lines on the common heritage in order to perpetuate the hegemony of the elite and the powerful. We cannot serve the nation by rejecting selectively our common heritage. Such a project is only to impose the will and power of the elite on the rest of the society. That is not the order desirable by the rule of law and our Consitution. The author is the Director, Centre for the Study of Society and Secularism (CSSS), Mumbai. Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2018 > Rafale Deal: The Noose Tightens POLITICAL NOTEBOOK Congress President Rahul Gandhis press conference in New Delhi today saw his fiercest attack on Narendra Modi on the Rafale deal. Without mincing words Rahul bluntly said CBI Director Alok Verma was removed well after midnight because he was about to begin an inquiry into the Union Governments Rafale purchase deal. This had caused the PM to panic. The CBI Director was removed unconstitutionally, illegally and criminally at the dead of night, and his office was searched to take away all sensitive documents pertaining to the Rafale deal that could have led to Modi being caught red-handed engaged in financial misdemeanour. Not only was the contract for buying eighteen Rafale jets in a fly-away condition and manufacturing another 118 in India by the public sector Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd in collaboration with the Dassault company of France (the makers of Rafale) thrown out of the window, but Modi signed a new contract for purchasing thirtysix aircraft in a fly-away condition while the stipulated manufacture of aircraft was snatched away from the HAL and handed over to Modis friend Anil Ambanis company (which has never built a single aircraft ever). Rahul said Anil Ambani accompanied the PM during his visit to Paris and Modi gifted him a contract for Rs 36,000 croresa largesse of unimaginable proportion. What is also significant, the HAL, much maligned by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman herself, has just handed over to the IAF the 200th Sukhoi SU-30MKI. The HAL is going to deliver an additional 22 SU-30-MKI by March, 2020. Negotiations are going on with the IAF for the manufacture of 40 to 60 more SU-30-MKI to shore up the IAFs depleting fleet strength. Early acquisition of a new Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) is of utmost importance if India is to be able to fight a two-front war with Pakistan and China. It is because of this imperative that the IAF was pressing the government hard to acquire the Rafale aircraft which was selected after a series of field trials from among a number of competitors. The UPA Government had concluded the Rafale deal. The price agreed upon was Rs 560 crores per aircraft. Prime Minister Modi, while scrapping the agreement made by the UPA, also raised the price per aircraft from Rs 560 to Rs 1600 croresanother bonanza for his friend Anil. What is most regrettable is the Defence Ministers denigration of the state-owned HAL which has earned its name worldwide as an aircraft manufacturing company. Many countries buy aircraft made by the HAL for their air forces. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is another body of scientists which is trying to make India self-reliant in the production of military hard- and soft-ware. The DRDO has made a pilotless tank that can be used for surveillance, mine detection and reconnaissance in areas hit by nuclear or biological weapons. Are the PM and Defence Minister even aware of these achievements by our defence scientists? October 25 B.D.G. Patent strategy 168 Companies are increasingly demanding their in-house counsel create more integrated, well-organised and cost-effective patent strategies. And according to in-house sources, that shift in expectation has translated to pressure on external lawyers. Eight corporate lawyers from patent-focused businesses tell Managing IP that the three main attributes they expect from their patent law firms are a more considered approach to their legal service, better communication and improved value for money. Value for money Perhaps the most important aspect that in-house lawyers look for in their external counsel is value for money. Like any corporate department, patent legal teams need to justify their budgets, and the best way to do that is by demonstrating that they can get considerable return on investment. That need has become more pressing in recent years, according to the head of IP in the commercial arm of a UK university. This is because patent budgets have not risen but business leaders increasingly want to see more done with similar expenditure. He says that this appears to be a trend within IP departments broadly, which is perhaps spurred by increased efficiency expectations because of advancements in technology. Value for money does not necessarily mean cheap, but if youre going to pay a lot of money ... you want to know it is not being wasted on unnecessary activities A European patent attorney at a Swiss confectionery manufacturer adds that cost efficiency is a big driver for his department and that the company is developing mechanisms to better monitor patent expenditure, including on external counsel. The UK university head of IP explains that such pressures are forcing in-house counsel to consider whether to bring patenting functions in-house that they previously outsourced. But if private practice lawyers could find ways to deliver such services for less or in a more efficient manner, he adds, that argument could be negated. The assistant general counsel at a global generics drug manufacturer tells Managing IP that ensuring value for money, for his business, is largely about making sure resources are not wasted. Value for money does not necessarily mean cheap, but if youre going to pay a lot of money that youre going to have to persuade management is worth spending for these patent-related services, you want to know it is not being wasted on unnecessary activities, he explains. You need to know the money is not being spent on training people who are uninformed, or letting people learn on the job. There are some great counsel out there but there is also a lot being done by lawyers who think they know everything but have failed to do a basic commercial feel around. The vice-president of IP at a global technology manufacturer adds that his company has a unitary rate for lawyer fees by jurisdiction and so does not want them to compete on cost but instead on quality and speed of service. Tailor-made service A business will only feel that a lawyer has achieved value for money if he or she has tailored the service to the business. A one-size-fits-all patent strategy simply does not work. Nicolas Gambini, CEO of autonomous underwater drone maker Notilo Plus, tells Managing IP that he looks for counsel that can appreciate the budgetary limitations of a small tech start-up and work to adapt to those constraints. Good counsel can adapt to the clients constraints. Sometimes they want to discuss the legal parts of a big contract and it takes months, and a start-up cannot afford this Good counsel can adapt to the clients constraints, he says. Sometimes they want to discuss the legal parts of a big contract and it takes months, and a start-up cannot afford this. We make our counsel aware of such things and it is important that they adapt their service to give us the best possible protection. He adds that similarly counsel should not necessarily advise SME or start-up clients to patent everything, and should instead work with the company to help it identify which patents are vital and need to be protected and which are less important and could be protected by other means, such as trade secrets. Katherine Anastasi, head of innovations at medical research charity The Wellcome Trust, agrees that a tailored approach from external IP counsel is important, and adds that medical charities that fund a broad range of activities, as another example, tend to need a one-stop shop. We fund a broad range of activities and need a one-stop shop for external counsel, she says. So we need people with a global reach and experience on lots of different types of product. In our area a lot of the stuff is not terribly commercial, so it might be a slightly different challenge to some of the standard medical developments that are not philanthropically funded. She adds that counsel must be cost efficient, because a non-commercial entity such as a charity like The Wellcome Trust must be conscious of how it is spending its money - and pragmatic as a result. A tailored approach is also important for a company undergoing big change. European seed companies, for example, have significantly altered their IP strategies over the past five years because of technological developments that have enabled more of their innovations to be patented. The IP research manager of a Netherlands-based seeds company tells Managing IP that external counsel should be able to adapt to these changes and should be prepared to review business activities and suggest new strategies for activities such as licensing and litigation. He adds that there is not a formal culture in his industry and the counsel he works with should recognise that. But perhaps the most important aspect of a more considered approach to patent strategies, according to most of the in-house people Managing IP spoke to, is ensuring that the right people with the right knowledge are put forward for the job. The vice-president of IP at a global technology manufacturer says that his external counsel has to have a good knowledge of semiconductors so that they can understand what the company is looking to achieve. Similarly to Anastasi, the manager of the European arm of a Japan-based chemicals company says he needs private practice lawyers to know about the broad range of products that his company manufacturers to give him the best possible service. He adds that if counsel do not know the firms competitors, channels of trade, or how it markets products, they cannot give the best advice. Communication The best way for private practice lawyers to get to know the business and learn how to tailor their patent services, according to in-house counsel, is with good communication. Im not going to check everything that our external counsel gives us; I have to rely on them Im not going to check everything that our external counsel gives us; I have to rely on them, says the seeds company IP research manager. They should know what I need to know and that is not something you can take for granted you must invest in the relationship and with the people doing the work. He expects frequent interaction with counsel for that reason, and even more so when it comes quick-changing elements of a patent strategy, such as litigation proceedings. The global technology manufacturer IP VP agrees and adds that he expects to develop strong and long-lasting working relationship with his external lawyers, and that can only be achieved with regular interaction through visits, phone calls and meetings. Some companies may also want external counsel to act as a source of IP knowledge for other parts of the business. Rodolfo Rosini, partner at AI company Zeroth.ai, says the best IP lawyers he has worked with are those that have been able to interact with engineers in their terms to help them understand how IP works and what processes they should follow to protect the businesss inventions. Pressure on corporate patent counsel to achieve more for less will likely increase as technology advances, and pressure on external counsel to do the same will follow suit. The trick for external counsel to get ahead of that, it seems, is for them to spend more time talking to clients to determine where they can add value to their overall patent strategy and ensuring they represent the best value for money. The material on this site is for law firms, companies and other IP specialists. It is for information only. Please read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Notice before using the site. All material subject to strictly enforced copyright laws. 2021 Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC. For help please see our FAQs. Share this article To access our in-house intelligence please request a trial here. Read this article and more for a 30 day period. Are you already an Managing IP subscriber? Login here New Delhi : The Supreme Court Monday said the civil appeals on the Ram-Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title dispute cases will be listed before an appropriate bench in January 2019. This was stated by a bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph. The civil appeals arise from the Allahabad High Court judgement in the land dispute case, The appropriate bench will fix the schedule with regard to the hearing of appeals in the case. "We will fix the date of hearing of Ayodhya dispute case before the appropriate bench in January," the CJI said. Earlier, a three judge bench, by a 2:1 majority, refused to refer to a five-judge constitution bench the issue of reconsideration of "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? The information was revealed at a seminar entitled "Brand in relation to strategies of enterprise development" jointly held by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the Vietnam Intellectual Property Association (VIPA) on October 29. According to VCCI Vice President, Hoang Quang Phong, brand building is a key factor to help businesses compete fairly with both domestic and foreign firms. This is not only a passport to facilitate firms in their export activities but also establishes the reputation and brand of a whole country. However, Phong noted that brand development is a shortcoming of Vietnamese firms and only large corporations have developed their own brands including Vinamilk, Vingroup, Viettel, Bao Viet and others. Meanwhile small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) are not strong enough to build their own brands. In fact, Vietnamese firms, particularly SME have yet to pay due attention to brand building, resulting in being neglected by customers, according to the VCCI. Phong noted that there were many cases in which popular Vietnamese brands, including Trung Nguyen coffee, Vinamit, and Bitis were not registered abroad and were appropriated in some foreign markets, causing huge losses in market expansion and competition with imported goods. Deputy Chief Inspector of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Nguyen Nhu Quynh, said that if firms are not aware of the important role of brands and the power of brands in their development, they will lose their development opportunities in the international market. Cubas economy is stagnating. The country is looking for foreign investments, and these might come from Russia rather than from the United States. Andreas Knobloch reports on a trade fair in Havana. Good and at the same time surprising news made the round toward the end of September. There were reports about Cuba and the United States creating a joint venture in the biotechnology sector called Innovative Immunotherapy Alliance. The company was to develop medication and therapies for cancer. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who had played a major role in getting the deal off the ground, hailed the joint venture as a historic move while talking to reporters. And yes, it was a beacon of hope at a time when relations between the two countries had turned colder again, which will also be reflected at Havanas annual FIHAV trade show starting Monday (October 29). Only three years ago, that fair clearly showed that the US and Cuba had edged closer together. There was a record number of US exhibitors, but the erstwhile euphoria has long gone. This year around, there are only a handful of US exhibitors, Cuban Foreign Trade Minister Rodrigo Malmierca told the media in Havana, pointing out that 2017 was equally unsatisfactory, with only 17 US firms showing up at the fair. Trump makes Cuba look East Some four years after former US President Barack Obamas U-turn toward Cuba, a good deal of disillusionment has set in. On Donald Trumps watch, Washington has returned to typical Cold War rhetoric in its relations with Cuba. Some former measures to facilitate bilateral travel and trade have been revoked. Business deals with the Cuban military were prohibited. The current FIHAV fair is Cubas hub for potential investors, while at the same time reflecting the countrys economic developments. Only a couple of days ago, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (CEPAL) lowered its growth forecast for Cuba to 1.1 percent in 2018. Cubas closest ally, Venezuela, is supplying less oil, revenues from tourism are declining, and hurricanes and floods have caused major damage, meaning theres a mounting need for foreign investments. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel misses no opportunity to point this out. German exhibitors have been regulars at the FIHAV fair The Cubans are to present a new investment catalog at the trade fair. Last year, that document comprised a total of 456 projects with an investment volume of $10.7 billion (9.4 billion). But in actuality, Cuba is still far from meeting its goal of attracting $2.4 billion annually in foreign investment. German industry to open trade office All in all, exhibitors from over 60 nations have confirmed their participation in the FIHAV fair. In Malmiercas eyes, this is a clear sign that the world is at Cubas side despite deteriorating economic, trade and financial relations with the US. Among the most important exhibitors are traditionally those from Spain, Venezuela, China and Russia. The Germans will have their own pavilion, too. On top of that, Havana will later this week see the opening of an office to support trade with and investment in Cuba, with the deputy managing director of the DIHK trade group, Achim Dercks, to attend the event alongside representatives from several German ministries. Cubas ties with Russia are expected to be given a boost at the fair. There will be a special forum for entrepreneurs looking into the prospects of closer cooperation in the fields of trade, industry and investments. Back in 2014, Russia canceled 90 percent of Cubas debt toward the successor of the Soviet Union, with the remaining $3.5 billion to be redeemed through concessions applicable to future Russian investments in the country. Russian oil major Rosneft for instance looks set to modernize Cubas largest refinery in Cienfuegos, which is currently not operating at full power because of Venezuelas reduced oil deliveries. In addition, both countries signed a package of agreements in September 2017 on the modernization of Cubas energy and railway sectors as well as on the supply of elevators. There are also accords in place on food processing and textiles. Russia is also to supply trucks, buses and trains. Its also worth noting in this context that the Cuban president is due in Russia later next week for his first state visit. Cuba is clearly looking East again. Bolsonaro won the second round of the Brazilian presidential election with 55 percent of the vote, defeating Haddad the Workers Party (PT) candidate who received 45 percent. Any hopes of a last-minute rally were dashed. This result is a setback for the working class and the poor. We need to understand what it means, what led to this situation and what strategy the workers movement should follow, faced with this reactionary government. The second round of the presidential campaign was extremely polarised. There was a mobilisation from below on the part of the left in an attempt to stop Bolsonaro, and tens of thousands turned up at big rallies for Haddad in Sao Paulo, San Salvador de Bahia, etc. In a taste of what is to come under a Bolsonaro government, the police, following orders from the electoral tribunal, waged a widespread campaign of preventing public meetings against fascism at universities and trade union buildings, removing anti-fascist banners from colleges and campuses and even sequestering trade union magazines. All of this was done in the name of electoral fairness as these actions were considered to be election propaganda carried on outside of legal limits. Emboldened by Bolsonaros rhetoric, there have been physical attacks on left-wing activists on the part of small fascist gangs, including the killing of Moa do Katende: a capoeira master. Embed from Getty Images These attacks need to be met with a bold response on the part of the workers movement, including the organisation of stewarding and self-defence of trade union and student meetings and the rejection of any form of censorship or curtailment of freedom of expression. Brazil under Bolsonaro: a fascist regime? However, those who today cry about fascism having won in Brazil are mistaken. Fascism is a political regime based on the mobilisation of the enraged petty-bourgeois masses into armed gangs, with the aim of smashing working-class organisations. Historically, fascism came to power after the working class had been defeated during several revolutionary opportunities because of the lack of a correct leadership. On the basis of those defeats and missed opportunities, demoralisation set in and the fascist gangs were able to crush the workers organisations. That is not the situation in Brazil today. Bolsonaro does not rely on armed fascist gangs. There are indeed fascist grouplets in Brazil, and they will be emboldened by his victory. They are dangerous and need to be met head on. But the Brazilian working class has not been defeated; in fact, it has not yet started to move in any significant way. Bolsonaro won the second round of the Brazilian presidential election with 55 percent of the vote, defeating Haddad (PT), who received 45 percent. How did this happen? / Image: fair use Let us remember that it is now two years since the election of Trump in the US. At that time, many liberal commentators and some on the left also talked about the victory of fascism in the US. Trump is certainly a reactionary politician and his policies represent an attack on workers, women, homosexuals, migrants, etc. But it would be a mistake to describe the situation in the US as a fascist dictatorship. In fact, attempts by white supremacist groups in the US to take to the streets in the wake of Trumps election were met with mass mobilisations that greatly outnumbered them. There has been a series of very militant (and victorious) teachers strikes in a number of states. There is a greater polarisation in society to the right, but also to the left. What we are likely to see in Brazil is the continuation of a process (that had already started before the election) of bonapartist features appearing within the state. This was evident in the use of the judiciary as a political arbiter in the Car Wash scandal, the jailing of Lula and his disbarment from standing, etc. At the same time, the basis for a regime with bonapartist features is very weak, in conditions of severe economic crisis and widespread discrediting of all the traditional parties and institutions of the ruling class. How could this happen? Liberal commentators and some on the left look on in bewilderment at this election result. They cannot understand it. How is this possible? A far-right demagogue has been elected by democratic means. How could millions of people vote for someone espousing such odious views in such a brazen manner? They resort to all sorts of explanations that explain nothing: it was the fault of the networks around the evangelical churches, or it was the campaign of fake news on WhatsApp. This is the same as when the ruling class attempts to explain strikes and revolutions as the work of Communist agitators. Already, in the 1990s, in Brazil there was a huge propaganda campaign against Lula: he is just a metal worker with no experience and no qualifications, he is a Communist, he doesnt even have a university degree. That, however, did not stop him from eventually winning the election, with 61 percent of the vote. In Britain, we have seen an unprecedented campaign of demonisation of Jeremy Corbyn in which the whole of the establishment has thrown the most outlandish and outrageous accusations against him (that he is anti-semitic, a friend of Hamas, a terrorist lover, a Putin puppet, etc). None of that has had much impact. On the contrary, his support has grown on the basis of his programme of renationalisation, free education, housing, etc. The victory of Bolsonaro is a product of the protracted crisis of the Workers Party (PT) / Image: Agencia Brasil As a matter of fact, the victory of Bolsonaro is a product of the protracted crisis of the Workers Party (PT). When Lula was first elected in 2002, he did so in the form of an alliance with bourgeois parties. He appointed Meirelles, a US-based banker, as president of the Central Bank, respected the agreements with the IMF and pursued a policy of fiscal austerity. He also carried out an initial counter-reform of the pensions system. This is not the place for a full balance sheet of his government, but suffice it to say that it did not represent any fundamental challenge to the power of imperialism and the Brazilian ruling class. However, he was able to benefit from the relative stability that resulted from a period of economic growth. When Dilma Rousseff was elected in 2010, the situation had already started to change. Her policies were similar to those Lula had implemented, but one step to the right. Her running mate was bourgeois politician, Michel Temer. She appointed the head of the landowners and cattle ranchers as Minister of Agriculture and an IMF official as her Minister of the Treasury. The main difference was that she was faced with an economic crisis rather than economic growth. On the back of the slowdown of the Chinese economy, the Brazilian economy went into a serious recession in 2014-16, from which it still has not recovered. Already, in 2013, there were mass protests of the youth against the rise in transport fares, which were met with brutal repression by the regional governors, which had full support from the national government. The 2013 June days reflected widespread opposition to the whole establishment by a growing layer of youth, but also workers. The PT, having been in power for over a decade, was seen as part of that establishment the youth were rising against. Rather than change her policies, Dilma then announced a package of privatisations and austerity measures. The protests in 2013 were followed by mass protests in 2014 against the World Cup, which were also met with brutal repression. In order to deal with these protests, the Dilma government introduced a series of laws (on Criminal Organisations, Anti-Terrorism...) that severely curtailed the right to protest and demonstrate. The 2014 election and the impeachment of Dilma The 2014 election was a turning point in this process. Dilma managed to win in the second round on the basis of mobilising the working-class PT vote, on the grounds of fighting against the right-wing policies of the bourgeois candidate, Aecio Neves. She betrayed her own voters, however, by then proceeding to implement the policies Neves had advocated: austerity, cuts, privatisations and attacks on workers rights. Her approval ratings, which had been over 60 percent in 2012-13, collapsed to just 8 percent in 2015: the lowest for any serving president since the restoration of democracy. It was at that time, sensing her weakness, that bourgeois politicians in her government started to move to remove her from power through impeachment. Then, when they saw the danger of Lula becoming a candidate and winning the election (given that many people remember him as having presided over economic growth, combined with his link with the historic, revolutionary traditions of the PT) the judiciary intervened with a corruption case against him. He was found guilty, despite the fact that no actual proof was produced for the crime he was being charged with. Then they further stretched the limits of their own legality by preventing him from standing. Even at that time, however, while Lula was ahead in the polls, more people said they would vote for nobody than for him, showing a widespread rejection of the whole political system. In 2015, the judiciary intervened with a corruption case against Lula / Image: fair use It can be said, therefore, that the PT governments records in power relying on the votes of the working class to stay in office and carry out capitalist policies in alliance with bourgeois parties destroyed the partys reputation and severed many of its links with the organised working class, paving the way for the victory of Bolsonaro on Sunday. Even when the bourgeois politicians were busy removing her from power, the PT and the trade union leaders did not organise any serious defence. There were rallies and demonstrations, a lot of threats, but no serious campaign of sustained and growing mobilisation. The situation worsened when the unpopular Temer government continued and intensified the attacks on the working class. There were huge Temer Out rallies and finally a general strike in April 2017. The Brazilian workers and youth showed their readiness to struggle, but their leaders did not lead or foster that struggle, and so all the potential for a fightback dissipated. Of course, Bolsonaro cleverly used social media and the networks of the Evangelical churches to spread his message a combination of lies, half-truths, hysterical hatred of PT-communism and an appeal to make Brazil great again. These methods, however, only had such an impact because of the disastrous policies and track record of the PT in government. There were, of course, other factors: such as the frightful economic crisis in Venezuela (in the last analysis, a result of the attempt to regulate capitalism rather than abolishing it), which was used effectively against the PT (whose leaders had never really supported the Bolivarian revolution in the first place). Defence of democracy? The policy and strategy of Haddad in the second round was suicidal, as explained by Serge Goulart. While Bolsonaro made gestures such as promising a Christmas bonus for recipients of the Bolsa Familia benefits to appeal to the poorest voters who had supported the PT in the first round, Haddad shifted to the right, in a futile attempt to capture the so-called centre ground. In the first round, he had presented himself as Lulas candidate and Lulas image was prominently featured in all the election propaganda material. In the second round, Lula was dropped from the pictures and the partys red was replaced by the colours of the national flag. Faced with an anti-establishment outsider, Haddad presented himself as the candidate of the establishment! / Image: Agencia Brasil Faced with an anti-establishment outsider, as Bolsonaro presented himself, Haddad thought he could defeat him by being the candidate of the establishment! He presented himself as the candidate of democracy, appealing for the unity of all democrats (including the same bourgeois parties that had stabbed Dilma in the back). The only way he could have recovered the lost ground would have been to wage a serious campaign denouncing Bolsonaros economic programme (privatisations, attacks on pensions and so on) and offering as an alternative the struggle to defend the rights and conditions of the working class on a clear anti-capitalist line. Instead, we had abstract appeals to defend democracy, for dialogue and understanding, and to strengthen the Constitution. There was already a very high level of abstention in the first round: 20.3 percent in a country where voting is compulsory, the highest since 1998. In the second round, it was even higher, 21.3 percent (31 million), with an additional 9.5 percent (11 million) who voted blank or abstained, which shows a significant layer of the electorate reject Bolsonaro but could not bring themselves to vote for Haddad either. Bolsonaros economic policies Capitalist commentators are cheering on Bolsonaros victory and encouraging him to carry out his election programme of wholesale privatisations and a thorough counter-reform of the pensions system. "Markets have risen on hopes Mr Bolsonaro will deliver on his promises of economic reform, particularly an overhaul of Brazils costly pension system and privatisations of its state-owned enterprises" said the Financial Times today. It then quotes from a Goldman Sachs note: Ultimately the administration faces the challenge of, through a combination of disciplined policies and structural reforms, accelerating the fiscal adjustment and boosting the animal and entrepreneurial spirits, to finally release the significant trapped potential of the economy. The ruling class judges any government according to one simple rule: how well it carries out its class interests. A key turning point will come when Bolsonaro attempts to implement his programme, led by ultra-liberal Chicago boy economist Paulo Guedes, and he faces the organised resistance of the working class, which has not been defeated. As with the Macri government in Argentina, Bolsonaro will face a wave of union action, mass mobilisations and general strikes against his economic policies. Furthermore, his position is not as strong as it seems, as he has to pass legislation through an extremely fragmented parliament where there are 30 different parties he will have to make deals with. The task now is not to give in to despair but rather to prepare for the battles to come / Image: Marxist Left The task now is not to give in to despair but rather to prepare for the battles to come. What is required in the first instance is a clear understanding of how we got to this point, so that the process of rebuilding a fighting, working-class movement can start. There are also more general lessons to be learned from the Brazilian experience. Left-wing governments carrying out right-wing policies will only prepare the ground for the victory of reaction. You cannot fight the far right by appealing to the defence of the very same crisis-ridden, capitalist regime in crisis that gave birth to it. In a release, Scripps said it was acquiring 15 television stations in 10 markets from Cordillera Communications. The acquisition grows the Scripps local television station footprint to 51 stations in 36 markets with a reach of nearly 21 percent of U.S. TV households, according to the Scripps release. by Jenn Rowell 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. According to the government leader, bilateral trade exceeded US$6 billion last year, up 11% from 2016. The UK has invested US$3.71 billion in Vietnam, ranking 15th out of 129 countries and territories investing in the country. PM 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 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. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department actively promotes fishing and hunting in Wyoming. Fishing license sales bring in some $25 million from both resident and non-resident anglers. "The number of fishing licenses sold this last year is the highest since 1991," said Renny McKay, public affairs chief for Game and Fish. In Natrona County, 13,589 residents purchased fishing licenses last year. "We dont know how many non-resident licenses were for use in specific counties, since a person could buy a license online in New York while boarding the plane for Wyoming." The agency sold 99,871 fishing licenses to residents last year and 123,127 to non-residents. Tim Monroe Wyoming Business Report Via Wyoming News Exchange https://trib.com/lifestyles/recreation/fishing-a-big-business-in-wyoming/article_74c7accc-d221-569f-997d-4c842db32459.html 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. 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. 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. While in Switzerland, 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. Thang and Moruzzi exchanged views on modern challenges, especially those in the digital age to education and human resource training. Thang 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. 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. [October 29, 2018] NTT and FURUNO ELECTRIC: GPS Time Synchronization with World-Class Accuracy Using a Few Selected Satellites Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (TOKYO: 9432) (NTT (News - Alert), Head office: Chiyoda-ku Tokyo; President & CEO: Jun Sawada) and FURUNO ELECTRIC CO., LTD. (TOKYO: 6814) (FURUNO, Head office: Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, President: Yukio Furuno) have developed a receiver for GPS and other global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), dramatically improving time-synchronization accuracy in areas with severe reception conditions such as among buildings and in mountainous areas. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181029005364/en/ Satellite selection algorithm and GNSS receiver prototype performance test results (Graphic: Business Wire) By integrating a new satellite signal selection algorithm developed by NTT into a time synchronization GNSS receiver from FURUNO, in addition to signals from satellites in line-of-sight locations, it has become possible to use multi-path signals (reflected or diffracted from buildings and other structures), which previously inhibited accuracy of time synchronization. In a real multi-path reception test environment, time error was reduced to approximately 1/5 of earlier values. This is a remarkable result in that it promises to enable time synchronization accuracy close to that obtained in open-sky reception environments with no obstructions, even in environments previously considered poor and unsuitable for accurate time synchronization, such as among buildings or in mountainous areas. FURUNO plans to begin sales of their new GF-88 series time synchronization GNSS receivers incorporating this new technology in April of 2019, and to deploy it widely in fields such as 4G/5G mobile base stations, financial trading, power grids, and data centers. We plan to exhibit these results at Tsukuba Forum 2018 *1 on October 25 and 26 (https://www.tsukuba-forum.jp/e/index.html), and at ITSF 2018 *2 , in Bucharest, Romania on November 5 to 8 (http://itsf2018.executiveindustryevents.com). For details, please visit the following URLs: http://www.ntt.co.jp/news2018/1810e/181023a.html https://www.furuno.co.jp/en/news/general/general_category.html?itemid=728&dispmid=961 Reference/Terminology descriptions *1 Tsukuba Forum 2018 The largest general symposium on various technologies related to access networks in Japan, held by NTT. https://www.tsukuba-forum.jp/e/index.html *2 The International Timing & Sync Forum (ITSF) 2018 The largest conference in the world on the theme of network timing and synchronization, covering fields including communications, finance, energy, transport, broadcast and defense. http://itsf2018.executiveindustryevents.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181029005364/en/ [ Back To www.mobilitytechzone.com\LTE's Homepage ] After the Thanksgiving feast next week, the shopping frenzy begins, along with the pressure of finding the perfect gift for everyone on your list. Come to think about it, hasnt it already begun? Ive noticed the lines at the stores... 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 US 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 October 2. On October 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. Veterans Day program at Pennridge North Middle School thanks those who served By By: Dr. Francis R. Souder, 85, formerly of Telford, died Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007 in the skilled nursing unit of Peter Becker Community, Franconia Township. He and his wife Marion R. (Parker) Souder celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary in July. Born in Souderton, he was a son of the late Elvin B. and Mary (Rittenhouse) Souder. A 1938 graduate of Souderton High School, he received his undergraduate degree in 1941 from the University of Pennsylvania where he was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa. Dr. Souder went on to receive his medical degree from Hahnemann Medical College in 1944 and completed his internship at Hahnemann Hospital from Oct. 1944 July, 1945. He served with the U.S. Navy Medical Corps for 30 months in San Diego and Long Beach, Calif. during WW II and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant prior to his discharge. He entered his second tour of duty during the Korean War where he served in Panama City, Fla. as the medical officer for the Panama City Naval Air Station and the Tyndal Air Force Base. Dr. Souder owned and operated his family practice on Main Street in Telford from 1947-1989. He served on the staff of Grand View Hospital, and as its president, and taught at the Grand View Hospital Nursing School. He was a member of the Pa. Medical Society, the Bucks County Medical Society, Diplomat American Academy of Family Practices, and served on the board of trustees at Grand View Hospital, Sellersville. He was a member of Trinity United Church of Christ in Telford, where he sang in the church choir. He was also a member of the MacCalla Lodge #596 in Souderton, the Raja Shrine, and Lehigh Consistory. In addition to his widow, he is survived by a son, Dr. Ronald L. Souder, and his wife Susan L. of Green Lane; a daughter, Susan J. Souder, and her husband Stephan Russo of New York, N.Y.; five grandchildren: Jennifer A. Souder of Philadelphia; Emily E. Souder of Philadelphia; Kathryn A. Souder of Washington, D.C.; Noah Russo of New York, N.Y., and Rebekah Russo of New York, N.Y., and two brothers: Attorney Elvin B. Souder of Souderton and Dr. Lawrence Souder of Souderton. Memorial services will be held on Saturday, Nov. 10 at 12 p.m. in Trinity United Church of Christ, 101 S. Main St., Telford, with calling hours following the service. Interment will be private in Trinity UCC Cemetery Telford. Memorial contributions may be made to Grand View Hospital, 700 Lawn Ave., Sellersville, Pa. 18960. Arrangements are by Sadler-Suess Funeral Home, Telford. Pennsylvania Horticulture Societys Harvest program ends season with almost 19,000 pounds of produce donated and $30K raised to fight food insecurity Welcome to Morningstar.co.uk! You have been redirected here from Hemscott.com as we are merging our websites to provide you with a one-stop shop for all your investment research needs.To search for a security, type the name or ticker in the search box at the top of the page and select from the dropdown results.Registered Hemscott users can log in to Morningstar using the same login details. Similarly, if you are a Hemscott Premium user, you now have a Morningstar Premium account which you can access using the same login details. 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 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. A China Eastern Airlines flight safely landed in Beijing at 9:09 p.m. Sunday, bringing back 261 Chinese tourists stranded by Super Typhoon Yutu in Saipan, the company said. Yutu, one of the strongest super typhoons in history, slammed the islands of Tinian and Saipan Wednesday. The Saipan airport was badly damaged and unable to provide refueling service. 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] The China Eastern Airlines flight, carrying returning fuel, drinking water and food, departed Beijing at 6:30 a.m. Beijing Time. It left Saipan in the afternoon with 261 Chinese tourists onboard. Another flight has been scheduled to take off at 6:30 a.m. Monday to pick up nearly 300 Chinese tourists home, according to the company. A Sichuan Airlines plane carrying 278 stranded Chinese tourists landed in Shanghai Sunday afternoon. Columnists Jellyfish promote climate change By Nagaland Post | Publish Date: 10/29/2018 12:45:27 PM IST I have just spent a week in monsoon washed Goa-without going to the beach. The reason for this sacrilege? Jellyfish. The Goa government has issued a warning to beachgoers that the beaches and coastal waters have swarms of live and dead jellyfish. These long tentacled gelatinous marine creatures are beautiful and deadly. There are over 1200 known varieties of Jellyfish. They range from tiny ones, that you can ingest while swimming, to 200 kilos. The Blue Bottle and Portuguese Man-of-War jellyfish, currently invading Indian coasts, have nematocysts on their long tentacles (going upto 10 feet) microscopic barbed stinging structures which can pierce human beings and inject venom. Dead jellyfish washed out onto the beach can do it as well, as nematocysts remain potent in moist conditions for months. The victim may experience skin irritation, muscle cramps, headache, nausea, diarrhoea, fever. In extreme cases acute pain, breathing difficulty, heart attacks and even death. One is more likely to die from a jellyfish sting than a shark attack. As the population of jellyfish spins out of control, beaches have become dangerous for humans. Every year, thousands of people are stung . The beaches of Mumbai, Goa, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh were a problem in the monsoon. Now there are invasions throughout the year. A bloom of jellyfish has been reported off the Visakhapatnam coast for the first time. Australia and Southeast Asia have the dreaded box jellyfish, whose venom causes the heart to seize. In the Philippines 20-40 people die annually from box jellyfish stings. The Irukandji is the size of a sugar cube and its stinger leaves no trace. Ten minutes after contact, victims suffer excruciating lower back pain, to incessant vomiting, to constricted airways, brain clots and heart failure. Its difficult to know how many victims the Irukandji have claimed, writes biologist Tim Flannery many deaths have been put down to stroke, heart attack or drowning. Some 150,000 people are now treated for jellyfish stings in the Mediterranean each summer. Jellyfish dont just sting, they have a huge economic and ecological impact. They are wreaking havoc all around the world by disrupting food chains, causing massive power plant outages, jeopardizing fisheries and tourism potential. Jellyfish eat plant plankton and ichthyoplankton the eggs and larvae of fish as well as young fish, reducing fish populations. They can eat 10 times their body weight daily. In the 1980s, a severe outbreak of comb Jellyfish, brought from America in the ballast water of foreign ships to the Black Sea, eliminated mackerel and anchovy fish, and collapsed the $350 million Black Sea fishing industry. The jellyfish preyed on anchovy fish eggs and larvae and consumed the same zooplankton that the anchovies ate. Soon the anchovy fishery crashed and the jellyfish bloomed. By 1993 it was 95 percent of the total biomass of the Black Sea. Jellyfish now swarm all over. Fishermen nets in India are clogged with jellyfish. Estuaries in Kerala are often choked with heavy swarms. Fishing vessels, operating in the near shore waters, net huge quantities. Nuclear and thermal power plants use coastal waters for cooling, and discharge the heated water back into the seas. This increases temperatures by 1 to 1.5C and affects waters for hundreds of miles. Jellyfish increase in heated waters. The atomic power station at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu suffered reduced production efficiency due to swarms of jellyfish clogging the sea water intake piping. On occasion, the plant has even been forced to stop production entirely. Similar stories have been reported from power plants in the USA, Sweden, China and Japan where clogging has caused emergency situations at nuclear power plants and resulted in major power cuts and economic damage to cities. Nuclear plants in Japan are regularly shut down by jellyfish. In 1999 half of the Philippines lost power. The Persian Gulf systems of desalination power plant and liquid natural gas plant have been affected by blooms since 2000. Throngs of jellyfish have disrupted power generation everywhere from Muscat to Maryland, from South Korea to Scotland. Jellyfish have been around for centuries. Why are we facing overpopulation now? It is entirely our fault. The human race has created conditions leading to an explosion of jellyfish blooms around the world. The waste from farms and human settlements are thrown into waters that lead to the ocean. This leads to eutrophication (from the Greek eutrophos, well-nourished) nitrates and phosphates from sewage and fertilizers cause plants, such as algae and phytoplankton, to flourish to such an extent that the whole surface of the dam/river/ocean is covered. This thick green algae at the surface blocks sunlight from reaching aquatic plants and marine creatures, killing them. Oxygen levels drop as the algae take oxygen from the water, causing the death of fish and molluscs. The water is acidified. This environment suits jellyfish who thrive. While killing larger fish, eutrophication supports the survival of plankton, larval sardines and other organisms, which the Jellyfish feed on. The increase in jellyfish population has been found to match the increase in the occurrence of algal blooms in the coastal waters. Eutrophication reduces water clarity and light penetration. This benefits jellyfish. Fish are visual feeders, while jellyfish are non-visual; turbid water reduces feeding by fish, but doesnt affect jellyfish. Jellyfish need very little oxygen to survive. So, as other animals dwindle, jellyfish colonies expand. Overfishing by humans has reached catastrophic levels and has led to a situation where most of the natural predators of jellyfish, like sea turtles, salmon, mackerel, blue fin tuna, pilot whale and albatross, have become scarce. Jellyfish are eaten by 120 species of fish and 30 marine animals, including mushroom corals . Unfortunately these fish are commercially fished. Their competitors for plankton and small fish, such as billfish and dolphins, are also endangered. Sea turtles, particularly leatherbacks and loggerheads, are suffocating on plastic in the ocean. So jellyfish get a free run of the ocean and its small fish and larvae. Overfishing has also made enormous room for plankton to grow. Fish like anchovies, sardines and menhaden which are plankton eaters, are harvested for fish meal for aquaculture. Plankton is the jellyfishs favourite food and now they have no competitor. By devouring huge quantities of plankton, jellyfish also deprive small fish species of food and they stop breeding. A particularly large Nomuras jellyfish takes in enough seawater each day to fill a swimming pool, gobbling up any plankton it catches in the process. Jellyfish wreak havoc on the entire food chain. Without a curb on their population, growing hordes of jellyfish start eating the eggs of smaller fish, as well as their food supply. They then occupy the niche that was once filled by other species. In Namibia, catches of anchovy and sardines have reduced dramatically after 1988 and large populations of 2 jellyfishes now predominate. Aquaculture is increasing the number of jellyfish. The captive fish are free food; from giant shrimps, killed in Indias captive breeding stations, to salmon and trout in Scotland, Ireland and Norway. When additional feed is provided, eutrophication of the waters takes place. The aquaculture structures, like rafts, provide shade for polyps to grow. Studies show that jellyfish started increasing in the 1980s, but have increased far more dramatically in the last ten years. Human structures built in the oceans have provided jellyfish with ideal places to reproduce. Jellyfish polyps need a solid structure to stick to in order to multiply, develop and hatch. They have a variety of options to choose from embankments, granite seawalls, docks, artificial reefs, floating plastic waste, ships, offshore oil rigs. Even packets of cigarettes, plates and statues of religious idols serve as breading grounds for polyps to stick and grow. Jellyfish thrive on ecosystems in distress. Biologist Lisa-Ann Gershwin writes As seas become stressed, the jellyfish are there, like an eagle to an injured lamb more than just as symptom of weakness, more like the angel of death. We need to urgently change the way we treat our oceans and the beings in it. First, eutrophication needs to be controlled by reducing the nutrients that we indiscriminately empty into the oceans. Waste needs to go through much more stringent treatment before it can be let out into the sea. We need to immediately stop overfishing. The huge trawlers, which amass tonnes of fish in one catch and throw away 90% of them as waste need, to be stopped completely. The government should introduce quotes to control the amount of fishing. This will increase the number of predators that feed on jellyfish. Our permanent interventions in the sea, such as ports, marinas, offshore rigs etc., need to be cleaned regularly so that jellyfish polyps cannot survive on them. In fact, this practice of building in the ocean itself should be discouraged. I know these solutions seem long term, but unfortunately they are the only ones available. In any case it may be too late and we cant do much to stop jellyfish from taking over the oceans. From an evolutionary standpoint, Jellyfish are biologically primed to take over the sea. They reproduce on the sea floor, or any other hard surface, and breed in massive numbers (in thousands/day). These blooms are increasing in intensity, frequency, or duration, says Lucas Brotz, a jellyfish expert at the University of British Columbia. Brotzs research of 45 marine ecosystems shows an increase of 62% in blooms since 1950. Will the oceans of the future soon be filled with jellyfish? They are moving closer to becoming the dominant species in the seas, filling the niche of the disappearing fish. Global temperatures are expected to rise 0.2C during the next 2 decades. Warming of the oceans will increase jellyfish populations. As the climate changes the ocean currents change and blooms will crop up in new locations. The current world human population is projected to increase 46% by 2050. Human influences and demands on the ocean will increase. Increased demands for energy will drive more dam and power plant construction, causing more sea warming in coastal waters. For example, China has 3 operative nuclear power stations and 4 are under construction. Increased fertilizer use, particularly in Asia, will cause eutrophication to double. Global aquaculture has doubled between 1997 and 2020, with especially large increases occurring in developing nations. More fishing, more coastal development. Therefore, more opportunities for jellyfish, who are skilled at surviving in warm, polluted and acidified waters. Our oceans ecosystem is almost at its end. A new ecological system is coming along, with jellyfish at the top of the food chain. Once this stabilizes, the removal of its dominance may prove difficult. Fish will almost disappear - even if we stop fishing . Jellyfish will prevent the recovery of overfished populations, by eating their larvae. Once jellyfish own the ocean, global warming will be even faster. Jellyfish promote climate change by releasing carbon-rich mucus and faecal matter. Marine bacteria uses this jellyfish to breed, which creates even more carbon dioxide and methane. Climate change promotes jellyfish blooms, and jellyfish blooms promote climate change, Gershwin, the author of Stung, explains, and like all robust feedback loops, where it stops nobody knows. You will soon be eating jellyfish curry instead of fish. Scientists from eight countries have begun a project called GoJelly to create jellyfish-based products - water filters, fish feed, face cream, fertilizers, food, salt , alcohol and jellyfish ethanol for cars. To join the animal welfare movement contact gandhim@nic.in, www.peopleforanimalsindia.org The United States should reveal its arms control plans since it has decided to quit the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Sunday. Washington should be clear on what it will do in the area of arms control after its withdrawal from the key INF Treaty with Russia, Lavrov told Rossiya 1 TV channel. He said the United States has handed a list of questions concerning the implementation of the INF Treaty to the Russian Foreign Ministry via the U.S. embassy, and the Russian Defense Ministry and other departments are preparing answers to the U.S. questions. U.S. President Donald Trump said earlier this month that Washington would pull out of the INF Treaty on account of Russia's alleged breach of the agreement. The INF treaty was signed in 1987 between the Soviet Union and the United States on the elimination of intermediate-range and shorter-range missiles. The deal marked the first-ever pact reached by Washington and Moscow on nuclear disarmament and a major step in restricting the arms race. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said earlier this week that the U.S. withdrawal from the INF Treaty could pave the way for a new arms race. By PTI NEW DELHI: Bengaluru has witnessed highest decline in unsold housing stock among seven major cities in the last one year at 25 per cent on the back of better sales, according to property consultant Anarock. The unsold housing stock in Bengaluru stood at 76,500 units at the end of July-September quarter (Q3 of 2018 calendar year), down 25 per cent from 1,02,740 units in the year-ago period. Pune reported a 10 per cent fall in unsold inventories to 90,610 units in Q3 2018 as against 1,01,020 units in Q3 2017. The Delhi-NCR market also saw 9 per cent decline in unsold stocks to 1,90,650 units from 2,09,430 units. There were marginal drop of 1-2 per cent in unsold stock in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) and Hyderabad, while there were increase in Chennai and Kolkata by 7 per cent and 1 per cent, respectively. ALSO READ | Hyderabad: Builders want Real Estate Regulatory Authority deadline extended "Bengaluru's real estate market has out-performed all other cities in terms of shedding unsold housing inventory. Bengaluru saw a remarkable decline of 25 per cent in the total unsold stock across the top cities," Anarock said in its report, which was released at ACETCH 2018 in Bengaluru last week. The report tracked Bengaluru's residential real estate trends since 2013, factoring in the city's evolution in terms of infrastructure development, transport and connectivity. "Burgeoning commercial activity, a cutting-edge start-up culture and realistic property prices dictated by end-user demand have kept Bengaluru's real estate market vibrant, and generally more resilient than in other cities," said Anuj Puri, Chairman - Anarock Property Consultants. IT/ITeS sector continues to drive most of the city's residential demand and supply, and housing sales have remained healthy despite all macroeconomic headwinds, he added. Bengaluru's housing sales increased by 26 per cent in Q3 2018 over the same period last year, the highest amongst all cities. Overall unsold stock declined by 32 per cent and stood at 76,550 units in Q3 2018 in contrast to 1,12,995 units in Q3 2015. "Salubrious climate, favourable government policies and relatively affordable property rates have attracted several global IT/ITeS firms to set up their base in the city over the last two decades, followed by a spurt in residential demand by the IT-ITeS professionals to Bengaluru. Driven largely by the end-users, the real estate market in the city has been very resilient even during the slowdown period witnessed across the country," Puri said. With property prices always been under check, he said the city saw emergence of significant real estate trends, including the walk-to-work concept. Infrastructure woes led to massive traffic snarls, which is the key reason why builders are promoting walk-to-work concept. The land supply within city limits has led to development of mixed-use townships, including commercial, residential, retail, etc. "Thus, the 'walk-to-work' concept has gained prominence in the city with professionals opting to live-work-play in these zones itself," Puri said. By PTI NEW DELHI: Flipkart India, the B2B arm of the e-commerce major Flipkart, has registered a manifold jump in losses at Rs 2,063.8 crore during 2017-18 compared to the previous fiscal as the Walmart-backed company fights a bruising battle against rival Amazon. The company's total loss stood at Rs 245.04 crore in 2016-17. ALSO READ | Flipkart now enters insurance market Its revenue from operations, however, saw a 40.4 per cent jump to Rs 21,438.65 crore in FY2017-18 from Rs 15,264.42 crore in the previous fiscal, as per regulatory documents filed with the corporate affairs ministry. Flipkart India's employee benefit expenses grew to Rs 331.54 crore in the said fiscal from Rs 166.66 crore in 2016-17, the documents provided by the business intelligence platform Tofler showed. Flipkart's e-commerce business Flipkart Internet also posted a consolidated loss of Rs 1,160.6 crore for the financial year ended March 2018. While this was lower than the previous year's Rs 1,640.2 crore. The combined loss of the two Flipkart entities -- Flipkart India and Flipkart Internet -- was well over Rs 3,200 crore in FY2017-18. Flipkart's holding company is registered in Singapore. It operates different entities for various functions and provides e-commerce and support services through Flipkart Internet. The revenue of Flipkart Internet is mainly generated from services like collection, marketplace, storage and logistics. Flipkart and its rival Amazon have been pumping in millions of dollars towards promotions, building infrastructure and logistics as they woo customers to shop online. Amazon, on its part, has also been aggressively investing in the Indian market across its e-commerce, payment and logistics operations. It had committed USD 5 billion to the Indian operations and a large part of that has already been pumped in. Earlier in the year, Flipkart inked a blockbuster deal with Walmart under which the American retailer picked up about 77 per cent stake for about USD 16 billion. ALSO READ | Flipkart arm to set up logistics hub in West Bengal The deal gave handsome return to investors like SoftBank which sold their complete shareholding. The deal with Flipkart will also have a bearing on Walmart's financials. Earlier this month, the US retail giant had said its investment in Flipkart will hit its operating income as well as earnings per share. The transaction with Flipkart, which was completed in August this year, will not only help Walmart strengthen its e-commerce play but also cash in on the burgeoning e-tailing market in India that is poised to touch USD 200 billion in the next few years. Anahita Mukherji By Express News Service Saudi Arabia wasnt always this repressive. Now its unbearable, read the headline of a Washington Post piece by journalist Jamal Khashoggi in September 2017. Over the last year, Khashoggi wrote a series of columns on Saudi Arabias violation of human rights, in which he spoke of the widespread arrest of activists and reformers who challenged the monarchy. None of his pieces moved Silicon Valley tech companies enough to sever ties with Saudi Arabia, a country that has massive investments in Americas tech hub. But all of a sudden, Khashoggis gruesome murder at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul earlier this month, believed to be orchestrated by Saudis monarchy, has put the spotlight on Silicon Valleys blood money, leaving the tech industry in a quandary. Earlier this year, Saudi prince Mohammed bin Salman visited Silicon Valley, and was photographed with the biggest stars of the tech world as they showed him around their offices. The crown prince was often referred to by his initials, MBS. Over the last month, the acronym has come to stand for Mister Bone Saw, a reference to the manner in which Khashoggis body was allegedly dismembered and disposed off. While its unlikely that Silicon Valley was completely unaware of Saudi Arabias abysmal human rights track record before Khashoggis death, it has now become impossible to ignore. Sam Altman, president of Y Combinator, a start-up incubator, has suspended his involvement as an advisor for Saudis new smart city, Neom. Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi and Google Cloud CEO Diane Greene were among the business leaders who pulled out of Saudi Arabias investment conference, popularly called Davos in the Desert that started on Tuesday. Masayoshi Son, CEO of Japanese firm SoftBank, cancelled plans to speak at the conference. A large share of Saudi investment in Silicon Valley has been funnelled through SoftBanks $100 billion Vision Fund, which received $45 billion from the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF). The Saudi fund has also invested directly in companies. Uber has, in the past, received $3.5 billion from the PIF. In an attempt to figure out whether Saudi Arabias massive investments in Silicon Valley had purchased the silence of tech companies over the countrys human rights violations, author Anand Giridharadas writes in an opinion piece for The New York Times that he reached out to several tech companies that received significant money from Saudi Arabias PIF. I asked Uber, Wag, DoorDash, Katerra, WeWork, Slack and Plenty if there was any aspect of Saudi Arabias conduct in Mr Khashoggis apparent murder that the company disavowed, Giridharadas wrote, Or, I asked, does the investment from PIF come with an expectation of remaining silent about Saudi conduct? All of the companies either declined to respond at all, or responded with a refusal to comment on the record about the Saudi kingdoms behavior. HBOs comedy serial Silicon Valley mocks tech giants over their constant claims of making the world a better place. If the Valley is sincere, that it will change the world and do the right thing, period, then the Saudi governments billions of dollars in investment capital should be returned, and Silicon Valley companies should refuse any further investments, wrote Giridharadas. In a piece for Slate, Charles Kenny, senior fellow at the Centre for Global Development, calls Giridharadass proposal a new form of international boycott one that involves refusing to accept cash rather than the more traditional approach based on refusing to hand it over. As many tech firms that Saudi Arabia has invested in are private, he says this would involve a more straightforward process than for companies listed on the stock exchange. He points to close ties between Saudi Arabia and the US, which make the US government-led sanctions against Saudi Arabia unlikely. Saudi Arabia is the largest buyer of US weapons, both countries are involved in military and intelligence cooperation and both are distasteful of Iran. And then theres Saudi investment in President Donald Trumps business. Kenny points to consumer and institutional boycotts as an alternative to government sanctions. While the traditional method involves a refusal to buy or invest in a country, as was done to South Africas apartheid regime, Kenny believes this method wont work for Saudi Arabia. Consumers dont know where their gas comes from when they pump it at the station, and anyway, little Saudi gas oil makes it to the US, Kenny wrote, adding that there is no point refusing to invest in Saudi firms, as the country is desperately trying to find investment opportunities for its surplus cash. According to him, the only option left is Giridharadass proposal of refusing to take Saudi money. As many writers have pointed out, pulling out of a conference in Saudi Arabia, or from the advisory board of a yet-to-be-built Saudi city, are easier prospects than returning Saudi money. Silicon Valleys biggest stars have long prided themselves on their liberal, progressive values. One hopes that Khashoggis murder will push them to put their money where their mouth is. (The author is an independent journalist based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She tweets at @newspaperwalli) By PTI MUMBAI: The Reserve Bank Of India has relaxed norms for the fire audit of currency chests allowing banks to get it done from approved agencies in case of shortage of staff at district fire offices. Banks maintaining currency chests are required to get fire audit done once in a two years. ALSO READ | RBI deputy governor calls for 'effective independence' In a recent notification, the RBI said it has been receiving references from various banks about non-availability of staff in State / District Fire Departments for getting the periodical fire audit conducted in their respective currency chests. "The matter has been examined and it is decided that in case of non-availability of officials of the District Fire Department, the fire audit can also be conducted by the agencies approved by the respective State /District Fire Departments," it said. In April 2016, the RBI had directed banks having currency chests to ensure conducting of fire audits bi-annually by the officials from the district fire department. ALSO READ | RBI to inject Rs 40,000 crore liquidity into system in November The banks were also asked to ensure that the working condition of the hotline and other security-related gadgets (access control, CCTV, etc) are checked once in a fortnight by the currency chest officials. There are 3,975 currency chests in the country, with as many as 2,575 being managed by State Bank of India, according to the RBI's annual report. Besides, there are 3,654 small coin depots. By UNI GANGTOK: Governor Ganga Prasad regards Pakyong Airport as very useful one and beneficial for the Aam Admi (common man). Governor appreciated the fact that the new Greenfield Pakyong Airport is functional regularly. He said it should be operational daily in order to help the traveller. It will also lead to an increase in the number of Tourists. He had arrived by Spice Jet flight at Pakyong Airport today. It was his first ever experience of newly commissioned Pakyong Airport. Governor flew from Delhi to Kolkata and from there to Pakyong. He said fresh Organic vegetables and flowers from Sikkim could also find the market elsewhere benefitting farmers. In the meantime, Sikkim got connected to Assam. Spice Jet had started operating from Kolkata to Pakyong and from there to Kolkata from 4th October'18 onwards. But much to the pleasure of Sikkimese the flights between Pakyong Airport and Guwahati, Assam have also started from 28th October'18. MP Lok Sabha, Prem Das Rai, first ever VIP to board the Guwahati inaugural flight from Pakyong was happy saving time. "Took the inaugural one hour flight from Pakyong to Guwahati on Spicejet. It was fantastic to save 5 hours. This is an important milestone in our North Eastern Region connectivity enhancement," said MP Rai, sharing his remarks through social media. Earlier travellers flying from various parts of the country travelled by road from Bagdogra Airport in West Bengal, but now going to Bagdogra for flying to different places or coming to Sikkim from Bagdogra is not necessary, if one opts to travel further via Kolkata or Guwahati. This is expected to boost business, save time, the comfortable journey for Old and Sick looking forward to medical treatment, besides so many other advantages. Ranjani Madhavan By Express News Service BENGALURU: South Western Railways Bengaluru division has put forward a proposal to the government, to eliminate 35 manned level crossings in Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural and BBMP limits. Earlier on October 23, City Express reported about the Divisional Railway manager, RS Saxena, writing to the Karnataka government with a proposal to replace 15 manned level crossings with rail over bridges on Baiyappanahalli-Hosur railway line. The state, in response, asked for the total number of level crossings that need to be eliminated in Bengaluru region. 45 such manned level crossings in the city have been identified We have found 35 manned level crossings in Bengaluru in Hosur, Banaswadi, Hebbal, Lottegollahalli, Doddaballapur, Nayandahalli, Hejjala, Kengeri, Yelahanka, Devanahalli, Chikkabanavara, Channasandra, Baiyappanahalli and Nidavanda areas, said a railway official. Listing some of the rules that warrant the splitting of costs between railways and state for the construction of rail overbridges (ROB), the official says, Either the number of Train Vehicle Units (TVU) must cross 1 lakh or the level crossing gate must be closed for passage of trains, 12 or more times within 24 hours. The Train Vehicle Units (TVU) is calculated by multiplying the total number of trains passing through, with the number of vehicles that pass through in 24 hours. When doubling, quadrupling and the electrification of railway lines are carried out, the TVU increases, as more train services are run, and the road traffic is halted for considerably longer periods of time. For example, at one of the level crossings between Karmelaram and Baiyappanahall, the TVU on May 2018 was 2,42,641. After doubling, the figure is expected to increase to 4,27,510. There are 45 such level crossings across Karnataka, as per the SWR records. The estimate for ROB construction at Baiyappanahalli-Hosur section was `402.51 crore. The estimate for all ROBs is yet to be calculated. We are waiting for acceptance from the state for cost-sharing on 50:50 ratio. The approximate cost of one ROB is `25 crore, the official shared. If approved, this will help ease congestion of buses, cars, autos and two-wheelers on roads, when gates are shut for the passage of operating trains. BENGALURU: The busy ITPL main road and surrounding areas witnessed a massive traffic jam on Monday morning as a gas pipeline belonging to GAIL India Limited, was breached during ongoing Namma Metro work at Garudacharpalya near Hoodi. The breach, according to officials, occurred at around 4.30 AM when the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) was carrying out precautionary drilling in the area before beginning piling work for phase II of Namma Metro. "Fire and Emergency Services have come out and repair work is going on. We have blocked the vehicles which are moving towards ITPL for the safety of the public," said a tweet by the KR Puram Traffic Police. one gas pipeline damaged near Garudacharpalya,Hoodi while digging by BMRCL and the gas coming out...traffic jam in ITPL road....Fire force have came and repair work is going on...We have blocked the vehicles which r moving towards ITPL for the safety of public. K R PURAM TRAFFIC BTP (@krpuramtrfps) October 29, 2018 Alternative routes via Marathahalli and Kundalahalli gate were arranged by the police who cordoned off the area of the leak after it was called in by a person identified as Abhishek. A case has been registered by the Mahadevpura police to ascertain if the proper drilling permissions were obtained by the BMRCL. WATCH VIDEO According to a GAIL Gas official, the pipeline belonged to its parent company GAIL and the flow of gas was stopped as soon as the leak was reported. Ajay Seth, Managing Director of BMRCL said that the restoration of the pipeline would be completed by afternoon. "We take inputs from agencies about the location of water, power and other utilities on our Metro route and we carry out precautionary drilling up to a depth of 2.5 meters in order to be sure. This breach occurred during this exercise in the night. We will get a detailed update on the location of GAIL pipelines in the area," he said. In the meantime, traffic piled up at Devasandra, Outer Ring Road, ITPL Main road before the police cordoned off the area. The use of mobile phones has been restricted in an arc extending 500 meters from the breach, police officials said. Traffic flow on the blocked roads was restored around 10 am by the polic. The commuters, however, complained of traffic jam. The police are working on normalising traffic at the spot of the incident. Kiran Narayanan By Express News Service KOCHI: When she was in the Class I, her mother who had gone for an assignment to Copenhagen, gifted her a toy-camera. Latha Prabhakaran, a Thrissur-based High Court advocate still remembers the roll-film camera that paved her way to photography. Being a daughter of two veterinary surgeons, her life was always interweaved with nature. My father used to take me to the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve whenever he went for expeditions. So, my affection towards nature and birds evolved in time. Its the passion towards travel and explorations that took me to photography, says Latha. But she politely disagrees with the tag of a wildlife photographer. I consider myself a bird watcher than a photographer. Experts claim there are 520 bird species in Kerala. I will probably be the first woman to observe the maximum number of bird species, she says. Elaborating her travel experiences and the challenges she faced, Latha says, Sometimes, we may not be equipped for the varying weather conditions. At times, we have to trek kilometres with the heavy camera. Interestingly, it was a hospitalisation which happened in 2017 that inspired her to go on a travel spree. I was hospitalised with H1N1 after a trip to the Philippines and had lost my sight for a day. Though I returned to normalcy in a few weeks, it taught me a great lesson and prompted me to explore more, she recalls. The globe-trotting advocate has visited countries like Indonesia, Kenya, Bhutan and Sri Lanka. According to her, capturing the right moment in time is the hardest challenge in wildlife photographer. These animals and birds wont remain still and we miss many unique shots. For bigger animals, youll be still able to recreate the same angle, but for birds, you wont have that luxury, she says. Generally, the number of women photographers in Kerala are considerably less in wildlife photography. Although she agrees on the fact, Latha has a different take on it. When you take a photograph, the subject wouldnt consider your gender, she says. Along with her legal battles, Latha has managed to exhibit her works on a few occasions. As part of World Environment Day 2016, we have organised an exhibition at Kerala High Court. A few group exhibitions are also in the offing, she concludes. Ejaz Kaiser By Express News Service Chhattisgarhs first Chief Minister Ajit Jogi after rebelling against the Congress in 2016, is campaigning for the coalition between his regional outfit Janta Congress Chhattisgarh (J) which has a seat-sharing pact with Mayawatis BSP and the CPI. The bureaucrat-turned-politician, while exuding confidence on the coalitions success in the upcoming Assembly polls, tells Ejaz Kaiser that only regional parties can stop BJP from returning to power in state and Centre. Your pre-poll alliance with BSP is seen as a political masterstroke. Is your fight with BJP or Congress? Our fight is with the BJP. The Congress has become irrelevant. We are committed to uprooting the Raman Singh-led BJP government. The alliance will damage both BJP and Congress. Uncertainty prevails on your contesting the elections? The BSP- JCC(J)-CPI coalition demanded that I should not confine myself to contesting elections from any particular seat and focus on campaigning for all 90 Assembly segments. So, I had declared that I am not in the poll fray. However, people of Marwahi have requested me to contest from there. They said I need not campaign at all for Marwahi and the people would campaign on my behalf. So, I am seriously considering their plea. Mayawati supported you as Chief Ministerial candidate in Chhattisgarh. Will you then be supporting her as the prime ministerial candidate in the 2019 polls? Its high time there is an alliance of like-minded non-Congress, non-BJP parties at the Centre. We would like to see this alliance come to power. It had partly happened earlier in 1977 under Morarji Desai, in 1979 under Charan Singh, in 1989 under VP Singh and Chandrashekhar and then in 1996 under HD Deve Gowda and IK Gujral. However, on these occasions, either the Congress or BJP was supporting the government from outside. In 2019, we are hopeful that under the leadership of Mayawati, a non-Congress, non-BJP alliance will form the government. Political experts see you more in the kingmakers position. We do not call ourselves kingmaker or king. We want to make the people of Chhattisgarh the king. Whats your winning strategy as you carry out an extensive campaign for your alliance? People have seen 15 years of BJP misrule. They had been voting for BJP since they didnt find an alternative in the Congress. But now a change is inevitable since they have a clear-cut option in the wake of our coalition. What if things go awry and your alliance cant form government? Its a hypothetical question, as we are sure that the people of Chhattisgarh will now vote for a government that will be run by them. There is a perception that your alliance will eat into anti-BJP votes and enable CM return? Every segment of society is upset with the BJP and people dont have any hopes from the Congress. So we will get their vote share and form the Government. The business community that has been a strong supporter of the BJP is disenchanted due to its anti-trader policies specially demonetisation and poor implementation of GST, besides the lack of control over administration and rampant corruption. Singhs return as CM is out of question. You are called BJPs B-team. We are neither B team nor C team. We are Team CG, i.e. Chhattisgarh. Had we been the B-team, I wouldnt have been arrested, a case of robbery would not have been registered against me, my caste would not have been raised on false grounds and my son wouldnt have been put behind bars under false charges of murder conspiracy. Despite these charges being framed by BJP government, courts acquitted us all. How about the Modi factor this time? Will it help in Chhattisgarh? People are aware of Raman Singhs poor governance in whose name the election is fought. Modi isnt in the picture as the so-called Modi wave of 2014 no longer exists. Only regional parties can stop BJP or Modi from coming to power. In 2014, during the Modi wave, only regional forces stopped BJP from winning in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Odisha and earlier Bihar. The results of Karnataka Assembly elections and recent bye-elections in UP have further established the importance of regional parties. Richa Sharma By Express News Service Seeking a fourth-consecutive term, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh tells Richa Sharma that the development work carried out by BJP government is enough to ensure that people vote for him in the Assembly elections next month. Famous as chawal wale baba for providing rice at Rs 1 in the Public Distribution System, the 65-year-old is confident of faring better than the previous three elections this time. With former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi joining hands with Mayawati to contest elections in the state, Singh feels that he is a formidable opponent and will have an impact on some seats. Raman Singh promises to focus on improving social indicators in the state in the next five years if he wins. He launched his election campaign on Saturday from Naxal-infested and tribal-dominated Bastar region, that goes to poll on November 12. After 15 years of rule, will anti-incumbency be a major factor? I covered over 12,000 kms during my Chhattisgarh yatra across 90 constituencies and I did not find anti-incumbency anywhere. It is instead pro-incumbency because the kind of work we have done in the state is something that no one had thought of. We are in Geedam (Dantewada) today which has created history in the field of education. The focus of the Prime Minister, President and Chhattisgarh government has been to ensure development in special districts like Dantewada, Bijapur and (other) backward districts. These districts are core to the governments development planning. We have succeeded in providing health and education infrastructure and will keep focussing on these areas as this is our strength and power. Do you think Ajit Jogi will be a key player in deciding who forms the government? I think Congress is the main rival of the BJP, but in over 24 seats, the Jogi-led alliance is a formidable force. No one should be underestimated. What are the issues on the basis of which you are seeking votes? We are reaching out to the people of Chhattisgarh through the development work we have done and our plan for the next five years. The power sector has been our major focus area and we are ensuring the availability of electricity for all. In so many decades, Congress governments never did the kind of work that our government is doing. Whether it is our Public Distribution System, road infrastructure, increased rates for paddy procurement, bonus for crops or education, we have fulfilled all the promises that we made to the people of the state to ensure a better life for them. Under health insurance, we provided guaranteed insurance cover of Rs 50,000 and now under Ayushman Bharat, Rs 500,000 health cover has been assured. So all the major steps are being taken in various areas and will benefit us in the Assembly elections. The BJP is focussing on Mission 65, do you expect to get the numbers? I am confident that we will fare better than the previous three Assembly elections and sweep in all 11 constituencies in the Lok Sabha elections in 2019. I am sure BJP will form the government both in the state and at the Centre. This time, our focus is on getting 65 seats. Last time we got left behind due to few seats because of a small margin of votes in the Dantewada area. Is Naxalism in Bastar hampering Chhattisgarhs progress? Travel in any (Naxal-hit) districts like Sukma, Dantewada. Go anywhere, there is nothing. Its just written about in books and shown on TV. These are very good people and believe in simple living. Girls travel on a scooter in Dantewada even at midnight. There cant be better people than that of Bastar. Globally everyone is talking about the development in Dantewada and everyone wants to come here. What will be the focus of your government if voted for fourth time? It is just a start and there were a lot of problems that we had been focussing on. My focus will also be to present Chhattisgarh as a developed state before the country and for that, we have to walk miles. I want social indicators like Infant Mortality Rate, Maternal Mortality Rate and malnutrition in the state to go down. Chhattisgarh is among the top states as far as infrastructure is concerned and we will also make it best in area of social infrastructure. We will keep walking and fighting till we achieve our goals. 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. Anuraag Singh By Express News Service BHOPAL: Congress chief Rahul Gandhi attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his wrong policies and mistakes which, he claimed, resulted in the volatile situation in Jammu and Kashmir. Rahul made the statement during his campaign trail in Madhya Pradesh's Malwa-Nimar region on Monday. He began the two-day tour to the BJP's citadel by addressing public meetings in Ujjain and Jhabua districts, before embarking on a road-show in Indore. "Wherever PM Modi goes, he speaks about the surgical strike. But what has he actually done for those who conducted the surgical strikes? His wrong policies and mistakes have made Jammu and Kashmir burn and open the doors for terrorists," Rahul said at a public meeting in Ujjain after offering prayers at the Mahakaleshwar temple. "Two days ago I met a group of ex-servicemen. They told me that Modiji promised us One Rank, One Pension (OROP) before coming to power owing to which they put faith in him. Now, he (Modiji) claims that he has implemented the OROP, but he hasn't done it, the ex-servicemen told me," the Congress chief said. "The same ex-servicemen told me that doors have been open for terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir and it's not any Indian politician or the PM who is getting martyred there. Instead, it's our jawans who are losing their lives daily. Jammu and Kashmir is on fire owing to the mistakes of Narendra Modi," he asserted. Reiterating his party's resolve to waive off farmers' loans, the Congress chief assured the people of waiving off farm loans within 10 days of coming to power in the state. "We don't make false promises, as, within 10 days of coming to power, the chief minister of our party will waive off the loans of farmers." Holding the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led BJP government guilty for the closure of textile industry in the Malwa region, the Congress leader said that instead of helping the industry to compete with Chinese products, the BJP government allowed the factories to shut down. "Even Bangladesh has now gone ahead of us in textiles. Let our party return to power. The closed textile industry will be revived and the unemployed youth will get jobs." He also announced setting up food processing units in every nook and cranny of Madhya Pradesh and exporting fruits and vegetables to all parts of the world, including the US and Europe. Alleging rampant corruption under the BJP rule, Rahul said "BJP often talks about religion, but corruption is the party's religion in reality. The pyramid of corruption starts from the level of Narendra Modi and ends at the level of Shivraj Singh Chouhan government and BJP legislators. Even if commoners have to get a small work done, the BJP-RSS people will take out money from their pockets." "Even the Mahakumbh (in Ujjain) wasn't spared when it came to corruption. The state government spent `400 crore for cleaning the Kshipra river, but what was the result? The water of the same river if given to a minister will make him unconscious," Rahul said, showing a bottle full of murky water. By Express News Service We are yet to watch Tanya Hope on the silver screen, but this upcoming heroine already has a lot on the plate. She is preoccupied with various projects, and she says shes able to learn a lot in the process. As she waits for the release of Home Minister with Upendra, she is equally curious about her next, Darshan-starrer Yajamana in which she also shares screen space with Rashmika Mandanna. Meanwhile, Tanya, who is back from Madikeri after wrapping up the shoot of Sunil Kumar Desais Udhgarsha, is now packing her bags for Switzerland. The actor will be in the Alps for the next two weeks from November 2 where she will be shooting for Amar. The film has her paired opposite Abhishek, the lead actor of the film directed by Nagashekar. After the shoot in Switzerland, I have two more weeks of shooting. Hopefully, by mid-December, the team will complete shooting of Amar, says Tanya, who is happy to kick-start her career on a good note. I heard from the director that Ambareesh sir has watched the first half of Amar, and he was really happy with the outcome. We will be shooting the second half on a foreign locale, and a few portions in Bengaluru. About associating with a director like Sunil Kumar Desai for Udhgarsha, Tanya says, it was a wonderful experience to be working with a veteran director. I had the best work relationship with the director, its like a teacher and a student. He would shout at me at times but I felt like it was a classroom. This way, I was also able to learn, she says. Meanwhile, she is also sparing some time to participate in the promotions of her Tamil film Thadam with Arun Vijay which is slated to be released by the end of November. Tanya has a tight schedule, working on different projects and she says it is overwhelming. I am really happy to have this kind of work in the early stages of my career. Having said that, Im still nervous, when I am in the midst of a crowd, she admits and adds that she would soon work towards getting over her anxiety. By Express News Service Priyanka Thimmesh has bagged her second film in Tamil before her debut release in Kollywood. Her first Tamil film Uttaravu Maharaja starring Udhaya and directed by Asif Kuraishi will release on November 16. The actor travels to Chennai today to start the promotions for the film. Meanwhile, she will start shooting for her next Tamil project from Tuesday. The yet-to-be titled project will be directed by GNR Kumaravelan, who has previously helmed films such as Ninaithali Inikkum, Haridas and his latest being Wagah. Sharing screen with her will be another Kannada actor Kishore. He is an award-winning director, and the concept of this particular film is interesting. I look forward to start the shoot, says Priyanka, adding, The idea of cinema making is completely changing in Kollywood, and off late, the stories are mostly based on a concept. There are no lead actors as such, and the film focuses more on the character. I am prioritising such films now, she says. An established face in Kannada, Priyanka recently had her debut release in Mollywood with Kayamkulam Kochunni. The film starring Nivin Pauly was released on October 11 and was received well by the audience. Meanwhile, Priyanka has a couple of films lined up in Kannada too. Her next Bheema Sena Nala Maharaja directed by Karthik Saragur is now in post-production stages. The actor will also be seen in Lucky Shankars Arjun Gowda, in which she is paired opposite Prajwal Devaraj. I am now left with a project in Telugu, and that completes a circle in the south. Talks are on with various directors in Tollywood and I am keeping my fingers crossed, she says. Sajin Shrijith By Express News Service Film: French Viplavam Director: Maju Cast: Sunny Wayne, Lal, Unnimaya Prasad, Chemban Vinod Jose Rating: 3.5/5 French Viplavam is a two-hour film built on a two-line premise. It is a subtly told satire that has the eccentricity of films such as Amen, Aadu, Aadu-2, and the recent Theevandi. Though it doesn't quite attain the sophistication of its most obvious influencesthe films of Lijo Jose PellisseryFrench Viplavam has a distinct style of its own. The film opens with the frenzy in a fictional Kerala village following the prohibition of arrack by the AK Antony government in 1996. The man most affected is Sisupalan (Lal) who has to close down his arrack shop and chose the much "nobler" profession of a temple committee president. Sathyan (Sunny Wayne), an employee of his, falls in love with his daughter. Sisupalan doesn't approve of this union. But a rare brand of French vine can fix this problem and Sathyan's attempts to procure it is what drives the film's narrative. Shot in long, fluid takes, the film at times resembles a mobile play. There are more medium and wide shots in it than there are close-ups. This means less scope for heightened emotions and melodrama, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Where does it say that every film has to make you feel something? The film is basically a series of random and delightfully wacky situations stitched together. But sometimes the overdose of quirkiness can test your patience. And the western background score doesn't always make a good match. Some individual sequences deserve special mention, like that scene where a husband, unaware of his wife cheating on him, comes home early one night and tells her about another cheating wife who tried to sneak her lover out right from under the husband's nose this is happening while the narrator's wife is thinking of ways to sneak her lover out right from under her husband's nose. I won't tell you how this situation is resolved but it's an ingeniously written sequence. A handful of other tense moments, which would in another film create predictable outcomes, is treated with an unusual light-heartedness in this film. So, for instance, a scene where Sisupalan is told by his wife that Sathyan has made their daughter pregnant provokes a much different reaction from what you would normally expect. Almost every character is hyperactive. There is a peculiar rhythm to the way the actors deliver their lines. Though this is a commendably fresh approach, it sometimes works to the film's detriment, because these characters behave as if they are clones of each other: none of them particularly stands out. All the actors seem to be having a lot of fun, especially Sunny Wayne, whose serious visage sharply contradicts the ridiculous things his character sometimes does. French Viplavam's bold experimental style is certainly worth applauding but it could've done a lot better if it had dialled down the loud quirkiness a bit, in addition to omitting a couple of characters. By Express News Service CHENNAI: While I was researching for a different purpose, I stumbled on statistics that stated that in the 90s, over 85 per cent of the population were married before the age of 18. A recent study also revealed that even today, a large percentage of people were married before the age of 25. That got me thinking, shares popular writer and best-selling author, Preeti Shenoy as we discuss her latest offering The Rule Breakers which was launched at Odyssey on Friday. Her new book deals with the life and journey of Veda, a woman who is trapped in an arranged marriage and how she finds her own voice. When I started writing the book, I reached out to my readers on social media, opened an anonymous Google forum where they could share their mother-in-law from hell stories. The responses came pouring in...I was surprised that there were people going through the ordeals across the globe, she says. The book, she says, will resonate with the voice of women across the globe who have crossed the same path as that of Vedas. The story of Veda is still a reality for many women around us, she says. The author has been writing when she was six-yearsold. Its a misconception that I went from blogging to writing. The fact is, I have been writing ever since I learned to, says the author who has been featured on the Forbes India long-list of the most influential celebrities. Talking about the major takeaways from the book, she shares, Financial independence for a woman is extremely important. Having that and finding a purpose for themselves are one of the most important takeaways of the book, she explains. Preeti shares that shes appalled by the trend of several people turning authors despite not being readers. I dont understand how someone can write good stories without being a reader. It reflects in the quality of their writing, I believe. Whoever wants to write a book should read a minimum of 50-100 books before they starting penning something down, she says. Over the years Preeti has learned to handle criticism and take the constructive ones into consideration to improve her work. I have come a long way. Reviews, criticism and suggestions are welcome.. I have learned to identify the ones that actually matter, she says. Eleven published books later, we ask the writer what she would tell her younger self and pat comes the reply, Dont be bogged down by rejection... everything will eventually work out and keep writing. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court is likely to begin the hearing on a batch of petitions challenging the 2010 Allahabad High Court verdict trifurcating the disputed site at Ayodhya into three parts on Monday. A Bench of Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi and Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and K M Joseph would hear the appeals filed in the matter. The appeals have been posted for hearing on Monday before a Bench which neither has Justice Ashok Bhushan nor Justice Abdul Nazeer, who were part of the Bench which originally heard the matter. The Bench of then CJI Dipak Misra, Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice S Abdul Nazeer by a majority ruling of 2:1 while rejecting the plea challenging the High Court judgment had directed that the matter would be heard by a three-judge Bench from October 29. Last month, the court had declined to refer to a five-judge Constitution Bench the issue of reconsideration of the observations in its 1994 judgment that a mosque was not integral to Islam which had arisen during the hearing of the Ayodhya land dispute. Justice Ashok Bhushan, who had penned the judgment for himself and the Chief Justice of India, had said it has to find the context in which the five-judge Bench had delivered the 1994 verdict. However, Justice S Abdul Nazeer had disagreed with the two judges and had said whether a mosque is integral to Islam has to be decided considering religious beliefs which requires detailed consideration. The issue of whether a mosque is integral to Islam had cropped up when the three-judge Bench was hearing the appeals filed against the Allahabad High Courts verdict. The High Court Bench, in a 2:1 majority ruling, had ordered that 2.77 acres of land be partitioned equally among three parties, namely the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla. A few days ago, Union Minister and firebrand BJP leader Giriraj Singh said the Supreme Court must expedite the hearing in the controversial Ram Mandir case and come out with its judgment at the earliest as peoples patience was wearing thin. People of this country are waiting for years for construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya and now that patience is giving way. I appeal to the Supreme Court to start the hearing in this case at the earliest and come out with the judgment, he said. By Express News Service PATNA: Bihars former social welfare minister Manju Vermas husband and JD(U) leader Chandrashekhar Verma finally surrendered on Monday before a court in Begusarai district in connection with an Arms Act case, which is linked to the Muzaffarpur shelter home sex abuse case. Verma, a former JD(U) MLC who had been on the run since being named in the shelter home case, surrendered at the sub-divisional court at Manjhaul and was remanded in judicial custody for 14 days. However, he denied his role in the sexual abuse case and blamed the media for naming him. Manju Verma was forced to resign from the Nitish Kumar Cabinet on August 9 after her husbands name surfaced in the sexual abuse case. She and her husband were booked following the recovery of 50 live cartridges at their house during a raid by the CBI on August 17 in connection with the abuse case. Bihars DGP K S Dwivedi said Verma surrendered because of the heightened police pressure. But Congress MLC and spokesperson Prem Chandra Mishra dismissed it as a drama and alleged that total protection from arrest was provided to the Verma couple by the ruling dispensation. RJD legislator Bhai Birendra said Manju Verma remains a JD(U) MLA and has been evading arrest by taking shelter at the CMs residence. As many as 34 minor girls residing at a government-run shelter home in Muzaffarpur were subjected to sexual abuses for months. The case is being probed by CBI. By ANI LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Shia Central Waqf Board has blamed the Congress party and radical Muslim leaders for the Ayodhya land dispute being, what the board believed, entangled in legalities. "Due to some radical Muslims and politics of the Congress party, the issue of construction of the Ram Temple is stuck in courts, the Shia body chief, Syed Waseem Rizvi, said on Monday. Rizvi's comments have come ahead of the Supreme Court hearing pleas challenging the Allahabad High Court ruling. The 2010 verdict had divided the disputed land in Ayodhya into three parts for each of the parties- the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla. The Shia Central Waqf Board, under Rizvi, often takes a line, which is contrary to the majority Muslim view on the Ram Temple issue. READ| Supreme Court adjourns hearing on Ayodhya case till January 2019 Last year, the board said it was in favour of a grand Ram Temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya. On Monday, Rizvi reiterated a somewhat similar sentiment. "The God who decides the fate of mankind in the whole world is today waiting for a human court to decide on his own abode. This is a matter of shame for all human being all across the world," Rizvi asserted. The Supreme Court, on September 27, had declined to refer the Ayodhya land dispute case to a larger Constitutional bench, removing roadblocks for early hearing of the appeals that challenged the 2010 verdict. The top court held that all religions and religious places need to be equally respected. "Ashoka's Edicts preach tolerance to faith of others," said Justice Ashok Bhushan as he read out the verdict. On Monday, a bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and K M Joseph are expected to hear the appeals filed in the matter. Sumi Sukanya dutta By Express News Service NEW DELHI: In February 2015, Rujuta (name changed) moved out of Shelu Kurkundi, a village near Pune where she lives with her septuagenarian parents, to consult a doctor. Rapid weight loss and a persistent cough had bogged her down. I had been running a small grocery store for the last 20 years, and never got married because I wanted to take care of my parents, says Rujuta, whose shop has long been closed and all her savings exhausted. Life was quiet till the monstrous disease struck me. Tuberculosis was instantly diagnosed, but it took three years, more than five doctors, and several changes in the combination of drugs before she got the right line of treatment for multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB). She nearly lost vision due to the side-effects of a drug she probably didnt even require. I was sick, stigmatised and almost ostracised as my condition worsened. Could it have been different if the first doctor gave me the right drugs? The problem in this case, and thousands others, is that private doctors still do not understand or take seriously the need for a customised TB treatment protocol, says Alpa Dalal, head of pulmonary medicine at Mumbais Jupiter Hospital. With the worlds largest TB burden and rising multi-drug resistance, India has a huge challenge ahead as private health care providers serve the first point of contact for 50-70 per cent of patients with TB symptoms, she says. Things are getting particularly serious as drug-resistant TB is on the rise and mistreatment means that MDR turns into extreme drug-resistant TB, which is deadlier and whose treatment is way costlier. Rujutas hardship is a classic example: In Mumbai, it was detected that she needed only two drugs. The 40-year-old was first insisted by a Pune doctor to get a drug susceptibility test to determine which drugs will work best done from a trusted lab. She was given the standard 4D kit (Isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol and pyrazinamide), but medications slightly changed after the test reports arrived. This cycle was repeated every three months for a year and a half. Whether it was either a diagnostic error or not, the barely literate Rujuta cannot understand but her health had deteriorated to such an extent that she turned into a living skeleton. She was forced to consult a pulmonologist in Mumbai where she was diagnosed with MDR TB. An NGO cleared her medical bills. That private practitioners are delivering inadequate TB care is well-documented in a study carried out by Madhukar Pai, Director of the McGill International TB Centre in Canada, along with researchers from the University of California, World Bank and other colleagues. Only 35 per cent cases of TB were handled correctly by the private healthcare sector in Mumbai and Patna between November 2014 and August 2015. It said untreated or partially-treated TB patients may infect others, at least partially nullifying Indias attempts to beat back a disease that kills half a million people every year. (Tomorrow: Undernutrition major hindrance in eliminating TB) By UNI LUCKNOW: An eight-year-old girl was brutally raped and strangled to death in the state capital, police said on Monday. The body was recovered from Thakurganj police station area of the capital on Sunday night. ALSO READ | Indore: KG student raped and killed by 22-year old sweeper Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kalanidhi Naithani said that the girl went missing on Saturday evening and the family members lodged a complaint with the police station on Sunday noon. ''The body of the girl was found in the bushes, about 300 meters away from her house. The crime could be the handiwork of some known people to the family," he said. ''Four police teams have been formed to trace out the criminals by checking the CCTV footage in the area,'' he added The father of the deceased is a fruit seller. She suffered from great pain brought by war. May peace prevail on earth, and people like you be treated with kindness in the afterlife, a Sina Weibo account posted after Hao Yuelian, who was made a sex slave by the Japanese in 1943 and had been infertile ever since, died on Sept. 28 of this year. From scientists who contributed a lot to the country, to ordinary people who died due to accidents or diseases, the team behind this Weibo account has been helping people express their grief by writing memorials for the past seven years. Every day, people are facing the death of relatives or friends and contributing essays to our account, said a team member, adding that they want to do something to let these people know they are not alone. The team's initiator, Lin Dongping, disclosed that in the beginning, they could only search for posts about the dead using keywords and clues provided by their followers. As the platform became more popular, relatives and friends of the deceased started to offer information to the team directly. Apart from writing content about the dead, the team also posts stories about those who bravely fight against diseases and their positive attitude towards life, in a bid to encourage others. The team also offers counseling services for those who have recently lost loved ones and a platform to express their grief, said Zhang Chun, director of the Nanjing Psychological Crisis Intervention Center. Zhang added that by doing so, people left behind are better able to cherish the present and start a new life with the help and encouragement of others. The director also suggested that civil administration departments should incorporate grief counseling into their services, as there is a huge demand for grief professionals and those with the necessary skills are in short supply. By UNI COOCH BEHAR: Hours before West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's four-day official visit to this northernmost Cooch Behar district, state DGP Virendra inspected this border district with Assam and checked up the security measure by the state police forces. The senior-most police official also visited areas on Sunday where the CM would make her official tour beginning from around 4 pm today after her landing at Bagdogra airport at around 1500 hours. She will fly by helicopter to Cooch Behar from Bagdogra airport. Besides presiding some administrative meetings in Cooch Behar, and two other districts of Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri, Ms Banerjee will also unveil some of the development projects dedicated to the people of north Bengal. By ANI INDORE: The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday launched a scathing attack on Congress president Rahul Gandhi, asking him about his gotra. Speaking at a rally in Indore, the BJP spokesperson, Sambit Patra said, If Rahul wears a janeu, what type of janeu does he wear, what is his gotra? Patra was commenting on Rahul Gandhis ongoing visit to Ujjain where he went to the Mahakaleshwar Temple to offer prayers on Monday. ALSO READ | If voted to power, Congress will fulfil OROP commitments: Rahul Gandhi Janeu is a sacred thread worn by some devout Hindu men. Gotra, in Hinduism, refers to a clan or a descendant in an unbroken line from a common male ancestor. The BJPs vitriolic against the Congress chief has come close on the heels of senior Congress leader, Shashi Tharoor equating Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a scorpion. Speaking at the launch of his book 'The Paradoxical Prime Minister' at the Bengaluru Literature Festival, on Sunday, Tharoor had said, "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." Patra, on Monday, urged Rahul to axe Tharoor from the party, The Congress has been bad-mouthing Lord Shiva, and the party chief Rahul should remove Shashi Tharoor from party ranks with immediate effect. Last year in November, Rahul Gandhi had invoked Lord Shiva while responding to the BJP's criticism of his visits to the temple during the Gujarat assembly elections. "Main Shiv ka bhakt hoon, sachaai mein believe karta hoon. BJP jo bhi bole main apni sachaai mein believe karta hu (I am a devotee of Shiv. The BJP may say anything, but I will remain honest.)," Gandhi had retorted. ALSO READ | Modi removed CBI chief because he was 'scared' about Rafale: Rahul Gandhi The BJP, since then, has often criticised the Congress party chief for resorting to Lord Shiva as an election gimmick. For over 70 years since independence, the Congress has been playing bitter politics in the name of secularism. They have been treating Hindus as second-grade citizens, Patra said in his latest tirade against the opposition Congress party. By Express News Service CHENNAI: Expressing concern over rampant illegal mining near Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary, the Supreme Court has summoned Maharashtra Chief Secretary (CS) over lack of concern shown by the state. A Bench, headed by Justice Madan B Lokur took exception to the fact that despite repeated opportunities, the state government has failed to come clear on its position regarding steps taken to halt all mining activities in contravention of environmental norms. Despite the courts earlier direction, the Bench noted that the state government did not take any action against the miners who have not taken approvals from the National Board for Wild Life. The court summoned the CS in person for an explanation on November 2 and directed him to ensure that illegal mining in areas where there is no clearance given by the National Board for Wild Life should be stopped with immediate effect. The order was passed on a plea filed by M/s Puntambekar Minerals for the purpose of mining bauxite near the sanctuary, which pointed out that the wildlife board in February had asked the Maharashtra government to take action but nothing was done and cited a report prepared by a committee under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change that highlighted illegal mining in the vicinity of the wildlife sanctuary and proposed action against such activities. By PTI NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday favoured cancelling the 2017 SSC examination, whose declaration of results it had stayed in August, and holding it afresh by the National Testing Agency (NTA) or the CBSE "in the interest of students". The top court observed it was difficult to ascertain the real beneficiaries of the irregularities in the "tainted" examination and hence it should be scrapped. It refused to agree with the contention of Centre that the examination held in February this year got "tainted" due to a technical snag and a fresh examination of one paper had been conducted thereafter. The examination papers of the SSC CGL were allegedly leaked, leading to huge protests from job seekers for several days. Amid the protests, the SSC had recommended a CBI probe into the allegations of paper leak following the demands by the protesting job aspirants. A bench of Justices S A Bobde and L Nageswara Rao asked the Centre to go through the status report and file its reply by November 13. "We had stayed declaration of results for the examinations as there were prima facie material. It is in the interest of students that whole thing is scrapped and held afresh," the bench said. The court said that even after the CBI probe or investigation by any agency, there was no mechanism by which it can be determined who all were tainted and who all were innocents. "Sometimes a hard decision has to be taken to send a message to those involved that these kind of activities would not benefit and every thing can be washed off," it said. The bench said it understands that sincere students have studied night after night but the court cannot allow the beneficiaries of paper leak to get into the system. Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for petitioner Shantantu Kumar who had sought cancellation of the examination, said that contract of private company Sify Technologies Pvt Ltd, which had conducted the examination, is now over. Bhushan and advocate Govind Jee said that the court can now order the Staff Selection Commission or any other government agency to conduct the examinations. The bench said then it may ask the National Testing Agency or the CBSE to conduct the examinations. "We want such agency to conduct the examinations which cannot be approached," it said. Appearing for the Centre, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said the problem happened in only one examination paper, held on February 26, and it was due to some technical snag. He termed the allegations of paper leak as "bald and in general" and opposed the contention for scrapping of entire examinations. The bench asked Mehta whether he has seen the status report because it says "something else". Mehta said he has not seen the CBI report as it was filed directly in the court. "It will be better, if you go through the status report of CBI. We cannot give the report to the petitioner side but we can give it to the Centre. You file the reply with respect to the CBI's report," the bench said while posting the matter for November 13. The court observed that it may ask the Centre to cancel the examination and appoint any agency to conduct the examination. On August 31, the apex court had stayed the declaration of results of the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) Combined Graduate Level (CGL)and Combined Higher Secondary Level (CHSL) Examination held in 2017, in which lakhs of students had appeared, saying it seemed that the entire test and the system was "tainted". It had the pulled up a law officer, appearing for the CBI for taking a stand 'different' from the status report implicating the SSC, officials of private vendor Sify and some students. The SSC is a government body which conducts examinations to recruit staff at multiple levels in various ministries and departments. Several lakh students appear in the SSC examination each year and enter government services in Group C and D Categories of jobs once they qualify. Earlier, the top court had asked the petitioners to approach the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) secretary and give an appropriate representation. The petitioner had said that the CGL Examination of 2017 was outsourced to a private vendor, which had allegedly been accused in connection with the Satyam scam. It was argued that there was a high probability of cheating and malpractice as the private vendor entrusted to conduct the exam by the SSC has further outsourced the work, in some centres. The SSC Combined Graduate Level exam has a four-tier system, in which tier I and tier II are computer-based, while in tier III and IV, job applicants take up a descriptive paper and a computer proficiency test or skill test. Namita Bajpai By Express News Service LUCKNOW: The decision of the three-judge Supreme Court bench, headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, to defer the hearing in Ayodhya title suit case till January 2019 has drawn sharp reactions from various quarters here on Monday. Echoing his views against the deferment of hearing in the vexed issue till next year, UP Deputy CM Keshav Maurya claimed that it was not a good sign. "I don't want to comment on Supreme Court's decision but it won't send a good message down the line," said Maurya. He added that it was not an election issue but one related to the faith of majority community of the country. "It doesn't have to do anything with upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The apex court had to commence day-to-day hearing in the case from today (Monday) but the conditions under which it has been deferred till January next year need to be seen," he said adding that it was imperative to think in terms of charting a legislative route to resolve the imbroglio. Notably, of late, Maurya has been advocating formulation of a law for temple construction in the Ayodhya but not before the Supreme Court of India delivers its verdict over the tile suit pending before it since January, 2011. On Sunday, Maurya had said that no structure in the name of Mughal emperor Babur would be allowed in Ayodhya. "We are hopeful that the top court will provide a solution to the issue which is a matter of faith for millions of people," Maurya said. Even before that CM Yogi Adityanath had pitched in on Saturday saying that if the SC could decide Sabarimala, it should also give its order in Ram temple case. "I request the court to do so," the CM had said while speaking at an event in New Delhi.On the other, ruling BJP called the deferment of hearing by another three months a disappointing development for the majority community of the country. "We were really hopeful that the apex court will now settle the Ayodhya land dispute after conducting day-to-day hearing but deferring it by three months has left the Ram Bhakts in disarray," said BJP spokesman Naveen Srivastava. He claimed that now the party's top leadership may take necessary decision keeping the popular sentiment in mind. "The opposition parties have decided to make it a Hindu-Muslim issue. For them it could be an election issue but for crores of Hindus it is associated with their faith. All hopes were pinned at Supreme Court but it has prolonged the wait further," said a senior BJP leader. In fact, 14 appeals have been filed and pending against the Allahabad High Court judgement, delivered in four civil suits, that the 2.77 acres of land be partitioned equally among three parties - the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla (the deity which is a party in the case through a legal representative). The High Court, on the basis of evidence produced, had acknowledged that fact that the disputed site was the birth place of Lord Ram.Minutes after the Supreme Court verdict, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad demanded the Centre to bring "a law to build the temple. "We will not keep on waiting till eternity. This fortifies the VHP's stand that the solution to the Ram Janmabhoomi issue is not in eternally waiting for hearing of appeals pending for over seven years," said VHP's working president Alok Kumar. Even the seers and saints in Ayodhya were miffed with the apex court order. Mahant Paramhans Das, who had been on fast unto death recently demanding a schedule for building Ram temple, said that the BJP government should now pave way for temple construction at the earliest. "If this is not done, BJP, VHP and RSS will have to face the consequences in 2019 Lok Sabha elections," he asserted.Bharatiya Sant Samiti chief Swami Jitendranand Saraswati also cautioned the government. " Since Supreme Court has deferred the issue till January, we will mount pressure on Union Government to bring a law for temple construction in winter session of the Parliament," he maintained. However, Nirmohi Akhada, a party in the title suit, said that it would go by the Supreme Court's order in the case. Ramjanmabhoomi chief priest Satyendra Das said that only Supreme Court could solve the matter and both the parties were ready to go by the court order. Similarly, Muslim litigant Iqbal Ansari, son of Hashim Ansari (the first Muslim litigant who took the vexed issue to the court in 1961) reiterated his stand by saying that court's decision would be acceptable to us. By Express News Service S Jaishankar has probably been the biggest surprise announcement in this Modi Cabinet. Confirmed as India's new foreign minister, Jaishankar is a former ambassador to the US and China. A dive into a report from our archives to gain an understanding of how he thinks. The report is from October 29, 2018 when he addressed the India Ideas Conclave in New Delhi: NEW DELHI: Stressing that the country should continue to play its role in shaping the agenda on world issues like it did on environment pollution and terrorism, former Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar said it's time now that India needs to behave differently, more decisively and punitively. In a world becoming increasingly nationalistic, you cannot play well without a strong nationalistic leader, he said on the Agenda for Global Aspirations of India at the India Ideas Conclave here, citing the example of US president Donald Trump. Jaishankar also asserted that India needs to make difficult choices on regional and international matters, if it wants to realise its global aspirations. It is important for this country to behave differently, more decisively and punitively when the occasion warrants, he said, when asked about how to deal with international transgressions, which some countries such Israel have done effectively. The ex-foreign secretary said in past two years, a willingness to deal with such matters was visible. Historically, we tend to be mistaken towards inaction. We tend to be in a difficult situation and then say the risks of action are so high, let us not do it and find a more engaging way. We are trying to get over it, he said. The traditional concepts are no longer effective in guiding policymaking, he said, adding that the world believes individuals who lives up to their aspirations. A country which cannot protect itself or seen to be protecting itself and seen to be exacting a price from those who harm it... There is a credibility issue there. Notably, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval had a few days ago also asserted that a strong, assertive government was a must for next 10 years for the country. By Online Desk NEW DELHI: Tata Sons has terminated the servies of brand consultant Suhel Seth after several women in #MeToo campaign accused him of sexual misconduct. Seth will cease to be associated with Tata Sons after his contract with it expires on November 30, according to a report. Of late, Tata Sons, the holding company of Tata Group, took the decision after reviewing its association with Seth's brand marketing company 'Counselage'. Six women including model Diandra Soares, filmmaker Natasha Rathore and writer Ira Trivedi had named Seth for sexual harassment. The marketing expert and writer has featured in four accounts on Twitter: one, an anonymous narrative, and three others, by filmmaker and entrepreneur Natashja Rathore, by journalist Mandakini Gahlot, writer Ishita Yadav and model Diandra Soares. "Counselage's contract with Tata Sons will end on November 30, 2018," NDTV quoted a Tata Sons spokesperson as saying. The company decided to prematurely end the contract with Suhel Seth's firm Counselage since the allegations emerged, the firmy added. 55-year-old Seth had played a key role in rebuilding the Tata brand after the management crisis hit the firm in 2016, when Cyrus Mistry was removed as chairman of Tata Sons. Apart from Tata Sons, clients of Seth's firm included Coca-Cola and the Delhi government. By UNI LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand on Monday made history by signing an agreement for plying of buses, which was pending for the past four decades. In the presence of UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and his Uttarakhand counterpart Trivendra Singh Rawat along with the transport ministers of both the states, the agreement was signed here which will enable UP State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) buses to ply in additional 39,000 kms in 216 routes with making 2646 trips daily. Similarly, Uttarakhand government buses would travel 2.52 lakh kms in UP on 335 routes with over 5000 trips daily. Besides, 57 routes have been kept for the private buses too in both the states. Both the CMs in their speech claimed that it is a historic day for both the states as now the people of UP and Uttarakhand would have facilities to travel to their destination more easier. "Better coordination between both the states led to the agreement which was pending for the past four decades," the CMs said. Yogi Adityanath said that his government was doing everything to provide facilities to the people and bus services are the vital part of it. "Both UP and Uttarakhand governments are working for the people and taking decisions to benefit the people," he said while admitting that the agreement programme was scheduled to be held in Dehradun but as he was busy, Mr Rawat was kind enough to come to Lucknow. "This agreement would facilitate the pilgrim from UP to reach directly to the char dham and other tourists spots in Uttarakhand," he said. The UP CM, who also launched 51 new saffron buses to be used as shuttle during the Kumbh mela at Prayagraj next year, said that the pilgrims going to Kumbh would get better facilities this time and shuttle buses would ferry the passengers from the parking area to the main mela spot. The government would be using 500 such saffron buses for Kumbh this time. Uttarakhand CM Trivendra Singh Rawat said that after the Narendra Modi government came to power in the Centre, the development work in the entire country has accelerated. "Both the BJP governments in UP and Uttarakhand are tirelessly working for the people and the agreement on the bus services are one of it," he said while claiming that the dispute over the agreement was sorted out in a day by both the governments. UP Transport Minister Swantra Deo Singh in his address said that after making a profit of Rs 122 crores in 2017-18, the UPSRTC was purchasing 1350 buses, with 250 new buses being added in the fleet every month. He said that UPSRTC has introduced pink bus service exclusively for women passengers and very soon 50 new pink buses would be introduced which will have women drivers and conductors. He also said that 250 new CNG buses would also be purchased in which 3 CNG buses were launched today. Namita Bajpai By Express News Service LUCKNOW: While corridors of power in Lucknow are abuzz with speculations of a possible reshuffle of UP cabinet before Diwali, the ministers of the Yogi Adityanath government were summoned at the state BJP headquarters with their work and worth report of the last one and a half year on Monday. If the sources are to be believed, besides evaluating their performance, they will be given responsibilities of Lok Sabha constituencies ahead of the general elections next year. While specific Lok Sabha constituencies will be handed over to ministers and senior BJP leaders according to their area of influence, the party will kick off a three-day special campaign from November 2, wherein the cabinet ministers will accompany senior party leaders to the constituency allocated to them and meet the booth level workers to bolster push activities for 2019 Lok Sabha Elections. Moreover, the BJP is also planning Kamal Sandesh bike rally from November 17 in Uttar Pradesh. It will witness lakhs of BJP workers taking out rallies in their respective constituencies. "This will set the tone for BJP campaign for 2019 Lok Sabha elections in UP, said a senior BJP leader. Meanwhile, in the impending reshuffle of a cabinet, some new faces are likely to find a place while a few others may be shifted to other departments. Some of those working as a minister of state with independent charge, including Swantantra Deo Singh, Dr Mahendra Singh, Suresh Rana, may be elevated to cabinet rank. Even Basic Education and Cooperative departments may get new faces. However, the sources in BJP say that with general elections around the corner, party organisation will try to strike a caste balance in the cabinet after the reshuffle. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday gave relief to the Maharashtra Police by granting it more time to conclude its probe and file a charge sheet in the Bhima Koregaon violence case. The Bench, headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, stayed the Bombay High Court order, which had set aside the lower court's verdict allowing extension of time to the police to file the probe report against the rights activists arrested in the case and issued notice to the rights activists on a plea of the Maharashtra Government, seeking their replies within two weeks. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, who appeared for the Maharashtra Government, told the Bench that denial of time to police would entitle the accused to statutory bail due to non-filing of the charge sheet within the stipulated period of 90 days. He further said the Investigating Officer (IO) of the case had filed the application seeking an extension of time for filing the charge sheet before the trial court and the same was endorsed by the public prosecutor as well. The submissions, however, opposed by senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi, stated that the High Court had rightly held that filing of such applications was illegal. Meanwhile, the Bench also issued a notice on another plea of the Maharashtra Police challenging the Delhi High Court order quashing the transit remand in the case of activist Gautam Navlakha. Earlier, the apex court had refused to interfere with the arrest of the five rights activists by the Maharashtra Police in connection with the Bhima Koregaon violence case. The Pune Police had arrested lawyer Surendra Gadling, Nagpur University professor Shoma Sen, Dalit activist Sudhir Dhawale, activist Mahesh Raut and Kerala native Rona Wilson in June for their alleged links with Maoists under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The Xueying 601 polar plane lands at China's Kunlun Station in Antarctica on Jan. 8, 2017. /CCTV Photo Chinese researchers have planed to start building an airport in Antarctica in November. The Chinese are not very used to flying to the southernmost continent, because the country's first polar plane, the Xueying (or Snow Eagle) 601, was put into use only three years ago. Before Xueying 601, Chinese researchers took the Xuelong ship to the ice-covered land, on a trip that takes significantly longer than flying. There are currently more than 20 airports in Antarctica, but none of them belong to China. The Xueying 601 has to rely on Russian airports to take off and land, which can be difficult to coordinate. That's why the Chinese researchers decided to build their own, according to reports from Chinese newspaper Science Daily. Difficulties Building an airport in Antarctica is very different from building one elsewhere. The continent is covered by a constantly moving layer of ice, so the builders must find somewhere that moves at the slowest possible pace and in a fixed direction. The builders managed to find a spot back in early 2017 following a tough measuring process that took place in the storm-like polar winds. The next problem is the snow. The soft nature of snow makes it a bad material for a runway. So the builders must use a road roller-like machine to compact the snow, which can be very time-consuming in extreme coldness. The builders intend to set off on November 2 and the building should start later the same month. Michel Danino By To understand the Indic worldview beyond catchphrases (vasudhaiva kutumbakam and the like), we need to put it to test against contemporary issues and challenges. Our next master idea of Indian civilization in this series comes into focus, not on the occasion of the Sabarimala judgement and controversy (and its implications on the supposed sacrosanctity and unchangeability of tradition), but through the report on climate change released earlier this month by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). It suggests that the battle to limit the rise of global temperatures to 1.5C is probably lost and we might be heading towards 3C instead, which will very severely impact all of the planets ecosystems, possibly triggering loops that will fuel the rise higher. Our oceans, shorelines and rivers are already invaded by plastics, including microplastics ingested by a marine life also severely affected by effluents carrying antidepressants and human birth-control pills. The oceans dead zones, in which oxygen is at dangerously low levels because of pollution from fertilisers, sewage, detergents and various industrial waste, have multiplied tenfold since the 1950s. The severely polluted condition of Indias air, groundwater, rivers and coastlines requires no elaboration. What drives this mindless race to nowhere? A few centuries ago, Leonardo da Vinci, in a prophetic mood, wrote in his Notebooks of a creature and an age we are intimate with: We shall see on the earth creatures relentlessly fighting each other, with great loss of life on both sides. Their viciousness will be boundless; their cruel limbs will fell countless trees in the worlds vast forests. Their hunger satiated, they will seek to satisfy their desire to inflict death, affliction, torment, terror and banishment on all living things. Nothing shall subsist on earth or below ground or in the waters that they will not pursue, molest or destroy, and they will take what is found in one country to another; and their own bodies will before the tomb and channel for all those living bodies they have killed. O Earth, why tarry to open up and engulf in the deep crevices of your vast abysses and caves such a cruel and ruthless monster? Is it only cruelty, which we certainly do not lack, as whales and baby seals know too well? Greed is good has been de facto the motto and prime mover of the world economy, especially of the US kind: let greed drive your growth; instil the same greed in others so as to boost consumption. The consumer is not a human being with free will, but a cog in the wheel whose choices can and will be oriented. Nobody needs processed or exotic foods, ten pairs of shoes, torn jeans, piles of electronic gadgets or diamondsnever mind, the obedient consumers will buy all those and more, even if they cannot afford them. In the 1960s and 70s, the German economist Ernst Schumacher realised that this greed-driven economy could not last. He pioneered the concepts of appropriate technologies and unsustainable exploitation of resources, and authored the best-seller Small Is Beautiful in which he advocated a radically different philosophy: why not place the human being at the centre of the economy, rather than the consumer? [In] Buddhist economics, he argued, since consumption is merely a means to human well-being, the aim should be to obtain the maximum of well-being with the minimum of consumption. ... Modern economics, on the other hand, considers consumption to be the sole end and purpose of all economic activity. His book had an immense impact, but could not bring the prime mover to a halt. Schumacher used the word Buddhist because he had been exposed to Buddhist thought and society during a stay in Burma (he also visited India). Indeed Buddhism and Jainism promoted right livelihood based on ahimsa. But this philosophy of minimised consumption or simple living applies to the whole Indian worldview. It is reflected in its approach to ecology, which I dealt with earlier (Indias Own Sacred Ecology, 5 December 2016; Sacralising the Cosmos, Nature and Life, 3 September 2018). When a Subhashita says, One may own a hundred cows but his need is only one cup of milk; one may own a hundred villages but his need is only one morsel of food. One may own a hundred-roomed palace but his need is but one cot. All the rest belongs to others, it is really cautioning us against accumulating needless goods. How far were these ideals practised? Strabo, the Greek geographer and historian of the first century BCE noted, All Indians live a simple life, which surely requires some qualification: as we know from Kautilya and others, or from the artha-kama-dharma-moksha quadruple objective of life, wealth was not looked down upon; it was however to be used in a dharmic way, not merely for oneself but for the good of the society around. Thousands of inscriptions from all periods of Indian history testify to rulers, merchants, ordinary men and women, donating temples, icons, wells, ponds and other irrigation works, or endowments for centres of learning. Artistic depictions of village life point to comfortable but simple lifestyles. Barring the very wealthy, Be happy with little seems to have been the dominant line. Today, we have perfected the art of being unhappy with muchor too much. Out of selfish greed rather than higher values, in search of petty pleasures rather than worthwhile accomplishments, we have critically jeopardised the planets lifecycles and caused species to fall extinct at a frantic pace. We must return to ancient Indias philosophy of simple living, else the collapse of our artificial system may one day force us to it. Our small everyday choices are blind and mechanical; let us make them enlightened and we can yet change tack. Michel Danino is a French-born Indian author, scholar of ancient India, and visiting professor at IIT Gandhinagar. Email: micheldanino@gmail.com. This is the sixth part in a series on Master Ideas of Indian Civilisation; earlier articles in this series: By Express News Service TUMAKURU: Two employees of Department of Atomic Energy died on the spot and five medical students suffered injuries in a head-on collision between two cars on the NH-48 Sira bypass on Sunday. The deceased have been identified as Sriramachandra (43), a manager at the department, from Karatagi in Belagavi and Dhananjaya (45), a technician, from Hebri in Udupi district. They were on their way to Bengaluru when the car in which students of Bangalore Medical College (BMC) were travelling in, is said to have jumped the median and hit their car. The students were on their way to Sirsi when the accident occurred around 5.30 pm. Three of them have been admitted to the district general hospital here, while two were rushed to a hospital in Bengaluru in a critical state. By Express News Service MALKANGIRI: Five Maoists were arrested by the security personnel from Tulsi mountain area bordering Chhattisgarh on Sunday. The five rebels are believed to be involved in the brutal murder of Ananta Ram Bhumia, a native of Barubeda village under Mathili police limits of the district. Producing the rebels before mediapersons at the district police office here, Malkangiri SP Jagmohan Meena said all those accused in the villagers murder will have to undergo Test Identification Parade (TIP) soon and therefore their names cannot be revealed. The five were arrested following anti-Maoist operations launched by the district police in Tulsi reserve forest area under Mathili police limits bordering Chhattisgarh after the killing of Bhumia by Maoists, Meena said. Two weapons used in the murder have also been recovered from the rebels under Section 27 of Indian Evidence Act, he added. Two unknown persons had reached the house of the victim, a member of Bhumia community at Barubeda village, at around 11.30 pm on October 23 and asked him to accompany them to a cultural programme which was being held in a nearby area. However, Bhumia was taken to Dhakadrasi village, around 15 km from his village where at least 25-30 armed rebels were present. The Maoists conducted a praja court there and branded him as a police informer after a summary trial. They later assaulted Bhumia before stabbing him with a knife. They fled the area. Bhumia was found lying in a pool of blood by his family members on the outskirts of the village. He was taken to Mathili hospital where the doctors declared him brought dead. Junior clerk held for posing as Maoist Malkangiri: A junior clerk, posted at Khairput tehsil office, was on Sunday arrested by Malkangiri police on charges of extorting money from a revenue supervisor of Motu tehsil office by posing as a Maoist. The accused has been identified as 48-year-old Keshab Khilla. Police have also arrested his accomplice Ram Chandra Majhi. Malkangiri SP Jagmohan Meena, while producing the arrested persons before mediapersons at the district police office here on Sunday, said revenue supervisor Kondapalli China Rao, a resident of High-Tech Colony in Malkangiri town, had complained that he had received numerous phone calls from some unknown persons who said they were Maoists and demanded `50,000. Acting on the complaint filed by the victim, sources were engaged by the police to trace the culprits. A special police team was formed to handle the case. While the complainant was delivering the ransom amount to the accused in a paper bag, they were apprehended by police from the spot, Meena said. By Express News Service CHENNAI: The DMKs mouthpiece Murasoli has expressed regret for publishing a satirical write-up on actor Rajinikanth. On Sunday, the paper carried a notification, saying that certain good hearts were hurt by the write-up. The editorial team has been advised to exercise caution in future when carrying such articles, read the notification attributed to the editor of the daily. The reference was obviously to the satirical piece the paper carried on Friday in the form of an imaginary conversation between Rajinikanth and a long-time member of his fan club. The context was Rajinikanths recent statement asking his fan club members not to expect posts just because they were in the club for decades. The Murasolis article even dubbed the actor, who has made his political ambitious clear, as a puppet in the hands of the Hindutva forces. On Friday, following the Murusolis write-up, Rajinikanth issued a statement that no force can separate him from his fans, in what is seen as an obvious reference to the DMK party paper. Even otherwise, many political observers in the State wondered why the DMK mouthpiece has been giving so much importance to Rajinikanth, who is yet to even launch a political party. The Sundays notification in the paper has made it only worse, feel many of the long-time DMK functionaries. In 2006, when actor Vijayakant entered electoral politics and contested the Assembly elections, our leader Kalaignar (M Karunanidhi) did not even respond to Vijayakant. He continued to target only the AIADMK and its leader J Jayalalithaa and thus did not give any limelight to him. Why are we going to the extent of expressing a regret for an article criticising Rajinikanth, who is yet to start a party? said one of long-time DMK members, who is also one of the headquarters orators. K Shiva Shanker By Express News Service HYDERABAD: TRS leader KT Rama Rao seemed to be in a candid mood on Sunday. He revealed quite a few secrets, giving the people a glimpse of how the mind of his father and caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao works. Rama Rao said that his father wanted to announce a gift of Rs100 crore for Amaravati, the new capital of Andhra Pradesh, during the foundation laying ceremony, but stopped short after learning that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was also present at the event, was not going to give a penny to the new city. In the same breath, he said that AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had recently proposed that TRS and TDP come together to form a coalition. But I refused the proposal since both States have different interests and therefore coming together, that too after the cash-for-vote scam, was just not possible, he said. Rama Rao was at an event titled Mana Hyderabad - Mana Andari Hyderabad when he made these claims. Rama Rao seemed like he was driving the point that both national parties, Congress and BJP, had done very little for Telugu people. My father wanted to give Amaravati a gift of Rs100 crore and was all set to announce it even. When he walked onto the stage, he asked the PMs Principal Secretary whether the PM was going to make a similar announcement, only to be answered in the negative. He was shocked, and he chose not to go ahead. God knows what would have happened if he did, he said. Interestingly, unlike his father K Chandrasekhar Rao who often uses the harshest language possible to criticise Chandrababu Naidu, Rama Rao admitted that the Chief Ministers opposition to the Kaleshwaram project was something he had to do to protect the interests of his State, Andhra Pradesh. Upon returning from Amaravati, he (K Chandrasekhar Rap) told me how pleasantly surprised he was with the way people in Andhra Pradesh had welcomed him, TRS leader KT Rama Rao said adding that the Chief Minister was surprised with the Prime Ministers decision to not announce any gift for the new city. KT Rama Rao stressed on the idea that national parties had been betraying the Telugu States for a long time. Naidu spoke about possible coalition between TRS, TDP during Harikrishnas funeral Recalling another incident, Rama Rao said that Chandrababu Naidu had recently talked to him about a possible coalition between TRS and TDP when they met during the funeral of Nandamuri Harikrishna, a senior Telugu Desam Party leader and Chandrababu Naidus brother-in-law, which was held in Hyderabad. We all know about the cash-for-vote case and how Naidu tried to buy our leaders and even attempted to bring down the Government. In any case, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have different interests and therefore, I explained to Naidu garu, there was no way the Telangana Rashtra Samithi and the Telugu Desam Party can come together. Rama Rao also commented on TDPs alliance with Congress in Telangana saying that Naidu was pumping money and oxygen into a dead snake (Congress), even though both parties knew TRS was bound to win the Assembly elections. All of Naidu and Congress efforts are for two or three seats, he added. Rama Rao urged the people of Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema to evaluate the work done by TRS in the past four years. I will stand by you as a brother at all times, he told them. Ajay Moses By Express News Service HYDERABAD: Whoever talks of breaking the country into pieces deserve to be behind bars, declared BJP national president Amit Shah on Sunday. Shah was in Hyderabad to attend the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morchas national convention held in Parade Grounds. As many as 40,000 members of the partys youth wing heard Shah speak on a number of topics such as national security and the need to get Narendra Modi a second term as Prime Minister. Recalling the arrests of prominent activists in relation to the Bhima Koregaon case in Maharasthra, Shah threw a shade at AICC president Rahul Gandhi for being concerned about their human rights more than national security. Rahul baba and company were concerned about these urban naxals human rights. Gandhi wanted to know whether they ate any food. But I tell you this: We will not allow anybody to talk about breaking the country into pieces. We will throw them behind the bars, he said. READ| Congress president Rahul Gandhis new booth-level plan faces acid test On infiltrators, the BJP president said, "If BJP forms the government in 2019, we will throw out each and every infiltrator from the country. From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, and Assam to Gujarat, infiltrators, who pose a threat to national security, will be hunted down and thrown out. Continuing his attack on Congress, and particularly Rahul Gandhi, Shah said, But Rahul baba is again more concerned about human rights of these infiltrators than about the Nations security." Patels contribution The BJP president recalled the contribution of Congress leader V Sardar Patel in the Nations unification. After Sardar Patel touched down in Hyderabad, the Nizams had to run away from here. Patel liberated Hyderabad from the Razakars, but your Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, due to pressure from the AIMIM, is not willing to celebrate this historic event as Hyderabad Liberation Day. Laxman slams KCR BJP State president K Laxman slammed the TRS government and caretaker CM K Chandrasekhar Rao for not having fulfilled his promise of providing a job to each household. The time has come for BJP to unfurl its flag in Telangana, he said. Amit Shah said the saffron partys upcoming poll campaign was going be about enabling Prime Minsiter Narendra Modi to govern the country once again. Shah went on to present a report card of sorts on the past four years and on a series of key landmarks, such as the surgical strikes conducted in retaliation to the Uri attacks. We have tirelessly worked for everyone in the country, he added. Shah even served steaming tea to senior party leaders on the dais as a reminder to the crowd that the PM was once a chaiwala. Shah said there were two ideologies at work in the country. One, the ideology of development promoted by BJP, which works on the basis of policies. Two, the ideology of opportunism exhibited by some leaders such as Sharad Pawar, Mamata Banerjee and Akhilesh Yadav, he said. Shah then questioned Gandhis credentials. I want to know what Rahul Gandhis contributions were to develop the country. None of the other leaders in this grand alliance of parties want Rahul Gandhi as their PM candidate he said. We dont want to give an account of BJPs performance to Gandhi, he said. By IANS ISLAMABAD: A minibus fell into the Indus River in Pakistan's north Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, killing at least 18 people, including three women and a child, officials said. The vehicle, carrying 18 passengers, was on its way to Rawalpindi city in east Punjab province on Sunday night when the accident took place, the officials were quoted as saying by the Geo news. The bus, authorities said, was travelling from Gilgit-Baltistan's district Ghizer to Pindi when, midway he driver lost control and it plummeted into the river, the report said. READ| Pakistan's penniless billionaires expose money laundering frenzy Hamidur Rehman, Kohistan district commissioner, confirmed the accident and said bodies were recovered. The rescue work had been completed and all the dead bodies have been moved to a nearby hospital. However, one woman miraculously survived in the accident, but her condition is not yet known. Road accidents are common in Pakistan. Most of the mishaps are caused due to reckless driving and bad roads. By AFP PITTSBURGH: A 97-year-old woman, an octogenarian couple, two brothers. Americans on Sunday learned the identities of the 11 victims of the bloody assault on a Pittsburgh synagogue -- a mostly elderly group and easy targets for a shooter who said he "wanted all Jews to die." Nine of the 11 were 65 or older, several old enough to have been children during the rise of Nazism. They included Rose Mallinger, age 97, and couple Sylvan and Bernice Simon, both in their 80s. Federal officials said Sunday that 46-year-old suspect Robert Bowers -- arrested at the Tree of Life synagogue after a firefight with police -- faces 29 federal charges, many of them carrying the death penalty. He is to appear before a federal magistrate on Monday. Across the country, prayer vigils and ecumenical services were held in tribute to the dead as words of solace and commiseration poured in from the US Jewish community -- the largest outside Israel -- but also from the pope and European leaders. At a morning news conference, Allegheny County medical examiner Karl Williams described the grim work of identifying the dead with the help of grieving family members, supported by four rabbis working temporarily from his office. "There's no words to express the sympathy that they need," Williams said. The assault on the 150-year-old congregation was the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in recent US history. Jewish leaders suggested such an attack was not entirely unexpected, noting a sharp spike in anti-Semitic acts amid the harsh political discourse of recent years. In Squirrel Hill, the close-knit neighborhood and heart of Pittsburgh's Jewish community where the shooting occurred, a hush descended. "Heartbroken," said Aylia Paulding, 37, her voice breaking as she summed up the grief-stricken mood. - 'All these dead bodies' - The authorities described a 20-minute rampage that began when the gunman burst into the building early Saturday and opened fire with an assault-style AR-15 rifle and two Glock handguns. Four police officers or SWAT team members were injured, one critically. Bowers has been hospitalized in fair condition with multiple gunshot wounds. Ninety-year-old E. Joseph Charny was worshipping in a room with a half-dozen other congregants 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. Charny and two others fled to a cramped storage room upstairs and hid until they thought it was safe to come out. "I don't need to tell you how terrible this has all been," he said. - Trump and gun laws - President Donald Trump on Saturday solemnly denounced the attack, saying, "The scourge of anti-Semitism cannot be ignored, cannot be tolerated and cannot be allowed to continue." Earlier, however, he said one answer to apparent hate crimes was to provide guards at places of worship, not to tighten gun laws. Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto disagreed. "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 Sunday's news conference. Trump said Saturday that he would travel to Pittsburgh to express his condolences. But some victims' families reportedly have little desire to see a president blamed by many critics for fanning hatred. "At least this family does not want to meet with him," Bill Cartiff, who was mourning with the family of victim Melvin Wax, told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "He will be received very coldly... We don't want him." Jonathan Greenblatt, director of the Anti-Defamation League civil rights group that combats anti-Semitism -- said he was encouraged by the president's words after Pittsburgh but also sounded a note of warning. Anti-Semitic acts in the United States rose sharply in recent years, ADL figures show, by 34 percent in 2016 over 2015, and by a further 57 percent in 2016, "the single largest surge that we've ever seen" according to Greenblatt. "It isn't what you say after the tragedy that only matters," he said. "It's the environment that you create with your rhetoric." - Heightened tensions - Saturday's attack came at a time of heightened tensions -- 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. Scott Brady, US attorney for Pennsylvania's Western District, told reporters he could not say how long the investigation might take, but added, "We will spare no effort or resource in ensuring that the defendant is held fully accountable for his unspeakable and hateful crimes." Bowers lived in the Baldwin Borough suburb of Pittsburgh, less than half an hour's drive south of the Tree of Life synagogue. 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, including one hours before the attack that called Jews "hostile invaders." 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." Chris Hall, a 28-year-old neighbor who works at a catering company, described Bowers as utterly unremarkable -- "just like a 50-yr-old dude" -- usually clad in jeans, hoodie and jacket. "He didn't have any bumper sticker that was like 'hey this is my world view,'" Hall said. "There was no clues. Nothing." By PTI DHAKA: Bangladesh's Election Commission (EC) Monday formally scrapped the registration of Jamaat-e-Islami, a crucial ally of jailed former prime minister Khaleda Zia's Opposition BNP, five years after the Supreme Court disqualified the fundamentalist party from polls. "The commission today scrapped the registration of the party on receipt of the full copy of the verdict of the Supreme Court's Appellate Division," an election commission spokesman said. He said the EC has issued a notification cancelling the Jamaat's registration as a political party. A high court bench in 2013 declared Jamaat's registration with the EC illegal on a writ petition filed by several Islamic groups, saying the party's ideology was contrary to Bangladesh's Constitution. The Supreme Court upheld the high court judgment when Jamaat challenged the verdict in the apex court. The hardline Islamist party, however, is now in a dilapidated state with most of its senior leaders executed in the past five years after being convicted by special tribunals on 1971 war crimes charges. Jamaat was opposed to Bangladesh's 1971 independence from West Pakistan and its leaders and workers sided with Pakistani troops in carrying out atrocities and genocide in then East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). Bangladesh's post-independence government banned Jamaat but the subsequent regimes withdrew the ban allowing the party to re-emerge in politics. The party became a crucial partner of Zia's BNP-led four-party alliance government in 2001 and its chief Moti-ur-Rahman Nizami and secretary general Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujaheed became ministers. The incumbent Awami League government assuming power after its victory in the 2008 elections and initiated a process to bring to justice the Bengali perpetrators of the 1971 war crimes. Both Nizami and Mujaheed were sentenced to death along with several other party stalwarts by special courts. Winners Han Chengkai (R)/Zhou Haodong of China pose for photos during the awarding ceremony after the men's doubles final at 2018 Yonex French Open in Paris, France on Oct. 28, 2018. Han Chengkai/Zhou Haodong won 2-1 and claimed the title. (Xinhua/Chen Yichen) PARIS, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese young duo of Han Chengkai and Zhou Haodong won their first ever BWF World Tour title in men's doubles at the 2018 French Open here on Sunday. Han and Zhou, both 20, shocked world No. 1 Marcus Fernaldi Gideon and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo of Indonesia 23-21, 8-21, 21-17 in the final. "It means a lot to us. Now we have won the first, then we can expect our second, third in the future. It's a good start," Zhou told Xinhua. Han and Zhou lifted the trophy at the Lingshui China Masters, a BWF Tour Super 100 tournament, in April. The young pair saved two game points at 20-18 down in the first game before triumphing 23-21. However, the Indonesian shuttlers bounced back strongly in the following game by forcing a decider 21-8. Han and Zhou steadied themselves in the decider to secure their first BWF World Tour title 21-17. "We put up fierce duel in the first game, especially the latter half, which affected our fitness. We wanted to start strong in the second game, but Sukamuljo's serves caused much trouble for us. "We made adjustment after the second games and regrouped ourselves to fight for every point in the decider," said Han. Han thought mindset played a pivotal role en route to their champion in the French capital. "The champion doesn't necessarily mean that we are stronger than other opponents. We fight for every win, and don't feel much burden in the match," he added. By AFP ABUJA (NIGERIA): Fresh clashes between supporters of an imprisoned Shiite cleric and security forces broke out in Nigeria's capital, Abuja, on Monday after a weekend of violence. The army and police confronted members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), the group's spokesman Ibrahim Musa told AFP, amid reports of casualties. "The security agents attacked members of the IMN when they were in the procession coming into Abuja," he added. "People were killed definitely," said Musa who was not at the procession and could not give a death toll. "We don't carry arms on our procession, we don't block roads... the security agents have decided to shed our blood." Rights group Amnesty International said reports that troops were firing live bullets at protesters were "very disturbing", adding: "Firing live bullets at unarmed protesters is unlawful." Rights groups have accused Nigeria's military of killing more than 300 IMN supporters and burying them in mass graves during the 2015 confrontation, a charge the military strongly denies. Pro-Iranian cleric Ibrahim Zakzaky has been in government custody since fighting between his supporters and the army broke out in December 2015. Zakzaky has been at loggerheads with Nigeria's secular authorities for years because of his call for an Iranian-style Islamic revolution. Northern Nigeria is majority Sunni Muslim. His supporters have held a series of protests in Abuja over the past year to demand his release and have had a series of standoffs with police. On Saturday, the military shot dead three IMN members. According to the army, soldiers transporting weapons and ammunitions were "attacked" by IMN members -- an account the pro-Iranian sect "categorically refutes". The IMN members had established an "illegal roadblock denying motorists free passage" and when the military tried to clear the barrier they were met with "stiff opposition", army spokesman James Myam said in a Sunday statement. Soldiers opened fire on the IMN members after they "pelted the troops with stones" and attempted to "cart away the ammunition and missiles the troops were escorting", the statement said. But the IMN disputed the claim, calling the military account "false" and "unsubstantiated". Musa said the army had attacked a peaceful mourning procession. By AFP TRIPOLI: At least five people were killed Monday and 10 others kidnapped in an attack by suspected Islamic State group jihadists on a town in central Libya, local and military sources said. Three civilians were among the dead, while a soldier was wounded and 10 people "missing, probably kidnapped", said General Ahmed al-Mesmari, spokesman for the Libyan National Army. The raid targeted the desert town of Al-Fuqaha in Jufra district, which has for over a year been held by forces allied to Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar, who leads the self-styled LNA. LNA forces responded to the attack but the IS fighters fled south, killing a five victim and injuring another at a security checkpoint, Mesmari said. Earlier, municipal council member Abdellatif Jalala told AFP that three civilians and a policeman had been killed in the dawn attack, more than 800 kilometres (490 miles) south of the capital Tripoli. He said the assailants kidnapped at least eight others before fleeing into the Haruj mountains further south. Jufra lawmaker Ismail al-Sharif said IS fighters attacked the city with 25 vehicles, beheaded five civilians and torched local government and security offices. The attackers set fire to police posts and public buildings in Al-Fuqaha, he added. Both Sharif and Jalala said the raid was likely retaliation for arrests earlier this month of alleged IS members in the area. The Jufra region has been regularly hit by attacks attributed to jihadists. In August 2017, an attack claimed by IS killed 11 people, including nine LNA fighters. IS took advantage of the chaos that reigned in Libya after the 2011 NATO-backed ouster of Moamer Kadhafi to establish footholds in several parts of the country. In June 2015, jihadists seized control of Kadhafi's hometown of Sirte, only ceding it in December of the following year in the face of an offensive by forces loyal to the UN-backed government in Tripoli. In April this year, the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord launched an operation to track down IS fighters operating in areas of western Libya under its control. The US military has regularly carried out strikes on jihadists in Libya, particularly south of Sirte. Many jihadists have since retreated to desert areas in the country's south, where they are attempting to regroup. A September 10 suicide attack later claimed by IS on Libya's National Oil Company headquarters in the heart of Tripoli left two dead and 10 others wounded. Four months earlier, IS claimed an attack on Libya's electoral commission headquarters in Tripoli that killed 14 people. By PTI DHAKA: In a major setback to Bangladesh's ailing former prime minister Khaleda Zia, a court here on Monday sentenced her to seven years in prison in a second corruption case for embezzling millions from a charitable trust in her late husband's name. Zia, 73, who is already serving a jail term since February after being convicted in another case related embezzlement of funds of an orphanage named after her husband president Ziaur Rahman in February, was sentenced along with three others. The latest sentence, which comes ahead of general elections in December, is related the Zia Charitable Trust. According to the case, Zia and three others abused their power and collected USD 375,000 for the trust from unknown sources. Judge Mohammad Akhtaruzzaman announced the verdict from the temporary premises of the court at the old central prison at Dhaka's Nazimuddin Road. The final trial proceedings in the case went ahead in the absence of Zia after the prison authorities repeatedly failed to bring her to the court. She had recently complained to the court that she was losing feeling in her hand and in a leg. The Zia Charitable Trust graft case was filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission in 2011. Zia's former political affairs secretary Harris Chowdhury, his former aide and former BIWTA acting director Ziaul Islam Munna, and former Dhaka mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka's personal secretary Monirul Islam Khan are the three others convicted in the case. Zia's party says the charges for both cases are politically motivated. Earlier in the day, Bangladesh's Supreme Court cleared the way for a lower court to deliver its verdict in the case by rejecting Zia's plea to halt the proceedings. The apex court rejected a leave-to-appeal petition filed by Zia challenging the High Court judgement that allowed a lower court to continue trial in the graft case in her absence. The court on September 20 decided to continue the trial inside the old Dhaka central jail in Zia's absence. The former premier on September 27 filed a revision petition with the High Court (HC) challenging the court's September 20 order. On October 14, the HC rejected the revision petition of Zia and cleared the way for the trial court to continue with its proceedings. Zia had skipped appearances in the case citing illness. On October 6, she was taken to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University hospital, where she is currently receiving treatment. By AFP YANGON: Two Myanmar Reuters journalists will file an appeal this week against a seven-year prison sentence linked to reporting on the Rohingya crisis, their defence lawyer said Monday. Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, were sentenced early September under a hardline state secrets act while investigating the massacre of 10 Rohingya Muslims during the military's bloody crackdown last year. Condemnation echoed around the world after what was widely regarded as a sham trial and an effort to silence media scrutiny of the army's campaign against the Rohingya. Defence lawyer Khin Maung Zaw told AFP that "everything is ready" for an appeal to be filed before the deadline on Saturday. Myanmar's civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi refused to intervene during the trial even though her government had the power to drop the charges. But Myanmar's president - a Suu Kyi proxy - could now pardon the pair. The appeal process should not affect the request for a presidential pardon, lawyer Khin Maung Zaw added. However, the High Court is likely to take up to five or six months to rule on the appeal, leaving the reporters in jail. "I'm quite confident," Khin Maung Zaw said. "But in our country, nothing is certain. Anything can happen. " If the High Court upholds the verdict, the reporters will appeal to the country's Supreme Court in a process that would take at least another six months. President Win Myint has issued pardons in the past and also intervened in the recent case of three reporters arrested over an article accusing the Yangon government of financial mismanagement. But Win Myint has so far refrained from commenting on the Reuters case. Pardoning Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo could antagonise the still-mighty military and stoke resentment from a public that is largely apathetic - if not hostile - towards the duo's plight. Many in Myanmar regard the Rohingya as illegal immigrants and have little sympathy for their cause. The military-led crackdown that started in August last year forced more than 720,000 Rohingya into sprawling camps in Bangladesh with refugees bringing horrific testimony of murder, rape and arson. UN investigators are urging for the prosecution of Myanmar's top generals for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court (ICC). Myanmar and its military vehemently reject the court's jurisdiction over the country and deny nearly all allegations of wrongdoing. They insist the campaign was a legitimate response to attacks by Rohingya militants. By Online Desk JAKARTA: The Indonesian Lion Air passenger jet feared to have crashed on Monday was carrying 189 passengers and crew when it went missing shortly after take-off, a transport ministry official said. The aircraft was carrying 178 adult passengers, one child and two babies, with two pilots and six flight attendants. The plane had requested to return to base before finally disappearing from the radar, said a statement. The aircraft, bound for Pangkal Pinang on the island of Bangka off the coast of Sumatra, lost contact with air traffic control around 6.30 am (2330 GMT), about 13 minutes after it took off. The jet was a 2-month old Boeing 737 MAX 8, according to air tracking service Flightradar 24. Lion Air, a low-cost airline, has been involved in a number of mishaps. Last year one of its Boeing jets collided with a Wings Air plane as it landed at Kualanamu airport on the island of Sumatra, although no one was injured. HERE ARE UPDATES: 7:45 pm: Pope Francis has conveyed his condolences to those affected by the crash of a jetliner minutes after taking off from Indonesia's capital, likely killing all 189 people on board. The Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, said in a telegram to the Vatican's representative in Indonesia that the pope "offers the assurance of his prayers for all who have died and for those who mourn their loss" following Monday's crash. 7:30 pm: Friends and relatives have offered their condolences to the parents of an Indian pilot who was flying a Lion Air plane that crashed in Indonesia. After receiving friends and relatives who rushed to their New Delhi home upon hearing news of the crash, the parents of pilot Bhavye Suneja left for New Delhi's airport to board a flight for the Indonesian capital. "Please pray for us," Suneja's sobbing mother said as she got into a car. A family friend, Anil Gupta, said Suneja's father was stunned and couldn't talk, and his sister and mother had not come out of their rooms. Relatives of passengers arrive at Lion Air's crisis centre at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Indonesia. (Photo | AP) 7 pm: The European Commission says it has no immediate plans to ban Indonesian airline Lion Air again after one of its planes crashed into the sea off Jakarta, likely killing all 189 people on board. Indonesian airlines were barred in 2007 from flying to Europe because of safety concerns. The ban was lifted for Lion Air in June 2016 and the countrywide ban was lifted completely in June this year. Commission spokesman Enrico Brivio said Monday that there "have been no indications that the safety levels at Lion Air or the safety oversight in Indonesia" were deteriorating. 6:10 pm: The official China News Service says a Chinese company, China Minsheng Investment Group Leasing Holdings Ltd., owned a Lion Air plane that crashed Monday with 189 aboard and leased it to the airline. CNS quoted CMIG Leasing as saying it was extremely sad about the accident and was in close contact with Lion Air, Boeing and other organizations. The company said it is a common practice for airlines to obtain large aircraft through leasing arrangements with third companies. 6 pm: Australia's foreign affairs ministry says Australian government officials and contractors "have been instructed not to fly on Lion Air or their subsidiary airlines" following the crash of a Lion Air jet carrying 189 people. The statement posted on the ministry's website said the decision will be reviewed when the findings of the crash investigation are clear. It said its overall level of travel advice for Indonesia was unchanged from its recommendation to exercise a high degree of caution. 5:10 pm: A search and rescue agency official says he's not expecting any survivors from the Lion Air plane that crashed into seas off Jakarta with 189 people aboard. The operations director at the agency, Bambang Suryo Aji, says the search effort is focusing on finding bodies. He said six body bags have been used so far for human remains recovered. Aji said the location of the plane hull hasn't been identified yet. The search is currently planned to last seven days and could be extended. 4:00 pm: Indonesian aviation and transport safety officials say a Lion Air plane that crashed into the sea with 189 people on board had been cleared by air traffic controllers to return to Jakarta's airport following a request from its pilot about two to three minutes after takeoff. 3:30 pm: An Indian Embassy official in Jakarta says one of the pilots of a Lion Air plane that crashed in Indonesia was an Indian citizen. The Indian Embassy in Jakarta condoles the loss of lives in the plane crash via Twitter. Our deepest condolences on the tragic loss of lives in the Lion Air Plane crash, off the coast of Jakarta today. Most unfortunate that Indian Pilot Bhavye Suneja who was flying JT610 also lost his life...Embassy is in touch with Crisis Center and coordinating for all assistance. pic.twitter.com/56lbxGSoJe India in Indonesia (@IndianEmbJkt) 29 October 2018 2:45 pm: Indonesian President Joko Widodo says he has ordered the National Commission for Transportation Safety to investigate crash of a Lion Air plane. In this photo released by Indonesian Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) a rescuer inspects debris believed to be from Lion Air passenger jet that crashed off West Java on Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. (Photo | AP) 1:50 pm: Lion Air's president says the plane that crashed into the sea Monday had a technical problem on its last flight that was resolved. 1:45 pm: Boeing says it is "deeply saddened" by the crash of a Lion Air off the Indonesian coast and offered to help with the investigation. 1:30 pm: Rescuers have released footage of plane debris and personal items floating in the water at the crash site. They have found handbags, clothing, cellphones, ID cards and drivers licenses. Items believed to be from the wreckage of Lion Air flight JT610 recovered off the coast of Indonesia. Photos taken by Pertamina Hulu Energy and released on the Twitter account of Sutopo Purwo Nugroho from Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency pic.twitter.com/w2TlszkRY7 AFP news agency (@AFP) 29 October 2018 1:00 pm: Lion Air has released the names of the flights captain, co-pilot and full crew. Lion Air has also turned their website and social media accounts to black-and-white. 12:50 pm: Delhi man Bhavye Suneja was the captain of the Indonesian Lion Air plane which crashed into the Java Sea Monday morning with 189 passengers on board, according to media reports. [READ FULL REPORT HERE] Bhavye Suneja (Photo | Facebook) 12:30 pm: Indonesias Search And Rescue Agency has released an official statement which says the reason for the crash is still unclear. The Emergency Local Transmitter beacon on the plane did not emit a distress signal. Thus, the crash of the plane was not monitored by the Medium Earth Orbital Local User Terminal at the Basarnas [Search and Rescue] head office. 11:45 am: Families are turning up at Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency headquarters in Jakarta for word of their loved ones. A relative of passengers prays as she and others wait for news on a Lion Air plane that crashed off Java Island at Depati Amir Airport in Pangkal Pinang, Indonesia Monday. (Photo | AP) 11:30 am: Indonesia's Finance Minister Sri Mulyani met with the agency chief, seeking information about 20 finance ministry staff who were on the flight. Aviation tracking website Flightradar24 says the Lion Air plane that crashed after takeoff from Jakarta was a brand-new aircraft that has only been in use for a couple of months. 11:00 am: Vessels searching in the water for the Flight 610 wreckage have found various items of debris. 10:30 am: Indonesia relies heavily on air transport to connect its thousands of islands but has a poor aviation safety record and has suffered several fatal crashes in recent years. [READ FULL REPORT HERE] 10:00 am: Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho posted photos on Twitter of debris including a crushed smartphone, books, bags and parts of the aircraft fuselage that had been collected by search and rescue vessels that have converged on the area. Saat ini tim SAR Basarnas melakukan penyelaman dikoordinat 05 derajat 90' 361" S - 107 derajat 06' 618" E untuk mencari pesawat Lion Air JT 610 yang jatuh di perairan Karawang Jawa Barat. pic.twitter.com/XK0UiSKyfH Sutopo Purwo Nugroho (@Sutopo_PN) October 29, 2018 9:30 am: 181 passengers, including one child and two babies, and seven crew members were on board, say officials. 9:00 am: A report to the Jakarta Search and Rescue Office cites the crew oftugboatoat reporting a Lion Air flight falling from the sky. It said several vessels have headed to the location. File photo of a Lion Air plane. (Photo | AFP) 8:00 am: Indonesia's Lion Air says it has lost contact with a passenger jet flying from Jakarta to an island off Sumatra. A search and rescue effort has been launched for the Boeing 737-800 plane which departed Jakarta about 6.20 a.m. on Monday. By PTI COLOMBO: Former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa Monday assumed charge as Sri Lanka's new Prime Minister after the surprise sacking of his predecessor Ranil Wickremesinghe by President Maithripala Sirisena which plunged the island nation into an unprecedented political crisis. Rajapaksa assumed the duties in the prime minister's secretariat which was not used by the ousted prime minister Wickremesinghe, officials from his Sri Lanka People's Party (SLPP) said. Sirisena on Friday night sacked Wickremesinghe and appointed Rajapaksa as the new prime minister in a surprise move that is being debated as a constitutional coup. 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. At least a few Cabinet members will to be sworn in later, the party officials said. "There will be ministers of finance, law and order, foreign and home affairs who would be sworn in," said a spokesman of the SLPP. Wickremesinghe continues to remain in his Temple Trees office cum residence of the prime minister. President Sirisena has summoned the Colombo-based diplomats for a briefing at 5 pm Monday. He is facing international pressure over his controversial decision to suspend parliament. UN chief Antonio Guterres and the US State Department have called on the country's government to respect democratic values and constitutional provisions and process. Speaker Jayasuriya, who had written to Sirisena over the issue of not consulting him in suspending parliament, visited the influential Buddhist chief monks in the central town of Kandy to apprise them on the ongoing political crisis. Jayasuriya told them that convening parliament was the only way to resolve the crisis. Wickremesinghe's United National Party (UNP) said that at least 128 MPs in the 225-member assembly have signed to call for an immediate reconvening of parliament. Rajapaksa was defeated in the 2015 presidential election by Sirisea who had the backing of Wickremesinghe's UNP. After a unity government, the political relationship soured between the two, leading to Wickremesinghe's sacking by Sirisena. The second largest opposition group in parliament Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) said they had asked the Speaker to convene parliament in order to end the political impasse. Rajapaksa in his statement last night called for a snap parliamentary election to end the impasse. The UNP said they rejected all personal allegations made by President Sirisena against Wickremesinghe. The city of Colombo was put under tight security with president Sirisena's official residence area being sealed off for normal traffic. By AFP FRANKFURT AM MAINE: German Chancellor Angela Merkel's coalition government on Sunday suffered a beating in a second key regional election in as many weeks, multiplying questions over the future of the veteran leader's fragile alliance. Weakened by a strong backlash against immigration after allowing over a million people into Germany since 2015, Merkel's fourth government has staggered from one crisis to the next since being formed earlier this year. According to an exit poll by public broadcaster ARD in Hesse state, Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) shed more than 11 points compared with 2013 for a 27.2-percent score, holding on to a much weakened first place. Meanwhile junior federal coalition partners the Social Democrats (SPD) tumbled almost the same amount to 19.8 percent, essentially tied for second place with the ecologist Greens, who almost doubled their result to 19.6 percent. Both the SPD and Merkel's CSU sister party had also seen grave losses in Bavaria's regional poll earlier this month. "It's very painful for the CDU that we've lost many votes," party general secretary Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer -- widely seen as Merkel's anointed successor -- acknowledged at a Berlin press conference. The result is another milestone in the long decline of the big-tent "people's parties" CDU and SPD that have dominated German politics for decades. Electoral momentum is on the side of newer parties, more tightly focused on a narrow range of issues. Propelled by the backlash to Merkel's migration policy into the German federal parliament last year, the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) is now also represented in all 16 state legislatures, after Hessian voters handed it a 13.2-percent score and fourth place. The protest party has eaten into both the CDU and SPD vote by railing against migrants and refugees as well as uncaring Berlin elites. The chancellor is weakened after three years of battling over her open borders decision. While migration and asylum policy has been sharply tightened since, it has not been enough to stop desertions to the AfD and disquiet in the CDU's own ranks. - 'Merkel's situation grave' - The Greens meanwhile are attracting voters who favour welcoming refugees, worry about climate change or are fed up with the indulging of car companies during a years-long scandal over harmful emissions from diesel vehicles. After 13 years with Merkel at the helm, most of them in coalition with the SPD, many Germans are tired of government by carefully-crafted compromise, calling instead for clear direction on pressing issues like migration, security, reform of the European Union and climate change. Nor did the veteran leader's fourth government get off to a good start after its formation earlier this year, with two rows over relatively minor points bringing it to the brink of collapse in the summer. "The situation for Merkel is grave," daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung judged late Sunday. "Now the question is whether we'll soon have to write 'in liquidation' after her coalition. And who would then be the insolvency administrator?" While the internal battles in her government have mostly been sparked between the CDU and the more conservative CSU, the Social Democrats have ended up footing a costlier bill in lost votes. The SPD has suffered a string of regional defeats and last year's worst national election score since the founding of the Federal Republic in 1949. "The state of the government is unacceptable," party general secretary Andrea Nahles said on Sunday. Berlin must find a "reasonable way of working", Nahles said, arguing that the dismal picture the two parties were painting in the capital had "significantly" contributed to the regional election blow. The CDU must now agree to a "clear, binding roadmap for politics in the interest of the citizens," she demanded, ahead of a previously-agreed "half-time review" next September. "Then we'll be able to check whether this government is still the right place for us," Nahles said -- implying the SPD may quit if Merkel does not offer new concessions. Short of an end to the coalition, internal frustration in the CDU could yet bubble up in a weak score for Merkel when she stands for re-election as party leader in December -- or even a surprise victory for a challenger. By PTI LONDON: Seven British men of Pakistani origin were on Monday found guilty of sexually grooming and abusing young girls in the northern England town of Rotherham. Mohammed Imran Ali Akhtar, 37, Asif Ali, 33, Tanweer Ali, 37, Salah Ahmed El-Hakam, 39, Nabeel Kurshid, 35, Iqlak Yousaf, 34, and a seventh man who cannot be named for legal reasons, were convicted after a trial at Sheffield Crown Court. The gang are due to be sentenced on November 16. The trial heard how they abused five young girls over a seven year period and were convicted of offences including rape and indecent assault. An eighth man, Ajmal Rafiq, 39, was found not guilty of one count of false imprisonment and one count of indecent assault. The convictions are the latest to come out of Operation Stovewood, the UK National Crime Agency's (NCA) investigation into child sexual exploitation in Rotherham, which has identified more than 1,500 victims. During the latest trial, the jury was told that the men preyed on the girls' vulnerability before they were sexually assaulted and passed on to other men. Prosecutor Michelle Colborne said the girls had been "lured by the excitement of friendship with older Asian youths" but were then "targeted, sexualised and in some instances subjected to acts of a degrading and violent nature". By AFP German nurse Niels Hoegel is on trial for at least 99 murders, having already been jailed for six, which would make him among the worst serial killers in recent history. Here are seven others: 'The Chessboard Killer' Russia's Alexander Pichushkin, then aged 33, was sentenced in 2007 to life in prison for 48 murders, most between 2002 and 2006. His victims were mainly elderly alcoholic men whom he met in a park outside Moscow. He threw them into a sewer where they drowned, later strangling or bludgeoning them with a hammer first after some managed to climb out. He threw one from a 16th floor. Pichushkin said he wanted to kill one person for each of the 64 squares on a chessboard, and crossed out a square for every kill, earning him his nickname. Chinese drifter Yang Xinhai was executed in China in 2004, aged 35, after murdering 67 people in a three-year rampage that ended with his capture in 2003. Characterised as an introverted drifter, he bicycled from one murder scene to the next, entering homes in rural areas and often slaughtering entire families using an axe, hammer or spade. Police listed robbery and rape as motives but Yang was also described as a deranged killer who simply enjoyed what he was doing. America's worst Gary Ridgway, a former truck painter, was handed 48 life sentences in 2003 after admitting to killing 48 prostitutes and runaways between 1982 and 1984, a murder spree that terrified Seattle. He was 54 years old at his conviction. Nicknamed the "Green River Killer" after the waterway where his first five victims were found, he is the most prolific serial killer in US history. 'Doctor Death' A family doctor in northern England, Harold Shipman was sentenced to life in prison in 2000 after being convicted of killing 15 of his elderly patients by giving them fatal doses of morphine. He hanged himself in prison in 2004, aged 57. An inquiry the following year found that Shipman, nicknamed "Doctor Death", had killed around 250 patients between 1971 and 1998, which made him the country's worst-ever serial killer. Travelling salesman Luis Alfredo Garavito, a travelling salesman, was jailed for 835 years in 2000 aged 42 for murdering 189 boys aged between eight and 16 over a five-year span until 1996. Known as "The Monster of Genova" after his birthplace in Colombia, Garavito met his victims by posing as a charity worker, salesman, monk or disabled person, among other disguises. He lured them with food and drink and usually slit the children's throats after raping and mutilating them. Some were beheaded. Four of the murders took place in Ecuador. Russian butcher In 1992 Russian Andrei Chikatilo, 56, was sentenced to death for 52 sexually motivated killings of women, children and young people between 1978 and 1990. The former teacher, known as the "Butcher of Rostov" after the area in southern Russia where he was particularly active, was executed in 1994. 'Monster of the Andes' In 1980 Colombian Pedro Lopez Monsalve was arrested at a market in Ecuador after attempting to abduct a young girl. He later confessed to having strangled at least 310 children from poor backgrounds in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. Initially accused of rape and murder of four children, the "Monster of the Andes" led police to a field where the bodies of 53 young girls were buried. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison, the maximum term in Ecuador, and extradited in 1994 to Colombia where he was interned in a psychiatric hospital. Freed several years later, he disappeared and would today be aged around 70. By PTI BEIJING: China on Monday said it is closely monitoring "the political turmoil" in Sri Lanka but maintained that it is the internal affairs of the country and hoped that the relevant political parties can resolve their differences through dialogue and consultations. Sri Lanka had plunged into political crisis since President Maithripala Sirisena sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe and appointed pro-China former president Mahinda Rajapaksa as his successor. ALSO READ | Mahinda Rajapaksa assumes charge as new Sri Lankan Prime Minister Asked about China's stand on the current political crisis in Sri Lanka considering that Beijing has made huge investments in the island nation, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told media here that China is following the crisis closely. "China and Sri Lanka are friendly neighbours. We are closely following the changes in the situation in Sri Lanka," he said. China, he said will always follow the principle of non-interference in internal affairs of other countries. "The changes in Sri Lankan situation belongs to its internal affairs. We believe the Sri Lankan government political parties and people have enough wisdom to deal with the internal situation," he said. "China sincerely hopes that the relevant parties in Sri Lanka can properly resolve differences through dialogue and consultations and safeguard the national stability and development," he said. On being questioned about the Chinese Ambassador in Sri Lanka Cheng Xueyuan meeting both Rajapaksa and Wickramasinghe, Lu said "we have maintained communication with relevant political parties in Sri Lanka. Chinese Ambassador met respectively Wickramasinghe and the new Prime Minister and exchanged views on bilateral relations with the two". The reference Rajapaksa as "new Prime Minister" by the spokesman was seen as significant by the observers here considering that Wickramasinghe maintains that he is still the Prime Minister. Reports from Colombo said Chinese Premier Li Keqiang greeted Rajapaksa, though Lu did not respond to the question. China has developed high stakes in Sri Lanka since it made over USD eight billion Chinese investments, including the Hambantota port and the Colombo port project during the tenure of Rajapaksa who is widely regarded as pro-China. China is investing billions of dollars in infrastructure and developments in Sri Lanka since 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. Sirisena government subsequently gave Hambantota port on a 99-year lease to China for USD 1.1 billion debt swap deal raising concerns in India as Beijing stepped its presence in the Indian Ocean region. Zong Xing (3rd L), Vice President of the Buddhist Association of China, answers questions at a press conference for the fifth World Buddhist Forum in Putian, southeast China's Fujian Province, Oct. 28, 2018. A record number of over 1,000 Buddhists, scholars and representatives from 55 countries and regions attended the fifth World Buddhist Forum, which will last until Oct. 30.(Xinhua/Wei Peiquan) PUTIAN, Fujian, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- The fifth World Buddhist Forum opened in the city of Putian, east China's Fujian Province, on Sunday. A record number of over 1,000 Buddhists, scholars and representatives from 55 countries and regions will attend the three-day event, which is jointly hosted by the Buddhist Association of China and China Religious Culture Communication Association. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sent a congratulatory letter, so did Buddhist organizations in countries including Japan, the Republic of Korea, Canada, the United States, Russia, Cambodia and the Philippines. The forum aims to carry forward the positive Buddhist cultural spirits, promote exchanges between Buddhism and other religions, and make contributions to building a community with a shared future for humanity, said Xiao Hong, deputy secretary-general of the China Religious Culture Communication Association. Seven parallel sessions on Buddhism and Maritime Silk Road, Buddhism and philanthropy, Buddhism and environment protection, and Buddhism in other parts of the world will be held. The World Buddhist Forum was initiated by the Buddhist circles in the Chinese mainland, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao in 2005. By AFP GAZA STRIP: Three Palestinians were killed Sunday in an Israeli air strike on the Gaza Strip, the health ministry in the enclave said. Ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said emergency crews were transporting the bodies of the dead, who appeared to be in their early teens, to hospital in Gaza. The Israeli military said that one of its aircrafts had fired on a group of Palestinians near the Gaza border. "A short while ago, three Palestinians approached the security fence in the southern Gaza Strip, attempted to damage it and were apparently involved in placing an improvised explosive device adjacent to it," a statement said. "In response, an IDF (Israel Defence Forces) aircraft fired towards them." Tensions have been high along the Gaza-Israel frontier since Palestinians began a wave of border protests in March. At least 217 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in the months of demonstrations and clashes along the border. One Israeli soldier has been killed during the violence over the same period. Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza, run by Islamist movement Hamas, have fought three wars since 2008. Several military flare-ups have occurred in the months since the protests began, prompting fears of a new war between the two sides. The latest came when Palestinian militants from Friday into Saturday 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. Israel says it holds Hamas responsible for any violence coming from the Gaza Strip and has accused the group of using the protests as a cover to attack its border. By AFP WASHINGTON: The US State Department on Sunday called on Sri Lanka's President to "immediately reconvene parliament" to allow representatives there to quell a violent constitutional crisis sparked by the prime minister's sudden sacking. "We urge all sides to refrain from intimidation and violence," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement. "We call on the President, in consultation with the Speaker, to immediately reconvene parliament and allow the democratically elected representatives of the Sri Lankan people to fulfill their responsibility to affirm who will lead their government." President Maithripala Sirisena fired Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Friday and installed a former strongman as the new prime minister, triggering political chaos in the Indian Ocean nation. Police said one man was killed and two people were injured Sunday when bodyguards for Petroleum Minister Arjuna Ranatunga, a Wickremesinghe loyalist, fired live rounds as a mob allied to the president threatened the cabinet member. Wickremesinghe has refused to vacate the prime minister's official residence since being controversially deposed, declaring his dismissal illegal and demanding an emergency session of parliament to prove he still commands a majority. By Associated Press PARIS: Foreign fighters, including many Europeans, took a leading role in carrying out the Islamic State group's atrocities against minority Yazidis, an international human rights group said Thursday, citing testimony and documentation from survivors of an organized system of killing and enslavement. In a report, the Paris-based International Federation for Human Rights emphasized how foreign fighters led organized rape and slavery devised by the Islamic State group's Iraqi hierarchy. It said the actions amounted to genocide and crimes against humanity, and called for the extremist group's members to be prosecuted as war criminals. In one online chat room, an Islamic State fighter offered to trade a Yazidi captive for a pair of Adidas sneakers. Another offered his gun. The group not only bought and sold Yazidi women and girls, but also young boys who would be taught to fight and indoctrinated to turn against their own people. "For the survivors to speak, to testify, is not an easy thing. It puts their lives in danger and it puts their story and their lives in public and nobody wants to do that," said Nadia Murad, co-winner of this year's Nobel Peace Prize. She was among thousands of women and girls from the Yazidi minority who were kidnapped and enslaved in 2014. "But because it's important for us to make sure justice is done, it's important for Yazidis, survivors have come forward and spoken about their stories," she added. The rights group believes around half of the estimated 6,800 Yazidis taken captive are still missing. Women and girls from the minority who escaped described an organized system of slavery overseen by high-ranking foreign fighters. In 2016, The Associated Press reported that Islamic State had devised a system of photographing Yazidi girls and women, and had created a database both to prevent their escape and to facilitate exchanges between members of the group. Islamic State members in general face terrorism charges in quick trials in Iraq. The rights group wants them tried before an international tribunal or brought home to face charges, and for Yazidis to have a role in the reckoning. Despite the testimony from hundreds if not more Yazidis of the horrors they endured on a massive scale, Murad said there had yet to be a trial involving the crimes against Yazidis. "The end goal for all of us is to make sure justice is done and to prosecute those who committed crimes against us," she said. "We will continue to fight until justice is done." Weijie Chen (right), the Honorary Director of the Australia Institute of Chinese Traditional Culture, and Weimin Tang, the initiator of the Australia Institute of Chinese Traditional Culture, attend the ceremony. The International Exchange Center of Fujian Culture (China) held its inauguration in Sydney on Oct. 28, 2018. Sponsored by the Fujian Provincial Department of Culture and the Australia Institute of Chinese Traditional Culture, this is the first Fujian culture center in Oceania following centers being opened in Malaysia and the Philippines. The International Exchange Center of Fujian Culture (China) will serve the cultural needs of overseas Chinese through cultural exchanges, cultural trade, and cultural communication. It will provide information about Fujian culture to mainstream society and get close to local people. It will also act as a window for exhibitions relating to Fujian culture, a platform for experiencing cultural products and services, a place for foreign cultural exchanges, and a hub for foreign cultural trade. Local residents visit the exhibition. During the ceremony, Zhao Bing, the Director of the Australia Institute of Chinese Traditional Culture, introduced the institute's development process. He said the Australia Institute of Chinese Traditional Culture would make great efforts to build a culture station and play its role in cultural exchange. The International Exchange Center of Fujian Culture (China) will present the colorful Fujian culture to the public, letting people see Australia's tolerance and its harmonious coexistence of diverse culture. It is expected to promote cultural exchanges between the two countries through the construction of a cultural center. Secretary for Food & Health Prof Sophia Chan will travel to Beijing on October 28. In Beijing, Prof Chan will foster closer ties and enhance exchanges with Mainland authorities in matters relating to food safety and the supply of agricultural food to Hong Kong. She will meet officials from the General Administration of Customs, the Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Commerce and the Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office of the State Council. Prof Chan will also sign a protocol with the General Administration of Customs on the importation of bird's nest products into the Mainland. The draft arrangements for the inspection and quarantine of the import of bird's nest products from Hong Kong were signed in December last year, she said. The formal signing of the protocol will help foster the trade of bird's nests between the two places, Prof Chan added. She will return to Hong Kong in the evening of October 29. (Photo/Pudong Times) A themed photography exhibition was held on the morning of Oct. 24 in Singapore to celebrate the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up and also the 28th anniversary of Shanghais Pudong new area, Pudong Times reported on Oct. 25. A total of 60 photographs are currently on display at the China Cultural Center (Singapore), demonstrating a breathtaking change over the past 28 years development and opening-up in Shanghai's Pudong area, once a coastal area made up of mudflats which is now a modern district, displaying vitality and prosperity. Hong Xiaoyong (3rd from right), Chinese ambassador to Singapore and Low Yen Ling (2nd from right), Parliamentary secretary, Ministry of Trade and Industry & Ministry of Education, attend the exhibition. (Photo/Pudong Times) The exhibition was co-organized by Shanghai Pudong New Area Cultural Radio and Television Bureau, and the Chinese cultural centers in Singapore, Russia, Spain and Belarus, with future plans to meet the public in Beijing. More than 200 representatives from Chinese enterprises, Singaporean companies, businesses, and academic associations and organizations attended the opening ceremony in Singapore. (Photo/Pudong Times) On the same day, a series of lectures on China's reform and opening-up from Singapores perspective were also held at the same venue. Together with the photo exhibition, visitors can get a glimpse of the process and successes of China's reform and opening-up. (Photo/Pudong Times) (Photo/Pudong Times) Zanu-PF yesterday described as treasonous claims by MDC-Alliance vice president Mr Morgan Komichi that the opposition party had installed Mr Nelson Chamisa as national president and warned against playing with fire. In an interview yesterday, Zanu-PF Secretary for Information and Publicity Cde Simon Khaya Moyo also said the attempt by Mr Chamisa to light the so-called independence flame was a kindergarten spectacle. The MDC-Alliance held its 19th anniversary at Gwanzura Stadium on Saturday where Mr Chamisa threatened mass protests against Government and reiterated that he disputes the results of the July 30 harmonised elections won by President Mnangagwa and Zanu-PF with over two thirds majority. Mr Chamisa claims the polls were rigged, but failed to provide evidence after challenging the election results in the Constitutional Court. In his address to party supporters, Mr Chamisa said the protests would be modelled along the Arab Springs of 2010-11, which toppled leaders in Egypt, Tunisia and Libya. Yesterdays political circus at the MDC-Alliance celebration at Gwanzura Stadium where those who attended were hoodwinked into believing that Nelson Chamisa is the president of Zimbabwe following the July 30, 2018 harmonised elections resembled a kindergarten spectacle. In fact, the announcement by Morgan Komichi at the rally that his boss had been duly bestowed as the president of Zimbabwe borders on treason and is condemnable, said Cde Khaya-Moyo. The fact that Chamisa was invited to the podium to light up what he termed the democracy flame, which resembled the countrys Independence Flame, is an insult to the protracted liberation struggle which led to independence in 1980 and an affront to the people of Zimbabwe as a whole. The MDC-Alliance leadership must bear the consequence of such misguided conduct and avoid playing with fire. Cde Khaya Moyo said President Mnangagwa was duly elected as Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces in a free, fair and credible election endorsed by local, regional and international organisations. The entire world recognised this reality. The next harmonised elections are due in 2023. Now is the time to promote unity, peace and development. Political childish games and seeking undeserved relevance must come to an end. Zimbabwe is not for sale, said Cde Khaya Moyo. In his address, Mr Chamisa said he would soon embark on a countrywide tour to mobilise his supporters to take to the streets. He said they intended to march to State House. When we do this we want to have a clear plan on what date we start and to the day we end. We will not go back home until we achieve the intended plan. We will show (President) Mnangagwa the power that people have, said Mr Chamisa, who last week was talking about the need for a transitional authority in the country despite Zanu-PF having won a clear majority. Herald Install the Newser News app in two easy steps: 1. Tap in your navigation bar. 2. Tap to Add to Home Screen. (Newser) 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, the AP reports. 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. story continues below 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. 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. "Brazil has never needed the exercise of citizenship more than right now," he said. "Don't be afraid. We are here. We are together!" Brazil's top electoral court said Bolsonaro won with just over 55% of the vote, compared with just under 45% for Haddad. (Read more Jair Bolsonaro stories.) (Newser) Numerous Hollywood heavy hitters have donated to the Stacey Abrams campaign, but Will Ferrell has gone further than most. The actor went door-to-door for the Democrat's campaign for governor over the weekend, encouraging people to vote early, TMZ reports. "If you guys turn out, there is no question," he told voters during a stop at Kennesaw State University, per the Hollywood Reporter. He gives a thumbs-up in a photo shared on Twitter. Abrams, who is seeking to become the nation's first black female governor, is locked in a tight race with Brian Kemp, Georgia's Republican secretary of state. (Abrams has accused Kemp of using his job to try to suppress the black vote.) (Newser) As authorities try to pin down a motive in what the New York Times calls Cesar Sayoc's alleged "spree of bubble-wrapped terror," members of his estranged family are trying to convince him to seek mental health care and retain a good lawyer. Sayocwho CNN notes is expected to be formally charged with five federal crimes Monday afternoonhasn't been on decent terms with his mom and two sisters for four years, but they sent a handwritten note Sunday to the Florida detention center where he's being held (though guards turned it away). "Despite the lack of contact and all of these years, they love him, and they only want to make sure he gets the help that he needs," says Ronald Lowy, a lawyer for the family, who himself has represented Sayoc in the past. story continues below Seeking help for Sayoc, 56, isn't a new development. "The family has always from a young age encouraged him to get treatment," Lowy tells USA Today. "He refuses. He gets angry. He says, 'I hate you, you think I'm abnormal.' He just won't see reality." One of his sisters tells the Times, "I thank God he hasn't hurt anybody" and agrees her brother has pushed back on getting help for years. She also notes his troubles began when his father left the family when he was a boy, followed by his evolution into an "introverted teenager" who ate alone in his room and may have struggled with dyslexia. The final rift between Sayoc and his family came when his mother told him he couldn't use her address anymore to get his mail. More here on what appears to be a troubled life, including his nomadic lifestyle and, finally, when he "just started getting weirder." (Sayoc has a long criminal history.) (Newser) They set sail aboard the Carnival Fantasy, but a Florida couple's experience aboard the cruise ship was less fantasy, more creepy nightmare. While some couples find towels adorably folded into the shapes of animals in their cabins, Chris and Dana White say they instead stumbled upon a hidden camera pointed at their bed, ensconced in TV wires in their room on Carnival's Fantasy, which was sailing out of Mobile, Ala., last October. The couple tell Inside Edition in an interview that aired Monday that they were "flabbergasted" to spot the camera, and that their "privacy had been invaded." "I was thinking, 'I can't believe this is actually happening to us,'" Chris White says. They're talking to the media now because they don't think the cruise line properly dealt with the issue when they reported it, saying a rep for Carnival initially told them the device wasn't a camera. story continues below In a statement to USA Today, Carnival calls the incident with the Whites a "unique and unusual one" and says that while a "video transmitter" was indeed found after a full probe, the transmitter "was not connected to an electrical source and not capable of recording." Chris White shakes his head at that, saying the device was "wired up working [and] warm to the touch." Newsweek notes one other "bizarre" cruise ship incident that took place in September, this time involving a Royal Caribbean ship out of Australia. In that case, about 1,300 employees from an Indian tobacco company booked a vacation on the Voyager of the Seas and basically ran "amok" with women they brought aboard dressed as Playboy Bunnies. (Passengers say there was a "bloodbath" on a Carnival ship earlier this year.) (Newser) A Lion Air passenger jet crashed into the sea after taking off from Jakarta, Indonesia, on Mondayand no survivors from the 189 people on board have been found. The airline says the Boeing 737 Max 8, a brand new aircraft, was carrying 181 passengers, including two infants, and eight crew members, the AP reports. Flight data shows that Flight JT610, en route to Pangkal Pinang on the island of Bangka, made a sudden, sharp dive into the sea after losing contact with controllers 13 minutes into the flight, the Guardian reports. Authorities say the flight crashed into waters off West Java that are around 100 feet. story continues below Search and rescue officials say debris including parts of the fuselage and the possessions of passengers has been recovered from the area, but there is no sign of any survivors. The passengers included at least 20 employees of Indonesia's finance ministry, who had been returning to ministry offices in Pangkal Pinang after spending the weekend in Jakarta, the BBC reports. Officials at Lion Air, Indonesia's largest low-cost airline, say they don't understand why the crash happenedespecially since the aircraft involved was made this year and has only been in service with the airline since August 15. This is the first known crash involving a Max 8. (An "ancient" plane was involved in an earlier deadly crash in Indonesia.) (Newser) There's no word on motive yet, just grim facts: Curtis Adams, a 21-year-old active-duty sailor pulled over after 2am Saturday to help what he perceived to be a stranded driver in Mountain View, Calif. San Diego police said the Good Samaritan was "immediately shot" upon exiting his car, reports the Times of San Diego. Police have arrested a suspect in the shooting: Brandon Acuna, 21. He faces charges of first-degree murder and second-degree burglary. story continues below NBC San Diego reports Adams was in the car with his girlfriend heading southbound on Interstate 15; she called 911 around 2:20am to report the shooting. The car Acuna was in promptly took off, and he was later apprehended when the California Highway Patrol sighted the car and alerted San Diego police. Police say that 10 minutes before allegedly shooting Adams, Acuna shot at a man in Mount Hope who saw him trying to break into his car. (Tragedy for these twins who tried to help a driver.) (Newser) It looks like the beginning of the end for Angela Merkel's long tenure as Germany's chancellor. After her ruling party under-performed in state elections, Merkel told leaders of her Christian Democratic Union that this would be her final parliamentary term as chancellor, reports the AP. The current term ends in late 2021, and it's uncertain whether Merkel will be able to remain even that long. Earlier reports said Merkel informed CDU leaders that she would quickly step down as party leader but remain as chancellor, a post she has held since 2005. She has been CDU leader since 2000. The Wall Street Journal sees even that move as a "watershed moment" for Merkel, and not in a good way. story continues below It's not unprecedented for a German chancellor not to be leader of the ruling partyin fact that situation briefly applied to Merkel's predecessor, Gerhard Schroeder, reports the AP. Schroeder lasted only a year, however, and Merkel has long insisted that the positions be jointly held. Here is how the Washington Post puts it: "While her departure would not automatically result in her stepping down as German chancellor, the move is an acknowledgment of her increasingly volatile position." On a similar note, the Guardian expects a race to begin immediately within the CDU for the next chancellor. (Read more Angela Merkel stories.) Chinese white dolphins (Chinanews.com/Hai Yang) A pod of Chinese white dolphins was spotted near the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, the worlds longest sea-crossing bridge, which opened on Tuesday, with experts stressing that the construction of the new bridge will not affect the rare marine mammals. Nicknamed the giant panda of the sea, the Chinese white dolphin is now guarded under first-class state protection. According to WWF, the population inhabiting the Pearl River Estuary, including Hong Kong, is believed to be around 2,500, though there has been a worrisome decrease in the number of young dolphins sighted in Hong Kong waters over recent years. In response to public concern that the newly opened bridge could jeopardize the habitat of the dolphins, Yu Lie, deputy director of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Authorities, told Xinhua on Wednesday that the new bridge will not affect the white dolphins, while a new institution will be established to monitor and protect the endangered animals living around the bridge area. Weve promised that the dolphins will remain where they are despite the construction of the bridge. No dolphin was injured and killed during the construction of the bridge, Yu added. Echoing Yu, Chen Hailiang, director of the Pearl River Estuary Chinese White Dolphin Reserve, told Xinhua that by minimizing the impact of the bridge on the dolphin, China hopes to set an example of a balance between marine development and environmental protection. Initiated by authorities in Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao, a new alliance will be set up to boost cooperation among conservation groups in those regions, to better protect the animals, said Chen. According to experts, a surveillance system that covers the whole bridge, as well as two artificial islands around it, will work round-the-clock to supervise the sound, flow and air condition of the dolphins habitat. The 55 km bridge, situated in the Lingdingyang waters of the Pearl River Estuary, connects the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), Zhuhai and the Macao SAR. The bridge marks the first time Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao have build a supergiant sea-crossing traffic project under the principle of "one country, two systems," according to Xinhua. (Newser) A same-sex Texas couple explained to ABC News what the traditional route for birthing a baby in their situation is: Use donor sperm, have one woman carry the baby, and have the other woman adopt the child. Ashleigh and Bliss Coulter of Mountain Springs mixed up that process in a history-making way: Both moms carried the baby. Here's how: Effortless Reciprocal IVF. In layman's terms, the process allowed Bliss to carry the embryo for five days as it formed, and that embryo was then transplanted into Ashleigh, who carried the child, a son named Stetson, to term. He was born in June. story continues below ABC News gets more technical, explaining that in Effortless IVF, the egg and sperm are joined in something called an INVOcell capsule. That capsule is then inserted into a woman's vagina. As the Coulters' fertility doctor, Dr. Kathy Doody of the CARE Fertility in Bedford, explains, "the woman has kidneys, a liver, and lungs, which allow the body [to act] as a natural incubator." Typically, after the embryo is removed, it's ultimately implanted into the same woman. KVUE notes that by bypassing the use of a lab incubator, the couple cut the cost way down: Their process runs about $8,000, versus $15,000 to $20,000 for Reciprocal IVF with that incubator. Another same-sex couple in Texas underwent the same procedure and had a girl in September. (Here's how to get pregnant at 50 without IVF.) (Newser) Judah Samet arrived at Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh at 9:49am Saturday, delayed four minutes because of a conversation with his housekeeper. Those four minutes likely saved the 80-year-old's life. "If I was inside the synagogue, I would be in the line of fire," Samet tells Forward as he recounts the 11 victims, where they sat, and what they were like; he knew almost all of them after 55 years at Tree of Life, where he had led morning services for years and chanted the Torah for four decades. story continues below Samet, who turned 7 while at Germany's Bergen-Belsen concentration camp during the Holocaust and also spent more than five years at an orphanage in Israel after his parents died, says someone knocked on his window as he arrived to warn him there was a shooter. He saw the gunman exchange fire with police officers in the parking lot, bullets whizzing by his car. But "I survived the second time yesterday," he tells the Washington Post. Did memories of the Holocaust come to him as he sat watching the shooting, the deadliest attack against Jews in US history? "I said, 'It never stops,'" he recalls. (Muslims have raised more than $100,000 for synagogue victims.) (Newser) Princess Ayako of Japan on Monday wed Kei Moriya at Tokyo's Meiji Shrineand became Princess Ayako no more. Per imperial law, in choosing not to marry a royal, the 28-year-old had to give up her royal status. She'll be given a parting sum of $950,000 from the Japanese government, CNN reports. Ayako is the daughter of the emperor's cousin, and Moriya, 32, works for major shipping company Nippon Yusen. She bid farewell to Emperor Akihito last week. After emerging from the shrine, she said, "I will leave the imperial family today, but I will remain unchanged in my support for his majesty and her majesty." story continues below The AP describes their wedding as a "ritual-filled ceremony" that involved sharing a cup of sake. She wore a Heian-era style hairdo, which is swept back into a ponytail, and a traditional robe splashed with red and green patterns, while Moriya wore coattails. She later changed into a red Japanese robe. "I am filled with happiness," she told reporters after the ceremony. Ayako and Moriya met because their mothers were friends and they hit it off immediately. Moriya said he had been attracted to her gentle spirit. "And I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her," he said. (The eldest granddaughter of the emperor is set to marry a commoner in 2020, and it's been a bit of a bumpy ride.) (Newser) Much has been written about the December 2017 deaths of Canadian pharmaceuticals billionaire Barry Sherman, 75, and his wife, Honey, 70, who were found strangled with belts along a railing in their mansion's indoor pool. Much less has been said, at least recently, about where Toronto police are in the investigation. Maybe nowhere, reports Matthew Campbell for Bloomberg Businessweek. Their "most recent substantive update" came in January, when they rebranded the case as a double-homicide investigation, not a murder-suicide one. A police rep in October told the publication there was no new info. "It looks increasingly unlikely that anyone will be arrested for their murders," writes Campbell, who digs into Sherman's personality, his intelligence, and the path to the business that would make him rich, via Apotex Inc. story continues below Everyone has his or her own pet theory on the deaths, and Campbell talks to three people close to Sherman who chime in with theirs. One is Frank D'Angelo, a brash and unusual business partner (the two went in on juice, energy drink, and beer enterprises, and Sherman bankrolled may of his B-movies, which included the likes of Sicilian Vampire). D'Angelo, for his part, thinks "somebody came to make Barry an offer he couldnt refuse, and he refused." Estranged cousin Kerry Winter, who is locked in a still-ongoing legal battle with Sherman's estate over Apotex, thinks it was Sherman himself who did the killings. Jack Kay, now CEO of Apotex, was more aligned with D'Angelo in his thinking. Campbell doesn't share his own theory, but he does flag Sherman's "affinity, if not affection, for inadvisable financial relationships." Read the full piece here, or read about what the couple's kids found odd about their deaths. (Read more Longform stories.) Im surprised to be talking about time zones again for the second time this year (the first time was here), but such are the sensitivities surrounding Brexit, and in particular the thorny issue of what happens on the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, that an issue like the abolition of daylight savings time throughout Europe inevitably ends up being used in the increasingly bitter feud about Britains exit from the European Union. In this particular case, the proposal is for a Directive to discontinue seasonal changes of time across the European Union. The European Commission conducted a survey to ask the opinion of the entire population of the European Union and received a response from 4.6 million people, which is the biggest response ever received in any public consultation by the European Commission. Although the responses should be taken with a pinch of salt (70% of them came from Germany and, unsurprisingly the United Kingdom had the lowest response rate out of all 28 member states, with well below 0.25% of the population expressing an opinion), there was a clear preference to stop putting the clocks forward or back twice a year. Some 76% of respondents said they had a negative or very negative experience of the time change and 84% were in favour of abolishing it. Despite the high approval rates, some fear this could lead to the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland having two different times in the unlikely event that the UK does not align its legislation with that of the EU once it has left. Yet the same situation already exists between Portugal (UTC + 0) and its only neighbour Spain (UTC +1), as well as Sweden (UTC +1) and Finland (UTC +2). The big difference is that populations in these countries havebeen getting along peacefully for a long time. The situation on the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, on the other hand, has only been stable since the Good Friday Agreement of 1996. Enterprising watch brands could help to avoid any confusion by promoting their dual time watches on the Emerald Isle. His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, yesterday gave a wide-ranging presentation on Bahrains progress and plans for the future at the Bahrain Government Forum 2018. Speaking at the event, the Crown Prince began by noting that Bahrains Economic Vision 2030, launched in 2008, has been pursued in line with its three founding principles: sustainability, competitiveness, and fairness. Despite challenges faced over the past decade, the Vision has helped to ensure Bahrains development is based on strong economic fundamentals, with non-oil sector growth standing at 5 percent in 2017, and FDI forecast to be $650 million in 2018, up from $65 million in 2008. Over the last 12 months, the government has made significant progress in delivering the Visions core priorities by supporting private sector growth as the main engine of economic development, encouraging greater innovation, and enhancing citizens living standards. As part of the Government Action Plan (2015-2018), a range of new laws have been passed in collaboration with Parliament in the last year, including measures regulating bankruptcy and real estate development. The Crown Prince also detailed the governments recently announced Fiscal Balance Programme, which aims to align government revenues with economic growth and eliminate Bahrains budget deficit by 2022. A team of police has succeeded in busting drug ring controlled by two Nigerian men and four Bahraini men. According to police, the ring was run by a Bahraini prisoner from his cell and he was assisted by his father, brother and Bahraini friend. The racket was busted after the police received a tip-off that a Bahraini prisoner, who is serving jail time in connection with a drug case, was operating a drug smuggling network in coordination with Nigerian men as well as his father, brother and a Bahraini friend. Subsequently, the Nigerian man was arrested at the airport and over three kilograms of shabu and one kilogram of heroin was seized from him. He told us that a Bahraini man would receive him outside the airport, but he didnt know his identity. Therefore, we allowed him to leave after he pledged to help us arrest the other man, a customs officer told prosecutors. A Bahraini man accused his wife of adultery to escape from paying alimony, the victims lawyer Abdullah Marashda told Tribune. However, his claim was rejected by the Lower Criminal Court. The plaintiff s brother saw a man on the roof of their house and he alerted police officers. The police team came to his house and arrested the man, the lawyer said. The Lower Criminal Court has ordered a Bahraini man to pay his ex-wife BD1,000 in compensation for deserting after impregnating her. The defendant was also accused of spreading rumors against his ex-wife as well as attacking her honor. He left her after coming to know that their baby boy was suffering from a serious illness. He just wanted to evade himself from the responsibilities. He even complained that the baby wasnt his, victims lawyer Shereen Ghazali said. With only a little over two months remaining for VAT implementation, taking help from tax experts may be necessary for medium and large enterprises who are yet to start VAT implementation, according to a leading tax expert. It may not be late for medium and large enterprises to start a full implementation of VAT on their own, if they have developed a robust implementation plan, said Abhishek Jajoo, Managing Partner and CEO, AJMS International Management Consultancy. According to Mr Jajoo, Businesses must set up a Steering Committee/Project Coordination Committee comprising representatives from Finance, Supply Chain, IT, HR and Marketing Departments as part of the implementation process. If the knowledge is not available in-house, businesses may seek third-party expert support. This is to identify gaps, assess the impact of VAT on cash-flow, pricing, and profitability including transition issues, Contracts and Transactions review for proper VAT treatment, IT migration for generating Tax Invoice, proper VAT Accounting, and VAT Return filing preparation, Recordkeeping and other documentation among others, he said. Small businesses also need to take urgent steps to prepare for VAT. In reality, small enterprises have to take a business call on implementing VAT in its true spirit and content. Many readymade, off-the-shelf VAT-enabled accounting packages are available. They just need to zero-down on one and get going with it. Training is required without a doubt. But no amount of training, light-reading of VAT Law or a course on VAT would be totally helpful considering the short-time at hand before VAT Law becomes effective. The law is expected to be implemented from 1st January 2019, said Hemant Mundhra, Director, Indirect Taxation at AJMS International Management Consultancy. On the lessons learned from VAT implementation in neighbouring countries, he said, Bahrain is blessed to have its two neighbouring countries successfully implemented VAT in record time. Teething issues in implementation of VAT are known around. First and foremost, a business must orient, educate and train its employees about basics of VAT implementation. Be it VAT Treatment of its transactions, Transition issues, generation of Tax Invoice, preparedness for VAT Return filing and importance of Recordkeeping and documentation. Communicate with customers and suppliers about chargeability of VAT and impending changes to contracts and agreements terms is of paramount importance. Giving a broader economic analysis, Muhammad Zubair, Director, Business Advisory at AJMS International Management Consultancy, said that people may not necessarily spend less as a result of VAT. He said, Lets look at it this in a positive way. Any major economic change makes people sit back and take a closer look at their decisions and actions. Implementation of VAT in Bahrain is one of the major economic changes. People may not spend less but they will spend judiciously, weighing their options and priorities. Explaining how tax experts can help businesses, Ram Prasad, Partner at AJMS International Management Consultancy, said, We are exactly aware of challenges in VAT laws and its implications and interpretations. Our major strength lies in having a pool of resources drawn from various industry segments, which have implemented VAT in other parts of the world including the KSA and the UAE. We dont have to go through trial and error method for implementing VAT. We study every clients businesses at depth, their legal structure, contracts, transactions, business processes, system process and analyse the impact of VAT on various model in respective VAT implementation process. In addition, we train the key resources of the business to be superuser of VAT law requirements and get them ready to issue its first Tax Invoice and file its first VAT Return. The Kingdom plans to introduce Value Added Tax (VAT), a broadbased indirect tax levied on the consumption of goods and services, from January 1, 2019 at a standard rate of 5 per cent. Few items of goods and services are either zero-rated or exempt. Certain Zero-rated items and Exemptions will be subject to satisfying conditions and procedures to be outlined in the Regulations. The VAT Law states that detailed Regulations are expected to be issued within 15 days after the effective date of VAT. STEP BY STEP GUIDE VAT Framework involve understanding local legislation, its implementation and compliance. Below diagram depicts the key steps in implementation of VAT regulations in ones organization: As outlined in the diagram above, all businesses may need to conduct a VAT Health Check, to determine key areas of focus for implementation. This also enables the businesses to decide on group v/s standalone registration. As outlined in VAT law, all businesses need to register for VAT with tax bureau if they meet the mandatory registration threshold criteria i.e. $100,000 of taxable supply (or its equivalent in the GCC State currencies) or as in special cases. Out of all these Steps, Impact Assessment and Transitional issues assumes greatest importance considering the unique position of Bahrain economy with regard to its first tryst with Tax System. This must be managed well so that introduction of VAT has minimal or no effect at all on the cost of doing business. Transitional Issues may relate to the areas of VAT Framework, Human Resources, IT, Procurement, Vendor, Market Share, Legal & Commercial Structure among others. Another important area for businesses to review shall be migration to new IT system or modification to existing one including VAT Reporting requirements. One may also focus on Procurement, Vendor selection and Market Share as they play an inter-dependent role to keep the entity on the same footing even under VAT regime. This is where the maximum impact of VAT is felt in terms of cost, pricing and working capital requirements. In a nutshell, VAT is not a cost to businesses but an opportunity to streamline their business processes and implement sound organizational principles. During this transitional phase, communication, both internal (with employees and vendors) as well as external (with customers and stakeholders) shall help organizations to enhance the effectiveness of implementation process. PLAN FORWARD The introduction of VAT in Bahrain may have an impact on how ones does business in Bahrain. Businesses may require considerable effort, having been used to tax-free environment, to update their processes, systems, contracts, people and stakeholders for VAT. As the expected implementation date of 1 January 2019, does not leave much room for businesses to prepare for VAT, it is important for businesses to initiate their VAT preparations immediately. They have 60 days in hand and with strong implementation plan, one can successfully implement the new VAT regime. We at AJMS have the experience of implementing VAT for numerous companies, across various industry sectors, both in UAE and KSA. ABOUT AJMS (WWW. AJMSGLOBAL.COM) AJMS is a niche Tax, Risk & Compliance consulting firm comprising of Chartered Accountants and Management Consultants. The team of professionals and consultants employed by the firm are drawn from diverse sectors of the industry and offer professional assurance / advisory services and have hands on experience in implementation of Indirect Tax regime for various organizations in GCC. We are currently in a new era of finance in the Middle East. Local and regional businesses and institutions are currently undergoing changes outside the normal day-to-day running of a company, the effects of which can impact a companys financials,bookkeeping, IT systems, and staff training. Many companies across the Kingdom of Bahrain are aware of IFRS accounting standard changes relating to IFRS 9 Financial Instruments (IFRS 9)and IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers (IFRS 15), both of which are effective this year. With the new IFRS 16 Leases (IFRS 16) standard becoming effective from 2019, there are further challenges for local businesses over the next one to two years. The banking sector is one of the industries which has been most impacted byIFRS 9, resulting in amendments to the classification and measurement of financial assets, overhauling of impairment, and deviations in hedging accounting. For companies outside of the banking industry, some will be significantly affected by IFRS 9, others less so. All companies should be aware of the changes and the impact upon adoption. Particular consideration should be deliberated by companies with significant receivables of variable credit risk, because the new standard could result in modification of credit terms, formation of larger provisions, and could even result in recognition of significant write offs. The new revenue standard, IFRS 15, impacts most, if not all, businesses, by moving from a risk and rewards basis of revenue recognition to a controls-based approach (i.e. revenue is recorded when control is transferred). The implications upon adoption differ not only from industry to industry, but also from company to company, depending on whether revenue is recorded at a point in time (e.g. an over-the-counter transaction) or over a period in time (e.g. construction or service contract). Revenue will need to be assessed at an individual company level because one-size-fits-all cannot be used to IFRS 15. Changes to lease accounting through IFRS 16 will have varying impact on both lessors (issuers of leases) and lessees (holders of leases). The largest impact of IFRS 16 will be felt by operating lease holders who will be capitalizing previously expensed leases. In other words, under IFRS 16 all leases will be accounted for on-balance sheet, including leases that were previously defined as operating leases and were held off-balance sheet. This will have a significant impact for some companies. The exceptions to this requirement are short-term leases and low value asset leases which can continue to record these leases in the income statement. This will be of benefit to many businesses within the Kingdom of Bahrain, mitigating the effects of the new standard. The finance world has a couple of challenging years ahead through implementation of the new standards and determining the impact to the different business segments. The companies that will come out on top are those that have planned in advance and consulted where necessary. Richard Craig, gun lover, Trump hater, is the man behind the local ordinance here that made gun ownership obligatory for the head of every household. The unusual rule, approved overwhelmingly by the town board in 2013, has gained this small community in southwestern Colorado some notoriety. I believe in our Constitution, Craig told me. Having our guns is just part of American freedom. As for President Donald Trump, I think hes an idiot. He should quit tweeting and keep his mouth shut. Craig, 78, a pro-mining registered Democrat in camo shorts and Birkenstocks who refuses to join the National Rifle Association, is an ornery nonideological American. In other words, hes a lot like Colorado, purple state par excellence. Nucla, population just over 700, was founded around 1900 by a utopian socialist group, lived off uranium mining during the Cold War and has now turned to the cultivation of marijuanas cousin, hemp, in a stab at a revival. Its heavily Republican, like most of small-town America. It is also part of what Deana Sheriff, an economic recovery coordinator, called the Mild West complete with broadband and a mill for heritage grains. Nobody is running around with six-shooters on hips taking potshots at streetlights. On the eve of critical midterm elections, Colorado presents an American microcosm, its population of 5.6 million split more or less evenly among Republicans, Democrats and independents. Liberals, including an influx of immigrants, tend to inhabit the more urban Front Range, east of the Rockies; Trump support is intense in the rural Western Slope. Montrose County, home to Nucla, voted 67.9 per cent for Trump in 2016; Colorado, thanks mainly to Denver and Boulder, gave Hillary Clinton a narrow victory. Because population growth and immigration are concentrated in the Front Range, Colorado seems to be edging bluer. Much of the national focus right now is on the 6th Congressional District, where Mike Coffman, a five-term Republican representative, is trailing Jason Crow, who would be the first Democrat ever to hold the seat. A Crow victory would provide one of the 23 seats Democrats need to take the House. But Colorado has not split into the irreconcilable political tribes that have turned Washington into a symbol of polarisation. Division is not the whole American story, despite Trumps best efforts. In Colorado, immense space still equals possibility, an old American promise. Crisscrossing the state, I found more people interested in problem-solving than point-scoring. Colorados economy is humming and diversifying. Its unemployment rate is 2.9 per cent. Its capacity for compromise as an oil-and-natural-gas state with limited water committed to environmental preservation and an outdoors lifestyle is conspicuous. John Hickenlooper, the term-limited Democratic governor, told me that when he goes to the East Coast, I do feel like an outsider. The way we approach things here, its almost like were speaking a different language. In the West, I think there is an inclination, almost an instinct, to sit down with people you disagree with and sort of sort through as he did with the oil and gas industry to produce a rational energy policy, the nations first regulatory framework limiting future emissions. Might he, eyeing 2020, run for the Democratic Party nomination for president on this cando, bridge-building platform? We are certainly looking at it, Hickenlooper said. We spent the summer talking to people that are really smart. Im preparing, but dont think Id make a decision probably until February. That sounds to me like a yes. A Hickenlooper candidacy would be interesting because theres no way to govern Colorado, as he has for eight years, without dealing with the way Trump has tapped into a deep-seated economic and cultural frustration. Trump support is no abstraction here, or cause for derision. Its a fact. Despite the strong economy, hardship is widespread. Wages have lagged. Some school districts, like Pueblo, have gone to a four-day week for lack of tax revenue. In rural areas, health insurance premiums have soared, sometimes 30 percent or more above Denver levels, because only one insurer remains. So people go without while others worry they will lose their Medicaid if they take a job. They clean bathrooms for billionaires in Telluride for a minimum wage. Just like the rest of the country, most people cant easily afford housing, cant easily afford health care, cant easily afford higher education or early childhood education; so another way of saying that is most of the people cannot afford a middle-class lifestyle, Sen. Michael Bennet, a Democrat (whose brother happens to run the New York Times Opinion section), told me. The feeling of being left behind, forgotten or cheated by a rigged system in a country of sharpening inequality is Americas core dilemma. The question now is who will more effectively convince Americans that the American dream can be restored: Trump, with his unscrupulous rabble-rousing and America-first nationalism masking tax and other policies that favor the 1 percent, or a Democratic Party that rediscovers the ability to speak to smalltown and blue-collar and barely middle-class America (like the teachers who went on strike in Colorado this year) in a way that does not sound patronising? At the 5th Avenue Grill in Nucla, with its trophy elk on the wall and a sign saying Home of the Free Because of the Brave, Bob Ralph, a plumber, had no doubt. He told me: A year ago we would have been the only ones here. Now you have to wait for a table. The hardware store has people waiting in line. People are eager to open businesses. I hope Trump will be a two-term president. In the last 10 presidential elections, going back to 1980, Colorado has voted Republican six times but Democratic in the last three. Its a state with a strong libertarian streak, suspicious of government, and so in a sense Republican-inclined; but its been won over by strong local Democratic leadership. Its not at all a blue state to be taken for granted; things can easily be reversed, Ken Salazar, a former secretary of the interior in the Obama administration and a Colorado native, told me. People will vote for results-oriented candidates. Results matter: Thats the Coloradan standard. I went to Denver to meet Hickenlooper, a tall, languid, affable 66-year-old transplant from the East Coast who has produced results. He came to Colorado as a geologist for a petroleum company and experienced the shock of unemployment after being laid off in 1986. A period of self-doubt led to the decision to start a brewpub business. Many of his restaurants helped revive blighted downtown areas: entrepreneurship as transformative politics. The one thing you learn in the restaurant business, the governor told me, is there is no margin in having enemies. The only way you persuade someone is to listen harder. As a two-term Denver mayor starting in 2003, and now a twoterm governor, Hickenlooper has listened, driven by the conviction that, as he put it, We dont have the luxury to kind of wallow in the partisan mud pit, right? The effects are tangible: the renaissance of Denver, which now has a multibillion-dollar public transportation network called FasTracks, a much-improved school system and more than 850 miles of bike trails; a pro-business economy, low on red tape, that has tried to balance urban and rural demands (particularly over water) and attracted a range of new companies, from tech through recreation to the Noosa yogurt business; the legalisation of recreational marijuana, now a significant source of tax revenue; and successful trade-offs in Colorados fierce fossil-fuel-vs.-environment debate that have preserved more than 230,000 jobs in the oil and gas sector. Some issues elude compromise, of course. In 2013, after the Aurora theater mass shooting the previous year, Hickenlooper signed into law a ban on high-capacity gun magazines that hold more than 15 rounds. This is the measure that incensed Craig and led, as a protest, to Nuclas obligatory gun-ownership ordinance. I just got mad because these talking heads decided we did not need high-capacity magazines, and we ended up losing a firearms accessory factory with dozens of jobs that went to Wyoming, Craig said. In nearby Grand Junction, the largest town on the Western Slope, such views are widespread, even if the Mild West is evident again on a Main Street offering lattes, pottery and beads. On the way into town is a large billboard that went up after Trumps ignominious July meeting with President Vladimir Putin of Russia. It says G.O.P. on a red background with the O replaced by the Communist hammer-and-sickle. Anger at Trump and the erosion of middle-class life seems to have reinforced a progressive mood among Coloradans. This is suggested by strong support for Amendment 73, a state constitutional amendment that would raise taxes on individuals earning over $150,000 and corporations to increase public school spending. 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. A girl injured a teacher when she leaped from a school building in Okayama City last week in an apparent suicide attempt, local authorities said, reports TV Asahi At just past 8:00 a.m. on October 23, a person at a middle school in Kita Ward tipped off emergency services about aa girl who appears to ready to jumpa from the fourth floor of a building. Teachers then attempted to coax the girl, a second-year student at the school, to not jump. A mat was also put in place below the building. However, the girl jumped, injuring a teacher who attempted to catch her. Both the student and teacher were rushed to a hospital with undisclosed injuries considered serious. Another nine persons who witnessed the event were also rushed to the hospital after feeling ill, the authorities said. Former interior minister Habib El-Adly testified in court on Sunday that neither he nor any Ministry of Interior officers had issued orders to withdraw police from the streets or to open prisons to create a security vacuum during the 25 January 2011. Speaking during a retrial of ousted president Mohamed Morsi on charges of breaking out of prison during the revolution, the former interior minister said there was a clear conspiracy to destroy the Egyptian state in January 2011, according to Al-Ahram Arabic website. El-Adly, who served as Egypt's minister of interior from 1995 and until he was sacked by Mubarak on 29 January 2011, was requested to testify in the case by the defendants defence. "On 28 January we learned about several marches across the state that are to take place in big numbers, so I gave my orders to secure these marches with unarmed personnel," El-Adly said. "We were surprised by some armed foreign elements infiltrating the marches, and if we knew about that I would have changed my plans entirely," he said. "We also had information on the cooperation between Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood for years, but their cooperation on deposing the regime in Egypt started in 2009," he alleged. The vehicles armed with cannons infiltrated the eastern borders and had started attacking police departments, prisons and state security buildings, which prove there was a pre-set plan to destroy the state. The former interior minister referred to information from a 2009 meeting in Beirut between Hamas leader Khaled Mashal and Khaled Farouk, a leading Muslim Brotherhood member and former MP, which he said concerned deposing the Egyptian regime. El-Adly alleged that Khaled Mashal had also handed over fake passports to members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, to allow them to enter Egypt during the revolution. On the cutting off of landlines and of the internet during the revolution, El-Adly affirmed that the decision was taken in coordination between security bodies with the aim of cutting means of communication between the members of the Muslim Brotherhood organisation, and to protect Egyptian citizens. The former interior minister said the decision was taken at a meeting held on 27 January at Smart Village, along with other decisions to secure the demonstrations. In June 2015, a Cairo criminal court sentenced Morsi and other top Brotherhood figures, including Mohamed Badie, Saad El-Katatni and Essam El-Erian, to death on charges of "damaging and setting fire to prison buildings, murder, attempted murder, looting prison weapons depots and releasing prisoners" while escaping from the Wadi Al-Natroun prison on the outskirts of Cairo during the 2011 uprising. In November the 2016, the cassation court accepted the defendants' appeal and ordered a retrial. The case includes a total of 129 defendants, who were sentenced to death or prison sentences in the initial verdict. 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: Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, says President Muhammadu Buhari is dead, adding that the Nigerian leader... Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, says President Muhammadu Buhari is dead, adding that the Nigerian leader has already been buried in Saudi Arabia. Kanu, who recently surfaced in Israel and has been vocal lately, lambasted those against Biafra in a new audio released on Sunday. He said: Cowards run away when they see us. Some people were writing a lot of junks about us. That I was in London and we were just on Facebook. I arrived in the zoo on the 14th of October in the year of our Lord 2015. I told them I was coming and I came. They dared me to come back and I did. When I arrived, I was taken to Abuja, I was confined to a very tiny space, I was chained like common criminal, I was handcuffed. They tried to break me but they know it was impossible, they can attest to it. They mocked me that I will rot in jail, some prayed very fervently, those against Biafra. The walls of prison and detention couldnt keep me. I told Buhari before he died and was buried in Saudi Arabia that he was a madman. I called him a madman in his court. I told the court they cannot jail me and they did not. I called the dead Buhari an illiterate madman in his own court and I walked away I cannot recall anybody being able to do so in the history of the dumbnable (sic) zoological republic. With very few and notable exceptions. Men like Femi Fani-Kayode and ex governor of Ekiti state, Ayo Fayose. The two men I respect very much from the west. There is no other human being that has been able to rise up against the murderous tendency of Buhari. Micheal Adedeji, a member of the Ekiti state house of assembly, who was shot in the head by gunmen on Friday, is dead. Jackson Ade... Micheal Adedeji, a member of the Ekiti state house of assembly, who was shot in the head by gunmen on Friday, is dead. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, confirmed this to TheCable on Monday. Jackson Adebayo, publicity secretary of thePeoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, confirmed this to TheCable on Monday. The lawmaker died at the Federal Medical Center, Ido Ekiti, early this morning, He said the party would release a statement on the development later in the day. Adedeji, a member of the PDP, was attacked while traveling along Ikere-Akure road. The attack on Adedeji is the third on top politicians in the state in the last three months. In August, Bunmi Ojo, an associate of Segun Oni, a former governor of the state, was shot dead in Ado-Ekiti. Two weeks ago, Moses Adeoye, treasurer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, was killed at his residence. Ayodele Fayose, former governor of Ekiti state, has regained freedom after 13 days in custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Comm... Ayodele Fayose, former governor of Ekiti state, has regained freedom after 13 days in custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Fayose, who is facing trial for alleged money laundering and abuse of office, walked into the commissions head office in Abuja on October 16. He was subsequently flown to Lagos and arraigned at a federal high court in Ikoyi. The court granted him a N50 million bail on Wednesday. He was asked to provide a surety with landed property in Lagos. His guarantor is also required to have three-year tax clearance in Lagos. He could not fulfil his bail condition immediately. Lere Olayinka, spokesman of the former governor, said he regained freedom on Monday evening. Writing via his Twitter handle, Olayinka said the former governor will return to court on November 16. We will meet at the court from November 19. Thank you Nigerians. Fayose just regained his freedom. He left the Federal High Court, Ikoyi a few minutes ago.We will meet @officialEFCC at the court from November 19.Thank you Nigerians. October 29, 2018 More to follow... The meeting the federal government conveyed to discuss new minimum wage ended on an inconclusive note on Monday. Vice-President Yemi... The meeting the federal government conveyed to discuss new minimum wage ended on an inconclusive note on Monday. Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Chris Ngige, minister of labour, Zainab Ahmed, minister of finance and six governors were in attendance at the meeting which held at the presidential villa, Abuja. One of the governors told reporters that the meeting ended inconclusively. He said though the governors were willing to pay the N30,000 new minimum wage demanded by workers, they lack the capacity to do so. The governor disclosed that an emergency meeting of the Nigeria Governors Forum would be convened on Tuesday. According to him, the meeting on Tuesday will focus on finalising agreements on an exact minimum wage the states are willing to pay their workers. The meeting which ended in deadlock was also attended by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, and the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed. In 1984, the military government of Muhammadu Buhari jailed Fela Kuti for allegedly smuggling foreign exchange into Nigeria. The lat... In 1984, the military government of Muhammadu Buhari jailed Fela Kuti for allegedly smuggling foreign exchange into Nigeria. The late Afrobeat creator went on to spend 20 months in prison and upon his release, the musician was as defiant and bold as ever. Fela spoke about his prison experience in an interview granted after he regained his freedom. The interview, republished by Reelin In The Years, sees the Afrobeat legend talk about embracing boredom in prison, developing his thought process and arming himself for an encore behind bars. Here is an excerpt from the sit-down. Prison didnt change my life, it developed my way of thinking. I am very spiritually inclined. I am in prison, it gave me a lot of time to meditate and think about what this world is really about. It [gave] me knowledge about time. If anybody tells me 20 years is a long time, I will tell him no because prison has taught me that time is meaningless unless you want to understand what time is all about. I did not think about music in the prison but maybe a few times some sounds come into my head but I dont write them down, maybe just hum them. What I did in prison was not to play games, I tried not to talk too much, I tried to remain by myself. I just tried to meditate. Thats all I did. You see, prison is supposed to get you bored. So when people go in there, they try not to get bored. So I tell myself, okay, you want to make me bored. I am going to get myself bored so that I will not be afraid to go in next time. So I go in there to understand what boredom is about. So it gave me a knowledge about patience. Those are the kind of things prison has taught me. I am prepared to go back. I am really prepared. The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Sunday challenged President Muhammadu Buhari to speak out on the declaration by Finance Ministe... The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Sunday challenged President Muhammadu Buhari to speak out on the declaration by Finance Minister, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, that the policies of his administration were hurting the nation and destroying investor- confidence in our economy. The party said the declaration by the minister was a vindication of its stand that the Buhari administration was responsible for the nations economic woes and expressed dismay that President Buhari has kept mum on the issue since the minister made her declaration last week. A statement by PDPs spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan said, Though the minister particularly alluded to the administration of the colossal fines imposed on MTN Nigeria and four banks, available data showed that the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government has been subjecting businesses to very harsh and punitive policies, leading to the dearth of both domestic and foreign direct investments and its attendant economic hardship on the citizenry. We had always alerted the nation of the negative impact of the harsh economic policies, high-handedness and vindictiveness of the Buhari administration on investors. This is in addition to heavy and multiple taxations, import and foreign currency restrictions, clampdown on free trade, corruption and avoidable flops, which have continued to scare investors away from our country. Today, investors in key sectors are pulling out their interests, foreign revenue is dwindling by the day and our economy has continued to dip under President Buhari, with no hope in sight. Only last month, the same Minister of Finance alerted that the nation was facing revenue challenges; a development that stems directly from the harsh policies of the Buhari administration, coupled with its incompetence and lack of creative ability to engage in the global market and run a productive economy. We invite Nigerians to hold President Buhari responsible for the economic disaster and the hardship that our nation has faced in the last three and half years. Our party restates that if President Buhari had heed wise counsel to accept his incompetence and hands off economic issues, end corruption in his Presidency and allow better hands to manage the economy, our nation would not be in the quagmire we are in today. The Atiku campaign organisation has accused Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) of trying to revise history over the role Atiku Abubaka... The Atiku campaign organisation has accused Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) of trying to revise history over the role Atiku Abubakar played in the actualising of restructuring. Osinbajo had said the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) opposed the restructuring of the country when he was vice-president. Reacting, the Atiku campaign organisation released a statement which read: 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 of Vanguard Newspapers and published on July 13, 2001. In that piece, which is still available online, 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 N1 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. The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has deployed a detachment of Special Forces personnel to Kaduna in support of internal security operations ... The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has deployed a detachment of Special Forces personnel to Kaduna in support of internal security operations in the State. Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, Director of Public Relations and Information, made the announcement in a statement on Monday. He said the detachment will join other NAF personnel in Kaduna and sister security agencies to ensure that the spate of senseless killings in some parts of the state is brought to a complete end and normalcy expeditiously restored. The deployment is in addition to the earlier deployment of 2 helicopters and a DA-42 Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft on 22 October 2018, which have since been conducting aerial patrols over flashpoints in the State, the statement added. Meanwhile, the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called on both the Federal and the Kaduna State governments to rise up to the challenge of checkmating killings in the state with a view to bringing masterminds to book. Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, media aide to CAN President, Rev Dr Samson Ayokunle, in a statement on Sunday, expressed shock, disappointment and sadness at recent killings in Kaduna and the killing of a paramount ruler, the Agom Adara, Dr. Maiwada Raphael Galadima. Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has called for the boycott of the 2019 general elections. Kanu said that when he ... Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has called for the boycott of the 2019 general elections. Kanu said that when he came out from prison, President Muhammadu Buhari asked him what he wanted but he told him that he wanted them to open Igwuocha (Port Harcourt) seaport, Warri seaport, Calabar airport, and dredge River Niger. Kanu also said he told Buhari that he wanted 100 per cent resource control but never heard from the presidency again. In a live Facebook broadcast aired by the Radio Biafra, Kanu said, You own the power, you take it back, you can boycott the election and decide what you want. Stand your ground, cripple the 2019 election and see the effects in your life. He added , No restructuring, no elections in 2019, southern leaders. All we have asked for is our freedom, but Igbo men, who claim they are politicians brought deaths to us. We have said it time and time again, we want our freedom. Perhaps, some of you are comfortable being slaves, we are not. Why do they want me dead? Biafrians should ask them. When I came out of prison, I ensured that the activities of Fulani herdsmen were reduced to the barest minimum. At no time during the time of Fulani herdsmen terrorism in our land did anybody call for help. South East Governors and Ohaneze proscribed IPOB under serious pressure. They agreed that Nnamdi Kanu should be killed. Not only me but my men, my father, brothers. I said to them, IPOB is here to save Biafra but we are used to it. We are used to the hostility. Biafrans are very very special, that is why they hate us. Our mothers were humiliated in Owerri and what did Ohaneze do. They laughed at them and said, they went out to protest the whereabouts of Nnamdi Kanu, so it serves them right. These are the people, who want us to regard them as leaders. Igboland has been shrunk to just five states. If you go to Opobo, if you speak, Ibo, somebody there will understand you. We have indigenous Igbo speaking people in Kogi state but nobody is talking about them. Ohaneze and Igbo leaders are merely interested in furthering their own interests. Biafra is older than the zoo called Nigeria. I have nothing against Igbo leaders. The priorities of some of our leaders are misplaced. They adopted Atiku but the same set of people are castigating Obi. 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 Igwuocha seaport, Warri seaport, Calabar airport, dredge river Niger. I told them I want 100 per cent resource controlI never heard from them again. Some of you have stopped talking about Leah Sharibu. Some of you have stopped talking about Dasuki, who has been granted bail by different courts of law. Nobody is bothered about the wellbeing of the suffering people. Southern Kaduna is under siege and all everyone is talking about how to vote. We are not going to vote, because we are greater than that nonsense. IPOB will not vote and I will give you reasons. Why is Dasuki still in prison? Why are IPOB members still in prison? Why will a judge say, release El Zakkay and he is still in prison? The coalition of Igbo apex groups at the weekend has accused the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu of compromis... The coalition of Igbo apex groups at the weekend has accused the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu of compromise, adding that he is working for the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari and South-East governors in the forthcoming 2019 general elections. The groups made up of World Igbo Youths Congress, Southeast Women Professionals and Igbo Students Forum, made this known through a statement signed by their Presidents; Mazi Alex Okemiri, Dr Helen Ogbonnaya and Chidera Utucha, shortly after their monthly meeting that took place in Abakaliki, capital of Ebonyi state. The coalition, which had earlier drummed support for Nnamdi Kanus return to Nigeria, however opted out and dissociated themselves from the alleged broadcast of Nnamdi Kanu where he said that there will be no election in 2019. The statement reads in part: We disassociate ourselves on the recent broadcast of Nnamdi KANU the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, where he stated that there will no election in 2019. We insists that ipob leader is depreciating in value in the eyes of Igbo followers. We insists that after careful examination of Kanus modus of operandi, in just concluded Anambra Governorship, where kanu insisted there will be no election in March 2018 Anambra, but evidently after Obiano Compromised him, kanu pull out voters out of polling Units who would have voted against Obiano, but He discouraged Voters from voting which gave obiano victory in 17 Local government areas of Anambra. Coalition of Igbo groups believe that with the reappearance of Kanu now and his system of no election in 2019,shows that hes working for the victory of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi,Governor Ugwuanyi of Enugu,and Sen Hope Uzodinma of IMO state. Kanu have been compromised and he has designed that there will be no election with intention to pull out voters out of polling units for the victory of Southeast Governors and President Buhari against Atiku. Ischinger extended an invitation to El-Sisi to take part in next years session of Munich Security Conference Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi met with the chairman of the Munich Security Conference Wolfgang Ischinger in Berlin on Sunday and the pair discussed countering terrorism, illegal migration, and the latest updates concerning the Middle East and North Africa, a statement by El-Sisis spokesman Bassam Rady read. Ischinger extended an invitation to El-Sisi to take part in next years session of Munich Security Conference, noting that Egypts assumption of the African Unions presidency in 2019 would offer a good chance for fostering coordination and consultations on regional files, the spokesman added. During the meeting, Ischinger hailed Egyptian efforts to combat terrorism. Ischinger also praised the efforts that the Egyptian government has been exerting to combat illegal migration. He said that "there have not been any Egyptian nationals among the large numbers of refugees hosted by Germany since 2015, which shows the success of the Egyptian strategy in dealing with this phenomenon," the statement read. The Munich Security Conference is among the most important annual conferences on international security policy and has taken place since 1963. Each year it brings together about 350 senior figures from more than 70 countries around the world to engage in an intensive debate on current and future security challenges. Search Keywords: Short link: Governor Rochas Okorocha of imo State has appealed to the National working Committee of the All Progressives Congress, led by Mr. Adam... Governor Rochas Okorocha of imo State has appealed to the National working Committee of the All Progressives Congress, led by Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, to submit the name of his son in-law, Mr, Uche Nwosu, to the Independent National Electoral Commission as the winner of the APC governorship primaries in the state. Okorocha made the appeal in a press release obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria. Okorocha said upholding Nwosus candidacy will protect the high integrity of President Muhammadu Buhari and the integrity of the Party. He added that Nwosu remains the only hope for the state, adding that the candidates of other parties would spell doom for the state. For some time now, I have been in Abuja fighting for the soul of Imo State from possible kidnap and subsequent destruction by political thieves. For some time now, I have been in Abuja fighting for the soul of Imo State from possible kidnap and subsequent destruction by political thieves. The only hope left for Imo State now is for Uche Nwosu to emerge as a candidate. Otherwise, there will be total economic catastrophe when I leave as governor. Though they have spoken falsely and badly about our candidate, nobody can say that he was a fraudster in Lagos or that he was an armed robber in Benin or an arrogant man or a criminal. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met on Sunday with CEOs known to be members at the Federation at German Security and Defense Industries (BDSV), Presidential Spokesman Bassam Rady said. The Egyptian President commended the development of cooperation between Egypt and the German firms which operate in military and security fields, a matter which has helped boost the technical and combat skills of the Egyptian Armed Forces. El-Sisi cited Egypt's receival of the second Type-209/1400 submarine from Germany in August 2017 that aimed to strengthen the Egyptian navy's capabilities to secure the nations shores, Rady noted. During the meeting, the president voiced Egypt's interest in enhancing cooperation with the German companies in this score to protect the Egyptian national security. The German CEOs praised bilateral cooperation and expressed keenness to further develop them at all levels in the coming period. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt has offered its condolences to Indonesia after a passenger plane crashed killed all 189 people on board on Monday morning after taking off close to the capital of Jakarta. In an official statement, Egypts foreign ministry extended its condolences, stressing Egypts support for Indonesia in overcoming the painful accident. Lion Air flight JT610 disappeared from radar during a short flight from Jakarta to Pangkal Pinang on the Indonesian island of Bangka on Monday morning. Search and rescue workers have found debris believed to have come from the plane next to the crash site, according to media reports. Search Keywords: Short link: Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi met with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Berlin on Monday for discussions that included the return of German tourists to Egypt and how to boost bilateral trade. A number of European countries, including Germany, introduced restrictions on flights to Sharm El-Sheikh over security concerns after a Russian passenger jet crashed in Sinai in 2015, killing 224 people, most of whom were holidaymakers. Germany lifted the restrictions in 2016. The two leaders also discussed energy, infrastructure and electricity projects, and the latest regional updates. El-Sisi arrived in Berlin on Sunday for a four-day official visit. He has met with a number of German officials so far to discuss issues of mutual concern. During his visit, he is expected to participate in the G20 Compact with Africa summit. Search Keywords: Short link: Tawfik's comments came as he inaugurated on Monday the first Annual Insurance and Reinsurance Forum in the Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh under the auspices of PM Madbouly Egypt's Business Sector Minister Hesham Tawfik stressed on Monday that the presence of a modern non-bank financial sector is key the sustainable development of the national economy. Tawfik's comments came as he inaugurated on Monday the first Annual Insurance and Reinsurance Forum in the Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh under the auspices of Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly. The forum, organised by the Egyptian Insurance Federation, is being held from 29 to 31 October with more than 25 countries participating. On Monday, Tawfik gave on behalf of the prime minister the opening speech of this years edition of the forum, titled Spreading Precious Ideas. The minister highlighted the efforts exerted in recent years to develop the non-bank financial services sector in order to adapt to the pace of the global business community and its needs for innovative financial solutions. Tawfik said that the insurance sector contributes just 1 percent to the GDP, a modest figure compared to the economies of other countries, where it is no less than 3 to 4 percent of the GDP. The minister affirmed that the insurance sector in Egypt is currently developing through incentives including new legislation and structural reforms adopted by the state. The forum calls for improving governance and strengthening the institutional framework of the sector to increase its contribution to the GDP to exceed more than 1 percent in the next four years. Search Keywords: Short link: United Nations (UN) day marks the anniversary of the entry into force in 1945 of the UN Charter. With the ratification of this founding document by the majority of its signatories, including the five permanent members of the security Council, the United Nations officially came into being. On the occasion of the celebration of the United Day on 24 October, the UN conducted a series of interviews exclusively for Ahram Online. Egypt is an important country for the UN as a country that shapes opinions, UN Resident Coordinator tells Ahram Online Additional international support crucial for UNHCR Egypt, Karim Atassi tells Ahram Online UN Women Egypts activities highly aligned to national priorities, Blerta Aliko tells Ahram Online We support Egypt in delivering its economic vision, UNIDO's Giovanna Ceglie tells Ahram Online Corruption is a global concern, UNODC regional representative tells Ahram Online INTERVIEW: Egypt's Vision 2030 refers to creating a modern, democratic, and happy society, Ranya Hedeya tells Ahram Online 'Egypt has a comprehensive social protection program,' WFP's Menghestab Haile tells Ahram Online Egypt and FAO: 40 years of partnership for sustainable agriculture and food security Search Keywords: Short link: A Cairo misdemeanour court has accepted an appeal by detained economist and writer Abdel-Khalek Farouk against his detention and ordered him released without bail pending investigation. Last week, the economist was ordered detained four days pending investigation on charges of publishing false news in his recently printed, and then confiscated, book titled 'Is Egypt Really a Poor Country?'. Following the detention of Ibrahim El-Khatib, the owner of the printing house that published the book, Farouk published an e-copy of his work. The court also ordered today the release of El-Khatib, pending investigation. Farouk was accused of publishing material which included false news and statements via his book, which included criticism of the government's economic policy. Farouk is the author of several books on economic and social issues in Egypt and the region, and has previously served as an economic researcher in various public and private institutions. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt's Prosecutor-General Nabil Sadek referred to military trial on Monday 43 defendants accused of being involved in the deadly Wahat terrorist attack that killed 16 policemen and left 13 injured in late 2017. According to the prosecution, the defendants, two of whom are fugitives, include members of the terrorist group Daesh, as well as known terrorist, Abdel-Rahim Al-Mesmary, who is a Libyan national. In October 2017, 11 police officers, four conscripts and one sergeant were killed in a shootout while raiding a terrorist hideout in Bahariya Oasis, about 135 kilometres (83 miles) southwest of Cairo. The ministry of interior said at the time that 15 terrorists were killed during the shootout. The prosecutors have charged Al-Mesmary and the other defendants in the case with premeditated murder, attempted murder, memberhip in a terrorist group and attacks on army and police personnel, among other charges. A police officer, Mohamed El-Hayes, was abducted by terrorists during the shootout, but the Egyptian army and police rescued him in a joint operation later that month. Following the shootout, Egyptian security forces launched a number of operations targeting hideouts in the Western Desert area, during which numerous terrorists were killed, according to officials. Earlier this month, the Libyan National Army (LNA) announced that Hesham El-Ashmawy, a fugitive Egyptian terrorist who is believed to be have been involved in the Wahat attack, was apprehended in Derna. Search Keywords: Short link: As part of his four-day visit to Germany, Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi visited on Monday the German parliament (Bundestag) headquarters in Berlin, where he met with parliament speaker Wolfgang Schauble. The German parliament speaker praised the special relationship between the Egyptian and German peoples, stressing his country's keenness to support Egypt's efforts to achieve comprehensive development and democracy, Egyptian presidential spokesperson Bassam Rady said. The Egyptian president stressed the importance of cooperation between the two countries' parliaments by strengthening the role of parliamentary friendship groups in the Bundestag and in the Egyptian House of Representatives, which contributes to enhancing communication between the peoples of the two countries and developing bilateral relations. El-Sisi and Schauble discussed the latest developments regarding the restoration of stability and achieving comprehensive development in Egypt, as well as developments in the Middle East and Egypt's vision on fighting terrorism and curbing irregular migration. The German parliament speaker expressed his support for the efforts of the Egyptian president to reform religious discourse in Egypt, stressing the importance of the international community standing united to eliminate extremism and terrorism. El-Sisi arrived in Berlin on Sunday for a four-day official visit, where has met with a number of German officials to discuss issues of mutual concern. During his visit, he is expected to participate in the G20 Compact with Africa summit. El-Sisi is also scheduled to meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday. Search Keywords: Short link: 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. Egypts Defence Minister General Mohamed Zaki discussed on Monday in Cairo with his Burundian counterpart Gen Niyongabo military cooperation between the two countries, a statement by Egyptian Armed Forces spokesperson Tamer El-Refai said. Saturdays meeting was attended by the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Lieutenant General Mohamed Farid and a Burundian military delegation. The army officials discussed issues of mutual concern in light of the developments on the African continent. Zaki said that the Burundian military delegations visit comes as part of the historical and fruitful cooperation between Egypt and Burundi. Zaki added that the leadership of both countries share the same vision both on efforts to achieve security and stability in the region as well as a number of regional and international issues. Niyongabo hailed Egypts efforts in combating terrorism as well as its role in security on the regional and international levels. The officials also discussed military training and the exchange of military expertise. Search Keywords: Short link: Like Trump, Brazil's Bolsonaro Makes it Clear: If We Want To Avoid Catastrophe, Socialism is the Only Way By Petr Knava | Think Pieces | October 29, 2018 | And so it has finally happened. After an election campaign that proved akin to watching a bloody car crash in painful slow motion, last night the people of Brazil elected far-right presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro to the highest office in the land, with the fringe senator winning fifty-five percent of valid votes, over ten points ahead of his opponent, Fernando Haddad of the Workers Party. It is a political storm of terrifying consequence that is no less harrowing for how predictable it has proven to be. When the fifth most populous nation on Earth elects a fascist there is scant comfort to be found in analysis, but nevertheless the question hangs heavy in the air, and so we must ask ourselves, honestly and critically: How did it come to this? Perhaps its best to start with where exactly it is that we have ended up. Who is Jair Bolsonaro? Where does he come from, and what does he represent? Jair Messias Bolsonaro is a six-term federal congressman from Rio de Janeiro and a member of the Social Liberal Partya small, obscure party that began life in the mid-90s with policies relatively true to its name. Bolsonaro, a former army officer and Rio city councilor, did not start out in the Social Liberal Party, however. A member of the Social Christian Party since 1990 when he was elected a federal congressman under their banner, he only jumped ship to the SLP in January of 2018. Bolsonaros time in the Brazilian Congress was marked not by legislative success but by angry rhetoric and fiery counter-establishment sentiment. His joining of the SLP led directly to the resignation of most of the partys liberal and progressive cohort, with the remainder aligning itself with Bolsonaros brand of far-right chauvinistic nationalism. Bolsonaros move to the party would also be used to announce the beginning of the congressmans presidential campaign. His slogan: Brazil above everything, God above everyone. Brazils system of government is complex. The country is a federal republic consisting of 26 states plus the capital-housing federative unit that is the District of Brasilia. Each state has its own legislature and governor. The national legislative body is the National Congress, itself composed of the Chamber of Deputies and the Federal Senate. The country has thirty-five political parties, and the number of seats in the Chamber of Deputies allocated to each state is based on that states population, with the members for each state being elected by proportional representation. It is through this legislative morass that Jair Bolsonaro crawled his way to the top. His rise, however, would have been impossible were it not for a series of factors that bear striking similarity to the ones that allowed someone like Donald Trump to become President of the United States, and that are enabling a wave of emboldened right-wing political movements across the globe. Broadly speaking the factors are: 1) An angry, desperate disaffection with a status quo that is designed to empower capital while reducing the agency of labour to a minimum. 2) An at-best toothless and at-worst complicit political alternative represented by, for example, the Democrats in the U.S. 3) A cynical rerouting of that anger towards the most marginalized and vulnerable by extremist right-wing movements tapping into anti-establishment rhetoric. 4) A compliant media providing uncritical coverage and tacit support to these extremist movements. 5) A clever manipulation of the internet and social media by the extremist movements. It varies from place to place, but in each country that has elected a right-wing extremist in recent yearswhether it be Bolsanoro in Brazil, Trump in America, Orban in Hungary, Salvini in Italy, Duda in Poland, or Duterte in the Philippinesthe situation has roughly followed those steps. These authoritarian strongmen do not emerge from a vacuum. Like the rise of Hitler and the Third Reich in the 1930s, they are movements tapping into very real economic anger, and using that anger to seize power by blaming a variety of marginalized communities for their countrys woes. They whip up endemic social diseases like xenophobia, sexism, racism, and any and all others in order to create a climate of hatred and fear which helps bolster their support as they convince people that they are the only viable solution to their nations ills. Like most of Latin America, Brazils present-day situation is impossible to untangle from the centuries of colonial subjugation it suffered at the hands of a European power, as well as from the more recent decades of neo-colonialism and Chicago school economics practiced by the United States and supranational financial organizations like the IMF and the World Bank that it has been subjected to. Spain and Portugal brought with them onto the continent not just organized European religion, but a pseudo-feudalist, hyper-exploitative, extractive capitalist system which utilised native indigenous labour as well as forcibly imported African slave labour in order to fund economic booms back home in Europe, and which in the process also deeply entrenched class divides into the New World, with fault lines of privilege running starkly alongside racial delineation. Latin America remains a profoundly racist place. Brazil is an incredibly ethnically diverse country, with just under half of its population being classed as pardoa rather broad umbrella term for people of mixed heritagebut there can be no mistake as to where the power lies. As with the majority of Latin America, in Brazil the politics, industry, and the media are all overwhelmingly white enterprises. Despite this ethno-hegemony, however, there have been remarkable strides made. Under the leadership of the immensely popular Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (known popularly as Lula) the Workers Party of Brazil (Partido dos Trabalhadores, or just PT) used its time in power in the 2000s to achieve some truly remarkable transformative changes. Millions were lifted out of poverty, advancements were made in LGBTQ+ rights, and indigenous causes made headway. Lulas hugely popular first administration would be succeeded by a more fraught second one, and then by one headed by his Chief of Staff, Dilma Vana Rousseff. Her leadership would see further championing of progressive causes, but it would also seeas did Lulas second termmass protests at a perceived lack of action on a variety of issues, from economic inequality to social unrest and violence. Because Lula and Dilma, popular and effective as they were, had two huge challenges to face. It is arguable that despite the gains they made they did not ultimately rise to meet these challenges, with the end result being Bolsonaros catastrophic victory. The first was the task of rooting out historic and systemic corruption within the Brazilian political system. The systems and inequalities left behind by colonisers and military dictatorships have a habit of sticking around despite best efforts to get rid of them, and peoples memories are much shorter than are the lifespans of these intransigent systems. Corruption was one of the key words utilized by Bolsonaros highly effective campaign against his Workers Party rival, much the same way as Trumps swamp analogy. The second challenge came from the finance world. Lula and Dilma did not go far enough in keeping the forces of Brazilian and international finance and industry from interfering with the countrys politics. Diplomatically, and foolishlyespecially from Lulas second administration onwardsthey tried to meet finance and industry in the middle, assuming that they would be met in good faith. Finance and industry meanwhile could of course not countenance compromising with a party which had a strong socialist streak running through it. The elites would obstruct, sabotage, and run roughshod. Over the decade and a half of PTs stewardship of Brazil, these grievances against the partys compromises and failuressome perceived, some legitimatewould lead to a wave of discontent with PT rippling through Brazil. The most immediate cause of Bolsonaros victory, however, was not one that could be laid at the feet of PT, but rather the capitalist, oligarchic sectors of Brazil. In 2016, with PTs popularity at an ebb and sensing an opening, right-wing senators launched impeachment proceedings against President Rousseff that amounted to an illegal, nakedly opportunist judicial coup. (It should also be noted here that had former president Lula been allowed to run against Bolsonaro, it is overwhelmingly likely that he would have won. This despite the wave of discontent against PT and the endless right wing campaign against him. It was made sure however that he would be in prison on corruption charges and so unable to run.) Rousseff was removed from office and a right-wing technocrat called Michel Temer was installed in her place without an election (Temer faced questions over very similar impropriety accusations to the ones that were used to depose Rousseff but who was nevertheless the establishments man when it was needed and thus it wasnt a problem for his presidency). Left-wing commentators at the time called it what it was: A capitalist coup that would send the country down a dark path. Sure enough, Temer would preside over a country of rapidly escalating violence and crippling government-imposed austerity and neoliberal economics and his popularity would plummet. In 2017 his approval rating was at 7%. The country had had enough. Much the same way as the United States wasafter decades of cross-party neoliberal consensusprimed for a populist candidate, so too was Brazil in 2018 just waiting for someone to rail against the establishment. Here the similarities between Trump and Bolsonaro continue. Both were, by most measureswealth, connections, careersmembers of their countrys establishment, but who had been just enough on the fringes of the dominant political establishment that they could semi-plausibly rage against said establishment. In times of desperation, semi-plausible is often enough. Bolsonaro, with his colourful rhetoric, had been a guest on talk shows. His voice was seen as a worthwhile addition to national discourse. The hosts have since publicly said they regret giving him such a platform. As previously mentioned, both Trump and Bolsonaro couched their campaigns in anti-corruption rhetoric, but in order to bolster their support they also relied on far more incendiary, hateful rhetoric so as to rile up the ever-present hatred of the other that exists in society. Here, though, Bolsonaro makes even the hateful and dangerous Trump seem like a man carefully measuring his words. Brazil was ruled by a military dictatorship between 1964 and 1985. That regime, due to the scale of its brutality not quite comparing to something like Pinochets Chile, is often not talked about quite as much, the horrors of its years de-emphasised with the passage of decades. Despite that whitewashing, it was an awful and regressive, murderous, regime, the scars of which are still very much visible in Brazil. Dilma Rousseff was an activist during the dictatorship and she was famously imprisoned and tortured continuously for days on end by the regime. One of Bolsonaros key talking points is his fondness for the days of dictatorship. The others sit at the crossroads of nationalism, authoritarianism, violence, misogyny, racism, homophobia, transphobia, and anti-environmentalism. This is just a selection: I am in favor of a dictatorship, a regime of exception. - Open session of the Camara dos Deputados, 1993 The pau-de-arara [a torture technique] works. Im in favor of torture, you know that. And the people are in favor as well. - Camara Aberta TV program, May 23, 1999 Lets shoot all the PT members here in Acre [Brazilian state]. - Campaign event on September 1, 2018 Pinochet should have killed more people. - Veja, December 2, 1998. What historic debt do we have with blacks? I never enslaved them. The Portuguese never set foot in Africa. The blacks were delivered by blacks. - Programa Roda Viva, July 2018. I have five children. Four were boys, on the fifth I got weak and had a daughter. - Speech at the Clube Hebraica, Rio de Janeiro, April 3, 2017. Through the vote you will not change anything in this country, nothing, absolutely nothing! It will only change, unfortunately, when, one day, we start a civil war here and do the work that the military regime did not do. Killing some 30,000, starting with FHC [then-president Fernando Henrique Cardoso], not kicking them out, killing! If some innocent people are going to die, fine, in any war innocents die. - Camara Aberta TV program, May 23, 1999 God above everything. There is no such thing as this secular state. The state is Christian and the minority will have to change, if they can. The minorities will have to adapt to the position of the majority. - Speech at the Aeroporto Joao Suassuna, February 8, 2017. I will not fight nor discriminate, but if I see two men kissing in the street, Ill hit them. - Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper, May 19, 2002 I would be unable to love a gay son. I wont be a hypocrite here: I would prefer that my son die in an accident rather than appear with a moustache. For me, he would be dead. - Playboy, 2011. Im a rapist now. I would never rape you, because you do not deserve it slut! - Speaking to Congresswoman Maria do Rosario, November 11, 2003 For those interested in knowing a bit about Brazils likely future president, his latest speech, with English subtitles pic.twitter.com/ssb1hgT4rA Octavio Luiz Motta Ferraz (@octavio_ferraz) October 25, 2018 You probably read about how @JairBolsonaro, in 2014, told a female colleague in Congress she was too ugly to "deserve" his rape. That was the 2nd time he told her that. Here's the first time - & he pushed her & called her a "whore" for good measure. Watch (with subtitles): pic.twitter.com/puEvCyseOL Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) October 23, 2018 On his way to electoral victory, Bolsonaro has succeeded in harnessing three very powerful forces of social conservatism in his campaign: faith, family, and tradition. He has preyed on the hatred in some sectors of Brazilian society of the advances made by LGBTQ+ under PT. He has mobilised the term corruption and expanded it to cover not just its initial financial connotations, but alsoin a still widely religious societysocietal corruption. He has promised to do away with this corruption by any means necessary. What that translates to is force. Brazil has one of the most out of control crime problems in the world right now, but few would say that this is due to the police force not being heavy handed enough. Indeed Brazils police is almost cartoonishly militarised and brutal. Dissidents know this, the residents of the poor favelas know this. Bolsonaro is using quite specific language. Listen to it carefully if you want a taste of what is to come: A broadening of the polices powers, further militarisation and the brutality that comes with it, and the expansion of its abuses from just the favelas into all walks of Brazilian life. There are already resistance movements on the ground. Womens groups in the Brazilian favelas have been reported to be building literal trenches, to at least slow the tide that they know is coming. Because Bolsonaro has been elected into the presidency from such a small political party, he has no political infrastructure to take with him. As such, his administration will see the further weaving of Brazils military into the fabric of power and the legislature. On top of that Bolsonaro also sees his family as something of a political dynasty, so he will stack key positions with members of his clanagain, echoes of Trump. What will emerge in the fifth most populous country in the world over the next months and years is a violently repressive authoritarian regime. It will actively target dissidents and people of alternative views, both in the public sphere and in the private domain. Some of the work will be indirectly outsourced, as violence against women, people of alternative sexualities, ethnic minorities, and left-wing activists will soar as people feel emboldened to act against these groups. These acts will be at best tolerated and at worst encouraged by Bolsonaros administration, and they will largely remain unpunished. In addition to all this, Bolsonaro will be a complete and utter disaster for the environment. His campaign has been one of angry opposition, and as such it has lacked in concrete policies. One of the few policies that has been announced repeatedly, however, is his disdain for environmental regulation. He intends to pull out of the Paris agreement as soon as possible, and he has pledged to open up the Amazon rainforestone of the most vital bulwarks against climate changefor unfettered exploitation. He promises that historic indigenous rights to the forest will be a thing of the past. So then. Jair Bolsonaro is a monster. That much is clear. But monsters cannot thrive without the right environment. There are lessons to be learned from Bolsonaro, as there are from Trump. Yes social media proved an invaluable tool in spreading both mens message, and yes hatreds like misogyny and racism were harnessed to increase their momentum. But these would have limited power and fringe appeal if they were not lashed to a critique of the establishment. Neoliberal politics has fragmented society and it has brought so much despair to the vast majority of the world that people, desperate and out of options, are hungry for change. Any change. Some will vote for a figure like Bolsonaro because they too are misogynists and racists and they wish to see those groups punished. But many more will cast their vote as they would throw a Molotov cocktail. They would rather see the establishment burn than legitimise it by accepting more of the same. It is easy for commentators and people with privilege to denounce this attitude, but history has shown time and time again that this will keep happening. Lacking a credible left-wing alternative, in times of crisis people will turn to the strongman. Adolf Hitler and the Nazis are a tired, hackneyed comparison. They are also, however, painfully apt. Not only did they surf the rise of discontent into power and terrible brutality, there was another angle to the story. During Bolsonaros campaign we saw a particular trend occurring. As it became likelier that he would win the presidency, stock markets rallied. Businesses rejoiced. Business journals endorsed him. This despite all the horrific stuff that he was on record as saying and believing. As Europe smouldered in the aftermath of World War II the international community decided to hold those responsible to account. The Nuremberg trials were convened in order to put Nazi officials and officers in the dock to answer for their crimes. The Nazis would, however, have never risen to power had it not been for the big industrialists of the day, the champion capitalists of the time, providing sometimes tacit, sometimes explicit, often material support. Until the crimes against humanity became so monstrousand in some cases ever aftermuch of business both at home in Germany and around the world looked on Hitler and his fascists rather fondly. When the Nuremberg trials were being planned, it was briefly proposed that the key capitalists who had facilitated the rise of the Third Reich should stand trial alongside the Nazis. This was shot down with alacrity by the U.S. and its allies. Business was allowed to walk away scot-free. This will keep happening while capital and pragmatism are held to be more important than humanity. Jair Bolsonaro must be opposed with all the might in the world, but so then must be the capitalism that enabled him. If it isnt, fascism will keep rising. Brazils fate hangs in the balance. With the capitalists lusting after the spoils of the Amazon rainforest and the world already on the brink of climate breakdown, so too does the future of our existence on this planet. It is the same story around the world. We are close to catastrophe. A mass, worldwide, grassroots, proactive socialist movement that does not flinch and does not compromise is our only hope at turning the tide before its too late. Fear of the Streaming Service in a Post-FilmStruck World | Review: 'Patriot Act With Hasan Minhaj' Petr is a staff contributor. You can follow him on Twitter. Image sources (in order of posting): Getty Images, The Street, Twitter, WSJ International Paper Reportedly Considering Sale of Corrugated Packaging Business in Brazil Oct. 29, 2018 - International Paper has reportedly confirmed that it is considering options to sell its Brazilian cardboard packaging unit. Brazilian newspaper Valor Economico reported the potential sale on Oct. 25 citing sources. The newspaper said the unit is not profitable. Reuters followed up on the Valor Economico story and in a statement, IP told Reuters, It is exploring strategic options for the packaging business in Brazil, including a potential sale. According to International Paper's website, its packaging business in Brazil consists of three packaging paper mills, located in the State of Sao Paulo, and four units producing corrugated cardboard packaging and sheets: two in the State of Sao Paulo, one in Goias and one in Amazonas. SOURCES: Valor Economico, Reuters, and International Paper Heidi Klum, costume royalty and Gemini icon, is having her 18th annual Halloween party this year! Here are the signs as some of her best and wackiest looks over the years: Aries: Golden Goddess Aries is a golden goddess! Duh! Oh, goddess of what? Um of whatever Aries wants to be the goddess of! They can reign over anything! Oh, is it from something? Is it a character? Well. No, not really. Just kind of wanted to spray paint my entire body gold and make a statement. But I'm the goddess!! Taurus: Vampire A Taurus in love will give you their exposed, bleeding heart. A Taurus on Halloween will spook you with it! Heidi's 2005 vampire look is sexy, badass, and a little possessive, like a Taurus! OMG I'm not even trying to suck your blood, I just want you to move into my bed and never leave! Gemini: Heidi x 5 Gemini, you are Heidi Klum's 2016 masterpiece herself with five of her clones! A clone for every personality! Heidi, a beloved Gemini herself, gathered some model pals to impersonate her in Victoria's Secret Angel gear. The beauty of this costume lies in the Gemini trickiness: getting to watch people try to talk to "you" all night long while you scamper away with glee. Cancer: Thriller Cancer cashes in the nostalgia factor, like Heidi did last year when she and her friends recreated the entire Thriller music video! This costume has all of the makings of a Cancer Halloween: involving your whole friend group, throwbacks, kitschy costumes, the joy of prepping at Goodwill and ordering things online weeks in advance, shared future memories, and an excellent soundtrack! Leo: Cleopatra Leos are zodiac's royalty, so naturally they should be Heidi's version of Cleopatra, ruler of Egypt! A dramatic Leo goes all in, and enjoys being the center of attention over the course of the night. Heidi actually had to cancel this year's party due to Hurricane Sandy, but can you imagine seeing her bop around between rooms, drenched in gold, with this pharaoh's headdress sticking out above everyone? Leo AF! Virgo: Lady Godiva Virgo, you are Lady Godiva the legendary English countess known for riding horseback through the town nude, using her long hair as her own cover! Virgo is the secret freak of the zodiac, and also the sign most likely to put in the effort to find a horse to make their sexy Halloween costume complete. Libra: Jessica Rabbit Libras always go for the sexy costume with a twist. On Halloween, they just want to be told they're pretty so they can get drunk and walk around sitting on people's laps unannounced. In 2015, Heidi broke out the prosthetics for her Jessica Rabbit costume! This costume is so good, so beautiful, and so fake, that it has to be a Libra. Scorpio: The Human Body For Halloween, a Scorpio is either going to be the sexiest or the freakiest thing you see all night. Scorpio is one of the only signs that can pull off Heidi's amazing 2011 Human Body costume. They can see through to your soul without skin anyways. Plus, a Scorpio would LOVE to see your face react when you peer over the hospital bed, thinking you can inspect their artistry, only to have them pop out at you and stop your heart! They'll teach you a thing or two about anatomy! ;) Sagittarius: Witch Does a Sagittarius ever really have a plan? No, no they don't. What they do always have: passion! Heidi surely put the effort into this red witch costume, but how much research went into the outfit? I'm not sure why there are bones and vampire teeth involved in a witch costume, but it sure is fun! Go in, Sagittarius! Capricorn: Dominatrix No one gives commands better than a Capricorn! Tell me what to do and hurt my feelings, baby! Capricorns know what they want, and how to get it. Capricorn is the original dominatrix Heidi's outfit from her first Halloween party in 2000! Aquarius: Crows Aquarius is the oddball and the individualist, but also the sign of friendship! Therefore, they must be this absurd couples costume that Heidi and Seal did, in which they are crows? Ravens? Nightmares? Aquarius will always choose a costume that they have to explain to you. Pisces: Butterfly Pisces is the dreamer of the zodiac, filled to the brim with creative energy! Naturally, they should be represented by Heidi Klum's amazing, enormous butterfly costume from 2014. Pisces thinks big, so they're the the perfect sign to pull off this grand, beautiful task. Fly away, little Pisces! Fly away from reality! Follow Courtney Perkins at @notallgeminis for all your zodiac and meme needs. Photos via Getty Dante Jones and Drew Love are THEY., a pair of Los Angeles-based rebels smashing stereotypes with music that defies genre. Before launching their joint venture, THEY. got their start as beatmakers for the likes of Jeremih, Kelly Clarkson, and will.i.am before striking out on their own. The band's major-label debut, Nu Religion: Hyena, released last year, established THEY. as industry rule-breakers, melding unexpected R&B melodies with electric guitar, and autobiographical lyrics based on their reverence for '90s pop culture and life experience growing up as outsiders. It's all there the stylistic playfulness and irreverence in the music. (Fun fact: some of Jones' favorite bands as a kid range from Fall Out Boy to Circa Survive, while Love grew up singing Britney Spears' "...Baby One More Time" and Hanson's "MMMBop" in the shower). Their new project, Fireside is out November 9 and features high-profile collaborations with Ty Dolla $ign, Jeremih, Gallant, Vic Mensa, and Jessie Reyez. The video for Fireside's first single, the just-released "What I Know Now," puts the budding stars in a raw performance set-up alongside Wiz Khalifa. The song's lyrics address the journey toward hard-earned maturity over seamlessly harmonic guitar and trap production, which the video amplifies through its throwback simplicity. "Some of our favorite and most influential music came from the '90s," THEY. tells PAPER. "[With that in mind] we felt like shooting the video in the style of live performance videos of that era would really bring home and compliment the vibe of the song. It was great to bring real fans through to be a part of the experience." Catch the PAPER premiere of THEY.'s "What I Know Now" with Wiz Khalifa, below. Photography: Lloyd Pursall Heres another pair of passages excerpted from the fascinating and very valuable John L. Esposito and Dalia Mogahed, Who Speaks for Islam? What a Billion Muslims Really Think (New York: Gallup Press, 2007): Why Do They Hate Us and Our Way of Life? This question, raised in the immediate aftermath of 9/11, looms large following continued suicide and other terrorist attacks and the dramatic growth of anti-Americanism. A common answer from some U.S. politicians and experts has been: They hate our way of life, our freedom, democracy, and success. Considering the broad-based anti-Americanism not only among radicals but also among a significant mainstream majority in the Muslim world (and indeed in many other parts of the world), this answer does not satisfy. Although there are many common grievances expressed in the Muslim world, do the politically radicalized and moderates differ in attitudes toward the West? When asked what they admire about the West, the politically radicalized and moderates mention these top three spontaneous responses: (1) technology; (2) the Wests value system, hard work, self-responsibility, rule of law, cooperation; and (3) fair political systems, democracy, respect of human rights, freedom of speech, gender equality. Contrary to popular belief that extremists are anti-democracy, a significantly higher percentage of the politically radicalized (50% vs. 35% of moderates) say that moving toward greater governmental democracy will foster progress in the Arab/Muslim world. Moreover, when considering relations between the Muslim world and the West, the politically radicalized do not simply reject the West: No significant difference exists between the percentage of the politically radicalized and moderates who say that better understanding between the West and Arab/Islamic cultures concerns me a lot. And even more surprising, the politically radicalized are more likely than moderates to associate Arab/Islamic nations with an eagerness to have better relationships with the West: 58% of the politically radicalized (versus 44% of moderates) express this. (80-81) While the spread of democracy has been the stated goal of the United States, with few exceptions, majorities in virtually every nation with majority or sizable Muslim populations disagree that the United States is serious about the establishment of democratic systems in the region: Only 24% in Egypt and Jordan and 16% in Turkey agree that the United States is serious about establishing democratic systems. The largest groups in agreement are in Lebanon (54%), Sierra Leone (68%), and Afghanistan (53%). (83) It seems that the United States has a serious public relations or image problem in the Muslim world. Knowing precisely what it is and what underlies it is, it seems obvious to me, essential to finding a way to fix it. Iran And America: Why All The Enmity? 10/29/18 By John Limbert (source: LobeLog) At some time in the future, when officials in Washington and Tehran finally stop yelling at each other and start talking, they will ask themselves: "Why did we waste so much time hating each other?" They are not there yet. Until they are, denunciations, accusations, and threats are still the order of the day. Several years ago, an honest Iranian diplomat told my students, "The basis of our foreign policy is opposition to you." Iranian political scientist Mahmoud Sariolghalam recently wrote, "Anti-Americanism continues to serve as the raison d'etre of the Islamic Republic of Iran. This has less to do with the nature of the American system and more to do with the fact that Iran has turned anti-Americanism into an identity." The result of these skewed Iranian priorities has been policy based on empty slogans and threats, inept diplomacy that-despite the efforts of some skilled individuals-has made Iran many enemies and few friends. Among the latter are the murderous regime in Damascus, and, ironically, the small and isolated Christian state of Armenia. Anti-Iranianism Things are no better on the American side. Ask an Iranian woman how she became pregnant and she may tell you "feshaar-e-atraafiaan" (pressure from those around me). This U.S. administration has also been both pressured and conned by those around it. This bizarre coalition includes opportunistic right-wing Israeli politicians as well as Saudis who, encouraged by those who would sell them expensive weapons, find Iranian threats everywhere. There are also some odd groups of diaspora Iranians-and their hired American shills-whose motives and grasp of conditions at home are problematic at best. All of these constituencies detested Obama for his efforts to establish civil discourse with a hostile Iran and change decades of futility into something more productive. They loudly denounce him and his policies, and thus both exploit President Trump's fixations and play sweet music to his ears. American officials' foreign policy speeches on Iran, such as that of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to the Heritage Foundation last May, devote more words to denouncing Obama's policies than proposing anything coherent. Indeed, it's difficult to know if the enemy is the Islamic Republic of Iran or Barack Obama. The former is an adversary, the latter an obsession. The Trump administration has decreed that Iran is the embodiment of all evil. As such, it must be both feared and destroyed. If such a description requires stretching the truth and overstating the threat from Iran's isolated and incompetent regime, then so be it. Facts do not matter. For example, according to a writer for the Washington Institute for Near East Policy (WINEP), Iran and its paramilitary Quds Force pose "a significant threat to the American homeland." Borrowing a term long-beloved by the American military, this administration has declared that Iran is "malign" (i.e. a cancer to be eliminated). Last May, Pompeo listed 12 U.S. demands of Iran. His list was not a list. It was not an opening negotiating position. It was an ultimatum calling for complete surrender. If 12 demands were not enough, in recent Foreign Affairs article, he added a thirteenth: that Iran improve its human rights record. About these demands, retired Foreign Service Officer Mark Fitzpatrick writes, "Imposing so many demands suggests a lack of focus. Having a dozen priorities means having none." He adds that Trump administration statements suggest a "hidden agenda" of regime change for Iran. In reality there is nothing hidden about this agenda. For whatever reasons, the Trump administration has decided that the Islamic Republic should not exist. It is clear that this administration does not do irony. In his list of grievances against Iran, Pompeo accused Iran's rulers of being a "mafia" that has enriched itself at public expense. Might he not find a similar group just a few blocks east of the State Department? He ends his Foreign Affairs article with a section called "The Power of Moral Clarity" in which he writes, "President Trump's actions in confronting outlaw regimes stem from the belief that moral confrontation leads to diplomatic conciliation." Really? It does? Tell that to the ghost of Jamal Khashoggi. If you can find it. Sources of Anger There is no reason and there is every reason for this enmity. On the Iranian side, Sariolghalam has well identified the cause. The aging political elite-which has been in power almost 40 years-has decided that anti-Americanism will keep it in its offices and palaces a little longer. It has long exploited Iran's historical grievances, real and imagined-the CIA-sponsored coup d'etat of 1953, the subsequent support for an autocratic Shah, support for Iraq during the ruinous Iran-Iraq war, the shooting down of an Iranian passenger plane in 1988, and rumors of American support for separatist movements among Iran's ethnic minorities. The endless repetition of stale slogans has had unintended consequences among Iran's young and well-educated population. "Any country our government denounces so adamantly," goes the reasoning, "can't be all bad. In fact, it must be pretty good if our regime dislikes it so much." Long gone are the mass marches and demonstrations of the 1980s when millions would turn out to chant "death to" this or that on instruction. On the American side, in addition to "pressure from those around us" and the president's insecurities and inferiority complex vis-a-vis his predecessor, there is a third factor: Iran humiliated the United States 40 years ago during the 1979-81 hostage crisis. Although many anti-Iranian chest-beaters remember little from that time, if they were alive at all, the grievance remains and they want revenge. They are not ready to forgive, forget, or understand. Their basic problem is not that Iranians acted shamefully and refuse to admit it. Their real issue is that the Iranians refused to act as they were expected to-as an inferior species of human being who would accept domination by outside powers. When they insisted, in the words of Arthur Miller's Linda in Death of a Salesman that "attention must be paid," they made people angry. It does not help matters that the Islamic Republic has created its own blind spot for that episode. It still pretends that the event is either something to celebrate or something unrelated to today that happened "a long time ago in a galaxy far away." As long as one side nurses its humiliation and the other side refuses to acknowledge a disgraceful history, the sore continues to fester and the two sides will wallow in enmity and self-righteousness, enjoying what President Obama aptly called "the satisfying purity of indignation." Despite all this blind enmity, there still may be a way off this road to nowhere on which both sides have been stuck for so long. There was a glimpse of a better way at an October 2018 event at Harvard's Belfer Center, when an Iranian-American in the audience politely asked Wendy Sherman, former undersecretary of state for political affairs, about her ill-considered 2013 remark at a Senate hearing that "deception is in Iranians' DNA." Without hesitation, Sherman replied, "I screwed up." How powerful (and how difficult to say) are those three words. One never hears them in today's political climate, where the preferred discourse is "I'm right and you're an idiot/thief/fool/terrorist." But in acknowledging mistakes, as difficult as it might be, lies great power and wisdom-and a first step on a path out of the swamp of futility and pointless hostility for these two nations. About the author: John Limbert is a retired Foreign Service Officer. A former deputy assistant secretary of state for Iranian affairs, he also served at the US Embassy in Tehran where was held hostage for 14 months. He's the author of Negotiating with Iran: Wrestling the Ghosts of History for the US Institute of Peace. President Rouhani's picks for 4 ministries win Iranian lawmakers' confidence vote 10/29/18 Source: Press TV Iran's Parliament has given the vote of confidence to all candidates proposed by President Hassan Rouhani to fill in the four vacant ministerial positions. Rouhani had 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. After extensive debates during the Parliament's sessions on Saturday, Rouhani's picks for the four ministries obtained the green light from the Iranian lawmakers. At the end of the session, Dejpasand received the vote of confidence with 200 Iranian lawmakers in favor, 50 against and 15 abstentions. And 196 lawmakers also gave their approval to Shariatmadari. Some 63 lawmakers opposed him and five abstained. Eslami also won a yes from 151 legislators, while 98 were against him and eight abstained. Rahmani won 203 Iranian lawmakers' vote of confidence while 49 opposed him and 13 abstained. The confidence vote session in the parliament was extended to the evening when lawmakers decided to go on with discussions about the nominees for ministry posts. President Hassan Rouhani addressed members of the parliament in the morning session where he defended his administration's economic records while he also hailed Iran's political success to defuse unilateral US sanctions against the country. Rouhani said it was a great success that Iran had managed to preserve a 2015 nuclear agreement with world powers despite Washington's decision to withdraw from the agreement. "In the past weeks and months, we witnessed the decisive and unprecedented victory of the Iranian nation against US plots," said Rouhani in his speech to the lawmakers, adding, "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." Iranian parliament is the sole legislative body within Iran's system of governance. The 290-member chamber can impeach the president and members of his cabinet. In the first half of 2018, the shipment of Huawei smartphones reached a record high of over 95 million units. According to IDC, a renowned global market intelligence firm, the global market share of Huawei smartphones has soared by up to 15.8% in the second quarter of 2018, enabling Huawei to become the second largest smartphone vendor in the world. This is the first time that Huawei has been able to secure such a high ranking. The shipments of the Huawei P20 series reached more than 9 million units worldwide within four months since its initial launch. The Huawei Mate 10 series continued to have a strong performance with global shipments of more than 10 million units. The H1 shipments of Huawei Nova series had a year-on-year growth of 60%. The number of global Nova users exceeded 50 million. The market share of Huawei smartphones ranked first in eight countries, including China, Russia, Spain, Poland, Italy, and Egypt, and second in 30 countries, including France, Finland, Hungary, Austria, and the UAE. Huawei Cloud services have covered more than 170 countries, involving 400 million registered users and 450,000 developers worldwide. It is estimated that the annual income of developers will have a year-on-year increase of 100% in 2018. Huawei HiLink has rapidly expanded its smart home ecosystem to include more than 500 products (from over 150 brands), serving more than 400 million users. Huawei HiHealthnow has more than 100 million registered users. Huawei now has more than 53,000 retail stores and more than 3,500 experience stores in 110 countries and regions around the world. Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video President Akufo-Addo has been urged to fulfill his promise of passing the two-decade-old Affirmative Action Bill into law. According to Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) Ghana and FIDA-Ghana which made the call on Thursday at a press conference in Accra, Mr. Akufo-Addo, who is the Gender Champion for Africa, ought to honour his promise to women and girls in Ghana by passing the bill into law which would ensure gender parity in political decision-making and appointments. Their call on President Akufo-Addo comes at a time the minister-designate for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Cynthia Morrison, is billed to be vetted by parliament. The two groups are of the firm belief that Ghana has not set a good example in Africa and on the global stage when it comes to promoting gender parity. In a document titled: Call To Action Pass The Affirmative Action Law, the two civil society groups championing the agenda of women in Ghana, lamented that despite assurances from the government, the momentum for the passage of the Affirmative Action Bill seems to be waning. The Affirmative Action Law transcends party lines, and presents an opportunity for the two main political parties to join forces to ensure the passage of the bill, they stressed. According to the document presented by the two groups, the gender statistics in parliament has been a constant point of reference with 86.2 per cent male and 13.8 per cent female. They added that these findings clearly demonstrate that despite the provisions under our national constitution and the ratification of various international human rights laws, such as the African Charter on human and peoples rights and CEDAW, these laws will only be beneficial if an affirmative action law is passed and implemented to create an environment which is gender inclusive and gender responsive. Comparisons An Executive of FIDA-Ghana, Afua Addotey, lamented that whilst countries like Ethiopia, Rwanda, among others, are making significant progress in promoting and ensuring gender parity, Ghana continues to lag behind. Don't fail us However, FES-Ghana and FIDA-Ghana are uncertain about the passage of the bill into law in 2018 as President Akufo-Addo promised considering the fact that the bill was currently not before parliament for consideration and the fact that parliament is due for recess in November. Therefore, they have appealed to lawmakers to help with the passage of the bill, saying our parliamentarians must not fail Ghanaian women and girls, and we call on the legislature to act on the AAB when parliament resumes sitting in November 2018, at the 3rd meeting of the second session of the 7th Parliament of the 4th Republic. Whilst waiting for parliament to pass the bill, we respectfully ask the President to ensure gender parity in his appointments, according to Madam Addotey. Programme Coordinator of FES-Ghana, Ernestina Ofoe, expressed the belief that when passed, the law is going to bring significant social change in Ghana. Discussions on the need for an affirmative action law in Ghana started in 1998 and since then women in Ghana have been pressing to see the bill passed but to no avail and it seems they have a long way to go in their advocacy work, as their male counterparts in the political space do not appear ready to get the bill passed. Source: Daily Guide Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Former Attorney-General, Dr Obed Asamoah, has taken his support for the creation of the proposed Oti Region to another level by educating all those opposing the move, particularly Togbe Afede, the Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State. According to Dr Asamoah, calls by Togbe Afede and others to include all the people in the region in the referendum for the creation of the proposed Oti Region from the Volta Region were unconstitutional. He said agitation by persons outside the proposed Oti Region to be included in the referendum to determine the fate of the people in the affected area was grossly misconceived because the 1992 Constitution does not support their calls. The astute politician said the arguments against the Oti Region were unfortunate, adding that he is forced under the circumstances to rescue the debate against Oti Region from ignorance, pettiness, selfishness and vilification. To begin with, he said the requests by those in the southern part of the Volta Region to be included in the referendum were against the appropriate clauses of the 1992 Constitution. Referring to Articles 4 and 5, Dr Asamoah explained that it was only the Commission of Inquiry that could determine the issues regarding the referendum such as who to vote, basis for the creation, among others. The former minister therefore advised Togbe Afede, whom he described as an eminent chief, not to give room for people to associate him with such fallacies because he should know better. Afedes Claim Togbe Afede is reported to have described the work of the Commission of Enquiry on the new regions as shoddy and biased against the views of the south. Togbe Afede said the creation of Oti Region and other new regions involve the alteration of existing boundaries and therefore asked stakeholders to ensure the referendum covers other parts of the affected regions. He went to the extent of describing as disingenuous and dangerous examples cited by President Akufo-Addo of Scotland, Eritrea, South Sudan and Trans-Volta Togoland to support the referendum to be held only in areas calling for the new regions. The use of these examples is creating a dangerous precedent, with implications for the survival of our country. Will Ghana allow any part of the country to vote alone to decide their independence as was done in Scotland, Eritrea, South Sudan, Trans-Volta Togoland, etc?Togbe Afede queried. Speaking to DAILY GUIDE at his residence at Likpe, Dr. Asamoah reiterated that the claims were legal nonsense because except where specifically required by national or international law, the peoples consent is not a prerequisite. He said not all citizens of Gold Coast voted in the plebiscite to include British Togoland in the independent Gold Coast in 1956, adding that similarly, the creation of Volta Region was not done with the consent of even the people in the region and so argument for inclusion in the referendum to decide the demarcation of Oti has no basis. Leave Nana Addo Out Dr. Asamoah revealed that the call for the creation of Oti Region predates the NPP and the NDC since it started from 1954. Similar petitions were forwarded to the appropriate quarters in 1970, 1996, 2003, and in 2017 after both NDC and NPP promised to look into the request based on merit. To this end, he cautioned all and sundry to leave President Akufo-Addo out of the matter and allow the law to take its course. The NPP government is only a post master in the matter and has to relay the Commission of Inquirys recommendations to the Electoral Commission (EC) for implementation. He said that there is a silent majority in the area who have united under the Concerned Citizens of Santrofi, Akpafu, Lolobi and Likpe (SALL) and would vote massively in favour of the Oti Region to shame detractors. Source: Daily Guide Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Sharm El-Sheikh International Airport received on Monday the first flight coming from the Kazakh city of Taraz with 221 Russian tourists on board. Head of the Egyptian Airports Company Tarek Fawzi said a team from the airport's public relations department received the tourists and gave them souvenirs. The Russian tourists, meanwhile, praised the warm reception at the airport. Sharm El -Sheikh International Airport is scheduled to receive a weekly flight from Taraz. Search Keywords: Short link: The Tarkwa Police in the Western Region have arrested a Nigerian woman for allegedly trafficking Nigerian girls to Ghana to engage in prostitution. According to sources, the suspect, Vitoria Omotayo, promised to offer the girls lucrative jobs in Ghana. They told DAILY GUIDE that Victoria usually approaches some parents in Nigeria and inform them that she is a prominent businesswoman in Ghana with a big business that needs some ladies to help with the sales. However, after bringing the girls to Ghana, Victoria Omotayo would allegedly force the innocent girls to engage in prostitution and threaten them with death. Confirming the arrest, Supt Kwabena Acheampong, Tarkwa Police Crime Officer, disclosed that at about 3:30am yesterday, three victims walked into the charge office at the Tarkwa Police Station to report the case after engaging in prostitution for two weeks. The Crime Officer indicated that the three victims, who managed to escape, narrated that the suspect took their hair, pubic hair, nails, brassieres and panties when they arrived in Ghana. This was put fear in them that if they run away they will be killed so out of fear they also obliged, the police officer pointed out. He disclosed that some police personnel followed the young girls to their hideout at dawn and arrested Victoria. The police chief mentioned that the police were able to rescue 13 girls between the ages of 18 and 26 from the place where they had been enslaved. He pointed out that the police had also mounted a search for a 16-year-old girl, who became seriously ill after an illegal abortion Victoria did for her. Supt Acheampong revealed that investigations into the case had commenced and that the police would arrest all those involved. He warned those engaged in the illegal business, particularly in the Tarkwa area, to desist from the practice or else the law would deal with them. Source: Daily Guide Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The incessant attacks on vice president Dr. Bawumia by members of the opposition National Democratic Congress; especially, former president Mahama, is borne out of jealousy the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, has said. Mr. Antwi Boasiako, has explained that the competence of vice president Dr. Bawumia makes members of the National Democratic Congress uncomfortable, hence their attacks on him. He further noted that Mr. John Dramani Mahama had chosen to pick a fight with Dr. Bawumia mainly because the latter continues to demonstrate that unlike the incompetent former president, there are thousands of Northerners who can manage top positions in government with ease without being corrupt. Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and President Akufo-Addos introduction of the mobile money interoperability service in the country has bore fruit but what can you say about former president Mahama? He is known to be corrupt and is shocked Dr. Bawumia isnt committing the same erronous mistakes he made whilst in office. He wants Bawumia to award contracts to his siblings just like he did with Ibrahim Mahama but he has waited for long and sees no sign of that coming. Mr. Bernard Antwi-Boasiako popularly known as Chairman Wontumi continued that the New Patriotic Party is blessed to have a gem like Dr. Bawumia whose presence has contributed significantly to the steady growth of Ghanas economy. He warned that insults from the NDC, wont distract the Vice President from performing his task and for that matter, they should humbly learn from him rather than attack him. A former appointee of former president Mahama, Felix Ofosu Kwakye is on record to have recently described Vice President Bawumia as a narrow-minded person. He made the attack after the Vice President had said the NDC, did not introduce any social intervention programme in its eight-year rule. According to Felix Kwakye-Ofosu, Dr. Bawumias comment demonstrates he lacks the technical know-how when it comes to issues of social intervention, saying There is a fundamental flaw of the appreciation of social intervention by the Vice President. But Chairman Wontumi responded by indicating that mercenaries like Ofosu Kwakye and others should be forgiven since he lacks wisdom and served under a regime that institutionalized corruption. He explained that unlike the experience under former president Mahama, president Akufo-Addo and Dr. Bawumia have managed to embark on several social intervention programmes to ease the sufferings of the people through the reduction of electricity and water tariffs, the abolition of nuisance taxes and expanding the welfare safety net by increasing the share of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) allocated to Persons with Disability (PWDs). Chairman Wontumi noted that Dr. Bawumia played a role in providing opportunities for 100,000 graduates to gain practical experience through the Nation Builders Corps. After taking over from the NDC, Chairman Wontumi explained that the current government has managed to expand the school feeding programme from 1.6 million to 2.1 million and have also expanded the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) to cover an additional 150,000 people. He praised Vice President Bawumia for ably supporting President Akufo-Addo and advised former President Mahama to stop hating on him. Source: newsroomgh.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 Member of Parliament for Builsa South, Dr Clement Apaak has hit hard at President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo over a video in which the latter is captured, dancing with some women in an unidentified setting with hot tunes playing in the background. Mr. Akufo-Addo rhythmically danced along with MzVees Come and see my mother, while the light glimmered in the background. In a post with the 30-seconds video attached, Mr. Apaak quizzed how the president could find time to party in a club when things are turbulent in the country and Ghanaians are suffering. Our President finds time to party in a club in these difficult times! Is this what he is borrowing for? See how NADAA dey bogie as Ghanaians dey suffer!, the post on his wall read. This comes on the back of recent comments made by President Akufo-Addo on borrowing. According to him, his government will continue to borrow money to put up projects he described as assets, stressing that every country borrows. Speaking at an entrepreneurship forum organised by the Tony Elumelo Foundation in Nigeria, Thursday, the President mentioned that many developed countries borrow, including the United States borrow. We will borrow money; everybody borrows money, he noted. 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. The President was responding to a question from one of the participants who asked why he goes for loans from China despite his Ghana Beyond Aid mantra. Borrowing money is not aid, said Nana Addo as he defended the move by the Chinese government to earmark $60 billion fund for infrastructure projects in Africa. Source: Ghanaweb.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 Ghanaians who believed the Akufo-Addo government will reduce the public debt by not borrowing money in the same way his predecessors did, may have their hopes dashed. This is because President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said his government will keep borrowing money to put up projects he described as assets to pay back those loans. He said every country borrows money for projects and Ghana is not 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, he added. The president was speaking at an entrepreneurship forum in Nigeria on Thursday organised by the Tony Elumelo Foundation. His remark was in response to a question from one of the participants who queried President Akufo-Addo on why he goes for loans from China despite trumpeting the Ghana Beyond Aid mantra. President Akufo also said: 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. The event brought together some 5,000 young African entrepreneurs who are being funded, trained and mentored by the Tony Elumelu Foundation. President Nana Akufo-Addo and his Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia while in opposition criticized the Mahama government over what they called excessive borrowing. Mahama according to Bawumia had a voracious appetite for foreign loans, an action he described as reckless and worrying. On this track, Ghana is clearly on the way back to the unsustainable debt level that pushed us to HIPC. This is a worrying development because Ghana received HIPC relieve just ten years ago after a similar debt binge by the previous NDC government. If the current borrowing binge continuous it will only be a matter of time before the international rating agency will classify Ghana as a country with a high risk of debt distress, he warned. Dr. Bawumia was addressing members of the NPP UK branch and the Young Executive Forum in the UK in November 2014 when he made those assertions. Ghanas total debt hits GHS159.4bn Recent data released by the Bank of Ghana put the countrys total debt as at July 2018 at 159.4 billion cedis, representing 65.9 percent of the GDP. The data, which was published after the Monetary Policy Committee concluded its meeting, showed that the total debt stock increased by 5.1 billion cedis from 154.3 billion cedis in May, to 159.4 billion cedis in July 2018. Source: citinewsroom.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 Member of Parliament for Builsa South, Dr Clement Apaak has hit hard at President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo over a video in which the latter is captured, dancing with some women in an unidentified setting with hot tunes playing in the background. Mr. Akufo-Addo rhythmically danced along with MzVees Come and see my mother, while the light glimmered in the background. In a post with the 30-seconds video attached, Mr. Apaak quizzed how the president could find time to party in a club when things are turbulent in the country and Ghanaians are suffering. Our President finds time to party in a club in these difficult times! Is this what he is borrowing for? See how NADAA dey bogie as Ghanaians dey suffer!, the post on his wall read. This comes on the back of recent comments made by President Akufo-Addo on borrowing. According to him, his government will continue to borrow money to put up projects he described as assets, stressing that every country borrows. Speaking at an entrepreneurship forum organised by the Tony Elumelo Foundation in Nigeria, Thursday, the President mentioned that many developed countries borrow, including the United States borrow. We will borrow money; everybody borrows money, he noted. 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. The President was responding to a question from one of the participants who asked why he goes for loans from China despite his Ghana Beyond Aid mantra. Borrowing money is not aid, said Nana Addo as he defended the move by the Chinese government to earmark $60 billion fund for infrastructure projects in Africa. VIDEO- Source: ghanaweb.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 National Democratic Congress (NDC) Minority will not accept the Akufo-Addo administrations ambitious $50 billion bond unless it is backed by a national referendum, the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, has said. The Minority leader insists that the countrys already worrying debt stock made the issuance of the century bond an unwise decision. Today the NPP through the Finance Minister is telling the world that they are looking to raise $50 billion century bond; a loan payable in 100 years. We demand that that decision can only be subjected to a national referendum before it will have our endorsement as a political party, he said, while addressing delegates at the NDCs youth and womens conference. The decision to issue the $50 billion century bond was first announced by President Akufo-Addo when he visited China in September. The government has said the move to issue a century bond in the future is aimed at accelerating the countrys infrastructure development. There is a proposal for the administration to consider a century bond as has been done for example by China, Argentina, Austra, Ireland and even Mexico which provides ultra-long-term financing at low rates and helps you to principally refinance our current debt stocks but also provides financing for some of the major items that we intend to embark on; railway, regional intercity motorway, things like the regional airports. Industries that require financing as well and at this stage, this proposal is being considered, Information Minister Designate, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has said. The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, has already hinted that the next budget reading will reveal the processes for the issuance of the bond. According to Mr. Ofori-Atta, the issuance of the bond should also help address major challenges confronting the economy such as the cedi depreciation. I think the concept will be in there and the fundraising will begin immediately after the budget. We are excited about it because we have gone through the worst of times as a country and certainly we need to increase liquidity in the system, he said. Source: Today Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Popular Nigerian musician Olamide, has described Dancehall artiste, Shatta Wale as Ghanas biggest music export. He made this statement on Saturday, October 27,2018 when he performed at BF Suma Connect Concert, at the Fantasy Dome, Trade Fair, La, Accra. Whether you like it or not Shatta Wale is Ghanas biggest export musically. He has large following and I urge every Ghanaian to rally behind him. Shatta Wale is a king in Ghana and I am proud to associate myself with him, said Olamide as he made his exit from the stage. An obviously excited by the statement, Shatta Wale could not help but give Olamide a bear hug when he joined him on stage. They performed Wonders together before Olamide finally took his leave. And when he had the stage to himself, Shatta Wale did not waste time at all to literallyturn the auditorium upside down. Sporting a pair of working overalls teamed with a yellow T-shirt, Shatta Wale spent over an hour on stage giving his fans back to back of his many hit songs. His fans like loyal subjects who revere their king, kept screaming his name throughout his performance. Some of the songs he dished out to his fans were Gringo, My Level, Amount, Dancehall Commando, Dancehall King, Hosanna, Thunder Fire, Ayoo and Taking Over. Trust Shatta wale to add 'drama' to his act, he stopped in the middle of his performance to say he was overwhelmed by the turn up. I thought today my fans will disappoint me. Ebi you people make I dey get money, he added as he resumed thrilling patrons. Shatta Wale ended his performance with his popular diss song to Yaa Pono Say Fi. Other artistes who did incredibly well on the night were Kuami Eugene, KiDi, Wendy Shay, Tiwa Savage, Adina, Dope Nation and Lemme Gang. Source: Graphic Showbiz 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 We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi met on Monday with German Minister of Economic Affairs and Energy Peter Altmaier at his residence in Berlin, where they discussed economic cooperation and bilateral relations. According to the Egyptian presidency, El-Sisi praised the state of Egyptian-German economic relations, adding that Egypt is happy to host the fifth round of the Egyptian-German economic committee in Cairo in February 2019. Minister Altmaier will be participating in the meeting of the committee along with a delegation of German businessmen so they can be introduced to the investment opportunities in the country, the presidency read. The Egyptian president also said that Egypts chairing of the African Union in 2019 will present an opportunity to boost relations with the German government and companies to push forward the G20 partnership initiative with Africa. Minister Altmaier praised the positive developments on various fronts in Egypt over the past few years, adding that his country is keen to expand cooperation with Egypt in joint projects and increase the size of German investments in the country. Following the meeting with Minister Altmaier, El-Sisi met with a number of German CEOs, where the president discussed the economic reforms adopted in Egypt to encourage investments and economic opportunities as a gateway to Africa and the Arab region. The meeting was attended by Egypts Minister of Investment and International Cooperation Sahar Nasr and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry. Minister Nasr said in statements to the media on Sunday that Germany ranks the 20th in the list of countries investing in Egypt, with $641.4 million in investments from 1,103 companies in the chemicals, petroleum, telecommunication, gas, automobile, iron and steel industries. Search Keywords: Short link: KAMPALA President Yoweri Museveni, has defended the manner in which security operatives brutally arrested Yusuf Kawooya last week, saying the Democratic Party member attempted to bite the arresting officers. The Presidents remarks are contained in a letter he authored on October 23rd, 2018 detailing the guidelines to be followed by all security agencies in dealing with riot incidents, political events as well as arrest of suspects. The letter was addressed to the Chief of Defense Forces, the Inspector General of Police, Director General ISO and Director General ESO. The security person who was seen using a rifle butt may have made a mistake. When I inquired, the concerned people told me that the suspect had bitten him (okuruma), Museveni letter read in part. The Commander in Chief added: That is very serious because some of the criminals have got infectious diseases. Our officer can be infected in that way and that should be an extra charge put on him. The appropriate response would have been to box him hard so that he stops biting our officer. Museveni further defended Kawooya brutal arrest stating, That would be self-defence which is very legitimate. Hitting him with a rifle butt after he has stopped biting you, however, is both vengeance and also usurping the role of the punisher (the courts). Below Is the Presidents letter in full; RE: GUIDELINES ON MANAGING RIOTERS, TERRORISTS, CRIMINALS AND LOOTERS AND METHODS OF ARRESTING AND HANDLING SUSPECTS I am writing to guide you and the public on the two issues of managing rioters, terrorists, criminals and looters on the one hand and on the issue of the proper methods of arresting suspects and handling them, while in custody, on the other hand. The fundamental starting point is the NRA principle of being an army of the people, the masses (the farmers, the factory workers, the patriotic public servants and the Ugandans that are struggling to get a foothold in the emerging money economy) but also serving well the law-abiding foreigners that visit our country. Each of these is like our father, mother, sister, brother, son, daughter or grandchild if they are Ugandans. If they are not Ugandans, then they are our honoured guests amafura. These must never be beaten, pushed or be barked at for any reason. They should, if it is required, be advised (okuhabura) or be restrained if they are trying to go to an area where they are not supposed to be. How do you advise? By talking politely to them. How do you restrain? By stretching out your arms, while your rifle is slung at the back (not pointing a rifle at the people), indicating to the crowd that they should not go beyond a certain point. Restraining members of the public from accessing certain areas can also involve barriers or ropes. You should never push (kutsindika) people that are enthusiastically surging forward to show support for the NRM or the President. You should never kuteera ebigaanja (hitting on the chest of an approaching person with open palms) any member of the public. Therefore, the bodyguards of public officials should strictly observe these rules. They are part of the NRA Code of Conduct. They are not a new composition. The law-abiding Ugandans will respond positively and co-operate. These are a consequence of our philosophy which says that the Africans are one big family. The above are for the law-abiding citizens of Uganda or our guests. There are, however, rioters, criminals, looters, terrorists and traitors. Here we are guided by the legitimate aims of the security forces. What are these aims? They are five and they are: protect the lives of Ugandans from the acts of the law-breakers; protect the property of the Ugandans; do not allow anybody to disrupt markets, centres of worship, legitimate political rallies, legitimate concert gatherings, etc.; do not allow anybody to use lies to incite the public with misinformation; and vigorously hunt and apprehend the suspected criminals. On these, there is no compromise. Why? It is for three reasons. Number one no Ugandan should lose his life or property on account of the acts of these criminals. Secondly, the transport of Uganda, the markets of Uganda and any other legitimate and legal assemblies of our people should never be interfered with by these criminals. Thirdly, the image of Uganda as a stable country, good for Ugandans, tourism and investments, should never be disturbed. Firm action against trouble-makers, if manipulated by the Press of those who seek hegemony over Africa, may worry the public and frighten away tourism from some of the areas. This will be compensated for by tourists from China, Russia, Arabia, etc. Therefore, nobody should be allowed to threaten the lives of Ugandans or their property or the image of Uganda. In the end, the Ugandans will be very happy and so will the foreigners, investors and, eventually, the tourists from all sources. Uganda should not only appear to be stable. It should be stable. Indeed, Uganda has been stable for a long time. It will remain stable. Therefore, nobody should be allowed to threaten life, property or orderliness (obuteeka) in Uganda. If you are a critic, do so truthfully and peacefully. How, then, do you firmly and non-lethally control rioters? I think the use of water cannons is the best way it is strong, non-lethal and not noisy; tear-gas, rubber bullets should be discouraged because they are noisy and, sometimes, they can affect unconcerned people. All the Police forces in the world have shields and short sticks known as batons which they use to disperse hostile crowds. I have seen the Indian Police with long and knob-less (without eifuundo) sticks which they use to disperse crowds. Which is better the short stick or the long one and why? The Police leaders can guide us here. The water cannons, the shields, the short sticks and the long knob-less sticks are all to deal with crowds that are assembling illegally or are threatening to kill people or damage property. The role of the shields is clear. It is to protect the Police from being harmed by flying stones or other missiles (bottles, etc). If, however, the rioters do not stop after the Police use of shields and sticks (whether long or short) and, if the water cannons that are very effective are not available, then, the Police can use live bullets by first firing in the air; but, if the rioters persist, the Police will fire directly at the rioters to protect the lives and property of the law-abiding citizens or protect themselves from the rioters. Therefore, those who speak about this subject should know that rioters, under certain conditions, can be shot legally and can also be beaten legally and legitimately. It is, therefore, a serious miscalculation by the opportunist and criminal leaders to manipulate young people into such situations. Why do they not send their sons and daughters to riot? When it comes to suspected terrorists or murderers, running away from the arresting team is a serious mistake. You will be shot. Why? If the Police do not disable you or kill you, they may never get another chance to catch you so that you answer for your crimes. In the meantime, the criminal may commit more crimes. Therefore, shooting a terrorist who is running away from the security forces trying to arrest him/her, is in order not to allow him/her to escape from the forum where accountability is possible (by being tried in the courts of law) and also to protect the public against further crimes. On the side of the security forces, I am reminding you to never do the following: (a) Push people who surge forward towards leaders out of enthusiasm (kutangirira); you should restrain them (kuzibira) but not push them; (b) You should never bark at people (kubogolela); you should advise them (kuhabura); (c) On rioters, you should use water cannons if they are available; if they are not available, you should use shields and sticks (short and long) as the Police will guide; tear-gas and rubber bullets are, of course, non-lethal but they are noisy; however, they cannot be ruled out; (d) If the rioters persist and threaten life or property, you can use live bullets, first firing in the air and, eventually, if necessary, firing at the rioters; (e) Once rioters are arrested or any other criminal, he/she should never be beaten by stick, fist or rifle butt. It is unfair, unnecessary and gives a bad image to the country. It is not necessary because what you want is for this criminal to pay for his sins. How? By being tried and sentenced. You do not have to beat him or maim him. He will be punished by being imprisoned or even hanged, if he is sentenced. You should, therefore, not play in the criminals hands by beating him/her so that he gains public sympathy. In what capacity are you beating the criminal? Are you the punisher? You are not. Your job is to detect, investigate, arrest and interrogate the suspect by using the facts of your investigations. Even if the criminal denies, the facts will pin him down. Constitutionally, the punishers of criminals in Uganda are the courts of law. Their punishments include long terms of imprisonment, fining wrong doers or even hanging them. Therefore, security personnel do not meddle and spoil the process. Just do your part. (f) The arresting officers should always identify themselves so that the public knows that they are legal operators. That is what I told all of you in my letter against torture of the 15th May, 2017. Therefore, the security personnel should be patient, restrained but also firm. If the criminal resists arrest, wrestle him down and handcuff him. If he strikes you, strike back hard with fist until he stops attacking you. If he tries to use a knife, a gun, a club or any dangerous missile when you are in close proximity, shoot him so as to disable him. If he is threatening to harm wanainchi or destroy property, shoot him after due warning. It is, therefore, not necessary to make mistakes. You can be firm and decisive without making mistakes. Those who support rioters, tell them, not to endanger our peoples lives, not to endanger the lives of the security personnel and not to endanger our peoples property. The security person who was seen using a rifle butt may have made a mistake. When I inquired, the concerned people told me that the suspect had bitten him (okuruma). That is very serious because some of the criminals have got infectious diseases. Our officer can be infected in that way and that should be an extra charge put on him. The appropriate response would have been to box him hard so that he stops biting our officer. That would be self-defence which is very legitimate. Hitting him with a rifle butt after he has stopped biting you, however, is both vengeance and also usurping the role of the punisher (the courts). The involvement of the SFC, Military Police and CMI in handling law and order issues has been caused by the kawukumi (bean weevils) that had invaded the Police. Otherwise, they should not have been involved and they were never involved. I commend them because the main aims of the government were achieved: to protect the lives of Ugandans and their property. 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. Nevertheless, for logical and legal reasons, the army and the other security forces can, if required, backup the Police in Law and Order Management. The non-Police security personnel, if they are to be involved at all, will be sensitized about the rational procedure. All I am saying above is simple logic of how to deal with friendly and hostile crowds, hostile individuals threatening the lives of Ugandans, the lives of the security personnel, the property of Ugandans, legitimate public gatherings and the image of Uganda as tourism and investment destinations and also the image of Uganda as a safe place. These measures are not only rational but most of them are already part of the SOPs (Standard Operational Procedures) of the Police, part of the Police Act and also part of the UN Conventions. If they were not part of the law, we would have long ago made them so. Indeed, the UN Conventions provide that if the non-lethal methods of the Police are not effective, then the following actions should be taken as is indicated below: UN guidelines on the use of force: Fire arms can be used only when it cannot be avoided. Fire arms may be used if other means are ineffective to achieve the intended result. They can be used in self-defence or in defence of others against imminent threat of death or serious injury They can be used to prevent the commission of a serious crime involving grave threat to life.Can be used to arrest a person presenting such a danger and resisting police authority. Can also be used to prevent such a persons escape. Intentional use of fire arms or lethal force may only be made when strictly unavoidable in order to protect life. Section 28 of the Police Act says as follows: A firearm can be used against a person resisting arrest or the arrest of another person. Yoweri K. Museveni P R E S I D E N T Related KAMPALA President Yoweri Museveni has issued fresh guidelines to security agencies lecturing them on how to deal with city rioters and criminals. Mr Musevei has discouraged the use of tear-gas and rubber bullets saying they are noisy and sometimes can affect unconcerned people. Tear-gas, rubber bullets should be discouraged because they are noisy and, sometimes, they can affect unconcerned people, the President wrote saying the use of water cannons is the best way of defeating rioters and criminals. The President also encouraged police to fire directly at the rioters to protect the lives and property of the law-abiding citizens or protect themselves from the rioters. A firearm can be used against a person resisting arrest or the arrest of another person, he wrote. Museveni, however, said if the rioters persist all other means including use of water cannons among others; the Police will fire directly at the rioters to protect the lives and property of the law-abiding citizens or protect themselves from the rioters. those who speak about this [torture] subject should know that rioters, under certain conditions, can be shot legally and can also be beaten legally and legitimately. It is, therefore, a serious miscalculation by the opportunist and criminal leaders to manipulate young people into such situations. Why do they not send their sons and daughters to riot? When it comes to suspected terrorists or murderers, running away from the arresting team is a serious mistake. You will be shot. Why? If the Police do not disable you or kill you, they may never get another chance to catch you so that you answer for your crimes. Below Is the Presidents letter in full; RE: GUIDELINES ON MANAGING RIOTERS, TERRORISTS, CRIMINALS AND LOOTERS AND METHODS OF ARRESTING AND HANDLING SUSPECTS I am writing to guide you and the public on the two issues of managing rioters, terrorists, criminals and looters on the one hand and on the issue of the proper methods of arresting suspects and handling them, while in custody, on the other hand. The fundamental starting point is the NRA principle of being an army of the people, the masses (the farmers, the factory workers, the patriotic public servants and the Ugandans that are struggling to get a foothold in the emerging money economy) but also serving well the law-abiding foreigners that visit our country. Each of these is like our father, mother, sister, brother, son, daughter or grandchild if they are Ugandans. If they are not Ugandans, then they are our honoured guests amafura. These must never be beaten, pushed or be barked at for any reason. They should, if it is required, be advised (okuhabura) or be restrained if they are trying to go to an area where they are not supposed to be. How do you advise? By talking politely to them. How do you restrain? By stretching out your arms, while your rifle is slung at the back (not pointing a rifle at the people), indicating to the crowd that they should not go beyond a certain point. Restraining members of the public from accessing certain areas can also involve barriers or ropes. You should never push (kutsindika) people that are enthusiastically surging forward to show support for the NRM or the President. You should never kuteera ebigaanja (hitting on the chest of an approaching person with open palms) any member of the public. Therefore, the bodyguards of public officials should strictly observe these rules. They are part of the NRA Code of Conduct. They are not a new composition. The law-abiding Ugandans will respond positively and co-operate. These are a consequence of our philosophy which says that the Africans are one big family. The above are for the law-abiding citizens of Uganda or our guests. There are, however, rioters, criminals, looters, terrorists and traitors. Here we are guided by the legitimate aims of the security forces. What are these aims? They are five and they are: protect the lives of Ugandans from the acts of the law-breakers; protect the property of the Ugandans; do not allow anybody to disrupt markets, centres of worship, legitimate political rallies, legitimate concert gatherings, etc.; do not allow anybody to use lies to incite the public with misinformation; and vigorously hunt and apprehend the suspected criminals. On these, there is no compromise. Why? It is for three reasons. Number one no Ugandan should lose his life or property on account of the acts of these criminals. Secondly, the transport of Uganda, the markets of Uganda and any other legitimate and legal assemblies of our people should never be interfered with by these criminals. Thirdly, the image of Uganda as a stable country, good for Ugandans, tourism and investments, should never be disturbed. Firm action against trouble-makers, if manipulated by the Press of those who seek hegemony over Africa, may worry the public and frighten away tourism from some of the areas. This will be compensated for by tourists from China, Russia, Arabia, etc. Therefore, nobody should be allowed to threaten the lives of Ugandans or their property or the image of Uganda. In the end, the Ugandans will be very happy and so will the foreigners, investors and, eventually, the tourists from all sources. Uganda should not only appear to be stable. It should be stable. Indeed, Uganda has been stable for a long time. It will remain stable. Therefore, nobody should be allowed to threaten life, property or orderliness (obuteeka) in Uganda. If you are a critic, do so truthfully and peacefully. How, then, do you firmly and non-lethally control rioters? I think the use of water cannons is the best way it is strong, non-lethal and not noisy; tear-gas, rubber bullets should be discouraged because they are noisy and, sometimes, they can affect unconcerned people. All the Police forces in the world have shields and short sticks known as batons which they use to disperse hostile crowds. I have seen the Indian Police with long and knob-less (without eifuundo) sticks which they use to disperse crowds. Which is better the short stick or the long one and why? The Police leaders can guide us here. The water cannons, the shields, the short sticks and the long knob-less sticks are all to deal with crowds that are assembling illegally or are threatening to kill people or damage property. The role of the shields is clear. It is to protect the Police from being harmed by flying stones or other missiles (bottles, etc). If, however, the rioters do not stop after the Police use of shields and sticks (whether long or short) and, if the water cannons that are very effective are not available, then, the Police can use live bullets by first firing in the air; but, if the rioters persist, the Police will fire directly at the rioters to protect the lives and property of the law-abiding citizens or protect themselves from the rioters. Therefore, those who speak about this subject should know that rioters, under certain conditions, can be shot legally and can also be beaten legally and legitimately. It is, therefore, a serious miscalculation by the opportunist and criminal leaders to manipulate young people into such situations. Why do they not send their sons and daughters to riot? When it comes to suspected terrorists or murderers, running away from the arresting team is a serious mistake. You will be shot. Why? If the Police do not disable you or kill you, they may never get another chance to catch you so that you answer for your crimes. In the meantime, the criminal may commit more crimes. Therefore, shooting a terrorist who is running away from the security forces trying to arrest him/her, is in order not to allow him/her to escape from the forum where accountability is possible (by being tried in the courts of law) and also to protect the public against further crimes. On the side of the security forces, I am reminding you to never do the following: (a) Push people who surge forward towards leaders out of enthusiasm (kutangirira); you should restrain them (kuzibira) but not push them; (b) You should never bark at people (kubogolela); you should advise them (kuhabura); (c) On rioters, you should use water cannons if they are available; if they are not available, you should use shields and sticks (short and long) as the Police will guide; tear-gas and rubber bullets are, of course, non-lethal but they are noisy; however, they cannot be ruled out; (d) If the rioters persist and threaten life or property, you can use live bullets, first firing in the air and, eventually, if necessary, firing at the rioters; (e) Once rioters are arrested or any other criminal, he/she should never be beaten by stick, fist or rifle butt. It is unfair, unnecessary and gives a bad image to the country. It is not necessary because what you want is for this criminal to pay for his sins. How? By being tried and sentenced. You do not have to beat him or maim him. He will be punished by being imprisoned or even hanged, if he is sentenced. You should, therefore, not play in the criminals hands by beating him/her so that he gains public sympathy. In what capacity are you beating the criminal? Are you the punisher? You are not. Your job is to detect, investigate, arrest and interrogate the suspect by using the facts of your investigations. Even if the criminal denies, the facts will pin him down. Constitutionally, the punishers of criminals in Uganda are the courts of law. Their punishments include long terms of imprisonment, fining wrong doers or even hanging them. Therefore, security personnel do not meddle and spoil the process. Just do your part. (f) The arresting officers should always identify themselves so that the public knows that they are legal operators. That is what I told all of you in my letter against torture of the 15th May, 2017. Therefore, the security personnel should be patient, restrained but also firm. If the criminal resists arrest, wrestle him down and handcuff him. If he strikes you, strike back hard with fist until he stops attacking you. If he tries to use a knife, a gun, a club or any dangerous missile when you are in close proximity, shoot him so as to disable him. If he is threatening to harm wanainchi or destroy property, shoot him after due warning. It is, therefore, not necessary to make mistakes. You can be firm and decisive without making mistakes. Those who support rioters, tell them, not to endanger our peoples lives, not to endanger the lives of the security personnel and not to endanger our peoples property. The security person who was seen using a rifle butt may have made a mistake. When I inquired, the concerned people told me that the suspect had bitten him (okuruma). That is very serious because some of the criminals have got infectious diseases. Our officer can be infected in that way and that should be an extra charge put on him. The appropriate response would have been to box him hard so that he stops biting our officer. That would be self-defence which is very legitimate. Hitting him with a rifle butt after he has stopped biting you, however, is both vengeance and also usurping the role of the punisher (the courts). The involvement of the SFC, Military Police and CMI in handling law and order issues has been caused by the kawukumi (bean weevils) that had invaded the Police. Otherwise, they should not have been involved and they were never involved. I commend them because the main aims of the government were achieved: to protect the lives of Ugandans and their property. 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. Nevertheless, for logical and legal reasons, the army and the other security forces can, if required, back up the Police in Law and Order Management. The non-Police security personnel, if they are to be involved at all, will be sensitized about the rational procedure. All I am saying above is simple logic of how to deal with friendly and hostile crowds, hostile individuals threatening the lives of Ugandans, the lives of the security personnel, the property of Ugandans, legitimate public gatherings and the image of Uganda as tourism and investment destinations and also the image of Uganda as a safe place. These measures are not only rational but most of them are already part of the SOPs (Standard Operational Procedures) of the Police, part of the Police Act and also part of the UN Conventions. If they were not part of the law, we would have long ago made them so. Indeed, the UN Conventions provide that if the non-lethal methods of the Police are not effective, then the following actions should be taken as is indicated below: UN guidelines on the use of force: Fire arms can be used only when it cannot be avoided. Fire arms may be used if other means are ineffective to achieve the intended result. They can be used in self-defence or in defence of others against imminent threat of death or serious injury They can be used to prevent the commission of a serious crime involving grave threat to life. Can be used to arrest a person presenting such a danger and resisting police authority. Can also be used to prevent such a persons escape. Intentional use of firearms or lethal force may only be made when strictly unavoidable in order to protect life. Section 28 of the Police Act says as follows: A firearm can be used against a person resisting arrest or the arrest of another person. Yoweri K. Museveni P R E S I D E N T Related Saudi Arabia is unlikely to see significant impact on its foreign trade and investment flows following the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the chief executive of Europe's biggest bank HSBC said on Monday. "It has been a difficult few weeks for the kingdom, this has not been good for Saudi Arabia," HSBC CEO John Flint told Reuters in an interview. "I understand the emotion around the story, but it is very difficult to think about disengaging from Saudi Arabia given its importance to global energy markets," he said. Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist, was killed in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2. His death sparked global outrage and pitched the world's top oil exporter into crisis, putting the West's relationship with Riyadh into sharp focus given scepticism about Saudi Arabia's shifting explanations of the killing. But while many global companies made a show of protest by withdrawing their top executives from a high-profile investment conference in Riyadh last week, industry and banking chiefs seem likely to continue courting the kingdom and its oil wealth as before. While HSBC's Flint pulled out of the conference, the lender's investment banking chief Samir Assaf spoke onstage at the event. HSBC has played an increasingly active role in Saudi Arabia in recent years. Flint said the bank will remain supportive of its local affiliate in the kingdom, Saudi British Bank (SABB) , Flint said. The European lender has booked over $3 billion in profit from its investment in SABB and around $170 million in investment banking fees from the country since 2008, according to Refinitiv data. Norway's sovereign wealth fund, the world's largest, plans to more than double its investments in Saudi Arabia after it is included in the fund's reference index soon, Chief Executive Yngve Slyngstad said on Friday. Search Keywords: Short link: An officer with the Denver (CO) Police Department was shot in the leg while responding to a shooting call. Officers were at the scene of a shooting and assisting a victim when a gunman opened fire. Officers returned fire, and the suspect retreated into a home, according to Fox News Denver. Other officers applied a tourniquet to the injured officer, who was then transported to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. About an hour after the shooting, SWAT officers entered the home and arrested the suspect without further incident. McConaughey teamed up with Wild Turkey to serve officers turkeys and bourbon and thanked them for their services during Hurricane Harvey. Photo: Houston PD / Twitter American actor Matthew McConaughey stopped by the Houston Police Department and the Houston Fire Department to bring lunch for First Responders Day on Sunday. McConaughey teamed up with Wild Turkey to serve officers turkeys and bourbon and thanked them for their services during Hurricane Harvey, reports KPRC. "It's our pleasure and honor to be here today, which happens to be National First Responders Day," McConaughey said. "Thank ya'll, specifically for the first responding work you did with Harvey last August." A motorist fleeing police in Macomb County, MI, reportedly rammed a police car before causing a three-car traffic collision, according to Macomb Daily. Clinton Township police were investigating a traffic incident involving a black Chevrolet Trailblazer when the Trailblazer's driver backed up and rammed an officer's patrol car. A brief pursuit was called off by commanders, seconds before the driver of the Trailblazer crashed into two other vehicles at an intersection. The driver of the Trailblazer attempted to flee on foot, but was quickly apprehended. Authorities said that at least two individuals involved in the collision were transported to a nearby hospital. The chief of police for the Brooklyn (OH) Police Department told reporters that a report of an active shooter at an AMC movie theater in that city was a hoax, according to Fox News. Authorities said that 911 calls came in at just before 2300 hours local time with reports of a loud "pop" in the theater. Police arrived soon after the calls, as the theater was being evacuated. A search of the building revealed no evidence of a shooting. The Ohio State Highway Patrol, Parma police, and Parma Heights police assisted Brooklyn police on scene. Patrons were allowed to re-enter the theater to collect their belongings after police determined the building to be safe. It is unclear what caused the sound that prompted the 911 calls. I admit to losing it Friday when Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson, speaking in the Washington National Cathedral at the interment services for Matthew Shepard, the young man who was pistol-whipped and left for dead 20 years ago at a remote prairie in Wyoming, said to Matts ashes and choking back tears, You are safe now. I lost it again Saturday as I watched the story unfold about the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. The dead, the injured, the emotionally pulverized congregants should have been able to enter the house of worship for Sabbath services with the same sense of relief, We are safe now. They were not. So, the tears. Their freedom from danger, and the sanctity of Saturdays Tree of Life services, were further desecrated by the shooters horrible cry, All Jews must die. Its sad because in todays America, there is no safety from hate. Im losing it again right now, but this time it is my temper. Here we have Robert Bowers, 46 years old, with a social media account filled with anti-Semitic posts, and armed with an assault rifle and handguns. He walks into a synagogue, allegedly killing 11 people and injuring several more, and the president of the United States could only bring himself to say how terrible it is, that something has to be done, and then came up with the suggestion: Place more armed guards inside synagogues. Oh yes, then he offered a way forward: I think they should very much bring the death penalty into vogue. Each day, I wake up hoping to come up with at least one reason not to dislike President Donald Trump. Each day, I fail. More armed guards in synagogues? Four police officers, presumably all armed, were shot at the synagogue Saturday. Waggle the death penalty threat? Yeah, Bowers is no doubt shaking in his boots or laughing his head off. Trump told reporters Saturday that the Pittsburgh shooting had little to do with laws. Thats what he always says after a gun massacre. Control access to guns? Never. Trump wants more guns. Losing it? How can I not struggle to control my anger after also learning about Wednesdays shooting at a Kroger grocery store in Jeffersontown, Kentucky? According to authorities, Gregory Bush, a white man, tried unsuccessfully to enter a predominately black church. Having failed at that, he then allegedly walked into the Kroger store 10 to 15 minutes later, and shot from behind and multiple times two African-American shoppers, 69-year-old Maurice Stallard, who was shopping with his 12-year-old grandson, and 67-year-old Vickie Lee Jones. Making his getaway, Bush reportedly encountered Ed Harrell, who was waiting for his wife in the parking lot. Harrell said he grabbed his revolver and crouched down next to his car as he saw Bush walk nonchalantly through the parking lot with a gun by his side. Harrell said he called out to ask what was going on. The gunman reportedly replied, Dont shoot me. I wont shoot you. Whites dont shoot whites. (Bush was arrested and faces two counts of murder.) Pittsburgh, Jeffersontown. Today in America, no one and no place are safe. Losing it? There are no words for how Im feeling. Syrian Kurdish special forces have joined an offensive against Islamic State militants in eastern Syria, a commander said, after the jihadists recovered ground from U.S.-backed forces in a fierce counter attack. Islamic State (IS) group launched the assault against the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the Deir al-Zor region near the Iraqi border on Friday. Iraqi Shi'ite militias have reinforced their side of the frontier in response. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said around 70 SDF fighters were killed in the assault which Islamic State launched under cover of a sandstorm and drew on suicide bombers and female jihadists. The SDF says it lost 14 fighters. A spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition said Islamic State had been able to regain some ground but the SDF would "come back with coalition support". An SDF commander attributed the setback partly to the relative inexperience of the Arab SDF forces which have carried out much of the fighting against hardened Islamic State militants in Deir al-Zor. While the Arab fighters of the Deir al-Zor Military Council had been able to make advances to a "certain level", Islamic State is resisting even more fiercely as the offensive closes in on its last pockets. This required the deployment of special forces from the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), which spearheads the SDF, and its female affiliate the YPJ. "We were forced to draw on experienced fighters from the YPG and YPJ," the commander said. "They will be relied on to complete the campaign," the commander said. The fighting is the latest phase of efforts by the U.S.-led coalition and the SDF to clear Islamic State from its last footholds east of the Euphrates River following last year's defeat of the group in Raqqa, its Syrian headquarters. "This battle is give and take sometimes like most military fights and we have been saying from the beginning, this will be a difficult struggle," Colonel Sean Ryan, the coalition's spokesman, said in an email to Reuters. "ISIS is using experienced foreign fighters with nothing to lose and the SDF will come back with coalition support and continue to degrade and destroy ISIS," he added. Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), an umbrella group that includes mostly Shi'ite militias, said on Saturday it was reinforcing at the Syrian border, including with missile batteries, after the SDF was pushed back by IS. "There are orders to close the Baghouz crossing," it said, which lies at the Euphrates river between Albu Kamal in Syria and al-Qaim in Iraq, both IS strongholds during the group's rule. Search Keywords: Short link: NEW DELHI, October 29, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Accenture, Aayuv Technologies, Mahindra Comviva announced as winners Aegis Graham Bell Awards in association with India Mobile Congress felicitated companies in the telecom and mobile domain on October 26 at New Delhi. Accenture, Aayuv Technologies, Mahindra Comviva were announced as winners for the 'Telecom and Mobile Categories'. The award is a joint initiative of Aegis School of Business and India Mobile Congress to recognize innovators and their innovations in Telecom and Mobile industry. Chief Guest for the award ceremony was Shri Manoj Sinha, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Communications and Minister of State for Railways, Government of India. Accenture secured the award in 'Bringing Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid' for their innovation 'Grameen'. Aayuv Technologies bagged the award in 'Innovative Mobile App for Enterprise' for their innovation 'eKincare'. Mahindra Comviva won an award in 'Innovative Telecom Solution' category for their innovation 'Comviva's IRIS Solution'. Accenture's Grameen Guru - a smart phone-based multi-lingual chatbot that leverages AR technology to help clients who can't read and understand written materials. Aayuv Technologies' eKincare is India's first personal health assistant, (patented) that leverages deep learning algorithms to read medical data from health records and various healthcare interventions. It can predict future health risks and provide timely personalized recommendations to beat those risks. Mahindra Comviva's MobiLytix is a real time marketing platform that aims at mitigating real time challenges that are faced by telecom operators. Mahindra Comviva IRIS is a module of MobiLytix which stands for Incremental Revenue through Incremental Sales, and as the name suggests it is responsible for increasing profitability for the operators. Mr. Bhupesh Daheria, Founder Aegis Graham Bell Awards, CEO Aegis School of Data Science, said, "I congratulate all the winners for their out-of-the-box innovative products/solutions. The winners were selected by the best of the jury members who are the veterans from the industry. This achievement by the innovators gives us more responsibility to inspire the industry to follow their dream of making a constructive change in the society. Going forward, we welcome more innovations who will contribute to our mission to make India a nucleus of innovations." Sharing his views on the award ceremony and the contribution by the winners, Mr. Rajan S Mathews, Director General, COAI, said, "We must say that the participants and the awardees play a vital role in introducing new technology and the much needed change. There is a dire need to encourage innovations and disruption in ICT industry to make the technology work for good. It becomes the responsibility of the entire industry to acknowledge the contribution by these individual, companies and institutions towards the development of the technology." The giga event was held jointly by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) and is supported by Government departments such as Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and Ministry of Commerce and Industry. IMC-Aegis Graham Bell Awards aims to promote innovators in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and to recognize their outstanding innovations with a vision to make India an innovative hub for rising brilliance and virtuosity. This platform shares a common knowledge partner KPMG, who takes care of the entire certification process. The decision matrix for the award is prepared by KPMG. About Aegis Graham Bell Awards: Aegis School of Data Science, Cyber Security & Telecom, key innovators and veterans of the industries realized that it is important to recognize the Indian innovators and their innovations that are changing the lives of millions. In the year 2010, Aegis Graham Bell Award was initiated to promote innovators and innovations in Information & Communication Technology (ICT) domain and as a tribute to the father of telephony, Alexander Graham Bell. The Award is organized with support of the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), and Telecom Centres of Excellence (TCOE) and Convergence India. For further information, please visit: http://www.bellaward.com About Aegis School of Business Data Science, Cyber Security and Telecom: Aegis School of Business, Data Science, Cyber Security and Telecom was founded in the year 2002 with support from Bharti Airtel to develop cross functional technology leaders. In 2015, Aegis and IBM collaborated to launch, India's first Post Graduate Program (PGP) in Data Science, Business Analytics and Big Data and later in 2017 PGP in Cyber Security. These programs are jointly certified and delivered by Aegis School of Business in association with IBM. IBM has set up high-end Business Analytics and Cloud Computing Lab at Campus. Also, Aegis and NVIDIA partnered for Deep Learning and applied AI courses. Aegis is the no. 1 School of Data Science and among the top 5 in Business Analytics. Aegis takes up various industry projects, research and consulting assignments in the field of data science under its initiative 'Data Science Delivered' and 'Data Science for social good', and helping organizations for devolving skills on data science, ML, DL, Big Data, Analytics etc. For further information, please visit: http://www.aegis.edu.in Media Contact: Manish Kadam [email protected] +91-9324286677 Communicate India SOURCE Aegis School of Business MUMBAI, October 29, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Mumbai-based solar solutions company, Oriano, has emerged as fourth fastest growing technology company pan India on the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 India 2018, a ranking of the 50 fastest growing technology companies in India. Headquartered in Mumbai, Oriano is the only company from Maharashtra to make it in Top 5, making it fastest growing technology company in the Maharashtra region. Rankings are based on percentage revenue growth over three years. Oriano grew 3431% percent during this period. "Attracting enough customers to attain such fast growth over three years makes a strong statement about the quality of a company's product and its leadership," said Rajiv Sundar, Program Director - Technology Fast 50 India 2018 and Partner, Deloitte India. "We congratulate Oriano on being ranked No. 4 on the 50 fastest growing technology companies in India." Founded in June 2015 by Sachin Jain, Yeshwant Rao and Sameer Shah, Oriano is funded by leading Venture Capital and Venture Debt investors viz. Samridhi Fund (backed by UK's DFID, SIDBI, LIC and UIIC) and Caspian Impact Investments. Oriano Solar is a leading solar solutions company for Industrial units, SMEs and Utility-Scale developers and has 350 MW+ of solar projects executed and under development, driving social impact and sustainability across industries and educational institutes in India and helping them reduce their energy cost. These projects have created over 2,200 construction jobs at the bottom of the pyramid. Also, it has helped to reduce 10.8 million metric tons of annual carbon offset and it is equivalent of planting 5.75 million trees and meeting electricity demands of 198,512 Indian households. Oriano was awarded #1 'Solar PV EPC company of the year 2018 (50-100 MW)' by India Solar Week Awards. Prior, Oriano was selected as 'Energy Startup of the Year 2016' Award from Entrepreneur India and 'TECH30' company of the year 2016 by Yourstory.com. Oriano is also developing products in B2C consumer space in off-grid energy access, SME Rooftops, Smart LED Lighting, Micro-Grid and Distributed Solar Home kits powered by Data Analytics and Android platform. Oriano has an advance-stage pipeline of more than 200 MW of solar projects in the next financial year. SOURCE Oriano Clean Energy Private Limited Treatment associated with improvement in social withdrawal, repetitive behaviors, daily living skills, memory and sleep quality LONDON and DURHAM, North Carolina, Oct. 29, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- AMO Pharma Limited ("AMO Pharma"), a privately held biopharmaceutical company focusing on rare, childhood onset neurogenetic disorders with limited or no treatment options, recently announced an update on results of the recently-completed TIDE study of AMO-02 (tideglusib) in treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Updates were presented by principal investigator Evdokia Anagnostou, MD, at the 65th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in Seattle, Washington. This study was funded by the Ontario Brain Institute, Brain Canada and the Azrieli foundation. This Phase 2 study was conducted at three Canadian clinical trial facilities and assessed the safety and efficacy of AMO-02, a novel orally available GSK3 beta inhibitor, in adolescents with ASD between the ages of 12 and 18 years-old (n = 83). The once-daily treatment for the core symptoms of ASD was found generally safe and well-tolerated, with adverse event rates that were generally similar between tideglusib and placebo. There were no treatment-associated serious adverse events. Subjects in the Phase 2 randomized, 1:1 double-blinded study were treated with AMO-02 or placebo across a 12-week treatment period, with follow-up at four weeks. Daily dosing began at 400 mg and was increased incrementally up to 1000 mg based on the subject's weight. Patients treated with AMO-02 consistently outperformed placebo in measures of social withdrawal (ABC-Social) and repetitive behaviors (RBS-R), as well as daily living skills (Vineland), memory (NEPSY) and sleep quality (CSHQ). Outcome measures were based on measures including caregiver-and clinician-completed rating scales. A permutation test of efficacy results indicated that probability of false-positives was low. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder, characterized by social deficits and repetitive behaviors. No medications have been approved for the treatment of core symptoms of this disorder. Recent preclinical studies indicate that GSK3 beta is an enzyme that is overactive in key molecular pathways that are germane to neuronal functioning and neuronal plasticity in neurodevelopmental disorders. GSK3 beta also plays an important role in circadian function and in modulating neuroinflammatory processes in the brain. "This study marks the first time a GSK3 beta inhibitor has been the focus of a well-designed ASD clinical trial. We believe the resulting data represent a positive step forward in validation of GSK3 as a molecular target in treatment of symptoms associated with ASD beyond any existing published pre-clinical data," said Michael Snape, chief executive officer of AMO Pharma. "AMO Pharma would like to thank Dr. Anagnostou, the POND network and the families that took part in this study." "There has been very little progress in research related to treatment of ASD over the past decade, while the incidence of ASD seemingly continues to rise," stated Dr. Joseph Horrigan, AMO's chief medical officer. "These results provide a new level of hope that treatment with AMO-02 has the potential to offer meaningful, multi-symptom benefit in ASD and merits further study as a potential treatment for ASD." About AMO Pharma AMO Pharma is a biopharmaceutical company incorporated in February of 2015. The co-founder, Dr. Michael Snape, has extensive experience in senior scientific and operational roles in both large pharma and biotech companies spanning more than twenty-five years, and has brought together a targeted and experienced senior management team with a proven track record of success in all phases of product development and acquisition. The company is working to identify and advance promising therapies for the treatment of serious and debilitating diseases in patient populations with significant areas of unmet need, including rare, debilitating childhood onset neurogenetic disorders with limited or no treatment options. For more information, please visit the AMO Pharma website at http://www.amo-pharma.com/. About POND The Province of Ontario Neurodevelopmental Disorders (POND) Network is an integrated discovery program funded by the Ontario Brain Institute which aims to understand the neurobiology of neurodevelopment disorders and translate the findings into effective new treatments. About Autism Spectrum Disorder NIMH defines Autism Spectrum Disorder as: "Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder that affects communication and behavior. Although autism can be diagnosed at any age, it is said to be a "developmental disorder" because symptoms generally appear in the first two years of life. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), a guide created by the American Psychiatric Association used to diagnose mental disorders, people with ASD have: Difficulty with communication and interaction with other people Restricted interests and repetitive behaviors Symptoms that hurt the person's ability to function properly in school, work, and other areas of life Autism is known as a "spectrum" disorder because there is wide variation in the type and severity of symptoms people experience. ASD occurs in all ethnic, racial, and economic groups. Although ASD can be a lifelong disorder, treatments and services can improve a person's symptoms and ability to function. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all children be screened for autism. All caregivers should talk to their doctor about ASD screening or evaluation." Contacts Corporate: Mike Snape, PhD Chief Executive Officer AMO Pharma Ltd. +44 1483 898 448 mike.snape@amo-pharma.com Media: Kelly Wakelee Berry & Company Public Relations 212.253.8881 kwakelee@berrypr.com SOURCE AMO Pharma Limited Related Links http://www.amo-pharma.com TEL AVIV, Israel and HONG KONG, October 29, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Top International Cannabis Business Leaders to Speak on Cannabis, the Fastest Growing Market in the World Thursday, November 1, 2018, W Hotel Hong Kong's first-ever Cannabis Investor Symposium will take place on November 1, 2018 at the W Hotel. The one-day gathering is hosted by CannaTech, The Arcview Group and URI Capital Management. The Cannabis industry is the fastest growing market in the world and the legal cannabis business is expected to generate $57 billion globally by 2027 as countries throughout the world continue to legalize its use and demand continues to grow exponentially. The Hong Kong Symposium will focus on the global investment opportunity but is specially curated toward the Asian market. The most powerful cannabis business leaders and investment experts from around the world will gather to discuss the burgeoning industry. Keynote and panel discussions will cover Cannabis and China, The Cannabis Value Chain, Market Insights: Australasia, Public and Private Investment Opportunities, Risks and Regulations, World Cannabis Policy and more. The event is designed for those looking to gain insight into investment opportunities in the global cannabis market, family offices, money managers, venture capital firms, private equity funds, and institutional investors. Saul Kaye, CEO of CannaTech and iCAN said of the symposium, "The time has come for serious Asian investors to enter the market. The Hong Kong event will take place days after CannaTech Sydney, Australia's first Medical Cannabis Summit. The region's attitude is evolving quickly, particularly with respect to Medical Cannabis and the industry needs to learn more. Currently dominated by American and Canadian investors, the time is right for the Asian investment community to join this industry. We are thrilled to partner with Arcview and URI Fund on this important event." Troy Dayton, CEO of The Arcview Group adds: "The worldwide cannabis market is exploding, and Asian investors are increasingly paying attention. Up until now, pioneering Asian investors have only been able to simply read about this fascinating industry. Not anymore. We are bringing the cannabis industry to them." Uri Capital Management added: "Cannabis usage as a medicinal plant dates back in Chinese history for thousands of years. Medicinal cannabis research is rapidly progressing, and we need to redefine our attitude towards cannabis and hemp. Asia, more specifically China, is poised to leverage its unique advantages in Hemp and agriculture to become a dominant global leader. URI is proud to become the first Chinese financial conglomerate to focus on the Asian cannabis industry and will leverage the firm's world class research and investment resources to lead the way." For more information about the Hong Kong Cannabis Symposium click here. About CannaTech CannaTech is the only Medical Cannabis event of its kind with a global focus that offers senior industry leaders, medical and scientific experts, and new ventures the platform to come together, drive innovation, form partnerships and promote knowledge exchange. About iCAN: Israel-Cannabis iCAN is committed to accelerate Israel's Canna-Technology industry, capitalizing on Israeli innovation and a leading cannabis regulatory environment to bring premier products to market. iCAN is powered by CannaTech, the premier international cannabis summit held annually in Tel Aviv, and internationally in London, Panama, and for the first time in Sydney, Australia in October 2018 and Hong Kong in November 2018. About The Arcview Group Founded in 2010, The Arcview Group is responsible for a number of groundbreaking ventures in the cannabis industry. The Arcview Investor Network has helped more than 1200 investors place $200 million+ behind 190 companies. Arcview Market Research has published over 20 reports analyzing and forecasting the rapidly evolving cannabis space, and the flagship annual report, The State of Legal Marijuana Markets, has become the industry standard for market analysis and data in the sector. In 2015 Arcview became a partner in Canopy, the first seed-stage mentor-driven business accelerator. Arcview is also co-founder of Cannasure Insurance Services, the leading provider of business insurance to the cannabis industry. The Arcview Venture Fund is focused on providing growth and expansion capital to best-of-breed cannabis companies. Forbes Magazine recently named Arcview among the top five financial firms in the cannabis sector. Learn more at arcviewgroup.com. About URI Management Qianhai URI Fund Management Co ., Ltd. is a financial conglomerate sponsored by the China Association for the Promotion of Industry-University-Research. It was established with the approval of the State Administration of Industry and Commerce and is the first national fund management company to be stationed in the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Cooperation Zone. The company focuses its core competency on three divisions: financial transactions, research and government relations. URI's investment team focuses on venture capital, private equity and M&A. The research team focuses on advanced R&D with universities. As a bridge and link between Industry, University research and the Government, URI Fund, in coordination with a large number of social and government resources, jointly aims to build an innovative China and actively promotes the transformation of Industry-University-Research into actual productive forces. For interviews and journalist registration contact Laura Kam laura@kamgs.com , +972-54-806-8613. SOURCE CannaTech, The Arcview Group and URI Capital Management 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 Text cryptocurrency to your friends There are around 4.4 billion people with mobile phones connected by SMS, says CoinText founder and CTO Vin Armani. CoinText offers them a frictionless way to instantly transact directly with each other. Today, CoinText.io, a service to transact cryptocurrency using text messages, launched its Bitcoin Cash (BCH) wallet in four more countries including Taiwan, Slovenia, Hungary and Puerto Rico. There are around 4.4 billion people with mobile phones connected by SMS, says CoinText founder and CTO Vin Armani. CoinText offers them a frictionless way to instantly transact directly with each other. CoinText doesnt require apps or accounts. Users can send money to domestic and foreign mobile phone numbers or BCH addresses. When users receive funds to their phone, a bitcoin cash wallet is automatically set up in the background. CoinText is the easiest way to introduce new people to bitcoin, Armani added. Text money to your friends to create new bitcoiners. Thats how you spread adoption! Because users access their wallet over SMS (short message service), theyre able to transact cryptocurrency phone-to-phone without an Internet connection. Transactions are instantly settled into the recipients wallet on the blockchain. CoinText never holds funds. CoinText collects a small per-byte fee of about $.02 USD on all transactions no matter how much bitcoin cash (BCH) is transferred. Were excited to launch in Slovenia because Bitcoin Cash is already popular there, Armani explains. A recent report showed that Slovenia has the highest concentration of retail merchants accepting bitcoin cash in the world. Taiwan is the second country in Asia, after Hong Kong, to be connected by CoinText. Puerto Rico is the fifth Spanish-speaking region, and Slovenia and Hungary make 21 countries in Europe with access to CoinText. Get a CoinText wallet in Taiwan by texting to 886931181297 Get a CoinText wallet in Slovenia by texting ZACNI to 38651300586 Get a CoinText wallet in Hungary by texting KEZD to 36707178409 Get a CoinText wallet in Puerto Rico by texting INICIAR to 17873011087 CoinText said this release brings the total number of countries connected to 33. This update also includes support for Mandarin (Simplified Chinese), Hungarian and Slovenian languages across the entire CoinText platform, the company said. About CoinText CoinText is a for-purpose FinTech company making cryptocurrency easy to use as money. CoinText is the first full-featured cryptocurrency wallet that doesnt require apps, accounts, passwords, or Internet. The service offers frictionless onboarding to the cryptocurrency ecosystem for anyone with a text-enabled phone. CoinText is built on a foundation designed for a full suite of cryptocurrency solutions including touchless payments, streaming money, and for the Internet of Things (IoT). Website: https://cointext.io/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/CoinText Contact: contact(at)cointext(dot)io Welcome Guest! You Are Here: A 30-year old woman blew herself up in the centre of the Tunisian capital on Monday, wounding 15 people including 10 police officers in what the Interior Ministry called a "terrorist explosion". Witnesses described Monday's blast on Tunis's central Habib Bourguiba avenue where hundreds of police later cordoned off an area near the landmark Municipal Theatre and the French embassy. "I was in front of the theatre and heard a huge explosion," witness Mohamed Ekbal bin Rajib told Reuters. Ambulances could be heard rushing to the scene. Shops were closed down on the avenue, usually one of the busiest streets in the capital and the site of protests that toppled long-serving leader Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali in2011. The bomber had no previously known militant background, the interior ministry said. Local media said the woman, named "Mouna", had a university degree in English and was from the coastal governorate of Mahdia. There were no tourists among the injured, a security source said. *This story was edited by Ahram Online. Search Keywords: Short link: Articles Sorry, there are no recent results for popular articles. Russian court drops case against ex-MP Voronenkov owing to his death RIA Novosti, Vladimir Fedorenko 14:57 29/10/2018 MOSCOW, October 29 (RAPSI) Moscows Tushinsky District Court has closed a case on large scale fraud and organizing falsification of the Unified State Register of Legal Entities against deceased ex-lawmaker Denis Voronenkov without a right to rehabilitation, RAPSI reports from the courtroom. A motion to withdraw the case because of the defendants death has been lodged by Voronenkovs son Nikolay. A prosecutor has affirmed the motion as the former lawmakers relatives have not sought for his rehabilitation, while businessman Otari Kobakhidze, a victim in the case, has demanded conviction of Voronenkov. Russian investigators claimed that ex-lawmaker was involved in a raid aimed at seizing a two-story building in central Moscow in 2011 owned by Kobakhidze, founder of the company TOMA. The allegations were reportedly based on the testimony of a group of people who had been convicted and sentenced in the case. After Kobakhidze delegated full control of the company to its CEO Marina Vladimirskaya, she took advantage of the situation. She reportedly decided with her acquaintance, a retired police officer, Vyacheslav Polozkov, to alter the registration documents and sell the building valued at 127 million rubles ($2 million). Several other persons including Voronenkov were implicated in the case, according to investigators. The building was sold for 20 million rubles (about $305,000). Customer Vitaly Kachur, the owner of Chance Company, illegally paid Voronenkov $1.2 million, the Investigative Committees press service reported earlier. Kobakhidze turned to court and managed to regain control of the company and the building. Those involved in the raid pleaded guilty, agreed to cooperate with investigators and testified against Voronenkov. Voronenkov claimed that the criminal prosecution of him was politically motivated. In October 2016, the former member of the Communist Party moved to Ukraine along with his wife Maria Maksakova, also an ex-lawmaker, and received Ukrainian citizenship in December 2016. In Russia he was put on the wanted list and arrested in absentia. On March 23, 2017, Voronenkov was shot dead in the central part of Ukrainian capital Kiev. Ukraines authorities accused businessman Vladimir Tyurin, ex-husband of Maksakova, of organizing the murder of Voronenkov, and put him on the wanted list. Posted by Jay on at 07:44 AM CST Marvel has sent out solicitations for their January 2019 titles, including 8comics!(of 5)ROBBIE THOMPSON (W) LEONARD KIRK (A)Cover by DAVID NAKAYAMAVARIANT COVER BY Todd NauckCASINO ROYALE! HAN SOLO gets demoted for insubordination dragging his fellow cadets down with him. They go from flying TIE fighters to flying a giant cargo ship. Hans expert flying cuts their cargo ships flight time in half, allowing them to stop at a casino for some hard-earned R&R. But Hans fellow cadets quickly learn this little vacation was NOT authorized by the Empire and, thanks to Han, theyre all considered AWOL!32 PGS./Rated T $3.99JODY HOUSER (W) CORY SMITH (A) Cover by PAOLO RIVERAVARIANT COVER BY RAHZZAHCONCEPT DESIGN VARIANT COVER BY IAIN McCAIGHEROES VARIANT COVER BY LEINIL FRANCIS YUPUZZLE PIECE VARIANT COVER BY Mike McKone (3 of 27)Movie Variant Cover Also AvailableTHE EARLY DAYS OF OBI-WAN KENOBI, JEDI KNIGHT! Following the wishes of his master, OBI-WAN has taken on ANAKIN SKYWALKER as an apprentice. Will his mission alongside his young Padawan bring them closer together, or sow the seeds that will drive them apart? And who else is after the ancient holocron that they seek?32 PGS./ONE-SHOT/Rated T $3.99JODY HOUSER (W) LUKE ROSS (A) Cover by PAOLO RIVERAVARIANT COVER BY IN-HYUK LEEConcept Design Variant Cover by TBAVILLAINS VARIANT COVER BY LEINIL FRANCIS YUPUZZLE PIECE VARIANT COVER BY Mike McKone (4 of 27)Movie Variant Cover Also AvailableTHE MOST FEARED BOUNTY HUNTER IN THE GALAXY! JANGO FETTS reputation precedes him as joins a crew for what seems like a simple job. Wait, is that a KID with him?! Will his fellow bounty hunters be foolish enough to betray Jango and his son, BOBA FETT?32 PGS./ONE-SHOT/Rated T $3.99KIERON GILLEN (W) ANGEL UNZUETA (A)Cover by JAMAL CAMPBELLAction Figure Variant Cover by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHERGREATEST HITS VARIANT COVER BY LEINIL FRANCIS YUTHE ESCAPE PART THREE! LUKE, LEIA and HAN remain stranded on the isolated moon of Hubin and out of the fight against the Empire. Who says they even WANT to leave? But their hideaway may not be so secret especially for old foes hot on the rebels trail.32 PGS./Rated T $3.99ETHAN SACKS, JODY HOUSER, MARC GUGGENHEIM & CHIP ZDARSKY (W)Carlos Gomez, Paolo Villanelli, Caspar Wijngaard and more! (A)Cover by ROD REISVARIANT COVER BY KHOI PHAMGREATEST HITS VARIANT COVER BY MIKE DEODATOPUZZLE PIECE VARIANT COVER BY Mike McKone (5 OF 27)THE GREATEST HEROES OF THE REPUBLIC, THE DEADLIEST VILLAINS AND EVERYONE IN BETWEEN!Four creative teams! Four stories featuring your favorite Star Wars characters! The baddest Jedi in the galaxy has a score to settle MACE WINDU returns in an action-packed adventure from OLD MAN HAWKEYES Ethan Sacks! You can run, but can you hide from the twin lightsabers of Sith assassin ASAJJ VENTRESS? Feel her fury in a tale expertly woven by veteran STAR WARS comic scribe Jody Houser (THRAWN, THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN: RENEW YOUR VOWS). And is JAR JAR BINKS role in the Star Wars story over? NOT BY A LONG SHOT! Because Chip Zdarsky (PETER PARKER: THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN and MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE) has a rancor bone to pick with the galaxys most notorious Gungan. You can take the clone out of the war but you can never take the war out of the clone CAPTAIN REX dusts off his blaster and enters the fray in a story by X-MEN: GOLD author Marc Guggenheim.40 PGS./ONE-SHOT/Rated T $4.99STAR WARS #60KIERON GILLEN (W) ANGEL UNZUETA (A)Cover by JAMAL CAMPBELLAction Figure Variant Cover by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHERTHE ESCAPE PART FOUR! You can escape the horror of the galaxy. But only for a while. The return of SCAR SQUADRON.32 PGS./Rated T $3.99(of 7)ROBBIE THOMPSON (W) WILL SLINEY (A)Cover by PHIL NOTOVARIANT COVER BY YASMINE PUTRITHE KESSEL RUN! HAN, CHEWBACCA and QIRA have one chance to keep DRYDEN VOS from killing them teaming up with LANDO and L3 to pull off the impossible KESSEL RUN heist! But if they succeed, will ENFYS NEST once again take their stolen goods?32 PGS./Rated T $3.99SI SPURRIER (W) EMILIO LAISO (A) Cover by ASHLEY WITTERGREATEST HITS VARIANT COVER BY GREG LANDWORST AMONG EQUALS PART THREE! With a huge price on their heads, rogue archaeologist DOCTOR APHRA and her murder-droid companion TRIPLE-ZERO are hunted wherever they run. Of all their pursuers, you might think the deadliest danger comes from the EMPIRE-backed cops or the deranged undead bounty hunter or the relentless monster trappers right? Nope. Because the entire population has tuned in to watch the chase through Triple-Zeros eyes, and EVERYONE has a shot at that reward32 PGS./Rated T $3.99 U.S. President Donald Trump's administration is considering possible actions in response to the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said on Monday. "The administration is weighing different options and we'll make an announcement about what the decision of that action is," Sanders told a media briefing in response to a question about what actions the administration might take against Saudi Arabia. Search Keywords: Short link: Tata Motors, however, will not be able to meet this small demand and keep the Nano alive from October next year, when safety regulations for existing car models kick in. Nano, the Peoples Car conceived by Ratan Tata over a decade ago and launched in 2009, is as good as dead but it remains in production. A total of 156 Nanos have been produced and sold in the domestic market during the first half of 2018-19. Who is buying the car, which the masses in most parts of the country have dismissed? Sales in the first half this year are sharply down from 1,436 last year, but have not hit the dead end yet. A few buyers in Kerala and hilly states like Himachal Pradesh and those of the Northeast find value in this car, Mayank Pareek, president of passenger vehicle business at Tata Motors, told Business Standard. Narrow roads in these regions and the easy manoeuvrability make some buyers stick by the Nano. "If you go to the Kangra Valley, you will see the Nano. We keep feeding our dealers in these markets regularly. But it is definitely not going to Mumbai and Delhi, he added. The company, which is now thriving on demand for new vehicles like the Tiago and Nexon, has stopped spending on marketing and advertisements of the Nano for the past couple of years. In spite of this, a small demand for the countrys cheapest car still exists. The Nano now begins at an ex-price of Rs 236,000, compared to Rs 253,000 for the Maruti Alto 800, the most sold car in the country. Other vehicles in this entry segment include the Datsun redi-GO (Rs 256,000) and Renault Kwid (Rs 267,000). The Nano clocks the lowest numbers among peers in the entry segment. Tata Motors, however, will not be able to meet this small demand and keep the Nano alive from October next year, when safety regulations for existing car models kick in. All existing car models will need to have airbags and meet frontal and side crash test norms. The current structure of the Nano cannot meet these norms without a substantial re-engineering and any intervention to meet these upcoming norms will push up the vehicles cost substantially and possibly end whatever small demand the car may have. It was also reported last November that developing an electric Nano was underway through a joint venture between Tata Motors and Coimbatore-based Jayem Automotives. It was reported that this new car would be called Neo. However, there has been no update since then. The Nano, called the worlds cheapest car, did not live up to the expectations in spite of several makeovers. Ratan Tata, former Tata Sons chairman, had promised to sell it for Rs 100,000. Tata later said branding the car the cheapest was a mistake. Indeed, it has not remained cheap. Changing features and costs have pushed the price way above that mark and taken away the volumes. The year 2011-12 was the best year for the car when it clocked volumes of over 74,500 units. The numbers, however, declined year after year since then, falling to a mere 1,851 units in 2017-18. This could be the first year of three-digit of Nanos for the car. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters 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, up from 4-5 pc two years ago. Surajeet Das Gupta reports. Photograph: Brendan McDermid/Reuters No-cost equated monthly instalments 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. 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 consumers were no-cost EMIs. The company said that for products of over Rs 20,000, at least one in every three transactions was through a financing scheme. Vikas Bansal, director, Amazon Pay, said, "No-cost EMIs will help expand the reach of financing to more customers, especially in smaller towns and cities. "Today, of the more than 100 million active customers, only 30 million get financing options. "We want to reach all of them and one way to do it is through the no-cost EMI route. "This will surely help in growing the market." Logging gains 100 million online customers in India; only 30 million have access to finance 55-60 million transactions on e-commerce platforms in a month 20 per cent share of gross merchandising value (GMV) being financed through no-cost EMIs; the figure was 4-5 per cent two years ago 40 per cent GMV mobile phones account for Amazon says one in every three transactions for products worth over Rs 20,000 is through a financing scheme Under this EMI facility, consumers are given an upfront discount equivalent to the interest that they have to pay. The discount cost is borne by the manufacturer or seller or both. These EMIs are being offered by independent credit card companies as well as banks, NBFCs and even Amazon through its wallet, Amazon Pay. Earlier, credit card companies offered the same deal but would charge an interest, which consumers did not find attractive. The change was started last year by some credit card players but has now caught on as it has attracted customers. Bajaj Finserv, one of the largest players in e-commerce finance, said it had a 30 per cent share of the market. Its average size of no-cost finance EMI is Rs 16,500. On average, it offers 160,000 to 170,000 loans a month. Consumers usually take EMIs for products that have a high value, like mobile phones, electronics items and high-end appliances. Most companies offer no-cost EMIs only if consumers buy products worth over Rs 3,000. For instance, e-commerce companies say that during the big discount sales, fashion, as a category, provides the highest volumes but in terms of value mobile phones reign supreme. Arvind Singhal, chairman of Technopak, a consultancy firm in the retail space, said, "This is going to be a growing trend and we see that categories like consumer electronics and durables followed by furniture are big-ticket items, which will be financed through these no-cost EMI schemes." Singhal said manufacturers and sellers who are online are moving away to some extent from heavy discounts by offering consumers EMIs at no cost for high value items. E-commerce players, however, said most sellers and manufacturers are cutting down on their promotion and marketing budgets (like advertisements) and are preferring to pass that on to consumers through no-cost finance. They are not trimming their discounts as they want the market to grow. They point out that the no-cost EMI essentially means that many customers who were postponing their buying have now come into the market because of a financing option. However, any progress on the deal depends upon Naresh Goyal giving up control of the company. Jet Airways chairman Naresh Goyal met senior representatives of the Tata group in London last week in an effort to find an investor in his cash-strapped airline. The Jet Airways team was led by Naresh Goyal and Amit Agarwal, who is deputy chief executive officer and chief financial officer. Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran and group chief financial officer Saurabh Agrawal attended the meeting for the Tatas. The Tata group, which owns two joint venture airlines (AirAsia and Vistara), has evinced interest in acquiring a majority stake in Jet. While preliminary talks had happened earlier, the two sides are said to have met last week. Jet had earlier called reports of possible stake sale to Tatas as speculative and it did not respond to a specific query on the meeting between Goyal and Tatas. However, any progress on the deal depends upon Goyal giving up control of the company. Tatas will not run three airlines. They will like to merge any new airline they acquire with their existing ones. "This was the issue that they raised during talks over the Air India deal, said a person involved with the Air India sale process. Tatas had shown initial interest in buying stake in Air India but did not make any offer. Eventually, the Air India disinvestment was put off by the government as it did not receive any bids. We do not comment on market speculation, a Tata group spokesperson said. Goyal and the Jet senior management have been in London for the past few days. Chandrasekaran and other senior group executives were in London for a board meeting of Jaguar Land Rover. Sources say there could have been exploratory talks between the two and Tata group is evaluating how it would turn around the ailing airline, which is struggling to make timely payments. Senior investment banking executives said that none of the companies have started the process of appointing bankers for the deal. Earlier reports indicate that Tatas want a majority stake and complete control, which the Jet promoter is resisting. If the Tata-Jet deal fructifies it would consolidate the group's aviation business. According to industry experts, Jet would be a better proposition for Tatas than Air India. At present, Jet is the largest airline on international routes to/from India with a large network and slots at key airports. But a deal would be difficult given the friction between Tatas and Goyal. Jet is said to have blocked Tata-Singapore Airlines bid for Air India in 1990s and is a member of the lobby group that has opposed relaxation in overseas flying norms, much to the annoyance of AirAsia and Vistara. However, there are some who believe Tatas will not bail out Jet. Vistara will gain significantly if Jet goes down, said an expert. Photograph: Punit Paranjpe/Reuters '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,' says Aakar Patel. I had a conversation with an individual from an investigating agency last 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 United States. A man who has been identified as a member of president Trump's political party sent bombs to Trump's opponents. These included former president Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, members of the intelligence agency whom 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 United States, especially since Obama left office. Trump has reduced the issues to a child-like simpleness. Most things are good or bad, white or black. In the language of India's political discourse, things are either national or anti-national. On the issue of immigration, 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 their 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 Trump's proposed denial of business visas to Indian software engineers will harm the businesses there. But for 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. 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 of the Republican Party. In 2016, Jo Cox, a woman in the United Kingdom version of the Lok Sabha, the House of Commons, 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 instance, 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 Obama are 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 Trump's 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. Aakar Patel -- winner of the 2018 Prem Bhatia Award for Political Reporting -- is Executive Director, Amnesty International India. The views expressed here are his own. Important for Chinese President Xi Jinping will be Zhao's discussions on the issues of Tibet and the Dalai Lama and his assessment of the likely results of India's coming national elections, notes former senior RA&W officer and China expert Jayadeva Ranade. IMAGE: Chinese State Councillor and Minister of Public Security Zhao Kezhi calls on Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi, October 23, 2018. Photograph: Press Information Bureau Chinese State Councillor and Minister of Public Security Zhao Kezhi arrived in India on October 22 on the first leg of his tour. Zhao's 20-member delegation comprised 13 officials from China's ministry of public security and three officials from the ministry of foreign affairs. He later travelled to Bangladesh where he had high-level meetings including with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The visit followed that by Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe to India in August and is obviously part of efforts to portray that India-China relations are improving following the Modi-Xi summit meeting in Wuhan in April. Notwithstanding this and highlighting their territorial claims, Chinese troops intruded into Arunachal Pradesh just days prior to Zhao's arrival. During the Chinese defence minister's visit too, a similar intrusion by Chinese troops in Demchok in Ladakh was vacated weeks after his departure. Important for Chinese President Xi Jinping will be Zhao's discussions on the issues of Tibet and the Dalai Lama and his assessment of the likely results of India's coming national elections. In Delhi, Zhao met his host Home Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi. That India did not genuflect to avoid giving imaginary offence to China and Kiren Rijiju, minister of state for home and a member of Parliament from Arunachal Pradesh, attended the meetings is encouraging. Perhaps to add apparent substance to the visit, a bilateral security cooperation agreement was signed. The agreement includes areas like intelligence sharing, exchange programmes, cooperation in disaster mitigation etc. In material terms, though, there is likely to be negligible, if any, cooperation in these areas. Actually, there is no possibility of substantive cooperation in counter-terrorism so long as China remains protective about Pakistan and seeks to insulate it from accusations by other countries. Chinese and Pakistani intelligence agencies have very close and long-standing ties. China's interests and its relationship with Pakistan are far too strategically important for any change in China's policy towards Pakistan and the current uncertainties regarding the China Pakistan Economic Corridor will serve only to strengthen Beijing's commitment to Pakistan. Confirming that talks on terrorism made no headway, China's stand on cooperation in counter-terrorism was made public at the routine Chinese foreign ministry press briefing in Beijing on October 23, barely a day after the Indian and Chinese delegations met in New Delhi. IMAGE: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh greets Chinese State Councilor and Minister for Public Security Zhao Kezhi, October 22, 2018. Photograph: Press Information Bureau In response to a question about Beijing's position regarding Pakistan harbouring internationally acknowledged terrorists like Masood Azhar, Muhammad Sayeed etc, Chinese spokesman Hua Chunying emphasised that there is no change in China's position which it has made known on a number of occasions. The Chinese delegation would have again pressured India to re-open talks with the new government in Pakistan and resolve the Kashmir issue. It would have also emphasised the importance of the CPEC and the need to ensure its security. Beijing's immediate concern about Uyghurs transiting through Pakistan into China's Xinjiang-Uyghur Autonomous Region are currently being adequately met by Pakistan's security forces. Chinese agencies also have a free hand inside Pakistan. China and Pakistan are additionally cooperating and furthering each other's interests in Afghanistan. The other issue troubling China is that of the Rohingya who, according to Beijing, are being radicalised by Al Qaeda. Beijing is concerned that these elements will cross into China through the porous borders with Myanmar. China earlier suggested that India should cooperate in this area, but Zhao's delegation is very unlikely to have offered any information regarding Indian north east insurgents visiting Yunnan province or purchasing arms in Kunming. The Tibet issue undoubtedly ranked high on the Chinese delegation's agenda and would have been pushed hard. It is likely they sought to exchange views on the Dalai Lama and urged curbs on the Dalai Lama's set-up in Dharamsala, accusing it of infiltrating and carrying out anti-China activities inside Tibet. The Chinese have an interest in the situation surrounding Uyghen Thinley Dorje, recognised as the Karmapa by the Chinese authorities and the Dalai Lama and who 'escaped' from Tsurphu Monastery in Tibet, particularly in the backdrop of the numerous news reports -- many inspired -- in recent months. Reliable reports suggest that China made conciliatory overtures to Dorje while he was in New Jersey. Clear pointers to the importance of Tibet-related issues are the inclusion in the delegation of Zhang Hongbo, director of public security of the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), and Hou Yanqi of the Chinese foreign ministry who has served in its department of external security affairs which also looks after matters relating to Tibetans outside China. Zhang Hongbo, an ethnic Han who was born in Sichuan, has been working in the TAR since at least 1982 and has extensive experience in security work. His last appointment was as mayor of Shigatse, one of TAR's two largest cities and also the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama. He will have detailed knowledge of Tibetan issues including the interactions between Chinese authorities and Tibetan Buddhist monks in India and elsewhere. Other issues like cross-border movement of the Uyghurs, complaints of Chinese businessmen about limited duration visas and India's objections to the issue by China of stapled visas for residents of Arunachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir etc would have been on the agenda. Zhao will have raised trade issues and expressed the hope that India does not follow the US and impose restrictions on Chinese telecom, IT and other companies operating in India. An important aspect of Zhao's visit will be his assessment to Chinese President Xi Jinping after in-house discussions with the Chinese ambassador and others. His briefing will be important as it coincides with the election tempo building up in India. In addition to being minister for public security, Zhao is also a long time confidant of Xi Jinping. Jayadeva Ranade, former Additional Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat, Government of India, is presently President, Centre for China Analysis and Strategy. 'The government made a mess.' 'When there is a director, how can you have an in-charge director?' 'Then, they shifted all the 14 officers who were working on the Asthana case which has never happened in the history of the CBI.' K Ragothaman, former chief investigating officer at the Central Bureau of Investigation, joined the CBI as a sub-inspector of police in 1968 and served the Bureau for more than 36 years. He handled several high-profile cases in his career, the most prominent being the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. The author of several books, of which the best known is Conspiracy to kill Rajiv Gandhi, Ragothaman tells Rediff.com's Shobha Warrier, "As a person who worked with the CBI for more than 36 years, I feel ashamed of what is happening right now." Do you think the CBI's credibility has been lost with its two top officers fighting openly? Certainly. The people of India and the judiciary have entrusted a lot of trust and confidence in the CBI as it is the country's prime investigation agency. Many of the cases investigated without any bias by the CBI are appreciated by the public and that was the reputation built by the CBI over the years. In 1963, D P Kohli, the founding director of the CBI, conceived the organisation as one that would be better than the FBI and Scotland Yard. The vision was to eradicate corruption in high places, and handle high offences which affect the integrity of the country. He wanted to have its own cadre officers. That was how the CBI started deputation of officers from the sub-inspector level to IPS officers as investigative officers. When did the CBI start losing its credibility? I was with the CBI from 1968. I served under the second director onwards. I know from when the credibility of the CBI slowly got lost. It started with the Emergency. The then CBI director was given an extension by the Congress government. Because he was given an extension, he started obliging the PMO. After the Emergency, the Janata government came to power. The home minister, Charan Singh, ordered the CBI to register a case against Mrs Gandhi and arrest her. That was in the Jeep Scandal case, It was the first time that we saw the home minister directing the CBI to investigate a case and asking the CBI to arrest a person. I was part of the special investigative cell then, so I know this personally. Till then, this was not the practice of the CBI. The CBI starts an investigation only if there is an allegation. The CBI was not supposed to identify the accused and start the investigation. That was when political interference came directly to the CBI. Would you say, from then on, various governments and political parties used the CBI for their own political gains? Yes. From then on, every director who was appointed was a stooge of the ruling party. In 1997 or so, journalist Vineet Narain argued in the Supreme Court that CBI directors should be independent of the ruling political party. As per the Code of Criminal Procedure, not even the court can interfere with an investigation. When such is the case, how can a political party interfere? That was when the tenure of the CBI director was fixed for two years as the court felt it could not make it independent. The intention was that the director would not feel threatened when the tenure was fixed. Is the fixed tenure of two years of a CBI director different from other secretary-level posts? Yes. All central government employees have to retire at 60. Justice (J S) Verma made exceptions for the CBI director and the enforcement director, but not to the IB (Intelligence Bureau) director or the DGP of the state police. The intention was that the person should not be moved according to the whims and fancies of the politicians. But what happened was this decision made the situation in the CBI worse. Take (then CBI director) Ranjit Sinha's case. He met accused persons in his office and at home. When a PIL was filed in the Supreme Court, an enquiry was ordered. And the enquiry report said that there was misconduct. Can the Central Vigilance Commission investigate the CBI director if there is a corruption charge or misconduct allegation against him? When the CVC Act was amended, it said that only superintendents of investigation of Prevention of Corruption Act (cases) would be supervised by the CVC while the administration would be headed by a director. And for all the cases, an FIR has to be registered. The CVC can supervise only those cases that were registered. Within the CBI itself, there was a special unit to look at the corruption allegations against CBI officers and the man in charge reported directly to the director himself. Why I am saying this is this is not the first time that a case has been registered against a CBI director or officer. Many DIGs and investigation officers were involved in corruption cases. The investigation was done by the vigilance organisation of the CBI. The superintendents of the investigation were thoroughly supervised by legal officers and senior officers. What happened in the case of Rakesh Asthana was the CBI director received a complaint that Asthana was accepting money in the Moin Qureshi case. So, what the director did was he used the special unit to find out whether the information was correct. When he found that it was true, a confessional statement was recorded under Section 164 of the CrPC so that there was credibility to the FIR. So, when the CBI director found that the complaint against Asthana was true, he ordered an enquiry. When Asthana came to know about the enquiry against him, he shot off a complaint to the CVC against CBI Director Alok Verma. Naturally, it was a false allegation by an accused which should not have been entertained by the CVC. The CVC then asked for records from the director instead of conducting an independent enquiry. Do you feel Alok Verma was not in the wrong in refusing to share the investigation process with the CVC? Yes. Even the Supreme Court cannot ask for the details while the investigation is going on under the CrPC. Was the government right in asking both Mr Verma and Mr Asthana to go on leave when the fight turned ugly? The government knew a war was going on between them and the reputation of the CBI was at stake. It was an open war that was going on. But the government kept quiet. The silence on the part of the government was the root cause for all the problems today. They should have interfered earlier. The CBI was called the Congress Bureau of Investigation by the Bharatiya Janata Party when it was in the Opposition. The Supreme Court described the CBI as the Caged Bureau of Investigation. After the BJP took over, it has become a Controlled Bureau of Investigation. They have put their own man to control the organisation. Now, because of the fight between these two men and the non-action on the part of the Government of India, it has become a corrupt organisation. What do you feel the government should have done? The government should have interfered earlier itself and decided on who should continue. They should have removed one person. Normally, when an FIR is registered against a public servant and enquiry begins, the person would be asked to go on leave, of course not on record. Nobody can ask or force a person officially to go on leave. That was why the words 'divesting the power' were used. But that is not possible when the tenure of the person involved is fixed. That was why he went to court. This made the government say they did not remove him from the post, and he continues to be the director of the CBI. Another question everyone asks is can the government appoint an interim director without consulting the Chief Justice of India and the Leader of the Opposition? Let us take the case of a director going on leave for three months, that too in normal circumstances. When he goes on leave, the government can appoint an interim chief without consulting the Chief Justice and the Leader of the Opposition, but he has to be the immediate junior officer. The person will be the officiating director then. For example, if Alok Verma goes on leave, Asthana will be the officiating director. But here, Alok Verma maintains that he is still the director. In such a situation, what is the hurry in imposing another person as the new CBI director in charge? When there is a director, how can you have an in-charge director? Then, they shifted all the 14 officers who were working on the Asthana case which has never happened in the history of the CBI. Do you feel the government made a mess? Yes, they made a mess. The statement that Alok Verma was still the director made it messier. How can you have a director and also an officiating director? There can only be one CBI director. Can the CBI ever be an autonomous, independent, body as envisaged by its founder Mr D P Kohli? No. It will never be as it all depends on the government and the leadership of the CBI. The CBI director is the head of the primary investigation agency in the country. I would say his responsibility is much more than the prime minister of India. In front of the law, all are equal. Nobody is above the law, whether he is the prime minister of the country or the President. He (the CBI director) can investigate anyone if there is an allegation. The CBI director has to keep in mind this responsibility. He is not expected to be involved in petty quarrels. As a person who has worked with the CBI for more than 36 years, I feel ashamed of what is happening right now. The Bombay high court on Monday refused to stay framing of charges by the trial court against Lt Col Prasad Shrikant Purohit and other accused persons in the 2008 Malegaon bomb blast case. A bench of Justices S S Shinde and AS Gadkari, however, agreed to hear next month, a petition filed by Purohit, one of the seven accused in the case, challenging his prosecution under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. It directed the National Investigation Agency counsel Sandesh Patil to file a reply to Purohits plea by November 21, the next date of hearing. The bench refused Purohits request for staying the proceedings in the trial court, noting that in the past, both the Supreme Court and the Bombay HC had passed orders directing the trial court to expedite the hearing in the case. Framing of charges is a process after which the trial in a criminal case starts. The trial court, the special NIA court in the present case, is scheduled to begin framing of charges against Purohit and other accused Tuesday. Six persons were killed and over a 100 injured when an explosive device strapped on a motorcycle went off near a mosque in Malegaon, a power loom town located about 200 km from Mumbai in North Maharashtra, on September 29, 2008. Besides Purohit, the other accused case are Pragya Singh Thakur, Major (retd) Ramesh Upadhyay, Sameer Kulkarni, Ajay Rahirkar, Sudhakar Dwivedi and Sudhakar Chaturvedi. All of them will face trial under the UAPA since earlier this month, the special NIA court had rejected their pleas on the applicability of the anti-terror law against them. On December 27 last year, the special NIA court had dismissed the pleas filed by Purohit, Thakur and the others seeking that they be discharged from the case. Discharge is a pre-trial process in a criminal case. At the time, the special court had dropped stringent charges under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act against the accused, but had said they will face charges under the UAPA and other sections of the Indian Penal Code, including murder and criminal conspiracy. Purohit, however, has argued through his counsel Shrikant Shivade that he cannot be prosecuted in the case since the sanction granted by the government to prosecute him was wrong in law. A prior government sanction for Purohits prosecution was required since he was a serving army officer at the time of his arrest. On January 17, 2009, such a sanction was issued by the Additional Chief Secretary of the Maharashtra home department. Shivade, however, has maintained that under the UAPA, the state law and judiciary department, which is the sanctioning authority, has to constitute an appropriate authority and seek its report first. In his case, the sanction was given in January 2009, but the authority was appointed only in October 2010, he has argued. The sanction in Purohits case thus, was not valid under the UAPA, Shivade has maintained. The Indian Army has targeted Pakistani military administrative headquarters across the Line of Control in retaliation to the recent shelling in Poonch and Jhallas, security officials said Monday. The army retaliated in the Khuiratta and Samani areas of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, they said. The Pakistani army had shelled the brigade headquarters and other Indian military formations in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch on October 23. "In response to Pakistani army's firing of stray shells on Poonch and Jhallas on October 23, 2018, the Indian Army has sent a strong signal by firing at Pakistani army administrative headquarters... and the residents of border villages also reported that they could see smoke emanating," the officials said. Following the shelling in Poonch, the Indian Army has in its "strong signal" to Pakistan, fired on its army administrative headquarters in PoK, they said. Quoting information received from across the border, the officials claimed that several photographs "stood testimony" to the reports of border villagers that they had seen smoke emanating from the Pakistani headquarters after the Indian military's retaliatory action. They said the Indian Army has exercised maximum restraint, despite continuous provocation by the Pakistani army. The army has avoided targeting civilian population living in the close proximity of the Line of Control in PoK areas such as Hajira, Bandi Gopalpur, Nikial, Samani and Khuiratta, the officials said. Following the 2016 surgical strikes, the pressure on the Pakistani army was kept across the LoC through "proactive and precise targeting" by the Indian Army, they said The officials claimed that against the more than 138 fatal casualties suffered by the Pakistani army in the area in 2017, the numbers reduced to half till May 2018 after the neighbouring nation was forced to request for a ceasefire in the face of mounting deaths and injuries. They also highlighted the recent killing of two Pakistan Border Action Team personnel in the Sunderbani sector on October 21 and the country's refusal to accept their bodies. "Deprivation and penury of locals of PoK suits the Pakistan army that while ensconced in the safety of their posts, use these unwitting and brainwashed youths as cannon fodder for actions along the LoC, a cowardly and unprofessional modus operandi for any self respecting army," the officials said. "These acts of the Pakistan army are accentuated by their propensity in refusing to acknowledge and accept the dead bodies of their soldiers as also of terrorists, each time the terrorists are neutralised in operations along the LoC or the hinterland," they said. Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives and their Social Democrat (SPD) coalition allies in Berlin both haemorrhaged support in a regional election in the western state of Hesse on Sunday, dealing a fresh blow to the fragile national government. Merkel's conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) came home first but polled just 28 percent of the vote, an exit poll for broadcaster ARD showed. That marked a huge drop from the 38.3 percent the CDU won at the last Hesse election, in 2013. "We are in pain because of the losses but we also learnt that it is worth it to fight," a smiling Volker Bouffier, the incumbent CDU state premier in Hesse and a Merkel ally, told supporters. "The message to the parties ruling in Berlin is: People want fewer disputes and more focus on the important issues," he said. 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. Merkel's weakness at home 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. 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 far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) entered the Hesse regional assembly for the first time with 12 percent of the vote, the ARD exit poll showed. The result means the anti-immigration party, which entered the federal parliament for the first time last year, is now also represented in all 16 German regional assemblies. The result suggests the CDU and Greens may be able to continue a ruling coalition at the state level in Hesse, but the outcome is likely to increase tensions in Merkel's ruling 'grand coalition' at the national level in Berlin. SPD Secretary General Lars Klingbeil told broadcaster ZDF: "This is a bad result for us, I can't put it any differently." Merkel's fourth and probably final government has already come close to collapsing twice, and the weak SPD performance in Hesse will almost certainly reignite a debate in the party about whether it should pull out of the coalition. 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. Merkel's conservatives formed their loveless national partnership with the SPD in March only after the collapse of talks on a three-way coalition of the conservatives, Greens and pro-business FDP. 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. Search Keywords: Short link: IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe after delivering his press statement in Tokyo on Monday. Photograph: @MEAPhotogallery/Flickr Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe Monday held 'fruitful and extensive' talks during which they discussed issues of bilateral interest, the situation in the Indo-Pacific region and threats posed by nuclear terrorism as the two sides signed several agreements including on a high speed rail project and naval cooperation. The two leaders also agreed to initiate 2+2 dialogue involving their foreign and defence ministers. India has a similar agreement with the United States and the two sides held the first round of 2+2 dialogue in New Delhi last month. 'Held fruitful and extensive talks with PM @AbeShinzo. Today's discussions focused on aspects relating to better economic ties, stronger cooperation in areas of defence and security,' Modi tweeted after two days of summit-level talks. During the 13th annual summit, the two prime ministers reviewed developments in bilateral relations and explored new areas of cooperation, focusing on shared vision for peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific, where China is flexing its muscles. China claims almost all of the South China Sea and also laid claims on the Senkaku islands under the control of Japan in the East China Sea. Chinese ships routinely patrol around the Senkaku Islands. China has resorted to aggressive patrols in the last few years. Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have counter claims over the South China Sea. Abe hosted Modi days after he went to Beijing where held talks with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and President Xi Jinping. Abe's visit -- the first by any Japanese prime minister since 2011 -- was aimed at repairing ties that have been riven by disputes over territory, military expansion in the Pacific and World War II history. Modi and Abe agreed that India and Japan must work together for a rules-based and inclusive world order that fosters trust and confidence by enhancing communication and connectivity to ensure rule of law, unimpeded trade and flow of people, technology and ideas for shared prosperity. "The two leaders' vision for the Indo-Pacific is based on a rules-based order that respects sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations, ensures freedom of navigation and overflight as well as unimpeded lawful commerce, and seeks peaceful resolution of disputes...without resorting to threat or use of force," said the India-Japan Vision Statement issued after the talks. "We both agree that from digital partnership to cyber space, from health to protection, and from sea to space, in every field we will strengthen our partnership," Prime Minister Modi said. The two leaders reviewed the progress made on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail project, which is an important symbol of India-Japan collaboration. The two sides signed an agreement on yen loan for the project. They also welcomed the continued cooperation on metro projects which support smarter development of Indian cities. The two sides also signed an agreement on the implementing arrangement for deeper cooperation between the Indian Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). Prime Minister Modi expressed his appreciation for the significant contribution of Japan's Overseas Development Assistance to the socio-economic development of India. He appreciated Japan's role in promoting connectivity through quality infrastructure projects such as the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor and the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor. "The two leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to the total elimination of nuclear weapons and remained resolute in the task of strengthening international cooperation to address the challenges of nuclear proliferation and nuclear terrorism," the Vision Statement said. They condemned in the strongest terms the growing threat of terrorism and its universal reach. The two leaders called upon all countries to work towards rooting out terrorist safe havens and infrastructure, disrupting terrorist networks and financing channels, and halting cross-border movement of terrorists. They underlined the need for all countries to ensure that their territory is not used to launch terrorist attacks on other countries, in an apparent reference to Pakistan which is accused by its neighbours of providing safe havens to terrorists. "They called upon Pakistan to bring to justice the perpetrators of terrorist attacks, including those of November 2008 in Mumbai and January 2016 in Pathankot. "They looked forward to strengthening cooperation against terrorist threats from groups including Al-Qaida, ISIS, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Lakshar-e-Tayyiba, and their affiliates," the statement said. After India's full accession to three international export control regimes, the two leaders pledged to continue working together for India's membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, with the aim of strengthening the global non-proliferation efforts. The formal summit between Modi and Abe comes a day after the two prime ministers spent about eight hours together at a picturesque resort near Mount Fuji in Yamanashi prefecture discussing ties between the two countries and ways to deepen strategic dimension of the bilateral relationship. Earlier, Modi was given a guard of honour upon his arrival for the annual summit talks at the Kantei, the Prime Minister's Official Residence. An Indonesian aircraft with 189 people on board crashed into the sea and sank on Monday soon after taking off from the capital, Jakarta, on a domestic flight to a tin-mining region, officials said. IMAGE: Rescue team members arrange the wreckage, showing part of the logo of Lion Air flight JT610, that crashed into the sea, at Tanjung Priok port in Jakarta, Indonesia. Photograph: Willy Kurniawan/Reuters The country's search and rescue authorities said all the people on board were "likely" dead. There was no sign of any survivors from Lion Air flight JT610, an almost new Boeing 737 MAX 8, and rescue officials said later on Monday they had recovered some human remains from the crash site, about 15 km (9 miles) off the coast. IMAGE: Indonesian navy members carry body bags with the remains of passengers of the Lion Air flight. Photograph: Reuters The Lion Air flight JT 610 was carrying 181 passengers, as well as six crew members and two pilots, when it disappeared from radar during a short flight from Jakarta to Pangkal Pinang on Monday morning, according to Indonesias National Search and Rescue Agency. The plane took off from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Greater Jakarta at 6.21 am (local time), and had been due to land around 7:30 am (local time) in Pangkal Pinan, the largest city on the Indonesian island of Bangka. IMAGE: Relatives of passengers of Lion Air, flight JT610, that crashed into the sea cry at Depati Amir Airport in Pangkal Pinang, Belitung island, Indonesia. Photograph: Antara Foto/Hadi Sutrisno/Reuters The captain of the plane, Bhavye Suneja, an Indian national, had more than 6,000 flight hours, and his copilot, named Harvino, more than 5,000, according to a statement posted by Lion Air. The plane lost contact with ground officials shortly after its pilot had asked to turn back to base, about 13 minutes after it took off, officials said. IMAGE: People watch rescue team members prepare the boat heading to the Lion Air, flight JT610, sea crash site off the coast of Karawang regency, West Java province, Indonesia. Photograph: Beawiharta/Reuters Rescuers have recovered body parts from the sea. The have also recovered some remains of the plane. Items believed to belong to passengers have also been found in the water, including ID cards and driver's licences. IMAGE: Relatives of passengers of Lion Air flight JT610 that crashed into the sea, arrive at crisis center at Soekarno Hatta International airport near Jakarta. Photograph: Willy Kurniawan/Reuters We dont know yet whether there are any survivors, the agencys head, Muhmmad Syaugi, told reporters. We hope, we pray, but we cannot confirm. Indonesian Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said there were 20 ministry officials on board, who were returning to their posts in Pangkal Pinang after spending the weekend with their families in Jakarta for a public holiday. IMAGE: Debris from Flight JT 610 was found near an offshore refining facility after the plane went down within 13 minutes of take-off. Photograph: Antara Foto/PT Pertamina/Reuters Distraught family members of those on board have been gathering at Jakarta's Halim Perdanakusuma Airport as they wait for news. Authorities said they are still trying to locate the Emergency Locator Transmitter which is currently not transmitting. Lion Airs President Edward Sirait said the plane was airworthy and that the pilot had carried out all pre-flight inspections according to procedure. Speaking to reporters at Lion Airs headquarters in Jakarta, Sirait said the pilots had passed mandatory drug screening. IMAGE: Relatives of passengers of Lion Air flight JT610 that crashed into the sea, cry at Depati Amir airport in Pangkal Pinang, Indonesia. Photograph: Antara Foto/Elza Elvia/Reuters Indonesias President Joko Widodo told a news conference authorities were focusing on the search and rescue, and he called for the countrys prayers and support. He also ordered the National Commission for Transport Safety to investigate the crash. The effort to find the wreckage and retrieve the black boxes represents a major challenge for investigators in Indonesia, where an AirAsia Airbus jet crashed in the Java Sea in December 2015. IMAGE: Lion Air official checks the passenger list of Lion Air flight JT610 that crashed into the sea, at Depati Amir airport in Pangkal Pinang. Photograph: Antara Foto/Elza Elvia/Reuters Under international rules, the United States National Transportation Safety Board will automatically assist with the inquiry into Mondays crash, backed up by technical advisers from Boeing and US-French engine maker CFM International, co-owned by General Electric and Safran. Boeing, the manufacturer of the aircraft, released a statement saying the company was deeply saddened by the loss of flight JT 610. We express our concern for those on board, and extend heartfelt sympathies to their families and loved ones, the statement said. The 737 MAX 8 is one of the latest versions of a jet that was introduced in 1967. More than 10,000 737s have been produced, making it the best-selling jetliner of all time. India has already shortlisted the names of two-three heads of states for extending invitation to be chief guest at the Republic Day parade. United States 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 the names of two-three heads of states for extending invitation to be 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 American president. 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. In 2017 Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi, was the chief guest. This year, leaders from 10 ASEAN countries had attended the Republic Day celebrations. 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 Germany's centre-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. Search Keywords: Short link: Albuquerque, NM -- (ReleaseWire) -- 10/29/2018 --Aztec Mechanical Inc. offers the best residential and commercial air conditioning repair in Albuquerque and Rio Rancho as well as furnace and HVAC repair. Since the company's inception in the year 1977, the company has been serving the residential, commercial as well as industrial premises for repairing AC and HVAC system. Apart from HVAC Services and Design-Build skill, Aztec Mechanical Inc. also has a full sheet metal fabrication shop, and they manufacture ductwork for other HVAC contractors and can be accessed by the common public too. As specialists in cost control, the company listens to the requirements of the customers and customizes the price. The qualified technicians within the company can bid the project as designed and provide value engineering or a complete refurbish to get them back. To enhance operation and competence, Aztec Mechanical Inc. can evaluate the present system, give suggestions as well as offer pricing. The company is very passionate about the services that they offer and therefore, they do not dither to go that extra mile to exceed the expectations of the customers. Aztec Mechanical initially started as a conventional sheet metal contractor who later extended into a mechanical contractor with complete HVAC piping capabilities. As of now, the company is regarded as the industry leader as it provides the most wide-ranging heating and cooling, besides exceptional service and solutions. To get more information about the furnace repair in New Mexico and Santa Fe or to get the installation of air conditioning done at a cost-effective price rate, one can at once call the company at 505-991-7395. The customer care representatives within the company function round the clock and thus they can be reached either in the day or at night. One can also check the website of the company to get more information about the services that they offer. About Aztec Mechanical, Inc. Aztec Mechanical, Inc. offers the best installation and repair services for all types of mechanical systems such as AC and HVAC throughout New Mexico city. GEA Group AG (GEAGF.PK,GEAGY.PK) reported that its third-quarter profit after tax from continuing operations increased to 61.9 million euros from 50.0 million euros, previous year. Earnings per share from continuing operations was 0.34 euros compared to 0.27 euros. Operating EBIT improved to 112.2 million euros from 99.0 million euros. Third-quarter revenue increased 5.1% to 1.19 billion euros. Order intake was 1.20 billion euros compared to 1.06 billion euros, last year. The Group said it is looking at a group revenue of approximately 4.8 billion euros, and an operating EBITDA of around 540 million euros for 2018 as a whole. "Although demand for our innovative products and solutions continues to grow at a highly gratifying rate, we expect the fourth quarter of the year to be challenging," said Jurg Oleas, CEO of GEA. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Shares of HSBC Holdings Plc (HSBC,HSBA.L) increased more than 4 percent in Hong Kong and London trading after the Asia-focused lender reported Monday significant growth in its third-quarter earnings and revenues mainly with improved results in three main businesses and lower costs. John Flint, Group Chief Executive, said, "These are encouraging results that demonstrate the revenue potential of HSBC. We are doing what we said we would - delivering growth from areas of strength, and investing in the while keeping a strong grip on costs. We remain committed to growing profits..." For the third quarter, profit before tax increased 28 percent to $5.92 billion from $4.62 billion a year ago. Profit after tax was $4.52 billion, higher than $3.51 billion in the previous year. Earnings per share were $0.19, higher than $0.15 in the year earlier. Adjusted profit before tax was $6.19 billion, compared to $5.33 billion in the previous year. Profit increased in all regions, except Middle East and North Africa, and Latin America. Reported operating expenses of $8.0 billion were 7% lower than in the prior year. Revenue for the period was $13.80 billion, up from $12.98 billion last year with strong revenue growth in three main global businesses. Adjusted revenue rose 9 percent to $13.84 billion, excluding the effects of foreign currency translation differences and movements in significant items. Capital base remained strong with a common equity tier 1 or CET1 ratio of 14.3% and a CRD IV leverage ratio of 5.4%. The company in June had outlined its plans to bring HSBC back to growth and create value for shareholders. The company now said it is starting to see progress. Retail Banking and Wealth Management and Commercial Banking built on the momentum generated in the first half of the year, with both using the benefits of past investment to grow lending and deposit balances. Adjusted revenue growth in Retail Banking and Wealth Management came primarily from current accounts, savings and deposits, particularly in Hong Kong. In Commercial Banking, all of its transaction banking businesses generated higher adjusted revenue, including a sixth consecutive quarter of double-digit year-on-year adjusted revenue growth in Global Liquidity and Cash Management. Global Banking and Markets had a very good quarter on the back of the firm's strength in transaction banking and Foreign Exchange. In London, HSBC shares were trading at 631.07 pence, up 4.31 percent. In Hong Kong, HSBC shares gained 4.79 percent and traded at HK$63.40. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News The United States urged European Union governments on Monday to reflect on whether it was really in their interest for the EU to go ahead with a trade dispute over US metals tariffs, and said it was hopeful of settling the issue with Mexico and Canada. US Ambassador Dennis Shea told the WTO's monthly dispute settlement meeting, which was considering 12 requests for adjudication over US tariffs and related retaliation, that Washington was "deeply disappointed" with the EU's stance. "We would encourage the European countries to consider carefully their broader economic, political, and security interests," Shea said, according to a transcript of his remarks seen by Reuters. But another US trade official later told the same meeting that the United States had held constructive discussions on the tariffs with Canada and Mexico, the transcript showed. "The United States is hopeful these discussions may be concluded satisfactorily," the official said. China, Norway, Russia and Turkey had also asked the WTO to judge the legality of the US tariffs, despite Washington's claim that they are based on national security and therefore outside WTO jurisdiction. "We will not allow Chinas Party-State to fatally undermine the US steel and aluminum industries, on which the US military, and by extension global security, rely," Shea said. National security claims were taboo for most of the WTO's 23-year history, because trade diplomats feared a domino effect as countries cited national security to get out of a wide range of obligations. But Shea suggested it would be even worse to try to challenge the US national security claim. "The United States wishes to be clear: if the WTO were to undertake to review an invocation of (the national security exemption), this would undermine the legitimacy of the WTOs dispute settlement system and even the viability of the WTO as a whole," he said. Search Keywords: Short link: SP Group, a major electricity and gas utility in Singapore, announced the launch of blockchain-powered renewable energy certificate or REC marketplace. The marketplace innovation was unveiled at the ASEAN Energy Business Forum or AEBF. According to the company, the marketplace enables local and international organizations around the world, of any size, to trade in RECs. The blockchain will ensure the security, integrity and traceability of each REC transaction. When companies purchase RECs, they are consuming electricity from renewable sources, sold to them by other companies that produce green energy. SP's blockchain-powered marketplace allows buyers to be automatically matched with sellers worldwide, according to their preferences. It contributes to Singapore's low carbon targets, as part of its Paris COP-21 agreement. Local organizations such as City Developments Limited or CDL and DBS Bank have signed on as REC buyers. Further, solar developers such as Cleantech Solar Asia and LYS Energy Solutions, with local and regional solar assets, have signed a collaboration with the firm to place their solar assets on the marketplace for sale of RECs. SP also announced that Katoen Natie Singapore, a chemical logistics company that is launching Singapore's largest single unit rooftop solar facility at a warehouse, has also come onboard as a REC seller. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Denbury Resources Inc. (DNR) announced Sunday that it has agreed to acquire Penn Virginia Corporation (PVAC) for approximately $1.7 billion. Denbury Resources gapped open sharply lower Monday morning and is now down 0.61 at $3.74 in early trade. The stock has fallen to a 5-month low. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Refusing to bear any responsibility for recent politically motivated violence, President Donald Trump continued to point the finger at the media in posts on Twitter on Monday. Trump claimed inaccurate and fraudulent reporting is contributing to "great anger" in the country, once again calling the "fake news media" the "enemy of the people." "There is great anger in our Country caused in part by inaccurate, and even fraudulent, reporting of the news," Trump tweeted. "The Fake News Media, the true Enemy of the People, must stop the open & obvious hostility & report the news accurately & fairly." "That will do much to put out the flame of Anger and Outrage and we will then be able to bring all sides together in Peace and Harmony," he added. "Fake News Must End!" Trump has repeatedly used the moniker "fake news" to describe stories that he does not like, frequently singling out media outlets like CNN, the New York Times, and the Washington Post. The president's continued assault on the media comes even though CNN's New York offices were among the targets of last week's attempted mail bombings. Fervent Trump supporter Cesar Sayoc was arrested last Friday in connection with the attempted bombings, which targeted a number of the president's most prominent critics. In an earlier tweet posted Sunday evening, Trump noted some commentators have sought to blame his incendiary rhetoric for the attempted bombings. "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," Trump tweeted. He added, "Actually, it is their Fake & Dishonest reporting which is causing problems far greater than they understand!" Trump's attacks on the media on Twitter stand in stark contrast to his public remarks calling for unity following the attempted bombings as well as a mass shooting at a synagogue in Pittsburgh. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News More than 250 organizations, representing 20 percent of all plastic packaging produced globally, have pledged to eradicate plastic waste by 2025. The campaign, named "The New Plastics Economy Global Commitment," is led by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, in collaboration with UN Environment. The campaign was officially unveiled at the "Our Ocean Conference" in the Indonesian island of Bali on Monday. Many of the world's largest packaging producers, brands, retailers and recyclers, as well as governments and NGOs are signatories to the campaign. They include well-known consumer businesses such as Danone, H&M Group, L'Oreal, Mars, Incorporated, PepsiCo, The Coca-Cola Company, and Unilever; major packing producers such as Amcor; plastics producers including Novamont; and resource management specialist Veolia. The Global Commitment aims to eliminate problematic or unnecessary plastic packaging and move from single-use to reuse packaging models; Innovate to ensure 100 percent of plastic packaging can be easily and safely reused, recycled, or composted by 2025; and Circulate the plastic produced, by significantly increasing the amounts of plastics reused or recycled and made into new packaging or products. Targets will be reviewed every 18 months, and become increasingly ambitious over the coming years. Businesses that sign the commitment will publish annual data on their progress to help drive momentum and ensure transparency. Dame Ellen MacArthur, the record-breaking yachtswoman who founded the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, said "The New Plastics Economy Global Commitment draws a line in the sand, with businesses, governments and others around the world uniting behind a clear vision for what we need to create a circular for plastic". This is just one step on what will be a challenging journey, but one which can lead to huge benefits for society, the economy and the environment, according to her. She called on all businesses and governments to go further and embark on a race to the top in the creation of a circular economy for plastic. The retired English sailor was shocked by the level of plastic pollution she observed on her sailings across the oceans, which led to the launch of the foundation in 2010 to improve environmental standards, particularly on plastic use. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Anchor Bancorp (ANCB) Monday reported first-quarter net income of $1.29 million or $0.52 per share, up from $1.04 million or $0.43 per share last year. Net interest income for the quarter rose to $4.72 million from $4.35 million last year. Non-interest income decreased to $1.15 million from $1.17 million last year. Provision for loan losses dropped to $50 thousand from $75 thousand last year. "I am pleased with our results and the continued decline in our efficiency ratio to 67.7% for the first quarter," stated CEO Jerald Shaw. "Our deposits increased $6.6 million from June 30, 2018, reflecting the continued success of our deposit gathering initiatives. Our efforts resulted in the return on average assets increasing nine basis points to 1.09% as compared to last quarter." For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Republican Senator Ted Cruz, R-Tex., continues to lead in the closely watched Texas Senate race, according to the results of a Quinnipiac University poll released on Monday, although Democratic Congressman Beto O'Rourke has climbed within striking distance. The poll showed Cruz with a 51 percent to 46 percent lead over O'Rourke among likely Texas voters, significantly narrower than the 54 percent to 45 percent advantage for the incumbent in a poll conducted earlier this month. Cruz benefits from significant advantages among men and white voters, while O'Rourke leads among women, black and Hispanic voters. O'Rourke also leads 56 percent to 40 percent among independent voters. "O'Rourke is within striking distance, but time is running out in a race that Democrats have hoped would deliver an upset victory that would be key to a Senate takeover," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll. "Cruz is ahead due to his winning the 'gender gap,'" Brown added. "He wins men 56 - 39 percent, while Representative O'Rourke can manage only a 52 - 45 percent edge among women." Potentially limiting O'Rourke's ability to further eat away at Cruz' lead, only 3 percent of likely Texas voters remain undecided and just 2 percent of likely voters who name a candidate say they might change their mind before Election Day next Tuesday. The Quinnipiac survey of 1,078 likely Texas voters was conducted October 22nd through 28th and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points. (Photo: Gage Skidmore) For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Political News Contributing to a sharp pullback on Wall Street, a report from Bloomberg said the U.S. is preparing to announce tariffs on all remaining Chinese imports if next month's talks between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping fail to ease the trade war. Citing three people familiar with the matter, Bloomberg said the announcement of the new round of tariffs could come by early December Two of the people told Bloomberg the new tariffs would apply to Chinese imports that aren't already covered by previous rounds of tariffs, or approximately $257 billion worth of goods. The report from Bloomberg comes as Trump and Xi are expected to meet on the sidelines of a Group of 20 summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina, beginning November 30th. Trump has previously suggested he would consider levying duties on nearly everything China exports to the U.S. Shortly before imposing tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods in September, Trump threatened to impose tariffs on another $267 billion worth of Chinese goods. "The $200 billion we're talking about could take place very soon, depending on what happens with them," Trump told reporters last month. "To a certain extent, it's going to be up to China." "I hate to say this, but, behind that, there's another $267 billion ready to go on short notice, if I want," he added. "That totally changes the equation." For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News A group of Jewish leaders told Trump in an open letter that he was 'not welcome in Pittsburgh until you fully denounce white nationalism' President Donald Trump will travel to Pennsylvania on Tuesday, the White House said on Monday, after a mass shooting this weekend killed 11 people at a synagogue in Pittsburgh. White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said he would be accompanied by his wife, Melania, "to grieve with the Pittsburgh community." A group of Jewish leaders told Trump in an open letter that he was "not welcome in Pittsburgh until you fully denounce white nationalism." Search Keywords: Short link: 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. 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. 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 ' title=' durries '>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 ' title=' durries '>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. Modi invites Japanese businessmen to invest in India Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday invited Japanese businessmen to engage more with India to speed up the investment process in New Delhi. "I always talk about 'strong India strong Japan'. On this occasion, I express my gratitude towards Japanese businessmen to show their faith in India. I invite you all to engage with India to speed up investment process there," Modi said while interacting at the Business Forum Summit here. Modi, who arrived here on Saturday for his annual bilateral summit with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe, said: "Some years ago, I spoke about making a mini-Japan in India. It's a matter of great happiness for me that today, you are working in an even larger number in India." The Indian Prime Minister thanked the Japanese government and companies, saying: "Our Delhi-Mumbai industrial corridor project is also moving forward," because of Japan's collaboration with India. He said that under the 'Make in India' initiative, India has the potential to become a manufacturing hub. "I have always kept ease of doing business as my priority. India was at 140th position in the 'ease of doing business' ranking of the World Bank when he took over the responsibility of the government in 2014. Now India has reached 100th position and we are working towards better ranking," Modi added. This is Modi's third visit to Japan for the summit and his 12th meeting with Abe since 2014. Ahead of the opening of a Bristish High Commission in Apia in 2019, British High Commissioner Laura Clarke speaks of the close bond with Samoa. She highlighted this during an address at Villa Vailima last week. This is a prepared copy of what she said: Faafetei i le talia o le tala ula atu a lenei ofisa ma le malo Peretania. It is a great honour to be representing the Government and people of the United Kingdom here in Samoa, and a delight to be hosting you, friends and colleagues, at a reception in Villa Vailima, this most beautiful of places. And it is wonderful, just for one day, to fly the UK flag above this house. Many of you commented on it as you arrived - and joked that we had already found our new Residence in Samoa! But actually that flag is an antique: it flew over the British Consulate in 1800, and then, later, over this same building during the NZ Administration of New Zealand. But I promise that we will remove it at the end of today! I came here to this house in March, during my first visit to Samoa when I presented my credentials. And I could see at once why Robert Louis Stevenson loved it so much that he made it his home: the climate is certainly kinder than that of his native Scotland! And in fact, when I looked around in March I found a small personal connection of my own to this place: a portrait upstairs of Robert Louis Stevenson, painted by my great great grandfather, the artist William Blake Richmond. Of course, Robert Louis Stevenson wasnt the only person to fall in love with this country - with the sacred centre of the universe - and make it his home. There were, of course, British missionaries, before and after him, who made their lives here. John Williams of the London Missionary Society was, of course, one of the most notable - and it was the work of missionaries that perhaps set the tone for the friendship between our two countries. Because although we are on opposite ends of the world, we share strong historical connections, and many similarities. We have a great deal in common: We are both island nations; We are both nations with long seafaring traditions Our nations are built on the shared value of democracy, the rule of law, free speech and social equity We have a common legal tradition and common language; We are both part of the Commonwealth of Nations; We share a commitment to tackle the existential threat that is climate change, and to protect and preserve our oceans. This year the UK hosted the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, and Her Majesty the Queen was pleased to welcome Prime Minister Tuilaepa to London. And that was one of many occasions - most recently perhaps at the UN General Assembly - that has seen the Prime Minister of Samoa use his voice on the world stage to champion the importance of urgent action on climate change. That is a shared priority for the UK and Samoa, and one on which we will continue to coordinate closely. As indeed is protecting our Oceans, and tackling plastic pollution: so I am delighted that Samoa is joining the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Alliance, which aims to reduce plastic pollution of our seas. On that note, the small gift bags that we have produced for the evening are eco-friendly, minimising our impact on the environment. Samoa is a leader in the Pacific, it has convening power (whether that is hosting PIF, or indeed the Pacific games, which we are all looking forward to!) and it also had the courage to confront and tackle the challenges it faces. And when I returned from my visit to Samoa in March this year, I advocated strongly, to London, for the UK to increase its presence in Apia. And - fortuitously - conversations were happening at the same time about how and where we should increase our diplomatic presence around the world. So I am delighted that the UK will be opening a British High Commission in Apia next year. Our high-level relationship to date has been coordinated by High Commissioners, like me, who are based in Wellington, and with the support of Honorary Consuls like the fabulous Brenda, who is here tonight. But the time is right to increase our diplomatic presence in Samoa, to take the relationship and co-operation to the next level. So part of the reason for my visit this week has been to consult widely, across Samoan Government, civil society, business, and with the Diplomatic Community, on how the UK should focus its increased presence - and where there is the greatest complementarity of interests. So it has been a privilege to meet with many of you and hear your thoughts in the course of that consultation. And I have not come alone - as you can see! So I would like if I might to introduce my team who have come with me this week, and are working with me as we work to further strengthen the UK -Samoa relationship. They are: Vinay Talwar, Tony McLeod, Tom Lord, and Jackie Vaimoso. They are all working to prepare the ground for our future presence. But it will not happen straight away, and there is a lot to be done. So in the meantime, I very much value and enjoy the role of British High Commissioner to Samoa, and I will be returning, at least two more times, before I (reluctantly) hand the honour over to the new High Commissioner to Samoa! Ia manuia le po. Soifua. Thank you. This much is undeniable. This country of ours needs a solid export plan to make good use of the products being manufactured in Samoa and the produce harvested from the fertile soil we have been blessed with. There is great potential but we also know there is also a lot of work that needs to be done. Speaking of exports, judging from what has been said so far, the Government is committed to making it work. Which is a good start. Earlier this year, the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Labour, Lautafi Fio Purcell, delivered some very promising remarks about exports. He was speaking during the inaugural Samoa Exports Awards, when he touched on the challenges, the opportunities and what needs to happen for our exports to grow. To secure a fair share of the export markets requires ongoing drive for excellence in our export efforts, he said. Samoas geographic isolation from major export markets, strict quarantine requirements, and our vulnerability to natural disasters and external shocks continues to be some of the main challenges, that our exporters are battling with in the field. In view of these challenges, therefore, Samoan made products and services should be competent at the international front. Export businesses should consistently comply with international standards. The Minister has a valid point. This issue here though, has always been a setback for small countries, because these international standards are at best difficult and at worst discriminatory. In some cases, they are deliberately designed to make life harder for small countries like Samoa. Which means we have to fight even harder for a slice of the pie, and that is not easy, especially when we consider the fact we dont have the resources, finances and the material wealth the bigger players have. The good news is that its not all about muscle and money. If we are innovative in our thinking, and find smart ways to market our products targeting specific markets, there will be opportunities for us there. The key is finding them and locking them in. Which brings us to a big breakthrough in the agriculture sector last week with the first shipment of export-ready bananas to New Zealand. We believe congratulations are in order. The shipment was put together by the Banana Growers Association with the effort driven by key commercial farmers in the form of Taimalie Charlie Westerlund, Ututaaloga Charlie Ulia and Tuisuga Sofara Aveau. This shipment is a trial for commercial sale, which hasnt been done for almost fifty years, said Tuisuga, of the Banana Farmers Association. We hope only that people are behind this and praying for us that we will be successful and then a lot of Samoans will benefit. We hope so too. And we pray that this container goes well so the door is opened not just to the big commercial farmers but all the banana growers of Samoa. See the New Zealand banana market is huge. We can never make even one percent of the market, we wont even make a dent, Tuisuga said. Which means that more successful crops of banana exports can only be good for Samoa and our economy. Getting back to Minister Lautafi, he continued: Relatively increased earnings from exports are critical in offsetting the cost of importing goods and capital items that we need but we cannot produce in our country. Therefore, Samoas future prosperity, employment creation and economic growth depend on the success of products and services that are produced by the private sector. Thus exports are critical to stimulating economic growth for our country. In saying that, therefore, highlights the critical importance of strengthening the export sector for the benefit of our economy, thus all businesses in Samoa are encouraged to look and take advantage of opportunities beyond our national borders. For a small business, the road to international markets can be shaky, often requiring outside assistance. Therefore, to achieve all of these requires a dynamic private sector, with collaborative support from Government and development partners at all levels. Well hes correct. But the Government also needs to play its part. Think about farming and agriculture for instance. With all that fertile soil in Samoa, imagine if there were millions of tala available to local farmers so they can fund different projects to utilise their land? We believe the Government should help private businesses set up factories, where our wildly grown breadfruits, mangoes, papayas, lemon and so forth are canned and exported. That way employment is created, more people have money in their pockets and the economy is stimulated. Most importantly, there is a solid base for export earnings, which we sorely need. What do you think? Have a fantastic Tuesday Samoa, God bless! Dear Editor, The Samoa Water Authority has done one thing right; they published the names of some delinquent account holders not withstanding their social prominence. Well done, SWA! Maybe the Observer could give you a page once a month so you can list all your outstanding accounts complete with name, village and amount due. That days edition would surely sell out quickly . . . There is also another consideration vis-a-vis delinquent accounts. Why are billing arrears allowed to go up into the hundreds and even thousands of tala? I remember the day when electric power meters got removed when billing settlements were three months delinquent. Today the EPC has no problem with delinquent accounts because they have switched over to prepaid cash power. And I remember the day when landline phone lines would also get disconnected when billings were three months in the arrears. Today, most people now use pre-paid mobile units so most probably delinquent landline accounts are no longer a major problem for Bluesky. When I see delinquent SWA accounts in the hundreds and even thousands of tala, I feel a bit disgusted with SWA. Why in the world do they allow delinquent accounts to get that high? If a consumer cant find 50 tala to pay a water bill one month, the next month he will need to find 100, twice as difficult to find. If they cannot find 100 tala, how in the world would they find 300, 500 or even 2,000? It is sinful for SWA to allow billings to go unpaid for longer than 3 months, especially for private residences, because the end result of countless months of unpaid billings would most likely result in disconnection over an exorbitant unpaid bill which the family would never be able to pay. The end result would be SWAs loss of a customer and that family never having their own water connection again. How would that family live without water? After all, Water is life. After two months of arrears, after the first warning sign appears, SWA might consider giving notice of pending disconnection the following month unless the account is settled by a given date. Most families would find a way to settle the arrears quickly if it is a matter of a hundred tala or so, and then they would not need to face the consequences. In many cases, it is often a case of holding off to the last minute, a Samoan trait. Its the same with school fees. For many parents, it is not until their child is sent home from school for nonpayment of school fees that the fees are quickly settled. SWA might also consider following the example of the EPC and install cash water meters. I saw them in Korea. Then there will no longer be any need for SWA to have a disconnection/reconnection team or a meter reading team. SWA overhead would drop and they might even be able to reduce the price of water. P.A.B. Puipaa Delegations from Small Island States and their development partners are gathering in Apia this week to prepare for the S.I.D.S. Accelerated Modalities of Action (S.A.M.O.A.) Pathway report, due late 2019. The S.A.M.O.A. Pathway addresses the priorities of small islands States across the Pacific, Caribbean and A.I.M.S region (Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean and South China Sea). Thirty-seven U.N. member states and 20 non-U.N. members are meeting at the T.A.T.T.E. Building for presentations, discussions and panels on the issues affecting them the most climate change, oceans, security and more. Steering Committee on S.I.D.S. Partnerships is currently chaired by Belize and Ireland, whose representatives highlighted that partnerships are the way of the future on tackling common issues. Permanent Representative of Belize to the United Nations, Lois Young, said the criteria for partnerships and how they should work together will be clear and easy to use, and will focus on development in areas that ripple outward. Education, for example, will affect health, crime, violence, and more, Ms. Young said at the opening yesterday. Speaking via a prepared video statement, U.N. Special Envoy for the ocean, Peter Thompson said all the S.I.D.S. goals, and especially those relating to reversing climate change are ambitious and require immense teamwork. This plan is for all of us to implement and to defend the integrity of the plan, he said. It is impossible without robust, durable partnerships. Minister of Finance, Sili Epa Tuioti said development and adjusting to reforms takes time, and moving forward, Samoa is looking ahead to 2040 to assess where it should get to compared with where it is now. What opportunities are there for us and what are we doing today that we should change? he said. An audit of the financial transactions of the Scientific Research Organisation of Samoa (S.R.O.S.) in 2014-2015 has uncovered breaches of policy relating to alcohol purchase and parties. A report from the Audit Office's comprehensive spot check on the organisation for the period July 1, 2014 February 28, 2015 stated that the auditors came across a few transactions that involved the purchase of alcohol. This was during the Board's end of year function and one of the organisation's farewell parties. The funding of these activities from public monies are strictly prohibited under government policies, as stipulated in F.K. 08, and was further stressed in FK (92)50 and Cabinet Circular dated 27 November 2009, unless proper approval from the Cabinet is obtained, the report stated. The report also stated that the auditors found it inappropriate for the organisation to fund corporate tables, dinners and staff farewells from its budget. The S.R.O.S. management, in response to the concerns highlighted by the auditors, said they noted the concerns and will advise the Board accordingly. Furthermore, the auditors noted that it is considered reasonable to record that funds expended for the farewell party (including alcohol) were not from public monies or budget appropriations to the organisation, but from additional consultancy revenue generated by one of those who was given the farewell. Nevertheless, management will comply with the above-mentioned Cabinet directives for future official and social events involving the purchase and consumption of alcohol, the report stated. The auditors, during their checks, also found that the organisation purchased lace, wreaths and ribbons for staff relatives funerals. Payments of such nature are not allowed under F.K 13 (06) and so should not be funded by the organization. Management has noted the issue raised and will be addressed accordingly for future transactions. There were expenses that are considered inappropriate such as end of year functions, corporate tables, dinners and staff farewells being funded from the organisations budget. In response to the concerns highlighted by the audit checks, the organisation said the funding of these activities should come from a staff social fund and not from public monies, as per government policies as stipulated in FK 08 Faapitoa (06), which was further emphasised in FK (92)50 and Cabinet Circular dated 27 November 2009. Management has noted the issues raised and will advise the Board accordingly. It is reasonable to note here that the expenses incurred on most corporate tables in the past were invitations from either private sector organisations in which S.R.O.S. is a subscribed member for work-related purposes (Chamber of Commerce) or colleges fund-raising activities, whereby one of the reasons for fund-raising include a science-related development project (construction/renovation of a science laboratory). Nevertheless, management will comply with the above-mentioned Cabinet directives going forward, stated the report. Some businesses are counting their losses following an abrupt four-hour power outage that affected Upolu on Sunday afternoon. The Electrical Power Corporation (E.P.C.) would normally give advanced notice on a scheduled outage. But that did not happen when the blackout occurred just before 3.00pm on Sunday, catching residents, businesses and churches off-guard. The E.P.C. released a statement late yesterday saying power supply from its solar system exceeded demand, thereby causing the Fiaga generators to shutdown to maximise renewable production and reduce diesel fuel usage. This caused the system to become unstable, resulting in blackout to the whole island of Upolu at 2.30pm on Sunday. Henceforth, the E.P.C. engineers worked at restoring electricity to the whole country as safely and practically possible. Electricity has been fully restored to the whole island of Upolu as of last night (Sunday night) at 9pm, except for some major buildings in the town area, due to an underground cable and transformer fault resulting from the power outage, the E.P.C. statement said. Buildings still affected by the power outage are the Development Bank, the Fish Market, Central Bank and the Government Building. These consumers are currently operating on their standby generators while E.P.C. continues to work on repairing the underground cable and transformer, stated E.P.C. Residents in Apia took to social media on Sunday afternoon to criticise the state-owned power company. Malo Electrical Power Corporation, now that the power went off, you forwarding all the calls to the answering machine while you guys take a break. A servant is not known to hide. Where is your customer service? Someone from 65500 answer me, posted an Upolu resident, on his Facebook page. Internet service provider NetVo Samoa advised its customers, in a social media post yesterday, that the power outage over the weekend damaged some of their equipment. Some equipment were damaged due to the power outage over the weekend, but please be advised that all equipment have been replaced and LTE service is now back on, the company post stated. Most gas stations in Apia turned away vehicle owners on Sunday afternoon, as their pumps could not work without electricity. Collin Akeli, who works at the Vailoa gas station, told this newspaper that they would have organised for a standby generator if the E.P.C. gave them advanced notice. The only thing I am not pleased about is that we were not informed. There was no announcement on the media informing that the power would be out. Maintaining a business is not easy, especially when the business relies on electricity. The power outage impacted the businesses income and electronics. My situation now is having to restore all the data that was lost during the weekend because of the power outage, he said. Petelo Togia from the CB Meredith Station said their business made a loss due to the outage. Once the power went off we were no longer in business. During the duration the power was out, we had lost a lot of customers and that itself was a huge loss to the business. Customers were very unhappy because some of them had come far distances. I know that if we had been notified sooner, we would have been able to have had our generators working, and we would not have lost our customers, as well as damage our machines, he added. The Court of Appeal has ruled in favour of the Office of the Attorney General against suspended lawyer Tafaogalupe Pau Mulitalo. The ruling is in relation to a charge of theft and obtaining by deception by the police against the suspended lawyer, which the Supreme Court dismissed in April this year. But the Office of the Attorney General has appealed the Supreme Court decision, namely the charge of failing to stop and ascertain injury. The Court of Appeal ruling was delivered by Justice Harrison, Justice Fisher, Justice Tuatagaloa and Justice Leiataualesa last Thursday. We are satisfied that in the peculiar circumstances of this case the Judges failure to give reasons for his conclusion on credibility amounted to an error of the law. We are not satisfied that the acquittal was unreasonable in the statutory sense discussed earlier. We have not had the opportunity to hear the conflicting witnesses and to substitute our own decision on credibility. The proper course is to direct a new trial pursuant to section 177(6)9b). Therefore, the appeal is allowed and the respondent is remanded to the Supreme Court for trial on the obtaining by deceptions charge, the judges stated in their ruling. The Supreme Court matter is in connection to the construction of a home and office for Tafaogalupe. Tafaogalupe wanted to build a house on a property he owns in Lalovaea and became acquainted with Alapati Brown, owner of A.L.C.C. Brown Construction. Tafaogalupe represented Brown in a 2015 court proceeding, which the former won for his client, leading to the lawyer asking the builder to build him a house. But a fallout between the suspended lawyer and his client back then over the building specifications of the house led to an abrupt halt in the work and refusal by Tafaogalupe to release construction equipment until Brown repaid $26,000. The construction company then made a complaint to police leading to the charges of theft and obtaining by deception against the suspended lawyer back then. But the Supreme Court, when the matter went before it in April this year, dismissed the charges as it said they could not be proven. One U.N. House welcomed the Undersecretary General for United Nations (Department for Economics and Social affairs), Liu Zhenmin, on Monday. Liu Zhenmin is in Samoa for the S.A.M.O.A. Pathway, an inter-regional meeting of Small Island Developing States (S.I.D.S.). He will be working alongside different nations to help support their growing partnerships as they navigate shared challenges. In his visit to U.N. House in Tuanaimato, Liu Zhenmin was welcomed by staff members who work across several U.N. agencies, including Food and Agriculture Organisation (F.A.O.), United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Environment Programme and U.N.E.S.C.O. For Mr. Liu, it was his first time in the Pacific, and he warmly thanked the group for inviting him. He encouraged them to continue working towards the Sustainable Development Goals, as their target of 2030 draws closer. We need to be creative and innovative to our approaches with S.I.D.S. support, he added. We have to keep asking, what are the essential needs to S.I.D.S. countries? F.A.O. Sub Regional Coordinator, Eriko Hibi told Mr. Liu that she appreciated his visit to U.N. Samoa, and it was encouraging for the staff. We are not usually top of mind for New York, but your visit today (Monday) has made us feel important. BANGKOK (AP) Lion Air, the airline whose plane crashed early Monday while traveling from Jakarta to an island off Indonesia's Sumatra with 189 people on board, is a fast-growing low-cost airline with a mixed safety record. The privately owned carrier was founded in 1999 to provide access to air travel to everyone. It offers dozens of flights a day both internationally and within the archipelago's more than 17,000 islands. The biggest airline in the country in terms of passenger numbers and one of the largest low-cost carriers after Malaysia-based AirAsia, it mostly flies Boeing 737s. Before Monday's crash the airline had not reported a fatal accident since 2004, when 25 people died when the DC-9 they were on crashed amid heavy rain at Solo City in central Java. Monday's disaster was a blow to the country's aviation safety record after the lifting of bans on its airlines by the European Union and United States. The European Union barred Indonesian airlines from flying to Europe in 2007 due to safety concerns. Lion Air was allowed to resume flights to Europe as of June 2016, and the ban on all other Indonesian airlines was lifted earlier this year. The U.S. lifted a decadelong ban in 2016. Last month, two Lion Air-owned aircraft had a wingtip strike while they were on the tarmac at Jakarta's airport. An investigation attributed the incident to a rushed departure. In April, a Lion Air Boeing 737-800 overran the runway at Gorontalo Airport on the island of Sulawesi. Afterward, investigators and the airline issued instructions on improving safety awareness and procedures. No one was reported injured in either of those incidents, according to reports on the website Aviation Safety Network. Lion Air announced early this year that it was among three major Indonesian airlines, including Garuda Indonesia and Batik Air, that were upgraded to the highest level of safety rating after Indonesia passed a key international audit under the International Civil Aviation Organization's Universal Safety Oversight Audit Program. Lion Air has been expanding bullishly in Southeast Asia, a fast-growing region of more than 600 million people. Earlier this year it confirmed a deal to buy 50 new Boeing narrow-body aircraft worth an estimated $6.24 billion. In a record transaction, Lion Air signed a deal to buy 230 Boeing jets for $21.7 billion during a visit by then-President Barack Obama in November 2011. The carrier was founded by Indonesian-Chinese brothers Rusdi and Kusnan Kirana, who pooled money to set up a travel agency and then began their airline with one leased aircraft. Rusdi Kirana, chief executive officer of the airline, was named Indonesia's ambassador to Malaysia in 2017 after serving as an adviser to Indonesian President Joko Widodo. The carrier operates with regional partners Thai Lion Air, Malindo Air, Wings Air, Batik Air and Lion Bizjet. It also has a freight business, Lion Parcel. The millennial-friendly Spaces co-working brand has leased one-third of a hip, new downtown office project set to open in the second quarter of next year. Spaces, an offshoot of shared office space giant Regus and a rival to WeWork, is taking 43,540 square feet at 1420 Kettner Blvd., a seven-story, 123,062 square-foot office building. For the record: A quote in the story was originally attributed to the wrong person. The statement in question came from Philip Roberts with Cushman & Wakefield. The Little Italy site was the home of U.S. Bank, and National Bank before that, and is perhaps best know by locals as the building with the large whale mural. The site was purchased by San Francisco-based DivcoWest Real Estate Services in two separate transactions a $18.5 million leasehold acquisition in August 2017 and an $8 million land sale in March for $26.5 million, according to information from CoStar and the county assessors office. Now branded as Kettner & Ash, the under-construction building is being transformed into a hip office concept designed by Gensler. It will feature a boutique hotel-style lobby, ground-floor cafe, resort-inspired shower and locker room, and indoor-outdoor common area on the third floor. Advertisement Developer and owner, DivcoWest, is planning extensive improvements to the lobby area to create a boutique hotel ambiance. (Courtesy/Gensler) The buildings most eye-grabbing feature will likely be a five-story LED panel array in the center atrium. The atrium extends from the bottom floor to the ceiling and is a structural remnant of the former bank, although the glass is being replaced for a translucent effect. The 70-foot display will be used to showcase digital artwork. No stone is left unturned; from the parking structure to the glass front, said Philip Roberts, director for Cushman & Wakefield in San Diego, which represents DivcoWest. Everything is being totally renovated. Spaces is the first-announced tenant at Kettner & Ash, where the burgeoning Little Italy community, rich with dining options and a young workforce, helped attract the high-profile tenant. Its really hard to get a tenant interested until a project is fully completed, said Derek Hulse, managing director at Cushman & Wakefield. In this case, to attract a trendy co-working company to take the first three floors, its really based on (the buildings) location and image. A ground-floor cafe with an indoor-outdoor feel will serve both tenants and the public, (Courtesy/Gensler) Spaces is rapidly growing its presence in San Diego, further buying into the regions co-working boom. San Diego County is home to more than 1.2 million square feet of flexible workplaces, according to a May 2018 report from Cushman & Wakefield. Regus, the parent company of Spaces, is the top flexible work space firm in the San Diego market with 18 locations comprising 288,315 square feet. Spaces competes directly with WeWork, selling general membership to whats called the business club at every Spaces facility, along with upgrades such as personal workstations, private offices and meeting rooms. In San Diego, Spaces started with a location at 4660 La Jolla Village Drive in University City, where memberships cost $255 per month, dedicated desks start at $462 per month and small offices go for $749 per month and up. The co-working company also recently leased 33,806 square feet at Block D in East Villages Makers Quarter with an early 2019 open date. Were very excited to continue our expansion into the San Diego market, said Michael Berretta, vice president of network development at Spaces. The area is on a steady trajectory to become one of the worlds top tech centers, and San Diego, in particular, consistently ranks high as a city that cultivates entrepreneurship. Southern California overall is a key expansion market for Spaces. At Kettner & Ash, the co-working firm will take over the first, second and third floors, and have its own private patio. Cushman & Wakefield is in active discussions with tenants for the fourth through seven floors, however no other leases have been executed. Business jennifer.vangrove@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1840 Twitter: @jbruin Rebeccah Glisson will never forget the day in 2010 when her dad and brother showed up at the San Diego preschool where she worked with the news that her sister was dead. Glisson, then 17, said her goodbyes to her co-workers, picked up her things and walked out to the parking lot. Then she collapsed to her knees in grief. It was horrible, she said. Earth-shattering. It was also the experience that started Glisson down the path she walks today as a volunteer group facilitator for The Elizabeth Hospice Childrens Bereavement Centers in Escondido and Mission Valley. Advertisement Grief is not something you outgrow, she said. There are days when I dont have the energy to put my feet on the floor. What helps is that I have the skills to get me through those kinds of days. I want to use my story to help kids cope with their grief when they have days like that. Group facilitator Rebeccah Glisson, 25, talks with siblings Emily Roberts, 7, left, and Nathan Roberts, 10, before a childrens grief support group at The Elizabeth Hospice Childrens Bereavement Center in Escondido last week. The childrens father died two years ago. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) Over the past year, the 25-year-old San Diego State University psychology student has spent six hours a week helping facilitate peer-to-peer grief support groups for children ages 3 to 18. Shes one of 45 volunteers who help run the evening group sessions, which serve more than 200 children countywide. But Melissa Lunardini, childrens bereavement manager for The Elizabeth Hospice, said Glisson is one of the best facilitators shes seen in her 15 years in the business. Beccah is so genuine and authentic but still tied to her grief, Lunardini said. When you talk about gifts and instincts, shes just universally good at reaching even the most nonverbal kids. They will always fold to her and let her in. Glisson said she hopes one day to open her own center for youths recovering from all forms of trauma, including the deaths of loved ones, abuse, gang violence and sex trafficking. On Tuesday evening, Lunardini and Glisson toured visitors through the Childrens Bereavement Center in Escondido. Theres a room with low-to-the-ground couches for group talking sessions, an arts-and-crafts area, a game room, a music room filled with instruments and a fully decorated hospital room. Lunardini said some children find great comfort role-playing their stories in the hospital room because for many thats the last place they saw their loved one before they died. Theres also a newly opened volcano room, filled with colorful thick foam cushions, a punching bag and padded walls decorated with a big embroidered erupting vocano. Its the big energy room, Lunardini explains. Kids who arent as comfortable verbalizing, particularly boys, can deal with their rage, frustrations and anxiety in there without getting hurt. Group facilitator Rebeccah Glisson, left, plays in the volcano room with siblings Nathan Roberts, center, and Emily Roberts at The Elizabeth Hospice Childrens Bereavement Center. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) The centers walls are lined with childrens art projects. Theres one wall of photos of lost loved ones and another wall featuring Before/After drawings showing how childrens lives were changed by death. One Before drawing shows a smiling stick figure mother holding her childrens hands. In the After, the mother is in a coffin and the children are weeping. Theres also a wall of childrens stories titled How I Found Out ... One explained how the childs mother found her husband hanging from a computer cord in the closet of their home office. His suicide, the child wrote, didnt come as a surprise to anyone. Before a group session for grade school-age children on Tuesday, Glisson played with siblings Nathan Roberts, 10, and Emily Roberts, 7, of Rancho Bernardo. Their dad, Scott Roberts, died two years ago from a heart attack at the age of 49. Teresa Roberts said her children handled their fathers death in different ways. Emily is an exuberant child who processes her grief through talking. But Nathan, whos more introspective, wouldnt talk about it all. A year after Scotts death, Roberts brought the kids to the bereavement center in Escondido, where theyve both made dramatic progress, particularly Nathan. Theyre able to express themselves more now in words and pictures, she said. Talking about their dad isnt just about his death anymore, its about love and memories. Glisson said she tries to meet kids where theyre at by reflecting their behavior at the meetings. If they arrive like Emily, full of energy and enthusiasm, Glisson does the same. If theyre angry and sit silently with their arms crossed in a corner, shell sit beside them and we can just be angry together. Beccah has the get it factor, Lunardini said. She knows how to use her story to help kids tell their story and shes really cool. Kids love her. They flock to her. One of the Before/After drawings created during group grief therapy meetings at The Elizabeth Hospice Childrens Bereavement Center in Escondido. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) Glisson said she knew from an early age she wanted to work with kids, though initially thought it would be in the field of early childhood development. After high school, she was working full-time at the preschool and mulling a move to Boca Raton, Fla., where she could live with her 29-year-old sister Chasity Glisson while she attended college. But then her sister died from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning. A few years later, Glisson also lost her father, who had multiple sclerosis and Parkinsons disease. Over the years, she said she has lost more than three dozens other family members and friends to age, illness, accidents and suicide. We all have our paths of hardship, she said. We dont get to choose our cards. I feel l can use all of those experiences to help children have an opportunity to heal. The Elizabeth Hospice Childrens Bereavement Center opened four years ago and now serves more than 500 children through group sessions, school programs and a summer camp. The sessions are free, with all costs supported through donations and grants. After undergoing an assessment, children are separated into age groups (3-6, 6-12, 10-13 and 13-18) and attend 90-minute evening meetings twice a month. These begin with a 30-minute group talking session followed by an hour of activities. Each group has 10 to 15 children, one paid staff member and six to seven facilitators. While the children are in private sessions, their parents and caregivers have their own support meetings. Lunardini said the children learn coping tools from adults and use them to help each other through heavy patches of grief. Boys tell other boys in group that its OK to cry. And at her grandfathers funeral, 7-year-old Emily Roberts gave her mourning uncle a notepad he could use to write down his feelings. Children usually attend the program for two years, though some have stayed for less and some for longer. The program mirrors the school year, running September through May. Glisson said her greatest reward is seeing how the children transform to help themselves and each other. Sometimes, Ill meet my mirror when I see someone going through what I went through, she said. I end up crying my eyes out when I see the support that comes from their peers. For information on The Elizabeth Hospice Childrens Bereavement Center, visit elizabethhospice.org. pam.kragen@sduniontribune.com Homelessness is hardly new in Oceanside, but there seems to be a growing intolerance of it. In recent weeks, longtime residents have repeatedly called for the city to roust the transients from their camps, stop feeding them free meals, and get them out of town. No more Brother Bennos, resident Donna McGinty told the City Council at a recent meeting, referring to the soup kitchen near the city airport that has fed the homeless since 1983. That has got to go. She and other speakers said services like Brother Bennos and the Bread of Life Rescue Mission in Oceanside only perpetuate homelessness and allow people to continue lives of crime and drug addiction. Advertisement City officials have responded in recent months by increasing police patrols, adding social workers, pushing for more affordable housing and, in October, approving two emergency resolutions to facilitate temporary emergency shelters and obtain more grant funding. Despite the residents concerns, the available statistics show Oceansides homeless situation has changed little in recent years. Its like playing Whac-A-Mole, said Police Chief Frank McCoy, referring to the popular arcade game, during a community meeting Wednesday at the Oceanside Civic Center. Enforcement efforts tend to shift transients from one part of town to another, he said. Still, the city has had increasing success with prevention and assistance programs. Outrage over homelessness ebbs and flows in Oceanside. In 1989, there were as many as 1,000 homeless in the city and many of them were camped along the San Luis Rey River, according to stories in the San Diego Union newspaper at the time. Despite repeated protests from valley residents, the citys Planning Commission approved a plan that year to install 15 temporary trailers at the San Luis Rey Mission to house some of the homeless families there. Police issued 300 citations to illegal campers along the river in mid-November 1993 to make way for a state Route 76 construction project. In a few days, nearly all the riverbed squatters had gone elsewhere. This year, Oceanside had 483 homeless people citywide, according to the annual one-day Point-in-Time Count in January by the Regional Task Force on the Homeless. That number has been about the same for several years. But some homeowners challenge the most recent numbers. Long-time residents in the San Luis Rey River valley, near the Oceanside airport and Benet Road, say theyve seen more homeless on the streets and in the riverbed in recent months. Something has changed, said Dee Keck, adding that she sees transients ride bicycles past her front yard at all hours, and that more cars, garages and homes are being broken into. On Tuesdays, they get the garbage out of our garbage cans, she said. They just pitch the stuff they dont want and move on. Julie Reboulet, an airport area resident for 17 years, said shes seen a lot more transients in her neighborhood for the last year or so. A lot of times they seem to be high on something, she said. Its not safe for them, its not safe for us, its not safe for anyone. Both women attended the meeting Wednesday at the Civic Center, where the police chief talked for more than an hour about all the things his department is doing to address homelessness. We are doing a lot, McCoy said. We are putting a lot of time, effort and money toward this issue. Oceanside will spend more than $5 million this year on various services related to homelessness, he said. Four years ago, the city created a homeless outreach team of two police officers and a sergeant that contacts transients daily to help them get off the streets, he said. Often, people on the streets dont want any help, he said. But the HOT team keeps going back. Maybe the fifth or sixth time, they say, Im ready, I want help, McCoy said. We want to get them headed in the right direction to break that cycle (of homelessness). The Police Department sends out four separate details a week to issue tickets and clean up encampments. It dispatches crime suppression units as needed, and maintains a downtown resource team to keep transients from sleeping on the beach and sidewalks. McCoy also tried to dispel some of the rumors heard at City Council meetings and on social media websites. Ive heard that around the airport area the crime is just going crazy, he said. The numbers at this point dont support that. Statistics show Oceanside crime overall has declined by 10 percent in the past year, McCoy said. People have said other cities are busing their homeless to Oceanside. Again, not so, the chief said. Many of the people who are homeless here are from this city, McCoy said. They are from Oceanside. Some people want police to arrest the homeless, but no one can be arrested simply for being homeless, he said. Thats not a crime. Transients tend to congregate in Oceanside for a number of obvious reasons the weather, the beach, and the open canyons and riverbeds with brush where people can hide. The city has charitable nonprofit services and helpful government agencies, and it is a transportation hub for buses, trains and ride-hailing services. Residents often say the city should clear out the trees and brush that hide the homeless camps. But those areas have native plants and animals that are protected by state and federal laws. A walk along the riverbed Wednesday morning turned up few camps and fewer occupants. A homeless camp at the edge of the San Luis Rey River. (Union-Tribune file photo by Eduardo Contreras) It was easy to see spots where people have camped in the past, marked by flattened brush, piles of trash and old, discarded clothing. But most of those places were abandoned. One spot along the river near Capistrano Park was clearly occupied. Pants and shirts were draped over branches, and rolls of toilet paper, buckets, plastic bags of trash, and a battered bicycle were scattered on the ground. Im sleeping right now, a voice called out from behind the brush, when asked if anyone could talk with a reporter. Up the river closer to the citys small municipal airport, three or four people were moving around in a cluster of tents north of Airport Road, an area called Tule Canyon. Only one of them would talk to a reporter. He said his name was John Scott, but people called him Rasta. Scott, a wiry man in clean clothes with a gray beard, said he was 73 years old. Hed lived in San Diego County for 35 years. For a while, he worked at a small store in Oceanside, but for years hes been homeless, by choice, camping for a while in the Lawrence Canyon area of Oceanside, also at times in Vista and Encinitas. For the past eight months, hes slept in a culvert under Airport Road, near Benet Road, he said. He goes to Brother Bennos every morning for food. He can shower there, get some basic help, and he has his Social Security checks sent there. Brother Bennos is a blessing, Scott said. I call it the breakfast club. Scott clearly enjoyed talking. He was a U.S. Army veteran and worked in food service at Fort Leavenworth for years, he said. Hes also an artist who paints impressionistic landscapes. He was married four times, and he had a rough bout with cancer. These days, he prefers to live outdoors. I just mind my own business and do my own thing, he said. Theres lots of reasons people do what I do. One problem is the high cost of housing, he said, and, Not everybody can pay $1,500 in rent, As he spoke, a woman with a frown on her face, probably in her 30s, rode into the camp on a bicycle. She declined to say anything about her circumstances, got off the bike and went into a tent. philip.diehl@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @phildiehl Vista voters casting their ballots in the November election will choose whether to allow medical marijuana businesses and how many they want in their city. Two separate ballot measures would allow differing numbers of medical pot operations and establish where they can locate, while a third ballot proposal spells out how much they would contribute to city coffers. Measure Z, proposed by the pro-pot organization Vistans for Safe Community Access, would authorize the retail sale of medical marijuana by up to 11 businesses in the citys commercial, industrial, business park and mixed-use zoning districts. It would also impose a 7 percent special tax on gross sales. Measure BB was introduced by the Vista City Council as an alternative to Measure Z. The city proposal would permit more restricted marijuana sales, allowing just three delivery-only medical pot retailers and two testing laboratories, located exclusively in industrial zones. Advertisement Measure AA, also proposed by the council, would tax marijuana cultivation at $14 per square foot and gross sales receipts at rates ranging from 3.5 percent for product safety testing labs, to 12 percent for adult-use pot sales. The council voted 4-0, with Councilwoman Amanda Rigby absent, to approve placing those measures on the ballot. The competing measures arose from an initial campaign by Vistans for Safe Community Access to secure legalized sales within the city. In September 2017, the group, backed by companies with ties to the marijuana industry, gathered enough signatures to place Measure Z on the ballot. The council, in response, voted in June to float its own ballot measures authorizing more restricted marijuana sales. Vista is one of several North County cities that specifically prohibits marijuana sales, but the ballot measures would reverse that. During discussions about legalizing marijuana sales in the city, several council members pointed to a survey that found that more than half the citys residents support legal marijuana sales, and said that proposing their own measure would allow them to better regulate the businesses. Citizens Initiative The citizens proposal, Measure Z, would allow at least 11 storefront medical marijuana dispensaries in the city, based on Vistas current population, according to an analysis by the city attorney. Those could be located in commercial, industrial and business park zones, and in mixed-use zoning districts, which include apartments and condos along with stores. Theres no limitation on how close they could locate to residential properties, but they could not set up shop within 500 feet of any other pot retailer, or within 600 feet of any existing K-12 school. Dispensaries would have to have one parking space for every 1,000 square feet of shop space, compared to five spaces required for all other retail businesses. The marijuana dispensaries would be required to install security and video surveillance systems, lighting and ventilation, and obtain insurance. If a business meets those conditions, the city would be required to issue it business licenses. Once in operation, pot retailers could open for business between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m., and must hire security guards to patrol the site during business hours. The ballot question also states that the measure would allow the city to collect a 7 percent tax from gross sales of those businesses. Michael Mellano, a Vista resident and CEO of Green Venture Farms in Oceanside, said his company supported the measure because it would provide a safe way for North County residents, including seniors, to purchase medical marijuana. The company, which identifies itself as a medical cannabis producer, donated $12,500 to the pro-Measure Z campaign Vistans for Safe Community Access this year. Mellano said he was introduced to medical marijuana when his elderly mother sought the products for pain management, but had a hard time obtaining them. I have an 82-year-old mom who suffers from rheumatoid arthritis, and she just started using medical cannabis to alleviate the symptoms, he said. She has a very difficult time getting legal cannabis in North County. Its almost impossible at this point. City proposals The citys initiative, Measure BB, would also legalize marijuana sales in Vista, but would place more restrictions on the number of businesses, how they do business, and where they locate. It would allow just three retailers, and limit them to delivery sales only, with no storefronts permitted. It would also authorize up to two product safety testing laboratories. Those businesses could only operate in industrial zones, and must locate at least 1,000 feet from any day care center, K-12 school, youth center, park, skate park or homeless shelter. They must also stay 500 feet away from homes. Mayor Judy Ritter said those conditions would create manageable conditions for marijuana sales. Theyre preferable because theyre in the business park, so theyre not close to schools, Ritter said. Its delivery only, so its not shops that generate a lot of traffic. Unlike the citizens measure, which requires the city to grant licenses to any business that meets the minimum standards, the citys measure would maintain the councils authority to set conditions on marijuana sales. A separate city proposal, Measure AA, would establish taxation of those businesses. It would initiate taxes of 6 percent on adult use marijuana, 5 percent on medical marijuana, 4 percent on manufacturing, 2 percent on distribution and 1 percent on testing. The city could lower or raise those rates up to a maximum of 12 percent for adult use pot, 10 percent for medical marijuana, 8 percent for manufacturing and distribution and 3.5 percent for testing. Mellano said he saw the citys measure as an effort to undermine a vote for legal marijuana sales. Delivery-only retailers wouldnt provide enough support to senior customers, many of whom seek face-to-face advice on the products, and may be uncomfortable with internet purchases, he said. Theres a huge benefit for a patient to go to one of those locations and meet with someone who can discuss their needs, he said. When you have a simple delivery service, you dont have that ability to consult with the people who understand the products, and what they do and their efficacy. Ritter said shes concerned that the citizens measure would allow too much, too soon, with too little oversight. So its just too many dispensaries in our city to start, to have them all come in at once, she said. And it takes away city control, it takes away the local control. deborah.brennan@sduniontribune.com Twitter@deborahsbrennan Ignacio Hernandez has a choice to make: transfer to UC Berkeley in the spring to continue his education or stay in National City and work to help his mother pay rent. The 22-year-old and his mother share a two-bedroom apartment with his sister, her husband and their two children. In the past year, he said, their rent increased $200, to about $1,300. Ignacio Hernandez sits on the steps outside his apartment he rents in National City. He supports Measure W, which would enact rent control in the city where 70 percent of residents are renters. (Eduardo Contreras / San Diego Union-Tribune) Hernandez hopes National City voters approve Measure W in November to establish rent control in the South County city where 70 percent of residents are renters. Advertisement But Mitch Thompson, who owns an eight-unit apartment complex in the northern outskirts of the city, sees the citizens-driven initiative as a detriment to his business model. Measure W would cap annual rent increases at 5 percent and allow evictions sparingly. Its use it or lose it, he said of the limited ability to raise rent under Measure W. If voters approve the measure on Nov. 6, National City will become the first city in San Diego County to have a rent control law on the books. Only 15 cities in the state have some form of rent control on apartments. Measure W will have larger implications if voters statewide approve Proposition 10, which would undo a law that bans cities and counties from enacting caps on rent increases on apartments built after 1995 and single-family homes. If Prop 10 fails and Measure W is approved, the limits on rent increases would apply only to apartments built before 1995. At least 80 percent of the housing stock in National City the second-oldest city in San Diego County was built before 1995, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. The average rent in National City between July and September was $1,245, an increase from $1,196 during the same period in 2017, according to real estate tracker CoStars database of 4,779 apartments across the city. The countys average rent was $1,784 between July and September and $1,713 during the three-month period in 2017. Although rent is lower in National City compared to the rest of the county, about 60 percent of renters in 2016 used at least 30 percent of their income to pay rent, according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau data. Economists and federal agencies says families who spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing are rent burdened. Measure W, which drew language from rent control ordinances enacted elsewhere, including Alameda, would: Cap annual rent hikes at an amount equivalent to the increase in the consumer price index and no more than 5 percent. Limit the grounds on which a landlord can evict a tenant to reasons including failure to pay rent or a lease violation. Obligate a property owner who plans to take the unit off the market to pay tenants a relocation allowance of $7,000 to $10,000. Create a five-member board to enforce the rules, with three seats designated for tenants. No seats would be specifically reserved for property owners or landlords. Establish an annual fee charged to landlords per unit to fund the rent control board, with the initial fee set at $120 per unit. Authorize the rent control board to make legal aid available to tenants for petitions, hearings and appeals. Tenant advocates say the measure includes sorely needed protections for renters. They argue that without Measure W tenants have no recourse against excessive rent increases or evictions, which occur at times through no fault of their own. Ana Mota knows first-hand the issues Measure W aims to address. For a decade, she has rented a three-bedroom house where she lives with her five children, ages 7 to 21. In the past year, she said, their rent increased $200, to $1,600. Now her family is being forced to move out by Dec. 1 because the property owner died and his relatives plan to move in, Mota said. Although the rent cap established by Measure W would apply to single-family homes only if Prop 10 is approved, the protections tied to evictions would cover renters who live in a house regardless of Prop 10s fate. Under Measure W, renters in situations like Motas would receive a relocation allowance of up to $10,000. It would help me greatly, she said. Its expensive to move. She said expects her expenses will pile up, taking into account the first months rent and a deposit to move into a new home. Landlords and property owners argue the relocation allowance is unfair to them. Thompson called the amount egregious. From an overarching view on rent control, critics argue it would eliminate incentives for landlords and property owners to fix up or invest in their units, discourage new housing construction and decrease the number of available rental units. In an old city like National City, the upkeep of properties is important to maintain the quality of the housing stock, Thompson said. With restrictions on rent increases, property owners wont be inclined to invest in maintenance, he said. If Ive got a ceiling on my income, then I have to be careful about my expenses, he said. He would also be cautious in another way, he said. Because he expects Measure W will make it harder to evict problematic renters, he said he would be more selective in choosing tenants. Thompson and other property owners take issue with the proposed rent control board, which they see as a layer of government that would control their business. They believe the board, with at least three renters on it, would favor tenants. I am not going to invest in National City under that environment, Thompson said. There are smarter places to put my money. Ian Gill, a developer who has a 77-unit apartment complex under construction at East Plaza Boulevard and Palm Avenue, near Interstate 805, shared a similar sentiment. He said he is concerned about the effect rent control could have on future projects, particularly if voters approve Prop 10. He said he expects it would be difficult to pull in investors to back a development that would be subject to rent control, given that developers and investors need to generate higher rents to underwrite the cost to build projects. Developers like me are not going to be encouraged to go to markets where there is rent control, he said, adding that he believes National City would not see an increase in housing supply. The push to enact rent control in National City was set in motion by residents and activists last year. The city was one of nine across the state where proponents circulated petitions to put a rent control measure on the November ballot. Efforts in two cities National City and Santa Cruz were successful. But before Measure W landed a spot on the ballot, it faced a short-lived legal hurdle. In an effort to invalidate the measure in court, the city filed a lawsuit against the initiative in May. At issue was the proposed rent control board, which the city argued would violate state law by creating a board within city government that is not subordinate to the City Council. The city dropped the lawsuit in July after the county Registrar of Voters determined the initiative received enough signatures almost 2,400 to qualify for the ballot. Email: david.hernandez@sduniontribune.com Phone: (619) 293-1876 Twitter: @D4VIDHernandez On a recent hike up Mount Woodson, Galen Baggs spotted another hiker carrying a beer can. I didnt know Stone made a light beer, he told his wife, Susie Baggs. It doesnt. In fact, the well-lubricated hiker was toting a Keystone Light. A 2017 redesign of this MillerCoors brand spells out the beers name in large letters so large, KEY is separated from STONE. Stone, whose mascot is a scowling gargoyle, cried foul. Advertisement Stone, lawyers for the Escondido-based brewery, and the Gargoyle cannot abide MillerCoors efforts to mislead beer drinkers and sully (or steal) what STONE stands for. For years, bad blood has simmered between San Diegos independent breweries and Big Beer. Just examine the list of participants in the 10th annual San Diego Beer Week, which begins Friday. The 500-plus events involve nearly all of the countys sudsy enterprises except the two breweries and one brewpub owned by out-of-town corporations. I dont want to say we are not welcome, said Ben Shirley, the brewer at Anheuser-Buschs 10 Barrel brewpub in East Village. But we are certainly outside the circle. Nothing better illustrates these tensions than Stone Brewing Co., LLC v. Molson Coors Brewing Company et al (MillerCoors is a Chicago-based division of the multinational Molson Coors). The case, MillerCoors lawyers argue, has nothing to do with trademark infringement and everything to do with Stones identity crisis. What does a company that was built around its opposition to Big Beer do when it becomes Big Beer? attorneys for MillerCoors ask in court documents, noting that Stone now operates satellite breweries in Virginia and Germany. Stone Brewings solution appears to be to file this meritless lawsuit against MillerCoors. Bounties Susie Baggs knew better. Founder and chief beverage officer of Chula Vistas Brown Bag Beverage, she distributes beer from 16 breweries, from Oregons pFriem Family Brewers to Miramars Division 23. Shes awash in craft, or independent breweries that rely on traditional methods and ingredients. So when her husband wondered about Stones light beer, she knew something was wrong. My mouth just dropped open, she said. She instantly figured out the mistake, being familiar with the lawsuit and with what she regards as the unsavory, if not illegal, business practices of the worlds largest beer companies. While Stone is San Diego Countys largest brewery, shipping 397,000 barrels of beer in 2017, for every barrel it sold, MillerCoors sold 131. With their economy of scale, Baggs said of MillerCoors, Anheuser-Busch InBev and other large beer corporations, they can certainly sell like products for a lot cheaper. If you are competing on price, you will never win. Craft breweries, arguing that their beers are superior, often command a higher price than traditional American lagers. But Baggs and others say Big Beer distributors sometimes engage in pay to play schemes, such as offering bars the NFL Sunday Ticket and other premium cable TV packages if they drop certain craft beers. Well get a sale and go to deliver it, Baggs said. Then the owner will say, No, we cant have it. Thats an old story, said Greg Koch, who founded Stone with Steve Wagner in 1996. We did find instances of Big Beer wholesalers who were putting what they called bounties on our tap handles it might have been $100 per tap handle. The practice, Koch said, was especially pronounced in 1998 when San Diego hosted the Super Bowl. We had bar owners who were very loyal, he said, who would say, Look, I love Stone, but I cant pass up the $500 being slipped to me under the table. In 2017, Californias Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control settled a pay to play complaint against Anheuser-Busch wholesalers, fining them $400,000 for violations in Riverside and Orange counties. Contacted for this story, an Anheuser-Busch representative denied knowledge of any improper trade practices. Acting with integrity is one of our core business principles, and we take trade practice compliance very seriously, reads a statement the brewery issued last week. We are proud to be a part of the vibrant and diverse San Diego beer community. Nonetheless, local brewers insist that pay for play continues. We definitely run into new places where the entire draft system has been bought by Anheuser-Busch, said Robert Masterson, brewer and founder of downtown San Diegos Resident Brewing. Or bars are offered X amount of kegs that dont cost them X amount of money. Or they drop money on the bar. Space Dust Determining which breweries are truly craft can be tricky. In 2011 when Anheuser-Busch bought Chicagos leading craft brewery, critics insisted Goose Island was no longer craft. Instead, it was faux craft. The ensuing spate of buyouts hit San Diego in 2015, when MillerCoors purchased Saint Archer and New Yorks Constellation Brands snapped up Ballast Point. Stones Koch likens those breweries to the Star Trek characters who are pulled into a soulless, all-consuming entity, the Borg. You are the Borg, he said, you are subsumed by the Borg and now you are just a branding skin. Colby Chandler, Ballast Points vice president and specialty brewer, disagreed. Were still making beer in San Diego and still want to be part of that, he said. Were still all in this together, no matter the politics. Yet, Susie Baggs countered, local independents operate at a disadvantage when competing against local corporately acquired breweries. The difference is now (Ballast Point) is in every Target, she said. That feels unfair. That doesnt feel like craft because now you have access to things that you never had access to as craft. Moreover, Baggs added, most consumers are unaware of these acquisitions. They see that their neighborhood bar or supermarket now sells Elysian Space Dust IPA, but dont realize this Seattle brewery is now owned by Anheuser-Busach. A bar can carry quote-unquote craft beer, and it looks like craft beer to the average consumer, she said. But a real craft beer cant compete on the price point. Another way the line between craft and corporate beer is blurred, Stone insists, is MillerCoors redesign of its Keystone cans. The new look and an associated marketing campaign, Stones lawyers argue in documents filed with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, point unmistakably to a concerted effort by MillerCoors to capitalize on the goodwill and recognition associated with the STONE mark and brand. Use it or lose it This complaint is in the eye of the beer holder. Stones filings include photos of someone holding a Keystone in such a way that all you see is STONE. In MillerCoors response, photos show the can rolled forward a bit, revealing KEY STONE. In court papers, Stones lawyers seem to be channeling the brewerys in-your-face persona, trolling Molson Coors representatives. There are taunting headlines Defendant Struggles to Promote its Fizzy Yellow Beer, Defendants Vacillating Marketing Efforts.-- and self-congratulatory passages about Stones awesome reputation and status as the global standard bearer for independent craft beer. Experts say the case may turn on whether MillerCoors can persuade a jury that Keystone was commonly known as Stone before Stone Brewings birth. if there is any confusion between these two beers, MillerCoors rights are superior to Stone Brewings, MillerCoors legal team argues. MillerCoors used KEYSTONE, STONE, and STONES to sell Keystone beer prior to Stone Brewings first use of STONE. In trademark law, the concept of priority is critical. The court will look to see who used the term Stone first in the public domain, said Scott Harper, a Dallas trademark lawyer, where it would become associated with beer. Keystones dates back to 1989, seven years before Stones debut. Still, Harper said, MillerCoors would have to demonstrate that it consistently employed those terms. Its use it or lose it, he said. Within the MillerCoors filings, theres a plea to beer fans: Cant we all just get along? In reality, the lawyers wrote, there is no actual War between these beer companies except in the minds of Stone Brewings CEO and marketing staff. People just want to drink beer. To Koch, this is the Borg at its most insidious, attempting to create a false sense of security before assimilating its victims. We can call them bad or evil, but the truth is that they have no soul, he said. Its really just an unfeeling machine. October 29, 1962 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. Monday, October 29, 1962 In October 1962, more than 10,000 county-based marines began secretly moving out in response to the Cuban Missile Crisis. President John F. Kennedy imposed a U.S. naval blockade of Cuba after American spy planes found Soviet missile sites on the Communist-ruled island. After a tense 13-day standoff between the United States and Soviet Union, the crisis ended peacefully on Oct. 28 when the Soviets began to dismantle their missile sites. Here are the first few paragraphs of the story: Russia to Dismantle Cuba Missiles By Robert W. Richards, Chief, The San Diego Unions Washington Bureau, Copley News Service WASHINGTON In a dramatic note to President Kennedy, Soviet PRemier Nikita Khrushchev announced yesterday that he had ordered the dismantling of Russian nuclear missiles in Cuba and their return to the Soviet Union. He also agreed to United Nations supervision of their withdrawal. President Kennedy replied with a pledge that there would be no air attack on the bases nor an invasion of Cuba, if this was accomplished. Direct American military action had appeared imminent before the Khrushchev offer. Khrushchev said he had ordered construction of the missile sites halted and the Soviet missiles in Cuba crated and shipped back to Russia. He said the Soviet action provided all the necessary conditions for liquidation of the crisis. U.N. SUPERVISION The Soviet premiere said the dismantling of the bases could be done under U.N. supervision. He sent Russias deputy foreign minister, Vasily Kuznetsov, to New York for talks with U Thant, acting U.N. secretary general. President Kennedy replied that he welcomed Khrushchevs decision becausedevelopments were approaching a point where event could have become unmanageable. Now, the President said, we step back from that danger. Khrushchev agreed to all steps proposed by the President for a solution or at least negotiations looking toward a solution of the crisis. In turn, the President described as an important contribution to peace Khrushchevs decision. Mr. Kennedy also welcomed the Kremlin leaders agreement that U.N. representatives should verify Soviet dismantling of the Cuban bases. The president said such verification would mean that the U.S. blockade could be lifted. 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. A 38-year-old wanted for his alleged role in a Southern California white supremacist groups assaults at political rallies across the state surrendered to federal authorities Sunday afternoon. Aaron Eason, of Anza in Riverside County, turned himself in to the FBI at the Federal Building in Westwood, FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said. He will be held overnight and is expected to appear in federal court Monday. Eason, along with three other members of the so-called Rise Above Movement, were charged on allegations of organizing or participating in riots, including at events in Huntington Beach and Berkeley, according to a criminal complaint unsealed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles. The groups leader, Robert Rundo, and two others, Tyler Laube and Robert Boman, were arrested in recent days and charged in the case. Advertisement The arrests marked the latest move in an ongoing effort by authorities to break the back of an organization linked to racism-fueled assaults. Earlier this month, federal authorities also arrested Benjamin Daley, one of the groups founders, and three others for their alleged role in the violence. According to a 25-page affidavit attached to the complaint unsealed last week, Eason rented a large van to drive to an April 2017 protest in Berkeley, where violence erupted. Videos posted online show Eason and other RAM members next to a Defend America sign with hands taped like mixed martial arts fighters and faces partially covered by distinctive skeleton masks, authorities said. For more than a year, authorities said, the group has traveled across California and to Charlottesville, Va., to seek out those who oppose their white supremacist ideology and fight them. Much of the violence was captured in photos and videos that authorities have used to build their case. Federal authorities said the group was founded in late 2016 or early 2017 by Rundo and Daley, originally branded as DIY DIVISION. The group grew in numbers through use of social media, which members used to coordinate combat training before political events and brag about their use of violence. The allegations describe an orchestrated effort to squelch free speech as members of the conspiracy traveled to multiple locations to attack those who hold different views, U.S. Atty. Nick Hanna said in a statement. This case demonstrates our commitment to preserve and protect the freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution. alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com Twitter: @AleneTchek Seven people were wounded early Monday in a shooting during a Halloween party at a crowded nightclub in Riverside. The shooting, which was reported to Riverside police shortly after midnight, happened inside and outside Sevilla Nightclub at 3252 Mission Inn Ave. during a Halloween-themed event and concert called The Purge. Police said that when officers arrived at the club, they found two people suffering from gunshot wounds. They were taken by ambulance to a hospital for treatment. Five other people also wounded in the shooting arrived at local hospitals later to receive treatment. None of the gunshot wounds were life-threatening, said Sgt. Jayson Wood. It is not clear what prompted the shooting, but Wood said it didnt appear to be an active-shooter situation in which a gunman opens fire into a crowd. Gang investigators are looking into whether the shooting started following an altercation between two groups inside the club. Advertisement Detectives are interviewing witnesses and are hoping to access surveillance video from inside the club in an effort to piece together what happened. Many of the event attendees were in costume, which is making it difficult for authorities to get a description of a suspect, Wood said. No one has been arrested in connection with the incident. Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Trevor Childers at (951) 353-7130 or Det. Karla Corbett at (951) 353-7134. I was at Sevillas nightclub and they were shooting the place up. I lowkey freaked out. Im glad my friends and I are okay and I love all my friends for calming me down while we were in there when shots went off. Marco (@marxq_) October 29, 2018 hannah.fry@latimes.com Twitter: @Hannahnfry UPDATES: 6:40 a.m.: This article was updated with information from police about the event taking place at the nightclub and what may have prompted the shooting. This article was originally published at 5:35 a.m. What authorities initially thought was a gruesome prank just in time for Halloween has turned into a homicide investigation in Oakland after someone delivered a decayed human skull to the Police Department last week. The person who discovered the decomposing skull in the backyard of a home on 29th Street brought it to an Oakland Police Department station early Friday, said Officer Johnna Watson. The strange delivery prompted homicide detectives to launch an investigation into what authorities are calling a suspicious death, Watson said. The Alameda County Coroners Bureau is attempting to identify the remains and determine how the person died. Police are combing through missing persons reports while trying to locate the rest of the body. Advertisement It was decomposed and had a little bit of flesh on it, Sgt. Michael Cardoza told KGO-TV. I can say in my years of service Ive never had a human skull delivered to the police station. Its the latest in a series of recent macabre discoveries for police in the Bay Area. A badly decomposed body without a head was discovered in Oakland in September, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. And in August, police in San Francisco found the headless body of 65-year-old Brian Egg stuffed in a fish tank inside his home. Authorities have not linked the skull to the other cases. Police are asking anyone with information to contact homicide detectives at (510) 238-3821. hannah.fry@latimes.com Twitter: @Hannahnfry Only one San Diego Superior Court judge faces a challenger on Nov. 6 in a race that has taken on a red-vs.-blue hue for a position meant to be nonpartisan. San Diego County Deputy District Attorney Matt Brower, who has the support of many Democratic and labor organizations, is on the ballot for judicial Seat No. 37 against incumbent Judge Gary Kreep, endorsed by Republican politicians and organizations. Kreep, with his background as attorney for a birther lawsuit challenging President Barack Obamas Hawaiian birthplace, was elected to the bench in 2012, beating out challenger Garland Peed, who was a San Diego County prosecutor at the time. After a few years on the bench, Kreep last year received a severe public censure from the state Commission on Judicial Performance, citing 29 acts of judicial and election misconduct. One of those acts, the commission said, was Kreeps political activity opposing Obamas re-election during his own judicial campaign. Advertisement In this years June primary election, Kreep faced four attorneys seeking to unseat him. Kreep was one of the few, if any, Superior Court incumbents statewide who failed to win their primary outright. With 31.6 percent of the vote, the judge now is in a runoff with Brower, who came in second with 26.2 percent of the vote. Brower has been a Marine Corps judge advocate for eight years on active duty and now as a reservist lieutenant colonel assigned to the European Command in Stuttgart, Germany. He has been a county prosecutor since 2012, handling fraud and theft cases. The San Diego County Bar Association rated Kreep as lacking qualifications to be a judge and rated Brower as qualified. The Earl B. Gilliam Bar Association recently announced its opposition to Kreeps re-election squarely based on Judge Kreeps unfitness for office, association president Andrea St. Julian said in a statement. The African-American communitys concerns about Judge Kreep are amplified by the fact that he still falsely claims that President Barack Obama was born in Kenya and was not eligible to be President of the United States, St. Julian added. Kreep is endorsed by the countys Republican Party, East County Tea Party, California Republican Veterans Association, Oceanside Republican Women Federated, Patriots Union and North County Conservatives. A full list of the judges endorsements on his election website is available here. Brower is endorsed by the countys Democratic Party as well as San Diego County Democratic Veterans, San Diego County Democrats for Environmental Action, San Diego County Democratic Women, San Diego County Labor Democrats and the Martin Luther King Jr. Democrats of San Diego. The full list of endorsements from Browers election web page is available here. Kreep, made aware in an email exchange that the San Diego Union-Tribune would ask him about his birther beliefs, said he would agree to an interview if and when you agree to not be a proponent of my opponents attacks on me. Last years public censure of the judge came after some attorneys and litigants reported that he had made offensive comments aimed at their race, appearance and gender. Such behavior demonstrates a lack of judicial temperament, the Commission on Judicial Performance said. In past interviews, Kreep has defended himself by saying the comments were never intended to be offensive, and that he has corrected his past behavior or mistakes. He said he works hard at his assignment handling unlawful detainer cases to make sure both parties fully understand the law and their responsibilities. Kreep also has said that, as an outspoken Christian and political conservative, he is the victim of a conspiracy by the press and judicial establishment to get him off the bench. Brower said that he has campaigned for the judgeship by speaking to groups such as the American Legion and VFW, the conservative Lincoln Club, police and firefighter associations, Native Americans at the Barona and Sycuan reservations, the Sierra Club, Black Men United and San Diegans Against Crime. My priority as a judge would be to ensure that the law is upheld in the context of treating all people with professionalism, dignity and respect, Brower said in an emailed statement. Both Brower and Kreep earned their law degrees at the University of San Diego School of Law. Brower served as a volunteer with the Family Justice Center in San Diego before passing the bar. He is married and has two children. Kreep started his own law firm in 1975, practicing family, business and administrative law and appellate work. He co-founded the United States Justice Foundation, a Constitutional rights nonprofit, serving as president until his judgeship. pauline.repard@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @pdrepard The federal government has begun shifting the burden of managing an influx of immigrant families on the border to local organizations and cities across the southwest border. President Donald Trump is reportedly contemplating a ban on asylum seekers on the southwest border, and he has railed against the idea of catch and release detaining people who arrive at the southwest border only to let them go into the U.S. while they pursue cases in immigration court but his administrations latest plan for asylum-seeking families would release them more quickly. While annual apprehensions are still below 2014, the last major surge in families and unaccompanied children, and far below totals decades ago, the number of families coming to the southwest border has increased. Border Patrol agents apprehended more than 16,600 family members in September, the most recorded in a single month since the agency began tracking family arrivals in fiscal 2013. Advertisement In the past, when a family was in custody at the southwest border, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers would review a familys plans for living in the U.S., including calling the person whom the family planned to live with and helping with travel arrangements. ICE announced this week that because of the number of families arriving, its officers will no longer conduct these reviews. That means families will be released more quickly and in larger numbers, a policy dubbed coordinated release that has quietly been rolled out across the southwest since early October when it began in Arizona. It also means families may have less guidance about how to get to their final destinations so that they can show up for their court dates. Some migrant advocates wondered if the move could have a political motive to create chaos at the border shortly before voters go to the polls in high-stakes midterm congressional elections. Groups in Texas, where the largest numbers of families arrive, were already straining to manage increased releases they saw this week, and they worried those numbers would only go up in the coming days. The statement that ICE officials provided explaining the policy change blamed Congress and a court ruling that says they can hold children in detention centers for up to 20 days. The Trump administrations has pushed for extended family detention and more bed space to hold all of the new arrivals until their immigration court cases finish. Were out of space unfortunately, given all of the increase in numbers, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen told CNN earlier this month. The countrys three family detention centers are 54% full, with 1,977 beds occupied out of 3,654, according to the latest ICE figures. But the agencys budget funds 2,500 family detention beds a day, and families can require added space because those of different ages and genders are housed separately. Family units continue to cross the border at high volumes and are likely to continue to do so, as they face no consequence for their actions, the statement said. To mitigate the risk of holding family units past the timeframe allotted to the government, ICE began curtailing all reviews of post-release plans from families apprehended along the southwest border starting on Tuesday. ICE said it will work with local and state officials so they are prepared to provide assistance with transportation and other services. Families will be released with ankle bracelets and notices to appear in court, ICE said. That has already happened regularly in California, which doesnt have any family detention centers. In certain parts of the border, Homeland Security has been working with immigrant shelters for years, giving them time to find space for migrants and make travel arrangements before dropping immigrants on their doorsteps. But in El Paso this week, Homeland Security officials notified shelters that they will no longer wait to release the immigrants, leaving them on city streets instead since they have run out of space in temporary holding areas. Ruben Garcia, director of El Pasos Annunciation House shelter, said 20 of the immigrants arrived there Thursday, having paid for a taxi to the shelter after they were dropped elsewhere. He expects more to arrive in coming days because the shelter is well known, and has already contacted El Paso emergency management officials requesting a temporary shelter with 200 cots. Its going to be in your lap, Garcia told city officials. The unknown factor in this is are cities going to get involved? The financial burden could be significant based on the rising number of arriving families. Border cities have helped foot the bill in the past for emergency shelters and services for immigrant families, especially during the last major influx in 2014. But it wasnt initially clear how they would respond now, with voting already underway in politically charged midterm elections where immigration has become a central issue. In San Diego, volunteers who bring food and toiletries to migrant families waiting at a bus station after being released from custody said that they saw more families than usual. On Friday evening, a Guatemalan father appeared with his 9-year-old son at the San Diego bus station after coming to the port of entry two hours away in Calexico. They had spent about a week in the hielera, or icebox, as immigrants call the chilly temporary holding cells before getting on a bus to San Diego. They were waiting to go back east to Arizona. The volunteers did not find any families who had crossed in the San Diego area despite the constant line of asylum seekers waiting to come in at the San Ysidro port of entry. Paula Sassi, one of the volunteers, said the group is waiting to see how the changes take effect and plan to adjust accordingly to keep helping the newly released families. She and another volunteer, Mimi Pollack, worried ICE would stop bringing families to the bus station, leaving them at the San Ysidro port of entry about 15 miles south on the highway. That is going to be a mess, Pollack said. If ICE makes that decision, both women agreed, they would make the drive down to the port to distribute their supplies. Past influxes have strained local immigrant advocacy groups. When Haitians began arriving in larger-than-usual numbers from Brazil in 2016, a church in Normal Heights offered to house them. The church, a member of the San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium, housed about 200 people per night until it eventually asked the community for help. The National Guard stepped in with temporary shelters, and community members donated money and supplies. ICE has been meeting with the San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium to sort out details for the new process. Lilian Serrano, chair of the group, said theyre ready to care for the new arrivals. Families fleeing serious, life-threatening situations risk everything to reach our borders for the chance to ask for protection, she said. It is our moral and legal obligation to uphold basic human rights and to treat everybody with compassion, dignity and respect. Immigration Videos On Now New developments in family separation case 9:53 On Now A San Diego woman volunteered as a medic in Texas helping migrant families 2:35 On Now Immigration policy protests in Carlsbad nearly cancelled after permit issue 1:38 On Now When children are separated from their parents at the border, here is where they go next On Now Prospects of a deal for 'Dreamers' may hinge on separating Trump from hard-liners on his staff On Now What is DACA? On Now Border wall prototype contractors selected On Now Video: Ukrainian boxer wins asylum in U.S. On Now 30 apprehended after Border Patrol agents discover tunnel On Now Video: Kurdish diaspora prepare to vote on independence Follow Kate on Facebook for live updates about immigration news kate.morrissey@sduniontribune.com, @bgirledukate on Twitter Molly Hennessy-Fiske writes for the Los Angeles Times in Houston. Federal officials found 14 more children last week who had been separated from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border earlier this year, according to court records. The government learned of the children during a records review, officials said in a status update Thursday for an on-going class action lawsuit regarding family separations. Officials do not plan to reunite half of those children with their parents because of the parents criminal histories. Government officials will further adjust their categorizations of children to the extent it becomes appropriate, the court document said. None of the newly discovered separation cases included children under the age of five, according to the court filing. Advertisement The federal government has been working to reunify families because of a June court order in a class action lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union in the Southern District of California. Neither the Department of Health and Human Services, which conducted the review, nor the American Civil Liberties Union, which represents the plaintiffs, responded to requests for comment in time for publication. Though family separations increased significantly due to the Trump administrations zero tolerance policy that ramped up prosecutions of illegal border crossings, some of the lawsuits class members, including lead plaintiff Ms. L, had their children taken away after asking for asylum at a port of entry. The fourteen newly identified children were added to a list of 2,654 other children that the government has identified as separation cases. Just over 2,100 of those children have been reunified with their parents, according to the court filing. Another 300 separated children have been discharged under other appropriate circumstances, according to the government. That would include the child being released to other family members living in the U.S. or the child turning 18 and likely being transferred to an adult immigration detention facility. Two recent government oversight reports, one from the Government Accountability Office and the other from the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Homeland Security, have called into question the governments ability to identify and track separated children. Government officials did not take steps ahead of the zero tolerance policy to plan for increased family separations because they didnt know it was coming, the GAO reported, though officials responsible for the care of migrant children noticed an increase in separations well before that policy went into effect. The agencies involved did not have a tracking system in place when Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the policy in April, according to the report. Immigration Videos On Now New developments in family separation case 9:53 On Now A San Diego woman volunteered as a medic in Texas helping migrant families 2:35 On Now Immigration policy protests in Carlsbad nearly cancelled after permit issue 1:38 On Now When children are separated from their parents at the border, here is where they go next On Now Prospects of a deal for 'Dreamers' may hinge on separating Trump from hard-liners on his staff On Now What is DACA? On Now Border wall prototype contractors selected On Now Video: Ukrainian boxer wins asylum in U.S. On Now 30 apprehended after Border Patrol agents discover tunnel On Now Video: Kurdish diaspora prepare to vote on independence Follow me on Facebook for live updates about immigration news kate.morrissey@sduniontribune.com, @bgirledukate on Twitter A bomb squad descended on an Atlanta post office early Monday after employees there discovered a suspicious package addressed to CNN one that looked eerily similar to packages containing explosives mailed to prominent Democrats last week. Federal authorities have declined to specify who the package was addressed to, but CNN President Jeff Zucker said that it was intended for the cable television networks Atlanta headquarters. The discovery came just hours ahead of a Monday federal court hearing for Cesar Sayoc, a 56-year-old from Miami with a passion for President Trump, bodybuilding and steroids. Sayoc was arrested Friday and faces up to five federal charges for interstate transportation of an explosive, illegal mailing of explosives, threats against former presidents and certain other persons, threatening interstate communications and assaulting federal officers. Advertisement He is accused of sending bubble-wrapped manila envelopes to Democrats such as Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden. The packages were intercepted from Delaware to California. At least some listed a return address of U.S. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, former chair of the Democratic National Committee. Authorities didnt immediately confirm if the Atlanta package contained explosives, but a bomb squad rushed to the central city post office on Pryor St. just after 10 a.m., it was found. Photograph of the suspicious package sent to CNN in Atlanta. It is the third suspicious package sent to CNN. It is similar in appearance to ones authorities say were sent by Cesar Sayoc. pic.twitter.com/b87G3mBfGU Bijan Hosseini (@BijanCNN) October 29, 2018 Law enforcement officials said last week after nabbing Sayoc who lived out of a white van festooned with anti-Democrat pictures and pro-Trump slogans that it was possible more packages had been mailed and were still en route. But they have yet to officially tie the Atlanta one to Sayoc. CNN tweeted a picture of the package and said it looks similar in appearance to the wave of pipe bombs that were mailed last week. Sayoc will appear in Florida court Monday but is expected to be prosecuted in New York. He faces up to 48 years in prison if convicted of all charges. With News Wire Services Heres one newspaper that wouldnt be quite the same online. A 244-year-old broadsheet that was dropped off in a South Jersey Goodwill store could be worth $18,000, according to NJ.com. The single-page spread, from a Dec. 28, 1774, edition of the Pennsylvania Journal and Weekly Advertiser, reportedly includes an article about the Boston Port Bill, which was imposed as punishment for the Boston Tea Party protest of December 1773. The American Revolutionary War began roughly three months after the paper printed. The paper relic enclosed in a wood frame and glass casing also includes writings from founding father John Hancock. According to a Yonkers-based appraiser who has reportedly examined the historic artifact, it is unquestionably authentic, according to the report. Advertisement Its not known who dropped off the paper at the thrift shop in Woodbury last spring. Heather Randall, Goodwills E-commerce manager in south Jersey and suburban Philadelphia, plans to hold onto the newspaper for the time being, but may auction it to raise money for the charity in 2021, which marks the 250-year anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Heather Randall displays a Dec. 28, 1774 Pennsylvania Journal and the Weekly Advertiser. A quick eye by Goodwill workers in southern New Jersey turned up an original 1774 Philadelphia newspaper with an iconic Unite or Die masthead. (Matt Rourke/AP Photo) Its our history, Randall said. How many chances do you get to look at something that old up close and personal? Another member of the white nationalist group Rise Above Movement turned himself into the FBI Sunday. Aaron Eason, 38, was charged in federal criminal complaint last week for allegedly engaging in activity promoting violence and civil disorder in furtherance of white supremacist ideology. Last week, Robert Rundo, 28, Robert Boman, 25, and Tyler Laube, 22, also part of RAV, were charged with travelling to political rallies across California, where they violently attacked counter-protesters, journalists and a police officer. The FBI has accused the four members of Rise Above Movement of traveling to rallies in Huntington Beach, Berkeley and San Bernardino and inciting violence by attacking counter-protesters and journalists. Advertisement Neo-Nazi gang leader who fled country arrested by FBI Every American has a right to peacefully organize, march and protest in support of their beliefs but no one has the right to violently assault their political opponents, United States Attorney Nick Hanna said in a statement. The allegations describe an orchestrated effort to squelch free speech as members of the conspiracy traveled to multiple locations to attack those who hold different views. This case demonstrates our commitment to preserve and protect the freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution. Earlier this month, four other members of Rise Above Movement, which was designated a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, were arrested after allegedy assaulting a black man, two women and a minister wearing a clerical collar at the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville last year. Record spending on street repair in San Diego over the past three years has allowed the city to meet a goal of paving or sealing 1,000 miles of streets nearly two years ahead of the 2020 goal. The faster-than-expected pace will allow San Diego to pave or seal 1,500 miles of streets by summer 2020 instead of 1,000 miles, Mayor Kevin Faulconer said in a news release on Monday. If that pace continues, crews will have upgraded half of the roadways in San Diego, which has 2,668 miles of asphalt streets, 120 miles of concrete streets and 204 miles of paved alleys. The citys aggressive approach has been necessary after decades of neglect blamed on lean budget years and past city leaders not prioritizing infrastructure projects, Faulconer said. Advertisement During the last recession a decade ago, there was a one-year stretch in which only 25 miles of streets were repaired, he said. Thats now the monthly pace for the city. This is really 1,000 miles and counting because were going to keep paving until every street in every neighborhood gets fixed, Faulconer said. This is a great start and we know theres a lot more work to do. The city has spent about $300 million on street repair since the mayors 2015 pledge, and another $76 million is slated for the budget year that began July 1. City crews paved the 1,000th mile of street in early October on Los Altos Road at Collingwood Drive in Pacific Beach, officials determined. The progress can be monitored at streets.sandiego.gov, an interactive website where residents can click on their street and see what work has taken place, what work is planned and how the street was rated in a 2016 independent assessment. In that assessment, 60 percent of individual streets were classified in good condition, with 34 percent deemed fair and 6 percent classified as poor. In 2011, 35 percent of streets were in good condition, 40 percent were deemed fair and 25 percent were classified as poor. City officials have been using the assessment to determine which streets get fixed first and whether individual streets need to be sealed, paved or completely rebuilt. The 1,007 miles of street repair work since summer 2015 has included 704 miles of slurry seal, 299 miles of asphalt overlay and four miles of concrete streets. The focus on street repair has tripled the citys annual infrastructure spending to $553 million in the budget year that began July 1. Thats up from $179 million five years ago. david.garrick@sduniontribune.com (619) 269-8906 Twitter:@UTDavidGarrick A 21-year-old man was jailed on suspicion of murder Saturday in connection with the fatal shooting of a Navy man who stopped to assist a seemingly stranded motorist on Interstate 15, San Diego police said Sunday. Brandon Acuna, who was taken into custody and questioned shortly after the shooting, was later arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder and burglary. San Diego police Lt. Anthony Dupree declined to specify Acunas level of involvement in the killing, adding that others may have been involved in the Saturday shooting. The victim, 21-year-old Curtis Adams, was with his girlfriend when they spotted a man standing next to a white vehicle on the shoulder of the freeway near Interstate 5 on-ramp about 2:20 a.m., Dupree said. The couple pulled over to help. When Adams exited his vehicle, he was immediately shot. Advertisement The shooter got back in his vehicle and fled south. Soon after, California Highway Patrol officers put out an alert that a similar vehicle was stopped on northbound I-5 near 32nd Street. A man was also seen walking away from the vehicle. Officers found the man on Newton Street, later identified as Acuna, and he was taken into custody. Investigators also suspect Acuna was involved in a second shooting that occurred about 10 minutes before the slaying of Adams. In that incident, police said a man was shot at after interrupting suspects who were breaking into his vehicle on Boundary Street in the community of Mount Hope. Detectives are working to determine who else was involved in that incident, and everyones level of involvement, including Acunas. Twitter: @LAWinkley (619) 293-1546 lyndsay.winkley@sduniontribune.com A bank in Kearny Mesa was robbed Monday morning and a suspect was detained a short time later in downtown San Diego, authorities said. The man walked into the U.S. Bank branch on Complex Drive near Clairemont Mesa Boulevard shortly before 11 a.m. and verbally demanded cash, San Diego police Lt. Christian Sharp told OnScene TV. Witnesses did not report seeing a weapon. No one was hurt. A teller gave the robber an undetermined amount of cash and he ran out of the bank. Witnesses saw him drive away and gave police a description of his car, Sharp said. Advertisement About 20 minutes later, an officer in downtown San Diego spotted a car matching the description of the getaway vehicle and pulled the driver over. Cash was on the front passenger seat of the car and was readily visible to the officer, Sharp said. Twitter: @karenkucher (619) 293-1350 karen.kucher@sduniontribune.com A 55-year-old man accused of sneaking through a window at a Pacific Beach womans home and sexually assaulting her as she slept was arrested early Monday in Los Angeles County, officials said. Jeffrey Hanze was arrested around 3:45 a.m. Monday by Los Angeles County sheriffs deputies. No details about the arrest were immediately released. San Diego sex crimes detectives on Friday had asked the public for help in finding Hanze, who was described as armed and dangerous. Hanze, who also goes by Jeffrey Hanre, was suspected of slipping through an open window at the side of a home on Chalcedony Street just east of Ingraham Street at about 1:45 a.m. on Oct. 1 and sexually assaulting a 28-year-old woman who was sleeping inside. Advertisement When the victim awoke, the suspect fled. Twitter: @karenkucher (619) 293-1350 karen.kucher@sduniontribune.com San Diego police arrested a 39-year-old man suspected in the fatal stabbing of a clerk inside an adult bookstore in the Midway District hours after the victims body was found. Shaun Ward was arrested in San Diego around 11 p.m. Monday, said police homicide Lt. Anthony Dupree. Ward was booked into jail on suspicion of murder and is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday. Officers arrived at the X-Spot bookstore on Midway Drive near Kemper Street around 12:45 p.m. after someone called in to say it appeared a clerk at the store was down near the counter and register area. Firefighter medics arrived on scene first a fire station is near the business and went in to find the woman dead. The medics backed out of the bookstore until police arrived to clear the scene and ensure the suspect wasnt inside, Dupree said. Advertisement Dupree said the victim, identified as 65-year-old Diane Spagnuolo of El Cajon, had been stabbed. Police on Monday night released four images of a man believed to have been involved in the killing that had been captured by surveillance cameras in the shop. Dupree wouldnt say where Ward was arrested, other than to say it was inside a residence. He said police do not have a motive for the slaying. No other suspects were being sought. San Diego police were investigating a homicide at an adult bookstore in the Midway District Monday. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) A man who identified himself as John Paul told reporters the slaying happened about 100 feet away from where I sit every day for his job at a nearby business. Someone went inside the bookstore, found the victim and came outside asking for help, saying there was blood everywhere, Paul said. A neighbor from the area who knows CPR went inside to see if she could help. There was nothing she could do, Paul said, adding that the woman who went in the store said it looked like the victim had been dead for a couple hours. Its just really shocking, Paul said. Its hard to believe and leaves you with a very uneasy feeling. Twitter: @karenkucher (619) 293-1350 karen.kucher@sduniontribune.com UPDATES: 7:00 a.m.: This article was updated with information about a suspect being arrested. 10:45 p.m.: This article was updated with surveillance photos of the suspect. 5 p.m.: This article was updated with information from a police briefing at the scene. 3 p.m.: This article was updated with quotes. This article was originally published at 1:45 p.m. For members of San Diegos Jewish community, the day after a gunman opened fire in a synagogue in Pennsylvania was filled with grief and shock as well as resolutions of resilience and unity. Though San Diego is more than 2,400 miles away from Pittsburgh, many said Saturdays shooting felt like it had happened up the street. Its not a big Jewish world, said Rabbi Scott Meltzer of Ohr Shalom Synagogue. All of these things strike close to home. The fact that the shooting happened on a Saturday, or Shabbat, the Jewish sabbath, was especially significant to many. Observers traditionally refrain from work and unplug from sundown Friday until sundown Saturday. Many attend prayer services like the one that the shooter attacked at the Tree of Life synagogue, killing 11 worshipers and wounding others, including police who responded. Advertisement The space of sanctuary has been shattered by hates bullets, Meltzer said. Meltzer said he doesnt completely unplug for Shabbat for security reasons. He heard early reports of the shooting on Saturday morning before going to synagogue, and members of the congregation provided some updates when they arrived. Still, he didnt fully understand the magnitude of what had happened until after sundown, he said. He said his feelings in the wake of the tragedy were complicated and raw, noting the turmoil of emotions around making his synagogue safe for worshipers while maintaining an open and welcoming environment. He found a colorful bouquet of flowers on his synagogues doorstep Sunday morning with a short note: My heart breaks. Thinking of you with love. For those who did completely unplug for Shabbat, news of the tragedy came at dusk when they checked their phones or turned on their televisions. Its a shocker to come back into the world to such news, said Rabbi Moishe Leider of Chabad Center of University City. The idea of (Shabbat) being disturbed in such a way and lives being taken is inconceivable to us. Leider stayed up late watching for updates and is looking into additional security measures for his synagogue. Hes planning a prayer service to honor the lives lost on Saturday, but he was afraid to publicize details. Last week, Shabbat San Diego encouraged even those who dont normally observe the traditional sabbath to practice the day of rest as an annual show of unity in the Jewish community worldwide that has been growing in San Diego for five years. That means more members of San Diegos Jewish community may have been unplugged during the attack than on a typical Saturday. At sundown, about 1,000 participants in Shabbat San Diego attended a celebratory concert at Congregation Beth El in La Jolla, said Ron Shulman, the senior rabbi there. Robyn Lichter, one of the co-founders of Shabbat San Diego, said organizers decided to keep the planned concert but modify the beginning to reflect the somber mood. We cant be brought down, Lichter said. We have to work together as a Jewish community, a local community, an American community and a global community. The evening started with reflections on the tragedy and a moment of silence for those killed or injured in the shooting. A 96-year-old Holocaust survivor sang a prayer of hope that she learned during World War II. Our hearts ache for the victims, for their families, and for our society, Shulman told the crowd. As they and we celebrated the Sabbath, we were reminded again of how illusive the Sabbath dream of peace and harmony remains for our people and in our world. Attendees were invited to write messages to the congregation in Pittsburgh. Concert attendees didnt spend the whole evening in mourning, Leider said. We celebrated last night in the midst of sorrow, he said. We danced and sang. Nothing could break our spirit. Meanwhile, the Anti-Defamation League has been coordinating with local law enforcement to increase security at local synagogues, according to Tammy Gillies, the regional director, citing concern over the potential for copycat acts of violence. Its probably fair to say that every synagogue in San Diego is on heightened alert and is stepping up its security, as is ours, said David Ogul, president of Tifereth Israel Synagogue in San Diego. That heightened alert will continue for the immediate future. The Anti-Defamation League reported a 57 percent increase nationwide in anti-Semitic incidents in 2017, Gillies said. Hate often starts with the words people choose to use and escalates to acts of violence if no one stops it, she said. Things have been ratcheting up, Gillies said. This is what happens when hate goes unchecked. Congregation Beth Israel will host an interfaith vigil on Monday evening at 7 p.m. for community members to stand in solidarity with the Jewish community in Pittsburgh. Immigration Videos On Now New developments in family separation case 9:53 On Now A San Diego woman volunteered as a medic in Texas helping migrant families 2:35 On Now Immigration policy protests in Carlsbad nearly cancelled after permit issue 1:38 On Now When children are separated from their parents at the border, here is where they go next On Now Prospects of a deal for 'Dreamers' may hinge on separating Trump from hard-liners on his staff On Now What is DACA? On Now Border wall prototype contractors selected On Now Video: Ukrainian boxer wins asylum in U.S. On Now 30 apprehended after Border Patrol agents discover tunnel On Now Video: Kurdish diaspora prepare to vote on independence Follow me on Facebook for live updates about immigration news kate.morrissey@sduniontribune.com, @bgirledukate on Twitter San Diego State Universitys quest to become an elite public research school has received another boost from the National Institutes of Health, which is giving the campus $19.9 million to broadly study human health. The grant also will help the university and its partners to identify and address the health care needs of under-served populations an endeavor that earned SDSU a $10 million NIH contract two years ago. The new grant is among the largest ever received by SDSU, which is looking to expand and improve its fundamental ability to do such things as collect and analyze data, store bio-specimens and conduct surveys. SDSU is looking to support campus researchers like Carrie House and Tom Huxford, who are examining how body weight can influence the development of ovarian cancer. Advertisement SDSU says it will partner with numerous health agencies across San Diego and Imperial counties, including Family Health Centers of San Diego and Clinicas de Salud del Pueblo, Inc. The campus obtained $134.3 million in research funding during the 2016-17 academic year, the highest amount of any campus in the California State University system. SDSU has consistently raised more than $100 million a year for research, largely in health and medicine. Such grants have made the university a cog in San Diego Countys huge biomedical and life sciences industry. But the campus would have to more than double its funding to achieve its goal of becoming one of the top 50 public research universities in the nation. PITTSBURGH More than a third of this city is Catholic. The bishop always interrupts his Midnight Mass processional stopping at the seventh row from the altar every Christmas Eve to give a hug to the rabbi whose synagogue is down the street from the cathedral. There are six kosher food establishments in a two-block area of town. Yet the citys signature sandwich is an unkosher mess of meat and creamy coleslaw, with fries mashed atop the glop. The garment of choice every Friday before a Steelers game is a black-and-gold Ben Roethlisberger or Antonio Brown shirt. Hours later, at sundown, the streets are full of Jewish men in the black garb of the Orthodox and the observant on their solemn march to Sabbath prayers. And so, in the eternal mix of irony and tragedy that is the human story, an anti-Semitic rampage at the Tree of Life synagogue has inflicted deep wounds on perhaps the least anti-Semitic city in the country. Here Jewish and Protestant clergy swapped pulpits amid the 19th-century soot of the Industrial Revolution. Here, in the year after the 1892 Homestead steel strike, Rosh Hashana services were conducted in the club room of the volunteer fire companys engine house down the street from where union activists and Pinkerton agents conducted one of the bloodiest labor battles in American history. Here, in 1885, the tensions between identity and assimilation took their form in perhaps the most important document of Reform Judaism, the Pittsburgh Platform. Advertisement 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. Later that night, my wife, a Polish Catholic from Buffalo, and I together put those clean sheets on the bed. Cindy Skrzycki went from the nuns at St. Matthews School at East Ferry and Wyoming Streets in Buffalo to the daily Mass at Annunciation High School and finally to the tutelage of the Jesuits at Canisius College. In classic Pittsburgh style, her daughter our youngest is a year from ordination as a rabbi. She asked for a special moment of silence Monday morning at Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati. Our older daughter, Taylor Allderdice High School class of 2006 but now far away in San Francisco, sent this sober text: Sleeping in my Pittsburgh shirt tonight. We all slept in our Pittsburgh shirts Saturday night, for there had been no Shalom on Shabbat. Shribman is the executive editor of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 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. Maharashtra, India -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/29/2018 -- Glass Packaging Market Forecast 2018 - 2023 The research report on the Global Glass Packaging Market provides a comprehensive analysis on the market on a global and regional front, based on the market size, share, services, solutions, product types, end users, industry verticals, and technologies. The report also presents an in-depth analysis of the factors affecting the growth of the market, including the drivers, restraints, challenges, threats, and the potential growth opportunities. The report on the global Glass Packaging market entails the prevailing market trends and the key strategies that are increasing the popularity of the market on a global basis. In addition, it provides the market estimates and forecasts for all the segments and sub-segments in terms of value and volume. To get holistic SAMPLE of the report and 30 mins free consultation! Please click: @ https://www.reportsmonitor.com/request_sample/143437 Glass is one of the most preferred materials for packaging of food, beverages, pharmaceuticals, personal care products and others. Properties like chemical inertness, sterility and reusability make it an efficient packaging material. The other major advantages of glass packaging are that it can be molded into various shape and sizes, facilitating its use across different industry verticals. Even though glass remains the preferred packaging material for a variety of products, the growing usage of plastics as a replacement for glass will hamper its market growth. Advancements in the field of plastics for safe usage in different applications will restrict the glass usage. Scope of the Report: This report studies the Glass Packaging market status and outlook of Global and major regions, from angles of players, countries, product types and end industries; this report analyzes the top players in global market, and splits the Glass Packaging market by product type and applications/end industries. Growing consumption of glass packaging in pharmaceuticals along with food & beverages sector on account of its non-corrosive nature is expected to drive the demand. In addition, various properties including recyclability, non-permeability, and zero rate of chemical interaction make it suitable as a packaging material for various applications including beer, soft drinks, beverages, and medical. Increasing consumer health awareness along with high living standards will increase glass demand in pharmaceutical packaging. Glass being eco-friendly along with numerous ongoing R&D to develop packaging, which is 50% lighter as compared to traditional forms, is expected to witness immense potential over the next six years. EMEA is expected to be the major revenue contributor to the glass packaging market throughout the forecast period. The growth of the market in the region is mainly driven by the high consumption of alcoholic beverages and the increased focus of the European brewers towards innovative packaging solutions, this has led to an increase in glass packaging market in Europe. Top Key manufactures of Glass Packaging Market are : Ardagh Group DuPont Gerresheimer Orora Owens-Illinois And more. Glass Packaging Market Segment by Type covers: Bottles Vials Jars Others. Glass Packaging Market Segment by Application covers: Food Beverage Healthcare Personal Care Others. The report has been collated on the basis of synthesis, analysis, and interpretation of data accumulated with regards to the parent market from various resources. The data and information in this report has been collected by using primary and secondary research methodologies, in order to provide a holistic view of the Glass Packaging market. Additionally, an in-house study has been made of the global economic conditions and other economic indicators and factors to evaluate their respective impact on the market, along with the present impact, so as to make strategic and informed forecasts about the scenarios in the market. Avail Up-to 50% discount while purchasing this report @ https://www.reportsmonitor.com/check_discount/143437 Most of the players operating in this Glass Packaging market are making efforts to grow their market footprint, by focusing on product diversification and development, subsequently making them acquire a larger share of the market. Development in different countries to drive growth and increase product sales is also considered as one of the major strategies undertaken by the key players operating in the global Glass Packaging market. This is primarily because of the untapped potentials present in the developing nations, in terms of product pricing and revenue generation. Some of the major objectives of this report: 1.The report includes a detailed analysis of the market structure along with a forecast of the various segments and sub-segments of the global Glass Packaging Market. Insights about factors affecting the market growth. To analyze the Glass Packaging Market based on various factors- price analysis, supply chain analysis, porter five force analyses etc. 2.The report covers historical and forecasts revenue of the Glass Packaging Market segments and sub-segments with respect to four main geographies and their countries- North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of the World. 3.The Glass Packaging Market report analyses the country level analysis of the market with respect to the current market size and future perspective. Covering Glass Packaging Market country-level analysis of the industry for the segment by application, product type, and sub-segments. 4.Strategic profiling of key players in the market, comprehensively analyzing their core competencies and drawing a competitive landscape for the market. 5.Track and analyze competitive developments such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, new product developments, and research and developments in the global Glass Packaging Market. Access full Report Description, TOC, Table of Figure, Chart, etc. @ : https://www.reportsmonitor.com/report/143437/Glass-Packaging-Market Lastly, This report covers the Glass Packaging market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years, the Report also brief deals with the product life cycle, comparing it to the relevant products from across industries that had already been commercialized details the potential for various applications, discussing about recent product innovations and gives an overview on potential regional Glass Packaging market shares. About Reports Monitor Reports Monitor is a market research and consulting company that provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries including Healthcare, Technology, Chemicals, Materials, and Energy. With an intrinsic understanding of many business environments, Reports Monitor provides strategic objective insights. A research team from Hungary has confirmed the existence of two enigmatic celestial objects called Kordylewski dust clouds (KDCs) large concentrations of dust positioned around the L4 and L5 Lagrangian points of the Earth-Moon system. The Earth-Moon system has five points of stability where gravitational forces maintain the relative position of objects located there. Two of these so-called Lagrange points, L4 and L5, form an equal-sided triangle with the Earth and Moon, and move around the Earth as the Moon moves along its orbit. L4 and L5 are not completely stable, as they are disturbed by the gravitational pull of the Sun. Nonetheless they are thought to be locations where interplanetary dust might collect, at least temporarily. In 1961, Polish astronomer Kazimierz Kordylewski found two bright patches near the L5 point, which might refer to an accumulation of dust particles, with various reports since then, but their extreme faintness makes them difficult to detect and many scientists doubted their existence. In new research, Eotvos Lorand University scientist Gabor Horvath and colleagues modeled KDCs to assess how they form and how they might be detected. They were interested in their appearance using polarizing filters, which transmit light with a particular direction of oscillation, similar to those found on some types of sunglasses. Scattered or reflected light is always more or less polarized, depending on the angle of scattering or reflection. The team then set out to find the dust clouds. With a linearly polarizing filter system attached to a camera lens and CCD detector at a private observatory in Hungary (Badacsonytordemic), the researchers took exposures of the purported location of KDC at the L5 point. The images they obtained show polarized light reflected from dust, extending well outside the field of view of the camera lens. The observed pattern matches predictions made by the same group of researchers in an earlier paper and is consistent with the earliest observations of KDCs six decades ago. The astronomers were able to rule out optical artifacts and other effects, meaning that the presence of the dust cloud is confirmed. KDCs are two of the toughest objects to find, and though they are as close to Earth as the Moon are largely overlooked by researchers in astronomy, said team member Dr. Judit Sliz-Balogh, of the Eotvos Lorand University. It is intriguing to confirm that our planet has dusty pseudo-satellites in orbit alongside our lunar neighbor. The research is published in two papers in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. _____ Judit Sliz-Balogh et al. 2018. Celestial mechanics and polarization optics of the Kordylewski dust cloud in the EarthMoon Lagrange point L5 I. Three-dimensional celestial mechanical modelling of dust cloud formation. MNRAS 480 (4): 5550-5559; doi: 10.1093/mnras/sty2049 Judit Sliz-Balogh et al. 2018. Celestial mechanics and polarization optics of the Kordylewski dust cloud in the EarthMoon Lagrange point L5 Part II. Imaging polarimetric observation: new evidence for the existence of Kordylewski dust cloud. MNRAS 482 (1): 762-770; doi: 10.1093/mnras/sty2630 SDSS J0915+3826, a giant group of galaxies located approximately 4 billion light-years away, is so massive that its gravity bends light like a lens, making it very useful for peering deep into the early Universe. Albert Einstein predicted in his theory of general relativity that massive objects will deform the fabric of space itself. When light passes one of these objects, such as a cluster of galaxies, its path is changed slightly. Called gravitational lensing, this effect is only visible in rare cases and only the best telescopes can observe the related phenomena. The high sensitivity and fine resolution of the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope allow it to see faint and distant gravitational lenses that cannot be detected with ground-based telescopes whose images are blurred by Earths atmosphere. The gravitational lensing results in multiple images of the original galaxy each with a characteristically distorted banana-like shape or even into rings. In this particular case, astronomers used the foreground galaxy cluster, SDSS J0915+3826, to study star formation in galaxies lying so far away that their light has taken up to 11.5 billion years to reach our eyes. These galaxies formed at a very early stage in the lifetime of the Universe, giving astronomers a rare glimpse into the beginning of the cosmos. Despite their distance, the lensing effects of SDSS J0915+3826 allowed scientists to work out the sizes, luminosities, star formation rates, and stellar populations of individual star-forming clumps within these galaxies. BEIJING, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- The eighth Beijing Xiangshan Forum concluded in Beijing Friday. Through days of discussion, the theme, "Building a new type of security partnership of equality, mutual trust and win-win cooperation" has become a consensus of delegates at the forum. "Only through adhering to equality and mutual trust, dialogue and cooperation, seeking common ground and reconciling differences, as well as accomplishing sustainable security via common development, can win-win, multi-win and all-win get fulfilled," said Chen Guangjun, chairman of the China Institute for International Strategic Studies. "Going ahead with the company of countries around the world and taking care of the peace of the world are always an original aspiration of China." During the forum, delegates carried out frank and thorough interactions concerning topics including "international security governance: new ideas and approaches," "global terrorism: threats and countermeasures," "maritime security cooperation: reality and vision" and "UN peacekeeping: challenges and cooperation." "I love China. It is a country of much history and friendly people," Shaun Fogarty, director of strategic engagements with the New Zealand Defense Force, told Xinhua. "The forum has over the years become bigger and bigger, and the wide participation shows it is an important dialogue held with respect." Liu Lin, associate research fellow with the Chinese People's Liberation Army Academy of Military Science, said: "Delegates raised many innovative thoughts and ideas, and have reached consensus on the importance of strengthening strategic communication, enhancing security mutual trust and promoting pragmatic cooperation." "This fully demonstrates the ideas of 'equality, openness, inclusiveness, and mutual learning' at the forum." AECO's geographical range also encompasses Svalbard, Jan Mayen, Greenland, Arctic Canada and the Russian Arctic National Park. Iceland will be included in 2019. At least 25% of AECOs operating company members have itineraries that already visit or will visit Iceland. 'Over many years, we have built beneficial cooperation with several stakeholders in Iceland. We have been watching the increase in tourism, including cruise tourism, and we believe AECOs guidelines, measures and tools can be helpful,' AECO executive director Frigg Jrgensen said. Community specific guidelines for Seyisfjorur Together with Cruise Iceland and partners from other North Atlantic areas, AECO has developed general community guidelines for visitors to North Atlantic communities. This past summer AECO entered a collaboration with local stakeholders to develop community specific guidelines for Seyisfjorur. These are expected to be finalized later this year. AECO is also responsible for an annual Joint Arctic Search and Rescue Tabletop Exercise organized in Reykjavik every April in cooperation with the Icelandic Coast Guard. The exercise gathers cruise industry and search and rescue entities from across the Arctic and is regarded as very important for Arctic SAR. The association has developed a wide range of guidelines that its members are obliged to follow. These include operational guidelines, wildlife guidelines, visitors guidelines, site specific guidelines and others. AECO will assess guidelines to consider the need for local adjustments, but as far as possible, the guidelines will be compulsory for members operating in Iceland. 'We look forward to gradually step up our involvement and collaboration with relevant stakeholders in Iceland in the year to come,' Jrgensen said. 'Anyone involved or interested in our areas of work is very welcome to contact us.' Al Nuaimi said the maritime sector accounts for just over 5% of the national economy and the aim is for its contribution to grow to 25%. He added that it would not be an easy task, but it would be achievable by focusing on trade based on logistics, competitive legislation, sustainability and the latest technology. The minister said some AED60bn ($16bn) was being spent on improving the countrys maritime sector in the run up to Expo 2020, and so achieving the 25% target after 2020 was logical. Join the Smart Shipping debate at Seatrade Maritime Middle East The UAE is home to more than 20 ports and also one of the worlds leading terminal operators, DP World. Following his address, the minister was recognised for his contribution to the maritime sector. He is pictured receiving his award (left) from Amer Ali, executive director of Dubai Maritime City Authority, organiser of UAE Maritime Week. UAE Maritime Week runs until 1 November and is organised by Dubai Maritime Cluster Office. Read all the coverage from Seatrade Maritime Middle East 2018 with Seatrade Maritime News reporting live on the ground General Xu Qiliang, Vice Chairman of China's Central Military Commission (CMC), meets with Ng Eng Hen, Minister of Defense of Singapore who came to attend the 8th Beijing Xiangshan Forum in Beijing on Oct. 26, 2018. (Photo by Mu Ruilin) By Ouyang Hao BEIJING, Oct. 29 (ChinaMil) -- General Xu Qiliang, Vice Chairman of China's Central Military Commission (CMC), held several talks with defense ministers attending the 8th Beijing Xiangshan Forum in Beijing on Oct 26. These include Ng Eng Hen, Minister of Defense of Singapore, Mohamad Sabu, Minister of Defense of Malaysia, Ishwor Pokhrel, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of Nepal, Ngo Xuan Lich, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party and Defense Minister of Vietnam, and Tea Banh, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for National Defense of Cambodia. During his meeting with Ng Eng Hen, Minister of Defense of Singapore, Xu Qiliang said that China attaches great importance to the development of bilateral military relations and is willing to further enhance strategic mutual trust on the existing basis, strengthen multilateral cooperation, deepen pragmatic cooperation in maritime search and rescue as well as joint exercise and joint training, and ultimately make positive contributions to promoting the development of bilateral relations and creating a good regional security environment. Ng Eng Hen expressed congratulations to China for successfully hosting the 8th Beijing Xiangshan Forum. He said that Singapore is willing to work with China to maintain the good momentum of the development of relations between the two countries and the two militaries, strengthen communication and coordination, enhance the level of cooperation so as to better benefit both countries' people, and better safeguard regional peace and stability. During his meeting with Mohamad Sabu, Minister of Defense of Malaysia, Xu Qiliang said that China and Malaysia are important partners to each other. In recent years, the Chinese and Malaysian militaries have achieved fruitful results in high-level exchanges, and joint exercise and training. Xu hopes that the two sides will strengthen strategic communication, promote exemplary cooperation and closer multilateral interaction, jointly safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea and constantly create new situation of friendly cooperation between the two countries and the two militaries. Mohamad Sabu said that peace and stability in the South China Sea are in line with the common interests of all parties. The Malaysian side is willing to work with China to establish a high-level defense cooperation committee between the two countries as soon as possible, carry out cooperation in joint exercise and training as well as military technology and military trade, and contribute to the development of relations between the two countries and the two militaries. During his meeting with Ishwor Pokhrel, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of Nepal, Xu Qiliang said that the two countries are linked by mountains and rivers and have a friendship of long history. China is willing to work with Nepal to firmly implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, maintain a good momentum of exchanges and cooperation between the two militaries, further enhance the level of cooperation in counterterrorism, stability maintenance, joint exercise and training, border control and other areas, and push the bilateral military relations to a new level, said Xu. Ishwor Pokhrel said that Nepal attaches importance to China's security concerns and will never allow any force to use Nepalese territory to engage in activities that endanger China's security. The Nepalese military is willing to strengthen pragmatic cooperation with the Chinese military in various fields and strive to push the relations between the two countries and the two militaries to a higher level. During his meeting with Ngo Xuan Lich, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party and Defense Minister of Vietnam, Xu Qiliang said that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Vietnam. The Chinese military is willing to work with the Vietnamese military to implement a series of important consensus reached by the leaders of the two parties and the two countries, promote closer high-level exchanges and pragmatic cooperation, strengthen coordination and cooperation in multilateral affairs, boost new greater development of bilateral military relations and contribute to the traditional friendship between China and Vietnam, said Xu. Ngo Xuan Lich expressed thanks to the invitation to the 8th Beijing Xiangshan Forum and congratulated the success of the forum. He said that the Vietnamese side attaches importance to the development of relations between the two countries and the two militaries. The Vietnamese People's Army (VPA) is willing to strengthen solidarity and friendship with the Chinese military, carry out closer exchanges and cooperation, and strive to be the pillar and leader of the development of bilateral relations. During his meeting with Tea Banh, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for National Defense of Cambodia, Xu Qiliang said that the two countries have traditional friendly relations and have always supported and helped each other and they are hardcore friends. The Chinese military is willing to work with the Cambodian military to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, strengthen high-level exchanges, enhance strategic mutual trust, continue to deepen all-round pragmatic cooperation, learn from each other, constantly enrich the relationship between the two countries and the two militaries, and play a bigger role in maintaining regional peace and stability, said Xu. Tea Banh said that the Cambodian side thanks China for its long-term selfless help to the construction of the country and the development of the military. The Cambodian military is willing to deepen close exchanges and cooperation with the Chinese military in various fields, jointly tackle various challenges and safeguard their common interests. Press Release October 29, 2018 After cop allegedly rapes 15-year old daughter of drug suspect NANCY TO ASK COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT MOVE RAISING AGE OF CONSENT TO 16 Senator Nancy Binay is convinced that the age of consent in the country should be raised to 16 years old from the present 12, following reports of alleged rape of a 15-year old by a policeman. In July, Binay filed Senate Bill No. 1895 which aims to make 16 years old the minimum age to determine statutory rape for children in the country, up from under 12 years specified in the Revised Penal Code. According to Binay, the measure is still in the committee level adding that she will ask the legislative commitment of fellow senators to fasttrack its passage. "Isa ang Pilipinas sa may pinakamababang age of consent, which is presently set at 12 years old. Sa ngayon, our anti-rape law says it will only be considered statutory rape if the child is below 12 years old or is mentally challenged. Bilang mga magulang, it is our commitment to protect our children from sexual predators," Binay said. The 15-year-old girl, whose parents were apprehended for alleged illegal drug trade in Manila over the weekend, said she was raped in exchange for the freedom of her parents who were facing drug charges. A rookie cop together with two other men forced the girl to drink beer before she was raped. "Ginagamit po ng ilan ang mababang age of consent na ito upang takasan o lusutan ang mas mataas na penalties from their crimes against children," she added. Binay said that increasing the age of consent can prevent more cases of violence against children. "Magiging liable for statutory rape na ang taong nagkaroon ng sexual relations or intercourse sa isang menor na below 16 years old kung itataas natin ang age of consent," Binay said. According to the National Baseline Study on Violence Against Children (NBS-VAC), released in 2016, one of five children below 18 have experienced being sexually violated. Binay said that according to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), up to 7 in 10 women around the world experience physical and/or sexual violence at some point in their lifetime. "Increasing the age of consent will provide greater protection to our children, and safeguard them from various forms of violence," she added. The legislator also said that under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, governments should protect children from all forms of sexual exploitation and abuse. "It is also in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially Goal number 5, which aims to eliminate all forms of violence against women and children, including trafficking, sexual, and other forms of exploitation," Binay said. Press Release October 29, 2018 Be brave, De Lima tells young students Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has thanked some 75 students of St. Theresa's College in Quezon City for expressing their solidarity with her through handwritten letters sent to her detention quarters in Camp Crame. De Lima, considered as a leading Prisoner of Conscience, urged the students to keep their youthful energy and drive to convert their awareness -- especially of the societal issues under the present administration -- into actual, productive actions. "I'm overwhelmed with joy upon reading your letters. I have read each and every one, and I am struck by the candidness, empathy and social awareness apparent from them. I guess it is what some members of your generation refer to as being 'woke,'" she said in a letter sent to the students. "If there is one thing that gives me comfort in these times of trials, it is knowing that the Filipino youth are probably the most 'woke' or socially aware demographic in our society today," she added. Speaking from her experience as a former student leader, De Lima reminded the Theresians that amid these challenging times, nothing remains impossible with hardwork, passion and determination. "Please hold on to that feeling - that combination of certainty, positivity, faith, self-confidence and surrender to God's will - as you grow older. As I have experienced, life can be tough sometimes, but even the toughest times will soon pass," she said. In her handwritten letter dated Oct. 15, De Lima said she was happy to receive around 75 letters from the Grade 9 students of St. Theresa's College, acknowledging that she coincidentally yet fittingly wrote her message on the Feast Day of St. Teresa of Avila, their school's patroness. "I am partly inspired by the life of St. Teresa herself. She, too, was aware of things that needed changing. She had the spirit and drive to attempt to reform what she could and, in time, she accomplished what she sought to do," she said. "But for a time, she spent years of her life in pious seclusion, and devoted herself to contemplative study and writing. I consider my circumstances similar to that. I have appreciated that my detention has given me the chance to read more, to contemplate more and, yes, to write more," she added. De Lima, who remains detained on trumped-up drug charges, shared that her refusal to be silenced despite the political persecution she is subjected to under the Duterte regime is her way of continuing the fight for human rights, and against oppression and dictatorship. "So, yes, I am still active, at least within the limits of what I am allowed. But there is more reflection and thought these days," said De Lima, who has filed 120 bills and 120 resolutions from June 2016 up to this writing. The Senator from Bicol also took the opportunity to assure the students of her innocence from the bogus drug charges against her, maintaining that her conscience is clear. "I only have my word and the truth in my defense. And I have to keep the faith that justice will be done," she said. "That my innocence will prevail over the self-serving lies of self-confessed drug lords, to whom they have promised immunity and privileges in exchange for their false testimony against me," she added. Press Release October 29, 2018 Lacson Cites Three-Pronged Solution vs Corruption at Customs More at: https://pinglacson.net/2018/10/29/lacson-cites-three-pronged-solution-vs-corruption-at-customs/ Learn from history, establish a focused counter-intelligence system to curb corruption, and prioritize leadership by example. These can help the Bureau of Customs curb corruption without having to tap officers from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson said Monday. Lacson, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class 1971, cited a lesson from the 1960s showing the use of idealistic AFP officers to run the BOC did not work, after the smuggling rings used women to sway them. "In the early 60's, some young, idealistic AFP officers were put in charge of the BOC operations. They learned fast, they couldn't be bribed or intimidated. The smugglers used equally young, beautiful women to influence them. The rest is history we don't want to remember," Lacson said in a post on his Twitter account. He said the point is that smuggling syndicates, especially those smuggling illegal drugs, will employ all tricks to pursue their nefarious activities. Instead, Lacson stressed the need for a sophisticated counter-intelligence mechanism in the BOC. "I can only suggest that a continuous, dedicated, focused, highly classified and sophisticated counter-intelligence operations should be put in place to watch the watchdogs, so to speak," he said. More importantly, he stressed those in charge should apply the principle of leadership by example, "not in words, but in practice." Lacson practiced leadership by example when he headed the Philippine National Police from 1999 to 2001. Under his watch, the PNP became disciplined and efficient. This in turn earned Lacson and the PNP high approval marks from the public. "It is second to none. There is no substitute to it that I know of," Lacson said of the principle of leadership by example. Statement of Sen. Francis Pangilinan on BoC P11B shabu smuggling scandal No-nonsense solutions, not theatrics; make big fish in P11-billion shabu smuggling scandal pay: Kiko First of all: Placing a revenue-generating agency under the Armed Forces of the Philippines is of doubtful legality. What does AFP know about collecting taxes and tariffs? The bureaucracy is becoming militarized. What's next? BIR? Immigration? Not all military officials are effective managers like inept Capt. Faeldon and Gen. Lapena of BoC and Jason Aquino of NFA. No. 2: Regardless of who manages the Bureau of Customs, if Malacanang itself tolerates and does not punish Faeldon and Lapena and doesn't show any teeth and outrage against drug lords, nothing will come of AFP's transfer because it will only follow Malacanang's orders. No. 3: The solution is not in the transfer of any agency but in showing that incompetent officials and the syndicates they are in connivance with, all big fish, are punished and held to account. Placing the AFP in charge of the BoC may appear decisive and daring but what we need are no nonsense solutions, not theatrics. Press Release October 29, 2018 Las Pinas alternate routes to cut travel time for Holiday traffic rush - Villar Traffic in major thoroughfares in Las Pinas and neighboring towns and cities is expected to ease in time for the Holiday season as the second phase of the Las Pinas and fourth phase of the Zapote River Drives road projects were opened to motorists. Sen. Cynthia A. Villar and daughter Camille Villar led the inauguration of the partially completed Phase 2 of the Las Pinas River Drive, a 600-meter road connecting the CAA Bridge to Manuela 4B. It will pass through the Villanueva, Dela Cruz and Batibot compounds, through the Daimar Subdivision and end at Manuela 4B. Once completed, the entire 1.2 kilometers Phase 2 of the road project will cover the foot of the CAA Bridge up to the Carmella 3D Bridge. The first phase of the undertaking spanned 1.7 kilometres and covered Navas Road and passed through the Dona Julita Subdivision to the C5 Extension Road. The Las Pinas River Drive projects seeks to provide homeowners and travellers and alternate route connecting the CAA Bridge to the C5 Extension Road and take motorists away from the busy roadways of the city. The Villars likewise opened the 1.2 kilometer Phase 4 of the Zapote River Drive, which cuts through the Manuela Subdivision, the Samanta Village, the Christianville Subdivision in TALON 5, and across Soldiers Hills 2 and Almanza 1 subdivisions. Phase 3 of the road undertaking was inaugurated last year, which covered a full kilometre of flood control structures and improvements from Pegasus St., Moonwalk, Talon 5 to M. Alvarez Ave.The Phase 1 of the road project started at Brgy. Zapote all the way to Margie Moran Street to Pegasus Street in Moonwalk Village. The Zapote River Drive road project is expected to cut the travel time to and from the City of Las Pinas by 30 percent, and at the same time address flooding concerns plaguing the city government. Sen. Villar expressed hope that with the opening of the alternate routes, motorists will get faster to their destinations, especially with the beginning of the Holiday season. "We would like to express our gratitude to the DPWH for helping the city government in addressing the worsening traffic situation in Las Pinas. The residents of Las Pinas will now have a shorter and more convenient travel time to their destinations," the senator said. The Villars were joined by city government officials and homeowners of private properties traversed by the public roads. They were likewise accompanied by the Zapote Elementary School and Almanza Elementary School drum and lyre bands. A far-right, pro-gun, pro-torture populist has been elected as Brazil's next president after a drama-filled and deeply divisive election that looks set to radically reforge the future of the world's fourth biggest democracy. Jair Bolsonaro, a 63-year-old former paratrooper who built his campaign around pledges to crush corruption, crime, and a supposed communist threat, secured 55.1% of the votes after 99.9% were counted and was therefore elected Brazil's next president, electoral authorities said on Sunday. ...Bolsonaro's triumph will leave many millions of progressive Brazilians profoundly disturbed and fearful of the intolerant, rightwing tack their country is now likely to take. Over nearly three decades in politics, he has become notorious for his hostility to black, gay, and indigenous Brazilians and to women, as well as for his admiration of dictatorial regimes, including the one that ruled Brazil from 1964 until 1985. "The extreme right has conquered Brazil," Celso Rocha de Barros, a Brazilian political columnist, told the election night webcast of Piaui magazine. "Brazil now has a more extremist president than any democratic country in the world [and] we don't know what is going to happen." ...Donald Trump called Bolsonaro to congratulate him and both men expressed a strong commitment to work together, the White House said. One of my continuing concerns about the political situation we face in the United States is that it's part of a larger erosion of democracy worldwide a global trend from which it will be difficult to extricate ourselves, if it's even possible at all. There are anti-democratic forces subverting democracy everywhere around the planet, and I'm not sure even the bluest of blue waves can effectively contend with that.On that note: Jair Bolsonaro has been elected Brazil's next president.Shiver.This is not good. It's not good for marginalized people and progressives in Brazil, and it's not good for the fate of democracy worldwide.I don't say that to discourage anyone in the U.S. from voting on November 6. To the contrary, vote like it's the last time you may get the chance. Because it might be. Cavalier Corp says it is well-placed to take advantage of a growing consumer shift away from plastics. That trend fits well with the carpet makers renewed focus on its high-quality wool products, particularly higher-margin, niche opportunities and the potential of major markets like the US and UK, chief executive Paul Alston said. Investment in research and development and creating ranges that command a premium is a priority and critical for our success, he said in notes for the companys annual meeting in Auckland. The awareness around plastics and its impact on the environment is becoming much more prominent, he said. This anti-plastic sentiment is building strongly and we are experiencing a shift back to natural woollen textured products, something which we are well placed to take advantage of. The companys shares rose 1.7 percent to 60 cents. They are up 46 percent this year. Cavalier, which has sales offices throughout New Zealand and Australia, undertook a major consolidation of its manufacturing plants in 2016 to reduce over-capacity and improve profitability. It has halved its debt in the past four years and last month agreed to sell its stake in the countrys sole remaining wool scourer in order to free up capital to reinvest in carpet manufacturing and marketing. While the costs of the restructuring are behind the company, efficiency will remain a focus this year, Alston said. A lot of resource will go into the firms Napier site, where a new management team is in place, and the company will also invest in a new IT system this year. Alston said new products developed by the firms Cavalier Bremworth arm during the past two years will be rolled out progressively during the coming year. Some of those will shortly be presented to potential customers in the US and UK where the company currently gets less than 3 percent of its sales but where the markets for wool carpet are estimated at US$513 million and US$498 million respectively. The firm will also attend Domotex in Hanover the worlds largest flooring trade show for the first time in January. Cavaliers operating earnings climbed to $10.3 million in the June year, from a $2.2 million loss the year before when the firm incurred $6.3 million of restructuring costs. Debt last month post the scour stake sale was down to $18 million from $40.2 million in June 2017. Alston reiterated that the company expects another year of improving financial performance and is committed to resuming dividends as part of a long-term strategy. While the market had been quiet in the September quarter, low wool prices and a favourable NZ-Australia exchange rate had continued. Improved free cashflow would continue to strengthen the firms balance despite a big year for operational investments, he said. (BusinessDesk) Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. 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Related News: 19th November 2021 Morning Report Ryman Healthcare Limited (NZX: RYM) unaudited first half underlying profit of $95.9m Steel & Tube Holdings Limited (NZX: STU) Earnings Guidance 1H FY22 My Food Bag Group Limited (NZX: MFB) achieves record earnings; confirms dividend Turners Automotive Group Limited (NZX: TRA) delivers 24% increase in HY22 earnings AFT Pharmaceuticals Limited (NZX: AFT) reaffirms guidance and progresses growth plan 18th November 2021 Morning Report Blis Technologies Limited (NZX: BLT) Challenging market conditions in US impact half year result EROAD Limited (NZX: ERD) NZ Commerce Commission Clears Coretex Acquisition NZME Limited (NZX: NZM) Digital acceleration delivering on NZME's 2023 strategy Electricity is probably Fonterras best long-term energy option, but the company says it will need a combination of fuels at its sites as it works toward its 2050 net zero emissions target. New Zealands biggest exporter operates 30 plants nationally and is a major user of gas and coal for its milk powder drying. It expects to start running its Brightwater plant near Nelson on a mix of coal and wood chip next month. In August it announced plans to convert the boiler fuel at its cheese plant at Stirling south-east of Balclutha - from coal to electricity. Global operations chief operating officer Robert Spurway said Fonterra is serious about meeting its 2050 target. Getting there will involve combinations of fuels and incremental changes as new capacity is added or old plant replaced. The choices available will vary regionally and will need to evolve over time as the cost of renewables come down, he said. Energy efficiency gains also remain key. In the North Island, where the company has more fuel options, Spurway said the company would probably like to move away from coal sooner rather than later. But whether that will require gas to play a transition role at those three sites is hard to assess right now. If we can jump straight to full renewables without gas we will, he said in an interview earlier this month. Electricity is probably the most sustainable option for thermal heat over time. Electrification of transport and heavy industry, alongside large-scale afforestation, will be key planks of New Zealands efforts to meet its 2050 target net-zero emissions, the Productivity Commission reported in August. But Spurway said electrification of the firms biggest sites is not a short-term option. Changing Fonterras Edendale plant, north-east of Invercargill, to electricity would have increased the sites operating costs by about 50 percent and would have required an investment from Fonterra of about $160 million in upgrading the supply to the site. He said Stirling was selected for the companys electrode boiler trial because the local OtagoNet grid could absorb it without a major upgrade. The change, now in detailed design work, would also make a meaningful contribution to the firms emissions reduction by displacing about 9,700 tonnes of coal annually. As part of its sustainability target, Fonterra has committed to getting its 2030 emissions 30 percent below a 2015 baseline. The company has also pledged to open no new coal-fired capacity from 2030. Spurway said energy efficiency would also be a core focus in the next 10 to 15 years, with the installation of more efficient boilers, greater use of heat recovery and more use of industrial-scale heat pumps to reduce the companys total thermal energy requirements. Fonterras starting point for any plant expansion, he noted, is whether it can be achieved without increasing on-site energy demand. The installation of new water treatment capacity, a new milk protein concentrate plant, and an anhydrous milk fat plant at Edendale in 2015 had been achieved within the sites existing energy load. He noted the firms energy reductions since 2003 are equivalent to 43 years supply for a city the size of Tauranga. Spurway said coal remains a fuel of last resort on the South Island, and he would be disappointed if the firm failed to meet its commitment on new boilers. But he noted that when setting that target, the company had been conscious of its regulatory obligation to take any additional milk volume coming into the market. Spurway said woody biomass does have a role to play in getting emissions down, but will generally be limited to co-firing. Dairy farms and dairy factories dont tend to be where there are a lot of trees, he said. And emission reductions can be quickly eroded or turn negative - the further biomass has to be trucked. New Zealand Oil & Gas and its partners in the Barque prospect off the Oamaru coast have talked up the potential for a major offshore gas find to reduce coal use by South Island food processors, or to supply an export methanol industry or displace imported fertiliser. Spurway said Fonterra would have found South Island gas fairly interesting a few years ago as a low-emission alternative to coal. While he would never say never, that option may now simply be too far off given it may take more than 10 years to develop any such find and then get the gas to any of Fonterras sites. Fonterra is still assessing what the governments proposed ban on new offshore exploration may mean for its North Island gas options. While the ban could reduce gas supplies long-term, Spurway said that volume is more likely to be surrendered by large-scale users that may have other options internationally. He said Fonterra could invest in gas to reduce its coal use and emissions - even if gas does not remain in its fuel suite longer term. But thats why a clear understanding of emissions rules and the broad policy framework around energy is so important, he said. Whereas the government tends to place a big emphasis on rising carbon costs, Spurway said the company is counting much more on the cost of alternative energy supplies coming down to help meet its emission goals. Geothermal is another area it thinks about, and not necessarily in terms of direct steam use. While electricity is not currently 100 percent renewable, it can be distributed around the country. He said the company is keen to work with energy suppliers and come up with the best strategic options that would meet its requirements for sustainability, viability and security of supply. And that could include under-writing new renewable generation developments at the right price. (BusinessDesk) Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: 19th November 2021 Morning Report Ryman Healthcare Limited (NZX: RYM) unaudited first half underlying profit of $95.9m Steel & Tube Holdings Limited (NZX: STU) Earnings Guidance 1H FY22 My Food Bag Group Limited (NZX: MFB) achieves record earnings; confirms dividend Turners Automotive Group Limited (NZX: TRA) delivers 24% increase in HY22 earnings AFT Pharmaceuticals Limited (NZX: AFT) reaffirms guidance and progresses growth plan 18th November 2021 Morning Report Blis Technologies Limited (NZX: BLT) Challenging market conditions in US impact half year result EROAD Limited (NZX: ERD) NZ Commerce Commission Clears Coretex Acquisition NZME Limited (NZX: NZM) Digital acceleration delivering on NZME's 2023 strategy Reserve Bank governor Adrian Orr will extol the virtues of transparency for an initiated few in an off-the-record speech to anti-corruption campaigners Transparency International tonight. Billed as a speech on the relevance of transparency, accountability and integrity in the financial services sector, a Reserve Bank spokesman said the address to the organisation's New Zealand annual meeting in Wellington won't be published as it's off-the-record. Transparency International chief executive Julie Haggie confirmed the charitable trust was aware of the condition. Orr will be introduced by State Services Commissioner Peter Hughes and thanked by Justice Secretary Andrew Kibblewhite. The speech comes a week before the Reserve Bank delivers a full monetary policy statement, with the monetary policy committee meeting this week to make its decision. The RBNZ made 81 presentations in the year ended June 30, of which 10 were on-the-record speeches. Orr only took the reins as governor in March. His appointment was seen as ushering in a new level of openness in the Reserve Bank's communications. In his first outing as governor he acknowledged the challenge of having a dialogue with a wider audience in plain language. In its annual report on the performance of the governor, the board said it expected Orr to ensure some "key stakeholder relationships" improve in the coming year. Last week, deputy governor Geoff Bascand delivered a presentation to the Bank Negara Malaysia conference entitled 'Disclosure and accessibility: challenges and opportunities'. The three conclusions from the presentation were that: enhanced transparency is a feature of financial stability frameworks; that there are opportunities from new channels and tools and a broader audience; and that greater transparency is usually, but not always, better. The Transparency International NZ members-only annual meeting is billed as an opportunity to meet patron and former Auditor General Lyn Provost and new CEO Haggie, and "network with like-minded individuals over refreshments". Chair Suzanne Snively, who also chairs the expert panel reviewing the Reserve Bank Act, will highlight the trust's achievements in 2018 and outline its goals for the coming year. In the June 2017 year, Transparency International NZ increased its membership base to more than 165 and built affiliation partnerships with Oxfam and the Institute of Internal Auditors. Those members contributed fees and subscriptions of $25,800 in the June 2017 financial year, almost twice as much a year earlier and ahead of budget. Transparency International NZ's primary revenue source was $254,000 of public sector support, most of which came from the State Services Commission and participating agencies. The trust also received 'in kind' goods and services from Bell Gully, Chapman Tripp, Deloitte, KPMG, PwC, Victoria University's Institute of Governance and Policy Studies and the Office of the Auditor General. (BusinessDesk) Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: 19th November 2021 Morning Report Ryman Healthcare Limited (NZX: RYM) unaudited first half underlying profit of $95.9m Steel & Tube Holdings Limited (NZX: STU) Earnings Guidance 1H FY22 My Food Bag Group Limited (NZX: MFB) achieves record earnings; confirms dividend Turners Automotive Group Limited (NZX: TRA) delivers 24% increase in HY22 earnings AFT Pharmaceuticals Limited (NZX: AFT) reaffirms guidance and progresses growth plan 18th November 2021 Morning Report Blis Technologies Limited (NZX: BLT) Challenging market conditions in US impact half year result EROAD Limited (NZX: ERD) NZ Commerce Commission Clears Coretex Acquisition NZME Limited (NZX: NZM) Digital acceleration delivering on NZME's 2023 strategy Auckland University's UniServices has joined Mercedes-Benz in the latest Soul Machines fund-raising round, injecting US$2 million into the local artificial intelligence firm. Soul Machines' chief business officer Greg Cross said the AI research firm was seeking to raise about US$20 million in the latest round, with Mercedes-Benz chipping in US$7 million through a convertible note on Oct. 1. UniServices, an initial shareholder in the firm, invested as part of a wider US$8 million offer. Soul Machines raised another US$5 million in June from two existing investors. The AI research firm had 12 staff when it was spun out of Auckland University in 2016 and has since grown to 87. It has sales offices in Melbourne, San Francisco, New York and London, and Cross said it will be opening an office in Asia in the next month. The majority of its research team is Auckland-based, although other specialists are scattered around the world, he said. UniServices made the investment using the university's Auckland Inventors Fund, which is typically an early investor in start-ups spun out of the university. "Soul Machines is exactly the kind of company that the Inventors Fund is designed to support," UniServices chief executive Andy Shenk said in a statement. "It has world-leading, deeply transformative IP, with a long-term vision that will require patient capital to, potentially, deliver superior returns in the long run." Speaking before today's UniServices announcement, Cross told BusinessDesk the Mercedes-Benz investment was part of a wider fund-raising round and a "huge endorsement" of the artificial intelligence business. "Our objective is to solve problems, deliver solutions, and build scalable markets. We have a very strong focus on that," he said. "The industries we tend to focus on are the ones that understand the huge amount of change coming at them." Soul Machines differs from other AI research companies in that it has developed cognitive models to simulate human thought processes exemplified by its emotionally responsive digital avatars. That differs from deep learning AI, where a network of processes are built to replicate a brain in the way it analyses data. Cross said he believes cognitive models are going to be a central element of the wider AI standard. Because the technology gets smarter the more it's used, Soul Machines expects its value will track that trend, with Cross pointing to DeepMind and Siri as examples. "We have no question in our minds that we have that potential to be valued as some of those $1 billion-plus companies," he said. (BusinessDesk) Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: 19th November 2021 Morning Report Ryman Healthcare Limited (NZX: RYM) unaudited first half underlying profit of $95.9m Steel & Tube Holdings Limited (NZX: STU) Earnings Guidance 1H FY22 My Food Bag Group Limited (NZX: MFB) achieves record earnings; confirms dividend Turners Automotive Group Limited (NZX: TRA) delivers 24% increase in HY22 earnings AFT Pharmaceuticals Limited (NZX: AFT) reaffirms guidance and progresses growth plan 18th November 2021 Morning Report Blis Technologies Limited (NZX: BLT) Challenging market conditions in US impact half year result EROAD Limited (NZX: ERD) NZ Commerce Commission Clears Coretex Acquisition NZME Limited (NZX: NZM) Digital acceleration delivering on NZME's 2023 strategy The final quarter of 2021 is on its way and theres so much positivity about the rapid growth of the... By Tang Qi and Li Wenji The Middle East issue has long been widely regarded as the trickiest international dispute involving many countries interests around the world. As Chinas ties with Middle Eastern countries are growing over recent years, the 8th Beijing Xiangshan Forum this year put Middle East security on the agenda for the first time. A seminar was held on the afternoon of October 25, during which military officials, experts and scholars from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Israel, Tunisia, Malaysia, Hungary and Russia, along with Chinese representatives, held discussions on the topic of Ways and Means of Addressing the Security Issues in the Middle East, according to reporters. We should know the current situation before talking about the way out. Li Shaoxian, director of the China-Arab Research Institute at Ningxia University, believes the situation in the Middle East is very serious. The war in Syria has been going on for more than seven years. And with the United States withdrawing from the Iranian nuclear deal, tensions in the Middle East will likely rise in the future. Moreover, issues of international terrorism in the Middle East are not completely gone. Personally, I believe that the biggest security challenge in the Middle East is the collapse of the original regional balance and order, to which the international community should focus its attention. Li went on to explain that the biggest problem facing the Middle East is the collapse of order and the need to restructure or rebuild the order. The current chaotic situation prevailing in the Middle East is perhaps the worst in a century, Li added. How will the situation in the Middle East evolve in the future? According to Senior Colonel Chen Jianmin, deputy director of the War Studies College at the Academy of Military Sciences of the Chinese PLA, in the new era of great power competition, the structure of the Middle East is undergoing profound changes, one of which is the clearer trend toward multipolarity, putting the regions various ethnic groups as the leading actor. Senior Colonel Chen said there are four major power centers in the Middle East: Israel is still a major pole; Turkey is becoming one of force centers; Saudi Arabia has replaced Egypt as the Arab world leader; Iran, which was offered an opportunity to develop and grow stronger by the two wars launched by the US in the Middle East. Chen also believes that the political process in the Middle East will be accompanied by social unrest and conflict. Chen said that political modernization was one of the main demands of the people during the recent upheavals, but that traditional Islamic culture, which remains deeply rooted in society, and the political ecology of the dichotomy between the state and society have made it difficult to avoid the obstacles of Islam. In the gap between the old and new order, the transition of social politics may lead to both the birth of democracy and the prevalence of populism. Therefore, in the face of the complex situation in the region, many participants in the seminar mentioned the importance of the role of major powers in the Middle East issue. Speaking at the seminar, Yin Gang, researcher at the Institute of West-Asian and African Studies of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), said that the degree and posture of major powers involvement in the Middle East have affected the development of the region for more than a century, especially in the security field. While the involvement of major powers is linked to their national interests, they also have found mutual interests in the Middle East, thus forming a basis for cooperation among major powers. The security situation in the Middle East has entered an unprecedented new phase with the expansion of the (extremist group) Islamic State (IS) in northern Iraq and Syria. The defining feature of this new phase is that almost all states, all militaries and political entities in the region are facing a common enemy - IS. Yin Gang pointed out that because the Islamic State is the public enemy of human society, all of the regions armed forces have become involved in the international campaign against IS. The international war on terrorism is drawing to a close, but the lessons are precious. All countries have their own interests and competition is inevitable, but competition must have limits. Over-ambitions and over-reaction will lead to the deterioration of the conflict and the emergence of new conflicts. Yin Gang believed that major powers still show some restraint on the whole in the Middle East. According to Li Shaoxian, there is an urgent need for the international community to work together to restructure and rebalance the Middle East. He believed that the current war in Syria, which has been going on for more than seven years, is now drawing to a close and should be over - and that there are also a number of conditions that will push the war to its conclusion. Disclaimer: The authors are Tang Qi and Li Wenji. The article is edited and translated from Chinese into English by China Military Online. The information, ideas or opinions appearing in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn. Chinamil.com.cn does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same. If the article carries photographs or images, we do not vouch for their authenticity. Sify.com Movies Reviews Malayalam French Viplavam French Viplavam review: A Lowbrow comedy French Viplavam is a wasted opportunity at best Source: SIFY By: Moviebuzz Critic's Rating: 2/5 Wednesday 12 June 2019 Movie Title French Viplavam review: A Lowbrow comedy Director Maju Star Cast Sunny Wayne, Lal Debutant director Maju has reportedly attempted French Viplavam, after being inspired by Lijo Jose Pellisserys style of filmmaking. With the kind of tribute that has been made here, the guru need not feel really proud about this one. Halloween review: High on horror, low on emotional quotient | Bazaar review: Drama not gripping enough | Hunter Killer review: Awkwardly predictable, yet exciting in parts | Kaashi in Search of Ganga review: Intriguingly layered revenge drama | Genius review: This film doesn't go beyond the usual cliches! | Goosebumps 2 review: Funnily scary and mediocre The film is set in a sleepy village known as Kochukadavu, in the aftermath of the arrack ban in Kerala that happened in 1996. There is no big storyline in this one and the scenes are based on the escapades of a few characters who are desperate to have a drink, all the time. Then there is some romance and a few spicy scenes. But the problem is when such scenes fail to keep the attention of the viewers intact and then, the going becomes dreary. Patta Sisupalan (Lal) owned an arrack shop, which he had to close down due to the ban. Satyan (Sunny Wayne) is a youth fooling around with his gang of friends and is in love with Sisupalans daughter. The story meanders along without any definite direction until a twist happens with a foreign ladys arrival with a bottle of French wine. With a half-baked script, the effort is to bring in laughs with comical situations and one liners. Even the 2 hours 8 minutes duration of the film seems way too much with the tiring narration. Lal repeats his branded style once again but is generally fine. Sunny Wayne plays his character in a dedicated way. Unnimaya, who plays Lals wife, does her Maheshinte Prathikaram style of dialogue delivery once again. Chemban Vinod Jose appears at a certain point in the story but has a role that is not much effective. French Viplavam tries hard to be funny but in the absence of genuine writing, it barely succeeds in that attempt. Its a wasted opportunity at best. French Viplavam review - Verdict: Lowbrow comedy On Saturday, Murugadoss said that as the President of South Indian Film Writers Association veteran director Baghyaraj acted biased in Sarkar plagiarism controversy. According to Murugadoss, Baghyaraj didnt read the full script of Sarkar and he also refused to see his film but before that, he gave a statement saying that the Vijay starrer is based on the script registered by Varun in 2006. Even the core plot of Baghyarajs Chinna Veedu and Manivannans Gopurangal Saivathillai are same but the treatment is different. If those two films are accepted as genuine works of two writers why I should be stamped as a thief?, asked Murugadoss in an interview. The Thuppakki director said that nearly six of the executive committee members of South Indian Film Writers Association were against Baghyarajs decision. Murugadoss also alleged that Varun used to work with Baghyaraj in some of his projects and the veteran director has a conflict of interest in this matter. Baghyaraj has however refused Murugadoss allegation. I know Varun only through this plagiarism issue. In fact, I told Varun that Murugadoss is also a brilliant filmmaker he worked hard to develop the screenplay. Even while talking to Murugadoss, I suggested him to give a small credit to Varun in Sarkar saying that the core idea is based on his work, said Baghyaraj. Sarkar is the biggest release for Thalapathy Vijay in the overseas. The film is all set to release in more than 1200 screens in nearly 80 countries across the globe. A&P groups and D Focus, the overseas distributors of Sarkar are releasing the film in some of the not so popular locations for Tamil cinema including Poland, Mexico, Philippines, New Zealand, Ukraine, Russia and several countries in African subcontinent. The film will also be simultaneously releasing in Tamil and Telugu so Sarkar is the biggest release for Thalapathy Vijay even in India. Meanwhile, on the plagiarism row, writer Jeyamohan who penned the dialogues of Sarkar has said that the core plot for the film started from the incident happened to actor Sivaji Ganesan whose vote was registered by an unknown person. 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." 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. China, France launch satellite to study climate change Beijing, Oct 29 (AFP) Oct 29, 2018 The first Franco-Chinese satellite was launched into orbit on Monday to study ocean surface winds and waves around the clock, better predict cyclones and improve scientists' understanding of climate change. A Long March 2C carrier rocket blasted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China's Gobi Desert at 0043 GMT to enter orbit 520 kilometres (323 miles) above the Earth, according to China's State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence. The 650-kilogram (1,430 pound) machine is the first satellite jointly built by China and France and will allow climate scientists to better understand interactions between oceans and the atmosphere. The satellite is fitted with two radars: the French-made SWIM, which will measure the direction and the wavelength of waves, and China's SCAT, which will analyse the force and direction of winds. The data will be collected and analysed in both countries. China congratulates Brazil president-elect Bolsonaro Beijing, Oct 29 (AFP) Oct 29, 2018 Beijing on Monday congratulated Jair Bolsonaro -- a former army captain who has accused China of "buying Brazil" -- on winning his country's presidential elections. Beijing "congratulates" Bolsonaro and will continue to "deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and promote common development of both countries to benefit the two peoples", said foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang at a regular press briefing. Though Bolsonaro has vowed to implement free-market reforms in Latin America's biggest economy, the president-elect said his privatisation pledge would not extend to the core businesses of oil company Petrobras and electricity group Electrobras, singling out China as a concern. "China isn't buying in Brazil -- China is buying Brazil," Bolsonaro said earlier this month in an interview with Brazilian media Band TV. In February, Bolsonaro visited Taiwan, breaking convention with Beijing's One-China policy, which regards the self-governing island as a renegade province. Despite that, Lu replied that China is "willing to continue to work with Brazil" to boost the two countries' strategic partnership. China has been Brazil's largest trading partner since 2009. Imports and exports between the two countries reached $74.8 billion last year, according to statistics from Brazil's central bank. 21 dead in east China mining accident Beijing, Oct 29 (AFP) Oct 29, 2018 The death toll from a mining accident in east China rose to 21 on Monday after rescuers pulled two more bodies from the mine following a nine-day search, state media said. The tunnel where 22 miners were working was blocked at both ends by coal after pressure caused rocks to fracture and break on October 20, the official Xinhua news agency said. Only one miner was rescued alive. The cause of the accident is still under investigation. Rescuers working to clear the tunnel recovered six bodies Sunday, and another two on Monday. The accident took place at a mine owned by Longyun Coal Mining Co. Ltd. in Yuncheng County in Shandong province. Deadly mining accidents are common in China, where the industry has a poor safety record, despite efforts to improve coal production conditions and crack down on illegal mines. In December 2016, explosions in two separate coal mines in the Inner Mongolia region and in northeastern Heilongjiang province killed at least 59 people. Earlier that year, 33 miners were killed in a colliery explosion in October in the southwestern municipality of Chongqing, and in September, at least 18 were killed in a mine blast in the northwestern Ningxia region. According to China's National Coal Mine Safety Administration, the country saw 375 coal mining related deaths in 2017, down 28.7 percent year-on-year. However, despite improvements, "the situation of coal mine safety production is still grim," said the bureau in a statement following a coal mine safety conference in January. Page Content The ground-breaking ceremony for the 10th European Development Fund project was held on Wednesday, October 23rd in Dutch Quarter. The project, which consists of several components, will lead to an expansion of the sewer network in Dutch Quarter including over 500 home connections to the main sewer line. An upgrading of the side roads and improvement of the overall drainage system, improvement of public street lighting for the entire district and the construction of pedestrian sidewalks have also been designed. Plans forecast completion of the project within one year. Present at the ceremony were a host of government officials and special invited guests which included Sint Maarten Prime Minister Leona Romeo-Marlin, the Prime Minister of Curacao Eugene Rhuggenaath, Minister of VROMI Miklos Giterson, Minister of Justice Cornelius de Weever and Ambassador of the EU Delegation to Guyana, for Suriname, and with responsibility for Dutch Overseas Countries and Territories and Saint Barthelemy Jernej Videtic amongst others. In thanking all of the stakeholders of the project, Prime Minister Romeo-Marlin expressed Now that we have faced the challenges and addressed the bottlenecks, we stand ready to forge ahead and look forward to the continued cooperation and support that we will need to successfully complete the Dutch Quarter sewerage project. I would further like to express my sincere gratitude to the European Commission for their continued commitment to the development of Sint Maarten, cognizant that the project at hand is one that will certainly benefit our people, once completed. The Minister of VROMI in his address shared that The lack of sufficient sewage infrastructure on Sint Maarten has become a critical issue, which we have attempted to address within the 2018-2022 Governing Program. The construction of a proper sewage network, investing in our infrastructure and improving safety and facilities resources are all fulfilled in this project as it has been of high priority. The fact that we have found a way to involve young unemployed men and heavy equipment owners of this community is another success to be applauded. The people of Dutch Quarter will be heavily involved in the rebuilding and betterment of their community Minister Giterson stated. After a short opening ceremony on the de Weever property, the invited guests were bussed to the Belvedere roundabout where the Ministers and Ambassador joined in symbolically breaking ground on the project. Page Content Minister of Justice, Cornelius De Weever recently met with the Director of the Coast Guard P.J. de Vin to discuss the detachment of the duration of the initial education of two years to the legal maximum of five years. This discussion point was placed on the agenda of the yearly Coast Guard Commission meeting of October 18, 2018. The Coast Guard Commission has a presidium where the Kingdom countries in the Caribbean are equally represented. The presidium takes care of policies, management and resources. The presidium is also in charge of the general policy plans and the budget for the Coast Guard. Personnel policies as is the case here needs to be discussed within the presidium, because the regulation of the legal position of the Coast Guard throughout the Dutch Caribbean has to be equal. The Coast Guard is responsible for the recruitment and training of the personnel and wants to get as much profit as possible from it, because the incoming staff is trained for two years, and therefore withstands a period of no more than three years of operational employability. The Coast Guard wishes to separate the duration of training from the duration of employment. Minister De Weever in the meantime has dispatched a letter to the Director of the Coastguard, Mr. Vin informing him that St. Maarten will have the incoming personnel not be made available to the Coast Guard for five years, but for a total of seven years which will include two years for vocational training and five years for operational employability. In addition, the minister has already created the possibility that after the seven years the officer can be transferred to the police, immigration and customs to further their career On St. Maarten, Aruba and Curacao employees are made available to the Coast Guard with the maximum duration of their temporary employment contracts limited to five years, including the basic vocational training, based on the regulations of these countries. System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28: 29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951 /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fddcbf640)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fddcafca0)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fddcbf640)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fddcafca0)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fddd172f8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fddcafca0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fddcafca0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdd38b298)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fddc99498)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fddc99498)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951 /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fdd797cf0)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fddd7da68)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fdd797cf0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fddd7da68)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fddbb1c48)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fddd7da68)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fddd7da68)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdd791c18)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fddd78618)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fddd78618)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951 /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fddbb8500)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fddbabca0)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fddbb8500)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fddbabca0)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fddca2410)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fddbabca0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fddbabca0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdd38b1f8)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fc2eb2c60)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fc2eb2c60)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 Stephen Biegun, the U.S. special representative for North Korea, arrived in Seoul on Sunday for talks with his South Korean counterpart about ongoing diplomatic efforts toward North Korea. Biegun's trip comes a week after Seoul's chief nuclear negotiator Lee Do-hoon visited Washington. Biegun is expected to discuss with Lee progress in relation to the North's denuclearization and preparatory talks for a summit between the U.S. and the North. Also likely to be on their agenda is the possible exemption of inter-Korean projects such as building railroad links and forestation from sanctions against the North. Bolsonaro's vision for Brazil Rio de Janeiro, Oct 29 (AFP) Oct 29, 2018 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. - 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. Japan launches environment monitoring satellite Tokyo, Oct 29 (AFP) Oct 29, 2018 Japan's space agency on Monday launched a rocket carrying a satellite that will monitor greenhouse gases, as well as the first satellite built entirely in the United Arab Emirates. The nation's H-IIA rocket lifted off Monday afternoon at 1:08 pm (0308 GMT) from the Tanegashima Space Centre, according to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). About 16 minutes later, it sent a Japanese satellite nicknamed Ibuki-2 into orbit. The satellite is officially named GOSAT-2, short for "greenhouse gases observing satellite-2", and is intended to provide data that will help Japan create and publish "emission inventories" of the CO2 output of various countries, as outlined in the Paris climate accord. The satellite will also make precision observations of methane and other gases. The Japanese rocket also released "KhalifaSat", the first satellite built entirely in the UAE by local engineers. "The launch of KhalifaSat is an unprecedented Emirati achievement," Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed said in a tweet. "Our dreams to embrace space have become a reality." Five other smaller satellites are scheduled to be released from the Japanese rocket. Japan's space agency and its private partner Mitsubishi Heavy Industries see the international satellite launch market as a possible revenue stream. burs-hih/sah/jta Fears for Amazon after Bolsonaro wins Brazil presidency Paris, Oct 29 (AFP) Oct 29, 2018 Environmentalists and rights groups reacted with dismay Monday to the victory in Brazil of president-elect Jair Bolsonaro, a far-right champion of agribusiness who has threatened to pull his country from the Paris climate accord. Bolsonaro, who won 55 percent of the vote in a run-off on Sunday, issued a series of campaign pledges that left many fearing for the future of the Amazon, known as "the lungs of the planet". He promised to merge Brazil's agriculture and environment ministries into one, saying "we won't have any more fights" over ecological concerns on deforestation. "It's all about downsizing government so investors and big agribusiness landowners and companies can come in and have a freer hand for more trashing of resources and indigenous rights," Victor Menotti, a former director of the International Forum on Globalization, told AFP. Bolsonaro, a former army captain, also raised the prospect of building hydro-electric power stations in the Amazon that would greatly restrict water access and forcibly remove indigenous communities -- and even mooted a rail line through the heart of the rain forest. "If (Bolsonaro) decides to move forward with his pledges against the environment, indigenous peoples and the climate, his fellow citizens will be the biggest victims," said Carlos Rittl, executive secretary of the Brazilian Climate Observatory. "To increase deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions is to leave each and everyone of us more vulnerable to an increasing risk of climate extremes." May Boeve, executive director at climate NGO 350.org, warned that a Bolsonaro presidency posed "a real threat to human rights at home and a risk to the momentum for climate action abroad." Deforestation is responsible for about a fifth of greenhouse gas emissions and intensifies global warming. But more than two decades of UN-led efforts to curb the practice have largely failed, with Earth still losing a wooded area the size of Greece every year. The Amazon itself is retreating to the tune of 52,000 square kilometres (20,000 square miles) -- equivalent to the area of Costa Rica -- each year, as agriculture giants saw down trees to make way for vast tracts on which to graze cattle or grow plants for food and cosmetic products. - Indigenous community fears - Bolsonaro, who openly admires Brazil's former military dictatorship and shocked many with his derogatory remarks on women, gays and blacks, remained vague about the environment during campaigning. He stunned many observers in August by pledging to follow US President Donald Trump's lead and pull Brazil out of the 2015 Paris treaty on climate change. The Paris deal aims to limit temperature rises to "well below" two degrees Celsius (3.6 Farenheit) above pre-industrial levels. He has since backtracked on his pledge to leave the Paris accord. According to Steve Schwartzmann, senior director of tropical forest policy at the US-based Environment Defense Fund, it is doubtful Bolsonaro would even be able to affect Brazil's departure given the treaty passed unanimously through congress -- including Bolsonaro's own vote. "So even if he still wants to withdraw, it will not be simple or easy," Schwartzmann told AFP. One area where Bolsonaro can act immediately, however, is on indigenous rights. A major report this month highlighted the vital role forests must play in limiting the impact of greenhouse gas emissions as well as the crucial role of indigenous people in forest upkeep. - 'Bypass laws' - Bolsonaro said in February that he would not give up "one centimetre more" of land to indigenous communities in Brazil -- home to around 60 percent of the Amazon rainforest -- who are often threatened when standing up for their rights. He has repeatedly attacked the environment protection agency Ibama, and as president could influence to what extent its operations are funded. Despite relatively robust legal protections, Brazil is already the deadliest place for environmentalists, with pressure group Global Witness recording 57 deaths of people protecting land there last year. Sebastian Munoz, senior programme officer for Latin America at the War on Want group, said Bolsonaro's verbal attacks on indigenous groups "is an attempt to vilify them and generate hate towards them to advance this idea of the need to generate economic growth. "It's an effective way of bypassing the need to make new laws by weakening protections for the environment and indigenous land that already exist," said Munoz. pg/mh/rl Korean tourists trapped on typhoon-hit Saipan are returning home safely. The Pacific resort island was hit by typhoon Yutu last Wednesday, causing the local airport to halt operations and stranding many tourists from around the world. The government sent military transport planes to the island on Saturday and Sunday to fly 491 Korean tourists to the neighboring island of Guam, from where they flew back to Incheon International Airport aboard chartered flights. Pentagon could send thousands more troops to US-Mexico border: US official Washington, Oct 29 (AFP) Oct 29, 2018 The Pentagon could send thousands more troops to the US-Mexico border, a US official said Monday, as President Donald Trump warned a caravan of Central American migrants that the military was waiting. US officials last week said about 800 active-duty troops would be sent to provide assistance -- mainly in the form of logistical support -- to border guards working along the frontier. But the Wall Street Journal reported Monday that 5,000 troops would deploy to the southern border. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a US official said the 5,000 figure was right -- but cautioned that planning is still under way and said no final decisions have been made on numbers. The Department of Homeland Security, the vast US agency in charge of border security, was scheduled to hold a news conference at 4:00 pm (2000 GMT). Trump in recent weeks has repeatedly said more troops are needed to tighten security at the border and he has made political capital of the caravan in the weeks before important mid-term congressional elections that could see the Democrats regain a degree of power. Trump took to Twitter on Monday to again blast the migrant caravan, which is comprised mainly of Hondurans and is making its way slowly northward, mostly on foot, through Mexico. "Many Gang Members and some very bad people are mixed into the Caravan heading to our Southern Border," Trump wrote. "Please go back, you will not be admitted into the United States unless you go through the legal process. This is an invasion of our Country and our Military is waiting for you!" In April, Trump ordered up to 4,000 National Guardsmen to head to the border as a different migrant caravan wound its way north. About 2,100 have deployed. The Stephen Bannon Project Searching in Europe for Glory Days Gone By It used to be that Europeans would head to the New World on the search for a new start. Former White House strategist Stephen Bannon, though, has made the journey in reverse. Contrary to his grand plans, however, he's not making much progress. Shaheed El-Hafed (Refugee Camps), October 29, 2018 (SPS) - The Polisario Front denounced on Sunday the attempts carried out by some well-known parties within the European Union to circumvent the decisions of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) on the natural resources of Western Sahara. Saharawi Coordinator with MINURSO, Amhamed Khaddad, also in charge of legal affairs and natural resources, reiterated in an intervention during the meeting of the Council of Ministers held on Sunday, that the Polisario Front will remain firm in its intention to continue condemning and denouncing any maneuver, circumvention of international legality and any attempt to exploit or plunder the Sahrawi natural resources. The Sahrawi official stressed that the Polisario Front is committed to defending the rights of the Sahrawi people. As regards the riches of the territory, on several occasions he filed many complaints and appeals against European companies and parties involved with the Kingdom of Morocco in the sacking of Sahrawi natural resources. He called on Spain to assume its legal, historical and moral responsibility towards the Sahrawi people, highlighting that it is useless to evade that responsibility after 43 years. (SPS) 062/SPS/TRA When carefully analysing the facts and events took place since 2015, it is clear that although this is a sudden move, something similar to this could have been expected. by Diplomatic Affairs Editor ( October 28, 2018, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) On 24th of October 2018 is considered as a Black Friday in the Sri Lankan political history. On this day, the president of Sri Lanka violated the Constitution of the country sacking its Prime Minister paving the way for appointing former president as the new Prime Minister. This move of the president would result in specific consequences on the internal political outlook of the country and its international status as a democratic country. It would undoubtedly create political upheaval in the country pushing back what people achieved since 2015. There are several interpretations of this new development. For the critics of the President Mathripala Sirisena, it is an unconstitutional move based on false assumptions solely to achieve his avaricious aims. They are also of the view that the president has mocked at good governance he promised in 2015 when taking the reign of the presidency. The proponents of this exercise state that to save the country and its economy this move should have been considered. The President of Sri Lanka indicated that as there was a move to assassinate him and the country is heading towards a crisis mainly because of its economic failures he took this decision. For the international community, it is a surprising move as Sri Lanka has been maintaining its democratic traditions since independence and even amidst the bloody war with the LTTE. When carefully analysing the facts and events took place since 2015, it is clear that although this is a sudden move, something similar to this could have been expected. In this whole episode, we can identify three main characters. They are President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe and former President Mahinda Rajapakse. Each of these characters has some contributions for creating this situation. It is the president, who promised to change the Constitution and abolish the presidency within hundred days. Instead of fulfilling his obligations, he made the environment conducive for him to keep the presidency until the term is over and make the path clear for him to contest in the next presidential election. Indeed, he is greedy for power. In the case of the Prime Minister, he believed in good governance and wanted to introduce a new political culture to Sri Lanka working with the main rival party. He aimed to develop the country in an environment of democracy, political freedom, freedom of expression and the rule of law. However, all of his actions displayed that he was not marching forward with the required vigour and speed but with certain hesitations. He seems to be applying a reductionist approach towards the realisation of his aims. Former Presidents primary goal was to create the environment suitable for his son to become the next president of the country. However, as a seasoned politician, he acts carefully and vigilantly. As such, it is somewhat surprising to see him following the path of the president. A closer look at the manoeuvring of these characters, the background to the Black Friday Operation could understand. We should not also forget the role of certain international actors in operation too. Undoubtedly, President of Sri Lanka has been entrapped by the people surrounding him. With the influence of others and to fulfil his selfish desires, he has been trying to win in the next presidential election Undoubtedly, President of Sri Lanka has been entrapped by the people surrounding him. With the influence of others and to fulfil his selfish desires, he has been trying to win in the next presidential election. For that, he needs the support of the former President. Very often the President opposed to working with the Prime Minister and blocked certain positive moves of the Prime Minister preventing him from emerging as a possible challenger during the next Presidential election. When all steps of the President backfired, he created a story that RAW is plotting to kill him. This story boomeranged as India displayed its dismay towards this unrealistically fabricated story. On the other hand, rejecting the President, India welcomes the Prime Minister. It is a fact that no Sri Lankan government can survive antagonising India. In the meantime, media reports indicated that China has been opposing leasing of a part of Colombo harbour to an Indian company and allowing India to manage Mattla airport. These two situations might have resulted in China to influence the President to take specific actions to prevent Indias intervention in Sri Lanka with the blessing of the Prime Minister. Therefore, greediness of the President coupled with the Chinese interests played an essential role in the Black Friday Operation. Former President has been very carefully playing cards in the political arena in Sri Lanka. Especially, with the failed no-confidence motion against the Prime Minister and failed political march to Colombo took place a few months ago, he has realised that it was not the apt time for him to grab power. When the people have been rejecting the coalition government mainly due to the rising cost of living, the introduction of special courts to expedite cases against some of his family members, and his inability to defeat the budget proposal in the next month, he might have agreed with the president to become a part of the Operation Black Friday. The President is expecting the support of the former President at the next presidential election creating an alliance with the former President. Mahinda Rajapakse wants to win in the upcoming parliamentary election to be elected as the Prime Minister to pave the way for his son to contest in the 2024 presidential election and to stop all judicial proceedings against him and his family. The question is whether Mahinda Rajapakse could secure a majority at the net parliamentary session to oust Ranil Wickramasinghe. It depends on how both groups could get the members of parliament into their camps. At this point, money plays a vital role to buy the votes. It would be an opportune moment for certain international actors to appear providing funds. The whole country is looking at whether Ranil Wickramasinghe could be able to save the country from sliding towards a dictatorial path. His main weaker point was his inability to translate political freedom into economic prosperity. Therefore, certain politicians and the majority of the people are angry with him. Thus, securing the support of the members of the parliament and the people is crucial for his survival. Even after his survival, he needs to rethink about his political strategy. More importantly, if Mahinda Rajapkase secures his victory, Sri Lanka would face numerous difficulties in the international arena. It would lose all it gains and even might face sanctions from certain countries. Therefore, defeating the Black Friday Operation is the most crucial moment in Sri Lanka political history. The most likely outcome would be dissolving of parliament after 16th of November 2018. Leaders of both communities grossly misread Indias position and motives in the ethnic crisis, which eventually brought the civil war with disastrous economic and strategic consequences. by Dr Ameer Ali ( October 29, 2018, Melbourne, Sri Lanka Guardian) One of the notable features of the current dynamics of Sri Lankan politics is the growing recognition by all parties in the country of Indias growing sensitivity to Sri Lankas major domestic political issues and changes. Historically viewed, this is a post-civil war phenomenon, which arose out of local misperceptions and misreads of Indias position and intensions regarding the unresolved Sinhalese-Tamil ethnic issue. Even though the country is so close to India geographically, so as to lose its insular character, as K. M. Panikkarrightly assessed in his India and the Indian Ocean (1945: p.20), and is culturally entwined, it never became Indias satellite state, in spite of being drawn into the wars of the south Indian kingdoms either in self-defence, or in alliance with one or other of the warring princes. Although the Kandyan kingdom was ruled by the Nayakkar dynastyfrom South India for three quarters of a century between 1739 and 1815 that kingdom remained independent and never fell under the tutelage of Dravidian India. Even colonial Britain ruled Ceylon as a separate crown colony and not as part of India. After independence in 1948 and until the rise of LTTE, India rarely intervened in Sri Lankan domestic political affairs except when called for military assistanceSri Lankan governments, as was the case in the abortive coup detatof 1962 and JVP led youth insurrection of 1971. True, the strategic location of Trincomalee harbour and events surrounding its ownership and control has always been a concern in Indias naval strategy, because India, asstressed by Panikkar,is determined tokeep The Indian Ocean remain fully Indian (op.cit., p. 84). However, Trincomalee was never an issue between India and Sri Lanka until China entered Sri Lankan waters after the civil war by gaining a 99-year leasehold over Hambantota harbour. Likewise, even the issue of status of Indian immigrants in the island, a legacy of British colonialism, was settled amicably and with great statesmanship by the Sirimavo-Shastri Pact of 1964 and Sirimavo-Indira Pact of 1974. This mutual recognition of and non-interference in each others domestic politics has changed dramatically since the end of the civil war. The ubiquity of Indias intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing(RAW) and the regularity of visits by Sri Lankan leaders to Delhi and vice versa for advice and consultation eloquentlyannounces the permanency of Indian interest in Sri Lankan politics.How did this happen? To answer this question one has to understand the contradictory perceptions or rather misperceptions that the Sinhalese and Tamil leadership carried about Indias position and intentions regardingthe ethnic issue. Leaders of both communities grossly misread Indias position and motives in the ethnic crisis, which eventually brought the civil war with disastrous economic and strategic consequences. The Sinhalese intelligentsia, the Buddhist prelates and political leaders had a mortal fear in their mindset fed by partisan historians, archaeologists, political thinkers, novelists and dramatists that India would one day invade Sri Lanka in support of the Tamils. This fear was ingrained in their psyche through distorted pictures about Tamil invasions from South India during the medieval era. That fear understandably became intense when Tamil leaders and especially their LTTE subset, over confidently and overwhelmingly,fulminated about Indian Tamil brethrens readiness to assist in case of war breaking out between the two communities. The willingness of Tamil Nadu rulers, in concert with Delhi leadership, to supply weapons and train Eelam warriors on Indian soil added further to Sinhalese fear and built Tamil hopes. Ultimately, when the Indian air force provocatively intruded Sri Lankas air-space and dropped relief supplies on the Jaffna Peninsula on 4 June 1987 following the failure to send a day before a flotilla of ships loaded with similar cargo the contradictory feelings of both communities reached their respective zenith. Yet, when the war actually broke out and moved towards its tragic crescendo the fear of the Sinhalese and hopes of the Tamils evaporated simultaneously, one with jubilation and the other with disappointment and agony.Both groups misperceived and misread Indias position and intentions. From the point of view of Indias national security Sri Lankan ethnic issue was a non-issue to receive serious attention. Historically, the threat to Indias security always came from the north and not from the south. This was why Indira Gandhi showed keen interest in the then growing separatist troubles between East and West Pakistan, sent Indian forces to assist Mujibur Rahmans MuktiBahini and actualised the cause of an independent Bangladesh. India had to do it for strategic reasons to weaken its arch rival Pakistan against whom she fought three wars. Indias role and interference in this episode raised false hopes among the Tamils that it will do the same in their struggle for an independent Eelam.This was the first misread of Indias tactical and discriminatory interference in the politics of neighbouring countries. The fact that Delhi tolerated Tamil Nadus red carpet reception to Sri Lankan separatist factions and even Delhis preparedness to provide limited supply of arms and training to Tamil fighters was not because of Delhis support to the Tamil struggle for a separate state but because to keep the Tamil Nadu state government on the side of the Central government in Delhi. The need for a central governments stability and continuity in a federal democracy often produces situations that make compromises on unpalatable demands from state governments unavoidable. Such internal diplomatic manoeuvres between Delhi and Chennai werealso misperceived by Sri Lankan Tamil leaders as Tamil Nadus overriding influence over the central government. Also, little did those leaders ponder whether the Tamil Nadu politicians themselves supported the emergence of an independent Tamil Eelam. The late Cho Ramaswamy, a Tamil Brahmin journalist, lawyer and comedian,was quite critical of the hypocrisy of Tamil Nadu politicians such as Karunanidhi, Ramachandran and Jeyalalitha (all of them are dead)for manipulating the Sri Lankan Tamil issue simply to win their own political contests and no more. Objectively speaking, an independent Tamil Eelam will be detrimental to the international status and reputation of Tamil Nadu. In a short note that I published in the London Tamil Times in 1986 I analysed this point which obviously disturbed a number of Eelamists and their fellow travellers.Let me summarise my argument.Even though Tamil Nadu is only a state government and not an independent country, it is, for all intents and purposes, the sole spokesperson in the global arena regarding Tamil language, Tamil culture and Tamil civilization. This is a prestigious situation. However, that position is bound to be jeopardised once anindependent Tamil Eelam is created and recognised internationally. That tiny country with a flag of its own would then have a representative in the UN and that representative would automatically become the sole voice of any Tamil issue raised at world stage. Will Tamil Nadu be prepared to surrender its hegemony to a Tamil Eelam, ruled by leaders, who, in the caste ladder of Indian Brahmanismare not equal even to its lowest rung? Also, from the point of view of Delhi, the tiny Tamil country may even re-energize separatist Dravidian ethnic feelings in Tamil Nadu, which was successfully controlled and subsumed in 1950s under territorial federalism.Finally, instead of one, two independent countries in one small island, but both sharing the same land borders along the Indian Ocean would complicate Indias any future negotiations for maritime security.Thus, neither Delhi nor Chennai was really committed to support Tamil Eelam struggle. The thirty minutes token hunger strike, in sympathy with Sri Lankan Tamils, by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Karunanidhi, at a time when tens of thousands of Tamils were trapped in a redoubt and facing slaughter at the hands of Sri Lankan soldiers exposed Tamil Nadus hypocrisy beyond any doubt. Had these facts been understood by the leaders of the two communities a civil war would have been averted. While an ungrounded fear of India drove Sinhalese politicians to shop around for weapons from multiple source with borrowed money, an overconfident Tamil leadership relying on Tamil Nadus false promises rejected all solutions for a peaceful settlement. Even with all the advantage of superior weapons and larger size of soldiery it was the crucial neutrality of Delhi that actually won the war for the Sri Lankan government. To that,Sri Lankan governments irrespective of their hues are heavily indebt. It was Indias master stroke. India is finally in Sri Lanka without firing a shot.The country has paid a very heavy price for its misperceptions and misreads. However, the sudden sacking of Prime Minister RW by President MS on Friday 26 October, after the PM returned from a recent visit to India, is seen by observers as an attempt by the President to keep India at bay. The newly appointed PM and former President MR, who is yet to prove his majority support in the parliament when it reconvenes on 16 November, is known to be closer to Beijing than Delhi. At the moment there are two PMs and one headman. Indias RAW will be closely watching these developments, and looking from a distance, they do not auger well for Sri Lankas political stability and economic future. (The writer is from School of Business and Governance, Murdoch University, Western Australia.) Despite violent conflicts in the past, Sri Lanka can take pride in the fact that transfer of power to successive administrations was achieved through democratic electoral processes. Parliamentary democracy is a public process not a secret enterprise. Following statement issued by the Australian Advocacy for Good Governance in Sri Lanka ( October 28, 2018, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The dismissal of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe following the withdrawal of the SLFP headed by President Maithripala Sirisena from the government alliance has plunged the country into a political crisis. The president has appointed former president Mahinda Rajapaksa as the new prime minister. The changing of governments and leaders is part and parcel of democracy. But due process needs to be followed, the constitution must not be not violated and the Rule of Law must prevail when such changes take place. Prime Minister Wickremesinghe has contested his dismissal, and the appointment of a new Prime Minister, on the grounds that it does not conform to the 19th Amendment to the constitution. The legality of the Prime Ministers dismissal needs to be resolved by the Supreme Court. Despite violent conflicts in the past, Sri Lanka can take pride in the fact that transfer of power to successive administrations was achieved through democratic electoral processes. Parliamentary democracy is a public process not a secret enterprise. The most urgent need is for Parliament to meet and find ways and means to resolve the crisis. Therefore the National Peace Council is not in agreement with the Presidents action in proroguing Parliament until November 16. We call on the President and Speaker to immediately convene Parliament to enable the person with majority support to be declared the Prime Minister. Even as the political crisis continues the National Peace Council notes the need to maintain discipline in institutions to prevent individuals taking laws into their own hands. Sri Lanka can ill afford unruly takeover of media and other government institutions that can lead to violence between competing political interests. Law enforcement officials need to ensure that the Rule of Law is maintained at all costs despite their own political leanings. It is particularly distressing to us that the steady progress that the country was making in the area of post-war reconciliation could be jeopardized as a result of the political instability that has now besets the polity. In the course of this year the government alliance set up the Office of Missing Persons, returned military occupied land to the civilian population in the north and east, passed legislation to establish an Office for Reparations and the cabinet of ministers approved draft legislation for a Truth Commission. We strongly affirm that these are achievements that need to be built upon and not reversed. Sirisena is entrapped by digging the grave for longstanding democracy in Sri Lanka by Our Political Affairs Editor ( October 29, 2018, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The political situation in Sri Lanka is more serious than anyone could imagine and the consequences could be terribly grave. This is bound to lead to the international community isolating Sri Lanka as rogue nation for denying the rights of the citizen. It is sad to say, even a time like this when the North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un is realistically changing the locked state policies, what we as a reputable democratic nation are doing is constraining the fundamental rights vested upon the citizen for personal political gains. President Sirisena based on his personal judgment sacked the sitting Prime Minister Wickramasinghe and appointed his choice by claiming that his choice has the majority in parliament. But, after MrWickremesinghe claimed that he had the numbers to confirm confidence, the President prorogued Parliament possibly to cover-up the political mayhem he had created. Newly installed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has a hard battle to get the majority of the Parliament. Unconfirmed sources say, one billion Sri Lankan Rupee per head is the minimum price offered for standing against the sitting Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe. Money talks, no matter what situation the people in this country are to face. The sitting Prime Minister by following the law and the constitution of the county quickly decided not to leave the office, and summoned diplomats and media personnel, to share his truth in relation to this drama. That was a clever and intuitively wise decision to manage the crisis situation. President Sirisena has not only deteriorated and disrespected the ethics and norms of the Parliamentary tradition protected by Sri Lanka for decades even under grave situation due to the bloody armed conflicts and insurrections, but most seriously he has breached the constitution. He has intimidated the peoples mandate based on his selfish personal judgment. The decision he made is more a political vendetta against the sitting Prime Minister than for the good of the People of this nation and their protected democratic traditions that we have inherited and have added value to. In his address to the nation, nearly 48 hours after the constitutional havoc he created, Sirisena attempted to justify his decision by evading to answer some of the most fundamental constitutional questions. He acted in a dictatorial manner by proving his total disregard for the mandate secured through majority of this country in 2015. It seems like, he has no knowledge about the constitutional law and reputable democratic values this country maintained or he may be driven by the personal greed for grabbing power and securing his second term. Whatever it may be, this is a pathetic development of a leader on whom majority of people in the country placed their trust. Prevailing constitutional crisis and political turmoil in the country will prove to be one of the most despicable decisions any leader ever made in the history of this country. Undoubtedly, President Sirisena will later experience the effects of his failures and the miscalculations he made. We are not endorsing any of these political parties as they have all done chronic destruction to this country and her people. They have maneuvered their power not to develop the country but to plunder the national assets by abusing power. Not only the President but also sitting Prime Minister Wickramasinghe was allegedly blamed equally for wrongdoings. Not only have both of them, but most of the men around installed Prime Minister Rajapaksa including him also earned terrible reputations. But, all these issues should be solved before the court by following the due processes. No one can humiliate the mandate of the people to whitewash him or herself. The Presidents poignant action has clearly proved that he is not the person who has the commitment to uphold the rights of the citizen of this country. He is a coup-maker by abusing the executive power while ridiculing the adult franchise. He received the majority power and miscalculated his own political future. Consequences will be a far dangerous than are apparent at the moment. Therefore, it is high time for the international community, including Sri Lankans living abroad to help the people in Sri Lanka to protect their democratic values and hard-earned no-conflict environment after the prolonged armed conflict. No one should be allowed to play with the basic rights of the citizen of this country for the sake of their own political desires. The entire episode being played by President Sirisena is not only one of the best political case studies prevailing at global level, but also a plaintive decision based on emotions while hammering ones hope for a better nation. His decision has even destroyed the nationalist movement blooming in the country. Anyone who has a conscience and feelings for this nation and its prevailing deep social crisis will not endorse this sudden feeble political action of President Sirisena. Even if he wins by hook or by crook; he has already damaged the countrys reputation. This misguided and miscalculated emotional action of President Sirisena shows his immaturity to be statesman. It is indeed sad times for this poor nation. The North of England Beef Shorthorn Clubs ninth annual show and sale of bulls and females has attracted another solid entry of 76 head and will again feature a standalone show class for 2016-born senior heifers, plus two others for 2017-born junior heifers. The Hon Gerald Turtons Upsall herd, Britains oldest, based near Thirsk, will not only be bidding to retain its 2017 title, but also possibly eclipse its top price with a junior heifer of 6,500gns, a new centre record for the breed. In total, 14 well-known Beef Shorthorn breeders taking in an area from Scotland down to Cambridgeshire and virtually coast to coast, will be represented at the fixture, among them the locally based Beautry and Hartlington herds. Other herds from further afield also holding entries are Appleton, Glenariff, Sandwick, Gilven, Gonder, Stonehills, Stoneyroyd, Burnfoot, Inglestone, Kimrina and Podehole. The last mentioned is run by Charles and Sally Horrell in Thorney, Peterborough. Mrs Horrell, who is also president of the Beef Shorthorn Society, said she was looking forward to the annual breed highlight, feeling it was growing in both stature and popularity year on year. North and South Korea are set to open the Joint Security Area in the border village of Panmunjom to civilians and tourists as the area is now disarmed. The Defense Ministry here said Sunday that the two Koreas and the UN Command completed the joint verification of disarmament in the JSA and confirmed faithful implementation on Saturday. The two sides began demining operations on Oct. 1 and ended on Oct. 20. They also closed nine guard posts -- four on the South side and five on the North side -- and removed firearms through last week. Soldiers from both sides started standing guard unarmed on Friday. The first standing ovation during a St. Louis vigil for the victims of the mass shooting at Tree of Life synagogue occurred after State Sen. Jill Schupp, D-Creve Coeur, spoke of the need to repair the world. The word repair is not passive, said Schupp, who is Jewish. Thoughts and prayers are critical, but they are not enough. And with that, some 1,500 attendees from across the spectrum of Judaism and various local faith communities stood and erupted into applause. It was one of several moving movements during the gathering Sunday afternoon in the gymnasium at the Jewish Community Center near Creve Coeur. Most of the elected officials and clergy delivered a similar message of the need to unify against anti-Semitism and hate. Some also offered more specifics about condemning rhetoric that targets other groups, such as immigrants, Muslims or LGBT people. ADVERTISEMENT Before allegedly killing 11 people and injuring six others Saturday morning at the Conservative congregation in a Pittsburgh neighborhood during a bris circumcision ceremony, Robert Bowers posted on social media that HIAS, a Jewish organization that aids refugees, 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 has been arrested and charged with 29 criminal counts. After mass shootings, which have occurred with increasing frequency in recent years in the United States, Democratic lawmakers and others often discuss the need to enact stricter gun laws. But at the vigil, speakers stayed away from talking about guns and instead focused on anti-Semitism and hate speech. (Schupp has, for example, advocated for legislation that would require background checks for gun purchases but did not raise the issue at the event.) Interestingly, U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., who spoke before Schupp, did not use the word hate or anti-Semitism or specify what exactly he was condemning. This is clearly a poison that cannot be allowed to spread or cannot be tolerated, said Blunt, who is married to a Jewish woman. It is not new but any evidence of it in our society is unacceptable. A spokesperson for Blunt stated in an email to the Jewish Light said that he was referring to anti-Semitism. Blunt then spoke about threats he had received from the person (Frazier Glenn Miller Jr.) who later killed three people in a 2014 shooting outside the JCC in Overland Park, Kan. This is a moment we should all take as seriously as we possibly can. These ideas are spreading again in other places in the world. We cannot find that acceptable and we cannot find it acceptable in our country, said Blunt. He was joined on stage by U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner, R-St. Louis County. (Her opponent in the upcoming election, the Democrat Cort VanOstran, was in the audience.) A number of national Jewish groups, such as the Anti-Defamation League, linked the attack to a larger increase in anti-Semitism. Unfortunately, this violent attack the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in the United States occurs at a time when ADL has reported a historic increase in both anti-Semitic incidents and anti-Semitic online harassment, ADL National Director Jonathan Greenblatt said in a statement. At the vigil, speakers thanked local Muslims and other religious communities for their support of the Jewish community after this and other recent tragedies. Rabbi Andrea Goldstein of Congregation Shaare Emeth shared a story about a Christian reverend who left an important conference of her faith to share just a few moments here. She did so, Goldstein said, because members of the Jewish community had shown up and supported mourners after the 2015 shooting at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in South Carolina. The Reform rabbi also said that the first calls of concern she received after the synagogue shooting came from our Muslim brothers and sisters. When we think about facing everything and rising, the only way we rise, is to rise together, said Goldstein, who encouraged attendees to respond to the atrocity by becoming involved with local charitable organizations and voting. It is not on the Muslim community to stand for themselves and by themselves. It is not on our brothers and sisters in the LGBTQ community to stand on their own or by themselves. It is not our brothers and sisters of color to stand by themselves and for themselves, and it is not on us as a Jewish community to stand by ourselves, and all of you have shown that is a truth that we know in St. Louis today. Mufti Asif Umar, the imam of the Islamic Foundation of Greater St. Louis, referred to one of Bowers posts filthy EVIL jews Bringing the Filthy EVIL Muslims into the Country!! and said that As you can see we are in the battle together to fight hatred and to fight bigotry. In another touching moment, Rabbi Moshe Shulman of Young Israel of St. Louis asked all the children in the audience to stand. I want you children to look around and know that gathered here is a subset, a representation of the entire community of St. Louis Jew, Christian, Muslim, people of all faiths and political views, and they have come together to pledge one thing: They will do everything in their power to keep you safe, said Shulman, who leads the Modern Orthodox congregation. Andrew Rehfeld, president and CEO of Jewish Federation of St. Louis, called on attendees to own our own role in the toxic state of discourse about hot- button issues. Monitor your social media. Delete posts that attack people, instead of disagreeing about ideas, he said. He also urged people to support political leaders who refuse to personalize our political disagreements, who refuse to target minorities and refuse to create a fear of immigrants in our society. President Donald Trump has been criticized particularly in the wake of the recent spate of pipe bombs sent to Democrats, among others for using combative language against his opponents that, critics say, contributes to such violence, and for his remarks about immigrants. Rehfeld told the Jewish Light after the vigil that he called on people to hold accountable elected officials because there is a lot of really vile rhetoric that is personalizing disagreement throughout political leadership in America today. I think its destructive to our society, and it leads to this kind of hate-filled violence, and it allows anti-Semitism to express itself. After the event, a number of people approached Blunt and asked him to publicly condemn Trumps rhetoric. One woman told Blunt that Trumps words lead to action. They lead to racist, hateful action. When asked about attendees concerns about Trumps rhetoric, Blunt told the Light that he is concerned about rhetoric generally. I think the president is often reflective of the broader lack of concerns about rhetoric. Hes trying to make a point in a world where lots of people say things that shouldnt be said. Paul Wagman, a public relations consultant, said he appreciated the ecumenical nature of the vigil and was also glad to see both Republican and Democratic lawmakers at the event. Even though the majority of the American Jewish community, according to polls, votes Democrat and does not have a favorable view of the president, Wagman said, I think its important that the Jewish community has bridges to the Republican Party, especially in the environment that we are in. That said, Wagman, a member of Central Reform Congregation, thinks there are some obvious contradictions from Republican leaders such as Blunt in offering sympathy and at the same time not offering anything but thoughts and prayers. He pointed to the senators opposition to sensible gun restrictions and to his lack of effort to reign in Trump in his attacks on minorities, let alone other issues. Im talking about hate mongering, and Im talking about sensible gun laws. (In 2016, the Washington Post reported that Blunt had received more campaign donations from the National Rifle Association, a lobbying group that leads opposition to new gun control measures, than any other member of Congress.) Sheri Sherman, a community volunteer and member of Congregation Shaare Emeth, said she was moved by the call for people to respond to the shooting by voting. But she also said she was glad that the vigil was not political. I was thankful for that. Rabbi Josh Bregman, vice president of development at the Missouri Torah Institute, an Orthodox boys high school in Chesterfield, said that he thought the vigil was an incredible show of solidarity across political lines. There were people from different parties involved, different religions, different sects of the Jewish religion, and I think the solid message was to provide comfort for each other and the resource of a community. As to what he would like to see happen now, Rabbi Mendy Rosner, a teacher at the Torah Institute, said: security, and added, Making sure that proper security is in place so that somebody who has this terrible agenda is not able to stroll right in and murder people. A fence or something that will prevent a person from getting that kind of access. On security at synagogues in St. Louis, Rehfeld said, there is a lot of talk about moving to a European model. When you go to Europe, they have this almost military encampment in front of synagogues. I dont think were there at this point. I think its important to treat this seriously but at the same time not overreact. Samsung is looking to launch fifth-generation mobile wireless technology with its Galaxy S10 smartphone set for release early next year. According to industry sources on Sunday, Samsung plans to roll out a 5G version of the Galaxy S10. Bloomberg also reported Friday that the Korean giant is "in talks with Verizon to launch its Galaxy S10 in the U.S. with a fifth-generation wireless chipset." The phone will also feature a fingerprint recognition sensor on its display, a change from the rear side of the device on the previous model. Samsung will also likely add "plus" models with larger screens and a budget model to match Apple's latest releases. Shares is the leading weekly publication for retail investors. It is packed with investment ideas, news and educational material to help build and run portfolios and get more from your money. Shares puts on free Investor Events throughout the year across the country. They provide an opportunity for investors to learn more about companies on the stock market and hear from a range of investment experts including fund managers and Shares journalists. RACEGOERS will have an extra opportunity to enjoy the action at Warwick Racecourse after it was awarded a further raceday for this November. The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has announced that Warwick will host a fixture on Thursday, 29th November taking the number of fixtures held at the racecourse this season up to 19. The afternoon fixture has been transferred to Warwick from Towcester Racecourse, after the Northamptonshire venue went into administration earlier this year. It will feature a seven-race strong card and comes just eight days after the Winter Warmer takes place on Wednesday, 21st November. Andre Klein, general manager at Warwick Racecourse, said: We are very excited at the prospect of staging an additional fixture at Warwick on 29th November and want to give as many racegoers as possible the chance to enjoy the day. Its another great opportunity for people to enjoy racing here at Warwick and we will be putting on reduced entry prices for this bonus fixture than our regular race days. Our popular hospitality boxes have filled up for all of our other remaining fixtures in 2018, so this new raceday will give businesses an opportunity to host clients, customers or their staff in the Paddock Suite. Warwick continues to go from strength to strength as one of the leading small jumps tracks in the country and we hope that racegoers take advantage of this extra opportunity to see what we have to offer at the racecourse. Gates open at 10.05am ahead of the first race at 12.05pm. Entry to race day will be included in season memberships. Under 18s go free on the day, when with a full paying adult. The Kingmaker Restaurant will be open on the day, with a three course lunch with impressive views over the track, a race card and arrival drink for 70. Tickets start from 10 for adults, 5 concessions and are available from www.warwickracecourse.co.uk Huawei seeks to ship 200 million smartphones in 2018 From:ChinaDaily | 2018-10-28 15:09 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. Major Nepali and English broadsheet dailies published from Kathmandu on Monday have published stories about various issues from political, sociocultural and economic spheres. Many newspapers have given the priority of President Bidya Devi Bhandaris Qatar visit that is beginning today. In the meantime, the governments call to file expressions of interest to prepare detailed project report for a vital section of the proposed East-West Railway has also been highlighted. Prime Minister KP Sharma Olis ill health also continues to one of the most highlighted issues on the front pages of major newspapers today. Likewise, some decisions of the Cabinet meeting held yesterday have also been highlighted. Important President leaving for Qatar trip Gorkhapatra, Nepal Samacharpatra and Rajdhani have reported that President Bhandari is leaving on a four-day formal trip to the Gulf country this morning. A Cabinet meeting held yesterday had approved the visit schedule. Foreign Affairs Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali and Foreign Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi will also be part of the delegation. Likewise, it will also include some businesspersons from the private sector, reports Rajdhani. Quoting sources at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nepal Samacharpatra reports that delegations of the two countries will hold discussions on cooperation for agriculture and livestock development and security among other issues on the occasion. Proposals called to prepare East-West Railway DPR Gorkhapatra and Kantipur report on their front pages that the government has changed its initial plan for the proposed East-West Railway and called contractors to file expressions of interest for preparing the detailed project report. Though the initial plan was to construct the Nijgadh-Hetaunda-Bharatpur section of railway through Chitwan National Park, it will now be constructed outside the protected land, according to the reports. KUKL staff found selling water Staff deployed at the Bhainsepati distribution centre of Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited, a government corporation formed to distribute water to locals of Kathmandu, have been found selling water to pocket additional income, according to reports in Nagarik and Republica. Although the actual price of 6,000 litre load of water per tanker costs Rs 2,330, the staffers are selling it on the sly at just Rs 1,100, the Republica report informs. Ignored Fewer trees to be chopped down for Nijgadh airport A three column story in Karobar reports that the government has reduced the number of trees to be chopped down for the second international airport in Nijgadh, apparently after stakeholders objected to the plan. Initially, trees in 1,641 hectares of land were said to be cut down. However, it has now been reduced to 1,300 hectares, according to the report. Local leaders love for foreign visits continues Elected leaders of local level governments are seen loving foreign trips too much as past two months recorded visits of 23 delegations comprising the officials, Annapurna Post reports in a two column box story. The Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, which has to give permission to the leaders for international trips, many visit plans have been finalised for upcoming months. New law to mend centre-province ties The Kathmandu Post informs in its lead story that the federal government is preparing to enact necessary laws through ordinance in order to facilitate the works of provincial governments and to avert possible confrontation with them. Meanwhile, the government is also preparing to call a meeting of Inter-Provincial Council in mid-November, reports The Himalayan Times. Provinces perform too poor in budget spending Whereas stakeholders have been expressing concerns over the federal governments capacity to carry out development infrastructures on time and make right amounts of budget, newly formed seven provincial governments look even slower, according to The Himalayan Times lead story. The federal government spent 15 per cent of its total budget in the first quarters, but the figure for provincial governments is from 0/62 to 4.27 percent. Interesting 39 per cent share investors are women Kantipur reports in a three column story that the share of women investors in Nepals capital market is ever increasing and it has reached 39 per cent now. Official data show that 1.336 demat accounts have been created to facilitate share transactions and 39 per cent of the account holders are women. Stakeholders say womens participation used to be nominal in the part, but they are seen active in transactions these days. Serving citizens through effective delimitation By Anila Dias Bandaranaike Ph.D. View(s): View(s): This article attempts to explain delimitation and how it can benefit citizens. It is written in response to recent exposure to peoples perceptions across Sri Lanka about delimitation and related issues. Those experiences suggested that general awareness among people, including those engaged in politics, was limited and fraught with misconceptions. The article is based on the study of past delimitation work in Sri Lanka and recent work on delimitation and related issues. It is hoped that this, and other articles to follow, will encourage understanding, public discussion and debate on these issues towards serving the country better. What is delimitation? Delimitation is the method of demarcating geographical boundaries for specific purposes. These could be within a neighbourhood, a country or a region. For example, our own residential property and those of our immediate neighbours are separated by geographical boundaries such as roads, streams, fences or walls. This ensures that each of us can take decisions about our properties (whether to paint our house, build a kitchen, grow vegetables or flowers, plant a tree, etc.) as we wish. Similarly, countries have geographical boundaries to determine their area of authority. The boundary could be the ocean, as in Sri Lanka, rivers, mountain ranges or barbed wire fences, as on the Indo-Pakistan border. A land-locked country such as Nepal needs physically identifiable boundaries to distinguish its area of authority from that of its neighbour, India. In all these examples, boundaries are needed to define areas of authority for specific purposes. The purpose of delimitation within a country is usually to determine the most relevant and appropriate way to demarcate geographical areas for purposes such as 1) collecting demographic or land information, 2) public administration, 3) providing education, health, public safety and other services to citizens or 4) creating electorates to enable people to vote for representatives at local, provincial or national government level. Why do we need delimitation? Let us believe that every nation strives to improve the well-being of its citizens and safeguard its natural resources (environment). To achieve these objectives, people need services, such as education, health, public safety and justice, while the environment needs resources to protect land, water bodies and surrounding seas. For example, protection against flooding, landslides and sea erosion needs resources and action plans in vulnerable areas. Furthermore, in any democratic country, the people are entitled to select their representatives to address their needs at different levels of government (local, provincial and national) through a democratic voting system. Also, regular, up-to-date demographic and geographical information has to be collected across the country for the effective and efficient use of resources and provision of services, including the conduct of elections. For example, data on the age distribution of the population are required to allocate resources required for primary, secondary and tertiary education as well as for child, adult and geriatric health care. Similarly, data on land under forestry and different crops are required to allocate water for irrigation. Efficient and cost-effective provision of resources and services also needs an effective, disaggregated administration system. The country needs to be broken down into smaller, more manageable geographical units to collect disaggregated information, administer a population, provide services and resources or elect peoples representatives. Delimitation does the task of creating such smaller geographical units, by taking account of necessary factors that distinguish one part of the country from another, whether in relation to people or land area and terrain, to ensure equitable access to administration, services or political representation for people in all parts of the country. As the population expands and becomes increasingly urbanised, the demography of the country and the physical environment constantly change over time. Therefore, these boundaries also require review and revision from time to time. Hence, a country needs an equitable and effective delimitation process based on a uniform framework underpinned by well-established principles. Current structures in Sri Lanka Sri Lanka has nine provinces, which are divided into 25 administrative districts. For purposes of public administration, Sri Lankas largest administrative units are districts. In turn, the 25 districts are divided into 331 Divisional Secretariat divisions which are divided into 14,022 Grama Niladari Divisions (GNDs), the smallest administrative units in the country. In parallel, for purposes of elected representation, the parliamentary system has 22 electoral divisions, the Provincial Government system provides for 437 elected representatives in nine Provincial Councils, while the Local Government system provides for 8,325 elected representatives in 336 Local Government Authorities. For service delivery in key areas, there are 340 Medical Officer of Health (MOH) areas, 311 Educational Divisions and 439 Police areas in the country, to mention a few. Provinces and Administrative Districts and their boundary limits are clearly stated in the Constitution of Sri Lanka and/or the relevant Acts. The boundaries of an Administrative District or a Province may be altered only by a resolution passed by Parliament and/or amendments to the Constitution. Since 1946, Delimitation Commissions have been appointed under the Constitution from time to time for the purpose of delimiting electoral boundaries for parliamentary elections. If the necessity arises to change or alter the boundaries of Provinces or Administrative Districts, there is a procedure to appoint a Delimitation Committee (not Commission) to undertake boundary delimitation with the approval of Parliament. Similarly, the task of revising Divisional Secretariat, GND administrative boundaries, as well as provincial and local government electoral boundaries had been assigned in the past to different Delimitation Committees appointed by different authorities for such specific tasks from time to time. Delimitation of geographical boundaries for any service delivery (e.g. education, health, etc.) is undertaken by the relevant service authority. While the objectives of equitable access for the people and safeguarding of the land would be the same in all these cases, as specified above, until now, the delimitation procedures have been ad hoc. Against this background, Sri Lanka needs to review its several delimitation processes and come up with a single system that would optimise on existing resources to provide for equitable, efficient and effective delimitation for electoral representation, administration and service delivery in the country. Basis for a framework The reliability of the delimitation process depends on whether it is perceived to accommodate the needs and aspirations of different communities among the population, whether by income level, economic activity, gender, age, ethnicity, religion, political affiliation or any other differentiating factor, in an equitable manner. Any attempt to delimit boundaries in a discriminatory manner or give advantage to a particular sub-population is called gerrymandering and leads to loss of credibility of the delimitation process. Gerrymandering should be avoided at all costs. The delimitation process cannot only be based on broad population numbers and land areas, but should also recognise differentiating factors within and between communities, in particular, the needs of minority groups (whether by income level, economic activity, gender, age, ethnicity, religion, political affiliation or any other differentiating factor), whose voices are less easily heard than those of the majority, and the variations in geographical and physical features of each part of a country that would affect access to its people and land. Countries delimit in different ways. Sometimes it is based on traditional boundaries, sometimes on the physical characteristics of the region and sometimes on the social, political and cultural contexts of the area. Sri Lanka needs a system that suits its social, cultural and geographical diversity. General principles for delimitation process Independence: The delimitation process should be independent and equitable. Consideration of two key factors: n Total population within boundaries, recognising the needs of all citizens n Total land within boundaries, recognising differences in area, terrain and the need to safeguard, land, water and forest resources Inclusiveness and representativeness: Delimitation should address the well-being of each individual and the safeguarding of each unit of land equitably. Unbiasedness: The Delimitation process should not be biased towards any sub-population or any land area. It should recognise the plurality and multicultural diversity of people in the country. The needs of these diverse groups should be achieved, to the best extent possible, without compromising on any other aspects of equitable representation. Transparency: The process of delimitation and its outcomes should be accessible to each citizen. Legality: The delimitation process should adhere to the spirit of and be in accordance with the relevant laws. It is to be hoped that citizens recognise the need for reform in this area, discuss and debate on the issues at hand and lobby for a single, independent delimitation process for all three purposes discussed above, namely, administration, service delivery and political representation. (Since November 2015, the author has been a member of the three-member Delimitation Commission, one of 9 Independent Commissions appointed by the President under the 19th Amendment to the Constitution. She was also a member of the Delimitation Committee for Provincial Council Elections appointed by the President in October 2017, which completed its task in February 2018, within its four-month mandate. She retired as Assistant Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka in 2007.) The Digital Divide Is Impeding Development By Mukhisa Kituyi, exclusive to the Sunday Times in Sri Lanka View(s): View(s): GENEVA It is easy to assume that access to the digital economy is ubiquitous, and that online shopping is the natural evolution of commerce. For example, in July, Amazon sold more than 100 million products to consumers worldwide during its annual Prime Day event, a $4.2 billion bonanza that included sales of table salt in India, Coke Zero in Singapore, and toothbrushes in China. But figures like these mask the fact that for many people in developing countries, the road to e-commerce is riddled with potholes. Simply put, the growth of e-commerce is not automatic, and the spread of its benefits is not guaranteed. Some of the obstacles are logistical. On the tiny South Pacific island of Tuvalu, for example, fewer than ten streets in the capital, Funafuti, are named, and only about 100 homes have a postal address. Even if everyone in Tuvalu had access to the Internet (which they dont; only 13% of the countrys population had broadband in 2016, according to the World Bank), delivery of goods purchased online would be difficult. Elsewhere, billions of people lack bank accounts and credit cards, and in many developing countries, consumer-protection laws do not extend to goods purchased online. These challenges are particularly acute for people in Sub-Saharan Africa, in remote island states, and in several landlocked countries. By contrast, in most developed economies, well-functioning postal systems and strong legal frameworks mean that products can be purchased online and delivered without a second thought. But e-commerce is only one facet of the evolving digital economy. Innovation, production, and sales are all being transformed by technology platforms, data analytics, 3D printing, and the so-called Internet of Things (IoT). By 2030, the number of IoT-connected devices is expected to reach 125 billion, compared to 27 billion in 2017. Moreover, this rapid pace of digital tethering is occurring even as half the worlds population remains unconnected from the Internet. If left unaddressed, the yawning gap between under-connected and hyper-digitalized countries will widen, exacerbating existing inequalities. Levels of digitalization may even influence whether countries are able to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals set by the international community for tackling challenges like hunger, disease, and climate change. That is why I believe more must be done to support poor countries as they strive to integrate into the digital economy. How that economy will develop is difficult to predict. But we already know that actions taken by governments, donors, and development partners will determine the way forward. One effort the Going Digital project, launched by the OECD in 2017 is helping countries seize opportunities and prepare for technological disruption. Areas of focus include competition, consumer protection, innovation and entrepreneurship, insurance and pensions, education, governance, and trade. It is a holistic approach that specialists in development cooperation should emulate. Moreover, by the end of the next decade, information and communication technology (ICT) will drive economic growth and power productivity gains. To thrive, people will need new skills and knowledge, and countries will require updated policies to protect online users. Small companies, including those owned and operated by women, will be especially vulnerable to the changing business environment. Unfortunately, only 1% of all funding provided by Aid for Trade an initiative by World Trade Organization members to help developing countries improve their trading infrastructure is currently being allocated to ICT solutions. Similarly, multilateral development banks are investing just 1% of their total spending on ICT projects, and only about 4% of this limited investment is being spent on policy development, work that is critical if digital economies are to be well regulated. At my organization, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, we are creating strategies to help developing countries leverage their assets and improve digital capabilities. One initiative, eTrade for all, is aimed at making it easier for developing countries to source financial and technical assistance. Since the programs inception two years ago, nearly 30 global partners have been recruited, and an online platform has linked governments with organizations and donors to share resources, expertise, and knowledge. The G20 is also planting its flag on this issue; in August, I joined G20 ministers in Argentina to discuss what can be done to spread the benefits of the digital transformation. Needless to say, the meeting could not have come at a better time. Still, while programs and summits can offer the worlds developing and least-developed countries a place to start in their push for greater connectivity, more support is needed if we are ever to close the digital divide. With billions of people still below the first rung of the digital ladder, the climb to prosperity is becoming more challenging than ever. (Mukhisa Kituyi is Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development) Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2018. www.project-syndicate.org Theres no honour among politicians I remember my first job interview. View(s): View(s): Having just got my degree and desirous of a career in journalism, I had to fill up an application in which I gave the names of two respectable referees who could vouch for me, present myself for an interview with my original certificates (there were no photocopiers in those days) and then submit myself to questioning by a panel of three gentlemen well experienced in the newspaper world. It was only after I had satisfied them that I had the knowledge, temperament and stick-to-it-iveness to do the job I had applied for that they selected me for what was my first paid employment. I imagine that most of my readers can remember how they got their first job. We had to prove our potential to deliver the goods so we could be entrusted with the task for which we would be paid. What a contrast to the way we select the people who govern us! The only qualification a politician needs these days is the ability to convince or hoodwink a bunch of gullible voters to elect him or her to parliament or a council. Neither relevant experience nor educational qualifications related to the task they will have to perform are required. Once someone is elected to parliament by us voters, their next step is achieving the objective of becoming a minister with all the perks and privileges that it brings. It does not matter whether one is a full-fledged cabinet minister or a deputy minister or a project minister what matters is that one is accorded the privilege of being labelled Minister with a pork barrel at ones disposal. As to which ministry one receives, it depends entirely on how useful one can be to ones leader. Someone who has no concept of health economics or preventive health can be made Minister of Health while someone who does not know the difference between a sergeant and a wing commander (after all, they both have three stripes on their uniforms) can be entrusted with the vital job of Defence Minister. What seems to matter is not the ministers knowledge and experience or even his or her capability of doing the job but how loyal and useful he or she would be to the leader. Sometimes, parking someone in a particular ministry can be a tactic that keeps that particular minister in a position where he cannot be a threat or mount a challenge to the leader. And the shifting allegiances and loyalties demonstrated by politicians all over the world make us citizens want to cringe. Just look at the US, where in 2016 Senator Ted Cruz of Texas opposed Donald Trumps attempt to become president. Trump referred to Cruz as Lyin Ted while Cruz used to blast Trump as a delusional narcissist. Come 2018, with Cruz struggling to retain his senate seat in next months election, he has swallowed his pride and requested Trump to come down to Texas to campaign for him. And in our own country, President Mahinda Rajapaksa received a rude shock in 2014 when his loyal Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena came to his house to have dinner and the very next day disloyally betrayed him by leaving the cabinet to challenge him for the presidency. It is not difficult for us now to draw the conclusion that it was not so much a desire to restore democracy or save the nation that prompted Sirisena and his supporters within the SLFP to go against Rajapaksa. After all, they had not protested when Rajapaksa impeached the chief justice, curtailed freedom of speech or used violence against demonstrators. As Rajapaksa consolidated power within his own family and continued to exclude more and more people from the political process, senior SLFP members like Sirisena began to realise that this process of marginalisation was excluding them from what they saw as their rightful share of power and the benefits that came with it. It was only then that Sirisena and his backers decided to go against Rajapaksa. And now, just like Ted Cruz humbly seeks the help of Donald Trump to stay in power, Maithripala Sirisena appears to be humbly seeking the help of Mahinda Rajapaksa to shore up the sinking Yahapalana government and stay on in power. It was not so long ago, in August 2015, that Sirisena wrote a five-page letter to Rajapaksa in which he stated, Should the party secure a majority, the prime minister should be another senior, but not you. Even if I have to intervene to form a coalition, you will not be the prime minister. Fast forward to October 2018 and we find the same Sirisena meeting Rajapaksa to have dinner at S.B. Dissanayakes home. Whether they had hoppers and coffee as they did on that fateful night in 2014 or whether they munched on cadju nuts supplied by SriLankan Airlines is not known. But what is known is that the men who fiercely contested each other for the presidency in January 2015 are now seeking to get together. The guiding principle of all these politicians whether it be Ted Cruz or Maithripala Sirisena is to employ all means at their disposal, even making friends and sucking up to their former enemies, so they can stay in power for as long as possible. It has long been said that there is Honour Among Thieves but what we can clearly see is that there is no Honour Among Politicians. The two weeks between Nepals two biggest festivalsDashain and Tiharis a relaxing period for many. But, these two weeks make Parashu Ram Shahi, 53, and his three dozen colleagues, anxious. As Kathmanduites prepare for the Festival of Lights, Shahi is busy preparing for the worse. A firefighter for past 17 years, Shahi says Kathmandu Valley witnesses five to 10 incidents of fire during Tihar every year. Juddha Barun Yantra, the fire brigade operated by Kathmandu Metropolitan City, has never had sufficient staff. Further, a multitude of other problems caused due to inefficient leadership and ignorant locals have made firefighting a risky job. Keeping life at stake every moment In the past 17 years, Shahi has dealt with more than 1,000 fires, mostly in Kathmandu. On an average, our office deals with around 200 cases a year. Our workforce is divided into three groups to work three shifts. It means each of us gets around 60 cases a year, he says. If the firefighters were in any other profession, an extended work experience would boost their confidence. But, Shahi still feels the same jitters during a fire now as he felt when he started out. I feel my life is at stake at every moment. No one knows what happens the next minute. He says that there were at least three moments when he thought he would die. While controlling the fire at a five-storey wooden house next to Bir Hospital seven years ago, all of the firefighters fell off the roof. Then, we were working on the ground floor. We could not escape as it was smoky, he narrates. It was only after few minutes that we managed to come out. We were saved only because the hospital was just a few metres away. However, one of my colleagues lost his hand. He had a developed similar feeling around one-and-half years ago. A gas cylinder depot in Maharajgunj caught fire at night, he explains, When we reached, the entire hut had been reduced to ashes. Some dogs had been charred. At first we regretted not being able to control the fire. But, once we assessed the situation there, we felt a sigh of relief, he says, The inferno was so uncontrolled that it could devour us if it was two minutes ago. I thanked god we were late. Countering untoward challenges It was an exceptional case. In general, getting late equals bigger challenges. As time passes, the fires get more intense and require more effort and resources. But, this is not the only disadvantage of getting to incidents late. There is something that common people like you fail to realise, a serious Shahi says, If we get late, locals abuse us. They say you just had a party at your office while we are dying; its as if we started the fire, he adds, Further, some groups obstruct our work. They seize our equipment and tell us to return. We cannot argue and convince them that we were there for service. We have to stay silent and in the meantime the fire rages on. Shahi says the major reason behind such a delay is traffic congestion. Secondly, bluff calls: some stupid people call the fire brigade to entertain themselves. Every time, we need to confirm with local police and other sources if the call is genuine. It means it will take at least two minutes for us to leave our station, he says, Two minutes is a very long time. Kathmandu Valley has three fire stations. The biggest station in Basantapur has four fire engines and eight fire bikes. However, the stations in Lalitpur and Bhaktapur have two fire engines and one bike each. Shahi argues that the number of stations is not sufficient to cover the area. Similarly, there are not enough tanks to refill the engines. While each of three stations has small capacity tanks, the major reservoir for all the brigades is Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limiteds tank station in Mahankal, Bauddha. If a house catches fire in Kalanki, we have to fetch water from Mahankal. Do you know the distance between these two places and the time it takes given the citys perpetual traffic jams? he questions. Likewise, many human settlements in the core city areas are inaccessible to fire engines. Shahi informs that firefighters use motorbikes and/or longer hoses in such situations. He, however, maintains that they are not enough in some cases. The leaderships apathy Shahi blames the city leadership and voters who elect such leaders, as well as administrators for the challenges he faces. Many foreign organisations frequently invite us to participate in firefighting training. But, we never get a chance as our bosses pounce on such opportunities, Shahis sharp satire comes out, Maybe because we cannot speak English and they can! If the local people want, they can easily change this situation, the fireman believes. Instead of shouting at poor staffers like us, the locals should demand that the authority establish fire stations and water tanks in their area. Kathmandu districts fire station has four fire engines, and they are parked at the same place. Why cant they demand that these engines be placed at four corners of the city? Likewise, the municipal government should recruit more firefighters and allocate more funds to equip them with better technologies and apparatuses, he suggests. We want a conducive environment to work because our job is important for the life of citizens. We are concerned about protecting them, he says adding, Fighting with fires, okay; but other issues, no, please! We too want to work in peace. Kathmandu, October 29 Rastriya Prajatantra Party Chairman and former Deputy Prime Minister Kamal Thapa has predicted that Nepal will suffer a political turmoil after neighbouring India will hold general elections in April-May next year. I can see the possibility of a big storm in Nepals national politics after the polls, Thapa tells Onlinekhabar in an interview, Nepal will head towards instability and anarchy again after around seven months. Thapa claims many political interest groups are waiting for a right time to show their strength in the country, and they will get the time after the Indian polls will be over. According to him, these groups include Netra Bikram Chand Biplav-led communist outfit and CK Rauts secessionist group. Congress and Madhesh-centric parties are also waiting for the opportunity. If we fail to address emerging problems carefully, we will reach an accident. The accident may destroy current political system, he says, It will invite foreign interference and it will ultimately lead to a separation. Therefore, all political parties should keep people at the centre, elevating themselves up from vested interests of their parties, he suggests, adding, Our future will also depend on how Prime Minister KP Oli and the ruling party move ahead. Home Just In Nepal PM admitted to hospital after chest infection Kathmandu, October 29 Nepals Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has been admitted to Kathmandu-based Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in the wee hours of Monday after his personal physicians reported chest infection. PM Oli was rushed to the hospital, which is just few minutes away from his official residence in Baluwatar, around four hours after the midnight, according to his secretariat. Doctors at Manmohan Cardiothoracic Vascular and Transplant Centre in TUTH organised a press conference at the hospital premises this morning to brief media about his health condition. They said the leaders chest was infected whereas the sugar level was imbalanced. Gradual improvements have been observed and other indicators are normal, the Centres Executive Director Uttam Krishna Shrestha informed. Cardiologist Dr Arun Sayami, a member of the team looking after Oli, said the Prime Minister would be requested to stay at the hospital for next two days. Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who shares the Nepal Communist Party chairmanship with Oli, visited the Prime Minister at the hospital this morning. Owing to his ill health, Oli had missed a tea party hosted by his own party on Saturday afternoon. His secretariat, however, had reported on Sunday afternoon that his condition improved. Home Just In Nepal President leaves for official Qatar trip Kathmandu, October 29 Nepals President Bidya Devi Bhandari has left for a four day official visit to Qatar upon the invitation of Qatari Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, on Monday morning. Vice-President Nanda Bahadur Pun saw her off at the Tribhuvan International Airport before a special troop of Nepal Army paid a guard of honour. A Cabinet meeting held on Sunday had approved the visit. During President Bhandaris visit, the two countries will sign agreements on cooperation in agriculture and livestock development, health, security, press and information among others. The two countries have expressed their hope that the visit would strengthen the bilateral ties. Bhandari will return home on Thursday. Home Business New agreement lets Nepalis work in Malaysia at zero cost Kathmandu, October 29 Nepal and Malaysia on Monday have signed a labour agreement, according to which the Kuala Lumpur government will let Nepali workers take up employment opportunities in Malaysia at zero cost. It means the employers will have to cover all costs involved in the recruitment process including flight tickets. The visa will be granted free of cost. Nepals Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security Gokarna Bista and Malaysias Minister for Human Resources M Kulasegaran signed the agreement at a function organised in Kathmandu today. The agreement will resume the migration of Nepali workers which was stalled for past few months after Nepal government stopped issuing permits in a bid to force Malaysia for the agreement. Before that, complaints were rife about cheating of the workers by recruitment agencies. The new agreement also specifies provisions about different types of leaves and salary payment system. Malaysia has been one of the biggest hosts for Nepali migrant workers for past few decades. Kathmandu, October 29 Province 1 Chief Minister Sher Dhan Rai has decided to visit Bumrungrad International Hospital in Bangkok of Thailand after hospitals of Nepal failed to diagnose a problem that he is suffering from. For past few months, he has developed unnecessary shivering of neck. He visited different hospitals of the country in a bid to identify the problem. Upon the failure, a recent meeting of provincial Council of Ministers approved his visit. Therefore, Rai is scheduled to fly to the Thai capital this Saturday. Meanwhile, Rai has clarified that he is not taking any fund from the government to cover his expenses during the trip. I am visiting Bangkok on my own expenses during Tihar holidays. I have made the decision only after my disease could not be diagnosed by many hospitals of Nepal. Bumrungrad is the place where Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli also goes often. George Washington was acutely aware that he had become a legend in his time, a true myth, and he recognized that the presidency made possible the institutionalization of the role he had been playing. That is to say, he endowed the presidency with the capacityand the awesome responsibilityto serve as the symbol of the nation, of what it is and what it can aspire to be. The men who established the American republic were acutely aware that they lived in a pivotal era in human history, and they eagerly rose to the occasion. They were all impelled by a love of liberty, but a large number were, in addition, driven by a desire for immortal Famethe grateful remembrance of a distant posterity. To put it simply, they wanted to remain alive and be cherished in your memory and mine. It may be that the Founders were as unlucky in their choice of posterity as they were lucky in their choice of time in which to live, for the American people are notoriously lacking in a knowledge of the past. But until Goals 2000 ensures that our children will learn nothing of our past, we still can assume that there is one American of the Founding generation whose name everybody knows: George Washington. And yet, knowledge of just what he did is far from widespread. Beyond the cherry tree episode (which never happened) and the fact that he was the first President, most Americans do not know why they should remember and cherish him. What I propose to do is to describe what he was like and thereby help us cherish his memory. Let us begin with an overview. No historian doubts that Washington was the Indispensable Man of the epoch. By sheer force of character he created the Continental Army and held it together, under extremely adverse circumstances, for the eight years it took to win independence. His awesome prestige created the atmosphere in which the Philadelphia Convention of 1787 could draft a constitution that the states would ratify; and it is certain that the office of president was created only because he was available to fill it. Moreover, he never abused or sought to aggrandize his power, and he voluntarily surrendered power when a job was done, though he might easily have held it for life. On the opposite hand, no scholar who has studied Washington would maintain as schoolchildren used to be taughtthat the man was flawless. As a soldier he was capable of rashness and poor judgment. He was addicted to gambling, indulged in a good deal of wenching, and was said to be a most horrid swearer. He was vain, a bit pretentious, and hot tempered; and though he was a perfect gentleman in public, he was sometimes not in private. Yet he was respected, admired, even revered by his countrymen, and he was the most trusted man of the age. What is more, and different, he was the most trustworthy man. Why he was so trusted, and came to be so trustworthyin revolutionary circumstances of a kind that almost invariably breed Caesars, Cromwells, Castros, and Stalinsare questions that must be examined if we are to understand Washingtons true legacy. In regard to his being trusted, it is easy to overlook a crucial ingredient, that Americans sorely needed someone to trust. Partly this need arose from the perilousness of the undertaking on which they embarked in 1776. They had no way of knowing whether they would be founders or failures: the winners in such circumstances are called Patriots, the losers are hanged as traitors. But there is more to it than that. Difficult as it may be to imagine, Americans were a monarchical people, a people who loved their kings. George III had been especially beloved, and when he betrayed Americans by making war on them, they reacted by embracing republicanism and by refusing to entrust executive power to anyone. And yet the craving for a symbol to embody the nation remained. In this diverse new entity the United States of Americait was not enough to have leaders, no matter how virtuous or capable; there had to be one above all others. As Americans had earlier referred to George III as The Father of His People, they now needed someone to call The Father of His Country, if there were to be a country, and not thirteen separate countries. Washington satisfied this need, and not least because he looked the part. Tall and powerfully built, he was the most graceful figureon horseback, as Jefferson put it, and was instantly recognized as the commander in chief even by soldiers who had never seen him before. When Abigail Adams finally met him in 1789 she was moonstruck. She gushed, as had the Queen of Sheba when first setting eyes on Solomon, the half was not told me. His physical appearance was complemented by an aura, not merely of strength, but of invincibility. His immunity to gunfire seemed almost supernatural. Early in his career a treacherous guide fired at him from point-blank rangeand missed. Once he rode between two columns of his own men who were firing at one another by mistake and struck up their guns with his swordthe musket balls whizzed harmlessly by his head. Time and time again during the Revolutionary War musket balls tore his clothes, knocked off his hat, shredded his cape, horses were killed under him, but he was never touched. What mortal could refuse to entrust his life to a man whom God obviously favored? What country could refuse to do so? But if it was his natural gifts that made others prone to trust him, there remains the question, how did he come to be worthy of trust? The answer is, he made himself that way. To understand how he did it, we must turn to the prevailing ideas about the nature of the human animal. Virtually every American at the time believed in Godthe God of both the Old Testament and the New which meant that, while they believed in the possibility of redemption in the hereafter, they also believed in original sin, in the inherent baseness of man. And yet, though man could not escape his nature, there were a number of ways he could improve himself. All of them rested on the premise that the social instinct is a primary force; the desire to have the approval of ones peers ranked with the physical appetites in motivating people. A perceptive person could turn this instinct into an engine for self-improvement, which is what Washington did. As a child he devoutly wished to become a country gentleman (a status he was by no means born to) and toward that end he recorded and followed 110 Rules of Civility and Decent Behaviour in Company and Conversation. These rules were a manual of etiquette for circumstances ranging from being at the dinner table (Being Set at meat Scratch not neither Spit Cough or blow your Nose except theres a Necessity for it) to being In Company of those of Higher Quality than yourself. Notice the adolescent Washingtons phraseology: those of Higher Quality than yourself. Eighteenth-century Virginia society was highly stratified, as was society throughout Europe. Washington was acutely conscious of his own social position, for as a teenager he had been taken under the wing of a wealthy, titled family, the Fairfaxes. From watching them, and also from a play he saw for the first time in his late teens, he learned to aim higher than just seeking the approval of his peers. The play was Joseph Addisons Cato, and its message was clear: Addison advised young Washington to follow precisely the opposite course from that recommended by Shakespeares Polonius. In Hamlet, Polonius says: This above all: to thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man. Shakespeare put those words in the mouth of a prattling fool, and Addisons message is that, for public men, they are foolish words. Rather, he says: Do not trust in your own righteousness. Instead, be true to others; seek the esteem of the wise and the good, and it follows that you cannot then be false to yourselfor to your country. Washington made that a guiding star for his own conduct. Later, when circumstances and his achievements made it possible, he aimed his sights even higher, and he sought by conscious design to earn the esteem of posterity, of generations of discerning and virtuous people yet unborn. That was one way Washington improved himself. Another was through the concept of character. The term character was rarely used in the eighteenth-century as we use it, to refer to internal moral qualities. Rather, at least in polite society and among people in public life, it referred to a persona or mask that one deliberately selected and always wore: one picked a role, like a part in a play, and sought to act it unfailingly, ever to be in character. If one chose a character with which one was comfortable, and if one played it long enough and consistently enough, it became a second nature that in practice superseded the first. One became what one pretended to be. The results, for good or ill, depended upon the character or characters chosen and upon how well one acted the part. Washington chose to play a progression of characters, each grander and nobler than the last, and he played them so successfully that he ultimately transformed himself into a man of almost extrahuman virtue. The first character to which he aspired was that of the country gentleman. This entailed becoming a successful commercial farmer. Washingtons inheritance was small, but he worked skillfully as a tobacco planter and steadily increased his holdings. It did not hurt that he married a wealthy widow, whose property was greater than his. (As an aside I must point out that Washington, like his neighbors, employed slave labor. At the time, slavery was legal in almost every country on earth. Washingtons duty, he believed, was merely to treat his slaves humanely. He gradually changed his mind, however, and in his will he freed his slaves. Though many other Virginians, including Jefferson, talked about the evils of slavery, none followed Washingtons example. Moreover, Washington made provision for supporting his former slaves who were too old to support themselves. His estate was paying pensions to them as late as 1833.) The key to Washingtons success as a farmer was that, in an age in which scientific farming was in its infancy, he became the scientific farmer par excellence. He read every book and journal on the subject, and he exchanged letters with experts throughout Europe. He conducted endless experiments and made endless calculations (my favorite is that he determined that there were 13,411,000 grains in a bushel of timothy). He invented a plow that automatically dropped seeds in the furrows. He was his own architect in the construction of Mount Vernon. He conducted time and motion studies a century-and-a-half before efficiency experts introduced the concept into American manufacturing. And he became an immensely wealthy man by the time of the Revolution. Already, however, he had aspired to and succeeded in his first public character, that of a military hero. At the age of twenty-two he was entrusted with command of Virginia troops sent to the back-country in what turned out to be the beginnings of the French and Indian War. He took to warfare enthusiastically. I heard the bullets whistle, he wrote to a younger brother, and, believe me, there is something charming in the sound. He made mistakes, but in the crucial Battle of the Wilderness, he offered his commanding British general advice which, had it been followed, would have saved the day. Instead the British employed conventional tacticsand were slaughtered. Washington emerged as a hero, and was regarded throughout the colonies as a man destined to do great things. His opportunity came twenty years later, when the Continental Congress convened to defend American liberties against British encroachments. Washington was the obvious choice for commander in chief, partly because he was the only American with an intercolonial reputation as a fighting man, partly because as a Virginian in charge of New England troops he would give the army a national flavor. However, lest Congress overlook the obvious, Washington attended its sessions dressed in a splendid generals uniform designed especially for the occasion. On the motion of John Adams, he was given the command. Washington and his men drove the British out of Boston early in 1776, but soon thereafter things began to go badly. The Americans failed to defend New York, and Washingtons army was forced to retreat to Pennsylvania. Part of the army disbanded; the remainder was a shambles. Making everything worse was that large numbers of civilians, upon seeing the British, suddenly lost their taste for independence and went over to the enemy. (Indeed, Washingtons mother was a Loyalist.) Washington headed off disaster by a bold stroke. On Christmas night, 1776, he crossed the ice-choked Delaware River and successfully attacked the British garrison in Trenton. Popular morale improved, and many volunteers joined the army. Yet by the summer of 1777 Washington knew that he would never have enough strength to defeat the British head-on. Instead, he would have to maneuver carefully and wait, possibly for years, until the British made a blunder that would enable him to strike the decisive blow. But the waiting game required patience and disciplinetraits that the Americans did not have and that Washington himself would have to teach them. Moreover, it cost a great deal of money to keep an army in the field, and the Congress had very little. Congress raised funds by printing paper money, backed merely by a vague promise to repay some day; the paper rapidly lost its value until it was worth nothing at all (giving rise to the expression, not worth a continental). In the fall of 1777, General Horatio Gates won a major victory in upstate New York, but out of jealousy of Washington he declined to cooperate with the main army, and as a result the enemy took Philadelphia. Washingtons army retreated to Valley Forge, where it endured a winter quite as dreadful as legend depicts. A single brushstroke conveys the whole: Congress declared a day of Continental Thanksgiving, and ordered that each soldier be fed a special dinner, consisting of half a gill of rice and a tablespoon full of vinegar. Somehow, by one means and another, Washington kept the army together for three more yearsa task made more difficult by his refusal to commandeer supplies from civilians. The British, meanwhile, steadily expanded the territory under their control. The low point came on January 1, 1781, when 2,400 veterans of the Pennsylvania line rose in mutiny. With difficulty they were persuaded to return to their duties. Then after ten more anxious months Washington got his opportunity. The British general Cornwallis made the blunder of encamping in Yorktown, with his back to the sea and without naval cover. A combined American and French force besieged the town, and Cornwallis had no option but to surrender. Suddenly the war was won. Even so, danger persisted. A peace treaty had to be negotiated, and the army was held in Newburgh, New York, in readiness to fight again if the negotiations failed. The soldiers were restless and eager to go home, but they had not been paid in years and did not want to disband without some of their overdue pay or their promised bonuses. Grumbling increased alarmingly and reached a climax early in 1783, when anonymous pamphlets were circulated among the officers calling for a meeting where plans would be made to seek justice. This was a perilous situation, one which could easily end in a military dictatorship. To the surprise of the mutinous officers Washington showed up at the meeting. He had written a short speech, and when he took it from his coat pocket, he also drew out a pair of eyeglasses, which only his aides and closest friends knew he needed. He began, Gentlemen, you will permit me to put on my spectacles, for I have not only grown gray, but almost blind, in the service of my country. He went on to shame the officers for betraying the Revolution, and reduced them, literally, to tears. The mutiny dissolved. When Washington was finally able to retire to his beloved Mount Vernon he was the most famous man in the Western World. He was idolized by his countrymen, praised throughout Europe, regarded as the greatest man of the age even in Britain. But Washington had considerable cause for uneasiness, nonetheless: he now lived in a goldfish bowl, as it were, with all eyes upon him, and he had to live up to the almost impossibly high standards that he had set for himself. His situation was made doubly uncomfortable by the ongoing current of public affairs. Upon retirement, he had announced that he would never again emerge from private life. He was greatly concerned, however, that the Union was likely to fall apart. To prevent that he sent a circular letter to Congress and the governors of the states, urging that the Articles of Confederation be altered to create a central government adequate to the nations needs. Otherwise, he predicted, the states would drift into anarchy. The drift toward anarchy was already underway, and it increased with a rush during the winter of 1786-1787, when Shays Rebellion erupted in Massachusetts. The rebellion was actually a taxpayers revolt, but it was generally perceived as an uprising of desperate debtors who threatened a redistribution of all property. It was beginning to appear that the Father of His Country would soon have no country to be father of. It was mainly in response to the news of Shays Rebellion that Congress and the state legislatures called the Philadelphia Convention of 1787and that Washington agreed to serve as a delegate from Virginia. James Madison thought it amazing that Washington would attend and thereby place his reputation in jeopardy, for it was by no means certain that the convention would accomplish anything. But Washington, being the man he had become, realized that what was at issue was the grand question whether a people could govern themselves by a reasonable process of deliberation, rather than by the violent force of arms to which every other government on earth owed its origins. In a sense, the Constitutional Convention would be legislating for all mankind. Washington was not an especially active member of the Conventionconstitution-making and abstract political theory were not his dish of teabut he was indispensable to its successful outcome in at least three ways. The first had to do with credibility. Eighteenth-century Americans intensely distrusted centralized power and had an almost paranoid fear of conspiracies against their liberties. Washingtons widely publicized participation in the Convention as its president gave it a legitimacy it otherwise could not have had. Americans were willing to give a convention meeting behind closed doors a chance because they trusted Washington. Washingtons second vital contribution had to do with the force of his personality among the delegates. Justly celebrated as the Framers have been for their wisdom and prudence, there were hotheads among them, and prima donnas and schemers. Washingtons dignity and overpowering aura, however, made it impossible to behave in a mean-spirited, improper, or uncivil way when he was around. He kept his fellow delegates on their best behavior. The third contribution pertained to the creation of the presidency. Most of the delegates had learned from experience that a government without an executive branch is not a government at all, but fear of executive power persisted. More than a third of the delegates supported a proposal for a plural executiveconsisting of three to five personsand a few others wanted a single executive checked by an executive council. A majority would support a one-man presidency only because Washington would be the man, but few were confident about giving the president more than ceremonial functions; and it is doubtful that Washington would have accepted the office under such restrictions. The main sticking point was that Washington could not live forever, and no one could think of a safe way to choose his successor. Today it might seem that the solution would be to elect the president by popular vote; but given the primitive technology in communication and the fear of direct democracy, that was not an option. Objections ruled out any decentralized form of electionby the state governors or the state legislators, for instanceand that meant the choice must be placed in Congress. But congressional election would make the executive dependent upon the Congress, not a separate branch, and would encourage outside powers and special interests to corrupt the process. For these reasons, the delegates were unwilling, as late as two weeks before the end of the convention, to endow the presidential office with substantive powers. Then somebody proposed the electoral college a complicated, cumbersome, one might say cockamamie schemethat overcame all the objections, and it was adopted. Properly, at that point, the whole draft constitution should have been gone over again to separate the executive powers from the legislative. But that would have been a painstaking process, and the delegates, tired after nearly four months of tedious labors, were anxious to be done and go home. So they hastily made some changes in their draft: they made the president commander in chief of the armed forces, and they made the conduct of foreign relations the joint concern of president and Senate (instead of, as in the draft, exclusively the affair of the Senate). Otherwise, they simply stated that the executive power shall be vested in a president. This amounted to a blank check for Washington to fill in as he saw fit. The precedents he would set in office would determine just what the executive power was to be. In my American Presidency, I consider in detail the enduring precedents that he set; here let me mention but a few. Washington made the president responsible for relations between the United States and foreign governments. We take that for granted, but constitutionally the advice and consent clause would have permitted the Senate a major role. After a couple of fruitless efforts to consult with the Senate in person, Washington and the Senators agreed that thenceforth advice and consent should come after, not before, the president acted. A related matter has to do with the tensions between Congress exclusive authority to declare war and the presidents exclusive power as commander in chief. When the wars of the French Revolution broke out, Washington wanted to issue a neutrality proclamation. Secretary of State Jefferson objected that since only Congress could declare war, only it could declare neutrality. But Washington in his capacity as commander in chief prevailed. In another exercise of the power as commander in chief, Washington sent the army to wage war against the Indians in the Ohio country without asking for a declaration of war. He did so on additional occasions thereafter. The vitality of these precedents will be appreciated when I point out that although Congress has declared war five times in our history, presidents have sent American troops into combat, not counting the Indian wars, more than 200 times. Others of Washingtons major precedents included the use of departmental heads as a cabinet, the two-term tradition, and the practice of initiating the budget-making process. The last part of Washingtons legacy is the most subtle, and it may be the most important. He was acutely aware that he had become a legend in his time, a true myth, and he recognized that the presidency made possible the institutionalization of the role he had been playing. That is to say, he endowed the presidency with the capacityand the awesome responsibilityto serve as the symbol of the nation, of what it is and what it can aspire to be. Let me close by quoting a passage from Washingtons First Inaugural Address in which he specifies our founding principles. It was imperative, he said, that the foundation of our national policy be laid in the pure and immutable principles of private morality, there is no truth more thoroughly established than that there existsan indissoluable union between virtue and happiness;[and] that the propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right;the preservation of the sacred fire of liberty and the destiny of the republican model of government are justly considered, as deeply, perhaps as finally, staked on the experiment intrusted to the hands of the American people. Those words are as true and as relevant today as they were when Washington uttered them in 1789. This essay was first published here in May 2012. Republished with gracious permission from the Intercollegiate Review (Spring 1995). The Imaginative Conservative applies the principle of appreciation to the discussion of culture and politicswe approach dialogue with magnanimity rather than with mere civility. Will you help us remain a refreshing oasis in the increasingly contentious arena of modern discourse? Please consider donating now. The featured image above is Washington at Verplancks Point (1790) by John Trumbull, and is in the public domain, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, October 29, 2018 09:14 1117 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b308779a27f9 4 Opinion Susi-Pudjiastuti,discourse,ocean-environment,ocean,blue-economy Free Indonesia is hosting the fifth Our Ocean Conference in Bali amid its fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and efforts to uphold the principles of sustainable fishing. Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti shared with The Jakarta Posts Gemma Holliani Cahya, Ina Parlina, M. Taufiqurrahman and Kornelius Purba the Indonesian governments agenda for the conference, which runs until Tuesday. Question: What do you think of and expect from the Our Ocean Conference? Answer: First, it is an honor for Indonesia to have been entrusted to host the fifth Our Ocean Conference. Second, we are proud of our performance in developing our ocean, and this is a chance for us to show our achievements in the development of a blue economy, which relies on two main pillars: sovereignty and sustainability. Based on these two pillars, we have achieved significant success in combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. This is in line with a world trend in which we realize that it is not a state to state problem. There is only One World One Ocean. Depleted stocks, ecosystem destruction and sustainability of the seas will affect the overall health and productivity of our seas. Why? Because in the fishing industry, there are many migratory fish. For example, 68 percent of the worlds stock of yellow fin tuna spawns in the Banda Sea in Maluku, then they travel around the globe before returning to the Banda Sea to spawn again. We do not intend to show off our progress, but we need to share our experience. When one country cares and other countries follow suit, at the end the whole ocean will be more productive. As part of the world community, Indonesia has actively participated to sticking to this commitment. To deal with ocean pollution, for instance, Indonesia has pledged to preserve about 20 million hectares of ocean for conservation by 2020. We have already met the target. There are now 161 sites throughout Indonesia dedicated to sea conservation. We are also campaigning for the reduction of plastic waste in our ocean. The government is committed to cut it by 40 percent in 2025 and 70 percent in 2030. We are second in the world in terms of contributing to plastic waste in the ocean. The target is very ambitious, but when all related ministries, state agencies, civil society and people work together we can realize that commitment. Since the fourth conference in Malta last year, what progress has Indonesia made? This year, we have increased our sea conservation areas by 2 million ha. The most prominent development is in eastern Indonesia. The biggest area is the Sawu Sea, which covers 3.5 million ha. We are preserving it with the help of community leaders and local people. The government took the initiative and led efforts to provide resources to preserve the protected marine territory. What do you think will happen to your legacy if you leave office? The ministry is not supposed to depend on the minister. Anyone who holds the post should carry out the constitutional duties. What I do is not Susi who does it. Susi just executes it. The state cannot depend on an individual minister. The state should not only depend on the President either. I hope whoever replaces me will take such action. What we have learned in the last four years is that if you are not doing it that way, it (illegal fishing) will recur. Once, we confiscated one boat three times, which does not make sense to me. Having a deterrent effect is one of the best ways we can protect the sovereignty of our ocean. Why? Because with 97,000 kilometers of coast line and 5.8 million square kilometers of EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone), it is impossible for us to patrol them all the time. So you have to earn respect, to make sure that people are scared of us and afraid of entering our waters illegally. We have to be very firm, strong and consistent. And a deterrent effect will only work if we are consistent. When we are inconsistent, they will come again, because its a big business. These illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities are worth millions of dollars. I mean, we can see now what we have done so far. We have a fish stock assessment every two years and, in 2016, the figure had doubled from 6.5 million tons to 12.5 million tons. At the same time, we have managed to increase our fish consumption from 36 kilograms per person per year to 46 kg. We have produced 2.5 million tons of fish without increasing imports. How much fish do we export now? Over the last four years, exports have steadily grown between 4 and 11 percent. And the fish price domestically contributed to our deflation, meaning it helped people to buy and consume more fish in number and quality. It is good to improve the quality of our human resources. We expect to have healthier and smarter people. More fish consumption will help us curb the problem of stunted children. Now, our gross domestic product from our fishery sector is number one in Southeast Asia. Our fish imports have decreased by almost 70 percent since 2014, while exports have increased. Why? Because now we catch better quality fish. Thats why we are moving to what it is called a blue economy, which is basically sustainable productivity through appropriate exploitation management. 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 Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin . (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta, Indonesia Mon, October 29, 2018 15:51 1117 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b308779bba0b 4 Inforial Free The 16th Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business (APK) will be held in Jakarta for three days from Nov. 1 to 3. The leading German business event in the Asia-Pacific will take place at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Pacific Place, Jakarta. As the biggest German business networking event in the Asia-Pacific region, the conference aims at attracting up to 1,000 participants, many of whom are decision-making representatives of business organizations and politics. The event will provide a platform for dialogue and many opportunities to strengthen business and personal relations among the participants. Many business executives and government representatives, primarily from Germany and the Asia-Pacific region, will speak at the 16th APK about how to promote economic relations between Europes biggest economy and the fastest-growing region in ASEAN, including Indonesia in the world. Local experts will share insights on their regions development. In total, the conference will feature a total of 98 speakers from 27 countries. Among the speakers are Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) chairman Thomas Lembong, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati , Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Foreign Ministry policy analysis and development agency head Siswo Pramono, Astra International president director Prijono Sugiarto, Deutsche Post DHL Group CEO Dr. Frank Appel, State Bank of India former chairwoman Arundhati Bhattacharya, Jumore vice president Ben Ghalmiz, Schaeffler CEO Klaus Rosenfeld, Giesecke+Devrient CEO Ralf Wintergerst and Siemens president and CEO Joe Kaeser. . (./.) This years conference will focus on topics of Infrastructure in Asia, Digitalization and Innovation, Industry 4.0, Trade Policy and Political Stability and Security in the Asia-Pacific with 15 conference sessions and six breakfast sessions. The breakfast sessions will cover Indonesia, ASEAN, Japan and Korea, South Asia and Greater China. There will also be one session on vocational education and training. The event is co-chaired by Peter Altmaier, German federal minister for economic affairs and energy (BMWi) and Dr. Hubert Lienhard, chairman of the Asia-Pacific Committee of German Business (APA). The local host is the German-Indonesian Chamber of Industry and Commerce in close cooperation with the government of Indonesia. The Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business, established in 1986, has been held biennially in various locations in the Asia-Pacific region to provide a platform for economic leaders, business executives and government representatives to discuss and promote economic relations between Germany and the Asia-Pacific. The conference is jointly organized by the German federal minister for economic affairs and energy (BMWi), the Asia-Pacific Committee of German Business (APA) and Germanys bilateral Chambers of Commerce Abroad (AHK) in the Asia-Pacific region. For more information about the programs of the conference, please visit http://www.apk2018.com/programme/ Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin . (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta, Indonesia Tue, October 30, 2018 00:01 1117 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b308779d115a 4 Inforial Free You perhaps think that a theme park will give more joy to the kids than to you. However, it is not the case if you spend the holiday in one of the happiest places on earth, Tokyo Disneyland, which features Mickey Mouse and the rest of the Disney Characters that you watched growing up. At Tokyo Disneyland in Tokyo Disney Resort, your whole family will see Mickey and Donald come to life and sweep you away into the fantastic world. The little ones will be immersed in the Toy Story universe in Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters, a laser-shooting game attraction, where they will join forces with Buzz Lightyear to defeat the evil Emperor Zurg. A very exciting parade will come your way after you have lunch. The daytime parade "Dreaming Up!" is celebrating the 35th anniversary of Tokyo Disneyland, and Mickey, Cinderella, Snow White, Peter Pan and other pals will appear. You will be impressed by colorful floats, the unique costume of each character and the bouncy music. . (Photo Courtesy of Tokyo Disney Resort/.) Tokyo Disneyland is brimming with rides and other attractions that suit all ages and tastes, from the whimsical adventure with Winnie the Pooh in Poohs Hunny Hunt to the wild train ride through the old, abandoned gold mine in Big Thunder Mountain. The Tokyo Disney Resort Vacation Packages also feature a Passport ticket that enables your family to hop between Tokyo Disney Resorts two parks: Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea the only Disney Park in the world inspired by the sea. You will get Disney Resort Line Day Passes so you can ride the Disney Resort Line monorail to reach the Parks and other destinations in Tokyo Disney Resort. There is also so much to do, see, ride, explore in Tokyo DisneySea, including Raging Spirits, an exciting roller coaster with a 360-degree loop, and The Magic Lamp Theater, a magic show with the world's "greatest" magician, Shaban, and the Genie. But you explore in the Parks from morning and you may get too tired to wait in long queues. With Disney FASTPASS tickets included in Tokyo Disney Resort Vacation Packages, you can enjoy a selected number of attractions with less waiting time. As the sun goes down, it will be perfect to end your Tokyo DisneySea adventure with Fantasmic!, a spectacular show of water, lasers and fire where Mickey Mouse uses his powers of imagination to create a magical world of fantasy on the waters of Mediterranean Harbor. Tokyo Disney Resort Vacation Packages offer everything that your family needs to have a comfortable, memory-filled adventure in Tokyo Disney Resort. The packages include a Free Drinks Ticket for you to grab a selection of free drinks at participating locations in the Parks. Each visitor can also take home one of the Vacation Package original goods. . (Photo Courtesy of Tokyo Disney Resort/.) If you are interested to have a Disney experience during your entire stay, Tokyo Disney Resort Vacation Packages offer you the choice of staying in one of the Disney hotels, such as the Victorian-style Tokyo Disneyland Hotel or the Disney Ambassador Hotel, which combines Art Deco style with Disney magic. The standard plan of Tokyo Disney Resort Vacation Packages includes hotel accommodations for one or two nights and breakfast; multi-day Passport tickets; and free drink tickets for two or three days. Each person will get three to five Disney FASTPASS Tickets, a show ticket and Vacation Package original goods. The Enjoy Lots of Attractions Package Plan is perfect if your family wants to spend the entire day at the Parks as the package plan offers more FASTPASS tickets six to eight tickets per person aside from hotel accommodations and breakfast, Park tickets, and free drink tickets similar to the standard plan. Get ready to have a convenient, fantasy-filled adventure with Tokyo Disney Resort Vacation Packages. You can find out more about Tokyo Disney Resort Vacation Packages here. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin He Wei (China Daily) Shanghai, China Mon, October 29, 2018 07:02 1117 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b3087799c53f 2 Science & Tech Alibaba,space,Singles-Day,technology,satellite,space-station Free 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. Read also: Alibaba expands cloud business to UK with new data centers 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. 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 News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Touba, Senegal Tue, October 30, 2018 03:09 1116 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b308779d1b2c 2 Art & Culture pilgrimage,Sufi,senegal Free 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. Read also: Website separates wheat from chaff in pilgrimage tours 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. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Lee So-jeong (The Korea Herald/Asia News Network) Mon, October 29, 2018 15:02 1117 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b308779ba325 2 Entertainment K-pop,k-pop-fandom Free The growing number of K-pop fans in Korea and elsewhere is generating a stronger cultural and commercial impact than ever before, as the boom led by high-profile groups such as BTS expands to a wider range of market segments. In recent years, it is not only high school students embracing K-pop music. People in their 20s and older -- those with more purchasing power -- are fueling the exponential growth of K-pop and its associated merchandise market. The Korea Herald met two passionate K-pop fans in their 20s: Jung Yoo-kyoung, who belongs to EXO-L; and Woo Nam-yee, who belongs to the BTS Army. Jung recently traveled to Osaka, Japan, for an EXO concert. It cost me between 600,000 and 700,000 won to watch the EXO Osaka concert, but I was just happy. Dont you think that I should be happy, considering the time and money Ive spent? Read also: Korea Festival to feature free K-pop concert, fan meeting Woo even traveled to the US in September to witness part of BTS concert tour. Both said their idols had had a significant influence on them. They talk more about their passion for K-pop in the following video: Topics : This article appeared on The Korea Herald 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 Bambang Muryanto (The Jakarta Post) Yogyakarta Mon, October 29, 2018 11:35 1117 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b308779b1712 1 Entertainment Megadeth,concert,JogjaROCKarta Free American heavy metal band Megadeth entertained around 15,000 fans for one-and-a-half hours on Saturday at the Kridosono Stadium in Yogyakarta. In the "No Place for Hate" concert, which was part of Jogjarockarta Festival 2018, the band opened the show by belting "Hangar 18" from their album Rust in Peace. Consisting of Dave Mustaine on vocals and guitar, Kiko Loureiro on guitar, David Ellefson on bass and Dirk Verbueren on drums, they rocked their fans with hits like Dystopia -- for which they received a Grammy Award for best metal performance category last year -- She-Wolf, Peace Sells and Symphony of Destruction. I came from America just for you. Thank you for being here, Mustaine told the concert-goers who were made up of mostly 25 year olds and above. He founded Megadeth with Ellefson back in 1983. Along with Metallica, Slayer and Anthrax, Megadeth is one of the four most prominent trash metal bands in the world. Fans, who were in the front row, could be heard singing along with the band's vocalist. They came from all over Indonesia and neighboring Malaysia. Besides performing, Megadeth also presented graphic illustrations on a huge TV screen that served as the stage's background, alongside its symbol Vic Rattlehead. The band had officially invited President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo to attend the concert. Ganjar showed up, however, Jokowi, who is a metalhead, was only able to send a video message. Read also: Megadeth invites Jokowi, Ganjar Pranowo to attend concert "I'm a fan of Megadeth, the rock band of Dave Mustaine. I like their songs 'Sweating Bullets', 'Ashes in Your Mouth' and 'Wake Up Dead'; however, I don't know whether they will play these songs or not. Have fun watching, everyone," said Jokowi. Saya penggemar @Megadeth, band rocknya @DaveMustaine, saya suka lagu Sweating Bullets, Ashes In Your Mouth, dan Wake Up Dead tapi nggak tahu nanti dimainkan atau tidak. Selamat menonton semuanya. - @jokowi#JogjaROCKarta2018 pic.twitter.com/bNGd5qlUUL Jogjarockarta (@jogjaROCKarta) October 27, 2018 That night the band performed more than 10 songs and closed the concert with another hit "Holy War". One of the festival-goers, Bambang, said he was happy with the bands performance. "I have loved Megadeth since high school; especially their song 'Symphony of Destruction'," he added. Anas Syahrul Alimi, the CEO of Jogjarockarta promoter Rajawali Indonesia Communicatons, also shared Bambangs sentiments. Koil, God Bless, Seringai, Indra Lesmana Project (ILP), Edane, Sangkakala, Blackout and Elpamas were the opening acts. "This performance by Megadeth was the end of their 'Dystopia' tour [which kicked off] three years ago," Anas said. Megadeth will auction off a guitar owned by Mustaine. The funds raised will be donated to the earthquake victims of Palu and Donggala in Central Sulawesi. "We will soon auction and announce the result on the Jogjarockarta [social media] account," said Anas. (kes) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Duncan Graham (The Jakarta Post) Malang Mon, October 29, 2018 08:41 1117 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b3087799f4ff 4 Books #books,#bookreview,Book,nonfiction,history,1965-mass-killing Free President Joko Jokowi Widodo was just a 4-year-old when the failed Sept. 30 coup allegedly conducted by the now banned Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) in 1965 led to the fall of late president Sukarno and the rise of Soeharto as Indonesias de facto dictator for more than 30 years. The little Jokowi was probably too busy playing kelereng (marbles) around his familys shack on the Surakarta river banks in Central Java to understand the political games that rocked the republic hundreds of kilometers away in Jakarta. Even if some relatives had sniffed the reforms promised by the 3-million strong PKI, infecting the real or imagined interests of any fore-parents on their offspring is an obscenity. That the slur gets some traction among Jokowis more gullible opponents shows how well Soehartos propaganda machine worked, embedding beyond two generations an unblinking hatred of a political ideology that currently runs the worlds most populous nation. Heres the irony: communist China is now Indonesias largest export and import market and a worrying naval force in surrounding seas. Polls suggest most Indonesians think favorably of the country helping finance their nations massive infrastructure program. Yet Soeharto linked China to the coup and severed diplomatic ties only re-established in 1990. Not normalized is a fearless examination of the coup and the appalling pogrom that followed. Instead, it has been left to foreign journalists and academics to exhume the past for truths the government still finds too difficult to stomach. Vannessa Hearman is a historian at Australias Charles Darwin University, but she is no outsider. She was born in Indonesia and has become a leading expert on the horrors that fell on millions of Indonesians who were accused as part of the PKI not long after the allegedly failed coup attempt. Her doctorate was jointly awarded best PhD in Asian Studies. Her latest book Unmarked Graves probes the post-coup killings in East Java. At the time, about 22 million people lived in the province and an estimated 200,000 were slaughtered and thousands more persecuted long after the PKI had been destroyed. Teachers were targeted with around 25,000 rounded up, interrogated and often imprisoned. Their careers were shredded and families shattered. In one case encountered by Hearman, a couple was being hounded four years after the coup. They kept moving but were denounced and eventually jailed, split from their kids. Their descendants have never fully recovered. The fact that the author uses pseudonyms shows how the decades have not washed out the pain and stigma. Along with the victims wrenching stories, Hearman focuses on a lesser-known event the attempted PKI regroup in South Blitar, about 800 km southeast of the capital. PKI general secretary Sudisman was caught in 1966 and put on trial. He denied communists had powered the putsch but was executed in 1968. Party remnants fled Jakarta seeking a remote sanctuary. Many were city people who would find rural life hard to take, but even barefoot and hungry was better than bullets or bars. One pragmatic asylum-seeker, tainted because hed studied engineering in Bulgaria, reasoned: Its better to resist than die for no reason. The southern part of Blitar is an arid tortured landscape of 3,200 square km between the Brantas river and the southern ocean. It is creased with mountains, perforated with limestone caves, a haven for guerrillas fighting the Dutch between 1945 and 1949. Life was tough and basic. Chairs were rare and bicycles rarer. Poverty was too simplistic an explanation for peasants favoring communist policies. Other factors included land ownership and the santri (pious)-abangan(syncretism) religious divide. Hearmans research was difficult. Apart from finding survivors prepared to recall, she was also questioned by the police when she visited the monument featured on the book cover. Details she uncovered are horrifying. The army had spread the myth that female communists had hidden tattoos, which gave soldiers license to strip suspects. The military used villagers as spies and ordered them to kill, creating lasting guilt and enmity. The two-month Operasi Trisula (Trident Operation) to destroy the PKI refugees involved 5,000 soldiers and 3,000 militia. It claimed to have caught or killed 2,000 but only found 34 old firearms and some blowpipes. The tactics were much like the Vietnam War, with people digging tunnels and the army bombing suspect hideouts and slaughtering innocents. Other strategies included the pagar betis (fence of legs) to comb the forest, burn huts, rip up vegetables, deport villagers to other areas and use locals to bury murdered prisoners. Victors carve history, but time and truth erode their graven images. The statue portrays the counter-insurgency as a triumphant campaign of cooperation between disciplined soldiers and willing civilians to defeat communists. Hearmans scholarship reveals other effigies that many want to keep shrouded. The innocent children and grandchildren of the tapol (political prisoners) are still looking sideways despite Jokowis 2014 election pledge to tackle human rights abuses. In 2016, the President appointed a former army general, Wiranto [to deal] with the 1965 case, Hearman writes in the book. Having been indicted by the [United Nations] in 2003 for crimes against humanity that took place in East Timor in 1999 during his reign as Indonesian armed forces commander, Wiranto is hardly a likely figure for pursuing perpetrators of human rights abuses. The Attorney Generals Office has, at the time of writing, continued to refuse to open an investigation [...] on the 196566 violence. Hearmans research bold-texts the most damning question: How can the searing evidence shes captured be ignored unless some of the guilty still hold great power in todays democratic Indonesia? __________ Unmarked Graves: Death and Survival in the Anti-Communist Violence in East Java, Indonesia Vannessa Hearman, NUS Press, Singapore, 2018 272 pages Home Business Tourists suffer as almost all hotels in Mustang occupied Baglung, October 29 The inflow of domestic and foreign tourists has abruptly increased in popular tourism destinations, Myagdi and Mustang, especially during the festive time of Dashain and Tihar. With the rise in the number of tourists visiting, the hotels available in the districts are fully occupied and are not adequate to accommodate the guests. As a result, tourists visiting the places have started descending to Baglung and Parbat districts in search for hotels. Many tourists go to Myagdi and Mustang this season, said Nilesh Rajbhandari, a tourism entrepreneur of Baglung, adding, There are no big hotels in the districts; so tourists come to Baglung searching for hotels. RSS Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Star) Lake Toba, North Sumatra Mon, October 29, 2018 08:34 1117 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b3087799e55c 2 Business AirAsia,flight,Silangit-airport,North-Sumatra Free There was no need for a water cannon salute welcoming ceremony for AirAsias first flight to Silangit near Lake Toba, North Sumatra, as it had a natural shower from above. Flight AK411, which left KLIA2 in Sepang, Malaysia, with a total of 120 passengers, was greeted with a light shower upon landing at the Silangit International Airport, Lake Toba, at 10:47 a.m. local time on Sunday. As soon as the passengers entered the airport building, the rain ceased and they were greeted by a simple welcoming ceremony indoors. This unique route makes it hassle-free to travel to Lake Toba, the largest volcanic lake in the world, which is also blessed with a beautiful setting. Among the guests on board was AirAsia Malaysia chief executive officer Riad Asmat. Indonesias secretary of Maritime Affairs Ministry Agus Purwoto, special staff to Tourism Minister for Tourism Infrastructure Judi Rifajantoro, head of commercial scheduled flight unit at Transportation Ministry Tri Danarsih, Silangit International Airport executive general manager M. Hendra Irawan and AirAsia Indonesia Group CEO Dendy Kurniawan were amongst the dignitaries to welcome the flight passengers. In his speech, Riad said that travelling to Lake Toba, one of Indonesias 10 new Balis, is so much easier now with direct flights available to and from Silangit by AirAsia. The new route is part of our commitment to support the government of Indonesia in developing the 10 priority tourism destinations, including Lake Toba. (brf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ivany Atina Arbi and Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, October 30, 2018 08:53 1116 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b308779caf74 1 National Basarnas,Lion-Air,#LionAirJT610 Free All 189 people onboard the ill-fated Lion Air flight JT610 are feared to be dead after the plane crashed into the Java Sea on Monday morning, the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) has said. After hours of searching for crew members and passengers of the flight, which went missing en route from Jakarta to Pangkalpinang in Bangka Belitung Islands, authorities have so far retrieved body parts in nine body bags, according to Basarnas operation director Bambang Suryo Aji. The remains were taken to the Bhayangkara National Police Hospital in Kramat Jati, East Jakarta. "My prediction is that no one is alive," Bambang told a press conference on Monday. Read also: Lion Air JT610 crash: What we know so far Air traffic control (ATC) at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport lost contact with Lion Air flight JT610 on Monday at 6:33 a.m., approximately 13 minutes after takeoff. The pilot reportedly requested to return to base shortly before losing contact. Authorities later reported they had found debris in the waters about 7 nautical miles (12.96 kilometers) north off the coast of Tanjung Bungin in Karawang, West Java. Bambang said the aircraft had crashed into the water from about 3,000 feet (914.4 meters) "It's possible that the 189 [people onboard] have died," he said. So far, search and rescue teams have been unable to locate the main body of the plane because the exact location of the crash is still unknown. Basarnas personnel, with the help of other government institutions such as the Indonesian Military (TNI), will search for 24 hours, Bambang said. The Indonesian Navy's KRI Rigel-933 vessel has been deployed to assist the search and rescue operation, he said, while a team of 40 divers was already prepared to dive and locate the victims, most of whom were predicted to be still inside the downed plane. (evi) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, October 29, 2018 13:26 1117 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b308779b7342 1 City Bantar-Gebang,Bekasi,waste-management,WasteTreatmentFacility,jakarta Free The Bantar Gebang dumpsite in Bekasi, West Java, is said to have nearly reach maximum capacity and is predicted to last for three more years. Jakarta Environment Agency head Isnawa Adji said the volume of garbage at the dumpsite had reached 39 million tons with a height of 40 meters. The maximum capacity of the dumpsite is 49 million tons and we only have 10 million tons left, he said as quoted by kompas.com. With the dumpsite receiving up to 7,000 tons of garbage a day, Isnawa expected that the final site would only last for another three more years. So by 2021, Jakarta has to find a new site for its garbage. However, Isnawa said there were two ways to prolong the dumpsite's lifetime such as acquiring land and decreasing the volume of garbage dumped at Bantar Gebang by limiting the use of single-use plastic bags. Those bags contribute up to 40 percent of the garbage in the city, he added. The Jakarta administration is also working on constructing dumpsites with a capacity of 100 tons in every district in the city. It is also planning to construct a garbage processing facility known as an intermediate treatment facility (ITF). Isnawa said the ITF in Sunter, North Jakarta, which will start construction in December, could receive up to 2,200 tons of trash a day and reduce the amount of garbage dumped at Bantar Gebang. The facility could also generate electricity to power the city. (ris) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Marguerite Afra Sapiie and Arya Dipa (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, October 29, 2018 12:04 1117 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b308779b1d28 1 National Lion-Air,#LionAirJT610,plane-crash,karawang,JT610 Free Authorities have begun search and rescue (SAR) operations for the passengers and crew of Lion Air flight JT610, which went missing on Monday morning en route from Jakarta to Pangkalpinang in Bangka Belitung. The Lion Air flight lost contact with air traffic controllers at 6:33 a.m., shortly after it took off at 6:20 a.m.from Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. The plane, which reportedly carried two pilots, six crew members and 181 passengers, including three minors, reportedly crashed 7 nautical miles (12.96 kilometers) north off the coast of Tanjung Bungin in Karawang, West Java. "We are certain that the plane crashed into the sea and is submerged at a depth of 30 to 35 meters," National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) head M. Syaugi told a press conference on Monday. "We have located the debris about 2 nautical miles [3.7 kilometers] south of where contact with the plane was lost," he said. Syaugi said that 130 Basarnas personnel had been deployed from Jakarta and West Java's Bandung and Cirebon, as well as other areas. Thirty Basarnas Special Group (BSG) personnel had also been deployed to the debris site. Bandung SAR spokesperson Joshua Banjarnahor said that a team comprising SAR members and divers from Bandung and Cirebon had been deployed on Rescue Boat 2016. "Ninety personnel have been prepared to assist in the rescue efforts," Joshua said. "Rescue Boat 2016 has set sail." National Transportation Safety Commission (KNKT) head Soerjanto Tjahjono said that the Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft that flew under flight number JT610 commenced operations under Lion Air in August and had a total 800 flight hours. Soerjanto said the Basarnas team was looking for the black box to determine the cause of the crash. The Basarnas also sent an underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to search for passengers and crew. The Basarnas also sent an underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to search for passengers and crew. (Courtesy of Basarnas/-) Recent photographs from Basarnas show that the team had recovered parts of the plane and several ID cards, presumably belonging to the plane's passengers. Government officials are reportedly among the passengers aboard the missing aircraft. Finance Ministry spokesperson Nufransa Wira Sakti confirmed that 20 ministry officials, including staffers of the State Assets and Auction Services (KPKNL) and the State Treasury Services Office (KPPN), were among the 178 adult passengers on the aircraft. "We are still confirming data on the names against the flight manifest," Nufransa said on Monday. (evi) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Kharishar Kahfi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, October 30, 2018 13:58 1116 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b308779ccbf2 1 Business Boeing-737-Max8,Boeing-737,karawang,Lion-Air,#LionAirJT610 Free United States-based aircraft producer Boeing Co. has offered its assistance in the investigation of the Lion Air flight from Jakarta to Pangkalpinang, Bangka Belitung Islands, that crashed into the Java Sea on Monday morning. Boeing stands ready to provide technical assistance to the accident investigation, the company said in a statement issued on Monday. The company also expressed its concern for the passengers and crew on board and extended its sympathies to their families. We are deeply saddened by the loss of Lion Air Flight JT 610. We express our concern for those on board, and extend heartfelt sympathies to their families and loved ones. STATEMENT: https://t.co/5e18xbb4uX Boeing Airplanes (@BoeingAirplanes) October 29, 2018 The aircraft used for the flight was a Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft that had commenced operations under Lion Air in August and had clocked up 800 flight hours, which is considered normal by Indonesian authorities. The Lion Air Group ordered 218 aircraft of the same series, eight of which were delivered in 2017. Read also: Lion Air JT610 crash: What we know so far The accident, however, has not prevented the use of other airplanes in the same series, as Singaporean airline Silk Air stated it would continue to use the five Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft in its fleet as scheduled. "We have checked with our engineering colleagues and they advised that they had not received any advice or bulletins from the manufacturers at this point," the airline's spokesman said, as quoted by the Straits Times. The Boeing 737 Max 8 can fly for seven and a half hours without refueling and is the first Boeing aircraft to have a double winglet feature. (evi) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, October 29, 2018 10:39 1117 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b308779ac6e9 1 National Lion-Air,#LionAirJT610,JT610,flight,accident,plane-crash Free A downed Lion Air plane that took off from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta for Pangkalpinang in Bangka Belitung was carrying 181 passengers, including three minors, a spokesperson at the Transportation Ministry said on Monday. There were two pilots and six flight attendants on the plane, the National Transportation Safety Commission said in a separate statement on Monday. The total number of people on the plane was 189, according to the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas). Read also: BREAKING: Contact lost with Lion Air plane, tugboat crew 'see debris of plane' The directorate general is coordinating with relevant authorities to conduct search and rescue operations, she said. "The directorate general is coordinating with National Search and Rescue Agency, Lion Air as the operator, the Sea Transportation Directorate General and the Indonesian Flight Navigation Service Institution (LPPNPI) in search and rescue activities for the JT 610 plane," Sindu Rahayu of the Air Transportation Directorate General said in a statement on Monday morning. A vessel traffic service officer at Tanjung Priok Port in North Jakarta, Suyadi, told The Jakarta Post that a tugboat crew reported to him that they saw the debris of the plane 7 nautical miles (12.96 kilometers) north of Tanjung Bungin, Karawang, West Java. The flight was operated by Boeing 737 MAX 8 registration PK-LQP. The aircraft was delivered to Lion Air in August of this year. It is powered by two CFM LEAP-1B engines. https://t.co/Jv0z8vytv3 #JT610 pic.twitter.com/yCkR2PbMUa Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) October 29, 2018 Flightradar24, a Swedish internet-based service that shows real-time commercial aircraft flight information on a map, tweeted on Monday morning Jakarta time that the plane was "brand new" and Lion Air received it only in August this year. The plane was scheduled to land at Depati Amir Airport in Pangkalpinang at 7:10 a.m. Jakarta time. (evi/afr) Editor's note: A correction has been made to the earlier version of this article. The number of passengers on the plane was 181, including two children and one baby, and the number of crew members was eight (two pilots and six flight attendants). Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, October 29, 2018 09:34 1117 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b308779a39bf 1 National karawang,Basarnas,Lion-Air,accident,flight,#LionAirJT610,JT610 Free The National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) received a report on Monday morning that air traffic control had lost contact with a Lion Air flight from Jakarta to Pangkalpinang in Bangka Belitung. A vessel traffic service officer in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta, Suyadi, told The Jakarta Post that at 6:45 a.m. he received a report from a tugboat, AS Jaya II, that the crew had seen a downed plane, suspected to be a Lion Air plane, in Tanjung Bungin in Karawang, West Java. Read also: BREAKING: 189 people on downed Lion Air flight, ministry says We're following reports that contact has been lost with Lion Air flight #JT610 shortly after takeoff from Jakarta. ADS-B data from the flight is available at https://t.co/zNM33cM0na pic.twitter.com/NIU7iuCcFu Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) October 29, 2018 "At 7:15 a.m. the tugboat reported it had approached the site and the crew saw the debris of a plane," Suyadi said. As of 9 a.m. there was no report about passengers or the plane crew, he said. Two other ships, a tanker and a cargo ship, near the location were approaching the site, he said, and a Basarnas rescue boat was also on the way. Information gathered by the Post said that the plane, Lion Air 610, took off from Jakarta at 6:20 a.m. and contact was lost at 6:33 a.m. (evi/afr) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Riska Rahman (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, October 29, 2018 19:28 1117 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b308779cb497 1 City lion-air-group,Lion-Air,JT610,AircraftIncident,aircraft-crash,#LionAirJT610 Free Dozens of people gathered on Monday afternoon at the crisis center set up in Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in East Jakarta to report that their family members and relatives were onboard the ill-fated Lion Air flight JT610. We opened the crisis center at 11 a.m. and people have been coming here since then. There are around 100 people here so far, Alvian, an official from state-owned insurance company Jasa Raharja on standby at the crisis center, told The Jakarta Post on Monday. The crisis center serves as an information center for the families of the victims. There were 189 people onboard the aircraft, which took off at 6:20 a.m. from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Cengkareng, Banten, and was heading to Pangkalpinang, Bangka Belitung Islands province. Read also: Lion Air JT610 crash: What we know so far Officials from state-owned insurance company Jasa Raharja check the names listed in the manifest of Lion Air flight JT610 reported by family members in the crisis center in Halim Perdanakusuma Airport on Monday, Oct. 29. (JP/Riska Rahman) Many of the passengers were employees and civil servants who were catching the first flight of the day. One was 24-year-old M. Luthfi Nurramdhani, who worked for the Pangkalpinang branch of the state-owned postal service firm PT Pos Indonesia. He was catching the first flight so he could go straight to work today, said Nabila Kariza, 25, a friend of Luthfi who was waiting for the latest update about the ill-fated flight. Tri Siswoyo, an official from Lion Air, said the search and rescue team was bringing at least six body bags to the National Police Hospital in Kramat Jati, East Jakarta. Families of the victims will be directed to the hospital for identification and later for the collection of the bodies, he added. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ina Parlina and Gemma Holliani Cahya (The Jakarta Post) Nusa Dua, Bali Mon, October 29, 2018 12:24 1117 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b308779b3fc9 1 National #ocean,Ocean-Conference,environment,#environment,Jokowi,#Jokowi Free President Joko Jokowi Widodo called on Monday for global action to protect the ocean, as Indonesia aims to play a leading role in maintaining ocean sustainability. Jokowi opened the fifth Our Ocean Conference (OOC) in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Monday by reminding the participants that waters across the globe continued to face threats from illegal fishing, marine debris and climate change. There is no single country that can work alone in addressing the challenges we all face, Jokowi said. We need to make a bold commitment and take concrete steps [in ocean protection] -- all of which should start with ourselves [...] This commitment should produce real outcomes which can be enjoyed by all of society, he said. Every little action counts. The two-day OOC kicked off on Monday, bringing together 1,900 participants from 37 countries, including six heads of state and representatives of private companies and at least 200 NGOs, to discuss their contributions for a healthy ocean. It is the first time for an Asian country to host the annual global conference since it was first held in 2014 in Washington DC, the United States. Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi said the conference was strategic for at least three reasons: serving as a multi-stakeholder meeting that allowed all key players to contribute in ocean protection, being an action-oriented forum and complimenting the work undertaken by other forums on the ocean. During the OOC, Indonesia will also push for a joint effort to create a tracking mechanism for the 663 commitments that OOC participants made during past conferences, particularly those regarding marine protected areas. I want this conference to also send a clear commitment, transparency [and that] we develop a concrete mechanism on tracking the delivery of all commitments made, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti said during the opening ceremony. (ipa) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Riza Roidila Mufti, Riska Rahman, Marguerite Afra Sapiie and Arya Dipa (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta/Bandung Mon, October 29, 2018 19:17 1117 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b308779caa95 1 National Lion-Air,JT610,#LionAirJT610,India,Italy,plane-crash Free Two foreigners were among the crew and passengers on board Lion Air flight JT610, which went missing on Monday morning en route from Jakarta to Pangkalpinang in Bangka Belitung Islands province, a Lion Air executive has said. "There were two foreign nationals [aboard the flight], one Indian citizen and one Italian citizen," Lion Air Group managing director Daniel Putut told a press conference in Jakarta on Monday. The Indian man was the aircraft's captain, identified as Bhavye Suneja, while the Italian citizen was among the 181 passengers, Daniel said without revealing further details about the latter's identity. Read also: Lion Air JT610 crash: What we know so far Suneja piloted the Lion Air flight with co-pilot Harvino. According to the airline operator, both were experienced in the field as they had over 6,000 and 5,000 flight hours, respectively. Air traffic control (ATC) at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport lost contact with Lion Air flight JT610 on Monday at 6:33 a.m., approximately 13 minutes after takeoff. The pilot reportedly requested to return to base shortly before losing contact. Authorities later reported that the flight crashed into the sea 7 nautical miles (12.96 kilometers) north off the coast of Tanjung Bungin in Karawang, West Java. Search and rescue personnel, including from the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the police, have scrambled to locate the people aboard the flight. President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo took his time on the sidelines of Our Ocean Conference (OOC) in Bali to instruct the relevant authorities to speed up search and rescue efforts and locate the victims. "I have ordered the National Transportation Safety Commission [KNKT] to investigate the accident and immediately report the result," Jokowi said. Although no casualties have been reported officially, photos from Basarnas revealed that the search and rescue personnel have retrieved a number of dead bodies. Among the 181 passengers, including three minors, were dozens of government officials from the Finance Ministry, the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK), the Attorney General's Office (AGO) as well as the environment and energy ministries. Separately, Bandung Search and Rescue Agency (SAR) spokesman Joshua Banjarnahor said that all the dead bodies and belongings that had been retrieved during the operations would be taken to Tanjung Priok Port, Jakarta. "All retrieved [bodies] of victims will be taken to JICT [PT Jakarta International Container Terminal] in Tanjung Priok," Joshua said. The families of victims also went to a search and rescue post established in Tanjungpakis village, Pakisjaya, Karawang regency, West Java, to look for updates on the search efforts. Cita Purnamasari, 36, went from Karawang to Pakisjaya to seek information about her relative, Ariawan Komardy, who was aboard the flight. He was a civil servant in Pangkal Pinang, she said. (swd) #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... Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, October 29, 2018 13:22 1117 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b308779b6e7c 1 Business Indonesia,Jordan,Palestine,trade-agreement,TEI Free Six Indonesian companies have signed contracts worth US$21.4 million with their counterparts from Jordan and Palestine during the recent 33rd Trade Expo Indonesia (TEI) at the Indonesia Convention Exhibition (ICE) in Tangerang, Banten. The Indonesian companies signed the contracts with Jordan's Al Bushnaq Trading Co. food & beverage company and Jozor Al Malayo for Import & Export, as well as with Palestine's Zalloum International Trading Co. Businesspeople from Jordan and Palestine that visited TEI sought products like food and beverages, furniture, handcrafts, fishery products, palm oil products, cosmetics, herbal products, soaps, textiles and textile products, leather products, footwear, paper and military equipment, Indonesian Ambassador to Jordan and Palestine Andy Rachmianto said in Jakarta over the weekend. Trade Minister Enggartiasto and the Trade Ministry's export development director general Arlinda, along with Andy, witnessed the contracts' signing. Andy said the Indonesian Embassy in Amman, in cooperation with the Jordanian-Indonesian Business Council (JIBC) invited 40 Jordanian delegates and five Palestinian delegates to take part in the TEI 2018. Indonesian-Jordanian trade recorded US$256 million in 2016 and $293 million in 2017, he said, adding that the countries' trade recorded $218.6 million by August, or an 11.4 percent year-on-year increase. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Devina Heriyanto (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, October 29, 2018 16:57 1117 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b308779be447 1 National #LionAirJT610,#PostScript,Lion-Air,JT610,aviation-security,flight Free A Lion Air plane heading to Depati Amir Airport in Pangkalpinang, Bangka Belitung Islands, from Jakarta crashed into the Java Sea on Monday morning. Flight JT610 was carrying 189 people, comprising 181 passengers, two pilots and six crew members. The air traffic controllers lost contact with the plane at 6:33 a.m., shortly after it took off at 6:20 a.m. from the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten. A vessel traffic service officer in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta, Suyadi, told The Jakarta Post that at 6:45 a.m., he received a report from tugboat AS Jaya II that its crew had seen a plane suspected to be a Lion Air aircraft go down in Tanjung Bungin in Karawang, West Java. A video that has gone viral on social media shows the site where the plane is suspected to have gone down. Debris is seen floating on the surface of the water as five tugboats help scour the area. The authenticity of the video has been confirmed by state-owned energy holding company Pertamina, which operates an oil rig near the site, located north of Bekasi, West Java. Authorities later announced that the plane had crashed into the sea 7 nautical miles (12.96 kilometers) north off the coast of Tanjung Bungin. "We are certain that the plane crashed into the sea and is submerged at a depth of 30 to 35 meters," National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) head M. Syaugi told a press conference on Monday. "We have located the debris about 2 nautical miles [3.7 kilometers] south of where [air traffic controllers] lost contact with the plane. Cause of the accident Flightradar24, a Swedish internet-based service that shows real-time commercial aircraft flight information on a map, tweeted on Monday morning at Jakarta time that the plane was "brand new" and Lion Air received it only in August this year. Lion Air was founded by businessman-turned-politician Rusdi Kirana, who is now the Indonesian Ambassador to Malaysia. In 2015, President Joko Jokowi Widodo appointed him as a member of the Presidential Advisory Board. National Transportation Safety Commission (KNKT) head Soerjanto Tjahjono said the Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft commenced operations under Lion Air in August and had 800 flight hours, which was considered normal. Soerjanto added that a Basarnas team was searching for the planes black box to determine the cause of the crash. Lion Air chief executive officer Edward Sirait told reporters that the same aircraft had experienced a technical issue the night before. "This plane previously flew from Denpasar to Cengkareng [Soekarno-Hatta airport]. There was a report of a technical issue that had been resolved according to procedure," Edward said, declining to specify the nature of the technical issue. We're following reports that contact has been lost with Lion Air flight #JT610 shortly after takeoff from Jakarta. ADS-B data from the flight is available at https://t.co/zNM33cM0na pic.twitter.com/NIU7iuCcFu Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) October 29, 2018 A senior AirNav official has confirmed that the ill-fated flight requested to return to base only two to three minutes after takeoff from Soekarno Hatta International Airport. We received the request from the pilot to return to base. The air traffic controller gave permission to return, and there is a recording of it, said AirNav president director Novie Riyanto in a press conference at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten. However, he went on to say that he could not explain why the pilot requested to return to base. United States-based aircraft producer Boeing Co. has offered its assistance in the investigation. The aircraft used for the flight was a Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft. Search and rescue (SAR) operation Syaugi said 130 Basarnas personnel had been deployed from Jakarta and several other areas, including Bandung and Cirebon in West Java. Thirty Basarnas Special Group (BSG) personnel have also been deployed to where the planes debris was found. The deputy of the Basarnas operation, Nugroho Budi Wiryanto, said that as of 12.30 p.m., his team had yet to discover any bodies from the crash. Images released later, however, showed SAR personnel moving black body bags from the main search location. Basarnas later said it had deployed 150 personnel, while the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the National Police had deployed 150. The 300-man joint SAR team was also assisted by fishermen at sea, he added, and Basarnas would send more people to speed up the operation. An officer (left) consoles a family member of a passenger onboard Lion Air JT610, which crashed into the Java Sea in Karawang, West Java, on Monday. Family members have been invited to wait for more information on the crash at the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten. (Antara/ANTARA FOTO/Muhammad Iqbal) SAR efforts have so far recovered various documents from the search site, including ID cards, passports and driver's licenses. The main body of the Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft has yet to be located, but parts of the plane have been found, Nugroho said. Basarnas expanded the search area to 10 nautical miles from the place where the plane is thought to have gone down on Tuesday, from the previous 5 nautical miles on Monday. The agency has also called on fishermen who find anything related to the planes crash to report their findings to a post set up in Tanjung Karawang, West Java. A team from Singapore arrived on Monday evening. The team from Singapore consists of three personnel who will focus on helping to find the aircrafts flight recorder, or black box. They will be equipped with a hydrophone that can help detect the sound of an Underwater Locator Beacon (ULB) that is attached to the black box. KNKT flight accident investigator Ony S. Wibowo said Argentina, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, had also offered their help in search and investigation. The Navy has detected a 20-meter-long object suspected to be part of the plane, a search officer said Wednesday. However, Basarnas confirmed on Wednesday evening that the object turned out to be a shipwreck. All feared dead After hours of searching for crew members and passengers of the flight, which went missing en route from Jakarta to Pangkalpinang in Bangka Belitung Islands, authorities have so far retrieved body parts in nine body bags, according to Basarnas operation director Bambang Suryo Aji. The remains were taken to the Bhayangkara National Police Hospital in Kramat Jati, East Jakarta. "My prediction is that no one is alive," Bambang told a press conference on Monday. On Tuesday, National Police deputy chief Comr. Gen. Ari Dono Sukamto said that at least 15 forensic doctors and DNA experts were working to identify the body parts that the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) had recovered from the Java Sea. Joint personnel have so far collected 24 body bags, [some] containing parts of the victims' bodies not intact bodies, Ari said. According to Basarnas, the 10 body bags contained body parts, and that the remaining 14 bags contained debris from the plane and personal items presumed to belong to the crash victims. Compensation State-owned insurance company Jasa Raharja has assured that all passengers aboard Lion Air flight JT610 or their next of kin would be compensated in accordance with prevailing laws and a 2017 Finance Ministry regulation. "Jasa Raharja is ready to provide Rp 50 million [US$3,284] in compensation for those who died in the incident and cover up to Rp 25 million in hospital costs for injured victims," Budi Rahardjo, the company's director, said in a statement. Government officials aboard Government officials are reportedly among the passengers aboard the downed aircraft. Finance Ministry spokesperson Nufransa Wira Sakti confirmed that 20 ministry officials were among the 178 adult passengers on the flight. Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said they had been returning to their office in Pangkalpinang after either spending time with their families in Jakarta or attending the 72nd anniversary of Currency Day over the weekend. One Environment and Forestry Ministry official and four from the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry were also on the flight, while reports have said that officials from the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) and the Bangka Belitung Legislative Council may also have been on board. Lion Air takes responsibility Lion Air operational director Daniel Putut said during his visit to Kramatjati Police Hospital in East Jakarta that Lion Air had collected the data of 209 relatives of the victims and he promised to continue to provide them with up-to-date information. Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said at the same press conference that Lion Air had provided "friendly and good assistance" to the families of the plane crash victims. The company has also cooperated with the National Police to provide psychological support, he said. He visited the hospital to check the progress of victim identification carried by police forensics and DNA experts. Earlier in a statement, Lion Air said it had provided flights to Jakarta for hundreds of family members of crew and passengers of flight JT610, which crashed into the Java Sea on Monday morning. The family members comprise 168 people from Pangkalpinang in Bangka Belitung Islands, three from Medan in North Sumatra, two from Padang in West Sumatra, four from Yogyakarta, two from Madiun in East Java and four others from Demak in Central Java. Following the incident, Lion Air has set up a crisis center at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in East Jakarta where relatives and loved ones of the victims on board the flight can receive information. Lion Air accidents Lion, a budget airline, which has significantly expanded its operation in recent years, has been involved in a number of incidents in the past decade. Last year one of its Boeing jets collided with a Wings Air plane as it landed at Kualanamu airport in North Sumatra, although no one was injured. In May 2016, two Lion Air planes collided at Soekarno-Hatta airport, while a month earlier an aircraft operated by Batik Air part of the Lion Group clipped a TransNusa plane. In 2013, all 108 passengers and crew survived when a Lion Air plane missed the runway at Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali, landed in the sea and split in two. In 2004, 24 people were killed when a Lion Air flight from Jakarta skidded off a rain-slicked runway after landing in Surakarta, Central Java. (evi) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ivany Atina Arbi and Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, October 29, 2018 14:54 1117 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b308779b8f63 1 National #LionAirJT610,Lion-Air,plane-crash,Basarnas,JT610,search-and-rescue Free The National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) is hoping for "a miracle" as search and rescue (SAR) personnel attempt to locate passengers and crew of Lion Air flight JT610, which went missing on Monday morning en route from Jakarta to Pangkalpinang in Bangka Belitung Islands province. The deputy of the Basarnas operation, Nugroho Budi Wiryanto, said that its personnel had yet to discover any bodies from the plane crash by 12:30 p.m. "We're hoping for a miracle from God," he said. An SAR personnel shows a section of plane debris recovered near the location where Lion Air flight JT610 crashed into the sea on Monday morning off Karawang, West Java. (Courtesy of Basarnas/-) SAR efforts had recovered various types of documents, including ID cards, passports and driver's licenses. Authorities had yet to locate the main body of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, but they had found debris from the plane, said Nugroho. "We have gone all out in deploying the equipment we have [for the SAR operation]," Nugroho said on Monday. "We haven't yet located the black box [...] our findings are not yet significant." Air traffic control (ATC) at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport lost contact with Lion Air flight JT610 on Monday at 6:33 a.m., approximately 13 minutes after takeoff. SAR personnel transfer debris and materials gathered from the sea near the location of the Lion Air crash on Monday off Karawang, West Java. Flight JT610 crashed into the sea shortly after takeoff from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport after air traffic control lost contact with the plane. (Courtesy of Basarnas/-) Authorities later announced that the plane crashed into the sea 7 nautical miles (12.96 kilometers) north off the coast of Tanjung Bungin in Karawang, West Java. Basarnas has deployed 150 personnel, including a team of 30 divers, while the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the National Police also deployed 150 personnel, said Nugroho. The 300-man joint SAR team was also assisted by fishermen at sea, he added, and that it would increase the number of personnel to speed up the operation. The aircraft carried 189 people: 181 passengers, including three minors, plus two pilots and six crew members. Among the passengers were dozens of officials from the Finance Ministry, the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK), as well as the environment and energy ministries. Separately, state-owned insurance company Jasa Raharja has assured that all passengers aboard Lion Air flight JT610 or their next of kin would be compensated in accordance with existing laws and the 2017 Finance Ministry regulation. "Jasa Raharja is ready to provide Rp 50 million in compensation for dead victims, and Jasa Raharja will cover up to Rp 25 million in hospital costs for injured victims," Budi Rahardjo, the company's director, said in a statement. (evi) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Riza Roidila Mufti (The Jakarta Post) Tangerang, Banten Mon, October 29, 2018 23:32 1117 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b308779d0513 1 National Basarnas,#LionAirJT610,Lion-Air,JT610,Singapore,search-and-rescue,plane-crash Free The search for Lion Air flight JT610 is now focused under water, with 30 skilled divers being deployed to the Java Sea to search for the main body of the aircraft and the black box, believed to be 25 to 30 meters under the sea surface, officials said on Monday evening. The search for the black box is crucial to answering why a brand new plane flying on a clear day could suffer such an ill fate. Read also: Lion Air JT610 crash: What we know so far Help from neighboring Singapore was scheduled to arrive at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Monday evening. The assistance comprised three personnel and advanced equipment for finding black boxes, the head of the National Transportation Safety Commission (KNKT), Soerjanto Tjahjono, said on Monday. National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) head M. Syaugi said that since 11 a.m. on Monday no more debris had been found floating on the surface. So we have started the underwater search and the process is still ongoing, he said at the airport. He said the 30 special divers employed a diving pattern following the prediction of movement of objects, which is calculated based on the time the object fell into the water, as well as the current sea and wind conditions, said Syaugi. So the divers are not diving randomly, but in the location where the object is predicted to have moved based on weather and wind movement, he said. Syaugi also said that based on the search and rescue standard operating procedure, the search would last for seven days, with an additional three days if the object has not yet been found. President Joko Jokowi Widodo said at the same press conference that he had ordered a 24-hour search on Monday night as the remaining victims' bodies, the black box and the planes body, had not yet been found. The joint search and rescue team members, numbering around 300, are from Basarnas, the KNKT, the National Police and the Indonesian Military as well as the Transportation Ministry and the private sector. There are more or less 15 ships in total that have been deployed for the search and rescue at [the crash site]. I instructed them to keep searching for 24 hours using lamp [light] for the search and rescue process, Jokowi said. A forensics team carries bodies of the victims of Lion Air flight JT610 to Sukanto National Police Hospital, East Jakarta, on Monday. (JP/Seto Wardhana) Help from a neighbor KNKT head Soerjanto said his office would send one more ship that would carry the more advanced equipment for the underwater search from Singapore. The equipment is expected to be more sensitive in locating the black box. Tonight, we will send one more ship, Baruna Jaya I. Now, we are waiting for friends from Singapore that will also bring equipment to help us. They will arrive soon in Cengkareng and we will head to the ship as soon as they arrive here tonight, said Soerjanto. Several ships that have been deployed are equipped with multibeam echo sonar, which could help to locate where the debris sank underwater. Soerjanto said he hoped the search goes well, especially since the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) predicted that weather in the search area for the next few days would be clear. 'Weather was clear' BMKG in its statement earlier reported that the weather when the accident happened was clear. Before the flight departure, the BMKG provided information about the weather forecast according to satellite imaging, radar imaging and even the local weather forecast using Automatic Weather Observation System (AWOS). The information consists of wind direction and velocity, visible range, temperature, pressure, etc. The weather forecast also includes the airport condition at the time of departure, the airport condition at the time of arrival, and the weather throughout the flight route, said BMKG head Dwikorita Karnawati in a press statement on Monday. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Kharishar Kahfi and Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, October 29, 2018 15:35 1117 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b308779baf3e 1 National #LionAirJT610,Lion-Air,Australia,plane-crash,aviation-security,flight Free Australia has issued an instruction advising Australian officials and other government employees not to fly on any Lion Air flights following the crash of flight JT610 on Monday morning on its way from Jakarta to Pangkalpinang in Bangka Belitung. Following the fatal crash of a Lion Air plane on 29 October 2018, Australian government officials and contractors have been instructed not to fly on Lion Air. This decision will be reviewed when the findings of the crash investigation are clear, a statement on the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trades website read at Monday noon. Air traffic controllers lost contact with Lion Air flight JT610 at 6:33 a.m., shortly after the plane took off at 6:20 a.m. from Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. Read also: Lion Air JT610 crash: What we know so far The plane, which was carrying two pilots, six crew members and 181 passengers, including three minors, crashed in the Java Sea, 7 nautical miles north off the coast of Tanjung Bungin in Karawang, West Java. A joint search and rescue team has been sent to the site. Among the passengers were officials from various ministries, including the Finance Ministry. Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati appeared devastated when she visited the National Search and Rescue Agencys (Basarnas) office in Jakarta At least 20 government officials were on board the flight, including staffers of the State Assets and Auction Services (KPKNL) and the State Treasury Services Office (KPPN). Sri Mulyani said the 20 employees on board the flight were returning to their office in Pangkalpinang after either spending time with their families or attending the 72nd anniversary of Currency Day in Jakarta over the weekend. "I am very concerned with the fate of [Finance Ministry] team," Sri Mulyani said. There were also one official from the Environment and Forestry Ministry and four from the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry on the plane. Reports also say officials from the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) and the Bangka-Belitung legislative Council were also on board. (evi) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, October 29, 2018 11:07 1117 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b308779af922 1 Business pertamina,Saudi-Arabia,refinery-upgrade,Cilacap,Central-Java,Nicke-Widyawati Free State-owned oil and gas holding company Pertamina president director Nicke Widyawati has said the company will continue its negotiations with the management of Saudi Aramco on the fate of the revitalization of oil refinery facilities in Cilacap, Central Java. Next week, we will meet with the management of Saudi Aramco, Nicke said on the sidelines of a state-owned enterprises (SOEs) coordination meeting in Bontang, East Kalimantan, on Sunday. She said the revitalization of the largest oil refinery facilities in Indonesia would enter the front-end engineering design (FEED) stage that would take about six months before the project entered the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) stage. The tender is expected to be held next year, Nicke said as quoted by kompas.com. Previously, Saudi Aramco pledged to invest US$6 billion in the revitalization of the refinery facilities. However, the company set several requirements for the investment, including incentives from the government, tax holidays and the handover of assets to its subsidiary in Indonesia. Pertamina and Saudi Aramco signed heads of agreement (HOA) in November 2015 for the Refinery Development Master Plan (RDMP) project. After the revitalization, the production capacity is expected to increase to 400,000 barrels per day with a fuel product that meets Euro V requirements. The other products include basic petrochemicals and Group II Base Oil for lubricants (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Riza Roidila Mufti and Ivany Atina Arby (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, October 29, 2018 18:34 1117 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b308779c8fcc 1 National #LionAirJT610,plane-crash,karawang Free A senior AirNav official has confirmed that the ill-fated Lion Air flight JT610 that crashed into the Java Sea on Monday morning requested to return to base only two to three minutes after takeoff from Soekarno Hatta International Airport. We received the request from the pilot to return to base. The air traffic controller gave permission to return, and there is a recording of it, said AirNav president director Novie Riyanto in a press conference at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten. However, he went on to say that he could not explain why the pilot requested to return to base. Read also: Lion Air JT610 crash: What we know so far Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said in a press conference at the airport that the National Transportation Safety Commission (KNKT) was investigating the cause of the crash while the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) was still searching for the aircraft and any survivors. What I have learned so far, there does not appear to be negligence by the relevant authorities [regarding the tragedy]. Whatever it is, let the KNKT investigate this incident, he said. Earlier, Lion Air said in a separate press conference that a technical problem was reported by pilots when the same aircraft was flying from Denpasar in Bali to Jakarta on the night before the crash. There was a report of a technical issue previously, but the problem had been addressed according to the correct procedures [after the plane landed at Soekarno-Hatta airport], Lion Air CEO Edward Sirait said, adding that the plane had been declared ready to take off by Lion Air engineers before flying to Pangkalpinang, Bangka Belitung Islands. Edward did not reveal details of the technical problem. The plane, which was scheduled to land at Depati Amir Airport at 7:10 a.m., lost contact with air traffic control at 6:33 a.m. shortly after it took off at 6:20 a.m. from Soekarno-Hatta. It reportedly crashed 7 nautical miles north of the coast of Tanjung Bungin in Karawang, West Java. The plane had 189 people on boardcomprising 178 adult passengers, three minors, two pilots and six crew members. The pilots and the crew members have been named as pilot Bhavye Suneja, a New Delhi resident who had 6,000 flight hours, co-pilot Harvino with more than 5,000 flight hours; and cabin crew Shintia Melina, Citra Noivita Anggelia, Alviani Hidayatul Solikha, Damayanti Simarmata, Mery Yulianda and Deny Maula. The plane, registration number PK-LQP, was built this year and started operations for Lion Air on Aug. 15. (evi) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, October 29 2018 Indonesia has denied a report by Israeli media that accuses the government of using Israeli-made spyware to surveil lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) activists and persecute minority religious groups. An official with the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) said information related to Indonesia in an investigative report published by Israeli daily Haaretz on Oct. 20 was a hoax. According to the dailys investigation, private Israeli companies have sold intelligence-gathering and espionage software to dozens of countries, including ones without formal ties to Israel such as Indonesia. 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 Im Eun-byel (The Korea Herald/Asia News Network) Mon, October 29, 2018 18:08 1117 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b308779c4dec 2 News Buddhist-culture,Korean-Buddhist-Cultural-Foundation,Templestay-Weeks-for-Foreigners Free For foreigners here looking for a chance to experience Buddhist culture, the Korean Buddhist Cultural Foundation is running Templestay Weeks for Foreigners from Nov. 5-30. Korean Buddhist temples are known to be peaceful and quiet, as most of them are located in mountainous regions. Templestay programs offer participants a glimpse into Buddhist temple life. During the promotional period, 39 temples across Korea - including Bongeunsa in Seoul, Magoksa in South Chungcheong Province, Tongdosa in North Gyeongsang Province, and Daeheungsa in South Jeolla Province -- offer templestay programs at a discounted price. For foreigners here looking for a chance to experience Buddhist culture, the Korean Buddhist Cultural Foundation is running Templestay Weeks for Foreigners from Nov. 5-30 (JP/The Korea Herald/Korean Buddhist Cultural Foundation) A one-day program, typically including a tea ceremony with a monk for two to three hours or a workshop making a lotus-flowers lantern, is offered at 10,000 won. An overnight stay program costs 20,000 won. The program is divided into two categories. Experience-oriented templestay is filled with arts and crafts sessions and diverse activities, such as chamseon (Zen meditation), 108 bae (bowing) or a workshop making 108 beads for prayer. Relaxation-oriented templestay, on the other hand, allows the participats unstructured time, finding peace for the mind and the body, except for the yebul (chanting ceremony) and gongyang (eating a monastic meal) sessions. Read also: BTS to get medal for spreading Korean culture: Presidential office According to the foundation, around 70,000 foreign visitors participated in templestay programs last year. While foreigners templestay participation has been on the increase, we prepared the Templestay Weeks for Foreigners, as a chance for foreigners living here to experience the countrys traditional culture, the foundations head monk Wonkyung, who is in charge of running the program, said. English service is offered at most temples on the list, and some run Japanese, Chinese or French services during the period with the help of volunteers. For the schedules and programs, visit the English website at eng.templestay.com or call the information center at (02) 2031-2000. Topics : This article appeared on The Korea Herald 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 News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, October 29, 2018 18:06 1117 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b308779c4b0f 4 News Airlines,Russia,Moscow,bali,new-route,travel,Aeroflot-Rossiya-Airlines Free Russian carriers Aeroflot and Rossiya Airlines officially launched their Moscow-Denpasar route on Monday under a codeshare agreement. The SU-6295 flight arrived safely at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport on Monday at 8:20 a.m. local time after departing from Sheremetyevo Airport in Moscow, Russia, on Sunday at 3:05 p.m., covering a distance of 10,600 kilometers. The direct maiden flight using Boeing 777-300ER aircraft carries 297 passengers. A welcoming ceremony was held for the flight, where the passengers received flower garlands and were entertained with Sekar Jepun dance performance. Among the attendees were the Indonesian Ambassador to Russia and the Republic of Belarus M. Wahid Supriyadi, the Tourism Ministry's head of marketing division area IV Agus Setiawan, the head of the political section of the Embassy of the Russian Federation to Indonesia Andrey Kuznetsov and president director of GSA of Aeroflot Indonesia, Agustinus Kasjaya Pake Seko. "Today is one of the historical days in the relations of the two countries. Thirty years ago there was a direct charter flight service [between Russia and Indonesia]. Hopefully this direct flight service will benefit many, especially tourists," said Wahid in in a statement as quoted by Tribun Bali. He added that last year the number of Russian tourists to Indonesia increased by 37 percent to 110,000 people. "With this direct flight service, we are targeting to have 35,000 tourists carried each year by Rossiya, increasing the total number of tourists to 145,000. Read also: Crossing Siberia, from Moscow to Mongolia Russia is reportedly one of the top five European countries that contribute to tourist arrivals to Bali. According to its schedule, Aeroflot will serve the Moscow-Denpasar route three times a week, on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Meanwhile, the Denpasar-Moscow route will operate on Monday, Thursday and Saturday, departing from the Bali city at 10:05 a.m. and arriving in Moscow at 5:50 p.m. I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport reportedly welcomed up to 80,975 Russian tourists in September, an increase of 10.38 percent from a similar period last year. Founded in 1923 and one of the oldest airlines in the world that is still operating, Aeroflot is the national flag carrier of Russia. In 2017, it reportedly served 32.8 million passengers across 146 routes from 52 countries. Established in 1934 with the name Pulkovo Airlines, Rossiya Airlines joined Aeroflot Group in 2011. In February 2016, the carrier conducted a merger with two other airlines under the flag of Aeroflot Group, namely Donavia and Orenair. (iru/kes) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Liza Yosephine (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, October 29, 2018 17:52 1117 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b308779c3889 1 News travel,safety,Safe-Travel,How-to,flight-tracker,flight,#LionAirJT610 Free Flying is increasingly becoming a necessary form of travel, whether for leisure or business. Although it's becoming common to see off family and friends as they embark on a journey, some may choose to take the extra step of tracking their loved ones flight from the ground. This information is also crucial in the case of emergencies, as highlighted by a recent plane crash that shocked Indonesians. On Monday morning, Jakarta air traffic controllers lost contact with Lion Air flight JT610, which was en route to Pangkalpinang in Bangka Belitung, 13 minutes after it took off from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten, on 6.20 a.m. The flight, which was carrying 189 people on board, including 181 passengers, reportedly crashed 7 nautical miles (12.96 kilometers) north off the coast of Tanjung Bungin in Karawang, West Java. Read also: BREAKING: 189 people on downed Lion Air flight, ministry says In such situations, as devastating they may be, it is important seek out reliable sources of information other than the news. Even in a non-emergency, it may soothe your worries to keep track of a loved ones air travel. Here are some ways you can monitor international flights: Track flights in real-time on apps and websites Monitoring flights on flight-tracker apps and websites is one of the easiest ways to check on estimated departure and arrival times, as well as relevant flight data in real-time. Digital Trends has listed some of the best apps to use, whether for plane enthusiasts keen on identifying what's passing by overhead, travelers on trips or loved ones waiting to meet incoming relatives and friends. First listed is the app Flightradar24, which has a website, Flightradar24.com, as well as an app available on both Android and iOS. The flight data is extensive and covers the entire globe. On its official Twitter account, the site has also published a summary of the Lion Air JT610 flight, including the make of the plane, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 with the registration PK-LQP that was delivered to the airline in August this year. Lion Air #JT610 summary Operated by a Boeing 737 MAX 8 registration PK-LQP, delivered in August 2018. 23:20 UTC Take off from Jakarta 23:31 UTC Last signal received at 425 feet AMSL. Vertical speed -30,000 feet/min. Full data:https://t.co/QCUucGKVHr pic.twitter.com/xSSx0ICaEo Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) October 29, 2018 The free version of Flightradar24 is already chock-full of flight-tracking features, including photos, historical flight data and even a 3D pilot view. However, for even more information, paid subscription also opens up a greater depth of data. Another app worth noting is FlightStats, which offers a more straightforward interface, including the ability to search by flight number, airport or route. The app features a simple status page that shows scheduled and actual times of departure and arrival, a map view with the position of the plane in question and additional information on weather, gates, as well as possible delays. Among other apps to consider are ADSB Flight Tracker, which is available for free and only on Android, as well as Plane Finder, available to buy for iOS users. Seek verified information on official social media accounts In the case of an emergency, such as the recent Lion Air crash, it is instinctual to seek out any update and information regarding the incident. In such a case, always make it a point to look for verified information that can be obtained through official sources, especially shared by relevant government institutions that are responsible for overseeing search and rescue operations. Head to their verified Twitter accounts, for example, which will also attach documentation, such as up to date images and also links to official statements with the latest information on its website. In the case of a missing flight, the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnar) is a reliable source as it disseminates up-to-date information on its verified Twitter account @SAR_NASIONAL. Beware of unverified information that may float around social media and elsewhere online, whether intentionally or not. Always confirm with official sources. Conversely, avoid sharing unconfirmed data to avoid false information from spreading. Get in touch with the airline Airlines would also release official statements on any changes or incidents related to their flights, which would be shared on their social media accounts or official website. As with the case of Lion Air flight JT610, Lion Air Group released a statement via its Twitter and Facebook accounts, including contact numbers for a crisis center and details intended for those in search of further information to be disclosed privately. (kes) Informasi Penerbangan Lion Air #JT610 Rute Soekarno-Hatta, Tangerang ke Pangkalpinang https://t.co/Is5igpxjOT Terkait dengan kejadian ini kami membuka pusat krisis di nomor 021-80820001 dan untuk infomasi penumpang di nomor 021-80820002 pic.twitter.com/h69mzqPf6Q Lion Air Group (@lionairgroup) October 29, 2018 Meet Edith Moore (Sheila Hancock) an elderly woman, who in the aftermath of the death of her controlling husband, decides to fulfil a life-long dream and overcome a lifetime of bitterness and resentment. At the tender age of eighty-three, Edie sets out to try and capture a little of the magic she had as a young girl by climbing a Scottish mountain. Against her daughters wishes, she heads to Scotland and employs Jonny (Kevin Guthrie - Dunkirk, Whisky Galore!) to help her prepare for the gruelling climb ahead which sparks an unusual friendship. The story is a tale of triumph over adversity as Edie embarks on the adventure of a lifetime, set against the stunning backdrop of the Scottish Highlands. For your chance to win a copy on DVD, just email film.assistant@thenationalstudent.com with the subject line 'Edie competition'! Entry closes Sunday 4th of November at midday. EDIE will be available on Digital Download now and on DVD & Blu-ray from 29th October. Unfortunately, The Content Is Not Here You have arrived at this page because the page or post you were looking for no longer exists. Please check our main navigation pages for other content: Home Page In June, President Trump directed Energy Secretary Rick Perry to bail out struggling nuclear and coal power plants. Such federal action would come on top of state bailouts, such as New Jerseys just-approved $300 million annual lifeline to keep three nuclear plants running. The administration claims, as do nuclear companies, that bailouts are necessary to safeguard national security should fossil-fueled power plants go offline from a cyberattack or a natural disaster. While it is true that nuclear plants can store significant amounts of fuel onsite, the administrations argument is a far stretch. A recent report from the Rhodium Group determined that a minuscule share of power outages .00007 percent have resulted from a shortage of onsite fuel. The study also failed to discover any clear link between nuclear power generation and more reliable energy systems. Why nuclear in the first place? During its 1970s building boom, utility executives and politicians thought oil and natural gas were running out. Nuclear was also thought to be less expensive, even having promised to be too cheap to meter. The opposite was true. Nuclear cost overruns became legendary. Meanwhile, deregulation cured the oil and gas supply problem. Today, thanks to hydraulic fracturing, natural gas prices are at historic lows, with the United States leading global production. As a result, generating electricity at a new gas-fired power plant is estimated to cost half as much as at a new nuclear facility. This is in theory. In practice, the discrepancy has proven far greater. Two federally subsidized power plants in Georgia are now $9 billion over budget and five years behind schedule. South Carolina ratepayers are looking at an 18 percent higher bill for two recently abandoned nuclear construction projects. The collateral damage included the bankruptcy of nuclear builder Westinghouse last year. The failed promise of nuclear was certainly not due to a lack of government aid. Between 1948 and 2007, federal R&D subsidies for nuclear totaled more than $80 billion, according to Taxpayers for Common Sense. The 2005 Energy Policy Act devoted $2 billion in subsidies to six nuclear plants around the country. The Price-Anderson Nuclear Industries Indemnity Act of 1957 has subsidized insurance in case of nuclear accidents for the past 60 years. Sixty of the original 132 nuclear plants remain in operation today, accounting for about 20 percent of Americas electricity generation. By 2050, nuclear output is expected to decline by one-fourth. There is one way that the federal government can aid nuclear without exploiting captive ratepayers or taxpayers by ending the Production Tax Credit for existing and new industrial wind turbines. Wind power directly competes against and can ruin the economics of nuclear. In certain circumstances, kilowatt hours of wind output are sold at very low even negative prices just to get the 2.4 cent tax credit. That leaves nuclear, and even gas- and coal-fired plants that do not get this subsidy, with artificially low revenue to cause premature capacity retirement. The obvious answer, then, is to end the tax subsidies for existing wind facilities, not to double-down on government subsidies. Its not the job of government officials to decide which energy technologies succeed and which fail. And its certainly not their job to prop up uncompetitive firms by raising electricity costs on average citizens and requiring taxpayer involvement. The consumer-driven marketplace alone, if theory and history is any guide, should arbitrate. Robert L. Bradley Jr. is the founder and CEO of the Institute for Energy Research. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close You cannot print contents of this website. Sign in Welcome, Login to your account. Forget password? Remember me Sign in Recover your password. A password will be e-mailed to you. MALKERNS Nothing can come between fun lovers and their weekend plans. This mantra proved true this past weekend as fun lovers danced the night away during MegaSound Picnic that took place at Malkerns Club where South Africa-based vocalist, Mlindo did not show up. Mlindo was one of the main acts that were expected to perform as hundreds of people came to witness his performance. The crowd waited for hours, until it was announced that the Amablesser hit maker was no longer going to perform. A report came that Mlindo was no longer coming. Bongani Dlamini, also known as Bobo, who was one of the organisers, said they encountered issues with the artist and he had said he was on his way to the border. Mlindo was nowhere to be found, yet the whole time the story was that he is on his way, Dlamini said. Dlamini further said they would wait for an official statement from Mlindos team and possibly get a refund as they had already paid him prior to his performance in the country. Co-Founder and Director of MegaSound Samkelo DJ Zulu D Zulu also attested to the disappointment, as he said they also tried looking for him as they waited for him at the border gate and he did not show up. Andile Hlatshwayo, who is a fun lover, also expressed his dissatisfaction about the artist who he said was one of his favourite artists from South Africa. I wanted to see him perform, I am disappointed because I came all the way from Nhlangano just to see him, he said Nomonde Vilakati, who was also part of the event, said she saw it coming as she was following Mlindos updates on instagram. He did not say anything about coming to Eswatini, instead he had a show to attend the following day, she said. Some got so impatient and started leaving. This would have been the second time the South Africa-based artist, Mlindo visited the kingdom as his last performance was at The George Hotel in Manzini two months ago. MANZINI The regions police officers say they are tired of guarding the late former Prime Minister (PM) Sibusiso Barnabas Dlaminis residence at Ekukhanyeni. The officers are also made to guard former Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Paul Dlaminis home at Lugaganeni. Sibusisos home, which is being guarded by the police officers, is situated at Ekukhanyeni. The police officers alleged that while guarding the two homes, they were left to starve, as no food was provided for them. Also, they were not provided with transport back to their respective places of abode by their superiors, when their shift ends. We are forced to work double shifts. After guarding the homes, you are left there and when we enquire about transport, we are always informed that there is a shortage of vehicles. We are always picked up after about five hours, which is not fair because we are also expected to report again for the next shift, a junior police officer, who preferred not to be named, said. The officers said they felt they were made slaves by their superiors. They also stated that they feared for their lives, as one of the homes was seldom-occupied, which was that of the late former PM. There are no guard houses for us and we are not safe from thugs, especially during the night. We also get exposed to the cold or the scotching sun during the day. The homes are guarded day and night. We are also aware that we should not be guarding the two homes now as the people are no longer the countrys authorities. The REPS should ensure that set down procedures are met in such cases, another officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said. Livestock Employees who look after livestock at the late ex-PMs home confirmed that the former premier had not been visiting the place often before his demise. Even after his death, there was no activity at the place and some mourners were disappointed as they had assumed they would gather at the place to pass their condolences. On another note the ex-DPMs home is occupied by himself, his wife and other family members. Most of the officers stated that they had complained and enquired from their superiors about the situation, however, their grievances had fallen on deaf ears. When we approach some of them, we are told that guarding the place is an order from government, as we were trained to face such intense situations. This is also abuse of government resources, another officer said. MBABANE His appointment came as a surprise to members of the Jesus Calls Worship Centre, but hopes were high that he would attend the service yesterday, something which did not happen. Newly-appointed Prime Minister Ambrose Dlamini, a member of Jesus Calls Worship Centre, did not show up for the service yesterday. Neither did members of his family make it to the church service. Dlamini, who is an active member of the church, was expected but in vain as per the norm. He usually attends the morning service, which begins at 8am until 10am. Absent Chairperson of the church Musa Mdluli said Dlamini was a God- fearing man, who always communicated in case he would be absent from church. Mdluli said yesterday, nothing had been communicated and they did not know his whereabouts. It is the first time that he has not shown up for church or communicated to us his whereabouts, said Mdluli. He said Dlaminis appointment came as a surprise to them, especially after media speculation on a number of potentials. According to Mdluli, they were not expecting Dlamini to change now that he was the countrys premier, but were optimistic that would continue coming to church when possible. Mdluli said the church would continue to pray for him on the responsibilities that had been given to him. As a church, he said they were putting their trust in God that He would be with him throughout the journey. The church also encourages him to continue being prayerful and never forget God in any situation. If he will hold onto God, everything will be possible including taking the country forward, Mdluli said. He said he believed the Almightys hand was upon congregants at JC Worship Centre, who were taking up leadership positions. Others include Senate President Pastor Lindiwe Dlamini. Swaziland Conference of Churches President Stephen Masilela said the Christian fraternity had been praying for God-fearing people to take up leadership positions before elections. Our prayers have been answered, that the head of government is someone who fears the Lord and who is born again, Masilela said. Appointing Masilela commended the King for his wisdom in appointing Dlamini, especially because he had sought direction from the public at large. He said they were very much excited when Dlamini was announced as the countrys new PM. According to Proverbs 29 verse 2 Masilela said; When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked rule, the people mourn. Masilela said they were expecting Dlamini to make the people happy. He said it showed that His Majestys wish to involve the people to have a say in the appointment of the PM in the country, which was the first of its kind, was to make them content. MBABANE The appointment of a new prime minister (PM) means a lot of different things for various people; for trade unionists, it means cost-of-living talks will soon resume. Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) Secretary General Sikelela Dlamini said when their strike was stopped; the reason was the absence of proper government officials to release finances from the consolidation fund. Sikelela said they hoped in the next two weeks, the issue of the 6.5 per cent cost-of-living adjustment (CoLA) they were demanding would be sorted. Sikelela said they hoped the new Prime Minister, Ambrose Dlamini, would rise to the occasion. Sikelela clarified that as workers, they did not have any political ally and their primary expectation from the new premier was service delivery. He recalled that the King said he wanted someone who would work at a high pace. He said this would be guaranteed if the new PM listened to what people said and consulted on a way forward. Reviewed Swaziland Democratic Nurses Association (SWADNU) President Bheki Mamba said it was a must that salaries be reviewed as they had not been for the past two years. Mamba said it was paramount for Ambrose to have workers on his side if he was to bring economic reforms. He advised him to communicate with workers and give them hope that government was doing something about their salaries. Mamba said they were expecting the PM to come up with economic reform strategies which would convince the world that he would change the economy for the better. He said as things stood, government could not adequately fund education and health systems. He said the premier had the challenge to revive the economy so the two services could be sufficiently provided. Mamba said the premier would be tested by his ability to consult with the people and relevant stakeholders, in particular, trade unions. He said it remained to be seen whether he would have an open door policy and do away with bureaucratic channels. He stated that to revive the economy, he had to open his door to consultation. court From private sector to national politics, the newly-appointed PM should brace himself for an industrial action by SNAT which was to be held in September but was postponed by the court to November 23. Being PM means a person is head of government business and all ministries report to him. In essence, this means the buck stops with the PM as all ministries report to him. During Sibaya, many of the submissions made by the public sent a clear message that there was a rising concern about corruption in the country and the next PM should deal with it decisively. Ambrose has to find corruption combating strategies which will put the public at ease while at the same time, ensure that no public funds are lost to this crime. Some speakers at Sibaya mentioned that there were more than necessary ministries and a cut down was needed. It was mentioned that this may come with job losses but it was necessary as there was a similarity in the mandates of some ministries. Ambrose and his Cabinet will have to consider merging some ministries keeping in mind the aspect of job losses. Unemployment is one of the challenges faced by the country. The Demographic Dividend Study Report of 2017 puts unemployment at 28 per cent with the majority of the affected people being the youth. Ambrose has the task to look into how job opportunities could be availed to ensure that locals have buying power and contribute to the economy. With positive economic growth, government could ensure that social services, such as elderly grants, are provided on time. Currently, government is failing to consistently provide social grants to the elderly. It also cannot provide grants to people with disabilities. This is another task the new government has to ensure it addresses so as to ensure that social services are provided on time to eligible emaSwati. For a person to be regarded as a liSwati, they must have among other things a national identity card. Currently, some children reach primary schools without having the cards or birth certificates due to various factors. Attempts to register pupils in various schools around the country were made last year but there remains the need to ensure that all children are registered at birth to avoid having locals not accessing social services due to not having proof of citizenship. Proof of citizenship is one of the requirements needed for pupils to register for free primary education. ENHLANHLENI Has newly-appointed Prime Minister Ambrose Dlamini lost out on an opportunity to head Botswana MTN? According to his parents, before his appointment, Ambrose was preparing to move to Botswana in January 2019. His father, Mphatfwa Dlamini, claimed that this move had even been endorsed by His Majesty King Mswati III. Mphatfwa said the endorsement was made way before His Majesty appointed Ambrose into the highest political position in the country and this aggravated the element of surprise when they heard the news. He claimed that MTN wanted Ambrose to explore other avenues, and that was why he was being moved to Botswana. He said they could not, however, go against His Majestys wishes as he had seen some qualities in Ambrose. The same claims were made by Ambroses stepmother, Thandiwe Barbara Dlamini. She said they were surprised when his name was called at the Cattle Byre, as they just knew that he was working for MTN. He was being transferred to Botswana and was leaving in January. He even went to the King to report that he was being moved to Botswana, she said. She said they were happy that he was working diligently for MTN such that they saw it fit to promote him, as his Botswana move would have been a promotion. Mphatfwa said the rumours that his son would be the countrys PM started circulating a long time ago. He said he never took them seriously as he thought that it was just people talking. The rumours were there even before he started working for MTN and I never took them seriously, he said. He said the rumours got stronger this year, but he did not think they could be true. Mphatfwa said last Thursday, Ambrose called him from Johannesburg, South Africa, where he was attending a meeting, and told him that he had received a call that he should return to the country, and be at Sibaya. That is when I started believing that the rumours could be true. I also got ill, as the position they have appointed him in is too big. I never thought it could happen, he said. He said there was nothing they could do or say to change things, but they would just have to accept that His Majesty had decided that his son could lead the country. Since I had serious security issues with my previous smartphone i bought myself a Motorola C+ brand new in Madrid's Fnac (I'm in Spain st the moment)Though It seemed to work fine the first weeks, I'm again being regurlarly Lost by Google MapsTonight, as I was going on a small errand, I put It in my purse, with coins in itBack in my room I take It off the purse and all european small coins (that are mainly made of iron) stayed stucked on itI opened the device and It seems to be the voice speaker that attracts coins (and even spoons get stucked to it, when the cover is off)Am I getting paranoid or is that normal ?Thanks for your kind answersSorry for my poor english Chinas ambassador to Greece, Zhang Qiyue, said the port provided a model of cooperation between Greece and China Greek Parliament president Nikos Voutsis paid a visit on Friday to the headquarters of the Piraeus Port Authority following an invitation by managing director Captain Fu Chengqiu, ANA reports. The Chinese management gave a Voutsis and his associates a tour of the premises and updated them on data that has turned Piraeus into the fastest-growing port globally. 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: bertknot License: CC-BY-SA Bahrain Association of Banks (BAB) has announced a high level line of speakers for its Annual Banking Forum, which this year focuses on FinTech: Opportunities & Challenges in Bahrains banking industry. Being held under the patronage of the Central Bank of Bahrain, the Forum will take place on October 31 at the Gulf Hotel and expects to attract more than 500 senior representatives from among BABs 52 members, regulators and executives of monetary funds from Bahrain & internationally. With the events aim to tackle the rapid development of FinTech and its impact on Bahraini banks, the Forum will be kicked off by BAB Chairman Adnan Ahmed Yousif and two on-stage keynote interviews with senior industry leaders conducted by Nuha Al Ali, the prominent CNBC Anchor. The first will feature his Rasheed Al Maraj, Governor of the Central Bank of Bahrain, and the second with Meliksah Utku, general manager and CEO of Albaraka Turk, which has made significant inroads in FinTech innovation. The agenda follows with four plenary sessions addressing pressing issues for the industry covering: The Relationship Between Banks and FinTechs, Fostering a Better FinTech Ecosystem, Addressing the Human Capital Gap and Legal & Regulatory Considerations. Taking part in the discussions are banking leaders and FinTech experts from a diverse group of organizations including American Express, Bahrain FinTech Bay, Bahrain Chamber of Commerce &Industry, Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution, BEEHIVE, Bahrain Islamic Bank, Central Bank of Bahrain, Economic Development Board, Gateway, Gulf International Bank, Islamic Finance News, National Bank of Bahrain, Netiks International, Tamkeen, THSA Technology Bahrain and University of Bahrain. Dr Waheed Al Qassim, CEO at BAB, said: We are delighted to announce the participation of such a notable group of industry leaders and experts at BABs upcoming Forum. We look forward to welcoming Rasheed Al Maraj, Governor of the Central Bank, and Meliksah Utku, general manager and CEO of Albaraka Turk, a bank that has been an early mover, adopter and supporter of FinTech development. Participants will also hear from numerous other senior experts and pioneers on how FinTech is impacting Bahrains banking sector and the opportunities and challenges that will face the industry as it moves forward with further development and adoption. The Forum is supported by strategic partners Al Baraka Banking Group, Gulf International Bank, National Bank of Bahrain and Venture Capital Bank and Media Partners IFN and CNBC. - TradeArabia News Service The activiites carried out by the Brazilian Footwear, the footwear exports promotion programme developed by the Brazilian Footwear Industries Association (Abicalcados) generated $162 million in 2018, it said. The programme is being run in partnership with the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil). The results refer to 13 actions, between trade fairs and trade missions held abroad. They generated $40 million on the spot, with the expectation to reach another $122 million in deals that began to be negotiated during the events, a statement said. Abicalcados Trade Promotion coordinator, Leticia Sperb Masselli, highlighted that the actions carried out by the programme, existing since the year 2000, are essential for footwear exports, not only considering volume but also with regards to training. Before the first agreement with Apex-Brasil, 18 years ago, we exported to 99 countries, a figure that stood at over 160 last year. In addition to the diversification, we started to ship more products with the companies own brands, making our shoes desired and known in the main markets in the world, she assesses. Masselli also says that the nearly 250 companies that are members of the Brazilian Footwear account for more than 80 per cent of footwear exports, a share that tends to grow as brands realise the importance of operating in the foreign market as a continuing and not only occasional strategy. Even if the scenario is not so positive for deals, companies need to be there, holding their position with quality, to reap the results when better conditions are re-established, she mentions. For the coordinator, the exchange rate at the current level favours the setting of prices, even though local currencies are also devalued in the main markets for Brazilian footwear abroad, especially in Latin America. The exchange rate is important, but it has ceased to be essential for a long time. It takes strategy and training to properly work in international trade. This is what Abicalcados provides for companies that wish to work in the challenging overseas market, through the Brazilian Footwear, she said. She also added that in addition to enabling the participation of companies in international fairs and missions with subsidies, the footwear exports promotion program seeks their improvement to operate in the foreign market. The agreement with the Brazilian Footwear is renewed every two years. The next target markets for the upcoming biennium, 2019/2020, were already selected during a meeting with Abicalcados, Apex-Brasil, and members of the project. The US, Peru (new), France, the UK, China, South Korea (new), and Saudi Arabia (new) were chosen. These countries will be developed through trade, image, and prospection actions throughout the next agreement, which will be signed in the beginning of 2019, it stated. TradeArabia News Service Preparations are underway for the fourth Breakbulk Middle East 2019, to be held next year for the first time in Dubai, UAE, which will gather the worlds top industry experts. The event is being held under the patronage Dr Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, UAE Minister of Infrastructure Development and the chairman of Federal Transport Authority for Land and Maritime. Furthermore, the event will definitely have a positive impact as it is primarily dedicated to highlighting the major issues and key players in vital sectors such as breakbulk and project cargo. The fourth edition is scheduled to be held for the first time in Dubai, UAE, on February 11 and 12 at the Dubai World Trade Centre aspiring to unite key logistics players, carriers and cargo owners. Dr Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi said: We are proud to say that the UAE today is the maritime flagship for the Middle East. Thats why, many international leading maritime conferences choose the UAE as their prime venue for both expos and conferences. Accordingly, we aim to collaborate together with the Breakbulk team aspiring to solidify the UAE position as breakbulk and logistics hub. The UAE is already leading the maritime industry in the Middle East, and huge efforts are in progress to enhance it. We will continue to address the issues that may arise in the industry, and we will unify efforts with government entities and the private sector to face the challenges and to further grow with the industry that will in turn solidify the UAEs position amongst the worlds best maritime hubs, he said. Al Nuaimi added: We are constantly following the instructions of our wise leadership who believe in the importance of the maritime sector as an efficient way of delivering goods. Countries worldwide are heavily counting on shipping to facilitate trade and enhance business opportunities. The UAE is steadily climbing the ranks of the leading nations in the global maritime industry, and this requires a process of constant development and reform, he said. According to Princess Sarah AlSaud, director of Maritime Business Development at the International Forum for Maritime Transport, Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport in Alexandria, who attended the 3rd edition of Breakbulk ME and delivered the keynote speech. She said: The establishment of such exhibitions and conferences in the shipping and maritime trade sectors is very significant for our region. Breakbulk Middle East is a platform for generating and sharing innovative ideas in the industry. I was delighted to see the regions foremost experts in the sector come together such as leading shippers, port authorities, carriers, freight forwarders and transport specialists. I look forward for another successful event in 2019, she added. Princess Al Saud emphasised: The event witnesses strategic era whereas Chinas Belt and Road Initiative will become a major player in the international economy. Accordingly, The UAE and Saudi Arabia will play a very important role in contributing to that plans success. The development of commercial ports and the establishment of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) can be the driver of economic industrialization and growth. Therefore, I want to hear from the major industry key players who will attend the fourth edition of Breakbulk ME and discuss the GCCs new maritime strategy and its major projects, she added. Mohammed Al Muallem, DP Worlds chief executive officer and managing director, UAE Region, said: There is no doubt that the global economy is improving and the outlook for the upcoming years in terms of growth and development is optimistic. We can see the significant value of the breakbulk industry as global exports and imports are considerably growing. The global market is currently not only benefiting from the recovery but witnesses an increase in trade volume, he said. Al Muallem added: Breakbulk industry has remained a source of opportunities in our region. We, at DP World, believe in the importance of generating better business opportunities to maintain our global leadership. Jebel Ali Ports General Cargo Facility spreads over 1.4 million sq metres with 27 berths, including a covered area of 70,000 sq m. We will continue to invest in breakbulk and cargo projects to meet our customers need and we aim to sustain our effective collaboration with Breakbulk Middle East which will definitely solidify the UAE global maritime competitiveness, he said. Ben Blamire, the events commercial director, said: Through the experience that we have gained over the past years by organizing this event in many different countries, we have recognized the essential role that this event plays. Breakbulk Middle East gathers key industry leaders from all over the world under one umbrella, where they are given the opportunity to share expertise, knowledge, the challenges that they are facing, their future goals and definitely development opportunities and solutions. We all agree that the industry has been facing major challenges due to the fluctuation in oil prices that basically has affected the global market. Therefore, we work hard year after a year to guarantee that our event is an objective platform for generating and sharing innovative ideas to face major industry challenges and come up with effective solutions. Breakbulk Middle East also aims to showcase the industrys international best practices which will further enhance the UAEs global ranking, he added. TradeArabia News Service Zain Group, the leading mobile telecom innovator in eight markets across the Middle East and Africa, has been selected by Huawei, a leading global provider of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure and smart devices, to become a strategic partner in the offering of Huawei Cloud services in Kuwait and across the Middle East and North Africa region (Mena). The memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two companies was signed during a two-day strategy summit held in Shanghai, China where Zain Group executive management met counterparts from Huawei to discuss a range of topics related to establishing additional areas of potential cooperation. The public cloud agreement is in line with the New Kuwait Vision 2035 and the strategic relationship established between Kuwait and China to drive improvements in the areas of Public Administration, Economy, Infrastructure, Living Environment, Healthcare, Human Capital, and Global Position. The agreement will see Huawei Cloud services initially launched in Kuwait and across Middle East, with a wide range of new offerings being made available to businesses and consumers alike. The market in Mena is estimated to be growing by more than 20 per cent year-on-year according to industry analyst Gartner, with platform as a service (PaaS) and software as a service (SaaS) being among the fastest growing areas with public cloud service delivery. Zain Group vice-chairman and CEO Bader Al-Kharafi said: This agreement bolsters Zain's efforts in playing a key role in the New Kuwait 2035 national development plan as the deployment of public cloud services unlocks many opportunities for driving business growth and efficiency, as well as stimulating competition and innovation. It also enhances our ambitions of becoming the operator of choice for governments and enterprises of all sizes across our footprint. Al Kharafi continued: In the implementation of our digital transformation strategy, Zain has consistently looked to bring cutting-edge solutions to the region for the benefit of its customers. In recent years we have intensified our focus on the delivery of business-to-business (B2B) solutions, and this agreement adds to the comprehensive range of business-critical offerings well be able to deliver. Public cloud is the cornerstone of digital transformation, I look forward to promoting Huawei Cloud across the Mena with Zain, said Charles Yang, president of Huawei Middle East, As a global leading ICT player, Huawei will continuously focus on digital transformation, supporting our strategic decision to foster the growth of public cloud services. Zain is one of our most important partners in the region and this partnership will support the realization of Kuwait 2035 vision and other Mena nations plans alike, bringing digital to every person, home and organization for a fully connected and intelligent Mena. Zain and Huawei discussed other topics during their summit in Shanghai, including each companys respective technology roadmap given the introduction of 5G in the Mena region as early as next year. The companies assessed the expected business cases for 5G in the region, including its impact on IoT, mobility, connectivity, healthcare, government; and other essential sectors. Zain is on track to have its operations in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia be the first to launch 5G commercially. TradeArabia News Service Coinciding with the 109th session of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Executive Council, the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) announced that it will be hosting the UNWTO Tourism Tech Adventures: Big Data Solutions in Tourism forum on November 1. The forum, held in collaboration with the UNWTO and IE Business School, will bring together various representatives from governments and the public sector, industry leaders, entrepreneurs and startups, investors, representatives from the academic sector, as well as business supporters, with the ultimate goal of stimulating innovation, entrepreneurship and investments in the tourism sector and also focusing on the use of big data solutions in tourism and how they can power new and upcoming business models through innovation. As a member of the UNWTO Executive Council for two terms of the General Assembly, which runs until 2021, it gives us great pleasure to host the UNWTO Tourism Tech Adventures: Big Data Solutions in Tourism forum which gives attendees the opportunity to network and engage with key players of the international entrepreneurial ecosystem, said the chief executive officer of BTEA, Shaikh Khaled bin Humood Al Khalifa. The forum will be a driving force enabling tourism startups to grow internationally by providing an excellent platform for innovators in tourism to connect with top global investors, corporates and supporting business partners, he added. In addition, the forum will include activities for startups including a masterclass and a competition, two panel sessions on Smart Tourism Management and Big Data Solutions in Tourism, as well as a Ministerial Masterclass. The UNWTO was established in 1975 and is based in the Spanish capital of Madrid. It is concerned with countries political affairs in terms of tourism and produces statistics on tourism demand and supply worldwide. Its membership includes 145 countries, comprises six regions, and 350 Affiliate Members representing the private sector, educational institutions, tourism associations and local tourism authorities. - TradeArabia News Service Crypto Exchanges Eye Rapid Evolution Traders Magazine's sister publication Markets Media recently caught up with Jeanine Hightower-Sellitto, managing director of operations at Gemini Trust Company, to discuss how cryptocurrency exchanges are evolving into a new type of market compared to securities exchanges. Where are digital assets currently, in terms of development stage? How would you measure the success of digital assets exchanges to date? Digital assets are still in their infancy, but maturing. You hear a lot of noise, but sifting through it, there are real innovations moving this industry forward at a rapid pace. Gemini was an early innovator, having launched already three years ago in 2015. Our approach from the very beginning was to build a secure, regulated and transparent market for retail and institutional investors alike. As we layer on new products and enhancements, those principles are still at the core of our foundation. For example, we recently rolled out the industry's first Digital Asset insurance to bolster our commitment to provide our customers with a secure platform to store their digital assets. Success for Gemini continues to evolve over time. I don't feel that there will be a point where we will be satisfied with what weve accomplished, as there is always so much more to do when youre on the ground floor, building a safe and secure infrastructure for the future of money. We will continue to celebrate the victories along the way -- some of which, over just the past year, include launching the first-ever bitcoin futures with Cboe, digital asset insurance, and recently the worlds first licensed and regulated stablecoin -- the Gemini dollar. For me though, one measure of success is that throughout our growth cycle, we continue to maintain a reliable trading platform, provide a secure and flexible custody solution, innovate with new products and meet the needs of our growing customer base. What will 2019 bring for digital assets broadly, and Gemini specifically? At Gemini we are proud to only announce developments that we are ready to actually deploy. That being said weve got an exciting year ahead of us. Stay tuned! Why would it, or would not, make sense for regulators to treat crypto exchanges as self-regulatory organization or a designated contract market? The future state of regulation for crypto markets is still uncertain. We welcome thoughtful regulation of our industry and our market. Clear regulatory guidelines can have the benefit of helping to attract new market participants to our industry, while ensuring all markets are operating on a level playing field with respect to fairness, market access, security, reliability, and compliance. Having worked for an SEC-regulated exchange operator for nearly all of my career, I can appreciate where we are as an industry today, and the transformation the crypto exchanges will be going through as our industry continued to develop. You joined Gemini recently from a more traditional financial exchange. What were some of the motivating factors for moving into digital assets? What has been the biggest difference for you since moving from the International Securities Exchange to Gemini? 1 2 next For more information on related topics, visit the following channels: FCA Brexit Consultation Offers Alternative to Noisy Political Debate You might be excused for thinking that given the remaining Brexit uncertainty, contingency planning is something for policy wonks and lawyers. But this oversimplifies the situation, in particular since the FCA published two consultations on Brexit last week offering an unsentimental and technical analysis. The regulator provides some detailed guidance on selected issues where IT changes are needed irrespective of the type of Brexit. CP18/28 covers large parts of the rulebook changes and Binding Technical Standards (the UK equivalent of EU Regulatory Technical Standards) while CP18/29 deals with the necessary temporary permission regime during the transition. CP18/28 is rather long with 781 pages, owing to formality. The FCA copies large chunks of EU rules and uses find and replace on all EU references. But hidden in the document are some interesting points. For example, the FCA will publish its own list of instrument reference data, which among others will determine a new scope for transaction reporting. Also on reporting, UK branches of EU27 investment firms need to start reporting to the FCA directly, something they just stopped doing with the introduction of MiFID II. And finally, the FCA points out that UK trading venues have to start transaction reporting on behalf of their EU27 members, something that wasnt necessary before. So, while the political debate is very noisy, these technical consultations will help the City to focus on the right preparations for whatever the outcome will be. For more information on related topics, visit the following channels: | By Patricia Fanning Soon after dozens of people had come together at the Universities at Shady Grove (USG) for a panel discussion on the opioid crisis, they heard Marylands grim statistics for 2017. Opioid-related deaths occurred at a rate of more than five people a day and nearly double what it had been two years earlier. Last year there were 2,009 deaths statewide and 91 in Montgomery County, where the panel was held as part of a series being presented by the Office of Philanthropy at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB). (See video below.) Professor Andrew Coop, PhD, FAAPS, associate dean for academic affairs at the School of Pharmacy, speaks about opioids research during a panel discussion including, l-to-r, Associate Professor Eric Weintraub, MD, of the School of Medicine, and Dean Richard Barth, PhD, MSW, and Associate Professor Nalini Negi, PhD, MSW, both of the School of Social Work. Richard Barth, PhD, MSW, professor and dean of the University of Maryland School of Social Work (UMSSW), reviewed the statistics and then asked those at the event for a show of hands. Did they know someone who has struggled with addiction or is struggling still? Barth and many others raised their hands. Thats nearly everyone, he observed. The statewide toll of the opioid epidemic is in keeping with the widespread experience of addiction. Any relief that we may be seeing from the leveling off of heroin and prescription opioid deaths was wiped out by the increase in synthetics, Barth added. These drugs, such as fentanyl and carfentanil, account for nearly 80 percent of Marylands fatal opioid overdoses. The event, held Oct. 11, 2018, in Rockville, was the third in a series of panel discussions featuring UMB researchers and addiction experts. UMB: Targeting Solutions to the Opioid Crisis, was presented last month in Howard County and launched in April in Anne Arundel County. The next in the series will be held Nov. 8 in Baltimore County. In welcoming the group to USG, Executive Director Stewart Edelstein, PhD, noted the collaboration going back more than a decade with several schools at UMB. Among them is UMSSW, and several of its students who are enrolled at Shady Grove were in the audience. Barth took on the role of moderator in his position as co-decanal lead of the Center for Addiction Research, Education, and Service (CARES), UMBs interdisciplinary effort to address the adverse impact of addiction on individuals, families, communities, and society. Its co-decanal lead is Natalie D. Eddington, PhD, FAAPS, FCP, dean and professor of the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy (UMSOP). We have to address the stigma of addiction, Barth told the group. He also said addiction treatment has not made needed scientific progress, which means that far too many people receive interventions that are not as good as they should be and are based on misunderstandings about how addiction works. CARES seeks to bring strong science to addiction treatment and services, to develop pharmacological and behavioral health solutions, to better educate providers on evidence-based practices, and to look at state and national policy. Andrew Coop, PhD, FAAPS, professor of pharmaceutical sciences and associate dean for academic affairs at UMSOP, told the crowd how he had been searching for a pharmacological breakthrough since the formative period of his career, which began in the United Kingdom. His mentor at the University of Bristol was John W. Lewis, PhD, who discovered buprenorphine, an analgesic that is successfully used in medication-assisted treatment of opioid addiction. We need to go further. We need an analgesic that has no abuse liability, Coop said, referring to his own search that has produced the compound, UMB 425. He avoids the term addiction for what he noted is a brain disease, and he instead described mechanisms of the disease. If a user is motivated by avoiding withdrawal symptoms, perhaps after being given a painkiller because of surgery, the term is dependent. A substance is reinforcing if the subject, whether a human being or a lab animal, uses it to get high. After a lot of work, I am halfway there, he said. UMB 425 causes no dependence but remains reinforcing, or vulnerable to misuse. Coop said his lab is moving forward, step by step. The next thing is to stop the reinforcing, a goal he said he is determined to reach for the sake of his mentor, Dr. Lewis. Eric Weintraub, MD, associate professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM), addressed behavioral innovations that share a common strategy. Its based on engagement and access, said Weintraub, who directs the Schools Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse as well as the University of Maryland Medical Centers Psychiatric Emergency Services (PES). Starting with PES, Weintraub and colleagues have developed a protocol for emergency departments at hospitals in Baltimore City to provide immediate help to patients who come in with addiction problems. People are given medication-assisted therapy such as buprenorphine or methadone as well as a referral to next-day treatment. In the medication-assisted therapy clinic that Weintraub oversees, he said, 60 percent of patients now are walk-ins. Noting that timing and staffing barriers may have to be overcome, he said the ideal is to treat people when they show up and request help. We take them then and there, he said. Another UMSOM innovation, among others, is intended to improve access in rural areas that have too few providers or programs. Weintraub said UMSOM now offers a telemedicine option in six counties: Garrett, Washington, Frederick, Caroline, Talbot, and Dorchester. Nalini Negi, PhD, MSW, associate professor at UMSSW, is a nationally recognized scholar who studies the behavioral health of Latino immigrants. She described her research focusing on day laborers, sharing the fact that Montgomery County and Baltimore City are home to a growing population of Latino immigrants. She said national data show that we dont know much about the impact of the opioid epidemic on Latino immigrants, and there may be an opportunity for prevention. Speaking of Latino immigrant day laborers, she said, We know that theyre employed in informal markets where there are significant workers rights abuses and poor labor conditions. As an example, Negi shared with the group what she had heard from a 44-year-old man from Peru. They think that the Hispanic is like a pack mule. Things they dont want to do, they make the Hispanic do them, she said he told her. And then they pay them very little. Given the ties to pain, injury, and despair among other populations that have succumbed to opioids, she called for improved access to public health services for immigrant workers to keep the epidemic from worsening. The panelists took questions from the audience during the presentation and made themselves available afterward to talk directly to those in attendance. In its first visit to the United Nations New York headquarters, the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) joined with the Chinese Permanent Mission to the United Nations and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to launch results of Chinas partnership with Guinea-Bissau and Mozambique on agriculture development. With both African countries working to expand agriculture production -- a challenge heightened by climate change -- the two programmes linked local farmers and officials with Chinese knowledge, technology, and market-inclusive systems to boost food production. The report launched today assesses the two partnerships -- the Agricultural Technical Cooperation Project in Guinea-Bissau and the Agricultural Technology Demonstration Center in Mozambique -- as examples of what South-South collaboration can achieve. _______________________________________________________________________ Report: Innovation and Practice of China's Agricultural Assistance Report: Achievements and Experiences of China's Agricultural Assistance _______________________________________________________________________ UNDP welcomes these joint assessments, which illustrate Chinas commitment to partnerships that support the achievement of national development goals and the aspirations of Africas Agenda 2063 and 2030 Agenda. We will continue to facilitate increased South-South cooperation to help address the Global Goals financing gap, supporting the full national ownership of partnering African countries in the process, said Ms. Ahunna Eziakonwa, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Regional Director for Africa. Expanding food production and creating new markets for agricultural entrepreneurs is helping to tackle poverty and food insecurity. We welcome the technology, expertise and financial investments of China as we work together to advance our national development plans, said Ambassador Antonio Gumende, Permanent Representative of the Mission of the Republic of Mozambique to the United Nations. Speaking at the event, the Vice Chairperson of CIDCA, Mr. Deng Boqing said: Agricultural assistance has been a cornerstone of Chinas global engagement over the past decade. We look forward to expanding our South-South cooperation to help countries accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. UNDP and China also showcased their partnership through a photo exhibition highlighting disaster recovery work in Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Nepal, and Pakistan. China provided US$17 million through its South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund in 2017 to aid recovery and reconstruction efforts in the five countries, reaching more than 600,000 affected people. CIDCA was established in April 2018 to strengthen strategic planning, policy guidance and the overall coordination of Chinas international development cooperation. CIDCA and UNDP are now expanding their partnership through South-South cooperation projects that introduce Chinese expertise, technologies and resources to developing countries and design tailored solutions to meet the Sustainable Development Goals. Afghan refugees in Makassar donate food and clothing for survivors of the Central Sulawesi disaster. Courtesy of Refugee Photography There is no need to be rich to help people, explained one refugee joining the cause to help. These words pretty much illustrate the humanitarian generosity of refugees who have collected donations to help respond to this tragic natural disaster. The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) reported that as of 21 October 2018, 2,256 people were killed, 4,612 were severely injured, 223,751 were displaced and 1,309 were missing as a result of the disasters that struck the regions of Palu, Donggala, Sigi, and Parigi Moutong in Central Sulawesi. Like many others who have responded with help, the disasters have touched the heart of refugees, who themselves faced persecution and hardships that forced them from their home countries to find safety in Indonesia. A group of Somali refugees living in Makassar, for instance, collected money to buy milk, biscuits, sarongs, caps and clothes. They handed over the donations to the Makassar Police post that has been collecting donations to be sent to survivors in Palu and Donggala. Our money for this donation is not much, but were sincere in helping our brothers and sisters in Palu, said Hakim*, a Somali refugee. We just follow our tradition to help our brothers and sister for love, he added. The donation, Hakim said, is a way to express their gratitude to the Indonesian Government and Indonesians people and communities, who have been very kind in accepting those who seek asylum. Its time for us to give something to Indonesia to express our gratitude for being accepted here. Indonesian people are very kind to refugees, Hakim went on. Afghan refugees in Makassar have also lent a hand of succour to earthquake and tsunami survivors. They raised donations from Afghan refugees in all accommodations across the city to buy rice, diapers, milk, cooking oil, clothes, and some necessities for women. Some of the items were donated through the Bosowa Donation for Palu post in Makassar, while others were directly handed over to the survivors, who were evacuated from Palu to Makassar. We provide this donation as a form of our solidarity to the victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Palu. We are all brothers [and sisters]. Besides we also feel that Indonesia is our second home, said Arga, a refugee. Thousands of families have lost their homes or sought refuge in safer areas. The Indonesian Government in a public statement welcomed aid to respond to the disaster relief efforts, saying that it urgently needs tents, medicine, electric generators and water treatment facilities. *Real names of refugees in this article were not used Share on Facebook Share on Twitter As of September 2018, UNHCR has received USD 74 million from the Norwegian Government. The majority of the funding (USD 42.5M) is unearmarked, which gives UNHCR a global presence and increased ability to reach those in greatest need, including overlooked, forgotten or protracted refugee situations. In addition, Norway provides earmarked funding to refugee situations in Africa (USD 2.2M), Asia (USD 7.5M), the Middle East and North Africa (USD 18.1M), and Europe (USD 1.6M). Norway promotes access to education for millions of refugee children Norways humanitarian strategy puts particular emphasis on education in countries affected by crisis and conflict, including Syria. Moaed, 13, fled Raqqa four years ago with his family to escape the extremists who controlled the city. After missing two years of schooling because of the war,he now attends afternoon lessons at Bar Elias School in Lebanons Bekaa Valley. . I was very happy to have this opportunity to attend school. I loved it from day one, he says. Moaeds teacher, Mohammed Araji, describes Moaed and his Syrian classmates as smart students with great hopes for the future. With this education, they will build something for their future. They will tell their children: We were once Syrian refugee students away from home in Lebanon, and there was war, but we had ambitions and we were able to reach them. In 2018, Norway has donated USD 638,651 specifically earmarked for UNHCRs global education activities, promoting access to education for the 4 million refugee children currently out of school. On top of that, the funding allocated by Norway for specific situations is used to provide education, among other things. This funding has been vital for UNHCR to enroll refugee children in schools worldwide, especially regarding the Syria Situation, where 56 per cent of the Syrian refugee children currently receive the education they deserve, compared to 46 per cent at the end of 2015. With funding from countries like Norway, UNHCR provides material support and financial assistance to public schools in Lebanon, promoting access to education for all children in the country, including the 270,000 Syrian refugee children still out of school. UNHCR is grateful to have donors like Norway, whose funding makes a difference to the lives of millions of forcibly displaced people around the world. UNHCR acknowledge Norways new humanitarian strategy and welcomes its firm commitment in working towards a Global Compact for Refugees. With its support to refugee education at a time when it is becoming more and more challenging to ensure that new generations of displaced children get the education they deserve, Norway stands out as an example for other countries to follow, says Regional Representative for Northern Europe, Mr. Henrik Nordentoft. Click on the strategy to read it (opens in a new tab). Norway as a donor to UNHCR Norway is one of UNHCRs most important strategic partners and a generous donor to UNHCR. In 2017, Norway was UNHCRs largest donor per capita (total USD 99M), and fourth largest donor of unearmarked donations (USD 41M). In 2018, Norway continues to support UNHCR with generous unearmarked funding, while contributing with life-saving earmarked funds to Afghanistan Situation (USD 3.1M), Congolese situation ( 320K USD), Myanmar Situation (USD 4.5M), ), South Sudan Situation (USD 1.9M), Syria Situation (USD 18.3M, Ukraine Situation (USD 599K) and the Central Mediterranean Route Situation (USD 235K). Norway has also earmarked 1.8 million USD to UNHCRs resettlement activities. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter UNHCR staff meet with Bampek and his family, who survived the earthquake in Sulawesi. UNHCR/Steffen Limboki DONGGALA, Indonesia The day after a devastating earthquake flattened their home, Bampek and his family built a makeshift tent on empty land with old plastic sheeting. Sometimes, when it rained hard, the water would come from every direction, he says,although now the familys desperate plight has improved. The 45-year-old, his wife Vemy and their eight children are among hundreds of families who lost homes when earthquake and tsunami struck Sulawesi on 28 September, who are now safe and dry. In the past week, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, delivered 2,054 emergency tents for the worst affected, with national and local Indonesian partners setting them up ready for those most affected to move in. Further aid, including additional tents, sleeping mats, mosquito nets and solar lamps, is on its way. Im glad that the tent now is fully covered." Im glad that the tent now is fully covered, says Vemy, 41, visibly relieved as she inspects their new shelter. The separators inside the tent also allow me and the girls to change our clothes privately. The tents will provide shelter to around 10,000 people in greatest need. They have been distributed by the authorities and UNHCRs partners, the Indonesian Red Cross, Yayasan Kemanusiaan Muslim Indonesia and Wahana Visi Indonesia. Among the recipients is Titin, 34, who was left homeless after the quake flattened her house. I cant live there anymore, she says, sadly. But I thank UNHCR for the tents that you are providing. I dont know where Id live now if it werent here in your tent. UNHCR airlifts emergency tents for Indonesia earthquake victims (Mitra Salima Suryono, producer / Dennis Angga Hermawan, Agustian Tri Yuanto, videographers / Marion Viguier, editor) According to the Indonesia National Agency for Disaster Management, the quake and subsequent tsunami damaged around 68,000 houses, displacing 200,000 and killing some 2,000. UNHCR staff described the effects of the earthquake and tsunami as beyond imagination and devastating. Coastal communities were destroyed by a tsunami, while inland villages were struck by liquefaction as black mud rose up to five meters and swallowed buildings. UNHCR is working hard to support partners and the Indonesian government to meet the growing humanitarian needs. As of today, some 2,000 of UNHCRs emergency family tents and 12,400 plastic sheeting have been airlifted to Central Sulawesi since last week. How do you interest teenagers in what is going on in the world? A pair of Syrian refugee musicians has found an answer: get them to tell stories using hip-hop and rap music. Rapper brothers Yaser and Mohamed Jamous were among refugees who visited schools in the French region of Normandy earlier this month. For a week, the schools played host to refugees from Iraq, Sudan, Iran, Syria and other countries to tell their stories and demonstrate their culture, skills and talents. They included chefs, musicians, journalists, farmers and architects. Yaser and Mohamed formed the duo Refugees of Rap in 2007 in Yarmouk, a suburb of Damascus populated by Palestinian refugees. Their lyrics speak of life and conflict in Syria. They were forced to flee their homeland in 2013 and were granted refugee status in France later that year. The pair organized a rap and hip-hop workshop in the middle school in the town of Trevieres, teaching the pupils how to compose rap on the themes of exile and freedom of expression. The weeks activities were aimed at raising awareness among pupils about refugees and forced displacement as part of a partnership between UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and the Bayeux-Calvados Award for war correspondents. With music, not just rap, I think we can connect with the energy of youth. The annual award, presented by the city of Bayeux and the Calvados Department, is designed to pay tribute to journalists who report on conflicts. It was created in 1994 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Normandy landings in World War Two. "Teens aged 13 to 18 are not interested in looking on social media to find out what is happening elsewhere in the world, why there is a refugee crisis and why there are wars, said Yaser. With music, not just rap, I think we can connect with the energy of youth. Syrian duo Refugees of Rap taught French schoolchildren how to compose their own raps. (Kamilia Lahrichi, Celine Schmitt, producers / Clement Alline, camera / Laura Bowles, editing) "If you talk to a teenager about the war in Syria, I dont think he would be interested, but if you talk to him with music and if you tell him today, you will rap, I guess he will be interested. Mohamed added: "Its important for us to talk to teenagers, to students in general, to explain what is happening in Syria, why there are refugees who left and why there was a refugee crisis two years ago. At the same time, we can show them that, through art and music, we can resist, we can express ourselves and share a peaceful message. After lunch in the school canteen cooked by Maryam Hani, an Iraqi refugee who lives in northern France, pupils were given the opportunity to take part in a rap workshop in the afternoon. A little shy at first, they were soon intrigued and ended up vying to present their own rap arrangements. Its incredible that they can keep smiling after all they have been through. "Its great to have the opportunity to meet people like them, people who have fled their country and yet can calmly tell us what happened to them, said 14-year-old Maiwenn . Its incredible that they can keep smiling after all they have been through. During the workshop, another pupil, Alexandre, 14, wanted to rap about a Sudanese refugee, Hassan Mahamat, who had told his story to Alexandres class that morning. After fleeing Sudan, Hassan ended up in a detention centre in Libya before crossing the Mediterranean to Europe in a rubber boat. He was one of the lucky ones: he survived, but he saw others die when their boats sank. "My lyrics speak of freedom. I wrote Although the sea was not kind to us, we arrived safely. I spoke about the journey, which wasnt easy," Alexandre said. Teachers were enthusiastic about the rap workshop. "It's true that pupils see a lot of things on television, hear a lot about migrants and refugees, said Isabelle Boisset-Vinault, the history and geography teacher. They jump to conclusions. It was important for us to invite refugees into our school to allow them to meet the pupils and make them aware of what is going on. Hassan Mahamat from Sudan, in centre of photograph, sits with pupils at the College Octave Mirbeau in Trevieres. He told them about his journey via Libya and across the Mediterranean. UNHCR/Benjamin Loyseau Pupils listen to Sudanese refugee Hassan Mahamat tell the story of his journey to France via Libya and the Mediterranean. UNHCR/Benjamin Loyseau Iraqi chef Maryam Hani made lunch for more than 200 children at the College Octave Mirbeau in Trevieres, north-west France. UNHCR/Benjamin Loyseau Pupils at the College Octave Mirbeau in the north-western French town of Trevieres enjoy a Middle eastern lunch made by Iraqui chef Maryam Hani. UNHCR/Benjamin Loyseau Pupils at the College Octave Mirbeau in Trevieres view UNHCR's photo exhibition "The Most Important Thing", installed at the school. UNHCR/Benjamin Loyseau "Last year, we worked on the topic of refugees in history and geography lessons. This year, we looked at refugees from the First World War to try to see the broader picture around the establishment of the official status of refugee. This allowed pupils to understand that it came to fruition relatively recently. "In welcoming refugees, we wanted them to understand the difference (between refugees and migrants) and to encourage greater tolerance, because they may not meet many refugees and migrants here in the countryside, and they have wrong ideas about who they are, she said. "We hope that this day will broaden horizons -- of pupils and their families. "We hope that this day will broaden horizons -- of our pupils, of course, but also of their families. Yaser and Mohameds third album will be released on 25 November. They have concerts planned in Paris and Stuttgart for the release of the new album, and tens of thousands of views on YouTube, which impressed the pupils, who queued up to ask Yaser and Mohamed for their autographs after the session. However, Yaser and Mohameds journey was far from easy. "Starting again with a French and European audience was not easy because we rap in Arabic and it's important that people understand the words, said Mohamed. "People in this age group are the future and perhaps they will be able to make some changes. I hope so, anyway. "It is also about raising awareness to fight for freedom of expression always because in the West, including here in France, there is freedom of expression which is precious, and sometimes people dont realize that. After 21 years Venkaiah to lead Indian delegation for first high level visit to Zimbabwe New Delhi, Oct 26 (UNI) Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu will be making a three nation tour of Africa between October 31 and November 6, Ministry of External Affairs said here on Friday. Briefing reporters Secretary Economic Relations T S Tirumurti said Mr Naidu will visit Botswana, Zimbabwe and Malawi. The high level visit to Zimbabawe will take place after a gap of 21 years, he said. J&K: CCG demands judicial inquiry in Hyderpora incident under supervision of Supreme Court 19 Nov 2021 | 11:32 PM Srinagar, Nov 19 (UNI) The Concerned Citizens Group (CCG) on Jammu and Kashmir on Friday expressed its deep anguish at the killing of civilians in Hyderpora and demanded a judicial inquiry under the supervision of the Supreme Court of India. see more.. Drone helps police in nabbing absconding undertrial 19 Nov 2021 | 11:30 PM Shimla, Nov 19(UNI) A Central Jail under trial prisoner, missing since November 17, 2021, was nabbed with the help of a drone from a den in Taradevi hillock on Friday, a police officer confirmed. see more.. HP: Guv stresses on adopting teachings of Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji 19 Nov 2021 | 11:30 PM Shimla, Nov 19(UNI) Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, on Fruday visited the Gurudwara Sahib at Cart Road, to pay his obeisance to the founder of the Sikkhism Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji on his birth anniversary, being celebrated as Prakashotsav all over the world and participated in the 'Shabad Kirtan organized to mark the celebration. see more.. Withdrawal of three farm bills, PM's gift to the farmers of the country on Prakash Parv: Dhumal 19 Nov 2021 | 11:28 PM Hamirpur (HP), November 19(UNI) Former HP Chief Minister and senior BJP leader, PK Dhumal said here on Friday that keeping in mind the demand of the farmers of the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided to withdraw the agriculture law, and that is a matter of happiness for all. see more.. France concerned about missing Chinese Tennis player Peng Shuai : Foreign Ministry 19 Nov 2021 | 10:42 PM Paris, Nov 19 (UNI/Sputnik) France is conserned about the missing Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai, calling on China to fulfill its commitments to address violence against women, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Friday. see more.. Harris to become 1st woman with Presidential power as Biden undergoes routine Colonoscopy 19 Nov 2021 | 10:28 PM Washington, Nov 19 (UNI/Sputnik) The White House announced that US President Joe Biden will briefly transfer power to Vice President Kamala Harris while he is under anesthesia during a routine medical check on Friday morning, and this is the first time, even if for a brief period, that a woman will be at the helm of the United States. see more.. Gurupurab celebrated at Nanakshahi Gurudwara in Dhaka 19 Nov 2021 | 10:11 PM Dhaka, Nov 19 (UNI) The 552nd birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev was observed at the historic Nanakshahi gurudwara in Dhaka here on Friday. see more.. Students burn Pakistani flag at Dhaka University 19 Nov 2021 | 9:40 PM Dhaka, Nov 19 (UNI) Pakistan beat Bangladesh by 4 wickets in the first T20 in Mirpur on Friday, after which students protested at the Raju Memorial area of Dhaka University. see more.. Malaysian PM, Putin, Pope Francis express grief over Lion Air crash Moscow, Oct 29 (UNI) Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Vatican City Pope Francis have expressed their grief over the Lion Air passenger plane with 189 people on board, that crashed into the sea minutes after taking off from Jakarta airport on Monday morning. "I am saddened and shocked to learn of the Lion Air Flight JT610 crash in the waters of Karawang this morning. I convey my condolences to the families of the people involved in this tragedy," tweeted Mahathir. "Russia shares the grief of those who lost their relatives and friends in this crash and wishes them courage and to be strong during this difficult time," read Putins telegram. Doha (Qatar), Oct 29 (UNI) In a major decision India and Qatar on Monday decided to establish a joint commission to strengthen their relations in multiple sectors to boost the common interest of the people of the two countries. "Both countries have decided to establish a Joint Commission to strengthen the relations between the two countries in various fields with a view to further the common interests of their two friendly peoples," an official statement said. The Joint Commission will be charged to achieve among other things formulation of a required basis "to strengthen the relations between the two countries particularly in the economic, commercial, cultural, scientific, technological, information technology and educational fields". The joint commission being set up in pursuance of the decision taken by Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar and Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of the Republic of India during the visit of the latter to Doha on 4-5 June 2016. The joint declaration signed by External Affairs Minister of India Sushma Swaraj and Foreign Minister of Qatar Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani highlighted the decision to set up the joint commission. The proposed joint commission has also been tasked to facilitate the exchange of information and expertise in different areas. It will be co-chaired by Ministers of External Affairs and Foreign Affairs of the two countries or their representatives. The joint commission will hold a meeting at a time agreed by both countries alternately in each country. Earlier Mrs. Swaraj held delegation-level talks with Deputy Prime Minister of Foreign Minister of Qatar Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani. The minister is scheduled to meet members of Indian diaspora later in the evening. MEA spokesman Raveesh Kumar also said that Ms Swaraj interacted with the vibrant Indian community in Qatar. "EAM appreciated the contribution of the large and diverse Indian community to Qatars progress. EAM also responded to their queries and released an information booklet for Indians in Qatar," the spokesman said. In her second leg of visit to Gulf, Ms Swaraj will reach Kuwait on Tuesday. During the visit to both these countries, besides trade and bilateral relations, matters related to energy are expected to be in focus. An MEA statement issued here last Friday has described both Qatar and Kuwait as "reliable energy partners" for India. UNI DEVN AR 2324 New Delhi, Oct 28 (UNI) In the wake of ongoing developments on oil import from Iran vis-a-vis US Sanctions and also the high fuel price, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday left for her maiden visit in the capacity of foreign minister to Qatar and Kuwait. She will be in the Gulf region till October 31, Wednesday. During the visit to both these countries, besides trade and bilateral relations, matters related to energy are expected to be in focus. An MEA statement issued here on Friday had described both Qatar and Kuwait as "reliable energy partners". "For an enhanced engagement with India's extended neighbourhood. EAM Sushma Swaraj emplanes for the first leg of a four day visit to the Gulf region," MEA spokesman Raveesh Kumar tweeted on Sunday. Ms Swaraj will visit Qatar and Kuwait "to take forward discussions and decisions for strengthening the bilateral relationships", he wrote. The visit is expected to provide an opportunity to hold in-depth discussions with the political leadership on a wide range of global, regional and bilateral issues. This will also advance India's growing engagement with these countries in particular and the region in general, the MEA has said. Ms Swaraj will have engagements in Qatar on October 28 and 29 and and in Kuwait on October 30 and 31. During her visit to the State of Qatar, the Minister 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 Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar. Ms Swaraj will also interact with the Indian community in Doha. 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 Indias natural gas imports. Our bilateral trade with Qatar in 2017-18 was US$ 9.9 billion," the statement said. On the next leg of the visit to Kuwait, Ms Swaraj will hold a bilateral meeting with her counterpart among others. UNI DEVN SDR 1736 UN Day Festivities in Lao PDR Vientiane, Lao PDR - 29 October 2018 First held in 1948 to commemorate the three-year anniversary of the United Nations founding Charter's entry into force, United Nations Day has since been recognised annually on October 24. Taking place within the broader United Nations Week, the occasion is devoted to promoting the aims, values and achievements of the UN. Lao PDR celebrated the 73 rd anniversary of the UN Charter on October 19. With the theme, "My Choice - Our Future", this year's objective was to promote healthy lifestyles and raise environmental awareness among young people. Over 150 students gathered at Lao Youth Union to participate in the event, which began with a panel discussion on how a clean environment and conscious decisions contribute to a healthy lifestyle. The panel was moderated by Lao Youth Radio and was comprised of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Food Programme (WFP), the World Bank, and the Ministry of Health. Following the panel, participants watched and joined in on dance performances by the Lao Youth Union and local dance group Fang Lao. Following the ceremonies, students were encouraged to collect information and participate in activities to learn more about responsible lifestyles from various UN agencies partaking in the event. Included in these displays, were sexual health and body awareness activities arranged by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), a cooking competition and materials on responsible consumption and healthy nutrition through the World Food Programme (WFP), and interactive games and materials on initiatives, projects and programme s of the United Nations office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). As a global project implemented through UNODC, GLO.ACT Lao project staff took part in the UN Day activities, showcasing GLO.ACT's objectives and distributing materials on human trafficking and irregular migration in the region. GLO.ACT echoed the event's theme of promoting responsible lifestyles in Lao youth by providing education materials highlighting the project's prevention approach to countering TIP and SOM. The Global Action to Prevent and Address Trafficking in Persons and the Smuggling of Migrants (GLO.ACT) is a four-year (2015-2019), 11 million joint initiative by the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The project is being implemented in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). GLO.ACT aims to provide assistance to governmental authorities and civil society organizations across 13 strategically selected countries: Belarus, Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao PDR, Mali, Morocco, Nepal, Niger, Pakistan, South Africa, Ukraine. GLO.ACT works with the 13 countries to plan and implement strategic national counter-trafficking and counter-smuggling efforts through a prevention, protection, prosecution, and partnerships approach. It supports the development of more effective responses to trafficking and smuggling, including providing assistance to victims of trafficking and vulnerable migrants through the strengthening of identification, referral, and direct support mechanisms. More information about GLO.ACT is available here . For more information, please contact: Ms. Siliphaithoun Xayamoungkhoun GLO.ACT National Project Officer Email: siliphaithoun.xayamoungkhoun@un.org Website: www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/glo-act/ Email: glo.act@un.org Twitter: @glo_act When we talk about the design of a wine list, what is it that were talking about? Most of the time, were talking about the careful curation of choices for what wines go on the list. But Id like to talk about the other meaning of designing a wine list. Yes, Im talking about literally what that list looks like the choices that were made in deciding how the carefully curated selection of wines should actually appear to the guest. This conversation is going to be about aesthetics and the fundamentals of graphic design; about organization and readability; about context and creativity. Wine list design, I must say, from the standpoint of someone who designs things for a living and pays lots of people who do, too, is almost universally awful. For the past four years, I have been a judge for the global Worlds Best Wine Lists Awards put on by the World of Fine Wine magazine. Which means for the past four years I have read literally hundreds and hundreds of wine lists from around the world. And they suffer from the same flaws that you might find in any randomly selected corporate PowerPoint presentation, or homemade poster on the wall of a community center. In short, theyre not designed so much as just put together. But its surprising to me how often the wine list seems even less considered from a design perspective than the humble menu in a restaurant. Granted, wine lists can be daunting things to contemplate putting to paper. After all, theyre often long lists of similar looking combinations of words. But that is precisely why they benefit from (and much more than menus, really REQUIRE) the application of proper graphic design principles. In an effort to improve the standards of judging for the Worlds Best Wine Lists in 2018, I personally reviewed every single wine list submitted to the awards. Thousands upon thousands of them. I can say with great authority, then, that the state of wine list design is universally deplorable around the world. In many cases there were literally only a handful of lists that were truly worthy of consideration for the award of Best Designed Wine List. But the good news is that a few simple principles, thoughtfully employed, can really make a big difference. So without further ado, heres my point of view on what makes for a really nicely designed wine list, purely from a visual, organizational, and experiential perspective. Dont forget to put some great wines on it, too! Legibility This is the first thing that anyone will notice about a wine list, and youd be surprised at how many wine lists get even this basic, forehead-slapping principle wrong. And many get it so, so wrong. Cramming too many wines on a page; not distinguishing between the name of the producer versus the name of the wine; choosing fonts that are tough to read; putting images in the background of the list; the mistakes are myriad. And thats not even including some of the more egregious errors of data missing vintage dates, inconsistent reference to the wines place of origin, even missing prices (unforgivable). The best wine lists are easy to read, to scan and to browse. Human beings have been printing things since the 15th Century, and only shortly thereafter did we realize that there were some things we had to to in order to make it easy for people to read the things we printed. The list from The Mozaic restaurant in Bali, on the other hand, doesnt make for easy reading. Layout When youre going to put a bunch of text on the page, you have to make choices. How much text are you going to put on the page? How wide will your margins be? Will you have big titles at the top of your page? Will there be page numbers? Where will those page numbers go? These are just a few of the dozens of choices that should be consciously made as one designs the pages of a wine list, and these choices should be informed by both the content itself (length of the list) and the style and sensibility of the dining establishment. The layout of a wine list, despite often consisting simply of text on the page, remains a visual exercise, one that is capable of expressing the restaurants brand and personality (though some people go too far in trying to give their lists personality from a visual perspective). The best wine lists dont crowd too much onto each page, leaving enough whitespace to make things easy to read, and to distinguish the various elements of the page. Hakkasans many wine lists around the globe have a very considered design that utilizes whitespace, justification and columns to nice effect. As much as I like the list for what it has on it, the Cowboy Ciao wine list is a train wreck from a layout (not to mention a typographical) perspective. Organizational Structure As distinct from the choices of how to place text on the page, this principle is really about how someone has decided to structure the entire list. What are the top level categories, and how have those categories been further broken down into sub-categories, and sub-sub categories, and so on. This may seem trivial to the uninitiated, but there is a real art in deciding what the structure of the list will be. Will you organize it by country first? Or by grape variety first? Or by style? And once someone has selected one of those categories, how will the wines within that category be further subdivided? These choices depend, of course on the depth and breadth of the list itself, but also on the vision and strategy of the wine lists author. The best wine lists are carefully structured and ordered presenting wines in hierarchical groups that are understandable and consistent. The list from the Restaurant at Meadowood is beautifully organized and categorized with clear labels and sections. The Black Swan in York, England is, unfortunately trying too hard when it comes to organizing the list. It has become a cipher. Browseability / Navigation This, of course, is closely related to the aforementioned principle of organization. The browseability and navigational cues built into the design of a wine list should, in fact, reflect the organizational choices that have been made throughout the list. Customers should be able to understand and recognize where they find themselves in the wine list through cues provided on the page. These can be as basic as a page number and a title at the top of the page that reads Red Wines, for a list that might just have two categories (i.e. Red and White) but they should frequently offer much more, especially for lists that run to many multiple pages. These bits of information or other visual cues, known as affordances, can help orient the customer to where they are, where they might have come from, what it is they are looking at, and where they can go from here. The best wine lists have clear ways of indicating the differences between groups of wines, which group of wines the customer is looking at, where those groups sit in the larger hierarchy of wines, and more. At Hellenika , a Greek Restaurant on Australias Gold Coast, the wine list is eminently navigable. Apicus , in Tokyo, on the other hand has forced you to read almost every line to find what youre looking for. Typographic Style The fundamental principles of typography remain a mystery to most people, thanks largely to the magic of word processing. The most that many of us might approach typographic principles would be the debate over whether a period should be followed by one space or two before the next sentence begins (the answer, despite what your grade school teachers drilled into you, is one). In the context of any text on a page, typography involves the choice of the actual font, of course, but also many other subtle, yet powerful decisions that have both practical and aesthetic implications. Decisions such as how much space appears between lines of text, or whether text is centered on the page or aligned in columns all affect the readability or scannability of the list. Other decisions such as which words to capitalize, whether to use bold or italic type, and what kinds of punctuation to employ not only affect readability, but also make an aesthetic statement in themselves. The best wine lists select readable fonts, and utilize the various elements of typography to create readability, visual hierarchy, and distinction between elements on the page. Because wine lists are mostly text, and I cant emphasize this enough, typography plays an outsized role in the effectiveness and aesthetics of a wine list. The wine list at The Barn at Blackberry Farm in Tennessee is a triumph of typographic design. Note the use of different fonts, italics for the wine name and small caps for the producer name. La Chaumiere in Calgary has not only failed to use type to assist the reader, theyve eschewed any visual organization altogether, making for a supremely unpleasant scanning or reading experience. Visual Elements On the whole, apart from the content (i.e. the wines) which excite only the geekiest amongst us, most wine lists are right up there with phone books on the scale of reading material capable of holding the interest of the average person. In short, they aint very interesting to look at. Very few wine lists attempt to offer any visual interest beyond the choice of font (which, if selected for that reason, is usually a major mistake). Quite surprisingly, this even extends to the use of color, which despite no longer being particularly cost prohibitive in this age of cheap laser and inkjet printing, nearly always seems to be overlooked as a tool by those designing lists. Some wine lists however, choose to adorn their wine lists with elements of visual interest, ranging from purely aesthetic curlicues, to grid and separation lines for organization, to actual illustrations (most often in the form of maps, and to a lesser extent, imagery of wine labels). Such elements more often detract from the experience than add to it, but done well, they can enhance the experience of perusing the list as well as convey the personality of the restaurant. The best wine lists use visual elements, from color to illustrations, to decorations or other adornments to complement or supplement the text on the page, rather than distracting from the content of the list. Acanto in Chicago not only has an occasionally humorous sketch adorning their list, theyre actually one of the few wine lists around the world using color well. Unfortunately there are far too many lists in the world like this one, from La Villa in Vietnam, where poor graphics are not only useless, they detract from the experience. So whos really doing it right? Well, this year, our choice for the Best Designed Wine List in the World went to The Barn at Blackberry Farm, which is truly a joy to read, not to mention being a phenomenal collection of wines. Anyone would do well to (figuratively speaking) take a page from their book when it came to use of type, browseability, and overall layout. But thats just one of many ways to design a wine list well. If youre a wine director or a restaurateur, why not take a little time to make your wine list better? Cant afford to pay a designer to do it? I can tell you that there are almost certainly students of graphic design in your city who would doubtless give it a shot just for the chance to say theyd done it, or perhaps in exchange for a nice meal or two. As with every interaction with the guest, the wine list has an opportunity to tell the story of your brand. Make it a good one. Or at the very least, make it understandable. Photo of sommelier with wine card courtesy of Bigstock. remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Thank you very much. (Applause.) Thats fantastic. Thank you. Please be seated. Thank you very much. A lot of spirit in this room. (Laughter.) A lot of spirit. For good reason. Were gathered together on this solemn occasion to fulfill our most reverent and sacred duty. Thirty-five years ago, 241 American service members were murdered in the terrorist attack on our Marine Barracks in Beirut, Lebanon. It was a very sad period of time. These are great, great people. Today, we honor our fallen heroes and pledge that their blessed memory will never die, but live instead in the hearts of our grateful nation forever. We are joined by, and for, todays observers. And Id like to introduce some of the outstanding people in our government, and some that are outside of our government, starting off with Secretary of State Pompeo. (Applause.) Mike? Where is Mike? Stand up, Mike. (Applause.) Thank you. Great job. And hes been doing a lot of traveling. A very well-traveled man, arent you, Mike? Huh? Secretary of Defense Mattis. (Applause.) Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer. (Applause.) Thank you. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford. (Applause.) Hi, Joseph. Army Chief of Staff General Mark Milley. (Applause.) Mark, thank you. Thank you, Mark. Commandant of the Marine Corps General Robert Neller. (Applause.) Robert. Commandant of the Coast Guard Admiral Karl Schultz. (Applause.) And Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Ronald Green. Ronald. (Applause.) As well as my Chief of Staff, and a beloved Marine he loves the Marines John Kelly. John. (Applause.) And much more important, a great wife and a great mother: Karen. Please stand up. Karen Pence. (Applause.) Great woman. Great man. Great woman. Thank you very much. Thank you everybody. And thanks to the French Ambassador to the United States, Gerard Araud, for being here. Gerard. Where are you, Gerard? Thank you very much. (Applause.) Thank you very much. I just spoke to your President. I just spoke to President Macron, and hes doing well. He sends his regards. (Laughter.) I also want to recognize two very special retired Marines who led with extraordinary valor in the wake of the Beirut terrorist attack: Colonel Tim Garrity and General Al Gray. (Applause.) AUDIENCE MEMBER: We love you, General Gray! THE PRESIDENT: See that? They all love you. We are also truly thankful to have with us the veterans of Beirut, who really I mean, this is an incredible group. Im going to ask you to stand. You courageously survived that terrible October day, and you have made your First Duty to Remember. Please stand. (Applause.) AUDIENCE MEMBER: We love you, Mr. President! THE PRESIDENT: Such incredible spirit. I see hugging and kissing. I think its fantastic. Thats thats what love is, right? Thats real love. Thats the kind of love we like. Thats beautiful. Thank you. Thank you. Great, great people. Most importantly, were joined by the families of those who made the ultimate sacrifice for us. Please stand. Please. (Applause.) Wow. Wow. Thats great. Thats really great. Thank you. Thank you all. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thats great. Incredible. To every Gold Star Family: Today, we pay tribute to the heroes you knew and loved. We grieve and mourn by your side. And we honor the immortal sacrifice of 241 heroes who gave their lives for our freedom. Thank you for being here very much. In 1983, roughly 1,800 Marines were in Beirut to keep the peace in a nation torn apart by civil war. Terrorists had bombed the U.S. Embassy earlier that year, killing 63 people, including 17 Americans. For the 300 Marines stationed at the Beirut Airport, the morning of October 23rd arrived like any other. The Marines on guard stood there and at their post; others slept peacefully in their bunks until suddenly, and without warning, a truck driven by a terrorist crashed through the fences and barricades, and into the lobby of the Marine Barracks. At 6:22 a.m., the terrorist detonated the equivalent of 1,200 pounds, commonly known as 12,000 pounds thats a lot, and its terrible of explosives, killing 3 American soldiers, 18 American sailors, and 220 United States Marines. That was a horrible moment. Minutes later, another truck bomb took the lives of 58 French paratroopers. It was the single deadliest day for the Marines since Iwo Jima. The attack was carried out by Hezbollah, which Iran was instrumental in founding a year earlier to advance its radical agenda, and remain its main patron today. And we are doing a big number on Iran today, in case you havent noticed. (Applause.) AUDIENCE MEMBER: God bless you, Mr. Trump! THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. Ill tell you what theyre not the same country they were when I took office, I will tell you that. (Applause.) Theyre rioting in their streets. Their money has collapsed. Their lives are a lot different. And theyre not looking so much for the Mediterranean. When I took office, they were looking for the Mediterranean. They were going to take over everything. Now they want to survive. Whole different deal, folks. Its a whole different deal. No terrorist group other than al Qaeda has more American blood on its hands. The service members who died that day include brave young Marines just out of high school, accomplished officers in the middle of their military careers, and enlisted men who had served in theaters all over the world. But they formed one united military family, defending their nation, serving their fellow Americans, and wearing their uniform with dignity and pride. Such incredible pride. Each of these heroes died as they lived: as noble warriors they were warriors whose hearts were filled with courage and whose souls were rich with love. The United States Marines are often the first to deploy, the first into danger, and the first to fight. And on that morning 35 years ago, they were among the very first to give their lives in the battle against radical Islamic terrorism the battle that we are winning and we will win. (Applause.) And I have to point out and I can do this for General Kelly, General Mattis, and everybody here that we are doing very well in our fight against ISIS. They are virtually knocked out entirely in Syria. In another short period of time, theyll be gone, and also in Iraq and in lots of other places. We have stepped up the fight to a level that even General Mattis was very happy to get that order. Is that right, General? Weve done a very strong number. (Applause.) Radical Islamic terror. As Commander-in-Chief, I will always ensure that our service members have the tools, resources, equipment, support, and trust they need to protect this nation and to defeat Americas enemies with overwhelming force. No enemy on Earth can match the strength of our military or the might of our Marines. We will use every instrument of our national power to confront the sinister forces of terrorism. That is one reason why last year I withdrew the United States from the Iran nuclear disaster. (Applause.) On November 5th, all U.S. sanctions against Iran lifted by the nuclear deal will be back in full force every sanction that we had on there originally, which would have if they would have just left it a little bit longer, it would have been so much easier than what weve been through over the last number of years. All they had to do was leave it the way it was. It was eating them away. But weve started it all over again, and it will be just as good. Wasted time and lives, unfortunately. And they will be followed up with even more sanctions to address the full range of Irans malign conduct. We will not allow the worlds leading sponsor of terror to develop the worlds deadliest weapons. Will not happen. Over the past year, we have levied the highest number of sanctions ever imposed on Hezbollah in a single year, by far. Just a few moments ago, I signed legislation imposing even more hard-hitting sanctions on Hezbollah to further starve them of their funds. And they are starving their funds. (Applause.) We will target, disrupt, and dismantle their operational and financing networks of which they had plenty; they dont have plenty now and we will never forget what they did to our great Marines in Beirut. We will never forget. (Applause.) In the days after the attack, very brave General Al Gray traveled to more than 150 funerals of his beloved Marines who perished in the Beirut bombing. On one of those trips, he arrived at Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. There, he joined the hour-long funeral procession to transport a fallen Marine to his final resting place in a small town near Auburn, Alabama. On that long drive, General Gray witnessed a sight that would stay with him forever. Throughout the entire journey along both sides of the highway, for miles and miles of country road, as far as the eye could see - everyday citizens, who came by the thousands, were lined up to pay their highest respects. They were waving flags, holding hands, holding their hands also over their hearts, and standing in silent salute to our great fallen Marine heroes. This outpouring of love and devotion was but a small measure of the eternal gratitude of our nation. In all of our history, no figure has ever lived with more grace and courage than the men and women who serve our country in uniform. They are Gods blessing to us all. They are Gods blessing. (Applause.) They are incredible, incredible people. Each of the Gold Star families here today carries on the remarkable legacy of their loved ones. You care for your families, you serve your communities, you support one another, you persevere, and you overcome. And I know you very well: You win. You just know nothing but winning. I know the people some of the people in this room, they just know how to win. And you keep the memory of our heroes alive. So this evening, we pay tribute to your service. We honor your sacrifice. And we say, on behalf of all Americans, thank you. Thank you for your courage. Thank you for your strength. Thank you for your devotion. Thank you for your love that is greater than life itself. And thank you for remembering us all what it means to live like our heroes: forever brave, forever strong, and always, always, always faithful. Thank you once again. And God bless you. Thank you. Thank you very much. (Applause.) Thank you, folks. Thank you very much. Thank you. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE JAMES N. MATTIS: Thank you, Dr. Chipman, and Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen. Its 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. 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 Bahrains leadership making clear that the size of a nations 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 Jordans 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, its 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, Ill 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 Irans outlaw regime to borrow U.S. Secretary of State Pompeos recent words. And so, therefore, today, I reiterate the United States stands against Irans 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 leaderships 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 Irans 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 Irans 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 regimes 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 ones interest. Nothing is more emblematic of Irans maligned activities in the Middle East than its support for Assads murderous regime. This support coupled with Russias repeated vetoes of United Nations Security Council resolutions is the leading reason Assad remains in power. Russias opportunism and willingness to overlook Assads criminal activities against his own people evidences its lack of sincere commitment to essential moral principles. Today, I make clear Russias 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 nations 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 todays 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, theres 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. Its 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 Navys 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 Assads 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 partners defensive capabilities. I reiterate U.S. support for our partners 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 Griffiths 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 worlds 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 terrorisms 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, were 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 were to have a safe and prosperous Middle East. And in the King of Jordans 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) Im going to ask in Arabic please. MR. CHIPMAN: Go ahead. Q: (Speaking in Foreign Language). MR. CHIPMAN: Thank you very much. I think well take a few more. Certainly, this question of how one deals with Irans 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, Id 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 Turkeys 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 Ill take one more in this round from Dr. Chung Min Lee. Q: Thank you, Mr. Secretary, for your speech. U.S. efforts to control Irans nuclear program is a cornerstone of the Trump administrations 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 Irans 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 its okay to go for a nuclear weapon and heres the start date. Its 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 dont 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, theres only two nations that signed this treaty and one of them have been out of compliance for years. We have met diplomatically and its 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 Turkeys 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 weve 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 dont 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. Ill 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. Its as if were no longer at war, but were certainly not at peace. Were almost at constant conflict. My question is about the organizations perhaps created after the Second World War whether theyre up to date, whether theyre 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. Im 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, youve 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 Ill 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 Strategys 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 doesnt get any easier, does it? But, first, Tobias, great to see you here. I would just point out that the United Kingdoms role continues to be essential. Im 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 its important we always expand this problem in order to truly address it, of security and stability, you dont 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 theyd 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 thats 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 dont 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. Im talking, theres 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, theyre 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 dont 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, maam, about his majestys 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 peoples expressing of whatever religion was intimate to them. And I think as far as the hate crimes, its almost like were losing our fundamental friendliness toward one another as people. Were 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 well continue to do so. There again, weve got to find a way to put an end to the conflict. I dont 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, Im the secretary of defense. Im 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 were 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 worlds 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 didnt pivot in this administration, to put it bluntly. Were not pivoting away or towards. Were simply broadening how we look at the world without losing any focus here, and I think that youll 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.) Womens Mentorship Programme Mentor and Mentee Induction Sessions The Ministry of Equality has held induction sessions for the mentors and mentees of the Womens Mentorship Pilot Programme. These sessions were held for mentors and mentees that have been matched ahead of the start of the programme. Marlene Dalli, Policy Development Officer at the Department for Equality, delivered the sessions. Minister for Equality, the Hon. Samantha Sacramento, MP, said, I am delighted that the Womens Mentorship Programme will begin imminently. The programme has generated a great deal of interest and the response to both induction sessions has been very positive and enthusiastic. I would like to express my gratitude to all involved in the programme but particularly to mentors who will be giving back to the local community in order for mentees to maximize their professional potential. This cross-sector and cross-gender mentoring programme which is the first of its kind in Gibraltar, should help to ensure that there is greater gender diversity in the workplace, especially in positions of leadership and management. According to an Instagram post made by Michael Moore, Cesar Sayoc, the man accused of mailing 14 bombs to prominent Democratic figures and Trump critics, could have ended up in the filmmakers most recent movie Fahrenheit 11/9. Instead, footage of the suspect attending a February 2017 Trump rally in Melbourne, Florida was left on the cutting room floor. On Sunday, Moore posted an outtake video to YouTube featuring Sayoc (among other Trump supporters) cheering and demanding CNN tell the truth. My crew first encountered Cesar Sayoc, the mail bomber/terrorist, 20 months ago when we went down to Melbourne, Florida, to film Trumps first Trump 2020 Re-election Rally just one month after his inauguration, Moore wrote, before ruminating on his reasons for filming Trumps many rallies rather than focusing on his official actions as POTUS. Says Moore, Who we needed to understand were our fellow Americans, lost souls full of anger and possible violence, easily fed a pile of lies so large and toxic that we wondered if there would ever be a chance that we could bring them back from the Dark Side. You can read the rest of his post below. Related Mothra Photo: Toho/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock A screaming man is flayed alive, and his gruesome, steaming innards are exposed for all to see. A womans torso is grotesquely torn from her head. A terrified couple is boiled inside a giant flaming cauldron. A shrieking baby floats down a river of blood. While Alfred Hitchcock was scandalizing American audiences in 1960 with some artfully edited stabbing in Psycho, Japanese director Nobuo Nakagawa was delivering such unspeakably graphic images in Jigoku (Hell), his notoriously deranged tale of guilt and eternal punishment a movie that ends with an extended journey through an unforgiving afterlife. Loosely based on the Leopold & Loeb case (the same murder scandal that had inspired Hitchcocks Rope a little over a decade earlier), Jigoku is one of a handful of films playing this week in the Brooklyn Academy of Musics series Ghosts and Monsters: Postwar Japanese Horror. (You can also catch most of the titles, including Jigoku, on Filmstruck, at least until next month.) Despite the red-hot carnage of its finale, for much of its running time Nakagawas picture is a surreal chamber drama about an unwitting college student whose friendship with another mysterious young man keeps resulting in peoples deaths. The protagonist himself seems largely innocent, and yet feels increasingly agitated and responsible about the damage that always occurs when hes around. As he and the other characters a cross-section of people, many of them far sleazier than he land in the underworld, Jigoku starts to feel like a parable about the way guilt and shame can consume an entire society. The horror genre has always had social and political dimensions, but tales of the supernatural have a special place in Japanese culture, where figures of different ghosts and demons come with elaborate mythologies that inform many peoples lives to this day. Koji Suzuki, the author of the Ring novels, has noted that while American and European horror films often end with the extermination of evil spirits, in Japanese cinema horror movies end with a suggestion that the spirit still remains at large. Thats because the Japanese dont regard spirits only as enemies, but as beings that co-exist with this world of ours. Vengeful spirits would come practically to define more recent J-horror hits like The Ring, Pulse, and The Grudge. But the films of the postwar period, while less defined by jump scares, are way more existentially unnerving. Tales of the spirit world figure prominently in a number of the titles in BAMs series, which includes two of the greatest horror films ever made, anywhere: director Kaneto Shindos Onibaba (1964) and Kuroneko (1968). Violent, beautiful, supernaturally inflected medieval stories of female revenge, the pair could be seen as companion pieces: Onibaba follows a mother and daughter-in-law who subsist by luring wandering Samurai to their deaths, while Kuroneko follows a mother and daughter-in-law who, after a brutal rape and murder, are brought back to life by cat demons and begin viciously tearing unsuspecting Samurai to pieces. Both stories play out against a backdrop of civil war, and both sets of women have been told that the man of their family, who had left to go fight in a local warlords army, has died in battle. The characters rage is borne partly out of their desolation of the sense that theyve been left behind. Shindos pictures are elegant yet shocking: Theyre shot through with intensely physical scenes of eroticism and violence, but the director also likes to set a mood and patiently follow his characters. While the films depict a world of social and political chaos, theres also a hermetically sealed quality to the lives of the women in Onibaba and Kuroneko as if theyre struggling to hold that very world at bay. The shadow of Godzilla naturally looms large among the major titles of this period. Ishiro Hondas 1954 classic was extensively reedited for its U.S. release (with new scenes added featuring Raymond Burr) and soon became a staple of kid-friendly creature features. Along the way, the film and its sequels helped turn Toho Studios, which had suffered a series of devastating financial and labor troubles after the war, into an industrial juggernaut. (That Toho also had Akira Kurosawa in its stable of directors certainly helped, too; in fact, the biggest Japanese feature of 1954 wasnt Godzilla; it was The Seven Samurai.) But in its original form, Godzilla is one of the saddest, most bluntly brutal monster movies ever made. The legacy of the war, of American occupation and the atom bomb, hangs over the whole film. The beast is unleashed thanks to nuclear testing in the Pacific, and the picture opens with the destruction of a fishing vessel that resembles the Lucky Dragon No. 5, a real-life Japanese fishing boat that was famously contaminated by an American hydrogen bomb test in 1954 an incident that is evoked by a number of works from this period. The devastation that Godzilla causes is extensive and heartbreaking, recalling the horrific aftermath of Hiroshima. Honda also used the 1945 American firebombing of Tokyo as a visual source for these sequences. The director had seen war up close: Conscripted into the Japanese Imperial Army in 1934, hed been sent to fight in Manchuria and served multiple tours of duty over the next decade, finally spending six months as a POW at the end of the war. (His close friend Kurosawa would pay tribute to Hondas WWII service in an episode of his late-period masterpiece Dreams, itself partly a meditation on spirits, demons, and nuclear war.) The political overtones of Hondas mad, masterful Mothra (1961) are even more direct than they were in Godzilla, but the film colorful, playful, filled with music and magical realism is tonally the opposite of the earlier one. This time, a sleazy Western promoter from the U.S.-like fictional nation of Rolisica steals a pair of foot-tall singing fairies from an island that has been irradiated by atomic testing, and forces them into servitude; the fairies beckon the giant insect-god Mothra to save them, and the creature eventually lays waste to Rolisicas capital, New Kirk City. Its title creature has since entered the pantheon of immortal Japanese monsters, with many sequels and remakes to its name, but the sweetly poetic lunacy of Mothra really needs to be seen to be believed. The international success of Toho with Godzilla and other similar entries (particularly Hondas 1962 hit King Kong vs. Godzilla, the film that really turned monster match-ups and team-ups into a thing) had resulted in most of Japans major studios looking to make their own lucrative horror and sci-fi features. The prestigious and storied Shochiku studios, which had long resisted the temptation, finally gave in during the late 1960s. One of their most notorious later efforts, Hajime Satos Goke, Body Snatcher From Hell (1968), offers a fine example of cut-rate effects, apocalyptic sci-fi, and incendiary politics. A passenger plane crash-lands in an unknown and desolate valley after being pelted with mysterious birds smashing against its windows. Inside the plane, the paranoid passengers turn on each other. Those unfortunate enough to venture outside find themselves attacked by a bubbling trickle of body-snatching space slime that splits open their foreheads and takes ahold of their brains. The film is filled with documentary montages of warfare and political turmoil. One of the passengers is an American widow headed to Japan to pick up the remains of her husband, who has been killed in Vietnam; at one point, she pointedly informs everyone that her husband was wounded in the face, similar to the way that the alien villain appears to be attacking its victims. It turns out that this is all a prelude to an invasion of Earth by an alien race called the Gokemidoro and its clear that they see humanity as uniquely vulnerable at this point in history. Our objective is to exterminate the human race. That objective is close at hand, a voice declares, as we see documentary images of the charred remains of bomb victims, followed by mushroom clouds. These final moments are so darkly nihilistic that the films very final image of an army of red, cheap-looking flying saucers headed toward Earth seems almost like a relief by comparison. When we think of the history of horror, we tend to focus, perhaps understandably, on American and British efforts, which had their own monster and gothic traditions and slowly explored what was acceptable material to put onscreen. The Japanese version of horror developed somewhat differently. While it had its share of narrative boldness and envelope-pushing extremity, it was based less on surface scares and more on mood and moral complexity. These genre films made in the postwar period werent just there to shock. They reflected the anxieties of a society that had suffered the unthinkable terrors of war, and was still processing feelings of trauma, guilt, and vengeance. The Other Side of the Wind. Photo: Courtesy of Netflix Orson Welles famously hated it when critics tried to draw clean lines between his work and his tempestuous inner life, but here goes, anyway: It wasnt mere bad luck that he died with his self-eviscerating/self-aggrandizing semi-autobiographical summing up, The Other Side of the Wind, in fragments. It was destiny another, more cosmic, summing up. It was How It Had to Be. The movie that arrives on November 2 (in theaters and on Netflix, which coughed up the bucks to pry loose the estimated 100 hours of footage from interested parties) is a jaw-dropping bombardment a teeming, fractured faux documentary of the last day (principally, a 70th-birthday party at an actresss desert estate) in the life of a madly self-indulgent director, J. J. Jake Hannaford (John Huston), intercut with scenes from the film hes working on and will never have the money to finish, also called The Other Side of the Wind and meant (by Welles, not Jake) as a parody of Antonionis lush sex-and-alienation epics. Just setting the scene leaves me winded, but watching the film is no walk in the park either. Its a hard first-time watch. Few frames are held for longer than five seconds, and Welles jumps between black-and-white and color and among different film stocks (35-mm., 16-mm., Super 8). Faces pop up and recede into the crowd and pop up again Hannafords lovers, acolytes, enablers, colleagues, actors, fellow directors (recognizable even now: Claude Chabrol, Paul Mazursky, Dennis Hopper, Henry Jaglom), critics, and hangers-on, as well as documentary cameramen shooting the footage were supposedly watching. Hannafords chief acolyte so chief he insists on calling himself an apostle is penniless film journalist turned rich Hollywood director Brooks Otterlake, played by penniless film journalist turned rich Hollywood director Peter Bogdanovich, called on to reenact his weird relationship with Welles on-camera. Welles elevates Bogdanovich and mocks him at the same time. But then, no one gets away clean not even the audience. Welles seems to be deconstructing The Other Side of the Wind even as hes making it, all while blowing raspberries at critics who want to analyze him, frame him, reduce him. (Welles is very sly: When Jake is reminded of Prosperos decision to abjure his magic at the end of The Tempest, he says he has no idea what abjure means.) The film even features a loud, jabbering super-critic, Welless ludicrous fantasy of Pauline Kael (played by Susan Strasberg), who wants the Hemingway-esque Hannaford to come clean about his latent homoerotic inclinations. Its no wonder that Jake blotto, broke, knowing that hell never get the money to complete The Other Side of the Wind, parts of which he screens for blank-faced guests before the power quits drives into a ravine. Dont dig too deep into The Other Side of the Wind: Its largely surface. But what a surface. And what a chest of toys for a man who never lost his childlike delight in playing with the medium. Better known in the 70s as a toddling barrage balloon on talk shows and in Paul Masson commercials, Welles had something to prove. In 1968, hed made his first color film, the rarely seen Isak Dinesen, a.k.a. Karen Blixen, adaptation The Immortal Story (he hated color he once told Bogdanovich it made faces look like meat veal, beef, baloney), and its stately rhythm left critics wondering if Welles were old and tired as old and tired as he looked onscreen in the role of a dying millionaire. Actually, he was young enough to transform his style yet again to suit his material, but now he would make sure to show off his vigor and even poke fun at himself by having characters poke fun at Jake for trying to compete with young 60s and 70s filmmakers. Welles sought to ape the frenetic, often pseudo-documentary techniques of other young directors to ape, lampoon, and transcend them. In the film-within-a-film, meanwhile, theres a sex montage between Oja Kodar and Bob Random thats like nothing Ive ever seen: She goes down on him in a moving car deluged with rain, rattled by wind, and stabbed with passing lights a consummation that goes on and on with death and oblivion pressing in. It was Kodar, Welless Croatian-born girlfriend and co-writer, who came up with the films title, describing Welles himself as the very embodiment of the wind, a magnificent force of nature with a vulnerable backside. (My double entendre was unintentional, but Ill let it stand Kodar has said that men like Welles sleep with other mens girlfriends as a way of sleeping with those men.) The problem is that the wind is hard to pin down, and theres a void at the center of The Other Side of the Wind a hoary, magnificent void but a void nonetheless. With his weathered, totemic mug, all-purpose saturnine grin, and font of cynical rejoinders, Huston has the trappings and suits of a great Welles protagonist, a romantic individualist vanquished by brutal corporate efficiency (here seen in the form of a punk exec modeled on Robert Evans). But just about everything that happens in the film happens around him. Its no surprise to learn that much of the movie was shot without Huston present: Those actors were looking at the offscreen Welles. The real tragic hero is behind the camera. A control freak to the core, Welles wanted people to believe that a film director was someone who presides over accidents and that with The Other Side of the Wind he was putting himself in the middle of a melee, daring the fates. I think he also wanted to be brought down. Its no coincidence that Welles dies in a lot of the films he directs. (Of the ten in which he appears, he survives in only two, and one of those The Trial he wasnt supposed to act in.) This man who wouldnt be ruled, who did everything his own way even when it cost him dearly, both professionally and personally, was in love with playing men who experienced the ultimate loss of control and could no longer call the shots. And of course he couldnt, finally. Between Welless death, in 1985, and the middle of this decade, the footage (shot between 1970 and 1976) had sat on several continents in ill-marked cans, the bulk of them in a Paris vault, at the mercy of financial claims and counterclaims. Welles had blamed, among others, an unsavory Spanish co-producer and the Ayatollah Khomeini, whose revolution rendered everything connected to the overthrown shah the property of the state. (The shahs brother-in-law had stepped in with financing.) By the reckoning of Filip Jan Rymsza, who co-produced this new assemblage (with Hollywood super-exec Frank Marshall, a production manager on the original film), Welles edited 30 percent of the movie and left behind notes and annotated scripts. It was editor Bob Murawski who labored to channel the spirit of Welles and bring The Other Side of the Wind to the form its in now. Actually, the story of The Other Side of the Wind how Welles made it and what happened to it after his death is as illuminating as the film itself, which is why some very smart people at Netflix are bringing it out cheek by jowl with Morgan Nevilles superb free-form documentary of its making, Theyll Love Me When Im Dead. Here are not just brilliant editors and talking heads Murawski, Bogdanovich, Kodar, etc. but all kinds of shots of Welles feeding lines to his actors and trying to keep the whole monstrous enterprise aloft. Some people will want to see Nevilles doc before the feature, but I say see the movie first in a virginal state, dive into the doc, and then rewatch the film. Make it an orgy. Welles would have been tickled to see how the two works mingle and melt together in your mind. The movie and its making are the masterpiece. *This article appears in the October 29, 2018, issue of New York Magazine. Subscribe Now! Photo: Rich Polk/Getty Images for Disney Actress Sarah Scott has accused Runaways actor Kip Pardue of sexually assaulting her on set of an independent television pilot filmed this spring. In May, Scott told the Los Angeles Times, she and Pardue were filming a sex scene when he became aroused and put her hand on his erect penis. Afterwards, Scott says Pardue invited her into his dressing room, where he masturbated in front of her. This isnt a #MeToo thing, she says he told her at the time. Im not your employer. Its not like I can fire you. Scott reported the conduct to the shows producers and the Screen Actors Guild, contacted the Times Up Legal Defense Fund, and filed a police report with the Hermosa Beach Police Department, but has yet to see any progress with her case in the last five months. In Hollywood terms, I am not a name, but I am a working actress, she told the paper. This is how I make my money, and help support my family. Ive been out in Los Angeles pounding the pavement as a proud union member for 15 years. I was sexually violated while at work, and even though I had the courage to tell anyone and everyone whod listen, as time went on it seemed like I had very little control in truly preventing this from happening to anyone else. When contacted by reporters from the Times, Pardue apologized for putting her hand on his groin, but said that he never masturbated in front of her. I clearly misread the situation during a sex scene on set and have apologized to Sarah, Pardue said in a statement provided by his representative. I never intended to offend her in any way and deeply regret my actions and have learned from my behavior. Update October 30: SAG-AFTRA issued a response to the story. Without mentioning Scott, Pardue, or the Times report by name, the union posted a lengthy member advisory on Monday that details how union members are to handle these types of allegations. Confidentiality protects members, the advisory said, per Variety. In certain cases, our members choose to initiate member-to-member disciplinary proceedings in response to an incident. Our mission is to support the member who is reaching out to us for help in responding to an incident, while also providing fairness and due process. In order to protect our members, we must protect their privacy and uphold confidentiality during the course of the proceedings. This means SAG-AFTRA not commenting publicly when asked about confidential investigative, disciplinary or trial processes. The Deuce Nobody Has to Get Hurt Season 2 Episode 8 Editors Rating 4 stars * * * * Previous Next Photo: HBO Man must be disciplined, for he is by nature raw and wild. Immanuel Kant, The Critique of Pure Reason The prevailing trend in this season of The Deuce has been various proverbial chickens coming home to roost. Sure, by the late 70s, the New York sex industry has been normalized, complete with a profit-forward framework, codified hierarchies, and established gatekeepers, but that doesnt mean that underlying problems vanish. Characters on The Deuce tend to kick the can down the road, so to speak, ignoring the glaring complications in their path. Its much easier to make money doing whats always been done than to try to fix the method in the first place. Nobody Has to Get Hurt exhibits this, in microcosm, with the sudden return of Barbara (Kayla Foster), who was unceremoniously arrested in an undercover sting operation trying to buy drugs for Larry at the end of last season, five years ago in the shows time line. She returns to Leons diner, disheveled, thin, and mighty pissed at the sight of Larry. She stares daggers at him for a while until eventually confronting him and Darlene, calling out how he didnt answer a single letter she sent or visit her once in prison. She intimidates him into coughing up his entire wad of cash, asks Darlene about Melissa, her former lover, and then walks out the door. Larry likely didnt expect to ever see Barbara again, but there she is, a familiar face walking through a familiar door, only with a different perspective. Theres Ashley, whos pushing up against the limits of her confrontational activism. Her behavior alienates the sex workers, who are distrustful of her methods or fear blowback from the pimps, and her save one girl at a time approach has already made its way around The Deuce. Dave walks away from the little activism circle, claiming that Ashleys techniques arent productive in the broader scheme of things. Meanwhile, the pimps have a sit-down and discuss the possibility of killing Ashley in order to solve their brain drain problem, but its C.C., of all people, who dissuades them from this line of action. After all, Ashley is a citizen now. Despite the clearing of the air, Vincent and Abby are farther apart than ever, epitomized wonderfully by a muted, sad scene in their apartment as they read across from each other. Vincent cant get through Kants Critique of Pure Reason and puts it down in a heartbeat, but when Abby tries to connect with him by saying she couldnt finish it either, Vincent responds, warmly but callously, Difference is you wanted to. I couldnt give two shits. Tears form in her eyes as she absorbs that comment while he walks out the door again. When Vincent visits his father and tells him he isnt sure if he and Abby want the same things, like a nice house and a family, his father informs him that he already has a family that he completely ignores. His relationship with Abby was built on the grounds of an abandoned home life. Did it have a real shot to begin with? Has the writing already been written on the wall? Meanwhile, it seems like mobsters are the only people to make money from this whole venture. They refuse to change their ways and walk away clean. The shots fired at Vincent were squared away with an attempted murder on Marty Hodas (Saul Stein), though Vincent pumps the brakes after realizing he wasnt responsible, and after a single conversation with Matty the Horse (it was a misunderstanding gone awry). Later, Rudy and Matty make peace and go into business together with Loris three-picture contract and they buy her out from C.C., who gets $15,000 to walk away from the girl entirely. As Simon and Pelecanos routinely emphasize in every one of their respective projects, the people who pull the purse strings rarely feel the sting like everyone else does. Trouble arises in other corners of The Deuce as well. Frankie sleeps with a well-to-do British woman who lives on Riverside Drive whom he met at the club. While shes tidying up, she asks him what will happen to him, a person who doesnt goose-step down the Upper West Side on their way to a job, when he gets old. Frankie stares out the window and admits he never pictured himself getting old, a sure sign foreshadowing the moment for his likely demise, whether that may come this season or the next. Bobby and Shay have fallen deep into heroin addiction together, and soon enough, theyre planning a pharmacy robbery almost designed to go wrong. Gene Goldman sleeps with another friend of Dorothy on the sly even as hes trying to criminalize and eradicate sexualized elements from Times Square. The Deuce is filled with characters whose willful behavior knowingly haunts them, but they power through anyway. Desire cant be tamed, no matter how hard you try. As Candy prepares for the release of Red Hot (the name of her Little Red Riding Hood film) with last-minute adjustments in the editing room, she slowly prepares her son for her upcoming publicity tour, knowing that it will elevate her into a more prominent, public position. Shes still fighting with the mob guys regarding certain elements of distribution (Marty wants to make Loris breasts bigger on the poster, sell the wolf character as white even though hes played by Larry Brown, etc.), and its unclear what Rudy and the Horse will do with it if they get their hands on it, but as of now, things look good for Candy. Yet, she still understandably tiptoes around the issue with her son, whos old enough to ask questions, but young enough to not understand the full truth. Finally, for the last time, theres C.C., who commits his last sins in this episode. Though he reluctantly parts ways with Lori, he takes out his rage and insecurity on her, raping her in a hotel room as a good-bye present before throwing bills on her naked back. Director Tanya Hamilton films that scene, as well as a previous one with Lori and C.C. at the Hi-Hat, with claustrophobic menace, highlighting Loris lack of control and C.C.s destructive power through pointed blocking and close-ups. Its a nasty bit of business watching C.C. essentially mind-fuck one of his charges into believing that hell still plague her life even if shes not in his stable, and neither Hamilton nor writer Pelecanos lets the audience off the hook. Its important to gaze at just how far this type of unregulated power dynamic can go and the damage it leaves behind. Its no wonder that Ashley just wants to take these women and throw them on the next bus out of this hellhole. However, C.C. has relied so heavily on Lori that his hustling skills have fallen by the wayside. He swears to Melissa that hes about to go out and find a bunch of new women, but not only are many of the women headed straight to porn, hes also lost the ability to find them. He talks a big game about how he got a huge payout for Loris contract even though it was just $15,000 and yet hes trolling for Frankie, looking to get an advance on his portion of the Red Hot profits, even though there arent any because it hasnt been released yet. He finds Frankie and Bobby at the parlor and demands that they cough up the $10,000 that he believes hes owed. You know, because he owns Loris work in perpetuity. Except this time, C.C. overplays his hand. His intimidation tactics work with the girls, but in this context, it just irritates and goads Bobby into stabbing him in the chest with a screwdriver. After so many insults regarding his masculinity and lewd comments about his wife, not to mention the incessant lighter clicking, Bobby loses it. C.C. tries to choke Bobby with the screwdriver still inside him, but hes no match for a hammer to the back of the head courtesy of Frankie. What happened? Frankie asks, in horror. Bobby swallows and says, He talked too much. That may be true, but now the whole Martino family is in way too deep because of their hubris. Blood isnt just on their hands. Its trickling down the hallway and seeping into the carpet. Where do you go from here? Other Tricks & Pricks: Armand Assante plays Vincent and Frankies father. A longtime character actor, hes previously appeared in the 1996 HBO film Gotti in the eponymous role, for which he won an Emmy, as well as in Judge Dredd, Hoffa, and American Gangster. At the club, Frankie tells Vincent about the 1962 film Gigot directed by Gene Kelly and starring Jackie Gleason as a mute Frenchman. Frankies takeaway: Who wants to watch a movie with Jackie Gleason not saying nothing? Black Frankie has the line of the year this week. He opens the door to find C.C. dead on the floor and says, Damn. Yall murdered the shit out of that motherfucker. In his defense, they did. Email To : Multiple e-mail addresses must be separated with a comma character(maximum 200 characters) Email To is required. Your Full Name: (optional) Your Email Address: Your Email Address is required. By West Kentucky Star Staff Oct. 29, 2018 | 07:04 AM | PADUCAH The Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce November Power in Partnership breakfast will feature the annual Salute to Education. Thursday's featured speaker is Ben Chandler, President and CEO of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky. The doors open at 6:45 a.m. for viewing of the school displays and the breakfast program begins at 7:30 a.m. The event is held at the Julian Carroll Convention Center. The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky is a nonprofit, nonpartisan foundation that works to make Kentuckians healthier. Chandler's state service included one term as Kentucky State Auditor and two terms as Attorney General. In February 2004, Chandler was elected to the United States House of Representatives, and represented Kentucky in Congress until January 2013. He then served as executive director of the Kentucky Humanities Council before joining the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky in September 2016. Area schools will have displays about their accomplishments and students and faculty representing each school will be in attendance. Benton Police remind residents to keep dogs on a leash or on their property By West Kentucky Star Staff Oct. 28, 2018 | 08:21 PM | GRAVES COUNTY Two Graves County residents face methamphetamine charges after a welfare check of their home on Thursday. According to the Graves County Sheriffs Office, deputies were dispatched to a home on Motor Lane in Mayfield to conduct a welfare check on the residents, after a juvenile had not been picked up from Central Elementary School. Twenty-nine-year-old Mary Lewis told deputies that her husband, 28-year-old Johnny Lewis, had left the home approximately 30 minutes before deputies arrived, and she was unaware the juvenile was still at school. Lewis gave a deputy consent to search her home. The deputy allegedly found methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia in a bedroom. Both Mary and Johnny Lewis were arrested and charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. 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. Campus suicide Universities need to find ways to assist students who are passive in seeking help. University campus counselling facilities are faced with a sharp increase in students seeking assistance. This is a positive sign many students are seeking help. However, our concern must be with those students who are passive in seeking help. Those who may find themselves in a desperate position, where they see no way out and opt to end their lives. How do we reach them? In recent weeks, as has been the pattern in recent years, it has been deeply distressing and saddening that students at a number of universities took the decision to end their lives. This has led to universities in South Africa increasingly having to confront student suicides, and to focus their energies on the mental wellness of students and staff. According to the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG), suicide is the second leading cause of death among university students, after accidents. Studies further suggest that as many as 20% of university students have suicidal thoughts at some point during their university career. Studies suggest that student suicides and mental health challenges are on the increase globally. Having had to deal with student suicides in my own university, one cannot help but wonder what leads to a seemingly together student making the decision to end their life. What are the triggers? How do we identify students at risk, and put the necessary support systems in place, and walk the journey towards a better place with students? What kinds of campus-wide interventions are required, and how do we take these interventions to scale, to ensure that no student in a student population of 37,500 students is left behind? When we lose a young life, it is often easy for the media, politicians, commentators, and others to heap the blame on teachers, universities, families, partners, friends and others who should have done more. The reality is that dealing with mental illness and suicide is much more complex and requires multiple interventions at various levels in society. It is widely accepted that the context and environmental factors play a key role in the mental well-being of young people. Our South African reality is tough, and students are faced with a myriad of challenges. These include poverty and inequality, high levels of violence and crime, changes in support structures or the loss of social support systems, heightened awareness of sexual identity and orientation, and of course, the high academic demands in a very competitive environment. Students who have never failed in their lives, must deal with failure while carrying the hopes of a family or a community. Student years are also a period of great change, and require significant adjustment to a new environment, and to new ways of being. For many students, the time away from home and being at university, means that they may be offered the opportunity to confront past pains. These include abuse, neglect, and unresolved traumatic experiences. How does a student confront all these changes in their lives, and deal with the complexities of modern society, under the glaring eye of social media? Social media plays an important role in the lives of youth today. The worlds of Instagram, Facebook and other such platforms often portray an illusionary picture of prosperity and happiness. Online friendships and communities are built on the successes portrayed, the number of likes one obtains on posted pictures or status updates and how trendy they are perceived to be. In this digital reality, no one seems to be struggling, and certainly no one is battling with depression and other forms of mental illness. It is a world of judgement, a world that feeds stigma. The image portrayed online is often very different from the reality of the struggles that everyday life may bring. Students may often not reach out for help as they feel that they may be a burden to others or may be perceived to be weak/needy. Addressing this issue will require careful consideration of the factors that inform a students decision to commit suicide and lots of empathy. These considerations must include factors at university level, those presented by the world beyond, and the interplay between these factors. Traditionally, universities have focused their energies and scarce resources on the academic project. University support structures have also often relied on providing basic interventions, depending strongly on referral support systems beyond the university like families, the church, NGOs, and the public and private healthcare systems. These often depend on how resourceful students are and the networks that they have within or beyond the university. The reality is that not many students have these networks, or access to resources. Where facilities are available, these are often oversubscribed or come at a great cost. University campus counselling facilities are faced with a sharp increase in students seeking assistance. This is a positive sign many students are seeking help. However, our concern must be with those students who are passive in seeking help, those who may find themselves in a desperate position, where they see no way out and opt to end their lives. How do we reach them? Increasing the capacity of campus counselling services may be part of the response, but not the only response. Universities must grapple with what it means to create inclusive, caring institutional environments where the well-being of each member of the campus community, is of utmost importance. This requires a new approach or perspective that champions reaching out for help. A university-wide approach is needed that must include all stakeholders, including students and experts, who must join the conversation and actively commit to being part of the community-wide solution. Strategies must consider the broader context, and must also include helping students develop their coping skills, learning how to build resilience and emotional intelligence. For universities, this may require a new way of being. Beyond the university, we must all commit to building a more caring society. Government, business, civil society, families and friends must join hands in realising that this is essential if we are to build strong communities. I really do believe that if we do not commit to working together towards addressing the mental well-being of students, and putting an end to student suicide, our collective futures may be compromised. Jerome September is the Dean of Student Affairs at the University of the Witwatersrand. This article was firs published in the Daily Maverick. 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 Lawrence Yun According to the National Association of Realtors, pending U.S. home sales rose slightly in September 2018 and saw substantial increases in both the West and Midwest.The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings, increased 0.5 percent to 104.6 in September from 104.1 in August. However, year-over-year, contract signings dropped 1.0 percent make this the ninth straight month of annual decreases.Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, says that even though we are still seeing year-over-year declines, the latest monthly increase is a good, stabilizing trend. "This shows that buyers are out there on the sidelines, waiting to jump in once more inventory becomes available and the price is right," he said.Yun continues to point to the lack of inventory of moderately priced homes and affordability as factors restraining the housing market but when viewed through the lens of the last few decades, the current affordability climate is still favorable. "When compared to the year 2000, when the housing market was considered very healthy, and home sales figures were roughly equivalent and the affordability conditions were much lower compared to now. So even though affordability has been falling recently, the demand for housing should remain steady."While the economy, is thriving it has yet to have a substantial impact on the real estate market. However, Yun believes that may be about to change. "The general condition of the economy is excellent, it simply has not lifted home sales this year," said Yun. "Home prices are still rising, so people who are purchasing are still seeing wealth gains."Yun pointed to year-over-year increases in active listings from data at realtor.com to illustrate a potential rise in inventory. Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, Colo., Columbus, Ohio, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, Wash., San Diego-Carlsbad, Calif., and San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, Calif. saw the largest increase in active listings in September compared to a year ago.With rising mortgage rates and high prices, conversations about the possible benefits of renting over buying have begun to pop up; however, Yun believes that homeownership is still the path to long-term financial health. "Excluding periods of subprime lending, homeownership has consistently lead to wealth gains," said Yun. "If people are willing to purchase a home within their budget, they will likely continue to accumulate equity.The PHSI in the Northeast dropped 0.4 percent to 92.3 in September, and is now 2.7 percent below a year ago. In the Midwest, the index rose 1.2 percent to 102.4 in September and is 1.1 percent lower than September 2017.Pending home sales in the South fell 1.4 percent to an index of 119.6 in September; however, that is 3.3 percent higher than a year ago. The index in the West increased 4.5 percent in September to 93.1 and plunged 7.4 percent below a year ago. Last chance to have your say on potential council tax increase as fire authority looks to fill 1.9m gap in its budget This article is old - Published: Monday, Oct 29th, 2018 There are just days left to have your say on a whether local councils should help meet a .19m shortfall to help fund the fire service something which could be raised by an increase in council tax. The increase locally features as part of proposals by the North Wales Fire and Rescue Authority, which is facing what it describes as an unusually difficult process of setting a balanced budget for 2019/20. It is estimated that there will be a 1.9 million shortfall in the authoritys budget next year budget something which could be provided by increasing the contribution from county councils. In May 2018 Wrexham.com reported that plans to cut the number of Wrexhams engines, along with changing the hours of the countys second whole-time fire appliance to cover daytime hours only, had been put forward for a second time. These plans were later ruled out for the upcoming budget plans, with the authority opting to consult on increasing the contributions from the six North Wales councils to provide an additional 1.9 million. Currently the bulk of the authoritys annual budget is provided by contributions from all six North Wales Councils with the remainder being made of financial reserves and other income. Over the past three years the authority says it has avoided passing on the full cost to county councils and relied instead on using some of its reserves. Wrexhams contribution in the current financial year is 6,654,624 the second highest of any council in the region. This is based on population figures, with Wrexham contributing 19.87 per cent of the North Wales Fire and Rescue Authoritys overall budget. However if proposals to increase the overall cost from councils are given the go ahead, an additional 377,273 would be provided by Wrexham Council. This could result in an increase of 7.08 (0.65%) on council tax bills for a Band D property for residents in Wrexham to help maintain the 2 fire engines at Wrexham Fire Station The potential council tax increase has been factored into Wrexham Councils ongoing Difficult Decisions budget consultation, with the local authority looking to make savings of 9 million. In the consultation (which can be found here) Wrexham Council ask the publics views of a six per cent or more council tax increase to support the increase in the funding to the NW Fire and Rescue Service. Councillor Meirick Lloyd Davies, chair of the Fire and Rescue Authority, said: Not only are we facing some unavoidable cost increases in 2019/20, but we also need to make up for the fact that contributions from the county councils over the last three years have been kept low by taking money from our own financial reserves instead. Whilst using reserves in this way has worked well in the short term, the true cost of providing services has continued to increase gradually and we are reluctant to risk spending our financial reserves and leave nothing to fall back on. The decision we now face is whether to increase our budget by the full amount next year, and so increase the contribution from the county councils by almost 1.9 million, or to increase the budget by a smaller amount and implement cost savings so we do not risk running out of money mid-year. Any decision to reduce costs is going to be difficult but having carefully weighed up the alternatives for ensuring a balanced budget next year, members are minded not to pursue large scale savings as the level of risk would be too high at this time. Whilst we have not ruled out making savings, the scale of savings in 2019/20 would stop short of closing fire stations or making firefighters redundant. You can find out more about the consultation process on the North Wales Fire and Rescue Authoritys website / have your say here. Comments can be submitted until November 2nd. *This consultation is being carried out by the North Wales Fire and Rescue Service Authority Wrexham Councils Difficult Decisions consultation is separate and will take place until late November. Wrexham Pubwatch scheme highly commended at national awards ceremony This article is old - Published: Monday, Oct 29th, 2018 Pub and bar owners in Wrexham have been highly commended for their contribution to community safety. Wrexham Pubwatch carried off a prize at the National Pubwatch Awards, which were hosted in the House of Lords in London last week. The commendation recognises the Wrexham team as one of three leading national schemes. Wrexham MP Ian Lucas attended the ceremony and met the winners from his constituency, who were highly commended in the outstanding social responsibility category. Judges were impressed by the local Drink Less, Enjoy More campaign which focused on refusing to serve drunks and training for door staff to help them identify and protect vulnerable individuals. Mr Lucas said: Congratulations to Wrexham Pubwatch. I was immensely proud to hear a group from Wrexham had been honoured in the Pubwatch Awards and it was a pleasure to meet the winners on the day. Pubwatch schemes are important when it comes to creating a safer drinking environment and this success shows we have one of the best schemes in the UK. Now in its seventh year, the National Pubwatch Awards champion the work of Pubwatch schemes throughout the UK. Entrants are judged by a panel of National Pubwatch committee members and industry experts who identify the scheme which made the greatest contribution to its community. Wrexham Pubwatch has been running for seven years. It was established as an addition to the existing wider Nightsafe partnership and has a membership of 24 licensees, with David Thomas its licensee chair. Each local Pubwatch works in partnership with local police to reduce alcohol-related crime, while providing local pubs with information and guidance on how to ensure a safe drinking environment in their community. The overall winners on the night were Chelmsford Pubwatch, who have helped reduce violence and night-time crime in the city by 45%. Melissa Yorke, sales director GB On-Trade, added: Partnership organisations like Pubwatch make a real difference to local communities and it is brilliant to see so many schemes getting involved and making an impact through this years Awards programme. I was hugely impressed by the work undertaken by Chelmsford City that has had such a positive impact in reducing crime amongst member organisations premises. I also want to congratulate Chester and Wrexham for their outstanding work. Nearly 1,000 members of the US military are taking up defensive positions along the US-Mexico border in preparation for an armed showdown with a peaceful and defenseless caravan of some 7,000 primarily Honduran migrants from Central America fleeing poverty, inequality and state violence. Defense Secretary James Mattis announced Sunday that the Pentagon has already begun delivering equipment and deploying troops to the southern border, including jersey barriers, which could be used to physically block border crossings to vehicles and people. US officials announced that roughly 800-1000 soldiers will be sent to the area to offer so-called logistical support to the Border Patrol, a categorization intended to conceal the potential for the use of military force against Central American workers and peasants. The troops will join the already 2,100 National Guard troops at the border, bringing the total numbers to approximately 3,000. In preparation for the assault on the caravan, President Trump has taken to social media to criticize Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador for not doing more to stop the caravan, threatening to cut off aid. The entire spectacle is for the purpose of preparing the framework to justify unprecedented moves against immigrants seeking asylum, including the possibility of closing the border entirely. Trump is expected to announce a major new immigration crackdown in a national television address Tuesday night. On Sunday Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen vowed that the caravan is not getting in My general message to this caravan is: Do not come, she said. You will not be allowed in ... There is a right way to immigrate to the United States, and this is not it. The demonization of the caravan by Washington as gang members, and criminals and unknown Middle Easterners serves to justify the possibility of a military attack in the framework of the war on terror and the war on crime, despite the fact that both allegations are demonstrably false. These lies have mobilized fascist and deranged elements within society against immigrants. The horrific killing of 11 people at a Pittsburgh synagogue is the result of Trumps provocative fascistic threats. Robert Bowers evidently chose the Tree of Life Synagogue as his target in part because it hosted a National Refugee Shabbat, organized by the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS). HIAS likes to bring invaders in that kill our people, Bowers wrote on social media the morning of the shooting. I cant sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, Im going in. Emboldened by Trumps xenophobic rhetoric toward the caravan, right-wing patriot groups and other far-right militias are currently on the move and arriving along the US southern border. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) sent warnings earlier this week to landowners in Texas that they could expect possible armed civilians on their property, making clear the government would not oppose the presence of rogue militia forces. The drive and preparations along the border parallel the movements an army takes to prepare for battle. Armed forces are preparing for a military confrontation of an entirely unequal fight the might of the US armed forces, equipped with the personnel and gear employed against the devastated people of Iraq and Afghanistanagainst families and children with little more than the clothes on their back. Both of the ruling parties in Washington have long prepared the militarization of the border, with drones, infrared cameras, the expansion of the border wall, and by ballooning the size of CBP and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Bryan Dean Wright, former CIA ops officer, threatened: unless we send a very clear signal that the border is closed. No one comes in uninvited, no one comes in unvetted. Washington is preparing for a clear and bloody message. Kirstjen Nielsen, told Fox News: We do not have any intention right now to shoot at people, but they will be apprehended, however. But I also take my officers and agents, their own personal safety, extraordinarily seriously. They do have the ability, of course, to defend themselves. Already the caravan has been met with extreme violence by the Guatemalan police who attempted to stop nearly 1,500 migrants crossing the Guatemala-Mexico international bridge in Ciudad Hidalgo, Chiapas state, Mexico. Numerous people have been injured, with videos surfacing showing weeping and injured migrants following police clashes and the firing of tear gas by Guatemalan authorities. Authorities have already begun preparing such efforts. Border guards in El Paso engaged in a practice run on a border crossing between the US and Ciudad Juarez. US agents armed with assault rifles appeared unannounced, set up barricades, and closed the border for 10 minutes, causing panic among those seeking entry to the US. The Overcoat is a short film, directed by Patrick Myles, based on the famed short story by Russian author Nikolai Gogol, published in 1842. The film follows the general outlines of the original, more or less updated to the present day. Here, in a pub, a man (Tim Key) relates the comic-tragic tale to a group of friends. The Overcoat The narrator explains that the hero of the story, Christopher Cobbler [Akaky Akakievitch Bashmachkin in the Gogol work: bashmak is a type of shoe], is a proofreaderin a massive, faceless government building, according to the films notes. Cobbler (Jason Watkins) is a mild-mannered nonentity, or so it seems. He loves his work because of its unvarying regularity. Never deviating from routine in his leisure hours either, he reads the same newspaper, eats the same meals and goes to bed at the same time every day. (Gogol writes that when and how his storys protagonist entered government service and who appointed him, no one could remember. However many of his superiors might come and go, he was always seen in the same spot, in the same attitude, busy with the same work, and bearing the same title; so that people began to believe he had come into the world just as he was, with his bald forehead and official uniform.) Christopher, in his dullness and stodginess, is an easy target for the mockery of his younger colleagues at work. At one point, he responds to his tormentors, Why do you not just leave me alone? Why do you pester me? One of the sources of his colleagues derision is a threadbare old overcoat: Ditch that old thing. You look like a hobo. The poor, harassed proofreader is finally obliged to consult a not very reputable or flourishing tailor (Dominic Coleman) about repairing his coat, only to be told it cannot be done, the material is simply too worn. Christopher protests, I cant afford a new overcoat on my salary. For his part, the tailor is surprised the garment still continues to offer any solace at all against the northern cold. Cobbler finally recognizes he needs a new overcoat. For months, he scrimps and saves, virtually starving himself. As the narrator in Myles film explains, Christopher allowed himself no luxury all he could think about was his new overcoat every day was a quest to save money. Finally, the great day arrives, and he takes ownership of the luxurious new winter coat, which he practically sinks into. Now when he enters his office, people take notice. Gorgeous overcoat, is it new? An attractive colleague invites Christopher to her birthday party that same evening, along with a few friends from work. A couple of glasses of something interesting to drinkand it goes to Cobblers head. Unfortunately, he still remains more interested in the pristine state of his coat than the flirtatious advances of his workmate. In any event, when he finally leaves the pub, a little tipsy, tragedy strikes! In a darkened street, two thugs rob of him his new overcoat and punch him in the face for good measure. The police prove indifferent, skeptical or worse. The same workmate then suggests, You need to go to the top the very top. Without an appointment, the wretched but outraged Cobbler attempts to see a high-level government official. Jason Watkins in The Overcoat (Gogol describes this important personage in these words: It was not known what position this personage occupied, nor how high it really was; the only facts known were that he had only recently been placed in it, and that there must be still higher personages than himself, as he was leaving no stone unturned in order to get promotion. When he entered his private room, he made his subordinates wait for him on the stairs below, and no one had direct access to him.) Cobbler breaks in on this important man, whonaturallyis having a thoroughly unimportant conversation, brandy or whiskey glass in hand, with another official. The lowly proofreader manages to stammer out, My overcoat was stolen from memy expensive overcoat. The officials secretary is irate: This is unprecedented. The important personage himself is even more furious: My dear sir, are you not acquainted with good form and due procedure? He outlines some complicated bureaucratic process that would lead to the complaint ending up on his secretarys desk. When Cobbler mutters something about secretaries being untrustworthy, its the final straw. The livid personage explodes. He screams at the trembling, cowering fellow: Untrustworthy? Do you know who you are addressing? Do you know in whose office you currently stand? Well, do you? Cobbler, who has never before faced such verbal abuse, simply faints dead away. The films narrator explains, This incident sent Christopher into a downward spiral from which there was no returnhis fever was worsening by the day. Soon, Christopher was gone. With no money for a proper funeral, Cobbler is buried in an unmarked, paupers grave. (Gogol: The great city of St Petersburg continued its life as though he had never existed. Thus disappeared a human creature who had never possessed a patron or friend, who had never elicited real hearty sympathy from anyone.) However, that is not apparently the end of Cobbler. An apparition begins to appear in various parts of the city who tries to tear overcoats off, including the coat of the very important personage, who experiences the appropriate terror at the ghastly, ghostly appearance of his former victim. (Gogol writes that all of a sudden the prominent official felt a powerful hand seize him by the collar. He turned round, perceived a short man in an old, shabby uniform, who opened his mouth from which issued a kind of corpse-like odour. The official heard him say, At last I have youby the collar! I need your cloak. You did not trouble about me when I was in distress; you thought it necessary to reprimand me. Now give me your cloak.) Gogol (1809-52) is an important figure in Russian and European literature. The Overcoat is considered to be one of the landmarks in the development of Russian literary realism, which ultimately helped discredit and undermine tsarist society. Whatever Gogols own political or social views, which were quite conservative, the work is a scathing indictment of a corrupt, cruel and essentially unsalvageable social order, as well as a criticism of those who absorb and accept its reactionary, inhuman values. Film poster The Overcoat, in its own way, is a classic illustration of the fact that realism should not be identified uncritically with the specific trend known as Realism, or Naturalism, i.e., the attempt to reproduce everyday life in fiction. Critics still stumble over this. Gogols story cannot be considered realistic, we are told, because it includes elements of the surreal, grotesque, even supernatural and because it shifts quite radically in tone. But the story is profoundly realistic in the more important, social and psychological sense. In a 20-minute film, Mylesan actor trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, a producer and a filmmakercannot be expected to bring out all the elements of Gogols work, into whose two dozen or so pages are compressed an immensity of insight and numerous alternately amusing and distressing episodes. The film, which has won awards and been screened at various film festivals, tends to emphasize the comic sides of the story at the expense of its darker features. Nonetheless, Myles, who has worked extensively in the theater, deserves credit for adapting and directing audiences toward this classic work, and its themes. He told an interviewer from Flicks Daily that The Overcoat is the story of a man who, in an attempt to raise his status at work, spends all his money on a brand new overcoat. After a short period of social success, the overcoat is stolen from him and he descends into a spiral, unable to return to his previous anonymity. Its a tragicomedy that touches on several themes such as individuality, social status and bureaucratic oppression and its set in a world that is almost our own, but not quite. Detainment Detainment is also a short film, about the aftermath of the murder of two-year-old Jamie Bulger from Kirkby, Merseyside, England in February 1993. The arrest and prosecution of two 10-year-old boys, Jon Venables and Robert Thompson, became the occasion for an outpouring of law-and-order hysteria from both Conservative and Labour politicians and the media. The film, directed by Irish-born Vincent Lambe, bases itself entirely on police interview transcripts and records. It is a fictional recreation of the interrogation of the two young boys, who were eventually tried and convicted in an adult court under Britain's appallingly low age of criminal responsibility, as the World Socialist Web Site noted in 2000. Detainment Lambe has taken and rearranged portions of the transcripts in a relatively sensitive and compassionate manner. The boys are well played by young actors (Ely Solan as Jon and Leon Hughes as Robert). Their parents also play a role, and some of the scenes are quite disturbing and moving. Lambe told an interviewer he was prompted to make the film after someone unexpectedly mentioned the Bulger case. I thought of those two boys, he said, who terrified us with their malice all those years ago. I couldnt understand how two ten year-old boys could commit such a horrific crime. A lot of people will tell you they were simply evil. I think its easier to label them evil than to try to understand the unfathomable mystery of human behaviour. But I wanted to learn more and I started reading everything I could find on the case. By the end, I found that my opinion had been altered and I would hope that people watching the film might have a similar experience. Presumably, Lambe means that he found it necessary to transform the two monsters, as they were painted in the tabloid media, back into actual human beings. Detainment undoubtedly succeeds in doing that. Ely Solan in Detainment However, as per the comment above on Gogol and realism, the mere reproduction of events does not necessarily reveal their most important truth. Aside from a few shots of an obviously poverty-stricken region, Lambes film does not provide a great deal of insight into the social and psychological processes, including the devastating decay and decline of Britains once industrial areas, that made the Bulger murder possible. A broader, more socially critical outlook is necessary for that. The WSWS, for example, explained that at the time of the killing, Britains media pundits, as always, welcomed any sensational story on which to hang their own right-wing prejudices. Instead of seeking a social or psychological explanation of why the two young boys had become embroiled in a violent act against a defenceless child, it was considered enough to deem them inherently evil, or to argue that their warped minds had tried to emulate a popular horror movie. When the case came to court in November 1993, screaming mobs demanded life imprisonment or the death penalty and tried to physically attack the police van carrying the two boys. Inside the courtroom, a disgraceful spectacle unfolded. The floor of the dock had to be specially raised so the boys could see the proceedings. The deliberations carried on around the two bewildered and frightened children, who by turns stared ahead uncomprehendingly, fidgeted or cried and begged for their mothers. Neither boy gave evidence, as they were suffering severe post-traumatic stress disorder. Martin Phillips, David Ryan, Tara Breathnach, Will O'Connell and Ely Solan in Detainment Important details of Thompsons and Venables backgroundswhich provide at least some insight as to why they ended up attacking young Jamiewere not admitted in evidence. Thompson was one of seven brothers, in a family where the older children regularly attacked the younger ones such as Robert. His mother was an alcoholic and his father, who left home when Robert was five, was also a heavy drinker who beat his wife and children. Venables parents were also separated and his mother suffered psychiatric problems. His brother and sister had educational problems and attended special needs schools. Following his parents separation, Venables manifested disturbed behaviour. At school he would regularly bang his head on walls or slash himself with scissors. Lambes film is a sincere effort, but it stops short at genuinely countering and rebutting the self-serving banality and filth generated by official public opinion. Facing mounting public opposition, Australias intelligence and police chiefs are demanding that parliament pass a bill that would set a global precedent for the compulsory cracking open of encryption and other privacy devices. In effect, the heads of the spy and security apparatus spoke on behalf of the US-led Five Eyes worldwide network, which conducts mass monitoring of the worlds population, as well as secret bugging operations against targeted governments. A summit of the Five Eyes countries, held in Australia on August 2829, called for laws to enable access to encrypted emails, text messages and voice communications. Representing the US, Canada, Britain, Australia and New Zealand, they declared it was necessary to force open end-to-end encryption tools. Without providing any evidence, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) chief Duncan Lewis told a parliamentary committee hearing on October 19 that suspected terrorists were using encrypted messages to plan potential attacks. I can confidently say there are suspected terrorists in Australia using encrypted communications and due to that encryption it is impossible for us at this time to intercept and read their communications, despite our existing range of lawful and legal access authorities, Lewis said. Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner Andrew Colvin made similar unsubstantiated assertions, trying to link the proposed assault on all on-line communications to the endless war on terrorism. In other words, despite the introduction of barrages of legislation since 2001 authorising electronic surveillance, computer hacking, detention and interrogation without trial and other measures overturning fundamental civil and democratic rights, the political spy apparatus insists it must have even greater powers. Lewis himself noted that since 2014, at about the time I became the Director-General of Security, weve seen 12 tranches of national security legislation pass through the parliament. The ASIO chief also alluded to the pressure coming from Washington and other allies to push the anti-encryption measures through. He told the committee, its not only a concern unique here, to Australia, but its one faced around the globe, as our international allies and partners would attest. Lewis said ASIO had neither the desire nor the capacity to intercept or collect the communications of Australians en masse. In reality, the Australian agencies work with their Five Eyes partners to monitor the communications of millions of people, as exposed by former US National Security Agency (NSA) whistleblower Edward Snowden and WikiLeaks, founded by Julian Assange. In the lead-up to the committee hearing, Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton insisted that the bills passage was urgent. Dutton, who attended the Five Eyes summit and heads a super-ministry in charge of all the spy and police agencies, said: Given we are talking about nine out of 10 national security investigations now being impeded because of the use of encryption, we need to deal with it. The actual concern of the capitalist class and its security apparatuses is not handfuls of terrorists but growing working class hostility to widening social inequality, worsening working and living conditions, the evisceration of civil and democratic rights and the mounting danger of another world war provoked by the US. At the hearing, a Home Affairs Department official revealed that it had received 15,990 submissions, an indication of popular opposition, but the department contemptuously dismissed nearly all of them15,130as standard campaign responses. Of the 743 unique individual responses classified as appropriate for consideration, only 55 were treated as substantive submissions. Not one member of the bipartisan parliamentary joint committee on intelligence and security questioned the declarations of the ASIO and AFP chiefs. All the MPs, both Liberal-National and Labor, declared their agreement with the need to protect security and suggested changes to the bill to enhance the operations of the spy and police agencies, while appearing to address the widespread alarm. The far-reaching scope of the bill was underscored when Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) director-general Mike Burgess was asked to outline the communications platforms that would be covered. The examples he gave included: Your banking application; your web browser; your text; your music application on a phone; Signal, which is a messaging app that encrypts data; WhatsApp. The ASD, Australias equivalent of the US NSA, conducts electronic surveillance, including bugging and phone tapping, throughout the Indo-Pacific region. Under the Telecommunications (Assistance and Access) Bill 2018, telcos, Internet companies and device manufacturers, as well as website and individual social media hosts, would be compelled to remove all barriers to government agencies accessing private data. Companies would face fines of up to $10 million for each instance of non-compliance with technical assistance notices or technical capability notices. Individuals could be fined up to $50,000. The ASIO and AFP chiefs repeated the governments claims that the legislation would not require tech companies to provide backdoor entry to encryption systems. But any approved agency could force an individual or a service provider to hand over a password or the tools to decrypt messages. Other witnesses at the hearing outlined insidious aspects of the 176-page bill. Several pointed out that it only mentions encryption once. Instead, it uses the wider term electronic protection to cover all devices and applications designed to ensure privacy. Arthur Moses, the president-elect of the Law Council, representing the legal profession, said: The bill as presently drafted would authorise the exercise of intrusive covert powers with the potential to significantly limit an individuals right to privacy. Moses said compliance notices could amount to a new form of detention without trial. If a person is required to attend a place to provide information or assistance, this may amount to detention of that person, particularly as they may be arrested on suspicion of an offence if they attempt to leave. The Law Council also warned that the bill would allow authorities to side-step warrants previously needed to access private information. Despite raising objections to aspects of the billparticularly the threat of criminal sanctions for non-complianceexecutives from the major telecommunications companies stressed their willingness to keep voluntarily collaborating with the authorities. Ramah Sakul, a representative of Telstra, Australias largest telecommunications company, told the hearing: We believe a collaborative and cooperative approach is more likely to result in efficient and timely outcomes in the provision of assistance and capability development. Andrew Sheridan from Optus said his company had developed a long history of cooperation with law enforcement and national security agencies, including data retention. Representing The Software Alliance of transnational internet corporations, such as Google, Facebook and Amazon, Darryn Lim said his organisation encourages close collaboration between the government, Australian law enforcement and the technology community to improve processes and methodologies enabling law enforcement access to digital evidence in a timely manner. Lim outlined a six-point plan to modify the bill to enhance this relationship. As the WSWS has documented in detail, the global giants are increasingly working in partnership with governments to implement anti-democratic restrictions on internet access. This features, in particular, using algorithms to limit or block access to socialist, anti-war and other critical websites. The WSWS has called for the formation of an International Coalition of Socialist, Anti-War and Progressive Websites to fight this attack on freedom of speech and basic democratic rights. The author also recommends: Australian encryption bill becomes a global test case for surveillance [10 October 2018] The state government of the northern Indian state of Haryana, ruled by the Hindu-extremist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has arrested at least 14 union leaders after more than 200,000 public workers carried out a job action last Friday in solidarity with striking public transport workers at the state-owned Haryana Roadways. Police, citing the government-declared Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA), also conducted Friday night raids at residences of other union leaders. Police have also declared that they are on the lookout for other union activists. The ESMA declaration bans strikes in what the government defines as essential-services and is the favoured political weapon of state-governments to repress struggles by public-sector workers. Haryana Roadways workers have been waging a months-long struggle against repeated attempts by the BJP state government to privatize public transport. Their latest strike started on October 16 against the governments attempt to bring in over 700 buses from a private contractor whose drivers and conductors will be paid far less and will work far more hours than public transport workers. According to the monthly salary table published by the Haryana government, a bus drivers or conductors pay scale ranges from Rs. 5,20020,200 (USD $75270) plus a small bonus. So widespread is the anger against the pro-business state government that it took hardly any prompting for other public workers to come out in solidarity with the transport workers and shout slogans against the hated BJP government. All workers understand that the governments attempt to privatize public transport is the first step towards privatizing other government services, which will result in both service cuts and sweeping attacks on wages, job security and working conditions. The policies of the Haryana BJP government reflect the stridently pro-business outlook of the national government, which is also led by the BJP under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a Hindu-supremacist strongman. The Modi government has continuously imposed pro-business policies since coming to power in 2014. Parallel with this, the Modi-government has encouraged attacks upon religious minorities, especially Muslim workers, to split the working class. In early September, the Haryana government unleashed a huge police force to severely beat workers and arrest 23 union leaders. The state repression was aimed at preventing announced plans for a chakka jam (complete-shutdown) by transport workers. There has been a wave of strikes over the past several months by wide sections of the working class in Haryana, including tens of thousands of healthcare workers, junior engineers of state electricity boards and recently appointed assistant professors. This state acquired international notoriety after the then Congress-led state government mounted savage repression against autoworkers at the Japanese-owned Maruti Suzuki assembly plant in Manesar. Thirteen leaders of the Maruti Suzuki Workers Union (MSWU), which had been formed through a rebellion by workers against the corporate stooge union, were framed up and sentenced to life in prison. Under Modis Made in India program, working conditions have become increasingly brutal as the government cracks down on working class resistance in order to attract foreign investment. Resistance, however, is growing, and the battle by Haryana public sector workers takes place amid a rising tide of class conflict. One of the most notable ongoing struggles is the strike by thousands of two-wheeler (motorcycle) autoworkers in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. The state government there has also responded with repression, including mass arrests and bans on picketing the strike-bound plants. In Delhi, the national capital region, which neighbors the state of Haryana, the long-struggling workers of the Delhi Transport Corporation have vowed to proceed with a one-day strike against the municipal government today, although the Delhi government has invoked ESMA to provide a pretext for violent suppression. According to reports, this is the first major strike against DTC since 1988. The National Capital Territory of Delhi is currently led by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP, Common Mans Party) of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The AAP shot to prominence by railing against the corruption of the main bourgeois parties, the BJP and the Congress Party, and promising better public services. The Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC), which provides daily transportation to hundreds of thousands of commuters, employs over half of its workforce, including drivers, conductors and mechanics, under temporary contracts. These workers were informed in late August by the Kejriwal government that it plans to cut their pay in the range of Rs. 3,5004,500 (USD $47.8861.56) per month, amounting to a nearly 25 percent cut of their monthly wages. The Delhi government cited as its justification an August 4, 2018, decision of the Delhi High Court that had invalidated a 2017 order by the AAP government to business and government departments to hike minimum wages. The government had issued a notification that the prescribed minimum wages for unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled workers be increased to Rs. 13,350 (USD $180), Rs. 14,698 (USD $200) and Rs. 16,182 (USD $220) per month respectively. The order was challenged in the Delhi High Court by private businesses and, unsurprisingly, given that the whole Indian judiciary operates openly under a pro-business outlook, ruled in their favor by tossing out the government order. This decision provided the requisite cover to the AAP government to roll back even the meager hike awarded to the DTC contract workers. In the face of this assault, the Stalinist Communist Party of India-affiliated union leading the DTC strike has refused to mount any sustained strike action by contract and permanent workers, let alone linking up the DTC workers with the strikes in the neighboring state of Haryana. Instead, the Stalinist-led union has opted for a single day of action. The latest eruptions of working class militancy in Haryana and Delhi are part of the resistance to the efforts of the state and central governments to offload the economic crisis, including the massive debt crisis in the so-called emerging markets, onto the backs of workers. The WSWS urges workers interested in forming rank-and-file committees at their plants to contact us. It has been two weeks since autoworkers at Lear Corporations Hammond and Portage, Indiana seating factories voted overwhelmingly to reject a sellout contract pushed by the United Auto Workers (UAW) union. Since then, workers anger over the UAWs attempt to ram through a pro-company agreement has only continued to grow. The UAW and Lear, meanwhile, are working behind closed doors to find a way to dissipate opposition and impose a rotten deal, which would maintain poverty wages and the artificial division of workers between assembly and sub-assembly categories, who are paid substandard wages and benefits. After the unions deal was defeated, UAW Local 2335 called a series of cynical ratification feedback meetings between October 18 and 20. Results of the survey obtained by the WSWS indicate that workers are fighting to restore a broad range of concessions previously given up by the UAW. The workers want to eliminate the tiers, restore cost-of-living (COLA) raises, expand paid time off, and unfreeze pension payments. The UAW, however, has no intention of abiding by the democratic will of the workers. This was made clear by Local 2335 President Jaime Luna, who said the deal is what it is and claimed that the company cannot afford anything better. The World Socialist Web Site Autoworker Newsletter was recently contacted by Steve, a worker at the Portage, Indiana sub-assembly plant. Steves name has been changed in order to protect him from retaliation by the company and UAW. When I became part of the union, I thought they would fight for my rights, Steve said. In the few years since Ive worked there, thats completely crumbled. Especially after the last offer, its clear theyre in bed with Lear. Like many of the workers at the Portage plant, Steve was hired in at rock-bottom wages, making a little over $12 an hour. Years later, he is only making $14 an hour. According to data from the National Low-Income Housing Coalition, an hourly wage of $14.25 is needed to afford a one-bedroom rental in Porter County, Indiana, where Portage is located. For a two-bedroom, $17.42 is estimated to be needed. Steve described the initial excitement he felt following the massive strike authorization vote by rank-and-file workers, followed quickly by suspicion when the union announced it had reached a tentative agreement. In the morning on Wednesday, October 3, they announced that we had authorized a strike by 90 percent. I thought, This is it. Were going to get what we want, or were going to strike. Then, that same day, I kid you not, they announced that they had an agreement. Id like some explanation how that happened. Was the deal already in place when we took the vote? We took the strike authorization vote, and for what? Its never going to be used. They just did it to make us think like theyre doing something. Jaime Luna, the president, doesnt ever come talk to members. The only way you know hes there is if you see his truck in the parking lot. He never goes through the [hourly] employee entrance. Hell come in the front entrance, walk through the main office past all the supervisors, go to the union office and just hide there. Then hell sneak out the way he came in. Its basically the same with the other union reps. I call them his minions. You hardly ever see them. Theyre essentially working side-by-side with management. Our plant [in Portage] doesnt exist for them. We have no voice within our union. Every time we ask a question, were shut down. Its mindboggling. Were paying these union dues, and were not given receipts on anything the moneys being spent on. The UAW maintains an atmosphere of harassment, Steve continued, in an attempt to stifle and intimidate critically minded workers. Were getting yelled at, were getting chewed out. They dont want people who are vocal and who arent yes men. Theyre the ones breaking us down. Its nothing for us to be written up over little garbage. And the union will say, You dont have to sign anything. But heres the pen. Steve spoke derisively of Sherry Franciski-Dauksza, the vice president of Local 2335, who has attempted to claim that the WSWSs reporting is lies, while failing to point out any factual inaccuracies. Sherry butts heads with you on every little thing. Shell block you on Facebook if you ask a question. She goes on vacation whenever she wants. She just bought a new vehicle. And they keep telling us, Save your money, save your money. Dont live outside your means. Well, people need to survive. Describing the union officials hostility to workers needs and aspirations, he said, All theyre looking for is when theyre going to take their next trip or vacation, while were bleeding on the lines night in, night out. Over the past three days, weve had these little contract feedback meetings. And Lunas been saying, The deal is what it is. The company doesnt have money to give anything else. Whats there is there. Really? Are you saying the company really doesnt have any money? If we go on strike and shut down Ford, Lear is losing $10,000 a minute. Were the only ones who have our own back. Without us, these seats dont get made. We know what we want. When Luna posted this stuff about our families and my people getting a better wage, I was like, oh, yeah, Ill be able to afford a new car with this new contract...a Matchbox [toy] car and a new LEGO house. In the proposed deal, there wouldve been a $500 sign-on bonus. Well, after the luxury tax and the union dips their hand in, I think there wouldve been about only $180-200 left. You can spend that in a day, easily. There are several people who have to work two jobs. People are trying to provide for their families. We spend more nights at the plant than we do with our families. Its sad. Ive missed a lot of important events. Were constantly in a battle to make ends meet. I get about $385-400 a week, and I have to stretch that to the next payday and hope I have enough to eat and provide for my kid. This union is taking food out of my kids mouth, clothes off their back. Were struggling just to make it day to day. Steve rejected UAW officials attempts to slander the WSWS coverage of the struggle at Lear as lies. He said, You got it right in your article, its been a total media blackout. You guys are the only ones putting our voices out there. You have no idea how gratifying it is. I want to thank you for giving myself and others a voice, because without you fighting for the truth we have nothing. Asked about whether he thought workers should elect rank-and-file committees independent of the UAW, Steve agreed, saying, We do need an independent committee. If we have an independent group, people could come to us with their issues and to have a voice. If we dont do it, then theres nobody to turn to. The author also recommends: Indiana Lear auto parts workers overwhelmingly reject UAW-backed contract proposal [16 October 2018] The anti-Semitic massacre at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has raised the crisis of American politics and society to a new level. More and more, the conditions in the United States have the character of a civil war, in which the most backward and reactionary forces are being encouraged and promoted. Eleven people were killed in the slaughter in Pittsburgh, which occurred during religious services Saturday morning. Among the predominantly elderly victims were two brothers and a husband and wife, aged 84 and 86. Another victim was Rose Mallinger, 97. The shooter, Robert Bowers, has been charged with 11 counts of criminal homicide and 13 counts of ethnic intimidation. While the United States is no stranger to anti-Semitism, an act of mass violence targeting Jewish people on this scale is unprecedented. As one commenter in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz wrote, the illusion that this cant happen here has been shattered. American Jews will wake up the next day to a new and far more frightening future, knowing not only that it has happened here, but that the attack could portend similar assaults in the future. To understand the significance of this act it is necessary to place it not only in its domestic, but also its international and historical context. The attack is a direct product of the open appeals to fascist violence by the Trump administration. Bowers was evidently motivated by a combination of rabid anti-Semitism and anti-immigrant chauvinism. He posted comments on social media just prior to the attack linking his hatred of Jews to the efforts of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS), with which the Tree of Life synagogue is affiliated, to assist refugees fleeing Central America. HIAS likes to bring invaders in that kill our people, he wrote. I cant sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. The language he employed, including the use of invaders to refer to migrants fleeing poverty and violence in Central America caused by US imperialism, is that of the Trump administration. In a speech last week, Trump referred to the caravan of migrants heading for the US border as an assault on our country. He called it an invasion that threatened to destroy your neighborhoods, your hospitals, your schools. In remarks laden with anti-Semitic and fascistic tropes, Trump denounced those who want to turn the clock back and restore power to corrupt, power-hungry globalists The attack on in the synagogue follows the string of pipe bombs sent by a Trump supporter to prominent Democrats. Trump himself is a symptom, however, not an explanation. What brought Trump to power? The consequences of the financial crisis of 2008 and the pro-Wall Street policies of the Obama administration, which enabled the right wing to posture as defenders of the forgotten man. The impact of more than a quarter-century of unending war, 17 years under the banner of the war on terror. The turn by the ruling class and both Democrats and Republicans to ever more authoritarian forms of rule in response to growing resistance from the working class. While Trump seeks to cultivate an extra-parliamentary movement of the far-right, the Democrats promote the FBI, the CIA and the military as the guarantors of stability against those who sow divisions and discontent. The international context underscores the fact that far more is involved than simply the Trump administration. The growth of far-right and fascistic movements and governments is a global phenomenon. In the Philippines, it has produced Rodrigo Duterte, who has praised and helped organize vigilante death squads. In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a member of the fascistic RSS. As chief minister of Gujarat, he helped organize the 2002 riots that killed hundreds of Muslims. In Brazil, elections held yesterday elevated to power the far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro. Throughout Europe, far-right and fascistic parties have been systematically promoted by the ruling class. Particularly significant are the developments in Germany. In the country that produced Hitler and the most horrific crimes of the 20th century, including the slaughter of six million Jews in the Holocaust, fascism is once again a major political force. The fascistic Alternative for Germany (AfD) is the main opposition party, deliberately cultivated by the parties of the political establishment, the Christian Democrats and the Social Democrats, which have at every turn adapted to and embraced its anti-immigrant chauvinism. Last month, AfD head Alexander Gauland published a column in the leading newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung that paraphrased a speech by Hitler. The state, meanwhile, in alliance with the AfD, has moved to criminalize left-wing opposition to fascism. The significance of the rise of fascism in Germany has been almost entirely ignored by the American media, including the New York Times. The efforts of reactionary historians to rewrite German history and relativize the crimes of the Nazis have provoked no opposition from the liberal establishment, including a corrupt academia in the United States. The universality of this process is underscored by the fact that among those countries where fascism is on the rise is Israel itself. The hatred of Jews is a specific form of a virulent brand of nationalism that in Israel is expressed in state-sanctioned and organized violence against Palestinians. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who recently oversaw the passage of the Nation-State Law enshrining Jewish supremacy, has made common cause with far-right and fascistic forces in Europe, including Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Finally, the international growth of fascistic movements must be placed in its historical context. What is the significance of the reemergence of fascism, 85 years after the coming to power of Hitler and nearly 80 years after the outbreak of the Second World War? Today, approaching 30 years since the dissolution of the Soviet Union by the Stalinist bureaucracy, the essentially reactionary character of what transpired in 19891991 is exposed before the entire world. The fascist disease, which was somewhat in remission during the period following World War II, has powerfully reemerged. The end of the USSR produced not a flowering of democracy, as the propagandists of capitalism prophesied, but an explosion of inequality, imperialist war, authoritarianism and a revival of fascism. Fascism is a political expression of extreme capitalist crisis. Leon Trotsky explained in What is National Socialism? (1933) that with the rise of Nazism, capitalist society is puking up [its] undigested barbarism. Fascism, he wrote, is the most ruthless dictatorship of monopoly capital. So too today, capitalism is vomiting up its undigested barbarism. The most immediate targets are migrants and refugees who are fleeing the consequences of imperialist war and capitalist exploitation. In the United States, concentration camps have been erected on the US-Mexico border that are holding immigrantsincluding childrenunder the most barbaric conditions. In one of his last major writings, the Manifesto of the Fourth International on Imperialism and War, published in May 1940, Trotsky wrote: [D]ecaying capitalism is striving to squeeze the Jewish people from all its pores; seventeen million individuals out of the two billion populating the globe, that is, less than one percent, can no longer find a place on our planet! Amid the vast expanses of land and the marvels of technology, which has also conquered the skies for man as well as the earth, the bourgeoisie has managed to convert our planet into a foul prison. Such is the condition facing millions of immigrants today. As the massacre on Saturday has once again demonstrated, a period of political reaction and war is inevitably associated with the revival of anti-Semitism, one of the oldest forms of chauvinism. Among the illusions that must be dispelled is the notion that the existence of Israel is some sort of protection against anti-Jewish persecution and violence. The most fundamental target of right-wing reaction is the working class. Just as fascism arises out of capitalism, so does the class struggle. The development of the class struggle and the growing interest in socialism terrify the ruling class. Masses of workers are moving to the left, not the right. There is deep and growing hostility to social inequality and the preparations of the ruling class for war. It is a sign of the desperation of the ruling class that, at the first sign of social opposition, it calls forward fascist violence. In the 1930s, while fascist movements acquired a mass base, what made possible their ascension to power in Germany, Italy and Spain were the political conspiracies of the ruling elites. Today, the deliberate instigation of fascism from above is an even more dominant factor. Capitalism is again posing before mankind the alternatives: socialist revolution or capitalist barbarism. All the talk in the media about the need to restore civility and end divisive political rhetoric are empty platitudes that evade all the critical issues. What must be abolished is the capitalist system itself. Eighty years ago, in 1938, the Fourth International was founded to resolve the crisis of revolutionary leadership in the working class in response to the betrayals of Stalinism and Social Democracy. At the very center of the political program of the new international was an assimilation of the lessons of the victory of fascism in Germany in 1933, the greatest defeat of the working class in history. The most important lesson was the impossibility of fighting fascism except on the basis of a revolutionary socialist and internationalist program. As the horrors of the 1930s reemerge once more, this understanding must be brought into the working class through the building of a socialist leadership, the International Committee of the Fourth International and its sections in every country, such as the Socialist Equality Party in the United States, which connect the fight against fascism with opposition to inequality, war and the capitalist system. In a televised speech yesterday, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena attempted to justify his political coup last Friday, in which he unconstitutionally sacked Ranil Wickremesinghe as prime minister and installed former president Mahinda Rajapakse to replace him. The removal of Wickremesinghe signals a deepening of the countrys political crisis, which is being fuelled by a deteriorating economy and growing resistance to the IMFs austerity demands. The upheaval ends the unstable national unity government formed in 2015 when Sirisena defected from the Rajapakse government and, with the backing of Wickremesinghes United National Party (UNP), won the presidential election. The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), which has effectively been split into pro-Sirisena and pro-Rajapakse factions, has now reunified to back Sirisenas actions. The battle lines have now been drawn. Wickremesinghe has refused to accept his dismissal and has remained in Temple Trees, the prime ministerial residence. In response to his call for a sitting of parliament to prove his government still commands a majority, Sirisena has prorogued parliament until November 16. Rajapakse ally Wimal Weerawansa, who is notorious for his demagogy, yesterday issued an ultimatum to Wickremesinghe to leave Temple Trees and threatened to take action to oust him. Already one man is dead and two other were injured in a violent clash between pro-Rajapakse thugs and a former minister and his body guards. Sirisenas self-serving and cynical speech was to justify his anti-democratic actions, cover up the underlying reasons, and appeal to layers of the population who increasingly opposed the Wickremesinghes governments attacks on living standards. Sirisena accused Wickremesinghe of conduct that was unbecoming of civilised politics, saying he destroyed the concept and the noble expectations of good governance by his actions during the last few years. This, however, is the same pretext that he and Wickremesinghe used in 2015 to justify turning against Rajapakse whose government was responsible for the systematic abuse of democratic rights and war crimes in its war against the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Sirisena accused Wickremesinghe of corruption over a bond scam in which a finance company, Perpetual Treasuries, owned by the son-in-law of the newly-appointed Central Bank Governor, Arjuna Mahendran, a close confidante of Wickremesinghe, amassed a profit of at least 10 billion rupees ($US65 million) after receiving inside information. No charges have been laid against Wickremesinghe over the allegations. The president also again raised unsubstantiated claims of a strong plot to assassinate him, which involved an unnamed cabinet minister. Sirisena said that this supposed coup was the most proximate and powerful reason that made him appoint Rajapakse as prime minister, but provided no evidence. He denounced the Inspector General of Police, a close associate of Wickremesinghe, over the investigation into the supposed assassination plan. Sirisena cynically tried to pose as a man of the people, contrasting himself with Wickremesinghe who belonged to a privileged class and did not understand the pulse of the people and conducted themselves as if shaping the future of the country was a fun game they played. In reality, Sirisena, Wickremesinghe and Rajapakse are the political representatives of Sri Lankas venal ruling class that have trampled on the democratic and social rights of working people since formal independence in 1948. Successive UNP and SLFP-led governments have imposed the IMFs austerity agenda by slashing social spending and jobs, used police state measures to suppress opposition and whipped up Sinhala chauvinism to divide the working class. Both parties are directly responsible for the brutal communal war that devastated the island from 1983 to 2009. Sirisena claimed that his actions were totally in accordance with the constitution and on the advice of legal experts, but made no attempt to argue why that should be so. In coming to power in 2015, he promised to abolish the countrys executive presidency which has far reaching autocratic powers. In reality, the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government only amended these powers, but it did end the presidents ability to unilaterally sack a prime minister. Sirisena has now breached the constitution to remove Wickremesinghe. Sirisenas actions in arbitrarily suspending parliament are aimed at preventing Wickremesinghe demonstrating that he still has a majority, and buying time to bribe or bully MPs to switch sides. Colombo politicians are well-known for their opportunistic cross-overs. Rajapakse yesterday promised to hold fresh elections as soon as possible, but there is no guarantee that the regime will hold elections anytime soon, or at all. The president ended his speech by posturing as a patriotdemagogy that is aimed at appealing to extreme right-wing, Sinhala chauvinist groups that have been condemning the Wickremesinghe government for selling off the country. In the last few years, he declared, the economic policy relied on foreign investments, and that weakened our local industries. Sirisena declared: Many valuable assets were given to foreigners without tenders. Construction awards were also given without tenders, and continued: 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. These condemnations carry distinct chauvinist overtones. Much of the criticisms of Rajapakse and his allies against the government has been directed at India and thus indirectly at the islands Tamil minority, who are often branded by extreme nationalists as agents of Indian expansionism. Colombo politicians have long used anti-Tamil chauvinism to divide working people and it is no accident that such a campaign is being whipped up now amid a sharp increase in strikes and protests over deteriorating living standards. The anti-Indian rhetoric also plays into intensifying geo-political rivalries in South Asia between China on the one hand, and the US and India on the other. The US orchestrated the 2015 regime change operation that enabled Sirisena to oust Rajapakse, who was regarded as too close to China. The Trump administration as it ratchets up its trade war measures and confrontation with China is unlikely to passively accept the establishment of what it regards as a pro-Beijing government in strategically placed Sri Lanka. The behind-the-scenes manoeuvring will only intensify, further compounding the political crisis in Colombo. Sirisena is due to swear in Rajapakses new cabinet today. On Saturday, the presidential secretariat notified all department heads, chairmen of the state corporations, statutory boards and state banks that the tenure of the ministers of the previous government had ended. Senior UNP leaders have called for people to take to the streets to oppose the ousting of the government in protests that could lead to further clashes with pro-Rajapakse forces. None of the establishment parties defends the interests of the working class and the poor. The new regime, like the previous government, will seek to impose the burden of the economic crisis on working people and ruthlessly suppress any opposition. The working class must chart its own independent path in this political crisis by rejecting both wings of the ruling class and their divisive chauvinist politics, and mobilising the urban and rural poor in the fight for a workers and peasants government to carry out socialist policies. Tens of thousands of teachers marched in Glasgow, Scotland, on Saturday to demand higher pay and reject a derisory final pay offer of 3 percent from employers for the year 2018-2019. Members of the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) are demanding a pay rise of at least 10 percent in response to their remuneration falling by nearly a quarter over the past decade of austerity measures imposed by the Scottish National Party (SNP) administration in Scotland. For the past seven years, teachers in the United Kingdom have been subjected to a 1 percent maximum pay rise cap fixed by the governmentwith the cap only being scrapped this year in Scotland. The demonstration was far larger than the EIS anticipated, showing the desire of teachers internationally to fight back against decades of pay cuts. The march won the support of not only teachers but also that of parents and their families. Protesters marched from the citys Kelvingrove Park to George Square. So large was the march that as the first marchers arrived in George Square, others were still waiting to set off from Kelvingrove, over two miles away. The march took place despite the systematic suppression of the teachers fight by the unions. In March, EIS members voted to throw out the 3 percent pay offer and gave the union leaders a mandate to call industrial action. This took place as thousands of teachers in unions across the UK and internationally simultaneously voted to strike over pay and pensions. In the UK, teachers at conferences of the National Education Union (NEU) and the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) voted during this time to walk out. In the seven months since, the unions have done nothing but suppress these demands. The EIS, opposed to a fight to mobilise teachers and other education staff, instead launched a petition writing campaign aimed at persuading Scottish MPs to back a 10 percent pay deal. The petition gave 10 reasons why MPs should support a pay increase, with the fourth being an indictment of the unions, which have collaborated in forcing teachers to increase productivity for less pay. It states, Scotlands teachers have delivered. Despite cuts in teacher numbers and resources, teachers have gone the extra mile to protect pupils at a time of significant curricular change and new qualifications. Workload and stress have soared whilst pay has been declining. Teachers are delivering more, for less. After 25,000 signatures were delivered to SNP Education Secretary John Swinneys office, EIS President Alison Thornton reiterated that the main aim of the union was to prevent the eruption of industrial action. We are happy to hand over our postcards here today and these will provide Mr [sic] Swinney with plenty of reading material for the summer period. Whilst it is unfortunate that the Deputy First Minister was unable to accept the cards personally today, we will be taking him up on his offer to meet with us in the near future to discuss the pay campaign. The EIS remains committed to seeking a negotiated solution in order to remove any prospect of a formal dispute and would urge the Scottish Government and local authorities to return to the negotiating table with a substantially improved pay offer in the next round of talks. The suppression of the independent struggle of teachers is at the heart of why the EIS called Saturdays demonstration. It was timed to coincide with yet another ballot initiative they have called on the same 3 percent offer already rejected in March. The ballot opens on October 30 and will close on November 20, with nothing being organised against the attacks for the entire duration of the vote. While the EIS is calling on members to reject the offer, it is using the anger of teachers as a bargaining chip for more negotiations with the employers, with their objective to impose another sellout deal. The ballot paper makes no reference to strikes or any action being organised in the event of another vote to reject the offer. Prior to the demo, EIS General Secretary Larry Flanagan said, Thousands of Scottish teachers will march through the streets of Glasgow to send a clear message to the Scottish Government and COSLA [Convention of Scottish Local Authorities] that they must improve their pay offer to teachers. The demobilisation of teachers is taking place through the unions and leading figures of all the main parties, including the governing Scottish National Party. Also speaking at the rally was Scottish Trades Union Congress president Lynn Henderson, Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard, SNP MP Chris Stephens, Carole Ford for the Scottish Liberal Democrats, Scottish Greens education spokesman and MSP Ross Greer, and Liam McCabe from the National Union of Students. Leonard, who is a supporter of Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, offered no alternative for teachers, instead calling on them to rely on the good graces of the SNPwhich is insistent on continuing budget cuts. Its time for Mr. Swinney to put a fair pay deal on the table to provide teachers with the respect and due recognition they deserve, Leonard bombastically declared. In a statement, Swinney claimed that teachers would receive a larger pay deal of between 5 and 18 percent, but this was based on the conflating of a low pay increase with incremental pay that teachers were due to receive anyway. Not only are the unions ensuring that the struggles of education workers are isolated from one another; everything is being done to prevent a unified offensive of public sector workers who are facing a common assault on their pay, terms and conditions. Teachers in Glasgow demonstrated just days after around 6,000 mostly female local government workers took strike action in pursuit of equal pay. They were supported by many of their male co-workers who refused to cross picket lines in solidarity. The male workers, including every refuse worker in Glasgow, walked out in support even as the SNP government threatened them with the use of the Conservative governments anti-strike laws. OCALA, Fla. (AP) - A Florida man who plotted to blow up Target stores along the East Coast has been sentenced to 40 years in federal prison. Authorities said Mark Charles Barnett of Ocala thought the explosions would cause the company's stock to plunge, allowing him to cheaply acquire shares. Court records show Barnett was sentenced earlier this month in federal court in Ocala. The 50-year-old was convicted in July of attempted arson, possession of an unregistered firearm and making an unregistered firearm. Barnett was arrested in February 2017 after he offered to pay another man $10,000 to place at least 10 "improvised explosive bombs" disguised in food-item packaging on store shelves from New York to Florida. The man instead gave the devices to federal agents. Barnett also is a registered sex offender. (Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Authorities say a 7-year-old Florida girl shot herself in the arm after finding a gun under a cushion on her living room couch. According to a Boynton Beach Police report, 25-year-old Travonte Leslie put his gun under the cushion before sleeping on the couch Thursday night. Leslie told detectives he had loaded the gun with an empty magazine before replacing it under the cushion Friday afternoon. The police report says Leslie was sitting outside and the girl's mother was in the bathroom when they heard a gunshot. Leslie was held Saturday without bond on a charge of neglect of a child causing great bodily harm. Palm Beach County jail records did not show whether he had an attorney. The police report said the girl needed surgery for the gunshot injury to her left arm. (Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Florida A&M University (FAMU) has been selected to receive a grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), to establish a center that will address cancer health equity in Black and Latino populations. FAMU will receive a five-year, $16 million partnership grant from NCI, a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to establish a center that will address cancer health equity in Black and Latino populations, while also providing cancer research, education and training experiences. The grant is led by two FAMU scientists, Renee Reams, Ph.D., and Kinfe Ken Redda, Ph.D. The project is the first of its kind that allows parallel collaboration from multiple principal investigators from other universities, also known as a Triad Partnership. Institutions partnering with FAMU include the University of Florida and the University of Southern California. The grant will also support efforts for FAMU to provide research-training opportunities for underrepresented undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and early-stage investigators (ESI) and will promote their individual research and career development. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - In Tallahassee, many people are reflecting on the tragedy at the Pittsburgh synagogue. WTXL ABC 27's Jada Williams joins was live Monday morning from Temple Israel with reaction from synagogues in our community. Temple Israel is opening their doors up Monday for a special service following the shooting in Pennsylvania. Rabbi Jack Romberg from Temple Israel says the special service will honor the memories of the victims, stand together against all bigotry, and pray for our Jewish brothers and sisters. And another synagogue in town is being reminded of their own brush with tragedy. Congregation Shomrei Torah was targeted two years ago when it received anonymous hate mail. President Monte Finkelstein says t hat anti-Semitism is alive and well and that the shooting in Pittsburgh is an example of what he calls "growing hatred and division" in society, but that shouldn't be enough to lose faith. "We have to go on," he said. "You cannot let people like this alter your behavior and stifle you in your beliefs, and I was very proud of my synagogue and the parents for bringing their kids and coming through the doors." The synagogue had a deputy on patrol Sunday morning during religious classes. Finkelstein said most of the students came to class. Back here at Temple Israel, the service will begin Monday at 6:30 p.m. Anyone, regardless of religion, is welcome to join. According to the North Port Police Department, one of the victims woke up his wife as they heard banging against the house with a shovel. The woman saw her lanai had been ransacked and a glass table overturned. VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) - Police are investigating after someone fired shots into the Volusia County Republican Headquarters, according to WFTV. WFTV reports a that South Daytona police are investigating. Police told WFTV that at least four bullets went through the main windows of the building. Volusia County Republican chair talks about someone shooting the Republican HQ office #breaking pic.twitter.com/QuAEAVZsCA Mike Springer WFTV (@mspringerwftv) October 29, 2018 No one was hurt. Gov. Rick Scott has commented on the incident, saying he's glad everyone is okay. Glad everyone at the Volusia County Republican headquarters is okay and that no one was inside when the shooting happened. Violence of any kind does not belong in our state and I appreciate law enforcement's quick response to keep these Floridians safe.https://t.co/s2L2p6xtbN Rick Scott (@ScottforFlorida) October 29, 2018 This is a developing story. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Floridians will still need to set their clocks back one hour on November 4, despite Gov. Rick Scott signing a bill that would allow the entire state to remain in Daylight Saving Time year-round. Whether or not Floridians do that depends on Congress, whose approval is needed to change federal law. Congress is not expected to vote any time soon on a proposed change that would let Florida stay on Daylight Saving Time year-round. As a result, Floridians will need to turn back their clocks on November 4. Most states begin Daylight Saving Time on the second Sunday in March, the 11th, and it runs until the first Sunday in November, which in 2018, is the 4th. The Florida Legislature passed the "Sunshine Protection Act" to keep DST permanently. Gov. Rick Scott signed the bill over opponents of the bill, who include the Florida Parent Teacher Association. That group opposes permanent DST because it would stay dark while children commute to school. U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., has also filed a bill to make DST permanent for Florida and the nation. Rubio cited benefits of making DST permanent, including these four: Benefits the economy, including the elimination of a substantial economic decline that comes every November when clocks move back. Benefits the agricultural economy, which is disproportionately disrupted by biannual changes in time by upsetting farm schedules and farmers relationships with their supply chain and distribution partners. Reduces the number of robberies by 27 percent, according to a 2015 Brookings Institution report, because of additional daylight in the evenings. Reduces car crashes and car wrecks involving pedestrians because the additional sunlight increased visibility, according to the American Journal of Public Health and the Journal of Safety Research. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-28 23:49:51|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close COLOMBO, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Sunday called on all legislators to work together and join his new government amidst a severe political crisis ongoing in the island country. In an address to the nation, days after he sacked his Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and appointed former President Mahinda Rajapakse to the post, Sirisena said he invited all 225 members of parliament to join the new government with the intention to take 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," Sirisena said. He further said his decision to sack Wickremesinghe and appoint Rajapakse was not illegal and 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," the president said in the hour-long speech which was telecasted on local television channels. Sirisena further said that within the last three and a half years there was a policy and cultural conflict between Wickremesinghe and him which aggravated the present political and economic crisis. He further blamed Wickremesinghe for destroying the principles of good governance. Sirisena selected Rajapakse as the nation's new premier last Friday, in a move Wickremesinghe said was illegal as he still enjoyed a majority in parliament. Wickremesinghe has since then called for parliament to convene to prove his majority. A new caretaker government is expected to be sworn in on Monday. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 02:55:23|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close TEHRAN, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Iran's First Vice President Es'haq Jahangiri said Sunday that Iran is prepared to frustrate U.S. Nov. 4 sanctions on its crude exports. The Iranian government has prepared plans to counter the impacts of returning U.S. sanctions by maintaining oil exports above one million barrels per day, Jahangiri was quoted as saying by Press TV. "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 emphasized that Iran's exports should not decline below one million barrels per day." Earlier in October, Jahangiri said that the United States 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 U.S. 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 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. The U.S. State Department has set Nov. 4 as the deadline for international oil buyers to stop all their oil purchases from Iran. Otherwise they will face U.S. punishments. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 04:10:34|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close PRAGUE, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Czech celebrated the centenary of Czechoslovakia's establishment on the occasion of the national holiday on Sunday. Czech President Milos Zeman, Slovak President Andrej Kiska, Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis, Slovak Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini, army commanders and veterans attended the commemorating ceremony at the National Monument in Prague. Over 2,100 soldiers, including professional soldiers from the country's elite units, police officers, firemen and emergency crews, took part in the march on the Evropska Street in Prague, displaying the latest military technology. Representatives of some NATO militaries also participated in the parade. Zeman opened the military parade with a brief speech. He said the Czech military was now an army of a free society that fulfils its international commitments by a fight against terrorism. Zeman said the parade demonstrates the readiness of the Czech military to protect national interests and the interests of security of all citizens. About 1,500 guests, including U.S. Secretary of Defence James Mattis, also watched the parade. Sunday's military parade was the biggest in the country's modern history. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 07:11:02|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. charity foundation dedicated to eye care and health has granted 2 million U.S. dollars to set up a permanent fund to advance childhood eye disease research, the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) said on Sunday. The fund from the Knights Templar Eye Foundation (KTEF), a charity organization established in 1955 committed to researching, education and care of vision health, will be used to support the study on rare and common eye diseases affecting children, the San Francisco-based AAO said. "This grant is an extraordinary gift for ophthalmology ... it will build upon the strengths of the world's largest clinical data registry to drive insights on children's eye health," said David Parke II, CEO for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. The clinical data bank, the Intelligent Research in Sight (IRIS) Registry developed by the AAO, will help support the fund's projects on eye disease research and care by facilitating ophthalmologists to effectively improve their practices and their patients' lives. The AAO said the IRIS Registry that collects data on 50 million patients in just four years has already improved the quality of eye care for adult patients. The fund will enable the AAO's IRIS Registry team to enhance the capture of data collected on pediatric patients and provide better approaches to eye disease prevention and treatment. The KTEF, sponsored by the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar, a Masonic fraternal organization, and committed to reducing childhood blindness, has since 1955 provided more than 25 million dollars in grants for researchers working in pediatric ophthalmology and ophthalmic genetics. It gave the AAO 1 million dollars in 2015 to create an online resource tool to educate pediatric ophthalmologists around the world. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 07:31:20|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close The U.S. flag is seen at half-staff at the Capitol Hill in Washington D.C., the United States, Oct. 28, 2018. 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 shooting victims at a Pittsburgh synagogue. At least 11 people were killed and six others injured after a gunman opened fire Saturday morning inside a synagogue in Pittsburgh, U.S. state of Pennsylvania. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 09:46:23|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close SYDNEY, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- The New South Wales (NSW) government in Australia is urging classrooms across the state to take a greener approach to infrastructure and design. Launching the Environmental Design in Schools Guide at the inaugural School Infrastructure NSW Sustainability Forum in Sydney on Monday, the initiative aims to combine all aspects of infrastructure, design and the education sector, to create classrooms more in harmony with their environment. According to NSW Education Minister Rob Stokes, the move is not only targeted to improve sustainability and reduce cost, but also focused on helping children learn. "Sustainable design is not only great for the environment, but can also improve teaching and learning outcomes and help frame the way that students think about the environment," he said. "Small changes to a school's design and operations to make it more environmentally friendly can also drive down maintenance costs, so there's a benefit to the bottom line too." For example, internal figures from the guide indicate that students felt more energized when given greater exposure to natural light, translating into a 20 percent rise in mathematics performance and a 26 percent increase in reading ability. "Simple strategies such as opening windows on both sides of a classroom can also improve comfort levels, by encouraging air flow and pushing hotter air outside," NSW Acting Government Architect Olivia Hyde explained. "Outside we can provide trees to reduce playground temperature and also offer more shaded areas for student play and learning." Part of a 6-billion-Australian dollar (4.25 billion U.S. dollars) plan to upgrade 170 schools across the state over the next four years, there have already been a number of inroads made to reduce the cost of electricity. Around 40,000 solar panels have been installed on the roofs of 1,432 schools, with 50,000 energy-saving LED lights also put in to further reduce emissions. "We have heard from principals and school communities that they are keen to make a difference and this new resource will offer ideas for making sustainable changes in the building or running of their school," Stokes said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 10:16:32|Editor: Lu Hui Video Player Close CANBERRA, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison's approval rating has fallen into negative territory for the first time since he took office in August. According to the latest Newspoll, which was published on Sunday night, Morrison's approval rating fell four points to 41 percent while his disapproval rating rose to 44 percent, equating in a net approval rating of negative three. It marks the first time that more voters have disapproved of Morrison than approve since he deposed Malcolm Turnbull as leader of the governing Liberal-National Party Coalition (LNP) in late August. Turnbull's downfall came with the LNP trailing the opposition Australian Labor Party (ALP) 49-51 on a two-party preferred basis and set for an election defeat. However, the most recent Newspoll had the LNP trailing the ALP by 46 to 54 and facing a landslide defeat at the election, which is due to take place in May 2019. The LNP's primary vote rate was 36 percent, Newspoll, found, down 1 percent from mid-October but up from the record-low 33 percent recorded in the immediate aftermath of Turnbull's demise. The LNP received 42 percent of primary votes in the 2016 election, in which it won a one-seat majority, while the ALP's primary vote rate is up 5 percent from the 34 percent it received in 2016. If the LNP fails to make up any ground on the ALP before the 2019 election, it could lose as many as a third of its seats in the House of Representatives, eight of which are held by ministers in Morrison's government. The poll was taken after the government lost a by-election in Turnbull's former seat in Wentworth, leaving it without a majority in the House of Representatives. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 11:06:44|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close Presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro waves to his supporters as he leaves a polling station in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Oct. 28, 2018. Right-wing candidate Jair Bolsonaro won Brazil's presidential run-off on Sunday. (Xinhua/Li Ming) RIO DE JANEIRO, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's right-wing candidate Jair Bolsonaro of the Social Liberal Party won the country's presidential run-off on Sunday, according to Brazil's Superior Electoral Court (TSE). At a press conference, TSE President Rosa Weber announced that with 99.99 percent of the ballot boxes counted, Bolsonaro won 55.13 percent of the valid votes, compared with 44.87 percent for his rival Fernando Haddad of the left-leaning Workers' Party. The elections proceeded with "absolute normality," said Weber, who thanked an observer mission from the Organization of American States led by Costa Rican former President Laura Chinchilla and other electoral authorities. Supreme Federal Court President Antonio Dias Toffoli, who was also present at the press conference, hailed the substantial turnout at the polls. "In spite of being en election that divided society, divided families and divided friends ... the Brazilian nation peacefully went to the polls and participated once again in the renewal of the democracy," said Toffoli. In a videotaped message posted on Facebook from his residence in Rio de Janeiro, Bolsonaro pledged to deliver on every promise made during his campaign, saying "all of the commitments made will be fulfilled." "We ran a campaign that was different from the others," the former military captain said. Bolsonaro, 63, said he planned to govern "following the teachings of God, alongside the Brazilian constitution and with good technical advice, without political leanings." "We are going to change Brazil's destiny," he said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 11:11:48|Editor: Lu Hui Video Player Close JAKARTA, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- A passenger plane of Indonesia's Lion Air crashed shortly after taking off from Jakarta international airport on Monday, local media quoted the country's search and rescue agency as saying. Yusuf Latif from Basarnas, the national search and rescue agency, was quoted as saying that the JT 610 bound for Pangkal Pinang has crashed. Meanwhile, spokesman of the transport ministry Bambang Ervan told Xinhua over phone that the plane has lost contact in western parts of Indonesia. The number of passengers and crew onboard the Boeing 737 aircraft is not immediately known. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 12:01:57|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close JAKARTA, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- A passenger plane of Indonesia's Lion Air with 189 people aboard crashed into the sea off Karawang of Indonesia's West Java province shortly after taking off from Jakarta Monday, head of the national Search and Rescue Office M. Syaugi said. Rescuers have found the wreckage of the plane with flight number JT 610 in a location about 2 nautical miles from Jakarta, Syaugi said. "We have found wreckage of the plane, we saw handphone and bags," he told a press conference at his office. The wreckage was spotted in the waters with an average depth between 30 meters and 35 meters, said Syaugi. Rescuers were heading to the location for search and rescue operation, he said. The Boeing 737 Max 8 plane took off from Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta international airport at around 6:10 a.m. local time (2310 GMT) and was bound for Pangkal Pinang, spokesman of the Transport Ministry Bambang Ervan said. "The plane had requested the air traffic control to return to base before disappearing from radar," Ervan told Xinhua by phone. A total of 178 out of the 189 people onboard were passengers, including one child and two babies, he said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 12:22:00|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close HANOI, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam welcomed roughly 4.2 million Chinese visitors in the first 10 months of this year, or 32.6 percent of the total international arrivals, posting a year-on-year rise of 28.8 percent, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism said on Monday. Meanwhile, Vietnam hosted a total of more than 12.8 million international arrivals, up 22.4 percent on-year, with the highest growth of 48.3 percent in the number of visitors from South Korea, tailed by Finland, up 33.3 percent, and China, up 28.8 percent. Of the foreign visitors in the first 10 months of this year, nearly 10.4 million came to Vietnam by air, up 26.7 percent; roughly 2.3 million by road, up 62.5 percent; and 200,100 by sea, down 2.3 percent. Meanwhile, roughly 10 million visitors were from Asia, up 26.5 percent; nearly 1.7 million from Europe, up 9.8 percent; 754,200 from the Americas, mainly from the United States, up 12.4 percent; 372,600 from Oceania, up 5.7 percent, and 34,800 from Africa, up 19.7 percent. Between January and October, Vietnam also welcomed 67.9 million domestic tourists. The country plans to receive some 16 million foreign visitors and 78 million domestic ones, and gain tourism revenues of 27.5 billion U.S. dollars in 2018, said the administration. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 12:52:09|Editor: Lu Hui Video Player Close SYDNEY, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- More than 1,000 bottles of fake blood have been seized in Australia's Victoria state capital Melbourne as part of a major crackdown on Halloween cosmetic products that did not meet safety and industry standards, authorities said Monday. Inspectors from Consumer Affairs Victoria confiscated the "potentially harmful" blood and other items including makeup kits and face paint during six visits to wholesale and retail premises across the city's southeast suburbs, the government's consumer affairs regulator said in a statement. The Halloween items were seized because their ingredients were not listed in line with the Australian cosmetics labelling standard, it said. The annual celebration, which falls on Oct. 31, sees many revelers putting on "scary" costumes and makeup. "These product seizures will help ensure that Halloween remains fun for all Victorians," said the agency's director Simon Cohen. "Ingredient labelling helps parents spot any ingredients that their children may be allergic to, or to more easily identify the cause if a reaction occurs." The fake blood and other items are being subject to a product recall and investigations are ongoing, according to the agency. Under Australian consumer laws, a supplier who fails to comply with a mandatory safety standard can face fines of up to 220,000 Australian dollars (156,120 U.S. dollars) for individuals and 1.1 million Australian dollars (780,600 U.S. dollars) for a business. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 13:02:13|Editor: Yang Yi Video Player Close NEW YORK, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese tech giant Tencent's latest initiative to promote traditional Chinese culture among its product users won wide acclaim among U.S. culture and art professionals at a New York forum Sunday. Sharing a number of innovative moves that successfully incorporated Chinese traditional elements into its products, Cheng Wu, vice president of Tencent said: "We believe that innovation is the best way to preserve our traditional culture," Cheng said during the China-U.S. Cultural Investment Forum. Tencent has introduced product skins featuring Chinese cultural heritages such as Kunqu opera and Dunhuang Feitian for its users when playing the world popular mobile game, Honor of Kings, said Cheng. "The extension of the content based in tradition is very laudatory and extraordinary," said Joseph V. Melillo, executive producer of Brooklyn Academy of Music at the forum. "Hopefully those young people will move on to actually see ... live performance of what they are experiencing as digital viewers." In September, QQ Music, Tencent's music streaming tool, and Dunhuang Academy, organized in collaboration an outdoor concert by the caves to "revive" the music side of the oasis city of Dunhuang. Jay A. Levenson, director of International Program at the Museum of Modern Art, was amazed at the technology's ability to "bring in audience that ordinarily might not be interested in this type of culture." Meanwhile, Tencent has also co-organized with the Palace Museum and launched programs to get more people involved, including an annual competition of digital product design with elements from the Forbidden City as well as a Mini Program to facilitate visitors to tour around it. "The popularity of the digital forms of traditional culture among young people will not only help with the success of digital platforms, but also sustain and enrich traditional culture itself," Cheng noted. David E. Van Zandt, president of The New School, told Xinhua that there is a great need for tech companies to help bring culture to more people because historically cultural items have always been limited to a small number of people in any society. "Tencent's ... commitment to trying to use their technology to enhance cultural understanding within China -- and I hope also outside of China -- at some point strikes me as an amazing project," he added. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 13:12:14|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close BERLIN, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- A German film maker started a 1,400-km walk from Paris to Berlin on Saturday to call on lawmakers to give homes to unaccompanied children at refugee camps in Europe. Grig Richters, who summarized his purpose as "to raise awareness about their situations and to get the EU leaders to listen and to give these children the home they deserve," started his walk at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris on Saturday morning. According to his plan, he will arrive at his destination, Berlin's Brandenburg Gate on Dec. 1. "We need to show the world that we care about one another, and that we do not tolerate hate and what better way to show this than to march in peace between two of Europe's historical capitals?" he said. On his website imarchforyou.org, Richters also called on people to march with him and sign a petition, which urges the European Union to rehome those unaccompanied children in refugee camps. "I am already in touch with dozens of foster families who would give these children a home but the legal framework won't let them. If we all stand together and raise awareness about their situations then we can make a real change," Richters said in the petition. During his walk, Richters will march through France, Belgium and Germany, meeting supporters in 27 cities. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 13:32:18|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close Presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro waves to his supporters as he leaves a polling station in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Oct. 28, 2018. Right-wing candidate Jair Bolsonaro won Brazil's presidential run-off on Sunday. (Xinhua/Li Ming) RIO DE JANEIRO, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's right-wing candidate Jair Bolsonaro of the Social Liberal Party won the country's presidential run-off on Sunday, according to Brazil's Superior Electoral Court (TSE). At a press conference, TSE President Rosa Weber announced that with 99.99 percent of the ballot boxes counted, Bolsonaro won 55.13 percent of the valid votes, compared with 44.87 percent for his rival Fernando Haddad of the left-leaning Workers' Party. The elections proceeded with "absolute normality," said Weber, who thanked an observer mission from the Organization of American States led by Costa Rican former President Laura Chinchilla, and other electoral authorities. She also recognized the work of the media, saying "without a free press, there is no democracy." Antonio Dias Toffoli, president of the Supreme Federal Court, hailed on the same occasion the substantial turnout at the polls. "In spite of being en election that divided society, divided families and divided friends ... the Brazilian nation peacefully went to the polls and participated once again in the renewal of the democracy," said Toffoli. In a videotaped message posted on Facebook from his residence in Rio de Janeiro, Bolsonaro pledged to deliver on every promise made during his campaign, saying "all of the commitments made will be fulfilled." "We ran a campaign that was different from the others," the former military captain said. Bolsonaro, 63, said he planned to govern "following the teachings of God, alongside the Brazilian constitution and with good technical advice, without political leanings." "We are going to change Brazil's destiny," he said. Meanwhile, in his concession speech, Haddad pledged to continue to fight for "national sovereignty and democracy" in Brazil, saying that Bolsonaro's win jeopardized basic freedoms. "What is at stake are civil, labor and social rights. We have the huge task of defending them," said Haddad. With some 21 percent abstention, nearly 10 percent of the votes were either left blank or nullified, according to the TSE. "Perhaps never before" has it been so necessary for the Brazilians to exercise their rights as citizens to defend democratic institutions, said Haddad. Following the release of the official results, Brazilian President Michel Temer congratulated Bolsonaro in a telephone call, saying that Bolsonaro's government would be marked by "peace and harmony." "I firmly believe, as the president-elect was able to declare, that he will make a government of much peace and harmony, which is what our country most needs," said Temer. "He very much thanked the phone call and said he will continue to work towards pacification," Temer told reporters at his residence. The transition of power will begin on Monday at the cultural center of the Bank of Brazil, which is close to the presidential headquarters in Brasilia, said Temer. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 13:37:18|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close NEW DELHI, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- At least three persons were run over by a speeding train in the Indian capital New Delhi, railways officials said Monday. "Three persons trespassing the tracks were run over by Train no 12446 Bikaner-Delhi express near Nangloi Railway station," a spokesperson for Northern Railways tweeted. The state-owned Indian Railways is planning to put fencing along all train tracks in the wake of the accident earlier this month when 61 were killed in the northern state of Punjab after a train ran into a crowd. According to railways data, some 50,000 people died in India after being mowed down by trains while crossing tracks between 2015 and 2017. The Indian Railways considers anyone coming to train tracks as a trespasser. The Indian Railways is one of the world's largest train networks, criss-crossing the country from north to south. It operates 9,000 passenger trains and carries 23 million people daily. However, train disasters are common in India as much of the colonial-era rail infrastructure is out of date. In 2015, the Indian government pledged 137 billion U.S. dollars over five years to modernize and expand the railways. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 13:37:18|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close KABUL, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- A blast, obviously a suicide bombing, rocked near the headquarters of election commission in the eastern edge of Kabul, capital of Afghanistan on Monday, injuring at least six people, police spokesman Basir Majahid said. According to Majahid, the victims included four election commission employees and two police personnel. He also noted that an investigation was underway and more details would be made public. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 14:32:35|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close SEOUL, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- South Korea has been making efforts to declare an official end to the 1950-53 Korean War within this year, the country's unification minister said Monday. Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon made the remark during a parliamentary audit of the government ministries, saying Seoul has been making efforts to achieve the goal of making the war-ending declaration within this year. Cho added that there was a possibility for the achievement "at this moment." South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), agreed at their first summit in April to seek an official end to the Korean War. The Korean Peninsula remains in a technical state of war as the three-year war ended with an armistice. Seoul has been pushing to replace the armistice with a peace treaty. The United States has been reluctant to make the war-ending declaration, which Seoul sees as a political declaration, citing what it claimed was the lack of progress in denuclearization talks. Asked about whether the DPRK leader could visit Seoul within this year, the unification minister said, "Yes." After their third summit in Pyongyang last month, Kim agreed with Moon to visit the South Korean capital city at an early date. Moon has said the visit could be possible by the end of this year. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 14:47:37|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close NEW DELHI, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte will be on a two-day official visit to India beginning Monday, confirmed the sources from the Indian ministry of external affairs. Conte will arrive in New Delhi late on Monday evening, and hold one-to-one meeting with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on Tuesday. During his stay in the Indian capital, the Italian prime minister will also address the valedictory session of the India-Italy Technology Summit on Tuesday. Organized by the Confederation of the Indian Industry (CII), this would be the 24th edition of the technology summit to be attended by a large Italian delegation led by Prime Minister Conte and his cabinet ministers. The CII recognized the importance of technology 23 years back and organized the first such technology summit and technology platform in 1995 to facilitate global technology collaboration. After a few successful yearly summits, the CII got the privilege of having the India government's Department of Science and Technology as the partner since 2004. According to CII sources, the annual India-Italy Technology Summit benefits immensely the Indian industry and academic and research institutions in forging collaborations with global partners, including policy making that triggered private sector's investment in research and development and technology significantly. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 14:57:40|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close HAVANA, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel on Sunday night acknowledged the island's national ballet and its founders, Alicia, Fernando and Alberto Alonso, for their "fruitful" and "immense" work in shaping the nation's culture. Diaz-Canel, along with other government leaders, inaugurated the 26th Havana International Ballet Festival "Alicia Alonso," where he praised the "altruism" of the founders of Cuba's National Ballet (BNC). He thanked the founders for being not only "great artists," but also "great Cubans," saying: "Thanks to the National Ballet for your immense work, your unsurpassed prestige and your loyal love for what we are: Cuba." With a tribute to the legendary prima ballerina, the Cuban leader's speech and the inaugural gala signified the start of the most important cultural events in the Caribbean nation, which opened on Oct. 28 and runs through Nov. 6. Alicia Alonso, who is going to be 98 years old, was absent due to health problems. The Cuban head of state reiterated the government's support for the distinguished classical dance institution, which contributes to the national culture. Founded in 1948, the company has become one of the most famous of its kind with renowned artists who have been acclaimed by critics, professionals and audiences from all over the world. "The 70 years of feats and glories of our ballet have inspired and will continue to inspire generations of Cubans who grew up attending ballet performances for free or with symbolic prices, which in other parts of the world only the elites can access," he added. The BNC was declared "Cultural Patrimony of the Nation" in July, a fact that Diaz-Canel said generates pride and "covers with glory" not only the dance group, but also the country. "The National Ballet and its biennial festival are an elevated expression of the culture we are," Diaz-Canel said. "For that reason, there is no art on our island that has been able to ignore the greatness of our ballet." The event, launched in 1960 by Alicia Alonso and institutionalized since 1974 on a biannual basis, is one of the oldest and most famous in the world of dance. The largest number of foreign dancers at the festival, namely 21, come from U.S. companies, such as the American Ballet Theater, New York City Ballet and dance groups from Washington and Pennsylvania. They will perform in five theaters of the Cuban capital along with 23 well-known ballet ensembles from Britain, Russia, Australia, Norway, France, Germany, Italy, Austria, Argentina, Spain, Mexico, Canada and Peru. More than 25 performances, including special galas for the 70th anniversary of the founding of the BNC, will be the main attractions of the event. Throughout these 58 years of history, dancers from 61 countries of the five continents have performed in Havana while 80 foreign companies have been represented at the festival. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 15:07:44|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close SEOUL, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- South Korea has been making efforts to declare an official end to the 1950-53 Korean War within this year, the country's unification minister said Monday. Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon made the remark during a parliamentary audit of the government ministries, saying Seoul has been making efforts to achieve the goal of making the war-ending declaration within this year. Cho added that there was a possibility for the achievement "at this moment." South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), agreed at their first summit in April to seek an official end to the Korean War. The Korean Peninsula remains in a technical state of war as the three-year war ended with an armistice. Seoul has been pushing to replace the armistice with a peace treaty. The United States has been reluctant to make the war-ending declaration, which Seoul sees as a political declaration, citing what it claimed was the lack of progress in denuclearization talks. Asked about whether the DPRK leader could visit Seoul within this year, the unification minister said, "Yes." After their third summit in Pyongyang last month, Kim agreed with Moon to visit the South Korean capital city at an early date. Moon has said the visit could be possible by the end of this year. Meanwhile, Cho admitted that there was partly difference in ideas between South Korea and the United States for the inter-Korean cooperation, but he noted that it did not mean the U.S. opposition to the inter-Korean cooperation projects. Cho said that the United States has been significantly cooperative and that Seoul and Washington has been in the process of consultations. South Korea and the DPRK agreed in the senior-level talks earlier this month to conduct a joint on-site inspection on the DPRK's railways in late October to modernize and eventually connect railways across the border. However, no detailed schedule for the inspection has been decided upon, allegedly because of a rift between Seoul and Washington. Following the high-level talks, the two Koreas agreed to hold a groundbreaking ceremony in late November or early December to connect railways and roads across the inter-Korean border. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 15:32:49|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close SEOUL, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha talked on Monday with visiting U.S. special representative for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) affairs Stephen Biegun about denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the settlement of lasting peace, the foreign ministry of South Korea said. Kang and Biegun discussed ways to completely denuclearize the peninsula and settle the permanent peace, sharing recent progress in the inter-Korean relations and the follow-up negotiations between Pyongyang and Washington. The top South Korean diplomat stressed that the stronger dialogue momentum, caused by the Pyongyang summit in September between the two Koreas and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's recent visit to Pyongyang, should lead to effective progress in the denuclearization and the lasting peace settlement. Kang proposed continued coordination between Seoul and Washington for concrete ways on the issues, which the senior U.S. diplomat actively agreed to, according to the ministry. Biegun promised to make further efforts to strengthen communications and cooperation between the two allies in the process of denuclearization and the improvement in inter-Korean relations, saying the past consultation between Seoul and Washington had been very significant in the U.S.-DPRK negotiations. After meeting with Kang, Biegun talked in Seoul with South Korean's special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs Lee Do-hoon who represents the country in the now-stalled six-party talks for the denuclearization of the peninsula. During the talks, Biegun said his country and South Korea had a shared goal of bringing an end to 70 years of war and hostilities on the peninsula and of achieving the final, fully-verified denuclearization of the peninsula, according to local media reports. He noted that he was "absolutely confident" about achieving these goals. Biegun arrived in South Korea on Sunday for a three-day visit. He would reportedly meet with South Korean Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon and officials of the presidential Blue House during his stay. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 15:42:52|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close BEIJING, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- The global aviation market is witnessing an apparent eastward trend as the Asia-Pacific market is set to maintain growth, with China as the major impetus. The global air passenger volume could double from the current level to 8.2 billion in 2037, with an increasing "eastwards" shift, said the International Air Transport Association (IATA). CHINA IS KEY "We forecast that over the next twenty years, China's annual market growth will be, on average, around five percent," said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA's director general and CEO. "China has seen double-digit growth over the past decades in the domestic civil aviation market," he told Xinhua at a telephone press conference for the forecast. Alongside China rebalancing its economy towards consumption, air traffic to, from, and within the country is set to continuously grow over the long term, according to the IATA. "China is the most exciting and dynamic market in the world. The continuous growth in its economy and middle class sustains the country's upward civil aviation market," said Randy Tinseth, vice president of commercial marketing for the Boeing Company. China is forecast to become the world's largest aviation market by the mid-2020s, around 2024 to 2025, said the forecast. Besides the surging domestic aviation market, China will also be a key player in the international air route market alongside its continuous opening-up and the rising enthusiasm of Chinese in global travel. Five of the top-10 international routes will touch China by the end of 2037, up from the current three, according to IATA. In 2017, the country recorded 549 million air passenger trips, a 12.6 percent year-on-year increase, according to statistics from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). China will need to purchase 7,690 new airplanes over the next 20 years, valued at 1.2 trillion U.S. dollars, according to Boeing's latest Chinese market forecast released this Sept. EASTWARDS SHIFT With China as a major force, the Asia-Pacific region will drive the biggest growth with more than half the total number of new passengers over the next 20 years coming from these markets, said the IATA forecast. "We see a geographical reshuffling of world air traffic to the East," Juniac said. Growth in the region's market is driven by a combination of continued robust economic growth, improvements in household incomes and favorable population and demographic profiles. IATA forecast that India will take third place after the US, surpassing the UK around 2024. Indonesia is forecast to be a standout performer, climbing from the world's tenth largest aviation market in 2017 to the fourth largest by 2030. Global prosperity depends on air connectivity. The world stands to benefit greatly from better connectivity. "The aviation industry is growing and generating huge benefits for the world. A doubling of air passengers in the next 20 years could support 100 million jobs globally," Juniac said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 15:52:55|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close CANBERRA, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- The leader of the Australian Opposition has promised the country will have a stronger relationship with China if he is elected as the prime minister. Bill Shorten, leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP), said on Monday that Australia's relationship with China will become stronger under any government he leads. He said that while the relationship with the United States is a key pillar of Australia's foreign policy, he would not allow President Donald Trump's view of China to influence his own policy decisions. "Our national focus is different, our relationships with our close neighbours are different, our economies have different structures," he said in a major foreign policy speech. Shorten said the ALP would speak out when it disagreed with U.S. policy just as it did in opposing the second Iraq war. "We can, and will, express any differences within the enduring framework of our close relationship." Shorten said that China would be Australia's number one trading partner "for the foreseeable future". "The next Labor government will not deal with China purely through the prism of worst-case assumptions about its long-term ambitions," he said. With Australia set to head to the polls for a general election in May 2019, every major opinion poll has the ALP comfortably leading the governing Liberal-National coalition party. In addition to emphasizing the importance of China, Shorten said that a Labor government would seek to strengthen ties with India, Papua New Guinea, South Korea and Japan. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 15:57:58|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close MUMBAI, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Indian state-owned Air India recently announced the launch of red-eye flights to some domestic destinations, starting from the end of November, local media quoted official sources as saying. A red-eye flight departs generally late at night and arrives early in the morning. Because of low fares, red-eye flights are quite popular in many countries. Air India will introduce red-eye flights with fares lower than the normal ones in domestic locations like Delhi-Goa-Delhi, Delhi-Coimbatore-Delhi and Bangalore-Ahmedabad-Bangalore from November, the Indian Express report said. Air India operates a fleet of Airbus and Boeing aircraft serving 94 domestic and international destinations. It commenced its operation in 1946. The newly introduced red-eye flights will reportedly help travellers beat peak hours of city traffic as well as save on hotel charges and statements. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 16:08:03|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close Presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro waves to his supporters as he leaves a polling station in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Oct. 28, 2018. Right-wing candidate Jair Bolsonaro won Brazil's presidential run-off on Sunday. (Xinhua/Li Ming) BRASILIA, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's slow economic recovery will be one of the most urgent challenges facing the country's president-elect Jair Bolsonaro of the Social Liberal Party. During his election campaign, Bolsonaro proposed to liberalize the economy and spur private-sector investment, which helped him garner the backing of the financial market. His economic adviser Paulo Guedes, an economic ultra-liberal who graduated from the University of Chicago, aims to spearhead a reform program to stimulate the economic recovery. Guedes' agenda calls for "privatizing everything," introducing a tax and pension reform, opening up the economy, and reducing the state's role in economy to a "minimum." However, the different interest groups that Bolsonaro's campaign reaped to win the election indicate that many of these objectives will meet with substantial resistance. The new government's core support comes from agribusiness and industry, evangelical church leaders, the armed forces and the security sector, as well as the financial market, each of which have their own, sometimes opposing, demands. This difference in opinion became evident during the campaign, leading Bolsonaro to order both Guedes and his running mate, retired general Hamilton Mourao, to stop talking to the press. As a result, the society at large and key economic players are still unclear about the economic policies of the incoming administration. The financial market is concerned about how committed the government will be to carrying out reforms and improving the public deficit. Via the Brazilian National Confederation of Industry (CNI), the industrial sector, which officially endorsed Bolsonaro in the past week, has rejected the radical privatization program Guedes proposed, saying it would close companies and harm the economy. Meanwhile, the public security sector would require major investment in technology, infrastructure and wages to boost policing efforts, as Bolsonaro wants to do. But his intended caps on public spending appear to rule that out. Economist Jose Luiz Pagnussat, a member of the Federal Economic Council (Cofecon), expects that the economic policy of the incoming administration will be created based on the outcome of parliamentary negotiations and the different demands of Bolsonaro's backers. "In Brazil's decision-making process, most things have to pass through the National Congress, and the group that supports Bolsonaro doesn't share the same radical vision ... so it won't be able to approve such aggressive measures as the ones they were proposing," said Pagnussat. "The government is going to lean towards liberalism, with a reduction in some ministries, as was proposed at the start of the campaign. Over the duration of the campaign, there were rectifications, and as of now they should be bigger," he added. Pagnussat believes economic growth will resume no matter who is in office, though policies will make a difference. "There is a scenario of a strong resumption in production," he said, but what will influence that growth is "the cap on spending, which is a limiting factor." A failure to pass pension reforms will also be a factor, he said. Bolsonaro has invited members who are responsible for the fiscal policy of the current administration to join his team, including Treasury Secretary Mansueto Almeida. Most expect the new government to expand infrastructure concessions and carry out some privatization, with the participation of foreign capital. "If Paulo Guedes' ideas were implemented, there would be a radical opening up of the economy, something I don't think is going to happen," said Pagnussat. In the end, there should be a compromise between the goal to open up the economy further and the desire to heed the interests of different groups that got him elected, Pagnussat said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 16:08:03|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close DHAKA, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- A court in Bangladesh capital Dhaka has sentenced former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and three others to seven years in prison on corruption charges. Amid tight security, Judge Md Akhtaruzzaman of the Special Court-5 in Dhaka delivered the verdict on Monday afternoon. Public Prosecutor Mosharraf Hossain Kajol told journalists that Khaleda Zia and the other convicts were also fined 1 million taka (about 11,904 U.S. dollars) each, in default of which they will have to suffer six months more in jail. He said this is the highest punishment under the existing law. On Oct. 16, Judge Md Akhtaruzzaman fixed the verdict date after rejecting the petition filed by Zia's lawyer seeking adjournment of the hearing of the Zia Charitable Trust graft case. The verdict was announced shortly after the country's apex court on Monday cleared the way for the lower court to deliver its verdict in the case, rejecting a leave-to-appeal petition filed by Khaleda Zia's lawyers against a High Court judgement that also allowed the lower court to continue the trial in absence of the opposition party chief. Defense lawyers boycotted the trial. In February, Khaleda Zia, also chairperson of the largest opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), was sentenced to five years in prison in another Zia Orphanage Trust graft case. The former prime minister has reportedly been facing dozens of cases, including five on corruption charges and 15 for masterminding violence during their anti-government movement since 2014. Zia often said political vendettas are to blame for the cases against her and her son. On Oct. 6, Khaleda Zia was admitted to a hospital in capital Dhaka on Saturday afternoon for treatment following a court directive. BNP has been demanding the release of Khaleda Zia before the national election slated for December. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 16:38:12|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close DUBAI, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- United Arab Emirates (UAE) Vice President, Prime Minister and Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohamed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum on Monday called the day "historic" for the Gulf state after KhalifaSAT, UAE's first locally made satellite, was successfully launched from Japan. The UAE head of government called the launch of KhalifaSAT by a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries H-2A rocket "a national station where the UAE people have proven their ability, and maturity, their knowledge and their ambition, which they are racing around the world." The Monday launch was aired live by several UAE TV stations and through the website of the official Dubai media office. The satellite was successfully brought to its pre-programmed flight path in orbit, said the Dubai media office in a tweet. The 330-kilogram-heavy KhalifaSAT, with two-meter-height and 1.5-meter-width, was designed and built by 70 Emirati engineers at Mohamed Bin Rashid Space Center in Dubai. The device will be used to picture the earth and produce razor-sharp images at minimum 70-centimeter-length. KhalifaSAT, named after UAE President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, will be defunct after five years. By 2021, the UAE aims to lift its space program to the next level by launching a Mars mission. By 2117, the UAE plans to establish the first human city on the Red Planet. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 16:43:14|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close SEOUL, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's biggest automaker, Hyundai Motor, said Monday that it has jointly launched with a Chinese university institute the fund to invest in hydrogen technology. Hyundai said in a statement that it has partnered with the Beijing-Tsinghua Industrial R&D, an institute of the Tsinghua University, to set up the Hydrogen Energy Fund that will invest in innovative startups in the hydrogen and related technologies. Yield Capital, an investment unit of the Chinese institute, and Hyundai will jointly raise funds and manage them. The fund aimed to raise a total of 100 million U.S. dollars from venture capitalists in Asia, Europe and North America, the South Korean company said. Hyundai and its Chinese partners will decide on investment targets through an in-depth analysis of future growth, using their technological prowess in hydrogen electric vehicles and their ample expertise on the hydrogen industry, the company noted. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 17:28:25|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close ISTANBUL, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia's top prosecutor on Monday met with Istanbul's chief prosecutor over the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, local media reported. Sheikh Saud al-Mojeb discussed with Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Irfan Fidan the details of the ongoing investigation into Khashoggi's death, the state-run Anadolu News Agency said. Khashoggi has not been seen since he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2. Riyadh admitted that the journalist was killed inside the consulate and 18 people were arrested over their alleged connections to the killing as a result of an internal investigation into the case. Turkish prosecutors requested last week for the extradition of the suspects for trial in Turkey, while the Saudi side said they will be prosecuted in Saudi Arabia. Turkish police and crime scene investigators have conducted searches in the Saudi consulate, the residence of the Saudi consul general as well as a forest in Istanbul, trying to find the body of Khashoggi. Al-Mojeb is reportedly expected to conduct an investigation at the Saudi consulate later on Monday. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 18:23:41|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close ISTANBUL, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- The body of slain Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi has not been found yet, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Monday. The minister also told the press in Istanbul that Saudi Arabia's Chief Prosecutor Sheikh Saud al-Mojeb met with Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Irfan Fidan in the city earlier in the day and had "very beneficial" exchange of information about the death of Khashoggi. According to broadcaster CNNTurk, the pair exchanged pieces of evidence and information about the murder of Khashoggi, who has not been seen since he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2. Press reports said the meeting between the chief prosecutors lasted an hour and 15 minutes, and al-Mojeb is expected to conduct an investigation at the Saudi consulate later in the day. Saudi Arabia admitted that the journalist was killed inside the kingdom's consulate and 18 people were arrested over their alleged connections to the killing as a result of an internal investigation into the case. Turkish prosecutors requested last week for the extradition of the suspects for trial in Turkey, while the Saudi side said they will be prosecuted in Saudi Arabia. Turkish police and crime scene investigators have conducted searches in the Saudi consulate, the residence of the Saudi consul general as well as a forest in Istanbul, trying to find the body of Khashoggi. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 18:23:42|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close by Tichaona Chifamba HARARE, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwean farmers are facing a gloomy season with unfavorable weather conditions forecast for the planting season, compounded by a massive hike in seed prices. Zimbabwe is one of 25 high-risk countries to be adversely affected by El Nino and is expected to receive normal to below-normal rainfall from October to March, while maize seed producers have more than trebled their prices. A bag of maize seed, which was selling for 25 U.S. dollars last season, is now going for 100 dollars while a 25 kg bag is being sold for about 250 dollars, up from 70 dollars, according to a price list published last week by one of the major seed producers. The producers did not give reasons for the massive hike, but prices of basic commodities have been going up of late, with producers citing a shortage of foreign currency and high rates of exchange on the black market. The situation has left many farmers, especially small-scale ones, wondering whether they should grow maize in the coming season or simply wait to buy grain next year as there are fears that the prices of other inputs such as fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides will also go up. Some are considering using some of the grain they harvested last season as seed but are not sure of the yields. "I will definitely not buy seed this year. I have no choice when it comes to fertilizers but I will use cow dung instead of basal fertilizer, even though I know that I will have to work extra hard weeding the fields because dung usually carries a lot of weed seed," small farmer Emmanuel Tigere told Xinhua. Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu condemned the increases, saying that there was no justification for producers to raise prices. "The price increases are absolutely not justified. We are worried... as it comes at a time that our farmers are preparing to go back to till their land," he told the state-run Herald newspaper. Ndlovu said the government would engage the seed producers over the matter. Zimbabwe Farmers Union executive director Paul Zakaria said farmers would in turn push for a rise in the producer price if the seed prices are left where they were. "If these prices are not controlled, farmers will downsize their production because of unaffordable costs of inputs. This will obviously affect production. There is, therefore, need for a social contract between government, business and consumers," he told a press conference. Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union president Wonder Chabikwa also said that farmers are not happy with the new prices. "It is a huge shock for the farmers," he said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 18:23:43|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close DAMASCUS, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian army will apply as of Monday a new decision to end calls for reserve military personnel in the country, a pro-government newspaper reported. Al-Watan said the pursuit of wanted young men who have averted to report to the reserve forces in Syrian army will be halted, and their names will be deleted from the wanted list in airports and border crossings. Those who have been arrested over the past 48 hours for averting to report to the service will be set free immediately, said the paper. The report, however, spelled no further details about the Syrian soldiers who have already reported to the service and have been serving in the reserve forces for many years. It noted that the discharge of the reserve forces in the Syrian army, as well as the conscripts, who have been serving for many years during the war as a result of a law to keep them while needed, is being discussed at the People's Assembly and Defense Ministry. The paper said the new decision aims at facilitating the return of thousands of young Syrians from abroad and the return of refugees as well. It noted that the wanted men for reserve forces are estimated at 800,000, and scraping off their names from the wanted list will be important to encourage people to return to Syria. The Syrian army has made several calls for reserve forces throughout the crisis, which is basically choosing men with certain military skills between 18-42, to report to the reserve forces. The list of wanted men was updated almost daily to checkpoints inside the country and the country's border crossings as well. The list also includes the names of the draft dodgers, who, unlike the reserve forces who had previously served in the army, have completely averted the mandatory service. But as the situation in the country has become much better, and the military operations across the country have dramatically decreased, the calls for reserve forces seem no longer a necessity. The decision will surely be met with great satisfaction among men whose ages are in the range of reserve forces. A demonstrator holds a poster picturing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi and a lightened candle during a gathering outside the Saudi Arabia consulate in Istanbul, on October 25, 2018. (AFP photo) ISTANBUL, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- The body of slain Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi has not been found yet, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Monday. The minister also told the press in Istanbul that Saudi Arabia's Chief Prosecutor Sheikh Saud al-Mojeb met with Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Irfan Fidan in the city earlier in the day and had "very beneficial" exchange of information about the death of Khashoggi. According to broadcaster CNNTurk, the pair exchanged pieces of evidence and information about the murder of Khashoggi, who has not been seen since he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2. Press reports said the meeting between the chief prosecutors lasted an hour and 15 minutes, and al-Mojeb is expected to conduct an investigation at the Saudi consulate later in the day. Saudi Arabia admitted that the journalist was killed inside the kingdom's consulate and 18 people were arrested over their alleged connections to the killing as a result of an internal investigation into the case. Turkish prosecutors requested last week for the extradition of the suspects for trial in Turkey, while the Saudi side said they will be prosecuted in Saudi Arabia. Turkish police and crime scene investigators have conducted searches in the Saudi consulate, the residence of the Saudi consul general as well as a forest in Istanbul, trying to find the body of Khashoggi. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 18:33:49|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close KAMPALA, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has issued guidelines on the arrest of suspects and the handling of rowdy crowds amid complaints over growing misconduct by security operatives. In a letter to the heads of security agencies made public on Monday, Museveni said beating, shouting at suspects while arresting them is only acceptable in extreme cases. He said a rowdy crowd should be advised or be restrained if people are trying to go to an area where they are not supposed to be. "Restraining members of the public from accessing certain areas can also involve barriers or ropes," he said. In case of dealing with rioters, security agencies should use water canons, Museveni said. "I think the use of water cannons is the best way -- it is strong, non-lethal and not noisy; tear-gas, rubber bullets should be discouraged because they are noisy and, sometimes, they can affect unconcerned people," he said. Museveni said the police can also use shields and batons to disperse hostile crowds. The president said in case the rioters fail to heed police warning, then live bullets can be used, first firing in the air. "If the rioters persist, the police will fire directly at the rioters to protect the lives and property of the law-abiding citizens or protect themselves from the rioters," he said. "Uganda has been stable for a long time. It will remain stable. Therefore, nobody should be allowed to threaten life, property or orderliness in Uganda," he added. Museveni said shooting at rioters is legally acceptable under certain circumstances. The guidelines followed public concerns over alleged misconduct of security operatives when dealing with suspects and riots. Security forces recently came into the spotlight after the brutal arrest of a suspect who was later charged with terrorism but released on police bond. A video clip that went viral showed security operatives hitting a suspect with gun butts before he was shoved into a waiting vehicle with forged number plates. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 18:43:50|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close KATHMANDU, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Nepali President Bidya Devi Bhandari left Kathmandu for Qatar on a four-day visit on Monday. Foreign Minister of Nepal Pradeep Kumar Gyawali and senior officials from the President's Office and Ministry of Foreign Affairs are accompanying the president during her tour. During her visit, Bhandari will hold a meeting with Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani at his Amiri Diwan office on Oct. 30, according to a statement issued by Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Co-Founder and Chairperson of Qatar Foundation Sheikha Moza bint Nasser and other distinguished personalities of Qatar will meet the Nepali president, the ministry said in the statement. President Bhandari will address a joint interactive meeting of the business community on the theme of "Business and Investment Opportunities in Nepal" on Oct. 30. The Nepali president, who will be visiting Qatar at the invitation of Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, will return home on Nov. 1. This is going to be President Bhandari's first visit to Qatar since she was re-elected as the head of the state of Nepal for a second time in March 2018. Qatar has remained as one of the top foreign employment destinations for the Nepali migrant workers for the past few years. Currently, over 400,000 Nepalis are involved in different jobs in Qatar, according to the Nepali Ministry of Labor. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 18:53:51|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close JIUQUAN, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- China successfully sent an ocean-observing satellite into space on Monday, a joint mission pursued under close Sino-French space cooperation that will enable scientists to simultaneously study, for the first time, ocean surface winds and waves. The China-France Oceanography Satellite (CFOSat), atop a Long March-2C carrier rocket, took off at 8:43 a.m. from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China's Gobi Desert and entered a sun-synchronous orbit 520 km above Earth. Jointly developed by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) and the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), France's space agency, the satellite will conduct 24-hour observations of global wave spectrums, effective wave height and ocean surface wind fields, said Zhao Jian, a senior official with CNSA. INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES As the first satellite-related cooperation between China and France, the CFOSat is equipped with the world's most advanced technologies. It carries two innovative radar instruments -- a wind scatterometer developed by China to measure the strength and direction of winds and a wave spectrometer developed by France to survey the length, height and direction of waves, according to Wang Lili, chief designer of the satellite at the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST). The two instruments will simultaneously help scientists collect data about winds and waves at the same location for the first time, Wang said. Winds generate waves, and waves, in turn, modify the surface layer of the atmosphere above the ocean. Therefore, more and more often, meteorological and wave forecasts take into consideration modeling and predictions of both ocean surface winds and waves. Related forecasts have been enhanced significantly in the last decade, but the prediction accuracy still needs to be improved, especially in extreme events, such as typhoons and rapidly evolving storms. The CFOSat, complementing other existing oceanography satellites, will study the dynamics of waves and how they interact with surface winds, and deepen our understanding of their formation and physical mechanism, said Zhao Jian with CNSA. "It will help increase the observation and prediction of catastrophic sea states, such as huge waves and tropical storms, and provide security support for offshore operations and engineering, ship navigation, fisheries and coastal management," Zhao said. By gaining new insights into the impacts of winds and waves on the atmosphere-ocean exchanges that play a key role in the climate system, the satellite will also provide basic information for global climate change research, he added. China has previously launched six oceanic satellites, with the first officially approved to be developed in 1997. Two other satellites, the HY-1C and the HY-2B, were also sent into space this year ahead of the CFOSat. "There are now five China-developed oceanic satellites in orbit, each having its own strength in monitoring ocean color, dynamics or sea states. They will complement each other and form a comprehensive observation network to continuously cover the globe's oceans for various statistics and with high resolution," Zhao said. "The data they acquire, of remarkable social and economic benefits, will play an important role in protecting ocean environments, exploiting marine resources, preventing and reducing marine disasters, as well as improving marine science research," he said. CLOSE COOPERATION During 13 years of development, the CFOSat has helped the two research teams from China and France understand each other better. In 2005, the Chinese and French governments signed an agreement on jointly developing an oceanography satellite and an astronomical satellite, marking the beginning of the long mission. "We have been keeping very close cooperation with our French fellows throughout the whole process, from project assessment and designing, to satellite development and testing. The cooperation will be further extended to in-orbit tests and data processing," said Wang Lili with the CAST. Giving full consideration to the demands of the French side, the Chinese team has made modifications to the CAST2000 platform, where the satellite is based, so that it can accommodate new payloads. They effectively separate the two instruments, both working at Ku band within the microwave range of frequencies, to prevent them from interfering with each other. They also create new designs to guarantee 24-hour power supply with stronger thermal control. However, above all the technical difficulties, the biggest problem that the Chinese team has ever overcome was integrating the different standards adopted by the two countries in the space industry. "As a way out, we improve the standards for the mission so that they can meet the requirements of both sides," Wang said. As for Patrick Castillan, project manager in charge of French payloads with the CNES, the most impressive part is how each decision is made after all the hard negotiations and compromises. "We spent a lot of time at the beginning of the program trying to understand each other, as we have different standards, habits and cultures," Castillan said. "We have both learned a lot. The result is whenever we reach an agreement, it is a win-win option." He stressed that the cooperation will continue in the collection and processing of the data. There will be five ground stations to collect the data from the satellite. Three are in China and the other two, managed by France, are in Canada and Sweden. Due to these geographical limitations, the three stations in China can only collect part of the data from the satellite in relays, while the two French stations, both within the Arctic Circle, can collect all the data without breakoff. "Our two ground stations will transfer data to both mission centers in China and in France for further processing in less than three hours," Castillan said. "As both sides could use the data from the two instruments, we will share our software developed for the data from the wave spectrometer with the Chinese team, and they will share with us their software for the data from the wind scatterometer," he said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 19:03:54|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close BEIJING, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said Monday it will impose anti-dumping duties on ethanolamines imported from the United States, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, and Thailand. In a final ruling on anti-dumping investigations into the imports, the MOC said domestic industries have been subject to substantial damages due to the dumping of these products. Duties will be collected at rates ranging from 10.1 percent to 97.1 percent starting from Tuesday for a five-year period, according to a MOC statement. The MOC launched anti-dumping investigations into the products in October 2017 after receiving complaints from domestic producers. Ethanolamines are widely used in the production of surfactants, pesticide and pharmaceutical intermediates, chemical necessities, and personal hygiene products. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 19:13:56|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng (C, back), also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and deputy head of the Central Commission for Integrated Military and Civilian Development, attends a national symposium where plans are made to advance military-civilian integration in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 29, 2018. (Xinhua/Liu Bin) BEIJING, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng on Monday attended a national symposium where plans were made to advance military-civilian integration. Han, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and deputy head of the Central Commission for Integrated Military and Civilian Development, addressed the symposium. Han spoke of the need to accelerate legislation, strengthen planning, focus on key difficulties, and seek breakthroughs in key areas, so as to push forward military-civilian integration. He said the building of major strategic projects should be used to advance the coordinated technological innovation between the military and civilian sectors, coordinate resource allocation to boost efficiency, and achieve the best performance. Han said Party committees and governments at all levels should view implementing the military-civilian integration as a major political responsibility, work hard to make new progress, enhance the building of systems and mechanisms, and press ahead with key reforms to break new ground. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 19:28:58|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close BEIRUT, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Economic bodies warned Monday that they will resort to protests and sit-ins if the government in Lebanon is not formed before October 31, local media reported. "The country cannot take it anymore. We will not remain silent. If the government is not formed within 48 hours we will take it to the streets," Mohamed Choucair, head of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture was quoted by Elnashra, an online independent newspaper, as saying. Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri has been trying in vain to form a 30-member national unity government for the past five months, because of rifts among rival politicians over the representation of the main Christian parties and Druze sect. On Monday, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri announced that the government is expected to be announced Monday and not later. Moreover, Caretaker Foreign Affairs Minister Gebran Bassil tweeted in the past few days that the government formation will take place before the second anniversary of President Michel Aoun's election on Oct. 31. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 19:28:58|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close SYDNEY, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- China Rail Construction and Engineering Group Papua New Guinea (CRCE PNG) has helped provide food and clothing for around 200 Children living on the street in the capital city of Port Moresby. Pastor Andrew Anis, of the Murray Barracks Seventh-day Adventist Church, told local media, "This is the first time in the history of this church that an international company has helped us in community work." Aimed at helping Port Moresby's most vulnerable, the church's youth program encourages young people to seek support and live a life free of crime. More than 200 homeless attended the event this year, which served traditional Chinese steamed rice cooked by CRCE PNG's Chinese staff, along with stewed chicken, potato and vegetables. "We wanted the kids to enjoy the taste of China, but there was also western bread, hamburgers, sandwiches, chips and cold drinks," Lien Chang, general manager CRCE PNG, told Xinhua on Monday. Established in PNG since 2008, the firm has been involved in a number of local charities, making donations to organizations like the PNG Kidney Association, PNG Taekwondo Association, PNG Nature Park, and PNG Second Technology School among others. In February, CRCE PNG also made significant contributions to help those in remote areas after a devastating 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck the Highland region of the country. Lien said the company is now in the process of building a specialized facility to provide services for people with disabilities. "By devoting ourselves and supporting humanitarian programs, we can give back to the local people of PNG and their communities, and we want to demonstrate our respect and integration with PNG people, PNG culture and religion," he said. As a long-term business focused on sustainable development in the South Pacific nation, Lien added that it's important to understand the "environment and landscape which we operate in." "While we deliver a world class standard of building and construction infrastructure projects in PNG, we also want to contribute to PNG's domestic development," Lien said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 19:33:58|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close TEHRAN, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif left Tehran for Istanbul on Monday for a trilateral meeting with his Turkish and Azeri counterparts, Tasnim news agency reported. Zarif will hold talks on the cooperation in the sphere of common interests at the sixth trilateral meeting of the foreign ministers of Iran, Turkey and the Republic of Azerbaijan. During the five previous meetings, Iran, Turkey and Azerbaijan exchanged views on a broad range of topics including economy, transit, transportation, energy, customs, as well as political issues. On Sunday, it was announced here that Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Mohammad Baqeri will also pay an official visit to Azerbaijan in near future to boost defense cooperation. The expansion of ties in border areas and the latest developments in the region are also on the agenda of Baqeri's talks with his Azeri counterpart. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 19:38:59|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close Search and Rescue officers collect the debris and passengers'personal items of the Lion Air JT610 that crashed into the sea off Karawang of West Java province in the base of Search and Rescue at the Tanjung Priok port, Jakarta, Oct. 29, 2018. Indonesia's national Search and Rescue Agency said on Monday that all the 189 people onboard a Lion Air plane that crashed into the sea off western Indonesia may have died. (Xinhua/Veri Sanovri) JAKARTA, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia's national Search and Rescue Agency said on Monday that all the 189 people onboard a Lion Air plane that crashed into the sea off western Indonesia may have died. Director of Operations at the National Search and Rescue Agency Brigadier General Bambang Suryo Aji said that the prediction was based on the condition of the body parts recovered from the surface of the waters. "My projection is there is no survivor. Because the condition of the bodies of the victims already found were not intact anymore. And this has been several hours after the incident. It is very likely that all the 189 people have been dead," he told a press conference at the agency headquarters. The director said more than 40 divers were doing their best to find the main body of the plane under water, so far, and a ship with a detector was also searching for the precise position of the plane wreckage of the Boeing 737 Max 8 plane. "I predict many bodies remain inside the plane." The search and rescue operation would continue during the day and the night, he added. Parts of human bodies have been discovered in the waters off Indonesia's West Java province where the Lion Air plane with 189 people aboard crashed, a rescue official said. "Several parts of human bodies and things have been found on the scene," Yusuf Latief, head of communication for media of the national search and rescue office, told Xinhua by phone. The findings would be brought to the newly set up crisis center in Tanjung Periuk port of Jakarta before being shifted to the police hospital, Yusuf said. The chief rescuer could not give a specific number of the retrieved bodies. Two babies and one child were among the people onboard the JT 610 flight, which crashed into the sea off Karawang of West Java province shortly after taking off from Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta international airport, according to the Transport Ministry. Indonesian President Joko Widodo has ordered the National Commission for Transportation Safety to investigate the cause of the plane crash. While attending a conference in Bali on Monday, the Indonesia president said rescuers were making their best efforts to find victims. Responding to reports that the plane had a technical problem on its last flight, Lion Air's President Director Edward Sirait said the technical problem on the plane was resolved in accordance with the manufacturer's procedures. An Indian pilot was among the people onboard the crashed plane. The pilot joined the low-cost carrier in March 2011, the Indian media reported. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 19:38:59|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close BEIRUT, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- A big number of Syrian refugees were arrested Monday in Aarsal in raids conducted by the Lebanese army, local media reported. The refugees were arrested because they do not have legal residency documents, according to a statement published by local news agency Lebanon 24. The raids took place in around 15 camps in Aarsal and the arrested people were transferred to judicial bodies for further investigations. More than one million Syrian refugees have registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Lebanon, while the government estimates the true number of Syrians in the country at 1.5 million. A big number of Syrian refugees entered Lebanon in an illegal way. Lebanese General Security issued in August a decision to allow Syrian refugees staying in Lebanon illegally to go back to Syria. Illegal Syrian residents in Lebanon can pay fines and return home, which would allow them to enter Lebanon in a legal way in the future. However, they will be denied access to Lebanon permanently if refusing to pay fines. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 19:38:59|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close Sri Lanka's newly appointed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa (C) attends a ceremony to assume duties at the Prime Minister's office in Colombo on Oct. 29, 2018. Sri Lanka's "ousted" Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Monday reiterated his call for parliament to be summoned immediately in order to resolve the ongoing political crisis. (Xinhua/A.Hpuarachchi) COLOMBO, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's "ousted" Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Monday reiterated his call for parliament to be summoned immediately in order to resolve the ongoing political crisis. Speaking to the Foreign Correspondents Association from his official residence in capital Colombo, Wickremesinghe maintained that he was still the island country's prime minister despite that President Maithripala Sirisena sacked him days earlier. He said he still enjoyed a majority in parliament and would prove his numbers when sittings convene. "I am confident I am the only person who can get a majority in parliament. If anyone else feels they have a majority, they can prove it in parliament as the parliament is the supreme authority," he said. Wickremesinghe further said that several political parties including his United National Party and the opposition Tamil National Alliance had written to the Speaker and expressed concerns over the present political environment and called for parliament to be summoned. A government minister told Xinhua that 126 political legislators out of the 225-member parliament had signed a letter asking for parliament to be summoned and handed it over to Speaker Karu Jayasuriya. President Maithripala Sirisena last Friday in a shocking move sacked Wickremesinghe and appointed former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to the post. Sirisena said Wickremesinghe had lost a majority in parliament after his United People's Freedom Alliance quit the nation's national unity government. Rajapaksa assumed office as new prime minister earlier on Monday, vowing to strengthen economy and work for the betterment of the nation. Local media reports said a new caretaker government is expected to be sworn in later on Monday. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 20:04:02|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close BEIJING, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, met with Tamara Vucic, wife of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, on Monday. Peng asked Tamara to convey President Xi's warm greetings and best wishes to President Vucic. Recalling her visit to Serbia in 2016 with Xi, Peng hailed the good relations between China and Serbia and the profound friendship between the two peoples. She called on both countries to enhance people-to-people exchanges and mutual understanding, so as to promote greater development of bilateral ties. Speaking highly of Tamara's efforts in assisting disadvantaged groups and protecting children's rights, Peng said China attaches great importance to women's and children's causes. As a UNESCO Special Envoy for the Advancement of Girls' and Women's Education, Peng said she stands ready to share with Serbia China's experience in this area and make joint efforts to promote the international cause of the advancement of children's and women's education. Tamara asked Peng to convey President Vucic's greetings to President Xi. Tamara said the Serbian people appreciate China's long-term assistance and support to Serbia and values Serbia-China friendship. Serbia remains firmly committed to its relations with China and would like to be a real friend of the country, she said. Botswana's President Mokgweetsi Masisi attended the roundtable meeting of the 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 4, 2018. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) GABORONE, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Botswana's investment and trade promotion body is optimistic that the southern African country's participation at the maiden China International Import Expo (CIIE) will boost its trade with China. Kutlo Moagi, spokesperson at the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC), said the import expo to be held on Nov. 5-10 in Chinese city Shanghai will bring new opportunities of trade and economic development to Botswana. "We are seeing a positive development and big opportunities coming the Botswana way with our participation at the CIIE," Moagi said in a recent interview with Xinhua. She said that China is also showing signs of becoming Botswana's biggest trading partner in the near future. Moagi said Botswana has been facing some logistical challenges and language barrier when trying to explore export opportunities in the lucrative Chinese market. She noted that transport costs have been too high thereby impeding many Botswana exporters from taking their goods to China. "However, China's keen interest to grow Botswana's transport sector following successful and progressive decisions taken at the 2018 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Summit will deal with the logistical challenges," she said. Moagi added that the teaching of Chinese language in most tertiary schools in Botswana will also help reduce the language barrier between the Chinese and Botswana citizens who will trade amongst themselves. The Confucius Institute at the University of Botswana has opened several teaching centers across the country in order to promote mutual understanding between the peoples of Botswana and China through the teaching of the Chinese language and culture. "In 2017, Chinese exports to Botswana were at around 60 million U.S. dollars while Botswana exports to China stood at 16.15 million U.S. dollars," Moagi said. She however said that the imbalance of trade between Botswana and China will likely be mitigated with China hosting the import expo whereby African firms can increase their exports to the Chinese market. According to Moagi, BITC is looking forward to linking local manufacturers with those from China so that they can establish partnerships and do manufacturing locally. The China International Import Expo will see participation of more than 2,800 companies from 130 countries and regions, and 160,000 buyers from over 80,000 domestic and foreign companies. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 20:19:04|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close Chen Xi (2nd R), a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the CPC Central Committee Organization Department, meets with a visiting delegation of Singaporean permanent secretaries in Beijing, capital of China, on Oct. 29, 2018. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) BEIJING, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official Chen Xi met with a visiting delegation of Singaporean permanent secretaries in Beijing on Monday. Chen, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the CPC Central Committee Organization Department, briefed the delegation on the CPC's 19th National Congress and its organization's work. He expressed his hope that China and Singapore will expand and deepen cooperation in such areas as human resources and leadership development, so as to contribute to the two countries' all-round cooperative partnership progressing with the times. Chan Lai Fung, head of the delegation and permanent secretary of Singapore's Ministry of Education, said she hoped the two countries will strengthen exchanges and cooperation, expecting more fruitful outcomes in talent exchanges. Photo taken on October 22, 2018 shows that customer purchases carpet in Shorja Market in Baghdad, Iraq. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood) BAGHDAD, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- As winter has come in Iraq, the carpet markets in Baghdad thrive as people are seeking carpets to furnish their floor to bring warmth to their homes when temperatures will drop more in the coming days. The sellers of carpets in Baghdad markets exhibit different kinds of carpets which are either locally made or imported. Hundreds of all sizes of carpets were ornamented with circles, squares, and stylized animals or flowers. The symbols woven in many of Iraqi carpets can be traced back to the Babylonians who ruled the ancient Mesopotamia, Iraq now, some 2,000 years B.C.. However, the majority of new models being purchased in Baghdad markets are carpets mass-produced in neighboring Turkey and Iran as well as Egypt, China and Belgium. Abu Aliaa, an owner of carpet store in Baghdad's commercial center of Shorja, said that "the majority of people demand Turkish carpets for the good quality and affordable prices." "Second choice for people is the Iranian carpets which have better quality than others but it's more expensive than the Turkish carpets, especially silk and wool-made ones," Abu Aliaa told Xinhua while sitting in his store in Shorja market. Mohammed Khalaf, a carpet seller, said "most carpets in my store are Turkish-made; I have all sizes and various colors, and ornaments." "Some people purchased Turkish carpets for its light weight and it is easy to clean, and some housewives prefer to buy couple smaller carpets instead of a large one because it is easier to clean and to get better decoration in their rooms," Khalaf said. Photo taken on October 22, 2018 shows a owner in his carpet shop in Shorja Market in Baghdad, Iraq. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood) Anmar, who came to buy carpets from Baghdad commercial center in Shorja, said "I am here to buy an Iranian handmade, whether silk or wool, carpet to decorate my guest room, because I like their style of inscription as well as its better quality." "As for the rest of the house I'd choose the Turkish carpets for cheaper prices and easier for my wife to move and clean because they are not heavy," Anmar said. Like Anmar, Um Ali, in her 40s, said "I can't imagine my living room, where my family and close friends usually sip tea and chat, without a long rectangular carpets adorned with geometric patterns." "The beauty of the carpets is essential to judge my room by the guest," she told Xinhua, while running her fingers across the carpets hanging on walls of one of Shorja's shops. Sayd Hassan, a carpet merchant in Shorja, told Xinhua that he usually imports carpets from Iran and Turkey according to the market demand. "Some of the carpets are expensive for the raw materials used in weaving them, as some manufacturers are using most modern technology in the world to produce carpets. They even sometimes produce carpets according to the clients' request as for size and ornament," Hassan said. The sellers of carpets in Iraqi markets exhibit large quantities of various types of local and foreign carpets as most buyers are seeking low prices and good quality, while the rich people prefer handmade carpets which characterize better quality and higher prices. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 20:44:07|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close Mourners gather around the bodies of Palestinian teenagers who were killed in an Israeli airstrike on the border area, inside a mosque during their funeral in the central Gaza Strip town of Deir el-Balah, on Oct. 29, 2018. Three Palestinian teenagers were killed on Sunday night in an Israeli airstrike on the border area between eastern Khan Younis in southern Gaza Strip and Israel, medical sources said. (Xinhua/Khaled Omar) GAZA, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of outraged mourners buried on Monday three Palestinian children who were killed on Sunday night in an Israeli airstrike on the border area between eastern Khan Younis town in southern Gaza Strip and Israel. Relatives, friends and neighbors joined the funeral of the three killed children: Khaled Abu Sa'eed, 14, Abdul Hamid Abu Dhaher, 13 and Mohamed al-Satari, 13. The three children are residents of the village Wadi al-Salqaa east of the southern Gaza Strip town of Kham Younis. The mourners took the bodies of the three children from al-Aqsa Hospital in the town of Deir el-Ballah, carried their bodies on their shoulders amid chanting of Allaho Akbar (God is Great). Ibrahim al-Satari, 45 years old, father of Mohamed al-Satari, said with grief that the last ever thing he expected is to hear that his 13-year-old kid gets killed by a missile fired from a warplane. "This shows how brutal the Israeli army is and shows that this army has no morality, because armies of countries don't kill children," said the father as he stood near the body of his son for a last glance together with his wife and four children as well as relatives and neighbors. Abdul Aziz Abu Dhaher, father of Abdul Hamid Abu Dhaher, said he has a brother and a sister who were killed in the first Israeli war waged on Gaza in 2009, adding "today my son is getting killed." The mourners took the bodies of the three children to their homes for the last goodbye and then carried them to the mosque for prayers before they were taken to the central Gaza Strip graveyard for burial. Ismail Haniyeh, chief of Hamas, Ahmad Bahar, deputy speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), members of the PLC and thousands of people joined the funeral. "This crime is not strange for the occupation to commit it, because it is the nature of this occupation to kill children and women," Bahar told the mourners," adding "the three children were killed in a cold blood before the eyes and ears of the entire world." Bahar, who is also a senior Hamas leader, held Israel responsible for killing the three children and all the Palestinians in the marches of return which started in March 30. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 20:44:08|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close BERLIN, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Monday that it will be her last chancellorship and she will step down in 2021 when the term ends. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 20:59:09|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close BERLIN, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Digital gadgets and smartphone applications that can answer simple questions or perform rudimentary tasks such as setting an alarm clock via a spoken command have been offered by companies like Google, Amazon or Apple for several years. The algorithms that allow communication between humans and machines, however, have recently taken a great step forward. As one of Germany's few successful AI companies, Precire Technologies has developed a language analysis tool that generates psychological profiles to support application processes for new employees, for example. The program called "Precire" learns and recognizes how certain character traits and psychological characteristics affect language and, as a result, can tell which characteristics a tested person exhibits. "We try to identify patterns that represent psychological characteristics. We do not try to understand content-related aspects, Dirk Gratzel, founder and CEO of Precire Technologies told Xinhua, "when Precire analyzes a speech sample, the program does not know whether you are talking about the weather, artificial intelligence or your workplace. This is comparable to a hair that is examined through a scanning electron microscope. When you see it, first you do not realize that it is a hair. Instead, you will be able to see what the hair consists of," Gratzel illustrates. However, the majority of Germans are suspicious of the use of artificial intelligence. According to a survey conducted by the German YouGov Institute in September, only 15 percent of respondents believe that the benefits of AI technology outweigh the risks, while 26 percent rate the risks as higher than the possible benefits. "Such a system does not make you more exposed, it makes you more understandable," Gratzel said. Although Precire is nothing but a highly efficient tool for recognizing psychological traits, it will nevertheless be "extremely important for the way people communicate with machines in the future," Gratzel muses. He expects that future robots and programs which communicate with humans will "recognize who we are, what we are thinking about and what is important to us at that moment". "I expect that in five years you will no longer be able to know whether your conversation partner on the telephone is a human being or a machine," said Gratzel. Such use of machines would usually be applied to specific situations, such as a telephone call with a bank or a telecommunications provider. According to the Precire founder, the symbiosis of humans and machines will provide us with an enormous leap forward in development, especially because machines were superior to humans in certain areas. "If we succeed in absorbing machines' abilities within ourselves, we can, for example, improve the processing of visual stimulations in our brain enormously or increase our average intelligence quotient by a factor of ten within two generations." Physicist Stephen Hawking warned of the dangers that can originate from artificial intelligence during a lecture at the Oxford Union debating society. The renowned scientist predicted several times that the development of artificial intelligence could be the most important, but also the final event in the history of mankind. Tech billionaire Elon Musk even described the "competition for supremacy in AI at national levels as a probable trigger of the Third World War" in September 2018. "I do not share these dystopian points of view. I am an optimist," states Gratzel. "Every technical evolution has brought us enormous progress as a species. I think it will be similar with artificial intelligence. But it is true that the more powerful our technological achievements are, the greater the potential damage they can cause." Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 21:04:11|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close DUBAI, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Antonio Guterres, secretary-general of the United Nations, on Monday called for benefits of new technologies for all. He made the remarks at the opening of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) 20th Plenipotentiary Conference. The highest UN diplomat said the meeting will make an effort to build a more sustainable and inclusive digital economy for generations to come. ITU brings together 193 member states, over 700 private sector companies and more than 150 academic institutions. More than 2,500 participants are expected to attend the meeting, including heads of government, ministers and other delegates. The event will take place from Oct. 29 to Nov. 16 at the Dubai World Trade Centre in the United Arab Emirates. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 21:29:14|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close by Naftali Mwaura, Wang Xiaopeng NAIROBI, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Ruth Wambui grew up in a farming village on the outskirts of the Kenyan capital Nairobi where the virtues of hard work, fortitude and service were inculcated in her at a tender age. The 24-year-old commerce and accounting major from a local university has a calm demeanor yet her zeal to join the ranks of youthful peers who have secured well-paying jobs has not diminished in the face of stiff competition. Wambui was among hundreds of young people who attended a joint career fair in Nairobi on Monday organized by a consortium of Chinese companies operating in Kenya with the aim of showcasing opportunities that were up for grabs. She was in high spirits after visiting the stand of Power Construction Corporation of China (POWERCHINA), where friendly attendants explained to her the job opportunities available and how to qualify for them. "This career fair is an exciting opportunity for me because I have managed to talk to representatives of several Chinese companies that are exhibiting who requested my contact details," Wambui told Xinhua. "It was refreshing to hear how these companies are ready to hire skilled local youth," she added, expressing the hope that she will "be one of them in the near future." The Kenya-China Economic and Trade Association (KCETA), with support from the Chinese embassy in Kenya, hosted the one-day career fair to raise awareness on potential job opportunities for local youth. About 50 Chinese firms with around 1,000 job opportunities participated in the career fair that resonated with Kenyan youth aspiring to secure well-paying jobs and upgrade their technical and managerial skills. Wambui and her peers who learnt about the career fair from announcements in the media and social media platforms expressed optimism that working for a Chinese firm would be a game changer in their personal and professional lives. "At least, I am lucky to have an experience with a Chinese company during my internship at China Wuyi. My desire is to become an accomplished auditor and hopefully render my service to any of the Chinese company based in Kenya," Wambui told Xinhua. The inaugural career fair organized by Chinese companies based in Kenya was a draw to local youth whose zeal to work for them, earn decent income and refine their skills was palpable. Walter Kirivwa, a 22-year-old education major from a Kenyan university, hailed the career fair, terming it an eyeopener to skilled youth yearning for a chance to work for Chinese companies that are behind economic transformation in the country. "This event came at an opportune time and has exposed us to the enormous opportunities that Chinese firms have for trained youth. We must appreciate that Chinese companies are strong in infrastructure, real estate and technology that is changing our lives," Kirivwa said. He dropped his contacts at several Chinese companies' booths in the hope that a positive feedback would be forthcoming. An estimated 400 Chinese firms that are operating in Kenya have created many new jobs for local youths while providing a platform for this demographic to hone skills in various disciplines like engineering and finance. Kate Ouma, a 23-year-old finance major, said Chinese firms, whose investments portfolio in Kenya is expanding, have become prized employers of choice among local youth. "It is a fact that our country is benefiting from massive investments from Chinese companies and the youth are keen to work for them given that decent incomes and career mobility is guaranteed," Ouma said. She engaged in a chat with attendants at China Wuyi booth and later dropped her mailing address for future correspondence. Elvis Muli, a 24-year-old major in procurement and logistics, who travelled from the port city of Mombasa to visit the career fair in Nairobi, said that he aspired to work for any of the Chinese firms operating in Kenya to earn a living and gain from exposure. "I am informed that Chinese companies are strong on logistics that happens to be my field of expertise. I travelled all the way from Mombasa to learn how these firms recruit their staff and network with a potential employer," said Muli. Kenyan officials who attended the inaugural career fair, organized by the umbrella body representing Chinese companies in the country, said it marked a milestone in economic and trade cooperation between two long-standing partners. "This career fair is one of a kind and a confirmation that our relationship with China is having a positive impact," said Christopher Chika, director of Asia and Australasia Directorate at Kenya's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He said Kenya is keen to tap into skills and technology provided by Chinese firms to boost diversification of its economy. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 21:39:17|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close FUZHOU, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- China's top political advisor on Monday said the Chinese government supports domestic Buddhist circles and world Buddhist communities carrying out friendly exchanges, promoting people-to-people connectivity, and working together to create a better world. Wang Yang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, sent a congratulatory letter to the Fifth World Buddhist Forum, which opened in Putian, east China's Fujian Province. In his letter, Wang said Buddhism should make positive contributions to promoting world peace, enhancing the well-being of humanity, building a community of shared future for mankind, and creating a better future for all of us. You Quan, a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, addressed the opening ceremony. You hoped Buddhist communities would look deeper into Buddhism values and contribute wisdom to promoting the well-being of humanity and safeguarding world peace. Over 1,000 Buddhists, scholars and representatives from 55 countries and regions attended the opening ceremony of the forum, jointly hosted by the Buddhist Association of China and the China Religious Culture Communication Association. The World Buddhist Forum was initiated by Buddhist circles in the Chinese mainland, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao in 2005. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 21:39:17|Editor: mmm Video Player Close KIEV, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- The credit rating agency Fitch Ratings has affirmed Ukraine's long-term foreign-currency issuer default rating at "B-" with a stable outlook, local media reported Monday, citing the agency's report. In its report, Fitch said that weak external liquidity, high external financing needs, the weak banking sector, the unresolved conflict in the country's eastern regions, as well as geopolitical and political uncertainties pose the main risks to Ukraine. At the same time, the agency noted that improving macroeconomic stability, declining government debt, and continuing international aid, including the engagement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), are expected to mitigate the risks. On Oct. 19, the IMF said it has reached a staff-level agreement with Ukrainian authorities on economic policies for the 14-month Stand-By Arrangement (SBA). The SBA is set to replace the Extended Fund Facility (EFF), under which Ukraine has received about 8.7 billion U.S. dollars since 2015. Earlier this month, Standard and Poor's rating agency has maintained Ukraine's credit ratings at B-/B and kept the outlook at stable. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 21:44:21|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close Adnan Kassar, chairman of Fransabank Group, receives an interview with Xinhua in Beirut, Lebanon, on Oct. 24, 2018. Adnan Kassar, chairman of Fransabank Group, established in 1921 as one of the oldest banks in Lebanon, is considered a major contributor to the signing of the first trade agreement between Lebanon and China in 1955. "I introduced the Chinese products and services to the Arab world and China has now grown into a world power with an enormous domestic market," Kassar told Xinhua in an exclusive interview. TO GO WITH Feature: Lebanese bank chief aims at promoting Lebanon at upcoming China's import expo (Xinhua/Li Liangyong) by Dana Halawi BEIRUT, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Adnan Kassar, chairman of Fransabank Group, established in 1921 as one of the oldest banks in Lebanon, is considered a major contributor to the signing of the first trade agreement between Lebanon and China in 1955. The trade accord was the result of Kassar's efforts to achieve the visit of a Chinese business delegation to Lebanon, as part of the preparation for the establishment of diplomatic relations between Lebanon and China in 1971. The agreement was not the end of Kassar's work, but inspired him to do more to promote Chinese goods across the Arab world. Official data reveals that the two-way trade between China and Lebanon reached 2 billion U.S. dollars in 2014, making Beijing the top trading partner of Beirut. "I introduced the Chinese products and services to the Arab world and China has now grown into a world power with an enormous domestic market," Kassar told Xinhua in an exclusive interview. This fast-growing China has motivated Kassar to expect more from the trade between the two countries. "We think it's our mission now to introduce Lebanon to China. Its attractive investment environment, its role as a key hub on the Belt and Road Initiative, the opportune partnerships with Lebanese international companies, as well as its competitive products," he said. The Belt and Road Initiative, proposed by China in 2013, refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, which aim at building a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient trade routes of the Silk Road. As the only Lebanese representative in the upcoming China International Import Expo, scheduled from Nov. 5 to 10 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai, Fransbank Group will take advantage of this opportunity to gain a market share in China. "A Lebanese delegation, led by a Fransabank executive, will participate in this expo. They will not only introduce our banking services, but also promote products that Lebanon can offer to the Chinese market including wine and olive oil," Kassar said. The bank chief also said he aims to promote Lebanon's tourism in China. Notably, Fransabank, headquartered in Lebanon and present in more than nine countries including France, Algeria, the United Arab Emirates and Iraq, has not yet opened a branch in China, but according to Kassar, the bank does not rule this possibility. "These countries cover key markets on the Belt and Road Initiative where Chinese companies are most active. We are working to serve these companies as well as the locals working with China," Kassar noted. China is expected to import 10 trillion U.S. dollars' worth of goods and services in the next five years, according to China's Ministry of Commerce. "Lebanon has a lot to offer for the the Belt and Road Initiative and also will benefit greatly from this visionary initiative ... Our country's plans for major infrastructure, energy, telecommunication, health and water projects will be greatly attractive for Chinese groups," Kassar explained. "We are always eager to welcome Chinese groups to our country to invest, partner with Lebanese companies and set up their regional operations in our beautiful country," the Lebanese bank chief concluded. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 22:14:28|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close BEIJING, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- China on Monday extended congratulations to Jair Bolsonaro on his election as the president of Brazil. "The Chinese side wishes new achievements would be made continuously by Brazil in the path of developing the country," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang told a news briefing. According to Brazil's Superior Electoral Court, Jair Bolsonaro of the Social Liberal Party won the country's presidential run-off on Sunday. "China always attaches great importance to its relations with Brazil from a strategic height and long-term perspective," Lu said, adding China is willing to work together with Brazil to safeguard and develop the China-Brazil comprehensive strategic partnership, to better benefit the two countries and the two people. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 22:39:32|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close MOSCOW, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday that Russia and Turkey have been effective in addressing urgent regional and international issues. He made the remarks in a message of greetings to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the 95th anniversary of the establishment of Turkey, according to the Kremlin. The foundation of "friendly and neighborly" relations between the two countries was laid in the early days of Turkey, and Moscow and Ankara continue to develop constructive cooperation in all spheres today, Putin said. Russia imposed a number of restrictions on Turkey and froze bilateral projects after Turkey shot down a Russian Su-24M fighter bomber in November 2015, but bilateral relations gradually recovered after Erdogan apologized in June 2016. The two countries are actively mediating a political settlement of the Syrian crisis. They are also implementing joint energy projects, including the Turkish Stream gas pipeline and Turkey's Akkuyu nuclear power plant, the country's first nuclear power plant. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 22:44:33|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Former Ethiopian foreign minister Goshu Wolde returned to Ethiopia on Monday, ending 32 years in exile, as reconciliation initiated by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed deepens. Wolde was greeted at the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport by Ethiopian Deputy Foreign Minister Hirut Zemene and other senior government officials. Speaking to reporters on arrival, Wolde said he returned from exile to support the ongoing reconciliation process in Ethiopia. "I don't have a personal desire for political office, but want to support the peace, love and unity efforts of the current Ethiopian government," he said. Wolde was appointed Ethiopian foreign minister in 1983, but fell out with the government of Mengistu Haile Mariam in 1986 and went to exile in the U.S. the same year, accusing Haile Mariam of cruelty and economic mismanagement. Wolde continued his opposition, even after Haile Mariam was overthrown by a coalition of rebel groups, Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), in May 1991. However, Wolde has kept a low profile for the last two decades, only breaking his silence in June by making a statement from the U.S. in support of the reforms undertaken by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. Ahmed, who took office on April 2, has been calling all opposition groups, government critics and others in exile to be part of the country's ongoing reform process. His administration has also been implementing measures aimed at creating a nationwide reconciliation, including the release of high-level political prisoners, invitation for Ethiopian rebel groups for talks, as well as the decision to normalize relations with neighboring Eritrea. Various popular Ethiopian rebel groups such as the Patriotic Ginbot 7, Oromo Liberation Front, and the Ogaden National Liberation Front have since declared ceasefire with the government, and their leaders returned from exile over the past couple of months. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 22:54:35|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BEIJING, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- China would like to express deep sympathy to the bereaved families of the victims of Monday's Indonesian plane crash, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said at a routine press briefing. A passenger plane of Indonesia's Lion Air crashed shortly after taking off from Jakarta's international airport on Monday, local media quoted the country's search and rescue agency as saying. The Chinese side has not been informed that any Chinese nationals were aboard the plane so far, said Lu, adding that "we will keep track of the rescue progress." He stressed that the Chinese side will make an announcement in due course if there is any news regarding Chinese passengers and will provide assistance in relevant work. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 22:59:37|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close WINDHOEK, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Namibia's Minister of Education, Arts and Culture Katrina Hanse-Himarwa on Monday pleaded not guilty to corruption charges at the start of her trial in the High Court. Hanse-Himarwa, who was accused of allocating houses to her relatives, made her first appearance in the High Court in April in a pre-trial session. Namibia's Anti-Corruption Commission alleges that Hanse-Himarwa placed some of her relatives on a list of housing beneficiaries in Mariental, a town in the southern Hardap Region she governed in 2005-2015, prior to her appointment as minister of education. Hanse-Himarwa was accused of using her position to switch out original housing list beneficiaries in order to benefit her relatives. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 23:14:43|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close TIRPOLI, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Five people were killed at dawn on Monday in a terrorist attack on government buildings in the Libyan central district of Jufra, some 650 km southeast of the capital Tripoli, a military source said. A police station and a government office were attacked and burned by gunmen driving eight armed vehicles in the area of Fug'ha, a source of Jufra's operation military chamber told Xinhua. The attack took place at 3 a.m. (0100 GMT) and lasted about an hour, "killing five residents who tried to confront them," the source said on condition of anonymity. The Libyan army declared state of emergency after the incident and started tracking down the attackers in the southeast of Jufra, according to the source. "Jufra is an oasis surrounded by deserts from all sides. The terrorists have the ability to infiltrate easily and conduct surprise operations," the source explained. Linking the Libyan cities of the west, east and south, Jufra has been under the control of the eastern-based army, led by Khalifa Haftar, since June 2017 when the area was cleared of militant groups. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 23:14:43|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close BERLIN, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Germany's internationally-renowned vocational colleges are confronted with a massive shortage of qualified teaching staff, a study published on Monday by the Bertelsmann Foundation warns. According to the study, German vocational colleges need to attract around 60,000 new teachers until 2030. Roughly half of the current total of 125,000 educational professionals in the sector are expected to retire by that date, creating a large vacancies gap which cannot be filled by the jobs-training institutes at their regular staff replacement rate. Study author Klaus Klemm noted that vocation colleges were already among the schooling centers that suffer the most from a widely-publicized shortage of teachers in Germany. The sector relied to a significant degree on lateral entrants which usually had university degrees but were otherwise not formally qualified to teach their subjects. Commenting on the findings, Joerg Draeger, the president of the Bertelsmann Foundation, described the findings as alarming. "This deprives youth of important educational opportunities and harms the economy," Draeger said. The Bertelsmann president called on the government to develop a nation-wide strategy to improve teacher levels before the situation deteriorated further. Training an individual to become a vocational college educator usually takes more than seven years in Germany. Draeger's public appeal comes shortly after a regular survey by the Federation of German Trade Unions (DGB) found that the satisfaction of apprentices with the vocational training system has fallen to a historical low in 2018. The German "dual education system", comprising distinct university and jobs training routes, is frequently cited as a key reason for relatively low youth unemployment in the Eurozone's largest economy. Official estimates put the number of young Germans who attend courses at vocational colleges to gain a range of professional skills at 2.5 million. Given currently high demand for skilled labor from employers, the state-owned KfW banking group predicts that the total number of apprentices in the country is likely to grow again by roughly one percent in 2018. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 23:24:46|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close JUBA, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- The forthcoming celebration of a peace deal in South Sudan is likely to shore up hope for peace and stability as warring leaders strive to build confidence in ending the country's prolonged conflict, experts said on Monday. Jok Madut Jok, co-founder and director of Sudd Institute, a Juba-based think-tank, said the celebration for the signing of a peace deal should involve leaders and ordinary citizens in order for the current normalcy to hold. "If there is now peace between the leaders, it would seem more logical that they go to their constituencies together to appeal to them to end the war because the leaders' rivalry is already over," Jok told Xinhua during an interview in Juba. "People need something more substantive, more meaningful and more concrete in terms of building the confidence to end the war," he added. Jok said the leaders should now use the peace agreement as an opportunity to carry out nationwide tours to convince the citizens and rebels to end hostilities and embrace unity. "Even though the leaders are the ones competing for public office and making their constituencies fight for them, the reality is that it is the youth, children and women from the grassroots who suffer," said Jok. The South Sudanese government has scheduled Oct. 31 as the country's peace day celebration, and the main opposition leader, Riek Machar, is expected to attend as a gesture of reconciliation and unity. Augustino Ting Mayai, a professor at the University of Juba's School of Public Service, told Xinhua that the event will be an opportunity for President Salva Kiir and Machar to showcase to the citizens, the region and the world that they are ready to implement the agreement in letter and spirit. "Considering president Kiir's reaching out to Machar to come to Juba to celebrate together the agreement ahead of the implementation of the deal, Machar's positive responses is a great point of refresher for peace in the country," said Mayai. It demonstrated an element of political will from the leaders to pave way for the realization of achieving sustainable peace in the world's youngest nation, the scholar said. Denis Dumo Scopas, a Juba-based journalist, echoed Jok's sentiment, saying the celebration will act as a good starting point for leaders to win the hearts of the masses. "What is needed for the parties to the agreement is to convince the public, region and international community by improving the security situation within the country through their actions ahead of the next transitional period," Scopas said. He emphasized that the leaders should work hard to put the interest of the people above their political gains and to create a conducive environment to spur economic recovery. President Kiir, his former deputy and arch rival Machar, and several other opposition groups signed a power-sharing deal in September in Ethiopia to end hostilities that claimed thousands of lives while creating one of the world's biggest refugee crises. South Sudan's conflict, which was entering into its fifth year before the cessation of hostilities, erupted in 2013 after forces loyal to Kiir and Machar engaged in combat. Millions of South Sudanese civilians had sought refuge in neighbouring countries as the conflict raged on despite attempts by international players to end it. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 23:24:47|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close MOSCOW, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Russian Foreign Ministry on Monday accused the United States of attempting to break the "traditional friendship" between Armenia and Russia. U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton, who visited Yerevan last week, publicly demanded that Armenia abandon the "historical patterns" in its international relations, the ministry said in a statement. It was not a secret that Bolton meant Armenia's traditional friendship with Russia, the ministry said. Yet the ministry said that Bolton also voiced a "wonderful thought" in his Oct. 25 interview with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that it is "really fundamental to Armenia exercising its full sovereignty and not being dependent on or subject to excessive foreign influence." "It would be good for John Bolton to ponder the meaning of his own words," the ministry said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 23:29:48|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close TOKYO, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Japan and India agreed on Monday to enhance their security and economic exchanges and cooperation. According to a joint statement issued after a summit meeting between Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the two sides agreed to upgrade their "two-plus-two" bilateral diplomatic and security talks from the vice ministerial level to the ministerial level. They also agreed to boost exchanges between their defense departments and industries. Japan has also agreed to provide low-interest loans worth 316.4 billion yen (2.83 billion U.S. dollars) for seven projects in India. The two sides also inked a 75 billion-U.S. dollar currency swap arrangement on Monday. Earlier in the day, Modi met with Japan's Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Hiroshige Seko and Foreign Minister Taro Kono respectively. Modi arrived in Japan Saturday for his 12th summit with Abe and left Japan Monday night. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 23:44:54|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close KIEV, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Continued cooperation with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will help Ukraine avoid a default, Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman said Monday. In an interview with the government-run Ukrinform news agency, Groysman said that the cooperation with the IMF is vital for Ukraine to serve its foreign debt, of which Kiev repays about 5 billion U.S. dollars annually. Besides, the new partnership program with the IMF would be a positive signal to Ukraine's other foreign lenders, such as the European Union and the World Bank, as well as for investors, Groysman said. Ukraine hopes to receive the first tranche from a new IMF aid program by the end of this year. On Oct. 19, the IMF said it has reached a staff-level agreement with the Ukrainian authorities on economic policies for the 14-month Stand-By Arrangement (SBA). The SBA will be approved after the Ukrainian parliament adopts the IMF-compliant state budget for 2019 and raises natural gas and heating tariffs for households in line with the global lender's requirements, according to local experts. Since 2015, Ukraine has received about 8.7 billion dollars from the IMF, which helped prevent the collapse of the Ukrainian economy. The disbursement of the aid was suspended in April 2017. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 23:49:55|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close KAMPALA, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- An eight-month biometric verification exercise of refugee numbers in Uganda has registered 1.1 million refugees and asylum seekers, a drop from the 1.4 million refugees that were previously estimated to be in the east African country. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in a joint statement with the Ugandan government on Monday attributed the drop in the number to among others death or spontaneous return of refugees to their countries of origin. The statement also said the verification exercise cleaned up cases where there were multiple registration. "There were also some cases of multiple registrations by refugees at the height of the emergency influxes of South Sudanese refugees between mid-2016 and mid-2017, when registration systems were sometimes overwhelmed by the sheer number and speed of arrivals. These cases were identified and removed from the database," the statement said. Progressively, as the verification was completed in refugee settlements, new food assistance collection procedures were rolled out by the UN World Food Program, UNHCR and government. "Under the new system, each person receiving assistance is confirmed against biometric data collection in the verification exercise. These procedures mitigate the risk of fraud, ensuring that assistance is well managed and provided only to verified, eligible refugees and asylum seekers," the joint statement said. Uganda and UNHCR ordered for the audit process in March this year following allegations that some senior government officials mismanaged funds meant to support refugees and inflated the number of refugees in the country. The UNHCR figures then showed that Uganda hosted about 1.4 million refugees, mainly from South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Burundi. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 23:49:55|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close TRIPOLI, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Libya's eastern-based parliament on Monday condemned a deadly terrorist attack in the central district of Jufra. "The House of Representatives condemns the terrorist attack on Fug'ha area that killed four civilians, with several others kidnapped at dawn on Monday," the parliament said in a statement. The parliament also declared three days of mourning for the tragedy, and called on the security forces to secure the area, pursue the terrorists and free the kidnapped, according to the statement. Five people were killed at dawn on Monday in a terrorist attack on government buildings in the Libyan central district of Jufra, some 650 km southeast of the capital Tripoli, a military source said. The source said the attackers are likely to be Islamic State militants. Linking the Libyan cities of the west, east and south, Jufra has been under the control of the eastern-based army, led by Khalifa Haftar, since June 2017 when the area was cleared of militant groups. In February, a suicide attack on a checkpoint in Jufra killed three army soldiers and destroyed the checkpoint as well as a number of vehicles. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 23:54:56|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close NAIROBI, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Oman and Kenya trade lobbies on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to boost trade cooperation between the two nations. Qais Mohammed Al Yousef, chairman of Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told journalists in Nairobi that the MOU which runs for three years will enhance the understanding of economic opportunities that are present in both countries. "The overall aim is to boost bilateral trade and investment levels which are currently below potential," Al Yousef said during the opening ceremony of the first edition of the Oman Product Expo. The four-day event brought over 100 firms from the gulf state to showcase their goods in the energy, food engineering and health sectors. Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry has already signed MOU with other African countries such as Tanzania and Ethiopia. Al Yousef said that the MOU will form the basis of dialogue between the interaction of the business communities in Oman and Kenya. He added that the MOU will enhance knowledge sharing on market intelligence in the two respective markets. He noted that Omani firms also hope to use the MOU with their Kenyan counterparts to expand their operations into the African continent. The chairman said that Kenya is an ideal partner because it has attracted many multinational firms to set up their regional headquarters. For his part, James Mureu, Vice Chairman of Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that the agreement is the beginning of enhancing and understanding of the opportunities that are present in both nations. Mureu said that both businesses in Kenya and Oman are keen to explore each other's domestic markets. He added that Kenya will use Oman as a gateway to enter into the gulf region while Oman will leverage on its close ties with Kenya to expand into the African region. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 23:54:56|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close JUBA, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan will embark on implementing major infrastructure development projects in an effort to open the landlocked east African nation to trade opportunities as it seeks to recover from a devastating five-year-old conflict. Transport minister John Luk Jok said Monday that with the prospects of peace returning to the war-torn country, the government would embark on building new roads and establish rail and air infrastructure in a bid to tackle the country's current infrastructure challenges. He said the government also plans to erect new rail lines to connect the country to Ethiopia, Sudan and Uganda respectively. He added that the government is also searching for potential investors to build the country's second international airport in Tali, a remote area some 80 kilometers north of the capital Juba. "South Sudan needs to build its transport sector and particularly the air transport and road infrastructure. We must continue to build our roads because roads are the most ideal modes of transport," Jok said. According to the World Bank, South Sudan's road network remains in very poor condition, especially in rural areas that are largely inaccessible during the six-month rainy season (from April to October). "South Sudan in the near future can be an international hub, we have this idea of building a new airport at Tali, the location is so central that it can attract so many big international airlines," Jok said. The official spoke during an occasion to inaugurate the country's first modern terminal Juba International Airport ahead of peace celebrations scheduled for Wednesday. Vice President James Wani Igga hailed the new development at the Juba airport as vital, which will help improve the country's image abroad because the old facilities were in poor state. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-30 00:04:58|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close By Quan Xiaoshu, Dai Ying & Yu Fei JIUQUAN, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- China successfully sent an ocean-observing satellite into space on Monday, a joint mission pursued under close Sino-French space cooperation that will enable scientists to simultaneously study, for the first time, ocean surface winds and waves. The China-France Oceanography Satellite (CFOSat), atop a Long March-2C carrier rocket, took off at 8:43 a.m. from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China's Gobi Desert and entered a sun-synchronous orbit 520 km above Earth. Jointly developed by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) and the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), France's space agency, the satellite will conduct 24-hour observations of global wave spectrums, effective wave height and ocean surface wind fields, said Zhao Jian, a senior official with CNSA. INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES As the first satellite-related cooperation between China and France, the CFOSat is equipped with the world's most advanced technologies. It carries two innovative radar instruments -- a wind scatterometer developed by China to measure the strength and direction of winds and a wave spectrometer developed by France to survey the length, height and direction of waves, according to Wang Lili, chief designer of the satellite at the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST). "The two instruments will simultaneously help scientists collect data about winds and waves at the same location for the first time," Wang said. Winds generate waves, and waves, in turn, modify the surface layer of the atmosphere above the ocean. Therefore, more and more often, meteorological and wave forecasts take into consideration modeling and predictions of both ocean surface winds and waves. Related forecasts have been enhanced significantly in the last decade, but the prediction accuracy still needs to be improved, especially in extreme events, such as typhoons and rapidly evolving storms. "The CFOSat, complementing other existing oceanography satellites, will study the dynamics of waves and how they interact with surface winds, and deepen our understanding of their formation and physical mechanism," said Zhao Jian with CNSA. "It will help increase the observation and prediction of catastrophic sea states, such as huge waves and tropical storms, and provide security support for offshore operations and engineering, ship navigation, fisheries and coastal management. "By gaining new insights into the impact of winds and waves on the atmosphere-ocean exchanges that play a key role in the climate system, the satellite will also provide basic information for global climate change research." China has previously launched six oceanic satellites, with the first officially approved to be developed in 1997. Two other satellites, the HY-1C and the HY-2B, were also sent into space this year ahead of the CFOSat. "There are now five China-developed oceanic satellites in orbit, each having its own strength in monitoring ocean color, dynamics or sea states. They will complement each other and form a comprehensive observation network to continuously cover the globe's oceans for various statistics and with high resolution," Zhao said. "The data they acquire, of remarkable social and economic benefits, will play an important role in protecting ocean environments, exploiting marine resources, preventing and reducing marine disasters, as well as improving marine science research." CLOSE COOPERATION During 13 years of development, the CFOSat has helped the two research teams from China and France understand each other better. In 2005, the Chinese and French governments signed an agreement on jointly developing an oceanography satellite and an astronomical satellite, marking the beginning of the mission. "We have been keeping very close cooperation with our French fellows throughout the whole process, from project assessment and designing, to satellite development and testing. The cooperation will be further extended to in-orbit tests and data processing," said Wang Lili with the CAST. Giving full consideration to the demands of the French side, the Chinese team has made modifications to the CAST2000 platform, where the satellite is based, so that it can accommodate new payloads. They effectively separate the two instruments, both working at Ku band within the microwave range of frequencies, to prevent them from interfering with each other. They also create new designs to guarantee 24-hour power supply with stronger thermal control. However, above all technical difficulties, the biggest problem the Chinese team overcame was integrating the different standards adopted by the two countries. "As a way out, we improved the standards for the mission so that they could meet the requirements of both sides," Wang said. Patrick Castillan, a project manager in charge of French payloads with the CNES, said each decision was made after hard negotiation and compromise. "We spent a lot of time at the beginning of the program trying to understand each other, as we have different standards, habits and cultures," Castillan said. "We have both learned a lot. The result is whenever we reach an agreement, it is a win-win option." He stressed that the cooperation would continue in the collection and processing of data. There will be five ground stations to collect the data from the satellite. Three are in China and the other two, managed by France, in Canada and Sweden. Due to geographical limitations, the three stations in China can only collect part of the data from the satellite in relays, while the two French stations, both within the Arctic Circle, can collect all the data without break-offs. "Our two ground stations will transfer data to both mission centers in China and in France for further processing in less than three hours," Castillan said. "As both sides could use the data from the two instruments, we will share our software developed for the data from the wave spectrometer with the Chinese team, and they will share with us their software for the data from the wind scatterometer." FUTURE PLANS As a demonstration of a unique partnership between China and France in tackling climate change, the CFOSat has won support from governments of both countries. Jean-Yves Le Gall, president of the CNES, depicted the space cooperation between the two countries as "very active", saying that another joint mission, an astronomical satellite named SVOM (Space-based multiband astronomical Variable Objects Monitor), is now under preparation and expected to launch in 2020. With growing economic and technological strength, China has become an important space player, attracting more and more European countries to work with it in probing the universe. In 2005, China's two space science satellites joined with the satellites of the European Space Agency to complete the world's first joint, synchronous six-point exploration of the earth's space. It was the first science satellite cooperation between China and Europe. One of the detectors on China's Dark Matter Particle Explorer, launched in 2015, was jointly developed by scientists from China, Switzerland and Italy. China's space lab Tiangong-2, launched in 2016, carries a gamma ray polarization detector developed by scientists from China, Switzerland and Poland. "China has always held an open attitude in space exploration and cooperation. We have signed more than 100 such cooperation agreements with more than 30 countries and over 10 international organizations," said Wu Yanhua, deputy head of the CNSA. The coming years will see closer space cooperation between China and European countries. China's Chang'e-4 lunar probe, set to be launched in December this year and expected to become the first probe to soft-land on the far side of the moon, will carry detectors from Germany and Sweden. A Sino-European joint mission, the Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer, will be launched in 2021. China is also inviting all member states of the United Nations to cooperate in and jointly utilize its future space station, which is expected to be built around 2022. The Long March-2C rocket also sent into space seven miniaturized satellites, including a science and education satellite developed by Belarus and six home-made scientific experiment satellites. Monday's launch was the 289th of the Long March rocket series. (Zhang Quan & Hu Zhe also contributed to this story.) Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-30 00:05:01|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close DHAKA, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Bangladesh's cabinet Monday approved an amendment to the electoral law aimed at paving the way for the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the upcoming national elections. After the cabinet meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair, Spokesman Mohammad Shafiul Alam told reporters that the cabinet gave its approval to the amendment to "Representation of the People Order (RPO)". Last month Bangladesh's highest economic policy-making body approved a project worth nearly half a billion U.S. dollars to procure 150,000 electronic voting machines. Bangladeshi Election Commission plans to introduce the EVMs in the national polls slated for December. Commission Secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed said earlier that the commission plans to hold the country's 11th national election in the third week of December as the term of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's ruling Awami League (AL) party will end in January 2019. Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its allies have long been opposing the use of EVMs in the national polls for fear that this might create opportunity for vested interest groups to digitally manipulate election results using the EVMs. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-30 00:10:01|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close DAVAO, the Philippines, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with his Philippine counterpart Teodoro Locsin and Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez in Davao City on Monday. In the meeting with Locsin, Wang said that under the guidance of the leaders of the two countries, China-Philippines relations have maintained the momentum for development in the past two years, which is in the interests of the two peoples. China is willing to develop all-round cooperation and manage differences properly with the Philippines for a more stable, peaceful South China Sea, Wang said. The Chinese side is also willing to closely work with the Philippine side to promote and deepen pragmatic cooperation in security, development, culture and maritime affairs, so as to explore new broad prospect for China-Philippine relations, the Chinese State Councilor said. For his part, Locsin said that his country is content with the ever-improving bilateral relations and the ever-strengthening bilateral cooperation with China. The Philippine side is willing to continue to properly manage differences, push forward pragmatic maritime cooperation, and actively participate in the Belt and Road Initiative, he said. In a meeting between the Philippine economic management team led by Finance Secretary Dominguez and Wang, they discussed updates on the status of the economic cooperation agreement. Wang said the development of China-Philippine relations has provided favorable political guarantees for economic and trade cooperation. The bilateral economic cooperation can expand to new areas, including projects of the Belt and Road Initiative, so as to benefit the two countries and their people. The Philippines is welcome to participate in the China International Import Expo (CIIE) which is slate to be held from Nov. 5 to 10 in Shanghai, and is willing to create better conditions to expand the Philippine exports to China, Wang noted. Dominguez said there are more cooperation between China's Belt and Road Initiative and the Philippines' "Build, Build, Build" infrastructure program. He hoped the meeting will help to continue expanding the mutually beneficial economic, trade and investment collaboration between the two countries. The Philippines fully supports the initiative, and will actively participate in the CIIE, he noted. Wang also met former Philippine Foreign Affairs secretary Alan Peter Cayetano during his visit in Davao. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-30 00:10:02|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close Huang Kunming, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, addresses the opening ceremony of the 51st annual conference of the Chinese Language Press Institute held in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 29, 2018. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) BEIJING, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Huang Kunming, head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Monday called for the common prosperity of the Chinese language press at home and abroad. Huang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the 51st annual conference of the Chinese Language Press Institute (CLPI) in Beijing. He spoke highly of the CLPI as an influential organization in international media circles, and its efforts in introducing the development and progress of China to the international community as well as its positive contributions to the reform and opening up of the country. Huang said he hoped that overseas Chinese language media outlets would adhere to their fine traditions, tell China's stories and promote Chinese culture, in order to show a real and comprehensive China, while improving the country's communication with the rest of the world. He called on Chinese language media outlets from home and abroad to take advantage of the annual conference, learn from and cooperate with each other, and progress and prosper together. Jiang Zaizhong, president of the CLPI, also addressed the event, asking all Chinese language media outlets to shoulder their responsibilities, depict the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with an international tone from unique angles, and serve as the bridge for China and the world to further know each other. Focusing on Chinese language media in the new era, the annual conference is attended by over 130 people representing 64 media outlets from 17 countries and regions. Founded in Hong Kong in 1968, the CLPI aims to connect those working for Chinese language media outlets around the globe and push forward the development of Chinese language media. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-30 00:20:03|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close ABUJA, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Ten people have been confirmed killed and 15 houses destroyed by flood in Nigeria's southern state of Anambra, according to a local government official on Monday. Arinze Awogu, head of the Ogbaru local government area of the state, told reporters that a three-year-old child was among those killed by the devastating flood in the area since last Friday. A total of 16 communities were submerged by the flood caused by heavy rains, he said. Flooding is a perennial disaster in Nigeria, mainly occurring during the rainy season. Many states across Nigeria have been affected by floods since August this year. The Nigerian Senate has called for a stakeholders meeting to discuss the flood disaster with a view to proffering a lasting solution to the menace. At least 200 people have been killed so far by floods across Nigeria this year, according to government data. Some states are still experiencing huge floods, with more deaths likely to be recorded from the disaster. In addition to the rising death toll, some 1,300 people have been reportedly injured and nearly 2 million affected by the recent flooding in areas along the Niger and Benue rivers in Nigeria. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-30 00:25:04|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close DAR ES SALAAM, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Embassy in Tanzania on Monday announced the launch of a new program called Health Cooperation Benefiting Tanzania aimed at providing free medical services in remote and rural areas. Wang Ke, the Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania, said that under the program, Chinese medical teams in Tanzania's mainland and Zanzibar will respectively conduct two free clinical services each year in remote and rural areas to bring their medical services to more Tanzanian people in need. The first free clinical service will be held in November in Kagera region in northwest Tanzania and will last for seven days to provide free medical examinations and treatment for local residents, said Wang at the ceremony to mark the 50th anniversary of China's dispatch of medical teams in Tanzania. "In the years ahead, I have every reason to be confident that with our concerted efforts, China-Tanzania health cooperation will score more achievements and greater glory," said Wang. A total of 11 Chinese doctors from Chinese medical team were introduced to the ceremony, which is also attended by Ummy Mwalimu, Tanzanian Minister for Health, and Augustine Mahiga, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation. "For 50 years, being fearless of difficulties and having overcome many obstacles, Chinese medical teams have treated over 300,000 Tanzanian patients with their diligent work and exquisite skill," said Wang. In September 2012, she said, the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute supported by the Chinese government started to operate and many Tanzanian patients no longer need to be transferred to foreign countries for cardiac surgery. More Chinese companies have shown interest to explore the Tanzanian market, expecting to respond to a call by the Tanzanian government to build pharmaceutical plants in the country in order to achieve localized production, reduce medical costs and benefit more Tanzanian people, Wang said. "China has the will and also the ability to deepen the health cooperation with Tanzania in the principle of mutual benefit and win-win strategy," said Wang. Ummy Mwalimu praised the Chinese medical teams for their dedication in saving Tanzanian citizens' lives. She said Tanzania has continuously enjoyed a very special relationship in the health sector which dates back to 1968 when China started sending medical team to the country. "I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the commendable services these doctors have been providing to the citizens who received their services," said Mwalimu Augustine Mahiga appealed to Tanzanian doctors to work closely with their Chinese counterparts. The bilateral relations between the two countries were unique and continuous, said Mahiga. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-30 00:25:04|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) meets with Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin in Davao, the Philippines, Oct. 29, 2018. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali) DAVAO, the Philippines, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Philippine counterpart, Teodoro Locsin, pledged on Monday joint efforts to advance consultation on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC). Wang said at a joint press conference with Locsin that under the guidance of the leaders of China and the Philippines, and thanks to joint efforts, the situation in the South China Sea is improving and getting more stable. "Countries concerned have returned to the track of dialogue and negotiations and consultations to properly handle the differences, together with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, China and these countries are jointly upholding peace and stability in the South China Sea," Wang said. Wang, who is on a two-day visit to the Philippines, added that a peaceful and stable South China Sea meets the common interests of the regional countries and that it is the shared aspiration of the regional countries and shared responsibility for all concerned. MORE EFFORTS NEEDED Wang said that China will work together with the Philippines and other concerned ASEAN countries to make new breakthroughs in maritime cooperation. "China is ready to enhance cooperation with the Philippines and other coastal countries along the South China Sea, strengthen cooperation on environmental protection, scientific research, fishery and search and rescue, so as to enhance trust and deliver more benefit to the peoples of the countries. China is also ready to further discuss with the Philippines about joint development of oil and natural gas in the South China Sea," Wang said. Wang said that China will work with the Philippines to set up and improve institutions and mechanism for maritime communication. "Now China and the Philippines have increased interactions on the sea. We should work together to build up the mechanism for such interactions," Wang said, adding that China is ready to set up similar mechanism with other concerned parties to enhance communication and properly handle emergencies. "We should work together to speed up the COC consultation," Wang said, referring to the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, of which a single draft negotiating text has been reached. Wang said China is ready to work with other ASEAN countries to speed up COC consultation and that China also hopes to conclude the consultation during the term of the Philippines as a country coordinator for China-ASEAN relations. "So that we can set up a set of regional norms to ensure peace and stability in the South China Sea," Wang said, adding that China welcomes all constructive opinions within the framework of the single text that has been agreed. Wang also urged all concerned parties to be vigilant against and prevent interferences and disruptions coming from the outside. "As China and the Philippines and other coastal countries are cooperating to uphold peace and cooperation in the South China Sea, some non-regional countries are doing things completely counter to our efforts," Wang warned. Wang said these countries have never hesitated in stirring up troubles, and making waves in the South China Sea, and they are willful in showing off their forces in the waters. "Regional countries need to keep high vigilance against these. We must further enhance our solidarity and work together to make the South China Sea a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation.By this we will not leave any chance to be exploited by any external forces," Wang said. Locsin, Philippine foreign secretary, said the South China Sea issue is not the exclusive one between China and the Philippines. Countries like Indonesia and Malaysia in the ASEAN have the same problem. "The South China Sea issue should not stand in the way of developing mutually beneficial and friendly relations between China and the Philippines, nor should it stand in the way of developing friendly cooperation between China and ASEAN," Locsin said. "We hold fast to our unwavering commitment to the Declaration of Conduct in the South China Sea. Through respectful dialogue with each other and with our partners in ASEAN, we are moving forward with astonishing amity in the negotiations toward a Code of Conduct," Locsin said. FIRM SUPPORTS TO THE PHILIPPINES The friendship between China and the Philippines expands over a thousand years, and many of the peoples in the two countries share the same ancestry, Wang said. "China has never been, and will never be a rival for the Philippines, and will never be a threat. On the contrary, in the Philippine pursuit of rejuvenation and future development, we stand ready to stand by the Philippines and always be your sincere and trustworthy friend," Wang said at the press conference. "China will firmly support the Philippines in speeding up economic and social development. The Philippines is an important link on the Maritime Silk Road, It is a natural partner in the joint building of the Belt and Road. China is ready to actively dovetail with the Philippine development strategy," he said. He said China will firmly support the Philippines' efforts in safeguarding its national security and stability. "President (Rodrigo) Duterte has launched fights against illicit drugs and terrorism. This is a just cause which is conducive to providing a tranquil environment for the economy and peoples' lives," Wang said. "China is continuing to provide support in terms of assistance in intelligence sharing and capacity building. We are going to speak up for the just causes of the Philippines in the United Nations (UN), UN human rights organizations and other multinational occasions," Wang told the press conference. Wang also said China will firmly support the role the Philippines plays in the regional affairs. He noted that this year celebrates the 15th anniversary of China-ASEAN strategic partnership, and that the Philippines has recently taken over the role as the country coordinator for China-ASEAN relations. "China is ready to work with the Philippines to enhance China-ASEAN relations and East Asia cooperation. China will scale up the input into BIMP-EAGA, the initiative first proposed by the Philippines, which can be a new platform for China-ASEAN cooperation. The BIMP-EAGA, or the East ASEAN Growth Area, includes Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines. The BIMP-EAGA was launched in 1994 by the four countries to accelerate and balance their economic development. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-30 00:25:04|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- A student died after being shot at a high school in U.S. state of North Carolina Monday morning, police said. Another student was taken into custody after the shooting at Butler High School in Matthews, according to local police. Police said the shooting was believed to be an isolated incident. The Charlotte-Mecklenberg School District said law enforcement officials have lifted the lockdown at the high school. Classes would be held for students remaining on campus, the district added. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-30 00:25:04|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close TRIPOLI, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) on Monday condemned the terrorist attack on Fug'ha area of Jufra District that killed five people. "The UNSMIL strongly condemns the deadly attack on Fug'ha ... in central Libya in what local authorities say was a brutal act of revenge conducted by Islamic State (IS)," the mission said in a statement. The attack resulted in the killing of four civilians, two of whom were executed in public, with at least nine abducted, said the statement. The UN also called for protection of civilians and all parties to the conflict to "cease targeting civilians and civilian objects in compliance with International Humanitarian Law." Five people were killed at dawn on Monday in a terrorist attack on government buildings in the Libyan central district of Jufra, some 650 km southeast of the capital Tripoli, a military source said. Linking the Libyan cities of the west, east and south, Jufra has been under the control of the eastern-based army, led by Khalifa Haftar, since June 2017 when the area was cleared of militant groups. In February, a suicide attack on a checkpoint in Jufra killed three army soldiers and destroyed the checkpoint as well as a number of vehicles. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-30 00:25:04|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (R) meets with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (C) in Davao, the Philippines, Oct. 29, 2018. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali) DAVAO, the Philippines, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday expressed willingness to make joint efforts with China to strengthen cooperation in the fields of energy and infrastructure. "Now the shortage of energy and infrastructure hampers the Philippine economy, so the Philippines is willing to enhance cooperation with China in such areas," Duterte said in his meeting with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in the southern Philippine city of Davao. The Philippine government also hopes China will provide support and help to the development of the Mindanao region, Duterte added. During the meeting at the Presidential Guest House, Duterte expressed his satisfaction with the development of bilateral ties between the two countries. The tremendous development achievements of China will bring important opportunities to the whole world, he said. The Philippines fully supports the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and is willing to carry out cooperation with China under the initiative, he added. Duterte, who visited China and attended the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in 2017, said he will consider to attend the forum again in 2019. Duterte said as the country coordinator for ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations, the Philippines will make positive contributions to maintaining the peace and stability in the South China Sea and promoting cooperation between China and ASEAN countries. The Philippines is also ready to strengthen communication and coordination with China in international affairs to uphold the international multilateral system and safeguard the common interests of developing countries, he said. For his part, Wang recalled that the bilateral relations between China and the Philippines have fully improved and developed under the guidance of the leaders of the two countries. China will take the Belt and Road Initiative as an opportunity to strengthen mutual cooperation with the Philippines, so as to achieve common development, Wang said. "China and the Philippines have been good neighbors since ancient times and are dear to each other like members of one family. It will be proved that China is the most lasting, reliable and trustworthy partner of the Philippines during its process of national development," Wang said. He also called for the two countries to work together with other countries in the world to defend multilateralism and international order so as to protect the interests of developing countries and new economies. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-30 00:35:05|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close BEIJING, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- A Turkish archery exhibition opened in Beijing on Monday, featuring Turkish bows and arrows, as part of a series of events held for the 2018 Turkey Tourism Year in China. The 10-day exhibition was designed to show the long history of bow and arrow manufacturing in Turkey, and visitors could learn about archery, as well as view pictures and video clips or participate in interactive activities. Prompted by the Belt and Road Initiative, China declared 2018 as the Turkey Tourism Year, with a launching ceremony held in April. Apart from the archery exhibition, Turkey will hold dozens of other events with themes including music, painting, handicrafts, literature, movie and food. According to Turkey's official data, over 190,000 Chinese tourists visited Turkey during the first six month of this year, an increase of 91 percent year on year. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-30 00:45:10|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close RAMALLAH, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- A Palestinian jailed in an Israeli prison on Monday ended a 58-day hunger strike after an Israeli court agreed to release him next month, the prisoner's wife told Xinhua. Randa Adnan, wife of the prisoner Khader Adnan, said her husband decided to stop his hunger strike after an Israeli court verdict to release him in two weeks. The Palestinian Prisoner Club Association confirmed in a statement that an Israeli military court decided on Monday to release Adnan after two weeks. Adnan, 40 and affiliated with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (Holy War), was arrested on Dec. 11, and begun a hunger strike in protest of his administrative detention 58 days ago. His wife earlier said Adnan's health had been deteriorating over the past 58 days, as he decided to stop drinking liquids. Adnan has become a famous prisoner who often goes on a hunger strike to exert pressure on Israel to release him. He went on a hunger strike in 2012 and 2015, and made a record in hunger strikes for 66 days. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-30 01:00:14|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras addresses the 3rd EU-Arab World Summit in Athens, Greece, on Oct. 29, 2018. More than 500 delegates from over 30 countries, including heads of state and government, senior EU officials, ministers and influential business leaders and scholars participated in the 3rd EU-Arab World Summit entitled "Shared Horizons" here on Monday. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos) by Maria Spiliopoulou ATHENS, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- European and Arab leaders urged for the enhancement of collaboration between the two rapidly changing regions in order to deal with common challenges and build the foundations for a shared better future during a forum hosted here on Monday. More than 500 delegates from over 30 countries, including heads of state and government, senior EU officials, ministers and influential business leaders and scholars participate in the "3rd Euro-Arab World Summit" entitled "Shared Horizons". During the two-day event they are seeking paths to strengthen the political dialogue, economic ties and cooperation in tackling issues of common interest such as migration, extremism, climate change, energy transition and institution building. "The European economy is facing challenges. The Arab world is going through difficult times. However, it is in this challenging time that we need to put our friendship to work together and to strengthen cooperation and explore new avenues," Tawfic Khoury, Chairman of the Al-Iktissad Wal-Aamal media and event management group, one of the organizers of the forum, said in the opening remarks. Greece has always been a bridge between Europe and the Arab world, supporting inter-regional collaboration, in particular in difficult times, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, said while delivering a speech. "Today's summit is a critical summit taking place at a critical momentum, at a significant conjuncture for EU-Arab and Greek-Arab relations which I would say have great prospects... In this period it has become clear that Europe and the Arab World must work even closer together," the Greek leader said. EU-Arab dialogue is instrumental for the peace, stability and economic growth of the greater region, he stressed. "The serious challenges we need to address together require the strengthening of partnerships as well as of the interaction between Europe and the Arab League," the President on the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades stated, addressing the event. Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov who was also among the keynote speakers, pointed to Greek-Bulgarian cooperation as an example for bilateral and multilateral cooperation. Dimitris Avramopoulos, EU Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, joined the Athens summit representing the European Commission, noting that his presence marked the European support to initiatives and efforts to deepen inter-regional collaboration. "In this period of geopolitical instability in the wider region of the Middle East and North Africa which de facto has an impact on Europe, this dialogue contributes to the creation of a climate of mutual respect, understanding and trust," Avramopoulos said during his speech. The two sides must work together to address the migration crisis at its roots, underlining that better protection of the EU's borders does not mean closing borders, he added. The Mediterranean Sea should unite Europeans and Arabs and not divide them, Lahcen Daoudi, Minister Delegate to the Head of Morocco's government, stressed on his part, supporting closer cooperation to promote peace and prosperity for all. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-30 01:10:15|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close VILNIUS, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Lithuanian Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis will skip the Nordic countries top-level meeting due to planned eye correction surgery, according to the PM's schedule announced on Monday. Lithuanian PM has taken a two-day vacation as of Monday to recover from a planned eye correction surgery which he has undergone last Friday, thus skipping the Nordic Council meeting in Oslo, Norway, on Tuesday. "Lithuania is represented by Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius, he is really experienced and capable of representing his country at a top level", Skirmantas Malinauskas, the advisor to the prime minister, told local media. Skvernelis' absence at the Nordic Council sending the country's foreign minister instead has prompted criticism from the opposition back in Lithuania. The members of the Parliamentary Committee of Foreign Affairs and the largest opposition party, Emanuelis Zingeris and Zygimantas Pavilionis, said in a public address that this is a very bad move in diplomacy expressing poor representation and lost opportunities to directly address the issues important to the region and to the country with other PMs. They required an explanation from the PM. The advisor to the Prime Minister responded that the eye correction surgery had been planned in advance. The members of the Committee in the public address said that kind of meetings are usually planned many months beforehand, and the PM and his team should have known about this important event and adjust their plans accordingly. The key meeting in Oslo gathers prime ministers and top-level political leaders from the Nordic region. This year the Nordic Council meeting will be attended by British Prime Minister Theresa May. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attends the opening ceremony of Istanbul's new airport on Oct. 29, 2018. (Turkish Presidential Palace) ISTANBUL, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- The first phase of Istanbul's new airport was inaugurated on Monday with a grand ceremony attended by foreign leaders. At the opening ceremony marking the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Turkey, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced the name of the airport as "Istanbul Airport." "The city's Ataturk Airport will maintain its status as an airport but will be closed to commercial flights," Erdogan said. The new facility, which will cost about 11.6 billion U.S. dollars in total, is being built by a consortium of five contractors over an area of more than 76 million square meters. "We see Istanbul Airport as an investment not only in our country but also in our region and the world," said Erdogan. During its initial phase, the new airport is expected to serve 90 million passengers annually. When the remaining phases are completed by 2028, it is capable of serving 200 million passengers, making it one of the busiest in the world. "Istanbul Airport will continue to grow for the next decade until all its phases completed by 2028, making the city a global travel hub linking Europe, Asia and Africa," Erdogan said. The new airport will have the largest duty-free shopping complex in the world, covering an area of 53,000 square meters and consisting of many luxury stores. The first plane is scheduled to take off from the airport on Wednesday to Turkey's capital city of Ankara, while the first international flight will be to northern Cyprus the following day. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-30 04:00:54|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump will travel to Pittsburgh, state of Pennsylvania, on Tuesday and visit families of victims of Saturday's shooting massacre at a synagogue that left 11 people dead, the White House announced Monday. The president will go "to express the support of the American people and to grieve with the Pittsburgh community," White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told a briefing Monday afternoon. At least 11 people were killed and six others were injured after a gunman opened fire Saturday morning inside the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighborhood. The gunman, identified as 46-year-old Pennsylvania resident Robert Bowers, appeared in federal court in a wheelchair and handcuffs in Pittsburgh on Monday after being released from a hospital where he was treated for gunshot wounds he had taken during a gun battle with police. Bowers, charged with 29 counts of violence and firearms offenses, was ordered held without bail for a preliminary hearing on Thursday, when prosecutors will outline their case against him. "This atrocity was a chilling act of mass murder, act of hatred and above all an act of evil," Sanders told reporters. "We have a duty to confront anti-Semitism in all its forms." She also rejected claims that Trump had any responsibility for the shooting or a recent wave of mail bombs sent to critics of the administration, amid renewed scrutiny of the president's rhetoric, especially his criticism against some news outlets. "The only person responsible for carrying out either of these heinous acts were the individuals who carried them out," Sanders said. The Pittsburgh synagogue shooting is believed to be the deadliest attack on Jews in U.S. history. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-30 04:05:55|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close JERUSALEM, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday talked over the phone with Brazil's newly elected president Jair Bolsonaro, and invited him to visit Jerusalem. Netanyahu congratulated the Brazilian leader for his winning in the elections, said a statement issued by the Israeli Prime Minister's office. Netanyahu told Bolsonaro that he believes that the new office will bring a great friendship between the two nations, said the statement. "We are waiting for your visit to Israel," he added. Chinese tourists get on board to fly back home in Saipan, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), Oct. 28, 2018. (Xinhua) by Tan Jingjing LOS ANGELES, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- More than 1,000 Chinese tourists trapped by Super Typhoon Yutu in Saipan were back home as of Monday. Yutu, which hit the island territories overnight on Wednesday, led to the shutdown of local airport and port due to damages. About 3,200 foreign tourists were stranded, including some 1,500 Chinese. After the airport resumed operation for civil airplanes on Sunday morning, Chinese airlines including Sichuan Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Beijing Capital Airlines and Hong Kong Express sent charter flights to evacuate Chinese tourists. The first Chinese charter flight of Sichuan Airlines arrived in Saipan on Sunday morning, carrying 245 Chinese tourists back home. Chinese tourists get on board to fly back home in Saipan, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), Oct. 28, 2018. (Xinhua) Another three Chinese flights took a total of nearly 700 stranded Chinese tourists home on Sunday. Two more airplanes of Sichuan Airlines and China Eastern Airlines took off from Saipan on Monday to take back the rest of Chinese tourists. Another airplane of Hong Kong Express is scheduled to fly inbound on Tuesday, which will be the last commercial Chinese flight for evacuation mission. There were very few Chinese tourists who did not take charter flights back home due to personal willingness and documentation reasons, according to the Consulate General of China in Los Angeles. Chinese tourists were very excited when they heard the news they could start to 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 service, Chinese flights flew inbound immediately." A tourist surnamed Wang suffered from fracture in Saipan, and was unable to get treatment as medical centers had been restricted by Yutu. She searched for help from the consulate general and finally boarded charter flight of Sichuan Airlines. "The motherland is our strong backup. Thanks to the support of the country and help from various sectors, I was lucky to return back home so quickly," she said, bursting into tears. 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. (Xinhua) Zhang Yongchen, scriptwriter and producer of a TV series shot in Saipan, told Xinhua the crew flew to Saipan with over 100 boxes of camera equipment via an Asiana aircraft. It will be very difficult if they have to take return flight of Asiana airlines, because they had to transfer in Seoul and have all the camera equipment go through customs formalities. Zhang turned to China Eastern Airlines for help, and successfully got 16 members of the crew as well as all the equipment aboard their flight. Local airport will only allow in-bound passengers who are residents or relief effort personnel, after foreign airlines evacuated all the foreign tourists, said a release of the governor office. 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| 2018-10-30 04:46:12|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close PARIS, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- The international police body Interpol on Monday invited about 200 delegates form 40 countries "to close the coordination gap between law enforcement and industry in order to improve security throughout the lifecycle of chemicals of concern and develop an overarching chemical security culture," it said. During the three-day congress, the first such meeting on chemical security and emerging threats, international experts gathered in the French town of Lyon to develop a comprehensive network aimed at improving global chemical safety and security. Furthermore, it "will explore specialized case studies highlighting emerging trends, identify lessons learned and best practices relating to chemical incident attribution and response, and evolving technologies and tactics," Interpol said in a press release. To the agency's secretary general Jurgen Stock, "this congress comes at a pivotal time in the international security climate." "Whether we are from law enforcement, the military, government or industry, we all have a role to play in preventing and responding to the persistent and emerging threats in relation to chemical security," he added. The conference is organized by Interpol, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the FBI, in coordination with the G7 Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-30 04:56:13|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BEIRUT, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Two Israeli warplanes flew Monday at high altitude in the airspace of Baalbek in central Lebanon, followed by intensive flights over the locality of Marjeyoun, said a report by the National News Agency. The warplanes broke the south barrier over Marjeyoun, said the report. Moreover, two Israeli warplanes violated the airspace over northern Lebanon, coming from the sea side, effectuating circular flights off the localities of Akkar, Minieh, Dinnieh and the city of Tripoli. Israeli warplanes have kept violating Lebanon's airspace in the past few months, prompting Lebanese President Michel Aoun to call on the United States to pressure Israel to stop such practices. Caretaker Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil said earlier that Israel has violated Lebanon's airspace, land and sea more than 1,500 times in the past eight months. Honduran migrants taking part in a caravan heading to the United States, get on a truck, near Pijijiapan, southern Mexico on Oct. 26, 2018. (AFP Photo) WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Pentagon will deploy 5,200 active duty troops to the U.S.-Mexico border this week in a bid to deter members of a migrant caravan from illegally entering the country, an official announced Monday. "By the end of the week, we will deploy over 5,200 soldiers to the southwest border," Air Force General Terrence O'Shaughnessy, commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command, told a press conference Monday afternoon. "As we sit right here today, we have about 800 soldiers that are on their way to Texas right now," O'Shaughnessy said. The general said the troops will help "harden the points of entry and address key gaps around the points of entry." The soldiers will be armed and will be deployed with heavy equipment such as helicopters but their role will be limited to providing "mission enhancing capabilities," officials said. The deployment represents a sharp increase from estimates last week, when U.S. administration officials said they were considering a plan to send up to 1,000 active duty troops to the border. Earlier this year, more than 2,000 members of the National Guard were sent to the region to provide assistance to U.S. customs officials who oversee the processing of trade, migrants and pedestrian travel daily. The announcement came as a caravan of migrants is slowly making its way from Central America to the southwest border of the United States. There are approximately 3,500 people in one group, which is currently at the Chiapas-Oaxaca border in southern Mexico, Andrew Meehan, assistant commissioner of public affairs of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, told reporters. A second group of about 3,000 migrants is at the border crossing between Guatemala and Mexico, he added. U.S. President Donald Trump has been warning against the caravan for weeks. "Many Gang Members and some very bad people are mixed into the Caravan heading to our Southern Border," the president tweeted. "Please go back, you will not be admitted into the United States unless you go through the legal process," he said. "This is an invasion of our Country and our Military is waiting for you!" Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-30 05:51:25|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BRASILIA, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Defeated Brazilian presidential candidate, Fernando Haddad, on Monday sent a good luck message to Sunday's election winner Jair Bolsonaro. "I wish you success. Our country deserves the best. I write this message today with a light heart and with sincerity ... Good luck," wrote the Workers' Party (PT) candidate on his official Twitter account. Bolsonaro, the right-wing candidate of the Social Liberal Party (PSL), won the country's presidential run-off on Sunday. Brazil's Superior Electoral Court (TSE) announced that with 99.99 percent of the ballot boxes counted, Bolsonaro won 55.13 percent of the valid votes, compared with 44.87 percent for his rival Haddad. After the outcome was confirmed, Haddad thanked his supporters during the presidential campaign. Haddad also pledged to continue to fight for "national sovereignty and democracy" in Brazil. "What is at stake are civil, labor and social rights. We have the huge task of defending them," said Haddad. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-30 06:01:27|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close RABAT, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Moroccan security services have arrested 26 people, including 12 Algerians, over their suspected links to illegal immigration network, the Moroccan police said in a statement on Monday. The suspects, arrested in the eastern cities of Oujda and Berkane, were active in a criminal network that is engaged in falsifying official documents as well as organizing illegal immigration operations, the statement pointed out. The operations of this network aimed at facilitating access to illegal residency in Morocco and obtaining Moroccan nationality, it noted. The police raids led to the seizure of equipment and administrative documents, which could be used in falsifying documents, it added. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-30 06:11:30|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close ALGIERS, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Algerian army forces on Monday destroyed war weapons, including anti-tank missiles, in an anti-terrorism operation conducted near the border with Mali. Army troops deployed in the southernmost locality of Bordj Badji Mokhtar, near the Malian border, discovered a load of war weapons, said a statement issued by the Algerian Defense Ministry. The weapons included four anti-tank missiles, a 12.7-mm heavy machine gun, four Simonov semi-automatic rifles, two grenades, and some 2,984 bullets of various calibers. The operation emphasized "the high vigilance and the devotion of army troops deployed on the border areas to maintain safety of national territory and to thwart any attempt to smuggle weapons or undermine the security and stability of the country," said the statement. Algeria has deployed tens of thousands of troops on the southern and eastern borderline, in a bid to thwart the intrusion of terrorists and arms, amid instability in Mali and civil war hitting Libya. Meanwhile, the North African nation has also opened safe routes along its southern border, to encourage Algerian militants who joined terrorist groups in the African Sahel, to lay down arms, in exchange for fair trials. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-30 06:36:34|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close Wu Haitao (C), China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, speaks at a Security Council meeting on the situation in Syria at the UN headquarters in New York, on Oct. 29, 2018. He called on the international community to continue to provide humanitarian support for Syrian people in need. (Xinhua/Li Muzi) UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Monday called on the international community to continue to provide humanitarian support for Syrian people in need. Ambassador Wu Haitao, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, made the remarks at a Security Council meeting on the situation in Syria. "In addition, reconstruction efforts of the Syrian Government and people should be supported," said Wu, adding that "the international community should support the Government in its efforts to provide relief for civilian suffering and should be firm in countering the terrorist threat in the country." Describing tireless efforts of his country to assist Syria, Wu pledged its continued commitment to the Syrian people. Syrian refugee children are seen at a settlement near the Jordan-Syria border on the outskirts of Mafraq, Jordan, on April 26, 2018. According to a 2018 report of the United Nations Higher Commission for Refugees, about 160,000 registered Syrian refugees reside in Mafraq, a city situated about 70 kilometers north of the capital Amman. (Xinhua/Mohammad Abu Ghosh) UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Monday called on the international community to continue to provide humanitarian support for Syrian people in need. Ambassador Wu Haitao, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, made the remarks at a Security Council meeting on the situation in Syria. "In addition, reconstruction efforts of the Syrian Government and people should be supported," said Wu, adding that "the international community should support the Government in its efforts to provide relief for civilian suffering and should be firm in countering the terrorist threat in the country." Describing tireless efforts of his country to assist Syria, Wu pledged its continued commitment to the Syrian people. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-30 07:01:40|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke with Brazilian President-Elect Jair Bolsonaro over phone on Monday to discuss bilateral ties and collaboration on Venezuela. Pompeo congratulated Bolsonaro on his win and "reinforced the vibrant partnership between the United States and Brazil based on our mutual commitment to promote security, democracy, economic prosperity, and human rights," said a statement issued by State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert. They have discussed collaboration on "priority foreign policy issues including Venezuela, countering transnational crime, and ways to strengthen economic ties between the United States and Brazil, the two largest economies in the Western Hemisphere," the statement read. Earlier Monday, Nauert said in a separate statement that the United States congratulates Bolsonaro on his election win. "As two of the largest democracies and economies in the world, we are working together to address the 21st century's most pressing global and regional challenges," she said. Earlier on Sunday, the White House spokesperson Sarah Sanders said in a statement that U.S. President Donald Trump had called Bolsonaro to congratulate him on the elections. "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," the statement read. Brazil's right-wing candidate Bolsonaro of the Social Liberal Party won the country's presidential run-off on Sunday, with a 55.13 percent of the valid votes against 44.87 percent for his rival Fernando Haddad of the left-leaning Workers' Party. Bolsonaro, 63, said he planned to govern "following the teachings of God, alongside the Brazilian constitution and with good technical advice, without political leanings." The transition of power began on Monday at the cultural center of the Bank of Brazil. The government has stepped up the alert along Hungarys southern border in the wake of a recent incident involving illegal migrants on the Bosnian-Croatian border, Lajos Kosa, head of parliaments defence and law enforcement committee, said in Mohacs, in southern Hungary. What happened on the Bosnian-Croatian border, at Bihac , cannot be allowed to happen here, Kosa told journalists after visiting the point where the borders of Hungary, Serbia and Croatia meet. Bihac is a repeat of the clash in Roszke, on the Hungarian-Serbian border, in 2015, he said, adding that NGOs organising illegal migration and financed in no small part by US billionaire George Soros paved the way for the illegal entry of migrants into the EU on the Bosnian-Croatian border. Kosa said that at present about 70,000 migrants heading for western Europe are waiting along the Balkan route. On Friday alone, Hungarian police caught 23 illegal entrants. Police helicopters are patrolling the Serbian border twice a day and electronic devices are monitoring any organised movement on the other side of the border, he said. State secretary of defence Szilard Nemeth said that 1,200 soldiers are standing by, ready to be deployed along the border within 24 hours, and another 1,100 within 72 hours. MTI Photo: Kelemen Zoltan Gergely The U.K.s 4th CEE Nuclear Energy Summit, aimed at presenting the opportunities of seven markets across the CEE region and Finland, will run from today to Wednesday, according to a press release. The events main day will be 30 October, with events starting at 9 a.m. at the Budapest Marriott Hotel. The summit will feature a variety of presentations by Hungarian and foreign experts, after opening remarks by British Ambassador to Hungary Iain Lindsay. Topics range from radioactive waste management to developments in the field of nuclear fuel. The events official language is English. Speakers, further information and registration is available at the summits official website. Venue: Budapest Marriott Hotel 1052 Budapest, Apaczai Csere Janos utca 4. President Janos Ader has expressed condolences to the families of victims in a shooting on Saturday that claimed eleven in a Pittsburgh synagogue. Ader, who is visiting Florida, sent a message to US President Donald Trump late on Saturday, saying that he was deeply shocked by the senseless act of violence that killed so many innocent US citizens. On behalf of the Hungarian people, Ader expressed his deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims. He wished a speedy recovery to those injured. The president expressed hope that such hate crimes would never occur again and that people would be allowed to exercise their religion freely, without fear, all over the world. Hungarian Jewish organisations on Sunday said they were praying for and commemorating victims of the shooting in Pittsburgh. The Federation of Jewish Communities (Mazsihisz) said that no matter where a Jewish community is exposed to attack, it is equal to an assault on the Jewish people as a whole. What happened in Pittsburgh on Sunday is a bloody example of the consequences of hate. The Unified Hungarian Jewish Congregation (EMIH) said that the bloodiest anti-Semitic attack in US history has unified the Jewish communities of Hungary and the world against all forms of anti-Semitic hate-mongering. The shooter, 46-year-old Robert Bowers, opened fire during the Sabbath service at the Tree of Life synagogue, killing eleven and wounding six. Hungary will open a vice-consulate in Miami, President Janos Ader announced after talks with Francis Suarez, Miamis mayor. The new representation will facilitate easier contact with Hungary for a local community of some 100,000 Hungarians and for a growing number of Hungarian tourists to Florida, Ader told Hungarian public media after the talks. Parties at the talks touched upon climate change, and Suarez talked about its impacts on Florida such as frequent hurricanes and flash floods as well as rising sea levels. Miamis leaders expressed an interest in Hungarys digital technologies and Hungarian experience in flood protection, Ader said. MTI Photo: Bruzak Noemi Before visiting Slovakia and the Czech Republic this weekend, French President Emmanuel Macron provided written answers to the questions of selected outlets of the Visegrad countries. Hungarian HVG.hu, Czech Hospodarske Noviny, Polish Rzeczpospolita and Slovakian SME got the opportunity for a joint interview. He spoke to HVG.hu about Viktor Orban and the rule of law in Hungary too. We cant profit from the European budget without taking joint responsibility for handling migration for example. We cant reduce our contributions to the budget without understanding what the common market means. If we want to kill Europe, we should continue like this, Macron said, after he was asked about one of his previous statements, in which he had said Europe is not a supermarket, where profit comes from the membership but joint responsibility is not necessary. When asked whether he supports the Article 7 procedure against Hungary, the French president said: The state of the rule of law in Hungary is worrying. Several measures are distorting the separation of powers, and the NGO laws are making the work of these organisations much harder. The European Parliaments report highlighted some tendencies. Talking and worrying about it doesnt mean that we are lecturing from the outside, it means we protect our common goods. According to Macron the EU cant punish discal deficit if it doesnt punish democratic deficit. It was also mentioned in the interview that the Hungarian prime minister is portraying the French president as his main opponent in next years European elections. Im leading no personal campaign and my relationship with Viktor Orban is good, I respect him both personally and as the elected prime minister of the Hungarian people, Macron stated. He added: he continues to fight for European values and identity. According to the French president, a Europe which looks down on the diversity of views and faiths, the freedom of judiciary and press, the accession of refugees who flee political persecution, its nothing but the betrayal of ourselves. In the interview it was also mentioned that the governments of Hungary and Poland use their debates with Brussels to prove their voters that they are doing the right thing. Macron said: Finding a scapegoat can help in the short run, but in the long run it leads to the worst results. He added that he rejects the idea of external pressure because we are Europe, its not abroad. When Europe writes a cheque nobody says its dirty money. But when it protects our values, suddenly its a distant enemy, the French president added. Related links: Video: Hungary & Italy Vow To Stop Mass Migration, Macron Declares Himself Their Main Opponent MTI Photo: Szecsodi Balazs Thousands gathered in central Budapest to express solidarity with Central European University (CEU), in a demonstration staged by the Momentum Movement, on Friday. Momentum leader Andras Fekete-Gyor told the crowd that the government wants to expel CEU from Hungary because Prime Minister Viktor Orban is terrified of all those that have thoughts. He gave the prime minister until December 1 to take his dirty, corrupted hands off the university and called on Hungarians to defend what belongs to them. CEU said last week that incoming students will study at a new campus in Vienna from the 2019-20 academic year, if a solution affecting the universitys circumstances cannot be found by December 1. In response, government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs branded the announcement a political ploy on the part of US billionaire George Soros. He said CEU will continue to operate in Hungary today, and, in our opinion, in the future too. Ruling Fidesz said in a statement that Momentum promotes the interests of businessman George Soros. They argued that politicians of the opposition are backed by the US billionaire and they are now paying their gratitude in front of the Soros university. The statement added that CEU is operating undisturbed and the hysteria around it is but a political ploy. In another development, the opposition Democratic Coalition (DK) said it would make every possible effort in both the Hungarian and the European parliaments to ensure CEU is allowed to continue operating in Budapest. Deputy party leader and MEP Peter Niedermuller said resolving the conflict with CEU as well as restoring academic freedom and the autonomy of universities is a basic condition for ruling Fidesz to remain in the European Peoples Party. DK will initiate a plenary vote on putting a bill on lawmakers agenda that would renew CEUs licence automatically, Niedermuller said. Getting Hungarys government to disclose why it wont sign CEUs operating licence and why it wants to bring the university to ruin is a goal that must be achieved, he added. Related links: CEU Signals Move From Budapest To Vienna Video: CEU Wants To Comply With Hungarian Laws MTI Photo: Szigetvary Zsolt Facem ce facem si tot la Mirel Radoi ajungem Ratarea calificarii la Mondialul din Qatar 2022 parea un final de ciclu, scurt de altfel, la echipa nationala. Mirel Radoi a anuntat ca nu vrea sa mai continue, ca nici sotia nu l-ar face sa se... [citeste mai departe] Stiri pe aceeasi tema - Beekeepers will receive a de minimis aid of 23.7 lei per bee family this year to compensate for the losses they had between March and May 2021, the total value of the de minimis aid being of more than 53.2 million lei, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADR) informed on Wednesday. - The National Committee for Emergency Situations adopted, in Monday's meeting, a decision on the 30-day extension of the state of alert on the Romanian territory. The decision provides for the extension of the state of alert on the entire national territory, for a period of 30 days, starting - On Saturday, Prime Minister-designate Nicolae Ciuca said he is convinced that the government recommended by him will get the votes needed to clear Parliament, adding that negotiations with the other parties "have to be carried through." "I underscored yesterday, and I am underscoring now that we - Social Democratic Party (PSD) Chairman Marcel Ciolacu said on Thursday that political leaders had already "stretched" Romanians' patience too much and that a decision had to be made on the political crisis. "Regarding the political crisis, I appeal to all political leaders with parliamentary - The ousted Prime Minister Florin Citu declared that the PNL and the Government support the capping of energy prices in Romania, and a decision in this regard would be taken in the first meeting of the Executive, after resolving the political crisis. "Regarding the energy price, we also saw the evolution - In aceasta toamna, weekend-ul aduce doza generoasa de umor excentric la Antena 1! Cel de-al 11-lea sezon iUmor va avea premiera sambata, 25 septembrie, de la ora 20.00. Pentru cel de-al 11-lea sezon, Delia, Cheloo si Mihai Bendeac se vor aseza la masa juriului si se vor lasa surprinsi de cele mai neasteptate - Prime Minister Florin Citu announced, on Monday, that the budget revision will be approved in another government session this week. "There will be another government sitting to approve the budget revision, this week," said Citu, when asked, at the Parliament, when the budget revision will be approved. - The Minister of Finance, Dan Vilceanu, considers that the non-taxation of the minimum wage, even for certain categories of taxpayers, is a difficult measure to apply at this moment, when the budget deficit must be pursued. On the other hand, the minister argues that once there is a category A medical marijuana dispensary in the Philadelphia suburbs issued an apology to patients Thursday after someone hacked a page displaying its Google search results and posted the phone number of an illicit weed dealer. Ilera Healthcare, which operates a dispensary in Plymouth Meeting, discovered the hack on Monday, said chief operating officer Oludare Odumosu. The company exacerbated the embarrassment by issuing a letter to patients that mentioned "black-market dealers who diverted Ilera proprietary contact and product information." That led some to believe their personal data had been jeopardized. A "well-meaning employee" then compounded the kerfuffle by posting a note to Instagram. The note, headlined (correctly) "Medical marijuana is a privilege, not a right," went on to say: "Don't jeopardize your right to use medical marijuana. Medical marijuana can only be sold through approved dispensaries with a valid medical card." The statement is true. The Instagram post triggered indignation among cannabis advocates who launched a short lived #boycottIlera campaign. Odumosu could not say if the boycott had an impact on sales. "We apologize to anyone who was offended," Odumosu said. "I personally want to say I'm sorry. It was a bad response to a bad problem. It happened so fast and wasn't vetted. But, I can assure there was no patient data breached and all patient information is safe." Ilera reported the incident to Google and the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Nate Wardle, spokesperson for the department, said the hack appeared to have been contained to the Google page. Wardle said there was no evidence the hacker gained access to Ilera's portal to MJFreeway, the seed-to-sale computer system that tracks all sales and patient records in the state. Engagement editor Tauhid Chappell contributed to this article. For more coverage of medical and recreational marijuana, visit Philly.com/cannabis. John Boehner, former Speaker of the House, sits on the board of directors for Acreage Holdings, a cannabis company. Read more As Big Marijuana reaches for legitimacy in the national marketplace, the cannabis industry's top companies are packing their boards with stars. We're not talking the likes of celebrity stoners, such as Willie Nelson or Snoop Dogg. Some of the world's best-known if not best-loved politicians and corporate leaders now serve as paid advisers to major weed concerns. Brian Mulroney, former Prime Minister of Canada, earlier this month joined the board of Acreage Holdings which operates marijuana-growing facilities in several states, including Pennsylvania. Mulroney sits on the board with former U.S. Speaker of the House John Boehner, who along with former Massachusetts governor Bill Weld, was named to the Acreage board in April. Weed hasn't seen a Caucasian trio this powerful since the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers. "This is a really savvy move," said Michael Useem, professor of management at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business. "You want a mix of people with a range of skill sets on a board, including someone who knows how Washington works and how voters may vote when it comes to legalizing whatever you're doing. "And John Boehner no doubt is as good an adviser as you can find on how to navigate Capitol Hill. " While in office, both Boehner, a Republican who served in the House of Representatives from 1991 to 2015, and Mulroney, a conservative who was Canada's prime minister from 1984 to 1993, were openly hostile to marijuana. Boehner once said he was "unalterably opposed" to legalizing the drug. But last week, he starred in an infomercial touting cannabis stocks. "My thinking on cannabis has evolved," Boehner tweeted on joining Acreage in April. Now he's "all in on cannabis," he said on Wednesday. Mulroney's government tried to keep marijuana in the same legal category as heroin. He told the CBC this month that since he left politics, there has been a "sea change in attitudes in the reality of the use of cannabis." Ain't that the truth. The Acreage board also includes the former chair and chief executive of Time Warner Telecom, Larissa Herda, and the former chief financial officer of IBM, Douglas Maine. Herda also served as chair and director of the Denver branch of the Federal Reserve of Kansas City. With banking a major stumbling block to cannabis industry expansion, Herda's experience could be invaluable. Cresco Labs, a Chicago cannabis powerhouse with operations in six states, including Pennsylvania, has a board heavy with giants from the business world, including John R. Walter, who once helmed AT&T and is the former CEO of R.R. Donnelly; Tom Manning, lead director of Dun & Bradstreet; and Gerry Corcoran, chairman of the Futures Industry Association. "Running AT&T is not the same as growing marijuana," said Useem, who literally wrote the book on what makes a successful board of directors. "But the running of the companies is similar. It's about strategy. You know John Walter will provide wise counsel." MedMen, often called the "Apple Store" of cannabis, will have a Pennsylvania presence after its recent blockbuster merger with Pharmacann. MedMen's board leans more to West coast glamour. Among it's directors are Antonio Villaraigosa, a former mayor of Los Angeles, and Jay Brown, who, with hip-hop music superstar Jay-Z, co-founded RocNation, the producers of the annual Made In America festival on Philadelphia's Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The traditional function of a board is to protect a company's investors. In the realm of cannabis, the boards lend an air of gravitas and legitimacy. Both qualities have been difficult to establish given marijuana's pre-medical history populated by cliched images of glassy-eyed hippies and hipsters. And don't forget that the federal government still considers nearly all commerce in marijuana to be absolutely illegal. "The boards show the seriousness of the industry," said Philadelphia cannabis entrepreneur investor Lindy Snider. "The fact they can attract that kind of talent is very telling. They're not going to take these positions frivolously. It's a great indicator of where we're headed." Other former heads of state who are now advising marijuana concerns include former president of Mexico (and former CEO of Coca Cola Latin America) Vincente Fox and former prime minister of Israel Ehud Barak. The symbolism of corporate giants advising these companies can't be underestimated, Wharton's Useem said. "You want directors that institutional investors the Fidelitys, the Vanguards, and the Blackrocks can trust and have confidence in." The board members, who also attract additional investment capital, are usually paid more than six-figures a year for their services, Useem said. Board members also get an equity stake in the companies. "They're attaching their reputations to the cannabis industry, which is risky still," said Chris Walsh, founding editor and vice president of Marijuana Business Daily, the leading cannabis industry news source. "They're probably getting a handsome payout, but they also may be realizing that this is truly one of the next big American and global industries and they want to ride that train." Brian McCormack, a director and co-founder of Cresco, said the board members are available seven days a week to advise company executives, "We can have a board meeting in 24 hours. That happens. We're not just dialing it in once a quarter." And they truly believe in the company's mission, McCormack said, to provide marijuana as a replacement for opioids and to alleviate symptoms of PTSD and many other ailments. "We have a chance to change the world and create an industry," said McCormack, an early Groupon investor. "We feel like we want to give back. John [Walter] believes in alternative forms of medicine. Tom Manning, who still runs Dun & Bradstreet, is a guy who loves to see young people build companies. It's more altruistic. "They're not in it for large paychecks. They're already massively successful." The dredge Pullen works in the Delaware River during the first contract of the Main Channel Deepening project. The 102 mile project deepens the federal channel from 40 to 45 feet. Read more The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Philadelphia District has awarded a $13.5 million contract to Norfolk Dredging Co. of Chesapeake, Va. for dredging the Delaware River main channel. The contractor will dredge about 1.6 million cubic yards of sediment from portions of the Marcus Hook and New Castle sections of the Delaware River, mostly from routine channel maintenance. The work begins in December. The contract also includes removing 300,000 cubic yards of material from the Marcus Hook anchorage as part of the project to deepen the Delaware channel from 40 feet to 45 feet deep. The deepening project, a joint effort of the Army Corps and PhilaPort, is expected to be complete in 2019. We're been hearing a lot about health savings accounts a sort of "stealth" retirement savings vehicle from which investors can withdraw money tax-free for medical expenses. HSAs are worth a look, although they're not for everyone. If you're covered by a qualified high-deductible health plan, you can contribute pre-tax income to an employer-sponsored health savings account or make deductible contributions to an HSA you set up yourself through a brokerage firm. Qualified plans have an annual deductible of at least $1,350 for an individual or $2,700 for a family, according to Healthcare.gov. A health savings account is an investment account, which can bear interest or be invested in the markets, growing tax-deferred similar to an IRA. Here's the upside: Withdrawals for qualified medical expenses are tax-free, and you can carry over a balance from year to year. The IRS in March 2018 issued guidance for 2018 HSA contributions of $3,450 for individuals and $6,900 for those with family coverage ($7,900 for HSA owners age 55 or older), according to the Isdaner & Co. accounting firm in Bala Cynwyd. One drawback: If you're enrolled in Medicare, you can't contribute to an HSA however, you can create one before you enroll in Medicare and still take tax-free money out for qualified medical expenses. What you can pay for with an HSA IRA adviser and tax expert Sarah Brenner, who works for retirement guru Ed Slott, created a helpful list of all the things you can pay for using money withdrawn tax-free from your HSA: Qualified medical expenses, including doctor and hospital bills, medical supplies, prescriptions, co-payments, dental care, vision services, and even chiropractic expenses. Your spouse or child's medical expenses, even if they are not covered by your high-deductible health-insurance plan. Even after your death, your spouse can use the money tax-free for qualified expenses. Medical expenses in a previous year, as long as expenses were incurred after you established your HSA. That means you do not have to withdraw money from an HSA every time you have a medical expense. You can pay out of pocket, and let your account grow, or reimburse yourself in a later tax year. Qualified medical expenses incurred even after you no longer have a high-deductible health plan and no longer contribute to your HSA. Certain Medicare insurance premiums after you turn 65, but not Medigap premiums, Brenner noted. Not everyone is a fan of HSAs, including reader and local investor Lisa Hastings. "I personally think HSAs are not worth the bother unless someone is so healthy and has so much extra money that all they really need is catastrophic health insurance," she contends. "People who hawk these often forget to say that HSA plans only come with very high-deductible health insurance. They are fine for young people without health issues, but for people who actually go to the doctor or have regular medications, they are a waste of money," she said. "The idea [of HSAs] is that you don't pay for insurance you don't need and can save the rest tax-free, but I'd rather pay less for my health costs now and put the money from a lower deductible and health expenses into an investment account." Speaking of Ed Slott, he will appear in Philadelphia at 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, at Trinity Memorial Church, 2212 Spruce St. Slott will address questions about how to reduce or eliminate taxes on distributions from IRAs, 401(k)s, and other retirement savings, including Roth IRA conversions. Slott is usually on WHYY and other public television channels, so it's a good opportunity to hear him live, courtesy of host Penn's Village, a virtual retirement community in Center City. RSVP by email to info@pennsvillage.org or by calling 215-925-7333. There's no charge for Penn's Village members and volunteers, but a $5 donation is requested from guests. Chef Zing Thluai works in the South Philly East (SoPhiE) food truck at Novick Farm October 10, 2018. The nonprofit SEAMAAC is helping immigrants and refugees. They bought a food truck so immigrants who hope to open their own food business can try it out at the food truck first. TOM GRALISH / Staff Photographer Read more Zing Thluai sliced her signature sushi rolls and dabbed on spicy mayo sauce for anyone surveying the buffet of options outside the bright-blue food truck she shares with another chef. Thluai, a 39-year-old Burmese refugee, could see people returning for a second helping at the "urban farm" location deep in South Philadelphia. She thought about how this was an opportunity to introduce new flavors and a bit of her culture to others. And take a step toward opening her own restaurant. The food truck, which is one part of the community's plan to revitalize a South Philly park, has now become a symbol of entrepreneurship to other refugees and immigrants, aspiring to break out on their own. >>READ MORE: Designing Mifflin Square Park to unite a diverse ethnic neighborhood "They question me a lot: 'How you do that?'" Thluai said. "That is already changing people's mind: 'If Zing can do that, we can do that, too." The South Philadelphia East "SoPhiE" truck, which debuted in April, is owned by the Southeast Asian Mutual Assistance Association Coalition (SEAMAAC), a Philadelphia nonprofit that seeks to revitalize Mifflin Square Park and bring back a community atmosphere that prevailed there before rival gangs had a shootout in 2015. Thluai, who has been a Burmese outreach officer at SEAMAAC for the last five years, said she is at least three years away from saving enough money to open a restaurant, which she thinks would cost about $100,000 to start. And while she usually cooks in the truck two times a week, she is mostly using this time to perfect a menu, learn about inventory, and get name recognition throughout the community. The food truck industry, which rang up $959.8 million in annual revenues last year, logged 7.3 percent growth from 2012 to 2017, according to the research group IBISWorld, making it one of the best performing food service sectors. Most food trucks, like this one, operate in urban areas with large populations. But the opportunity also comes with slim profit margins and lots of competition, the report states. In Philadelphia, the food truck industry has "grown exponentially" in the last few years, said Rob Mitchell, president of the Philadelphia Mobile Food Association. Thoai Nguyen, SEAMAAC's CEO, said the food truck can gross more than $3,000 at some events, such as opening night at the Oval near the Art Museum and Glow in the Park in Fairmount Park, or as little as $150 at Mifflin Square Park. Thluai said she needs to have at least 25 to 30 customers a day to make a profit. Her items range in price from $2 for an egg roll to $11 for her special combo of white rice, green beans and chicken or beef. The truck is part of SEAMAAC's pitch to bring back a "vendor village" to Mifflin Square Park (bordered by West Ritner, Wolf, Fifth and Sixth Streets) by easing access to permits and training local immigrants to become food vendors. The population around the park is about 26 percent foreign born double the city average, according to census estimates. Most immigrants in the city live in Northeast Philadelphia and South Philadelphia, and the latter area is where most Southeast Asians reside, a recent Pew study found. With this vendor village pitch, the nonprofit won a $175,478 grant in 2017 from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation's annual Knight Cities Challenge. "We have a lot of people that are entrepreneurial," said Andy Toy, SEAMAAC's communications director. "A lot of people think of that part of South Philly as underachieving or low income and, sure, maybe it is low income, but there are people that have really great skills and that's what we're trying to emphasize." Using parks as business opportunities Warm weather used to attract an open-air market with unlicensed food vendors, mostly from the Southeast Asian community. But in October 2015, rival gangs fired more than 100 gunshots around the park, leaving one man dead and two wounded. After the shootings, police shut down the impromptu food vending. "We saw that there was vibrancy in [food] and we felt that we could bring it back in a more controlled way," Toy said. "We wanted to make sure people felt that the park was a great place to go and food is a great connector of that." At the time, Nguyen, said he hoped the grant would inspire entrepreneurship. Since then, the nonprofit purchased the truck and pays for the propane and permits. The chefs get about two-thirds of the take on any given night, Nguyen said, while the nonprofit takes one third for operating costs. The goal isn't to make money as much as "make people's lives better," Nguyen said. Still, not everyone around Mifflin Square Park has embraced the food truck, Nguyen said, referencing "ethnic rivalries." Nguyen hopes to diversify the chefs to include Cambodia and Laotian vendors, among others, so those communities feel more included. The Burmese and Indonesian communities have backed the truck so far because of the current chefs, he said. The city has about 140 neighborhood parks like Mifflin Square that are unstaffed, and about 115 have registered friends of the park groups that help with upkeep, said Kathryn Ott Lovell, commissioner of Philadelphia Parks & Recreation. SEAMAAC's project, she said, helps connect the community and "breach that social divide that is widening here in our country." "Each park," Lovell said, "takes on the personality of that surrounding community." 'My dream is getting closer and closer' When Thluai came to the U.S. in 2000, she lived for a few months in Washington, D.C., before moving to Edison, N.J., and working as a sushi chef at a supermarket. Ten years later, she relocated to South Philly to be closer to her sister Esther Sui, and this job is helping her send extra money back to her family in Burma. With SEAMAAC's help, Thluai was able to get a food safety training certification so she knows what the temperature should be for cooking and storing different foods and how to prepare, handle and deliver food to the truck. "I'm so proud because this is like presenting where we are from," Thluai said. For the recent event at Novick Family Urban Farm, Thluai was preparing a chai rolls, made with rice, seaweed, sesame seeds, vinegar, imitation crab meat, cucumber, avocado, teriyaki sauce, spicy mayo sauce, and fried onions. Her menu also included Myanmar special green beans, made with peanuts, fried garlic, onions and cilantro, along with Burmese fried chicken, made with soy sauce, black pepper, garlic, onion and vegetable oil. While surveying Thluai's options, Stephanie Lubert, 32 of Bryn Mawr, said to her friend: "I don't think I've ever had Burmese chicken before," and then scooped some up on her paper plate. "It's excellent," she said. "It's savory." Priya Ranganath, 23, of Center City, also praised the sushi. "This is so good," she said as she grabbed a second helping. Now the mother of four kids between the ages of 5 and 14, Thluai remembers how hard it was to learn English and settle in after immigrating. When she opens her own business, she hopes to employ other refugees and immigrants to do tasks they already do at home, such as cutting vegetables, washing dishes and cleaning, while their kids are at school. At SEAMAAC, she said, she's helped other Burmese refugees get jobs nearby and wants them to have the same feelings of pride and ownership she has after a successful night working at the food truck. "My dream is getting closer and closer," Thluai said. "I have more confidence to run my own business." Former Governor Ed Rendell, speak at the podium, during the Gerry Lenfest's legacy celebration at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia, Pa. Wednesday, October 17, 2018. Read more In a conference room high above Market Street, Pennsylvania's heavy-hitting Democrats, including two congressional candidates and former Gov. Ed Rendell, gathered last week to discuss how their party can score a big win if it gains control of the U.S. House in November's elections. Immigration, health care, and guns have been among the hot-button topics of this campaign, but the focus at the meeting Tuesday was on something else: Infrastructure. >>READ MORE: Gun control, once a third rail, now a key issue as Democrats seek to control House "Infrastructure is not the thing most people lead with," said Earl Blumenauer, an Oregon congressman who was in Philadelphia as part of a nationwide tour to convince sitting Congress members and Democratic candidates that roads, bridges, and railroads must be a priority next year. "But it'll take over a town meeting. There is uniform interest." Democrats see an infrastructure bill as something they could get through a Republican-controlled Senate and Trump's White House. Infrastructure improvements have traditionally drawn bipartisan support, and although the president has been quiet on the issue recently, he ran in 2016 on a $1 trillion proposal for infrastructure spending. "I believe if we took back the House and wrote a good, balanced infrastructure bill, you would get support from the Senate," Rendell said, "including several Republican senators." There is widespread agreement that rail, roads, and bridges nationwide need face-lifts. Both parties have stated that they support comprehensive infrastructure packages. Last week, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, a Pennsylvania Republican, said he would want an infrastructure bill to be a Republican priority in 2019, as well, should his party hold the House. "For the country that we are, for the economic engine that we are, for the success that we have, our infrastructure is failing," he said. The retiring head of the House Transportation Committee, Bill Shuster (R. Pa.), put out a discussion document in July meant to spur movement on an infrastructure bill. Democrats have proposed a $1 trillion package. In a report from the American Society of Civil Engineers that gave the nation's infrastructure a score of D-plus last year, the group found that the country's roads were "in poor condition, chronically underfunded, and are becoming more dangerous." More than half the nation's highway bridges are in fair or poor condition, according to the Federal Highway Administration. Amtrak has proposed as much as $153 billion in work on the heavily traveled Northeast Corridor. SEPTA's general manager, Jeff Knueppel, attended Tuesday's meeting and said his agency's Regional Rail is strained by growing ridership on train cars that date from the Nixon administration. Leo Bagley, PennDot's deputy secretary, said Pennsylvania has 4,500 structurally deficient bridges. Yet, infrastructure hasn't been at the forefront of congressional campaigns. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi mentioned campaign finance reform, drug prices, and gun control in an interview with Politico this month where she outlined the priorities of a Democrat-controlled House, but not infrastructure. The topic doesn't even appear on a list of voters' priorities in ongoing polling conducted by Gallup. >> VOTERS GUIDE: View candidates in the 2018 midterm election based on your address, or browse all the action in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware >> SIGN UP: Get daily text messages on key issues leading up to the election "Immigration, health care, trade have sucked the air out of the room," said Dan David, a Republican running for the Fourth Congressional District seat. "The voters can only concentrate on so many issues at once." When candidates talk with voters, though, conversation often turns to infrastructure, whether it's the quality of roads or access to jobs. Among those attending Tuesday's meeting were Madeleine Dean and Mary Gay Scanlon, Democrats hoping that voters in the Fourth and Fifth Districts, respectively, will send them to Congress. Dean in particular focused on densely developed areas in her district, such as King of Prussia and Pottstown, that would benefit from investment in transportation. Light rail that would connect Norristown and King of Prussia has been planned for years, but SEPTA has not locked down funding for the $1.1 billion proposal. "When I'm knocking on doors, people are talking about infrastructure," Dean said. "People are crying for it." Blumenauer is on the House Ways and Means Committee, not Transportation, but his committee could secure financing for an infrastructure bill. "It would be my intention that we would start from the beginning of the Congress and have at least one hearing every single week listening to Americans about what they want, what they need, and what they don't," he said. The gathering Tuesday at Rendell's law firm, Ballard Spahr, was a way to discuss Pennsylvania's needs, and strategize financing. The former governor had plenty of ideas: Remove the ban on tolling federally funded highways. Establish a national infrastructure bank. Create an infrastructure capital budget. Much federal highway money comes from a gas tax of 18.4 cents a gallon that hasn't gone up since 1994. "Why would anybody think that our gas tax wouldn't have needed to go up during that time period?" he asked. Just increasing the gas tax, though. wouldn't do. Low fuel costs and more fuel-efficient vehicles have made the gas tax an old way to raise funding, and Blumenauer emphasized the need for a tax based on how many miles a vehicle travels. >>READ MORE: SEPTA unveils final rail plan for King of Prussia "The bottom is going to fall out of our funding model," he said. "I think there is a road-user charge in our future sooner than most people think." The price tag associated with infrastructure can quickly turn a politician's feet cold, and at Tuesday's session, officials emphasized that such spending can't add to the nation's deficit. "When people want to look at what the initial cost is, that sticker shock is what gets leadership to run away," David said. While voters may not describe infrastructure as one of their priorities, and politicians may balk at the cost, the way to sell the need for a comprehensive infrastructure bill is to focus on outcomes, said Drew Hammill, a spokesperson for Pelosi. Voters do care about jobs and wages, and Democrats are selling infrastructure investment as a way to address both. "We think the best way to raise wages is to rebuild America," he said. "It's getting at it in a different way, a more roundabout way." Staff writer Jonathan Tamari contributed to this article. Fashion has its fair share of haute hit makers turned household names, like Oscar de la Renta, Hubert de Givenchy, and Coco Chanel. However, I've learned it's often the designers without a string of licenses who, quite honestly, have made more impact. I'm thinking of Claire McCardell, the mid-20th-century women's wear designer who's considered the creator of American sportswear, thanks in part to her pretty shirtwaists and pleated trousers. There is also French designer Madeleine Vionnet, who, among her many claims to fame, counts the invention of the bias-cut gown. Have you heard of her? And then there is perhaps the most unsung American fashion designer: Philadelphia-born James Galanos. But fear not, my fashion chickadees, the time to learn about Galanos' contributions to fashion is now. Among them: He elevated pants and pantsuits to dressy and brought another level of sophistication to the column gown still a red-carpet staple by fashioning it from chiffon and adding luxe drape detail and metallics, giving the relatively simple dress design movie-star sparkle. An exhibit honoring the late designer, known in high-brow fashion circles as former first lady Nancy Reagan's go-to couturier, opened at Drexel University's Pearlstein Gallery last month. "James Galanos: Design Integrity" is composed of 60 classic Galanos looks spanning his 47-year career. On the daises are 1950s shirtwaists, 1970s elongated tunics, 1980s Dynasty-style drama (bring on the sequins!) and clean, columned gowns of the 1990s. The little black dresses smack dab in the center of the 4,000-square-foot exhibit span every decade. Shortly after Galanos' death in 2016, Drexel received 750 of his original samples pieces his models wore on runways, in trunk shows, and in fashion glossies as well as a host of sketches and photographs. The collection was a gift from the Galanos family. I met with the exhibit's lead curator, Clare Sauro, as she put the finishing touches on the show. She gave me a fashion education about Galanos' legacy. Who was James Galanos? James Galanos was born in Philadelphia. He moved to New Jersey, though, when he was very young He went to design school [in New York] for eight months. And then he said, 'I'm done.' He took a job for [Depression-era fashion entrepreneur] Hattie Carnegie before accepting a position at a Los Angeles design house. But before he even got there, the company went out of business. The businessman, feeling guilty, sent Galanos to Paris, where he took an unpaid internship at the House of [Robert] Piguet. There, he became an assistant designer in about 1947. When he was there, he worked alongside Givenchy, with whom he remained friends for years, and Marc Bohan. [In 1960, Bohan replaced Yves Saint Laurent as creative director of Dior.] [Galanos] eventually returns to Los Angles. This is 1951. He borrows $200 and makes a seven-piece collection that he sold to retail buyers, including the Amelia Gray boutique in Beverly Hills. He takes off from there. Is this how Galanos connects with the movie stars of his era? Yes. The Amelia Gray boutique is where many of these women shop. His celebrity clients included the model Dovima [the 1950s American model whose real name was Dorothy Virginia Margaret Juba. A picture of her wearing an olive green Galanos is one of the photographic anchors of the exhibit.] He also designed for Rosalind Russell. [Sauro points to a pumpkin skirt suit] One of his most vocal supporters is Diana Ross. This [long-sleeved metallic] purple dress here. I found a picture of Diana Ross wearing [a version] of this dress in 1984, when she presented an Academy Award with Tom Selleck. Cool. So tell me about Galanos relationship with Nancy Reagan. [Sauro walks over to a dais full of rainbow-hued draped dresses, including an emerald green gown with long sleeves, high neck, and a blousson back. Reagan wore a red silk version of it for her first official White House portrait.] Galanos' and Nancy Reagan's relationship went back before she married Ronald Reagan, when she was an actress. She was among the actresses who helped him shoot to fame in the 1950s and 1960s, but then his status reached a whole other level in the 1980s while Nancy Reagan was in the White House. Galanos was her preferred designer. And it was a bit controversial, too. Those clothes cost a lot of money. But she was in keeping with what had always been. He did become a household name for a bit. There were articles about him in the press But eventually how can I put it you know the kind of designers that chase the press? Well, Galanos just wasn't one of them. That is why there are no Galanos licenses. No fragrances? No sunglasses? Exactly. He was self-funded and for the most part financially secure. What kind of silhouettes are Galanos remembered for? He preferred elongated silhouettes, long tunics, broad shoulders. He liked working with different textures: chiffon, taffeta, lace, chenille, lurex. And he loved bifurcation [that would be pants] He loved jumpsuits. He was doing pantsuits from as early as 1956. He was pretty radical. ON EXHIBIT: James Galanos: Design Integrity October 19- December 8, January 8-27 2019 in Drexel University's Leonard Pearlstein Gallery, 3401 Filbert Street; Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed Mondays. Admision: Free A crowd attends a memorial service at the Sixth Presbyterian Church 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 11 and wounding six, including four police officers, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Read more Does a mass shooting in a Pittsburgh synagogue, or bombs sent across the country close to Election Day, impact election outcomes? I don't know. They must make people think about our toxic politics. And wonder where hatred at a level witnessed Saturday in the Squirrel Hill section of Pittsburgh comes from. They must. But do they make more people want to vote? Or, given the age we live in, make people worry that polling places might be targets? The outcome of all elections, including those as hyped (and maybe now altered) as this one, depends on turnout. Nobody knows with days to go what that turnout will be. "Blue wave?" "Red resurgence?" Big numbers both ways? Normal midterm blahs driven by frustration and disgust? Your guess is as good as mine. President Trump seems concerned that attention to mailed bombs (and now, presumably, a mass shooting) detracts from his preelection message of "caravan and Kavanaugh." Plenty of critics point to Trump's incendiary style whenever there are high-profile acts of violence or hatred. And some will look at the bomb mailings and Tree of Life murders and say there's just no stopping crazy. Instinctively, you'd think these events have some influence on voting. But with polarization set in cement as it is, has been, and will be for who knows how long it's tough to know what that influence is. What we do know is it joins a mix of evidence offering hints about results on Nov. 6. The generic "R" and "D" vote favoring Democrats recently narrowed from double digits to six or seven points headed into the final week. Real Clear Politics' average for the congressional vote had Dems leading 49-39 in early September. The latest average shows Dems up 49-42. That's before bombs and shootings. Does it change? And what of votes already cast? Early voting in states that have it (which is most states, though not Pennsylvania) suggests a couple things because voting is heavy and Republicans outpaced Democrats in several states seen as competitive, leaning red and red. Does that signal a coming record turnout driven by a bunch of new voters? A growing GOP energy? Well, the Washington Post dug into who's voting early and found that at least 75 percent of early ballots in states for which there's data came from "super voters" or "frequent voters" those likely to vote anyway. Not surprising, says Christopher Borick, Muhlenberg College poli-sci prof and head of the Muhlenberg College poll: "These are the already-enthused, maybe just a little more juiced. And it could signal an election that follows normal midterm (low-turnout) trends." There's also buzz about historic voting patterns and the notion that younger voters are finally set to impact an election. Billionaire hedge fund guy Tom Steyer pledged $33 million this year in 11 states, including Pennsylvania, on efforts to register and engage young voters. But Gallup polling shows just 26 percent of voters aged 18 to 29 say they are certain to vote. The same poll shows that, among older voters (65 and up), 82 percent are certain to vote. These are levels sounding like the same old song. If that song is sung, a "blue wave" could be downsized. Still, midterm forecasters with good records say Dems are well-positioned. One is by former Temple political science professor Christopher Wlezien, now at the University of Texas. It was just published in Political Science & Politics, a journal of the American Political Science Association, done with two colleagues, one from Dartmouth, one from Columbia. It says Dems win the House with a plurality of 53.6 percent, ending up in control, 221-214. The trio's past midterm forecasts (2006, 2010, 2014) basically nailed it. But Wlezien cautions that because forecasting work is done in July, "it might not reflect the flow of enthusiasm in this cycle." Which is the problem with today's politics. It's always moving. And it's about one person. Trump, says Franklin and Marshall College poll director Terry Madonna, "motivates voters in both parties like we've never seen before." So, the election is unaffected by anything but Trump? Is that where we are as a people and nation? Maybe that's something to think about. Students and staff at the Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy organized a ceremony Monday morning to honor those killed by a gunman in a Pittsburgh synagogue on Saturday. The candles represent each of the 11 people who died at the Tree of Life Synagogue. Read more Dressed in white tops as a symbol of hope and resilience, the 360 students at Bryn Mawr's Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy entered their school on Monday passing 11 flickering Yahrzeit candles memorializing Pittsburgh's dead, and then gathered to talk about finding strength in the face of an attack on their people. "Our ability to defy the darkness is what allows us to persevere," Molly Lavoe, the student body president, told her classmates, who sat around Barrack's main dining hall, some with heads bowed. "Hope will bring us together. Hope does not guarantee happy endings; it teaches us, when things feel like they could not get any worse, we continue to hang on and keep on fighting." That kind of solemn scene was repeated at Jewish schools and academies across the Philadelphia region, as teens, younger children, and their teachers struggled together to find meaning and comfort just 48 hours after the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in American history took place in Pennsylvania. Children sang "Acheinu," a traditional song of solidarity, recited psalms, or wrote prayers to the dead and their survivors that in the near future will be placed in cracks in Jerusalem's Western Wall. Teachers patiently tried to answer children's questions about who was killed inside the Tree of Life synagogue and why, or tried to turn tragedy into a teaching moment about the healing power of faith and a tight-knit community. Sharon Levin, head of school at Barrack, noted that a number of juniors, studying abroad in Israel this semester, had just completed a week-long excursion to Poland that included a visit to Auschwitz, the Nazi death camp. "Yesterday we're preparing this [assembly, and] we're receiving pictures of 11th graders who were literally at Auschwitz," said Levin, citing their photos of the train tracks that took Jews to their death in the Holocaust. She added: "As Jews and non-Jews, we all say, 'Never again.' Our students were feeling it, they knew what was happening here the confluence of events." Those events news that a gunman driven by anti-Semitic conspiracy theories had opened fire inside the synagogue in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill section, killing 11 and wounding six prompted a long weekend of planning for Monday's resumption of classes and for dealing with students' questions and sorrow. Levin said Barrack administrators began planning the assembly with student leaders on Saturday night and also reviewed the school's security precautions, which include cameras and an armed guard. "That is, sadly," she said, "something that we always have to think about." At Kohelet Yeshiva, a Jewish high school in Merion, head of school Gil Perl addressed students who gathered for morning prayers and echoing other speakers on Monday told the teens that it's natural to feel a range of emotions, including anger, sadness and fear. "I noted that buried within my own feelings of pain is also a glimmer of pride," Perl added. "Not, God forbid, pride that we suffered loss of life. But pride in reading about the victims one seemingly sweeter, more upstanding, and more dedicated than the next. Pride in the values they stood for, and ultimately died for." He also mentioned HIAS, the Jewish refugee-aid group that reportedly angered the killer. "I'm proud that those are my people, that I'm one of them." The school's older students, Groner said, began their day with a prayer service, where they were told that love will ultimately triumph over hate. "From a very, very young age, we talk about how we treat each other, with kindness in all the aspects of our lives," she said. At Barrack, where both the American and Israeli flags were flying at half-staff, students were told that an unnamed supporter of the school had pledged to match any donations to Pittsburgh's Tree of Life congregation from Barrack students and parents. The message there, for kids in grades six to 12, dealt more forcefully with coming to terms with evil in the world. "We are here to say that we are a shared community with a shared heart, and that hatred against Jews may have existed for millennia, but we are stronger than this hatred," Levin told the students, "and it is our shared responsibility to shut it down." One by one, students came up and took the microphone to deliver their own messages of resilience, and condemnations of gun violence. Ruthie Cohen, a senior, noted that her generation has grown up with grim news of school shootings but that this one in a synagogue so similar to ones they've attended in the Philadelphia suburbs felt different. "This is a personal awakening," she said. "Something like this happening in a community so similar to our own, in our state, in 2018, makes it all the more clear that something needs to change." She also said that what happened in Pittsburgh shows that much more must be done to combat anti-Semitism. "It is there, and we need to acknowledge it and call it out for what it is." Christian Coulson (left) as Richard and Justin Adams as Bolingbroke in "Richard II," at the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival in summer 2018. Read more The Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival does not mess around. It's not even November and they have announced their summer 2019 season and it's a sparkler. Playbill.com recently listed PSF among its "Must Know Regional Theaters," and the mix of Bardic beauties, American plays and musicals, and family fare scheduled for this summer at DeSales University in Center Valley is especially intriguing. For Americana, we have Ken Ludwig's American songbook tunefest Crazy for You (June 12-30), the two-man quick-change spoof The Mystery of Irma Vep A Penny Dreadful (June 20-July 14), and Noel Coward's piquant adult comedy Private Lives, about exes who have remarried and are about to undo and redo everything (July 18-Aug. 4). In a statement, producing artistic director Patrick Mulcahy says, "This season is designed to be transporting. The Shakespeare plays each feature characters in search of transcendence." You can clearly see that in Antony and Cleopatra (July 10-Aug. 4), with kings who want to be emperors and empresses who want to be gods. And Henry IV, Part 1 (July 24-Aug. 4) continues the festival's exploration of Shakespeare's second quartet of "Henry" plays, picking up from last year's Richard II. In this installment, a boy is transformed into a man indeed, a prince among men. The play will be performed in what PSF calls "extreme Shakespeare," that is, pretty much as the original players did it in Shakespeare's day: Actors arrive with their lines learned, rehearse on their own, and wear what they can find, with no director and next to no scenery. Antony and Cleopatra and Private Lives will be performed in repertory, with the same cast alternating between plays day to day. The children's offerings are The Adventures of Robin Hood and Maid Marian (May 31-Aug. 3) and the yearly Shakespeare fantasia Shakespeare for Kids (July 24-Aug. 3). Details are at pashakespeare.org. An upcoming teen drama focusing on heroin addiction will begin filming here in Philadelphia next month. Dubbed Sno Babies, the film stars Katie Kelly (Game of Silence) and Paola Andino (Every Witch Way) as a pair of 16-year-old best friends who battle their addictions to heroin, Deadline reports. Kelly's Kristen McKusker is a straight-laced honor student, while Andino's Hannah Reid is the story's resident rebel. The film is reportedly based on a true story. "Unlike most films about heroin addiction, Sno Babies explores this horrible epidemic in America's suburbs, where teems have access to money and parents who are often too busy pursuing the American Dream to see what is happening right now in their own homes," director Bridget Smith said via a Kickstarter statement. Currently, the film's creators are pursuing a $50,000 fundraising goal, which must be met by Nov. 8 to be successful. At the time of publication, the project raised about $38,000. Last year, the ongoing opioid crisis result in more than 1,200 overdose deaths in Philadelphia. Opioids were detected in 88 percent of the cases, up from 80 percent in 2016. In response to the crisis, city health officials have allowed the establishment of a safe-injection sites, a controversial concept that would create an area where users could go and inject heroin with medical staff onsite. Currently, Safehouse, a nonprofit, plans to open the city's first safe-injection site, though its location has not yet been selected. As the Inquirer's Aubrey Whelan wrote earlier this month, however, the site is likely to be located in Kensington. Considered to be the epicenter of Philly's opioid epidemic, that area of the city has the highest overdose death rate in Philadelphia, and is reportedly home to half of the city's homeless population. "I wish I could say our story is totally fabricated and far fetched, but I'd be lying," Smith wrote of the film on Kickstarter. "The reality is, the horror that plays out in Sno Babies happens every day, several times a day." Sno Babies is one of many movies coming out that deal with addiction, including Beautiful Boy, in theaters now, starring Steve Carell trying to help his son (Timothee Chalamet) through meth addiction, and Ben is Back, which opened the Philadelphia Film Festival earlier this month. Seven children have died after becoming infected with an adenovirus at the Wanaque Center For Nursing And Rehabilitation, in Passaic County, N.J. Read more A ninth patient has died after developing severe respiratory symptoms at a long-term-care center in New Jersey. Eight of the nine were confirmed to have been infected with an adenovirus a dangerous type of microbe for such patients, who are dependent on ventilators and have weakened immune systems. The ninth death was announced Sunday by the state Department of Health. The cause of infection in the eighth death, announced Friday, remains to be identified. All nine were in the pediatric unit of the Wanaque Center for Nursing & Rehabilitation in Haskell, Passaic County. Most were children, though at least one was a young adult; state officials have revealed minimal details to protect patient privacy. During a site visit last week, inspectors identified "hand-washing deficiencies," and state health officials have barred the center from admitting new patients until the outbreak is past. "This is a tragic situation, and our thoughts are with the families who are grieving right now," Health Commissioner Shereef Elnahal said in a statement. "We are working every day to ensure all infection control protocols are continuously followed and closely monitoring the situation at the facility." In all, 25 patients have been confirmed as being infected with the adenovirus. A staff member also became infected but has since recovered, the Health Department said. All the infections occurred before Oct. 22. Protesters gather outside the Criminal Justice Center after a court hearing for Mumia Abu-Jamal in Philadelphia, PA on October 29, 2018. DAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer Read more Maureen Faulkner stood up in court Monday morning and cried out to the judge who had just given her husband's convicted killer 30 more days to appeal. "With all due respect, your honor," Faulkner said to Common Pleas Court Judge Leon Tucker, her voice breaking. "I have another 30 days that I have to go through this pain and suffering?" Tucker had just extended the appeal hearing of Mumia Abu-Jamal in the fatal shooting of Philadelphia Police Officer Daniel Faulkner on Dec. 9, 1981. Maureen Faulkner had flown in from California, hoping her long ordeal would come to an end. Instead, Tucker granted a 30-day extension to Abu-Jamal's attorneys, who say they are trying to recover a document they claim helps to show that former state Supreme Court Justice Ronald D. Castille violated Abu-Jamal's constitutional rights when he did not recuse himself from appeal reviews. As sheriff's officers pulled at the sleeve of her maroon sweater and pleaded with her to calm down, her voice rose toward the judge. "I've been fighting back and forth!" "Have a seat," Tucker said. "I have been fighting!" "Please remove her from the courtroom," Tucker said. "Thirty-eight years!" Faulkner yelled as she was escorted out. "This is wrong!" After her exit, the judge said, "The courtroom is sensitive to both sides. "The court is not going to rush to judgment in this matter," he added. "So, just to be clear, no matter how long it takes, this court is going to do the right thing." The now 64-year-old Abu-Jamal is serving a life sentence for the fatal shooting of 25-year-old Daniel Faulkner at 13th and Locust Streets. Abu-Jamal, held at the State Correctional Institution-Mahanoy in Schuylkill County, did not attend the hearing. "It's difficult," the judge said. "I'll be candid. It's a difficult case." The core argument by Abu-Jamal's defense is that because Castille had been involved in the case as Philadelphia district attorney from 1986 to 1991, he should have recused himself as a Supreme Court justice during appeals. The defense is hoping that Tucker finds that Castille was biased, and that Abu-Jamal gets a new appellate review by a higher state court and possibly a new trial. The lawyers contend that two memos written by Castille when he was district attorney showed he had a significant involvement in pushing for Abu-Jamal to be executed. But Assistant District Attorney Tracey Kavanagh, supervisor of the District Attorney's Post Conviction Relief Unit, told Tucker that this allegedly missing memo hasn't been found. Judith Ritter, one of Abu-Jamal's lawyers, said she sent a new right-to-know request to the Pennsylvania State Senate Judiciary Committee for documents. She said they are waiting on that request so the judge has all of the information. They also point to a 2016 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in a different case, in which a majority of the justices found that Castille was wrong to have participated in an appeal to the state Supreme Court by another convicted Philadelphia killer. In a hallway after the hearing, Faulkner apologized for her outburst, but said she was tired of the prolonged pain. "My emotions got the best of me," she said. "I mean, when is this case going to end for us?" Meanwhile, more than a dozen protesters on both sides of the case demonstrated outside the courthouse. Sean Kratz (left) and Cosmo DiNardo (right) were charged in the Bucks County slayings of four young men in July 2017. DiNardo pleaded guilty in May. Kratz awaits trail. Read more Sean Kratz, who is charged with helping Cosmo DiNardo kill and bury three young men on a Bucks County farm in 2017, has retained A. Charles Peruto Jr., the criminal defense attorney who has represented some of Philadelphia's most notorious defendants. The move, made official at a hearing on Monday in Doylestown, is the latest of several developments involving Kratz and his legal team and will further delay a case that was expected to go to trial early next year. In May, Kratz, 21, of Philadelphia, rejected a plea deal at the last minute, and soon after, attorney Craig Penglase was removed from the case after he admitted leaking tapes of DiNardo's and Kratz's confessions. On Monday, prosecutors expressed dismay at Kratz's decision to retain Peruto just days before Kratz was scheduled to be in court for pre-trial hearings represented by a court-appointed lawyer. "This is gamesmanship," said First Assistant District Attorney Gregg Shore. But "from our perspective, this will only strengthen our resolve against Mr. Kratz." The families of DiNardo's victims filled three rows behind the prosecutors. With tears in their eyes and looks of anguish on their faces, some relatives shook their heads upon hearing that the case would be delayed once again. "I'm not happy to be in the position in which I'm placed, but the individual has the right to a counsel of his choice," said Bucks County Court Judge Jeffrey L. Finley. "I believe everyone feels as we move forward in this trial, we have to do it right." Finley granted Kratz's request that Keith Williams, the Doylestown attorney who had been appointed in May to represent Kratz, be discharged and Peruto take his place. Mark Potash, father of victim Mark Sturgis, said he was frustrated by the decision and felt "tortured" by delay after delay in this case. "I can't even believe this is our system," Potash said. "It just keeps stirring everything back up. . . . It's almost too hard to describe." Williams, who estimated he had spent hundreds of hours working on Kratz's defense, said he learned of the change Friday afternoon in an email from Peruto's office. "I believe I had a good working relationship with Mr. Kratz. I was surprised by this move," Williams said. "We were ready to move forward." Williams declined comment when asked whether he thought Kratz's decision was a mistake. "I wish Peruto the best of luck," he said. Wearing a yellow prison jumpsuit and appearing heavier than in the past, Kratz stood and asked to address the judge before the hearing concluded. "Previously, when I was offered a third-degree murder charge . . . ," Kratz began, adding in a muffled voice that he had been promised a certain sentence. The judge cut him off and advised he talk with Peruto before continuing. After huddling with Kratz, Peruto stood and said, "I think it is wise my client not speak." Kratz, DiNardo's cousin, is charged with the murders of three of DiNardo's victims Dean Finocchiaro, 19, of Middletown Township; Thomas Meo, 21, of Plumstead Township; and Sturgis, 22, of Pennsburg. DiNardo, 21, of Bensalem, pleaded guilty in May to killing Finocchiaro, Meo, and Sturgis, along with his first victim, Jimi Patrick, 19, of Newtown. After DiNardo pleaded guilty, and Kratz balked at his chance at a plea deal, prosecutors said they may call DiNardo to testify against his cousin. DiNardo was sentenced to four consecutive life sentences. He was spared the death penalty in exchange for upholding his end of a deal struck when he confessed to the murders back in July 2017. Prosecutors agreed not to seek the death penalty if DiNardo led them to Patrick's body. He told authorities he lured each of the four young men to his family's sprawling Solebury property over the course of three days. DiNardo, who had a history of mental illness and a long list of previous encounters with police, told his victims he had marijuana to sell. Once he got them on the property, he shot and killed them, running one over with a backhoe and trying unsuccessfully to burn three of the bodies in a converted oil tank before burying them on the farm. A gag order bars prosecutors and Kratz's current attorneys from expounding on what happened in court Monday. The pretrial hearings will be continued on a later date to allow for Peruto to get up to speed on the case and ensure he has necessary certification to represent a client in a capital case. Niels Eriksen, a defense attorney based in Langhorne, will remain on Kratz's legal team, with the intention of representing him during the penalty phase. Aden Devlin, 7, who lost his life yesterday after falling from a Septa Subway train while moving from one car to another while the the train was in motion, Monday September 24, 2018. Read more A federal investigation into the death of a child killed while walking between train cars on SEPTA's Broad Street Line will focus on how to prevent such an accident from happening again. In its preliminary report on the Sept. 23 death, the National Transportation Safety Board wrote Monday that the investigation would look at ways to minimize the dangers associated with the gangways between train cars. Aden Devlin, 7, of Strawberry Mansion, died when he fell between cars as the train left the Allegheny station platform through a tunnel, according to the NTSB report. Passengers saw the boy fall, the report said, and one activated an emergency alert that led the operator to stop the train. Aden was killed when he was struck by one of the cars, officials have said. The boy was selling candy to passengers on the southbound train with his 11-year-old brother and a 26-year-old family friend when he died, police said. Aden had sold candy at 69th Street since he was 4 and started selling on the subway earlier this year, family has said. He had dropped candy on the gangway between cars, his family said, and slipped when he tried to pick it up. His brother and the family friend tried to catch him but couldn't, they said. >>READ MORE: 7-year-old who died after fall from SEPTA train remembered for entrepreneurial spirit At the time of the death, SEPTA had signs posted above the end-of-car doors advising riders not to use them to pass through to other cars. SEPTA policy does not bar passengers from using those doors, but the agency highly discourages their use, the NTSB reported. Since the death, SEPTA has put larger signs on the interior of those doors on all its subway cars and begun making announcements that those doors are to be used only in emergencies. The gangway between subway cars is protected by three chains on each side. Those weren't enough to prevent Aden from falling onto the tracks. A SEPTA spokesman said Monday the agency was looking at safety issues related to the gangways but had no specific changes in the works beyond what was mentioned in the NTSB report. The NTSB will eventually complete a full investigation with findings on how the death happened and recommendations on how to prevent similar incidents. Mourners participate in a vigil on Saturday evening in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh, where 11 people were killed in a mass shooting earlier in the day at the Tree of Life Synagogue. Read more 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, and faces a raft of assault, homicide and hate crime charges. "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." After the victims were named at a news conference Sunday morning, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto called the attack the "darkest day of Pittsburgh's history" after the victims' names were read out Sunday morning. He also disputed President Donald Trump's suggestion that the synagogue should have had armed guards. "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," Peduto told reporters. The shooter 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. 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." 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. He allegedly walked through an unlocked door at about 9:45 a.m., armed with a Colt AR-15 rifle and three Glock .357 pistols all four of which fired, police said, as he moved around the large building, screaming about Jews. E. Joseph Charny, 90, recalled praying on the second-floor of the building with about half a dozen other congregants. He heard a loud noise downstairs and soon saw a man appear in the doorway. Then gunshots. "I looked up, and there were all these dead bodies," Charny said. Bowers roamed the maze-like building, authorities said, gunning down groups of worshipers as he came across them. Robert Jones, the FBI special agent in charge of the case, called it "the most horrific crime scene I've seen in 22 years with the Federal Bureau of Investigation." Among the eight men and three women killed were Rose Mallinger, a 97-year-old resident of the predominantly Jewish neighborhood; 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 rampage, which lasted about 10 minutes before someone called 911, police said. Two police officers arrived at the synagogue within a minute of the call and encountered the gunman at the synagogue's entrance. "He had finished, and he was exiting the building," Jones told reporters. "Had Bowers made it out of that facility, there is a strong possibility that additional violence would have occurred." Instead, authorities say, Bowers exchanged gunfire with the two officers, shooting one in the hand; the other was injured by shrapnel. He fled back inside the synagogue, and a small SWAT team assembled to pursue him and try to rescue the wounded inside. Bowers shot two more officers multiple times each during a brief standoff on the building's third floor, according to criminal complaints. He was allegedly yelling about Jews throughout. The final casualty count was 11 people killed and six wounded, including the four officers. The suspect was also shot several times before he surrendered inside the building. He remained in fair condition and in federal custody on Sunday. Authorities have closed off the synagogue and much of the surrounding area, although they do not believe the suspect had accomplices. As news of the shooting spread, police locked down other, nearby synagogues. Police also raced to synagogues in Washington, New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles to provide additional security. Investigators worked through the night at Tree of Life processing what Jones called "a large and complex crime scene." They also consulted with rabbis to identify the bodies, which remained in the building until the next morning. Bowers' house in the Baldwin neighborhood was searched, and investigators have begun to scour his social media feeds. These may include a since-deleted Gab account in which a user with Bowers's name compared Jews to Satan and complained that Trump's "Make America Great Again" movement cannot succeed so long as Jews "infest" the country. Bowers is expected to have his first court hearing on Monday. He faces at least 23 state charges, including homicide, attempted homicide and aggravated assault against police officers. He faces an additional 29 federal charges accusing him of civil rights and hate crimes. "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." The Pittsburgh massacre comes less than two weeks before midterm elections, hours after a man was arrested and accused of mailing pipe bombs to prominent Democrats, and is the latest in a seemingly endless series of mass shootings and hate-fueled attacks including a possible hate crime in which a man killed two black shoppers at a grocery store in Louisville. It is almost certain to intensify a national debate over bigotry and hatred in American politics not to mention gun control. The ADL said anti-Semitic incidents had jumped more than 50 percent to nearly 2,000 documented events in 2017 a year in which white nationalism seemed to surge in visibility, overlapping with support for Trump's anti-immigration policies and demagogic political rhetoric. Like the prime minister of Israel, the pope and political leaders across the world, Trump has condemned the synagogue attack. He ordered flags flown at half-staff through Wednesday. At a political rally on Saturday evening, Trump called the massacre "an assault on humanity" that "will require all of us working together to extract the hateful poison of anti-Semitism from our world." But Trump has shown no signs of listening to critics including the ADL who have for years warned that his rhetoric incites anti-Semites. Later in Saturday's speech, for example, the president again attacked "globalists" a word that reportedly appeared in one of Bowers's anti-Semitic posts and is interpreted on the far right to mean powerful Jews. Trump has used it throughout his presidency, and he once released a political ad that paired images of prominent Jews with warnings about "global special interests" and "global power structure." In his defense, Trump's supporters cite his daughter's conversion to Judaism and his support for the Israeli government. On Sunday, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders called the suspect "a coward who hated President Trump because (he) is such an unapologetic defender of the Jewish community and state of Israel." Nor does the shooting seem likely to change Trump's opposition to gun control. Just as he has after mass shootings in schools, he suggested Saturday's massacre could have been prevented if the synagogue had armed security guards. At the news conference Sunday morning, Peduto was asked about the president's response and partially repudiated it. "We will not try to rationalize irrational behavior," the Pittsburgh mayor told reporters. "We will work to eradicate it. We will work to eradicate it from our city, and our nation, and our world. Hatred will not have a place anywhere." The mayor echoed Tree of Life Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, who has not commented since the massacre but who wrote the following after the Parkland, Florida, school shooting in February: "Unless there is a dramatic turnaround in the midterm elections, I fear that the status quo will remain unchanged, and school shootings will resume. 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?" The Washington Post's Kellie B. Gormly reported from Pittsburgh. Kyle Swenson, Amy B Wang, Deanna Paul, Devlin Barrett, Wesley Lowery, Abby Ohlheiser, Kristine Phillips, Mike Rosenwald and Katie Zezima contributed to this developing story. HARRISBURG Defense lawyers for State Rep. Vanessa Lowery Brown are asking the judge in her political corruption trial to dismiss all charges before the case goes to the jury. The request came Monday as Brown's lawyers began presenting her defense in the case, which grew out of a sweeping sting investigation run by the state Attorney General's Office between 2010 and 2012. The Philadelphia Democrat is accused of taking five cash payments in 2011 from the sting's undercover operative, Tyron B. Ali, in exchange for official favors. Brown's lawyers Patrick A. Casey, John B. Dempsey, and Erik R. Anderson argued that prosecutors failed to show specific instances of Brown accepting money in exchange for votes. Prosecutors Michael Sprow and Ryan Shovlin contend that Brown accepted five payments totaling $4,000. They have pointed to her testimony before a grand jury that she knew she was breaking the law when she accepted the money from Ali, who at the time was posing as a lobbyist and discussing votes on various bills. Brown's request for an acquittal, although routine for defense lawyers in mid-trial, will be closely watched. In an unrelated but high-profile political corruption case last year, a federal judge, in an extraordinary decision, dismissed all charges after prosecutors had presented their case. Still, lawyers have said a mid-trial acquittal would be rare. Earlier Monday, four defense witnesses took the stand to attack the credibility of Ali, the trial's star witness. Brown's lawyers have sought to paint Ali as a consummate con man who spent years swindling taxpayers and unsuspecting business partners. Two of the witnesses were Philadelphia-area investors in a nonprofit that Ali ran to help people restructure their mortgages to keep their homes. Both testified that they loaned Ali money but were never repaid in full. One, Masoud Soroush, is a chemical-engineering professor at Drexel University who said Ali represented his business as one that aimed to help people who suffered from bad credit. Soroush told jurors that he lent Ali $311,000 in 2009, and that Ali did not make good on his end of the deal. Soroush later sued Ali, but said he only recouped about $60,000. On cross-examination by Sprow, Soroush acknowledged that he did not know Brown or have any personal knowledge of the allegations against her. "Do you have any personal knowledge of her taking cash bribes in her position as a state representative," Sprow asked. "No," Soroush responded. Also testifying were current or former state auditors whose investigation into one of Ali's business ventures led to criminal charges. Ali was charged in 2009 by the Attorney General's Office in a massive fraud case. He was accused of using a North Philadelphia daycare center he operated to defraud taxpayers of more than $400,000 intended to provide meals for low-income children and seniors. Both auditors said they looked at canceled checks and bank statements from the day-care business, among other records, and quickly determined that documents were forged. "The math wasn't checking out," said Martin Scripko, a retired state auditor. The matter, Scripko said, was referred to the Attorney General's Office for further investigation. Both auditors, on cross-examination, said they were not forensic accountants or certified fraud examiners. The onetime state prosecutor who oversaw the sting investigation last week testified that the original criminal case against Ali was overblown, and that a further review from his office was able to pinpoint much of the money Ali was alleged to have stolen. Ali began cooperating with state prosecutors after the charges were filed in the fraud case, agreeing to go undercover as a lobbyist and surreptitiously record elected officials. In all, six Philadelphia Democrats including five former or current lawmakers were charged. Brown is the only one to fight the charges. The others pleaded guilty or no contest. All charges against Ali in the fraud case were eventually dropped. The sting case has divided the state's legal and political community for years, with some critics contending it was poorly managed and targeted at Democrats from Philadelphia. On Monday, Brown's lawyers read a sworn statement to the jury from an FBI agent who said Ali told him he was discouraged from targeting Republicans. The agent, Robert J. Haag, said Ali told him that he after he contacted GOP lobbyists and public officials, he was "reprimanded." State prosecutors have repeatedly rejected the idea that Ali was told to steer clear of Republicans. During the investigation, they said, they told Ali to avoid certain officials for fear his cover would be blown. The congregation at the morning mass at St. Peter and Paul on October 28, 2018, shake hands as they offer each other the sign of peace the day after the synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh. Read more While on the opposite end of the state the names of the 11 people killed in the massacre at a Pittsburgh synagogue were announced Sunday morning, Catholics attending Mass at the Cathedral Basilica SS. Peter and Paul in Philadelphia prayed for them and their families. After the 9:30 a.m. service ended, several of the nearly 200 in attendance said they had been horrified to learn Saturday that a gunman shouting anti-Semitic slurs had fired upon congregants at the Tree of Life synagogue, but they also said their faith made them unafraid in their own house of worship. "This is a house of worship, but it's where we turn to for strength," said Charlotte Thomson, 65, who lives a few blocks from the cathedral in Center City. Thomson said that after a serious car crash in 1993, a doctor told her he "lost me for just under 15 minutes" when she was unconscious and suffering from broken bones and blood loss. "I feel God wasn't ready for me to die and I'm not afraid. We all have our own paths to travel." Rachel Sigman, 26, of West Philadelphia, shared the sentiment. "It's in God's hands. I feel safe with God's people," she said. The Rev. Msgr. Louis A. D'Addezio did not discuss the massacre during his sermon, but afterward, during the universal prayer part of the service, the tragedy was mentioned and the victims were remembered. The Rev. Dennis Gill, the rector, said in an interview that he planned to include some remarks about the shooting in his sermon Sunday evening. His message would be that "the shooting in the synagogue is an evil that's everywhere today, and God does his part and we have to do our part. We have to do everything we can to eliminate hatred, bigotry and racism." Robert G. Bowers, 46, was arrested at the synagogue and charged with 29 counts associated with hate crimes, the murder of 11 congregants at the synagogue, and the wounding of four police officers and two others. He brought an AR-15-style assault rifle and at least three handguns to the synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh and opened fire Saturday morning, police said. Among the deceased victims were eight men and three women, ages 54 to 97. Their names were read aloud by law enforcement authorities Sunday morning during a news conference in Pittsburgh. At least a dozen vigils were planned throughout the region Sunday to honor the lives that were lost. A moment of silence also was held before an afternoon concert in Verizon Hall of the Curtis Institute of Music Orchestra. After the Mass at SS. Peter and Paul, Paul Nedeau, 32, of Philadelphia, said that it had not occurred to him during the service that he might be vulnerable to a shooting, even though at least two other places of worship in the U.S. were attacked in the last three years. "Obviously, these things are happening in the faith communities and it's incredibly disturbing when it does. But when you're in your own church you don't feel unsafe, and maybe you should," he said. Guy D'Angelo, a church greeter from Cinnaminson, said he, too, had trouble comprehending the idea of a church or synagogue being unsafe. "I don't know what to make of it. It's the state of affairs of the society we live in now," he said. But the parishioners did not want to see armed guards at the church's entrance. "Making it Fortress Cathedral would be a bad idea," said Susan Hunt, 68, of Philadelphia. "It should be welcoming." She said that St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City now has security screening equipment at the door, but "there is a lot more going on there." Philadelphia Police spokesman Troy T. Brown said in an email Sunday that "we've increased patrols at Jewish facilities, synagogues, as well as other places of worship. We won't give any numbers, or specific locations. We don't want to cause any place to be targeted as a result of our reporting." Lydia Cruz, 58, of Honolulu, who was in Philadelphia this weekend visiting her daughter, said that with the Pittsburgh shootings on her mind, she had a few moments of fear Saturday night while at the Academy of Music to see Fiddler on the Roof, wondering whether the play that celebrates Jewish traditions might make the theater a target for another anti-Semitic attack. She was more comfortable heading into SS. Peter and Paul on Sunday morning for Mass, she said. "I haven't heard that being in a Catholic Church is a target yet," Cruz said. Raylene Arko, owner of Keep It Clean with Raylene, left, sits with Andy Sealy, whose South Philadelphia home got a free cleaning. Arko works with Cleaning for a Reason, a non-profit that provides free services for cancer patients. Read more Raylene Arko, owner of a residential and commercial cleaning business in Fishtown, has had a fair share of experience with cancer. Her father died of lung cancer that metastasized to his brain. Her grandmother died of breast cancer. Her mother is a 13-year breast cancer survivor. So Arko has seen the toll a cancer diagnosis can take on a family how everyday tasks can become a burden. "Seeing how sick my dad was and how my mom was taking care of him [and] taking him to his treatments, we had to focus on the doctors' appointments and his chemo appointments, so there wasn't much time left to make sure the house was clean," Arko said. "With my mom, fortunately, she [only] had to get radiation, and she was still able to work, but she was still tired, so seeing how cancer brings you down just by having your house clean is just such a big relief, a weight off your shoulders," she said. So Arko decided to use her business to lend a hand to women with cancer by offering complimentary home-cleaning visits. One of those clients, Andy Sealy, 38, of South Philadelphia, has always been an independent woman. After her parents' divorce, she lived with her sister during high school. She became class president and applied to colleges and for student loans all on her own. Consequently, she had a hard time asking for and receiving help when she learned last year that she has metastatic breast cancer, which has spread to her spine and right hip. As she searched online for resources to help cancer patients applying for Social Security disability benefits that gave her student loan forgiveness, for instance she also found the offer from "Keep It Clean with Raylene," Arko's cleaning company. In 2009, Keep It Clean with Raylene teamed with a Texas nonprofit called Cleaning for a Reason, which organizes free housecleaning in the U.S. and Canada for women in cancer treatment. The service started when founder Debbie Sardone, who also owns Buckets and Bows Maid Services, received an inquiry from a potential customer, a cancer patient who hung up after saying she couldn't afford the services. From then on, Sardone decided, her business wouldn't turn down any woman undergoing treatment, and Cleaning for a Reason was founded around 2006. Since then, the nonprofit has recruited more than 1,200 maid services to donate time and has served more than 30,000 women, according to its website. Cleaning for a Reason lists four participating companies in Philadelphia, including Keep It Clean with Raylene, and four others in the suburbs. So far, Keep It Clean with Raylene has helped clean the homes of 38 women with cancer. The company offers two complimentary cleanings per client. "If you're going through something like chemotherapy treatment, you are less able to do things that you were able to do before," said another Keep It Clean client, Emily Hearn. "I really didn't have the energy to clean for the most part; it just was so nice to have it taken care of." Hearn, 51, who also lives in South Philly, was diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2015 and underwent chemotherapy and other treatment throughout 2016. A social worker at Penn Medicine, where she received treatment, referred her to Keep It Clean. "It's also just the feeling of being cared about," Hearn said, "even though I didn't know her or her agency personally, just the feeling that people are coming in and helping at a time when you really need it." Hearn, who's been cancer-free since February 2017, retained the company's paid services for a while after the free cleanings, which is an option for all patients. Arko hopes more women with cancer in the city will hear about the service and reach out. "The personal satisfaction that comes from assisting local women and seeing them appreciate what we do it's a privilege to be able to put a smile on someone's face," Arko said. FBI gather near the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. Robert Bowers, the suspect in the mass shooting at the 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.(AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Read more Traffic on Gab, the social media platform that the suspect in a deadly shooting at a synagogue in Pittsburgh frequented and where he appeared to post his last missive is relatively small compared with other social media outlets. But it has outsized influence on the alt-right, the loose compendium of white nationalists, misogynists and fringe trolls whose online and real-life presence has been growing since the 2016 election cycle. Gab was launched in 2016 by Andrew Torba, a former advertising technology CEO from Pennsylvania. Its SEC filings say the company allows anyone to post on its site, which operates similarly to Twitter. But Gab is particularly interested, the filings say, in courting what the company calls an "underserved" segment of the population: "conservative, libertarian, nationalist, and populist internet users" fed up with mainstream social media networks censoring "conservative views." What this has amounted to in practice, advocates and observers say, is a haven for white supremacists, neo-Nazis, and assorted hate-mongers to associate online with little fear of censure. "When I think about Gab being an extremist platform, I think about that in its essence, and part of the reason for its founding," said Keegan Hankes, a senior research analyst for the Southern Poverty Law Center's intelligence project. "Gab rose up out of a lot of the major social media companies taking a firmer stance on [hateful speech]. Gab allowed people to hold on to notoriety. That's why it was important." Should you lose your Twitter or Facebook account over offensive content, Hankes said, "it was like a backup in some way." For Robert Bowers, 46, who was charged in the shooting at Pittsburgh's Tree of Life synagogue, which killed 11 and wounded six, Gab was a place to post vile epithets against Jewish people and where he apparently signed off before entering the synagogue with an AR-15 rifle. "HIAS likes to bring invaders in that kill our people," he wrote, in a reference to the Jewish refugee resettlement agency. "I can't sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, I'm going in." Gab's policies prohibit "acts of violence against others, promoting or engaging in self-harm, and/or acts of cruelty, threatening language or behavior that clearly, directly and incontrovertibly infringes on the safety of another user or individual(s)," according to a statement released by the company following the shooting. Still, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that the company argued in a 2017 lawsuit against Google that while other social networks have tried to contain or limit hate speech, "Gab believes that 'hate speech' is just 'a particular point of view.'" For a time, Torba apparently operated Gab out of a WeWork coworking space in an office building at 19th and Market Streets in Philadelphia. The company's SEC filings as recently as March were listing "1900 Market St." as its address. A WeWork spokesperson said in an email that Torba had become a member at the coworking space under his own name, not Gab's name, and that his time at the space was brief. They declined to comment further on WeWork's backgrounding policies. Brandywine Realty Trust, which owns the building at 1900 Market Street, said they had never leased space to the company, and that Gab had used desk space at WeWork for a month, between March and April of this year. A Gab spokesperson wrote in an email that the company is no longer based in Philadelphia and declined further comment, referring a reporter to a statement about the Pittsburgh shooting that was almost identical to the message it wrote following the Charlottesville attack more than a year ago. Torba graduated from the University of Scranton and moved to Philadelphia shortly afterward, where he launched a social media marketing app called Kuhkoon that later became known as Automate Ads, according to TechCrunch. He was later admitted to the prestigious start-up accelerator Y Combinator on the strength of that app, but was later ousted from the group's alumni network after members said Torba, an outspoken Trump supporter, had spoken in a "threatening, harassing way" toward them after the 2016 election, BuzzFeed reported. The company and its users were in damage-control mode over the weekend, with Torba initially telling followers that the site had lost its host and that major sites such as PayPal were cutting ties with Gab, even as Torba bragged the site was seeing some of its highest-ever traffic after the shooting. By Sunday afternoon, Torba posted that the site had found a new host and was extolling the virtues of promoting free speech despite attempts to remove Gab's platform for it. Then later Sunday night, Gab.com tweeted about another threatened suspension of its domain. Free-speech arguments fall flat for advocates who track the extreme right. "These are the guys that will sit there and talk about free speech this, or free speech that, until someone else that they don't like also uses their free speech. They have their freedom of speech no one is arguing that. What they are also looking for is freedom of consequence. They're not going to have that," said Daryle Lamont Jenkins, a longtime anti-fascist activist in Philadelphia who runs a website tracking right-wing extremists. "You have to fight these guys," Jenkins said. "You have to make sure that they have no quarter whatsoever anywhere and that's where the de-platforming comes in, and that's where the de-financing comes in." Attendees stand, join arms and sign together at the conclusion of an Interfaith Vigil of Solidarity and Hope at Rodeph Shalom in North Philadelphia October 28, 2018, in commemoration of the Anti-Semitic Attack at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. The vigil was hosted by the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia. Read more The throng started pouring into a Philadelphia temple well before the 5 p.m. start of Sunday's interfaith solidarity vigil for the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting victims, and it just kept coming politicians and babies in strollers, ministers and rabbis, filling every seat and spilling into the lobby, united in their grief and the desire to stand up to hate. "Our world is more broken now than at any time in my life," U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle, a Northeast Philadelphia Democrat, told the audience that packed the rafters at Temple Rodeph Shalom on North Broad Street, but he called for those who are in mourning to take action. "Elie Wiesel reminded us," Boyle said, referring to the late Holocaust researcher and writer, "that if we stay neutral we are not helping the victims, only the victimizers. Let's move forward together, in order to repair the world." Despite little notice, the Interfaith Vigil of Solidarity and Hope sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia drew hundreds still in a state of shock over Saturday's massacre by an armed gunman who killed 11 people and wounded six in Pittsburgh's Tree of Life synagogue. More than a dozen speakers from several faiths, as well as police brass, politicians and representatives from City Hall, addressed the crowd. "There's a lot we don't know," said state Attorney General Josh Shapiro, who spent much of Saturday with authorities in Pittsburgh at the site of the shooting. "What we do know is that now more than ever, our leaders must speak and act with moral clarity." The crowd murmured in approval. The tone was largely spiritual. The Rev. Mark Tyler of Mother Bethel AME Church in Society Hill invoking the white supremacists who marched in Charlottesville, Va., in 2017 proclaimed, "We don't need Tiki torches; we just need small candles so that everybody can see that we're standing together, to let our light shine." The politics of gun control or refugees crept into a few speeches. "More than love, more than showing civility, I'm going to ask you to rely on facts," said Cathryn Miller-Wilson, executive director of Pennsylvania HIAS, the refugee aid group specifically cited by the killer, drawing applause. "There are no refugees who've been admitted to this country who've committed a terrorist act." Attendees said they came to make a statement that a civil society will not tolerate what happened in Pittsburgh. "I came tonight to let the world know that this is not the new normal," state Rep. Joanna McClinton, a West Philadelphia Democrat, said before speaking to the crowd. "We're not going to stand back and let this happen." She arrived with a friend, 42-year-old Philadelphian Beth Finn a member of the congregation and a local organizer of the Woman's March who said she wanted to show support for her community. "Jews rally when bad things happen to us," she said. "We unite as a community. And we stand up for ourselves." Finn also criticized President Trump's recent inflammatory rhetoric. "I don't think it's a coincidence that the president this week called himself a 'nationalist' and then all of these things happened," she said citing the other violent events in the last week, including the Florida man who targeted a number of leading Democratic politicians and donors, as well as CNN, with pipe bombs, and the Kentucky gunman who killed two black supermarket shoppers in an apparent hate crime. President Donald Trump embraces Rabbi Benjamin Sendrow after he prays at the 91st annual Future Farmers of America Convention and Expo at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018, following a shooting in a Pittsburgh synagogue. Read more Following a mass shooting that claimed the lives of 11 congregants at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, President Trump will travel to Pennsylvania on Tuesday, according to White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders. "They're grieving. They're hurting. The president wants to be there to show the support of this administration for the Jewish community," Sanders said at a news briefing Monday. She said first lady Melania Trump would also travel to Pennsylvania. The White House didn't immediately disclose further information about the visit. Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto told reporters on Monday that the city doesn't have enough safety personnel to cover the funerals for victims and a presidential visit at the same time. He also urged the White House to speak with grieving families before finalizing any plans. "I would ask that the White House staff contact the families and ask them if they want the president to be here," Peduto said, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "If the president is looking to come to Pittsburgh, I would ask that he not do so while we are burying the dead." During an appearance Sunday on Meet the Press, Peduto said Tree of Life was a Conservative synagogue, where families typically hold funerals quickly. Brothers David and Cecil Rosenthal, two of the congregants killed in Saturday's shooting, will be buried Tuesday. Two leaders at Tree of Life, appearing in separate interviews on CNN on Monday, were split on whether they would welcome Trump as families mourn. >> READ MORE: Synagogue shooting suspect released from hospital, expected in federal court "I do not welcome this president to my city," said Lynnette Lederman, the synagogue's former president. "He is the purveyor of hate speech. The hypocritical words that come from him tell me nothing." Lederman said the city benefits from strong local leadership by individuals who believe in "not just Jewish values but believe in values. And those are not the values of this president. And I do not welcome him to Pittsburgh." Moments later, Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, who was leading the service when the gunman opened fire on Saturday, told CNN he believed the president of the country should always be welcome. "I don't really foist blame upon any person. Hate does not know religion, race, creed, political party it's not a political issue in any shape or form," Myers said. "I'm a citizen. He's my president. He is certainly welcome." While presidents have postponed political events in the wake of national tragedies (President Barack Obama canceled a rally and traveled to Colorado following the deadly mass shooting in an Aurora movie theater in 2012), Trump kept a scheduled appearance Saturday at a rally in Southern Illinois, just hours after what is believed to be the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in the history of the United States. "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 the world," Trump said at the rally. "The scourge of anti-Semitism cannot be ignored, cannot be tolerated, and cannot be allowed to continue." More than 35,000 people have signed an open letter written by 11 Jewish leaders of the Pittsburgh affiliate of Bend the Arc, a progressive organization focused on social justice, demanding Trump fully denounce white nationalism and stop targeting immigrants and minorities before he could be welcomed in their city. "For the past three years, your words and your policies have emboldened a growing white nationalist movement," the Jewish leaders wrote. "You yourself called the murderer evil, but yesterday's violence is the direct culmination of your influence." Trump was widely criticized when he initially failed to condemn white nationalism and the Ku Klux Klan after a deadly white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va., last year where attendees chanted, "Jews will not replace us." Instead, Trump told reporters there was "blame on both sides," noting there were "bad people in that group, but you also had people that were very fine people, on both sides." Press secretary Sanders told reporters: "The president has denounced racism, hatred, and bigotry in all forms on a number of occasions, We'll continue to do that. I'm doing it here today." >> READ MORE: Philadelphians embrace faith after synagogue shooting: 'When you're in your own church you don't feel unsafe' >> READ MORE: 'It's just frightening': Area Jewish congregations react to Pittsburgh synagogue shooting >> READ MORE: Dispatch from Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill: ' it has happened here' A group of men who crossed the U.S. border illegally and tried to run from Border Patrol agents are detained in Mission, Texas, on Aug. 15, 2018. Read more The Trump administration is preparing to send thousands of additional U.S. troops to the border with Mexico, U.S. officials said Monday, as President Trump likened a caravan of Central American migrants to "an invasion." One Department of Homeland Security official with knowledge of the planning said 5,000 active-duty soldiers would be temporarily sent to the border, but two other U.S. officials cautioned that the final number had yet to be determined by the Pentagon. One of them said that the deployment will consist of "thousands" of U.S. troops. It was not immediately clear why the scale of the mobilization increased fivefold from the 800 to 1,000 troops that defense officials were discussing last week. The additional personnel would join roughly 2,100 National Guard troops assigned to the border mission since April, and the combined force would be the largest deployment there in at least a decade. Trump on Monday tweeted accusations about the caravan without citing any evidence. "Many Gang Members and some very bad people are mixed into the Caravan heading to our Southern Border," Trump said. "Please go back, you will not be admitted into the United States unless you go through the legal process. This is an invasion of our Country and our Military is waiting for you!" The White House has sought to make immigration the top issue of the Nov. 6 midterm elections, confident that Trump's hard-line enforcement message will continue to drive his conservative base to the polls and even draw some crossover appeal among more-moderate voters. The president has latched on to the migrant caravan, helping draw attention to the group and labeling it a national security threat. White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said Monday that the administration is considering several administrative actions on the southern border, though she declined to describe the options publicly. Trump will do what "he deems necessary" on immigration, Sanders said. Pentagon officials and Homeland Security officials are preparing a joint news conference Monday afternoon to describe the deployment in greater detail. A DHS official involved in the preparations said that plans have yet to be finalized but that the troop levels that were in consideration last week were not realistic. "We've asked for capabilities, and DHS is looking to fill capabilities, and the [Pentagon] is in the process of determining which units to send and how many personnel it'll take, and that has not yet been determined," said the official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss deliberations. Navy Capt. Bill Speaks, a Pentagon spokesman, said Monday that it was premature to discuss the deployment because planning was still underway. But photographs and videos released on the Pentagon's photo-sharing website showed that some new deployments to the border already were underway in a mission named Operation Faithful Patriot. One video depicted airmen from the Air Force's 3rd Airlift Squadron arriving at Fort Knox, Ky., to transport members of the Army's 89th Military Police Brigade to the border. U.S. officials say the border deployment under consideration would not include "trigger pullers" tasked with arresting migrants or other enforcement duties. Rather, the troops would offer "logistical support" to the U.S. Border Patrol and other Homeland Security agencies, and would include construction brigades, aerial transport crews and medical staff. The larger deployment was first reported by the Wall Street Journal. Immigrant rights groups have accused Trump of demagoguery on the issue by inflating the size and security threat posed by the migrants, made up largely of families, including children. The White House has put significant pressure on the government of Mexico to block the caravan's advance. The group has diminished from a peak of nearly 7,000 migrants, as some footsore travelers and parents with children have dropped out or fallen behind. At least 1,000 caravan members have applied for asylum in Mexico, authorities say. Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto on Friday offered temporary work permits, medical care and other benefits to migrants if they agree to register with authorities and remain in the Mexican states of Chiapas and Oaxaca, far from the U.S. border. But the core group of mostly Honduran migrants, which authorities estimate at 3,000 to 4,000, has rejected his entreaty and continued heading north toward the U.S. border. The caravan remains at least 900 miles from U.S. territory, so its arrival is not imminent. In an attempt to limit the caravan's size, Mexican police clashed Sunday with a smaller, separate group of Central Americans attempting to enter from Guatemala and catch up to the main group. At least one man was killed as police fired rubber bullets and tear gas. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Sunday that he was finalizing details of the rules under which American troops deploying to the border would operate. Mattis said he would make certain that whatever materiel was needed would get to the border, noting that what the military will be providing includes construction items such as Jersey barriers. He said that his staff had been meeting in recent days to determine how many personnel would go but that the deployment would be "phased." "On the border, we are preparing what we call defense support for civilian authorities," Mattis said. The Washington Post's David Nakamura, Seung Min Kim, Alex Horton and Paul Sonne contributed to this report. Personnel from Chesed Shel Emes Emergency Services and Recovery Unit gather near the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. Read more Robert Bowers has been released from the hospital and is "no longer at Allegheny General," a hospital spokeswoman said Monday. Stephanie Waite said Mr. Bowers was released at 9:45 a.m, but provided no information about where he is going from there. Later Monday, Mr. Bowers is expected to appear in federal court on charges related to Saturday's shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Squirrel Hill that left 11 dead and six others injured. Mr. Bowers, 46, of Baldwin Borough, is accused in the shooting deaths and charged with 29 federal counts, including obstruction of exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death and use of a firearm to commit murder during a crime of violence, among others. He also faces charges at the state level, including 11 counts of homicide, six counts of attempted homicide, aggravated assault and ethnic intimidation. Baldwin-Whitehall School District on Monday confirmed that Mr. Bowers attended the district's high school. The district, in a statement from Superintendent Randal A. Lutz, indicated that Mr. Bowers, 46, attended the high school from August 1986 to November 1989. That timeline suggests that he did not graduate, but the district indicated that any other details are considered confidential. Neighbors of Mr. Bowers have suggested that he spent some time working in the trucking business. "It is my firm belief that our focus must remain, not on the gunman, but on honoring the lives of the victims and offering our unwavering support to the victims' families," wrote Dr. Lutz. "I know the entire Baldwin-Whitehall community feels a deep sense of shock and sadness and we grieve together with the victims' families, our neighbors in Squirrel Hill and our friends in the Jewish faith." He added: "By learning to see our classmates, coworkers, and neighbors as ourselves, we each take one step closer to living in a stronger, safer, and more loving community. When we value one another despite our differences, the idea of harming another becomes unthinkable." Federal prosecutors have begun seeking approval to pursue the death penalty for Mr. Bowers, according to the U.S. attorney's office in Pittsburgh. City officials have called Saturday's attack the "darkest day in Pittsburgh's history." Mr. Bowers is expected to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert C. Mitchell at 1:30 p.m. Mr. Bowers, who authorities said went into the Tree of Life synagogue armed with an AR-15-style assault rifle and three handguns, was shot by police during Saturday's incident. He underwent surgery. According to the affidavit of probable cause, Mr. Bowers told authorities while he was receiving medical treatment that "he wanted all Jews to die and also that they (Jews) were committing genocide to his people." Authorities say Mr. Bowers also used a social networking site Gab.com to express hatred for Jews and immigrants in the weeks prior to Saturday's shootings. Rich Lord: rlord@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1542. Twitter @richelord Gwendolyn Hosey, or "Ms. G," has run her boutique, Struttin' Lightly, at 52nd and Arch Streets since 2000. Her children aren't interested in taking over the business. Read more There's a crisis quietly unfolding on 52nd Street. On this bustling business corridor and transportation hub in West Philadelphia, most of the shops that have endured for two decades or more, the ones that solidified 52nd Street's place as a neighborhood anchor, may soon disappear. Those owners, some of them well into their 70s and even 80s, don't know whether their shops will live on after they can no longer work. Just north of the El stop, 69-year-old Gwendolyn Hosey, or "Ms. G," as everyone knows her, has run her boutique, Struttin' Lightly, for nearly 20 years. Her children aren't interested in taking over. Neither are her grandchildren. "This has been my dream," she said, "not theirs." Hosey owns the building, too, and although she'd like to fix it up and make it a self-sustaining rental property, she doesn't have the money and the taxes are high. She'll likely sell. Tempest Carter, who manages the 52nd Street corridor through her role with the Enterprise Center, a West Philly community development corporation, says the possibility of losing so many legacy businesses is scary not just for the families involved, but for what she describes as the power dynamics of the strip. At least 20 percent of the stores on the corridor are owned and operated by black people who aren't immigrants. The only corridor that rivals it in terms of percentage of black ownership is Germantown Avenue, according to Carter. But the area around 52nd Street is gentrifying. With those changes comes the threat of losing strongholds of black wealth in the neighborhood, and it's even more likely if owners don't have a succession plan. Imagining new solutions to the silver tsunami and the citys deep-rooted poverty It's not just 52nd Street. Around the country, stakeholders from politicians to advocates to neighborhood development managers such as Carter have raised the alarm about the "silver tsunami": the large number of baby boomer business owners approaching retirement. It's especially fraught in communities of color, as experts see business ownership as a way to narrow the racial wealth gap. Out of the 900,000 businesses owned by people of color in the country in 2012, the Democracy at Work Institute (DAWI) estimates that 284,000 of them are nearing retirement and more than three-quarters of them don't have a succession plan. Now, a diverse team in Philly is working on a solution. It's gearing up to teach businesses to transform into worker coops. Distinct from consumer coops, such as Philly's Mariposa Food Coop and Weaver's Way where consumers own the organization, or producer coops, where farmers and other agricultural organizations share resources, worker coops are businesses that are owned and governed by their employees. They are different from employee-stock ownership plans (ESOP), generally for companies with more than 20 employees where workers own the business but don't decide how it's run. (Worker coops are more conducive to businesses with fewer people.) There are many different ways a coop can be run, but the main philosophy is that each owner has the same amount of influence, regardless of tenure or money invested in the company, and that the bylaws that govern the company are decided democratically by the owners. In the conversion program led by the city's Commerce Department, coop advocates such as the Philadelphia Area Cooperative Alliance (PACA), and politicians such as Council member Derek Green, no businesses are involved yet. Still, the cutting-edge concept of worker coops is growing here: There were six in Philadelphia in 2016, up from three in 2013, according to the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives. But stakeholders say the city is at an opportune moment to begin a coop movement and that it needs it more than ever. The hopeful start of a worker coop movement in Philadelphia Those working on the strategy say that worker coops could keep jobs and wealth in communities of color, empower workers by teaching them how to run a business, and help sustain important commercial corridors. In the poorest big city in the United States, imagining new solutions to lift people out of poverty is urgent and necessary, said Jamila Medley, executive director of PACA. She added that coops of all kinds, which have a long history in Philadelphia and the African American community, often emerge in times of political, economic, and social unrest. "Are we in one of those times? I think a lot of people would say yes," Medley said. This summer, PACA started working on a $75,000 city contract to assess local coop conversion opportunities and identify resources, such as accountants, lawyers, and lenders who could help with the process, as well as educate businesses about the practice. Green, whose interest in collective entrepreneurship as a form of community empowerment dates to stories he heard about his grandfather buying a school bus to make sure all the children in his community could get to school, championed the worker coop concept in City Council and spearheaded the effort to get funding for the conversion program. In September, the city was chosen as one of four cities to be part of a yearlong fellowship that's educating officials about worker coops. Here, three corridors are being targeted: Woodland Avenue, East Passyunk Avenue, and 52nd Street. And there's a budding national movement backed by Congress: In August, federal lawmakers signed a bill that would make employee-owned businesses, which can struggle with financing, eligible for Small Business Administration loans. A Philadelphia team helped make the bill a reality: the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives has three members of its staff based in the city. The hurdles ahead Still, Philly's efforts are in their infancy. Comparably, New York has been spending more than $1 million each year since 2015 to support worker coop development, and in the first year of the program, helped launch 21 new coops, according to a New York City report. Here, outreach will initially focus on educating corridor managers, as most business owners don't know about worker coops. "We're starting from zero," said Frank Iannuzzi, legislative director for Green and one of the city's coop fellows. You have to tread carefully, said Yvonne Boye, director for the Commerce Department's Office of Neighborhood Economic Development and another fellow in the program. Often, Carter said, because business owners are running their stores until they're physically incapable of doing so, these conversations mean grappling with one's own mortality, the possibility that their storefronts their names and legacies won't live on in the neighborhood. Over on 52nd Street, Hosey may not be the prime target for coop conversion, as she's the only one working at her store. Yet she said she's skeptical of those who come offering solutions. They haven't followed through in the past. She gestured to her ceiling and its missing tiles, the grates on her storefront that she can't afford to remove. "But," she said, "I still have hope." Philadelphia Media Network is one of 21 news organizations producing Broke in Philly, a collaborative reporting project on solutions to poverty and the city's push towards economic justice. See all of our reporting at https://brokeinphilly.org. Beatrice Webb, 81, of Philadelphia, a groundbreaking buyer at the Gimbel Bros. department store and later the owner of Webb Florist in East Mount Airy, died Wednesday, Oct. 18, of respiratory failure at her daughter's home in Wyncote. Mrs. Webb was determined to land a job in the retail industry and she did so with drive and determination. Starting in 1962, she worked with makeup at the Sally Shoppes. In 1964, she joined Gimbels in Center City. She went from a clerical position to a job as the assistant buyer for cosmetics and teens', children's, and women's apparel. By 1973, she was the lead buyer in all four categories. In doing so, she stood out as one of the first African American buyers at the Philadelphia department store, her family said. "She helped open the doors of diversity," said her daughter, Leslie Crudup. "It was not easy. She was tenacious. She felt like she always had to dress the part, go the extra mile. She was very meticulous and extremely organized." She worked for the store until it closed in the mid-1980s. That same year, Mrs. Webb decided to take over a flower shop at Chew and Hortter Streets whose owner was quitting the business. She had never worked in the flower business before, but that didn't faze her. "My mother bought everything in the store. A lot of the business, my mother learned on her own. She took a class," Crudup said. Her family helped at the shop and with deliveries. Soon, she was turning out eye-catching bouquets. Webb Florist was known for the silk-flower arrangements that she placed in the shop window. "Inside," her family said, "you would find Bea with her glasses on the end of nose, working feverishly on the next arrangement." She kept pace with arrangements tailored for weddings, funerals, proms, Mother's Day, and Valentine's Day. Mrs. Webb believed that being aggressive and attentive were the keys to success. She told others: "Walk fast and carry a pen." Her other mantra was: "If you are not going to do it right, don't do it all." Mrs. Webb was the founder of an informal group consisting of herself and three female relatives. The group organized vacations and trips in the 1990s. What began as annual family outings expanded to setting up excursions for others in the community. Most of the trips included visiting a casino or seeing a play. She was also an excellent seamstress, making outfits for her family and friends. "She was original in everything that she would do," said Crudup. A commanding presence, Mrs. Webb believed in plain common sense, which she dispensed to anyone who asked for advice and some who didn't. "She would offer counsel on your life, your romance, and even your finances," her daughter said. When not at work, her primary focus was her family. She was a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. "Her deep affection and loving manner shined over three generations who thrived under her wisdom," the family said. She was born and raised in South Philadelphia, and attended John Bartram High School. She married William A. Webb Jr. in 1965. He died in 2004. The couple lived in Germantown while raising four children. In addition to her daughter, she is survived by daughter Adrienne Robinson; sons Aaron and Leonard Webb; five grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; a brother; a sister; and nieces and nephews. Services were Friday, Oct. 26, with interment in Ivy Hill Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 399 Market St., Suite 102, Philadelphia, Pa. 19106. The state government of Pennsylvania is holding our workers back. Not only are they failing to ensure decent working conditions for families, they are also preventing cities and local governments from taking action. Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are two cities driving Pennsylvania's economic engine. In the southeast, Philadelphia's metropolitan area is home to more than 6 million people, has a thriving economy that includes a vibrant "eds and meds" sector, and hosts the corporate headquarters of national and international conglomerates. In the west, the Pittsburgh metropolitan area is home to more than 2.3 million people and has a proud history of steel production and manufacturing, along with a burgeoning technology sector supported by dynamic universities and renowned health-care institutions. Yet, despite the critical role we play in Pennsylvania's economy, the state has repeatedly tried to interfere in our ability to bolster our economic potential. For more than a decade, a state law prohibiting local governments from raising the minimum wage above the state standard (the lowest in the region) has made it hard for companies to compete for workers who find higher wages in every surrounding state. Philadelphia is the only locality that can pass certain forms of employment law, such as paid sick days or paid family leave. But even with this legal precedent, the state has repeatedly tried to prevent both municipalities from passing these laws. Worse yet, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives is considering a preemption bill House Bill 861 that would strip away local protections already implemented for city workers. These efforts harm our residents and slow down our economy. They are out of touch with the reality of life in our cities. >> READ MORE: Harrisburg, stay out of Philly's labor laws | Editorial Local policy makers are best positioned to craft policies that directly address the needs of the constituents we represent. We live and work here, send our kids to our schools and day cares, shop at local grocery stores, and depend on local doctors and hospitals. We are the ones who know that when the price at the pump or the cost of milk goes up at the local store, our neighbors struggle to make ends meet. We understand our cities, and we know what's best for our constituents. In the recently released Best States to Work index, created by anti-poverty organization Oxfam America, this problem is clearly on display. Oxfam ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia according to laws regarding wages, worker protections, and the right to organize. The index specifically measures whether the state allows localities to raise the minimum wage. Despite its robust union activity and legacy of labor rights, Pennsylvania ranks below our neighbors New Jersey at 13th and Ohio at 20th. Job growth is slow, and our cities are struggling with the crushing impact of poverty for far too many residents. A key reason for Pennsylvania's disappointing score is the staggeringly low minimum wage, currently set at the federal minimum of $7.25 per hour, plus the preemption policy that bans cities from raising it. To put that in perspective, the living wage for an individual in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh is $12.47 and $10.32, respectively. For a family of two (one adult/one child), the costs jump to $24.90 an hour in Philadelphia and $22.32 per hour in Pittsburgh. >> READ MORE: Give shift-bound workers a break: predictable schedules | Editorial Our minimum wage is utterly inadequate for an individual let alone a family to have a decent standard of living, and the cost of living differs from locality to locality. Pennsylvania's existing state preemption law, unfortunately, ties our hands on the minimum wage and ensures that workers in Pittsburgh won't have the same basic rights as workers in Philadelphia. Despite this, we're working for creative solutions. Pittsburgh City Councilman Corey O'Connor introduced and passed a bill that incentivizes small businesses: Those that pay their workers at least $10.10 per hour are allowed to market themselves on city assets. Philadelphia City Councilwoman Helen Gym is championing legislation to provide stable schedules for hourly workers in the low-wage industries of retail, fast food, and hospitality. >> READ MORE: Fair Workweek first step in better working conditions for Philadelphians | Opinion Citizens are getting involved, too. In Philadelphia, for example, business and civic leaders launched a campaign called "Wage Change" to encourage other small businesses to raise their minimum wage to $11 by 2020. Of course, we would love it if our colleagues in the state legislature would take the lead of every surrounding state and bring us to a competitive minimum wage of $15 per hour, as championed by Rep. Patty Kim, Rep. Ed Gainey, Sen. Art Haywood, and others. Pennsylvania's economy relies on the health and wealth of our cities. Our residents want control over their own destinies, and they need policies that reduce inequality and allow them to flourish economically. Local control is at risk when state legislators try to interfere. State preemption laws like House Bill 861 don't just hurt Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, they hold back our entire state. We know all too well that all politics is local. Commonsense public policy should be as well. Helen Gym is a member of Philadelphia City Council. Corey O'Connor is a member of Pittsburgh City Council. On Saturday morning, a man opened fire in the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, massacring 11 Jewish worshipers. The devastating news closed a week of violent threats. Throughout the week high profile figures associated with the Democratic party including the Clintons, the Obamas, George Soros, and Rep. Maxine Waters received explosive devices in the mail. Another explosive device was sent to CNN. Luckily, none of the devices exploded. Both the synagogue shooter and the man who sent the explosive devices were caught and taken into custody. Responding to the events of the week, political cartoonists have expressed concerns with the response of President Trump. Armed guards or metal detectors in houses of worship? Following the massacre in Pittsburgh, Trump told reporters that "if they [Tree of Life Synagogue] had protection inside, the results would have been far better." Trump said the gun control has "little to do with it [the shooting]" and that "this is a case where, if they had an armed guard inside, they might have been able to stop him immediately." Florida Cartoonist Ed Hall responded to Trump's that more guns in places of worship could prevent another tragedy. Earlier this year, Philadelphia Inquirer editorial cartoonist Signe Wilkinson questioned the idea of metal detectors as a part of church services. She re-shared the cartoon on social media after news broke about the Pittsburgh shooting. The MAGA van Trump and his supporters argue that there's no connection between the president's rhetoric and acts of violence, but many cartoonists drew the line between the two after seeing the van belonging to Cesar Sayoc, who has been charged with sending explosive devices to prominent Democrats. Sayoc's van is covered in Make America Great Again posters, images of the president, the vice president, and stickers praising the GOP for tackling immigration.. The Presidents rhetoric Some cartoonists chose directly to criticize the president's explosive language for its contribution in inciting violence. Kristallnacht One of the most powerful cartoons about the synagogue massacre came from Pittsburgh based cartoonists Rob Rogers. Rogers was fired by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette earlier this year following disagreements with his editors over his criticism of Trump. On Sunday morning, Rogers tweeted a cartoon which compares the shooting in Tree of Life synagogue to Kristallnacht the night of the broken glass in which gangs of Germans vandalized synagogues all over Berlin in 1938. Kristallnacht symbolizes an escalation in the Nazi's treatment of Jews and is often considered the first act of the Holocaust. The 2018 midterm election is on Tuesday, Nov. 6. Prior to each election, the Inquirer's Editorial Board, which operates independently from the newsroom, identifies the races where an endorsement can help readers understand where candidates stand on issues and why we think voters should support (or not support) a particular candidate. Then, the Board hosts meetings with candidates from the major parties running in those races. We think all elections are important and try to cover as many as we can. In elections like the upcoming midterms, with many races, we have to make the hard decision to limit our endorsements to highly competitive races. We take this job seriously and spend time researching the candidates' backgrounds through the work of our newsroom colleagues as well as through our own reporting. We dig into their positions on the issues we think are most important for their constituents and prepare questions to guide conversation. >> READ MORE: These women could make history in Pennsylvania | Editorial The meetings are "on the record," which means anything discussed can be reported. Political reporters and editors are invited to participate, but they do not weigh in on the endorsement process. This year, we recorded audio of each meeting and made that available to readers as well. You can listen to full audio recording of each candidate's meeting by clicking through to their endorsement and also see brief videos of the candidates. After the meetings, the Board deliberates. Based on our research, our discussions with candidates, and positions we've taken on issues in previous editorials, the Board makes a decision about which candidate to endorse. Sometimes, it's an easy choice and sometimes there's a lot of debate amongst our Board members. Sometimes, too, the choice is hard; when we prefer "none of the above." But we believe any choice is better than sitting out an election. We take care when writing each endorsement to walk you through our decision-making process so you know why we choose one candidate over another. Here, we've rounded up all our endorsements for the 2018 midterm elections. Got questions about this process? Email us at opinion@philly.com. Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Governor: Gov. Tom Wolf (D) A mild-mannered, steady-handed incumbent is facing former Republican State Sen. Scott Wagner, a brash, pugilistic candidate. We'll take the calm one. Gov. Tom Wolf is our pick. He gets credit for keeping a consistent focus on the opioid crisis, restored funds to education, signed an opioid disaster declaration, increased the minimum wage for state employees and employees of state contractors, and expanded Medicaid coverage. Wolf gets our endorsement not just for his demeanor, but because he has made strides on some important issues in the face of a some serious disadvantages. >> Read our full endorsement of Tom Wolf for Pennsylvania governor. U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania: Sen. Bob Casey (D) Representative Lou Barletta, the U.S. representative from Hazelton, is challenging the democratic incumbent. Our choice is a third term for Senator Bob Casey. Casey, a centrist, has moved leftward on certain issues, such as guns and same-sex marriage. And in the last two years, Casey has seemed energized, mainly in defense of our country's tradition as a nation of immigrants. In his time in the Senate, he has taken on causes that often don't get headlines but are vitally important such as allowing states to offer people with disabilities tax-exempt savings accounts, investing in repairs of bridges off the federal highway system, and requiring transparency and accountability in investigation of sexual assault cases on campuses. >> Read our full endorsement of Bob Casey for U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania. Pennsylvanias First Congressional District: Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R) The new First Congressional District in Pennsylvania puts a moderate Republican to the test: Can he win over a few Democrats to keep his seat in Congress? Contending for the seat is Scott Wallace a former public servant and current philanthropist. But Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick deserves a second term. Fitzpatrick puts an emphasis on bipartisanship. He visited the Fifth District of New Jersey to campaign for fellow Problem Solver, Rep. Josh Gottheimer a Democrat. In the current political reality, that is almost hard to believe. Fitzpatrick sponsored a bill to protect the investigation of special counsel Robert Mueller, voted against the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, which earned him the endorsement of gun-control groups, and believes that the minimum wage in every community should be whatever a livable wage in that community is. >> Read our full endorsement of Brian Fitzpatrick for Pennsylvanian's First Congressional District. Philadelphia County Ballot Question: Capital fund borrowing Voters in Philadelphia County will see one ballot question asking them to decide if the city should borrow $181,000,000 for the maintenance of of public infrastructure, spaces, and facilities. This ballot question is routine a similar one passed in 2016 with a 67 percent of the vote. A bill that City Council passed and the Mayor signed in September put the question on the ballot. It also details how the money will be spent: $5.2 million for transit, $37 million for streets and sanitation, $98 million for municipal buildings, $27 million for parks, recreation, and museums, and $15 million for economic and community development. We recommend voting YES on the question. New Jersey U.S. Senator: Sen. Bob Menendez (D) In a dismal election with bad choices, a former pharmaceutical company executive is the republican challenger for New Jersey's U.S. Senate seat. The incumbent, Bob Menendez, has betrayed public trust and showed poor judgment in accepting gifts and doing favors to a donor whom he describes as a "friend." And still, because of his record in Congress, we reluctantly endorse him. Menendez has fought for gun safety, civil rights, and a woman's right to choose. He is a co-author of the Affordable Care Act and an early advocate of treating the opioid epidemic as a public health crisis. An attorney, he helped craft legislation protecting immigrant children brought to the country by their parents. He kept flood insurance prices down and forced the federal government to pay more than $300 million in flood claims it had previously denied. Since his earliest days in the House, he has protected Social Security and Medicare. If New Jersey gives him a second chance and elects him to a third term, he has an unwavering obligation to act with integrity at all times. >> Read our full endorsement of Bob Menendez for U.S. Senator from New Jersey. New Jerseys Second Congressional District: State Sen. Jeff Van Drew (D) In New Jersey's Second Congressional District, which spans Cape May and Camden counties, Democratic State Senator Jeff Van Drew is running against Republican Seth Grossman a former Atlantic City politician who is not enjoying the support of his own party due to a slew of bigoted comments. Jeff Van Drew is a welcome contrast and we enthusiastically endorse him. His impressive command of issues comes from more than 25 years of serving the district, first as municipal leader and eventually as a state senator, since 2008. His moderate tendencies reflect the right-leaning district. For example, he authored a bill that would hamstring offshore oil drillers and supports alternative energy. But he supported a natural gas pipeline, which would run through the ecologically-fragile Pinelands forest. >> Read our full endorsement of Jeff Van Drew for New Jersey's Second Congressional District. New Jerseys Third Congressional District: Andy Kim (D) In 2016, we endorsed Representative Tom MacArthur for a second term in Congress. But during that term, the moderate has lost his way. His young opponent, Andy Kim is our choice for the Third Congressional District. Kim, a Rhodes Scholar who worked for the state department, promises that he won't accept corporate political donations and promises daily disclosure of all meetings and votes. He would require health insurers to cover preexisting conditions and prohibit them from charging older people extra. He is pro-choice, pro-environment, and wants to give tax credits to businesses for hiring workers at decent salaries >> Read our full endorsement of Andy Kim for New Jersey's Third Congressional District. >> READ MORE: The Inquirer Politics' Team Election Guide for Pa., N.J., and Delaware races A man and his daughter mourn outside of the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh on Oct. 29, 2018. Eleven people that were killed at the shooting at the synagogue. CHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer Read more This one hit close to home. The Pittsburgh shooting that left 11 Jewish worshippers dead occurred in our sister big city a member of the family. Since the modern era of mass shootings, we've come to expect similar responses to each one: despair, numbness, and surprise that once again, nothing is different, that nothing has changed. Unfortunately, Saturday's shooting comes at a point where things have changed for the worse. The divides among us, the anger and fear that is often encouraged explicitly and implicitly by our leaders, including the president, have grown deeper. As "the other" is seen as a threat, we are being trained to suspect one another. Outrageous theories are given credence and not shoved back into a dark hole where they belong. In an armed nation, that's going to have dire consequences. Some voices of reason said in response to the weekend shooting, "This isn't who we are," and that expecting armed guards in places of worship "isn't America." But it is who we are. It is America. In fact, it's only America. It's also Pennsylvania. This weekend is a tragic reminder of why state gun laws matter. The Pennsylvania state legislature has routinely killed efforts at reasonable gun control, prohibiting municipalities to make their own laws and supporting the right for the NRA to sue cities. The legislature recently had a chance to pass three major gun laws. It managed only one making it easier to require violent domestic abusers to surrender their guns. Our neighboring state, New Jersey, has some of the toughest gun-safety laws in the nation. In 2016, it suffered 485 gun deaths, compared to Pennsylvania's 1,555. Here's how the two states compare on key gun laws, according to the Giffords Law Center. Concealed carry: N.J.: Requires proof of need Pa.: Few restrictions Assault weapons: N.J.: Most banned Pa.: Legal Background checks on assault weapons: N.J.: All gun sales subject to background checks Pa.: None required in private sales of long guns, which includes assault rifles. (Handgun sales require background checks). Magazine size of assault weapons: N.J.: Limits to 10 rounds Pa.: No limit Waiting period to buy a handgun: N.J.: Seven days or longer Pa.: None Lost or stolen N.J.: Owners required to report when guns are lost or stolen Pa.: No requirement Child safety N.J.: Holds parents criminally liable if children gain access to a gun Pa.: No laws Confiscation: N.J.: Felons, violent domestic abusers, those who pose a danger to themselves or others have to surrender guns. Pa.: Convicted felons cannot carry guns. Violent domestic abusers must surrender guns. Castle doctrine: N.J.: Not expanded to include "stand your ground" Pa.: Includes "stand your ground," which permits people to use deadly force anywhere they feel threatened. Civilized people have a way to express themselves other than using a gun. They use the ballot box. Next week, you can express yourself to lawmakers and insist they curb the tide of guns and violence. JAKARTA: A Lion Air flight with at least 188 people onboard from Jakarta to Pangkal Pinang, which went missing just 13 minutes after take-off, had crashed, the Indonesian aviation authority officials said on Monday. Confirming the development, Indonesia's search and rescue agency said on Monday that a Lion Air passenger flight from Jakarta, the capital, to the city of Pangkal Pinang off the island of Sumatra, had crashed into the sea. "It has been confirmed that it has crashed," Yusuf Latif, a spokesman for the agency, said by text message when asked about the fate of the Lion Air flight. The plane lost contact 13 minutes after takeoff, the official said, adding that a tugboat leaving the capital`s port had seen the craft falling. Debris thought to be from the plane, including aircraft seats, was found near an offshore refining facility, an official of state energy firm Pertamina said. The wreckage had been found near the spot where the Lion Air plane lost contact with air traffic officials on the ground, said Muhammad Syaugi, the head of the search and rescue agency. "We don`t know yet whether there are any survivors," Syaugi told a news conference. "We hope, we pray, but we cannot confirm," he added. The ill-fated jet was a Boeing 737 MAX 8, according to air tracking service Flightradar 24. Flight JT610 took off around 6.20 AM and was scheduled to land in the capital of the Bangka-Belitung tin mining hub at 7.20 AM, the tracking service showed. When quizzed by reporters earlier, Edward Sirait, chief executive of Lion Air Group, said, "We cannot give any comment at this moment." "We are trying to collect all the information and data," he added. The accident is the first to be reported that involves the widely-sold Boeing 737 MAX, an updated, more fuel-efficient version of the manufacturer`s workhorse single-aisle jet. The first Boeing 737 MAX jets were introduced into service in 2017. Lion Air`s Malaysian subsidiary, Malindo Air, received the very first global delivery. Meanwhile, Boeing said that is aware of the plane accident reports and is "closely monitoring" the situation. Raipur: 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 on 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 20 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. 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 (JCC), 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. 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 on 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 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 said. The Congress 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 BSP has just about 4 per cent 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 would harm the BJP 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 BJP 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 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 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. NEW DELHI: Army Chief General Bipin Rawat on Monday admitted that there were some casualties in the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir recently but stopped short of confirming that they were allegedly caused by sniper attack by terrorists. ''We have had some casualties to our security personnel in J&K. Whether these have been done by alleged snipers or not, we are still studying, ''Army Chief General Bipin Rawat said in the national capital. ''We haven't yet recovered a sniper weapon,'''he added. We have had some casualties to our security personnel in J&K. Whether these have been done by snipers or not, we are still studying. We haven't yet recovered a sniper weapon: Army Chief Bipin Rawat in Delhi pic.twitter.com/puNcubI5pd ANI (@ANI) 29 October 2018 The remarks from General Rawat came days after it was reported that three Army personnel were allegedly killed in sniper attack by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir. Sniper attack by Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorists has emerged as a new cause of concern for security agencies in Kashmir Valley after the killing of three personnel since mid-September. The incident has prompted the law enforcement agencies to re-calibrate their strategy to thwart such strikes by the Pakistan-based terrorist group. The first such attack took place at Newa in Pulwama on September 18 when a CRPF personnel was injured, according to news agency PTI. 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 CISF jawan in Nowgam. Based on intelligence inputs, security agencies believe that at least two separate 'buddy' groups of the proscribed 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 Taliban, with whom the JeM cadre was fighting the allied forces in Afghanistan, security officials said. However, the officials said that the weapon was also being used by the special forces of the 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. 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 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 Kashmir Valley from the Line of Control (LoC), the 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 a hardened steel core. All this comes at a time when India is trying hard to convince the United Nations for a ban on the JeM and designating its chief Maulana Masood Azhar as a global terrorist despite its efforts being blocked by China four times in past. (With PTI inputs) Hours after the Supreme Court deferred the Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomi title suit hearing, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government at the Centre must bring a legislation to pave the way for the construction of Ram temple. According to news agency IANS, Arun Kumar, Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh of the RSS, said that the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya will create harmonious atmosphere, urging the Supreme Court to decide on the issue at the earliest. "The RSS is of the view that Ram temple must be constructed at the birth place of Lord Ram and the place should be given to Ram Janmbhoomi Nyas. The construction of temple will create harmonious atmosphere. Taking this into account, the Supreme Court should take a decision at the earliest," said the RSS communications in-charge. "However, the government must bring a legislation to pave the way in case of any obstacles. The saints and the Dharm Sansad have been spearheading the Ram temple movement since the beginning and the RSS has supported them. We will stand by whatever steps they take," he further said. The decision of the Supreme Court to defer the hearing till January 2019 has once again triggered a debate on whether the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre must bring an ordinance to start the construction of the temple before 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The same is, however, facing opposition from several corners, including some opposition parties. Speaking to Zee News, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday dared the ruling BJP to bring an ordinance on the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya. He said that any such move would violate the norms of the Constitution. The Hyderabad MP further said that the decision of the Supreme Court to defer the hearing in the Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomi case till January 2019 must be respected. The Uttar Pradesh unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) held a preparatory meeting in Lucknow on Monday for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. In a statement issued in Lucknow, the BJP's media co-in-charge (UP unit) Himanshu Dubey said, "In the meeting, it was decided that booth samiti abhinandan (booth committee felicitation) programme will be held from November 10 to November 15. On November 17, Kamal Sandesh Bike Rally will be held in 80 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state." Dubey said padyatra (walking march) will be held in all the assembly constituencies in the state from December 1 to December 15 to mark Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birth year. Further, it was planned that the party will celebrate the next Republic Day by illuminating over 3 crore lotuses in Uttar Pradesh. Under the Kamal Jyoti Vikaas Abhiyaan, the BJP workers will meet over 3 crore families, which have been benefited from various government schemes. The poll preparatory meeting, which was chaired by UP BJP chief Mahendra Nath Pandey, saw the participation of deputy chief ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Dinesh Sharma, UP BJP general secretary (organisation) Sunil Bansal, among other office bearers of the party's UP unit. NEW DELHI: The Congress on Monday hit out at the Central government for extending an invite to US President Donald Trump to be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations without ascertaining whether he will be able to accept it or not. "It is a diplomatic faux pas and an avoidable embarrassment. There was no justification to have extended the invitation without first ascertaining that US President Trump will accept it. It is a failure of Indian diplomacy, they should have avoided it," Congress leader Anand Sharma said. There have been reports that the US President is unlikely to accept India's invitation. The US has reportedly 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. Anticipating his refusal, India is said to have already shortlisted names of two-three heads of states who will be sent invites for the Republic Day parade. While India had been in touch with the US over the invite to Trump for the Republic Day celebrations, New Delhi had not been exclusively looking at the US President's nod. Various other options were also being explored. In July, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders had 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. This is not the first time that India has sent an invite to the US. Earlier in 2015, the then US president Barack Obama was the chief guest at the parade. The likely refusal from Trump also comes at a time when there has been some strain in the Indo-US ties after India 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 US had 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 a transaction with the defence or intelligence establishment of Russia. TOKYO: Highlighting the massive transformation via innovation across India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that Make in India is global brand today. India is going through a massive transformative phase today. The world is appreciating India for its efforts towards services towards humanity. The policies being made in India, the work being done towards public welfare, for these the nation is being felicitated today, said the Prime Minister while addressing the Indian community at a Community Programme in Tokyo. Jis tarah Diwali mein deepak jahan rehta hai ujala failata hai usi tarah aap bhi Japan aur dunia ke har kone mein apna aur desh ka naam roshan karein (The way a lamp spreads light on Diwali, I hope you all make India proud in Japan and every corner of the world), added PM Modi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who's currently on a two-day visit to Japan, will hold delegation level talks with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe on the final day of his tour on Monday. Make in India emerged as global brand today.We're manufacturing quality products not only for India but for world.India is becoming a global hub, especially in field of electronics and automobile manufacturing.We're rapidly moving towards being no.1 in mobile phones manufacturing. Today India is making tremendous progress in field of digital infrastructure. Broadband connectivity is reaching villages, over 100 crore mobile phones are active in India, 1 GB is cheaper than a small bottle of cold drink. This data is becoming the tool for service delivery, said the Prime Minister. Last year our scientists created record by launching over 100 satellites into space simultaneously. We sent Chandrayaan and Mangalyaan at very low expense. India is preparing to send Gaganyaan into space by '22. It'll be Indian in all ways and one travelling in it, will also be an Indian, added the PM. Prime Minister Modi arrived in Tokyo on Saturday to attend the 13th India-Japan Annual Summit. Prior to his departure, the Prime Minister stated that the meeting with Abe would be his 12th since his first visit to Japan in 2014. PM Modi will later meet with Japanese Venture Capitalists, the Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Hiroshige Seko, Foreign Minister Taro Kono and the Secretary-General of the Liberal Democratic Party, Toshihiro Nikai. At noon, the Prime Minister will attend a meeting of the India-Japan Business Leaders Forum, followed by a lunch hosted by the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren). Prime Minister Modi will address the Make in India: India-Japan Partnership in Africa and Digital Partnership seminar at 2:15 PM, following which he will meet the Governor of Shizuoka Province, Heita Kawakatsu. At 6:00 PM, the Prime Minister is scheduled to arrive at the office of his Japanese counterpart and hold delegation level talks. The two Prime Ministers are slated to hold wide-ranging talks in strengthening collaboration in key areas such as Defence, security, Indo-Pacific cooperation, and technology as well as review the progress of India-Japan ties. Following a banquet dinner hosted by the Japanese Prime Minister at around 7:45 PM, Prime Minister Modi will emplane for his journey back to New Delhi. The Indian Army launched an attack on the Pakistani Army's administrative establishment in retaliation to the mortar shelling in Poonch and Jhallas on October 23, news agency ANI reported. The offices of the Pakistani Army which were targetted were based along the Line of Control (LoC) near Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir. The news agency also shared a video of the attack showing the establishment which were targetted. #WATCH: Pakistan army administrative HQ targeted along LoC near Poonch by Indian Army in retaliation to Pakistans mortar shelling of Poonch and Jhallas on October 23 pic.twitter.com/o0C6UJQqcr ANI (@ANI) October 29, 2018 On 23 October, an explosion took place inside an Army camp in Poonch district. Defence Ministry spokesman confirmed that it was caused by Pakistani shelling. "Today, approximately at 10.30 a.m., in a ceasefire violation, Pakistan troops fired a rocket-propelled grenade and also resorted small arms firing. One round landed on a barrel-type store shelter in Poonch, causing fire," Lieutenant Colonel Devender Anand had said on October 23. Initial analysis indicated that calibre 105/106 mm remote-controlled launcher was used by Pakistan troops to target the shelter. There were no casualties reported in the incident. "In Krishna Ghati (KG) sector also, at 5.35 p.m., one round of 82mm shell landed at Jhalas area. One muffled blast occurred at 6 p.m. This was misconstrued as a blast in the KG garrison." After a gap of almost 30 years, the Indian Army is set to get two new artillery guns Ultralight Howitzer M-777 and Self-Propelled K-9 Vajra. The guns will help the forces target the enemy even in hilly regions. Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday will induct them into the India Army at the School of Artillery near Nashik in Maharashtra. A contract has been inked with the United States of America for as many as 145 ultralight Howitzer M-777, of which 25 will be brought to India in combat-ready condition. The remaining 125 guns will be made in India with the help of Mahindra Defence. The supply of the guns is expected to begin March 2019. At a rate of five guns every month, the Indian Army will get all the weapons by 2021. The range of the gun is up to 30 km and since they are not heavy, they will also help the forces during combat in hilly regions. The guns can be transported using helicopters as well. They will mostly be used by Indias first mountain strike corp in combat-like situations with neighbouring China. The self-propelled K-9 Vajra is being built with the help of South Korea. Each such gun can move at a speed of 67 km per hour, irrespective of the landscape and terrain, with five personnel in each. They can target enemy positions at a distance of 30-40 km. The Indian Army will get 100 K-9 Vajras. India had bought the Bofors artillery guns in the late 1980s, but the deal was marred with allegations of corruption. Scarred by the charges, no deal was inked for artillery guns for almost three decades. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that he has been assured by Japanese businessmen that they will be investing 2.5 billion US dollars in India. Modi is in Japan to attend the 13th India-Japan annual summit. "We both agree that from digital partnership to cyberspace, health, defence, ocean to space, in every field we will strengthen our partnership. I have been told that today Japan investors have announced that they will invest 2.5 billion US dollars in India," PM Modi said. The PM asked Japan's medium, small and micro enterprises to explore business opportunities in India. "There are ample possibilities for Japan's [micro] SMEs in India. It's not only big companies but Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) that are welcome to India. Through MSMEs, too, Japanese entrepreneurs can take their businesses to new highs," he said. He also assured the investors of a more conducive environment to consolidate bilateral trade ties and added that ease of doing business was his top priority. He said that when he became the PM in 2014, India was at 140th position in the 'ease of doing business' ranking of the World Bank. "Now India has reached 100th position and we are working towards better ranking," he said. He added that the Indian government was making all efforts to change the country's business environment and ensure that there is ease of doing business and ease of living. "Some years ago, I spoke about making a mini-Japan in India. It's a matter of great happiness for me that today, you are working in an even larger number in India," Modi said while addressing 'Make in India: India-Japan Partnership in Africa and Digital Partnership' seminar in Tokyo on Monday. Earlier in the day, Modi asked Japanese businessmen to engage more with India as he interacted with top business leaders from the two countries at a forum. He said that the inputs offered at the Business Leaders Forum will propel India to achieve global benchmarking. "He urged Japanese businessmen to engage more with India," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted. He also met and interacted with some Japanese venture capitalists. "Participants gave a thumbs up to reform measures initiated by the government and offered suggestions on further improving the start up and innovation ecosystem in India," Kumar said. The bilateral trade during April - August 2017 was USD 6.1834 billion. India's export to Japan for 2016-17 was USD 3.86 billion; whereas India's Import from Japan for 2016-17 was USD 9.76 billion, according to official data. New Delhi: 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 Sunday. 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. Hussain 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. All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday dared the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to bring an ordinance on the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya. Speaking to Zee News, Owaisi claimed that any such move by the government would be anti-Constitutional. The Hyderabad MP further said that the decision of the Supreme Court to defer the hearing in the Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomi case till January 2019 must be respected. Everyone needs to respect the wisdom and the decision of Supreme Court, said the AIMIM chief. Owaisi hit out at the BJP over statements of some of its leaders on the Ram temple issue, saying that the country does not run on what BJP leaders say, it runs as per the provisions of the Constitution. The AIMIM MP accused the BJP of always playing politics in the name of Ram temple. He alleged that the BJP grabbed power at the Centre by reaping benefits of the Ram temple controversy. If theres anyone who has played politics on ram temple, it is the BJP. It will do the same again because it has failed on all fronts like Jammu and Kashmir, petrol and diesel prices, said the Hyderabad MP. When asked about how the Christians and Muslims have holy shrines at the the Vatican and Mecca in Saudi Arabia, Owaisi said that India cannot be compared to them. Majoritarian politics will not work in India. There is functional democracy here, he said. The Supreme Court on Monday directed the listing of the Ram Janmabhoomi title suit matter for an appropriate bench that will fix the dates in January 2019 for the hearing of a batch of petitions challenging the Allahabad High Court verdict trifurcating the disputed site. During a brief hearing, a bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice KM Joseph gave its decision on the petitions challenging the 2010 Allahabad High Court ruling by which the disputed site in Ayodhya was divided into three parts - for Ram Lalla, Nirmohi Akhara and the original Muslim litigant. "We have our own priorities. Whether the case will come in January, February or March, it will be for the appropriate bench to decide," CJI Gogoi said as a lawyer urged the court to decide on the dates when the hearing on challenge to the High Court judgment will take place. The listing of the matter for January could prolong the hearing in the case for a few months - by when the country would be in election mode due to general elections due in April-May 2019. Tokyo [Japan]: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold delegation level talks with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe and attend the India-Japan Business Leaders Forum meeting on the final day of his official two-day visit to the archipelago nation on Monday. Prime Minister Modi will start the day by attending an Indian Community event at 9:30 AM (local time), which will be followed by a series of meetings with Japanese Venture Capitalists, the Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Hiroshige Seko, Foreign Minister Taro Kono and the Secretary-General of the Liberal Democratic Party, Toshihiro Nikai. At noon, the Prime Minister will attend a meeting of the India-Japan Business Leaders Forum, followed by a lunch hosted by the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren). Prime Minister Modi will address the Make in India: India-Japan Partnership in Africa and Digital Partnership seminar at 2:15 PM, following which he will meet the Governor of Shizuoka Province, Heita Kawakatsu. At 6:00 PM, the Prime Minister is scheduled to arrive at the office of his Japanese counterpart and hold delegation level talks. The two Prime Ministers are slated to hold wide-ranging talks in strengthening collaboration in key areas such as Defence, security, Indo-Pacific cooperation, and technology as well as review the progress of India-Japan ties. Following a banquet dinner hosted by the Japanese Prime Minister at around 7:45 PM, Prime Minister Modi will emplane for his journey back to New Delhi. Prime Minister Modi arrived in Tokyo on Saturday to attend the 13th India-Japan Annual Summit. Prior to his departure, the Prime Minister stated that the meeting with Abe would be his 12th since his first visit to Japan in 2014. (ANI) 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 invitation to be 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 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. Itanagar: 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 Education 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 education 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 education 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. Mumbai: Actor Sunny Pawar won a lot of international fans when he attended the prestigious Oscar and Golden Globe award ceremonies last year for his debut film "Lion". He is now the lead actor of a film, but he still doesn`t feel like a star. Sunny comes from a humble background and despite working in projects starring popular names like Nicole Kidman, Dev Patel, Saif Ali Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, he is still grounded. After playing relatively smaller but significant roles, he will be seen as the protagonist of "Chippa". Asked if he feels like a star now, Sunny said: "I don`t feel like a star." "Chippa", which will premiere at the Jio MAMI 20th Mumbai Film Festival with Star on Monday, is a story about the aspirations of a child who lives on the streets. The story is told through a journey he takes into an enchanting world that he creates himself on one wintry night in Kolkata. So, was there pressure on him because he is almost in every scene of the film? "No. There was no pressure. The director (Safdar Rahman) and my father explained things to me," said the 10-year-old. He was thrilled to be back in Kolkata, where he had shot his debut film "Lion". "I got to roam around a lot this time. I got to play and I had a lot of fun," said Sunny. While working on this film, helmed by a new director, he missed one thing -- the glamour. Still, he had fun. His projects -- "Lion" saw him getting lost on the streets, "Sacred Games" has now become one of the most popular Indian web television thriller series and "Love Sonia" got widely praised for dealing with child trafficking. Why does he go for such serious stories? "My dad selects scripts for me and I never felt that he made a wrong decision in choosing projects for me," said the child actor. "I want to continue acting and I want to do all types of roles," he shared. New Delhi: Desi girl Priyanka Chopra is all gung-ho about her impending wedding which everyone is talking about! The stunner of an actress is currently in the US and her pre-wedding celebrations have already kicked off! She took to her Instagram and shared a picture with her girl gang. She put it up on her Insta story. Check out the screen grab here: The bride-to-be looks stunning in her white attire, a picture of which was shared by her stylist Mimi Cuttrell. Earlier, there were reports of her having a bridal shower with her close buddies in the US and looks like the time has already come! Although Priyanka and Nick Jonas have not officially announced about the marriage date, her pre-wedding bash looks like a confirmation of sorts. The two got engaged duo got engaged amid much fanfare at actress's Mumbai residence. Only family and close friends attended the Roka ceremony which took place on August 18, 2018. Now, all eyes are set on the much-awaited wedding ceremony. The couple has remained tight-lipped about the whole affair. Speculations are rife that the couple will tie the knot in Jodhpur in December. Lawmakers in Rajasthan were on Saturday taken aback after twenty eight of them received a threat message demanding a ransom of Rs 60 lakh from each of them. The Police Department came into action soon after the lawmakers informed them about similar messages sent to all on WhatsApp. Top officials supervised the operation and soon the police nabbed the person who had sent the message from Ajmer's Dargah Market on Monday morning. The police then arrested the accused and reached Jaipur. However, the MLAs and leaders who received threatening messages on the phone denied giving any further information into the case. The message that was received by the MLAs read: "I have a deal to kill you. If you want to live, send Rs 60 lakh to the address given to you. If you do not give money, the consequences will be very bad. If you try to act smart, none of you will be alive to see Diwali or the upcoming elections. The address is - Siddi Sweets near Qureshi hotel. A girl named Ruby Sheikh will meet you at Dargah Bazar. As soon as I get the money, you will get the name of the killer." The man who sent the messages has been identified as Yusuf Hussain Mohammed, a resident of Nashik in Maharashtra. He used to stay in Ajmer's Dargah Market and work as a waiter in a hotel. After the police seized the accused's mobile phone and investigated it, they found the messages as well as the numbers of the 28 legislators saved on the handset. As of now, only one MLA Tarun Rai Kaka has lodged a complaint in the Chauhan police station of Barmer in connection with the case. The police had earlier been alerted by a lady MLA. According to sources, the personal assistant of the woman MLA informed the police at the Manakchouk area at about 10 pm on Saturday about the messages. The police took senior officials in the loop and began an investigation into the case. The number from which the messages were sent was traced to Lokesh Ajmer's Dargah Market. Two police teams were sent to the location to look for the accused. The teams searched the area and arrested the accused. New Delhi: Bengaluru has witnessed highest decline in unsold housing stock among seven major cities in the last one year at 25 percent on the back of better sales, according to property consultant Anarock. The unsold housing stock in Bengaluru stood at 76,500 units at the end of July-September quarter (Q3 of 2018 calendar year), down 25 percent from 1,02,740 units in the year-ago period. Pune reported a 10 percent fall in unsold inventories to 90,610 units in Q3 2018 as against 1,01,020 units in Q3 2017. The Delhi-NCR market also saw 9 percent decline in unsold stocks to 1,90,650 units from 2,09,430 units. There were marginal drop of 1-2 percent in unsold stock in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) and Hyderabad, while there were increase in Chennai and Kolkata by 7 percent and 1 percent, respectively. "Bengaluru's real estate market has out-performed all other cities in terms of shedding unsold housing inventory. Bengaluru saw a remarkable decline of 25 percent in the total unsold stock across the top cities," Anarock said in its report, which was released at ACETCH 2018 in Bengaluru last week. The report tracked Bengaluru's residential real estate trends since 2013, factoring in the city's evolution in terms of infrastructure development, transport and connectivity. "Burgeoning commercial activity, a cutting-edge start-up culture and realistic property prices dictated by end-user demand have kept Bengaluru's real estate market vibrant, and generally more resilient than in other cities," said Anuj Puri, Chairman - Anarock Property Consultants. IT/ITeS sector continues to drive most of the city's residential demand and supply, and housing sales have remained healthy despite all macroeconomic headwinds, he added. Bengaluru's housing sales increased by 26 percent in Q3 2018 over the same period last year, the highest amongst all cities. Overall unsold stock declined by 32 percent and stood at 76,550 units in Q3 2018 in contrast to 1,12,995 units in Q3 2015. "Salubrious climate, favourable government policies and relatively affordable property rates have attracted several global IT/ITeS firms to set up their base in the city over the last two decades, followed by a spurt in residential demand by the IT-ITeS professionals to Bengaluru. Driven largely by the end-users, the real estate market in the city has been very resilient even during the slowdown period witnessed across the country," Puri said. With property prices always been under check, he said the city saw emergence of significant real estate trends, including the walk-to-work concept. Infrastructure woes led to massive traffic snarls, which is the key reason why builders are promoting walk-to-work concept. The land supply within city limits has led to development of mixed-use townships, including commercial, residential, retail, etc. "Thus, the 'walk-to-work' concept has gained prominence in the city with professionals opting to live-work-play in these zones itself," Puri said. Bengaluru/New Delhi: IT services firm Tech Mahindra on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Japanese electronic company Rakuten for building next-generation (4G and 5G) software-defined network laboratories in Bengaluru and Tokyo. The announcement comes on the sidelines of Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Japan and meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to further strengthen Indo-Japan business ties. The labs in Tokyo and Bengaluru will focus on fostering innovation in the telecom space, the company said. Tech Mahindra will also provide network integration capabilities to add value to the lab operations. With this collaboration, Rakuten and Tech Mahindra aim to build a world-class 5G ready network lab which will be one of its kind in the industry, a company statement said. 5G has the capability to unlock unprecedented opportunities in every industry vertical and domain. Our collaboration with Rakuten will help us further drive innovation in the 5G space, and enable us to enhance customer experience and lead the transformation in mobile network technology from the forefront, CP Gurnani, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Tech Mahindra said. The Indonesian passenger flight, that crashed into the sea presumably killing all 188 persons on-board, had reportedly requested to return to base before going off the radar. The Lion Air flight JT610 lost contact 13 minutes after takeoff from Jakarta, the capital of the island nation. Minutes before losing contact with ground officials, the aircraft requested to turn back, said an air navigation spokesman, as reported by Reuters. "The plane had requested to return to base before finally disappearing from the radar," Sindu Rahayu, directorate general of Civil Aviation at Indonesia transport ministry, told AFP. He added that the aircraft was carrying 178 adult passengers, one child and two babies, with two pilots and five flight attendants. The aircraft was headed for a key tin-mining region Pangkal Pinang. At least 23 government officials were aboard the plane. A tugboat leaving the Jakarta port saw it fall. "We don`t know yet whether there are any survivors," agency head Muhmmad Syaugi told a news conference, adding that no distress signal had been received from the aircraft`s emergency transmitter. "We hope, we pray, but we cannot confirm." The weather at the time of the crash was clear, said officials. Videos and images tweeted by disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho showed debris floating on water and a slick of fuel on the surface of the water. Serpihan pesawat Lion Air JT 610 yang jatuh di Perairan Karawang banyak ditemukan mengapung di permukaan laut. Kapal USV Fulmar menemukan serpihan berupa pelampung, HP dan lainnya. Basarnas dibantu Kementerian Perhubungan, TNI, Polri & relawan terus lakulan evakuasi. pic.twitter.com/A4wjeoE5tl Sutopo Purwo Nugroho (@Sutopo_PN) October 29, 2018 The images showed parts of smashed mobile phones and life vests floating on water about 30 metres to 35 metres (98 to 115 ft) deep near where the site of crash, as identified by air tracking service Flightradar 24. The aircraft maker, Boeing, released a statement expressing grief over the incident and confirmed that it was a 737 MAX 8 recently acquired by the private aviation company Lion Air. The accident is the first to be reported involving the widely-sold Boeing 737 MAX, an updated, more fuel-efficient version of the manufacturer`s workhorse single-aisle jet. Recovery of the aircraft's black box is the current priority, say officials. "We are preparing to depart to the location," said Soerjanto Tjahjono. "The plane is so modern, it transmits data from the plane, and that we will review too. But the most important is the black box." The flight took off from Jakarta around 6.20 a.m. and was due to have landed in the capital of the Bangka-Belitung tin mining region at 7.20 a.m., the Flightradar 24 website showed. Further data shows the first sign of something amiss was around two minutes into the flight when the plane had just reached 2,000 feet (610 m). Then it descended more than 500 feet (152 m) and veered to the left before climbing again to 5,000 feet (1,524 m), where it stayed during most of the rest of the flight. It began gaining speed in the final moments and reached 345 knots (397 mph) before data was lost when it was at 3,650 feet (1,113 m). Its last recorded position was about 15 km (9 miles) north of the Indonesian coast, according to a Google Maps reference of the last coordinates from Flightradar24. With agency inputs Aleksandar Vucic and Vladimir Putin; Photo: The President of the Republic of Serbia Website of the President of Serbia Russia will continue with its opportunistic policy in the Balkans, using every available situation to advance the propaganda or influence on the ground, but the region is not its main priority. At the same time, Western Balkan countries are, almost exclusively, oriented towards the West and, at best, see Russia only a hypothetical alternative, stressed Dr. Dimitar Bechev, the nonresident senior fellow with the Atlantic Councils Eurasia Center. He said this in an interview for Radio Free Europe. 'I think Russia will use further opportunities to interfere in the internal affairs of Macedonia, but, for now, accession to NATO seems certain, said Bechev, adding that the only possible hurdle are the developments in Greece, but that he does not think that Russia has the potential to make the process more difficult', he said. However, if the process does experience significant setbacks, Russia can always use the arguments of illegitimacy, illegal pressures for the West etc, Bechev reminded. Nevertheless, he does not believe this would have a substantial effect. After Montenegros accession to NATO in 2017, another case of Alliances enlargement in the region would be seen as the geopolitical defeat of Russia, but the country will only highlight what it sees as a non-constructive approach of the West and emphasize that the Balkans is not of crucial importance, Bechev assessed. 'There will be some statements on the Balkans, but we notice that even the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Maria Zakharova did not comment (on the developments in Macedonia). She rarely says anything, there are only statements from the Department for Information. Sergey Lavrov might also say something, while President Putin never discusses the Balkans', he reminded. He expects Russia to put more focus on future cooperation with Serbia, a country that is still regarded as Russias biggest ally in the region. Another close partner of the country is Milorad Dodik, recently elected as a member of Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Thanks to the U.S. sanctions, Dodik now has only Russia to turn to, in contrast to Serbias President Vucic who is accepted by the West as much as the East. However, Russia will not oppose either Dayton Agreement or Serbia's EU accession. 'I am personally not surprised that they have accepted Bosnias territorial integrity and Dayton, because the status quo is the best alternative for them. They are neither for centralization, nor some drastic change, because the present situation, in which Bosnia is not a functional state, but still has some legitimacy and Russia officially has a role in the Peace Implementation Council, is what suits them best, Bechev emphasized. As for Serbia, Russia does not oppose its EU integration process because it will be allowed to maintain its ties with the country. 'There are a lot of countries in the EU that have their relations with Russia. That is the case with Bulgaria, and even Greece, even though the relations are currently in a state of crisis. Why should Serbia have to act otherwise?', asked Bechev. He reminded that, ten years ago, Russia was not even a vocal opponent to NATOs enlargement to Croatia and Albania. The situation changed only after the crisis in Ukraine broke out in 2013. 'The West and the EU, and even NATO, remain the first option for Vucic. There is cooperation with NATO, it is not reported as much, but it exists both as an initiative and as an activity. Russia is still number two', said Bechev. The official rhetoric against NATO will continue, as well as propaganda campaign against the EU, but it will be unofficial. Russias official position will not change, Bechev concluded. Dr. Dimitar Bechev is a nonresident senior fellow with the Atlantic Councils Eurasia Center. He is also a research fellow at the Center of Slavic, Eurasian, and East European Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the director of the European Policy Institute, a think-tank based in Sofia, Bulgaria. Dr. Bechev has published extensively, in both academic and policy format, on EU foreign relations, the politics of Turkey and the Balkans, Russian foreign policy, and energy security. Read the original text at European Western Balkans Ukrainian warriors in Donbas took another casualty, as Yaroslav Harvyliuk deceased in a fight near Mariinka, Donetsk region. According to Banyliv rural council, Vyzhnytsia district Havryliuk was born in Chernivtsi region in 1970. Over the past several years, Havryliuk lived in Odesa. He is survived by his wife. Recently, another native of Chernivtsi region Dmytro Dariy lost his life in combat in Luhansk region. The warrior 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. He signed a contract with the Armed Forces of Ukraine 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. Chernivtsi military enlistment office stated to ACC agency that the fighter died from the sniper's bullet in the area of Krymske settlement. Joint Forces Operation Facebook Five attacks from the side of pro-Russian militants reported in Donbas conflict zone on October 28. Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation (JFO) headquarters informs on this on its page on Facebook. "The enemy opened aimed fire using grenade launchers of various systems, large-caliber machine guns, and small arms near Avdiivka and Taramchuk. In Pryazovia, besides small arms, the enemy used mounted antitank grenade launchers to shell the positions of the Ukrainian forces near Vodiane and Lebedynske, and in the Hnutove area is launched mortars of 82 mm caliber," reads the message. JFO HQ notes that as a result of shelling by illegal armed formations, none of the Ukrainian military personnel was wounded. According to the report of the mission, yesterday, October 27, OSCE SMM drone disappeared during the flight over the occupied territories of Donetsk region. 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 to 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 Nyzhniokrynske 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 Nyzhniokrynske, reads the report. The monitors stated on noises recorded during the flight over the areas Saurivka and Nyzhniokrynske, according to the assessment they were caused by jamming. Related: Former head of Catalonia Puigdemont forms his new political party The Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine also emphasized that the relations of the leaders of two countries are 'as close as never before' This year, the volume of the bilateral trade between Ukraine and the U.S. increased by 16 percent. Stepan Kubiv, the First Prime Minister of Ukraine claimed so as 112.ua reported. 'The Ukrainian market is growing. I want to congratulate us all on the first official trade individual opening of the U.S. mission to Ukraine, which is a landmark. During 2018, the bilateral trade grew by 16 percent and made almost $2.6 billion; the export to the U.S. increased by 32 percent; the import from the U.S. increased by 11 percent. We are talking about the depth and systematic transformation of Ukraine and the path of structural reforms aiming for the improvement of the investment climate,' he said. 'The relations between Ukraine and the U.S. today at the level of President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko and President of the U.S. Donald Trump are as close as never before,' he emphasized. Kubiv also noted that during the last two years, especially 2018, Ukraine and the U.S. reached the entirely new level of the cooperation in economic, political and energy spheres. As we reported, in the near future, Ukraine and Belarus will create a working group to improve the mutual trade between the two countries. The first session of the joint commission on the extension of the Agreement on the Free Trade between Ukraine and Canada took place on October 19. Related video: The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine is to open criminal proceedings against Ukraine's ex-Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk and Justice Minister Pavlo Petrenko Ukrainian Justice Minister Open source Kyiv's Solomiansky district court obliged the National Anti-Corruption Bureau to open a criminal proceeding against ex-Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk and Justice Minister Pavlo Petrenko on the suspicion of embezzling public funds in large amounts and laundering of proceeds, as the judicial materials say, UNN news agency reported. The court made this decision on October 17. In the court, the claimant stated that NABU, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine refused to open this criminal proceeding under his request. That is why he filed a complaint to the court. The court granted the claim and obliged to begin inquiry on Yatsenyuk, Petrenko and one of the deputies of the Justice Minister and the Head of the secretariat. CEO of Ukrvaktsyna company was served with charge papers on embezzlement of property for $53,600. The agency noted the improvement in the macroeconomic stability, reduction of the state debt and international support The international rating agency Fitch Ratings has confirmed the long-term rating of the issuer default of Ukraine in the foreign and national currency at the "B-" level with the stable prediction, as the website of the agency reported. According to the message, the weak outside liquidity, high demands in the external financing resulting from the repayment of the sovereign debts and structural weaknesses in the sphere of the bank sector, institutional restrictions, political and geopolitical risks negatively influence the rating of Ukraine. At the same time, Fitch notes the increasing of the reliability and agreement of the policy, improvement in the macroeconomic stability, reduction of the state debt and international support. The agency specified that the short-term rating of the issuer default of Ukraine in the foreign and national currency is confirmed at the "B" level. Earlier, we reported that Ukraines sovereign credit ratings, both long-term and short terms ones are currently at the "B-/B" level, with a stable forecast. Besides, Fitch emphasized that the program of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the support of Ukraine is a key factor of the creditworthiness as it mitigates law outside liquidity and reduces the risks of the refunding. ABSTRACT The growing usage of social media is changing the businesses method responding to consumers needs and wants and increasing the chances for firms to market their products and services in a customized and personal way. Nevertheless, there are still needed answers concerning to what extent social media platforms as marketing tools are being employed by companies and their effect on brand awareness in mobile service providing industry in Egypt. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of social media marketing activities on Facebook on brand awareness keeping into consideration the moderating effect of demographics, namely; age and gender. The research showed that social media marketing firms use mainly about six dimensions as an instrument for their marketing activities: Online Communities, Interaction, Sharing of Content, Accessibility, and credibility. Also, this research is testing the demographics moderation role in the relationship between social media marketing activities on Facebook and consumer based brand awareness. Moreover, practical importance of this research is described in the fact that managers may use the results to improve their marketing activities related to social networks specially their Facebook fan pages to have better brand awareness of their brands. Besides, firms may start to integrate social media marketing into their marketing strategies, improving communication and interaction with their customers and increase their brand awareness circle. A sample of the study totaled 402 customers; the researcher tested the hypothesis using the correlation analysis, regression analysis using SPSS and structure equation model using AMOS. This research provides an evidence of the relationship between social media marketing activities on Facebook and brand awareness of mobile service providers in Egypt. Subject Areas: Business Research Methods, Consumer Behavior, Marketing Keywords: Social Media Marketing, Brand Awareness, Online Communities, Facebook 1. Introduction Nowadays, marketing is changing faster than ever. Everyday new communication means appear. Recently, media have been categorized into traditional and non-traditional approaches. TV and newspapers are examples of such traditional media. Customers are now increasingly using social media to connect, look for, and exchange information, thoughts, and experiences of brands and companies. Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, and Twitter are used to share experiences whether good or negative [1] . Product and company profile and information on social media networks are assumed to be reliable and credible sources, more dependable and proper than the traditional marketing [2] . According to researchers in traditional marketing, consumers will tell seven to ten individuals about the product, but now social media permits consumers to share experiences with other customers in no time [3] . From a marketing standpoint, social media network is now a vital part of an organizations media mixes that revolutionize the way consumers and marketers connect. It also offers new opportunities to spread to potential consumers. Social media in marketing has generated two important opportunities for all types of businesses. First, companies now have contact to a massive collection of social media tools that can be employed for various marketing purposes, such as marketing communication, market research, customer service, product management, and word-of-mouth (WOM) marketing [4] . Secondly, marketers use social media as a crucial role of their marketing strategies. It has the power to attain great results on productivities, competitive position and customer value for least budget and time. Social media was found that it plays a vital role in building a brand as well. Consumer-based brand equity is the intangible evaluation of the brand and subjective for consumers, as a result its objectively perceived value. Four main dimensions of brand equity are customer brand awareness and associations, customer brand loyalty and perceived brand quality [5] . At a global level, social media and its platforms (like Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and LinkedIn), are projecting online activity in terms of average consumed time or index and number of engagement and active users. It was assumed that time spent on social media sites is rising at more than three times the rate of total Internet progression. The Internet users visiting social networking sites at least once a month is predicted to grow from 41% in 2008 to above 65% in 2014 [6] . Egypt has a massive increase in the number users of Internet and social media in 2017. Accordingly, the number of Internet user in Egypt has reached 49.2 million 49.5% penetration [7] . Furthermore, mobile subscribers have reached 110.06 million in September 2017 [8] . Besides the recent statistics estimated that 26.3 million Egyptians use smartphones. In Egypt, individuals go online to search for information (78%) or to communicate with others (77%). More than 22 million Egyptians logon Facebook every month. Facebook contains around 59% of individuals that are daily users [9] . Social media penetration statistics are remarkable. It is more essential to look at the implications. Some researchers support businesses to improve their social media strategies and connect their brands online. Additionally, some companies performed proactively at the early stage of its adoption. Yet, there are still a large number of firms left behind. On the other hand, other researchers believe that social media networks are for communication (connecting people). Many firms underestimate its potential and think it is only another marketing channel to promote brands. Furthermore, some companies are commonly concerned about the real benefits of using social media in marketing. There are many social media marketing activities on Facebook, which may be used in studies related to mobile service providers. In this research, activities (online communities, interaction, sharing of content, accessibility, and credibility) are considered [5] [10] [11] . The top Social Networking platforms provide extraordinary numbershundreds of millions of active users, hundreds of millions of discussions going on at these sites on every topic, seventy-two hours of video being uploaded every minute, a million blog posts every day, millions of daily Tweets, so the opportunities are limitless [5] . 2. Theoretical Framework 2.1. Social Media Marketing in Egypt Numerous statistics indicate the increasing use of social media in Egypt [12] . Studies indicate that social media has a crucial role in daily life of Egyptian Internet users. Egypt is ranked the seventeenth worldwide in terms of audience size and the first among Arab region countries [8] . The usage of YouTube is also high in Egypt, 44% of Egypts Internet users [13] . While social media penetration statistics are extraordinary, it is more important to look at the implications. Some investigators support firms to develop their social media strategies and connect their brands online. Moreover, some businesses predicted the social media marketing importance, taking steps at the early stage of its implementation. As an integrated marketing medium, social media marketing activities effectively enhance equity through introducing new values to their customers rather than the traditional marketing media. Therefore, it was concluded that brands social media platforms offer variety of methods to the individuals who use it to interact and communicate with other users and brands [10] . As shown in the following Table 1 demonstrates the research variables definitions. 2.2. Brand Awareness Brand awareness was defined by as the strength of a brands presence in the consumers mind. That means, brand awareness is a customers ability to identify or remember a brand in its product group [16] . Brand associations can be assumed as whatever customer connects to brand. It can involve customer image-making, outline of the product, consumers conditions, company awareness, product/service characteristics, signs and symbols [17] . Nevertheless, practical indication shows that brand awareness and brand associations could be combined into an exact dimension named brand awareness and associations. Brand awareness connected with strong associations generates a specific brand image. Brand associations involve numerous episodes, ideas, facts, and instances that include a network of brand knowledge. These associations are vital to marketers and directors in brand positioning and differentiation practices, as well as generating positive attitudes toward brands. Additionally, brand associations are more effective when they are built on many experiences or exposures to communications [16] . 3. Literature Review 3.1. Social Media Perception Nowadays, social media is an extensively used tool, not only to participate with each other but also to reach a specific person or group. There has been a shift in power to consumers, as they change from inactive receivers of marketing content to active participants in the brand message. Interactive experiences was suggested that social media stimulates many customer behavior features, involving purchase behavior, information achievement and post-purchase communication. Also, Social media enables interaction as it allows one person to communicate easily with hundreds or thousands of other users in a rapid way [3] . Social media can be defined as applications that permit customers to communicate by generating personal information profiles, inviting whoever they want, to be friends with others, colleagues or strangers to be able to access these profiles, and direct messages to be sent among each other. Profiles include videos, photos and blogs [18] . Social media is suggested to have a numerous of forms and work on various platforms, including weblogs, social blogs and networks, microblogs, wikis, podcasts, photo and video sharing, online rating and social bookmarking [19] . Also, it provides a virtual area for individuals to keep in touch. Hence, Social media networks gives individuals new techniques to increase their social networks, through creating and maintaining social communication, creating interaction, sharing information, writing content, and participating in social movements through the Internet [3] . In addition, Social media gives businesses the chance to share and swap information with their users. Regarding to the study conducted by DiMauro and Bulmer [20] , 71% of the customers habitually read social media platforms as a daily routine. Nearly, 90% of usage on social media was related to brands. 3.2. Theoretical Framework 3.2.1. Social Media Marketing Social media marketing is marketing strategies that successful businesses are using in order to be a part of a network of consumers online. Also, it could be defined as employing the Social Media as instruments of communication, direct sales, customer gain, and customer retaining [21] . In 2008 D.E.I. made a study that delivers some important statistics: social media users have visited social media platforms to obtain information are 70%; also 49% of these customers have taken a decision of purchase established on the information they found through the social media sites; likewise, 60% described using social media platforms to exchange information with others online; and finally, 45% of users who searched for information over social media sites interacted with word-of-mouth. The report concludes that businesses not using social media as part of their online marketing strategy are losing an opportunity to influence and reach customers. Following Figure 1 demonstrates the study model. 3.2.2. Hypothesis H1: There is a significant impact of Social media marketing activities in Facebook on Brand awareness of the mobile service providers consumers. H2: Age and Gender moderate the relationship between Social media marketing activities on Facebook and Brand Awareness in the mobile service providers consumers. Figure 1. Research model. Source: [5] [10] [15] . 4. Methodology The following Table 2 includes the research methodology with definitions. 4.1. Measurements Tools Likert five scales was applied in asking the questionnaire questions and measuring the study variables which is organized as strongly disagree to strongly agree and which takes the weight of (1 - 5), the measurement approach is matches with the study population and is tested in precedent studies. 4.2. Statistical Analysis For the purpose of the study descriptive statistics were computed using SPSS software statistical package in analyzing the data obtained from the sample. 4.3. Study Instruments The electronic questionnaire was developed to collect data from the sample of the study after assessing some of the previous literature addressing each of the variables examined in the study, it contains three categories of questions, the first group is about demographic questions (marital status, gender, age, and education) about the study population, the second is about social media applications as a tool of marketing was covered by (36) questions: online communities (7) questions, sharing of content (6) questions, interaction (7) questions, accessibility (7) questions, credibility (6) questions, [10] [11] [22] [23] [24] . The third category is about brand awareness which was covered by 10 questions [22] . 4.4. Study Validity Validity for the questionnaire was obtained from the researcher conducted another pilot study to check the convergent validity. The following section displays the results from the pilot study of 30 respondents. 4.5. Study Reliability Reliability refers to the internal consistency between statements of one factor. It is tested using Cronbachs Alpha, which is the most commonly used test of reliability. Alpha coefficient ranges in from 0 to 1, where the higher the score, the more reliable the generated scale is. Alpha coefficients are claimed to exceed 0.7 to refer to an adequate reliability. The Cronbach alpha was as follows for each variables of the study: online communities, 0.832, interaction, 0.753, content sharing, 0.866, accessibility, 0.765, credibility, 0.799, brand awareness, 0.856 5. Study Results Demographic & Study sample Characteristics: The results are shown in Table 3 the descriptive variables for the 402 sample. Characteristics for the Study Sample Table 4 shows the correlation matrix between Social Media Marketing; Online Communities, Interaction, Sharing of Content, Accessibility, and Credibility and one of the dependent variables of Brand equity; Brand Awareness. It was observed that the value of Pearsons correlation for the research variables; Social Media Marketing; Online Communities, Interaction, Sharing of Content, Accessibility, and Credibility, are 0.398, 0.307, 0.480, 0.580, 0.606 respectively, with P-values of 0.000 (P-value < 0.05). Thus, there is a significant positive moderate correlation between the research variables; Online Communities, Interaction, Table 3. Descriptive analysis for the research variables. Table 4. Correlation matrix between social media marketing and brand awareness. Sharing of Content, and Accessibility, and Brand Awareness as corresponding P-values are less than 0.05 and r > 0. Table 5 shows the multiple regression analysis of Social Media Marketing; Online Communities, Interaction, Sharing of Content, Accessibility, and Credibility Table 5. Regression analysis of social media marketing effect on brand awareness. influence on Brand Awareness. It could be observed that there is a positive significant effect of SMM; Interaction, Sharing of Content, Accessibility, and Credibility on Brand Awareness, as the corresponding coefficients are 0.142, 0.315, 0.268, and 0.186 respectively and the corresponding P-values are 0.000 (P-value < 0.05). On the other hand, Online Communities is shown to have an insignificant influence on Brand Awareness in the presence of other Social media marketing activities on Facebook, as the corresponding p-value is 0.213 (P-value > 0.05). Also, it was found that R square is 0.537, which means that SMM Activities explain 53.7% of the variation in Brand Awareness. Regarding the moderation role of gender and age between Social media marketing activities on Facebook and brand awareness, Table 6 shows the SEM analysis of the influence of Social Media Marketing; Online Communities, Interaction, Sharing of Content, Accessibility, and Credibility, and Interactions on Brand awareness. It could be observed that there is a significant moderation role of Age between Online Communities and Brand awareness, as the estimates are 0.559, and 0.109 respectively as well as P-values 0.23, and 0.016 respectively. Also, the R square is 0.511 which means that the model explains 51.1% of the variation in awareness. 6. Results Discussion H1: There is a significant impact of Social Media Marketing Activities in Facebook on brand awareness of the mobile service providers consumers. In this study, it could be claimed that there is a significant positive effect of Interaction, Sharing of Contents, Accessibility and Credibility on Brand Awareness, however there is an insignificant effect of online communities on Brand Awareness. Also, it was found that R square is 0.537, which means that Social media marketing activities on Facebook; Online Communities, Sharing Contents, Interaction, Accessibility and Credibility explain 53.7% of the variation in Brand Awareness. This means that the first hypothesis is partially supported. The mentioned results agreed with the study of Marzouk [12] , who provided an evidence of the overall impact of Social Media Marketing Activities in Facebook on Brand Awareness. Most of respondents realized the importance of social Table 6. SEM Analysis of social media marketing and interactions on brand awareness. media in the marketing efforts companies do and how it is employed in their activities. The results also agreed with Kim and Ko [10] who proved the significant relationship between Social media marketing activities on Facebook and Brand Equity. In addition, Karamian [15] , proved the significant positive relationship between Social media marketing activities on Facebook and Brand Awareness. The same results were initiated by As ad and Alhadid [5] who proved the significant effect of Social media marketing activities on Facebook except for Online Communities on Brand Equity. H2: Age and Gender moderate the relationship between Social media marketing activities on Facebook and brand awareness in the mobile service providers consumers. The moderation role of Age and Gender on the relationship between Social media marketing activities on Facebook and brand awareness. It was computed and analyzed to check the effect of them on brand awareness. It was found that there is a significant moderation role of age in the relationship between online communities and brand awareness, with coefficient of 0.190 and P-value of 0.016 (P-value < 0.05). The results of this hypothesis testing mean that age could enhance the relationship between online communities and brand awareness. It could be noticed that despite the fact that Online Communities was showing an insignificant effect on Brand Awareness, but the presence of different Age groups is able to turn this effect to a significant one. This indicates that younger age groups are able to trust each other and their reviews more than the older age groups. This result was clear from the responses found in the interviews during the qualitative study. On the other hand, other moderation roles between Content Sharing, Accessibility and Credibility on one side and Brand Awareness on the other side are shown to be insignificant, as the corresponding P-values are greater than 0.05. Furthermore, age as moderator for the relationship between Social media marketing activities on Facebook and brand loyalty showed insignificant moderation role. According to these outcomes, females are slightly getting attached to specific brand, become loyal to the brand create their own online community, and exchange news related to the brand and its offerings. 6.1. Research Conclusion This research provides evidence of the relationship between Social media marketing activities on Facebook and brand awareness of mobile network services in Egypt. It also proved the moderation role of both; age and gender as the personal profiles of customers in the relationship between Social media marketing activities on Facebook and brand awareness of mobile network services in Egypt. The significance of hypotheses emphasizes the application of social media marketing activities in Facebook to strengthen their brand awareness, which is critical for most firms. The majority of firms in the industry were subject to this study. Results showed that social media is used for building or enhancing brand awareness that in turn may lead to increasing sales revenue in the future. Companies should benefit from such exposure through the increase of brand Facebook page likes, which builds an online presence and adds to their circle of influence. Besides, impact of social media marketing on brand awareness includes obtaining high brand reach, enabling individuals to join in brand discussions and increases traffic or number of followers and the feedback that they deliver. The results also demonstrated that companies should engage with customers by increasing individuals to like brand posts, which drive content sharing and interaction. This will lead to an increase in the number of users added to a company circle of influence. Interaction, content sharing, and credibility are the highest of Social media marketing activities on Facebook of impact on brand awareness. Moreover, the age moderates only brand awareness and online communities; which could be utilized in perfect way through Facebook profiles that are following specific brands, to make specific channels for the younger age groups. 6.2. Research Practical Recommendations The study findings have recommendations for marketers and managers to deploy efficiently Social media marketing activities on Facebook, and for understanding the role of social media marketing in developing strong brand awareness for companies. First, the results of this study suggest that Social media marketing activities on Facebook are strongly related to brand awareness. Businesses can exploit the benefit of the daily and direct communication proposed by social media by maintaining brand relationship with current and possible customers. Using social media to spread brand name provides greater opportunity to increase brand awareness, keeping into consideration that females are influenced more with firms online communities. 6.3. Research Limitations Like all research, this research has several limitations on how the study was handled. The limitation for this research faced time limitation to finish the research, which was a constraint for collecting larger sample size to represent the data under study. Also this study focused only on one social media network group limiting the variety in using social media to be able to compare different types of social media platforms. It was found that most of social media users in Egypt use Facebook, making it the scope of this research rather than comparing different types of social media platforms and different effects that brands may get from different platforms. Conflicts of Interest The author declares no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper. Cite this paper ElAydi, H.O. (2018) The Effect of Social Media Marketing on Brand Awareness through Facebook: An Individual-Based Perspective of Mobile Services Sector in Egypt. Open Access Library Journal, 5: e4977. https://doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1104977 References Open source The International Monetary Fund promised to give Ukraine 3.9 billion dollars tranche, and the increase in gas prices is the cornerstone of its requirements. The issue of the fight against corruption has been relegated to a secondary position. And official Kyiv is not loath to answer about its successful fight; allegedly, vertical corruption is already won; now we deal with its horizontal level. And now, let us speak about the numbers: this year and next year, more than 3,6 billion USD will be allocated from the state budget for utility subsidies. It seems to be a good law of communicating vessels. We take 3.9 billion USD from the fund and funnel almost all of them from the state budget, thus favoring several monopoly financial-industrial groups. Usually, any unpopular decision with us is immediately accompanied by special booms. So, the boom one. No more bonuses for Naftogaz (national oil and gas company of Ukraine Ed.) management. From now on, 90% of the profits go to the budget. This is a reasonable requirement, especially taking into consideration the fact that they have already received a huge number of bonuses, and all these numerous managers would hardly sit in their chairs after the next elections. And well, very infantile citizens might be pleased with the fact of transferring the profits of Naftogaz to the state budget. Our officials adore opening ceremonies but hate constructing and building itself, and all this profit poured into the budget, will only help several governors to receive their bonuses. Boom two. No more increasing. Well, this "forgotten merry song" is very old, now it consists of sour notes. As long as the power is totally dependent on the IMF, it will be forced to "raise and increase." Tertium non datur. Boom three. The increase in tariffs will allow raising the production of Ukrainian gas through investments in new wells and drilling. This idea is the trump card of the pro-government discourse, so let us consider it in more detail. The former ministers said that due to the increase in tariffs, we would significantly increase our own gas production and lose our energy dependence on the Russian Federation. If we look at the dynamics of natural gas production in Ukraine since 2010 (data from Chornomornaftogaz, that is, Crimea, are not taken into consideration), we will see that in 2010 we have produced 20.055 billion cubic meters. In 2013, this figure increased to almost 21 billion cubic meters. And during this period gas tariffs for the population were several times lower than now. In 2015, this figure fell to 19.896 billion cubic meters, and in 2017 it rose to 20.825 billion. But (even with a small increase) this still remains lower than in 2010. We can find quite a strange correlation between the size of the tariff for the population and the volume of production. Or maybe tariffs correlate with something else? By the way, speaking about reducing energy dependence on the Russian Federation. It can be achieved by several methods. In a direct way, that is, increasing gas production in Ukraine, developing energy efficiency, in parallel, and by reducing gas consumption in productive sectors of the economy. It could be easily noticed that our energy "strategy" consists precisely of the against backflow. After total de-industrialization of the economy, when gas prices have destroyed almost all the entire chemical industry, and many enterprises simply shut down their production during the winter not to heat their facilities, the government actually achieved a sharp reduction in gas consumption - mainly in the industrial sector. The other sectors also try to save in the way of the cold student audiences and "distance learning courses." At the end of 2017, prices for industrial consumers in Ukraine ($ 295 per thousand cubic meters) were higher than in the UK (237), Bulgaria (243), Czech Republic (272), Romania (282), Italy (285), and Poland (286). And even little less than in France (302), Hungary (312), and Germany (322). Now it becomes clear why many industries that are tied to the gas consumption, especially all kinds of chemical plants, were developed in Central European countries and why Ukraines economic growth rates still cannot reach the optimum level. At the same time, Ukraine has the second largest gas fields in Europe (after Norway) and the largest gas transmission system on the continent, including unique underground gas storages, making up 20% of European ones. So having such competitive advantages, why it creates the worst conditions for its customers? The current government has decided to raise the gas price for the population to the level of import parity. This is explained very simply - any product must have a market price. But the funny thing is that there is no full-fledged natural gas market in Ukraine: 90% of consumer needs (population and heating utilities) are satisfied by UkrGasVydobuvannya, the largest Ukrainian gas producer, and this is our own gas. Now its price is determined on the basis of price parameters at the NCG hub (Germany), plus transportation costs and entry-exit tariffs on the western border of Ukraine. According to the Anti-Monopoly Committee, binding to import parity led to an artificial increase in the price of Ukrainian gas from 57 USD per thousand cubic meters. to 171 USD, that is, more than three times. In fact, the pricing policy in countries with energy reserves must proceed from the simple principle that this wealth belongs not to the monopolies, but to the people. But the technology of fixing this accessory might be different. For example, with the anti-monopoly restrictions on the growth of prices for gasoline in the United States make filling a car two times cheaper than in Ukraine. And no one says that the American economy is "not a market economy." Norway has a completely different system: there, a high level of wages allows you to keep high gas prices for the population (440 euro per thousand cubic meters), although this country is the largest exporter of energy resources. But the profits from gas sales in Norway are not used for bonuses of the top managers of a state-owned company. Even if Norway runs out of oil and gas, the Norwegians will have extra money to borrow: the funds resources are invested in shares of major international companies (over 60%), debt securities - investment grade bonds (over 30%), and real estate (from 2 to 5%). And now, let us answer a simple question: which model is used in Ukraine? None of these models is used. After all, we have significant gas reserves, a unique GTS, underground storage facilities. At the same time, prices for industry are higher than in many European countries. Tariffs for the population tend to be close to the import parity. The gas price for the population has not really reached the European level yet, however, it has long exceeded the level of our well-being: even with the growth of the minimum salary in 2019, the Ukrainian will be able to buy 0.49 thousand cubic meters of gas for it. An average Bulgarian is able to buy 0.66 thousand cubic meters, the Pole, Romanians, and Hungarians - 1.2 thousand cubic meters, the Czech - 0.8 thousand cubic meters. Read the original text at 112.ua. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or 112.International and its owners. Only in October, the U.S. sent 100 containers with the military equipment to its key base in Europe The U.S. redeployed the largest batch of weapons and ammunition in the modern history, bringing them to the airbase in Ramstein, Germany, the U.S. Air Force reported. 100 containers with the military hardware were delivered to the depots in Germany in October. This supply is considered to be the largest one since the bombing of Yugoslavia by NATO forces in 1999. Then the American military aircraft performed more than 900 air raids at Yugoslavia during 78 days, trying to put an end to the ethnic cleansing. The delivered ammunition will be used for the support of the European Reassurance Initiative of NATO. The Alliance's program aims to deter the Russian aggression; it was launched in Europe in summer 2014, after Russia's annexation of Crimea and beginning of the combat actions in Donbas. Pentagon claimed that the increase of the supplies of the military hardware and ammunition to Europe was dictated by the necessity of a quick response to the threats from the 'aggressive players.' Ramstein is the biggest base of the American Air Forces in Europe and Africa; the 86th Battle Squadron is based there. As we reported, NATO allies in Europe are not going to place any new nuclear arms - even in the view of the latest decision of the U.S. government to withdraw from the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. Earlier, U.S. leader Donald Trump stated America intended to build up its arsenal of nuclear weapons to pressurize Russia and China as Reuters reported. 'Speaking to reporters, Trump repeated his contention that Russia was not abiding by the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, which he has threatened to abandon,' the news agency said. Related video: The entrance of Ukraine and Georgia to NATO will become an enormous military and economic problem for Russia, - Russian Foreign Ministry official Open source The possible entrance of Ukraine and Georgia to NATO will become a major military and economic problem for Russia and will force to construct the defensive ring in the area of Sochi. Andrey Kelin, the Director of Pan-European Cooperation Department of the Foreign Ministry of Russia claimed this as Interfax reported. 'For us, it will be an enormous military and economic problem. We will be forced to construct the defensive ring near the current third capital Sochi. We will be forced to spend enormous resources to prevent the possible actions of the assumed enemy. It is inevitable,' he said. The Russian diplomat noted that with such scenario, Russia 'will be forced to construct the defensive echelons at the border with Ukraine.' 'And to transfer the forefront of our defensive constructions to the south against Ukraine,' Kelin said. According to him, 'now the situation does not dictate' that the entrance of Ukraine and Georgia to NATO can take place in the nearest future. 'But if the relations are launched... if our western - we cannot call them partners now - will follow the way of the escalation of the further confrontation, of course, it can take place, no doubts. And we will be forced to seriously prepare for this,' Kelin claimed. Earlier, Sergey Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister claimed that Russia will not allow the NATO vessels to enter the Sea of Azov for the participation in the joint drills with Ukraine. NATO supported the right of Ukraine to freely choose its Euro-Atlantic path without external interference. Related video: According to Ecology Minister of Ukraine, it's not the first time Russia tries to use the international arena for the legalization of the annexation of Crimea Ukraine had to block the adoption of the annual budget of the Commission on the Black Sea Protection due to the participation of the so-called 'representatives of Crimea' as the press service of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine reported. The 34th regular session of the Commission on the Black Sea Protection from Pollution took place in Istanbul, Turkey on October 24 and 25. This year, the session was chaired by the Russian Federation. Its representatives tried to influence the participation of the citizens of Ukraine from the Autonomous Republic of Crimea in the work of the subsidiary bodies of the commission, which should represent the interests of Russia. 'The Ecology Ministry and Foreign Ministry of Ukraine occupied the firm position and blocked the adoption of the annual budget or the financing of the working groups with the participation of the representatives of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol who should 'represent' the interests of the Russian Federation. Any decisions considered by the working groups with the participation of the citizens of Ukraine from the Autonomous Republic of Crimea appointed by Russia are illegitimate,' Ostap Semerak, the Ecology Minister of Ukraine claimed. He noted that the Russian representatives try to use the international arena for the legalization of the annexation of Crimea - not for the first time. The similar situation took place when Russia spoke 'on the behalf of Crimea', trying to report on the greenhouse gas emissions on the territory of the peninsula. It is noted that during the session, the issues of the budget and work program of the commission for 2018-2019 were discussed; the reports of the member countries of the Convention on the fulfillment of the Strategic Action Plan on the Black Sea were heard, as well as the demands of the Conventions and other organizational aspects of the current activity of the Commission and its permanent secretariat. The chairmanship was passed to Turkey, which will preside at the commission over the next year. Earlier, we reported that Federica Mogherini, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, claimed that the European Union will never recognize the annexation of Crimea by Russia. Besides, Poland confirmed the consistent support of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine, condemned the Russian aggression against Ukraine and urged Russia to release all Ukrainian political prisoners. Related video: The Internal Ministers have also discussed mutual hybrid threats in the modern world Ukraines Internal Minister Arsen Avakov had a meeting with his colleague from Singapore Kasiviswanathan Shanmugam. The negotiations ended with a deal on the cooperation of cyber police units of the countries, as Avakov wrote on Twitter. 'I had an official meeting with Singapore Internal Minister K. Shanmugam. We discussed mutual hybrid threats in the modern world. We have agreed on the special cooperation of cyber police units. We react to the challenges of the cyber fraud,' he wrote. In July, hackers attacked a medical department in Singapore. They have stolen the data of 1.5 million patients, including their names, addresses, birth dates and information about the treatment of some 160,000 patients. The records were not changed or deleted. This would be the fourth meeting of the Russian and American diplomats over the past year and a half Kurt Volker, the U.S. Special Representative to Ukraine stated that he's been in touch with the Assistant to the Russian President Vladislav Surkov. Volker himself said this in an interview for Interfax-Ukraine. Answering the question whether he will meet with Surkov in the near future, Kurt said: 'For now, we dont have such meeting on our schedule. We are having a dialogue, a correspondence in order to discuss our positions. We will see if we manage to agree on a meeting, which would be effective'. Reportedly, last time the two met in Dubai on January 26. Then, he stated that Washington proposed a plan of deploying the UN mission in Donbas with the implementation of the political part of Minsk Agreements, which Moscow insisted on. Then, Volker specified, the U.S. never presented any plan; only a detailed discussion took place in Dubai. Earlier, the diplomats met three times: in Minsk in August 2017, and in Belgrade in October and November. The property is to be passed to Russia-controlled Spiritual Council of Muslims of Crimea Crimeas occupation authorities want to pass the property of Crimean Tatar Mejlis to the Russia-controlled Spiritual Council of Muslims of Crimea, as the so-called 'head' of the peninsula Sergei Aksyonov said, KrymRealii reports. Earlier, such initiative was announced at the Assembly of the Crimean Muslims summoned by the Russian Spiritual Council of Muslims of Crimea on October 27. The list of the properties was not disclosed. At the same time, Aksyonov stated that the initialization is not being conducted in Crimea. Yet, relevant measures should be taken concerning the property of Crimean Tatar Mejlis, he said. Since the annexation of Crimea in spring 2014, Russia-backed authorities have been persecuting many members of the Crimean Tatar people, the indigenous people of Crimea. The Ukrainian government and international organizations, particularly the OSCE expressed grave concerns over the human rights violations in the occupied Crimea. According to the preliminary information, there were no Ukrainians among the passengers First six bodies were found at the crash site of Boeing 737 in Indonesia, CNN reports. Rescuers extracted six bodies from the sea near the Indonesian capital, reads the message. According to Indonesia's national search and rescue agency, the found bodies were delivered to a hospital in East Jakarta. Besides, rescue workers found some debris appearing to be the plane's tail. As it was reported earlier, Lion Air Boeing 737 fell into the sea. The jet flew from Jakarta to Pangkal Pinang (Indonesia). The plane lost connection with dispatchers 13 minutes after the takeoff. Before the accident, the crew of the Boeing 737 requested permission to return to the airport from the air traffic control. 189 people were on board. According to preliminary information, there weren't any Ukrainians among the passengers of Lion Air Boeing 737. The Embassy of Ukraine to Indonesia reported this, based on the unofficial passenger list, which appeared in the local media. It should be noted that more than 20 officials of the Ministry of Finances of Indonesia were aboard. Open source A group of prisoners from so-called Luhansk Peoples Republic defrauded $95,000 from the residents of Ukraine of different regions, talking to them via telephone on behalf of police officers. The Department of Internal Security of the National Police in Ukraine reported this on Facebook. In September 2018, the detectives of Ternopil police received an information that the group of con men operates under the guise of police officers in the region. They turned out to be a 43-year-old resident of Kirovohrad region and a 24-year-old resident of Kharkiv. The unknown persons from prisons, based in Luhansk coordinated their actions. The perpetrators called the residents of Vinnytsia, Volyn, Mykolaiv, Khmelnytskyi, Chernihiv, Cherkasy regions. The individuals posed themselves as police officers and claimed that relatives of the subscribers had committed a criminal offense (in the overwhelming majority, a car accident), and now they faced imprisonment. Although the problem can be resolved without going to prison, to do so, money has to be brought to an appointed place and handed over to the police officers who would wait there, the Police reported. Thus, the perpetrators managed to defraud from $350 to $20,000 from the victims. In total, 23 facts of criminal activity were established. The 'police investigators' who wore civilian clothes took the money and promised that the problem would be resolved positively. The resident of Kharkiv region sent the received money to all parties of the criminal scheme. Unfortunately, instead of calling their relatives to verify the given information, the victims merely did what the swindlers told them to. According to the calculations of law enforcement officers, the criminal group gained 2.7 million hryvnias (USD 96,000), the police said. The law enforcement bodies managed to detain the two members of the organized band, who directly operated on the territory of Ukraine and received money from the victims of the fraud. The court chose arrest as a preventive measure, with the right of bail of $18,000 for each victim. Further investigative actions are underway, as they aim to bring the organizer of the criminal scheme and other involved participants to justice. The next court session will take place on November 26 Holosiivsky district court of Kyiv has extended the arrest of Stanislav Yezhov, the ex-interpreter of Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman; the convict is accused of the state treason and will remain in detention until December 27, the correspondent of 112 Ukraine reported. Today, on October 29, the court considered an appeal of the Military Prosecutor's Office on the extension of the arrest of governmental interpreter Stanislav Yezhov; the current arrest term expires on November 1. 'The defense asked the court to put him under the house, referring that there are no victims in the case and no material damage was inflicted. However, the court decided that the house arrest is not provided for the state treason and extended the arrest of Yezhov for 60 days, until December 27 inclusively,' the correspondent reported. The next court session will take place on November 26. As it was reported earlier, counter-intelligence officers of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) uncovered an official of the Secretariat of the Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers who was working in the interests of the intelligence of Russia. Later it was reported that the SBU detained Stanislav Yezhov, the assistant of Volodymyr Groysman, the Prime Minister of Ukraine. On December 22, Shevchenkivsky Court of Kyiv arrested Yezhov for two months without a right for a bail. Related video: According to the human rights defender, protest occurs in the frontline city due to the environmental situation - right before the start of the election campaign The creation of protest sentiments in the frontline Mariupol, caused by environmental issues can be fabricated and used by politicians to fight for power. Human rights defender Vasyl Smetana claimed this on the air of 112 Ukraine. According to the expert, protest occurs in the frontline city due to the environmental situation right before the start of the election campaign. The first noticeable thing is the period of time when the exacerbation takes place. Let's put it this way: this exacerbation is happening in the lead-up to the elections, the electoral year. We have the presidential and parliamentary elections ahead, and probably, some political force is trying to earn political points. After all, we need to draw attention to the fact who organizes this and what leads them, and the real situation in Mariupol, he said. Yet, according to Smetana, the environmental issues in the industrial city is not something entirely new to it. Local enterprises recognize the problem but, for some reason, the protesters who call themselves activists started it in the pre-election season. I know that almost three billion hryvnias (USD 107 million, - 112 International) were spent for the environmental modernization. And the situation is getting better gradually. For example, an enterprise says 'we bought some Italian equipment, we spent more than 200 million dollars'. The situation in the city is getting better consistently. The situation wasnt created, it is kind of retained and remained serious from the Soviet time. And against this background of improvement of the ecological situation, we see a surge of protest sentiments, the expert convinced. According to Smetana, the politicians will use a variety of topics for the struggle for power in the pre-election period, and the voters' task is to distinguish the reality from fiction. I am sure that they will use many different subjects. Of course, the closer to the presidential election, the more. And to parliamentary even more. Therefore, we must prepare and learn to distinguish populism from realism after all... Mariupol is a frontline city, no one knows who and how it will be used, the human rights defender stressed. The bill provides for the prolongation of the period of the agreement with the Netherlands on the International mission on the protection of investigation until August 1, 2019 President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko registered the draft bill in the Parliament, offering to extend the period of the agreement with the Netherlands on the International mission on the protection of MH17 investigation. The bill proposes the Verkhovna Rada to ratify the agreement with the Netherlands on the prolongation of the period of the agreement with the Netherlands on the International mission on the protection of investigation will August 1, 2019. If adopted, such ratification will come into force since the day of its official publication. The explanatory note to the document says that the adoption of the bill will facilitate the further involvement of the Netherlands in the investigation of MH17 tragedy, which took place on the territory of Ukraine on July 17, 2014. The Netherlands and Australia officially accused Russia of the downing of the MH17 plane. Particularly, when the Dutch prosecutors found the evidence that the plane was downed by the Russian Buk. Boeing 777 of Malaysian Airlines, flight number MH17 was destroyed while performing a regular flight from the Netherlands to Malaysia in July 2014. The tragedy took place in the sky over the militant-held section of Donetsk region. All 298 people aboard deceased; most of the victims, 196, were Dutch, but there were citizens of another nine countries as well. A photo exhibition by former LA Times photojournalist, Don Bartletti, documenting Central American stowaways on Mexican freight trains. Bartletti shares stories from his 30-plus year career. Join us Friday, October 5, 6:00 pm 8:00 pm for the opening of Enriques Journey, a photo exhibition by former LA Times photojournalist, Don Bartletti, documenting Central American stowaways on Mexican freight trains. Bartletti will share stories from his 30-plus year career as a photojournalist. The exhibit opens October 5 and runs through December 28, 2018 at the New Mexico Humanities Council, 4115 Silver SE, Albuquerque. Visitors are welcome Monday through Friday, 9:00 am 4:00 pm. In the vast migration thats changing the face of America, thousands of Central Americans annually attempt a harrowing 1,500-mile journey through the length of Mexico on the tops of freight trains. Nearly all are visited by cruelty, hunger and fatigue. Stowaways call the unscheduled train they run to catch La Bestia or The Beast. Some are maimed or killed by the iron wheels. In the states of Chiapas and Oaxaca, Mara Salvatrucha gangsters, corrupt immigration and police officers and opportunist citizens hunt them like animals. By contrast, in the state of Veracruz trackside residents throw gifts of food, water and clothing to migrants as the train passes by. Among these migrants are children as young as 12 who travel alone. Most are trying to find parents usually mothers - who left them behind years ago to work in the U.S. For children, the dream of reunification becomes the quest for the Holy Grail. Success comes only to the brave and the lucky. In 2003, Bartlettis six-part photo essay in the Los Angeles Times, Enriques Journey was awarded a Pulitzer for Feature Photography. Bartletti was the first U.S. photojournalist to document the ongoing Central American diaspora of children clinging to freight trains and their dreams of crossing into the U.S. Bartletti has an interesting New Mexico connection, too. In 2003, he was assigned to photograph legendary New Mexico author, Tony Hillerman, for a Los Angeles Times Travel Section story written by Hillerman. Bartletti will share with exhibit reception guests his wild adventure in the Sandia Foothills capturing the portrait of a New Mexico treasure. Enriques Journey exhibition is part of the "Democracy and the Informed Citizen" initiative, which is administered by the Federation of State Humanities Councils. The series is aimed at deepening the public's knowledge and appreciation of the interconnections joining democracy, the humanities, journalism and an informed citizenry. Special thanks go to The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation for its generous support of the initiative and to the Pulitzer Prizes for their partnership. Thanks, too, to the City of Albuquerque's KiMo Theatre as a major sponsor of the series. PLEASE NOTE! Due to the March 23, 2020 NM DOH Public Health Order, These Event Listings Are Not Accurate! All non-essential businesses are closed, public gatherings are prohibited! (One day some of these events will be rescheduled or will resume, but they are not happening now!) . . , , . , . - ,... NEWTOWN, Conn., Oct. 29, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Using data from its innovative Platinum Forecast System 4.0, Forecast International projects that 6,086 regional aircraft will be produced in the 15-year period from 2018 through 2032. This total includes regional jets and regional turboprop airliners. The value of this production is estimated at $227 billion in constant 2018 U.S. dollars. The Forecast International projections call for annual production to increase from 293 aircraft in 2018 to 466 aircraft in 2030, with only a brief dip in 2021 interrupting the steady rise. For the long term, yearly output is expected to retrench somewhat in 2031 and 2032 but still remain above 435 units each year. "The regional aircraft market is being transformed at both the manufacturing level and the operator level," said Forecast International senior aerospace analyst Raymond Jaworowski. "This transformation is profound, and will have an impact on the market for years to come." At the manufacturing level, large airliner manufacturers Airbus and Boeing have each been making moves to establish a presence in the 100-130 passenger segment of the regional aircraft market. Airbus has acquired majority ownership in CSALP, the entity set up by Bombardier to oversee production of the aircraft family once known as the CSeries and now known as the A220. Bombardier has retained a stake in CSALP. Meanwhile, Boeing has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Embraer regarding formation of a joint venture, under Boeing operational control, that would absorb Embraer's commercial aircraft business. Expected to close in 2019, the deal would bring Embraer's E2 family of large regional jets under the Boeing product umbrella. The participation of Airbus and Boeing will provide these regional aircraft programs with access to the companies' extensive sales and support networks, engineering resources, supply chains, production capacities, and long-standing relationships with customers and suppliers. Jaworowski noted, "Negotiations with suppliers could take on a different power dynamic with Airbus or Boeing at the table, potentially leading to cost reductions and new operating efficiencies." The operator side of the market is also changing. A very mature regional airline sector in North America is currently generating only limited opportunities for growth, but the regional sectors in Europe and especially Asia are showing considerable dynamism. Regional carriers in North America are hampered by such obstacles as major airline consolidation (resulting in less feeder work), a severe pilot shortage, and scope clause restrictions on aircraft size and weight. Said Jaworowski, "Liberalization of scope clauses would unlock significant demand for large-capacity regional jetliners in the U.S. market." Prospects are brighter in Asia and Europe. Asia is quite promising as a future growth market for regional airlines, with China especially having tremendous long-term market potential. Demand in the Chinese market will be filled by aircraft from China's own indigenous manufacturers such as AVIC and COMAC, as well as by aircraft from manufacturers outside China. The Forecast International data project that Embraer, ATR, Mitsubishi, and Bombardier will lead the regional aircraft market in terms of unit production during the 2018-2032 period. Embraer is forecast to build 1,519 regional jets, for a market share of nearly 25 percent. Following thereafter, ATR will build 1,207 regional turboprops, representing a 19.8 percent share of the market, while Mitsubishi will produce 742 regional jets, for a 12.2 percent share. Bombardier, which produces both jets and turboprops, is expected to produce 503 regional aircraft, for an 8.3 percent market share. AVIC is projected to build 377 regional aircraft, a 6.2 percent share of the market. The CSALP joint venture is calculated separately, and is projected to account for production of 296 A220-100s, representing a 4.9 percent share of the market. The Platinum Forecast System 4.0 is a breakthrough in forecasting technology that enables customized market assessments to be created based on proprietary Forecast International production forecasts and data. With use of the Platinum system, clients can quickly identify both market risk and future opportunities. System types and platforms, national currencies, geographic regions, and more can all be input into the system as criteria in order to create distinct market segments for evaluation. Market trends and shares are displayed graphically, and all data are complemented by full market reports, Forecast Rationales, Excel spreadsheets, and more. About Forecast International Forecast International, Inc. is a leading provider of Market Intelligence and Consulting in the areas of aerospace, defense, power systems and military electronics. Based in Newtown, Conn., USA, the company specializes in long-range industry forecasts and market assessments used by strategic planners, marketing professionals, military organizations, and governments worldwide. Forecast International also maintains a high posture of situational awareness and geopolitical analysis. Finnish English EVLI BANK PLC PRESS RELEASE OCTOBER 29, 2018 AT 9.00 AM Evli received praise for its investment performance, stability and resources, responsible investments (ESG) and client service. For the fourth consecutive year, Evli was ranked the best institutional asset manager in the SFR Scandinavian Financial Research -survey*. Evli received again the "Platinum Award" for excellence in investment services. Evli's overall performance score was 3,94 (scale 1-5), which was calculated by using 10 quality criteria. Evli received particular praise for its investment performance, stability and resources, responsible investments (ESG) and client service. Evli was also the most widely used institutional asset manager in Finland. 66 percent of the respondents use Evli's asset management services. "Our goal is to always serve our clients in the best possible way and to develop our services in accordance with their needs and goals. It's pleasing to note that the clients appreciate our products and services and retaining the best ranking for the fourth year in a row is a great tribute to our systematic development work. I want to express my warm gratitude to all our clients for their trust in our services and our expertise", Evli Bank's CEO Maunu Lehtimaki comments on the survey results. In the "Institutional Investment Services, Finland 2018" -survey conducted by SFR Scandinavian Financial Research, Finnish institutional investors assessed the quality of all asset managers operating in Finland, based on 10 quality criteria. Survey respondents included insurance companies, pension institutions, endowments and foundations, cities and municipalities, parish unions, universities and other institutional investors. Further information: Janne Lassila, Director, Evli Bank tel. +358 9 4766 9142, janne.lassila@evli.com Timo Hovi, Director, Evli Bank tel. +358 9 4766 9306, timo.hovi@evli.com *"Institutional Investment Services, Finland 2018; Investment Services Report, Allrounders" Evli Bank Plc Evli is a bank specialized in investments that helps institutions, corporations and private persons increase their wealth. The product and service offering includes mutual funds, asset management and capital markets services, alternative investment products, investment research, administration of incentive programs and Corporate Finance services. The company also offers banking services that support clients' investment operations. Evli is the most widely used institutional asset manager in Finland, and has been ranked as the "Best Institutional Asset Manager" in Finland for four years in a row*. *KANTAR Sifo Prospera External Asset Management Finland 2015-2018, SFR Scandinavian Financial Research Institutional Investment Services, Finland 2015-2018. Distribution: Main media, www.evli.com PIVOTAL TRIAL CONFIRMS LONG-TERM SAFETY AND EFFICACY OF INTRAVENOUS IRON DOSING STRATEGY ALLOWING HIGHER FERRITIN CONCENTRATION AND TRANSFERRIN SATURATION IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING HAEMODIALYSIS Results from the PIVOTAL trial were presented during the High-Impact Clinical Trials session at American Society of Nephrology (ASN) Kidney Week 2018 The trial met its primary endpoint of noninferiority as assessed by a composite of death and cardiovascular events, demonstrating that a liberal, proactive intravenous (IV) iron dosing regimen did not expose patients to an increased level of harm Treatment with greater doses of iron, allowing for higher ferritin and transferrin saturation (TSAT) levels, was associated with significantly reduced rates of the primary outcome when the components were analysed as recurrent events and was less likely to result in hospitalisation for heart failure Among patients on maintenance haemodialysis, a proactive, high-dose regimen of IV iron significantly reduced dose requirements for erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) and the need for blood transfusions, without adversely impacting mortality or safety endpoints such as hospitalisation or infection Across Europe and the United States, more than 70% of patients on maintenance haemodialysis receive IV iron1-4 Detailed results from the Proactive IV irOn Therapy in haemodiALysis patients (PIVOTAL) trial were announced today as a late-breaking oral presentation at ASN Kidney Week 2018 in San Diego, California, US. PIVOTAL is a randomised controlled trial designed to investigate the effects of two IV iron dosing strategies among patients on maintenance haemodialysis.5 The reactive, low-dose IV iron arm was intended to maintain patients near the lowest acceptable iron limits (serum ferritin of 200 g/L and TSAT of 20%). In contrast, the proactive, high-dose IV iron regimen encouraged more liberal iron dosing and permitted higher ferritin and TSAT levels (up to 700 g/L and 40%, respectively), as has been observed in the US.6,7 Although liberal IV iron dosing is known to improve ESA response and to allow for reduced ESA doses, the effect of this strategy on other objective outcomes was previously unclear.8 The PIVOTAL trial followed 2,141 patients from 50 sites in the United Kingdom for up to 4.4 years (median follow-up after 2.1 years). The trial met its primary endpoint by demonstrating noninferiority of the proactive dosing regimen as assessed by the risk of death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or hospitalisation for heart failure (HR=0.88, 95% CI: 0.76-1.03, P<0.001). Additionally, the proactive iron dosing regimen was associated with a significant 22% reduced risk of death or cardiovascular events when analysed as recurrent events. As suggested by prior data, higher doses of iron allowed for a significant, nearly 20% reduction in monthly median ESA dose. Notably, the proactive dosing strategy, and attendant increases in serum ferritin concentrations and TSAT, was not associated with any increase in the risk of hospitalisation, infection, or vascular access thrombosis. The results of the PIVOTAL trial were simultaneously published online in The New England Journal of Medicine (available online at NEJM.org). "These robust data add a wealth of information to the evidence base supporting an optimal IV iron dose for the management of anaemia in this patient population. As the market leader for IV iron, we are committed to ensuring safe therapy for patients. With this study, a knowledge gap in the anaemia treatment of HD patients can be closed." said Stefan Schulze, President of the Executive Committee and COO of Vifor Pharma Group. The trial was supported by an unrestricted research grant from Vifor Fresenius Medical Care Renal Pharma Ltd. (VFMCRP) to Kidney Research UK. In addition to financial support, VFMCRP also provided Venofer (iron sucrose) free of charge for the duration of the trial. David C. Wheeler, Professor of Kidney Medicine at University College London, UK, is a member of the PIVOTAL study steering committee. He said "PIVOTAL represents the first rigorously designed scientific study to prospectively examine the impact of IV iron dosing regimens on hard clinical outcomes among patients undergoing haemodialysis." He also commented that the results "support the safety of a proactive approach to IV iron dosing that results in higher serum ferritin as well as TSAT levels and allows for reduced reliance on ESAs." Initiated in 2013, PIVOTAL represents the largest prospective, controlled clinical trial of IV iron in patients with CKD. It also stands as the largest nephrology clinical trial ever conducted exclusively in the UK. "This is the first trial of its kind and size to have taken place in the UK and we are immensely proud of everyone who took part. There was a gap in the understanding of intravenous iron therapy which needed to be addressed and we now believe the results will lead to improved treatments and better outcomes for patients." said Sandra Currie, Chief Executive of Kidney Research UK. FURTHER INFORMATION Media Relations Investor Relations Heide Hauer Julien Vignot Head of Corporate Communications Head of Investor Relations Tel.: +41 58 851 80 87 Tel.: +41 58 851 66 90 E-mail: media@viforpharma.com E-mail: investors@viforpharma.com Vifor Pharma Group is a global pharmaceuticals company. It aims to become the global leader in iron deficiency, nephrology and cardio-renal therapies. The company is the partner of choice for specialty pharmaceuticals and innovative patient-focused solutions. Vifor Pharma Group strives to help patients around the world with severe and chronic diseases lead better, healthier lives. The company develops, manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products for precision patient care. Vifor Pharma Group holds a leading position in all its core business activities and consists of the following companies: Vifor Pharma; Vifor Fresenius Medical Care Renal Pharma, a joint company with Fresenius Medical Care; Relypsa; and OM Pharma. Vifor Pharma Group is headquartered in Switzerland, and listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange (SIX Swiss Exchange, VIFN, ISIN: CH0364749348). For more information, please visit www.viforpharma.com. Vifor Fresenius Medical Care Renal Pharma Ltd., is a joint company of Vifor Pharma Group and Fresenius Medical Care, develops and commercialises innovative and high quality therapies to improve the life of patients suffering from chronic kidney disease (CKD) worldwide. The company was founded at the end of 2010 and is owned 55% by Vifor Pharma Group and 45% by Fresenius Medical Care. For more information about Vifor Fresenius Medical Care Renal Pharma and its parent companies, please visit www.vfmcrp.com, www.viforpharma.com and www.freseniusmedicalcare.com. Venofer, the originator iron sucrose, is an intravenous iron therapy developed by Vifor Pharma. Venofer is authorized worldwide in more than 80 countries for the treatment of iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia where there is a clinical need for a rapid iron supply or when oral iron is ineffective, not tolerated or patient non-compliance is an issue. Venofer is the leading intravenous iron brand in terms of volume usage worldwide and is the trusted gold standard in iron therapy for dialysis patients. Overall monitored usage of Venofer now correlates to over 23 million patient-years of clinical experience. Iron deficiency (ID) is defined as a state in which iron stores are inadequate for normal blood formation, as the iron requirements exceed the supply. Iron deficiency anaemia results from low or depleted stores of iron. In severe cases red cells in a patient with IDA are both microcytic (small) and hypochromic (pale), and values for mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular Hb concentration (MCHC) are characteristically changed. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) it is estimated that about 700 million people have iron deficiency anaemia (IDA).9 References 1. Bailie GR, Larkina M, Goodkin DA, et al. Variation in intravenous iron use internationally and over time: the Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS). Nephrol Dial Transplant 2013;28:2570-2579. 2. US-DOPPS (Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study) Practice Monitor. IV iron use, last 3 months. April 2018; https://www.dopps.org htm. Accessed October 10, 2018. 3. Germany-DOPPS (Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study) Practice Monitor. IV iron use, last 3 months. June 2016; https://www.dopps.org Accessed October 10, 2018. 4. Robinson BM, Larkina M, Bieber B, et al. Evaluating the effectiveness of IV iron dosing for anemia management in common clinical practice: results from the Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS). BMC Nephrol 2017;18:330. 5. Macdougall IC, White C, Anker SD, et al. Randomized trial comparing proactive, high-dose versus reactive, low-dose intravenous iron supplementation in hemodialysis (PIVOTAL): study design and baseline data. Am J Nephrol 2018;48:260-268. 6. US-DOPPS (Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study) Practice Monitor. Monthly IV iron dose received (90 day average), continuous (mg). April 2018; https://www.dopps.org/DPM/Files/sum_IVIRON90DAY_overallTAB.htm. Accessed October 10, 2018. 7. US-DOPPS (Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study) Practice Monitor. Serum ferritin (3 month average), continuous (ng/mL). April 2018; https://www.dopps.org/DPM/Files/meanferritinngml1_overallTAB.htm. Accessed October 10, 2018. 8. Macdougall IC, Bircher AJ, Eckardt KU, et al. Iron management in chronic kidney disease: conclusions from a "Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes" (KDIGO) Controversies Conference. Kidney Int 2016;89:28-39. 9. World Health Organization. Preventing and controlling iron deficiency anaemia through primary health care. 1989; http://www.who.int/nutrition/publications/micronutrients/anaemia_iron_ deficiency/ida_preventng_control_primary_healthcare.pdf Accessed October 17, 2018. English French MONTREAL, Oct. 29, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Quebec Precious Metals Corporation (TSX.V: CJC, FSE: YXEN, OTC-BB: CJCFF) (QPM or the Company) is pleased to announce the start of the fall 2018 exploration program at the Sakami gold project located in James Bay, Quebec (see Figure 1 attached). Recently the Company announced an important extension of the mineralized system (see September 10, 2018 press release) at the La Pointe area and intercepts of 3.22 g/t Au over 31.5 m (PT- 18-118) and 3.59 g/t Au over 27 m (PT-18-120). The technical committee comprised of members from Goldcorp Inc. and QPM has designed and approved a $1.8 million budget for surface exploration and diamond drilling for the balance of 2018 and early 2019. QPM will advance the project through further surface work and drilling to better delineate this gold system. The program focusing on the La Pointe area, is underway and consists of the following activities: A minimum of 3,000 m of diamond drilling is planned to test down-plunge extensions at depth of the high grade zones defined as >40 g/t Au x drill intercepts (gram metres) identified following the winter 2018 drilling program and the existence of sub-parallel zones at shallower depths (see Figure 2 attached). Multi-element analytical work using the ICP method will be completed on 1.5 metre samples selected from drillholes in the central portion of the zone to: (1) improve the understanding of the spatial distribution of gold and associated metals including arsenic and antimony; and (2) map alteration assemblages and establish unaltered lithogeochemical suites in order to help with core logging and regional target recognition in the future. Approximately 1,000 soil samples have been collected and are being analyzed for gold and pathfinder elements to test the potential presence of an extension to the La Pointe zone to the west. Exploration potential Diamond drilling to date on the La Pointe zone (127 holes, 22,700 m) has: outlined a large mineralized area of 800 m long by 450 m wide along dip and to a depth of 400 m below surface; confirmed a significant potential for further extending mineralization at depth and to the west; and defined two substantial gold zones (zones 25 and 26) within the volcano-sedimentary Yasinski Group (La Grande Subprovince) which is metamorphosed to amphibolite facies and strongly deformed by a regional WSW to ENE event. This assemblage composed mainly of basaltic amphibolite with local sedimentary iron formations, is intruded by tonalitic intrusions that are very deformed as well. These units are is structurally superposed with a sequence mostly formed of biotite rich paragneiss. In addition, exploration to date on the JR-Simon-9.6 area, located about 6 km NNE of the La Pointe area (see Figure 3, attached) has: outlined a 3.8 km by 1.5 km northeasterly trending gold soil geochemical anomaly; and identified many high-grade surface showings up to 28.75 g/t Au in grab samples presently untested by drilling. The mineralization is contained in basalts of the Yasinski Group in contact with sedimentary rocks of the Laguiche Group (Opinaca Subprovince) to the east. The details of the exploration program on the JR-Simon-9.6 area will be finalized later this fall. Qualified Persons Normand Champigny, Ing., Chief Executive Officer and Jean-Sebastien Lavallee (OGQ #773), Vice-President Exploration of the Company and both Qualified Persons under NI 43- 101 on standards of disclosure for mineral projects, have prepared and approved the technical content of this release. About Quebec Precious Metals Corporation QPM is a new gold explorer with a large land position in the highly-prospective Eeyou Istchee James Bay region, Quebec, near Goldcorp's Eleonore gold mine. QPMs flagship project is the Sakami project with significant grades and well-defined drill-ready targets. QPMs goal is to rapidly explore this project to advance it to the mineral resource estimate stage. For more information, please contact: Jean-Francois Meilleur President Tel.: 514 951-2730 jfmeilleur@qpmcorp.ca Paradox Public Relations Tel: 514 341-0408 Normand Champigny Chief Executive Officer Tel.: 514 979-4746 nchampigny@qpmcorp.ca Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Three figures accompanying this announcement are available at: http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/947658ab-e0a5-4ca9-be76-8570c9292595 http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fef65314-35a4-4432-a3a7-9f18b6e35e97 http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b59a1cfe-fdf0-4a00-b28b-6361d7563506 SASKATOON, Saskatchewan, Oct. 29, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GFG Resources Inc. (TSX-V: GFG) (OTCQB: GFGSF) (GFG or the Company) is pleased to announce that drilling has started at its 100% owned Pen Gold Project located within the western portion of the Abitibi greenstone belt west of Timmins, Ontario, Canada (See Figure 1). Key Highlights: Objective of the Phase 1 drill program is to drill test approximately 15 priority targets distributed across a 20-kilometre segment in the eastern portion of the Pen Gold Project; The Phase 1 drill program will consist of 5,000 to 6,000 metres in 25 to 30 holes ranging in depth from 150 to 300 metres; Drilling has commenced at the eastern extent of the Deerfoot regional target and will sequentially test targets in the Jehann and Reeves regions; The drill program will test newly generated targets from the integration of geological, geochemical, structural and geophysical datasets that were recently completed as well as infill and follow-up of relevant historic drill intercepts; and In conjunction with the drill program, the Company continues to progress towards completing its Phase 2 till sampling program and an extensive IP survey of the Reeves regional target area and advancing other priority regional targets across the property. Figure 1: Regional Map of the Pen Gold Project. Click here Figure 2: 2018 Target Map at Deerfoot, Jehann and Reeves. Click here Following months of hard work we are very excited to begin the Phase 1 drill program at our recently acquired Pen Gold Project, said Brian Skanderbeg, GFGs president and CEO. With the use of modern technology and integration of historic data at a district scale, our technical team demonstrated that this area is highly prospective and has identified numerous high priority targets. Our focus during this Phase 1 drill program will be on three camp scale targets that have the potential to yield multiple gold discoveries. Mr. Skanderbeg added, This is an exciting time for the Company as we advance two drill programs with the opportunity to make a new discovery at both our Ontario and Wyoming projects. We are confident in our people, projects and the opportunity to unlock significant value through discovery. 2018 Program Outline Deerfoot The Deerfoot regional target contains the interpreted westward extension of the Porcupine-Destor Fault Zone (PDFZ) and associated second-order fault splays that dissect Abitibi Greenstone belt stratigraphy (See Figure 2). The stratigraphy, structure and nature of mineralization are analogous to that which hosts the Timmins West, Thunder Creek and the 144 Gap deposits currently being mined or developed by Tahoe Resources 15 kilometres to the northeast. This year GFG completed high-resolution airborne magnetics and detailed ground-based IP surveying to better constrain lithology and structure, and to trace mineralized structures in an area of extensive till cover that has hindered historic prospecting efforts. In the eastern part of the Deerfoot target, three to four holes will focus on testing extensions to the Sewell occurrence that returned historic drill intercepts up to 60.0 grams of gold per tonne (g/t Au) over 1.3 metres (m) in shear-hosted quartz veining cutting syenite and diorite. Confirmation sampling of the outcropping pyrite-bearing quartz vein at Sewell in 2018 confirms the high-grade nature of this zone with surface grab samples returning gold grades of 11.5, 20.4, 77.0 and 399.4 g/t. Gold mineralization is open to the west and at depth to the north. The Company will also test six new targets that have been identified in the eastern Deerfoot region. These targets were generated and refined from new structural interpretation of magnetics and results from 3D inversion of IP data. High-priority targets are defined by chargeability anomalies that occur on breaks in magnetic features and/or on the flank of resistive bodies that occur along mineralized structures. Highly anomalous pristine gold grains recovered from a regional till sample directly down-ice (to the south) of these untested targets provides further support of the local prospectivity (See news release: GFG Outlines 5 Priority Targets from Regional Till Sampling Program at the Pen Gold Project Near Timmins, ON) . In the central part of Deerfoot region, the Company will complete follow-up and step-out holes at the HGM occurrence where historic drill assays returned up to 43.0 g/t Au over 1.5 m in sulphidized carbonate-altered mafic volcanic rocks within a shear zone. Gold mineralization is open to the west and at depth to the north. One to two drill holes have been allocated to test for possible extensions of the system. Approximately 500 metres to the west of the HGM occurrence, widely-spaced historic drill holes intersected significant near-surface gold mineralization along the same structure however no follow-up drilling has been completed to date. Historic intercepts include 21.0 g/t Au over 1.3 m in quartz veining at the contact between ultramafic and carbonate-altered mafic volcanic rocks; and 4.0 g/t Au over 0.8 m in pyrite-bearing ultramafic rocks. This segment of the mineralized structure is characterized by a complex magnetic pattern which may relate to lithologic variation and competency contrasts that can localize gold mineralization. This area will be tested with three to four drill holes during the 2018 program. Reeves The Reeves regional target in the central portion of the property is characterized by an east-west trending package of sediments, mafic volcanics, porphyritic felsic intrusions and shear zones that intersect the western margin of the north-south trending Reeves ultramafic complex (See Figure 2). Importantly, the sediment and volcanic package includes panels of sheared polymictic conglomerates that are interpreted to be correlative to Timiskaming conglomerates that mark important mineralizing structures within the central Timmins Mining Camp. There has been very little historic work or drilling within the Reeves regional target and the Company has outlined numerous high priority targets. Previous explorers primarily focused on the western margin of the Reeves ultramafic complex in the talc mine area with historic intercepts of up to 13.0 g/t Au over 4.3 m from quartz veining within a section of intensely carbonate-altered ultramafic rocks. Approximately 2.5 kilometres toward the southwest, also along the western margin of the Reeves ultramafic complex, historic grab samples at the Nib-Yellowknife occurrence returned up to 37.0 g/t Au in quartz-veined diorite. An IP survey covering the majority of the Reeves regional target at 200-metre line spacing has been completed using Abitibi Geophysics OreVision system. The geophysical survey results are currently being processed and a 3D inversion model will help to refine the lithological and structural framework beneath cover along the western margin of the Reeves ultramafic complex to further prioritize drill targets for the latter part of the 2018 drill program. A drill permit application has been submitted and it is expected to be received by early December. Jehann The Jehann regional target is a complex geological area with multiple east-west trending shear zones, interpreted to be northern splays off the PDFZ, that have transposed the southern part of the Reeves ultramafic complex and the surrounding rocks (See Figure 2). In the western portion of the Jehann target, grab samples of quartz-carbonate veining in felsic intrusives, diorite and sediments returned values of up to 4.7 g/t Au. In the eastern Jehann area, two regional till samples returned >110 highly pristine gold grains indicating that structures, evident in the magnetic data towards the north, are likely to be mineralized (See news release: GFG Outlines 5 Priority Targets from Regional Till Sampling Program at the Pen Gold Project Near Timmins, ON) . Drilling in this area will be primarily focused on the east-west trending structures up-ice or beneath the till samples. A drill permit application has been submitted and it is expected that the permit will be issued by early December. Outlook The 2018 Pen Gold exploration program is fully-funded and is expected to be completed by the end of December. In addition to the Phase 1 drill program, the Company will complete the Phase 2 till sampling program and analyze the new IP data, in the context of the existing regional framework, to outline and prioritize drill targets for drill testing in 2019. The Company is confident that it will continue to outline high priority targets on its underexplored 475 kilometre square land package. Qualified Persons Brian Skanderbeg, P.Geo. and M.Sc., President and CEO, is the Qualified Person for the information contained in this press release and is a Qualified Person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Skanderbeg has reviewed the sampling and QA/QC procedures and results thereof as verification of the sampling data disclosed above and has approved the information contained in this news release. Sampling and Quality Control Surface grab and drill core samples are being analyzed by Bureau Veritas Commodities Canada Ltd. Preparation of a 1-kilogram pulp and gold assay of a 50-gram aliquot by Pb collection fire assay with an Atomic Absorption Spectrometry finish (Package FA450) are being done in Timmins, Ontario. Samples assaying above 3 ppm Au are being routinely re-run using gravimetric finish (Package FA550). Mineralized zones containing visible gold will also be analyzed by screen metallic fire assay. Multi-element analysis for 59 other elements using a four-acid digestion and an ICP-MS finish (Package MA250) is being done in Vancouver, British Columbia. Quality control and assurance measures include the monitoring of results for inserted certified reference materials, coarse blanks and preparation duplicates of drill core. Sampling protocols, quality control and assurance measures and geochemical results related to historic till, rock grab, and drill core samples quoted in this news release have not been verified by the Qualified Person and therefore must be regarded as estimates. About GFG Resources Inc. GFG Resources is a North American precious metals exploration company focused on district scale gold projects in tier one mining jurisdictions, Ontario and Wyoming. In Ontario, the Company owns 100% of the Pen and Dore gold projects, two large and highly prospective gold properties west of the prolific gold district of Timmins, Ontario, Canada. The Pen and the Dore gold projects have the same geological setting that hosts most of the gold deposits found in the Timmins Gold Camp which have produced over 70 million ounces of gold. In Wyoming, the Company controls 100% of the Rattlesnake Hills Gold Project, a district scale gold exploration project located approximately 100 kilometres southwest of Casper, Wyoming, U.S. The geologic setting, alteration and mineralization seen in the Rattlesnake Hills are similar to other gold deposits of the Rocky Mountain alkaline province which, collectively, have produced over 50 million ounces of gold. CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this news release constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws and forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (referred to herein as forward-looking statements). Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the future price of gold, success of exploration activities and metallurgical test work, permitting time lines, currency exchange rate fluctuations, requirements for additional capital, government regulation of exploration work, environmental risks, unanticipated reclamation expenses, title disputes or claims and limitations on insurance coverage. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as plans, expects or does not expect, is expected, budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates or does not anticipate or believes, or the negative connotation thereof or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results, may, could, would, will, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved or the negative connotation thereof. All forward-looking statements are based on various assumptions, including, without limitation, the expectations and beliefs of management, the assumed long-term price of gold, that the Company will receive required permits and access to surface rights, that the Company can access financing, appropriate equipment and sufficient labour, and that the political environment within Canada and the United States will continue to support the development of mining projects in Canada and the United States. In addition, the similarity or proximity of other gold deposits to the Rattlesnake Hill Gold Project, the Pen Gold Project and the Dore Gold Project is not necessary indicative of the geological setting, alteration and mineralization of the Rattlesnake Hills Gold Project, the Pen Gold Project and the Dore Gold Project. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of GFG to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: actual results of current exploration activities; environmental risks; future prices of gold; operating risks; accidents, labour issues and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining government approvals or financing; and other risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties are not, and should not be construed as being, exhaustive. Although GFG has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. In addition, forward-looking statements are provided solely for the purpose of providing information about managements current expectations and plans and allowing investors and others to get a better understanding of our operating environment. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date hereof and GFG assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws. For further information, please contact: Brian Skanderbeg, President & CEO Phone: (306) 931-0930 or Marc Lepage, Vice President, Business Development Phone: (306) 931-0930 Email: info@gfgresources.com Website: www.gfgresources.com Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/82b22eaf-1bc3-482c-8f1e-6b304faed969 http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/54be4fa7-6921-4c6d-accb-93e1148529d0 BOCA RATON, Fla., Oct. 29, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MiX Telematics (NYSE: MIXT), a leading global provider of fleet and mobile asset management solutions, is proud to announce that its world-class telematics solution is being adopted by Algerian oil & gas industry leader, Sonatrach. MiXs channel partner in the region, Algeria Telecoms Satellite (ATS), will be providing Sonatrach with a fleet management solution to address their safety, efficiency and compliance needs for 1,000 of their vehicles. MiX Telematics premium fleet solution is already installed in 500 vehicles of petroleum company Naftal, a division of Sonatrach. Based on the framework contract, which includes various Sonatrach divisions, the potential opportunity is 18,000 vehicles over several years. We have a long-standing partnership with ATS and MiX is extremely proud to be working with them to continue providing customers in the region with world-class telematics solutions, says Charles Tasker, Group Chief Operating Officer at MiX Telematics. MiX has an excellent reputation with Oil & Gas customers globally. Weve helped some of the biggest names in the industry achieve outstanding results with their drivers and fleets, concludes Tasker. About MiX Telematics MiX Telematics is a leading global provider of fleet and mobile asset management solutions delivered as SaaS to more than 700,000 subscribers in over 120 countries. The companys products and services provide enterprise fleets, small fleets and consumers with solutions for efficiency, safety, compliance and security. MiX Telematics was founded in 1996 and has offices in South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States, Uganda, Brazil, Australia and the United Arab Emirates as well as a network of more than 130 fleet partners worldwide. MiX Telematics shares are publicly traded on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE: MIX) and on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: MIXT). For more information, visit www.mixtelematics.com For further information: Michelle Faulkner +1 617-510-6998 michelle@big-swing.com Presidente @MartinVizcarraC: Hoy asumimos el compromiso de trabajar juntos para impulsar el desarrollo de sus jurisdicciones. Palacio de Gobierno, la casa de todos los peruanos, tiene y tendra las puertas abiertas para ustedes, y tambien todos los ministerios. pic.twitter.com/CUKjPrfFA9 On Thursday, Russia and Norway signed an agreement to conduct geological exploration in the formerly disputed Arctic shelf area, the Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy said in a statement. The agreement was signed on October 25 by Norwegian Petroleum Minister Kjell-Borge Freiberg and Dmitry Kobylkin, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation. Earlier on Thursday, the signing of this agreement was announced by the Ministry of Natural Resources. "This agreement was signed as part of the September 2010 agreement on the division of zones, and it will benefit both countries. It implies that both countries can evaluate the potential of the resources up to and along the line of demarcation," Freiberg said. "The purpose of this agreement is to regulate the procedure for collecting seismic data for the full mapping of potential oil and gas fields on the continental shelf of the state up to and along the line of demarcation. We have all waited for this agreement for a long time," the press service of the Natural Resources Ministry said, citing Kobylkin. In October 2016, the Russian Natural Resources Ministry reported that Russia and Norway were ready to sign an agreement that would determine how oil and gas companies in both countries would operate when developing the Arctic shelf, including collecting seismic data along the demarcation line on the continental shelf in the Barents Sea and the Arctic Ocean. In 2010, Russia and Norway signed an agreement on the division of the so-called gray zone in the Barents Sea, which entered into force in July 2011. Talks on maritime delimitation between Russia and Norway began in 1970, and the signing of the agreement enabled Russia and Norway to freely explore their respective parts of the Arctic shelf. In August 2015, Russia submitted a revised application for expanding the boundaries of its continental shelf in the Arctic due to the accession of the Lomonosov Ridge and other underwater elevations of a continental nature to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf. The projected hydrocarbon resources of these areas are estimated at 4.9 billion tons of reference fuel. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS. The extraordinary session has kicked off in the Parliament of Armenia, reports Armenpress. The lawmakers will debate the Electoral Code reforms package. The session has been convened by the signature of 35 MPs from Yelk and Tsarukyan factions. Earlier during the October 22 extraordinary session, the Electoral Code reforms package didnt receive enough votes to be adopted. Lawmakers from the Republican Party faction voted against the package. The reforms of the Electoral Code propose transition from the ranked-voting system to the proportional one. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS. Preliminary results from Georgias presidential election on Sunday showed that neither of the two frontrunners was likely to win enough votes more than 50% - to secure victory and they would face a second round run-off vote. Georgias Central Election Commission said that according to results from 13 percent of the polling stations, independent candidate Salome Zurabishvili backed by the ruling Georgian Dream party, had secured 38,66 percent of the vote: approximately 615,000 people cast ballots for Zurabishvili. Grigol Vashadze, backed by the United National Movement, had won 37.7% - around 600,000 voted for him. The voter turnout was 46,74%. The second round must take place by December 1, TASS reported. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS. The general prosecution has recapped the results of recovering damages to the state in corruption and white-collar crimes in the first 9 months of 2018. The Prosecutor Generals Office said in a press release that the total damages to the state discovered within the framework of criminal cases is 64,130,144,343 drams nearly 132 million dollars. About 14 billion drams from the total amount in damages was discovered by the national security service, nearly 9 million drams by the state revenue committee, about 7,5 billion by the investigative committee, and the remainder more than 33 billion by probes at the Investigative Committee. The latter also includes the 23,553,817,000 drams in damages to the state as a result of misuses funds during the implementation process of the North-South Road Corridor project. During the 9 months of 2018, 10,5 billion drams in damages has been recovered, while nearly 7 billion damages is guaranteed by criminal-judicial tools freezing of assets. In addition to criminal damages to the state, the investigation of the national security service has led to nearly 1,7 billion drams in penalties and fines being paid to the state budget. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS. Russian border guards in Armenia apprehended a trespasser on the Armenian-Turkish border, the Russian Federal Security Service told Armenpress. The border guards havent found any documents. According to the preliminary data, the trespasser is a citizen of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. It is reported that the trespasser has crossed the Pakistan-Afghanistan, Afghanistan-Iran, Iran-Turkey borders without any obstacles with the search for better living conditions and has been arrested only during the attempt on entering into Armenia. The trespasser has been handed over to the respective authorities aimed at clarifying the details of the incident. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian today had a working breakfast with the members of Board of Trustees and Advisory Board of the Foundation for Armenian Science and Technology (FAST), which includes leading Armenian scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs from all over the world, the Presidential Office told Armenpress. During the meeting the participants exchanged views on issues relating to effectively organizing the activities of the Foundation, discussed the conditions, mechanisms and opportunities necessary for the implementation of outlined goals. Thereafter, the President participated in the opening ceremony of the Global Innovation Forum: Engineering the Evolution organized by the Foundation. President Sarkissian, who is also an honorary member of the FAST Foundations Advisory Board, welcomed the Forum participants in the country of 21st century and attached importance to holding such forums in Armenia. In particular, the President stated that Armenia is not only the birthplace of civilizations, but has been in the crossroads of East and West from the very start. As this is a gateway, a crossroad, I think its time for the humanity to turn back to its origins, to the birthplace of human race, to Armenia. Recently in Geneva I was talking about the 4th industrial revolution, where I said that there are no revolutions, there is an evolution. The humanity, we should be a part of the evolution or development. This is not only a scientific and technological evolution, but a drastic evolution of our societies and our behavior in the world, he said. The President addressed the following message: Armenia is the gateway of future. We promote making investments in our country: country that is young, ambitious, the people of which are talented, which has a young government, and a country which feels itself in the 21st century, is young and mature. Being young first of all means how young you feel yourself by soul, whether you are ready for new discoveries, to learn, to ask questions and find answers. Whether you are ready for research, evolution acceleration. I think the evolution is infinite. We dont understand how multi-layered actually we are, we have discovered only one part of us. People are more interested in what is happening outside of us. But we have a whole universe inside us which is as complicated as the universe itself. I believe the future discoveries of the world will again return to this gateway the gateway of the 21st century. Therefore, welcome to Armenia. At the end President Sarkissian wished productive work to the Forum participants. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS. The representatives of scientific and technological centers from 20 countries of the world will participate in the Global Innovation Forum titled Engineering the Evolution from October 29 to 30, reports Armenpress. The Forum is being held in Armenia for the first time. During the official opening ceremony President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian delivered welcoming remarks. I like very much todays headline, we need to be a part of that evolution development. The evolutionary changes at the beginning have taken place once a century, than every 50, 30 years, soon they will become every 10, 3 and 1 years. The humanity and especially those who keep the gateway of civilization should be ready for that. Evolution is infinite, we have discovered only small part of it, the President said. The Global Innovation Forum is being held in Armenia by the Foundation for Armenian Science and Technology (FAST) with the support of the Armenian Scientific Diaspora Association. The international forum gathered leading specialists in the fields of artificial intelligence, robotics and automatic systems, biology, businessmen, scientists from nearly 20 countries of the world. The Forum focuses on two main directions: -Frontiers of biology -Future of intelligence Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan Companies Announce Substantial Investments in San Antonio Affordable Housing WASHINGTON, Oct. 29, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Freddie Mac (OTCQB: FMCC) announced today it has closed its first Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Fund with Hudson Housing Capital LLC (Hudson) and its first investment within that fund. The closing marks Freddie Macs second LIHTC fund since re-entering the market earlier in September, and the first fund managed by Hudson. The LIHTC program finances the overwhelming majority of the countrys affordable rental housing. The Hudson Housing Tax Credit Fund will invest nationwide to create and preserve affordable homes. It will focus on transactions in areas that have been underserved over the past decade, such as rural communities, four percent LIHTC financing, and developments that provide intensive supportive services to their residents. The fund will provide as much as $100 million in targeted affordable housing investments, with more investments possible as additional transactions are closed. The Fund has already begun to finance much-needed affordable housing. Today Freddie Mac and Hudson announced a $17.5 million LIHTC equity investment through the fund for Lord Road Apartments, which will provide 324 homes for residents of San Antonio, Texasa growing city that is experiencing a material shortage of affordable rental housing. Freddie Mac is also providing $26 million in permanent debt financing for the development. The propertys sponsor is NRP Enterprises, a full-service developer, general contractor, and property manager with a portfolio of more than 20,000 units. Lord Road Apartments will range from one- to four-bedrooms and offer homes to very low-income families earning between 50 and 60 percent of the area median income. Currently, it is difficult for low- and moderate-income residents to find affordable homes in the area. We are excited to partner with Hudson Housing Capital on this fund, which will invest in affordable housing projects across the country, said David Leopold, vice president for Targeted Affordable Sales & Investments. Lord Road Apartments, the first transaction within this fund, will provide 324 quality, affordable housing units for very low-income families in the growing San Antonio community. We look forward to future investments that will provide needed capital for developers that are working to provide housing in similar areas across the country. Freddie Mac partnered with Hudson because of its deep expertise with the LIHTC program and commitment to serving communities in need through proprietary LIHTC funds. Since 1998, Hudson has invested $5 billion in tax credit equity to finance homes. Our partnership with Freddie Mac will help us fund attractive and affordable housing for diverse communities throughout the nation, said Sam Ganeshan, Managing Director, Hudson Housing Capital LLC. The Lord Road Apartment development in San Antonio is the first of many such investments that will make affordable housing more available to low and moderate income families. More than 19 million households across the country are cost-burdened, meaning they pay more than 30 percent of their income for housing. Eleven million are severely cost-burdened, paying more than 50 percent of their income for housing. Freddie Mac and Hudson are proud to be working together to address this vast and growing need through the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit. Freddie Mac makes home possible for millions of families and individuals by providing mortgage capital to lenders. Since our creation by Congress in 1970, we've made housing more accessible and affordable for homebuyers and renters in communities nationwide. We are building a better housing finance system for homebuyers, renters, lenders, investors and taxpayers. Learn more at FreddieMac.com , @FreddieMac and Freddie Mac's blog . Hudson Housing Capital provides customized financial services to residential real estate developers and investors. Owned and managed by professionals with decades of experience in the industry, Hudson builds its business on long-term relationships, extensive expertise, and the ability to craft transactions uniquely tailored to each customers needs. Founded in 1998, Hudson has syndicated over 500 low-income housing tax credit investments preserving or creating over 50,000 multi-family rental units. The firm has placed more than $5 Billion in equity. Hudsons breadth of expertise encompasses desirable units for families, seniors, special needs, assisted living virtually every type of property option offered in the market. Contact: Chris Spina Freddie Mac 703-388-7031 Christopher_Spina@freddiemac.com Lisa Anselmo Hudson Housing Capital 212-218-4489 Lisa.Anselmo@hudsonhousing.com YEREVAN, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS. The parliament adjourned a special session today for 20 minutes ahead of the vote of the electoral code amendments. After the debates, Tsarukyan faction MP Naira Zohrabyan requested a 20-minute break ahead of voting. Deputy Speaker Arpine Hovhannisyan told lawmakers that only one 20-minute break can take place ahead of one voting. Tsarukyan faction MP Gevorg Petrosyan said the break is required because some of their MPs didnt manage to enter the session hall, but were in the building. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS. ARF (Dashnaktsutyun) faction MP Andranik Karapetyan and MP Romik Manukyan did not attend the voting for the electoral code amendments bill today. The bill once again failed to be adopted. 62 lawmakers voted in favor, two voted against. 63 votes were required for the bill to pass. The remaining MPs from the 105-seat parliament did not vote. Parliament records show that Manukyan and Karapetyan did not attend the session. Other MPs from the ARF voted in favor. All 31 MPs from the Tsarukyan faction, all nine MPs from the Yelk faction voted in favor. The MPs who had withdrawn from the Republican (HHK) faction also voted in favor. Republicans who had joined the petition on calling early elections in December 2018 also voted in favor. Deputy Speaker (HHK) Arpine Hovhannisyan and HHK MP Armen Ashotyan voted against the bill. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS. Armenian President Armen Sarkissian has offered condolences to Indonesian President Joko Widodo on the deadly passenger plane crash that claimed numerous lives. I express my deepest condolences to you and the good people of Indonesia, wishing resilience and courage of the spirit to the families of the victims, Sarkissian said in a condolence cable, according to his office. An aircraft with 189 people on board has crashed into the sea off Indonesias island of Java on Monday, shortly after takeoff from Jakarta on its way to the countrys tin-mining hub. A spokesman for Indonesias search and rescue agency said the Lion Air flight, JT610, lost contact 13 minutes after takeoff. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS. German Chancellor Angela Merkel will not seek re-election as chair of the ruling CDU party, reports citing party sources say. The information comes a day after her party suffered another major setback in local elections, RT reports. Merkel, who has chaired the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) since 2000, was expected to compete again at the party congress in Hamburg in early December. Reports now suggest that she might be changing plans after her party suffered another major setback in local elections, this time in the state of Hesse. CDU managed to get 28 percent of the votes which marked a massive drop from the 38.3 percent won by the party during Hesses last election in 2013. With support for Merkels ruling party plummeting, the Euroskeptic Alternative for Germany (AfD) is steadily gaining ground. After its breakthrough in Hesse and Bavaria, the party now holds parliamentary seats in every single German state. Germany's Der Spiegel magazine suggested that possible candidates to replace Merkel could include CDU General Secretary Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn or North Rhine-Westphalias Minister President Armin Laschet. Friedrich Merz, a former leader of the CDU/CSU coalition in the Bundestag, was reportedly also named as a possible successor. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS. Armenias delegation led by President Armen Sarkissian today departed for Belarus on a working visit to participate in the meeting of the Core Group of the Munich Security Conference in Minsk, the Presidential Office told Armenpress. The delegation includes Secretary of the Security Council Armen Grigoryan, as well as other officials. The Munich Security Conference is an influential and representative platform to discuss international security policy issues. The MSC Core Group meetings usually are being held in different capitals of the world enabling the high-ranking officials to discuss the key issues of the international security policy. Traditionally, the Core Group focuses on the security policy of the hosting region. The upcoming Minsk meeting will be attended by heads of government of regional countries, other high-ranking officials, the leadership of international organizations, such as the OSCE, NATO and the European Union. The meeting agenda will cover issues relating to the East-West mutual relations, regional conflicts, the Minsk process, as well as the economic situation in Eastern Europe. Armenian President is expected to meet with President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko within the framework of the visit. Armen Sarkissian is also scheduled to meet with the Armenian community representatives. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS. Armenian President Armen Sarkissian congratulated today President of Ireland Michael Higgins on being re-elected to office. In the cable Sarkissian expressed conviction that Higgins activities and ambitious plans will contribute to the development and prosperity of Ireland. Armenia is ready to develop relations with Ireland in both bilateral and multilateral formats for the benefit of our countries, Sarkissian, in part, said in the telegram, according to his office. Michael D Higgins has been re-elected as Irish president after receiving 56% of the country's election vote. Businessman Peter Casey came second with 23.1%, while none of the other four candidates polled more than 10%. Higgins, the first incumbent in 50 years to face a challenge in his bid for a second term, won with 822,566 votes. Voters were given a white ballot paper for the presidential election and a green ballot paper for the referendum on blasphemy. Voters also supported the proposal to remove blasphemy as an offence from the Constitution, with 64.85% voting yes. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS. The UWC Dilijan School has for the first time hosted the UWC educational networks international governing bodies meetings, the IDeA foundation said in a press release. The annual meeting of UWC Governing Body, as well as the regional meeting of UWC national committees for Middle East and North Africa took place in the Dilijan School October 21-28. More than 100 representatives of UWC, including executives of 17 UWC colleges from four continents, arrived in Armenia for the meetings. The executive director of the UWC international office was also in attendance. A number of issues concerning UWC college activities, student admission and exchange of experience were discussed. The UWC executives also visited a number of historic sites and sightseeing locations in Armenia to get to know the Armenian culture and history on the sidelines of the meetings. The fact that this meeting takes place proves that Armenia is strengthening its position on the global education map thanks to the activities of the UWC Dilijan School, Chair of the Board of Governors of UWC Dilijan College Veronika Zonabend said. Students presented the example of a peaceful coexistence of different cultures and traditions under the UWC Dilijan roof during an event for the guests. Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyans wife Mrs. Anna Hakobyan, acting Minister of Culture Lilit Makunts, foreign ambassadors, representatives of international and partner organizations were also in attendance. I am here today at UWC Dilijan for the first time. This is an educational facility where children are not only taught math, literature and various subjects, but also to live, to interact and to get to know different nationalities, cultures and traditions. By speaking with the students studying here, by seeing the way they are presenting the school and their knowledge, one can get amazed in terms of the great extent of prospects that this school opens, prospects one can dream of. I thank the UWC Dilijan School founders for creating this kind of opportunities, Hakobyan said in her welcoming remarks. UWC (United World Colleges) is a global education movement that makes education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future. Central to the ethos of UWC is the belief that education can bring together young people from all backgrounds on the basis of their shared humanity, to engage with the possibility of social change through courageous action, personal example and selfless leadership. To achieve this, UWC schools and colleges all over the world deliver a challenging and transformational educational experience to a deliberately diverse group of young people, inspiring them to become agents of positive change in line with UWCs core values: International and intercultural understanding Celebration of difference Personal responsibility and integrity Mutual responsibility and respect Compassion and service Respect for the environment A sense of idealism Personal challenge Action and personal example Today, UWC has 17 schools and colleges on 4 continents, the majority of which focus exclusively on the 16-19 year-old age group: a time when young peoples energy and idealism can be guided towards empathy, responsibility and lifelong action. These colleges teach the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma as their formal curriculum, a qualification that UWC played a major part in developing, while also emphasising the importance of experiential learning, community service and outdoor activities. UWC college students are selected domestically, in more than 155 countries, through UWCs unique national committee system. Selection is based on demonstrated promise and potential. In accordance with the UWC ethos that education should be independent of the students socioeconomic means, 70% of students in their IB Diploma years receive either full or partial financial assistance, based on their needs. UWC also runs shorter educational programmes - conducted at the campuses of its 17 schools and colleges and beyond - increasing the number of people who can have access to a UWC educational experience. UWC fosters a lifelong commitment to social responsibility and, to date, it has inspired a worldwide network of more than 60,000 alumni, who believe it is possible to take action and make a difference locally, nationally and internationally. UWC Dilijan is a community working towards a more peaceful, equitable and sustainable world through a balanced, challenging and transformative education with people from diverse backgrounds. The college aims to be an integral part of Dilijan and to have positive personal, local and global impact. UWC Dilijan's core value is sustainable excellence in all aspects of development, from intellectual, physical, emotional and spiritual growth to environmental stewardship. The College's tree of sustainable excellence is nurtured by seven fundamental roots: Academic Excellence Faculty Dedication Personal Integrity Cultural Diversity Social Responsibility Responsible Architecture Environmental Stewardship Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS. A Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft operated by Lion Air crashed into the sea minutes after taking off from Indonesias capital city Jakarta on Monday, likely killing all 189 people on board, Associated Press reported. Rescuers have recovered human remains, and based on their condition, a rescue official said theyre not expecting to find any survivors. Indonesian President Joko Widodo ordered the transport safety commission to investigate the crash. He urged Indonesians to keep on praying as rescuers search for victims. Aviation officials said the flight was cleared to return to Jakarta after the pilot made a return to base request two to three minutes after taking off. It crashed into the sea about 10 minutes later. Armenian President Armen Sarkissian earlier offered condolences to President Widodo. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS. Acting defense minister of Armenia Davit Tonoyan received on October 29 OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs - Igor Popov (Russia), Stephane Visconti (France) and Andrew Schofer (USA), who arrived in Armenia on a regular regional visit, the defense ministry told Armenpress. The meeting was also attended by Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk. During the meeting acting minister Tonoyan touched upon the situation in the Armenian-Azerbaijani state border and the Artsakh-Azerbaijan line of contact. He attached importance to the agreement reached between the Armenian Prime Minister and the Azerbaijani President in Dushanbe in September about the launch of operative connection, expressing hope that the Co-Chair countries will make efforts to establish and launch similar connections at other directions. He said the Armenian Armed Forces carefully monitor the situation and all movements, adding that the unconditional maintenance of the ceasefire, the actions aimed at preventing incidents and reducing risks between the sides is very important in current conditions. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS. Russia attentively follows the developments in Armenia and is interested in the development of Armenian-Russian relations irrespective of who will be in power, ARMENPRESS reports first deputy chairman of the committee of the State Duma for the CIS and relations with Russian nationals abroad Konstantin Zatulin told the reporters. I hope Armenia and its citizens have the same mood. We are aware of Armenias domestic political life and we hope Armenia will be a stable country and that our ally will be able to overcome all domestic challenges and the economy will continue to grow. We support all the intentions of Armenia to attract investments. Russia, of course, has some role here since in the recent years it has been the largest investor in Armenia. I also think that the dialogue between the civil societies of the two countries is of key importance, because the relations between countries cannot be limited to inter-governmental level, Zatulin said. Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan TORONTO, Oct. 29, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The $15 & Fairness campaign will host a community vigil on Monday at 5:30 pm at the intersection of Keele Street and York Boulevard, close to the Upper Crust bakery, where a temp agency worker was killed on Thursday night. This is the 4th temp agency worker to die while working at a Fiera Foods-related company since 1999. It is with incredible sadness that we are learning about the tragedy of yet another worker death, said Deena Ladd, coordinator of the Workers Action Centre. We send our deepest condolences to the family, friends and co-workers of the deceased. Last year, in response to public pressure, the government took modest but crucial steps to protect the most vulnerable in our workforce, especially those who are in precarious employment and are employed through temporary staffing agencies, by enacting Bill 148. The changes made through Bill 148 are not frivolous, argued Ladd. They are urgent necessities that must not only be protected, but expanded. Failure to do so will impose real life consequences on millions of Ontario workers. The tragic news of the workers death came after Doug Ford government tabled Bill 47 on Tuesday, seeking to repeal almost all of the new workplace protections that were adopted last year, which aimed to ensure safety and well being on the job. If passed, Fords Bill 47 would: reduce penalties assigned to employers for violating workplace laws make it easier to deny workers any employment standards protections -- including EI, CPP and WSIB -- by misclassifying them as self-employed contractors, instead of employees make it easier for employers to fire workers who decline last-minute shifts eliminate paid sick days and reduce access to personal emergency leave impose a real dollar wage cut for Ontarios lowest paid workers allow employers to pay part-time and temporary agency workers less than their full-time or directly-hired counterparts Bill 47 is not only harmful to workers, it gives a green light to Ontarios most unscrupulous employers who have a track record of violating the most basic workplace laws said Ladd. The Changing Workplace Review, which was a three-year province-wide public consultation undertaken by independent advisors and informed by academic research, concluded that Ontario must improve labour laws and step up enforcement to protect workers in this province, said Pam Frache, provincial coordinator of the $15 and Fairness campaign. Instead, the Ford government froze the hiring of new employment standards enforcement officers, halted proactive workplace inspections and tabled legislation to rollback our new laws. If we allow employers to act with impunity, we can predict with certainty that there will be more of these kinds of tragedies. That is why we are calling on the Premier to withdraw Bill 47 and for every MPP to vote against it, said Frache. A Facebook post by Kramer questioned the prudence and practicality of Marus decision in directing part of the grant to Karimui, which he assumed was not a cocoa producing area. This would involve establishing a cocoa nursery in Karamui and building a connecting road from Gumine to the southern region, where there is no cocoa pod borer problem Kramers question related to a decision by Planning Minister Richard Maru to cancel the grant to the East Sepik Province and direct it to projects in Karimui, Momase, Papua and Kerevat. The European Union committed K340 million for rehabilitation of cocoa in the cocoa pod borer-devastated province of East Sepik which many of us were not aware of it until it was mentioned recently in parliament by Madang MP Bryan Kramer. KUNDIAWA Karimui, in the deep south of the Simbu Province, is poised to become one of the major cocoa producing district in Papua New Guinea but it requires special attention from the national government. Agro-scientist and cloning specialist Dr John Konam with a local farmer at the experimental cocoa plantation at Karimui station (PNG Cocoa Board) Kramer normally backs up his arguments with evidence but in this case he erred. The redirection of this money is something that needs to happen. Karimui is an emerging cocoa producer ready to explode but awaiting large scale supply of seedlings and a road connection to transport cocoa and also coffee, peanuts and rice to market. Geographically, Karimui in the Salt Nomane Karimui District is at the extreme southern tip of the Simbu Province bordering with Gulf, Eastern Highlands and Southern Highlands provinces. Unlike most of Simbu, Karimui is generally flat at an altitude of 800-1,500 meters with a climate of moderate to high humidity. Crops like cocoa, betel nut and even coconuts normally associated with coastal areas grow prolifically in Karimui. In fact, Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare during a visit to Simbu once described Karimui as the coast in the highlands. In the early 1990s, the agriculture officers in the Simbu Provincial Government with the support of the National Agriculture Research Institute and the Cocoa Board started cocoa agronomical research in Karimui with the aim of introducing it as an additional cash crop. A name synonymous with Karimui cocoa is the late Kale Kua, described as a veteran agriculturalist working as a pioneer developer of Karimui cocoa project. With the involvement of agricultural scientist and cocoa cloning and hybrid expert Dr John Konam, research and development into cocoa production has been very promising. In July 2013, MAF airlifted the first trial cocoa production of nine bags of high quality cocoa beans produced using the old drying method. Many farmers grow cocoa and coffee but are not producing due to high cost of freighting produce to Goroka by air. Farmers are discouraged by the low return for their sweat but the potential for large scale production is unquestionable with a road. So the decision by Minister Maru to allocate part of the K340 million European Union grant to develop a road to connect Karimui with the outside world and to establish cocoa nursery in Karimui is good and economically feasible. The people of Karimui and Simbu have been praying for and pleading with successive national governments for such an initiative without success. Simbu is the poorest province in PNG in terms of natural resources and large scale agricultural production. Its best hope for a more prosperous future lies in the backward, remote and naturally rich land of Karimui. As a man from that area, and on behalf of the illiterate and ignorant majority who are mostly farmers, I plead that prime minister Peter ONeill, Treasurer Charles Abel, Planning Minister Richard Maru and officials of the European Union to reconsider and direct at least K40 million of the grant to Karimui road and cocoa. You will never regret making that decision. People of the remote Karimui region of Simbu - many have never seen a motor vehicle. Karimui dancers at the Kundiawa Show, 1978 (Paul Barker) KEITH JACKSON KUNDIAWA Can someone please get this message to the Australian High Commission or DFAT? This is the plaintive cry from Simbu to a country which is not up to listening to plaintive cries from anywhere but its elite. The 400,000 Simbu people, jammed into the middle of the Papua New Guinea highlands in a province with few resources other than their intelligence and energy, have been calling for a road into the rich Karimui area and its 40,000 people for half a century. It was a call renewed earlier this year when the European Union committed K340 million for the rehabilitation of cocoa in the cocoa pod borer-devastated province of East Sepik. Unlike most of Simbu, Karimui is a generally flat region at an altitude of 800-1,500 meters with a climate of moderate to high humidity. Crops like cocoa, coffee, betel nut, coconuts and others normally associated with coastal areas grow there prolifically. But there is no road linking it to anywhere. You can be a superhero too. Image: Getty Planet Earth is in trouble. Were heading towards hotter summers and colder winters. Overfishing is a serious problem and our love affair with fast fashion means the average Aussie contributes 23kg to landfill annually in textiles alone. If we do nothing now, the world in 2040 will be 1.5C hotter than it was before the industrial revolution and sea levels will rise between 26 and 77 centimetres by 2100. Also read: Yahoo Finances 5 minute guide to: Ethical investing Make that 2C and we can add another 10 centimetres. To put that into perspective, a sea level rise of this magnitude would drive millions of people from their homes in low-lying countries like Bangladesh, Vietnam and the Maldives. This is the warning from the latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and its unsettling. Every extra bit of warming matters, especially since warming of 1.5C or higher increases the risk associated with long-lasting or irreversible changes, such as the loss of some ecosystems, said Hans-Otto Portner, co-chair of an IPCC working group. But theres also hope. We can limit global warming, but, as the IPCC said, only through making massive changes. Enter: the Australian investor Whats interesting in Australia with compulsory superannuation is that every Australian of working age is an investor, even though many of us dont think of ourselves as an investor, the CEO of the Responsible Investment Association of Australasia (RIAA), Simon OConnor told Yahoo Finance. It means that we ultimately are making decisions as to the kinds of businesses and companies we are supporting or not through our superannuation and our investments. More and more Australians are realising this. Figures show that 90% of Australians expect their super to be invested ethically and OConnor put this down to non-government organisations (NGOs) efforts to raise awareness of the power of superannuation and ethical investment. Also read: Why I left private equity to focus on impact investing Story continues But for most people, their ethical investment is only an investment if it actually delivers a solid financial return. And finding an investment that is both profitable and ethical is not always easy. Even defining it can be tricky. For some people, it means ensuring their money isnt supporting big tobacco companies. For others, their ethical investment needs to have a positive impact like sustainable energy or clean water. 5 ethical funds delivering a healthy return Here are 5 examples of funds invested ethically delivering varying rates of returns. 1. The BetaShares Global Sustainability Leaders ETF is a newer entrant to the ETF market, having only entered in January last year. It provides investors with exposure to 100 large global stocks considered to be climate leaders. Its also got a management fee well below the usual fees associated with ethical unit trusts and listed investment companies, at 0.49 per cent. Latest returns: As at 30 September 2018, the ETF has made a one year return of 27.59 per cent, after fees and a one month return of 0.10 per cent. 2. The AMP Capital Responsible Leaders International Shares Fund offers exposure to global ethical stocks, with an annualised return of 17.86 per cent and a four-star Morningstar Sustainability rating. Latest returns: This fund has delivered a one month return of 0.04 per cent as at 30 September 2018 and a one year return of 17.86 per cent. 3. Then theres the Pendal Sustainable Balanced Fund, formerly known as the BT Sustainable Balanced Fund. BT was one of the first investment managers to move towards ethical strategies. Its spread over Australian and global shares. Latest returns: This fund has returned a one-year average of 8.69 per cent, post-fee but has softened recently, with a one-month return of -0.93 per cent. 4. ASX listed Australian Ethical Investment targets stocks which it considers positive for the environment and society and avoids mining, coal and oil. Instead, it focuses on healthcare and renewable energy. Latest returns: It has a suite of managed retail funds, with its balanced fund making a one month return of 0.7 per cent as at 30 September 2018, and a one-year return of 8.8 per cent. 5. You could also invest via your superannuation. Australian Ethical Super is described by consumer advocate group, CHOICE, as certified ethical. Superannuation products within this fund will exclude companies involved in coal, coal seam gas, oil, weapons, tobacco, logging and gambling. Latest returns: Its growth option has made a one month return of 0.6 per cent, as of 30 September 2018 and a one year return of 10.1 per cent per annum. Also read: 7 mega trends shaping the future of investing Not so fast: have you done your homework? Funds and vehicles described as tobacco-free may not invest in tobacco directly, but could be supporting it through their investments in the biggest tobacco retailers; Woolworths and Coles. This means investors need to consider their beliefs and just how strong they are. Once theyve done that, they need to do their research. The RIAAs Responsible Returns website is a good place to start. It allows investors to compare funds by objectives, asset classes and investment products. For example, a search for investment products excluding fossil fuel and logging exposures with an emphasis on sustainable water and energy draws out 13 investment providers, including Australian Ethical Investment, Nanuk Asset Management, BetaShares and Perpetual Investments. Investors and would-be investors should also consider asking their financial adviser, fund manager or super fund what their approach to ethical investing is, OConnor added. I really encourage people to ask the question; Is this money actually being invested in a way that I can sleep soundly at night and be comfortable with? And even better than that; Can I be having a really great, positive impact with the way my retirement savings are being invested? Here are 24 Australian asset managers with products paying keen attention to the environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors of their investment and corporate decisions, according to the latest benchmark report from the RIAA: AB Global (AllianceBernstein) Aberdeen Standard Investment AMP Capital Amundi Asset Management Australian Ethical AXA Investment Managers BlackRock BNP Paribas Asset Management Pendal Group Colonial First State Global Asset Management Dexus Property Group IFM Investors Investa Property Group JCP Investment Partners Lendlease Investment Management Magellan Asset Management Maple-Brown Abbott New Forests QIC RARE Infrastructure Robeco Solaris Investment Management Stafford Capital Partners Stewart Investors Make your money work with Yahoo Finances daily newsletter. Sign up here and stay on top of the latest money, news and tech news. Nineteen miners have been confirmed dead in east China following a mining accident earlier this month that trapped 22 people, state media reported Monday. The tunnel where the miners were working was blocked at both ends by coal after pressure caused rocks to fracture and break on October 20, the official Xinhua news agency said. Only one miner has been rescued so far. Rescuers working to clear the tunnel recovered six bodies Sunday. Two miners remained unaccounted for as of Monday morning. The accident took place at a mine owned by Longyun Coal Mining Co. Ltd. in Yuncheng County in Shandong province. Deadly mining accidents are common in China, where the industry has a poor safety record, despite efforts to improve coal production conditions and crack down on illegal mines. In December 2016, explosions in two separate coal mines in the Inner Mongolia region and in northeastern Heilongjiang province killed at least 59 people. Earlier that year, 33 miners were killed in a colliery explosion in October in the southwestern municipality of Chongqing, and in September, at least 18 were killed in a mine blast in the northwestern Ningxia region. According to China's National Coal Mine Safety Administration, the country saw 375 coal mining related deaths in 2017, down 28.7 percent year-on-year. However, despite improvements, "the situation of coal mine safety production is still grim," said the bureau in a statement following a coal mine safety conference in January. Picture taken on October 21 shows rescuers transferring an injured miner after a mining accident in Yuncheng County in China's eastern Shandong province Security fears and a lack of jobs in African nations have hampered gains in governance across the diverse continent over the last decade, a study said Monday, warning that some promising nations had "lost momentum". The annual Ibrahim Index of African Governance, which is watched closely by the continent's governments, also pointed to a deteriorating business climate and poor job creation. The report ranks countries according to their development in an array of categories between 2008 and 2017. As a whole, it showed Africa's progress being led by a handful of nations that pulled up the average, "while in many others momentum continues to falter". The progress is best where there is peace, government transparency and respect for the rule of law. It showed the biggest strides being made in Kenya, which moved up eight spots from 19th to 11th place; Morocco, from 25th to 15th; and especially Ivory Coast, which jumped from 41st to 22nd among 54 ranked countries. The world's largest cocoa producer, Ivory Coast has emerged from a period of civil and political unrest in 2010-11 in which 3,000 people died to recorded annual economic growth rates of nearly 10 percent. Morocco has been recognised as north Africa's most competitive economy by the World Economic Forum, while Kenya is continuing to recover from the chaos that followed a disputed 2007 presidential poll. The top-five countries, ranked by their cumulative points across all indexes, were Mauritius (79.5 points), Seychelles (73.2), Ivory Coast, (71.1) Namibia (68.6) and Botswana (68.5). Somalia (13.6), which has been wracked by clan warfare for most of the past 30 years, ranked last. It was followed by strife-torn South Sudan (19.3) and Libya (28.3), which with the 2011 fall of the monolithic regime of Moamer Kadhafi experienced the biggest decline (-15.6). "A majority of the improved countries over the decade have lost momentum," the report said. The actually governance score for the continent only went up from 48.9 points on a 100 point scale in 2008, to 49.9 points last year. - Job fears - Among all nations, the biggest decline came in personal safety (-6.1). National security, a separate category, lost 4.4 points. Health levels rose by 7.6 points but education lost ground since 2012 after initial improvements. This was especially concerning, said the report, because Africa's population was expected to rise by 27.9 percent over the next decade. The business environment as a whole deteriorated in the past decade, losing 4.9 points. Satisfaction with governments' ability to create jobs fell by 3.1 points. "Many African citizens are unhappy with the job creation performance of African governments," it said. The ranking is issued by a London foundation established in 2006 by Mo Ibrahim, a businessman from Sudan who sold his mobile phone company Celtel in 2006. With a mission to promote good governance in Africa, it also periodically awards a $5 million (4.4 million euro) prize to an African head of state who has left office and demonstrated good governance. Morocco has been recognised as north Africa's most competitive economy by the World Economic Forum Exposure to toxic air both indoors and out kills some 600,000 children under the age of 15 each year, the World Health Organization warned Monday. Data from the UN health body shows that every day, 93 percent of children under the age of 15 -- a full 1.8 billion youngsters, including 630 million under the age of five -- breath dangerously polluted air. This has tragic consequences: In 2016 alone, some 600,000 children died from acute lower respiratory infections caused by polluted air, the WHO report found. "Polluted air is poisoning millions of children and ruining their lives," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement. "This is inexcusable. Every child should be able to breathe clean air so they can grow and fulfil their full potential." According to WHO data, more than nine out of 10 people on the planet breath dangerously toxic air, causing some seven million premature deaths each year. Air pollution is especially dangerous for children, and accounts for nearly one in 10 deaths among children under five around the globe, the report found. WHO's study, which examined the health toll on children breathing health-hazardous levels of both outdoor and household air pollution, focused on dangerous particulate matter with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres (PM2.5). These include toxins like sulfate and black carbon, which pose the greatest health risks since they can penetrate deep into the lungs or cardiovascular system. The report found that children in poorer countries are far more at risk, with a full 98 percent of all children under five in low- and middle-income countries exposed to PM2.5 levels above WHO air quality guidelines. That compares to 52 percent in high-income countrie, WHO said. - Triggers asthma, cancer - Together, household air pollution from cooking and outdoor air pollution cause more than half of all cases of acute lower respiratory infections in young children in low- and middle-income countries, WHO said. The report, launched ahead of the WHO's first ever Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health, revealed that when pregnant women are exposed to polluted air, they are more likely to give birth prematurely and have small, low birthweight children. It found that children are often more vulnerable to the impact of air pollution since they breath more rapidly than adults, and thus absorb more pollutants at a time when their brains and bodies are still developing. They also live closer to the ground, where a number of pollutants reach peak concentrations, WHO said, pointing out that newborns and young children are also more susceptible to household air pollution in homes that use polluting fuels for cooking, heating and lighting. Air pollution can impact a child's development and cognitive ability, and can trigger asthma and childhood cancer, WHO said. Children who have been exposed to high levels of air pollution may also be at greater risk for chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease later in life, it said. "Air pollution is stunting our children's brains, affecting their health in more ways than we suspected," warned Maria Neira, the head of the WHO's department of public health and environment. The UN health body is calling for an acceleration of the switch to clean cooking and heating fuels, and for the promotion of cleaner transportation, lower emissions, and better waste management, among other measures. "The world needs to reduce the overdependance we have on fossil (fuel), and accelerate to clean, renewable energy," Neira told reporters in a conference call. Heavy smog in New Delhi. Levels spike during winter when air quality often eclipses the World Health Organization's safe levels A suicide bomber targeting the headquarters of Afghanistan's Independent Election Commission (IEC) on Monday killed at least one person and wounded six, officials said, in the latest violence to strike the controversial poll. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, which comes as thousands of ballot boxes from around the war-torn country are delivered to the IEC's heavily fortified compound in Kabul following chaotic and deadly legislative elections. One police officer was killed when the militant, who was on foot, blew up near a vehicle carrying IEC employees as it entered the base at 8:00 am (0330 GMT). Four election workers and two other police officers were also wounded in the blast. The attacker was "identified and gunned down by police before reaching his target", Kabul police spokesman Basir Mujahid told reporters. "The wounded were taken to hospital and are in a stable condition." Millions of Afghans risked their lives to vote in the long-delayed elections that were held over two weekends. The ballot, which the Taliban had vowed to attack, was marred by lengthy delays at polling centres, allegations of fraud, and deadly violence, with hundreds killed or wounded in scores of attacks. IEC figures show roughly 4.2 million out of the nearly nine million people registered to vote actually cast a ballot. Many suspect a significant number of those on the voter roll were based on fake identification documents that fraudsters planned to use to stuff ballot boxes. The parliamentary election, which was more than three years late and the third since the fall of the Taliban in 2001, is seen as a dry run for next year's presidential vote. It is also considered an important milestone ahead of a UN meeting in Geneva next month where Afghanistan is under pressure to show progress on "democratic processes". - Ballot complaints - More than 2,500 candidates, including mullahs, journalists and sons of warlords, are competing for 249 seats in the lower house. The IEC is scheduled to release preliminary results on November 10. But problems with untested biometric verification devices that were introduced at the eleventh hour and missing or incomplete voter rolls are likely to trigger debate over which votes are valid. The IEC previously said votes not biometrically verified would be rejected. The Electoral Complaints Commission has received thousands of complaints following three days of voting in 33 out of 34 provinces. On Saturday voters in Kandahar -- the southern birthplace of the Taliban and a province notorious for ballot stuffing -- went to the polls. While preparations had been "better" in Kandahar compared with the previous weekend, hiccups with biometric devices and voter lists persisted. Voting in the province bordering Pakistan was postponed following the October 18 assassination of General Abdul Raziq, an anti-Taliban strongman seen as a bulwark against the insurgency in the south, amid fears of violence flaring up. Raziq was among three people killed in a brazen 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 unhurt, but US Brigadier General Jeffrey Smiley was among 13 people wounded in the shooting claimed by the Taliban. The bombing at the Independent Election Commission comes as thousands of ballot boxes from around the war-torn country are delivered for counting China sent its first ever satellite built in partnership with another country into space on Monday, a device tasked with helping scientists better predict dangerous cyclones and climate change by monitoring ocean surface winds and waves. A Long March 2C carrier rocket blasted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China's Gobi Desert at 0043 GMT, according to China's State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence. The 650-kilogram (1,430 pound) China-France Oceanography Satellite (CFOSAT) is the first satellite jointly built by China and France and will allow climate scientists to better understand interactions between oceans and the atmosphere. It's fitted with two radars: the French-made SWIM spectrometer, which will measure the direction and the wavelength of waves, and China's SCAT, a scatterometer that will analyse the force and direction of winds. The data will be collected and analysed in both countries. The instruments will allow scientists to collect information about winds and waves of the same location simultaneously for the first time, Wang Lili, chief designer of the satellite with the China Academy of Space Technology, said, according to the official Xinhua news agency. "It will help increase the observation and prediction of catastrophic sea states, such as huge waves and tropical storms, and provide security support for offshore operations and engineering, ship navigation, fisheries, and coastal management," said Zhao Jian, a senior official at the China National Space Administration. The rocket successfully put the satellite into orbit 520 kilometres (323 miles) above the Earth. - 'Historic' - Chinese leader Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron exchanged congratulations in a phone call, according to Xinhua. "It's historic. It's the first satellite China has made through international cooperation," Jean-Yves Le Gall, president of France's National Centre for Space Studies, told AFP. "This satellite will help make considerable progress in understanding climate change." The project began in 2007. The two countries are also working together on the Space Variable Objects Monitor (SVOM) mission, which will launch a satellite in 2021 to detect and study gamma-ray bursts. China and France already cooperate in space, with a French cardiovascular device aboard China's Tiangong-2 space lab to monitor a crew's hearts. The lab is expected to de-orbit after July 2019. Le Gall said France is also working with China on cooperating in exploration missions to the moon and Mars. China plans to have a crewed space station by 2022 and send a manned mission to the moon in the future. "The (CFOSAT) launch shows that the international community is more and more willing to consider China as a full partner," said Jacqueline Myrrhe, a space expert at GoTaikonauts.com, which specialises in China's space programme. "It will also allow (France) to have launch opportunities and privileged access to space cooperation with China. And who knows, maybe to put a French astronaut in the future Chinese space station," Myrrhe said. Some three hours after the joint Chinese French launch, Japan's space agency sent a rocket carrying a satellite that will monitor greenhouse gases. The satellite is officially named GOSAT-2, short for "greenhouse gases observing satellite-2", and is intended to provide data that will help Japan create and publish "emission inventories" of the CO2 output of various countries, as outlined in the Paris climate accord. The Long March-2C rocket lifts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre A Filipino teen visiting Wellington with her family copped racial abuse from a white woman who told the family to go home because New Zealand is for white people. Sharing a video of part of the strangers racist tirade, Krizia Egipto, 18, told of her family trip to Wellington which she said was ruined by the abuse they copped while stopped at a convenience store. In a Facebook post last Friday, Miss Egipto, who has been living in Invercargill on the South Island for years, said the family dropped into the store for a coffee and struck up a conversation with a man from the Philippines. Filipino teen Krizia Alexa Egipto was visiting Wellington with her family when she copped racial abuse from a white woman who told the family New Zealand is for white people. Source: Krizia Alexa Egipto / Facebook The woman gave the family a dirty look, then hurled abuse at them as they left the shop, according to Miss Egipto. The lady said: DONT COME BACK HERE ANYMORE. YOURE NOT WELCOME HERE. THIS IS ONLY FOR WHITE PEOPLE. THIS COUNTRY IS FOR WHITE PEOPLE ONLY, she wrote in the Facebook post, where she shared a video of the abuse. Then I told her, Youre a racist, Youre a f****** racist and a f****** b****. I got annoyed, angry and hurt so bad after hearing what shed said. The footage shows a white woman smoking a cigarette on the street, telling the Filipino to Go home. Youre a piece of trash, as she waves Miss Egipto on. The woman was heard in the video telling the teen she was displacing white people. Source: Krizia Alexa Egipto / Facebook Its simple, no big deal. Go home. You have a country, the Kiwi says. Youre displacing white people, like that man on the street. Miss Egipto then explains to the woman that the family have legal visas to stay in the country, to which the woman responds: This country is for white people. Filipino never expected such racism The teen hoped sharing her experience would help other victims of racial abuse to stand up for themselves. I would never thought that I would experience racism and this kind of situation in my life, she wrote. I would not let other people discriminate us, especially when Im 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. Story continues Miss Egipto thanked the nice people who witnessed the incident and gave her a hug, and one who even bought her an an ice cream. Their reaction was very good and they made us feel welcome, she added. So whatever country you are from, please dont let other people discriminate you. Stand up for yourselves and dont be scared. Whatever country that you came from and whatever colour you have, racism is not OK. Environmentalists and rights groups reacted with dismay Monday to the victory in Brazil of president-elect Jair Bolsonaro, a far-right champion of agribusiness who has threatened to pull his country from the Paris climate accord. Bolsonaro, who won 55 percent of the vote in a run-off on Sunday, issued a series of campaign pledges that left many fearing for the future of the Amazon, known as "the lungs of the planet". He promised to merge Brazil's agriculture and environment ministries into one, saying "we won't have any more fights" over ecological concerns on deforestation. "It's all about downsizing government so investors and big agribusiness landowners and companies can come in and have a freer hand for more trashing of resources and indigenous rights," Victor Menotti, a former director of the International Forum on Globalization, told AFP. Bolsonaro, a former army captain, also raised the prospect of building hydro-electric power stations in the Amazon that would greatly restrict water access and forcibly remove indigenous communities -- and even mooted a rail line through the heart of the rain forest. "If (Bolsonaro) decides to move forward with his pledges against the environment, indigenous peoples and the climate, his fellow citizens will be the biggest victims," said Carlos Rittl, executive secretary of the Brazilian Climate Observatory. "To increase deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions is to leave each and everyone of us more vulnerable to an increasing risk of climate extremes." May Boeve, executive director at climate NGO 350.org, warned that a Bolsonaro presidency posed "a real threat to human rights at home and a risk to the momentum for climate action abroad." Deforestation is responsible for about a fifth of greenhouse gas emissions and intensifies global warming. But more than two decades of UN-led efforts to curb the practice have largely failed, with Earth still losing a wooded area the size of Greece every year. The Amazon itself is retreating to the tune of 52,000 square kilometres (20,000 square miles) -- equivalent to the area of Costa Rica -- each year, as agriculture giants saw down trees to make way for vast tracts on which to graze cattle or grow plants for food and cosmetic products. - Indigenous community fears - Bolsonaro, who openly admires Brazil's former military dictatorship and shocked many with his derogatory remarks on women, gays and blacks, remained vague about the environment during campaigning. He stunned many observers in August by pledging to follow US President Donald Trump's lead and pull Brazil out of the 2015 Paris treaty on climate change. The Paris deal aims to limit temperature rises to "well below" two degrees Celsius (3.6 Farenheit) above pre-industrial levels. He has since backtracked on his pledge to leave the Paris accord. According to Steve Schwartzmann, senior director of tropical forest policy at the US-based Environment Defense Fund, it is doubtful Bolsonaro would even be able to affect Brazil's departure given the treaty passed unanimously through congress -- including Bolsonaro's own vote. "So even if he still wants to withdraw, it will not be simple or easy," Schwartzmann told AFP. One area where Bolsonaro can act immediately, however, is on indigenous rights. A major report this month highlighted the vital role forests must play in limiting the impact of greenhouse gas emissions as well as the crucial role of indigenous people in forest upkeep. - 'Bypass laws' - Bolsonaro said in February that he would not give up "one centimetre more" of land to indigenous communities in Brazil -- home to around 60 percent of the Amazon rainforest -- who are often threatened when standing up for their rights. He has repeatedly attacked the environment protection agency Ibama, and as president could influence to what extent its operations are funded. Despite relatively robust legal protections, Brazil is already the deadliest place for environmentalists, with pressure group Global Witness recording 57 deaths of people protecting land there last year. Sebastian Munoz, senior programme officer for Latin America at the War on Want group, said Bolsonaro's verbal attacks on indigenous groups "is an attempt to vilify them and generate hate towards them to advance this idea of the need to generate economic growth. "It's an effective way of bypassing the need to make new laws by weakening protections for the environment and indigenous land that already exist," said Munoz. President-elect Jair Bolsonaro, a far-right champion of agribusiness who has threatened to pull Brazil from the Paris climate accord, issued a series of campaign pledges that left many fearing for the future of the Amazon President-elect Jair Bolsonaro has said he will not give up "one centimetre more" land to indigenous communities in Brazil The Amazon is retreating to the tune of 52,000 square kilometres (20,000 square miles) each year as agriculture giants saw down trees to make way for vast tracts on which to graze cattle or grow plants President-elect Jair Bolsonaro, who openly admires Brazil's former military dictatorship and shocked many with his derogatory remarks on women, gays and blacks, remained vague about the environment during campaigning OKLAHOMA CITY, Oct. 29, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Oblato, Inc., has acquired all rights from the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation to OKN-007, an investigational drug for the treatment of glioblastoma, a deadly form of brain cancer. There is currently no cure for glioblastoma, and the development of new treatments is a very important unmet need, said Oblato President and Chief Executive Officer Won S. Yang, Ph.D. Under a 2016 option agreement, Oblato exercised its rights to the compound, which was developed by OMRF scientists Rheal Towner, Ph.D., and Robert Floyd, Ph.D. OKN-007 has been evaluated as a novel therapeutic that protects nerves and reduces both necrosis and glioblastoma cell proliferation by eliminating reactive oxygen species, a known cause of cancer. In studies at OMRF, the drug reduced tumor size and increased lifespan in animal models of glioblastoma. An estimated 12,000 Americans are diagnosed with glioblastoma each year, according to the American Brain Tumor Foundation. The standard treatment regimen involves surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible, followed by radiation and chemotherapy. Still, the tumor almost always grows back. With treatment, the median survival is 12 to 18 months, and only 1 in 20 glioblastoma patients will live five years. Earlier this year, Sen. John McCain died from glioblastoma, which also took the life of Sen. Edward Kennedy. Right now, there is no effective treatment for glioblastoma, said OMRF Vice President of Technology Ventures Manu Nair. We hope that OKN-007 can change those numbers for the better. OKN-007 has undergone phase I-B clinical testing at the University of Oklahomas Stephenson Cancer Center, where physicians assessed its safety in patients suffering from glioblastoma. Those trials have been led by James Battiste, M.D., Ph.D. Weve gone to the highest dosage levels the FDA would allow, and we havent seen any negative effects from the drug, he said. Mike Schuster, a glioblastoma patient from Norman, Okla., has been receiving infusions of OKN-007 at the Stephenson Center for more than two years. Ive had no side effects at all, he said. I feel really good. Schuster is now nearing the three-year anniversary of his diagnosis, double the life expectancy for patients with glioblastoma. Oblato will initiate additional trials to study the efficacy and safety of this investigational drug in larger patient populations. At this time, OKN-007 is administered as an infusion, but the company also has plans to develop an oral form of the drug. Oblato will conduct glioblastoma clinical trials on patients in the U.S. and will work to develop this new drug worldwide, said Won. With our history of work in the orphan drug market, this new drug fits well into our portfolio. Since 2014, Oblatos parent company, GtreeBNT, has been focusing on the development and commercialization of biopharmaceutical drugs, particularly first-in-class medications for ophthalmic indications, such as dry eye disease and the orphan ocular disease neurotrophic keratopathy. GtreeBNTs focus on rare and orphan disease indications makes it an attractive partner to help us take the next steps in getting this drug to market, said Nair. OMRF and Oblato have the same ultimate goal: to see OKN-007 benefit patients living with this terrible disease. Photos of Dr. Rheal Towner, Dr. James Battiste and Mike Schuster are available for download: https://omrf.canto.com/s/LPSKM About Oblato, Inc. Oblato, Inc., is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Korean biotech company GtreeBNT, is incorporated in Delaware and has its principal place of business in New Jersey. Since 2016, the company has been developing a new drug, OKN-007, to treat glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Currently, clinical trials are ongoing to investigate the safety and efficacy of a combination therapy with both OKN-007 and temozolomide for patients with newly diagnosed GBM. About OMRF OMRF ( omrf.org ) is an independent, nonprofit biomedical research institute dedicated to understanding and developing more effective treatments for human diseases. Its scientists focus on such critical research areas as cancer, diseases of aging, lupus and cardiovascular disease. CONTACT: Ryan Stewart (405) 271-8955 Ryan-Stewart@omrf.org Human remains have been recovered after a flight crashed just minutes after departure from Indonesia. Lion Air flight JT610 crashed not long after taking off from Jakarta on Monday morning. Officials have now confirmed human remains have been recovered from the crash site 15km off the coast. Search and rescue head Muhammad Syaugi said no distress signal had been received from the aircrafts emergency transmitter. We dont know yet whether there are any survivors, he said. We hope, we pray, but we cannot confirm. Putri (centre), is consoled over the loss of her husband and child who were passengers on board the ill-fated Lion Air flight JT 610. Source: Getty Images We need to find the main wreckage, Bambang Suryo, operational director of an Indonesian search and rescue agency, told reporters. I predict there are no survivors, based on body parts found so far. In total, 189 people were on board. More than 23 government officials, four employees of state tin miner PT Timah, and three employees of a Timah subsidiary were on the plane. A Lion Air official said one Italian passenger and one Indian pilot were on board. Its not known if any Australians were passengers but The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is investigating. Debris has reportedly been found from Lion Air Flight JT610 after it crashed following departure from Jakartas international airport on Monday. Source: Twitter/ Sutopo Purwo Nugroho The Australian Embassy in Jakarta is making urgent enquiries with local authorities to determine if any Australians were on board the flight, DFAT said in a statement. The plane went down in waters about 30 to 35 metres deep. Items such as mobile phones and life vests were found, along with body parts. Ambulances were lined up at Karawang, on the coast east of Jakarta, and police were preparing rubber dinghies, a Reuters reporter said. Fishing boats were also being used to help in the search. Members of a rescue team bring ashore personal items and wreckage at the port in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta. Source: Getty Images Plane had previous technical problem Edward Sirait, chief executive of Lion Air Group, told reporters the aircraft had a technical problem on a flight from the resort island of Bali to Jakarta but it had been resolved according to procedure. Mr Sirait declined to specify the nature of the issue but said none of its other aircraft of that model had the same problem. Story continues Lion had operated 11 Boeing 737 MAX 8s and it had no plan to ground the rest of them, he said. The accident is the first to be reported involving the widely sold Boeing 737 MAX 8, an updated, more fuel-efficient version of the manufacturers workhorse single-aisle jet. Privately owned Lion Air said the aircraft had been in operation since August, was airworthy, and its pilot and co-pilot had together accumulated 11,000 hours of flying time. Indonesian relatives of the plane crash victims cry as they wait for the news at the airport in Pangkal Pinang. Source: AAP Families cling to hope for survivors Feni, who uses a single name, said her soon-to-be-married sister was on the flight and planning to meet relatives in Pangkal Pinang. We are here to find any information about my younger sister, her fiance, her in-law to be and a friend of them, said Feni. We dont have any information. No-one provided us with any information that we need. Were confused. We hope that our family is still alive. With Reuters and Associated Press Women who want to bear children in their 30s and 40s often face a dilemma regarding how much time to wait between pregnancies. Doctors often advise they wait 18 to 24 months. But pregnancy risks mount with age. A study Monday in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), based on 150,000 pregnancies in Canada from 2004 to 2014, concludes that waiting less than a year between pregnancies raises the risks, regardless of a woman's age. After a year, however, there is little difference in risk. "The take-home message from the study is that closely spaced pregnancies have risks for women of all ages," said study author Laura Schummers, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of British Columbia. "We found that maternal risks were present for women 35 and older only, and not for younger women, whereas risks to the baby were present for women both aged 20 to 34 and women 35 and older. Risks were similar between 12 and 24 months, and "we saw a very small further reduction between 12 and 18 months," Schummers told AFP. The interpregnancy interval was calculated as the amount of time between the birth of one child and the conception of the next one. For women over 35, the risk of maternal complications was highest for pregnancies that began three, six or nine months following a prior birth. For infants, risks rose among closely timed pregnancies regardless of the mother's age. These included stillbirth, infant death in the first year of life, low birth weight and prematurity, and affected about two percent of infants in the study. When pregnancy began six months after a birth, the risk of premature birth rose 59 percent compared to pregnancies timed to begin 18 months after a birth. Doctors in the United States typically urge women to wait at least 18 months between childbirth and pregnancy. The World Health Organization recommends at least 24 months. "Our findings indicate a shorter optimal interval than previously thought (12-24 months) for women of all ages," concluded the study. "This finding may be reassuring, particularly for older women who must weigh the competing risks of increasing maternal age with longer interpregnancy intervals (including infertility and chromosomal anomalies) against the risks of short interpregnancy intervals." Waiting at least 12 months between pregnancies reduces risks, the study found All 189 passengers and crew aboard a crashed Indonesian Lion Air jet were likely killed in the accident, rescue officials said Monday, as they announced they had found human remains and would continue the grim search through the night. The Boeing-737 MAX, which went into service just months ago, vanished from radar 13 minutes after taking off from Jakarta, plunging into the Java Sea moments after it had asked to return to the Indonesian capital. Flight JT 610 sped up as it suddenly lost altitude in the minutes before it disappeared, according to flight data tracking websites, with authorities saying witnesses saw the jet plunge into the water. "The victims that we found, their bodies were no longer intact and it's been hours so it is likely 189 people have died," search and rescue agency operational director Bambang Suryo Aji told reporters. Some 40 divers are part of about 150 personnel at the scene, authorities said, with wreckage from the jet some 30 to 40 metres deep in the water. Earlier, video footage apparently filmed at the scene of the crash showed a slick of fuel on the surface of the water and pictures showed what appeared to be an emergency slide and bits of wreckage bearing Lion Air's logo. The carrier acknowledged that the jet had previously been grounded for unspecified repairs. "It's really a mystery what could have happened," said Greg Waldron, Asia managing editor of industry publication Flightglobal. The plane had been en route to Pangkal Pinang city, a jumping off point for beach-and-sun seeking tourists on nearby Belitung island, when it dropped out of contact around 6:30 am (2330 GMT). Former professional cyclist Andrea Manfredi was a passenger on the flight, the Italian foreign ministry said. "The memory of a serious guy and in love with his sport, will remain indelible in the minds of all those who, in these years, have had the good fortune to know him," Bardiani-CSF, Manfredi's former team, said in a statement. - 'He called this morning' - Footage from Pangkal Pinang's main airport showed families of passengers crying and hugging each other, with some calling out to god. "This morning he called asking about our youngest son," said a sobbing Ermayati, referring to her 45-year-old husband Muhammed Syafii, who was on board. There were 178 adult passengers, one child, two infants, two pilots and six cabin crew aboard the flight, according to Indonesia's National Transportation Safety Committee (NTSC). About 20 finance ministry employees were on the plane including half a dozen colleagues of Sony Setiawan, who missed check in for a flight he took weekly due to bad traffic. "I know my friends were on that flight," he told AFP. Setiawan said he was only informed about his lucky escape after he arrived in Pangkal Pinang on another flight. "My family was in shock and my mother cried, but I told them I was safe, so I just have to be grateful." Lion Air said the plane had only gone into service in August. The pilot and co-pilot had more than 11,000 hours of flying time between them and had recent medical checkups and drug testing, it added. Lion Air chief Edward Sirait said the plane had an unspecified technical issue fixed in Bali before it was flown back to Jakarta. "Engineers in Jakarta received notes and did another repair before it took off" on Monday, Sirait told AFP, calling it "normal procedure". - Poor safety record - US-based Boeing said it was "deeply saddened" by news of the crash. Boeing reportedly suspended release of the 737 MAX just days out from its first commercial delivery last year due to an engine issue, according to airline safety and product review site airlineratings.com. It said the engines were a product of a joint venture between US-based General Electric and France's Safran Aircraft Engines. Earlier this year, Lion Air announced it was buying 50 Boeing 737 MAX 10 jets for $6.24 billion. Indonesia's air travel industry is booming, with the number of domestic passengers growing significantly over the past decade, but it has acquired a reputation for poor regulation and its airlines had previously been banned from US and European airspace. In August 2015, a commercial passenger aircraft operated by Indonesian carrier Trigana crashed in Papua due to bad weather, killing all 54 people on board. A year earlier poor maintenance and inadequate pilot response was blamed for an AirAsia plane crash which cost 162 lives. Lion, a low-cost airline which has engaged in a huge expansion in recent years, has been involved in a number of incidents including a fatal 2004 crash and a collision between two Lion Air planes at Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta airport. Debris apparently from the crashed jet was pulled out of the water Distraught family of passengers gathered at Pangkal Pinang airport, where the plane had been headed A fuel slick was spotted at the site where the Lion Air plane is believed to have crashed into the sea A search and rescue operation swung into action just after the plane disappeared from radar Brazil's Latin American neighbors are bracing for a regional "Bolsonaro effect" after the far-right leader's crushing victory in presidential elections. The knock-on effect will be felt across the region in foreign policy, trade, policing and even in how political campaigns are waged, analysts said. Bolsonaro's win perpetuates electoral routs for right-wing presidents against leftist governments hostile to the United States, said Argentine commentator Pablo Seman -- citing recent victories for Mauricio Macri in Argentina, Sebastian Pinera in Chile and Mario Abdo Benitez in Paraguay. "The US is taking possession of what has been lost in Latin America, in a context of global struggle with China for natural resources, markets, political support. There is no place in Latin America where Washington has not regained the position it lost" in the 2000s, Seman added. With President Donald Trump in the White House, "strongmen have the edge" in US foreign policy, said US analyst Michael Shifter. Bolsonaro's triumph however raises fears of a return to authoritarian rule in a region which has suffered under a string of military dictatorships. The shift will be stark, according to Mark Weisbrot of the Center for Economic and Policy Research in Washington. "This is a guy who said the Brazilian dictatorship didn't kill enough people, that they need to kill another 30,000 people, that the police should be able to kill suspects, that the left will have a choice of going to jail or leaving the country. "Will he do these things? I think he will implement as many of these threats as he can get away with," said Weisbrot. - 'Not so extreme' - However, "the shift towards authoritarian rule may not be as extreme as many fear," according to Shifter, head of the Inter-American Dialogue think tank -- because traditional parties in Congress could yet provide checks and balances. There could be a "modest Bolsonaro effect" in neighboring countries, especially those that experienced military rule, "but each country has its own particular dynamics that shape its political direction. Any contagion would be limited." Ivan Briscoe, Latin America director of the International Crisis Group, said the ex-soldier's rise is part of a gradual "winnowing of democracy" in the region, the most notable examples being Venezuela and Nicaragua. Bolsonaro wielding power in the volatile social context of Brazil is alarming. "When you have a populist authoritarian, militaristic ruler in that context, he isn't just a laughing stock -- as Trump often is -- he is actually a very serious challenger to civil rights, and human rights and basic freedoms." Bolsonaro has much in common with Mexico's president-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, said Briscoe. "It's the appeal of the strong leader, it's the slightly vague political program, it's the promise of 'trust me, I will do the job' - it's the style. So we might see similar campaigning in Latin America." - Bolsonaro's trade choices - Bolsonaro has vowed to implement free-market reforms in the region's biggest economy and recently accused China -- its largest trading partner -- of "buying Brazil." Beijing is set to build on its aggressive strategy in the region in recent years, analysts agree, with a style that appeals to Latin American leaders. "It provides much more direct investment, loans, and aid to developing countries than the US does, and has a policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of the recipients," Weisbrot pointed out. Regardless of his China trade policy, it's an anxious moment for the struggling regional MERCOSUR bloc -- Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. "If Bolsonaro follows through on his idea of allowing members to pursue bilateral trade agreements, and not as a bloc, that would be a big blow," noted Shifter. According to Weisbrot, Bolsonaro will "follow Macri and the other right-wing governments in pursuing commercial policies that the Trump administration favors." ? Briscoe agrees that a leader with a "Brazil First" approach "is possibly not going to do wonders for MERCOSUR." - Worst case scenario - Regardless of Bolsonaro's appeal to the markets, Shifter says that based on his campaign rhetoric and background, we can expect "considerable erosion of democratic norms and institutions". That means Bolsonaro supporting "right-wing and fascist movements everywhere, and also (being) a strong supporter of the Trump administration's foreign policy, which seeks to get rid of the remaining left governments," said Weisbrot. The worst case scenario is that he could become South America's answer to the Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, whose war on drugs has been credited with killing some 20,000 people since July 2016. In a country where police killings number around 5,000 a year, "if Bolsonaro and all his deputies are saying 'the gloves are off, you can do what you want, we'll protect you, the courts won't prosecute you,' the signal which will be given in that context could lead to appalling violence," said Briscoe. "In Brazil it really is a risk." 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, on October 28, 2018 Presidential election winner Jair Bolsonaro, pictured on October 28, 2018, has vowed to implement free-market reforms in the region's biggest economy 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, on October 28, 2018 T-Shirts with the image of Jair Bolsonaro are pictured next to inflatable dolls known as "Pixuleco", representing former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, during the second round of the presidential elections, on October 28, 2018 Police officers patrol the streets after the far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro won Brazil's presidential election, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on October 28, 2018 Mexico's incoming leftist president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Monday he will halt construction of a new airport for the capital after it was rejected in a referendum. "The decision is to obey the mandate of the citizens," Lopez Obrador told reporters, adding that the money would be used instead to improve existing facilities. The president-elect has been a staunch critic of the environmental impact of the project -- the estimated cost of which exceeds $13 billion -- and said it is marred by corruption. Business leaders said the new airport at Texcoco was sorely needed to ease traffic at Mexico City's aging airport, which handled nearly 45 million passengers last year. Lopez Obrador, who succeeds Enrique Pena Nieto on December 1, said "two runways" would be built instead at Santa Lucia -- a military airbase south of the city -- and Mexico City's current airport would be upgraded. Another airport, at Toluca, would also be repurposed. -'Years of delay'- The decision will mean "years of delay" and multimillion-dollar losses, according to International Air Transport Association (IATA) officials. "What we have heard from the new Mexican government is not positive because that means years of delay," IATA chief Alexandre de Juniac told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting in Panama. "We hope that this kind of decision will not be extended throughout the region." Peter Cerda, IATA vice president for the Americas, said dropping plans for the new airport would cost $20 billion to the economy annually. "The new airport would have given $20 billion more to the economy and 200,000 more jobs," he said. Sales of 20 million tickets will now be lost per year, IATA said. "The decision puts Mexico at a disadvantage as a regional hub," said Cerda, adding that now "passengers are going to have to transit between airports to make their connections." He said IATA would lobby the Mexican government to change its position. Mexican businessman Carlos Slim -- number seven in Forbes magazine's real-time rankings of the world's richest people, with a net worth of $67.1 billion -- is the airport's main investor. -'Canceling growth'- He has led the business community's criticism of Lopez Obrador, who won the presidency in a resounding victory in July. "Canceling the project would amount to canceling the economic growth of the country," Slim said in April. Slim's construction company CICSA was awarded the $4.7 billion contract to build the airport's terminal in a consortium with six other companies. Pena Nieto's government says the new airport would create up to 450,000 jobs and have the capacity to handle 125 million passengers a year when fully operational. The International Civil Aviation Organization, a specialized UN agency, supports the building of the new airport. Lopez Obrador's decision to submit the airport project to a public vote has been widely questioned. Voters rejected the airport plan in a four-day referendum that was one of the leftist politician's campaign promises. However, the referendum was not organized by the national electoral authorities and critics have pointed to cases of voters casting multiple votes. The failure of a computer system that was meant to centralize voter rolls made it possible to cast a ballot in more than one place. A Mexican casts his vote, during a referendum on the construction of a new airport in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon state, Mexico on October 25, 2018 Mexicans line up to vote on the referendum The Victorian government is being urged to ban flavoured cigarettes to prevent young people getting hooked to smoking long term. Quit Victoria says the tobacco products with squeezable flavour capsules have been carefully designed by the tobacco industry to make smoking more fun and better tasting for young people and non-smokers. If we dont take urgent action, we risk seeing a new generation of young people becoming addicted to a product which kills two in three long-term users, Quit Victoria Policy Manager Kylie Lindorff said. Flavoured cigarettes are aimed at vulnerable non-smokes, the Victorian government claims. Source: Getty New research from New Zealands University of Otago suggests flavoured smoking products are far more appealing to the younger generation. Tobacco companies have recently made much of their desire to promote a smoke-free world. However, these claims are inconsistent with their product innovations, which make smoked tobacco products more appealing to non-smoking young people, Lead researcher, Professor Janet Hoek said. The study found non-smokers were more than three times as likely to choose a fruit burst or pineapple and mango flavour than unflavoured cigarettes. With AAP. MIAMI, Oct. 29, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Natures Best Brands, Inc. (OTCPink:HLTY) (the Company) announces its new business direction and its recent changed in senior management. Until recently, the Company, through its subsidiaries, operated four restaurants that offer healthy food, coffee and juice, two in Panama and two in California. Such business has been substantially discontinued, with the Company presently operating one small restaurant in Panama. The Company intends to negotiate a non-exclusive distribution agreement with a manufacturer of a patented and FDA-cleared medical device used for on-site non-invasive patient health screening to provide physicians and medical professionals with useful data utilized for maximizing the management of patients health, and upon entering into such an agreement, to market the equipment. The Company intends to market this system directly to physicians, as well as offer certain managed services on a recurring fee basis. The Company intends in the future to seek to expand its range of products to include other medical devices or services. The change of direction follows the previously announced termination of the Companys agreement to acquire Unisource Health, Inc. as a result of breaches by Unisource of its agreement with the Company. In line with its change in business, the Company plans to change its corporate name to PreCheck Health Services, Inc. As previously reported, Natalia A. Lopera has resigned as an officer and sole director and appointed Lawrence Biggs and Justin E. Anderson as directors, with Mr. Biggs serving as chief executive officer and president and Mr. Anderson as chief operating officer. Mr. Biggs was chief executive officer and a stockholder of Unisource from August 2017 until September 2018. From September 2013 to September 2015, Mr. Biggs was chief executive officer and a stockholder of Rawkin Juice, Inc. The Company acquired the assets of Rawkin Bliss LLC dba Rawkin Juice in April 2017 pursuant to an asset purchase agreement dated December 14, 2016, for the assumption of liabilities in the amount of approximately $300,000. Since October 2015, Mr. Biggs was owner and chief executive officer of Cardio Supply LLC, which sold medical devices through trade shows. Since April 2009, Mr. Biggs has been owner and chief executive officer of Nexus Ventures, which provides business and consulting services. Mr. Anderson has been the chief executive officer and an owner of CPD Integrated Healthcare (formerly Center for Psychological Development, Inc.), which provides outpatient counseling and substance abuse treatment, psychological and neuropsychological testing, and psychiatric medication management in two states through six locations and 54 providers, since 2005, Serenity Counseling, Inc., which provides outpatient counseling and substance abuse treatment, psychological and neuropsychological testing, and psychiatric medication management, since 2010, Brothers Rods & Customs, LLC, which specializes in custom paint and body work for show vehicles and custom specialty vehicles, since 2013, and JAS Consulting, Inc., which provides full practice management, billing and coding services, and provider contracting to physicians and physician owned medical practices, since 2013. Mr. Anderson received his BA in business management from Oklahoma State University. The Companys website is www.naturesbestbrands.com . Information on the Companys website or any other website does not constitute a portion of this press release. FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS Certain statements contained in this press release, including, without limitation, statements containing the words believes, anticipates, expects and words of similar import, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve both known and unknown risks and uncertainties. The Companys actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in its forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including the Companys ability to raise sufficient financing for operations, the Companys ability to negotiate a distribution agreement on reasonable terms, the Companys ability to market and sell or otherwise generate revenue from any equipment for which the Company has distribution rights, the Companys dependence on a single manufacturer for the sole product it proposes to sell and the ability of the manufacturer to manufacture and timely deliver quality products and to address the latest technological developments, the ability of the Company to obtain marketing rights to additional products, the effects of regulatory changes and insurance company reimbursement policies; any legal action which may be commenced against the Company and its officers; changes in our business strategy or development plans, competition, business disruptions adverse publicity and international, national and local general economic and market conditions, including risks generally associated with undercapitalized start-up companies with no history of earnings in its proposed business which plans to market one product that is manufactured by a third party manufacturer with no second source . Except as required by applicable law, the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any of our forward-looking statements in order to reflect any event or circumstance that may arise after the date hereof. Information on our website or any other website does not constitute a part of this press release. Investor Relations Contact Stuart Smith SmallCapVoice.Com, Inc. ssmith@smallcapvoice.com P. 512-267-2430 Ousted Sri Lankan prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Monday demanded parliament be allowed to choose between the two rivals to run the country's government amid warnings that the constitutional crisis could become a "bloodbath". With tensions already heightened by the killing of one activist, the United States added to international pressure on President Maithripala Sirisena to annul his suspension of parliament and end the power struggle. Wickremesinghe remained defiant at the prime minister's residence which he has not left since being sacked on Friday, when Sirisena called in former strongman Mahinda Rajapakse to take over the government. "At the moment there is a vacuum, no one is in full charge of the country," Wickremesinghe told reporters at the residence, which is surrounded by over 1,000 of his supporters and chanting Buddhist monks. He insisted that the legislature had judicial powers to resolve the crisis and said his dismissal was illegal. "That is why we want parliament summoned immediately to decide who enjoys the majority. I am still the prime minister who commands that majority." Sirisena followed up the sacking of his former ally by swearing in Rajapakse and suspending parliament, where Wickremesinghe's party is the biggest party, until November 16. - 'Bloodbath' - Parliament speaker Karu Jayasuriya -- who refused to endorse Sirisena's shock dismissal of Wickremesinghe on Sunday -- also added to the warnings. "We should settle this through parliament, but if we take it out to the streets, there will be a huge bloodbath," said Jayasuriya, who is a member of Wickremesinghe's party but whose post is officially neutral. The speaker said he had urged Sirisena to let Wickremesinghe prove he has a majority on the floor of the House. He did not say if the president had responded. However, he said there were disturbing reports of people loyal to Rajapakse storming state media institutions, intimidating editorial staff and also disrupting the work of government ministries. "Internationally, our image has suffered hugely as a result of this crisis," Jayasuriya said after meeting with the country's influential Buddhist clergy in the central pilgrim town of Kandy. The United States urged Sirisena to "immediately reconvene parliament" to let lawmakers decide between Wickremesinghe and Rajapakse. India has made a similar call. - National peril - Rajapakse, whose rule was marked by grave allegations of rights abuses and growing authoritarianism, said he was given the job because his predecessor's party "engaged in a quest to sell off valuable state assets and enterprises to foreign companies". "I was aware that at this moment of national peril, the people expected our leadership and protection," Rajapakse said Monday in his first statement since his controversial elevation. "Hence, I accepted the invitation." Sirisena appointed a 12-member cabinet giving the powerful finance portfolio to Rajapakse. Aides said the cabinet will be expanded to 30 members on Tuesday. During his decade-long tenure Rajapakse 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. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said Beijing was closely following the situation but believed Sri Lanka had "enough wisdom" to resolve it internally. China's ambassador to Colombo, Cheng Xueyuan, met separately with Rajapakse and Wickremesinghe on Saturday. Tensions remained high across Colombo, with police leave cancelled and several legislators loyal to Wickremesinghe warning of street violence if parliament was not summoned. Petroleum Minister Arjuna Ranatunga was arrested Monday a day after a man was killed when bodyguards opened fire to rescue him from a group loyal to Sirisena. Ranatunga, captain of Sri Lanka's 1996 cricket World Cup winning side and an ally of Wickremesinghe, was taken in after trade unions accused him of ordering the shooting. The police officer who opened fire was arrested Sunday. Rajapakse had earlier said his priority is to hold a general election "as soon as possible." Parliamentary elections are not due until August 2020. Tensions are high across Colombo as the constitutional crisis deepens Sri Lanka's ousted prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has insisted he is still the leader of the country with a parliamentary majority Strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa held a meeting with the country's influential Buddhist clergy Hundreds of Russians gathered in central Moscow on Monday to remember the victims of Stalin's terror, despite questions over whether city authorities would allow the annual ceremony to go ahead. Participants in the "Return of the Names" event, which has been running for more than a decade, waited in line to read out the names of those killed during the period of political repression beginning in the 1930s. Others placed flowers and candles by a rock brought from the Solovki labour camp in the far north that now sits as a memorial outside the offices of the FSB secret police, formerly the KGB. "I come every year because I feel I have a duty to pay tribute to the victims," said 55-year-old Sergei Mitrokhin. "Today, Russia is trying to forget that period," the Yabloko liberal party member told AFP. Russia in recent years has seen an official trend to present Stalin's rule in a positive light, while downplaying the repressions and forced collectivisation that killed millions. Rights group Memorial, which organises the 12-hour event, said this month authorities had rejected plans for the ceremony to take place at its usual location, but a few days later said it could go ahead. "We have to remember all of this," said Anastasia, a 26-year-old student who gave just her first name. "We can't find anything out (about this period) in the official media. It all depends on the work of people like those in Memorial who organise this ceremony," she said. "What the state does to commemorate the victims is completely insufficient," said 80-year-old Maria Sakharova, who was visibly moved after reading out the names of several people. Almost half of Russians aged 18-24 said they had never heard of Stalin-era repressions, according to a survey published by the VTsIOM state pollster this month. Memorial, which also speaks out about current human rights violations in Russia, has come under increasing pressure in recent years. In 2016, authorities labelled Memorial a "foreign agent" under a 2012 law that obliges groups deemed to have "political" activities and international funding to submit documents every three months outlining their finances. Hundreds of Russians gather at an annual ceremony to remember the victims of Stalin's terror At the Solovetsky Stone monument in front of the Federal Security Service building (KGB during USSR times) in central Moscow rights group Memorial organised the remembrance event for Stalin's victims even as the current official trend is to present Stalin's rule in a positive light "Brotherhood has no limits." The phrase is painted in Arabic and Turkish on a wall in Azaz, the town at the heart of Turkey's de facto protectorate in northern Syria. From Turkish-language classes for Syrian children to the state-owned Turk Telekom company erecting its first cell towers on Syrian soil, Ankara's role in the rebel-held region around Azaz has been expanding. "All the support we receive is Turkish -- education, services, and so on," said Mohammad Hamdan Keno, 64, head of the Azaz Local Council (ALC), which governs the town. "Everything here is from our Turkish brothers." Like the rest of his hometown, his desk in the ALC's headquarters is adorned with both the three-star flag of the Syrian uprising and Ankara's red-and-white crescent emblem. Turkey began providing humanitarian, political and military backing to Syria's opposition soon after anti-regime protests began in 2011, and it has remained a steady ally ever since. But its influence became more explicit in 2016, when Turkish troops and allied Syrian rebels launched a military operation against both the Islamic State group and Kurdish fighters. They cleared the Sunni extremists from the towns of Jarabulus, Al-Rai and other areas, and this year overran the adjacent Kurdish-controlled enclave of Afrin. Ankara keeps Turkish troops and intelligence forces in the area, and still backs the local police forces. But Turkish state institutions and private companies have also put down roots in this relatively stable pocket, becoming an integral part of everyday life. Walls of the main hospital in Jarabulus are now adorned with portraits of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and the town is lit by an electricity grid set up by Ankara. - 'State sponsor' - A similar deal is in its first stages in Azaz, Keno told AFP. "A private Turkish company will implement an electricity project in Azaz, and Turkey is the guarantor," he said. The town's main market and several neighbourhoods have already been linked to the grid over the past week under an initial $3-million deal with AK Energy, he added. The firm opened an Azaz satellite office in a former Syrian regime building. Keno said Turkey has also helped the council pave roads, renovate mosques and repair classrooms damaged by fighting. "They fixed up the schools, gave us desks, books, schoolbags, computers and printers," he listed off. As class started up again this year, the council decided to introduce something new for the area's estimated 18,000 students: Turkish courses. "We used to have two foreign languages in our curriculum: English and French. Because of the rapprochement between us and Turkey, all the teachers and administrators decided to switch" from French to Turkish, said Keno. "Since Turkey is this area's state sponsor, of course learning the Turkish language guarantees a Syrian child's future." Most of the signs around Azaz itself are already bilingual, and to phone each other and surf the web, residents have replaced their Syrian SIM cards with Turkish ones. "The demand is remarkable," said Ahmad Hadbeh, Turk Telekom's 24-year-old representative in Syria. "We put up towers in Al-Bab, Azaz and Jarabulus. The signal became stronger than before, and made up for a lot of the Syrian network coverage." - Turkish 'mandate' - The Turk Telekom store is set up in the centre of Azaz's market, teeming with people shopping for sweets, rice, clothes and even cleaning supplies imported from Turkey. Salim Horani, a 37-year-old trader in Azaz, ships everything from fabric and shoes to industrial equipment from Turkey. "Turkey's markets are huge -- we can import from Istanbul, Meric, Gaziantep and Mersin," he told AFP. It's cheaper for shoppers in rebel territory to buy Turkish-imported goods than products from government-held zones in Syria, he said. "Prices in Turkey are more affordable by a really huge margin compared to regime areas." Some Syrians even get clothes and other products shipped directly from Turkish cities into Azaz through the PTT, Turkey's state-owned postal service. At PTT's Azaz branch, Turkish and Syrian employees only accept the Turkish lira, whose value plummeted to record lows in August. Turkey's President Erdogan has repeatedly threatened to launch another offensive east of Azaz on swathes of Syrian territory held by US-backed Kurdish forces it views as "terrorists". On Sunday, the Turkish military fired artillery shells at "shelters" of the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in the Kobane region. Around Azaz, Turkey appears to be putting down roots for the long term, said Ahmet Yayla, assistant professor at DeSales University in the United States. "All those administrations in those cities are directed by Turkey. It's a kind of mandate," he said. "The areas will not be part of Turkey officially, but Turkey will de facto keep ruling over those areas." A Syrian boy walks past a graffiti reading 'Brotherhood has no limits' flanked by Turkish and Syrian rebel flags in the northern city of Azaz in the rebel-held region of Aleppo province, near the border with Turkey Labourers and rebel fighters stand outside a PTT office, Turkey's state-owned postal service, in the northern Syrian city of Azaz in a rebel-held region of Aleppo province Traders in Azaz say it's cheaper for shoppers in rebel territory to buy Turkish-imported goods than products from government-held zones in Syria WARNING DISTRESSING CONTENT: A circus lion pounced on a four-year-old girl during a show in southern Russia that was intended for young children. Amateur footage broadcast on television showed the animal, held on a lead by a lion tamer, pouncing suddenly on the child at the event in Krasnodar region some 1,250km south of Moscow. Video footage showed only loose netting protecting the audience. The images also showed the girl standing near the ring, apparently with her back to the animal. There is a bite on her face that goes from ear to chin, medical team member Valentina Pavlova told local media. The lion catches a glimpse of the small child thrugh the corner of her eye and pounces. Image: YouTube/Innocent Garkalikov An eyewitness said her mother had allowed the girl to get close to the safety net and to wave a banner. The lioness reacted to this and with its paw pulled the child inside into the arena and sank its teeth into her head. The child was rushed to hospital with lacerations to her face and other injuries. Organiser could be jailed The Russian investigative committee launched a probe into safety breaches at a performance intended for young children, and detained its director, who could face up to six years in prison. Russian media named the circus involved as Mondial, based in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don. Lion tamer and director of the Moscow Big Circus, Eduard Zapashny, criticised criminal negligence by the detained circus director and the extremely unprofessional tamer, in comments to National News Service radio station. The incident occurred at a show in Uspenskoye village in Krasnodar region some 1,250km south of Moscow. Image: YouTube/Innocent Garkalikov Such attacks are a regular occurrence in Russia, where acts using wild animals remain common and numerous poorly regulated circuses travel the provinces. During a circus show in Siberia in 2016, a leopard broke free and bit a woman. In 2012, a cheetah mauled a seven-year-old boy in the face and neck in the Moscow region. The same year, a tiger at a travelling zoo clawed a three-year-old boy in the head in far eastern Russia. President Donald Trump and his wife Melania will travel to Pittsburgh on Tuesday to support the city after 11 people were shot dead in the worst anti-Semitic attack in recent US history. The White House announced the trip Monday amid a mounting row over whether Trump's fierce rhetoric at campaign rallies and on Twitter has been partly responsible for stoking extremist fires ahead of November 6 midterm elections. "Tomorrow, the president and first lady will travel to Pennsylvania to express the support of the American people and grieve with the Pittsburgh community," White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told journalists in Washington. Robert Bowers, the man accused in the massacre during Saturday prayers at the Tree of Life synagogue, made a first court appearance Monday, attending the session in a wheelchair after being wounded during a gunfight with police. Pasty faced, the 46-year-old spent only three minutes in court, making little comment other than to respond "Yes" and "Yes Sir" to procedural questions from the Pittsburgh federal judge. Bowers allegedly told police after his arrest that he "wanted all Jews to die" because he said they were inflicting genocide on "his people." Social media posts attributed to Bowers indicate that in addition to hating Jews, he is also virulently anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim. The judge scheduled his next court appearance for Thursday. - Politics and tragedy - A presidential visit to the site of a tragedy is not necessarily unusual but in the increasingly febrile atmosphere ahead of the midterms -- where opposition Democrats hope to take control of at least one house of Congress -- Trump's trip is mired in politics. Bowers' shooting spree came in the same week that authorities arrested a Florida man -- an ardent Trump supporter -- on suspicion of mailing more than a dozen homemade bombs to opponents and critics of the president. The two incidents have led to accusations that Trump has fanned violence through his almost daily tweets and speeches lambasting immigrants, opponents and journalists in divisive and hardline language. For example, Bowers had reportedly referred on social media to anger at a group of several thousand impoverished Central Americans currently attempting to walk north to the United States -- a favorite target of the president's anti-immigrant rhetoric. Jeffrey Myers, a Tree of Life rabbi who was present when the attack started, told CNN that "the president of the United States is always welcome." But also speaking on CNN, a former president of the synagogue, Lynette Lederman, told Trump on Monday to stay away, calling him a "purveyor of hate speech." Outside the synagogue, meanwhile, a trickle of mourners braved the cold to leave candles and bouquets. Eleven identical white wooden stars were laid out, each inscribed with a name of the slain, together with a pink heart and a verse from a psalm: "The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." - White House strikes back - Trump struck back Monday in typically robust fashion, arguing that critical journalists were in fact the ones feeding extremism across the country. "There is great anger in our Country caused in part by inaccurate, and even fraudulent, reporting of the news," Trump tweeted. "The Fake News Media, the true Enemy of the People, must stop the open & obvious hostility & report the news accurately & fairly. That will do much to put out the flame of Anger and Outrage." Sanders also used her press conference to complain about what she said was almost constantly critical media coverage. "I think the president has had a number of moments of bringing the country together," she said. "The very first thing the media does was blame the president. You guys have a huge responsibility to play in the divisive nature of this country when 90 percent of the coverage of everything this president is negative, despite the fact that the country is doing extremely well." President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, seen here in August 2018 at the White House, will travel to Pittsburgh to support the city after 11 people were shot dead in the worst anti-Semitic attack in recent US history A woman stands at a memorial outside the Tree of Life synagogue after a shooting there left 11 people dead in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh on October 27 People's silhouettes are seen as they walk near a memorial to the victims of a mass shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue Rabbi Jeffrey Myers of the Tree of Life synagogue says US President Donald Trump would be welcome if he visits, but other Jewish leaders have urged him to stay away US President Donald Trump, pictured here at an election rally in Murphysboro, Illinois, accuses the media of stoking a climate of "anger" The United Nation's top humanitarian affairs official appealed to the Security Council Monday for continued aid deliveries to Syria's civilian population across borders and through front lines, despite Russia's growing opposition. Mark Lowcock, UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, said UN food aid this year had reached an average 750,000 people a month in war-torn Syria. "Sustaining this is essential for those in need, both providing aid and supporting service delivery," he said. He urged the renewal for 12 months of UN resolutions authorizing the aid flows, insisting it was "of the highest importance." Though adopted unanimously in 2014, a Security Council resolution renewing the aid mechanism was approved a year ago by only a 12-3 vote, with Russia, China and Bolivia abstaining. Those authorities are due to expire January 10, 2019. Moscow, which is allied with the Damascus government of President Bashar al-Assad, argues that cross-border deliveries of humanitarian aide are a violation of Syrian sovereignty. The food aid is intended to free civilians trapped by war from reliance on either the government or rebels. The government claims, however, the aid supports "terrorists." Ambassador Jonathan Cohen, the deputy US representative to the United Nations, said renewing the aid "is vital for some five million Syrians who currently depend on these cross-border humanitarian deliveries." Lowcock also drew the Security Council's attention to conditions at Rukban, an informal refugee camp with some 50,000 people in the desert on the border of Syria and Jordan. He said the camp's population has not received assistance since January, "and they are increasingly desperate. "There are continuing reports of children dying due to poor sanitary conditions and a lack of healthcare," he said. France's Ambassador Francois Delattre, who described conditions at Rukban as "nightmarish," said allowing access to aid was incumbent on all parties. "It is unacceptable that the regime has blocked inter-agency convoys for more than two months now and put in place a punitive strategy to channel the aides to 'reconciled' zones," he said. A woman shelters a young child outside a UN operated clinic just inside Jordan from an informal Syrian refugee camp in Rukban, on March 1, 2017 The US Justice Department launched a new website to combat hate crimes Monday, two days after 11 worshipers were shot dead in a Pittsburgh synagogue. The website centralizes resources about hate crimes for law enforcement, media, researchers, victims, advocacy groups and others. It brings together training materials, technical assistance, videos, research reports, statistics and other information. "Individuals should be able to live their lives free from the threat of violence and discrimination, no matter who they are, what they believe, or how they worship," Acting Assistant Attorney General John Gore said in a statement. "We will continue to prioritize our work bringing perpetrators of hate crimes to justice throughout the country." The Justice Department said it has charged more than 300 defendants with hate crimes offenses over the past 10 years. Robert Bowers, the 46-year-old man who attacked the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh on Saturday, is charged with hate crimes among other offenses. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein announced meanwhile an $840,000 grant from the National Institute of Justice for a new research study on hate crimes data collection. The hate crimes website is available through the Justice Department site at www.justice.gov. Members of the FBI walk past a memorial outside the Tree of Life synagogue after a shooting there left 11 people dead A female suicide bomber injured 20 people on a busy street in the centre of the Tunisian capital on Monday, authorities said, after a three-year break in attacks in the city. "It's a tragedy," said Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi, during a visit to the German capital Berlin. "We thought we had eradicated terrorism ...(but it) is still in the heart of capital," he said. The number of wounded was revised up from nine to 20, including 15 police officers and two teenagers, said police spokesman Walid Ben Hkima, but there were no serious injuries. Interior ministry spokesman Sofiene Zaag told AFP that the suicide bomber blew herself up in the middle of the day "near police cars" in the upmarket Avenue Habib Bourguiba in Tunis. Ambulances arrived swiftly at the scene, which was cordoned off by security forces. Shops lowered their shutters and cafes emptied as panic gripped passersby. An AFP photographer saw the bomber's body, apparently mostly intact, lying on the ground on its back with black glasses on the forehead under one of the neatly-trimmed box trees that line the avenue. The interior ministry, in a statement, identified the assailant as a 30-year-old woman with no known extremist affiliations, and there was no immediate claim of responsibility. The ministry said she died instantly. Police sources said the bomber had most likely not been wearing or carrying an explosive belt, but instead a "home made bomb". Significant police reinforcements arrived quickly at the scene and at least two people were arrested, the AFP journalist said. Shortly before the blast, a small group of demonstrators had held a protest in the avenue against the killing near Tunis last week of a teenager by a customs agent. The attack was the first in the Tunisian capital since November 24, 2015 when a suicide bombing killed 12 security agents on a bus for presidential guards. That attack was claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group. The Islamist party Ennahdha, the second largest party in parliament, condemned Monday's "cowardly attack" and urged all Tunisians "to unite in confronting terrorism", while reiterating its full support for "military institutions and the police". - Islamic State attacks - Since the 2011 uprising that toppled dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, jihadist attacks in Tunisia have killed dozens of members of the security forces and foreign tourists. In June 2015, 38 people were killed in a shooting rampage at the coastal resort of Sousse which targeted tourists, while an attack in March that year on the National Bardo Museum in Tunis left 22 people dead, most of them tourists. The terror attacks claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group devastated Tunisia's crucial tourism sector, which made up seven percent of gross domestic product. The country has been under a state of emergency since the November 2015 attack on the bus. The state of emergency was extended earlier this month until November 6, amid a tense political climate ahead of legislative and presidential elections planned for next year. In March 2016, dozens of jihadists who infiltrated from neighbouring Libya assaulted security posts in the southern region of Ben Guerdane in what Tunisian authorities said was an aborted attempt to declare an "emirate". The attack, which went unclaimed, left 20 dead among security forces and civilians. Calm has led to a rebound in the tourism industry over the past two years, with more than six million foreign travellers visiting Tunisia in the first nine months of 2018, according to government data. Arrivals rose 16.9 percent to 6.3 million in the nine months to the end of September, surpassing the number for the whole of 2014. Tourism revenues in the first nine months of 2018 totalled just over 1 billion euros ($1.2 billion), a rise of 27.6 percent year-on-year. Tourism Minister Selma Elloumi Rekik told AFP in May that she expected total arrivals to exceed eight million in 2018, higher than the seven million recorded in 2010, a benchmark year for Tunisian tourism. Tunisian forensics inspect the site of a suicide attack in the Tunisian capital Tunis Map locating Habib Bourguiba Avenue in Tunis where a woman blew herself up near police vehicles Monday Police and firemen gather at the site of a suicide attack in the centre of the Tunisian capital Tunis after a woman blew herself up killing nine people A member of the Tunisian security forces stands guard at the site of a suicide attack in the Tunisian capital Tunis Keith Batman received support from Albany Democrats in his bid to unseat Assemblyman Gary Finch in the 126th Assembly District race. In his 11-day pre-general filing posted Monday, Batman reported receipts totaling $16,825. More than half of the money came from the Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee, which transferred $10,000 to the Scipio Democrat's campaign. Batman received $1,900 from individuals and contributions from a handful of unions. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers New York Political Action Committee and United Auto Workers Region 9 each donated $1,500. Diane Dwire, a Camillus Democrat who challenged Finch, R-Springport, in 2014 and 2016, financially supported Batman's campaign. Her committee, Friends of Diane Dwire, gave $300. Batman spent $28,514.15 in a three-week span, according to his filing. His largest expenditure was $20,000 on a digital advertising campaign. He also spent $5,110 on phone calls to voters. Finch raised $10,914, including $4,614 from individual donors. He received $2,500 from Pathfinder Bank in Oswego, $1,500 from the Chenango County Republican Committee and $500 from the New York State Independent Bankers PAC. Finch's campaign reported $15,270.25 in expenses. The largest expenditure was $5,500 to Barry Zeplowitz and Associates, a Buffalo-based marketing firm, for "professional services." He also spent $4,048.99 to held a fundraiser at Springside Inn in Fleming. His campaign spent $2,104.53 on campaign mailings. While Batman raised and spent more in the latest fundraising period, Finch has the higher closing balance. Finch has $19,270.05 cash on hand. Batman's closing balance was $8,089.16. The 126th Assembly District race is competitive for the third election cycle in a row. Finch fended off challenges from Dwire in 2014 and 2016. The 2014 race was expensive, with the campaigns spending nearly $1 million. The race between Finch and Batman hasn't been nearly as costly. A review of Finch's July, 32-day pre-general and 11-day pre-general election filings show his campaign spent $63,711.85. Batman's campaign has spent $58,903.81 during that same period. The 126th district contains parts of Cayuga, Chenango, Cortland and Onondaga counties. As of April, the district had about 6,000 more active Republican voters than Democrats. Finch is seeking his 10th full term as a state assemblyman. He was first elected to the post in 1999. Batman is a Cayuga County legislator and former Scipio town supervisor. He chaired the Cayuga County Legislature in 2016 and 2017. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 6. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy English Estonian The Supervisory Board of AS Ekspress Grupp proposes to shareholders to elect Mr. Ahto Parl as a new Member of the Supervisory Board. The objective of involving a new member is to strengthen the activities and directions of the groups printing services. The Chairman of the Supervisory Board Mr. Andre Veskimeister has decided to withdraw from the Supervisory Board as of 29th October 2018. Notice on Convening Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders Notice is hereby given that the Management Board of AS Ekspress Grupp (registry code 10004677, official address Parda 6, 10151 Tallinn) convenes the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders, which will be held on 22nd November, 2018 at 10:00 at the seat of AS Ekspress Grupp, in the city of Tallinn, Parda 6, 6th floor. The registration of participants in the Meeting will commence at 9:30 at the location of the Meeting. Pursuant to the decision of the Supervisory Board of AS Ekspress Grupp, the Agenda of the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders shall be as follows: 1. Recall of a Supervisory Board member 2. Election of a Supervisory Board member The Supervisory Board of AS Ekspress Grupp present the following proposals to the shareholders regarding the agenda items: 1. Recall of a Supervisory Board member To recall Mr. Andre Veskimeister (personal code 36707040262) from the Supervisory Board. 2. Election of a Supervisory Board member To elect Mr. Ahto Parl (personal code 38001100281) as a Member of the Supervisory Board starting from the day of election. According to the articles of association the member will be elected for five years. The circle of shareholders entitled to attend the Special General Meeting will be determined 7 days prior to the General Meeting, i.e. on 14th November, 2018 at the end of the working day of the settlement system. All documents concerning the Extraordinary General Meeting of the Shareholders of AS Ekspress Grupp, including draft resolutions, are available on the homepage of AS Ekspress Grupp at www.egrupp.ee , as well as at the seat of AS Ekspress Grupp, Parda 6, Tallinn, 6th floor, on business days from 10:00 to 16:00 starting from the date of notification of the Extraordinary General Meeting until the date of the Extraordinary General Meeting (inclusive). At the Meeting, the shareholders are entitled to receive information on the activities of AS Ekspress Grupp from the Management Board. If the Management Board of AS Ekspress Grupp refuses to provide information, the shareholders may demand that the General Meeting decides on the legitimacy of their demand, or submit, within two weeks, an application to court in proceedings on petition to require the Management Board to provide the information. Shareholders whose shares represent at least 1/20 of the share capital are entitled to present a draft resolution on each agenda item to AS Ekspress Grupp at least 3 days prior to the General Meeting, i.e. until 18th November, 2018, by submitting it in writing to e-mail address: egrupp@egrupp.ee . Shareholders whose shares represent at least 1/20 of the share capital are entitled to request the inclusion of additional items in the agenda of the General Meeting of AS Ekspress Grupp, provided that the request is submitted 15 days prior to the General Meeting at the latest, i.e. until 6th November, 2018, by submitting it in writing to e-mail address: egrupp@egrupp.ee . As at 29th November, 2018, the share capital of AS Ekspress Grupp is 17,878,104.60 euros. The total number of shares is 29,796,841, with each share granting one vote. The right to vote is not granted to AS Ekspress Grupps 17,527 own shares. For the registration of participants in the Special General Meeting of Shareholders, we kindly ask: shareholders who are natural persons to present an identity document (e.g. passport or ID card) and representatives of shareholders who are natural persons to present an identity document and a written document certifying their authorisation; representatives of shareholders who are legal persons to present an extract (or other such document) from the relevant (commercial) register where the legal person is registered (issued no more than 7 days prior to presenting), and the identity document of the representative. In the case of legal persons registered in a foreign country, the extract from the register must be legalised or certified by an apostil, unless stipulated otherwise in international agreements. Transactional representatives of shareholders who are legal persons must, in addition to the aforementioned documents, present a written document certifying their authorisation. AS Ekspress Grupp may also register a shareholder who is a legal person in a foreign country as a participant in the General Meeting if all the required data concerning the legal person and the representative is contained in a notarised authorisation document issued in the foreign country and the authorisation document is acceptable in Estonia. Prior to the General Meeting, shareholders may give notice of the appointment of a representative and the withdrawal by the principal of the authorisation via e-mail to the address egrupp@egrupp.ee or by delivering the aforementioned document(s) to the seat of AS Ekspress Grupp at Parda 6, Tallinn, 6th floor (on business days from 10:00 to 16:00) by 16:00 on 21st November, 2018 at the latest, using the templates available on the homepage of AS Ekspress Grupp, www.egrupp.ee . Information on the procedure of appointment and revocation of the authorisation of representatives is available on the homepage of AS Ekspress Grupp, www.egrupp.ee . Mari-Liis Ruutsalu AS Ekspress Grupp Chairman of the Management Board +372 512 2591 mariliis.ryytsalu@egrupp.ee AS Ekspress Grupp is the leading media group in the Baltic States that owns the most well-known online media portals in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, publishes the most popular newspapers and magazines and arranges their home delivery in Estonia. In addition to its own periodicals, it also provides printing services to other Estonian and foreign customers. At the end of 2017, the Group gave a job to more than 1,600 people and 2017 sales revenue amounted to 64 million euros. Attachments Maruti Suzuki has announced the appointment of Bollywood Superstar Varun Dhawan as the brand ambassador for its new ARENA chain of showrooms in the country. Over 100 new Maruti ARENA showrooms are already operational in just one year of launch of ARENA initiative. The campaign with Varun Dhawan will go live today across key platforms TV, Print, Digital, Radio and Cinema. For those asking, nearly 75 percent car buyers in India research online before they decide on a purchase. Recently, Tata Motors and Datsun also appointed Bollywood stalwarts Hrithik Roshan and Aamir Khan, respectively, as their brand ambassadors. Checkout the clear images of new-gen Maruti Ertiga ahead of its launch on November 21, 2018 in India! Mr. R.S. Kalsi, Senior Executive Director, (Marketing and Sales), Maruti Suzuki India said, We are delighted to welcome Varun Dhawan to Maruti Suzuki ARENA family. Varun exemplifies the evolving Indian youth who is trendy, social and confident and like to be connected at all times. Maruti Suzuki ARENA enhances customer delight with an exciting purchase experience, seamlessly from the digital space to physical showrooms. Led by Varun Dhawan, our new campaign showcases Maruti Suzuki ARENA as a youthful and modern destination for a dynamic, trendy, social and connected car buying experience." The company is working on the transformation of its retail network across India. Commenting on the association, Mr Varun Dhawan said, Maruti Suzuki has been fulfilling the dreams of many people in India to own a car since years. The new, transformed Maruti Suzuki ARENA is poised to strongly connect with the young and do-it-yourself generation of customers who will experience a warm and connected car buying experience at this new destination. I am extremely excited and proud to be a part of the Maruti Suzuki ARENA family. The overall experiences at Maruti Suzuki ARENA will make every customer feel special." The modern showrooms are spacious and the entire product portfolio can be explored through interactive Product Vision touch screens. The Miocene Oregon Coast: Ancient (Almost-Dino) History All Around You Published 10/29/2018 at 4:33 PM PDT - Updated 10/29/2018 at 4:35 PM PDT By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff (Oregon Coast) - If you look close enough at some rocky walls on the Oregon coast, youll see startlingly strange stuff like this: intriguing fossils embedded in the rocks. They are all over the place. In fact, as you walk along these pleasant, soft sands, youre often either treading on ancient history (buried in the bedrock beneath) or strolling past them in rocky cliff faces. While there are no dinosaur fossils found along the Oregon coast, there are intriguing finds all around you from periods close to that ancient age. This particular example above comes from the side of Cape Falcon, in a hidden beach spot known as Falcon Cove. This particular section of the beach is rarely accessible: usually its covered in insane wave action. But occasionally in summer and early fall when coastal weather is at its finest calmer conditions prevail. Higher sand levels also keep the raging tides at bay. Amble your way over large, ouch-inducing cobblestones (you run the risk of twisting your ankle) and youll find a few of these ancient wonders. Its illegal to pick things out of the rocks, so take only pictures. It turns out this is a rock scallop fossilized, according to Guy DiTorrice, a fossil and agate expert who used to run fossil tours on the Oregon coast. Its a rock scallop, seen from the interior, with the hinge line on the left side, he said. Take a wire brush to it and you'll see the high-sheen polish. The backside (still embedded) will be ruffled design, usually pocked with worm- and clam-drilled holes." Rock scallops are not so named because theyre embedded in rock. Rather, when alive they attach themselves to rocks, DiTorrice said. They dont swim like other scallops. Its interesting to note the scallop is the logo shape used by Shell Oil Co. Just how old might this fossil be? DiTorrice said the brownish rock color indicates Astoria Sandstone, which "could be as young as 12 million years old, and as old as 17 million." If that's not cool enough, Guy provided some interesting tips about their modern-day descendants. "They are great eating, have much larger muscles (the meat) than the commercially-harvested swimming scallop cousins." Even more bizarre finds lurk at Fogarty Beach, on the central Oregon coast, near Depoe Bay. This little state park, south of Gleneden Beach, hides a bundle of wacky objects. Depending on sand levels, youll find freaky caves, chunks of rocks with tons of ancient creatures still inside, and geologic shapes that defy description. Not to mention, the dark sand grains here are extraordinarily large enormous by grains of sand standards. They actually hurt to walk on barefoot. Then there is that touch of Jurassic Park at Fogarty, with the fossil of a large scallop called a petcen. It too is around 15 to 20 million years old, according to local experts like Laura Joki (owner of Rock Your World in Lincoln City) and state geologist Dr. Jonathan Allan. These are the ancient relatives of the sea scallops we know today. At one point all those millions of years ago, they were found all over this ancient world. More photos below of other puzzling rocky finds along the Oregon coast. Lodgings in Depoe Bay - Where to eat - Maps - Virtual Tours Above: a fossil at Moolack Beach, Newport More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on BeachConnection.net All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright BeachConnection.net Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted On Thursday, The New York Times tried - once again - to attack Trump White House senior advisor Jared Kushner with a scurrilous accusation of brutal callousness. Their report was wrong; they stealth-deleted the change, without correction. The New York Times originally reported that Kushner has been urging President Trump to simply ignore the mounting public relations crisis regarding Prince Muhammed Bin Salman and his regime's alleged murder of opinion journalist Jamal Khashoggi:Pretty vile stuff.There was only one problem: the story wasn't true. The Trump administration denied it, and The New York Times then pulled those sentences, instead replacing them with this rather anodyne description:Mr. Kushner has argued that the crown prince can survive the outrage just as he has weathered past criticism.The White House has denied this account as well. Despite the Times' revision of its article, no correction has been issued. This despite the Times' stated policy on corrections:This isn't the first time in recent weeks that The New York Times has attacked Kushner, whom they obviously see as a key player in the formation of White House policy. Five days ago, the Times reported that Kushner "paid no federal income tax for years." There was only one problem with the story, buried in paragraph 5: there is no allegation whatsoever that Kushner actually broke the law. Here's the Times in that very story:In other words, Kushner should be run out of town on a rail for abiding by applicable tax laws. The Times also ran an op-ed on the topic by Frank Bruni accusing Kushner of being "one of the most gullible fan boys of Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia and ... an epic tax evader."Of course, the Times itself fangirled repeatedly over the Crown Prince ("In some ways, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who serves as defense minister, is just what his country needs" - The New York Times editorial board, June 23, 2017) and there's no evidence Kushner has evaded taxes. But what does that matter? Kushner is close to Trump; Trump is evil; thus, Kushner is evil.READ MORE: JAMAL KHASHOGGI NEW YORK TIMESSPONSORED CONTENT ON THE DAILY WIREReverse Mortgages: Worth the Risk?Reverse Mortgages: Worth the Risk?By LENDINGTREEIf you've been looking for an extra source of income at retirement age, this could be your answer.Recommended For You50 Funny Ads From The Past- Viewer Discretion Advised50 Funny Ads From The Past- Viewer Discretion AdvisedSPONSORED BY HISTORY DAILY5 Signs You're Being Cheated On - #2 Is All The Proof You Need5 Signs You're Being Cheated On - #2 Is All The Proof You NeedSPONSORED BY TRUTHFINDER[Gallery] Fans Noticed a Surprising Detail When Kylie Posted This Photo With Her Daughter[Gallery] Fans Noticed a Surprising Detail When Kylie Posted This Photo With Her DaughterSPONSORED BY MONAGIZAThis New Pill Could Change The Way We AgeThis New Pill Could Change The Way We AgeSPONSORED BY INVERSE20 Places Where $150K Is Enough To Retire20 Places Where $150K Is Enough To RetireSPONSORED BY MONEYWISEThis Photo Is Not Edited. 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NEW YORK, Oct. 29, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HC2 Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:HCHC), a diversified holding company, announced today that it will release its financial results for the third quarter 2018 on Wednesday, November 7, 2018 after the market closes. The Company will host an earnings conference call reviewing these results and its operations the same day, beginning at 5:00 p.m. ET. Participating on the call will be Philip Falcone, the Companys Chairman, President and CEO, Michael J. Sena, Chief Financial Officer and Andrew G. Backman, Managing Director of Investor Relations and Public Relations. Dial-in instructions for the conference call and the replay are outlined below. This conference call will also be broadcast live over the Internet and can be accessed by all interested parties through HC2s website, www.hc2.com in the "Investor Relations" section. To listen to the live call, please go to the "Investor Relations" section of the Company's website at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the call to register and download any necessary audio software. For those who are not able to listen to the live broadcast, a replay will be available shortly after the call on the HC2 website. Conference Call Details Live Call Dial-In (Toll Free): 1-866- 395-3893 International Dial-In: 1-678- 509-7540 Participant Entry Number: 1949939 Conference Replay* Domestic Dial-In (Toll Free): 1-855- 859-2056 International Dial-In: 1-404- 537-3406 Conference Number: 1949939 *Available approximately two hours after the end of the conference call through December 7, 2018. About HC2 HC2 Holdings, Inc. is a publicly traded (NYSE:HCHC) diversified holding company, which seeks opportunities to acquire and grow businesses that can generate long-term sustainable free cash flow and attractive returns in order to maximize value for all stakeholders. HC2 has a diverse array of operating subsidiaries across eight reportable segments, including Construction, Marine Services, Energy, Telecommunications, Life Sciences, Broadcasting, Insurance and Other. HC2's largest operating subsidiaries include DBM Global Inc., a family of companies providing fully integrated structural and steel construction services, and Global Marine Systems Limited, a leading provider of engineering and underwater services on submarine cables. Founded in 1994, HC2 is headquartered in New York, New York. Learn more about HC2 and its portfolio companies at www.hc2.com . Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This release contains, and certain oral statements made by HC2s representatives from time to time may contain, forward-looking statements. Generally, forward-looking statements include information describing actions, events, results, strategies and expectations and are generally identifiable by use of the words believes, expects, intends, anticipates, plans, seeks, estimates, projects, may, will, could, might, or continues or similar expressions. The forward-looking statements in this press release include, without limitation, statements regarding HC2s expectation regarding building shareholder value and future cash and invested assets. Such statements are based on the beliefs and assumptions of HC2s management and the management of HC2s subsidiaries and portfolio companies. HC2 believes these judgments are reasonable, but you should understand that these statements are not guarantees of performance or results, and HC2s actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements due to a variety of important factors, both positive and negative, that may be revised or supplemented in subsequent reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. Such important factors include, without limitation, issues related to the restatement of HC2s financial statements; the fact that HC2 has historically identified material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting, and any inability to remediate future material weaknesses; capital market conditions; the ability of HC2's subsidiaries and portfolio companies to generate sufficient net income and cash flows to make upstream cash distributions; volatility in the trading price of HC2 common stock; the ability of HC2 and its subsidiaries and portfolio companies to identify any suitable future acquisition opportunities; HC2s ability to realize efficiencies, cost savings, income and margin improvements, growth, economies of scale and other anticipated benefits of strategic transactions; difficulties related to the integration of financial reporting of acquired or target businesses; difficulties completing pending and future acquisitions and dispositions; effects of litigation, indemnification claims, and other contingent liabilities; changes in regulations and tax laws; and risks that may affect the performance of the operating subsidiaries and portfolio companies of HC2. Although HC2 believes its expectations and assumptions regarding its future operating performance are reasonable, there can be no assurance that the expectations reflected herein will be achieved. These risks and other important factors discussed under the caption Risk Factors in HC2s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and HC2s other reports filed with the SEC could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press release. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements attributable to HC2 or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements. All such statements speak only as of the date made, and unless legally required, HC2 undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. For information on HC2 Holdings, Inc., please contact: A European IMF The New Face of the Eurozone Bailout Fund The erstwhile bailout fund known as the European Stability Mechanism may soon be granted far-reaching new powers, including the kinds of functions currently possessed by the IMF. But there's a hitch. By Christian Reiermann One of Europe's most promising startups can be found in an unassuming low-rise in Luxembourg City's Kirchberg district. Despite its rather pallid surroundings, it has all the characteristics of a promising new company: dynamic growth, international staff, bright prospects and tons of money. It even has its own gym. Eight years ago, just five people worked for the company's predecessor, which was located a few streets away. Today, though, it has 180 employees on the payroll and they deal with hundreds of billions of euros. They hail from 43 countries and speak two dozen languages. In contrast to other business models of other startups, though, this place is not focused on identifying and attacking new markets. On the contrary, their mandate is defense. They are tasked with defending the eurozone and the euro against turbulence. And soon, even more people are set to join the staff. After all, this startup is adding to its portfolio of expertise. The startup operates under the acronym ESM, which stands for European Stability Mechanism: But it is more commonly referred to as the euro rescue fund. The finance ministers of the 19 eurozone member states, who make up the ESM's board of governors, have been discussing for months how the organization should be further developed. They have big plans. The board of governors would like to see the ESM become a European version of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). To achieve this, the ESM would have to be given new powers to better monitor euro countries' fiscal policies. The organization would also be expected to play a bigger role in bank bailouts -- not exactly an unimportant responsibility should a new financial crisis arise. And last but not least, the ESM would be empowered to better assist governments that find themselves in a tight spot. The board of governors hopes such reforms would bolster the rescue fund such that it could even handle a situation such as that developing in Italy, where the government is pursuing a heedless fiscal policy that has for the first time pushed a large European country to the brink of bankruptcy. Strict Conditions The fact that the ESM has come to play such a central role in European fiscal policy has to do with its own success. The organization and its predecessor, the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF), have helped five eurozone member states grapple with the consequences of the financial crisis. Tens of billions of euros were loaned to Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Cyprus and Spain -- either because investors no longer wanted to provide these countries with follow-up loans, or because they simply lacked the money to save their own banks. The billions of euros made available by the ESM, of course, were linked to strict conditions, including fiscal belt-tightening, social system reform and labor market liberalization. By now, every country that received an EFSF or an ESM bailout has completed the program. The last to do so was Greece, in August. The countries still have debts to pay back to the ESM, but each has different conditions regarding how quickly that must happen. From his corner office on the second floor, Klaus Regling, the German head of the ESM, takes stock after eight years of crisis and his satisfaction is obvious. "No one can imagine us not playing a role in the future," he says. There was a time when that wasn't true. At first, Regling, who was also a founding member of the ESM's predecessor organization, EFSF, thought his job would be to coordinate an emergency response and then close up shop after a few years. Several years later, when the ESM was given permanent status, Regling was still planning to put the ESM into a kind of hibernation once the euro crisis was over, including massive staff cuts. That is not, however, how things have turned out. Regling and his superiors, the financial ministers of the eurozone, have changed their thinking. "Fire departments, after all, don't lay off their people just because nothing's burning," he says. The first step is that of transforming the ESM into a kind of European replacement for the IMF. The IMF played a central role in Greece during the crisis, but there were often clashes over the best way to help the country. In the future, the IMF does not intend to participate in state bankruptcies in Europe. To enlarge graph click here For the ESM to function as a European IMF, the organization is to be granted oversight rights to look over the individual finances of eurozone member states. Should a new crisis crop up, the ESM would be armed with additional control and enforcement rights. Alarm Bells The ESM is better equipped for this task than any other European institution. It's in regular contact with financial markets and knows much more quickly than, say, the European Commission when a eurozone member state's creditworthiness is in danger. Communication with the markets takes place in a couple of different ways. First of all, the ESM invests its on-hand capital -- some 80 billion euros. Secondly, and much more importantly, the organization issues bonds, which generates the money necessary to help distressed governments out of financial jams. The bustling atmosphere at the organization's office in Luxembourg City is like that of the trading floor at an investment bank. Everyone is sitting in front of computer screens full of numbers, symbols and graphs that are constantly updating. Some of the traders have decorated their workspace with the European flag. One of the ESM's new tasks is ringing the alarm bells early when there are signs of an approaching crisis. The ESM possess a deep knowledge of the financial situations of former crisis countries, in part because analysts tag along when donor state representatives visit those countries' capitals. The organization also knows a lot about larger member states like Germany and France, Regling says. "But if, purely hypothetically, something were to happen in, say, Austria or Malta, we would currently be at a loss." To fulfill its role as an early-warning system, the ESM must recruit experts on all member countries. ESM head Klaus Regling A larger staff is also needed for the ESM's second area of operation. In the future, the plan is for the ESM to provide financial backing for the European mechanism for the resolution of failing credit institutions. For this, Regling needs banking experts. The ESM will also receive a set of new financial instruments geared toward helping ailing countries quickly. A precautionary line of credit is in discussion that could be extended to countries not yet in acute need but which require help to calm wary investors. Expanding Workforce In a paper for the Eurogroup, as the board of eurozone finance ministers is known, the ESM also proposes another instrument. It would provide short-term liquidity assistance to countries that have temporarily run out of money because they have unfairly landed in speculators' crosshairs. "These funds would be paid out without a big fuss, and the country wouldn't have to subject itself to a complete adjustment program," the paper reads. Still, the countries in need of such aid would have to fulfill a number of conditions and requirements. In the future, the ESM could also help to stabilize sluggish economic cycles in individual member states. To do so, the paper suggests empowering the organization to grant a line of credit to countries who experience an asymmetric shock. With a fresh injection of cash for the ESM, a government could, for example, quickly bolster demand. Such an instrument is necessary, Regling says, because the European Central Bank (ECB) can't intervene with lower interest rates. The ECB, after all, controls monetary policy for the eurozone on the whole, not for individual countries. To manage these new ambitions, Regling will have to expand his workforce. "Were the ESM to get all of the new assignments that are currently being discussed, we would have to increase our staff from 180 to 250 in the coming years," he says. The flood of potential new competencies is not without risks and side effects. There's plenty of money available: At the moment, the ESM has only loaned out a hundred billion euros of the half a trillion at its disposal. But at the same time, Regling's people are worried that politicians could saddle the ESM with too much responsibility. The Money Everyone Needs One thing that is particularly difficult is financially safeguarding the resolution mechanism for failing banks. To do so, Regling must set aside 60 to 70 billion euros of his overall budget. That sum would no longer be available for the other instruments, warns an internal ESM paper that Regling sent to the finance ministers of the eurozone member states. In addition, the paper noted, the ESM's own creditworthiness could be damaged. Moreover, it's still not entirely clear who has the power to decide when funds are released. Some member states want to give Regling carte blanche to decide when to spend money on a bank bailout. But representatives of the German government, including Finance Minister Olaf Scholz, insist that German constitutional law means that Berlin must be granted veto power. The dispute is ongoing. Not everyone's happy about the expansion of the ESM's list of duties. Representatives of the European Commission, in particular, are very keen to not see their own authorities curtailed, particularly when it comes to analyzing a country's financial well-being. The most recent effort to hinder a transfer of power to the ESM is the insistence by the Commission that such a thing cannot be done because the rescue fund isn't an official EU agency. That is true: The ESM is a structure established solely by eurozone member states. But the Commission's argument is disingenuous. The executive body knows only too well that there will be no majority in the foreseeable future in favor of enshrining the ESM in EU law. Regling can afford to view the political wrangling with equanimity. After all, he controls the money everyone needs. "It's not about strengthening the ESM," he says. "Our job is to strengthen the euro." While US Senator, and former SF Mayor, Diane Feinstein is no fan of Salesforce Tower, local Tolkien fans have found a way to turn the phallic wonder into a Halloween decoration. Why this is a one night only thing, I do not understand. Via Change.org: Dear San Francisco, We believe in the power of the internet as a gathering place for people to share ideas and affect real world change. Our goal is to create a breath of creatively fresh air amid an otherwise barren political landscape. Salesforce (or Boston Properties) has raised the highest flag in San Francisco, itself a beautiful piece of innovation, on which we mostly experience very pedestrian content. Often traffic, seagulls, and sometimes literal pedestrians. We invite the organization who has redefined the San Francisco skyline and, in the process, contributed to small and large business worldwide, to stand not only as a beacon for capitalist pursuit but to tip their hat to the people, culture, and community of this great city. A city built on creativity, exploration, and burning self-expression. We invite the organization to fly a flag for all who dare to dream, uniting the districts, strengthening the ties, and fortifying the bridges by lighting an LED fire atop this sanctuary city. In the process embracing a fun, artistic, and timely show of creativity that the whole city can enjoy for one night only. It has been said that bonds are formed through shared experiences, the strongest of which are forged in fire. We ask of you to help us unite the city, and raise the torch on Halloween night as one community, together. Oakland can come, too. -The Fellowship #eyeofsf Today Jimmy Carter, a former US President who also served as Governor of Georgia, has called for Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp's resignation. Kemp is accused of viciously robbing Georgians of their right to vote. Conveniently, most of the people Kemp is accused of disenfranchising are in demographics largely assumed to be voting for his opponent. Via NPR: In his letter to Kemp, Carter said it was his decades of experience assisting elections abroad that persuaded him to wade into the bitter dispute now roiling the Georgia gubernatorial race. Kemp has been under fire for deciding to purge tens of thousands of voters from the voter rolls months after declaring his intent to run for governor. "In Georgia's upcoming gubernatorial election, popular confidence is threatened not only by the undeniable racial discrimination of the past and the serious questions that the federal courts have raised about the security of Georgia's voting machines, but also because you are now overseeing the election in which you are a candidate," wrote Carter, who served as Democratic governor of Georgia himself before winning the presidency in 1976. "This runs counter to the most fundamental principle of democratic elections that the electoral process be managed by an independent and impartial election authority." Carter is far from the only prominent figure to raise concerns about Kemp's role as both candidate and referee in next week's election and last year's voter purge is not the only move that has gotten Kemp embroiled in controversy. An APM Reports investigation found that removals have spiked during Kemp's tenure overseeing Georgia's election process. More than 1.6 million names were removed from the state's rolls in the past decade, including his eight years in office. And a half-dozen civil rights groups recently sued the secretary of state over the delay of some 53,000 voter registration applications, which his office has placed on hold citing questions about the applicants' citizenship status. According to the AP, nearly 70 percent of those pending registrations came from African-Americans. After this weekend's anti-Semitic mass-shooting at Pittsburgh's Tree of Life synagogue, President Donald Trump blamed the victims, implying that if they didn't want to get murdered, they should have paid for armed guards. What Trump has notably not said is that the white supremacist movement he has legitimized and fueled with his anti-Muslim, anti-Mexican, anti-disabled, anti-LBGT statements, is connected to anti-Semitic violence from the "good people" who marched in Charlottesville chanting "Jews will not replace us" to the Protocols of the Elders of Zion-style demonization of George Soros. Trump's omission is not subtle. People have noticed. Among them is a coalition of Pittsburgh's Jewish leaders who have published an open letter to the President telling him that he is "not welcome in Pittsburgh until you fully denounce white nationalism," "not welcome in Pittsburgh until you stop targeting and endangering all minorities," "not welcome in Pittsburgh until you cease your assault on immigrants and refugees" and "not welcome in Pittsburgh until you commit yourself to compassionate, democratic policies that recognize the dignity of all of us." (Image: Dllu, CC-BY-SA) The U.S. will deploy an additional 5,200 troops to the U.S.-Mexico border, said White House officials today. The deployment will more than triple the military presence there, and is presumably a Trump administration response to the so-called "Migrant Caravan," about which white supremacists in the United States are currently fixated. BREAKING Pentagon will send 5200 troops to border, has 150 miles of concertina wire ready to use, Northcom says Nick Miroff (@NickMiroff) October 29, 2018 Earlier on Monday, before the announcement, President Donald Trump tweeted: "Many Gang Members and some very bad people are mixed into the Caravan heading to our Southern Border." This is a lie, by the way. "Please go back, you will not be admitted into the United States unless you go through the legal process," Trump continued. "This is an invasion of our Country and our Military is waiting for you!" Even as pipe bombs are being discovered and the synagogue massacre dead are being buried, President Donald Trump continues to describe a non-violent caravan of Central American asylum seekers as "an invasion." Again, he's calling it an "invasion." But there is no invasion. It's a lie. This demonizing and dehumanizing language from Mr. Trump is what authorities say inspired a deranged man in Pittsburgh to murder 11 Jewish people two days ago, in their house of worship, as they prayed. 5,200 troops. Are they gearing up for a bloodbath? If so, who's it for, the migrants, or us? The additional troops, when combined with the 2,000 National Guard already there, roughly equals the number of US forces currently deployed to Iraq & Syria. W.J. Hennigan (@wjhenn) October 29, 2018 From the Washington Post: One Department of Homeland Security official with knowledge of the planning said 5,000 active-duty soldiers would be temporarily sent to the border, but two other U.S. officials cautioned that the final number had yet to be determined by the Pentagon. One of them said that the deployment will consist of "thousands" of U.S. troops. It was not immediately clear why the scale of the mobilization increased fivefold from the 800 to 1,000 troops that defense officials were discussing last week. The additional personnel would join roughly 2,000 National Guard troops assigned to the border since April, and the combined force would be the largest deployment there in at least a decade. Trump said in a tweet Monday that the caravan's plans to reach the border amounted to "an invasion." "Many Gang Members and some very bad people are mixed into the Caravan heading to our Southern Border," he tweeted without evidence. "Please go back, you will not be admitted into the United States unless you go through the legal process. This is an invasion of our Country and our Military is waiting for you!" The White House has sought to make immigration the top issue of the Nov. 6 midterm elections, confident that Trump's hard-line enforcement message will continue to drive his conservative base to the polls and even draw some crossover appeal among more-moderate voters. The president has latched on to the migrant caravan, helping draw attention to the group and labeling it a national security threat. White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said Monday that the administration is considering several administrative actions on the southern border, though she declined to describe the options publicly. Trump will do what "he deems necessary" on immigration, Sanders said. Pentagon officials and Homeland Security officials are preparing a joint news conference Monday afternoon to describe the deployment in greater detail. A DHS official involved in the preparations said that plans have yet to be finalized but that the troop levels that were in consideration last week were not realistic. "We've asked for capabilities, and DHS is looking to fill capabilities, and the [Pentagon] is in the process of determining which units to send and how many personnel it'll take, and that has not yet been determined," said the official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss deliberations. Abraham Lincoln rose to national prominence when he protested against the president sending troops to stop an alleged invasion from Mexicohttps://t.co/4ktGjjb8pK https://t.co/nh5QJ5NYBE Eric Rauchway (@rauchway) October 29, 2018 Number of troops being sent to the border: 5,200 Est. current size of caravan: 3,000-4,000 Normal daily number of pedestrian crossings at El Paso crossing: 18,000 Christopher Ingraham (@_cingraham) October 29, 2018 That's twice this week that a Fox host has gone to the "foreigners bring disease" trope, a staple of racist and antisemitic incitement for hundreds of years. https://t.co/7CRh034IRB Daniel Dale (@ddale8) October 29, 2018 The additional troops deployed to border will provide logistical support, medical aid, housing, transportation and a combined command post to assist @CBP with border and immigration enforcement. The 5,200 addtl solidiers includes 800 on the way from Ft. Campbell and Ft. Knox. Mark Knoller (@markknoller) October 29, 2018 - The pastor accused of sexual assault and human trafficking has an entire wardrobe of suits in his prison - A surprise raid on his cell in Port Elizabeth revealed a TV and radio as well - The raid came after complaints of preferential treatment PAY ATTENTION: Click See First under the Following tab to see Briefly.co.za News on your News Feed! After complaints about preferential treatment, Nigerian pastor Timothy Omotoso's cell was given a surprise raid. An entire wardrobe of immaculate suits were discovered, as well as a radio and television were discovered. According to the law, Omotoso is not allowed to have a TV or radio in his cell. The televangelist stands accused of sexual assault and human trafficking. PAY ATTENTION: Save mobile data with FreeBasics: Briefly is now available on the app Bathabile Dlamini, the Minister for Women in the Presidency complained about suspected preferential treatment which led to his cell in Port Elizabeths St Albans Prison being searched. News24 reports that other inmates at the prison said the Nigerian's cell looked like a boutique since the beginning. READ ALSO: Explainer: Why e-tolls aren't working and should be scrapped Dlamini told protestors that this special treatment will definitely be addressed. He lives in a single cell and does what he wants to do. Omotoso's trial is ongoing. 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 Staff reporter South Member of Parliament Rajesh Kumar Modi - popularly known as Raj Modi, is probably one of the most loved parliamentarians in the city.This is largely because of the corporate social responsibility initiatives he undertook before he ventured into the political sphere.Now deputy minister of Industry, Modi is the only Zanu-PF MP to win a seat in the highly-contested July 30 elections in a city that has been an MDC stronghold for 18 years.Barely two months after his election, Modi is emerging as one of the staunchest loyalists of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.Last Thursday, he declared that he will name his Cowdray Park Shopping Mall after Mnangagwa.Modi said the exquisite mall, currently under construction, will be called Dambudzo Business Complex.Dambudzo, is Mnangagwa's middle name."The Cowdray Park Shopping Mall, which was supposed to be opened in December, is four months behind schedule after we encountered bedrock. . . . people will be employed; a good percentage of them will be from Cowdray Park and Bulawayo South. It will be named after @edmnangagwa," tweeted Modi.Although the construction of the mall, which is set to create about 300 jobs, is a welcome development, Modi's decision to name it after Mnangagwa has triggered a storm.Critics feel that Mnangagwa does not deserve the honour, saying many heroes who reign from the region were worthy of that honour.While acknowledging that the mall is his personal property, Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP) denounced the move by Modi, describing it as disrespectful to the people of Bulawayo and Matabeleland as a whole.Mbonisi Gumbo, MRP secretary for information said the move by Modi flies against the spirit of devolution that must empower communities to brand themselves and identify with their history, present and future aspirations.Gumbo said as a party, they are prepared to assist Modi by suggesting to him names that resonate with the liberation history of Bulawayo.He said: "We have our own heroes in Matabeleland, the likes of Lookout Masuku, Canaan Banana, Sydney Malunga, Phelekezela Mphoko, Fletcher Dulini-Ncube, Jabulani Sibanda, Dumiso Dabengwa, Nalinan Naran, Gibson Sibanda, Thenjiwe Lesabe, Colonel Lazarus Ray Ncube, David Sharpshoot Moyo, Ackim Ndlovu, Makhathini Guduza and many others, who have never been honoured."We acknowledge that this is personal property, but what has Mnangagwa done in Bulawayo which qualifies him to be honoured before former President Cannan Sodindo Banana and other Matabeleland heroes of our struggle?"Gumbo added that Modi must take his public relations stunt out of Bulawayo to where Mnangagwa is relevant."Matabeleland knows Mnangagwa as one of the principal architects of Gukurahundi, a genocide that wiped them off the face of their land. That perception will stick until Mnangagwa appoints a neutral commission of inquiry, headed by an international judge or human rights practitioner to probe the genocide. Until such happens, people like Modi must not disrespect the people of Bulawayo," he said.Gumbo called on Cowdray Park residents and people from Matabeleland to reject this public relations stunt by Modi seen as meant to polish up the image of Mnangagwa in Matabeleland."If Modi is short of liberation memory, we are prepared to assist, in suggesting to him, names that resonate with the liberation history of Bulawayo," said Gumbo.Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) also denounced Modi for overlooking local heroes whom Bulawayo, people identify with.BPRA acting coordinator Emmanuel Ndlovu described the move as an unnecessary popularity stunt."It is a popularity stunt which, at this moment, is not necessary. I may not know the logic behind naming the shopping complex after Mnangagwa but we have unsung heroes who hail from this region like Lookout Masuku, whom I think people from this side identify with," he said.He highlighted that as an association they haven't engaged the residents to get their views on the development.Ibhetshu Likazulu secretary-general Muse Fuzwayo described the naming of the mall after Mnangagwa as "painful and insensitive" considering his role in the post-independence 1980's disturbances for which Mnangagwa has not apologised.Fuzwayo said: "Modi just proved that he does not care about our feelings. Mnangagwa is not worthy of that honour. Why doesn't he honour some of the Zipra commanders?"Nothing has been said about Ackim Ndlovu, Lookout Masuku and many other local heroes. People from the Midlands where he hails from and Harare haven't honoured him, and Modi wants to honour him here in Bulawayo after everything he did to them? It's sad Modi has no empathy and sympathy with people from this region." News / National by Staff reporter Opposition MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has threatened to roll out peaceful protests to jolt President Emmerson Mnangagwa's administration into ending the economic meltdown.The MDC leader told party supporters at Gwanzura Stadium yesterday that the economic crisis will not relent until Mnangagwa accepts that he lost the July 30 polls and concedes power.Chamisa's calls for protests were echoed by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, the Zimbabwe National Students Union and social movement Tajamuka whose representatives addressed the same rally.Tajamuka said they were giving Mnangagwa up to November 17 a year after the military intervention that deposed former president Robert Mugabe to vacate office or face a wave of unrelenting protests."We have lit the democratic flame and I don't doubt you when you say you will be behind me. I will give a signal when the time is uplet me see by show of hands those who are committed to stand with us," Chamisa said to rapturous approval from the capacity crowd."People are ready," he insisted, turning to MDC senior officials."All that is left for us is to let you know of the day or the days. A lot of you are saying let's stand together and march today, no; we are going to call you when the time is ripe."The MDC leader claimed that he told Mnangagwa that what is needed for Zimbabwe to move forward was to have political dialogue."Political dialogue not for purposes of a GNU (government of national unity) but political dialogue for us to determine the nature of the crisis," Chamisa said.He added that the question of legitimacy and who won the July 30 vote cannot be wished away adding that if the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission server was made public, it would reveal that he garnered 2, 6 million votes to Mnangagwa's less than two million."I heard Mnangagwa say we should move forward but there is no moving forward without accepting the election result, there is only moving around," he insisted."I heard him say that Chamisa wants a GNU. I am not interested in working with Mnangagwa who lost elections. He should be leading the opposition movement while I am head of State taking this country forward."Regarding the controversial two percent tax for every dollar transacted electronically, Chamisa labelled the tax regime as plain daylight robbery."Two percent tax on electronic transfers is daylight robbery. They dished out treasury bills up to $9 billion, $90 million of which went to funding Zanu-PF campaign ... now they want you to pay for it," he said.Chamisa said his party takes great exception to how the commission of inquiry into the August 1 killings was conducting its business."I thought they are failures in the economy but they are also failing to conduct a commission of inquiry. (Former South Africa president Kgalema) Motlanthe runs the risk of losing all credibility," he insisted.Turning to the late MDC founding president Morgan Tsvangirai's death, Chamisa said Zanu-PF' hands were not clean.He added: "Tsvangirai did not die, he was killed. You know his killers. What Zanu-PF don't know is that they can kill, but they can't kill all of us. Chinas Unity in the Face of a Trade War By Phillip Orchard The U.S.-China trade war is in full swing, and its not going away anytime soon . The U.S. is beginning to see it more as a strategic opportunity to contain Chinese assertiveness than as a play to invigorate U.S. manufacturing. What the White House is demanding in negotiations, Beijing cannot concede without abandoning the state-led economic model that the Communist Party of China thinks it needs to address a staggering range of political and economic problems at home ones that its been grappling with even before the trade war began. Thus, the trade war is only going to get bigger from here. This Deep Dive looks at the potential fallout in China. Ultimately, it concludes that for Beijing, the economic cost of the trade war will be real but likely manageable if considered in isolation. China has ample tools at its disposal to ease the pain, and its been gradually reducing its dependence on the U.S. market anyway. The problem for Beijing is that its contending with much bigger political and economic problems already problems that reflect a profound internal weakness that has bedeviled Chinese leaders for thousands of years. Counting the Costs Last year, exports accounted for around 20 percent of Chinas gross domestic product. Of these, 18.6 percent went to the United States. If U.S. buyers for all of these goods abruptly disappeared and firms in China were unable to find replacements, it would dent Chinas annual GDP by at least 3.5 percent and presumably more when accounting for the accompanying loss of investment, the hit to consumption that comes with job losses and so forth. Chaos would ensue. Of course, not all Chinese exports to the U.S. will come to a grinding halt, and some that do will find buyers elsewhere. A continued weakening of the yuan alone could offset much of the tariffs (particularly 10 percent duties), albeit at the risk of raising the cost of critical imports that Chinese industry needs to keep humming and spurring capital flight by spooked investors. Moreover, the bulk of the value of many goods exported from China is actually produced elsewhere (e.g., Japanese semiconductors manufactured in Malaysia that go in a laptop merely assembled in China), so whats billed as a $200 billion package of tariffs is actually quite a bit less for China. All told, most estimates put the current hit to China in the range of 0.2-0.6 percent of GDP. (Officially, at least, China grew by 6.9 percent last year and set a target of 6.5 percent this year.) In reality, making any sort of precise estimate of how tariffs will hurt China is nearly impossible. There are simply too many variables in play. To start, its unclear how much the U.S. will expand the tariffs (and at what rate). We know that the latest round (10 percent on $200 billion) is set to increase to 25 percent on Jan. 1 if a deal isnt reached before then (we doubt one will be). But we dont know how serious President Donald Trump is about following through with his repeated threats to tax another $260 billion effectively, all Chinese imports. Similarly, the size of Chinas retaliatory measures against the U.S. will matter as well, since tariffs amount to a tax on ones own citizens, and in Chinas case will dampen consumption without benefiting comparable Chinese domestic industries (which already largely dominate the Chinese market). Its also unclear what exceptions either government will carve out to ease the pain. U.S. firms had made more than 37,000 requests for exclusions from steel tariffs alone as of last week, according to the Commerce Department, which had processed less than 12 percent of them. The exemption process from the new round of tariffs on China has reportedly not yet been implemented. How much of the increased costs will be borne by consumers and how much by producers, meanwhile, will differ from one product to the next, depending on factors like elasticities in supply and demand. China has already lowered tariffs on imports it cant easily get elsewhere, for example. Global supply chains for different products will shift at varying speeds; just how fast depends on the medium-term planning decisions of thousands of businesses, not to mention other governments. Some exporters in China will merely find ways to become more efficient, and the closing of some will support Beijings ongoing reforms aimed at reducing industrial overcapacity. China will also try to reroute some products through neighboring markets not facing U.S. tariffs, particularly Vietnam , but doing this adds its own costs to the exports, and the U.S. will be on close watch for such activities, meaning they may end up taxed anyway. Where pain cant be avoided, Beijing has some tools with which to soften the blow for the domestic market, such as targeted tax relief, subsidies, monetary and fiscal stimulus, and so forth. All this is just scratching the surface. But in short, theres no small amount of uncertainty about how far, and with how much force, the tariffs will ripple outward in China. This uncertainty is itself a problem for Beijing, whose historically poor oversight and data collection capacity put it at risk of getting blindsided by a crisis bubbling up in remote corners of the country . Uncertainty also has a way of breeding panic perhaps the most unpredictable factor at play, whether in the stock markets, among foreign firms operating in the country or among Chinese consumers that could make an otherwise manageable situation markedly worse. Most important, though a 0.2-0.6 percent hit to Chinas GDP from the tariffs would likely be manageable in isolation for a nearly $14 trillion economy, the trade war is far from Chinas only problem. Rather, it will intensify three challenges, in particular, that China is already grappling with. The first is the effort to clean up the mess left behind by the 2008 financial crisis and the internal structural dysfunction it exposed. The second is its quest to find a more sustainable path to growth. The third is deep-rooted regional divides between the wealthier coasts and the interior a fundamental threat to China as we know it. The Immediate Crisis Breakneck growth in China was always going to be difficult to perpetuate. As economies become larger, high growth rates naturally get harder to sustain. And China is running out of the sort of easy gains in particular, cheap exports, investment and the one-time gains of land and resource privatization that fueled its rise, and domestic consumption has not increased quickly enough to allow the economy to stand on its own. The problem for China is that it cannot tolerate the social risks that would result from a massive increase in unemployment, and so it has generally been unwilling to stomach a major slowdown, much less a sudden shock to the system. Thus, to sustain employment, it has generally sacrificed profitability to keep some exports competitive and made up for the rest with credit and fiscal stimulus, leading to any number of distortions. This was laid bare following the 2008 global financial crisis. Beijings response massive infrastructure spending, unchecked lending and an even greater reliance on public investment compounded the long-term challenge by flooding the economy in debt, nonperforming loans and industrial overcapacity. Today, the country is dotted with unprofitable zombie firms, smog-choked ghost cities and marauding gray rhinos (over-leveraged conglomerates considered too big to fail). Painful reforms could not be avoided forever. To contain the fallout, the Communist Party recentralized and re-embraced authoritarianism in the form of President Xi Jinping, who launched a sweeping reform drive to address systemic risks from asset bubbles to overcapacity to shadow lending to pollution during his first term. This is a work in progress, at best, and one that is a considerably bigger drag on growth than the trade war itself. Thus, China expected 2018 to be a rough year even before Trump went guns blazing with tariffs. For the year, Beijing has set a GDP growth target of just 6.5 percent, after hitting 6.9 percent (officially, at least) in 2017. Still, the more trade pressure the U.S. applies, the more it will complicate Xis best-laid plans. Over the summer, Beijing grappled openly with the question of whether it should be attempting to fight a two-front war against the U.S. on trade and against Chinas internal dysfunction. Theres been pressure on Beijing to ease off its deleveraging campaign, in particular, and focus instead on stimulating growth as the trade war intensifies. But the trade war is precisely the sort of potential external shock that has fueled Beijings sense of urgency to get its own house in order. And thus far, Xi has continued to prioritize deleveraging and derisking . Beijing has adopted some modest expansionary policies to calm markets and guard against panic for example, expanding local government bonds for infrastructure projects and making regular injections of capital into state-run banks. These are a far cry from the money cannons Beijing used to blast away at the crisis in 2008, when China unloaded some 4 trillion yuan ($590 billion) in new spending. But reform would be a high-wire act for Beijing even in more favorable economic circumstances, forcing the government into a high-stakes game of whack-a-mole to contain unintended consequences and prevent a cascading crisis. One notable example of this dynamic is the crackdown on shadow lending, which has reportedly choked off credit to many small and medium-sized enterprises that had relied on over-leveraged smaller banks. Those banks are now under pressure to rein in speculative lending , forcing Beijing to scramble to find ways to force larger, healthier state-owned banks to lend to parts of the economy theyre ill-suited to. It just so happens that SMEs, which account for around 60 percent of Chinas GDP, are likely to be the hardest hit by the tariffs. Their employees shop for things and have mortgages to pay. Its not hard to see how matters can spin out of control. The trade war gives Beijing just ever so much less room to maneuver. The Middle Kingdom and the Middle-Income Trap Even if Beijing is able to defuse its present debt troubles and stave off an immediate crisis, itll still be wrestling with another problem stemming from slowing growth: whats known as the middle-income trap. This is what happens when a countrys economic growth stagnates once it fails to replace low-wage growth drivers with new sources of labor productivity and growth common among fully developed economies, such as robust consumption and high-value exports. Chinas unfavorable demographics make its challenge here particularly problematic. According to Chinas National Development and Reform Commission, Chinas working-age population (those aged 16 to 59) will fall more than 23 percent to around 830 million by 2030 and 700 million by 2050. By then, a full third of the Chinese population will have reached retirement age, compared to around 15 percent today. This is likely to push labor costs up further, while diminishing its capital base and tying up a greater share of resources in caring for the elderly. In short, the country is primed to get old before it gets uniformly rich . Beijings recent abandonment of the one-child policy is too little, too late. China has some room to continue to boost productivity . The countrys rapid urbanization, in particular, is likely to bring about ample efficiency and consumption gains. But this approach has diminishing returns. Over the long term, its trying to push through to high-income status by pouring resources into moving up the manufacturing value chain, particularly in high-end technological sectors dominated by the West, South Korea, Taiwan and Japan (and that, incidentally, would also help China get by with a smaller workforce). The trade war strikes at the heart of Beijings plans on this front. Chinas state-led industrial blueprint, known as Made in China 2025, outlines steps to leapfrog the U.S. as a technological innovator in the industries that will matter most over the coming century (for both commercial and military applications), such as semiconductors, robotics, aerospace, artificial intelligence, green energy and biotech. Unfortunately for Beijing, the plan has also set off alarm bells across the West, not just in the U.S., and given the White House something around which to rally support for its trade war both at home and abroad (to the point where Beijing has banned mentions of Made in China 2025 in state-run media ). Naturally, the U.S. tariffs focus heavily on the industries included in the plan, as do tightening controls on Chinese investment in the United States. Ending state-support for them makes up a sizable share of U.S. negotiating demands. Beijing isnt going to budge on this front; it cant without abandoning its core, state-led economic model. Rather, the trade war is likely to only reinforce Beijings sense that it needs to dramatically reduce its dependence on foreign technologies and that the White Houses underlying goal with the trade war is to blunt Chinas very rise. Its hard to say how much the trade war will hurt this effort. Tariffs alone are unlikely to do much. Made in China 2025 is being executed primarily through Chinese state-owned enterprises, which Beijing is better equipped to protect from the tariffs than it is the private conglomerates and SMEs hurting the most thus far. On the other hand, Beijing has relied heavily on technology transfers from Western firms (if not, as alleged by dozens of U.S. firms, outright tech theft) for its progress on tech development thus far. If tariffs make U.S. firms less inclined to enter into the joint ventures often required to operate in China, and if restrictions on investment keep Chinese firms out of the U.S. and Europe (which has been following suit on foreign investment), Beijing will be stuck doing tech development the slow and hard way. The Long-Term Threat: A Return to Regionalism The third problem is that the pain from tariffs is likely to be highly concentrated in a handful of export powerhouse regions along the coasts: Guangdong, Jiangsu, Shanghai and Zhejiang provinces in particular. Exports dominate each of these regional economies as much as 50 percent in Guangdong, and between 20 and 45 percent in the others and collectively, they accounted for more than half of Chinas total exports last year. Jiangsu has the highest dependence on U.S.-bound exports, at around 27 percent. (Guangdong, which routes a sizable share of its exports across the border through Hong Kong, may be more dependent on the U.S. market.) These areas are the primary hubs of Chinas electronics and machinery sectors, which as we mentioned are a core focus of the U.S. trade offensive. (In 2016, these sectors accounted for more than a third of Guangdongs output.) And they are home to the majority of foreign firms, which will be mulling an exodus from China. In Jiangsu, Guangdong and Shanghai, for example, between one-half and two-thirds of exports from each in 2016 came from enterprises with foreign investment. This concentration may seem like a good thing; the coastal economies are by far Chinas strongest and most modernized (with the largest consumer bases), giving them greater resiliency. And it means the interior masses are less likely to be directly harmed by the tariffs. Beijing wont have to try to find awkward one-size-fits-all solutions for the entire country. But theres a bigger issue at stake: the countrys very territorial integrity. Chinas history is one of cycles it unifies, it fragments, then it unifies again. And when it fragments, it often does so along deep fault lines between the wealthier coasts and the less-developed interior. The coastal-interior divide isnt just about the steep disparities in wealth, though this is certainly a big part of it. Its also one of orientation. Coastal China runs on global maritime trade, while the interior has far fewer commercial opportunities. Coastal Chinas priority is reaching its customers, whereas the interior wants Beijing to throw it a bone by transferring wealth from the coast. Left to fester, this problem can result in internal conflict, with coastal interests frequently seeking intervention by their customers. (See: the British intervention in the mid-19th century.) Mao, like many before him, tried to solve the problem by closing China to trade (at least somewhat), demonizing and then crushing the coastal elite, and imposing a dictatorship. The historical problem has not gone away. China is constantly searching for ways to balance relations between the coastal Han and the interior Han. With newfound wealth since Dengs reforms has come newfound and staggering inequality, for example. The more that modern China trades with the world, the more potential there is for the coasts to resist attempts by Beijing to rebalance wealth and pursue strategic objectives that may jeopardize trade relationships. Xi is dealing with this in any number of ways. In part, like many of his predecessors, hes using sheer force to prevent coastal wealth from translating into political power and to prevent coastal elites from opposing his reform project. This was part of the motivation of his sweeping anti-corruption campaign, as well as his recent crackdowns on profligate private conglomerates (many of whose leaders are now in jail) and on capital outflows. His centralization of the partys control over the financial system, meanwhile, is intended partly to keep the coasts reliant on the party. And one goal of Beijings massive infrastructure buildout is to better integrate coastal and interior markets, allowing manufacturers to better take advantage of regional income differentials and traditional exporters to fix their gaze increasingly on domestic markets. At this point, its not immediately obvious that the trade war would turn the coasts against Beijing. Sure, disagreement over how exactly Beijing should handle it at home has already spilled out into the open. There will doubtless be resistance to Beijings efforts to transfer wealth to the interior, its restrictions on outbound capital flows, its willingness to give ailing firms a pass from the deleveraging campaign and any number of other points of contention whether real or conjured out of thin air to settle a political score. When money gets tight, knives tend to come out. Still, theres little evidence that exporters think the trade war couldve been avoided altogether or that the coasts think Beijing is declining a deal that would serve their interests. The broad impression in China appears to be that Trump isnt actually interested in a deal certainly not one that China could accept and that this is just the first major salvo in an emerging Cold War. And unlike many of his predecessors, Xi is not yet trying to close China off to trade altogether. China is certainly not in a position to go cold turkey. Instead, Xi has been busy portraying China as a champion of free trade and globalization, however disingenuously, while using the tools of the state to pry open new opportunities for Chinese firms abroad, foster economic dependencies and cultivate political support with dozens of countries. News / National by Staff reporter Zimbabwe's main opposition party, the MDC, all but declared its leader Nelson Chamisa the country's "president" yesterday, insisting that the youthful politician won the popular vote at the July 30 polls.Addressing thousands of party supporters at the MDC's 19th anniversary celebrations at Gwanzura Stadium in Harare, MDC vice president Morgen Komichi proclaimed that his boss "has been duly bestowed as the president of Zimbabwe"."We voted on July 30 and made our choice and we all know that leaders come from God and now that you have come here and we all agree that our vote was stolen, our leader...Chamisa has been duly bestowed as the president of Zimbabwe," he said, as he invited the 40-year-old politician to the podium to light up what he termed the "democracy flame", which resembled the country's independence flame.Chamisa obliged and duly lit the flame to a thunderous applause from the crowd, shouting: "President of the republic and commander-in-chief of the defence forces!"The ceremony was, however, without rites conducted when a president is sworn in, probably to avoid the long arm of the law.In terms of the country's laws, a president is sworn in by the chief justice and takes the oath of office while holding the Bible in one hand.Last month, government warned Chamisa that it would arrest him if he proceeded to swear himself in as president.The MDC, founded in 1999, had long planned to "inaugurate" Chamisa as "president" even though the Constitutional Court had upheld President Emmerson Mnangagwa's narrow victory.Mnangagwa, won the presidential race with 50,6 percent of the vote just enough to meet the 50 percent plus one vote threshold needed to avoid a run-off.Chamisa trailed him with 44,3 percent of the vote.Yesterday, government rubbished Chamisa's declaration as "president", describing it as child's play."We used to do that when we were growing up giving each other roles as fathers and mothers, but we would come to our senses and realise that it was only playing," said deputy minister of Information Energy Mutodi.The former musician said it was sad that Chamisa was still in denial mode after losing the elections."He is seeking relevance, the country has moved forward but he is in denial that he lost elections and it's unfortunate," he said.Before addressing the gathering in Highfield yesterday, Chamisa sang a Christian hymn before declaring that he was ready to govern, saying his party has solutions to the country's problems.He said contrary to claims by Mnangagwa that he was itching for a government of national unity, he instead was determined to take the Zanu-PF leader head-on in his quest to reclaim "our stolen victory"."I heard Mnangagwa saying he was not ready for government of national unity but he is forgetting that I have not called for one because it is not necessary. What I want is the presidency which I was given by the people," Chamisa said."How is it possible that I would want to work with a loser? I want the presidency that the people who voted gave me and I am coming for you in broad daylight. I will get what is rightfully mine before the end of this year," he declared, adding at 19 the MDC was now a grown-up party ready to govern.Chamisa said Mnangagwa would never enjoy his presidency as long as issues around his legitimacy are not resolved."He is not going to sleep until that is resolved. He lied to you that he was going to bring light when he was preparing to bring more darkness than we had under (former president Robert) Mugabe."If Mnangagwa had won I would have congratulated him. This is only the beginning but you are not going anywhere. There won't be any progress because one will be engaging the drive gear while the other will be engaging the hand brake," he vowed. News / National by Staff reporter The ruling Zanu-PF party has taken a swipe at the opposition MDC Alliance party's move to inaugurate' its leader, Nelson Chamisa as the president of Zimbabwe, describing the event as a kindergarten spectacle.Chamisa lost to President Emmerson Mnangagwa in the July 30 harmonised elections and his party has disputed the election results even after the Constitutional Court put the matter to rest by upholding the ZEC announced results in favour of Mnangagwa.The party has since moved on to declare and inaugurate' Chamisa is "duly bestowed President of Zimbabwe, at an event to mark the party's 19th anniversary at Gwanzura Stadium in Harare yesterday.Speaking to the ZBC News in Harare today, Zanu-PF Secretary for Information and Publicity, Simon Khaya Moyo described event as a kindergarten spectacle meant to hood-wink MDC Alliance supporters into thinking that Chamisa is the President of Zimbabwe."This should be condemned. The lighting of what the MDC Alliance termed the 'flame of democracy' was an insult to the protracted liberation struggle which brought the country's independence. The MDC Alliance should bear the consequences of their misguided conduct," he said, adding that the MDC Alliance should stop their stunts of seeking relevance.Khaya Moyo said Zimbabwe has only one president, Emmerson Mnangagwa who is internationally recognised.He added that Zimbabweans are now working towards promoting unity, peace, development and economic emancipation. News / National by Staff reporter Zimbabwe's quest to pursue the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) debt forgiveness option has been thrown into disarray amid resistance from the United States and government's decision to rebase the Gross Domestic Product size.The country is saddled with a $16,9 billion debt, with external debt accounting for approximately $7,4 billion. Out of this, approximately $5,6 billion is in arrears.Already Zimbabwe has settled its International Monetary Fund arrears of US$107,9 million in November 2016.What is now outstanding is the clearance of the outstanding arrears to the World Bank of $1,3 billion, African Development Bank, $680 million and the European Investment Bank of $308 million.Clearance of the arrears is expected to open fresh lines of credit with international financial institutions which stopped extending support to Zimbabwe in 1999 after the country defaulted on its payment.Speaking on his return from Bali, Indonesia, where heads of multi-lateral institutions have been meeting, Finance minister Mthuli Ncube said government is considering the HIPC option to address the debt issue.However, it has emerged that the United States Assistant Secretary and Middle East in the Middle East in the Treasury, Erick Meyer, told Finance minister Mthuli Ncube in Bali, Indonesia on the sidelines of the World Bank/International Monetary Fund annual meetings that Zimbabwe is ineligible for HIPC."On government's plans to utilise the AfDB Pillar II resources to clear Zimbabwe's arrears with the AfDB, Meyer indicated that the US is not supportive of using the resources because we do not qualify to be a HIPC country, and that such resources are only targeted for HIPC countries," a source from an international financial institution said."Meyer reiterated the United States' government continued commitment to support Zimbabwe's Arrears Clearance Strategy, on condition that Government uses its own resources to clear the arrears."Early this month Ncube said government had increased the nominal size of the economy by more than 40 percent. This again resulted in Zimbabwe not being considered for HIPC.In 2016 the AfDB agreed to ring-fence Transition Support Facility Pillar II resources for arrears clearance of Somalia, Sudan and Zimbabwe on a first come, first served basis. To get new funding from AfDB, Zimbabweclassified as one of the vulnerable economies on the continent together with the other two African countries needs to clear its arrears first before December 2020 when the funds are still available.What is HIPC?The World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other multilateral, bilateral and commercial creditors began the Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) Initiative in 1996. The structured programme was designed to ensure that the poorest countries in the world are not overwhelmed by unmanageable or unsustainable debt burdens. It reduces the debt of countries meeting strict criteria. As of the most recent annual report, the HIPC and related Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI) programmes have relieved 36 participating countries of $99 billion in debt.A comprehensive review of the programme in 1999 led to enhancements, including the adjustment downward of the debtburden thresholds that enabled a broader group of countries to qualify for debt relief. In addition, a number of creditors, including the main multilaterals, started to provide earlier assistance to qualifying countries in the form of interim relief at decision point. Finally, the "floating completion point" was introduced, providing incentives to speed up reforms and increase countries' ownership.Thirty-nine countries are currently eligible for HIPC debt relief. Countries eligible for assistance through HIPC pass through two milestones. The first is the "decision point," at which the World Bank and the IMF formally determine whether the country is eligible for debt relief. Countries at this point have met stringent qualifications, including income thresholds. The international community commits to a level of debt relief, and the country may begin receiving debt relief at this point.The second milestone is the "completion point," at which countries receive the balance of the debt relief that the international community committed to at the decision point. This is when they graduate from the programme. To reach this point, the countries must have achieved certain reforms and taken concrete steps to reduce poverty.To date, 36 countries 30 of them in Africa have received the full amount of debt-relief for which they were eligible through HIPC and the MDRI. News / National by Staff reporter The net is closing in on fuel dealers who stand accused of abusing their foreign currency allocation from the central bank amid revelations a syndicate of Zambian fuel smugglers was [on Wednesday] nabbed across the Zambezi holding at least 40 000 litres of fuel smuggled from Zimbabwe.The fuel had been smuggled with the assistance of their Zimbabwean partners.It is such leakages that have seen demand for fuel in Zimbabwe double in recent weeks. This has forced Government to cast its net wider for fuel supplies, having recently concluded supply deal with two major foreign fuel suppliers, according to Energy and Power Development Minister Joram Gumbo.Funds set aside to import fuel are also expected to be increased by 60 percent, Gumbo added.An anti-fuel smuggling operation, being treated sensitively, could claim the scalps of top politicians and businessmen believed to be abusing their influence and proximity to power.This will trigger a brutal battle that could end the careers of top politicians as cartels in the sector are running it in mafia style for the control of the lucrative business.Intelligence in recent weeks briefed Gumbo on the sophisticated manoeuvres used by unscrupulous fuel dealers to abuse foreign currency and advised on the possible remedies.This has raised questions around his commitment towards improving the fuel supply situation in the country and at the same time Government's commitment to stamp out corruption and abuse of resources.A top Government official said fuel had become contentious in Government with plans to plug leakages seen ruffling feathers of powerful cartels in the business. These cartels comprise fuel dealers, Government officials and politicians who enjoy some monopoly in the sector."You find trucks that pass through Zimbabwe into South Africa, Zambia and DRC are all buying fuel in Zimbabwe. Now they buy more fuel than ever because ours is cheaper at current black market rates."As a result, dealers are selling coupons outside the country to these truckers, some of them own hundreds of trucks and this is a lot of money. At times they even carry containers to make sure they only consume our fuel and this means the dealer gets foreign currency and they just come to use the coupons here, the country gets nothing," the Government official said.Information at hand suggests the central bank in most cases pays suppliers directly for fuel then gives local dealers invoices for collection. The dealers then sell part of their allocation outside the country for hard cash before returning home with part of the product for their pumps."They are taking advantage of our systems where there are no weigh bridges. What happens is they get for instance 30 000 litres then sell 20 000 litres in Mozambique even for under $1 per litre. Then balance is brought home, they sell that fuel back home and sell a portion of their foreign currency on the black market to make up for the sales," said a source close to developments."The issue is simple, the black market rate is 400 percent so imagine they sell $20 000 worth of fuel in Mozambique, to cash that with the RBZ they need to only convert $5 000 on the black market and play around with their books," added the source.Another source within the Ministry of Energy and Power Development said recommendations were made for random checks at service stations during deliveries and at entry points into the country, but it has taken the ministry long to implement. Designated fuel selling points for foreign traffic in foreign currency only were also proposed.Service stations have also been holding on to some fuel which is sold on the black market for hard cash.Earlier in the week, some dealers were now getting directives from their head offices to start rationing fuel and sell everything they have in stock."We have been told to give $50 worth of fuel maximum to small cars and $100 for heavy vehicles and public transport. We are now under instruction to sell all the fuel that we receive and not reserve anything," added a fuel attendant in Harare's Msasa area.Gumbo said consumption of fuel had gone up dramatically. "The consumption of our fuel has gone up now and we are consuming 4 million litres of diesel per day and 3,8 million of petrol per day from 2 million of diesel and 1,5 million of petrol per day since September,'" he said."We have also instructed RBZ to increase the foreign currency allocation to fuel importers from $25 million to $35 million and this has started to happen. This has been necessitated by the fact that the price of fuel has gone up on the international market."We are in the process of signing a fuel deal with two foreign companies to help in providing fuel to the country and this will be happening in the coming week. They will help us with a credit facility to procure the fuel," Gumbo said, adding smugglers were arrested in neighbouring Zambia."We had problem of black market in the fuel as I am coming from Zambia today where there is a case of Zambians who were caught with over 40 000 litres of fuel that they have bought from Zimbabwe and this is one of the major problems, we have a black market."The shortage of fuel is also our own making in terms of black market trading of the fuel. We have been receiving reports of people getting fuel from Zimbabwe to sell outside the country. Some trucks were found in a basement in Zambia containing tens of thousands litres of fuel and the culprits who appeared in court claim to have links with Zimbabweans."Zimbabwe is facing a fuel crisis with queues at most service stations triggering the resurgence of the black market. Players told Business Times on Wednesday night that the situation was expected to improve starting Thursday although prices could go up. News / National by Staff reporter The Commonwealth Development Corporation (CDC) has expressed concern over Zimbabwe's currency situation after Treasury resolved tax compliance issues around a long-delayed $100m loan that was extended by the British headquartered organisation.Zimbabwe demonetised its local currency in 2009 for a basket of multiple currencies dominated by the US dollar. Dwindling exports against a huge import bill has seen most companies struggling due to the foreign currency shortages.In May this year, the UK partnered with Standard Chartered Bank Plc (StanChart) to lend $100m to Zimbabwe's private sector in what became the British government's first direct commercial loan facility to Harare in more than 20 years.Relations between Harare and London turned frosty at the turn of the millennium after Zimbabwe embarked on a land reform programme that resulted in thousands of white farmers from Britain, Netherlands, and Australia losing land to locals.Sources this week told the Business Times that Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube recently met CDC chief executive, Nick O'Donohoe, where Ncube told the CDC that the outstanding tax compliance issues on the facility had been resolved.Under the agreement, Britain's development finance institution would provide a $60m offshore facility while StanChart would provide the $40m balance onshore.According to sources, it was agreed during the discussions that the CDC facility should be increased and spread to other banks as long as they comply with the CDC criteria. It is understood that this will help in making those banks that fall short of the criteria to upgrade their standards.According to one source, "Minister Ncube advised the CDC that the government has resolved tax challenges which were hindering the $100m facility. He also welcomed the idea that the CDC was working with a private equity company in Zimbabwe and was already in discussions on another facility."The CDC team expressed interest in investing in solar farm projects in Zimbabwe and the minister briefed them of vast opportunities in this sector and invited them to consider numerous bankable solar projects which only lack foreign currency to start."The CDC highlighted that currency uncertainty is a major challenge hindering investment flows into Zimbabwe. The minister then advised that the government was in the process of coming up with reforms to deal with the matter."Minister Ncube could not be reached for comment while questions sent to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority were not responded to at the time of going to press. News / National by Staff reporter The MDC Alliance deputy president Morgen Komichi has said party leader Nelson Chamisa will be challenged at the party's congress slated for October next year, paving the way for a potential bruising battle between Chamisa and his long-time nemesis, Douglas Mwonzora.This comes as there have been vehement voices raised against Chamisa being challenged for the leadership position at the congress because he is alleged to have been "anointed" by the party's former leader, the late Morgan Tsvangirai before he died in February this year.The current manoeuvrings follow attempts by Chamisa's allies to ringfence his position ahead of the congress. But this has been met by fierce criticism, especially from Pedzisai Ruhanya, director of the Zimbabwe Democracy Institute, who is at the forefront in shooting down the idea."Nelson Chamisa should not listen to misguided bootlickers who suggest that he should not be contested at the party congress. It's nonsense. The MDC is not a monarchy!" Ruhanya tweeted after the developments in the opposition alliance came to light.However, Komichi suggested this week that Chamisa was open to a challenge. Other sources told Business Times that Mwonzora was eyeing the top post at the congress, buoyed by his landslide victory at the 2014 congress where he trounced Chamisa for the secretary-general position.Komichi said: "We are a democratic party that follows democratic principles and any party member can be challenged for his or her post in the elections. The party leadership position is open for an election challenge at the congress which will be held in October next year.""All posts will be contested, including the position of President Nelson Chamisa. In fact, Chamisa is looking forward to be challenged at the congress by anyone who dares." News / National by Staff reporter STATE security agents are on high alert to deal with opposition MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa's threat to unseat President Emmerson Mnangagwa, a top government official warned yesterday.This came after Chamisa on Saturday told thousands of his supporters at the opposition party's 19th anniversary celebrations at Gwanzura Stadium in Harare that plans were afoot to pile pressure on Mnangagwa and force him out before year-end.Mnangagwa won presidential elections in July with a 50,67% margin against Chamisa's 44,3%, but the opposition leader rejected the presidential result, arguing Zanu PF and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission had colluded to give the ruling party candidate an undeserved "win".Chamisa challenged the result at the Constitutional Court, but lost the petition on a technicality after he failed to back his case with primary evidence.But the youthful politician has insisted that he was the July 30 poll winner and, at the weekend, threatened to organise a march to Mnangagwa's official residence to "unseat him".Information deputy minister Energy Mutodi warned of dire consequences if Chamisa carried out his threat."The State security apparatus is on high alert and is prepared to deal with any incidences of violence and public disorder," Mutodi said."Let those mulling to cause anarchy and to disturb peace be warned that they will live to regret, as the full wrath of the law will catch up with them."Chamisa hinted that he was secretly plotting a march against Mnangagwa."We are going to be organising ourselves internally, then we go to programmes that we want to do throughout the country from next week," the youthful leader said."I will be going to every area, where I will be setting out the plan, something big in this country hold your cards on the intended march to State House from this venue."The protests, Chamisa told cheering supporters, would be modelled along the Arab Spring that toppled dictators in Egypt, Tunisia and Algeria in 2011.The opposition leader said once all was in place, there would be no holding back."When we do this, we want to have a clear plan on what date we start and to the day we end. We will not go back home until we achieve the intended plan. We will show Mnangagwa the power that people have," he threatened.Mnangagwa has rejected Chamisa's demands for a transitional authority to facilitate the reform agenda and level the political playfield.According to Chamisa, Mnangagwa reneged on an agreement made with the late former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai to set up a transitional government, a move that would have suspended the July 30 elections for an agreed period. News / National by Staff reporter THE construction of a $1 million state-of-the-art Sakubva Produce Market is set to start next month after the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Praz) finally awarded the tender to a local engineering company to start the work that will see hundreds of vendors in the eastern border city benefiting.The Zimbabwe Consolidation Diamond Company (ZCDC) is financing the initiative.Mutare City Council public relations department confirmed the development in a statement on Saturday claiming that internal processes were currently being carried out."The construction of Sakubva Produce Market is now set to start any time soon. The Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe has finally awarded the tender to a local engineering company and internal processes are being carried out," read the statement."The agreement for the contractor is expected to be completed in the next fourteen days in line with (Praz) requirements, thereafter the contractor will move on site to start the construction project."The municipal authority described the development as exciting and expressed gratitude to the vendors for their patience."As City of Mutare, we are excited that (PRAZ) has approved and awarded a tender to a contractor, and we want to appreciate the patience of our valued produce market vendors. It is true that our project has taken longer than was expected and certain processes and procedures have been taken," the statement read.ZCDC public relations and project development manager Sugar Chagonda also applauded vendors for their patience."I want to thank produce market people for being patient enough, there were some regulations we had to follow, but I am sure you are going to benefit in the long run. The construction of the market is slightly above $1 million," he said. 6. According to Black's Law dictionary the word corruption means "The act of an official or fiduciary person who unlawfully and wrongfully uses his station or character to procure some benefits for himself or another person contrary to duty and rights of others.6.1 Plaintiff after dissolving the Finance Committee unilaterally invested in Tetrad US$550 000 without the consent of the Bindura University of Science Education at a time his nephew Tapiwa Virima at Tetrad was expecting promotion. Tetrad failed to pay on maturity. (page65 Grant Thornton report).6.2 Page 43 evidence is provided where Plaintiff consumed benefits such as payment of electricity and water, DSTV and internet bills at his residence which his employer had not accorded and authorized him and was not entitled in his service contract.7. Urban Dictionary a thief is defined as " anyone who has unrightfully taken what does not belong to him/her"7.1 Page 43 the consumption of services without the authorization of Plaintiff employer portrays Plaintiff as a thief.7.2 Page 58 Plaintiff overpaid himself US$19 410 domestic worker allowances and never felt morally to pay back to the university.8. According to Oxford Dictionary "theft" means "the action or crime of stealing. 9. According to Thesaurus Dictionary a "thief" is synonym of a robber.10. According to Oxford Dictionary defines criminal as "a person who has committed a crime."10.1 Page 70 Plaintiff violated tender procedures in the purchase of Stand 325 Bindura Township at a cost of US$450 000. It is an offence in Zimbabwe to violate tender procedures. Plaintiff violated both internal and state.10.2 Page 38 there was non-compliance with procurement policies and procedures of Bindura University of Science Education (BUSE) in the purchase of Plaintiff's official vehicle a Mercedes Benz. Further Plaintiff committed an Act of Misconduct in disobeying the Ministerial Circular 16 of 2013 that stipulated that a VC at a state university was entitled to a "Mercedes Benz E280/E300 sedan/Prado saloon vehicle which should not cost more than USD120 000." Plaintiff procured E350 at a cost of USD130 246.10.3 Page 65 investment in Tetrad US$550 000 was criminal abuse of office.11. Oxford Dictionary defines racketeering as "dishonest and fraudulent business dealings." 11.1 Pages 44-45 Plaintiff obtained 200 litres of fuel per week in form of liquid fuel from BUSE pump and redeemable coupons. Plaintiff brought receipts and was reimbursed US$5 132. This was fraud and racketeering as this was undue benefit. 12. Cambridge Dictionary defines nepotism as "the practice among those with power or influence of favouring relatives or friends especially by giving them jobs."12.1 The recruitment of Plaintiff's wife Dr. Judith Mwenje and her promotion to Senior Lecturer. She is considered as unqualified by Zimbabwe Council on Higher Education to teach in the Faculty of Commerce in a full time salary in weekend/part time program due to mismatch of her qualifications.12.2 Page 46 alleged brother-sister relationship between the Plaintiff and Mrs. Correta Chamboko, Assistant Bursar- Student accounts. She approved some controversial transactions despite her lowly level rank.12.3 Page 17 unclear role of Mr. Dhlamini at BUSE. In the whole university only Plaintiff had information about him and his purpose.12.4 Tinevimbo Gatawa was promoted without complying with the dictates of BUSE Act Section 25.12.5 Dr. Mpofu a lecturer at BUSE is a relative of the Plaintiff.12.6 Investing university funds in Tetrad where his nephew's ( Tapiwa Virima) promotion was a factor at the expense of analyzing the risk it would have to the university and not following procedures.13. Oxford dictionary defines bogus as "not what it appears or claims to be." According to the same dictionary dubious is defined as "questionable".13.1 Plaintiff instead of receiving money like in genuine awards has contributed to the cost of engraving trophy and certificate as well as dinner table at the expense of the university. He has not received any cash as there is no record of him having paid tax on his winnings. It is common knowledge that there are many other people who have paid for such awards. News / National by Staff reporter MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has warned his internal party rivals seeking to challenge his position saying it is too early for them to challenge him as he is yet to finish the task his predecessor, the late party founding president Morgan Tsvangirai, gave him.Chamisa rose to the MDC presidency after Tsvangirai's death in February amid an acrimonious power struggle with Thokozani Khupe and Elias Mudzuri, both who also claimed to be legitimate heirs to the throne.The three claimants to the MDC presidency were all Tsvangirai's deputies.The power struggle that ensued after Tsvangirai succumbed to cancer of the colon led to the third MDC split with Khupe forming her own political outfit while Mudzuri decided to hang on and fight from within.With the MDC congress coming next year, jostling for top positions has since begun in earnest with Mudzuri and party secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora reportedly angling to challenge Chamisa.Addressing party supporters during MDC's 19th anniversary celebrations at Gwanzura Stadium last week, Chamisa sought to contain the duo's ambitions by emphasising the need to be united."I have told my colleagues in the top leadership that none of us should go wayward because it will be akin to a fish taking itself out of water where it cannot survive. So, we need to continue to follow Tsvangirai's way, the party's ways."Tsvangirai left power for me so that I will also pave way for the next leader in that order. We don't want a situation whereby someone would want to grab from me what I was given by Tsvangirai before I even start the journey he set me to embark on yet you don't even know what he wanted me to achieve."Why don't you wait for me to accomplish that first then I will also show you the way when you eventually take over?" he asked rhetorically.Meanwhile, Chamisa defended his decision to fire elected mayors in three municipalities saying they were compromised after receiving support from the ruling Zanu-PF.Since the mayoral elections held last month, Chamisa has fired mayors from Victoria Falls, Chegutu and Masvingo and, suspended over 10 councillors on allegations ofbringing MDC into disrepute and ridicule by defying party's directives amongst other charges.Addressing party supporters who thronged Gwanzura Stadium to commemorate MDC's 19th anniversary on Saturday, Chamisa justified the move, saying the fired mayors were not the candidates chosen by the party and supporters."Some say Chamisa is firing mayors but let me explain the circumstances. We chose mayors by way of interviewing prospective candidates as well as asking residents."We came up with our own candidates but some of our councillors chose to do as they please and elected candidates that were backed by Zanu-PF."We then saw that we can't have mayors who dance to the tune of Zanu-PF hence our decision to fire them."Last week, Chamisa fired Victoria Falls mayor Somvelo Dlamini over allegations of bringing the MDC into disrepute by defying party's directives, causing divisions amongst other charges.His expulsion came a day after the 40-year-old MDC leader relieved Chegutu mayor Henry Muchatibaya of his duties and suspended six councillors for defying a directive on the mayoral elections.Masvingo mayor Collin Chiboke was also ordered by the opposition leader to step down over the same allegations levelled against Dlamini and Muchatibaya. News / National by Staff reporter The death of businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei's father dealt a major blow on government business this week as virtually all ministers abandoned their workstations to attend his burial - in a development that also paralysed Parliament's business.There was a virtual government business shut-down in Parliament on Wednesday as President Emmerson Mnangagwa, his deputy Constantino Chiwenga and all but three of his ministers made a beeline to Shurugwi to attend the burial of Phineas Tagwirei, father to Kudakwashe, an influential businessman who has made millions in the fuel supply and energy industries through his company, Sakunda Holdings.A reclusive entrepreneur, Tagwirei is credited for mobilising finance for government's Command Agriculture, which the opposition alleges to be an illegal parallel programme of the State, specifically designed to pursue a narrow electoral agenda, specifically securing a Zanu-PF victory at the 2018 harmonised elections.As one of former president Robert Mugabe's deputies before they fell out towards the end of last year, Mnangagwa became the face of Command Agriculture, which also became another source of friction between him and the former despot's wife, Grace, who sensationally claimed to have originated the idea.Since Mnangagwa's inauguration as the country's president following his military-aided rise in November last year, Tagwirei's influence has grown tremendously, not only in the ruling Zanu-PF party but also in government.Such is Tagwirei's influence in the country's top echelons of power that even Parliament had to suspend its traditional Question and Answer time on Wednesday where ministers respond to impromptu questions from legislators.Only four ministers, Supa Mandiwanzira (ICT and Cyber Security), Patrick Chinamasa (Finance and Economic Planning), Joram Gumbo (Transport and Infrastructure Development) and Ziyambi Ziyambi (Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs) were available.Critics of the new administration are, however, alarmed by Tagwirei's growing influence and have warned that the country risked another version of state capture similar to what has become known as the Guptagate scandal in South Africa.Respected University of Zimbabwe political science lecturer, Eldred Masunungure, told the Daily News that unlike in South Africa where the state capture was at the level of deposed South African president Jacob Zuma who caved to pressure to quit over his ties with the Gupta family, in Zimbabwe both the party and the State risk being captured."Mnangagwa's is a case of party, state capture and it is worth investigating the extent to which the Sakunda tentacles have spread both in government and in Zanu-PF given the State-party conflation in the country's political economy," Masunugure said."The attendance by ministers is also to make sure that they are seen to be following the president lest they will be viewed as disloyal and be dumped when the time to select ministers comes, this being an election year."The absence of ministers from their work stations comes even after Mnangagwa on his inauguration pledged to effect a radical departure from his predecessor's way of doing things in which Cabinet ministers were also made to abandon duty to attend Grace's rallies as she inexorably climbed the political ladder.Contacted for comment, Zanu-PF secretary for administration Obert Mpofu, referred inquiries to party spokesperson, Simon Khaya Moyo.Khaya Moyo, who is also the acting government spokesperson, could not give a comprehensive response, saying he was attending a series of meetings."Who is saying the party and government is captured? In any case, I am not the government spokesperson so why don't you give him the chance to do his work?" he said.In the National Assembly on Wednesday, MDC Member of Parliament for Glen Norah, Webster Maondera questioned how important Tagwirei was to the country that the whole government bureaucracy had to attend not even his funeral, but his father's."We would want to know who this Sekuru Tagwirei is because it is unprecedented that the whole government can be brought to a standstill because of an individual's death," Maondera fumed in the National Assembly."From what we know, Tagwirei is the father of a local business man and we feel that there is no justification that as Parliament we should be affected by that," he added.This was after National Assembly Speaker Jacob Mudenda had announced that several ministers had sought leave of the House to be absent.Mudenda was forced to summon the Zanu-PF chief whip, Lovemore Matuke, to his seat.Mudenda then told the House: "I instructed the chief whip to compile the names of those that are not here and have given an apology."The insinuation you make that they should not have attended is not proper because some people might have a string of extended family relations but I am, however, not justifying their absence," Mudenda said.Political analyst Maxwell Saungweme said so powerful was the "lure of money that even Parliament business was set aside at a critical juncture where the country will stage elections in two months because lawmakers and Cabinet ministers had gone to attend a private function".Constitutional law expert Alex Magaisa said the question that must be asked is who is Kuda Tagwirei?"Is he the real owner or is he a front for a more powerful cabal?" he asked rhetorically."I think a starting point would be to understand who is in charge of the fuel distribution system in Zimbabwe. Here you will also find a cartel that involves international conglomerates like Trafigura whose profiles aren't uncontroversial. To use a famous metaphor, you are looking at a tortoise on a fence post but the real question is who put it there?"International human rights lawyer and analyst Dewa Mavhinga said for Tagwirei or any other businessperson to support government programmes is not a problem for as long as government authorities are able to retain their independence and to discharge their constitutional duties without undue influence, fear or favour."State capture occurs when private individuals are able to use their influence to control and direct government functions and therefore, the question is: Has Kuda Tagwirei used his proximity to government ministers and to the president to unduly influence government business?"The Zimbabwe government must guard against such close relationships with private individuals because that could lead to corruption as the well-connected use their connection for private and personal gain," he said. An annual campaign that honours missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and their families in Fredericton, N.B., includes a spin on a ballet production about domestic violence. In its fourth year, the Red Shawl Campaign, co-ordinated by the Mi'kmaq-Wolastoqey Centre at the University of New Brunswick, is holding ceremonies and events during the month of October to bring awareness to the issues facing Indigenous women across the country. The focal point of the campaign is a creative adaptation of the Atlantic Ballet production Ghosts of Violence, which explores the stories of victims of domestic violence. "Our dancers and [Atlantic Ballet] dancers could somehow send a message of healing through dance," said Wolostqew Elder Opolahsomuwehs (Imelda Perley), of the idea to incorporate Wolastoqey themes into the show. Nic Meloney/CBC Perley said that from the first day, it was important to ensure that the art forms of western ballet and Wolastoqey song and dance had separate representation in the production. "That way we don't replace, we don't displace, we blend," she said. "[Atlantic Ballet] does their ballet, we do ours we just do it together." The Red Shawl Campaign in Fredericton has been getting larger each year, said Perley. Fredericton municipal buildings were aglow in red light during the week of the performance, local churches rang their bells daily as a reminder of the cause, and hundreds attended daily events and the ballet. Perley said she expects the momentum to continue. She practises Wolstoqew puberty ceremonies, which mark the transition of young women into adulthood with the presentation of a shawl. Red shawls were made to be the symbol of the campaign, Perley said. Nic Meloney/CBC The production features live singing, drumming and dancing by four generations of Wolstoqew performers from multiple communities of Wolastoq territory in New Brunswick. "I always make sure there's a young girl, a teenager, a mother and grandmother," said Perley. Story continues "For me, it's that intergenerational healing that's needed among our women." Nic Meloney/CBC Igor Dobrovolskiy, artistic director for Atlantic Ballet and the choreographer for Ghosts of Violence, said the adaptation was important to the company given the cause, but also calls it an "upgrade" on the original performance. "We bring the culture of this land and integrate the presence of the soul, the presence of the culture, inside the ballet performance," he said. Nic Meloney/CBC Dobrovolskiy, who's originally from Ukraine, said it's been a personal honour to work with the Wolastoqiyik over the years. Hw said he's learned a great deal about the subject of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, and First Nations cultures in Atlantic Canada. "I grew up in the Soviet Union and read some books, but never thought I'd have the chance to actually speak and work with Indigenous Peoples. I was so happy," he said. "It's a heavy subject, but [we're doing] a good thing." Trudeau calls byelection for Ontario seat, but leaves 3 others in limbo Elections Canada has announced the date of the federal byelection for the Ontario riding of LeedsGrenvilleThousand Islands and Rideau Lakes. The byelection set for Monday, Dec. 3. will fill the seat left vacant after the death of longtime Conservative MP Gord Brown, who passed away suddenly after suffering a heart attack in his Parliament Hill office in May. The government had until Tuesday to announce the date. Other ridings across the country remain without representation in the House of Commons. This includes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair's Quebec seat in Outremont and Ontario's York-Simcoe seat, up for grabs after the Sept. 30 retirement of Conservative MP Peter Van Loan, the former government House Leader under Stephen Harper. British Columbia's Burnaby South riding is also in need of another MP after the NDP's Kennedy Stewart left the Commons for a successful run for mayor of Vancouver. That B.C. seat will be watched closely by all parties, as the current federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh has announced his intentions to run in that riding. Singh, a former Ontario MPP, does not currently have a seat in the Green Chamber. Byelections in those three ridings could be delayed until early next year, but the NDP is particularly sour the prime minister failed to announce a date for the B.C. race on Sunday. "Folks in Burnaby want to have their say," NDP MP Peter Julian who was in the riding told CBC News, calling the move "petty and manipulative." Watch Jagmeet Singh discuss the byelection decision on Power & Politics Singh also weighed in on the issue, saying the prime minister is ignoring the voices of Canadians. The party is calling for Justin Trudeau to announce the other three byelections immediately. The Trudeau government attributed the singular election announcement to the length of time Gord Brown's seat has been empty. "The deadline for the by-election called today is the end of this month, and the others were only vacated more recently. Announcements for the remaining by-elections will be made in due course," an official said in an email. According to the CBC's Poll Tracker, an aggregation of all publicly available polling data, the Liberals lead with 37.3 per cent support nationwide, putting them four percentage points ahead of the Conservatives, who trail with 33.1 per cent. The New Democrats find themselves stuck in third place with 15.5 per cent support, followed by the Greens at seven per cent and the Bloc Quebecois at 3.9 per cent. Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland offered no words of praise today for Brazil's new president-elect far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro choosing instead to congratulate Brazilians on exercising their right to vote in a contentious election in South America's largest country. "Canada congratulates the tens of millions of Brazilians who exercised their democratic rights by casting votes in the presidential election on October 28. Their participation is a testament to the strong democratic convictions of the people of Brazil," Freeland said in a statement released today. Watch Brazil expert Sean Burges analyze the Brazilian election results on Power & Politics While the headline on the statement released to media outlets says, "Canada congratulates Brazil's president-elect," that sentiment appears nowhere in the statement posted to Freeland's department website. An official from Global Affairs Canada, speaking on background to CBC News, said the headline congratulating the president-elect was left over from a draft and should not have been included in the statement sent to reporters. Freeland's statement also does not mention by name Bolsonaro, the leader of the deeply conservative Social Liberal Party who prevailed in Brazil's presidential election. Despite her desire to exclude congratulatory remarks from her statement, Freeland said she hopes to maintain strong bilateral ties between the two countries. "Canada and Brazil enjoy a deep relationship ... numerous relationships between people and businesses, as well as ... our close cooperation on security and defence, agriculture, education, technology and innovation," she said. Silvia izquierdo/Associated Press "We look forward to advancing negotiations toward an ambitious and comprehensive free trade agreement between Canada and Mercosur countries, and continuing to promote democratic values and human rights." U.S. President Donald Trump was more welcoming of president-elect Bolsonaro. In a tweet, Trump said he had a "very good conversation" with the former paratrooper turned politician. Story continues "We agreed that Brazil and the United States will work closely together on Trade, Military and everything else! Excellent call, wished him congrats!" Bolsonaro has long been a source of controversy in Brazil, appalling his many critics while energizing his base of supporters who admire what they see as his 'straight talk'. He has directed much of his ire at homosexuals. He said he'd rather see his son die in an accident than come out as gay, adding he could never love a gay son. "If a gay couple came to live in my building, my property will lose value. If they walk around holding hands, kissing, it will lose value!" he said in an interview with Playboy magazine. He once told a congresswoman that he wouldn't rape her because she was too ugly and thus didn't deserve it. He described fathering a daughter, after having had four sons, as "a moment of weakness." He said he understood why some employers prefer to hire men over women because women have access to more costly labour rights, such as maternity leave. Bolsonaro cruised to victory he won an outright majority of vote after the second run-off election on Sunday in part because of his pledge to end corruption in a country that has seen some of its most senior politicians convicted of crimes. Tough on crime approach welcomed in dangerous country The former military officer has vowed to restore order as Brazil contends with a wave of violent crime. Brazil is a uniquely violent country. According to the Mexico Citizens Council for Public Security's annual ranking of the world's most violent cities, 21 of the top 50 most violent are in Brazil. Bolsonaro's affinity for the former military dictatorship that once ruled the country he called the era "glorious" has been welcomed by tough-on-crime Brazilians yearning for a ruler with an iron fist as gang violence spikes. Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press While more than 64,000 murders were registered in the country last year 175 deaths per day just 10 per cent of homicide cases ultimately resulted in charges, according to data from the Brazilian Forum for Public Security. Bolsonaro also has said he will open up environmentally sensitive areas of the country to development to spur economic growth a policy which could trigger standoffs with the country's Indigenous peoples, who still lay claim to their traditional territories. Other Brazilian voters feared the impact that a far-left government under the leadership of Bolsonaro's principal foe, Workers' Party Leader Fernando Haddad would have on the economy and the country's currency. Many voters dreaded a return of the hyperinflation that crippled Brazil in the 1980s and 1990s. "What I can tell you is that among close relatives and friends who supported Mr. Bolsonaro, the main reason was the stability of the market, not because his conservative values or promise to fight epidemic crime," Guilherme Ribeiro Tardin Costa, a Brazilian citizen living in Ottawa, told CBC News. He said he did not personally support either of the leading candidates. "Everyone was afraid the currency would devaluate, with hyperinflation making a comeback. A relative told me he was afraid his pension as a retired public servant would be compromised if the other candidate had won the elections." Pilar Olivares/Reuters A Reuters story from September documented how Brazil's business elite had shown an openness to Bolsonaro in recent weeks. "Business people and entrepreneurs throughout Brazil in all segments of the public favor Bolsonaro and will actively campaign for him," Luciano Hang, owner of the department store chain Havan, told the wire service. Ontario Premier Doug Ford kept up his criticism of a federal carbon tax Monday calling the plan "nothing more than a complete scam." Ford made his latest attack on the planned tax alongside Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, who echoed Ford's remarks, calling a federal carbon tax a "sham" and a "vote-buying scheme." Both provinces are involved in a court challenge against the imposition of the tax. Last week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau went to Etobicoke the riding Ford represents to announce a federal carbon tax is coming to Ontario, which scrapped its cap-and-trade system earlier this year. Ford's government hasn't announced what it will do to fight climate change, however, the premier said an announcement is coming soon about how it plans to tackle pollution. Queen's Park will come down on emitters, he said, like nothing they've seen before. There was swift condemnation of Ford's statement. Keith Stewart, a senior energy strategist with Greenpeace Canada, demanded Ford spell out exactly how his government will protect people from the dangers of climate change including floods, heatwaves and powerful storms. "If the two premiers dislike the federal carbon price, then all they have to do is meet or beat it with their own climate policy," Stewart said in an email to CBC Toronto. Stewart added today's words amount to nothing more than an "evidence-free attack on climate action." Ontario families to get $300 tax credit as part of federal plan Trudeau has vowed every nickel raised from the federal tax will go back to Ontario. Ottawa will levy a tax of $20 on every tonne of greenhouse gas emissions starting in 2019, rising by $10 each year to $50 a tonne by 2022. Ontarians will likely pay more at the gas station as a result, but the federal government said most families will receive a tax break of about $300 per year. Meanwhile, Ford said that amounts to "trying to buy Canadians with their own money," and warned the tax will drive up the price of virtually everything while also killing thousands of jobs. Story continues "It's a terrible tax," he said. Leaders sketch out trade deal Ford added that he and Moe have signed a memorandum of understanding to lower trade barriers between Ontario and Saskatchewan. Ford says that Canada has focused on free trade with the United States at the expense of internal trade. The premiers say tackling interprovincial trade barriers is key to ensure Canada stays economically competitive. "I hear from business leaders that this is one of the primary obstacles to attracting new investment and jobs to our country. We can't afford not to act," Ford said. "I look forward to working with other provinces to bring these trade barriers down." Few would disagree that the position of city councillor, let alone mayor, is one that carries supreme responsibility. This person is your voice on big and small decisions that affect your daily life, helps set priorities for our city, votes on billion-dollar budgets and contracts. And yet, the application process for this job is less onerous than signing up to be a community volunteer. You don't need a resume, references or a police record check. There is possibly no other job where there's such an inverse relationship between the importance of the position and the bar of entry. And that's a problem. CBC Low bar to entry You shouldn't have to be rich or part of the establishment to run for office. A good political leader can come from anywhere, but that doesn't necessarily mean just anyone should be able to run. We should have a system that doesn't prevent people from marginalized groups from entering the race, but at the same time only encourages people who are somewhat serious about the job. That's not the system we have. To run, you need to be at least 18 years old and eligible to vote in Ottawa. You need to show your ID, pay a $100 fee $200 if you're running for mayor and, new this year, file signatures from 25 people nominating you. (More on that last point in a moment.) That's it. That process led to 12 people running for mayor, most of whom were not remotely qualified. Nine of the 12 candidates, a full 75 per cent, got less than one per cent of the vote. Candidates have access to our info You might say, who cares? The voters will sift the serious candidates from the flakes. After all, that's the basis of democracy voters decide who represents them from the options in front of them. And that's a valid argument. But this system also presents some issues. Candidates about whom we know almost nothing, who may have criminal records or are suffering from mental illness, have access to all voters' names and addresses. Story continues First and this is something not widely known candidates have access to voters' lists in the ward in which they're running, and for mayoral candidates, everyone in the city. Think about that. Candidates about whom we know almost nothing, who may have criminal records or are suffering from mental illness, have access to all voters' names and addresses, which some people go to great lengths to try to keep private. James T. Sheahan, for example, registered to run for mayor. He was not heard from in any way during the campaign. Who is he? No idea. Does he know where you live? Maybe. Low bar helps incumbents Second, the more people who run, the more difficult it is for voters to get to know the candidates. In Orleans, 17 people were on the ballot, making it tricky for electors to figure out what to do come voting day. Two of those candidates weren't even running it was too late for them to take their names off the ballot but they each got votes anyway. Third, the low bar of entry is a huge help to incumbents, who usually have a built-in advantage from name-recognition alone. When lots of people are running, the challengers split the vote, allowing an incumbent to win with a relatively small percentage of the vote. In Alta Vista, for example, incumbent Jean Cloutier won with 32 per cent of the vote, only 201 votes ahead of second-place candidate Raylene Lang-Dion. There were six candidates in that race, including one who runs perennially in every election and another who didn't campaign. Those two candidates' votes together could have put Lang-Dion over the top. Now, there's no guaranteeing that the people who voted for the two last-place candidates would have voted for Lang-Dion. But it illustrates how a proliferation of candidates can often help put the incumbent back in office. Hiding behind democracy A large slate of candidates also helps incumbents at debates. The more people who participate in an all-candidates' debate, the less time there is for contenders to challenge the incumbent. Debate organizers, often volunteer-run community organizations, are loath not to invite all candidates for fear of a backlash. Giacomo Panico/CBC Worse, incumbents often refuse to participate in debates where all the candidates are not invited. Even though he found debates with 10 other candidates "frustrating," Mayor Jim Watson refused an invitation by CBC Ottawa to battler contender Clive Doucet one-on-one. In Toronto, incumbent Mayor John Tory did the same thing. 25-signature requirement meaningless This election marked the first time that candidates required to provide 25 nominations from people who were eligible to vote in Ottawa. The measure was supposed to provide some sort of hindrance to frivolous candidates. It did no such thing. In fact, the new rule is virtually meaningless. Elections officials are not required by the province to verify who the nominees are. But they couldn't check on the signators even if they wanted to, because the candidate registration period closes before the province sends out the preliminary voters' list. Also, if somehow later in the campaign it's discovered that one of the 25 wasn't eligible to nominate a candidate, it doesn't matter. The candidate is still allowed to run. More signatures, refundable deposit The province had promised to review the rules put in place for this election before we go to the polls again in 2022. It should consider raising the number of signatures needed to run for office. If someone wants to be your councillor, it's not too much to ask they collect 100 signatures a majority of them from the ward they're running in. To run for mayor of this G7 capital, the bar should be set much higher. CBC News A minimum number of signatures should have to be collected from each of the 23 wards if you want to be the mayor of this city, then maybe you or your team of supporters should visit all of it at least once. And there should be penalties for not following these rules. Charging a higher fee is trickier. You don't want to eliminate candidates based on financial measures. Some observers have suggested a nomination fee of $1,000 that is refundable if the candidate receives a certain number of votes, say three per cent of the votes cast. All of these rules should be up for public discussion, of course. But we can't let the status quo ride. Because these rules, which are supposed to be protecting democracy, in many ways are only serving to hinder it. Lyneth Mann-Lewis said she never stopped believing her son was out there, and today feels the "utmost happiness" to be reunited with him 31 years after he was allegedly abducted by his father and taken to the U.S. Mann-Lewis, from Brampton, Ont., spoke publicly Monday for the first time since being reunited with her son, Jermaine Mann, this week. Although Jermaine, now 33, didn't appear at the news conference, Mann-Lewis said when they met, he immediately said: "Oh mommy, you have my eyes." Mann-Lewis said after years of suffering, she now feels like she's proof that parents of missing children shouldn't give up hope. "Believe that all things are possible," she told reporters at Toronto police headquarters. You can watch Mann-Lewis's powerful remarks in the video below. Mann-Lewis said she spent time talking with her son and cooking for him, but it's still unclear what's next. The mother said it's time to move forward from what 's happened, but she expects that will pose difficulties, too. "I'm going to stand with him," she said. Father expected to face charges in Canada U.S. federal agents say Jermaine's father, Allan Mann Jr., was arrested on Friday in Connecticut, where the two had been living under aliases in a quiet suburb near Hartford. Toronto police want Mann Jr. extradited to Toronto to face charges here after he's prosecuted in the U.S. Tijana Martin/The Canadian Press Det. Sgt. Wayne Banks alleged the father and son crossed into the U.S. illegally then obtained and started using fake identification. During the following years, he said, the two lived a "life of lies." Chief among them, Jermaine had been told his mother died decades ago, the Hartford Courant reported. Toronto police Chief Mark Saunders said the arrest was good news, but the reunion was even better. He praised the co-operation between Canadian and U.S. investigators. Amanda Pick, chief executive officer of the Missing Children Society of Canada, called Mann-Lewis "a tower of strength and perseverance," amid the decades-long investigation, which generated hundreds of tips over the years. Story continues Allan Mann Jr. appeared briefly Friday in Federal Court in Hartford. He faces charges including making false statements in transactions with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. U.S. officials said Mann Jr. has dual Canadian and Ghanaian citizenship, and was found living under the name Hailee DeSouza in subsidized housing in Vernon, about 20 kilometres east of Hartford. Officials allege he ran off with his 21-month-old son on June 24, 1987, following a visitation in Toronto, entered the U.S. and obtained fake identification for himself and his son, including bogus Texas birth certificates. The investigation has involved multiple U.S. agencies as well as Toronto police and the RCMP. The Courant reported that Jermaine sobbed quietly in the front row as his father appeared in court on Friday, and left the courthouse without commenting. Brook McCargar slashed his forearms so often during his time at Edmonton Institution that it was hard to draw blood. Over the years he cut himself with razor blades, plastic knives and bits of metal from sprinkler heads. During one week-long period he slashed himself six times and needed a blood transfusion, according to a report from Correctional Service Canada (CSC). He was in an observation cell on suicide watch during most of that time. Most of his federal sentence, which began in 2012, has been served at Edmonton's maximum security prison. He has now spent more than 2,000 days in segregation. Time spent in segregation, under what he characterized as "depraved conditions of confinement," can make prisoners want to kill themselves, he said. "I started with the forearms and now there's so much scar tissue, if you cut the forearms they don't really bleed," McCargar told CBC News during one of several telephone interviews."So I started doing the arteries on the biceps. And I made it up to my neck, actually. I slit my throat." McCargar's behaviour is emblematic of a widespread problem. Inmates at Edmonton Institution harm themselves more often than men at any other maximum-security prison in Canada, according to an analysis of CSC data for the period 2012 to 2017 obtained by CBC through Access to Information. Nathan Gross/CBC The numbers show that Edmonton Institution had the highest rate of individual inmates who harmed themselves and the highest overall rate of self-harm incidents over a four-year period ending in 2017. Last year, 11 out of every 100 inmates at the Edmonton prison harmed themselves compared to the next highest rates at Millhaven Institution in Bath, Ont. and Kent Institution in B.C. where roughly 4 out of every 100 inmates harmed themselves. And although Edmonton Institution only had 23 per cent of Canada's total maximum-security population, it accounted for 57 per cent of all self-harm incidents. Story continues The Edmonton prison already faces disturbing allegations. Female guards there are suing CSC over allegations that they endured prolonged sexual abuse by male co-workers, while prisoners allege they were pitted against each other in a "fight club" set up by guards. An internal report last year found the prison operated on a "culture of fear," where staff misconduct went undisciplined and staff were afraid to report the abuse of inmates. 'They have nowhere to go' "So you can imagine if that's the way staff are interacting, that that behaviour has to roll down hill to the inmate population as well," said Howard Sapers, a corrections reform advisor for the Ontario government, and former prison watchdog. "And for the inmates, of course, they have no release, they have nowhere to go. They don't go home at night. They have nobody really to talk to, in many cases. And so a lot of that stress gets internalized and so we see in those environments incidents of self injury grow." Sapers said CSC has recently made an increased effort to better respond to self-harming behaviour. But in many cases, he said, responses to self-harm incidents that require a therapeutic response "tend to devolve just to a security response" or behaviour is misinterpreted as purposeful when it's a symptom of mental illness. Five-and-a-half years in segregation McCargar, 31, already had a criminal record when he was sent to federal prison in 2012, after pleading guilty to break and enter and possession of a firearm in a violent home invasion in Winnipeg. After serving most of his sentence in Edmonton, he was transferred to another prison earlier this year. A review of his status last month noted he had been placed in segregation 27 separate times during his federal sentence because of his tendency to self-harm or act out violently toward staff or other offenders when he felt threatened or stressed. The assessment found McCargar did not have a "serious mental illness," wasn't engaging in self-harm that was likely to result in "serious bodily harm" and an imminent risk of suicide was not present. McCargar's status was upheld. In all, he has spent about five-and-a-half years in segregation. The United Nations considers 15 consecutive days in solitary a form of torture. Earlier this month, the federal government unveiled Bill C-83, which if passed would end the practice of isolating offenders for 22 hours or more a day. McCargar told CBC he has taken responsibility for his "crimes against society." But over the years the "sadistic workplace culture" at Edmonton Institution has many times forced him to defend himself, he said, because "there's a fight club going on there." I might as well kill myself. I'm already dead. - Brook McCargar "Slashing up" earns a trip to the hospital to interact with "normal people" such as paramedics and nurses in a "normal environment," he said. It also means escaping the observation cell, where inmates placed on suicide watch are dressed in a "degrading" smock known as a "baby-doll." "I've self-harmed to a more severe extent just to get out of that hell hole," said McCargar, who compares solitary to being buried alive. "I might as well kill myself. I'm already dead." In 2013, the CSC commissioner launched an investigation after McCargar slashed his forearms six different times in one week with plastic knives and bits of metal he broke from sprinkler heads. At one point, while McCargar lay on the floor in a pool of his own blood, a correctional officer placed a barrier at the door of the cell to "prevent more blood from flowing" underneath the door, according to a 149-page report compiled during that investigation. Nearly an hour later, an emergency response team pulled McCargar from his cell "naked, bloody and semi-conscious," the report said. Investigators concluded that McCargar self-harmed to communicate, to calm himself and to control his anxiety and rage. But prison staff saw him as "a manipulative inmate whose aggressive and unpredictable behaviour needed to be managed," the report said. Mike O'shaughnessy/CBC Edmonton criminal defence lawyer Amanda Hart-Dowhun, who once represented McCargar, said part of the problem is that correctional officers are not trained as mental health professionals. She said security responses, such as using pepper spray or restraints, or placing offenders on suicide watch, don't address their underlying mental-health issues. "So it doesn't really stop anyone from wanting to kill themselves," said Hart-Dowhun. "If anything, it probably makes them want to kill themselves more." Samuel Martin/CBC Over the past decade, incidents of self-injury have doubled in Canadian prisons, said correctional investigator Ivan Zinger, who serves as an ombudsman for the system. Overall, Zinger said, the environment at Edmonton Institution is improving under new leadership, dismissals and training, but conditions of confinement are still harsh. "My concern with Edmonton max is that it's not the right environment to manage someone who chronically self harms," said Zinger. "The response in our view should be the front line workers, should be health-care professionals, and not security focused." Zinger called for such offenders to be placed in security-enhanced psychiatric facilities. In provinces like Alberta that don't have such facilities, CSC should reallocate resources to establish forensic psychiatric centres that would be run by the province, he said. "Corrections for some reason thinks they can do it themselves in-house, and that's a mistake," Zinger said. In an emailed statement, CSC said it continues to improve its strategies to address self-harm among prisoners. Training provided to frontline staff creates a better understanding of the mental health needs of offenders, it added. Mental health care is provided either by teams within the institution or in more serious cases at one of five regional treatment centres for male inmates in Canada. The closest facility to Edmonton is the Regional Psychiatric Centre in Saskatoon. "Incidents of self-injury are assessed by a health-care professional to determine appropriate interventions," the email said. Twelve staff fired, suspended, resigned As part of the effort to address staff misconduct, seven employees at Edmonton Institution have been dismissed, one has been suspended and another four no longer work for CSC. Self-harm hasn't been McCargar's only outlet. During one long stretch in solitary, he read numerous documents on prison law and policy. "That was the only thing that they couldn't take from me, so I just forced myself to read and study that," he said. Four years later, McCargar can rattle off sections of the Criminal Code. He has collected hundreds of pages of documents about his own case through access to information requests. McCargar has also filed a lawsuit, two human rights complaints and hundreds of grievances. "I'm trying to learn the law and fight for human rights and liberties," he said. "I want to try and change it and fix it." In the wake of the horrific synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh this weekend, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams announced that he would bring his own gun into houses of worship in the future, and encouraged off-duty officers to do the same. "From now on, I will bring my handgun every time I enter a church or synagogue," he said at a news conference outside a Jewish family services center in Midwood on Sunday. "I used to carry my gun all the time when I went to church," Adams, a retired NYPD captain and 22-year police vet, said at the event outside Ohel Bais Ezra Childrens Home and Family Services Center. "If we have police officers standing in front of churches, then we can't say it's wrong for a police officer who's off-duty to be inside churches with a gun...If they're leaving those firearms home, I now say to them: Stop leaving your firearm home. Do as I do. Bring your firearm to church." "We have to live in the real universe that we're in," he added. "It's not popular, but it's right...I'm not going to live the way it ought to be, I'm going to live the way it is." .@BPEricAdams elaborates on call for off duty cops to come to services with weapons. #SquirrelHillShooting pic.twitter.com/BFk4GGuzJE Ivan Pereira (@IvanPer4) October 28, 2018 A spokesperson clarified Adams' statement when contacted for comment: "The BP believes that we can address security concerns at houses of worship by encouraging off-duty law enforcement who have carry permits and are specially trained in active shooter situations to bring their firearms to their houses of worship as an extra security precaution," said spokesperson Eugene Resnick. "If an on-duty police officer can guard a house of worship outside of the premises, then theres no reason why he or she should not be able to do the same inside while off duty." Adams's statement echoes something President Trump said after the deadly shooting: "If there was an armed guard inside the temple, they would have been able to stop him," he said. That assertion drew widespread condemnation, in part because armed officers did respond to the scene on Saturday, exchanging gunfire with alleged shooter Robert Bowers. Four on-duty officers in tactical gear were shot and injured, and Bowers was allegedly still able to kill 11 people with an AR-15-style assault rifle and at least three handguns. The debate over whether people should be allowed, let alone encouraged, to bring concealed weapons into houses of worship has been happening for years now (though it was definitely amplified by Trump's own promotion of the issue). There have been countless studies and academic papers written about how having more guns around does not keep people safer (and also that gun control really truly does work). Robert Spitzer, a professor of political science at SUNY Cortland, told NPR earlier this year that there's little evidence that so-called "good guys with a gun" can provide meaningful help in a mass shooting. The statistics indicate that defensive gun use is incredibly rare, and more problematic than not. And yet, many Americans (and some churches) still seem to agree with Adams. They would rather blame the doors than the shooter. White male privilege is walking into a synagogue, shooting people dead, and the press blames the door. https://t.co/Lv6LKxLILi Erica Buist (@ericabuist) October 29, 2018 After the shooting, the NYPD did redeploy some counterterrorism teams to many houses of worship on Sunday "out of an abundance of caution. But Adams's remarks have been met with skepticism by many city officials, including Mayor de Blasio, who told an interfaith gathering at Temple Emanu-El on the Upper East Side, "Houses of worship do not have to have armed guards to be able to practice their religions...Thats not America." City councilman Mark Levine, who is Jewish, told the Times, "I think that there is no freedom of religion in a society that requires you to carry a gun while you pray...I dont want to have to sit next to someone carrying a gun in the pews." Pittsburghs mayor, Bill Peduto, was also asked about the question of whether there should be more armed guards at houses of worship while appearing on Meet The Press: "I dont think that the answer to this problem is solved by having our synagogues, mosques and churches filled with armed guards." Even former NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly wasn't sold on the idea: "I dont know about armed guards," he said while appearing on a radio show yesterday. "That armed guard could be the first person killed. You had four police officers wounded yesterday. There is no panacea." There was one local official who did speak in favor of Adams: Assemblyman Dov Hikind, who told the Times "the idea of having security at Jewish institutions that are especially targets is something important. Its a must." I applaud and agree with @BPEricAdams and I am registering immediately for a gun license. And I encourage other Jews to do so to protect their institutions and synagogues. If we are targets, we need to be prepared.https://t.co/2nKg9cof8p Dov Hikind (@HikindDov) October 28, 2018 If you are looking for a way to help those affected by the shooting in Pittsburgh, we recommend you donate directly to the Tree of Life Congregation or HIAS, a Jewish organization that has worked to bring refugees of all backgrounds and origins into the US. A community memorial was held in Vancouver on Sunday to commemorate the victims of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting. The memorial took place at the Wosk Auditorium at the Jewish Community Centre there weren't enough seats for the large crowd of people who came. They were there to honour the 11 people were killed and six injured when a gunman opened fire at a baby naming ceremony at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighbourhood Saturday. Six more people were injured. Police said a suspect, 46-year-old Robert Bowers, was in custody after the attack. The gunman shouted "All Jews must die" when he stormed the synagogue, according to local media and authorities. Jon Hernandez/CBC Vancouver rabbi Jonathan Infeld led the Vancouver vigil. Infeld grew up in Pittsburgh. One of the victims was a family friend. "My family is very much dealing with the tragedy as it unfolded," Infeld said. Eleven candles were lit as the names of each victim was read out loud, followed by a prayer. Infeld says the tragedy has rippled through the community, but it has also brought people together, from different faiths, to rally against hate. Jon Hernandez/CBC "We need to dial back the words of hate in general across North America, and really try to focus on peace and the love of others and acceptance of others for who they are," he said. Jewish communities across Canada gathered for memorial demonstrations. Vigils took place at Montreal's Holocaust museum, at the Human Rights Monument in Ottawa and at Montreal's Beth Israel Beth Aaron synagogue. Read more from CBC British Columbia With files from Jon Hernandez, Bridgette Watson and The Canadian Press Photo - Tronson du Coudrays Burnt-out A friend of mine in international business recently explained that the very best outcome was when a company board rejected his proposals and gave their green light to another conglomerate. That business went bad. Rejection was the best result any one could have received. Another associate was very interested in a young lady and having built up the courage to invite her on a date, was coldly rejected. Later he discovered this young woman had a history of taking people for a ride and ultimately ended up in prison. Rejection saved him from a fate worse than . Having ministered to elite athletes over 41 years in Christian ministry on numerous occasions athletes found themselves discarded and rejected, which spurred them on to greater heights and proved to have been the very best of experiences. How many aspiring politicians have we read of who were rejected in the first instance and came back with remarkable endurance. We might recall John Howard who ultimately served as the second longest Australian Prime Minister. On the other hand we saw how Labor shot themselves in the foot by rejecting Kevin Rudd during his first term in office and then again Tony Abbott on the other side of politics. In Christian ministry too, many a congregation has voted not to go ahead with a pastoral appointment and it proved to have been the best outcome as that Minister would have been a round beg in a square hole. The pastoral appointment he later accepted was ideal for both his ministry and his family's needs. How many times have any of us been shopping and sought out varying prices and discovered that the same item had a surprisingly differentiation in price and what a good thing it was to have rejected the first price option that came our way. Failure can be the best thing that happens to anyone and this was the title of a recent article in The New Daily which unpicked the issues that spur us on to grater things. Photo - Tronson du Coudrays Heartache Reverse Rejection in life Rejection is usually seen as a very negative emotion and so it can be, but on the other hand it can be the very thing we needed to get us moving saved us from a terrible outcome given us options that we hadn't considered gave us an inner strength we didn't realise we had provided us with a psychological rest which was really needed made us re-evaluate our directions in life forced us to consider some unpleasantness The light at the end of the rejection tunnel is a real one. It is not simply an encouraging word or a comforting pat on the shoulder. Yet we also recognise that when we're going through rejection it can be emotionally devastating. A recent News.com article spells this out. Photo - Tronson du Coudrays Passion Reverse rejection from the Scriptures When we consider the Scriptures we can determine how initial rejection had very different outcomes. The people in Noah's time rejected the Ark. The brother's of Joseph Sodom and Gomorrah The Egyptians and Moses Our list could go on and on The New Testament too Herod with John the Baptist Jewish leaders with the Apostles Barnabas and Paul Paul in Athens Our list could go on and on citing the various missionary journeys. The greatest rejection of all was that at the Cross of Calvary. Yet it was that outcome that brought Salvation to the world. The Christian message is clear, that the sinless one Jesus Christ died for the sin of the world and that means each person now has an eternal offer on the table. Photo - Tronson du Coudrays Harbingers of the Dawn Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He mentors young writers and has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children. Dr Tronson writes a daily article for Christian Today Australia (since 2008) and in November 2016 established Christian Today New Zealand. Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html Photo - Istanbul bazaar Tomorrow, 30 October 2018 is the date associated with the end of the 600 year Ottoman Empire with the conclusion of the Battle of Megiddo and Semakh and the signing of the Armistice of Mudros. Imagine it. A 600 year empire. The Turks administratively ran the entire Arab middle east with a fist of iron. We saw this cinematically in the feature film Lawrence of Arabia how the Turkish railway system ran throughout the entire region from the gulf all the way west to the borders of Egypt, up the coast line through to Syria and Damascus all the way Turkey. This was a formidable military force. Moreover this was the army that beat the Allies at Gallipoli, ANZAC cove, Lone Pine and likewise the Dardanelles sinking three British capital ships trying to force their way through to Constantinople, the seat of power of the Ottoman Empire. The Ottomans ruled by force. Their history is not one of peace, rather battle ready and politically hard nosed. Remember the Armenians. Remember their conflicts with the Russians to their north. Their 600 year Ottoman rule had these bloody military campaigns. And ruthless. The story of Lawrence of Arabia in this mix was one of intrigue and British political manipulation whereby Colonel Lawrence who spoke fluent Arabic and understood the customs of the middle eastern people groups gained their trust. In effect Lawrence separated the middle east clans from the Turks and wherein the movie takes up these military and political intrigues. The middle east clans wanted their independence from Turkey (Ottomans) and they saw Lawrence as the military and political mechanism for this to happen. Photo - Dardanelles Middle East Kingdoms And happen it did. Then the great British political double cross took place and with a far greater military force as part of the wider WWI battle fronts, with great victories including the Australian light horse at Beersheba and Damascus (in which Australians led both). The British divided the middle east into kingdoms the broad brush - Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Jordan and the like in effect a divide and conquer political strategy which has seen ever since them quarrelling with each other. This is where Lord Baflour comes into the story after WWI and the Balfour Declaration wherein a letter envisioned an independent State of Israel. This eventually came to pass with a United Nations vote shortly after WWII in 1947 and the subsequent Israel war of independence followed by the 6 Day War in 1967, then the 1973 war and the conflict since including todays Palestinian dramas. On top of all this include the vast reserves of oil in the middle east and the competing needs for the middle east to sell that oil and the west who wants to buy that oil and both spheres playing major politics. The latest has reports coming in from the Dead Sea that the entire middle east oil supply is slowly but surely draining to the lowest point guess where Israels Dead Sea! Photo - A Christian fish emblem in the Blue Mosque in Istanbul Ottoman Overview The Ottoman Empire at the start of WWI put their lot in with Kaisers Germany and this was the seed of their ultimate demise. Yes they had initial victories at Gallipoli, then the Russians and the mass-removal of the Armenians (genocide) but lost the political battle in the middle east which saw their empire crumble before the might of the British army (and the French) and the resulting splinter groups throughout the middle east. Moreover there was political rot in the heart of the Ottoman Empire with rivalries and corruption which was no less pertinent than in other empires. 600 years is a very long time in political terms. Todays Turkey has one-eye on a re-established Ottoman Empire and I have written of this previously. Recent international political dramas have highlighted how tenuous things are the US pastor Rev Bronson who was released after 2 years of false imprisonment in Turkey, then the Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi murdered in the Saudi embassy in Turkey, and the failed coup by sections of the Turkish military its a jittery place right now. Having said all that, there are resilient Christian communities throughout Turkey with numerous missions recently one of our writers took a missions group into Turkey got arrested and a miracle release. Photo - Mark and Delma Tronson in Istanbul Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He mentors young writers and has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children. Dr Tronson writes a daily article for Christian Today Australia (since 2008) and in November 2016 established Christian Today New Zealand. Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html MONDAY, Oct. 29, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- With their keen sense of smell, dogs can track down bombs and drugs, but new research suggests they can also sniff out malaria in people. If confirmed by further studies, canines might someday be used to help spot malaria early, when treatment is most effective. The study included two dogs -- a Labrador retriever and a Labrador-Golden retriever -- that were trained to detect the disease through scent. A third dog, a Springer Spaniel named Freya, has since been added to the team. The dogs sniffed nylon socks worn by 30 children infected with malaria parasites and 145 uninfected children. The children, aged 5 to 14, were from the Upper River Region of The Gambia in West Africa. The dogs correctly identified 70 percent of children with malaria and 90 percent of uninfected children, according to a study presented Monday at the annual meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, in New Orleans. "While our findings are at an early stage, in principle we have shown that dogs could be trained to detect malaria-infected people by their odor with a credible degree of accuracy," said lead investigator Steve Lindsay. He is a professor in the department of biosciences at Durham University, in the United Kingdom. "This could provide a noninvasive way of screening for the disease at ports of entry in a similar way to how sniffer dogs are routinely used to detect fruit and vegetables or drugs at airports," Lindsay explained in a university news release. "This could help prevent the spread of malaria to countries that have been declared malaria-free, and also ensure that people -- many of whom might be unaware that they are infected with the malaria parasite -- receive antimalarial drug treatment for the disease," Lindsay said. In 2016, there were 216 million cases of malaria worldwide, an increase of 5 million over the previous year. There were about 445,000 malaria deaths in 2016, according to the World Health Organization. Study co-author James Logan added that "our progress on the control of malaria has stalled in recent years, so we desperately need innovative new tools to help in the fight against malaria." Logan is head of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine's department of disease control. "Our results show that sniffer dogs could be a serious way of making diagnosis of people who don't show any symptoms, but are still infectious, quicker and easier," Logan said. Research presented at meetings should be considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal. More information The World Health Organization has more on malaria. MONDAY, Oct. 29, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- When deciding which donated kidneys can help desperate patients on waiting lists, the United States might want to follow France's lead and lower the bar, a new study argues. There's a worldwide shortage of donor kidneys available for transplantation, but France appears to have been more aggressive than America in responding to that shortage, said study co-author Dr. Peter Reese. He's a kidney transplant doctor and associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine. The study shows that France is using kidneys from donors who are much older, on average, than in the United States. "Basically they're accepting donor kidneys that are much lower quality and higher risk," Reese said. "To me, it shows that this other country with a very advanced health care system that looks a lot like our own in many ways is pushing the envelope on the donors and the transplants that they'll do, whereas we really aren't." There currently are more than 95,000 people on the U.S. kidney transplant waiting list, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), the nonprofit that manages America's organ transplant system. Despite this shortage, approximately 2,000 donated kidneys are discarded each year, researchers said. "In the United States, there are a lot of kidneys that are procured but not transplanted," said Dr. David Klassen, chief medical officer for UNOS. "As far as we can tell, there are some we believe really could be transplanted and should be transplanted." To gain some insight into the issue, Reese worked with a French research team to compare the relative health of donated kidneys in each country and how the organs are used. The researchers evaluated transplant data from 2004 to 2014, during which time more than 156,000 kidneys in the United States and nearly 30,000 kidneys in France were procured for transplant. A much higher proportion of kidneys were higher-risk organs in France, scoring an average 65 on the Kidney Donor Profile Index (KDPI), compared with an average score of 42 for U.S. kidneys used in transplant. Lower scores are associated with longer function. For example, kidneys with a KDPI between 0 and 20 are expected to function an average of 11.5 years, while those with a KDPI between 21 and 85 are expected to function about 9 years, according to the federal Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network. French surgeons tend to accept kidneys for transplantation from much older donors, the researchers found. "The mean age of the French donors was 17 years older than the United States," Reese said. "They are responding to the organ crisis by accepting older and older donors." Accepted kidneys in France also tended to be more often from donors with chronic conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes, Reese said. Because of this, the French average KDPI rose from 54 to 67 during the decade, while the U.S. average KDPI increased only from 42 to 44. "Over 10 years in the United States, there was really no change in the age of the donors and the quality of the donors," Reese said. The United States could do a better job matching kidneys to recipients, even if the organs aren't the best quality, Reese concluded. He gave the example of a kidney donated by an 80-year-old person. "It would be a mistake to take that kidney in the United States if the recipient is 30 years old, but we have people who are on our kidney transplant waiting list who are over 70," Reese said. "If we tried hard, I don't think we would have too much difficulty finding appropriate recipients for these kidneys from older donors." Klassen, who wasn't involved with the study, said that U.S. transplant centers tend to be risk-averse because they don't want to run afoul of regulators and endanger their certification. "Transplanting organs that might be viewed as higher risk into potential recipients who might be viewed as higher risk, transplant centers view that as something they would choose not to do," Klassen said. To be fair, there are some donated organs that simply shouldn't be taken. "Just because a kidney is procured and possibly could be transplanted doesn't mean that it should be," Klassen said. There also are major differences in the organ donation and transplant system between France and the United States, in terms of how organ quality is judged and kidneys are biopsied at the time of organ offer. "It's hard to say the results of one country would directly translate to another country," Klassen said. But the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services tacitly admitted there's an oversight problem. The agency has put out for comment a rule change that would loosen its monitoring criteria, Klassen said. "They would look at other measures of program quality and not focus specifically on patient one-year outcomes as the sole measure of program quality," Klassen said. "I don't think monitoring of patient and graft outcomes will ever go away, but I think using a broader palette of quality of measures would be an appropriate thing to do in terms of judging transplant programs." The study was scheduled for presentation Sunday at the American Society of Nephrology's annual meeting, in San Diego. Such research is considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal. More information The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network has more about the Kidney Donor Profile Index. As you may have noticed, the news from the future is not good, not good at all. A report released earlier this month from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the global scientific panel set up by the United Nations in 1988 to determine exactly how screwed we are by the buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, found that holding the Earth to two degrees of warming, the target widely agreed on by most nations, would no longer be enough to avoid catastrophe. At those temperatures, the world's coral reefs would all die off, the eastern U.S. would be pummeled by torrential rains, global fisheries would collapse, and melting ice sheets would reach a tipping point that would ensure the widespread flooding of coastal cities by the end of this century. The good news is that limiting warming to just 1.5 degrees could stave off many of the worst effects but that would take immediate coordinated efforts to cut global carbon emissions, of the sort that the world has shown no signs of being willing or ready to engage in. Without those, we could pass the 1.5 degree mark as soon as 2040, and careen into sci-fi levels of disaster permanent drought in Spain and Italy, global famine and water wars soon thereafter. So if the prognosis is so dismal, how should those of us young enough to plan on being alive for a couple more decades be preparing? Does it still make sense to be socking money away in a 401(k) for a future that may no longer exist? Should we be stocking up on canned goods and thundersticks instead? To find out, Gothamist asked some people who should know: scientists who study the warming climate and its likely effects. How do these experts advise the young people in their lives, now that the world is coming to an end? "Well, the world's not coming to an end, of course," says Kevin Trenberth, a climate analyst for the National Center for Atmospheric Research and lead author of the 2001 and 2007 IPCC reports. (Good news!) "We're certainly heading in a direction where climate change is going to make it much more difficult for ecosystems and farmers. There will likely be increasing food and water shortages." (Okay, less good news.) "And the question will be how we adapt." Adaptation can mean lots of things, from building green roofs to strengthening building codes to retreating from the ocean entirely. Trenberth notes that Taiwan, whose largest cities are especially vulnerable to sea level rise, is doing an excellent job on the adaptation front, incorporating climate change planning into both development projects and plans for shoring up infrastructure in vulnerable areas. Taiwan has also written carbon-emission reductions into local law, which would qualify as a mitigation move, trying to help stave off the worst possible climate scenarios. There are lots of other steps that both governments and individuals can take, whether it's shifting from fossil fuels to renewable power sources or consuming less carbon-intensive foods. (Local produce doesn't just help local farmers, it cuts down on truck traffic; and cows are civilization-destroying methane machines.) For Trenberth, then, one of the best investments young people can make in their future is to vote for policies that will fund both adaptation and mitigation even if it means raising taxes. Most important, he says, would be for the U.S. to immediately pass a carbon tax "which is not gonna happen with the current administration" that would force people to stop burning so much gasoline and jet fuel if only because it would be too damn expensive. Flooded tunnel in Battery Park City after Hurricane Sandy (Justin Lane / Epa / Shutterstock) Susan Lozier, an oceanographer at Duke University who's studied whether a changing climate will shut down the Gulf Stream and cause the East Coast to freeze verdict: "not yet" begins by stressing, "The world is not coming to an end." (Climate scientists, it turns out, are very resistant to fatalism, probably because they know exactly how much difference it makes whether humanity gets its act together a bit too late, or not at all.) "Human life on earth might become increasingly difficult. But that degree of difficulty is going to depend on where you fall on the socioeconomic spectrum." Some of that is obvious if it becomes necessary to move to an air-conditioned fortress on high ground, the rich will be better able to afford that but some of it is not. A study last year, for example, found that the worst climate impacts will be in the South and lower Midwest, which also happen to be the poorest parts of the nation. (New York City may be underwater, but the study notes one silver lining: At least we'll save on heating bills!) In other words, you might not want to stop putting money into that IRA or, at least, substitute sticking it under your mattress if you're worried about a collapse of the global banking system once Wall Street is underwater because you're going to need it once the difference between the haves and have-nots is that the former will still have clean drinking water. Lozier, who has two young-adult sons, says she feels bad about leaving them a planet that is such a wreck: "Their generation, they can spend a lot of time blaming our generation. But the best thing they can do is to vote for people who understand climate change and really focus energy on reducing CO2 but at the same time, understanding that a lot of that CO2's already in the atmosphere, and focus on adaptation. "And put money in their IRAs. That's always a good idea! Just in case." Radley Horton, a climate scientist at Columbia University (and father of a 12- and 8-year-old), says that it's important not to lose hope, in part because nobody can be sure which decisions could end up making a disproportionate difference. "When I talk about climate science, whether it's to kids, young people, or just about anybody, to me it's all about tipping points right now, Horton says. The idea that systems can be shifting very gradually, then all of a sudden you hit a point where things accelerate." That's true for bad tipping points, where even a small additional rise in global temperature can result in catastrophic results, he notes: "After extreme temperatures cross a certain threshold, crop yields fall dramatically, not gradually." But it's also true for "societal tipping points" that could help rein in this problem. Wind and solar energy, for example, have fallen in price much faster than expected, which could lead to a faster reduction in fossil fuel use than anyone had anticipated. Trenberth concurs that tipping points can show up where we least expect them. "In 1903, the streets of New York City were full of horse and buggies," he says. "Twelve years later, they were full of automobiles, and there were hardly horse and buggies to be found. The same sort of thing could easily occur for automobiles, given the technologies that we already have." To do this would require shifting government subsidies to penalize gas-fueled cars and encourage the purchase of electric ones but once the ball got rolling, electric cars would only get cheaper and easier to fuel up. The important thing, says Horton, is not to panic or, at least, not to panic more than absolutely necessary. "Through most of human history, we have lived in near constant fear of destruction of what we hold dear," he notes. "I don't know if that makes people feel better or worse." So to recap: Buy an electric car if you can afford it, don't eat red meat, vote for politicians who believe climate change is real, don't invest in land in Florida or Arizona, and put money in your IRA so you can buy your way into the eventual biodomes. And by all means, stock up on chocolate now, before it becomes extinct. You gotta have priorities. MONDAY, Oct. 29, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- Children may suffer delayed language skills if their mothers come in contact with common chemicals called phthalates in early pregnancy, new research suggests. Phthalates are in countless products from nail polish and hair spray to food packaging and vinyl flooring. As plasticizers, they make things more pliable; as solvents, they enable other substances to dissolve. In the new study, researchers found that the risk for language delay at about age 3 years was up to 30 percent higher among children whose mothers had higher exposure to two phthalates in particular: dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP). Both chemicals are in products such as older vinyl flooring, cosmetics and plastic toys. "Phthalates are known to be hormonally active and affect the body's hormone system," said researcher Shanna Swan, a professor of environmental and public health at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. Although the study cannot prove these chemicals cause delays in language development, Swan believes there is good reason to think they do. Both DBP and BBP have been shown to lower testosterone in the mother during early pregnancy, Swan said. That helps explain how they can affect intellectual development, she noted. Phthalates previously have been linked to developmental delays, lower IQ and underdeveloped male sex organs, the researchers said. Because they are so commonplace, "we are all exposed all the time," said lead researcher Carl-Gustaf Bornehag, a professor at Karlstad University in Sweden. DBP and BBP are banned in many products, but they have very long life cycles. For example, vinyl flooring can be used for 20 to 30 years, meaning people are exposed for a very long time, he said. Also, phthalates are routinely detected in indoor air, dust, food and water because they leach into the air, according to background notes with the study. Swan said the only way to avoid these chemicals is to buy products labeled phthalate-free or to carefully read label ingredients. However, steering clear of the chemicals is easier said than done, Bornehag pointed out. "It is often hard to get information about chemicals in products and articles, which makes it difficult to avoid exposure. We need better labeling systems," he said. And Swan added that banned phthalates have been replaced by similarly troublesome chemicals. "Manufacturers have taken out the worst offenders and put in a slight change, which changes its name, but they are equally hormonally active," she said. "There have been some substitutions." According to Steven Gilbert, director of the Institute of Neurotoxicology and Neurological Disorders, in Seattle, the real issue is that chemicals put into everyday household products are not regulated. They're only tested and potentially banned when a problem arises after years of use, he said. "What we need to do is change the laws," Gilbert said. "We've shown that these are bad actors and they cause cell changes, and we just need to stop using them." The study involved pregnant women and their children who took part in long-term studies in Sweden or the United States. Nearly 1,000 mothers were in Sweden; 370 were in the United States. Parents were asked about how many words their kids understood at about 30 months to 37 months of age. Children who understood 50 or fewer words were said to have a language delay. Overall, 10 percent had a language delay, boys more often than girls, the researchers found. Urine samples collected from the mothers in the 10th week of pregnancy revealed a correlation between phthalate exposure and language delay, according to the study. The researchers said the results were statistically significant in the Swedish study, but not in the U.S. study. They believe the difference is probably due to the U.S. study's smaller sample size. The report was published online Oct. 29 in JAMA Pediatrics. More information For more about phthalates, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. MONDAY, Oct. 29, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- A handful of California doctors are making hay off anti-vaccine parents, charging hundreds of dollars to issue medical exemptions for required childhood vaccinations, a new study claims. In 2015, California passed a law eliminating personal belief exemptions for vaccinations that kids must receive before they can attend public school. In the years since, there's been a major increase in the number of medical exemptions issued by doctors for these required immunizations, researchers found. "After the first year, it increased from 0.2 percent to 0.5 percent of children," said lead researcher Salini Mohanty, a postdoctoral research fellow with the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. "Then by the second year it had increased to 0.7 percent, which is a 250 percent increase, which is sort of alarming." At least some of these medical exemptions are being written by doctors who charge big fees to fearful parents, according to public health officers interviewed for the study. "I'm getting a very high volume of medical exemptions from one provider, and from what I understand, for all intents and purposes, she's selling these medical exemptions," said one official quoted in the study. "She used to just give permanent medical exemptions, and now she's giving temporary for 3 months. So now families have to go back every 3 months and pay $300 to get their temporary medical exemption updated." These doctors are flying in the face of decades of work to develop and improve vaccines that "beat back infectious diseases that plagued humanity since the species evolved," said Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security in Baltimore. "To hear of physicians advertising to issue medical exemptions, which are mostly unwarranted, is to spit in the face of those pioneers who gave us vaccines, and has made those physicians advocates of the primitive Dark Ages when vaccine-preventable diseases flourished," Adalja said. The 2015 law made California the first state in nearly 35 years to eliminate personal belief exemptions for mandatory vaccinations, the study authors said in background notes. The law was prompted in part by a 2014 measles outbreak at Disneyland. The law has had a positive effect on immunization rates overall in California, the researchers reported. Following the law's implementation, the proportion of kindergartners who received all required vaccines increased to 95.1 percent in 2017-2018, up from 92.8 percent in 2015-2016. The findings were published online Oct. 29 in the journal Pediatrics. To get a ground-level assessment of the law's rollout, researchers interviewed 40 health officers representing about half of the local health jurisdictions in California. The public health officials said they are concerned anti-vaccine parents denied personal belief exemptions for their children now are seeking out doctors willing to issue medical exemptions for a fee, Mohanty said. Many of these medical exemptions cite conditions typically not considered barriers to immunization by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, such as a family history of allergies or autoimmune disorders, Mohanty said. However, these conditions squeak by based on the regulatory language of the law, she said. The number of medical exemptions issued has not yet reached the level of personal belief exemptions claimed prior to the law's passage, which for the 2015-2016 school year was about 2.4 percent, Mohanty said. But if left unchecked, the rapid increase of medical exemptions could weaken vaccine protection for school kids, said Democratic state Sen. Dr. Richard Pan, a pediatrician and author of the California law. "They threaten community immunity and threaten the health of all children," Pan said of the exemptions. Anti-vaccine parent groups appear to be sharing lists of doctors willing to issue medical exemptions for a fee, Pan said. "It's a very small number, but that's all it takes, right?" said Pan, who wrote an editorial accompanying the new study. "They're charging $500 or more a pop for these exemptions, so they're definitely in it for the money." Some of these doctors have been brought before the California Medical Board on ethics charges, the study reported. But Pan suggested a more straightforward solution. He'd like to amend California law so public health officials would have the power to revoke doctors' authority to issue medical exemptions. Pan argued the power to issue medical exemptions is a state-level public health function that has been delegated to doctors, and therefore could be rescinded if it's found they're taking advantage of patients. For example, West Virginia pediatricians do not have the ability to issue medical exemptions -- instead, they must apply to their state health department for exemptions on patients' behalf, Pan noted. "When someone abuses that authority that's been delegated to them, then the state should be able to take back that authority from that person," Pan said. "And not only revoke that authority but then invalidate all of the medical exemptions that have been inappropriately written, as a threat to public health." More information The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have more about state vaccination requirements. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp LinkedIn Email Telegram New York, October 29, 2018A lack of justice in the murders of journalists creates an entrenched climate of censorship, the Committee to Protect Journalists found in its Global Impunity Index released today. The eleventh annual report highlights countries where journalists are murdered regularly and their killers go free. All 14 of the countries featured this year have appeared multiple times on the index since CPJ began collecting data in 2008, and half have appeared every year. In the past decade, at least 324 journalists have been silenced through murder worldwide and in 85 percent of these cases no perpetrators have been convicted. The fact that impunity continues to thrive in many of these countries year after year is a disturbing sign of how deeply rooted the problem is. Impunity is an effective way to silence journalists and creates a void of information, said Elisabeth Witchel, author of the report and CPJs consultant for the Global Campaign Against Impunity. Governments must treat these cases as a priority and provide appropriate mechanisms to achieve justice for these journalists and their families. For the fourth year in a row, Somalia tops the list. Countries returning to the 2018 index after an absence include Afghanistan, where a suicide attacker targeted a group of journalists earlier this year, killing nine, and Colombia, where alleged drug traffickers kidnapped an Ecuadoran news crew and murdered them in Colombian territory. The Impunity Index is released annually to mark the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists on November 2. CPJ calculates the number of unsolved journalist murders as a percentage of each countrys population. For this index, CPJ examined journalist murders that occurred between September 1, 2008, and August 31, 2018. Find more information in our report methodology. ### CPJ is an independent, nonprofit organization that works to safeguard press freedom worldwide Note to Editors: The report Getting Away with Murder: CPJs 2018 Global Impunity Index spotlights countries where journalists are slain and their killers go free is available on CPJs website. Media contacts: Bebe Santa-Wood Communications Associate press@cpj.org 212-300-9032 Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp LinkedIn Email Telegram New York, October 29, 2018The Committee to Protect Journalists today condemned an exorbitant fine imposed on the independent news outlet The New Times. A Moscow court on October 26 ordered the outlet to pay 22.3 million rubles (US$338,000) for failing to provide financial information under Russias foreign agents law and ordered the outlets editor-in-chief Yevgenia Albats to pay an additional fine of 30,000 rubles, TV Dozhd reported. Russian prosecutors alleged that Albats failed to properly report how The New Times spent funding from the Press Freedom Support Foundation, a non-governmental organization that the Russian government classifies as a foreign agent, Albats said in a column published in The New Times on October 29. In the column, Albats said that she reported everything correctly to the proper authorities and added that she would appeal the fine, which she said is the largest ever issued to Russian media. Under a law adopted in 2012, Russia requires non-governmental organizations that receive international funding to register as foreign agents. President Vladimir Putin signed into law an amendment last year to allow authorities to list international media outlets as foreign agents, a move that came in response to the U.S. implementing a similar policy regarding Russias state-run news outlets, according to reports. The exorbitant fine imposed on The New Times is clearly aimed at crippling the outlet and amounts to a direct attack on what is left of press freedom in Russia, said Gulnoza Said, CPJ Europe and Central Asia Program Coordinator. We condemn the move and call on the authorities to immediately scrap the fine and stop using the foreign agent law as a weapon to silence critical media. Vadim Prokhorov, a lawyer representing The New Times, said that the outlet is already constrained by financial difficulties that forced it to stop producing a print edition in June 2017, and that the fine may force it to close, according to Kommersant. Albats told Agence France-Presse that the media outlet would not be able to pay the fines, adding, This is bankruptcy. The New Times is one of the few independent media outlets still operating in Russia, where authorities during President Vladimir Putins tenure have stifled all critical press. Those independent news outlets left face intense pressure and threats from the government and its fervent supporters on a regular basis, CPJ has found. In an interview with RFE/RL, Albats said she believed the courts decision was intended to punish her for an interview she conducted with prominent opposition politician and Putin critic Aleksei Navalny on the Ekho Moskvy radio station on October 22. Neither the court that imposed the fine nor Russias prosecutors office responded to CPJs emailed requests today. Hillary Clinton turned 71 on Friday, and spent her birthday in conversation with Kara Swisher (of the tech podcast Recode Decode) and hundreds of admirers who gathered at the 92nd Street Y on Manhattan's Upper East Side. The packed hall buzzed with anticipation as the clock ticked toward Clinton's arrivaltwo years after a catastrophic defeat, the former Secretary of State can still sell out a show. As the lights dimmed, a hearty voice boomed over the loudspeakers, commanding us all to put away our cameras and our recorders. Anyone with questions for Clinton could submit them via index cards roaming ushers distributed up and down the aisles. An aide presumably sifted through these backstage, presenting the culled herd to Swisher, who picked through the pile of finalists and pitched her winners to Clinton. There would be no room for anyone to go rogue. This audience, members of which paid $100 to see Clinton speak, seemed unlikely candidates for sneaky gotcha questioning. If Clinton inspires outsized rage among her opponentsdays earlier, a pipe bomb addressed to her was delivered to her Chappaqua homeshe also inspires impassioned gratitude, hope, and fervor among her fans. And when she strolled onstage, looking happier and more relaxed than I can remember her looking at least in the past two years, those fans went wild, as if they were not adults there to see a politician but teens at a Justin Bieber concert. It is not productive to dwell on the question of what could have been, to let your mind wander into a pleasant fantasy dimension where the electoral vote aligned with the popular vote and we were not plunged daily into fresh chaos concocted by the white nationalist currently occupying the White House. I try to keep my brain on a short leash, but listening to Clinton hold court, I could not fight the feeling that if, during her campaign, she had been as natural, as at-ease, as unapologetically herself as she now appeared, things may have gone differently; if systemic sexism didn't bind women in politics to the impossible-to-win struggle between unflagging congeniality and stoic shows of calm force, and if it didn't drive droves of voters away from women candidates, then we might not now be subject to the whims of a would-be despot. I found it frankly disorienting to imagine a world in which we had a president who, faced with questions about the dangers of A.I., for example, not only knew what the term meant, but offered a thoughtful, cogent answer that evinced deep knowledge and genuine interest. Clinton offered considered comments on pretty much every topic Swisher put to her over the course of the hour, a sweeping interview that encompassed domestic and foreign policy; the upcoming midterms; tech and social media; and #MeToo. But the subject that seemed to preoccupy Clinton most was the same one I imagine haunts every audience member's mind: What the hell happened? Michael Priest Photography Clinton, of course, addressed this question in a few hundred pages published 10 months after election night 2016. What Happened drew criticism because Clinton seemed to omit her own actions (and actions not taken) from the equation. Many argued that she dodged accountability, scrambling instead through a pile of alternate explanations that sounded, to some, like excuses. Like the candidate herself, the book was described as angry, with the suggestion that Clinton should maybe keep that bitterness to herself. I believe Clinton deserves to be angry out loud; she lost an election she should have won to a man she described on Friday as a demagogue. And although her faults played a role, she did not lose entirely because of her own shortcomings. She lost, in part, because her opponent cheated in ways that we are only now beginning to understand. She lost, in part, because if she had registered the anger most readers likely felt at Trump's unvarnished bigotry, she would have been cast in the "hysterical woman" role. She lost, in part, because too many people still feel threatened by commanding women. Clinton did linger on her theories a little longer than Swisher seemed to want, running through the October surprise timeline with studied attention to detail; nodding to voter suppression; returning again and again to the Russian interference she obviously continues to follow with an unswerving eagle eye. The more we learn about corruption within the Trump campaign, though, the less Clinton's conclusions feel like conspiracies. And yet the question of her personal responsibility for 2016's outcome remains. "I made mistakes, the campaign made mistakes, I don't know any human being who doesn't," she said, asked if she felt personally responsible for the current situation. But an unprecedented set of extreme circumstances stained the election: The hacking. The foreign government quietly pressing its thumb on the scales. The open pandering to the white supremacist currents still marbling American culture. "I don't believe in coincidences," Clinton continued. "When I talk about what happened, I'm not just looking backwards, I'm trying to say: The Russians are still in our election system, we know that social media and other sources of information are being manipulated, we understand that. Let's do something about it." Yet if Clinton's book attracted criticism for being too sour, the Clinton who sat onstage showed none of that indignation. She seemed comfortable in the spotlight for the first time in recent memory, settling back into her chair and kicking up her heels as if she were scuffing them into her own living room carpet. She cracked jokes, she wryly ribbed her interviewer. She did not apologize for herself. One apology may have been warranted, though: In a recent interview with CBS Sunday Morning, Clinton said that her husband's affair with Monica Lewinsky, 22 years old and a White House intern at the time, did not strike her as an abuse of power because, as she put it, Lewinsky "was an adult." Swisher invited Clinton to take a "do-over," but the former Senator didn't seem interested. "Look, I have talked about this before," she said. "This was a really painful, difficult time in my life, and it was also hard for the country. I feel very sorry for what she [Lewinsky] went through and what she was subjected to by the Starr investigation, and everyone who mistreated her, mistreated herin my opinionjust disgracefully." But. "I understand how now, 20 years later, a lot of decisions are being reconsidered or looked at again from different points of view," she went on: she's spent her "entire adult life standing up for women." (Recall that slogan she coined, "Women's rights are human rights.") "I'm not going to re-litigate everything I've ever said," she added. "I have been consistent, ... and I think that people need to take responsibility for themselves and their actions, but I also think we need to make sure that no voice is stifled or ignored at the moment." People always find reasons to get upset over her words and actions, Clinton added. She was not particularly concerned with this latest example. There's a frustrating kind of cognitive dissonance in Clinton's adamant assertion that Bill did not abuse the power bestowed by his office, the nation's highest, to sustain a coercive relationship with a woman whose professional rank fell unfathomably far below his. Because Clinton does truly understand the ways in which the obliterating force of "primo male presence," as she put it, makes women into collateral damage when they are pushed before the court of public opinion. She praised the "dignity," the "stoicism," the "integrity" of women like Anita Hill and Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, who step up to do their civic duty with the full knowledge that doing so means they'll be crushed by backlash from the indignant outrage of apoplectic men unaccustomed to taking accountability for their actions. She condemned they way that powerful men have leveraged their station to silence and manipulate women. The #MeToo moment, Clinton continued, is "long overdue." "A lot of us my age, you just sort of sucked it [sexual harassment] up: you didn't complain, you didn't explain, you just sort of tried to get your best outcome," she explained. "I'm really very grateful that we now have a movement, a moment, where young women in particular are able to not only speak up, but to defend themselves; to be as brave as they can be," and know they're not alone doing it. Lewinskyalong with the clutch of other women who have accused Bill of misconduct ranging from sexual harassment to rapeseem to be Clinton's exceptions. Even as I appreciate the strides Clinton has made on behalf of her gender, I'm disappointed by the selective blindness she exercises towards her husband's bad actions. And I'm disappointed, too, that she's continually made to answer for them. Hillary Clinton is human, and at the center of most Clinton criticism sits the expectation that she always do and say the right thing. That unrealistic level of pressure may explain why she rarely seems authentic: I'm hard pressed to think of another politician who's been raked over the coals for every stumble, in perpetuity, despite their apologies and efforts to understand their errors. Clinton has spent her entire life being publicly picked apart, being damned for what she does and doesn't do. If we want her to explain exactly what happened, we must accept that some of the fault is oursfor creating special, unachievable standards for her, while throwing the concept out the window when it came to her opponent, of whom no one expected anything but the worst. In any case, she doesn't see your criticism as her problem anymore. "If you don't want to hear what I have to say, don't talk to me, don't report on it, don't come to this event," she shrugged. She isn't going anywhere. A Search For Mysterious Clouds Finding Kordylewski's Clouds A team of astronomers has confirmed that there are two faint dust satellites floating about 400,000 km away from Earth.A new study investigates a decades-old report by Kazimierz Kordylewski who, in 1961, proposed the existence of ghostly clouds that form between the Earth and the Moon. However, because it is so faint, it was difficult to observe and, therefore, the work caused controversy at the time.In a new study published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, astronomers from Hungary proved the existence of these clouds.Lagrange points, named after astronomer/mathematician Joseph-Louis Lagrange, are gravitational points between two celestial bodies where objects can get captured. Between the Earth and its Moon, there are five Lagrange points including L4 and L5 which were predicted by Lagrange himself in 1772. These two gravitational points form a triangle in between the Earth and the Moon, moving around the planet as the natural satellite moves in orbit.The dust cloud, which Kordylewski reported in 1961, is located at L5.In a paper submitted earlier this year, a team led by Gabor Horvath of Eotvos Lorand University created a mathematical simulation to figure out how dust clouds will be formed and how they might be detected from Earth. They found that a dust cloud, even a temporary one, is totally possible within in the L5.The astronomers then set up to find the dust cloud in L5. The team headed to a private observatory in Hungary and used a linearly polarizing filter system attached to a camera lens and a CCD detector.After months of searching, they finally found the clouds. From the images they obtained from the observatory, the team saw polarized light reflected from dust that extends well beyond the camera lens' field of view. This is consistent with the measurements from a separate previous study conducted by a team of Russian scientists."The Kordylewski clouds are two of the toughest objects to find, and though they are as close to Earth as the Moon are largely overlooked by researchers in astronomy," stated Judit Sliz-Balogh, one of the authors of the paper. "It is intriguing to confirm that our planet has dusty pseudo-satellites in orbit alongside our lunar neighbor." Assam: Climate change in India: Cuisine, culture take a hit in Assam by Anupam Chakravartty October 29,2018 | Source: Down to Earth "Weather is changing and so is naamsing, retorts Renu Pegu of Hapekhati village on being asked about a fish recipe, relished exclusively by the Mising fishing community of Assam. People in her village, located on the banks of the Dhansiri river which flows along Kaziranga National Park, prepare the delicacy from locally available minnows and 60 wild herbs, including turmeric, yam and siju (spurge leaves). They say the nutritional content of naamsing is comparable to chhurpi, a hard cheese consumed by yak herders of Tibet. It also helps prepare a quick meal after a hard days work, says Renu, who helps her husband in running a paan shop. Minnows start rotting within half-an-hour of landing. So the Mising usually store them after drying. For preparing naamsing, we crush the dried fish into a paste along with the herbs and stuff it in bamboo stumps, which are then sealed with leaves and clay from the river bank. At the time of preparation, we simply scoop out the paste, mix with water, add salt to it and let it boil for a few minutes. Till a few years ago, Renu and her family used to relish naamsing with rice almost every day. These days I make it only occasionally, she says. Elaborates her husband Jatin, Like most other fishes, minnows have become a rarity in the Dhansiri. Till about five years ago, I could catch more than 5 kg of minnows within an hour of casting net. I had set up a counter next to my paan shop for selling the excess catch. Now, I do not get a kg of fish even after spending the entire day in the river. Bothka Doley, an experienced jalua (one who casts nets) from the village blames changing rainfall pattern for the dwindling catch. The production cycle of fish is closely linked to rainfall and floods. On an average, Assam receives the third highest rainfall in the country and experiences three waves of floods during the six-month rainy season that begins in April. As the rivers swell they connect the numerous waterbodies, rivulets and streams along the course. During pre-monsoon floods, when the Dhansiri is in spate, schools of fish migrate towards the Kaziranga National Park, whose 300-odd waterbodies serve as hatchery and nursery for fish and other aquatic fauna. They return along with the new batches towards the end of June, when the river swells again and the water bodies spill over. This is when we cast our nets around the mouth of the tributaries from the park and get a good catch, says Doley. This cycle has broken in recent years. The detailed project report for Climate change Mitigation submitted by Kaziranga National Park authorities to the Union environment ministry in 2016 states that the annual rainfall has decreased by 2.96 mm per year between 1951 and 2010. During this period, the mean temperature in the state has increased by 0.01C per year, with pronounced warming during post-monsoon months and winters. Due to this changing climate and decrease in annual rainfall, there has been an increase in extreme rainfall events that are causing flash floods, says the document. Natural floods are boon to the community, says Pranab Doley, advisor to Jeepal Krishak Sramik Sangha, a local farmers and marginalised rights organisation. But the community is now worried about the changing intensity and frequency of floods and the amount of sediments they carry. Consider this. This year, Golaghat received 30 per cent deficit rainfall and was experiencing a drought-like situation. In August, 116 villages in Bokakhat sub-division of the district got inundated within a span of three days, following heavy rainfall and landslips in upstream Nagaland. The met department of Nagaland recorded 348 per cent excess rainfall in July alone. Experts say similar instances of flashfloods during droughts were also witnessed in 2009 and 2011, when the state recorded 20 and 30 per cent deficit rainfall. Floodwater laden with sediments is not suitable for spawning, and thus affects the post-monsoon catch, says Bothka Doley. Desperate by the situation, some are catching the fish migrating for spawning, ignoring a fishing ban from April to July on the rivers and waterbodies in the vicinity of the park. The dwindling catch has also dissuaded fish traders who camp on the sand bars at Dhansiri Mukh, where the Dhansiri meets the Brahmaputra, with large nets, own team of fishers for three to four months post monsoon. Fish from Kaziranga is a prized catch. But it has now reduced by 2,000 to 3,000 kg, says Momin Ali, a trader from Goalpara who comes to Dhansiri Mukh every year. Earlier, at least 20 traders used to camp here. This year, only five have come, he adds. Side effects of siltation. Heavy rainfall and increasing siltation load in the river has also changed the taste of naamsing and a traditional self-governance system. Earlier we would wait for the land to emerge from the floods. The ideal way to dry fish is to spread it on the white sand in the winter, says 76-year-old Holiram Miri of Rajabari village. But now, due to heavy siltation load, the river is changing its course frequently. Miri relocated nine times since 1977. As many as five villages in Bokakhat sub-division had to move away from the Dhanisiri and the Brahmaputra since 1999. Most displaced people are living on the embankments. Here, we do not have enough space to dry the fish, he adds. The 2015 report of the Centre for Natural Disaster Management, Assam Administrative Staff College, says a combination of factors, both natural and anthropogenic, contribute to flooding in the state. The primary reason, however, remains that surplus water generated by Assams dynamic monsoon regime is no longer draining away through the earths natural channels or old river courses due to the altered physiographic setting of the Brahmaputra basin after 1950, it states. Worse, the communities have already lost their traditional system of cooperation and resilience, called rikbo-ginam. Under the system, explains Miri, the entire community would come to the rescue of a family if it needs help for, say, sowing or harvesting paddy or ferrying stranded livestock from a flooded area. In return, the affected family contributes to the community food basket which is used in times of calamity. Now we have no one to fall back on, he says. India: Safety of fisherfolk at seas October 29,2018 | Source: EPW Over 240 fisherfolk were missing after cyclone Ockhi hit Indias south-western coasts. Lack of adoption of safety measures points to gross negligence of safety of fisherfolk at sea. The mandatory suggestions of various international and national level agencies have been neglected. In this regard, synergistic action between policymakers, implementing agencies and fisherfolk is required to translate policies to action. Awareness generation and mandatory trainings are suggested to improve fisherfolk safety, while community support is vital for the success of policy enforcement. The cyclone Ockhi, which created havoc on the western coast of India during December 2017, has raised many questions regarding the safety of fisherfolk at sea. The debate over efficacy of a disaster warning system notwithstanding, low or no use of safety measures by fisherfolk deserves critical attention and policy focus. Across the globe, marine capture fisheries remain one of the most hazardous occupations(Perez-Labajos 2008; Lincoln and Lucas 2010; Roberts 2010). The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that over 24,000 fisherfolk die every year, besides suffering damages to craft and gear. Evidence in some of the northern countries suggests that the risks of fatal accidents while fishing have reduced by about half to an average of about 1 per 1,000 person-years over a period of time (Jensen et al 2014). Implementation of safety programmes seemed to have a positive impact in this. It emerges that much of the disasters, particularly human loss, could have been avoided with usage of appropriate technologies and by following the prescribed regulations. Various agencies like the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), ILO and International Maritime Organization (IMO) have stressed the need for popularising sea-safety measures. However, the adoption of these measures in India is found to be low. In this context, based on reviews, expert consultations and focused group discussions with stakeholders, this article identifies various intervention points for providing safety while fishing at sea. Marine Fisheries in India A growing body of evidences points to the nutritional and health benefits of fish consumption. In tune with this, and along with rising per capita income, the domestic demand for fish is on the increase. It is projected to touch 16 million tonnes by 2030 compared to the current projection of about 10.5 million tonnes (ICAR 2011). Fish-based industries are also thriving due to technological advancements in fishing, processing, packaging and quality management. Efforts to have a greater horizontal and vertical spread in export markets are also gaining momentum. Much of the exported fish comes through deep-sea fishing, which is a highly skilled job. In the entire marine fish value chain, fishing remains the most dangerous line of work, particularly for traditional fisherfolk. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs noted that even five months after cyclone Ockhi, nearly 244 fisherfolk were still missing, with a dim chance of return (Hindu 2018). In India, the hazardous nature of marine fishing has come to the fore on several occasions earlier too, including during the tsunami in 2004. Risks while Fishing at Sea The FAO, ILO, and IMO are the important international agencies concerned with the safety of fisherfolk at sea. The Code of Conduct and Technical Guidelines on Responsible Fisheries developed by the FAO (2015) clearly specify the role of states in ensuring the safety of fisherfolk. It requires that the states ensure availability of fishing facilities and equipment to those employed in fishing operations, allow for safe, healthy and fair working and living conditions, and meet internationally agreed upon standards adopted by relevant international organisations. The health and safety standards adopted should not be less than the minimum requirements of relevant international agreements. It also emphasises the need for education and training programmes to enhance awareness and skills of fisherfolk in relation to health and safety standards. The recent National Policy on Marine Fisheries by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare states, The government will ensure that safety-at-sea measures are adequately strengthened and implemented. Such measures inter alia will include provisions of lifesaving appliances (such as Distress Alerting Transmitter, Automatic Identification System) and communication equipment on the vessels and developing adequate skills and capacity of fishers and other concerned stakeholders. (GoI 2017) The policy also points to the fact that regional cooperation in safety and security of fisherfolk is also necessary as the upper Indian Ocean, especially the Bay of Bengal, witnesses high number of adverse weather events, and every year many fishers lose their lives or suffer extreme hardships as a result. Safe fishing is an integral component of the code of conduct of responsible fisheries proposed by the FAO. The implementing agencies in India for the code are the departments/ministries of fisheries of various state governments, to be assisted with the research inputs from the Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT), Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), and the Central Institute of Fisheries Nautical and Engineering Training (CIFNET), all under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. Equipment for Safety and Rescue States like Kerala have made the possession of life jackets, lifebuoys, life rafts, and firefighting appliances in mechanised boats mandatory for registration. Equipping them with the required navigational lights (all-round lights), fishing signal lights, day signals for fishing, at least one torch, mirror reflector (heliograph) and pyrotechnics (consisting four rocket parachutes and six red hand fliers) are among the mandated materials to meet the emergency situation. Besides, carrying vitaminised energy foods of at least 10,000 kilo jules per person, and 1.5 litres of drinking water per person onboard, in a watertight container is also mandated. One study has reported that only about 49% and 40% of the surveyed fishers use lifebuoys and life jackets respectively, in Kerala, with wide regional variations even within the state (Aip et al 2014). Early Warning Systems and Communication Under-preparedness to meet the disasters, lack of an effective institutional mechanism for early warnings and apathy on the part of the fisherfolk when it comes to taking the warnings seriously, are the major factors that contribute to the high level of fatalities in India. These risks further add to the worries of the coastal communities, whose livelihoods are vulnerable compared to other sections of the society. The impact of the disaster can be minimised to a great extent by mechanisms for early warnings and its timely propagation. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) is the agency responsible for transmitting weather forecasts to respective state governments well in advance. This information needs to be passed on quickly to ensure faster rescue operations and other adaptive mechanisms. The communication can be either from the land to the fisherfolk at sea or among the fisherfolk operating at the sea. Communication at sea is a challenging task for fisherfolk. The role of effective communication influences several sectors of fisheries, including fisherfolks safety and price discovery of fish. Land-based communication networks can be accessed only a few nautical miles (NM) from the shore. Beyond that, very high frequency (VHF) radiotelephone seta combination of transmitter and receiver which operates on standard international frequenciesis the most commonly used communication instrument. However, the reach is limited to 30 nautical miles and requires a licence to operate. Though it is common in mechanised fishing boats, traditional crafts do not have it. Fisherfolk are either ignorant of VHF protocol, or simply choose to ignore it. Since many mechanised boats undertake deep-sea fishing beyond the limits of 30 NM, medium frequency/high frequency (MF/HF) transmitters are considered a better option. But these require a licence issued by the concerned department of the government for which a Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) number is mandatory. At present fishing vessels do not have the MMSI number. A distress alert transmitter (DAT) is also recommended in all fishing boats to seek help from the coastguard when fisherfolk are in trouble. Pressing any of the four buttons (fire, medical help, leakage and accident) will send a signal to the central server located at Bengaluru, with details of the boat, location and nature of distress, which is then passed on to the nearest coastguard station. However, false alarms, misuse, non-use and misleading messages were often reported which creates troubles for the rescue teams. Safe handling of the equipment is also a major issue. Another recommendation is the automatic identification system (AIS), which was introduced as collision avoidance tool for ships. It helps vessels to continuously broadcast their id entity and position using VHF frequency, and allows them to track other boats. The Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) was introduced and developed through the IMO to ensure rapid alerting of shore rescue authorities and vessels in the immediate vicinity at the time of a marine disaster, using terrestrial and satellite technology. The global implementation of GMDSS services became effective in 1999. The concept of carrying the electronic equipment according to the vessels size has been changed to carry equipment as per the area of vessels operation. For this, the total navigable sea area has been divided into four areas, namely A1, A2, A3 and A4. Area A1 is the reach of VHF station, which is approximately a distance of 30 NM from a VHF coast station. A2 is the area beyond 30 NM up to approximately 300 NM, which is within the reach of MF coast radio station. A3 is the area beyond A1 and A2 (defined as the area between 70 N and 70 S excluding area A1 and A2) where vessels can use HF sets or satellite communication systems (INMARSAT). A4 is mainly polar region areas, where satellite communication is not possible and so HF is the only solution. The Kerala government, in collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), has come forward to equip the fishing vessels with high frequency communication systems (NavIC). The system is said to be effective in communicating from the surface to fisherfolk at sea, but has a technological limitation where communication back from sea is not possible, and is still being perfected. C mobile, a private initiative, operating in the Neendakara coast of Kerala, is exclusively meant for fisherfolk for facilitating their communication needs. Discussion with fisherfolk/boat owners (during February 2018) indicated that they have to purchase the equipment and pay a monthly user charge/subscription fee. With a subscriber base of 400 fisherfolk, the operators at Neendakara claim to cover up to 100 kilometres from the shore. Satellite phones can overcome this deficiency. Though all satellite phones are not allowed, those working in INMARSAT are allowed. However, the cost is exorbitantly high. Against this background, establishing cost-effective, two-way communication systems for fisherfolk need to be thought of. Basic Survival Skills Another issue of concern is the safety of the vessel itself. Over-capitalisation of marine fisheries has been widely discussed(Kurien and Achari 1990; Devaraj and Vivekanandan 1999; Ravi et al 2014). In a rush to supersede competing vessels, boat owners fit high-power engines and modify boat parameters, thereby straying from the optimal technical recommendations, and hampering the safety of the vessels at sea. CIFT, under the aegis of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) had developed optimal parameters for fishing craft and gear. The most important requirement of any marine vehicle is a stability check. It is mandatory to prepare a stability booklet following construction of the vessel. But for fishing crafts, this is not mandatory for registration. Thus, it is highly advisable to conduct annual/biannual inspections of all vessels after the initial five years, in order to check for safety parameters like strength of the boat, working condition of the engine, navigational lights and fittings, communication equipment, life-saving and firefighting equipment, water tightness of doors, engine room and port holes, in addition to hull inspection. Negligence in conducting these inspections can lead to unintended consequences. Since fishing has evolved from a traditional vocation, fishing and survival skills are considered tacit knowledge, which is inherent among fisheries communities, and they are exposed to the local knowledge system from childhood itself. The issue of safety is exacerbated in the context of the heavy influx of migrant workers, especially from non-coastal areas, who often do not possess even having basic swimming skills. Thus, preparing them with the minimal requirement like swimming is essential. Need for Awareness Generation The world over, fisherfolk, particularly those involved in traditional and non-industrialised fishing, rely mostly on their own wisdom, common sense and skill in life-threatening situations (McDonald and Kucera 2007). An investigation into the awareness of fisherfolk on sea safety measures and their use in India shows that these are not very popular (Srinath and Rajeev 1995). Some amount of negligence is also seen on the part of the boat owners in equipping their vessels with safety and communication equipment, and while inspecting the strength and stability of boats. Fisherfolk highlight a number of reasons for not using safety equipment, a major one being the cost of equipment like life jackets and lifebuoys. Incentivising the fisherfolk through subsidised credit and strong penalty on defaulters are policy options to deal with this situation. Monitoring and enforcement alone cannot successfully ensure the enaction of safety regimes in the marine fisheries sector. Rather, it is more important to spread awareness about available safety options and their proper usage. A strong and vibrant extension system is needed to create awareness of safety measures among fisherfolk. Training should be conducted in a targeted manner. Such a system can function effectively only with adequate policy support. One such area of urgent intervention is insurance for craft, gear and for the fisherfolk. Further discussion indicates inadequate coverage of insurance facility for both personnel and loss of fishing material at sea. Fisherfolk are found to be reluctant to leave the craft/gear and rescue themselves during disasters due to lack of insurance for their craft and gear, and the fear of losing their only means of livelihood. Awareness generation among traditional fisherfolk, along with incentivising the adoption of safety practices, even with state expenses, could be serving a greater cause. Ensuring access to institutional facilities like credit and insurance could be a key instrument to inculcate safety-sensitive behaviour. Compared to the mechanised fisheries sector, the traditional sector is more prone to risk. Not only are the traditional crafts ill-equipped with communication and navigation techniques, but have little training on safety aspects. Sheer braveness and experience are their strength to cope with the roughness of the sea. With the advent of motorisation, traditional fisherfolk have started exploiting offshore fishing opportunities. Though it helps to avoid the competition in coastal waters as well as target new resources, there is an increase in risk. Safety regulations for motorised craft are yet to be initiated. Fisherfolk Training Fisherfolk, often experienced and hailing from a fishing background, tend to underrate risks at sea (Davis 2012). Establishment of fisherfolk training centres is an urgent step to equip them with safety measures. Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel (STCW-F) sets the certification and minimum training requirements for the crews of seagoing fishing vessels of 12 metres and above in length. The modules of the STCW-F such as personal survival techniques (PST), personal security and social responsibility (PSSR), emergency first aid (EFA) and fire prevention and firefighting, which are mandatory for the crew of commercial vessels, as per merchant navy regulations, need to be made compulsory for fisherfolk also. Many of the boat drivers (serangs) do not even possess the necessary licence to operate the boat, let alone adopt safety measures. However, this requires infrastructure facilities. The Government of Kerala imparts training to fisherfolk through CIFNET. Besides, some private firms and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are providing awareness camps and trainings, but the scale of their operation is grossly inadequate to meet the needs. Countries like Canada and Oman, which have a high stake in marine capture fisheries in deep waters, have mandated compulsory training for fisherfolk before venturing into the sea. A study in the United States suggested that training and awareness programmes are inadequate to meet the safety challenges (Davis 2012). In India, fisheries being a traditional occupation, many have not received any kind of training. A sudden move towards training may not find favour, but a gradual and calibrated approach may find acceptance over a period of time. Translating Policy into Action Translating the policies and regulations at the grass-roots level is the most important task. It is widely acknowledged that development of a working legal framework of reference is critical in implementing any strategy towards safety of fisherfolk (Perez-Labajos 2008). However, fisherfolk often need not necessarily identify a valid need for regulations, due to the multitude of reasons, including several personal reasons as well as confidence in dealing with the risk at hand through several approaches(Thorvaldsen 2013). Anecdotal evidence indicates that hiring safety equipment from private agencies and producing them at the time of registration is an usual malpractice in India. Although the marine enforcement wing is entrusted with monitoring and enforcement of rules, they often face financial, human resources and infrastructural constraints. The pressure to complete registrations at the earliest makes the situation worse. Fisherfolk are at the lower rung of the social development, and social security measures are needed to mainstream them. Sea security is an integral component of the social security of fisherfolk (Kurien and Paul 2000). In implementation of the safety measures, cooperation of boat owners/fisherfolk is the key element, without which it is difficult to even obtain accurate information on the number of men and vessels at the sea. The traditional knowledge and wisdom of the fisherfolk ought to be used in safety and rescue operations. Targeted approach of all stakeholders, including community leaders, is critical in ensuring the cooperation of fisherfolk in adopting safety measures at sea. For emergency situations, an integrated approach involving various stakeholdersfisherfolk, social institutions, navy/air force, and state department and research institutionsis more effective, as observed during the recent Ockhi experience. Information on vessels operating from locations other than the harbours is scant and is not reflected in the official statistics. In the light of these experiences, strengthening the information system on marine fishing is a critical step. Further, community support from fisherfolk is vital in spreading awareness and adoption of the safety measures. This is so to adopt long-term strategies for protection of fisherfolk living in coastal zones (Kurien 2005). Such efforts need to be supplemented by research on both engineering and social aspects of fisherfolk safety. Conclusions The fisheries sector has an important role in Indian economy in terms of employment generation, nutritional security, foreign exchange earnings and livelihood generation for a population of about 15 million. Fisherfolk who brave the odds at the sea deserve a better standard of life, though the reality is often different. Security of life and livelihood is an integral part of the development discourse. In order to achieve inclusive growth ensuring safe fishing in a rapidly globalising world, a support led strategy needs to be given due emphasis. Achieving higher growth in fisheries with a concern for fisherfolk can yield rich social benefits in terms of avoiding loss of men and material at sea. A judicious blend of both promotional and protective measures, aided by institutions in awareness generation and enforcement structure is the need of the hour. In any such attempt, ensuring the support of the fisherfolk community is vital. Based on a specific tip-off, sleuths of the Chennai Zonal Unit intercepted two passengers who arrived at the airport on different flights. CHENNAI: DRI sleuths nabbed two men who smuggled gold into Tamil Nadu at the Chennai airport on Sunday. Based on a specific tip-off, sleuths of the Chennai Zonal Unit intercepted two passengers who arrived at the airport on different flights. They then set out to check their checked-in baggage during which gold of foreign origin totally weighing 7 kg valued at Rs 2.28 crore kept concealed inside electrical appliances like a microwave oven and an electric hotplate. These were seized by the customs officials. On interrogation, the two passengers 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. Investigations revealed that the seized gold has been smuggled from Malaysia to Nepal and then into India. The duo was arrested and remanded in judicial custody. Soon after the firing from the Indian side took place, sources said residents in the neighbouring villages of Poonch witnessed smoke emanating from the site. (Photo: ANI) Poonch: The Indian Army has fired at Pakistan Armys administrative headquarters situated near Poonch district along the Line of Control (LoC). According to sources, the attack by Indian forces comes in retaliation to the firing of mortar shells witnessed in Poonch and Jhallas on October 23. Soon after the firing from the Indian side took place, sources said residents in the neighbouring villages of Poonch witnessed smoke emanating from the site. However, sources said that the Indian Army has exercised maximum restraint in spite of continuous provocation by Pakistan. In doing so, the Indian side has consciously avoided targeting or harassing civilian population in Pakistani towns of Hajira, Nikial and Samani which are in close proximity to the LoC. #WATCH: Pakistan army administrative HQ targeted along LoC near Poonch by Indian Army in retaliation to Pakistans mortar shelling of Poonch and Jhallas on October 23 pic.twitter.com/o0C6UJQqcr ANI (@ANI) October 29, 2018 The attack comes over two years after the Indian Army carried out surgical strikes in September 2016 at terrorist launch pads across the LoC in response to the strikes witnessed in Uri and Nagrota sectors of Jammu and Kashmir. Earlier in the month, a reported published by The Dawn had noted that uneducated and unemployed youth were being targeted primarily for carrying out a wide range of terrorist activities. The report further claimed that deprivation and penury of PoK locals suited the Pakistan Army, which, while ensconced in the safety of their posts, used these youth as cannon fodder for action along the LoC. In this regard, sources said it was high time to call out the bluff of the Pakistan Army and take necessary action against perpetrators of terror. Disturbance along the LoC has restricted the movement of Indians to PoK who visit the area either for business purpose or to meet relatives and friends. Sources added that in the wake of the situation prevailing in PoK only a handful of Indian residents are able to visit PoK mainly due to the number of restrictions imposed in the region by the Pakistani authorities. Compared to this, a fairly larger number of Pakistani citizens have been crossing over to the Indian side. According to data, a total of 283 PoK residents have crossed over to the Indian side from June this year, whereas only eight Indian citizens have been able to cross from the Indian side to PoK. Sources said Indian citizens cite excessive restrictions when they visit PoK and constant shadowing by intelligence operatives as the reason for their reluctance to visit their relatives in PoK. Compared to this, Pakistani citizens have a fairly easy movement in India. Police do not know how the two women found bound together in the Hudson River last week wound up in the water, but they do know who they are: Tala and Rotana Farea, sisters who originally hailed from Fairfax, Virginia. The NYPD is awaiting the results of an autopsy before they can say whether or not the pair were victims of a homicide. The Farea sisters washed up on the banks of the Hudson River on Wednesday afternoon, where someone strolling in Riverside Park spotted them and called the police. Authorities found the women clothed and belted together with duct tape at the waist and ankles, pronouncing them dead at the scene. Shortly thereafter, an NYPD source speculated to the NY Daily News that the incident may have been the result of a "suicide pact." The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner subsequently released a statement emphasizing that the investigation into the sisters' cause of death was ongoing, but the bodies were not found "badly decomposed" as previously reported. On Thursday, police released sketches of the women, and disclosed their identities on Friday. Tala, age 16, had been been reported missing in late August: A since-deleted post on the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children website reportedly stated that she might have been with her sister, age 22. According to the NY Post, police believe that the women floated downriver from the George Washington Bridge, traveling about 110 blocks to land in Riverside Park near 68th Street. NYPD Chief of Detectives Dermont Shea told the Post that the sisters "were not in the water that long" before police arrived, but the autopsy results have not yet been released. UPDATE: The Arab News reports that the sisters moved to the U.S. from Saudi Arabia, and that their motherwho lives in Virginiawithdrew the missing person report she'd taken out for Tala when she learned the teenager was visiting Rotana in New York. Their family does not believe the pair committed suicide. The State Department declined comment for this story, but the administration has confirmed Washington is considering waivers. (Photo: File) Washington/Singapore: Shortly after US President Donald Trump announced in May he would reimpose sanctions on Iran, the State Department began telling countries around the world, that the clock was ticking for them to cut oil purchases from the Islamic Republic to zero. The strategy is meant to cripple Iran's oil-dependent economy and force Tehran to quash not only its nuclear ambitions, but this time, its ballistic missile program and its influence in Syria. With just days to go before renewed sanctions take effect November 5, the reality is setting in: Three of Iran's top five customers - India, China, and Turkey - are resisting Washington's call to end purchases outright, arguing there are not sufficient supplies worldwide to replace them, according to sources familiar with the matter. That pressure, along with worries of a damaging oil price spike, is putting the Trump administration's hard line to the test and raising the possibility of bilateral deals to allow some buying to continue, according to the sources. The tension has split the administration into two camps, one led by National Security Adviser John Bolton, who wants the toughest possible approach, and another by State Department officials keen to balance sanctions against preventing an oil price spike that could damage the US and its allies, according to a source briefed by administration officials on the matter. The global price of oil peaked just below USD 87 a barrel this month, a four-year high. Because of that concern, the source said, the administration is considering limited waivers for some Iranian customers until Russia and Saudi Arabia add additional supply next year, while limiting what Tehran can do with the proceeds in the meantime. Revenues from sales could be escrowed for use by Tehran exclusively for humanitarian purposes, the source, who asked not to be named, said - a mechanism more stringent than a similar one imposed on Iran oil purchases during the last round of sanctions under US President Barack Obama. "If you're the administration, you'd like to ensure you don't have a spike in the price. So, you are better off from mid-2019 onwards to aggressively enforce the barrels side of reducing to zero and in the interim aggressively enforcing the revenue side," the source said. Such concessions could be problematic for the White House as it seeks stricter terms than under Obama, who along with European allies imposed sanctions that led to an agreement limiting Iran's nuclear weapons development. The State Department declined comment for this story, but the administration has confirmed Washington is considering waivers. US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told Reuters that countries will first have to reduce purchases of Iran's oil by more than the 20 per cent level they did under the previous sanctions. 'A bit unpredictable US Treasury and State Department teams have travelled to more than two dozen countries since Trump pulled out of the nuclear deal on May 8, warning companies and countries of the dangers of doing business with Iran. US allies Japan and South Korea have already ceased importing Iran's crude. But the situation is less clear among other, bigger buyers. Brian Hook, the State Department's special representative for Iran, and Frank Fannon, State's top US energy diplomat, most recently met with officials in India, Iran's No. 2 buyer, in mid-October after a US source said for the first time that the administration was actively considering waivers. An Indian government source said India told the US delegation that rising energy costs caused by a weak rupee and high oil prices meant zeroing out Iranian purchases was impossible until at least March. "We have told this to the United States, as well as during Brian Hook's visit," the source said. "We cannot end oil imports from Iran at a time when alternatives are costly." A US diplomat confirmed the discussions, saying limited waivers for India and other countries was possible. India typically imports over 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) of Iranian oil, but has reduced that level in recent months, according to official data. Discussions are also underway with Turkey, Iran's fourth biggest crude buyer, even though Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and Turkish ministers have openly criticized the sanctions. An industry source in Turkey familiar with the talks told Reuters the country had cut Iranian imports in half already, and could get to zero, but would prefer to continue some purchases. Obama's administration granted a six-month waiver to Turkey, but the source said Turkey expected the Trump administration to impose tougher requirements for obtaining waivers that could potentially cover shorter periods. "It could be for three months, or they may not get a waiver at all. It is all a bit unpredictable this time, as we understand a lot of things are up to Trump," the source said. The situation is least clear in China, Iran's biggest customer, whose state-owned buyers are also seeking waivers. The country took in between 500,000 and 800,000 bpd from Iran in the past several months, a typical range. Beijing's signals to its refiners have been mixed, said the two sources. Last week, Reuters reported Sinopec Group and China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC), the country's top state-owned refiners, have not placed orders for Iranian oil for November because of concerns about the sanctions. Joe McMonigle, energy analyst at Hedgeye in Washington, said he expected the administration would have to accept some level of Iranian oil buying from China, given its consumption. "Of all the countries, I don't think they think China is going to zero," he said. US State Department's Fannon is scheduled to travel to Asia in coming days, with a speech in Singapore planned for Oct. 30; an official did not say if Fannon would use the trip to discuss Iran with China. Sirisena had, on Friday, sacked Wickremesinghe and appointed former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa as the new Prime Minister, triggering political chaos in the Indian Ocean island nation. (Photo: AP) Washington: The US has called on Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena to immediately reconvene parliament to allow the democratically elected representatives in the country decide who will lead their government following a political turmoil sparked by the sudden sacking of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. Sirisena had, on Friday, sacked Wickremesinghe and appointed former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa as the new Prime Minister, triggering political chaos in the Indian Ocean island nation. The 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. "We call on the President, in consultation with the Speaker, to immediately reconvene parliament and allow the democratically elected representatives of the Sri Lankan people to fulfill their responsibility to affirm who will lead their government," US State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert said. The United States continues to follow developments in Sri Lanka with concern, she said. "We urge all sides to refrain from intimidation and violence," Nauert said in a statement. The United Nations also expressed concerns over the political developments in Sri Lanka. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on the Sri Lanka 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. The Secretary-General urged all parties to exercise restraint and address the unfolding situation in a peaceful manner, the spokesperson for the UNSG said. 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 formed 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. A section of the Da Nang - Quang Ngai Expressway has been damaged with potholes after a heavy downpour on October 5, 2018. Photo by VnExpress/Dac Thanh Vietnam should prioritize and reserve public investment for the most important projects and strictly evaluate money spent, parliament members say. Vu Thi Luu Mai, member of the National Assemblys (NA) Finance and Budget Committee, said Monday the countrys public investment was spread all over, in almost all provinces, without a focus. In the 2016-2020 period, Vietnam has planned to allocate VND2,000 trillion ($85.98 billion) for public investment in 9,620 projects. The numbers show that the country is investing in too many projects without clearly specifying which ones are most important, she said. As our public debt and overspending are high, we must be selective. She cited the example of Australia as a place where the state budget is only used for the biggest projects, like an airport; and that of South Korea, where about two thirds of big projects are funded by the private sector. Mai also said that greater care should be taken in planning investments to ensure cost-efficiency. Other deputies also expressed concerns about the low efficiency of public investment projects. Vu Tien Loc, chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), drew attention to the Da Nang Quang Ngai Expressway, the first road of its kind in the central region. Early this month, cracks and potholes were seen in the aftermath of a heavy downpour on the expressway, built since 2013 at the cost of over VND34.5 trillion ($1.4 billion). The investor was slammed by all sections of society for blaming inclement weather for poor quality construction. Loc said that this was a typical example of wasting public money. There are still many projects with low utility value and unnecessary constructions, like monuments and squares. We are dividing our budget so that there is a little for each province and ministry, without considering how that money could be focused to develop the economy as a whole. Echoing Loc, Nguyen Ngoc Phuong, an NA deputy from central Quang Binh Province said that the government needs to report on the effectiveness of projects and hold individuals and companies responsible if they do not make good use of public money. He also proposed that legislators review the law to see which regulations are delaying project progress and make changes accordingly. The speed of projects should be increased to avoid idle capital, Phuong said. NA deputy Hoang Van Cuong, vice principal of the National Economics University, said that the disbursement rate of public investment has been declining due to a lack of criteria to decide which projects should be prioritized. The government needs to publish a list of priority criteria to avoid unfocused investment, so there will be no debate over whether to build a VND1.51 trillion ($64.53 million) opera house or a hospital, he said. Cuong was referring to a recent plan to build an opera house in the Thu Thiem New Urban Area in Ho Chi Minh City. The project was approved by the citys Peoples Council, but as soon as it was made public, there was a backlash, with many people saying it was a waste of money and a case of skewed priorities at a time when the city still needed to deal with urban flooding, traffic jams and overloaded public infrastructure. They said the opera house would be an odd luxury in a city that lacks basic facilities like schools and hospitals. The Ministry of Finance said that Vietnams public debt is set to reach 61.4 percent GDP this year, a drop from last years 62.6 percent, and might go down to 61.3 percent next year. The National Assembly has fixed Vietnams public debt cap at 65 percent of the GDP. An artist impression of the Long Thanh International Airport in Dong Nai province, Vietnam. Photo acquired by VnExpress The parliament has heard that site clearance funding for the Long Thanh International Airport could be disbursed very soon. Transport Minister Nguyen Van The informed the ongoing National Assembly (NA) session Monday that the government is likely to approve the site clearance plan for the Long Thanh airport project in the southern province of Dong Nai next month. Immediately after the approval, Dong Nai would be able to access site clearance funding, he said. In the first phase, VND23 trillion ($987 million) will be disbursed for the site clearance, The said. He said the ministry had signed contracts in June with five contractors, three Japanese and two Vietnamese, after an international bidding process. The five contractors are speeding up their work to finish the feasibility study for the first phase of the project and are expected to finish it in July next year, he said. The Long Thanh International Airport, to be built in three phases over three decades, is set to become Vietnams largest airport. The first part is scheduled for completion in 2025, when the new airport will be able to handle 25 million passengers a year. The next two phases will run from 2030 to 2035 and from 2040 to 2050. Investment in the first phase is estimated at VND114 trillion ($4.87 billion), sourced from the state budget, government bonds and private equity. Experts have previously warned that the construction cost of the airport could double every five years. At an NA session last week, NA deputy Duong Trung Quoc representing Dong Nai Province expressed concerns over signs of delay in the construction of Long Thanh. Funding for the project is ready, but the people are still waiting for it to be deployed, Quoc said, adding that the projects feasibility report has not been approved after the NA discussed it in May. The longer a project is delayed, the more complicated and difficult it will become in terms of budgeting, Quoc said. CNN Travel has recently listed the upcoming Long Thanh International Airport among the worlds 16 most exciting airport projects. Lying 40 kilometers east of HCMC, the airport is expected to take up the overflow from the largest existing airport in the country, the Tan Son Nhat International Airport. Tan Son Nhat now receives 32 million passengers a year, far beyond its designed capacity of 25 million. With a growing number of visitors to the country, and the national carrier, Vietnam Airlines, growing its operations, the government has brought forward construction of a new airport to be known as Long Thanh International, a CNN Travel report said. Once completed, Long Thanh, expected to cover 5,000 hectares (12,400 acres), would replace Tan Son Nhat as the largest airport in Vietnam. The new airport would have an annual capacity of 100 million passengers and five million tons of cargo. A young American woman was killed in a traffic accident Monday morning in the northern province of Ha Nam. The victim, whose name has not been revealed, was driving on the National Highway 1A from Hanoi to the nearby Ninh Binh Province when her motorbike was hit by a container truck moving in the same direction, the Thanh Nien newspaper reported. The accident took place at around 7:30 a.m. in Thanh Liem District, around one and a half hour drive to the south of Hanoi. The 23-year-old woman was killed almost instantly, Nguyen Van Trung, director of Ha Nam Police, told local media. Some eyewitnesses said the driver of the truck fled the scene after the accident. Police are investigating the cause of the accident and looking for the truck driver. Last week, a French woman and a Spanish man were killed in a road accident in Ha Giang Province after a head-on crash with a truck trailer, prompting provincial authorities to issue a document asking local police to clamp down on traffic violations by foreigners and tighten control on motorbike rental service. Many bike rental services in Vietnam are said to require foreign customers to present passports only, and not driving licenses. Road crashes are a leading cause of deaths in Vietnam, killing almost one person every hour. A total of more than 9,000 traffic accidents occurred in the first half of this year, killing nearly 4,100 people and injuring over 7,000, according to the National Traffic Safety Committee. Police confisticate cash, mahjong tiles and mobile phones, among others in a raid in Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province on Saturday. Photo by VnExpress/An Phuoc Nine Chinese nationals were arrested Saturday night in the central province of Khanh Hoa for mahjong gambling. About $4,900 in Vietnamese dong and Chinese yuan, 800 mahjong tiles, nine mobile phones and other pieces of evidence were seized from a house on Hung Vuong Street in the province's resort city Nha Trang. Initial findings are that Chinese national Zeng Jun, 36, was the ringleader who organized mahjong sessions for fellow nationals currently living or traveling in Nha Trang, one of the country's most popular destinations for Chinese. In the first nine months, Nha Trang received 2.15 million foreign visitors, including more than 1.2 million Chinese, which was up 157 percent from the same period last year. The mahjong case is being investigated further. Mahjong is a tile-based game that was developed in China during the Qing Dynasty (1936-1912) and has spread throughout the world since the early 20th century. It is commonly played by four players. On October 17, 18 people including Chinese nationals in the southern province of Dong Nai were jailed for between 11 months and four and a half years by a local court for gambling. Most forms of gambling are illegal in Vietnam, and organizing gambling or running gambling dens is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. 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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. The imperial life of Hue slum residents. Many houses like the ones in this picture are loosely and precariously constructed. Photo by VnEpxress/Vo Thanh Provincial authorities should ensure slum residents at Hue Citadel are resettled nearby and can continue with their occupations, the PM says. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has said that the protection of the citadel in central Vietnam is a task of all government levels and sectors, but it is first and foremost the responsibility of the local government. "Thua Thien Hue has to set aside land with favorable conditions for people to resettle, so that they do not have to travel too far from the citadel and continue living with their former occupation," the PM said. He noted this work should follow resettlement policies causing minimal disruption in the lives of the relocated residents and funds for the relocation project can be raised from multiple sources. After media reports highlighted the squalid conditions in which about 15,000 people lived on the premises of the Hue Citadel, an important historical monument that has won UNESCO recognition as a World Heritage, the provincial government held a meeting last week to discuss the issue. It was decided that they would facilitate the relocation of nearly 3,000 households from the imperial Hue slum in what is known as Area 1 of the citadel. Media reports earlier had noted that the 15,000 residents living on the citadel face severe weather conditions with scant protection, and live amidst squalor and pollution that they add to, not having recourse to normal amenities like toilets, bathrooms and stable roofs and walls. At last weeks meeting, the province set up a project to clear the slum and relocate the residents. Phase 1 of the project, between 2019 and 2021 and expected to cost approximately VND1,880 billion ($80.5 million), will relocate 2,938 households with about 11,000 members. The second phase, costing VND855 billion ($36.6 million), will be implemented from 2022-2025 to relocate the remaining residents. The immigration process during the war (1945-1975), together with urbanization, as well as the increase in population put great pressure on the protected monument area. Area 1 of the citadel hosts about 4,201 households now. Provincial leaders have acknowledged the problem of slums that have sprung up in the protected area despite investments made in conserving and restoring the relics in the province, especially those related to its royal past. The province has called for the central government to support it with funding and submitted other proposals. Growing affluence sees more and more Vietnamese go on overseas cruises The demand for overseas cruise holidays has been growing in recent years among Vietnamese thanks to growing affluence. Data from the Asia Cruise Trends report released by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) shows that the number of Vietnamese going on cruise trips abroad last year soared to 59,000, 38 times up from as recently as 2012. This makes Vietnamese among the most promising groups of customers in the fastest-growing Asian cruise market, the report said. The boom has been attributed to the countrys economic growth. GDP growth reached 6.98 percent between January and September. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc early last week told the ongoing National Assembly session that the economy is likely to expand 6.7 percent in 2018. This years estimated per capita GDP of $2,540 marks a $440 increase over 2015, the PM said. A World Bank report last year said the country is seeing an increasing number of people, estimated at 1.5 million each year, join the ranks of the middle and upper classes. As Vietnams economy grows, and an increasing number of citizens join the ranks of the global middle and upper classes, more people are going to take an interest in traveling the world, Sean Preston, Visa country manager for Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, said. Data from the CLIA report shows that the average age of Vietnamese going on a cruise overseas is around 42 and they spend an average of four days on a trip. But 10 percent go on longer trips of seven to 13 days. Nearly 80 percent of Vietnamese travelers expressed interest in visiting cruise destinations in Asia, followed by the Caribbean (7 percent), Alaska (6 percent), Europe (3.5 percent), and Australia (1 percent), the report added. With its own 3,000-km long coastline and exotic local culture, Vietnam has received 493 visits by foreign cruise ships this year, a 20 percent increase from a year ago, to rank fourth among the most-visited cruise destinations in Asia, according to the 2018 Asia Cruise Trends report. A cruise ship near rock islands in the famous Ha Long Bay in the northern province of Quang Ninh. Photo by ShutterShock/Tung Duong Japan topped the list with 2,601 visits, followed by China (1,021) and Thailand (581). A survey by cruise travel site Seahub, which last year studied nearly 1.8 million Instagram posts tagged on various ships and ports around the world, named Vietnam among the 15 most Instagrammed global cruise destinations. Last year U.S. lifestyle magazine Food and Wine named a cruise in Vietnam one of the 11 best trips across the globe for retirees. Ukraine-U.S. trade sees 16% growth economy minister Exports to the United States grew by almost 32%, and imports by 11%. If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter First official U.S. trade mission arrives in Ukraine after 10-year pause The economy minister hopes the U.S. businesses will consider taking part in privatization of SOEs. If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter Ex-NBU head Gontareva becomes fellow at Institute of Global Affairs Her first project on consulting top management of central banks worldwide is Tunisia. If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter 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... 10,554,316,736 drams in damages recovered The general prosecution has recapped the results of recovering damages to the state in corruption and white-collar crimes in the first 9 months of 2018. The Prosecutor Generals Office said in a press release that the total damages to the state discovered within the framework of criminal cases is 64,130,144,343 drams nearly 132 million dollars. About 14 billion drams from the total amount in damages was discovered by the national security service, nearly 9 million drams by the state revenue committee, about 7,5 billion by the investigative committee, and the remainder more than 33 billion by probes at the Investigative Committee. The latter also includes the 23,553,817,000 drams in damages to the state as a result of misuses funds during the implementation process of the North-South Road Corridor project. During the 9 months of 2018, 10,5 billion drams in damages has been recovered, while nearly 7 billion damages is guaranteed by criminal-judicial tools freezing of assets. In addition to criminal damages to the state, the investigation of the national security service has led to nearly 1,7 billion drams in penalties and fines being paid to the state budget. Statement nn the ongoing Aggression by Azerbaijan against the Republic of Armenia "We condemn any attempts at borderisation, as observed since the incursion of Azerbaijani troops into Armenian territory on 12 May" Joint statement The United States is deeply concerned about reports of intensive fighting today between Armenia and Azerbaijan.ANTONY J. BLINKEN Statement of the MFA of Armenia Google Ad Ookla has awarded Ucom with The fastest fixedline network in Armenia award UCOM keeps on supporting the 42 YEREVAN programming school Recognizing the One-Year Anniversary of the Ceasefire Declaration Between Armenia and Azerbaijan They should not be positioned near civilian communities neither in Armenia nor in Artsakh Humanitarian and human rights protection needed following the 2020 outbreak of hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh Galaxy Group of Companies expands its activities in Belarus: a new TIME and Pandora store launched I think its a good moment to invest in Armenia. Head of Markets at Symbiotics Vincent Lehner Ameriabank has Raised USD 17.5M Tier 2 Capital UNIGHT TO UNITE. UCOM CELEBRATED ITS REBIRTH Ameriabank and HSBC Armenia to provide their customers access to each others ATMs without additional fees Ameriabank. 62.5% Growth in Taxes YOY Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans have provided 300 million AMD to overcome the infertility in Armenia Google Ad UCOM has officially launched the sale of IPHONE 13 Six servicemen were wounded by the attack of the Azerbaijani armed forces in Artsakh, two of them in critical condition S&P Improved the Outlook on Ameriabank to Positive Ararat Mirzoyan to visit to Minsk Foreign Minister of India visits the Memorial of Armenian Genocide 1217 new cases Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia Statement by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group At UCOM only: Tv sets at 10% discount + 1 month free UMIX package + 4k tv channel Ameriabanks Special Offer for New Clients of Hrazdan Branch "Fall forward": Gurgen Khachatryan, the Co-Founder of the Galaxy Group of Companies, addressed a message to young people in Armenia UCOM hosted interns of Russian CBOSS corporation for a month The 20-episode Bloody bet thriller to be broadcast on Ucom's Armenia Premium TV channel Statement nn the ongoing Aggression by Azerbaijan against the Republic of Armenia "We condemn any attempts at borderisation, as observed since the incursion of Azerbaijani troops into Armenian territory on 12 May" Joint statement The United States is deeply concerned about reports of intensive fighting today between Armenia and Azerbaijan.ANTONY J. BLINKEN Statement of the MFA of Armenia Ookla has awarded Ucom with The fastest fixedline network in Armenia award UCOM keeps on supporting the 42 YEREVAN programming school Recognizing the One-Year Anniversary of the Ceasefire Declaration Between Armenia and Azerbaijan They should not be positioned near civilian communities neither in Armenia nor in Artsakh Humanitarian and human rights protection needed following the 2020 outbreak of hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh Galaxy Group of Companies expands its activities in Belarus: a new TIME and Pandora store launched I think its a good moment to invest in Armenia. Head of Markets at Symbiotics Vincent Lehner Ameriabank has Raised USD 17.5M Tier 2 Capital UNIGHT TO UNITE. UCOM CELEBRATED ITS REBIRTH Ameriabank and HSBC Armenia to provide their customers access to each others ATMs without additional fees Ameriabank. 62.5% Growth in Taxes YOY Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans have provided 300 million AMD to overcome the infertility in Armenia Google Ad UCOM has officially launched the sale of IPHONE 13 Six servicemen were wounded by the attack of the Azerbaijani armed forces in Artsakh, two of them in critical condition S&P Improved the Outlook on Ameriabank to Positive Ararat Mirzoyan to visit to Minsk Foreign Minister of India visits the Memorial of Armenian Genocide 1217 new cases Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia Statement by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group At UCOM only: Tv sets at 10% discount + 1 month free UMIX package + 4k tv channel Ameriabanks Special Offer for New Clients of Hrazdan Branch "Fall forward": Gurgen Khachatryan, the Co-Founder of the Galaxy Group of Companies, addressed a message to young people in Armenia UCOM hosted interns of Russian CBOSS corporation for a month The 20-episode Bloody bet thriller to be broadcast on Ucom's Armenia Premium TV channel Russia's hybrid military forces have mounted 19 attacks on Ukrainian army positions in Donbas in the past 24 hours, with one Ukrainian soldier reported as wounded in action, the press centre of the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) has reported. "The enemy opened fire on the positions of our troops 19 times, including three times from weapons prohibited by the Minsk agreements ... Over the past 24 hours, one soldier of the JFO was wounded," JFO HQ said on Facebook on Monday morning. Russian occupation forces opened aimed fire from grenade launchers and heavy machine guns at the defenders of the towns of and, and the villages of Krymske, Avdiyivka, Pisky, Maryinka, Slavne, Taramchuk, Berezove, Pavlopil, Hnutove, Lebedynske, Vodiane, and Shyrokyne. "Since Monday midnight, Russian-led forces haven't attacked the Ukrainian positions yet," the staff said. According to Ukrainian intelligence, three militants of the illegal armed groups were killed and six more were injured over the day. Ukrainian rock star and civic leader Sviatoslav Vakarchuk has announced that the presidential post is not something that interests him at the moment and what he calls for are some changes to take place in the country. "I would like to say it once again: the [presidential] post is of no interest to me. I am interested in changes in the country," Ukrainska Pravda quoted him as saying at a public lecture in Kharkiv on October 29. Vakarchuk said that the president is not "a role you play in a serial," the president is "a serious business." "Let us stop all the discussions whether I will run for president or not. It is not something to be discussed today, I am offended by such questions," he said. Vakarchuk also said that he will be unlikely to stand many chances "to change something" all on his own. "I think that we can only achieve something by joining our efforts," he said. On Monday, October 29, at 12.00, the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine news agency will host a press conference entitled "The Results of October - Electoral and Socio-Economic Dimension." Participants include Director of Ukraine's Institute for Global Strategies Vadym Karasiov, expert of the Gardarika Strategic Consulting Corporation Kostiantyn Matviyenko, and Director of the Ukrainian Barometer Sociological Service Viktor Nebozhenko (8/5-A Reitarska Street). Registration requires press accreditation. Forty conservative MPs have sent a letter to the Expediency Council (EDC), urging it to reject a package of bills making Iran a party to several international agreements on combating terrorism financing and money laundering. Known collectively in Iran as the Palermo Bills, the legislation would pave the way for the country to join the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crimes (UNTOC), Combatting Financing Terrorism (CFT), and the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) -- in the hope of reducing international pressure on Irans already deteriorating economy. Originally proposed by President Hassan Rouhani in November last year, the bills have met staunch resistance from hardliners, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who says the agreements have been cooked up by foreign enemies. It is not necessary to join conventions the depths of which we are unaware of, he said, proposing instead that parliament create its own laws to combat money laundering and terrorism funding rather than join an international convention. FATF has given Tehran until February to either endorse the UNTOC or be added to its black list of countries refusing to cooperate in the fight against terrorism financing and money laundering. Iran has long provided support for groups such as Lebanon's Hezbollah movement, which has been designated by the United States as a terrorist organization. Frustrated with hardline opposition and anticipating a rejection of the bills by the Guardian Council (GC), Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani decided to present the bills directly to the EDC after theyd been approved by parliament in an apparent attempt to circumvent the GC. The EDCs traditional role has been rather to act as an arbiter in disputes between parliament and the GC, and it has already rejected parts of the bills. The EDC has argued that joining FATF is against Irans policy of resistance economy, and will jeopardize Irans economic and food security and discourage investment. In their letter, the hardliner MPs pointed out that the EDC cannot independently intervene in the process of legislation by rejecting or approving proposed bills and parliamentary motions. They argued that the speaker's decision to submit the bills directly to the EDC is against Article 25 of EDC's internal regulations, as well as Article 112 of the Islamic Republic's constitution and Article 25 of parliament's internal guidelines. Nonetheless, during recent years the EDC has established a 15-member group called the "Supreme Supervisory Board" (SSB) that weighs the bills and motions passed by parliament to verify their compatibility with the long term general policies of the Islamic Republics system. The group was established by an edict issued by Supreme Leader Khamenei in 2013. The 15-member group is predominantly comprised of conservative and ultraconservative figures, including mid-ranking cleric and Rouhani's main challenger in last year presidential election, Ebrahim Raeisi. The letter represents the first time such a large group of MPs have openly challenged the power of the EDC. Iran's vice president has said on Sunday, October 28 that the United States will not be able "at all" to bring his country's oil exports to zero. Speaking at a ceremony in Tehran, Es'haq Jahangiri claimed that as a result of "planning" and "mechanisms" deployed by President Hassan Rouhani's government, the U.S. will not reach its goal of completely cutting off Iran's oil exports. He did not explain what these mechanisms are. The second round of U.S. sanctions reimposed by president Donald Trump in May kick in on November 4. The U.S. has been pulling diplomatic and economic strings to convince Iran's clients to stop importing buying its oil. Washington has also asked Saudi Arabia to make sure there is enough oil supply on the world market to keep prices from rising further. However, Jahangiri insisted that U.S. claims of Saudi oil replacing Iran's exports are a "lie" and said that oil has climbed from $30 to $80 a barrel and if the U.S. could stop all Iranian exports, the price would have reached $100. The Iranian official also spoke about "European resistance" to U.S. and the help of "friendly countries", such as Russia and China. Jahangiri added that it would be enough for Iran to sell one million barrels per day, claiming that in recent months the exports have been around 2.5 million b/d. However, various oil industry sources have reported a substantial decline in Iran's exports, to as low as 1.3 million b/d. The remark about reduced exports to be sufficient for Iran's financial needs may be based on Iran's hope for higher oil prices after November 4. Iran's vice president also cast doubt on any further impact of U.S. efforts against his country's oil exports, saying that 'nothing new will happen" on November 4, as the U.S. has done whatever it could in recent months. Jahangiri has also claimed that Iran's foreign currency reserves "look good" and top $100 billion. However, Iran's currency rial has dropped five fold against the U.S. dollar on the open market in recent months. In an effort to counter U.S. sanctions on its oil exports, Iran offered its first oil cargo in Tehrans energy stock exchange to private companies. Less than a third of the volume offered was sold at $74.85 a barrel on October 28. One million barrels of light crude was offered and 280,000 barrels were sold reportedly to three buyers, Shana reported. Iran plans to attempt again on October 29 to sell the rest of the oil. Iran wants to get the private sectors help to export oil to international markets as US is preparing to implement oil sanctions on the country on November 4, expected to halve its 2.1 mb/d crude oil exports in 2017 in the first step and zero exports over an 18-month period. Iran keeps the identity of buyer companies confidential, but ISNA reported that the participant companies include the subsidiaries of Iranian banks as well as non-stock exchange corporations. The mechanism of purchasing oil in Energy Stock Market is that the companies must pay 20% of value before receiving cargo in Kharg oil terminal in the Persian Gulf. Then, one of state-run banks including Melli, Export Development, Sepah or semi-official banks including Saderat (Export), Tejarat (Trade), Mellat or private banks including Pasargad, Parsian as well as Saman should issue a guarantee for the rest of the payments. The buyer should pay off all debts in 50 days after receiving the oil cargo. In case the buyer cannot sell the cargo, it should pay 5% of purchase price as compensation and return the oil to the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC). The buyer is allowed to sell cargoes only in Irans non-traditional markets, which include China, India, Japan, South Korea and Turkey. Regarding the $74.85/barrel price as well as the 50-day deadline for payment, the buyers can sell the cargoes to dealers in spot markets. NIOC itself provides 60 days of credit for purchases, free shipment and offers discounts for all its traditional clients. But one important issue is whether the companies allowed to buy oil from this market are real private companies or connected with government banks and institutions. Iran Chamber of Commerce Vice Chairman Pedram Soltani twitted in July that the real private companies are unable to export oil. If private companies buying oil are politically connected and fail to pay back for the oil they received, then it is basically government banks that have to carry the slack, as guarantors of the contracts. This will hugely increase the risk of corrupt deals. Price issue and payment According to the official website of NIOC, the countrys official selling price formula for light oil is $5.2 below Brent Oil benchmark price for northwest Europe and Africa and $4.7 below Brent price for Mediterranean markets. Regarding the current $77.66 Brent price, it is unlikely the private Iranian companies can sell the purchased cargo at $74.85/barrel in these markets, but they can sell the small cargoes to Asian or regional dealers, small refineries or companies in cash. The value of the 280,000 barrels sold on October 28 is about $21 million and the Iranian companies should pay off the 80% of this value through foreign currencies. In spot markets -like all other oil markets- the payments are carried out through US dollar and local companies have no choice but bring cash dollars back into the country or convert them to other currencies and deposit into the NIOCs bank accounts inside or outside of the country. During the previous round of sanctions (2012-2015), the Iranian government attempted several times to offer oil in Energy Stock Exchange without any result. But, outside of the exchange, about $2.7 billion worth of oil cargoes were sold to an Iranian businessman named Babak Zanjani and about $230 million was sold to Irans Police Force. However, none of them paid off their debts. Zanjani was arrested in 2013 and sentenced to death, while in the case of the police, its commander general Esmail Ahmadi-Moghaddam was early retired and some high-ranking officials were reportedly arrested. Risks and rewards Involving in oil deals puts the Iranian entities as well as their foreign clients in US sanctions risk. US also can expand the range of sanctions to Irans private sector, banks and even stock market. There is also the risk of involving semi-official companies in suspect deals, corruption, payment problems, etc. The National Iranian Oil Company which has been the only official institution for oil exports until now, offers only light oil in the Energy Stock Exchange. All of Irans domestic refineries use only this type of oil. In case the private sector would not be able to find clients, the cargoes can easily be returned to NIOC and used in the local refineries with above 1.7 mb/d capacity. On the other hand, Iran perhaps sees another advantage in this scheme. Involving non-governmental entities in oil export can confuse tanker tracking institutions in following Irans exports and its markets. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 29 Trend: Occupation of Azerbaijani lands can never lead to political results pursued by Armenia, acting head of the press service of Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry Leyla Abdullayeva said in a statement Oct. 29. The statement was made on the 25th anniversary of the occupation of Azerbaijans Zangilan district. On October 29, 1993, in the course of the military aggression of Armenia against Azerbaijan, the Zangilan district with a total area of 730 square kilometers, outside the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region of Azerbaijan, was occupied by the armed forces of Armenia, reads the statement. Zangilan, which came under siege after occupation of Jabrayil and other surrounding districts, resisted the aggression for more than two months. As a result of the aggression, the population of the Zangilan district consisting of 85 settlements was subjected to ethnic cleansing. Many dwelling houses, industrial and agricultural, infrastructure facilities in the fields of education, healthcare and culture, including the museum of history with collections of ancient monuments, were destroyed, the statement said. Armenia seriously damaged the state and private property located in the district. Presently, 45,000 residents of the Zangilan district reside in different districts of Azerbaijan as IDPs. Like in other occupied territories, in the Zangilan district, Armenia carries out the policy of ruining, falsifying, vandalizing and changing the characteristics of the material-cultural and historical heritage of the people of Azerbaijan, reads the statement. In this regard such archaeological sites as jug burials between the villages of Yukhary and Orta Yemazli of the I millennium BC, the ruins of the historic settlement of Shahri-Sharifan of the 13th-14th centuries in the village of Sharifan, the Gyz Galasy monument in the village of Amirkhanly, dating back to the 12th century, the tomb of Yahya ibn-Muhammad Al-Hajj of 1304-1305 in the Mammadbayli village, as well as a number of the Caucasian-Albanian churches, numerous mosques, etc. can be noted. Armenia, grossly violating the obligations imposed on it by the Geneva Conventions, continues to commit such unlawful acts as change of geographical names in Zangilan district, the looting of property there and burning of territories, the statement noted. Especially, illegal resettlement of Armenian population, including the persons of Armenian origin from Syria is carried out in this area. The plans of Armenia to build a new, the third in a row road via the territory of the Zangilan district in order to create additional connection between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh region clearly demonstrates the intentions of this aggressor country to annex the occupied Azerbaijani territories. UN Security Council resolution 884 strongly condemned the occupation of the Zangilan district of Azerbaijan and expressed serious concern over the humanitarian emergency on Azerbaijans southern frontier as well as the expulsion of a large number of civilians from their places of permanent residence, the statement said. The resolution demanded the withdrawal of the occupation forces unilaterally from the Zangilan district and other occupied territories of Azerbaijan in accordance with the "Adjusted timetable of urgent steps to implement Security Council resolutions 822 (1993) and 853 (1993)". Although the UN Security Council resolutions contain an unequivocal demand for the withdrawal of the occupation forces, Armenia has not complied yet with these requirements. Only withdrawal of the Armenian troops from Azerbaijans occupied territories and the change in the status quo created as a result of the occupation can open the way for political settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, comprehensive regional cooperation and contribute to ensuring sustainable peace, reads the statement. Azerbaijan, supporting the intensification of international efforts for soonest resolution of the conflict retains the right to restore its territorial integrity and sovereignty within the internationally recognized borders and the violated rights of its citizens, the statement said. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 29 Trend: President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva attended the opening of the Flag Museum in Shaki. The head of state cut the ribbon symbolizing the opening of the Flag Museum. The museum is located in the territory of the Flag Square. Renovation and landscaping work was carried out, trees, and flower bushes were planted in the square. The construction of the Flag Museum started this March and was completed in October. The museum has an exhibition hall, and the administrative and auxiliary rooms. The museum`s collection features the map and flags of the khanate period in Azerbaijan, medieval warriors` clothing, coats of arms of the Azerbaijani cities dating back to the 19th century, ancient metal coins, constitutions, emblems, flags, postage stamps, orders and medals relating to Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, Azerbaijan SSR and the independent Republic of Azerbaijan. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 29 Trend: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva have attended the inauguration of the Shaki-Kish highway. Chairman of the Board of Directors of Azerbaijan Highway State Agency Saleh Mammadov informed the head of state and first lady of the technical characteristics of the road. The two-lane road is 7.2 km in length and 12 m in width. A bridge over the Kish River was also renovated under the Azerbaijani Presidents order. The head of state cut the ribbon symbolizing the opening of the road. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 29 Trend: Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has sent a letter of condolences to his US counterpart Donald Trump. I was deeply saddened by the news of casualties and injuries as a result of an armed attack at a synagogue in the city of Pittsburg, Ilham Aliyev said in his letter. On the occasion of this tragic event, on my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, I extend my deepest condolences to you, families and loved ones of those who died and all the people of the United States. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 29 Trend: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva have attended the opening of the Shaki ASAN Hayat complex. President Aliyev cut the ribbon symbolizing the opening of the complex. The President`s Assistant for Work with Law Enforcement Bodies and Military Issues, department head Fuad Alasgarov and chairman of the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan (ASAN Service) Ulvi Mehdiyev informed President Aliyev and the first lady of the complex. Shaki ASAN Hayat complex is the 15th center of the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The construction of the complex started in 2017 and was completed this October. The president launched the Shaki ASAN Hayat complex. The complex will serve 510,000 citizens in Shaki, Gakh, Zagatala, Balakan and Oguz disticts. A total of more than 300 services will be provided for citizens by 11 public authorities in ASAN Hayat complex. The complex employs a 190-man staff, and 50 volunteers. President Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva then got acquainted with Shaki ASAN Pesha center, which is part of ASAN Hayat complex. President Aliyev familiarized himself with innovations in the ASAN Visa system. The Shaki ASAN Hayat complex will also feature the CoWorking center. President Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva then met with employees of the Shaki ASAN Hayat complex and posed for photographs with them. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 29 Trend: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva have attended the opening of ABAD Center of Ceramics and Applied Arts as part of their visit to Shaki. The head of state cut the ribbon symbolizing the opening of the complex. The President`s Assistant for Work with Law Enforcement Bodies and Military Issues, department head Fuad Alasgarov and chairman of the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan (ASAN Service) Ulvi Mehdiyev informed President Ilham Aliyev and the first lady of the work done here. The building of the Ceramics and Applied Art Center was constructed in the late 19th century and was used as a barrack. The building was reconstructed with support of Pasha Holding. The Shaki ABAD Ceramics and Applied Arts Center features all the conditions for those engaged in ceramics and applied arts. It will also offer sale of products produced by local craftsman. The center will create about 40 permanent jobs. The main goal of the center is preserving and transmitting ancient ceramic production traditions of Shaki district to the younger generation. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 29 Trend: A meeting of the military topography experts of Azerbaijan and Belarus has taken place in Baku, the press service of the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry reported Oct. 29. The guests were briefed on the implementation of work on navigation, hydrography and hydrometeorology. They were demonstrated the capabilities of modern equipment used by the Azerbaijani army, and the questions of interest to them were answered. The parties exchanged views on the study and introduction of experience in the military topography, geodesy and cartography. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 29 Trend: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva have attended the inauguration of a new building of the mixed type orphanage, constructed at the initiative of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, in Shaki. The head of state and first lady cut the ribbon symbolizing the opening of the orphanage. The total area of the 80-seat building is more than 2,000 square meters. The two-story building has bedrooms, a library, computer and music rooms, a workshop, a gym, a medical point, a kitchen, a canteen and a laundry. An outdoor playground was built, landscaping was carried out, a green area was created, and trees were planted in the territory of the orphanage. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 29 By Elnur Baghishov - Trend: Due to some changes in the work schedule, the visit of Major General Mohammad Bagheri, chief of General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, to Azerbaijan has been postponed, Irans Embassy in Azerbaijan said in a message Oct. 29. The new date of the visit will be announced after agreement between the parties. On Oct. 29, the Iranian media citing public relations department of the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, reported about Bagheris visit to Azerbaijan accompanied by a military delegation at an official invitation of Azerbaijans Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 29 Trend: France does not recognize the so-called "Nagorno-Karabakh Republic", the agreements signed by the local executive bodies do not impose any responsibility on the French government for their implementation and these agreements do not have any legal force, the French Ambassador to Azerbaijan Aurelia Bouchez stated on Oct. 29, the French diplomatic mission in Azerbaijan said in a message. The French ambassador once again expressed sincere condolences to the families and friends of the people who died during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and sympathy to the displaced persons. "As for the visits of the mayors of French cities to Nagorno-Karabakh, the position of France is clear and unequivocal. As a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, France, based on impartial position, continues the mediation mission between Armenia and Azerbaijan," the message reads. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct.29 By Leman Zeynalova - Trend: The 6th Baku International Humanitarian Forum is a historic event for world peace, world security and intercultural dialogue, Peter Tase, US expert on Global Politics and Transatlantic Relations, adviser to Global Engineering Deans Council and other prestigious international institutions, told Trend. What the president of Azerbaijan has been doing over the last 10 years with the Baku Process, there is no other head of state who has been doing so much in promoting international peace, international security and fostering economic growth not only in the Caucasus, but also throughout Europe and beyond, he said. Tase noted that Baku International Humanitarian Forum addressed many issues from humanitarian aid to disinformation, to information warfare, the 10th anniversary of Baku Process and the most pressing problems that the world is facing today. Those are some of the matters that this years forum was able to address effectively and bring to the center of attention the most pressing challenges that the world is facing today. At the same time, I had a pleasure to deliver a speech in the disinformation session and I spoke about the human environmental destruction in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan committed by Armenians, noted the expert. Tase said it is very sad to observe that the international community has been silent in addressing the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and unfortunately, OSCE has lost relevance and the Minsk Group even more so. It is not delivering the mission for which it was originally assigned and I believe that the UN and all of its relevant parties should pay a close relook to the situation, because the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has direct implications towards the fulfillment of the UN Sustainable Development Agenda 2030. Without peace in the Caucasus, without the recovery of the full territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, these Sustainable Development Goals 2030 so much promoted by the UN will not be fulfilled, will not be accomplished, he said. The expert pointed out that the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh is very tragic. We have provocations from the Armenian armed forces going on every day. The major international media outlets do not pay enough attention to this crisis, at the same time, you do have a major environmental destruction going on in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, said Tase. What should be emphasized is that the government of Azerbaijan has been very patient, it has been very understandable and has been working hard to solve this armed conflict by peaceful means, he said. But on the other hand, the newly elected government of Armenia prefer to maintain the status quo and refrain from engaging in effective dialogue and effective negotiations, and thats the most critical problem that we have now, said the expert. Tase noted that the absence of the international pressure towards the Armenian government that is very concerning. Metsamor nuclear power plant is another issue that was never brought up at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. That is not only the problem of Armenia, but also for the whole region, he said. Tase went on to add that close trade relations between Azerbaijan and Europe must be joined with direct and concrete measures taken by European countries when it comes to solving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. It is critical for Europe to maintain close commercial and trade relations with Azerbaijan. At the same time, this must be joined with direct and concrete measures taken by European countries when it comes to solving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. I am one of those few scholars who believe that oil and energy cooperation between Azerbaijan and Europe should not be addressed in an isolated fashion from other agenda items that exist between EU and Azerbaijan, said the expert. Tase noted that over the last years Azerbaijan has an acceleration of the energy projects, the country has a wonderful progress in terms of building pipelines and providing natural gas to European countries. But at the same time, European countries, and EU member countries are not delivering reliable, concrete results when it comes to solving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Both of these matters should be addressed on a joined fashion, rather than be dealt as isolated items, he said. Further, talking about the progress in Azerbaijan over the last 15 years, Tase said that Azerbaijan has achieved strong microeconomic development. Azerbaijans president has been able to successfully diversify the national economic production metrics not only by developing the oil sector and pipeline sector and natural gas exports, but also implementing some positive and pragmatic policies that strengthen the agricultural economy, dairy production and domestic production of grain, said the expert. He noted that now Azerbaijan has a more diversified economic platform and is becoming a prestigious brand when it comes to wine production, tea exports and carpets manufacturing, silk production and many other enzootic and useful products for other countries. The government of Azerbaijan has been able to successfully diversify the economic production framework. This will have a positive impact in the long run and will help further reduce the unemployment in the short term, said Tase. The expert noted that Azerbaijan has impressive culture, unique history and it has contributed to the strengthening of democratic institutions not only in Azerbaijan, but throughout the world. The promotion of Azerbaijani culture in the US has been going through various positive results thanks to the hard work and determination of Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev and also thanks to Ambassador Elin Suleymanov, who has been very active in conducting so many lectures and public events that bring Azerbaijan closer to the US society, said Tase. He pointed out that multiculturalism of Azerbaijan is an important asset for the world. Baku has become the worlds capital city of multiculturalism and interreligious dialogue. At the same time, in Baku we see the rare combination of various architecture schools and that speaks volumes and that speaks so much about Azerbaijani culture, history and folklore. Another important factor is the economic cooperation between Azerbaijan and the US, which is at its best levels. The diaspora of Azerbaijan in the US is also playing an important role to bring the two countries together and make sure that there is no misunderstanding in the communications between these two cultures, two nations and governments, added Tase. Tase also spoke about his own initiatives to develop cooperation between Azerbaijan and Latin America. One of the projects that I have been trying to promote now is the tourism project between Azerbaijan and Argentina. We are trying to bring three groups of tourist from Argentina to Azerbaijan. Each group will include on average ten people. We are working closely with Equilibrium Global, digital journal published in Buenos Aires. The editor of this web-page is Diego Fernando Velaskes. He is very active in promoting Azerbaijan in Argentina. This is one of the projects we have been working on together. There are some tours that will take place from Uruguay, Chili within the tourism framework in the coming years, he added. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 29 Trend: Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has signed an Order providing initial allocation for the construction of a new school in Alibayli village in Gakh district. Under the presidential Order, the Ministry of Education is initially allocated one million manats for the construction of the 216-seat school. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 29 Trend: The president of the University of Wollongong of Australia operating in Dubai Prof.Mohamed Salem and the chairman of the Global Career Institute and the Azerbaijan-Cyprus Friendship Society Orkhan Hasanoghlu visited UNEC. The rector of UNEC, professor Adalat Muradov informed the guests about the regions largest economy-oriented university which is conducting the education in four languages. The rector, speaking about the dual degree programs with the prestigious higher education institutions of the world in the bachelors and masters degree level of education and the exchange programs, noted that he was interested in cooperation in this direction with the universities from Islamic countries. The rector emphasized that the foreign students from Islamic countries along with many other countries around the world had been studying at UNEC, as well. Expressing his satisfaction with being at UNEC, Mohamed Salem spoke about the education opportunites of the Wollongong University. He said that the oldest higher education institution of country Wollongong was holding the leading position in the region in the area of teaching conducting scientific research and applying the innovations. Noting that he was interested in expanding ties with higher education institutions in Azerbaijan, M.Salem emphasized the importance attached to cooperation with UNEC in this direction. He noted that, every year Azerbaijani students took part in the admission to the university governed by him. Speaking about the directions of activity of the organization he represented, O. Hasanoghlu noted that cooperation with UNEC in the implementation of international conferences, forums and joint projects would be successful for both sides. During the meeting, the sides exchanged views on organization of dual degree programs on bachelors, masters and doctorate levels of education between the universities. At the same time, the student-teacher exchanges, joint initiatives in MBA and EMBA programs, conducting research in Islamic finance and banking area, as well as, the organization of guest lecturers lectures also were discussed. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 29 Trend: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Swiss Confederation to Azerbaijan Philipp Stalder visited Baku Higher Oil School (BHOS) and met with the BHOS Rector Elmar Gasimov. Managing Director of ABB Company in Azerbaijan Rustam Gasimov, Press and Information Officer of the Embassy of Switzerland to Azerbaijan Atash Sultanov and the BHOS key staff members also attended the meeting. Having welcomed the guests, the Rector Elmar Gasimov told about the Higher Schools activities and latest developments including arrangements for on-the-job training and two-month internship of the BHOS students at SOCAR and other transnational companies. Speaking about the Higher Schools partners, he emphasized that it has developed successful cooperation with ABB Company, which set up a Training Center with modern facilities and simulation equipment at the BHOS campus. The Rector said that this Training Centre is actively used during practical lessons for the Process Automation Engineering students. The Swiss Ambassador to Azerbaijan Philipp Stalder extended his gratitude to Elmar Gasimov for the warm reception and the interesting meeting. In his words, BHOS is different from other national higher educational institutions in many respects. As the Ambassador noted, the Baku Higher Oil School is the recipient of the most significant investments made by ABB Company to Azerbaijan in the framework of its social projects aimed at support of education in the country. The Ambassador Philipp Stalder also informed that Swiss delegation led by the State Secretary on education, research and innovation would be in Azerbaijan in a few days. As expected, the delegation will visit the Higher School, he told. Managing Director of ABB in Azerbaijan Rustam Gasimov expressed satisfaction with the fruitful cooperation with the Baku Higher Oil School and said that ABB management intends to strengthen this partnership. At the meeting, new prospects and spheres of the bilateral cooperation between ABB and BHOS were also discussed. During the visit, the guests were given a tour around the campus and were familiarized with the training laboratories established and equipped by large international companies at BHOS. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 29 Trend: The State Migration Service of Azerbaijan detained 148 illegal migrants last week, the Service said in a message on Oct. 29. Two of them were detained during joint activities with the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan. It was determined that 13 of the detainees violated declared purpose of their arrival, two did not live at the registered addresses, one was engaged in illegal employment, and the other 132 persons lived illegally in the country. Measures within the fight against illegal migration are continued by the State Migration Service. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 29 Trend: Azerbaijani products will be exported to Mongolia, Azerbaijani Ministry of Economy said. The export mission, organized to the Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar by the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation with the support of the Ministry of Economy, was completed to promote the Made in Azerbaijan brand and promote local products in foreign markets. The export mission with the participation of 17 Azerbaijani companies operating in the production of wines and other spirits, milk and dairy products, canned products, medicinal herbal teas, confectionery, mineral water, in the field of ICT and others, met with Mongolian colleagues, discussed export issues. Speaking at a meeting with Mongolian businessmen, Deputy Minister of Economy Niyazi Safarov informed about the diversification of the Azerbaijani economy, the development of the non-oil sector, activities carried out in the area of sustainable improvement of the business environment, as well as stimulating the development of the private sector, expanding Made in Azerbaijan brand and the promotion of foreign investment, the possibilities of expanding Azerbaijani-Mongolian cooperation and economic ties. The products of the Azerbaijani companies included in the export mission caused great interest among Mongolian companies. Azerbaijani companies Absheron-Sharab, A + SO, Merit Brand, Sharg Ulduzu, Agro-Azerinvest, Aspi Agro, Azeri met with the largest distributor of wine products in Mongolia - World Wine LLC and Sansar chain stores. Primary agreements were reached on the export of Azerbaijani wines to Mongolia, as well as on the export of products between the Azerbaijani company Aspi Agro and the Mongolian company World Wine. An agreement on the sale of plant extract was also reached between the Azerbaijani company Herba Flora and the Mongolian company Vitalit Invest. The Azerbaijani company Konfirom and the Mongolian companies Shizhirzhin Group, Altan Jolo Impex, McN Export negotiated on the export of confectionery products, Gilan FMCG and the Mongolian Vertus Group and supermarket chain Sansar - on the export of fruit juices and canned products. The services offered by the Azerbaijani companies Cybernet, Sinam, Neuron Technologies and AZINNEX, operating in the ICT field, were met with great interest by businessmen and representatives of the state structures of Mongolia. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 29 By Elnur Baghishov - Trend: In the first half of the Iranian year (started March 21, 2018), revenues from imports of goods to Iran amounted to about $2.571 billion, and about $1.309 billion was received as customs duty and VAT, Irans Customs Administration said, IRNA reported. During the reporting period, profit in cash worth about $1.749 billion was received. About $42.857 million accounted for the customs duty, while the rest amount accounted for the VAT. Last Iranian year (started March 21, 2017), the total value of revenues of the Iranian customs amounted to about $5.238 billion. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 29 By Rashid Shirinov Trend: In the first 9 months of 2018, Kazakhstans National Welfare Fund Samruk-Kazyna has beaten the planned financial indicators. This was announced at a meeting of the Funds CEO Akhmetzhan Yessimov with the top management of portfolio companies, the Fund said in a statement. In the reported period, the Fund netted 825.3 billion tenge against the annual plan for 533 billion tenge, which is two times more than in the same period of the previous year. Significant improvement in the financial performance is caused by increase in production indicators and positive dynamics of oil prices. The operating profit (NOPLAT) for the reported period amounted to 635.7 billion tenge, which is 336 billion tenge more than in the same period of 2017, the Fund noted. Electricity production has increased by 17 percent, from 20.2 to 23.6 billion kilowatt hours, while coal production has grown by 13 percent reaching 32.6 million tons. Oil and gas condensate production has amounted to 17.6 million tons. Oil refining has grown by 8 percent reaching 9.9 million tons. Rail cargo turnover has increased by 8 percent from 150 to 162 billion ton-kilometers. It is worth noting that in April this year Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev approved a new Development Strategy of Samruk-Kazyna for 2018-2028, according to which one of the key objectives and mandates of the Fund is the effective management of portfolio companies and alignment of their performance with international peers. (367.49 KZT = 1 USD on Oct. 26) Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 29 Trend: Turkeys Tasyapi company and the State Committee of Uzbekistan for Geology and Mineral Resources signed an agreement on the development of two gold deposits in the Samarkand region on Oct. 25, Uzbek media reported. In accordance with the agreement, the parties will organize joint exploration and development of the Galabulak and Kushtepa fields. During four months, the Turkish company will carry out drilling operations at the facilities, tests for the development of technological regulations and will also develop preliminary feasibility study of the project for the fields development. In case of positive results of the first stage of the project, the parties will agree on the forms and conditions for cooperation on the development of gold deposits. In accordance with the information provided in the Resolution of the Uzbek Cabinet of Ministers dated May 31, 2017, the predicted resources of gold-quartz and gold-sulphide-quartz ores at the Galabulak and Kushtepa fields amount to about 5.9 tons of gold. In total, 31 promising sites and 12 deposits for precious metals with estimated reserves of 151 tons of gold and 1,200 tons of silver have been approved by the government. In May, the State Committee of Uzbekistan for Geology and Mineral Resources and the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of Turkey signed an agreement to study three prospective gold ore areas in the Jizzakh and Navoi regions. Exploration is expected to begin this year. During three years, the Turkish side plans to allocate $5 million for the project. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Oct. 29 By Huseyn Hasanov - Trend: Turkmen Foreign Ministry hosted a meeting with Secretary of State of Romanian Foreign Ministry Maria Magdalena Grigore, the Ministry said in a message. During the meeting, prospects for trade and economic cooperation between the two countries were discussed. The role of transport corridors was emphasized. Noting the developed logistics infrastructure of the two countries, the parties discussed opportunities of the Turkmenbashi International Seaport in providing multi-modal transportation, the message said. It was earlier reported that Turkmenistan and Romania agreed to intensify political and diplomatic efforts to sign in the future a political declaration on the establishment of the Caspian Sea-Black Sea transport and transit corridor. It is expected that Constanta may become a point for transshipment to the EU of the goods transported from the Turkmen port of Turkmenbashi, as well as from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in the context of ensuring access of goods from Turkmenistan and other Central Asian countries to European markets. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 29 Trend: The 11th Eurasian Economic Forum, titled The Art of Innovation: Economy of Trust and Business Diplomacy from the Atlantic to the Pacific, was held in Verona, Italy, on Oct. 25-26, UzDaily reported. A delegation of Uzbekistan ranked second by the number of participants in the forum. The Uzbek delegation included 18 representatives of the business community engaged in production of textiles, medical equipment, building materials, leather, and tourism. A special session dedicated to the presentation of Uzbekistans trade, economic and investment potential, titled Uzbekistan and Italy: Major Joint Projects, was organized at the forum by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan and the Italy-Uzbekistan Chamber of Commerce with the assistance of the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Italy. Uzbekistan was the only country invited to present its economic potential at the forum. During the forum, bilateral meetings were held. Following the meetings, a cooperation agreement was signed between the chambers of commerce of Uzbekistan and the comune of Como, Italy, as well as a cooperation agreement was signed with the Italian textile company ST & I. S.p.a, providing for the establishment of cooperation in development of textile industry in Uzbekistan, as well as introduction of advanced Italian experience in textile sector. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 29 Trend: A representative of Azerbaijan has been appointed as vice president of the Eurasian Patent Office, the Baku Intellectual Property Agency said in a message Oct. 29. Such a decision was made at a regular meeting of the Administrative Council of the Eurasian Patent Organization held October 22-23 in Dushanbe. During the meeting, a protocol on the protection of industrial designs on the territory of the Eurasian Patent Organization member countries was also discussed. Following the discussion, considering the proposals of Azerbaijan, an initial text of the protocol was adopted. The appointment of Azerbaijans representative to a high position in such an authoritative regional organization is another proof of targeted reforms carried out by the Azerbaijani president, as well as the countrys transformation into a leader in the region. The Eurasian Patent Organization was established in 1994. Azerbaijan signed the Eurasian Patent Convention on September 9, 1994, and became its full member in 1995. The organization was established to carry out administrative tasks for the activity of the Eurasian patent system and the granting of Eurasian patents. Presently, the organization consists of 8 countries: Azerbaijan, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Armenia. The governing bodies of the organization are the Administrative Council and the Eurasian Patent Office. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 29 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: Turkey will continue implementing megaprojects, which are a clear evidence of the countrys development, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure of Turkey told Trend Oct. 29. The ministry was commenting on the opening of a new airport in Istanbul. The ministry noted that megaprojects in Turkey are being implemented in line with the governments plan Vision 2023. The ministry added that the opening of the new airport in Istanbul is an important event for Turkey. Implementation of such important projects as the Channel Istanbul and the Canakkale 1915 Bridge continues, the ministry said. The opening ceremony of a new airport will take place in Istanbul on Oct. 29. The Ataturk Airport in Istanbul will end operating flights at 00:00 (GMT +3) on Dec. 31. Beginning from 00:00 (GMT +3) on Dec. 31, all passenger and cargo flights will be operated from the third airport of Istanbul. The third airport was built near the Lake Terkos in northern Istanbul. The first airport in Turkey was built in 1912 and was used for military purposes. In 1953, Istanbul airport was opened for international flights for the first time, and in 1985 it was renamed in honor of the founder of the Turkish Republic, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 29 Trend: The changes and additions have been made to the instruction on bank accounts being opened in the countrys banks upon a decree of the Board of the Central Bank of Uzbekistan, the NUZ-UZ reported. Firstly, when opening a bank account, it is forbidden for banks to urge business entities to seal documents or give sealed documents. This ban applies even when a business entity has a seal. There are also no differences by types of business entities (individual entrepreneurs, microfirms, small enterprises, big businesses). From now on, cards with samples of only signatures will be used in the document flow (earlier - cards with samples of signatures and imprinted stamp). Secondly, legal entities whose founders are individuals - residents of Uzbekistan will be able to open bank accounts in national and foreign currency when passing state registration. The bank account agreement will be concluded upon its opening by acceptance of the offer of the bank (that is, by unconditional consent to the conditions offered by the bank). At the same time, legal entities will be able to make payments only after submitting a card with signature samples, as well as documents certifying the identity of the first and second signature holders. The bank staff will make copies of personal documents and return the originals back. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 29 Trend: The Central Bank of Uzbekistan has disclosed new exchange rates, which will be effective from Oct. 30, 2018, Podrobno.uz reported. The exchange rate of the US dollar shows a positive trend for the 12th week in a row. This time the exchange rate of dollar increased by 10.77 soums. From Oct. 30, $1 will cost 8,236.87 soums. The exchange rate of euro this week decreased by 79.85 soums to 9,390.86 soums, compared to the last week. The exchange rate of Russian ruble slightly decreased by 0.57 soums and reached 125.19 soums. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 29 By Elnur Baghishov - Trend: For the first time in the past 40 years, Iran's Mazandaran Province exported 74 tons of high quality Tarom Hashemi rice to Canada, IRNA reported citing the Director for trade affairs of the Agricultural Organization of Mazandaran Province Suleyman Hatemnejad. Mazandaran Province produces about one million ton of rice from 230,000 hectares of paddy fields, Hatemnejad said. "The rice exported to Canada was sent in three batches by the private sector. The export of Mazandaran's quality rice to a country like Canada that implements special nutritional standards is a success for the province," he added. Hatemnejad mentioned that an International Rice Trade Center has been established in Mazandaran's Amol city to promote the rice produced in the province. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 29 Trend: A picture of a car carrier transporting several R2 hatchbacks, as well as R3 and R4 sedans to Russia's Ufa city appeared on social networks, Uzbek media reported. As Russian media outlet Rossiyskaya Gazeta found out, these cars did arrive at Ufa's auto shows, but they are not offered to buyers yet. However, even if sales start, there is no assurance that the previous level of demand will continue for the cars. The reason is that their price can almost double. According to available information, the dealer intends to sell the full option R3 sedans for 1,000,050 Russian rubles, the full option R4 sedans for 1,089,000 rubles, whereas previously the cars cost 579,000 and 629,000 rubles, respectively. In other words, Ravon cars will leave the budget category. Whether they will be interesting to buyers in this case is a big question. It is possible that some dealers will simply refuse to work with the Uzbek company, understanding the futility of such cooperation. (1 USD = 65.6345 RUB on Oct. 29) Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 29 By Fikret Dolukhanov Trend: The Agromir Group holds 40 percent in the segment of production of natural juices in Uzbekistan, Head of the Export Department of the Uzbek company Bekzod Mamatov told Trend. According to the company representative, Agromir plans to further increase production and sales, and is also working on producing other types of products for the Uzbek market. Our company exports products to Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iraq, India, Georgia, Belarus, Scandinavia, China, Korea and the US. We are constantly working on finding new partners in different countries and we are trying to establish long-term cooperation with them, Mamatov said. He also underlined that the company began to actively supply products to Azerbaijan in 2018, and the supply volumes are steadily growing. Ilham Mammadov, the head of the public relations department of the Azerbaijani group of companies Veysloglu, which includes Araz supermarket chain, the importer of Agromirs production, earlier told Trend that about 90 tons of natural fruit juices produced by the Uzbek factory were supplied to Azerbaijan. According to Mammadov, even though there is a certain interest in these products, they have not yet gained much popularity due to being new in the Azerbaijani market. According to the information, average monthly volume of sales of products of the Uzbek company varies between 13-14 tons. The Agromir Group unites number of enterprises for the development, production and distribution of healthy food products made from fruits and vegetables: natural juices and nectars, juice concentrates, fruit and vegetable pastes and mashed potatoes, wine and wine products, canned fruits and vegetables. In January-September 2018, the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan reached $30.73 million, $7.08 million of which accounted for exports from Azerbaijan, and $23.65 million for imports from Uzbekistan. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @FDolukhanov Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 29 Trend: Belarus and Uzbekistan plan to sign a memorandum of understanding in the field of nuclear energy, Podrobno.uz reported. The possibility of participation of Belarus in the implementation of the Uzbek project was discussed as early as September 13, during the meeting in Tashkent between the presidents of the two countries Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Alexander Lukashenko, the message says. "We have already signed a memorandum of understanding on nuclear energy with Kazakhstan. A similar document is virtually ready to be signed with Uzbekistan. It is supposed to be signed this year. We abide by the principle of openness and actively share our experience. Delegations from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Bangladesh, Turkey, and other countries have been to Belarus. They were made familiar with the experience of construction of the Belarusian nuclear power plant", Lilia Dulinets, Deputy Director of the Nuclear Energy Department of the Belarusian Energy Ministry said. She noted that Belarus is a trustworthy partner not only in terms of the experience of the construction of the Belarusian NPP, but also in terms of the attention to security issues. By the way, the IAEA mission to review emergency readiness and response to nuclear accidents and radiological emergencies has ended recently. This audit, like many previous ones, was carried out by the request of the Government of Belarus. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Oct. 29 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: Turkmen Oil Products (Turkmennebitonumleri), which carries out wholesale and retail trade of oil products in the country, has refuted information about a possible increase in gasoline prices in 2019, the Turkmen Oil (Turkmennebit) State Concern said in a message. Some foreign media reported that car owners in Turkmenistan began to actively save gasoline in additional tanks in light of the rumors about a possible rise in price for fuel from the beginning of 2019, the message said. The last time prices for gasoline in Turkmenistan went up on February 1, 2018. The cost of the most demanded AI 95 gasoline increased from 1 Turkmen manat to 1.5 manats per 1 liter. The official rate of the Turkmen manat against one US dollar has remained at 3.50 manats since January 2015. Presently, gasoline in Turkmenistan is produced at oil refineries in Turkmenbashi and Seydi. The produced gasoline fully meets the needs of the domestic market. A part of the gasoline is exported. At the end of 2018, it is planned to commission a new plant for production of liquid fuel from natural gas with an annual capacity of 600,000 tons of gasoline and 12,000 tons of diesel fuel, which meet the Euro 5 requirements. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct.29 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: European natural gas production is expected to continue to decline, the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) said in its analysis. EIA believes that this is because of an aging, mostly depleted resource base. "In addition, the Netherlands largest natural gas field, Groningen, has been subject to increasingly strict production reduction measures." Domestic natural gas production in EU-28, two-thirds of which is in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, has steadily declined in recent years and in 2017 accounted for 25 percent of EU-28 natural gas supply, according to the analysis. "From 2011 through 2014, relatively high natural gas prices led to less consumption of natural gas for electric power generation in several EU-28 countries, especially the United Kingdom and Spain. More recently, the use of natural gas in power generation increased in the EU-28. In 2017, several factors such as low hydroelectric output in Spain, Italy, and Portugal as well as unplanned nuclear plant shutdowns in France led to greater natural gas consumption and higher LNG imports," said the EIA. This is while the imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the 28 countries that make up the European Union (EU-28) averaged 5.1 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in 2017, increasing for the third consecutive year but remaining below their 2011 peak. "In 2017, imports of LNG into EU-28 accounted for 13 percent of the global total. LNG import capacity in EU-28 currently stands at 20 Bcf/d, or almost one-fifth of the global total, but utilization of EU-28 LNG import facilities has declined from about 50 percent in 2010 to between 20 percent and 25 percent in recent years as expansions in regasification capacity far exceeded demand for LNG imports," said the EIA. Currently, 13 of the EU-28 member countries import LNG. In 2017, LNG accounted for 11 percent of EU-28s overall natural gas supply, according to EIA estimates. --- Follow the author on Twitter:@Lyaman_Zeyn Tehran, Iran, Oct.29 Trend: The supply of crude oil on the energy market yesterday were historic, IRENEX Managing Director Ali Hosseini told IRIB news. At the same time, he said that IRENEX does not reveal the names of oil buyers via the exchange. According to the law, the disclosure of the names of buyers is a crime so this information is confidential," he said. The exchange is transparent with the exception of the names of the buyers, he said. Referring to some of the characteristics of the crude oil supply in the Energy Exchange, he says there is no restriction on shipping and it is up to the buyer, as well as the volume of shipments is reduced which require less liquidity. The settlement period is set for 50 days, said Hosseini. Iran began selling crude oil to private companies for export on Sunday, part of a strategy to counter US sanctions which come into effect on Nov. 4 and aim to stop the country's key crude exports. Out of 1 million barrels offered on the energy bourse, 280,000 barrels were sold at $74.85 per barrel. Iran said in July it would start oil sales to private firms as part of its efforts to keep exporting oil and would take other measures to counter sanctions after the United States told allies to cut all imports of Iranian oil from November. SHANA said Sunday's crude sales were carried out in increments of 35,000 barrels, without naming the buyers. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct.29 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: PETRONAS has urged all stakeholders in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry to take concrete actions to advocate natural gas, LNG and its role in the global energy mix, as a collective effort towards a sustainable market ecosystem, said a message from the company. PETRONAS President & Group CEO Tan Sri Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin said that gas will play a significant role in the energy mix and will be necessary to fulfil demands of the future. Gas is the solution that is here to stay, and making gas available to the various geographies not only makes good business sense, but is also our moral duty in ensuring a cleaner environment for future generations, he said. Speaking at the recent LNG Producer-Consumer Conference 2018 in Nagoya, Japan, Tan Sri Wan Zulkiflee emphasised that for LNG adoption to fully take hold, gas advocacy should be the focus of all the industrys collaborative efforts. He urged producers and buyers to engage in honest discussions on their immediate and longer-term supply and demand to ensure market stability and security besides spurring investments. In addition, Tan Sri Wan Zulkiflee said that investors, policy-makers, regulators, financiers and other industry enablers should cultivate a thorough and holistic understanding of the industry to develop and implement the right frameworks that facilitate the acceleration of LNG adoption. We observed that in some emerging markets, the sole reliance on free markets and the lack of government interventions have impeded the development of the gas markets. On the other hand, we have seen that LNG has gained the required momentum in countries such as Pakistan and Bangladesh where there are supportive government actions that are facilitating investments. he said. PETRONAS is one of the largest global LNG players and the worlds third largest LNG supplier. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct.29 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: Global economy will suffer even with oil prices staying above $80 per barrel, Charles Ellinas, CEO of Cyprus-based energy consultancy e-CNHC told Trend. The expert said that in general, it is possible for oil prices to reach above $100 per barrel. "US sanctions are having an impact on Iran oil exports at a time when demand has just exceeded 100 million barrels per day. However, China's economic downturn and its trade war with the US may slow down its oil consumption, impacting global demand," noted Ellinas. He pointed out that based on what is happening with China, Iran's ability to maintain some exports, Russia's promise to increase production and US steadily increasing production, the shortfall should be largely covered. "In addition Saudi Arabia has just reassured the markets that it can supply more crude oil quickly if needed, by as much as 1 to 2 million b/d. Coming today, despite the Khashoggi developments, hopefully any more revelations will not derail it," said the expert. However, Ellinas believes it is likely that there will be some shortfall, so he expects Brent prices will stay above $80 per barrel. "Even if there is no significant hike, with prices staying above $80 per barrel the global economy will suffer, particularly in Asia, India and China, where most growth is. China's economy was slowing down before this - it is not likely to get any better. But the biggest impact may be on India," he noted. Speaking about the possibility of ceasing the OPEC deal, the expert said that it is very likely. "I expect OPEC will reaffirm further easing of production curbs when it meets in December. But OPEC members having rediscovered strength in unity, they will maintain their cooperation and their control of production," said Ellinas. Saudi Arabias Energy Minister Khalid A. Al-Falih earlier said that the countrys daily oil output for October stands at 10.7 million barrels. He noted that in the case of necessity, this figure can reach 12 million barrels per day. The minister pointed out that the uncertainty with regard to world oil supply still continues. The sanctions to be imposed on Iran starting from Nov.4 and the supply cuts from some other countries also contribute to this uncertainly, according to Al-Falih. Therefore, the minister believes it is not ruled out that oil prices can surpass $100 per barrel in 2019. Earlier, OPEC and several other non-OPEC producers reached an agreement to extend the production deal for a further nine months. This would shift the expiration date of the agreement from March to the end of 2018. The agreement is on the same terms as those agreed in November last year. --- Follow the author on Twitter:@Lyaman_Zeyn Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 29 By Huseyn Veliyev Trend: High-Tech Park LLC of Azerbaijans Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies will sign a memorandum of cooperation with Astrolabs, Dubais largest acceleration center, the company told Trend. The cooperation will allow local startups to work directly in the center of Astrolabs. The document will be signed within the framework of the Innovation Week in Baku. AstroLabs Academy provides specialized courses in digital business, including digital marketing, coding, analytics and big data, UX design and business development. The center regularly conducts open classes available to the public, and also develops and provides customized training plans for corporate clients and accelerators throughout the region. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 29 By Huseyn Veliyev - Trend: The E-Government Education and Training Center of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies of Azerbaijan has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Microsoft Azerbaijan company on establishment of the Internet of Things laboratory. The document has been signed by the Rauf Jabbarov, Director of the E-Government Education and Training Center of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies of Azerbaijan and the Member of Board of Directors, General Manager for Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan at Microsoft CIS company Sarkhan Hashimov. The laboratory helps to increase the staff potential of young specialists in the field of innovations. Hashimov noted that the Internet of Things is a new trend in the world and the issue of training specialists in this field is an important component in terms of the development of the knowledge-driven economy. "Microsoft is closely participating in this process. And the laboratory being established is open to everyone. It will be possible to fulfill at this laboratory the skills and knowledge related to any industry where innovations can be introduced. The presentation of this laboratory will also take place within the Bakutel-2018 exhibition," Hashimov said. The signed document covers a three-year period and provides, among other things, for Microsofts close cooperation with the government agencies of Azerbaijan. "This refers not only to acquiring software solutions, but also to creating a protected environment in the country. The document also covers such issues as development of the non-oil sector, formation of new sectors and segments, creation of e-services of innovative focus, expansion of accessibility of e-services to the public. As for the software part, this refers to basic software solutions of Windows OS and Microsoft Office, in addition, Microsoft will also provide Azure and other solutions to students free of charge for the development of start-ups", said Hashimov. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 29 By Huseyn Veliyev - Trend: Microsoft will provide the necessary assistance to Azerbaijani state agencies in cyber security issues, Sarhan Hashimov, head of Microsoft Azerbaijan, told Trend. He said that most of the questions in this regard are confidential and are not subject to disclosure. As for cooperation with the public sector in improving infrastructure and investment climate, Hashimov said that the previously signed Enterprise Agreement is one of the parts of this process. Regarding the retail sector, Hashimov said that certain positive changes are also observed in this area, although there is still a lot of work ahead. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @h_veliyev Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 29 Trend: On October 24, the State Committee for Tourism Development of Uzbekistan hosted a meeting with representatives of the Uzbekistan-Japan Center, Uzbek media reported. During the meeting, an agreement on cooperation between the committee and the Uzbekistan-Japan Center was signed. The agreement provides for the holding of seminars and other forms of training programs that facilitate the implementation of processes for the exchange of experience between Uzbekistan and Japan in the tourism sector. During the meeting, the Japanese side noted positive changes in the field of tourism and the development of cooperation between the countries. The parties also offered to develop cooperation between the representatives of business tourism of the two countries. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 29 By Matanat Nasibova - Trend: The new project envisaging the development of nautical tourism in the framework of the signing of the Convention on the legal status of the Caspian Sea between the Caspian littoral states, requires very serious elaboration, the Deputy Chairman of the Lower House of Russian Parliament, the Head of the United Russia faction Sergei Neverov told Trend, commenting on the prospects for the development of nautical tourism between Azerbaijan and Russia. The deputy chairman of the lower house noted that the travel destination between Russia and Azerbaijan is actively developing, and this is confirmed by statistical data on the flow of tourists between the two countries. "Until the end of this year, the number of Russian tourists visiting Azerbaijan may approach one million, while the number of Azerbaijani tourists visiting Russia has almost reached 800,000. In my opinion, this is a serious increase, as well as an indicator of the active interaction between Russia and Azerbaijan in this priority area. On the other hand, the growing interest of our countries to each other is a natural fact, we speak the same language, we are connected by common history, and accordingly our countries must actively cooperate. The Russian people are happy to travel to wonderful Azerbaijan, both to its ski resorts and summer recreation areas. Therefore, our task at the present moment is to develop the nautical tourism industry so that citizens of our countries can recreate more efficiently on the Caspian Sea," Neverov continued. The Russian MP noted that when the document was signed between the parliaments of Russia and Azerbaijan, a high-level Commission was created, within which a more detailed discussion of the issues on the regional agenda was envisaged. "I think it is necessary to move from words to deeds, to implement the outlined projects that can really make a serious contribution to the economies of our countries," the statesman said, noting that the practical dialogue has been established between the parliaments of the two countries. The Russian MP noted that the creation of a high-level inter-parliamentary commission between the Lower House of Russian Parliament and the Azerbaijani Parliament lays a solid foundation for expanding inter-regional cooperation for the long term. On August 12, at the V summit of the heads of state of the Caspian littoral countries in Aktau, the heads of the five Caspian states signed the Convention on the legal status of the Caspian Sea - a historical document for the region, which has been worked on for two decades, since 1996. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Oct. 29 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: The Turkmen Foreign Ministry hosted a meeting with Manfred Grund, head of the Inter-Parliamentary Group for Central Asia of the German parliament, the Turkmen Foreign Ministry said in a message. During the talks, an exchange of views on regional issues and areas of international security took place. The parties expressed their commitment to intensify inter-parliamentary relations and considered issues of cooperation in the fields of politics, economy and transport, the message said. The meeting participants discussed expansion of cooperation in the cultural and humanitarian sphere. A meeting with Manfred Grund was also held at the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan (UIET). German MPs noted the interest of representatives of their countrys business circles in expanding cooperation with Turkmen colleagues, the message said. In this regard, an interest was shown in opening a representative office of the UIET in Germany. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Oct. 29 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov has sent a congratulatory letter to his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan and all Turkish people on the occasion of the Republic Day of Turkey, celebrated Oct. 29, the Turkmen government said in a message. The letter reads that the traditionally friendly and fraternal relations between Turkmenistan and Turkey are distinguished by a high level of mutual understanding and cooperation. Turkmen president expressed firm confidence in the further development and strengthening of relations in the interests of the peoples of the two countries. Turkey is one of the largest trade partners of Turkmenistan: about 600 Turkish companies operating in trade, investment, construction, energy, transport, communications, textile and processing industries have been registered in Turkmenistan. Turkmenistan exports the products of textile, energy, chemical, agricultural industries. Metals and products made of metals, household goods, equipment, building materials, electrical goods, products of chemical and light industries, food products, vehicles, and medicines are imported from Turkey. Ashgabat and Ankara expressed readiness to develop energy cooperation. Turkey declared its readiness to promote the transportation of the Caspian energy resources to Europe through Turkish territory, one of the options being the transportation along the bottom of the Caspian Sea and further across the territory of Azerbaijan. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 29 Trend: Uzbekistan and the UN will hold a conference in Tashkent, titled Central Asia - New Opportunities and Prospects for Regional Cooperation, in February 2019, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan Dilshod Akhatov said Oct. 29. On Oct. 29, the first meeting of the Central Asian Expert Forum opened in Tashkent with participation of heads and specialists of strategic research centers of the regional countries. The event was organized by the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies (ISRS) under the President of Uzbekistan and the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA), UzDaily reported. Akhatov noted that international political experts and scientists, experts from well-known analytical centers from Central Asia, Russia, China, the United States, Europe, as well as representatives of leading international organizations and financial institutions are expected to attend the conference. President Hassan Rouhani expressed pleasure with Majlis votes of confidence to the four proposed ministers, saying that the Cabinet once again is fully ready to offer services to the Iranian noble people, IRNA reports. Addressing a Cabinet session, he appreciated Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani, presiding board and MPs who debated qualifications of the nominees and approved all of them for the Cabinet vacancies. Rouhani defended his nominees for the ministries of economy, cooperatives, industries and roads during an open session of parliament, stressing that they are highly qualified to help navigate the country through the current challenging time. In an open session, Majlis discussed qualifications of the proposed ministers and gave votes of confidence to all the four nominees after a heated debate. Reza Rahmani was elected as Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade with 203 votes in favor and Farhad Dejpasand took helm of Finance Ministry with 200 votes in favor. Mohammad Eslami and Mohammad Shariatmadari won votes of confidence as ministers of roads and urban development and industry, mine and trade respectively. Citing sufficient resolve and management, good record of services and preparedness as criteria for picking ministers, he said that the newly-appointed ministers should seize every opportunity for serving the people. Commenting on his administrations achievements, especially in the field of foreign policy which have led to the US isolation, Rouhani hailed Irans international legal achievements which are unparalleled. He also called for deepening relations with regional states in a bid to overcome problems emanating from US enmities. Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammad-Javad Zarif arrived in Istanbul to attend the trilateral meeting of the Iranian, Turkish, and Azeri foreign ministers, IRNA reports. The sixth round of trilateral meeting is to be held tomorrow in Istanbul. Zarif is also going to take part in the opening ceremony of the new airport of the city. Zarif, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, and their Azeri counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov will discuss issues concerning the three countries. Expanding trilateral collaborations in politics and economy, and discussing regional and international issues are to be discussed in the meeting. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in a message denounced extremism and terrorism in the world, IRNA reports. Zarif made the remarks Monday in a Twitter message in reference to the recent terrorist attack on Pittsburgh synagogue. 'Extremism and terrorism know no race or religion, and must be condemned in all cases,' Zarif tweeted on Monday. 'The world deserves better than to have to live with weaponized demagoguery,' he added. 'Thoughts and prayers with victims of terrorist attack on Pittsburgh synagogue and their loved ones,' Zarif said. According to western media, Saturday mass shooting inside a Pittsburgh synagogue resulted in killing of at least 11 congregants and injury of four police officers. Regarding the possibility of severing ties between Iranian businessmen and Bank of Kunlun, Beijing plans to set up a new banking mechanism to continue its financial and banking cooperation with Tehran, IRNA reports. Iranian and Chinese experts have so far held various meetings to discuss developing the new system, reliable sources told in Beijing on Monday. Due to US pressures, Bank of Kunlun earlier announced that it will not guarantee banking ties with Iran from November, according to sources. The new system is supposed to start work on November 1 or with some delay. Meanwhile, Iran- China Chambers of Commerce and Industries in a meeting called for defining a new system in a way that problems of Bank of Kunlun will be solved. Bank of Kunlun is affiliated with China National Petroleum Corp with limited exposure to the global financial system. Georgia's presidential election will go to a second round run-off after no candidate won more than 50% of Sundays vote, according to preliminary results from the Election Administration. With over 99% of votes counted, Georgian Dreamendorsed candidate Salome Zurabishvili leads with 39% of votes with the UNMs Grigol Vashadze in second with 38%, OC Media reports. A runoff will take place between the two no later than 1 December. According to the Election Administration, turnout for Sundays vote was 46.7%, almost identical to the 46.6% during the previous president election in 2013. Around an hour before the first preliminary results came in, Georgian Dreams Irakli Kobakhidze, Speaker of Parliament, conceded that a second round would be needed. We said that nearly every second voter supports Georgian Dream. In this case, it was almost like this, but we were just short of winning in the first round. We are confident in winning the second round. According to the preliminary results, European Georgias David Bakradze trailed behind in third with 11%. Shalva Natelashvili of the Labour Party received 4%, while Zurab Japaridze of libertarian party Girchi and Davit Usupashvili of the Free Democrats both won 2%. The second round of the Georgian presidential election will be held not later than on December 2, 2018, Chairwoman of the Georgian Central Election Commission (CEC) Tamar Zhvania told journalists at a briefing in Tbilisi on Monday, TASS reports. She stated that "with regard to the preliminary results of the election that was held on October 28, it can be said that there will be the second round." "The holding of the second round has special procedures," she said. "In case all the election disputes that we have - complaints, mainly procedure-and discipline-related - are studied in the time limits, then the summing up and release of the ultimate results of the election will be carried out in a 20-day term after the October 28 election," Zhvania said. She reported that "after the final results are released, the second round is to be held in two weeks, with the time limit for the second round being December 2.". At least six people have been injured in an explosion that occurred near the office of the Independent Election Commission in the Afghan capital on Monday, the TV channel TOLOnews tweeted, TASS reports. Four employees of the Independent Election Commission and two policemen were injured in the explosion carried out by a suicide bomber, according to the TV channel. A new meeting on the Syrian settlement in the Astana format may be held in late November. Russian Special Presidential Representative in the Middle East and the African Countries and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov told journalists about it on Monday, TASS reports. "A clear plan of further steps is being formed. Now the focus is on the development of the constitutional committee, but other contacts are also possible. I think there is the general understanding that it is necessary to gather in the Astana format," he said. "It will be in late November, most probably." "As you know, two Syrian delegations - of the armed opposition and the government - always participate there. Issues that concern the situation in Idlib, the fourth de-escalation zone, are [important] now," Bogdanov noted. The last international meeting on Syria was held on July 30-31 in Sochi. Illegal armed groups with heavy weaponry remain in Syria's Idlib province despite the Russian-Turkish agreements reached in Sochi, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said Monday, Sputnik reports. "Speaking of the agreement on Idlib, of the creation of a demilitarized zone 15-20 kilometers wide. Until now, the terrorists are present there with their heavy weapons, which indicates the lack of desire by Turkey to fulfill its obligations," Muallem said at a meeting with the joint delegation of the International Federation of Democratic Youth and the International Peace Council. The minister concluded that the province was still under control by the terrorists. "Therefore, the Idlib province is still under control by the terrorists who are supported by Turkey and the West," Muallem stressed. The statement follows the recent summit on Syria, which took place in Istanbul on October 27, during which Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia reserved the right to give active assistance to the Syrian government in liquidating terrorist threat in the Idlib zone. The president explained that the main threat in the province posed radicals and armed provocations. Speaking about the creation of a demilitarized zone in Idlib, Putin praised the move, but underscored that this is a temporary measure. He noted that Turkey was fulfilling its obligations as a peace-guarantor in Syria, withdrawing the opposition, heavy weapons and the military from the DMZ. China has hitherto resorted to using other countries' runways, mostly Russian, but the method proved to be quite inconvenient, as it required a lot of coordination, Sputnik reported. China plans to start building its first airfield in Antarctica in the near future, reported Keji Ribao, citing an anonymous source. The airfield is expected to be built in a couple of years and will receive both scientific expeditions and tourist groups. Chinese researchers have picked a spot where the ice covering the continent is stable and moves at a relatively slow pace. Still, the construction of a runway in Antarctica is not an easy task and will require some time. At the moment, China's only polar airplane, the Xueying (Snow Eagle) 601, uses other countries' runways for landings and takeoffs, but coordinating with them proved to be rather complicated. Thus the idea for China to build its own airfield came about, which will become the 21st on the continent. China is ready to study the possibility of joint oil and gas production with the Philippines in the South China Sea, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday, Sputnik reports. "The Chinese party is ready to continue exploring the possibility of joint development of oil and gas [fields] in the South China Sea together with the Philippines. To postpone the dispute and engage in the joint development is a proposal full of political wisdom, which [former Chinese leader] Comrade Deng Xiaoping made to the Philippine leadership 32 years ago," Wang said, as quoted by the Chinese Foreign Ministry. The minister also pointed out that if the parties could implement joint energy development with mutual respect of the sovereignty, that would not only ease the problem of the lack of energy resources in the Philippines, but would also be a means of solving the territorial dispute, as well as a good example for other states, located in the region. The foreign minister's statement comes amid China's involvement in a number of territorial disputes over the islands in the South China Sea. China and the Philippines along with Taiwan, Malaysia, Brunei and Vietnam are contesting the Spratly archipelago, whose shelf has significant oil and gas reserves. In July 2016, the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration said that there was no legal basis for Chinas maritime claims in the region after the relevant request of Manila. China refused to recognize the courts ruling. 17 people 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, local reports said, according to Xinhua. The van, carrying 18 passengers, was on its way to Rawalpindi city of the country's east Punjab province when the accident happened, Geo News reported. 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. Preparations for a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump have begun but no specific decisions have been made so far, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told on Monday, TASS reports. "Work is beginning on the possible agenda of such a meeting, there are technical questions to be solved, which concern the meetings time and venue and so on," he said. "Since the meeting will take place on the sidelines of an international memorial event, it will need to be incorporated into that events agenda. As of now, we dont have any details to share," the Russian presidential spokesman added. Last week, US National Security Adviser John Bolton visited Russia and met with President Putin. Following their talks, Russian Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov said that Putin and Trump would hold a meeting on November 11 in Paris, where celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of the World War I Armistice are scheduled to take place. Moscow, London, Beijing, Washington and Paris wont sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, a joint statement made at the First Committee of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly said, TASS reports. "We will not support, sign or ratify this Treaty. The TPNW will not be binding on our countries, and we do not accept any claim that it contributes to the development of customary international law; nor does it set any new standards or norms. We call on all countries that are considering supporting the TPNW to reflect seriously on its implications for international peace and security," the statement published on the Russian Foreign Ministrys website said. KYODO NEWS - Oct 30, 2018 - 08:23 | All, Japan Women who applied unsuccessfully to Tokyo Medical University are demanding it pay a total of 7.69 million yen ($68,600) in compensation for manipulating entrance exam results in favor of male applicants, their lawyers said Monday. The 24 applicants, who took the medical school's entrance exams in 2006 or later, are demanding it pay 100,000 yen in damages for every year an applicant took the entrance exam and refund exam fees. "We would not have applied if we had known the illegal score rigging, and it has caused us great emotional distress," the women said in a document presented to the university. They also demanded their scores and their correct application results be disclosed. According to the lawyers, the 24 women in their teens to 30s include those who failed the university's entry tests and are seeking another chance, undergraduates studying medicine at other universities, and those who pursued different careers after giving up becoming doctors. The group demands a reply from the university within two weeks. "We want the university to deal with it as soon as possible," said Sakura Uchikoshi, who heads the lawyers' group. Related coverage: Women to demand Tokyo med univ. compensate over entry test rigging Med school exam scandal exposes bias against female doctors in Japan Tokyo med univ. admits curbing women's enrollment, vows to stop Tokyo Medical University admitted in August it had manipulated exam scores for over 10 years to curb female enrollment. It said it did so to avoid a shortage of doctors at affiliated hospitals, because female doctors tend to resign or take long periods of leave after getting married or giving birth. The university plans to lower the total academic fee for its medical faculty by 10 million yen to about 19.8 million yen, starting with the new students in 2020, sources close to the matter said Monday. It aims to prevent the number of applicants from declining, the sources said. The revised fee will likely be the second lowest among 31 medical faculties at private universities, according to a survey by major cram school Kawaijuku. For students who entered this year, the most expensive academic fee was 47.3 million yen for Kawasaki Medical School while the lowest was 19.1 million yen for International University of Health and Welfare. The education ministry has probed 81 medical schools in Japan since the problem was brought to light. In its midterm report, the ministry said more universities are likely to have manipulated entrance exam results against female applicants and favored particular individuals, without disclosing the names of those institutions. Catch all the action from the Sporting World. Tokyo [Japan], Oct 29 (NT): Ahead of his Japan visit PM Modi began the day interacting with those who are making our country proud. He hailed the various development projects in India, saying that the central governments Make in India initiative has emerged as a global brand today. Make in India has emerged as a global brand today. We are manufacturing quality products not only for India but for the world. India is becoming a global hub, especially in the field of electronics and automobile manufacturing. We are rapidly moving towards becoming number one in mobile phones manufacturing, Prime Minister Modi hailed while addressing an Indian Community Event here as part of the 13th India-Japan Annual Summit. Last year our scientists created a record by launching over 100 satellites into space simultaneously. We sent Chandrayaan and Mangalyaan at a very low expense. India is now preparing to send Gaganyaan into space by 2022. It will be Indian in all ways, PM added. Prime Minister Modi further invited the audience to be present at the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas(National Unity Day) slated to be celebrated on October 31 on the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. We celebrate Sardar Patel's birth anniversary every year, but this time we will surely grab the attention of the entire world. In Gujarat, his birthplace, Sardar Patel's statue - the tallest in the world - is being built. I invite you all to attend the event, PM said. After this, Secretary General of Liberal Democratic Party Toshihiro Nikai called on PM Modi. PM appreciated his vision and experience in strengthening of our bilateral relationship, especially support extended to the flagship initiatives in India. Vietnam businesses using AI VietNamNet Bridge - Artificial intelligence (AI) has been used in Vietnam in the fields of healthcare, finance & banking, transport and education. AI has been applied in many business fields in Vietnam AI has been applied to help automation of delivery, traffic control, and customer demand forecasting and inventory management in the retail industry. AI also helps diagnose diseases in early development stages and hospitals set up "smart hospitals" where no paper is used. AI also helps businesses improve customer service. Vietnamese have also created AI apps which are in not inferior to those of other countries.Scientists say AI has been applied to help automation of delivery, traffic control, and customer demand forecasting and inventory management in the retail industry.AI also helps diagnose diseases in early development stages and hospitals set up "smart hospitals" where no paper is used. AI also helps businesses improve customer service.In the banking sector, AI is used by TP Bank to develop digital banking. According to TP Banks CEO Nguyen Hung, the chatbot named TAio on Facebook Fanpage has been used since late 2017 to improve service quality.The app helps TP Bank give replies to 1.5 million customers who make transactions at the same time.In the retail industry, FPT Shop, The Gioi Di Dong and Lotte Mart now use Insider to forecast customer behavior to help them better approach targeted customers.The app analyzes customer behavior to find people who only buy goods during sale promotion campaigns, customers with high purchase capability and the purchase life cycle.At Nguyen Kim retail chain, a chatbot is used to give quick responses to customers, classify customers for better management, and deal with customers complaints and bookings. Also through chatbot, Nguyen Kim sends tailored messages to every customer.Meanwhile, Prudential Vietnam uses Prubot, an AI app that automatically gives answers to customers about product information and promotion campaigns, and helps set appointments with insurance agents.Vietnams leading technology groups including FPT, Viettel and CMC have made heavy investment in R&D for solutions and devices using AI.In June 2017, FPT.AI, an FPT AI platform was launched, reserved for coders to create interactive interfaces in natural language, integrate into conversation platforms such as Facebook Messenger and smart devices such as robots, mobile phones and controllers.In early September, the new version of FPT.AI was launched with outstanding features compared with the old version. It not only allows bot creators to build conversation scenarios, but also supervise conversation history, thus helping talk to customers in a friendly and natural way.eHospital, which has been used in 200 healthcare centers nationwide, is also a product of FPT.One of the most outstanding AI apps is Voice Analytics, used by retailers. Voice Analytics can make suggestions about products that customers can buy when they enter shops.CMC also used AI to develop a monitoring system that handles problems in information security incidents. It has been provided to a number of government units and enterprises. RELATED NEWS Job fears over automation and AI Online ads overtake TV ads thanks to AI, Blockchain Mai Chi Engineers and software developers around the world are seeking to create technology that lets users touch, grasp and manipulate virtual objects, while feeling like they are actually touching something in the real world. Scientists at EPFL and ETH Zurich have just made a major step toward this goal with their new haptic glove, which is not only lightweight - under 8 grams per finger - but also provides feedback that is extremely realistic. The glove is able to generate up to 40 Newtons of holding force on each finger with just 200 Volts and only a few milliWatts of power. It also has the potential to run on a very small battery. That, together with the glove's low form factor (only 2 mm thick), translates into an unprecedented level of precision and freedom of movement. "We wanted to develop a lightweight device that - unlike existing virtual-reality gloves - doesn't require a bulky exoskeleton, pumps or very thick cables," says Herbert Shea, head of EPFL's Soft Transducers Laboratory (LMTS). The scientists' glove, called DextrES, has been successfully tested on volunteers in Zurich and will be presented at the upcoming ACM Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology (UIST). Fabric, metal strips and electricity DextrES is made of nylon with thin elastic metal strips running over the fingers. The strips are separated by a thin insulator. When the user's fingers come into contact with a virtual object, the controller applies a voltage difference between the metal strips causing them to stick together via electrostatic attraction - this produces a braking force that blocks the finger's or thumb's movement. Once the voltage is removed, the metal strips glide smoothly and the user can once again move his fingers freely. Tricking your brain For now the glove is powered by a very thin electrical cable, but thanks to the low voltage and power required, a very small battery could eventually be used instead. "The system's low power requirement is due to the fact that it doesn't create a movement, but blocks one", explains Shea. The researchers also need to conduct tests to see just how closely they have to simulate real conditions to give users a realistic experience. "The human sensory system is highly developed and highly complex. We have many different kinds of receptors at a very high density in the joints of our fingers and embedded in the skin. As a result, rendering realistic feedback when interacting with virtual objects is a very demanding problem and is currently unsolved. Our work goes one step in this direction, focusing particularly on kinesthetic feedback," says Otmar Hilliges, head of the Advanced Interactive Technologies Lab at ETH Zurich. In this joint research project, the hardware was developed by EPFL at its Microcity campus in Neuchatel, and the virtual reality system was created by ETH Zurich, which also carried out the user tests. "Our partnership with the EPFL lab is a very good match. It allows us to tackle some of the longstanding challenges in virtual reality at a pace and depth that would otherwise not be possible," adds Hilliges. The next step will be to scale up the device and apply it to other parts of the body using conductive fabric. "Gamers are currently the biggest market, but there are many other potential applications - especially in healthcare, such as for training surgeons. The technology could also be applied in augmented reality," says Shea. ### Press kit: http://bit.ly/2OnD0x9 CORAL GABLES, FL / ACCESSWIRE / October 29, 2018 / Canadas latest move to fully legalize marijuana this month has set the base for the creation of a new sector that is anticipating billions of dollars in revenue over the coming years. Though many marijuana stocks retraced during the latter half of the week last week, Friday afternoon saw several of these pot stocks push back toward their highs. On a global scale, the legal marijuana segment could be in a position to grow larger than initially expected. Zion Market Research has published a new report titled Legal Marijuana Market by Type (Medical Marijuana and Recreational Marijuana), by Product Type (Buds, Oil, and Tinctures), and by Application (Chronic Pain, Mental Disorders, Cancer, and Others): Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis, and Forecast, 2017 - 2024. The report shows that the global legal marijuana market was valued at approximately $16.71 billion in 2017 and is expected to generate revenue of around $62.964 billion by the end of 2024, growing at a CAGR of around 21% between 2018 and 2024. As new momentum comes into the industry, here are 3 marijuana stocks to watch leading into the week ahead. Integrated Cannabis Company (ICNAF) (ICAN.CN) staged a two-day comeback late last week to close 31.7% higher than last weeks lows. Last Thursday the company announced an agreement to license Cannabidiol (CBD) formulated gummies. Integrated Cannabis Company (ICNAF) (ICAN.CN) plans to begin distributing CBD-based gummies through its contract manufacturer, Titration Technologies, in Phoenix, Arizona. The company is also in the middle of a deal that it has already signed a letter of intent for. Integrated Cannabis Company (ICNAF) (ICAN.CN) plans to acquire all of the issued and outstanding securities of Critical Mass Industries, LLC ("CMI"), a Colorado-based cannabis leader operating successfully for nearly 10-years under the brands: Good Meds and BOSM Labs. CMI reported revenue in excess of $7 million in 2017 to the Colorado Department of Revenue. The Colorado Department of Revenue is responsible for all sales and excise taxes related to the cannabis industry in the State. Story continues For More Information On Integrated Cannabis Company, Click Here Aurora Cannabis (ACB)(TSX:ACB.TO) traded higher during pre-market hours on Monday morning. Auroras shares began trading on the New York Stock Exchange earlier this month and have traded as high as $10.30 within the last week. Aurora announced this week that Polish Ministry of Health granted the Company approval for its first shipment of medical cannabis to Poland. In the coming days, Aurora Deutschland GmbH will ship the products to a pain treatment center and a hospital in Warsaw. This is an important milestone for medical patients in Poland, as it is believed to be the first time a non-government run business has been granted approval to supply medical cannabis products in the country. Neil Belot, Chief Global Business Development Officer, said in a press release, "This is an important milestone for patient access in Poland, which will provide options for people seeking alternative medications to help manage symptoms of a wide range of medical conditions. Aurora continues to grow its international footprint, which now spans 19 countries on five continents, and puts us in an enviable position to capitalize on our early mover advantage. For More Information On Aurora Cannabis, Click Here Canopy Growth (CGC)(WEED.TO) also traded higher during Mondays premarket trading session. Shares of the company reached highs of nearly $40 before the opening bell. Earlier this month, Canopy announced the launch of a new brand for the recreational market in Canada, LBS. The Company has established a curated and world-recognized family of brands, both in-house and through partnerships with icons in the cannabis space. LBS is the latest exciting addition to join the family. The LBS brand slogan -- "Worth Its Weight In Gold" -- is a reference to the care and quality put into the brand's products and also to its roots in California, the Golden State. The company name is also a nod to the shorthand for pounds. According to the company, LBS will offer a wide variety of cannabis strains and products, including flower, softgels, oil, and pre-rolls. The company's focus, aside from servicing the Canadian market has been on expanding globally. Canopy has distribution agreements in three countries -Germany, the Czech Republic, and Australia - as well as research centers in Brazil and Australia. Canopy is also exporting cannabis to five countries, including the U.S. for clinical trials. In total, the company has operations in 11 countries on five continents. For More Information On Canopy Growth, Click Here About marijuanastocks.com MarijuanaStocks.com is the leading web destination for all things cannabis. Investors can find marijuana-related financial, medical, legal, and social news anytime day or night. Writers are invited to submit cannabis related articles for publication. Legal Disclaimer Except for the historical information presented herein, matters discussed in this article contain forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. MAPH Enterprises LLC which owns www.MarijuanaStocks.com is not registered with any financial or securities regulatory authority and does not provide nor claims to provide investment advice or recommendations to readers of this release. MAPH Enterprises LLC, which owns www.MarijuanaStocks.com, may from time to time have a position in the securities mentioned herein and may increase or decrease such positions without notice. For making specific investment decisions, readers should seek their own advice. MAPH Enterprises LLC, which owns www.MarijuanaStocks.com, may be compensated for its services in the form of cash-based compensation or equity securities in the companies it writes about, or a combination of the two. Pursuant to an agreement between an affiliate of MAPH Enterprises, LLC (owners of MarijuanaStocks.com), Midam Ventures LLC and Integrated Cannabis Company, Midam is being paid $25,000 per month for a period of 2 months beginning September 4, 2018, and ending March 9, 2019. This payment has been increased to $75,000 per month for the period of November 42018 and ending March 9, 2019. We own ZERO shares of Integrated Cannabis Company. We may buy or sell additional shares of (ICNAF)/(ICAN) in the open market at any time, including before, during or after the Website and Information, to provide public dissemination of favorable Information about Integrated Cannabis Company. MarijuanaStocks.com, which is owned by MAPH Enterprises LLC., a Florida Corporation has been previously compensated $100,000 by a non-affiliate 3rd party for a 1 year period beginning August 1, 2017 and ending August 1, 2018 to publicly disseminate information about CNRP Mining, Inc. (CND.CN) (CRPGF) that is now Integrated Cannabis Company. We own zero shares. As of October 28,2018 a member of MAPH owns 75 Canopy Growth Call Options, which were purchased in the open market and may be sold at any time. Please click here for full disclaimer Contact Information: pr@marijuanastocks.com SOURCE: MarijuanaStocks.com MANAMA, Oct 27 (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said his Chinese counterpart would be visiting Washington next week to continue talks on military relations between the two countries. "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," Mattis said during a speech in Bahrain. (Reporting by Idrees Ali; Editing by Michael Perry) Motley Fool High-yielding dividend stocks can be tempting to invest in because that means you're collecting more on your investment. Omega Healthcare Investors (NYSE: OHI) and Altria Group (NYSE: MO) don't have yields that high, but at around 9% and 8%, respectively, they are definitely on the top end of the scale. Are these examples of dividend stocks that are too risky to be in your portfolio or could they be among the best deals on the stock market today? Can Denbury Benefit from $1.7B Penn Virginia Acquisition? With the acquisition, Denbury (DNR) will maintain a high oil-weighted production mix. Denbury Resources Inc. DNR recently agreed to acquire Penn Virginia Corp. PVAC for $1.7 billion. The move is expected to add a new core position in the Eagle Ford shale to Denburys portfolio. Deal Details For each Penn Virginia stock, Denbury will pay $25.86 in cash and 12.4 shares of Denbury. The shareholders of Penn Virginia can opt for all stock, all cash or a combination of stock and cash. Around 191.6 million Denbury shares will be issued for the transaction, along with $400 million in cash. The cash and stock transaction incorporates Penn Virginias debt. The combined entity is expected to have an enterprise value of $6 billion. Following the closure of the transaction, Denbury stockholders are expected to hold around 71% of the combined entity. The deal is expected to complete in the first quarter 2019. Deal Rationale The Eagle Ford assets are expected to have a low breakeven point, which will complement Denburys portfolio. Moreover, the deal is expected to strengthen its balance sheet, which is currently highly leveraged with a debt-to-capitalization ratio of 75.2%. The company expects the combined entity to bring about positive free cash flow without further ado. The acquisition will likely bring opportunities of short cycle development to the companys medium cycle development assets. As of Dec 31, 2017, the combined entity is estimated to have 343 million barrels of oil equivalent of proved reserves. Also the entitys second-quarter production is estimated at 84 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day. The deal is further expected to enable the company to maintain a high oil weightage in its production volume mix. Of the total production, more than 90% is expected to be oil. With its oiler production mix, the company is well positioned the strengthening crude prices. Price Performance Plano, TX-based upstream energy company, Denbury has gained 32.2% in the past six months against the 14.4% fall of its industry. Story continues Zacks Rank & Key Picks Currently, Denbury has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Investors interested in the energy sector can opt for some better-ranked stocks given below: El Dorado, AR-based Murphy Oil Corp. MUR carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). The companys sales for 2018 are expected to grow more than 20% from 2017. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Brazilian state-run Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. or Petrobras PBR has a Zacks Rank #2. The companys earnings for 2018 are expected to surge more than 100% from the 2017 level. More Stock News: This Is Bigger than the iPhone! It could become the mother of all technological revolutions. Apple sold a mere 1 billion iPhones in 10 years but a new breakthrough is expected to generate more than 27 billion devices in just 3 years, creating a $1.7 trillion market. Zacks has just released a Special Report that spotlights this fast-emerging phenomenon and 6 tickers for taking advantage of it. If you don't buy now, you may kick yourself in 2020. Click here for the 6 trades >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.- Petrobras (PBR) : Free Stock Analysis Report Denbury Resources Inc. (DNR) : Free Stock Analysis Report Murphy Oil Corporation (MUR) : Free Stock Analysis Report Penn Virginia Corporation (PVAC) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research * Signs MoU to build steam cracker with Sinopec Corp * Follows preliminary deal in July for $10 bln complex * BASF, Sinopec explore opportunities in battery materials * Graphic on petrochemical demand: https://tmsnrt.rs/2CLOJhM (Adds BASF CEO, context on costs, batteries) By Chen Aizhu and Meng Meng BEIJING, Oct 29 (Reuters) - Chemical giant BASF said on Monday it had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with China's Sinopec Corp to build a steam cracker in east China, the second major investment pledged by the German firm in four months. China, the world's top chemicals consumer, is allowing greater access by global majors and local independents to its massive chemicals market to feed plastics, coatings and adhesives to the fast-growing consumer electronics and automotive sectors, as well as polyesters for clothing. According to the MoU, BASF-YPC, the German group's joint venture with Sinopec in Nanjing, will invest in a 50 percent stake in the new cracker. SINOPEC Yangtzi Petrochemical (YPC) will take the other 50 percent. "This additional investment into a new steam cracker and the expansion of our BASF-YPC joint venture in Nanjing underline the strong partnership between Sinopec and BASF and the commitment to our customers in China," BASF Chief Executive Martin Brudermueller said. BASF said the new steam cracker will have an annual capacity of one million tonnes of ethylene, a building block for plastics, rubber and synthetic fibre. The group declined to disclose financial details. A joint venture consisting of French oil group Total , Borealis and NOVA Chemicals last year said it would spend $1.7 billion on an ethane steam cracker at Port Arthur, Texas, with a similar capacity. In July, BASF landed a preliminary deal to build China's first wholly foreign-owned chemicals complex in Guangdong, worth some $10 billion in investment to 2030, aided in part by trade tensions between Beijing and Washington. The German group made 22 percent of sales in the Asia-Pacific region last year, its annual report shows. It does not break out Chinese numbers. Story continues BIGGER MARKET SHARE BASF said a joint pre-feasibility study on the cracker will be completed by the end of 2018. Zhong Jian, chief analyst with consultancy JLC, said global chemicals firms have been encouraged by China's top leaders, who have repeatedly expressed support this year for foreign investment in the petrochemicals sector. "The companies are more ambitious than just building ethylene plants. They are aiming for a bigger market share in the whole supply chain and the ethylene complex might just be their first step," said Zhong. BASF and Sinopec will also explore new business opportunities in China's fast-growing battery materials market, they said. Founded in 2000, BASF-YPC has spent approximately $5.2 billion in China. "The rising importance of alternative energy in China, especially in the automotive industry, has led to a surge in demand for innovative battery materials for a range of applications," the groups said in a joint statement. Following on from BASF's July deal, U.S. energy titan Exxon Mobil Corp signed a pact in September to build a petrochemical complex in Huizhou city of Guangdong, which will also be solely foreign-owned. Just a week later, Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC) followed suit and signed a deal with Fujian government. (Additional reporting by Christoph Steitz; editing by Richard Pullin and Emelia Sithole-Matarise) Photo credit: AFP Contributor - Getty Images From Popular Mechanics The Northern Lights are more than just a spectacle; they can indicate changes in our planets magnetic field and potential threats from solar flares. But how much more can an aurora tell us? To find the answer, a group of scientists wants to launch a satellite that will allow them to do the only thing that will allow them to fully understand such a giant, amorphous, ever-changing phenomenon: create one. But what exactly will they be creating? Here's how auroras work: The Earths atmosphere is filled with layers. The bottom layer-where we live most of our lives-is called the troposphere. Above that is the stratosphere, the domain of aircraft and high-altitude balloons. Above that is the ionosphere, which is the highest layer of our atmosphere and sits at the border between our planet and space. This is where high-energy cosmic rays collide with our atmosphere and the Northern Lights appear. Above even the ionosphere sits the Earths magnetosphere, which is an area fully in space that marks the border of Earths magnetic field. In this region between the Earths atmosphere and space exist extremely complicated interactions between the magnetosphere, the ionosphere, and particles from the Sun. When the Sun emits solar material, for instance during a solar flare or as part of the solar wind, those particles fly through space until they hit the Earths magnetosphere. The magnetosphere distorts under the pressure from this solar material, bringing it in contact with the ionosphere. When that happens, the entire atmosphere lights up with auroras, commonly referred to as the Northern or Southern Lights. While scientists understand this much, the actual details of how the magnetosphere creates auroras is mostly a mystery. Think of the auroras in the ionosphere as like a projection of the magnetosphere: when a particle from the Sun hits the magnetosphere, it lights up a corresponding part of the ionosphere with an aurora. Story continues However, theres no way to tell which part of the magnetosphere corresponds with which part of the ionosphere. That's what an upcoming satellite experiment is designed to figure out. The CONNection EXplorer-or CONNEX for short-will, with any luck, finally bridge the gap between the ionosphere and the magnetosphere and allow scientists to draw clearer connections between the auroras we see on Earth and behavior and events that occur in space. CONNEX is in the very early stages of development, and the team of scientists working on the project-from half a dozen universities, a handful of national labs, and a few private institutions-are currently working on a NASA proposal. If theyre successful, CONNEX will join other recent NASA-funded missions like WISE and TESS. The key is drawing a connection between the magnetosphere and the ionosphere. We maybe see very interesting dynamics [in the magnetosphere] and we see very interesting dynamics [in the ionosphere], says CONNEX team member Gian Luca Delzanno, of Los Alamos National Laboratory. But we cannot really say whether one is the cause of the other simply because we do not know where those phenomena [in the magnetosphere] map to in the ionosphere. CONNEX consists mainly of a satellite that will fire electron particles at the planet. Those particles will be captured by the magnetosphere and make it to the ionosphere as an artificial aurora. Because we know exactly where those particles are hitting the magnetosphere, CONNEX lets us map different parts of the ionosphere to different parts of the magnetosphere. With that information, we can use auroras to determine whats going on with the magnetosphere, which is important because the magnetosphere can seriously affect the operation of spacecraft and satellites. If that was possible then we could say, Maybe something else is happening away from the Earth and some spacecraft could be in danger, so let's shut them off, says Delzanno. CONNEX is only the first step, but if it takes off, scientists could unlock a whole new way to study the space around the Earth. ('You Might Also Like',) An H-IIA rocket lifts off at the Tanegashima Space Centre, carrying the Ibuki-2 GOSAT-2 and the United Arab Emirates' KhalifaSat earth observation satellite. Japan's space agency on Monday launched a rocket carrying a satellite that will monitor greenhouse gases, as well as the first satellite built entirely in the United Arab Emirates. The nation's H-IIA rocket lifted off Monday afternoon at 1:08 pm (0308 GMT) from the Tanegashima Space Centre, according to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). About 16 minutes later, it sent a Japanese satellite nicknamed Ibuki-2 into orbit. The satellite is officially named GOSAT-2, short for "greenhouse gases observing satellite-2", and is intended to provide data that will help Japan create and publish "emission inventories" of the CO2 output of various countries, as outlined in the Paris climate accord. The satellite will also make precision observations of methane and other gases. The Japanese rocket also released "KhalifaSat", the first satellite built entirely in the UAE by local engineers. "The launch of KhalifaSat is an unprecedented Emirati achievement," Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed said in a tweet. "Our dreams to embrace space have become a reality." Five other smaller satellites are scheduled to be released from the Japanese rocket. Japan's space agency and its private partner Mitsubishi Heavy Industries see the international satellite launch market as a possible revenue stream. Angela Merkel is standing down. Photo: Reuters Angela Merkel, the most powerful woman in Europe, is standing down as the chairperson of her Christian Democratic Union party, a position she has held for 18 years, according to German media reports. While she will remain Chancellor of Germany, media reports say she will not stand for the CDU leadership bid again and that shell put forward her candidacy at a CDU party conference in Hamburg on 7-8 December this year. She is set to make the announcement official at a press conference at 1pm local time today (29 October). At the weekend, the CDU performed poorly in the elections in the central German state of Hesse. The dismal performance poured further scorn over Merkels authority as a leader of the CDU. The CDU has ruled Hesse for the last 19 years and won the election at the weekend. However, the CDUs share of the vote fell by more than 11 points, to 27% marking the worst result for the party since 1962. Meanwhile, the right-wing, anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) tripled its vote share from 2013 and allowing it to enter parliament for the first time with 13.2% of the vote. The news has slightly dented EUR/USD: Merkel news hits the euro. Chart: Yahoo Finance Yahoo Finance UKs Alanna Petroff spoke to Florian Hense, economist at Berenberg, who said: We see a risk that someone could take over the party and she would not serve her whole term [as chancellor]. Her term as Chancellor was expected to run until 2021. She could also serve her full term. From what we know, this could still be a possibility, added Hense. We havent heard about serious contenders to replace her. CDU slides as AfD gains momentum on immigration Merkel has been heralded as both a hero and villain for her open-door refugee policy in Germany. While she may have gained the accolade of Time Person of the Year in 2015 for allowing over 1 million refugees into the country, not all voters have hailed this as a success. In September last year, Merkels CDU party won the general election but more than 13% of the voting population chose the right-wing nationalists AfD, which are anti-Islam and anti-refugee. At the time, AfD co-head Alexander Gauland said he would launch a parliamentary investigation into Merkel for her handling of the refugee crisis. Story continues After the election, an Infratest Dimap poll found that almost all AfD supporters worry that German culture and way of life is under threat. ICOs Thailand SEC The Thai Securities and Exchange Commission has issued an investment warning against ICOs operating in the country without its recognition, registration and supervision. The Bangkok Post reports that Thailands premier markets regulator is taking action after discovering a number of unregistered coin sales being promoted in Thailand through social media platforms like Facebook and Youtube. High Investment Risk In its warning, the SEC specifically named nine such unregistered entities offering unrecognised cryptocurrency sales in its jurisdiction. The companies named are: Every Coin, Orientum Coin (ORT Coin), OneCoin and OFC Coin, Tripxchain Coin (TXC Coin), TUC Coin, G2S Expert ICO, Singhcom Enterprise ICO, Adventure hostel Bangkok ICO and Kidstocurrency ICO. According to the regulator, none of these entities has gone through the necessary steps for approval such as making an official application, showing evidence of meeting qualifying criteria and having their smart contracts assessed for adequacy. The SEC categorised these investments as high investment risk, urging investors to refrain from putting their money into them. It will be recalled that in 2017, Thailands SEC released its ICO regulation guidelines which stated in part: ICO fundraising needs to be done through an ICO portal approved by the SEC. The ICO acceptance criteria may include due diligence and screening of funders from dishonest people. The source code of the smart contract will automatically be enforced against the contract. After the sale, the SEC publishes a copy of the statement on the SEC website. Going further, the regulator also mentioned that in all the cases regarding the listed ICOs, the amount of information provided is not enough to conclusively present an investment case, and even worse, there is no evidence that the coins being sold will have enough liquidity to be listed for trading, and as such they cannot be exchanged for fiat or other cryptos. What this means to Thai investors is that they could potentially be investing in digital assets that are completely worthless. Story continues Cross-Border ICO Scams The SEC also noted that the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) had previously issued an investment warning against OneCoin and its affiliated businesses, stating that it was operating without the regulators supervision. OneCoin has also attracted investment warnings in several jurisdictions, indicating that its promoters are likely opportunists making their way around the Southeast Asia region trying to take advantage of naive investors. According to the SEC, their modus operandi is to present cryptocurrency investment schemes that are little more than classic pyramid schemes dressed up in new clothes. These schemes require the addition of more and more investors at an ever-expanding rate to keep functioning. As soon as the number or rate of new additions drops, the entire scheme fails and the promoters abscond with outsized profits, leaving crypto investors holding the metaphorical bag. The post Thailand Regulator Issues Strong Warning Against Unregistered ICOs appeared first on CCN. 3 Best-Ranked Short-Term Government Bond Mutual Funds Below we will share with you three top rated short-term government bond mutual funds. Each has earned a Zacks Mutual Fund #1 Rank (Strong Buy) The Williams Companies, Inc. WMB is set to release third-quarter 2018 results on Oct 31, after the closing bell. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for third-quarter earnings is pegged at 19 cents on revenues of $2,164 million. In the last reported quarter, the Tulsa, OK-based company delivered better-than-expected earnings on the back of increased service revenues and NGL margins. However, the earnings surprise history of the firm is not that impressive. Williams has managed to surpass earnings estimates in just one of the trailing four quarters, with an average negative surprise of 6.08%. Williams Companies, Inc. (The) Price and EPS Surprise Williams Companies, Inc. (The) Price and EPS Surprise | Williams Companies, Inc. (The) Quote On a further discouraging note, the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 19 cents for the third quarter has been revised downward by a penny over the past seven days. However, the current estimate compares favorably with a profit of 15 cents per share in the third quarter of 2017. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues also reflects a year-over-year improvement of 14.4%. Lets see how things are shaping up prior to the announcement. Factors at Play Williams extensive natural gas exposure raises its sensitivity to the commoditys price. Natural gas fared well in the July-September quarter on the back of improving clean energy demand. The average monthly spot prices of the commodity in the respective months of third-quarter 2018 were $2.83 per Million Btu, $2.96 per Million Btu and $3.00 per Million Btu, representing healthier prices than third-quarter 2017.Improvement in natural gas prices is likely to have a positive effect on the company. The companys midstream arm is likely to help it maintain a steady stream of revenues. We believe that the company could benefit from increasing volumes and processing margins from the Transco pipeline-expansion projects that came into service in 2017. Story continues However, the company has been bearing the brunt of increased expenses since the past four quarters and the trend is likely to continue in the to-be-reported quarter as well, putting pressure on its earnings and financials. As it is, the company carries a leverage of around 70%, which restricts its financial freedom.Williams is also likely to be affected by lower throughput volumes due to its divestment of Geismar Plant and Canadian assets. Earnings Whispers Our proven model does not conclusively show that Williams is likely to beat estimates in the to-be-reported quarter. That is because a stock needs to have both a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) to be able to beat the consensus estimate. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before theyre reported with our Earnings ESP Filter. That is not the case here as you will see below. Earnings ESP: Earnings ESP, which represents the difference between the Most Accurate Estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate, is -4.55%. This is because while the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings per share is pegged at 19 cents, the Most Accurate Estimate stands a penny lower at 18 cents. Zacks Rank: Williams currently carries a Zacks Rank #3. Though a Zacks Rank #3 increases the predictive power of ESP, a negative ESP makes surprise prediction difficult. We caution against Sell-rated stocks (Zacks Ranks #4 or 5) going into the earnings announcement, especially when the company is seeing negative estimate revisions. Stocks to Consider Though an earnings beat looks uncertain for Williams, here are a few firms from the energy space that you may want to consider. On the basis of our model, these have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat in the quarter to be reported. NOW Inc. DNOW has an Earnings ESP of +5.61% and a Zacks Rank #2. The firm is expected to release third-quarter earnings on Nov 1. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Archrock, Inc. AROC has an Earnings ESP of +57.9% and carries a Zacks Rank #2. The firm is expected to report third-quarter earnings on Nov 1. Enbridge Inc. ENB has an Earnings ESP of +5.26% and a Zacks Rank #1. The firm is expected to release third-quarter earnings on Nov 2. More Stock News: This Is Bigger than the iPhone! It could become the mother of all technological revolutions. Apple sold a mere 1 billion iPhones in 10 years but a new breakthrough is expected to generate more than 27 billion devices in just 3 years, creating a $1.7 trillion market. Zacks has just released a Special Report that spotlights this fast-emerging phenomenon and 6 tickers for taking advantage of it. If you don't buy now, you may kick yourself in 2020. Click here for the 6 trades >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report NOW Inc. (DNOW) : Free Stock Analysis Report Archrock, Inc. (AROC) : Free Stock Analysis Report Enbridge Inc (ENB) : Free Stock Analysis Report Williams Companies, Inc. (The) (WMB) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Walgreens Boots (WBA) seems to be a good value pick, as it has decent revenue metrics to back up its earnings, and is seeing solid earnings estimate revisions as well. For Immediate Release Chicago, IL October 29, 2018 Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. AMD, Texas Instruments TXN, Intel Corp. INTC, Micron Technology, Inc. MU and Broadcom Inc. AVGO. Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free. Here are highlights from Fridays Analyst Blog: Chipmakers Earnings Disappoint: More Trouble Ahead? The next few weeks are crucial for the semiconductor industry as major chipmakers are slated to report financial results. The start of the earnings season has been disappointing though, with leading chipmakers, Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. and Texas Instruments reporting lower-than-expected third-quarter earnings. Moreover, the world's largest semiconductor chip maker, Intel Corp. has faced several obstacles this year. Additionally, semi-conductor stocks have had a rough time so far this year as evident from the performance of the VanEck Vectors Semiconductor ETF (SMH). Some of the key holdings of the ETF have been trading in the red in the past few months, following the ongoing trade war between the United States and China. Advanced Micro, Texas Instruments Post Weak Top Lines Advanced Micro Devices came up with quarterly earnings of $0.13 per share, in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. However, the semiconductor giant posted revenues of $1.65 billion for the quarter, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3.19%. For fourth-quarter 2018, the company projects revenues of around $1.45 billion, lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.61 billion. (Read More: AMD Beats on Q3 Earnings, Shares Down on Weak Q4 Guidance) Texas Instruments delivered third-quarter 2018 earnings of $1.58 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.53. However, its quarterly revenues of $4.26 billion missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.3 billion. (Read More: Texas Instruments Q3 Earnings Beat Estimates) Story continues The top line was affected by the decline in demand for the companys products throughout the reported quarter. For fourth-quarter 2018, Texas Instruments expects revenues between $3.6 billion and $3.9 billion, lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4 billion. Trade War, Intel Setback Worry Investors In September, the United States imposed a tax of 10% on about $200 billion worth of imports from China. The import tax was implemented from Sep 24, on several products, including semiconductors. The 10% tariff will be increased to a staggering 25% from Jan 1, which in turn is a huge concern for chipmakers not only in the ongoing quarter, but also in the next few quarters. Intel, the biggest chipmaker of the world has had a tough time so far this year. This January, the company witnessed security issues like the Spectre and Meltdown breaches. The company responded immediately with necessary improvements. However, the damage had been done and Intel is still dealing with security breaches. Moreover, the CEO of the company, Brian Krzanisch announced resignation from his post and now the company is under interim CEO and CFO Robert Swan. Another major problem, the company is witnessing, is the delay in production of new next-generation 10nm chips and current 14nm chips. The VanEck Vectors Semiconductor has declined 9% so far this year. In the year-to-date (YTD) period, some of its key holdings, Micron Technology, Inc. and Broadcom Inc. have declined 15.8% and 16.8%, respectively. Micron Technology has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), while, Broadcom holds a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Conclusion Major chipmakers like Advanced Micro and Texas Instruments reported disappointing top line numbers despite a strong bottom line. Moreover, the ongoing trade war is also a huge setback for chipmakers. Additionally, the semiconductor sectors biggest player, Intel, had a rough time earlier this year. Investors will eagerly await upcoming chip earnings for further indications about the chip sector in the days ahead. The Hottest Tech Mega-Trend of All Last year, it generated $8 billion in global revenues. By 2020, it's predicted to blast through the roof to $47 billion. Famed investor Mark Cuban says it will produce "the world's first trillionaires," but that should still leave plenty of money for regular investors who make the right trades early. See Zacks' 3 Best Stocks to Play This Trend >> About Zacks Equity Research Zacks Equity Research provides the best of quantitative and qualitative analysis to help investors know what stocks to buy and which to sell for the long-term. Continuous coverage is provided for a universe of 1,150 publicly traded stocks. Our analysts are organized by industry which gives them keen insights to developments that affect company profits and stock performance. Recommendations and target prices are six-month time horizons. Strong Stocks that Should Be in the News Many are little publicized and fly under the Wall Street radar. They're virtually unknown to the general public. Yet today's 220 Zacks Rank #1 "Strong Buys" were generated by the stock-picking system that has nearly tripled the market from 1988 through 2015. Its average gain has been a stellar +26% per year. See these high-potential stocks free >>. Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/zacksresearch Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Zacks-Investment-Research/57553657748?ref=ts Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates. Media Contact Zacks Investment Research 800-767-3771 ext. 9339 support@zacks.com https://www.zacks.com/ Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD) : Free Stock Analysis Report Broadcom Limited (AVGO) : Free Stock Analysis Report Texas Instruments Incorporated (TXN) : Free Stock Analysis Report Intel Corporation (INTC) : Free Stock Analysis Report Micron Technology, Inc. (MU) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research 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 Denver has no Trails, Parks and Open Space tax, but now its asking voters on the Nov. 6 ballot whether parks and rivers are worth their support. The TOPS one penny tax per $10 purchase will generate almost $9 million this year to buy and steward open space and build trails and parks in the Springs. If Denver voters say yes, the tax of 2 cents per $10 purchase would yield $45 million in its first year to pay for parks, trails and open space; develop, improve and maintain those amenities; restore and protect rivers, streams and other waterways; buy, plant and care for trees; and operate and maintain any related acquisitions and improvements. Denver Mayor Michael Hancock says the measure would increase city spending on parks by 63 percent a year and help whittle a $127 million backlog of parks repairs. Proponents note that parks bring neighbors together and give them a sense of space. And the longer Denver waits to restore its parks, the more it will cost. Lakewood and Chaffee and Eagle counties also are asking for new taxes or tax extensions to support parks. Eagle County has a special property tax for open space and trails. Most cities and counties prefer increasing sales taxes so visitors pay much of the tax. In Denver, tourists are expected to pay 70 percent of the tax increase; Denver residents would pay 30 percent, or about $35 a year per household. Denver generally beats Colorado Springs In the annual Trust for Public Land ParkScore, Denver placed 26th among the top 100 cities this year. Colorado Springs was 46th. Tax support for parks per Denver resident already was $121. Here, its $81. Passing TOPS in 1997 certainly put the Springs ahead of Denver in tapping into Great Outdoors Colorado for Lottery dollars and preserving land for Red Rock Open Space, Cheyenne Mountain State Park and expansion of Ute Valley Park, among other achievements. Without TOPS dollars, we might not have secured those favorites. But if Denvers initiative passes, the capital likely will compete more successfully for GOCO grants. Denver parks supporters will tell you it took nearly 10 years and a better economy to get city leaders to support the parks tax. If Colorado Springs hopes to tackle a $180 million backlog of capital needs and repairs to parks, trails and open space, it better get busy. Davies is executive director of the Trails and Open Space Coalition If you want to see the Air Force Academys iconic chapel in all its leaky glory, youd better get a move on. The academy told would-be visitors Monday to hurry it up, ahead of the chapels lengthy renovation closure that starts Jan. 1. The chapel will undergo four years of work that includes removing the aluminum skin from its soaring spires and fixing the leaks it has experienced since it opened to cadets in 1963. Visitors now have less than two months to visit this registered National Historic Landmark, also ranked Colorados No. 1 man-made attraction, before the preservation and restoration process begins, the academy warned in a news release. The chapel will be preserved in exacting detail, with every stick of furniture and each of the pipe organs 4,423 pipes back in its place by the time work is done. But the chapel will get one new invisible feature to preserve it for the ages: plastic seals to keep water from seeping under its aluminum skin. The seals were in the chapels original plans, but Pentagon cost-cutters replaced them with common caulk to save cash. The result was one of the planets most iconic churches with unplanned indoor rain showers. The 150-foot-tall structure features 17 triangular spires designed to remind visitors of the academys mountainous backdrop and the planes flown by the Air Force. The academy says the chapel draws as many as 500,000 visitors a year. It also has gained the American Institute of Architects Twenty-five Year Award, a distinction it shares with other structures including the Gateway Arch in St. Louis and New Yorks Guggenheim Museum. But fixing the complex structure while retaining the features that make it so admired is a huge process. The academy has spent a year just figuring out where to store all the pews and religious artifacts in the structure, which is home to Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist worship facilities. The schools chaplains have planned makeshift houses of worship in gymnasiums, ballrooms and auditoriums. The schools superintendent, Lt. Gen. Jay Silveria, has said he might have to open the living room of Carlton House, his on-campus residence, for cadet weddings during the chapel crunch. But in the last weeks before the $68 million renovation starts, visitors will have plenty of chances to stop by the structure. The Chapel will be open through the upcoming holiday season, the academy said in a news release. Visitor hours of operation are 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday. Visitors to the academy are asked to use the schools northern gate off exit 156 on Interstate 25. Contact Tom Roeder: 636-0240 Twitter: @xroederx Two Colorado Springs Jewish congregations will hold a prayer vigil Monday night for the victims of the shooting in which 11 people were killed at a Pittsburgh synagogue. The vigil will feature prayers of healing for those victims who survived the attack and are still being treated for their wounds. All members of the community are welcome to attend the vigil, which will begin at 5:30 p.m., at at Temple Shalom, 1523 E. Monument St. Participants will include local clergy, elected officials, and other civic leaders. The planned Colorado Springs prayer vigil follows a Sunday night vigil at Temple Emanuel in Denver, which was attended by Governor John Hickenlooper and Denver Mayor Michael Hancock. Flags in Colorado have also been lowered in honor of those killed in Saturday's shooting. Hickenlooper says Colorado flags will remain at half-staff at public buildings through sunset on Wednesday. The Associated Press contributed to this report CHARLOTTE, N.C. A North Carolina student who was shot at school Monday morning has died, police said. Butler High School in Matthews, N.C., was put on lockdown early Monday after a student was shot on campus inside one of the buildings, reports a Facebook post by the Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools. Another student was arrested as a suspect, reported the Matthews Police Department in a tweet. The single shooter has been apprehended and the weapon is in the possession of law enforcement, said the CMS Facebook post. Law enforcement has advised that there is no further immediate danger at this time and initial investigation shows this to be an isolated incident. The wounded student, a male, was taken to Carolinas Medical Center, police said, where he succumbed to his injuries. CMS Supt. Clayton Wilcox said in a press conference outside the school that the shooting occurred after a disagreement between two students. The disagreement occurred in a hallway and there were many kids in the hallways when it took place, he said in a press conference. Both the students involved in the incident attend Butler, officials said. The shooting occurred shortly before 7 a.m., and a school resource officer was nearby, when it happened, Wilcox said a press conference. Surveillance video showed there was a fight between two students and it was isolated to the hall, said officials. Butler High School families are being advised through phone calls, said the post. Law enforcement officers have secured the campus and an investigation by law enforcement continues. Matthews Police were reporting the shooting is believed to be an isolated incident. Parents were alerted to the incident via a robo call issued by CMS. The school is located just outside Charlotte at 1810 Matthews-Mint Hill Road. WSOC was reporting live that angry parents were gathering around the campus, despite being told they were to wait for updates at nearby Elevation Church on East Independence Boulevard. No one, including parents, were being allowed on to the Butler High campus until police lifted the lock down, CMS officials said in the post. However, many parents ignored the command and dozens were standing at the schools front doors when students began leaving the building shortly after 9 a.m. 2018 The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.) Visit The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.) at www.charlotteobserver.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Two Colorado Springs Jewish congregations will hold a prayer vigil Monday night for the victims of the shooting in which 11 people were killed 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. English French Press Release Gosselies, Belgium, 29 October 2018, 7am CET BONE THERAPEUTICS (Euronext Brussels and Paris: BOTHE), the bone cell therapy company addressing high unmet medical needs in orthopaedics and bone diseases, today announces that it has appointed Linda Lebon as Chief Regulatory Officer. Linda Lebon is a strategic regulatory expert with more than 25 years of experience in regulatory affairs. During her career, she has provided regulatory support to companies in strategic global drug development for both clinical and non-clinical projects. Until recently, she was Vice President Regulatory Affairs at argenx, a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing antibodies for autoimmune disease and cancer. Linda has held positions in several large pharmaceutical companies as well as senior positions in regulatory CROs and advisory firms, including Quintiles and Voisin Life Sciences. As an independent consultant, she has also supported several notable fast-growing life sciences companies including Celyad, Mithra and iTeos Therapeutics, in their product developments in Europe, America and Japan. In these roles she has been closely involved with the transitional process between R&D activities and the regulatory stage of development. Linda will play a critical role in defining the regulatory pathway for development and clinical programmes and will support the Company as it advances these programmes toward commercialisation. Thomas Lienard, Chief Executive Officer of Bone Therapeutics, commented: We are delighted to welcome Linda as our new Chief Regulatory Officer. She is a highly skilled expert in the regulatory field and her extensive experience with strategic drug development makes her an asset to the Executive Team. As our portfolio of therapeutics for orthopaedics and bone diseases moves through advanced clinical development and towards commercialisation, Lindas understanding of the unique regulatory challenges will be extremely valuable, and her experience puts her in an excellent position to support our programmes through critical regulatory milestones. Linda Lebon said: It is a pleasure to join Bone Therapeutics. The Company has a highly promising portfolio of cell therapy programmes for orthopaedics and bone diseases, which is moving towards catalytic points in clinical and regulatory development, making it an exciting time for me to be joining. About Bone Therapeutics Bone Therapeutics is a leading cell therapy company addressing high unmet needs in orthopaedics and bone diseases. Based in Gosselies, Belgium, the Company has a broad, diversified portfolio of bone cell therapy products in clinical development across a number of disease areas targeting markets with large unmet medical needs and limited innovation. Bone Therapeutics technology is based on a unique, proprietary approach to bone regeneration, which turns undifferentiated stem cells into bone-forming cells. These cells can be administered via a minimally invasive procedure, avoiding the need for invasive surgery. The Companys primary clinical focus is ALLOB, an allogeneic off-the-shelf cell therapy product derived from stem cells of healthy donors, which is in Phase II studies for the treatment of delayed-union fractures and spinal fusion. In addition, the Company also has an autologous bone cell therapy product, PREOB, obtained from patients own bone marrow and currently in Phase III development for osteonecrosis of the hip, and JTA-004, a viscosupplement in development for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. Bone Therapeutics cell therapy products are manufactured to the highest GMP standards and are protected by a rich IP estate covering nine patent families. Further information is available at: www.bonetherapeutics.com. Contacts Bone Therapeutics SA Thomas Lienard, Chief Executive Officer Jean-Luc Vandebroek, Chief Financial Officer Tel: +32 (0) 71 12 10 00 investorrelations@bonetherapeutics.com For Belgium Median Enquiries Comfi Laure-Eve Monfort and Sabine Leclercq Tel: +32 (0)2 290 90 93, +32 (0)2 290 90 91 monfort@comfi.be, sabine.leclercq@comfi.be International Media Enquiries: Consilium Strategic Communications Amber Fennell, Jessica Hodgson, Hendrik Thys and Lindsey Neville Tel: +44 (0) 20 3709 5701 bonetherapeutics@consilium-comms.com For French Media and Investor Enquiries: NewCap Investor Relations & Financial Communications Pierre Laurent, Louis-Victor Delouvrier and Nicolas Merigeau Tel: + 33 (0)1 44 71 94 94 bone@newcap.eu For US Media and Investor Enquiries Westwicke Partners John Woolford Tel: + 1 443 213 0506 john.woolford@westwicke.com Certain statements, beliefs and opinions in this press release are forward-looking, which reflect the Company or, as appropriate, the Company directors` current expectations and projections about future events. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions could adversely affect the outcome and financial effects of the plans and events described herein. A multitude of factors including, but not limited to, changes in demand, competition and technology, can cause actual events, performance or results to differ significantly from any anticipated development. Forward looking statements contained in this press release regarding past trends or activities should not be taken as a representation that such trends or activities will continue in the future. As a result, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release any update or revisions to any forward-looking statements in this press release as a result of any change in expectations or any change in events, conditions, assumptions or circumstances on which these forward-looking statements are based. Neither the Company nor its advisers or representatives nor any of its subsidiary undertakings or any such person`s officers or employees guarantees that the assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements are free from errors nor does either accept any responsibility for the future accuracy of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release or the actual occurrence of the forecasted developments. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Lithuanian English Lietuvos Energijos Gamyba, AB identification code 302648707, registered office placed at Elektrines str. 21, LT-26108 Elektrenai, Republic of Lithuania. The total number of registered ordinary shares issued by company is 648 002 629; ISIN code LT0000128571. The Company hereby informs that on a meeting held on 26 October 2018, the National Commission for Energy Control and Prices (hereinafter the Commission) adopted the Resolution Regarding the Electricity Transmission Service Prices and Publication of their Application Procedure whereby it publishes in the Register of Legal Acts the electricity transmission service prices and their application procedure (hereinafter the Procedure) approved by Decision No. 2 (Minutes No. 24) of the Board of the transmission system operator. This Procedure lays down the electricity transmission service prices, their application procedure and key conditions to be applied by LITGRID AB as from 1 January 2019. Compared to the procedure valid to this day, clause 7 of the published procedure no longer contains the provision according to which the transmission service and system service price was not paid for the amount of electricity transferred for loading the Kruonis Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Power Plant (hereinafter KPSHP). In the opinion of the Company, considering the fact that there were no amendments to legal acts governing the payment of the price of the transmission service that could affect the repeal of the above provision of the Procedure, this amendment to clause 7 of the Procedure is significant compared to the procedure that has been in place so far and contradicts the practice of some European Union countries that promote electricity trade and the development of renewable energy resources. Having subjected the electricity used to load the KPSHP to transmission service and system service taxes as from 2019, the production in the KPSHP and, respectively, the amount of electricity used for loading, would decrease significantly. The preliminary assessment carried out by the Company revealed that having applied the said taxes and assuming that other factors do not change, production in the KPSHP in, say, 2017 would have decreased from 595 GWh to 73 GWh. In such a case, fixed costs borne by two KPSHP units that do not provide system services would significantly exceed the profit generated from the sale of the produced electricity. In light of this fact, the economical validity of continued operation of the KPSHP units that do not provide system services will have to be assessed. The Company is assessing the potential impact of the adopted legal act on its activities and results as well as further solutions. English Lithuanian Lietuvos Energijos Gamyba, AB identification code 302648707, registered office placed at Elektrines str. 21, LT-26108 Elektrenai, Republic of Lithuania. The total number of registered ordinary shares issued by company is 648 002 629; ISIN code LT0000128571. The Company hereby informs that on a meeting held on 26 October 2018, the National Commission for Energy Control and Prices (hereinafter the Commission) adopted the Resolution Regarding the Public Service Obligation Funds and the Setting of the Price for 2019 (hereinafter the Resolution). The statement of the Commissions Electricity Department, which the Commission considered in the adoption of the Resolution, refers to the information presented in the letter of the Ministry of Energy that the public service obligation specified in clause 4 of Article 74(2) of the Law on Electricity of the Republic of Lithuania (assurance of electricity system reserves in the designated power plants, the activities of which are necessary to ensure national energy security) (hereinafter the Service) will not be provided in 2019. This means that not a single electricity production facility of the Company will provide this Service (also known as the Strategic Reserve) in 2019. As established by the Resolution, the Company will return to the PSO budget the sum of return on investment earned in 2017 in excess of the permitted amount set by the Commission, which totals EUR 2 765 million. The amount to be returned corresponds to the audited reports of the regulated activity of the Company. The Company reminds that in 2018, it has been providing the Service in the combined cycle unit; tertiary active power reserve was provided in Unit 8, while Unit 7 has been preserved. According to the preliminary results of the auction for electric power reserve for 2019 published by the transmission system operator LITGRID AB on 8 October 2018, in 2019, the Company will use the combined cycle unit to provide the reserve service for the control of voltages in the 330 kV network and for restoring the secondary power reserve. LITGRID AB has also informed the Commission that, in order to carry out planned Baltic power system isolated operation test in 2019, it will be necessary to further ensure the availability of Unit 7 and Unit 8 during the test and parameter check. The Commission will assess the costs of these blocks in 2020 system service budget of 2020. The Company is assessing the potential impact of the adopted legal act on the activities of its units and the Companys results as well as possible solutions. CALGARY, Alberta, Oct. 29, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tornado Global Hydrovacs Ltd. (TSX-V: TGH) (Tornado, Tornado Canada or the Company) is pleased to announce that its wholly-owned subsidiary Tornado Global Hydrovacs (Beijing) Ltd. (Tornado China) has entered into a five (5) year strategic partnership agreement with Anhui Jianghuai Yangtian Automobile Co., Ltd. (Jianghuai Yangtian) to manufacture Tornados line-up of hydrovac trucks, which have been customized to satisfy all the Chinese regulatory requirements, for sale and operation in China. Tornado is also pleased to announce that Tornado China executed a strategic partnership agreement with Daqing Haotian Xinda Technology Ltd. (HTXD) for an initial term of one (1) year to assist Tornado China with developing a client base in the excavation market in Heilongjiang Province of China. Hydrovac trucks use high pressure water to pulverize soil and turn it into mud, and then vacuum up the resulting mud into its tank. Hydrovac excavation is a valuable excavation technique, in large part because it can safely excavate around underground utilities such as gas and utility lines without damaging them. As such, this equipment is frequently used in the oil and gas production industry, the pipeline industry, and by municipalities to safely expose underground utilities for repair. Tornado anticipates the unique features of Tornados line-up of hydrovac trucks and its track record of effectiveness should generate great demand for its hydrovacs in part as a result of its hot water features that make excavation in winter far more economic and safe. Tornado Hydrovac is just what we need, stated Li Wei, the General Manager of Haotian Keda. In a very short time, Tornados hydrovac truck has solved excavation problems that have annoyed me for many years. It is amazing! Tornados hydrovac truck has exceeded expectations by providing safe operating techniques at a lower cost than the current alternatives. One demonstration recently conducted, resulted in the hydrovac safely excavating a broken water pipeline to restore the water supply. The water pipeline had been leaking approximately 300 tons (300,000 litres) of water per day for over three years. The massive water line leak was left unfixed because searching for the pipeline leak with other excavation methods may have caused a bigger problem if the water line or other under-ground gas lines in the area were struck. The use of the Tornado hydrovac truck for excavation facilitated the water leak being safely and efficiently found in less than 30 minutes and allowed the repair to be completed immediately. Present at the ceremony held in Chuzhou to announce and formalize the alliance were Company executives from Tornado Canada and Tornado China as well as executives from Jianghiai Yangtian from Chuzhou, the owner of Haotian Keda from Daqing, Chuzhou Citys Mayor, Chairman of Local Congress, the Director of the Commission of Economy and Information, the Nanqiao Districts Party Secretary and the Governor and Director of the Commission of Economy and Information. Going forward Tornados hydrovacs products will be manufactured by Jianghuai Yangtian and Tornado China and Jianghuai Yangtian will work together on improvements to Tornados line-up of hydrovac trucks which is expected to increase the competitiveness of the products. Tornado line-up of hydrovac trucks manufactured in China will be sold in China, North America and the rest of world, stated Sean Li, President of Tornado China. We are very pleased to be chosen to manufacture Tornados line-up of hydrovac trucks and we expect the quality of the trucks we manufacture in China to be as good as the products manufactured in North America if not better," stated Gong Yihua, President of Jianghuai Yangtian. Chuzhou and Nanqiao district are paying great attention to this event. Chinas excavation market is growing very quickly. Safety and low cost excavation on construction sites is extremely important to the Chinese market. Tornado and Jianghuai Yangtians agreement committed them to work together to solve these two challenges by introducing the Tornado line-up of hydrovac excavation trucks to the untapped Chinese market. Our local government will definitely support the career that benefits our nation and people and I will be glad to come to the plant again when the first unit of hydrovac truck is produced, stated the Chairman of Chuzhous local Congress. About Tornado The Company designs, manufactures and sells hydrovac trucks to excavation service providers to the oil and gas and municipal markets in Canada, USA and China. Hydrovac trucks use high pressure water to pulverize soil and turn it into mud, and then vacuum up the resulting mud into its tank. This method of excavation has proven to be the safest way to excavate around underground infrastructure. Tornado has been operating in North America since 1984. The Company established a wholly owned foreign subsidiary in China in 2016 and it has been given a mandate to manufacture and sell the hydrovac trucks that have been redesigned and localized to satisfy the Chinese market. About Jianghuai Yangtian Jianghuai Yangtian Automobile Co., Ltd. (Jianghuai Yangtian). was founded in 2002. At present, the company has more than 120 models of trucks approved for sale in China. It has received awards by the state, provinces and cities in China including: Anhui Quality Management Award, "Anhui Famous Brand", and Provincial Enterprise Technology Center. More than 20 products have been awarded the provincial or municipal science and technology progress award or national patent. All series of Jianghuai Yangtians products have passed the national 3C mandatory certification. Jianghuai Yangtians products, technology and quality are industry leaders in China. About Haotian Xinda Daqing Haotian Xinda Technology Ltd., founded in 2014, is an expert in underground water supply pipeline and drainage pipeline inspection, maintenance and emergency rescue, providing various advanced daylighting and maintenance devices and services. For more information about the Company, contact us at: Sean Li President Tornado Global Hydrovacs (Beijing) Ltd. Phone: +86-10-64750096 Email: sli@tghl.ca Website: http://tghlcn.com/ Bill Rollins CEO Tornado Global Hydrovacs Ltd. / Tornado Global Hydrovacs (North America) Inc. Phone: +1(403) 204-6333 Email: brollins@tghl.ca Website: http://tornadotrucks.com/ Reader Advisory Certain statements contained in this news release constitute forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future events. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. The use of the words anticipates, should, may, expected, expects, and other words of a similar nature are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. Although Tornado believes these statements to be reasonable, no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this news release should not be unduly relied upon. Such statements include statements with respect to: (i) the demand for and competitiveness of Tornados line-up of Hydrovac trucks in China, and the results, if any, thereof, any increase in revenue and profitability of the hydrovac business and the success of any efforts in respect thereof; and (ii) the growth of the hydrovac excavation market in China. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of prevailing economic conditions, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of Tornado. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release represent Tornados expectations as of the date hereof, and are subject to change after such date. Tornado disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities regulations. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. TORONTO, Oct. 29, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Blockchain Power Trust (Blockchain Power or the Trust) (TSXV:BPWR.UN) is pleased to report that production of its renewable energy projects for the quarter ended September 30, 2018 was an aggregate of 28,206 MWh, representing an increase of 53% from the 18,480 MWh produced by the projects in the comparative quarter ended September 30, 2017. On a year-to-date basis, the Trust produced an aggregate of 108,338 MWh in line with expectations, representing an increase of 87% from the 57,987 MWh produced for the comparative period in 2017. As at September 30, 2018, the Trust mined an aggregate of 107 Bitcoin. Given the decline in the price of Bitcoin, increased mining difficulty rates, and continued robust pricing environment for electricity in Romania and Europe generally, it is not currently profitable for the Trust to either supply or purchase energy for its Bitcoin mining operations and therefore it has paused its Bitcoin mining operations. Management is currently reviewing its options with respect to its mining strategy, including potentially resuming mining when it is once again expected to be profitable, and will respond if market dynamics change fundamentally. Colter Eadie, Chief Executive Officer of Blockchain Power, commented, Our renewable energy generation assets continue to perform consistently and according to plan. While we are disappointed to have paused our cryptocurrency mining activities, one of the key drivers of this is the ongoing strength in the underlying electric markets which is a positive for our core business. A key objective for us from the initial conception of integrating cryptocurrency mining into our operations was to provide an arbitrage opportunity between electricity pricing and cryptocurrencies, which has been achieved. For further information please contact: Ravi Sood Chairman +1 647-987-7663 rsood@blockchainpower.com J. Colter Eadie Chief Executive Officer +351 938 810 979 jceadie@blockchainpower.com Betty Soares Chief Financial Officer +1 416-803-6760 bsoares@blockchainpower.com About Blockchain Power Trust The Trust, through its direct and indirect subsidiaries in Canada, the Netherlands and Romania, acquires interests in renewable energy, blockchain and cryptocurrency related assets in Romania, other countries in Europe and abroad that can provide stable cash flow to the Trust and a suitable risk-adjusted return on investment. The Trust seeks to provide investors with long-term, stable value creation, while preserving the capital value of its investment portfolio through investment in a range of operational green energy, blockchain and cryptocurrency related assets. The Trust intends to qualify as a mutual fund trust under the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the Tax Act). The Trust will not be a SIFT trust (as defined in the Tax Act), provided that the Trust complies at all times with its investment restriction which precludes the Trust from holding any non-portfolio property (as defined in the Tax Act). All material information about the Trust may be found under the Trusts issuer profile at www.sedar.com. Forward-Looking Statements Statements in this press release contain forward-looking information. Such forward-looking information may be identified by words such as anticipates, plans, proposes, estimates, intends, expects, believes, may and will. The forward-looking statements are founded on the basis of expectations and assumptions made by the Trust. Details of the risk factors relating to Blockchain Power and its business are discussed under the heading Business Risks and Uncertainties in Blockchain Powers annual Managements Discussion & Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2017, a copy of which is available on Blockchain Powers SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Most of these factors are outside the control of the Trust. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information. These statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Except as otherwise required by applicable securities statutes or regulation, Blockchain Power expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Neither the TSXV nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Represents 515% Increase in Revenue and Over 300% increase in Units YTD in the Province TORONTO, Oct. 29, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Clear Blue Technologies International Inc. (Clear Blue) (TSXV:CBLU), today announced it has won 12 new projects in Ontario this year for its Illumient Smart Off-Grid lighting, exceeding its 2018 projections for installations in the province. Revenue from sales in Ontario YTD are 515% higher than in all of 2017, and the number of lighting systems increased by over 300%. To date, 18 municipalities in Ontario have installed Illumient lighting systems, for a variety of uses including roadways, downtown areas, residential streets, parks, and signage, at over 40 different locations. The global market for solar street lighting is projected to grow by over 23% CAGR over the next few years, said Miriam Tuerk, CEO and co-founder of Clear Blue. The rate of projected growth in the Americas is close, at almost 20% CAGR, and also will be driven by the explosion of Internet of Things (IoT) devices that need to be powered. As an Ontario-based company, we are pleased by the growing number of municipalities in the province who are selecting our Smart Off-Grid lights for their critical lighting and IoT infrastructure. With built-in communications, each Illumient solar-powered light is remotely managed, controlled and monitored over the internet, ensuring the highest reliability and low maintenance costs. In addition to lighting, these same systems can power security cameras and a wide variety of Internet of Things devices like WiFi hotspots, traffic counters, sensors, and more. Some of the municipalities in Ontario using Clear Blues Illumient Smart Off-Grid lighting are: City of Toronto, including downtown business improvement areas (BIAs) like Koreatown, and residential streets in other parts of the city Town of Pickering, where Illumient lights have been installed at three parks within the town, including a dog park, enabling residents to use them in the evening and throughout the year City of Hamilton, where Illumient lights have been installed in multiple locations on streets, parks, pathways , and business parks. In 2016, the City of Hamilton was awarded the Canadian Outdoor Lighting Project of the Year . , and business parks. In 2016, the City of Hamilton was awarded the . Town of Ajax, lighting Paradise Park Town of Welland, for sign lighting Town of Whitby, to power a childrens splash pad City of Waterloo, to add lighting at the citys fuel station West 5 in the City of London, for residential lighting in this visionary, sustainable community Town of Milton, for bridge lighting Town of Innisfil, to light a county road Town of Oshawa, to light its information centre Clear Blues Smart Off-Grid systems are installed in 8 Canadian provinces, more than 20 U.S. states, and in 34 countries around the world, powering street lights, telecom systems, security systems, Internet of Things devices, and other mission-critical systems. About Clear Blue Technologies International Clear Blue Technologies International, the Smart Off-Grid company, was founded on a vision of delivering clean, managed, wireless power to meet the global need for reliable, low-cost, solar and hybrid power for lighting, telecom, security, Internet of Things devices, and other mission-critical systems. Today Clear Blue has thousands of systems under management across 34 countries, including the U.S. and Canada. Media Contact: Becky Nye Senior Associate Montieth & Company 12 E 49th St., New York, NY 10017 +1 646.864.3517 bnye@montiethco.com English Lithuanian Equity of the Company and the Company's net asset value as of 30 September 2018 was EUR 23,9 mln or EUR 1.9642 per share. Investments of the Company into managed companies amounted to EUR 20 million at the end of September 2018. The net profit of the Company for 9 months of 2018 was EUR 103 thousand; the net profit of the Company for the third quarter of 2018 amounted to EUR 409 thousand. Additional information: INVL Technology, a company that invests in IT businesses, had equity of EUR 23.915 million, or EUR 1.96 per share, at the end of the third quarter this year. Equity per share was up 0.4% from the start of the year. During the third quarter the companys equity grew by EUR 409 000 and its net asset value per share rose by 1.74%. The companys investments in the businesses it owns totalled EUR 20 million at the end of September, which is EUR 801 000 less than at the start of the year. The change was mainly due to dividends the businesses announced, which exceeded EUR 1.3 million and reduced the value of the assets held. Meanwhile, the value of assets increased by EUR 0.5 million due to revaluation. INVL Technology had a net profit for the reporting period of EUR 103 000. The figure for the same period last year was EUR 214 000. In the third quarter, meanwhile, the company had a profit of EUR 409 000, which is an increase of 111.87% compared with the corresponding period last year. We view this years nine-month and third-quarter results favourably. The revenues and profits of most of the businesses we own grew, and they signed significant new contracts, which ensures future business growth. Also, to make INVL Technologys businesses more attractive for potential investors, to increase their competitive advantage and to expand the business in countries of Northern Europe, we continued the consolidation of business holdings begun at the start of the year, said Kazimieras Tonkunas, INVL Technologys managing partner. In consolidating its holdings, INVL Technology is reorganizing the businesses of NRD Companies, centralizing the financial management and control functions, and has begun the process of forming a holding company for this group. Also in the context of consolidation processes, in September Andmevara AS was reorganized, splitting it into two companies, Andmevara AS and Andmevara Services OU, and separating their activities. IT infrastructure maintenance, hosting and digitalization operations were split off from Andmevara AS to the newly established Andmevara Services OU. Andmevara AS will continue to focus on its core business - development of information systems. The reorganization was undertaken in order to combine the IT infrastructure and information systems development businesses that INVL Technology owns in Lithuania, Estonia and Moldova, rearranging them and thereafter forming the Novian group of IT services and programming companies. It is foreseen that in the long term BAIP, another INVL Technology-owned company which provides critical IT infrastructure services, will acquire Andmevara Services OU, thus strengthening and expanding BAIPs operations in Estonia and Moldova, while Andmevara AS will be acquired by Novian, which owns BAIP. INVL Technologys business holdings, as of this year, are divided into three functional groups: a business climate improvement and e-governance group (to which the NRD Companies group belongs), a cybersecurity group (to which NRD CS belongs), and an IT services and programming group (comprising Novian, BAIP, Acena, Algoritmu Sistemos, Andmevara Services OU and Andmevara AS). Results of specific businesses In three quarters of this year, NRD Companies had revenue of EUR 5.1 million, or 19% more than in the same period last year. Its EBITDA was EUR 483 000 and increased 2.3 times versus the year-ago period. The revenues of BAIP and Acena in January-September shrank 1.4% from the same period last year to EUR 8 million. Their EBITDA was EUR 467 000 and compared to the first three quarters of 2017 fell by 4.9%. Algoritmu Sistemoss nine-month revenue, meanwhile, was EUR 2 million, or 25% more than in the same period last year, while its EBITDA was EUR 161 000, which is 4.5% more than last year. Andmevara ASs revenue for three quarters grew 14.8% from the same period last year to EUR 963 000, while its EBITDA was a negative EUR 43 000 (versus a negative EUR 173 000 last year). NRD CSs January-September revenue increased 4.2% to EUR 1.9 million, and its EBITDA decreased to EUR 68 000 (versus EUR 235 000 in the same period last year). INVL Technology has invested in the Norwegian company Norway Registers Development AS with a branch and subsidiaries NRD Systems UAB and Etronika UAB in Lithuania, Norway Registers Development East Africa Ltd in Tanzania, Norway Registers Development Rwanda Ltd in Rwanda and NRD Bangladesh Ltd in Bangladesh, and the associate company Infobank Uganda Ltd in Uganda. INVL Technologys portfolio of businesses also includes the Lithuanian company Novian UAB with subsidiaries BAIP UAB and Acena UAB as well as NRD CS UAB and Algoritmu Sistemos UAB, all in Lithuania, and Estonias Andmevara AS and Andmevara Services OU with subsidiary Andmevara SRL in Moldova. The person authorized to provide additional information: Kazimieras Tonkunas INVL Technology Managing Partner E-mail k.tonkunas@invltechnology.lt Attachments SASKATOON, Saskatchewan, Oct. 29, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- More than 900 workers at Saskatoon Co-op could be out on strike as early as 12:01 a.m. on November 1, 2018. The employees are members of UFCW Canada Local 1400, which represents the workers at grocery stores, gas stations, Agro centres, home centres, and liquor stores across the region. The union served notice on the Co-op and the Ministers office on Monday. The main issue for the workers is the employers refusal to bargain the outstanding issues, including the Saskatoon Co-ops demand to introduce a second-tier wage grid, which would see the Co-op lowering the wages of new employees. The sole reason given by the CEO of the Saskatoon Co-op for the introduction of the second tier is long term sustainability of the Co-op. This rationale does not make sense to the employees bargaining committee, as this sustainability shouldnt be achieved by lowering the quality of life of new employees. The Saskatoon Co-operative Association boasts of its economic prowess, and that its ranked 21st on the Top 100 Companies in Saskatchewan list, but somehow says it needs to roll back wages now. The employees are asking for the community to come together and support them in their fight to maintain fairness and to sustain the quality of life of new employees. Please shop elsewhere during the job action and lets bring our Co-op back to a company that we, as owners, can once again be proud of. CONTACT: Rod Gillies, Director of Negotiations UFCW Canada Local 1400 306-281-9896 Helpful Posts from Previous CBS Admit Threads Initial Deposit skyblueseven wrote: No worries - I had the same question when I was wiring my deposit. I feel the instruction on the web page could have been more clear. I am international and I put Columbia University as the name of the beneficiary. The transfer went through fine without any issue. I think the account does belong to Wells Fargo but as long as you have the correct routing number and account number it should be fine.As for changing the method of payment - I think it's fine as long as you let them know. Hello Class of 2019!Congratulations to all!Quick question about the ED Deposit of $6000 to be paid to CBS...I'm a domestic candidate and selected wire transfer as my method of payment. However, I'm confused as to who the 'beneficiary' is when putting in transfer details... is it Wells Fargo bank or Columbia University?Additionally, if I have accepted my online reply form by putting in Wire Transfer as the method of payment... can I pay by check instead now or should I call admissions and make them aware.This should be so simple, I feel silly asking these questions!Thanks in advance! Re Vera arjuns247 wrote: CBSplz wrote: When does "Re Vera" appear on the to-do list? I've submitted my ED deposit, still no background checks on my timeline.. Does everyone go through one? What's the consensus on pre-MBA tour vs pre-MBA internship? Hi all!When does "Re Vera" appear on the to-do list? I've submitted my ED deposit, still no background checks on my timeline.. Does everyone go through one?What's the consensus on pre-MBA tour vs pre-MBA internship? I received the "Re Vera" task on my to-do list - I was admitted in August, but I doubt that matters. I submitted the release and payment for the "Re Vera" background check and let my recommenders know that they may be contacted. This may have been too early since I don't plan on quitting till next June....oh wellIn regards to pre-MBA tour vs. pre-MBA internship, I think those are two distinct programs. Pre-MBA tour trips for CBS, I believe, include multiple trips that occur between May and August before Fall Term. I plan on going to 1-3 trips (likely 1-2 because I will so painfully in debt once MBA loans kick in). Pre-MBA internships can be done in addition to the pre-MBA tour trips (assuming you don't choose a trip /trips that overlap); however, from my research, pre-MBA internships more likely than not will need to be brokered through a connection / your network. There are official programs, but they are very selective so there is no guarantee. Personally, I would do one if it'll be a great AND different learning experience, but aside from that, the advice I've gotten is to enjoy the stress-free months before CBS takes over your life (in a good way). For political junkies like me, Nate Silver's FiveThirtyEight.com web site is a treasure trove of election prediction delights. It's beautifully designed, statistically sophisticated, and a good way to learn statistical principles without actually taking a course. In this post I'm going to share how Silver looks upon some key House, Senate, and Governor races, naturally with a special focus on Oregon races. First, though, here's some tweets that Silver shared today: So the lean/likely zone for Nate Silver is between a 60%-95% chance of a candidate winning. And the toss-up zone is when no candidate exceeds a 60% chance of winning. Keep in mind that "chance of winning" is different from the predicted percent of the vote a candidate will receive. With these definitions out of the way, on to the races! I'm using the middle "Classic" 538.com forecast, rather than the "Lite" or "Deluxe" forecast (the latter includes experts' ratings, while "Classic" is billed as I'll take the polls, plus all the "fundamentals": fundraising, past voting in the state, historical trends, and more.) Also, I made screenshots of the pop-ups on 538.com, which explains the bleed-through of what lay beneath the pop-up. Oregon governor. Silver gives Democrat Kate Brown a 85% chance of winning, which warrants a "Likely D" rating. Yet I've seen newspaper stories calling the race a toss-up. Maybe by their definition, but this isn't how 538.com views the Oregon governor race. Florida governor. It's interesting that Democrat Andrew Gillum has almost as high a chance of winning, 78%, as Kate Brown, which puts the Florida Governor's race also in the "Likely D" category. UPDATE: Somehow I forgot to include the Georgia and Wisconsin governor races. Here they are: Georgia governor. This is a really tight race. I don't understand why Kemp has a 58% chance of winning, given that his forecasted vote share is just slightly higher than Abrams'. But I'm sure Silver has some very good reasons for making this prediction. Wisconsin governor. Another toss-up race. Maybe Scott Walker's election luck (and/or manipulating) has run out. A lot of liberals in Wisconsin will be overjoyed if Evers ends up winning. Control of the House. Silver gives Democrats a 85% chance of winning control of the House of Representatives. That's high, but I try to keep in mind that Hillary Clinton had a 71% chance of beating Trump, and we know how that race turned out. It'll be interesting to see how close Democrats come to gaining 39 House seats, which is Silver's predicted average gain. Schrader's House race. Democrat Kurt Schrader has exactly the same chance of holding onto his Oregon 5th House seat as the Democrats have of taking control of the House: 85%. Walden's House race. In the Oregon House district where Greg Walden is running for re-election, his Democratic opponent has been doing a lot of traveling around the far reaches of eastern Oregon. But her chances of winning are very slim: 1%. The three other Oregon house races are all rated as solid D, with DeFazio, Blumenauer, and Bonamici all given at least a 99% chance of winning. So Schrader's race is by far the most competitive in Oregon. Rohrabacher House race. My daughter and her family live in Dana Rohrabacher's Orange County, California House district. She's been working to defeat him, so she'll be pleased to learn that his Democratic challenger has a 64% chance of beating him. Orange County used to be solidly Republican, so this shows how the Blue Wave may become a reality. Control of the Senate. As is well known, Democratic control of the Senate is unlikely, since many more Democratic senators are up for re-election (many in states Trump won), a result of how well Dems did back in 2012. So the 17% chance of Democrats winning control of the Senate is about the same as the 15% chance Republicans have of maintaining control of the House. North Dakota Senate race. Listening to satellite radio as I drove around today, I heard a pundit say that Democrat Heidi Heitkamp could lose her Senate race by 20 points. But Nate Silver gives her a 32% chance of winning, and has her forecasted vote share at 48%. So this seems to be an instance of people giving a candidate essentially a zero chance of winning when actually the race is much tighter. Nevada Senate race. Likewise, the prevailing "wisdom" (note the scare quotes) seems to be that Dean Heller is on his way to keeping his Senate seat in a state that Clinton won. Silver, though, has the race as a toss-up, since Heller has only a 59% chance of winning. Florida Senate race. Roughly mirroring Andrew Gillum's chance of winning the Governor race, fellow Democrat Bill Nelson has a 72% chance of beating current Florida Governor Rick Scott in the Senate race. This surprises me, as I thought Scott was quite popular. But it seems a combination of Democratic enthusiasm and "red tide" worries in the state are buoying Nelson. Texas Senate race. Beto O'Rourke is getting a lot of Democratic love nationally, but his chance of beating Ted Cruz is slim at 21%. Could happen, though. A 1 in 5 chance is a lot greater than a 1 in 100 chance, as is the case with 4 of 5 Oregon House races. Arizona Senate race. Democrat Sinema has a 64% chance of beating Republican McSally in this race for an open Senate seat. So that's good news for Democrats, since nearly everything has to go right for Dems in Senate races for them to have a chance of taking control of the Senate. I'll end by observing that I trust Nate Silver's methodology a lot more than I trust my progressive mind -- which dearly hopes that against all odds, somehow the Democrats take control of the Senate. I believe that Silver is correct with his 17% chance of this happening. But I can understand why some consider that the Democrats have a greater chance, since mere "clicking around" the 538.com Senate map can produce a different outcome (which I'd call by a non-technical term: wishful thinking.) Here's what I mean: I zoom around and see that in Missouri Democrat McCaskill has a 58% chance of holding onto her seat in a red state. In Indiana Democrat Donnelly has a 68% chance of winning. In West Virginia Democrat Manchin has a 89% chance of winning. In Montana Democrat Tester has a 85% chance of winning. Then I fantasize that Democrat Heitkamp beats the odds with her 32% chance of winning, and holds onto her North Dakota seat. Plus, Democrat Sinema wins the open seat in Arizona, and Democrat Rosen beats incumbent Heller in Nevada. Bingo! Seemingly this means Democrats pick up two Senate seats and they have a 51-49 control of the Senate. The flaw in this is my wishful non-statistical thinking. Silver runs computer simulations. I simply run what I want to have happen in my own mind. It could happen, because Silver says there's a non-trivial 17% chance Democrats can take control of the Senate. It's just a lot less likely than the "everything goes right for Democrats" scenario I can fashion in my left-leaning mind. 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 - There were Filipinas arrested for attending a Halloween party in Riyadh - The government of Saudi Arabia prohibits organizing non-Islamic events - The Philippine Embassy has released an official statement regarding the incident PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed! Saudi Arabia prohibits organizing and attending events without the permission of the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia or events that are non-Islamic. KAMI learned from ABS-CBN News that Filipinas were arrested for attending a Halloween party in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Consul General Christopher Patrick Aro explained that residents in Al Thumama complained about a party that went on until past midnight. They attendees reportedly posted their happenings on social media as well. "So far na alam namin ay resulta po ito ng isang reklamo ng mga residente sa Al Thumama na para tila meron pong activity po doon na ginaganap na medyo past midnight na," Aro stated. The noise was already disturbing others, therefore, the police conducted a raid and arrested the party organizer as well as those who attended the event. As reported by Philippine Star, 24 people were arrested and 19 of them are Pinays. They could be charged with immorality or organized witchcraft activity and could face a jail sentence up to one year. PAY ATTENTION: Using free basics app to access internet for free? Now you can read KAMI news there too. Use the search option to find us. Read KAMI news while saving your data! The Consul General also warned the Filipinos in Riyadh in terms of hosting and attending parties especially now that the Christmas, another non-Islamic event, is approaching. Lalo na po at nalalapit na po ang holiday season sa atin, ang pag-observe ng Pasko sa atin ay isa din po 'yan na kailangan medyo dapat bantayan dito sa Saudi 'di po dapat sa publiko po natin ginagawa yan, Aro quipped. Here is the official statement of Philippine Embassy: Photo from ABS-CBN News Source: Facebook Philippines tricky questions: can you answer these tricky questions? Today we are going to ask the Philippines strangers some very funny Tagalog tricky questions! Do you think you can answer them correctly? These individuals from the Philippines have their answers! Who Was The First Woman To Travel Into Space? This questions might sound easy, but in reality, they are pretty tricky and it is easy to make a mistake! on KAMI HumanMeter YouTube channel! Source: Kami.com.ph - A Filipino family encountered a racist woman during their vacation in Wellington, New Zealand - The woman told them to leave the coffee shop and to go back to their country - According to the racist, New Zealand is a country for white people only PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed A racist woman in Wellington, New Zealand was caught on video hurling racist remarks against a Filipino family. KAMI learned that the Pinoy family encountered the racist twice. According to Krizia Alexa Egipto, she and her family went to Wellington, New Zealand for a vacation. During their stay there, they went to a coffee shop where they had a conversation with another Filipino. The woman then told them to stop talking and to leave the coffee shop. According to her, New Zealand is a country for Caucasians only. The Pinoys then encountered her again at another location, still throwing hateful remarks towards them. So earlier today we went to Night n Day Manners St. in Wellington because my dad wanted to buy a coffee. While we were waiting for my Dad, my Mum and I bought a lotto ticket and some scratches. There were chairs inside the shop and we sat there. There were a filipino guy who talked to us, so my parents and that filipino guy are basically having a chat. When they were talking a lady who were seating inside the night n day said to them can you guys be quiet and we werent even talking that loud. So I basically just ignored what she said. While we were heading out the shop this lady was giving us a look (a bad look) so I was just looking at her as well. But suddenly while we were just about to go out the shop she said something to us but parents didnt heard what the lady said. The lady said DONT COME BACK HERE ANYMORE. YOURE NOT WELCOME HERE. THIS IS ONLY FOR WHITE PEOPLE. THIS COUNTRY IS FOR WHITE PEOPLE ONLY After hearing about what that lady said, I told the lady is this yours? Is this your shop? And she didnt answer my questions. Then I told her Youre a racist, Youre a f****** racist and a f****** b**** I got annoyed, angry and hurt so bad after hearing what shed said. And the staff and I think the manager of the shop approached us and asked us about what happened and I told them what that lady told us. After telling the staff and the manager they ask the lady straight away if she could leave the shop as they dont tolerate those kind of people in their shop. PAY ATTENTION: Using free basics app to access internet for free? Now you can read KAMI news there too. Use the search option to find us. Read KAMI news while saving your data! After that we went outside already to walk around the city. Then my Mum saw the lady again and shes being racist to us again. I would never thought that I would experience racism and this kind of situation in my life. 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 Im 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. So whatever country you are from, please dont let other people discriminate you. Stand up for yourselves and dont be scared. Whatever country that you came from and whatever colour you have, RACISM IS NOT OKAY. This is a lesson for me from today, Krizia posted. According to ABS-CBN News, Krizia and her family migrated to New Zealand in 2014. Her father works as a dairy farmworker in Winton, New Zealand. The Mayor of Wellington apologized to the Filipino family and stated that racism has no place in their town. Today we are going to ask the Philippines strangers some very funny Tagalog tricky questions! These individuals from the Philippines have their answers! These questions might sound easy, but in reality, they are pretty tricky and it is easy to make a mistake! on KAMI HumanMeter YouTube channel! Source: Kami.com.ph - Actress Dimples Romana made a big surprise to her mom after she gave her a new house - The celebrity said she used her income from Kadenang Ginto to buy her mom a house - Dimples mother became really emotional upon hearing the good news PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed Kapamilya actress Dimples Romana earned nothing but praises from netizens when she gave a new and expensive house to her mother. KAMI learned that the promising actress decided to allot her earnings from her current drama series, Kadenang Ginto in fulfilling one of her dreams for her mother which is to have a new house. In an Instagram post, Dimples made sure that the public will witness how she and her relatives would surprise her mother who had different idea about the expensive gift. She was told that the house they were visiting was from her godchild but she started to question Dimples when she saw some pictures of them on the wall. Bumaba kaming lahat to tour the house. I already printed out our family photos and hung them on a wall para habang nagtour sila makita nila yung mga pictures namin,: the celebrity wrote. Ayun, sabi ng nanay ko, Bakit kami nandito sa pictures? At sabi ko, Kasi bahay mo ito, she added. PAY ATTENTION: Using free basics app to access internet for free? Now you can read KAMI news there too. Use the search option to find us. Read KAMI news while saving your data! Upon knowing that the house is Dimples gift to her, she became ecstatic and even emotional as shown in the uploaded video. Even the actress recognized that her mother could not believe what she just heard as she continued asking her other relatives if the house is really hers. That moment when you tell your mama that the house you visited isnt really your inaanaks but hers Mama was obviously surprised. Coming into my birth month, we surprised my Mama, Bam and Angeli with their new home, the celebrity explained. Simple lang ito pero sana mag bigay ito ng magandang simula sa kanila at Maraming magagandang alaala. Salamat sa aking mahal na asawa for letting me do this for my family, hindi lahat may asawang mapagparaya katulad mo she added. Here is the video: In a previous article by , the former Esperanza star also purchased her fourth property a condominium unit - with her husband. Dimples, or Dianne Marie Romana Ahmee in real life, was born on November 13, 1984. She is a Filipina actress who already appeared in several films including Dubai, One More Chance, and The Unmarried Wife. Many of you had asked us to shoot The Nun prank and we did it! So, today we are proud to present you an extraordinary lady, Scary Nun! In this episode, she is going to roam the streets of the Philippines and scare innocent people to death! (Laughs evilly) on HumanMeter! Source: Kami.com.ph - Last Sunday, Erwan Heussaff posted in Instagram a rap video of him taunting Nico Bolzico - The husband of Solenn would not let a good challenge go and made his own amateur version with the help of Solenn, of course - The netizens were thoroughly entertained by the duos videos PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see In the age of the internet, rap battles have become common. From production houses that shell out Fliptop and the like. But one type of rap battle is making waves right now purely because of the ones involved in the battle; Erwan Heussaff and Nico Bolzico. It was PUSH that initially reported the battle. Clearly both were just joking around but it did create a buzz in Instagram with Erwan and Nico earning close to 60,000 and 400,000 views respectively. The celebrity chef was the one who started the tauntfest with this well produced two-part video. Erwans fans had nothing but love and admiration for the producer/chef with their comments. Hahaha talentado!! Omg! A chef turned rapper! .... That is awesome @erwan ... Bravo PAY ATTENTION: Using free basics app to access internet for free? Now you can read Of course, brother-in-law Nico Bolzico would not give up without a fight. The Argentinian sought the help of his very beautiful wife, Solenn, to act as his backdrop since he could not do production shots like Erwan. The netizens were just having a blast. Check out their comments. couple goallllsss!!!! @ctmra @yvanajan @nicobolzico Solid! You guys are so cute. Yung tagalog ang nagdala! bravoooo Nevertheless, the view count speaks for itself earning close to 400,000 views as of this writing versus Erwans 57,000. POPULAR: Read more news about Nico Bolzico! Read more Since Erwan has a production house because of his YouTube videos, he clearly has the production advantage. All Nico had was his beautiful wife, Solenn, in the background but it was obvious that he didnt need a nice production based solely on his view count. Either way, that was a pleasant way to get yourselves entertained on a quiet Sunday. What do you think of their videos? Did they entertain you as much as they entertained us? Hit us up on the comments below. The duo of Erwan and Nico make up part of what Nico calls the #bulliedhusbandsclub Nico Bolzico is married to Erwans celebrity sister, Solenn Heussaff Nico and Erwan are owners of Bolzico Beef which officially launched last August of 2018. In a previous report by , here is the simple life of Solenn and Nico Bolzico. Today we are going to ask Philippines strangers some very funny Tagalog tricky questions! Do you think you can answer them correctly? These individuals from the Philippines have their answers! What Does Monkey-Eating-Eagle Eat? This questions might sound easy, but in reality, they are pretty tricky and it is easy to make a mistake! - on Source: Kami.com.ph Author Ntozake Shange of For Colored Girls Fame has Died NEW YORK (AP) Playwright, poet and author Ntozake Shange, whose most acclaimed theater piece is the 1975 Tony Award-nominated play For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf, died Saturday, according to her daughter. She was 70. Shanges For Colored 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 Shanges death, Nottage called her our warrior poet/dramatist. ADVERTISEMENT Savannah Shange, a professor of anthropology at the University of California at Santa Cruz, said Saturday that her mother died in her sleep at an assisted living facility in Bowie, Maryland. She had suffered a series of strokes in 2004. She spoke for, and in fact embodied, the ongoing struggle of black women and girls to live with dignity and respect in the context of systemic racism, sexism and oppression, Savannah Shange said. For Colored Girls is an interwoven series of poetic monologues set to music Shange coined the form a choreopoem for it by African-American women, each identified only by a color 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. ADVERTISEMENT Born Paulette Williams in Trenton, New Jersey, she went on to graduate from Barnard College and got a masters degree from the University of Southern California. Her father, Dr. Paul T. Williams, was a surgeon. Her mother, Eloise Owens Williams, was a professor of social work. She later assumed a new Zulu name: Ntozake means She who comes with her own things and Shange means She who walks like a lion. For Colored Girls opened at the Public Theater in downtown Manhattan, 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. It earned Shange an Obie Award and she won a second such award in 1981 for her adaptation of Bertolt Brechts Mother Courage and Her Children at the Public Theater. Shanges other 15 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 includes 19 poetry collections, six novels, five childrens books and three collections of essays. Some of her novels are Sassafrass, Cypress, and Indigo (1982) and Some Sing, Some Cry, with her sister, Ifa Bayeza. Her poetry collections include 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. She worked with such black theater companies as the Lorraine Hansberry Theatre in San Francisco; the New Freedom Theater in Philadelphia; Crossroads Theatre Company in New Brunswick, New Jersey; St. Louis Black Rep; Penumbra Theatre in St. Paul, Minnesota; and The Ensemble Theatre in Houston, Texas. Shange taught at Brown University, Rice University, Villanova University, DePaul University, Prairie View University and Sonoma State University. She also lectured at Yale, Howard, New York University, among others. In addition to her daughter and sister, Shange is survived by sister Bisa Williams, brother Paul T. Williams, Jr. and a granddaughter, Harriet Shange-Watkins. The LA Conservation Corps Holds Nov. 2nd College and Career Fair WHAT: The Los Angeles Conservation Corps (LA Corps) is hosting a College & Career Fair on Friday, November 2, 2018 for teens and young adults in Los Angeles. The event is free, open to the public, and complimentary lunch will be provided to attendees. Attendees will meet college contacts and prospective employers and will have the chance to win a free Apple iPad! WHO: Teens and young adults are invited to attend. Current LA Corpsmembers will be available for interview at the LA Corps booth. ADVERTISEMENT Participating employers, service providers and colleges include: CalTrans, LA County Sherriffs Department, SoCalGas, National Park Service, Allied Universal Security Services, FedEx, Department of Rehabilitation, Department of Public Social Services, GRID Alternatives, LA Trade Technical College, LA City College, Cal State University Dominguez Hills, and Glendale Community College, among others. Sponsors include: The Los Angeles Conservation Corps, Intel and Los Angeles World Airports. WHERE: Goodwill Center of Southern California located at 3150 North San Fernando Road, Los Angeles, 90065. WHEN: Friday, November 2, 2018: Current Corpsmembers and alumni will attend VIP workshop sessions from 9am 10am, the public is invited to attend from 10am-12 noon. Lunch will be held 12 noon 1pm. ADVERTISEMENT WHY: Los Angeles unemployment rate has dropped to a historic low, yet the rate remains high in Los Angeles disadvantaged communities. More than 200,000 (16%) of young adults between the ages of 18-24 in the LA Metro Area are out of work or out of school, and over half havent worked in the last five years or havent worked at all. The LA Corps helps by transforming youth and young adults by putting them on a path to careers or college through comprehensive work experience, job training, case management and the chance to earn their high school diploma. The LA Corps offers them opportunities to develop a work ethic, a marketable skillset, and a resume to boost them forward to a promising career track. CONTACT: RSVP and sponsorship information are online at: www.lacorps.org/myfuture Interested employers or college representatives can contact Gaby Jimenez, Case & Transition Program Manager at the LA Corps at [email protected] or 213-362-9000 ext. 539. For more information, contact: Mike Mena at: 310-913-0625 or [email protected] An Indonesian passenger airplane crashed into the sea on Monday, just minutes after taking off from Jakarta. Indonesian officials say all 189 people on Lion Air Flight 610 were likely killed. The Associated Press reports that search and rescue teams have recovered human remains. One official said searchers are not expecting to find any survivors, based on the condition of the remains. Hundreds of people are involved in the operation. They have recovered pieces of the plane and personal belongings, including pictures and identification documents. The crash has shocked Indonesia. President Joko Widodo ordered the transport safety commission to investigate. He urged people to keep on praying as rescue crews continue their search for victims. The crash involved a new aircraft. One air traffic official said the flight was cleared to return to Jakarta after the pilot made a return to base request two to three minutes after leaving the airport. The plane came down about 10 minutes later in waters northeast of Jakarta. Lion Air officials said the plane was on a 70-minute flight to Pangkal Pinang, off the coast of Sumatra. The plane was reported to be carrying 181 passengers, including one child and two babies, and eight crew members. Friends and family members prayed and held hands as they waited at the airport in Pangkal Pinang. Others gathered at a crisis center set up in the Jakarta airport. Indonesian television broadcast pictures of objects and oil covering the waters surface in the area where the aircraft came down. The Indonesian meteorology agency noted that weather conditions for the flight were safe. It said that winds were weak and clouds normally connected with air turbulence were not present. The aviation website Flightradar24 reports that Lion Air took possession of the aircraft two months ago. It said the company put the plane, a Boeing 737 Max 8, to use within days. The head of Lion Air, Edward Sirait, said the plane had a technical problem on its most recent flight, from Bali to Jakarta. But he added the problem had been fully corrected. The company said the pilot of Flight 610 had more than 6,000 hours of flying experience, while the co-pilot had more than 5,000 hours. The planes manufacturer, the United States-based Boeing Company, said it was deeply saddened and was prepared to provide technical assistance to the Indonesian investigation. The crash is the worst airline accident in Indonesia since an AirAsia flight crashed in December 2014. All 162 people on that plane were killed. In 2007, Indonesian airlines were barred from flying to Europe because of safety concerns. But several carriers were permitted to restart flights to European airports during the following 10 years. The ban was completely lifted in June of this year. The U.S. government ended its own ban on Indonesian carriers in 2016. The Associated Press reported this story. George Grow adapted the report for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story aviation n. the operation of airplanes; the manufacture, development and design of airplanes commission n. a government or government-led agency meteorology n. the study of Earths atmosphere, usually involving the weather and making weather predictions turbulence n. unusual or strange movements in the atmosphere, as seen in up and down air currents An American law that blocks placement of Native American children with non-native American families was ruled illegal earlier this month. A federal judge in Texas announced the decision, surprising many native groups. The judge said the Indian Child Welfare Act, or ICWA, of 1978, is unfair. He said it gives Native Americans seeking to adopt children favorable treatment based on race. He said that violates the equal protection guarantee in the U.S. Constitution. Most tribes see the ruling as a continuation of years of culturally destructive U.S. government policies. Children are responsible for continuing the cultures and traditions of their tribes. So, they argue, native children need to remain in native homes. Iva Johnson is a member of the Navajo Nation. She was living in Arizona in 2015 when she had a heart attack at her home. After waking up days later, two women she did not recognize were sitting nearby. They explained that they were with the Department of Child Safety (DCS). They said they were removing three of her four children from their home because there was no one to care for them. Johnson was too sick to speak. She wanted to tell them that her oldest child is 21 years old and able to care for the three children. Before she could speak, the women forced her to sign a document that gave her three younger children up for adoption. It took three years of court action before Johnson was reunited with her children. They had been separated from each other and spent time in different non-Native homes. Congress passed ICWA forty years ago in order to prevent such events. At that time, as many as one-third of all Native American children had been taken from their families and placed in non-native homes. Stephen Pevar is a lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). He explains how ICWA works. Before you can place an Indian child in a non-Indian home, you have to first look for another member of the immediate family, then another member of the tribe, then another Indian family before you can place that child in a non-Indian home. Johnson says that the DCS in Arizona failed to follow the law. DCS officials did not answer VOAs request for comment. Today, Johnson, like many Native Americans, worries that such court rulings could cause many more native families to lose their children. Social isolation, poverty and poor health care services on many Native American reservations have added to the rise in rates of alcohol and drug abuse rates and crime related to such problems. A 2014 examination of child removal cases in Pennington County, South Dakota, showed that alcohol abuse was involved in more than half of the removals. Violence in the home was noted in 22 percent of cases. Child abuse was given as a reason in nine percent of all cases. Children who are removed from their homes and placed with strangers suffer higher rates of mental health problems, including drug and alcohol dependency. Parents who lose their children suffer loss, guilt and shame. And its even worse when you place somebody in a different culture, which is usually what happens to Indian children, said ACLU lawyer Pevar. Jase Roe is 41 years old. He agrees. He was born on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in Montana but taken from his mother when he was a baby. At first, he lived with a relative in Minnesota. He was later sent to a non-native home. Everything was different there, he said. They didnt understand my culture or where I was coming from. They didnt understand the humor that goes along with my culture or the way we interact with each other. One of the only minority students in school, Roe said he was always treated badly. I grew up ashamed of who I was, ashamed of being Native, he said. I wished I was white. Roe became dependent on alcohol and other drugs at an early age. It took him many years to break free of them. It took a lot of work, he said, and Im still in therapy. Roe said he believes placing native children in non-native homes does more harm than good. It doesnt give them a sense of who they are, he said. The U.S. Department of the Interior is against ending ICWA. They say groups that support childrens rights consider it to be the best example of childrens interest policies. Pevar said he is not worried about attacks on the law. He said, There have been challenges to ICWA from Day One. Yet, he thinks the law will stay. Im Dorothy Gundy. Cecily Hilleary reported on this story for VOANews.com. Dorothy Gundy adapted this story for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story adopt v. to take a child of other parents legally as your own child isolation n. the state of being in a place or situation that is separate from others shame n. a feeling of guilt, regret, or sadness that you have because you know you have done something wrong therapy n. the treatment of physical or mental illnesses challenges n. difficult tasks or problems : something that is hard to do We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. United States health officials say an estimated 80,000 people died of influenza and problems resulting from the flu last winter. The director for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported the number to The Associated Press. It represents the largest number of flu deaths nationwide in at least 40 years. Health experts were expecting the winter of 2017-2018 to be a bad year for flu deaths, but not that bad. Doctor William Schaffner is an expert on vaccines. He works at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee. Schaffner noted that 80,000 deaths is nearly two times as much as what health officials once considered a bad year. CDC officials say that between 12,000 and 56,000 Americans die every year from flu-related causes. While 80,000 deaths seems high, the exact number could be even higher. CDC officials do not have an exact count of how many people die from the flu each year. Influenza is a relatively common disease and not all flu cases are reported. Also, flu is not always listed on death records as the official cause of death. For that reason, the CDC must estimate the number of dead based on statistical models. While last winter was a bad flu season in the U.S., it was not the worst. The 1918 flu pandemic lasted nearly two years. Historians estimate that the disease was to blame for between 500,000 to 700,000 deaths during that period. The exact number is still not known. One thing that made the 2017-2018 flu season so bad was that the strain of the flu virus was strong. Usually the disease kills the very young, the very old or those who are already sick. However, last winter, the flu killed many healthy Americans. Another thing that made the flu season so deadly was that the flu vaccine was not as effective as experts had predicted. In a 2017 statement to the press, the World Health Organization said that every year up to 650,000 deaths are connected with influenza or influenza-related illnesses. This is a new estimate by the U.S. CDC, the WHO and global health partners. This is more than the global estimate from ten years ago. At that time, experts estimated that between 250,000 to 500,000 people died from influenza or influenza-related illnesses. Back in the U.S., health officials are predicting a weaker strain of flu virus this coming winter. Drug makers have made changes to the vaccine. Even though the vaccine did not work well last year, health experts still strongly suggest getting vaccinated. Im Anna Matteo. Mike Stobbe reported this story for The Associated Press. Anna Matteo adapted his report for VOA Learning English, adding more information about the worldwide influenza situation. George Grow was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story exact adj. fully and completely correct or accurate statistical adj. of, relating to, based on, or employing the principles of statistics pandemic medical noun : an occurrence in which a disease spreads very quickly and affects a large number of people over a wide area or throughout the world strain medical noun : group of closely related living things that look similar but possess one or more unique characteristics Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Adding radiation therapy or surgery to systemic therapy for stage IV lung cancer patients whose cancer has spread to a limited number of sites can extend overall survival time significantly, according to new results from a multicenter, randomized, controlled phase II study. The findings were presented last week at the 60th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO). Researchers previously reported encouraging results for progression-free survival (PFS), which were published in The Lancet Oncology in 2016. The trial was closed prematurely, following accrual and randomization of just 49 patients. The initial results, which also included toxicity data, were for a median follow-up of 12.4 months. These initial data were limited by the absence of an overall survival (OS) endpoint, due to the short-term follow up. These new results include updated data on how long patients lived without disease progression, as well as overall survival and toxicity data for 38.8 months of patient follow-up (range 28.3-61.4 months). "Our hypothesis was that aggressive local therapyradiation or surgerywould improve progression-free survival, and it did," said Daniel Gomez, MD, Associate Medical Director of radiation oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. "We found that adding radiation or surgery to target all sites of disease increases the time it takes for the cancer to return or spread, and it also improves overall survival time. But the overall survival results were more impressive than anticipated." Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Few existing treatments offer durable survival benefits for patients whose non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has spread past the lungs, due in part to the aggressive nature of lung cancer and its tendency to progress, even following treatment. Previous research on metastatic colorectal cancer and sarcoma, however, has suggested that directly targeting tumor cells with radiation or surgery can boost the ability of systemic therapies, such as chemotherapy, to control the disease and improve survival in patients with oligometastatic cancer, that is, cancer that has spread to a limited number of sites. These studies suggest the same holds true for patients with oligometastatic stage IV lung cancer. The study included patients from three hospitals (MD Anderson Cancer Center, London Health Sciences Center and the University of Colorado) who had stage IV NSCLC and whose cancer had spread to no more than three sites. These patients received systemic therapy consisting of either four or more cycles of standard chemotherapy (platinum doublet therapy) or three or more months of drugs that target tumor blood vessel growth (EGFR, or ALK inhibitors for EGFR mutations/ALK rearrangements). Those whose cancers did not progress following first-line treatment were then randomized to either an experimental arm, in which patients were treated with surgery or radiation therapy at the tumor site (25 patients), or to a group that received standard systemic maintenance therapy and observation (24 patients). The extended follow-up data reveal that patients in the experimental arm experienced a progression-free survival benefit of 14.2 months (95% CI 7.4, 24.3), compared to 4.4 months (95% CI 2.2, 8.3) for those who received standard treatment and observation (p=0.014). The difference in survival rates for the two groups was even more dramatic: Patients who received radiation/surgery experienced a median overall survival rate of 41.2 months (95% CI 18.9, NA), compared to 17.0 months (95% CI 10.1, 39.8) for those who received standard maintenance therapy/observation (MT/O) (p=0.017). "This is a very long overall survival time for patients with metastatic disease," noted Dr. Gomez. For patients treated with radiation/surgery, the time before a new lesion appeared was a median of 14.2 months (95% CI 5.7, 26.2), compared to 6.0 months for those in the standard maintenance therapy/observation arm (95% CI 4.4, 8.3) (p=0.11). Neither treatment arm saw any additional severe (grade 3 or higher) toxicities than previously reported. The newly updated results represent the first randomized data for overall survival for local ablative therapy in patients with oligometastatic NSCLC, whose cancer did not progress following front-line systemic treatment. Ongoing phase II/III trials will continue to assess the effect of local consolidative therapy (LCT) in larger populations with the addition of immunotherapy and targeted drug therapy. "In patients with limited metastases, our study demonstrates that there is a role for more aggressive treatment," concluded Dr. Gomez. "In fact, the patients initially treated with maintenance therapy had the option to receive surgery or radiation if their cancer spread during the trial. Exploratory analyses suggest that aggressively treating all disease sites at the time of progression improved outcomes for these patients, compared to patients who did not receive late local therapy. Thus, there may be a benefit to either early or late radiation/surgery in the setting of limited metastatic disease." Explore further Some patients with metastatic triple negative breast cancer live longer with immunotherapy More information: Daniel R Gomez et al. Local consolidative therapy versus maintenance therapy or observation for patients with oligometastatic non-small-cell lung cancer without progression after first-line systemic therapy: a multicentre, randomised, controlled, phase 2 study, The Lancet Oncology (2016). Journal information: Lancet Oncology Daniel R Gomez et al. Local consolidative therapy versus maintenance therapy or observation for patients with oligometastatic non-small-cell lung cancer without progression after first-line systemic therapy: a multicentre, randomised, controlled, phase 2 study,(2016). DOI: 10.1016/S1470-2045(16)30532-0 A cryo-EM map of the receptor decorated capsid in which a single protomer was replaced with the atomic model. Seneca Valley Virus capsid proteins are shown in blue, green, and red, and the ANTXR1 receptor is shown in magenta. Credit: OIST and University of Otago Seneca Valley virus sounds like the last bug you'd want to catch, but it could be the next breakthrough cancer therapy. Now, scientists at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) and the University of Otago have described exactly how the virus interacts with tumorsand why it leaves healthy tissues alone. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on October 29, 2018, provides the first detailed images of how the complex Seneca Valley virus forms with its preferred receptor. The researchers used cryo-electron microscopy to capture images of over 7000 particles and rendered the structure in high resolution. They predict their results will help scientists develop the virus, and other viral drug candidates, for clinical use. "If you have a virus that targets cancer cells and nothing else, that's the ultimate cancer fighting tool," said Prof. Matthias Wolf, principal investigator of the Molecular Cryo-Electron Microscopy Unit at OIST and co-senior author of the study. "I expect this study will lead to efforts to design viruses for cancer therapy." Targeting two-thirds of human cancers In the past few years, so-called "virotherapy" has grown as a new branch of cancer immunotherapy. Anticancer viruses tend to target tumors while sparing the healthy cells around them, and many already exist in nature. Scientists hunt down these cancer killers, study their attack strategies, and optimize their effectiveness through genetic modification. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has already approved one viral therapy to treat Stage IV melanoma, and other viral drug candidates appear promising in clinical trials. Seneca Valley virus stands out as a potential virotherapy for one key reasonit selectively targets a receptor found coating tumor cells in over 60 percent of human cancers. The receptor, known as ANTXR1, is only expressed on tumors, but it has a cousin that only appears on healthy tissues, called ANTXR2. Seneca Valley virus doesn't bind with the similar receptor on healthy cellsit only shows strong affinity for ANTXR1. The study's authors wanted to know why. "The differences between the two receptors are subtle, but nonetheless, these subtle differences make one bind the virus with high affinity while the other doesn't," said Wolf. The researchers found that the outer shell of the Seneca Valley virus locks tightly onto specific structural features of ANTXR1features that aren't conserved in ANTXR2. "The components must fit together like a key in a lockthis is a highly evolved system where everything fits perfectly." Designing an optimal cancer therapy Seneca Valley virus has already demonstrated its cancer-fighting abilities in Phase I clinical trials in pediatric solid tumors and Phase II trials in small-cell lung cancers. But there's one problem: The body builds up immunity to the virus within three weeks and squashes the bug before its work is done. "If you give a virus as a vaccine, you want an immune responsethere, the goal is the destruction of the virus," said Wolf. "In this case, you want the opposite. You want the virus to evade the immune system, continue to replicate and kill the cancer cells." "By looking at this structure, we can learn what part of the virus is essential for binding to the receptor and which is not," said Prof. Mihnea Bostina, the academic director of the Otago Centre for Electron Microscopy at the University of Otago and co-senior author of the study. "If we want to make the virus 'better,' we can try to change the non-essential parts in order to escape the action of the immune system while leaving the essential part intact." With deeper understanding of how the virus works, scientists may be able to outsmart the body's immune system and protect their mighty cancer-killer. In principle, Seneca Valley virus could also be modified to recognize different receptors, Wolf said, rendering it a broadly applicable weapon in the fight against cancer. "I have always been intrigued by ways how we can make use of naturally occurring microorganisms for our benefit," said Nadishka Jayawardena, a graduate student at the University of Otago and first author of the study. "Being able to work on a virus that can kill cancers is very rewarding, especially knowing that one day our findings could potentially lead to tackling a major global health issue." Explore further Spying on the virus: Development to increase effectiveness of viral cancer therapy More information: Nadishka Jayawardena el al., "Structural basis for Anthrax Toxin Receptor 1 recognition by Seneca Valley Virus," PNAS (2018). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Nadishka Jayawardena el al., "Structural basis for Anthrax Toxin Receptor 1 recognition by Seneca Valley Virus,"(2018). www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1810664115 (HealthDay)A handful of California doctors are making hay off anti-vaccine parents, charging hundreds of dollars to issue medical exemptions for required childhood vaccinations, a new study claims. In 2015, California passed a law eliminating personal belief exemptions for vaccinations that kids must receive before they can attend public school. In the years since, there's been a major increase in the number of medical exemptions issued by doctors for these required immunizations, researchers found. "After the first year, it increased from 0.2 percent to 0.5 percent of children," said lead researcher Salini Mohanty, a postdoctoral research fellow with the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. "Then by the second year it had increased to 0.7 percent, which is a 250 percent increase, which is sort of alarming." At least some of these medical exemptions are being written by doctors who charge big fees to fearful parents, according to public health officers interviewed for the study. "I'm getting a very high volume of medical exemptions from one provider, and from what I understand, for all intents and purposes, she's selling these medical exemptions," said one official quoted in the study. "She used to just give permanent medical exemptions, and now she's giving temporary for 3 months. So now families have to go back every 3 months and pay $300 to get their temporary medical exemption updated." These doctors are flying in the face of decades of work to develop and improve vaccines that "beat back infectious diseases that plagued humanity since the species evolved," said Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security in Baltimore. "To hear of physicians advertising to issue medical exemptions, which are mostly unwarranted, is to spit in the face of those pioneers who gave us vaccines, and has made those physicians advocates of the primitive Dark Ages when vaccine-preventable diseases flourished," Adalja said. The 2015 law made California the first state in nearly 35 years to eliminate personal belief exemptions for mandatory vaccinations, the study authors said in background notes. The law was prompted in part by a 2014 measles outbreak at Disneyland. The law has had a positive effect on immunization rates overall in California, the researchers reported. Following the law's implementation, the proportion of kindergartners who received all required vaccines increased to 95.1 percent in 2017-2018, up from 92.8 percent in 2015-2016. The findings were published online Oct. 29 in the journal Pediatrics. To get a ground-level assessment of the law's rollout, researchers interviewed 40 health officers representing about half of the local health jurisdictions in California. The public health officials said they are concerned anti-vaccine parents denied personal belief exemptions for their children now are seeking out doctors willing to issue medical exemptions for a fee, Mohanty said. Many of these medical exemptions cite conditions typically not considered barriers to immunization by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, such as a family history of allergies or autoimmune disorders, Mohanty said. However, these conditions squeak by based on the regulatory language of the law, she said. The number of medical exemptions issued has not yet reached the level of personal belief exemptions claimed prior to the law's passage, which for the 2015-2016 school year was about 2.4 percent, Mohanty said. But if left unchecked, the rapid increase of medical exemptions could weaken vaccine protection for school kids, said Democratic state Sen. Dr. Richard Pan, a pediatrician and author of the California law. "They threaten community immunity and threaten the health of all children," Pan said of the exemptions. Anti-vaccine parent groups appear to be sharing lists of doctors willing to issue medical exemptions for a fee, Pan said. "It's a very small number, but that's all it takes, right?" said Pan, who wrote an editorial accompanying the new study. "They're charging $500 or more a pop for these exemptions, so they're definitely in it for the money." Some of these doctors have been brought before the California Medical Board on ethics charges, the study reported. But Pan suggested a more straightforward solution. He'd like to amend California law so public health officials would have the power to revoke doctors' authority to issue medical exemptions. Pan argued the power to issue medical exemptions is a state-level public health function that has been delegated to doctors, and therefore could be rescinded if it's found they're taking advantage of patients. For example, West Virginia pediatricians do not have the ability to issue medical exemptionsinstead, they must apply to their state health department for exemptions on patients' behalf, Pan noted. "When someone abuses that authority that's been delegated to them, then the state should be able to take back that authority from that person," Pan said. "And not only revoke that authority but then invalidate all of the medical exemptions that have been inappropriately written, as a threat to public health." Explore further Tougher state laws curb vaccine refusers More information: Salini Mohanty, Dr.P.H., M.P.H., postdoctoral research fellow, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Philadelphia; Amesh Adalja, M.D., senior scholar, Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, Baltimore; California State Sen. Richard Pan (Dem.), M.D., M.P.H.; Oct. 29, 2018, Pediatrics Salini Mohanty, Dr.P.H., M.P.H., postdoctoral research fellow, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Philadelphia; Amesh Adalja, M.D., senior scholar, Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, Baltimore; California State Sen. Richard Pan (Dem.), M.D., M.P.H.; Oct. 29, 2018, The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have more about state vaccination requirements. Journal information: Pediatrics Copyright 2018 HealthDay. All rights reserved. Results from two studies show that a new, non-invasive imaging device can see signs of Alzheimer's disease in a matter of seconds. The researchers show that the small blood vessels in the retina at the back of the eye are altered in patients with Alzheimer's. Even patients who have a family history of Alzheimer's but have no symptoms show these telltale signs. And they showed that they can distinguish between people with Alzheimer's and those with only mild cognitive impairment. Results from these studies are being presented at AAO 2018, the 122nd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. A new kind of precise and non-invasive imaging called optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) has assisted much of the recent research on the eye's connection with Alzheimer's. It enables physicians to see the smallest veins in the back of the eye, including the red blood cells moving through the retina. Because the retina is connected to the brain by way of the optic nerve, researchers believe that the deterioration in the retina and its blood vessels may mirror the changes going on in the blood vessels and structures in the brain, thereby offering a window into the disease process. Diagnosing Alzheimer's is a currently a challenge. Some techniques can detect signs of the disease but are impractical for screening millions of people: Brain scans are expensive and spinal taps can be harmful. Instead, the disease is often diagnosed through memory tests or observing behavior changes. By the time these changes are noticed, the disease is advanced. Even though there is no cure, early diagnosis is critical as future treatments are likely to be most effective when given early. Early diagnosis would also give patients and their families time to plan for the future. The goal of this latest research is to find a quick, inexpensive way to detect Alzheimer's at the earliest signs. Researchers at Duke University used OCTA to compare the retinas of Alzheimer's patients with those of people with mild cognitive impairment, as well as healthy people. They found that the Alzheimer's group had loss of small retinal blood vessels at the back of the eye and that a specific layer of the retina was thinner. Even people with mild cognitive impairment did not show these changes. Ophthalmologist and lead author Sharon Fekrat, M.D., professor of Ophthalmology at Duke, along with colleague Dilraj Grewal M.D., associate professor of Ophthalmology at Duke, and their research team expect that their work will have a positive impact on patient's lives. "This project meets a huge unmet need," Dr. Fekrat said. "It's not possible for current techniques like a brain scan or lumbar puncture (spinal tap) to screen the number of patients with this disease. Almost everyone has a family member or extended family affected by Alzheimer's. We need to detect the disease earlier and introduce treatments earlier." Because genes play a significant role in how Alzheimer's disease begins and progresses, another team of researchers from Sheba Medical Center in Israel examined 400 people who had a family history of the disease but showed no symptoms themselves. They compared their retina and brain scans with those who have no family history of Alzheimer's. They found that the inner layer of the retina is thinner in people with a family history. The brain scan showed that their hippocampus, an area of the brain that's first affected by the disease, had already begun to shrink. Both factors, a thinner inner retina layer and smaller hippocampus, were associated with scoring worse on a cognitive function test. "A brain scan can detect Alzheimer's when the disease is well beyond a treatable phase," said lead researcher Ygal Rotenstreich M.D., an ophthalmologist at the Goldschleger Eye Institute at Sheba Medical Center. "We need treatment intervention sooner. These patients are at such high-risk." Explore further Alzheimer's one day may be predicted during eye exam Credit: CC0 Public Domain Could microbes in our guts be sending out the wrong message? Queen's University Belfast researchers have, for the first time, found a specific microbe in the gut that pumps out protein molecules that mimic a human protein, causing the human defence system to turn on its own cells by mistake. The culprit in this case is called Bacteroides fragilis, a bacterium that normally lives in the human gut. The Queen's team has shown that this bacterium produces a human-like protein that could trigger autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis. This human protein is called 'ubiquitin' and is needed for all the normal cell processes in our bodies The study, recently published in the British Society for Immunology journal Clinical and Experimental Immunology is a significant discovery. "Mimic proteins" fool our immune defence system into reacting with our own bodies, resulting in autoimmune disease, a condition in which your immune system mistakenly attacks the body. More than 80 different types of autoimmune diseases are known to exist including; rheumatoid arthritis; multiple sclerosis; and lupus. Many hundreds of thousands of people world-wide currently suffer from these debilitating and painful conditions, that currently have no cure. In an autoimmune disease, our immune system mistakenly attacks the body. Antibodies that are part of the immune system usually target bacteria or viruses, but get misdirected in people with autoimmune diseases. They become 'autoantibodies' that can attack healthy parts of the body, including different parts of the body in lupus or just the joints in the case of rheumatoid arthritis. Professor Sheila Patrick, Professor Emeritus at Queen's University explained: "When we mapped the genome of Bacteroides fragilis a few years ago we were astonished to discover a human-like gene not present in any other bacteria. The protein produced from this gene is nearly the same shape as a protein in almost every human cell." "When we discovered that Bacteroides fragilis produces lots of this mimic protein we were very excited. No other bacteria produced a mimic of human ubiquitin and this one lives in our gut. We immediately wondered if it might be linked with autoimmune diseases such as lupus. It has been known since the 1990s that some people with autoimmune diseases have antibodies that target their own human ubiquitin, but we don't know why this happens. So we decided to see if people also had antibodies that target the Bacteroides fragilis version of ubiquitin." The recently published study is a collaboration with Dr. Linda Stewart, Lecturer at the School of Biological Science and Institute for Global Food Security at Queen's University Belfast, Dr. David Edgar Consultant Immunologist and Head of the Northern Ireland Regional Immunology Service and Dr. Garry Blakely Senior Lecturer at the University of Edinburgh. Dr. Linda Stewart continued: "We have found that some people with autoimmune disease have high levels of antibodies to the bacterial mimic of ubiquitin. It is also possible to have antibodies to both the human and the bacterial mimic. We now need to work out if the mimic of ubiquitin sets up the mistaken immune response. We may then be able diagnose some autoimmune diseases early and eventually be able to prevent some of the them from happening. "We now want to see if we can make a rapid test that will tell us how much antibody people have so that we can quickly see any changes. We hope that this will allow early diagnosis of disease" Professor Patrick added: "Our research could have far-reaching effects for other diseases, not just autoimmune disease. Ubiquitin is essential for our bodies to function normally. We have shown that a bacterium from the gut produces a very close molecular mimic of ubiquitin that gets into our system. It may not only cause the immune system to malfunction, but could be an underlying cause of other human conditions that we don't yet fully understand." The next step for the research team is to find out the relationship between the stage of disease and antibody levels to the bacterial mimic in individual patients. This should help the development of a rapid test. Explore further Team identifies potential cause for lupus More information: L. Stewart et al. Antigenic mimicry of ubiquitin by the gut bacterium Bacteroides fragilis : a potential link with autoimmune disease, Clinical & Experimental Immunology (2018). L. Stewart et al. Antigenic mimicry of ubiquitin by the gut bacterium Bacteroides fragilis : a potential link with autoimmune disease,(2018). DOI: 10.1111/cei.13195 Credit: CC0 Public Domain Students from lower-income neighborhoods who attended one of five high-performing Los Angeles County high schools were less likely to abuse marijuana than those who weren't offered admission, UCLA researchers found. Admission to the public schools was based on a random lottery system, which is designed to equalize applicants' chances of being admitted. For the study, the researchers surveyed 1,270 students who had applied to at least one of the five schools in fall 2013 or fall 2014, and collected data from 2013 through 2017. Students were asked in the surveys whether they used marijuana, and how frequently, from ninth through 11th grade. Those who were offered admission to or attended any of the five schools were less likely to misuse marijuana, had fewer peers who abuse drugs, spent more time studying and were less likely to skip school. The correlation between attending one of the schools and marijuana abuse was particularly consistent for boys. By 11th grade, boys who attended one of the schools were 50 percent less likely to abuse marijuana than their counterparts who weren't offered admission. "We concluded that schools play an important role in influencing adolescent behavior," said the study's first author, Dr. Rebecca Dudovitz, an assistant professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and pediatrician at UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital. "Investing in schools offers a tool for improving teen health." The schools analyzed in the study were considered high performing because their students' performance on 2012 California standardized tests placed them in the top one-third of Los Angeles County schools. Each of the five schools also served primarily economically disadvantaged students and had more applicants for admission than slots available. Of the students surveyed, 694 were admitted to at least one school, and 576 were not; 52.6 percent of the students were female and 47.4 percent were male. Although prior research has documented a link between a supportive school environment and health behaviors, the UCLA study is the first to use a random lottery to analyze the effects of students transitioning to a high-performing high school and to present detailed data on school environments and social networks. The study is published Oct. 29 in JAMA Pediatrics. Explore further Low-income students in charter high schools less likely to engage in risky behavior Credit: CC0 Public Domain Loneliness is associated with reduced quality of life and morbidity and mortality and typically worsens with aging. Loneliness may be considered a public health hazard because of its association with a wide range of conditions, including hypertension, cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, Alzheimer disease, depression and insomnia. A study conducted by University of Otago researchers has examined the prevalence of loneliness in the elderly community. Titled: Comparison of Psychosocial Variables Associated With Loneliness In Centenarian vs Elderly Populations in New Zealand, the study has been published today in the international JAMA Open Network medical journal. The findings were drawn from a pool of over 70,000 respondents to the international Residential Assessment Instrument-Home Care (interRAI-HC), an assessment model New Zealand has been the first to implement. "The data available allowed us to examine the question of whether centenarians are less lonely than elderly people, and if so, are there any demographic and psychosocial differences that may account for this," says lead author Dr. Sharon Leitch, a Clinical Training Fellow from the Dunedin School of Medicine. Dr. Leitch, along with Professor Paul Glue, Mr Andrew Gray, Ms Philippa Greco and Associate Professor Yoram Barak of the Dunedin School of Medicine found significant links between age, loneliness and mental well-being. "Centenarians (100 years old+) were less lonely compared with elderly (65-99 years old) people, with our fully adjusted model finding a 32 percent reduction in loneliness for centenarians compared to the elderly," Dr. Leitch says. This study identified psychosocial variables which are protective against loneliness in a large New Zealand dataset, including living with others, having family support, and lack of depression. Knowing these variables may help our society address risk factors for loneliness in older people. "That centenarians were less lonely is interesting because centenarians are models of successful aging. We can look at the aspects of their lives that may help reduce loneliness. We found living with others and having family support were more common among centenarians, and depression was less common. These factors may well be due to centenarians needing more 'hands-on' care and attention, but for whatever reason were associated with reduced loneliness. Human connections are vital for our well-being. We need to consider how we ensure our elderly relatives and neighbours feel included and supported in society, to help reduce the burden of loneliness and avoid the negative health implications that can arise from it," Dr. Leitch says. The research team is now investigating the interRAI-HC dataset to examine the interplay between loneliness, cognition, sensory impairment and physical health. Explore further More than 15,000 frail elderly New Zealanders are lonely More information: Sharon Leitch et al. Comparison of Psychosocial Variables Associated With Loneliness in Centenarian vs Elderly Populations in New Zealand. JAMA Netw Open. 2018;1(6):e183880. jamanetwork.com/journals/jaman le/2709717#201707021 Sharon Leitch et al. Comparison of Psychosocial Variables Associated With Loneliness in Centenarian vs Elderly Populations in New Zealand.. 2018;1(6):e183880. DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2018.3880 In a 10-year study of women who received radiation therapy to treat early-stage breast cancer, those receiving fewer, larger individual doses experienced similarly low rates of late-onset side effects as those undergoing conventional radiation therapy. Findings from the multi-institutional U.K. FAST clinical trial were presented last week at the 60th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO). "This study says it's possible to find a regimen that would allow early-stage breast cancer patients to be treated only once a week over five weeks rather than daily over the same time period," said Murray Brunt, MD, a professor of clinical oncology at University Hospitals of North Midlands and Keele University in the U.K., and lead author of this study. "Findings should help doctors discuss risks and benefits with their patients for various courses of radiation therapy and inform shared decision-making between physicians and patients." The study is a long-term report of the FAST (FASTer Radiotherapy for breast cancer patients) trial, which was designed to assess changes in healthy breast tissue following conventional radiation treatment compared with two shorter regimens that delivered higher doses of radiation in fewer sessions. The trial, led by The Institute of Cancer Research, London, enrolled 915 women with early-stage invasive breast cancer at 18 centers across the U.K. from 2004 to 2007. Initial trial results of the FAST trial, published in Radiotherapy and Oncology in 2011, indicated that once-weekly, hypofractionated therapy led to similarly low normal tissue effects as conventional therapy at two years following treatment. The current study confirms that these similarities persist for an additional eight years. "These results support treatment options that are more convenient for patients, resulting in fewer hospital visits and less expensive health services, without increasing the risk of long-term side effects," added Joanne Haviland at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, and the study's senior statistician. Patients in the trial were randomly assigned to one of three regimens of whole-breast radiation therapy following breast-conserving surgery: conventional treatment with 50 Gray (Gy) of radiation delivered in 25 daily, 2 Gy fractions delivered over five weeks; or hypofractionated treatment with one of two doses: 30 Gy delivered in five, once-weekly fractions of 6 Gy each, or 28.5 Gy delivered in five, once-weekly fractions of 5.7 Gy each. After treatment, patients were evaluated annually for effects to healthy breast tissue including skin reactions, hardening of the breast and changes in breast conformation and size. Rates of moderate or severe long-term effects to normal tissue were low across all treatment groups. Severe effects were observed in 13 of the 774 women (1.7 percent) with follow-up data at five years, and nine of the 392 women (2.3 percent) with follow-up data at 10 years. No changes or minor changes in normal tissue were observed in 88 and 86 percent of women at the five- and 10-year marks, respectively. Late normal tissue effects were not statistically different between the conventional therapy group and the five-fraction 28.5 Gy group at five years or 10 years following treatment. Moderate/severe late effects to normal breast tissue were higher, however, for patients who received the five-fraction, 30-Gy regimen. These patients were two to three times more likely to experience moderate/severe instances of breast shrinkage (p<0.001), hardness (p=0.004), fluid build-up (p<0.001) and spider veins (p=0.02). Among patients on the conventional, daily-fraction arm, physicians observed normal tissue effects in 7.5 percent at five years and 9.1 percent at 10 years. By comparison, rates for the five-fraction 30-Gy arm were 18.0 percent at five years (p<0.001) and 18.4 percent at 10 years (p=0.04). "The profile of adverse effects to normal breast tissue was similar between the 28.5 Gy and 50 Gy groups, but rates were higher after 30 Gy given in five fractions over five weeks," said Prof. Brunt. "This disparity is rooted in differences between the two regimens in fractionation sensitivity. The sensitivity of 30 Gy delivered in five fractions over five weeks was equivalent to a total radiation dose of 57.3 Gy in 2 Gy fractions, while 28.5 Gy delivered in five fractions over five weeks was roughly the same as 52.5 Gy in 2 Gy fractions." Calculation suggests that 27.75 Gy delivered in five fractions over five weeks would be equivalent to 50 Gy in 25 fractions over five weeks. Researchers also assessed how the early-stage invasive breast tumors responded to surgery and radiation. The 10-year local relapse rate for all patients in the trial was 1.3 percent (95% CI 0.7, 2.3), with only 10 events reported in total, balanced between the treatment groups. The trial was not designed to test differences in relapse rates between treatment groups. Following these results, the research team is now investigating radiation therapy with five fractions delivered over five consecutive days. "As a next step, we want to investigate shortening the radiation therapy schedule to one week," explained Prof. Brunt. "A schedule like this would have significant clinical and practical implications, such as allowing radiation therapy to be integrated more closely with surgery and other therapies." Despite FAST and similar trials supporting the use of accelerated radiation treatment for breast cancer, large numbers of eligible patients in the U.S. are not receiving, and likely not being offered, shorter courses of radiation therapy. A 2013 JAMA study found an adoption rate of approximately 30 percent in the U.S., and a 2017 analysis for Kaiser Health News indicated that fewer than half of patients over age 50 with early-stage disease receive the accelerated treatment. The current ASTRO clinical guideline for whole breast radiation therapy, which was issued earlier this year, recommends hypofractionated therapy for breast cancer patients regardless of age, tumor stage and whether they have received chemotherapy. Explore further ASTRO: Shorter radiation OK for early breast cancers More information: The abstract, "FAST phase III RCT of radiation therapy hypofractionation for treatment of early breast cancer: 10-Year results (CRUKE/04/015)," was presented in detail during a news briefing and the clinical trials session at ASTRO's 60th Annual Meeting in San Antonio. Journal information: Journal of the American Medical Association The abstract, "FAST phase III RCT of radiation therapy hypofractionation for treatment of early breast cancer: 10-Year results (CRUKE/04/015)," was presented in detail during a news briefing and the clinical trials session at ASTRO's 60th Annual Meeting in San Antonio. Mass shootings often trigger a sharp increase in blood donations for affected communities but more than 15 percent of the product intended to save lives could be discarded, according to a study released today in The Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, A typical blood donation takes two days to process but most blood transfusions for shooting victims occur within the first 24 hours of a mass casualty event, according to first author M. James Lozada, DO, assistant professor of Anesthesiology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. "There is an emotional desire after these events to immediately donate blood, but that's not always necessary and it's not always the best immediate response. The best thing you can do is donate blood year around," said Lozada, who started the study while completing a fellowship in obstetric anesthesiology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. When the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history unfolded in Las Vegas on Oct. 1, 2017, 58 people were killed and 869 injured. There were 220 hospital admissions, including at least 68 critical care admissions. A public call for blood donations was issued during a press conference the following morning by Clark County Sheriff Joseph Lombardo. The call for donations was amplified in news stories. News reports that included the terms "blood donation" and "Las Vegas" blanketed the country, and over the first three days the American Red Cross saw a 53 percent increase in blood donations nationwide. In an Oct. 2, 2017 press release, the AABB (formerly known as the American Association of Blood Banks) stressed that current U.S. blood supplies were adequate to meet the needs of the shooting victims. The Las Vegas blood bank, United Blood Services, reported having received 791 donations immediately following the mass shooting and reported to study authors that 137 of these donations (17 percent) went unused and were subsequently discarded, compared to an average 26 wasted donations per month at the blood bank. Study authors concluded that, in hindsight, a call for immediate blood donation was unnecessary. "From our data, it is likely that the total one-day blood component transfusions needed in Las Vegas were more than in any mass shooting on record," Lozada said. "One of the things that we propose in the paper is for cities to develop some protocols for these scenarios, where instead of issuing a blanket call for blood donation you would do it in a systematic way. As one suggestion, you might do it by ZIP code." he said. Three Las Vegas health care systems provided data for the study, having admitted 185 victims among them. During the first 24 hours patients received 499 blood components, or 2.7 units per admission, an amount similar to mass shootings in Oslo, Norway, in 2011 and Orlando, Florida, in 2016, and approximately twice the amount used in the November 2015 Paris attacks. "Our findings are important to help us prepare for the next mass shooting in the United States. It shows us the amount of blood components we likely will need. It will also help first responders adequately prepare to save lives," Lozada said. The Federal Emergency Management Agency recently released its after-action report for the Las Vegas mass shooting. Among other recommendations, for would-be first responders to mass casualty events the FEMA report stresses the need for more robust and plentiful medical kits and supplies, to include tourniquets and bandages. "We're just now getting into an era of really recognizing the benefits of tourniquets and pre-hospital care in civilian mass casualty events," Lozada said. "In Paris they had much more ability to respond immediately with tourniquets, bandages and medications. That could account for the comparatively reduced need for blood products seen in that attack." Explore further Red Cross issues nationwide call for blood donations Provided by Northwestern Memorial HealthCare Donna Shalala complained for weeks that her opponent, a former Spanish-language broadcast journalist, wouldnt debate her in English. But when she got the chance to confront Maria Elvira Salazar on Channel 10s Sunday morning talk show, Shalala was a no-show. Donna Shalala is not here sitting across from Maria Elvira Salazar. All we can say is we tried our best for weeks to arrange a legitimate debate here on this program, said Michael Putney, co-host of This Week in South Florida. It went back and forth on which dates were accessible. Salazar, whod been chided by Shalala for declining earlier dates to debate in English, got in a shot with her opponent not in the studio. I want the viewers to understand that my opponent Mrs. Shalala has been saying that I did not want to debate her in English. We had two debates, one in Telemundo another on Univision. Youre a witness that I texted you right after the primary and I said I was going to be very happy to come and do the first debate, or the only debate in English on this program, Salazar said to Putney. What a better forum? Shalala didnt refuse to show, clarified co-host Glenna Milberg. The dates just didnt work out. Gubernatorial democratic candidate Andrew Gillum speaks to a packed music center during a town hall at St. Petersburg College in St. Petersburg, on Friday. OCTAVIO JONES | Times A Tallahassee lawyer released yet another batch of records relating to Mayor Andrew Gillum's trips with a former lobbyist today, but it lacks any of the bombshells that have dominated the storylines during the last two weeks of Gillum's campaign for governor. The records deal with an afternoon trip to Tampa Gillum took in February 2016, more than a year before he launched his campaign for governor. The trip was to discuss affordable housing with Tampa developer Peter Leach. While there, Leach also hosted a "meet and greet" with area bigwigs, including former CFO Alex Sink and former Gov. Charlie Crist. It was one of seven trips Gillum took in 2016 that were arranged or attended by Adam Corey, a former lobbyist and Gillum's former friend. Leach was a client of Corey's at the time. Also on board the flight was Gillum's then-chief of staff, Dustin Daniels, who is running to replace Gillum as mayor. The records provide little new information beyond what was first reported by Tallahassee Reports last year and followed up in a subsequent Tallahassee Democrat story. Gillum's spokesman told the Democrat last year that Gillum met with Leach at his office, and that Gillum paid for the trip with city funds because it constituted city business. The mayor was invited by Peter Leach to a meeting at his office to learn about some of the work he was doing to advance wrap-around social services in schools and housing developments, the mayor's spokesman said. While visiting Tampa the mayor also met with local political leaders before returning to Tallahassee." The records, which include emails between Leach, Daniels and Corey going back a year before the trip, do not mention a meeting at Leach's office. Gillum's flight left Tallahassee at 11 a.m. and left Tampa at 5 p.m., records show. The "meet and greet" with Sink and Crist was from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. The records instead focus on a planned lunch "meet and greet Tampa donors" at The Capital Grille for Gillum. The records show Leach was interested in boosting Gillum's profile in the Tampa area, with him helping craft Gillum's written biography before the lunch. Gillum was still more than a year away from launching his campaign for governor. "This will be the first impression people in the Tampa area will have of him," Leach wrote to Corey and Daniels, "and as he broadens his exposure across the state this bio will gain even more importance as the first impression info about him." Monday's records dump was the third in a week from Corey's attorney, Chris Kise, a Republican who worked for Gov. Rick Scott's transition team who's been accused by Gillum's campaign of dirty politics in the final two weeks of the governor's race. Two previous releases revealed that undercover FBI agents might have paid for Gillum's ticket to Hamilton and might have sponsored a campaign fundraiser dinner worth more than $4,000. Gillum campaign spokesman Geoff Burgan questioned Monday whether Kise was coordinating with the campaign of Gillum's opponent, Republican Ron DeSantis. Once again, Chris Kise, one of Rick Scotts most high profile political hatchet men, is trying to confuse and distract voters with information that has long been public," Burgan said in a statement. "Since Kise has so much to say these days, Florida voters deserve to know whether hes coordinating with the DeSantis campaign, whos gotten $60,000 from Kises law firm. Is DeSantis going to disclose these Kise document leaks as an in-kind contribution? Kise called the allegation he was working with DeSantis' campaign "absurd." Kise has been turning the records over to the Florida Commission on Ethics, which is looking into a complaint that Gillum received gifts worth more than $100. While Kise does not need to release the records publicly, he's said he's doing so to take the heat off of Corey, whom he said has been unfairly targeted by the media. Gillum cut ties with Corey last year and has said that Corey violated his trust. Kise unloaded on the statement from Gillum's campaign, saying that it's Gillum, not Corey, who "has serious criminal and ethical exposure." "This criminal and ethical exposure explains why Andrew Gillum will not address personally any of the details, as his lawyers have likely counseled him on waiver of his Fifth Amendment rights," Kise said in a statement. "If Andrew Gillum can address the facts about his criminal and ethical violations, then he should address the facts. "Otherwise those facts regarding Andrew Gillums criminal and/or unethical conduct, like all facts, speak for themselves." Gillum's campaign has declined to answer several questions raised by the records releases, however, and Gillum has dismissed the issues as "made-up FBI controversies." Tampa Bay Times staff writer Kirby Wilson contributed to this report. * "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. 1. Comments must not be racist, misogynistic, homophobic, or otherwise bigoted. 2. Comments must not involve little more than name-calling and insulting remarks. 3. Comments must not be made by "anonymous" or "unknown". 4. Comments must not try to sneak in some free advertising for themselves (like spam). I invite anyone who wishes to comment on this blog to do so. I enjoy the comments, whether you agree with what I have said or not. But some people want to abuse the right to comment, and since this is my blog, I have decided to lay down the following rules. If your comment violates these rules, it will not be published. An initiative calling itself SA Fuel War has launched a campaign to protest petrol price hikes in South Africa through activism that aims to reduce the amount of money the government generates through the fuel levy. It is asking commuters who travel to work in private cars to work from home for 10 days, beginning on 5 November. It is also appealing to employers to allow their staff to work from home during that period. This is just the first phase, SA Fuel War organiser Craig Berman told MyBroadband. The aim with the initial push is to show the powers that be that SA Fuel War means business. Berman said that the short-term aim is to sign up 70,000 to 100,000 by 4 November, some of whom will be able to commit to work from home between 5 November and 16 November. From there they will continue focusing on recruiting supporters until the end of January. This will give motorists and their employers time to make the necessary arrangements to allow them to work from home for longer periods. Unless the government takes steps to drop the petrol price before the end of January, Berman said they will launch a war of attrition by strangling the supply of fuel revenue. The war We cannot simply park our cars on the freeway and walk home like they did in Germany to protest the fuel hikes there. Wed put most of the insurance companies out of business, added SA Fuel War. What we can do is engage in a war of attrition. SA Fuel War argues that private motorists, especially those who commute to work on a daily basis, represent a significant chunk of fuel revenue and tax income via the fuel levy. There are over 7 million passenger cars registered in South Africa, according to statistics from eNatis for September 2018. The Department of Energy reported that by the end of June, over 6 billion litres of petrol had been sold in South Africa and almost 5.6 billion litres of diesel. We, as the public with the most number of cars, buying the most fuel, and paying the most in fuel levies are the majority, SA Fuel War said. If a reasonable proportion South Africas motorists band together and reduce the amount of fuel they consume in a month, the government will feel their combined efforts in its pocket. With enough people, just reducing your fuel consumption from one 45 litre tank per week, to one tank of petrol per month, will result in an oversupply of fuel and a significant deficit in fuel levy income. What do you do with a surplus of 800 million litres of fuel? You have to drop the price, said SA Fuel War. The aim of SA Fuel War is to get the government to drop the petrol price to R12 per litre. If the price is not dropped, the organisation will begins its war of attrition, said Berman. Chinas first private satellite launch was unsuccessful due to the carrier rocket failing to reach orbit, Reuters reported. The Zhuque-1 rocket was designed by Chinese space company Landspace and comprised three stages. While the first and second stages functioned according to plan, an issue with fairing separation on the third stage resulted in the failure of the mission. Landspace spent around $14 million on the development of the Zhuque-1 rocket, which is 19 metres tall, has a payload capacity of 300kg, and weighs a total of 27 tons. The rocket was meant to launch a small satellite for China Central Television (CCTV) which includes hardware designed for remote sensing and space science experiments. 30 rocket launches have been conducted in China this year, with Landspaces Zhuque-1 mission being the first failure in the country since July 2017. Now read: SpaceX successfully lands rocket back at California base Political class must sacrifice in the ... A Campbells Soup executive has parted ways with the company after taking heat last week for tweets spreading a conspiracy theory about the migrant caravan making its way toward the U.S. border. Kelly Johnston, a former secretary of the Senate, served as Campbells vice president of government affairs. Johnston went on Twitter on Tuesday to accuse billionaire George Soross Open Society Foundations of orchestrating the massive migration of thousands, saying the group had planned all the migrants movements, including where they defecate. Although the tweets and Johnstons account were deleted, images circulated throughout Twitter and elicited backlash, including calls for boycott of Campbells products and for his firing. Soros, a liberal philanthropist and frequent target of the far right, was the first of President Donald Trumps critics to receive a pipe bomb through the mail last week. None of the devices detonated, and no one was injured. Cesar Sayoc, 56, of Florida, was arrested Friday and charged with multiple federal crimes related to the attempting bombings. Open Society Foundations denied Johnstons theories in a tweet. We are surprised to see a Campbells Soup Co. executive spreading false stories, the organization wrote. Campbells quickly distanced itself from Johnstons comments, stressing in a statement to The Washington Post that Johnstons views did not reflect the values or position of the company. Johnston was slated to leave his position in November, but he and the company agreed that under the current circumstances it would be best to accelerate the timing of his departure, according to a Campbells spokesman. Johnstons last day was Thursday. Other images of deleted tweets showed that Johnstons comments were not the first he had made about the migrant caravan or Soros. In a tweet earlier this month, Johnston seemed to mock the idea of a hurricane endangering the lives of migrants. Campbells chief executive, Keith McLoughlin, sent a letter to the Open Society Foundations on Tuesday apologizing for Johnstons comments. 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 Johnston, 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, McLoughlin wrote. Mr. Johnstons remarks do not represent the position of Campbell and are inconsistent with how Campbell approaches public debate. Johnston, who served as secretary of the Senate under then-Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, a Republican, had been with Campbells since 2002. He oversees the soup makers trade associations and lobbies the U.S. government on trade and agricultural dealings. Johnston also held several administrative positions with the Republican Party and was a communications executive for the National Food Processors Association, according to his Bloomberg biography. When I think of Bouchon, I am reminded that our restaurant has never been about me, or any one individual. It has been a group of people who have worked to support a vision that helped establish a very special place in the heart of Napa Valley. These were Chef Thomas Kellers words to his Bouchon team on the 20th anniversary celebration gathering on Sunday, Oct. 14. Hundreds of diners attended Bouchon during the week prior to commemorate the anniversary. The culinary team celebrated by executing a menu that included some iconic dishes of this renowned eatery throughout the years. The menu included Olivade, Salmon Rillete and Foie Gras Crutons to start and continued with a choice between the Salad de Mache et Betteraves, (consisting of roasted beet and mache salad with goat cheese and toasted walnuts), or a majestically dressed salad complemented by zingy flavors or the famous Beignets de Brandade de Morue (cod beignets with tomato confit and fried sage), a dish celebrating textures and bright pop of flavors. The main course was a hard choice between Aile de Raie (skate wing with fennel-onion confit & tapenade sauce) and Bavette a la Bordelaise (skirt steak with caramelized shallots and red wine jus), a true staple, beautifully prepared to satisfy any steak craving. The fish was tender and meaty with the perfect sauce that balanced the buttery flavors. For the final course, dessert, or as I like to call it, the main event, Mousse au Chocolat Noir was a melt-in-your- mouth chocolate party. The other choice was the classic Creme Carmel with a balanced profile between creamy and sweet to die for. The ceremony on Sunday started with words from Ross Melling, executive chef of casual restaurants for the Thomas Keller Group. Melling has worked alongside Keller at The French Laundry, Per Se New York and most recently led the Bouchon Yountville team from 2014 to 2018. Today we pay tribute to the past and the building blocks of this restaurant, Ross said raising a glass with the team in honor of the 20 years. Emotional and heartfelt speeches followed toasting with joy and celebration for the 30-some staff members who gathered at the back patio between the restaurant and the bakery. Lets toast for the past 20 years as we lay the foundation for the next 20 years said Brian Cochran, director of operations for casual dining as he announced that Keller just signed a lease for 20 more years for Bouchon Yountville. The party continued with an exquisite apple cake decorated with tiny apple spheres and 20 years written in gold executed by the celebrated Bouchon Bakery team. The first cut was awarded to longtime Bouchon Yountville veteran Chris Kennedy, who has guarded the busy bar since Day 1. The staff sang Happy Birthday to Keller via video as he celebrated the same day as the 20 anniversary milestone. He was across the country overseeing his newest restaurant opening, The Surf Club Restaurant in Miami. Although Keller was not in Yountville, his presence was felt via a letter he wrote for his staff. Thanks to our culinary teams past and present, we have served more than a half million Bouchons, a quarter million Steak Frites and Onion Soups. Salmon Rillettes, Laitue Salad, Poulet Roti, and Lemon Tart have never left the menu! Purveyor Keith Martin of Elysian Fields has been with us since the beginning. Guests leave so satisfied they turn to the Bouchon cookbook to make our recipes at home. We are so proud of our long-standing staff who celebrate this milestone with us! An undeniable excitement was felt throughout the restaurant with smiling faces congratulating each other as they carried on daily operations. I observed the kitchen work as they prepared for the busy dinner service and ran a busy dining room flawlessly at the same time. I have been in the restaurant for over two decades and I have to admit this was a moment of contagious joy to observe the orchestrated dance between kitchen and front of the house service staff. Bouchon Yountville has become part of the Napa Valley culture and a significant part of the world, delivering a memorable experience to every guest. It seems like yesterday Bouchon Yountville opened its doors recreating the French Bistro experience and opening late where no one had done it, Brian Cochran said. When I asked Cochran if much had changed over the 20 years, he said the only thing aside from annual upkeep was the kitchen, which has come a long way, is the front of the house a aesthetics remain intact. It is incredible how after 20 years we are busier than ever. When you look back at the covers we were doing even 10 years ago, you can see the incredible growth that doesnt seem to slow down said Tony Prince, a long-time Bouchon Yountville key staff member. Just a couple days ago, for instance, we had over 360 guests for lunch. Hard to imagine when you only have 90 seats in the house. SAN FRANCISCO -- When the region's most powerful earthquake in years struck Northern California early on a Sunday morning in 2014, it jolted two homes standing side by side on a residential block in Napa. The homes were in dramatically different condition when the shaking stopped. The blue house had been seismically retrofitted years before the magnitude 6 quake and emerged largely intact. The yellow house didn't have that protection and was battered, the foundation torn up and the porch columns grotesquely distorted. The owner faced hundreds of thousands of dollars in repair bills and could not rent it out for 2{ years. Retrofitting single-family homes is considered one of the cheapest seismic improvements available, a foundation bolting process that usually costs an average of $7,000 and can be done within several days without the residents moving out. But state officials, concerned that more homeowners are not taking action, are working on new initiatives aimed at sparking more retrofitting. While some cities have focused on requiring retrofits of concrete buildings and wood-frame apartments, there is no such mandate for single-family homes, in part because the chances of death in an earthquake are much lower in such structures. But as the fate of the yellow house in Napa showed, damage from a quake can bring financial catastrophe. Homes can be declared unfit to occupy, and owners can spend years searching for ways to finance repairs costing hundreds of thousands of dollars, all while paying the mortgage and finding a temporary place to live. There has not been a large earthquake directly beneath an urban area of California since the 1994 magnitude 6.7 Northridge quake, which caused $42 billion in damage and left 14,000 homes and apartments uninhabitable. After Northridge, there was a flurry of home retrofitting. But momentum has slowed down as memories of that quake fade. This month, the state launched a new round of a grant program giving homeowners up to $3,000 to retrofit. Officials also hope to streamline the process for home retrofits by making certain plans available to allow owners to avoid hiring a structural engineer. Studies have shown how vulnerable California is to major earthquakes. In April, a U.S. Geological Survey study said a magnitude 7 earthquake on the Hayward fault in the East Bay could kill at least 800 people, and hundreds more could die in subsequent fires. Aftershocks could further shake up the wider region for months, plausibly causing a 6.4 quake close to Cupertino and a 6.2 near Palo Alto. Although workers in the Bay Area might feel safe in buildings with the latest seismic technology, whether in the newest San Francisco skyscrapers like Salesforce Tower or corporate campuses like Apple's "spaceship" in Cupertino, the destruction of the region's housing supply could suddenly render the workforce without a place to live. "At nighttime, these folks get back in their cars and go home to their pre-1940s wonderful bungalows," said structural engineer Janiele Maffei, who runs the state retrofit grant program and shared the story about the two Napa homes. Without fixing the problem for many more Californians, "we're going to have a very different kind of a homeless problem." The USGS report estimated that there could be more than 150,000 households displaced from their homes and nearly 50,000 people in need of short-term shelter in the Bay Area after a big quake on the Hayward fault. There are at least 1 million homes in California with a defect that puts them at risk of sliding off their foundations in an earthquake. The issue is more common in homes constructed before 1940 but also exists in others built before 1980. These houses _ elevated above the ground by a handful of steps _ can be sent lurching after the flimsy short wall propping them above the foundation breaks. Some owners never recover. After the Northridge earthquake, some walked away, abandoning their homes to foreclosure. Some lost their entire life savings as the bulk of their equity lay in ruins. About a year and a half after the quake, the Los Angeles Times reported that half of the foreclosures in the San Fernando Valley involved earthquake-damaged homes. The seismic damage also pushed down home values, sending the price per square foot of single-family homes in the Valley down 34 percent compared with the price five years earlier. Owners were stuck _ they couldn't pay to repair their homes, and they also couldn't sell high enough to pay off their mortgages. Today, only 10 percent of California homeowners have earthquake insurance _ largely because earthquake insurance is generally not required by lenders. (A homeowners insurance policy typically required by mortgage providers protects against perils such as fire.) Although the number of policies sold by the California Earthquake Authority, a large nonprofit insurance provider established by state officials, has risen 30 percent in the last decade, there are only about 1 million residential earthquake policies in force out of about 14 million households across the state. As part of their new push in encouraging Californians to retrofit their homes, state officials are expanding the geographical areas in which homeowners can apply for the $3,000 retrofit grant for homes elevated off their foundation and surrounded by a low wooden wall, called a cripple wall, that often has not been fastened tightly to the foundation. In an earthquake, the lack of grip between the house and foundation can cause the home to be shoved off _ as if a rug has been pulled out from under the house, breaking the building's knees. The new round of funding announced this month adds another $6 million to retrofit homes, enough to fund 2,000 or more retrofits. The money is coming from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the California Earthquake Authority. Among the new areas that are now eligible for retrofit grants: in Southern California, areas in the San Fernando Valley, Pomona, Diamond Bar, Walnut, Yucaipa and Calimesa; in Northern California, Santa Rosa, Sonoma, wide sections of Silicon Valley _ including San Jose _ and suburbs of the East Bay, as well as communities surrounding Eureka. People can apply online at earthquakebracebolt.com through Nov. 13. Beyond the grants, the state hopes to reduce the cost of retrofitting by offering templates for homes that can guide contractors or do-it-yourselfers without the need for a structural engineer. This fall, the Applied Technology Council, a nonprofit composed of structural engineers, is expected to come out with templates covering homes with a cripple wall of between 4 and 7 feet. There are other types of single-family homes that can collapse _ and can result in a higher risk of death. One problematic type are homes where there's a living space above a garage. Sometimes, the wooden walls supporting the garage can collapse in an earthquake. Because the main problem is a lack of strength in the first-floor garage, the defect is known as a "soft story," and fixing it may cost something in the range of $20,000. This flaw can be seen in thousands of homes in San Francisco. The state has asked FEMA to fund a new program to assist in the retrofit of soft-story single-family homes. Templates for this type of retrofit are also expected to be made available this year. Another type are homes built on hillsides with flimsy poles holding them up as supports. In the Northridge earthquake, a hillside home in Sherman Oaks was sent tumbling down, killing the young couple inside. Experts were unable to come up with templates for hillside homes; structural engineers will still need to be hired for those retrofits. But the Applied Technology Council will provide pre-engineering documents to assist structural engineers devising plans to retrofit a hillside home. "In the long run, on average, it'll save you money" if you retrofit now, said Keith Porter, research professor of structural engineering at the University of Colorado, Boulder. For every dollar spent on a retrofit, you'll save several dollars in future repair costs. "It's better to strengthen your house now ... in a calm and controlled fashion, than have to deal with a disaster after the earthquake." Gov. Jerry Brown joined Attorney General Xavier Becerra Monday to present the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor to five public safety leaders from the California Highway Patrol and the Yuba County Sheriffs Department who went above and beyond the call of duty. Among them were four officers with the CHPs Air Operations: Pete Gavitte and Whitney Lowe from the Golden Gate Division and Chad Millward and Phil Agdeppa from the Northern Division. On Oct. 8, 2017, a CHP officer with Golden Gate Air Operations was returning to the Napa County Airport from a surveillance flight and observed a glow northeast of Napa a quickly growing wildfire covering approximately 10 acres. The officer notified the dispatch, who then notified Cal Fire. CHP Officers Gavitte and Lowe monitored the call and responded to the Atlas Peak area where they observed smoke-filled air and a towering wall of flames more than a mile long. They noticed that numerous residents were trapped between the fire and the hillsides. Many residents of the Atlas Peak area were trapped above the fire line. The Golden Gate Air Operations crew monitored radio traffic from Cal Fire calling for evacuations, but as Cal Fire resources were unable to reach the Atlas Peak residents, Officers Gavitte and Lowe used the helicopters public address system, siren and searchlight to alert the sleeping residents. Officers Gavitte and Lowe recognized that the only escape for the Atlas Peak residents would be by helicopter rescue. Despite the firestorms 80-mile per hour wind gusts and extreme downdrafts and updrafts, the officers decided to fly into the smoke and land near the line of vehicles attempting to leave the Atlas Peak area. The helicopter held only four people at a time and the officers realized additional assistance would be necessary. They requested help from CHP Northern Division Air Operations and Officers Millward and Agdeppa responded to the call. The two helicopter crews began coordinating rescues and identifying drop-off locations as fires continuously overran the landing zones, together saving 41 lives. Aerial surveillance from the night of the rescues shows the rescue area was completely overrun by fire. For their bravery, heroism, and courage in the face of imminent and personal life-threatening peril, their actions went above and beyond the call of duty and exemplify the highest standard of a California public safety officer, state officials said. American democracy is not going to work if its just based on self-interest or people trying to get what they want. Its also based on serving a much higher ideal, said Brown. Men and women in uniform demonstrate that more than anyone and thats why we have a medal of valor and honor these individuals today. Also honored was Yuba County Sheriffs Deputy Sheriff Dan Harris who responded on Aug. 1, 2017 to the site of an illegal marijuana cultivation that turned into a gun battle that left two other deputies wounded at a rural location. Although he was not wearing a ballistic vest, Harris entered a structure and pulled the two wounded deputies to safety. Without regard to his own personal safety, Harris began providing life-saving measures to both deputies, while also updating the sheriffs dispatch and responding units with critical information. The wounded deputies were airlifted to an area hospital for treatment and are both still in recovery. 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. Eleven months of the year, the one-story home blends in with other homes lining the same quiet, suburban street in west Napa. And then comes October. A patch of grass mutates a graveyard planted with markers memorializing Edgar Allan Poe, Bela Lugosi and even fictional characters like Westley from the movie The Princess Bride (mostly dead since 1987, his headstone proclaims). Enormous cobwebs cut from sheets of beef netting shroud the front of the house, bearing fist-size spider props with more arachnids in a porch recast as a fluorescently painted spider nest. A visitor strolling the grounds must brave a a wired-up coffin with a constantly banging lid and then a zombie seemingly clawing its way madly out of the ground, growling at the unwary. For more than five years, the imagination and stagecraft of Nicole Montroy have transformed a suburban front yard and porch into Evil Vines Cemetery, one of the haunted houses that dots Napa neighborhoods each Halloween season. Wood, foam, colored lights and smoke machines suffused with ghostly blue light populate the pocket-size haunt with bug-eyed zombies, menacing spiders and grinning skeletons to create an attraction for families across Napa one that also helps raise funds for a local nonprofit pursuing an animal sanctuary and hospital in the area. I start thinking about Halloween on Nov. 1, but I dont start putting things out until Oct. 1, Montroy said with a laugh about Evil Vines, which she has staged for seven years in the 2100 block of Euclid Avenue. The latest version of her Halloween haunt debuted Saturday night and will be open to visitors on the night of the holiday, 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday. A native of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, Montroy a former engineer who now volunteers for JARR and Collabria Care described Evil Vines as her homage to the holiday and season that were closest to her heart from childhood. Fall is always my favorite season I love the smell of leaves, the chill in the air, the changing colors, she said last week while spraying filaments of hot glue into cobwebs shrouding the front-yard scenery. What probably drives this is that I miss that Michigan fall. I thought this was a fun neighborhood, so why not try it here? Theres something fun about getting scared that we all enjoy, even when were little. A trained aerospace engineer, Montroy spends most of October applying her ingenuity to the scare-raising contraptions that make up Evil Vines. This lets me be an engineer, she said. Ive got stuff wired up; Ive got pneumatic props. Things will be moving. Before braving the ghouls and ghosts at Evil Vines, visitors at the free event also can made donations for living creatures the animals that stand to be served by JARRs future ranch, for which the group this spring purchased four acres off Cuttings Wharf Road in the Carneros area west of the city. Anytime you have something that brings the community together and there are animals involved, it puts people in a good spirit to give, JARRs manager of community outreach Brenda Burke said as the first few families strolled into Evil Vines at nightfall Saturday. The nonprofit collected about $700 during last years edition of Montroys haunted house, she said. As the Saturday night sky segued from pink-dotted blue to inky black, costumed children, their parents and grandparents and some grown-ups as well began arriving at Evil Vines, some from down the street and others from across Napa. Some younger ones teared up or snuggled into their mothers after emerging from the haunted yard; others were all smiles as they posed for snapshots afterward on a throne-like chair near the entrance. The first time you go through, it can be scary, admitted 10-year-old Laila Yob of Sebastopol. The second time, its not so scary, but I think its pretty cool. I got scared by the coffin everyone seems to get scared by that. A half hour later, Evil Vines became a stop for 11 more visitors on an unusual girls night out of haunted houses. We had wine at a friends house, jumped into a car and went various houses I heard of from last year this one has a reputation, quipped Tara Jantzen, who had attired herself for the occasion with a black dress, black lipstick and a gothic-looking black hat. Thought this was really cute; they went above and beyond with the Halloween elements. And then to get scared and scream? added Jeannie Whitt, another woman in the group, laughing. A bunch of grown women screaming? 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. Napa Valley Expo wants a partner who can ensure a planned makeover of its downtown fairground passes environmental muster. Directors of the 25th District Agricultural Association, parent agency of the state-owned Expo, published a request for proposals from consultants to analyze its master plan, which would guide the construction of new exhibit halls, offices and outdoor plazas at the Third Street fairground. A draft of the guidebook was released last year. The Expo is reaching out to would-be partners amid a courtroom battle with a longtime tenant, the Napa Valley Model Railroad Historical Society, which sued at the end of 2017 to stop its eviction after 47 years. Board members voted last year not to renew the train groups lease at the Expo, where a pair of Quonset huts houses an elaborate layout of miniature rails, trains and dioramas depicting historic Northern California. The proposed fair redevelopment calls for a parking area, which would serve livestock auction spectators, to replace the miniature train showcase. The rail group sued the Expo in Alameda County Superior Court, alleging the removal of their building would illegally start putting the fairground master plan into action without state-required environmental studies. The clubhouse closed without explanation in June, only to begin taking visitors again last month. The Expo is now seeking those with experience in environmental consulting to apply for the right to analyze new construction proposed at the Expo, with mailed applications due Nov. 19. Upgrades contemplated by Expo officials are estimated to cost $65 million and include replacing event spaces torn down due to damage from the 2014 earthquake, as well as adding a multipurpose hall with commercial kitchens and a two-story fair office and community meeting center. Also included in the master plan are an open-sided pavilion that would host the Junior Livestock Auction, a popular segment of the Town & Country Fair held every August. During several stages of rebuilding, some existing buildings would be removed to make way for the fairgrounds new layout. An enlarged RV park would replace barns currently serving the livestock auction, and Zinfandel Hall also would face eventual demolition, although it would remain in use until new meeting spaces are completed. Private interviews with applicants are tentatively scheduled for Nov. 20, and the Expo is expected to announce a proposed award the following day. If no protests are filed, the choice of consultant would become final Dec. 5 with the contract to begin Jan. 2, 2019. 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 state Attorney Generals Office has decided not to oppose Napa County Assessor John Tuteurs request to dismiss four grand jury accusations against him of willful or corrupt misconduct. All four counts against Tuteur either fail to state a claim of willful misconduct or lack sufficient evidence, the Attorney Generals Office said in court papers filed Friday. The 2017-18 county grand jury is seeking to remove Tuteur from office. I am pleased that the California State Attorney General agreed with my position that all claims in the accusation were unfounded, Tuteur said in a press release. A Napa County Superior Court hearing on the grand jury accusations is scheduled for Nov. 9 and the judge will consider Tuteurs request to dismiss the chargesa request that apparently will meet no opposition from the state. The grand jury made the accusations earlier this year. The Attorney Generals Office, as required, brought the matter to court, after the Napa County District Attorneys Office recused itself. One grand jury count accuses Tuteur of failing to pay $20,000 in back property taxes on land his family leases out for a cell tower. An Assessors Office error discovered in 2016 led to the back taxes. The evidence showed that the defendant was notified of the error and believed steps would be taken to do what was necessary to correct the error, the Attorney Generals Office filing said. Tuteur in a court filing disputed the $20,000 figure, saying the Assessors Office employee in charge of the matter ultimately concluded this year that Tuteur owes $1,453 in back taxes. The grand jury accused Tuteur of not forcing property owners receiving Williamson Act agricultural tax breaks to return questionnaires that would help calculate their taxes. Nor did he tell the Board of Supervisors, District Attorney or Planning Department about the noncompliance. But, the Attorney Generals Office filing said, evidence shows Tuteurs office tried to gather the information from landowners and informed other county departments of the low response. He (Tuteur) testified that over the years, he discussed with the Planning Department whether they felt it was worthwhile for the Planning Department given their workload to pursue any kind of remedy addressing the non-reporting and the response had been no, the filing said. Evidence presented to the grand jury shows that the Assessors Office understood its duty was to assess properties and not enforce landowner compliance for information requests, the filing said. The grand jury accused Tuteur of testifying about the Williamson Act before the Board of Supervisors in 2011, even though he has ranch land that receives the tax break and could benefit from the boards decision. He illegally used his official position to influence the outcome, the accusation said. But the Attorney Generals Office said the conflict-of-interest allegation isnt supported by evidence. The boards ultimate decision had the same effect on Tuteurs property taxes as any other Williamson Act property owner. The grand jury said Tuteur failed to determine the actual value of ranch land and instead used a formula adopted by the county in 1969 and never updated. If the minimum value rose, the property taxes for his ranch would also rise. There is no evidence of intent, the Attorney Generals Office said. Rather, defendant testified that he believed the actual/fair rent was below the imputed income and therefore the imputed income was applied. Nor is there evidence that Tuteur intended to harm the county or gain personal advantage, the filing said. Another section of the Attorney General Offices filing dealt with the standard for establishing a willful or corrupt misconduct charge. It must be proven that the public officer knew the act performed or not performed was required or prohibited by law and then willfully failed to comply with the law. Tuteur could not be reached for comment on Friday. 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. YOUNTVILLE Parents and education officials gathered in Yountville last week for a town hall meeting on marijuana, vaping and teenagers, resulting in a bounty of information being shared and plenty of oh my god moments for moms and dads. It was incredibly eye-opening, said Heather Fishleder of Napa, mother of three kids including a 14-year-old. It makes me feel sad, it makes me feel angry, and it makes me feel terrified. For an hour and a half, forensic toxicology analyst Susan Ramsden told an audience of nearly a hundred at Yountville Elementary School about the growing habit of vaping marijuana among youth. We know there is a problem with marijuana and teenagers, said Ramsden. Theyre exploring and trying new things. Ramsden was invited by the Napa County Office of Education, which partnered with the five school districts in Napa Valley to organize the talk that attracted school superintendents as well as school board trustees. And what a talk it was for parents like Jennifer Palmer, who came with her 15-year-old son, Douglas Bozzini. We both looked at each other several times during Ramsdens presentation, Palmer said, adding, There were a lot of oh my god moments from the facts presented. Bozzini provided some levity at the beginning of the evening when he volunteered to help Ramsden with a demonstration on how marijuana can impair vision. Ramsden had Bozzini perform three tasks: walk toe-to-heel along a single line of blue tape and around small orange cones, play catch with a red ball the size of a large grapefruit, and build a pyramid out of plastic drinking cups. The teenager skated through the first time without trouble. Then Ramsden had him put on a pair of special goggles that distorted his vision, simulating what its like after smoking one joint. I saw two [versions] of the lady, referring to Ramsden, and there was, like, three lines on the ground, he said, which made it a struggle to walk in a straight line and catch the ball. He nearly completed the pyramid before it came crashing down. But it was really fun to try the glasses on and do those activities, according to Bozzini. The rest of the event wasnt much fun for the parents, who heard about the myriad ways teens can camouflage the vaping of marijuana, the uncertainty of what is in marijuana these days, and the health and developmental consequences for young people using marijuana. Ramsden said that in light of Proposition 64, the California initiative that legalized recreational marijuana for those 21 and older, people may think cannabis products are safe to consume. All marijuana is not the same, she said, warning some cannabis being sold can contain molds, pesticides, fungus, fertilizers and more. There are dangers from synthetic marijuana as well, according to Ramsden, who said it causes more trips to hospital emergency rooms than regular marijuana. She went on to talk about the many forms of marijuana these days, everything from joints to edibles to oils and dabs, made from the stems and leaves of a marijuana plant. Cannabis oils and dabs can be highly concentrated with THC or Tetrahydrocannabinol, the chemical compound that produces the high when using cannabis, according to the toxicologist. In some cases, the THC concentration can be 90 percent. Its called the crack cocaine of marijuana, Ramsden said of dabs. She told her audience that THC can interfere with normal brain chemistry, even hijack it and create dependency in users. What we thought is innocent can be mind-altering, said Ramsden, who warned youth can suffer long-term, and even permanent, effects from using marijuana. Effects can take the form of lower verbal comprehension, poor memory, less control of emotions, reduced problem solving and more. It was eye-opening about the long-term effects on the brain, especially if youre under 25 before your brain is fully developed, said Fishleder, referring to data provided by Ramsden. As if that wasnt enough to worry parents, Ramsden provided example after example of how teenagers use vaping pens disguised as innocuous objects to get high from cannabis: phony fountain pens, USB flash drives and other components that plug directly into a computer, lipstick and mascara cases. Would you recognize it in your childs room? she asked her audience. Kids will even fashion a vaping device out of certain candies, like Starbursts and Jolly Ranchers, with help from YouTube videos, according to Ramsden. During a brief Q&A session, a parent asked Ramsden how they go about telling their children that marijuana is bad when the state has legalized it. There are mixed messages, as Fishleder put it after the meeting. Ramsden advised using facts that will help them make good choices. Education is the key to power, she said. Palmer said she was glad to bring her son, instead of her hearing all the information and coming home in a big panic. By having Bozzini with her, It just allows for more honest conversation between mother and child, Palmer said. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. There is a fine line public agencies, officials and employees walk between legally disseminating information and illegally advocating for or against a ballot measure or candidate under California law. Thats the opening of an article in publicceo.com, a website devoted to governmental management, written by two lawyers well-versed in the subject. The article, essentially a warning, is timely because, throughout California, officials are at least straddling that line and may be crossing it as they attempt to persuade voters to support billions of dollars in bonds, taxes and fees. A big example is Proposition 6, which would repeal last years more than $5 billion package of gas taxes and automotive fees. Anti-tax groups that placed Proposition 6 on the ballot complain that the state Department of Transportation has been colluding with other opponents of the repeal. Last week, those complaints were bolstered by the Associated Press. The AP reported that official emails it acquired reveal that the state transportation agency coordinated frequently with the public affairs firm working to block the repeal on behalf of unions, construction companies and local government groups. The coordination, the AP said, included, efforts to promote legislation to raise the tax to fund road and bridge repairs (and) after Gov. Jerry Brown signed it, the agency and the firm continued planning events and coordinating social media posts as opponents gathered signatures for repeal. Caltrans denied to the AP that it stepped over the line, saying that it was just trying to educate the public and that they ramped down coordination when the firm took an official campaign role. Notwithstanding those denials, its evident that Caltrans has been working hand-in-glove with opponents of Proposition 6. Sadly, the Caltrans-Proposition 6 situation is not the only example. But maybe the Fair Political Practices Commission will do something about it. Two years ago, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors proposed a half-cent sales tax increase for services to the homeless and gave TBWB Strategies, a San Francisco consulting firm, a $1 million contract to work on the tax measure. TBWBs campaign, including television and radio spots that touted the benefits of Proposition H, helped it win passage. However, the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association complained to the FPPC and filed a lawsuit challenging the campaigns legality. Last month, an FPPC hearing officer found probable cause for a 15-count formal accusation that the county supervisors contributed to the Proposition H campaign without filing a campaign donor report and following other campaign laws. Were the allegation to be upheld and supervisors compelled to file such a report, they would be virtually conceding that they had used public funds for political purposes, which is flatly illegal. Meanwhile, the same supervisors have also placed a parcel tax on the November ballot. If approved, it would charge property owners 2.5 cents per square foot of improvements that cannot be permeated by rainwater, such as buildings and driveways, and spend the estimated $300 million in annual revenue on projects to improve water services. They also set aside $2 million for a consultant to supply public outreach and education about the proposed new tax thus risking another FPPC investigation. The Los Angeles tax measure is one of hundreds of local tax proposals facing voters this year, many of which also are being promoted by consultants such as TBWB under lucrative contracts supposedly for information but in reality to influence voters. Its high time the FPPC, local prosecu tors and/or Attorney General Xavier Becerra stopped this undemocratic practice before it becomes ingrained. CALmatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how Californias state Capitol works and why it matters. For more stories by Dan Walters, go to calmatters.org/commentary. The Napa County Democratic Central Committee held a series of interviews for local candidates in Napa County from American Canyon, Napa and St. Helena at their endorsement meeting. They voted to endorse local candidates and the local Transient Occupancy measures for the November 6 General Election. Sixty-six percent of the ballots distributed were required for endorsement. With four Democratic candidates running for Napa City Councils two open seats, Ricky Hurtado achieved the required 66 percent threshold needed for endorsement. Mary Luros was the second highest vote getter, with just one percentage point shy of endorsement. There are also four Democratic candidates running for American Canyon City Councils two seats, with incumbents Mark Joseph and David Oro receiving the NCDCC endorsements. For Napa Valley College Board of Trustees, Jeff Dodd for Trustee Area 2 and incumbent Mary Ann Mancuso for Trustee Area 3, easily received the support and endorsement from the NCDCC. Additionally, Anna Chouteau received the endorsement for St. Helena City Council. The local Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) ballot measures F, I,S,H, E, and D were all endorsed as well. These would increase the Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) for hotels, B&Bs, and licensed in-house lodgings by 1 percent, from 12 percent to 13 percent, in the county and for each of the cities in Napa County. This TOT Measure is a hotel tax increase intended to boost funding for affordable and workforce housing. The Napa County Democratic Central Committee is dedicated to advancing Democratic values and electing Democratic candidates to local, state, and national offices. On the state-level ballot, the endorsements by the California Democratic Party were: Kevin De Leon, U.S. Senate; Mike Thompson, U.S.Representative, District 5; Gavin Newsom, Governor; Xavier Becerra, Attorney General; Betty Yee, Controller; Fiona Ma, Treasurer; Alex Padilla, Secretary of State; Ricardo Lara, Insurance Commissioner; Tony Thurmond, Superintendent of Public Instruction; Malia Cohen, Board of Equalization, District 2; Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, Assembly Member, District 4. G. Anthony Phillips, Chair Napa County Democratic Central Committee I am a first-generation college student at Napa Valley College, and I give my full and unequivocal support to Jeff Dodd for the college Board of Trustees, for Area 2. Jeff Dodd brings a young and adept perspective to the Board of Trustees, and a keen expertise into environmental law and land use. As a student, I have spent great deal of time at Napa Valley College. So I have an insider's view of how the college has changed the last few years and how it has shaped the paths of both myself and many others. This fall semester, I will be applying to transfer to a University of California, and I am both anxious and thrilled of the possibilities that are to come from this next step forward. My mind is at ease knowing that this step will boost my academic and personal chances of success, but most importantly I rest assured at the thought that our local community college will be in capable hands once I move on. That is why I support Jeff Dodd for college board, Area 2, because he has demonstrated that he has the attitude and capabilities to help Napa Valley College grow to meet its full potential. As a student who was born and raised in the Napa Valley, I find that there are few people who can match Jeff Dodds dedication and commitment to Napa Valley College and the community that it fosters. Jeff Dodd represents what kind of personal growth can come out of the community college system; having transferred to the University of California, Santa Barbara, graduated and then went on to attend the University of Pacific McGeorge School of Law, where he graduated with honors. Jeff Dodd exemplifies what students from Napa Valley College can go on to achieve, but more importantly he represents what students from Napa Valley College can contribute back to the community once they reach their academic potential. Jeff Dodd is the success story that gives Napa Valley College its prestige, which is, of course, an achievement by itself, but in addition to this he also personifies how students themselves cultivate the growth and development of the college experience, from protege to consultant. As a student at Napa Valley College, I commend Jeff Dodd for being an outstanding model for students to look up to and emulate. One brief example of this was when Jeff Dodd took the time out of his day to come to our Young Democrats endorsement meeting. As president of the Napa County Young Democrats club, I was tasked with putting together our endorsement process, and our group was willing to take a written statement from candidates if they had prior commitments, which, as it turns out, Jeff Dodd did because our meeting just so happened to land on his birthday. Much to our surprise, Jeff Dodd took the time to bicycle across town to come and meet with the students of our membership to listen to their questions and concerns in person, and he did this on his own birthday, of all days. That, I genuinely believe, demonstrates what kind of candidate Jeff Dodd is and what he can bring to the College Board. Jeff Dodd is a candidate who can work with students and faculty alike. He is a candidate who can reach out across partisan lines and build bridges that cross generations. If you cannot take my word for it, then I implore you to reach out to Jeff Dodd yourself to reach your own consensus. As a student, I am confident that Jeff Dodd will make the practical choices needed to help our community college grow, and this November, I greatly encourage you to cast your ballot for Jeff Dodd for College Board, Area 2. Esperanza Padilla American Canyon Direct air connectivity from northeast region to other parts of the country got a major push with three new destinations on Sunday. They are Pakyong in Sikkim, Bhubaneswar in Odisha and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. Indigos flight (6E-726) arrived at 8.15am from Bhubaneswar and the return flight (6E-731) left for Bhubaneswar at 1.50pm, the statement said. The other Indigo flight (6E-953) departed for Varanasi at 8.45am and the return flight (6E-954) arrived here at 1.15pm, the AAI said. People who earlier wanted to travel to Odisha had to go to Kolkata first, then take a connecting flight to Bhubaneswar. A lot of people go to Puri as well. With these three new destinations, Guwahati is connected to 18 cities across country. There are 70 incoming and outgoing flights daily now. Meanwhile, the winter flight schedules from LGBI airport started today and will continue till March. According to AAI data, in 2017-18, the airport witnessed a footfall of 46,68,053 passengers with a movement of 41,172 flights. Armenia FM presents situation following Azerbaijani attack during meeting with Lithuanian Seimas Vice-President Armenia delegation covers Azerbaijan's Nov. 16 attack during online meeting of CSTO PA Permanent Commissions Armenia PM receives delegation led by Vice President of Lithuanian Seimas 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 Situation is tense in Armenia's Kasakh, residents protesting against acting village head (LIVE) 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 Formulating a new political monopoly will result in no good for the country, Armenia's 2nd president Robert Kocharyan said in an interview with Lenta.ru when asked what he'd meant by the statement that the formulation of a unipolar parliament would bring forth instability. He says he meant authority and responsibility: full power means full responsibility and it's only one side of the coin, since in case of failure there will be no one else to blame. The now popular terms of sabotage and anti-revolutions will no longer have addressees. Maybe the authorities will finally take on the economy and the negative side will be the formulation of new political monopoly that will result in no good for the country. Usually that kind of monopoly brings into standstill and perversion of the authorities no matter how revolutionary they are. The system of checks and balances stops functioning in the country, whereas it is very important for the balance between the branches of power, said Kocharyan. When asked whether there are political forces or individual politicians able to break the monopoly by becoming an opposition Kocharyan noticed that it would depend on their professional work and enthusiasm after the parliamentary snap elections. Everyone can see that there are going to be serious reformations in political sphere, there will be huge opportunities for self-realization. However, the dominance in opposition will depend on how the future opposition forces will operate, he said. To the question of whether he sees himself in that position Kocharyan said he is thinking of it. He also said he has a lot to worry about the future of Armenia. This is making me somehow impact on these processes. Only time will tell how much Ill succeed but I think my past and present experience will allow me play a significant role in Armenian politics, said Kocharyan. Chinese organisations silent after deal to make forays into Nepal Three months after the China NGO Network for International Exchanges agreed with the Social Welfare Council to facilitate Chinese NGOs inroads into Nepal, the CNNIE has not communicated the developments to the Nepali regulator. 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. Chugging towards development The trans-Himalayan railway must be built by mobilising political commitment The foreign ministers of Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia on Monday held a joint press conference following a trilateral meeting at the presidential office in Istanbul, Anadolu reported. Turkeys Mevlut Cavusoglu, Azerbaijans Elmar Memmedyarov, and Georgias David Zalkaliani discussed numerous topics such as energy, culture, tourism, and the economy, stressing the importance of cooperation between the three countries. Starting by marking Republic Day, the 95th anniversary of the Turkish Republic, Cavusoglu said: "On any platform or under any condition, Turkey supports the territorial and boundary integrity of Georgia and Azerbaijan. We strongly stress that at every platform." Noting that the Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline Project (TANAP) was inaugurated after last years trilateral foreign ministers' meeting in Baku, Cavusoglu said that commercial and personal ties have improved significantly since the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway began operating. Turkeys top diplomat went on to say that they discussed how to improve cooperation in transportation and energy, adding that Turkmenistan, which has a role in the projects, might be added to the three-nation mechanism. He underlined that Turkey supported Georgia's integration into Euro-Atlantic organizations, adding that Turkey has provided the greatest support for Georgia's NATO membership. Georgias Zalkaliani, for his part, said that significant projects were carried out with the participation of the three countries. "In our meeting, we discussed these projects and took important decisions on carrying out more concrete projects. We discussed subjects on improving tourism and international relations. We hope that our cooperation will grow even further," he said. "The Istanbul Declaration was signed today. We discussed the Sectoral Cooperation Action Plan for 2017-2019. We evaluated important topics that will ensure how the mechanism will successfully function for each country, he added. We exchanged ideas. That Georgia and Turkey are located along the transportation corridor and our cooperation on reaching the European continent carries great importance." Azerbaijans Mammadyarov congratulated Turkey on its 95th anniversary and added that they would join the inauguration of the new Istanbul airport later today. Telllng how the cooperation between Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Georgia improves every time the ministers meet, he said a Sectoral Cooperation Action Plan for 2017-2019 was signed last year in Baku. Mammadyarov said the cooperation on energy, transportation, and transit corridors led to quick implementation of the goals set out in the action plan. He thanked Turkey for its international support for Azerbaijan on the international stage. "The Star refinery in Izmir was inaugurated this month, he said, referring to a facility on Turkeys Aegean coast. Azerbaijan's direct investment in Turkey is worth some $15 billion. We believe that such energy projects will continue and provide benefits to Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia. We hope that TAP [Trans Adriatic Pipeline] will be completed by 2020." Armenia FM presents situation following Azerbaijani attack during meeting with Lithuanian Seimas Vice-President Armenia delegation covers Azerbaijan's Nov. 16 attack during online meeting of CSTO PA Permanent Commissions Armenia PM receives delegation led by Vice President of Lithuanian Seimas 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 Situation is tense in Armenia's Kasakh, residents protesting against acting village head (LIVE) 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 CM Raut welcomes Centres initiative on state police force Province 2 Chief Minister (CM) Mohammad Lalbabu Raut has welcomed the federal governments initiative to enable provincial executive to mobilise police. Traditional dance performance to kickoff SIUs 2018 Native American Heritage Month celebration by Christi Mathis CARBONDALE, Ill. With a traditional dance performance Nov. 1, Southern Illinois University Carbondale will kick off a month-long celebration of Native American Heritage Month, which will feature guest speakers, presentations, workshops, films, a craft night and more. Chicago dancers featured in kickoff The Black Hawk Dance Performance Company of Chicago will headline the kickoff event, set for 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 1 in the Student Center Auditorium. The performance is free and open to the public. Named for one of the most famous American Indian leaders among the Great Lakes tribes, the company performs traditional Native American dances in honor of the many tribes who have called Illinois home at one time or another. The company, along with the Been Nah Un Den Nah Drum Group, is based in the Chicago American Indian Museum. The groups perform for thousands of people each year, sharing their culture and celebrating their heritage through tribal song and dance. Diversity workshop planned The interactive Diversity within the Community workshop on Nov. 5 will focus on diversity within the Native American/American Indian community and how identities intersect. It will conclude with a question and answer session as panelists share their experiences. Facilitators are Catarina Durante Bergue Alves and Remya Perinchery. Guest speakers bring variety of topics to light Several guest speakers will present on a wide variety of subjects during the month. The lineup includes: Harmony in Native American Thought on Nov. 7 will feature Shannon Griffin, SIU alumna and Rend Lake College philosophy instructor, discussing the pervasiveness of harmony in Native American thought and how that affects the peoples world view. Preserving the Kiowa language for everyone on Nov. 9 will include an introduction by Andrew McKenzie of the University of Kansas to Oklahomas Kiowa language and the role it plays in the community and research applications. Why Tsehootsooi Does Not Equal Kit Carson Dr.: Navajo Place-Names and Linguistic Relativity with an Attitude on Nov. 13 will offer thoughts by Anthony Webster, University of Texas at Austin professor, on controversies surrounding changing American names to Navajo place names. Tracing the Route of the Cherokee Trail of Tears from Georgia to Illinois on Nov. 27 will focus on the removal of Native Americans in the 1830s from their lands to a new home across the country, including their trek through Illinois. Photographer Don Chamberlain will share insights. Create beaded bracelets Participants in the Native American Craft Night on Nov. 14 will create traditional beaded bracelets. Supplies are limited so those planning to attend must RSVP in advance. Special exhibit and broadcasts In recognition of Native American Heritage Month, a couple of special broadcasts are planned on WSIU television: Apache 8 and Native America New World Rising. In addition, all semester long the University Museum is hosting the SIU Center for Archaeological Investigations 40th Anniversary Exhibit, which features Native American rock art, pottery, stone tools and other artifacts investigated by the centers archaeologists during the past 40 years. One highlight is a cross-section of a hundreds-year-old cypress log that was once in the center of a Native American village near St. Louis circa 1000-1500 A.D. Enjoy traditional foods Throughout the month, Lentz Dining Hall will recognize the people and their culture by serving special fare on various dates. Created using healthy, sustainable, nutritious recipes, the dishes will be served along with the usual Lentz menus. All SIU students with meal plans can enjoy the special items at no cost while anyone else, including community members, can purchase meal tickets at the door. Featured items at various times on Nov. 4, 7, 8, 11, 14, 15, 26, 28 and 29 will include baked black beans, wild rice burger, 3 sisters stew, green chili beans stir fry, black bean cake, Choctaw stew, squash and zucchini chow, Comanche stew and Seneca ghost bread. Visit www.housing.siu.edu/menus for pricing and additional information. For more information The Student Multicultural Resource Center coordinates Native American Heritage Month and numerous campus organizations assist as sponsors. Find the complete schedule of events and additional information online at www.smrc.siu.edu. Or, email llove2@siu.edu, gwhaley@siu.edu, msynergy@frontier.com or Jessica.a.whiteaker@siu.edu for additional information. Nayak Paudel is a crime reporter for The Kathmandu Post. Since joining the Post in 2018, he has also written on health issues. Deconstructing #Metoonepal Besides dismantling patriarchy, the movement is also about creating safe spaces for women Diplomatic deficit as key foreign missions remain headless Delaying the appointment of ambassadors is not a good sign in diplomacy but Nepals key mission in New Delhi has been leaderless for a year. The number of new print magazines started in the U.S. fell by more than half in 2020 to 60, compared t 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 Business Hurdles: Importers complain about delay in issuing paperwork Nepali importers are complaining that shipping giant Maersk Line has not given them the paperwork related to their cargo on the merchant vessel SSL Kolkata which sank in shallow waters near Kolkata Port. i'm off a couple days this week and i've been meaning to do virtual phone banking even though the thought of it makes my anxiety shoot through the roof. but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do! Reply Thread Link Is there such thing as text phone banking? Ive been getting political messages lately (Gillum) and I responded and it seems like its a human on the other side, but it may very well be a robot. Reply Parent Thread Link https://events.mobilizeamerica.io/?event_type=3&is_virtual=true text banking is totally possible! i have done it some, and it's pretty easy to do while i'm watching netflix. you can find text banking for candidates across the country here: Reply Parent Thread Expand Link yes, because i get them all the time lol Reply Parent Thread Link What about it makes you so anxious? (Not being mean, you dont have to say, i just wondered) Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I once did phone banking and I panicked on the first call with the message, leaving an incoherent message. I'm sure that person was like 'wtf' I did better for the rest of the hour but my anxiety will never let me forget that first person. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Good for him Reply Thread Link YAS! I would be stoked to see him at my door (but I'm a dork and his is my exact sense of humor) Reply Thread Link Is this a general politics post? Because I want to say FUCK BOLSONARO Fucking scary whats happening in Brasil right now.. Reply Thread Link im so horrified and sad and terrified for brazil rn. wtf brazil?!? Reply Parent Thread Link Its so fucking terrifying. The way theyre going into universities and threatening professors and students, taking down mentions about fighting fascism, and getting rid of negative stories against their party lines. Its like a freakishly fast forward of what Trump and other populist leaders want to do. Im terrified for the LGBTQ community there, especially the Trans community. Reply Parent Thread Link I am honestly scared for everyone in the country. NPR's Up First had a short interview with someone who voted for him and they were like "Eh, he's not a racists, fascist - he's just honest!" Its kind of terrifying to learn how many people in the world crave a fascist leader, as long as they align with their beliefs. Reply Parent Thread Link Yeah, I'd say a large majority of people are totally cool with fascism/authoritarianism/dictatorships if they think it'll make their lives easier. They crave just being able to kill or jail undesirable people in society. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Im reading tweets about people from the lgbt community being scared to go outside for fear of their lives and its maddening. Reply Parent Thread Link I can't even imagine how bad things will get, especially with what has already happened and what he has been promising. Reply Parent Thread Link He's a fucking MONSTER. As a gay guy, I can't imagine what the brazilian LGBT community must be feeling right now. Reply Parent Thread Link Hey @cbc! As an employee of your network Id just like to say this is an irresponsible and deeply disturbing take on a man who has openly expressed a total disregard for human rights and the environment! https://t.co/4zm80koAf1 Dustin Milligan (@DustinWMilligan) October 29, 2018 Awful. And then to see tweets like this: Reply Parent Thread Expand Link My fiancee lives there and I am just hurting for her and the people of Brazil. It's not safe for her there. We were planning getting married after she completes her college studies so she could move to the US, but shit, I don't even want to wait that long any more. Edited at 2018-10-29 04:18 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link Yeah I just heard the news. HORRIFYING. How could that ever happen there? Like it doesn't make sense at all. Reply Parent Thread Link it feels like the hard right-cum-fascist resurgence won't leave anywhere alone :/ from the news articles I've read he seems like a special sort of awful though, I hope that LGBT people, leftists, etc. in Brazil all stay safe. Reply Parent Thread Link damn this is amazing of him Reply Thread Link That's awesome tbh! Good for him :) Reply Thread Link I'm really glad to see he's actively working for a good election result! Reply Thread Link In case anyone here wants to canvass but feels too shy to do so, I just wanna say how much fun it is and how it's a great way to meet like-minded people. I really can't recommend it enough, and most canvass teams are happy to allow new volunteers to stand back and just observe until they're comfortable enough to speak to people. Reply Thread Link I am gonna second this. The local committee I volunteered with had us just going out to Democrats in my district trying to remind them to vote and convince them to vote early. All the people I talked to (mostly retired seniors, who were living in an HOA) were super nice and were happy to see people out trying to get people to vote! Reply Parent Thread Link With the exception of a few cranky ones, old people are usually so stoked to have a conversation with canvassers, bless them. Reply Parent Thread Link I had so much fun canvassing yesterday. It was a beautiful day, there were nice decorations, I met some awesome Dem voters, and a whole family beckoned me over from the house I was canvassing to ask me where they could register to vote (my state allows it until election day). I even saw a cat. Reply Parent Thread Link I've been canvassing on a daily basis the last few weeks, and will do even more of it starting now. Yesterday, while I was knocking on doors for a candidate, I met this old dude who said, "I'm sick of what's happening in this country!" Me thinking, "bitch me too, the fuck." Old dude, "so I'm not going to vote." Me thinking, "oh no!" Then he said, "it's sick what they did to that judge!" Me thinking, "Yes! Keep not voting, you old coot!" Reply Thread Link this whole comment was a ride. i hope he sticks with it and doesnt. Reply Parent Thread Link uuuuuuUUUUUUgh trust no old dude Reply Parent Thread Link Welp, let's hope he keeps his old ass home! Reply Parent Thread Link ughhhh. yes, please, stay home then! Reply Parent Thread Link LoL, too real. Reply Parent Thread Link I don't get people who have that logic tbh. I mean, I get wanting to disconnect but it's so counterproductive and it plays right into what Trump and his minions want us to do. Reply Parent Thread Link I need her to win because Georgia can not survive with another Republican governor. Same with Florida. It would be beautiful to see Abrams and Gillum winning in the South. Too bad there are way too many racists from all walks of life living in those states. Reply Thread Link Not even just having another republican but one like fucking Kemp is horrible 10x Reply Parent Thread Link if i was him and had a swedish wife id just apply for swedish citizenship and fuck off there Reply Thread Link the GOP is openly and proudly repressing the votes of POC and no one gives a shit. burn it all down already. Reply Thread Link And theyve been playing the long game so now the courts are packed with conservative judges which will make it easier for states to pass more restrictive laws. Reply Parent Thread Link I had some people for Stacy at my door yesterday. It felt like a glint of hope in these dark times. Reply Thread Link Im starting to get very nervous for Andrew Gillum :( dem turnout hasnt been high so far. I havent seen anything from yesterday though, hopefully souls to the polls made a difference. Reply Thread Link Hes up almost 5 points in most recent polling, but I dont trust polls. Reply Parent Thread Link Yeah but another poll only has him up one point and Im pretty sure theres another poll with desantis leading. Reply Parent Thread Link Early voting just started two days ago. It could change. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link It is quite rare for African national oil companies (NOCs) to liberalize, especially in countries that are heavily dependent on oil revenues. Yet Angola, whose stability was sent reeling by the oil price crash of 2015-2016, is making great strides in transforming the national champion Sonangol into a more accountable and competitive business entity. With this, the new presidential administration hopes, the whole of Angolas oil production would swing back to growth (or at least settle for a lengthy stagnation). The scope is genuinely ambitious the new government wants to restructure Sonangol, terminate the companys sole right privileges, sell off some off its assets including several fields, as well as to create a National Oil and Gas Agency, which would take over Sonangols regulatory and license-granting competence. In most cases numbers are more than enough to explain such a swift policy turn, in the case of Angola it is doubly so. Most of Angolas production is deepwater and ultra-deepwater, making it especially susceptible to sudden oil drops and other market shocks. Having survived two such occurrences in 2008-2009 and 2014-2016, Angolan oil production in general fell from a 2008 level of 1.896 mbpd to the current 1.48 mbpd. Similarly, the national oil company Sonangol saw its oil output drop by some 27 percent to 0.59 mbpd. Moreover, to the Angolan authorities utmost regret, the year 2017 ended with no exploration drilling whatsoever (just for the sake of comparison, 2014 witnessed 24 wildcats drilled). No matter how hard the task of ramping up crude production in a mature environment, the case for reform solidified. Graph 1. Sonangol vs Angola Crude Production 2008-2018. Source: OPEC, Sonangol. Apart from falling production, there are also other indicators that point to the inevitability of structural reform in one of Africas foremost extraction states. Foreign currency reserves have halved since oil prices fell dramatically in 2014, leaving Lourenco with no other option than to devalue the Angolan kwanza (which should have been done a long time ago, not January 2018). Sonangol has been ailing financially, too first it sought out development loans from the Chinese Development Bank in 2014-2015, then the Angolan government had to hand it out a $10 billion cash infusion in 2016-2017 so that the national oil champion can pay out its debts and arrears. As Sonangol finds it increasingly more difficult to secure financing from leading banks, it relies more on government-backed money, dragging further down Angolas public debt standing which is expected to drop by 5 per cent this year to 68 percent of GDP. President Lourenco's transparency drive also has political motives in order to lessen the grip of the dos Santos over the countrys leading firm, he dismissed Isabel dos Santos, the former Presidents daughter and concurrently Africas richest businesswoman. The new Chairman, Carlos Saturnino Guerra Sousa e Oliveira is a technocratic figure, thus a suitable candidate to help Lourenco dismantle the nepotist ties that held Angolas energy sector together thus far. In fact, Lourencos only politically viable way out is to construct a more inclusive energy sector that would accommodate a wider spectrum of interests than merely those of a close political circle, otherwise Angolas populace would erupt in dissatisfaction. Even though Angolas part of GDP coming from oil production slid from 45 percent in 2011-2012 to the current 13-15 percent, it is a most needed change. Related: Petro-States Face Extinction The Lourenco-style structural reform plan is in fact the continuation of a 2016 dos Santos revamp initiative that was never really translated into reality. It includes the reshaping of oil-related ministries (already done, Mining and Petroleum ministries were merged into one), the establishment of a new sector-wide regulator to lessen Sonangols role in regulatory matters (if all goes well the National Hydrocaron and Biofuel Agency, ANHB, will be created next year) with ANHB taking over as overall manager of Angolas concessions, a role which previously was the prerogative of Sonangol. Sonangols restructuring will also entail its shedding of non-core activities, ending years of financially dubious investments in healthcare, real estate and housing. The creation of a new regulatory agency automatically triggers the question as to what would happen with existing concessions when they are transferred to the new entity. When Indonesia carried out the same measure in 2000-2001, deals valid at that time were left intact as the new regulator simply acknowledged their validity. The ongoing restructuring drive actually allows the Angolan government to readapt existing concession by granting out more favorable terms to investors in return for their pledges to intensify drilling in Angola. The above measures altogether would leave Sonangol worse off, smaller in complexity (the company now boasts a hundred subsidiaries) and scale, however, would definitely turn out to be a net benefit to the country on the back of new oil investments. Related: The Real Reason Europe Finally Attempts To Stabilize Libya The new government is also intent on selling some Sonangol assets to streamline the companys operations selling deepwater Blocks 20 and 21 (previously licensed out to Cobalt Int. Energy) in the Kwanza Basin is the first step, it is estimated that more will follow along the privatization lines. There is even more - a new gas framework is a key element in the Angolan reform drive. Heretofore, when a gas discovery was made, any third-party contract holder would not be entitled to it as Sonangol was stipulated as the sole owner of the nations gas reserves (the production-sharing contracts usually dealt only with liquids). Following the adoption of the Natural Gas Framework Law, foreign entities can fully claim both associated and non-associated gas reserves even though the law has no automatic retroactive effect, companies can reclaim reserves in case they relinquished them. The Angolan Ministry of Mineral Resources and Oil proposed listing Sonangol on an internationally recognized exchange at some point in the future, although this remains a function of President Lourenco's success in reforming the Angolan energy sector. All in all, Angolas production is expected to stagnate for the next 3-4 years at roughly 1.5 mbpd. By 2020, if the energy sectors reshaping reaches its logical conclusion, Angola will have sowed the seeds of future success a more oil-focused Sonangol and more international majors is definitely the only path forward and the new administration knows this. Yet a swift return to all-destructive political infighting and resource nationalism remains a latent risk. By Viktor Katona for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Higher oil prices are expected to leave the oil industry flush with cash, but the capital discipline mantra remains. Market watchers have wondered whether top oil executives would eschew with tight-fisted spending plans once their pockets fattened up again. We're laser focused on disciplined free cash flow generation and strong execution. Discipline means, we're not chasing higher prices by ramping up activity, ConocoPhillips CEO Ryan Lance told investors on an earnings call. By staying disciplined, we generate strong free cash flow, which we then allocate in a shareholder-friendly way. He went on to stress how committed the company was to boosting the quarterly dividend and share buyback program. Conoco beat analysts estimates, earning $1.36 per share in the third quarter, eight times the earnings from the $0.16 per share a year earlier. Conoco also saw soaring production in the big three shale areas the Permian, Eagle Ford and Bakken with output up 48 percent to 313,000 bpd. Lance said that the company still wants to optimize its portfolio, which includes $600 million in asset sales. Conocos experience highlights an important industry trend, which is prioritizing profits over growth and size. Lance pointed out that the last time earnings were this good was back in 2014. Brent was over $100 per barrel and our production was almost 1.5 million barrels of equivalent oil per day. So we're as profitable today as we were then, despite prices being 25% lower and volumes being 20% lower, Lance told investors. So bigger isn't always better. That's why we're focused on per share growth and value, not absolute volume growth. Norwegian oil company Equinor (formerly Statoil) echoed that sentiment. After laying out the companys earnings, CFO Lars Christian said you have to go all the way back to first quarter 2014 to find strong results, and then remember the oil price level above $100. But again, that doesnt seem to have triggered a new aggressive approach. With the E&P industry seeing higher oil and gas prices, now is the time we must show discipline and protect the structural improvements we have achieved over the last four years, Christian told investors on an earnings call. Equinor, despite the improved performance, announced that it was lowering its capex guidance by $1 billion for the year. Related: Is A Diesel Crunch Coming? The same words of capital discipline along with a focus on capital distribution i.e. payouts to shareholders are evident in just about every earnings call. This is what investors are demanding, not a return to reckless spending on megaprojects in far flung places. However, modest spending also flies in the face of what some analysts are asking for in the long-term. A September report from Wood Mackenzie said that the oil industrys spending restraint could sow the seeds of a supply crunch in the 2020s. The warning signs are there the industry isnt finding enough oil, WoodMac said in its report. The oil consultancy said that by the mid-2020s, a supply gap emerges, rising to 3 million barrels per day by 2030. By 2035, the supply gap jumps to as much as 7 mb/d. Barring technology breakthrough beyond what we already assume, well need new oil discoveries, WoodMac concluded. The IEA has repeatedly warned of a similar problem. The sharp downturn in spending following the market bust in 2014 has barely recovered. But, as the earnings reports indicate, Big Oil is now back to making money in a big way, even with spending at a fraction of pre-2014 levels. However, profitability is not the same thing as the global oil industry having enough supply to meet demand. WoodMac and the IEA, among others, are concerned that the capital discipline mantra will lead to a supply disaster in the middle of the next decade. The oil majors are not concerned about that right now. Investors are happy that the quarterly figures are strong again. By Nick Cunningham of Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Depending on who you ask, energy markets would likely be better off without more Saudi-Russia oil and gas cooperation, which will amount to greater clout in the Middle East as U.S. influence in the region wanes. After all, its been a cleverly orchestrated cohesive Saudi-Russian agreement, albeit the fledgling but increasingly powerful OPEC+ cartel, that reigned in an historic oil market overhang over the last two years, put a floor under global oil prices and returned OECD to five-year levels. This well-timed oil production agreement saw prices rise from a dismal dip below $30 per barrel in January 2016 to breaching $85 per barrel earlier this month. Though some of those gains have been pared the last few weeks, Brent oil is still hovering in the mid-$70s level, allowing oil producers and oil companies to recoup years of profit losses. This same oil production group, which could be formalized soon, is ushering in a new era of Saudi-Russian oil market domination, perhaps in ways even stronger than what OPEC did for decades as it largely dictated global oil supply and corresponding prices. Saudi-Russian oil production cooperation has removed or at least vied with U.S. shale oil production momentum as the top energy market story of the decade. Now, that cooperation will extend to liquefied natural gas (LNG) markets. Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih told Ekhbariya TV on Thursday that Saudi Arabia wants to invest as much as 30 percent in Russias pivotal and capex intensive Arctic LNG project. He called it a very ambitious project, and the biggest example of cooperation between the Saudi private sector and Russian companies. The disclosure comes just two few days after the head of Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), Kirill Dmitriev, said at the controversial Saudi Arabian investment forum that Riyadh is ready to invest $5 billion in LNG project in the Russian Arctic. Pivotal LNG project Arctic LNG 2 will be a massive project on the Gydan Peninsula in Northern Siberia with a production capacity of approximately 19.8 million tons per annum (mtpa), placing it as one of the larger LNG projects on a global scale. It is set to unlock over seven billion barrels of oil equivalent (boe) of hydrocarbon resources in Russias onshore Utrenneye gas and condensate field. A fleet of ice-class LNG carriers, which will be able to use Russias Northern Sea Route, will deliver LNG cargoes destined for Asian markets, which makes up more than 70 percent of global LNG demand with that amount to increase going forward amid insatiable Chinese gas demand. Related: Is The Oil Supply Glut Set To Return? The project, along with Russias Yamal LNG project that came on-stream a few months ago and the Sakhalin project which became operational in 2009, will help Russian President Vladimir Putins goal of the country becoming a major LNG player. There are several other large Russian LNG project proposals pending. However, with Qatar projected to have an annual liquefaction capacity of 110 mtpa within five or six years, its unlikely that Russian will be vying for the top LNG exporter spot any time soon. Geopolitical consequences Saudi-Russian gas cooperation is also a brilliant move for Riyadh on numerous fronts. First, it strengthens ongoing bilateral ties between Riyadh and Russia, while also helping the kingdom diversify its international investments. It will also help it move away from oil export revenue reliance. If the Saudis intend to also sign long term off-take agreements with Arctic LNG, it will help the kingdoms energy planners use gas to replace oil in its electric power generation sector. The de facto OPEC leader burns an average of 700,000 bpd of oil for electricity to keep the population cool in the hottest summer months from May to August, official figures showed. As more oil used for power generation is displaced with gas, it becomes available for export, albeit without the kingdom having to increase production or in times of a market crisis tapping into its questionable spare production capacity. The move for Russia is also just as beneficial as Moscow seeks ways to offset restrictive U.S. sanctions on its energy sector. Also, stronger bilateral ties between Riyadh and Moscow could create a wedge between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, particularly in times of crisis between the two sides, including the current roil over the killing of prominent Saudi journalist and U.S. resident Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey at the beginning of the month. The danger for Washington is manifold. If the U.S., particularly a growing and assertive anti-Saudi sentiment in both the Senate and House, force President Trumps hand over harsher rhetoric and possibly economic sanctions against the Saudis, this will give Moscow considerable leverage. Though Trump has insisted that he wants to safeguard billions of dollars of arms sales to Saudi Arabia, if indeed those arms sales were halted, Russian could easily fill the void with its own military hardware sales. By Tim Daiss for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Taking a page from the Chinese book of soft power, Mother Russia is moving in on Serbia with the end goal of state captureand one of its key weapons in this game is Gazprom, combined with a treasure chest full of cultural capital. Russias economic presence in Serbia is based on a collection of strategic factors that affect the Balkan countrys entire economy. Its a strategy that was most noticeably launched with a 2008 agreement to sell Serbias state-run energy company, "NIS" (Naftna Industrija Srbije) to Gazprom at a below-market price. Since then, Serbia has become entirely dependent on Russia for energy. Russia now dominates Serbian domestic production of oil and gas and fully controls the fuel market through Gazprom Neft and Lukoil. And what it doesnt produce domestically, again, its dependent on Russia. According to data from the Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD), Serbia imports about 65 percent of its natural gas needs from Russia and more than 70 percent of its crude oil consumption. That was Russias first big strategic move on Serbia. The second was the solidifying one, when Belgrades 2012-2013 fiscal crisis gave Moscow a chance to anchor its presence through loans, contracts and investments. In our view, Russian state-administered and -controlled companies have won favorable repayment terms, gained preferential treatment to work in the country, and forced unnecessary energy purchases on the countrys balance sheet, notes the CSD report. The renegotiation of the natural gas contract has significantly changed the Serbian energy import scheme and has gone largely unnoticed by the public. A Russian-owned company effectively took control of the Serbian natural gas sector without much public discussion. The end goal is clear, and its already a done deal. As Mark Galeotti, a widely published specialist on Russian security issues and the head of the Centre for European Security in Prague notes in a report for the EU Council for Foreign Relations, The model therefore predicts that the overall Russian objective in Serbia will be state capture, trying to establish powerful networks of allies and clients able to dominate the country." Not only does Russia already have strong political links in Serbia, but it also has considerable economic penetration, Galeotti said in his paper, entitled Do the Western Balkans face a coming Russian storm? According to a January 2018 report from the U.S. Committee on Foreign Relations, the director of Srbijagas, Dusan Bajatovic, is also the deputy chairman of the pro-Russian Socialist Party of Serbia and sits on a parliamentary Committee on Finance, Sate Budget and Control of Public Spending. Why The Serbian Public Doesnt Care Its state capture made easy for Russia, which has pushed through its end-game strategies without sparking public debate. At the same time, potential EU membership for Serbia typically involves a significant amount of public discussion. In August this year, Serbias Ministry of European Integration conducted a public opinion poll asking its citizens, Do you support Serbias EU membership? That poll indicated that if a referendum on the issue would have been held right then, 55 percent of citizens would have voted for EU integration, and 21 percent against. Related: Why Oil Prices Could Still Go Lower These are numbers that fail to correlate with the Russian capture of Serbia. At this point in our geopolitical present, it is an impossibility to align these two alliances. Yet, the people of Serbia see no contradiction. In fact, the entire country seems to be unaware of its Russian dependence. In general, the EU has been omnipresent in Serbia for the last 20 years. The EU is the largest donor of non-refundable financial aid to Serbia in the last 16 years, contributing nearly $5 billion. And in March 2012, Serbia was granted candidate country status for the EU, with accession negotiations opened in June 2013. Brussels has also named Serbia the Balkan frontrunner to achieve membership by 2025. From this perspective, the position of the West, and of the EU in particular, in Serbia appears to be strong. But data and figures arent always representative of the reality on the ground. This is a Gazprom country now, full on. Serbias comradeship with Russia is perhaps best described by a 2015 statement by former Serbian president Tomislav Nikolic after meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, when he said When things are tough, a man remembers his mother, and Serbia is remembering Russia. There is a deep cultural and religious connection here with which the EU cannot compete, and over the past couple of years that has become much clearer. Russia has important influence in Serbia, which is due in large part to traditional ties, but also to the perception in the Serbian public of a strong Western anti-Serbian bias, Aleksandar Mitic, president of Serbia-based Center for Strategic Alternatives, told Oilprice.com. On the other side, we can talk more about a decrease of influence of Western actors. The EU perspective is nowhere near [Russias] and the U.S. is not interested in any substantial economic programs in the region, rather satisfying itself with political-military control through NATO, Mitic said. But how much wider can Russias end-game extend here? Arguably, Moscows room to maneuver politically in this region is limited by the fact that Croatia, Albania and Montenegro are all NATO members, while Macedonia has just received an invitation to join the club. Serbia remains Russias potential bulwark against a region now defined by NATOeven if its a fragile set-up. That means that Serbia remains a key area of concern for the EU, U.S. and their allies. Nor is it just Serbia. Theres another wild card in the Balkans in the form of Republika Srpskathe Serb-dominated entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, where Russian soft power is also spreading quickly. Enter Kosovo In this context, Kosovo is a key flashpoint. Why? Because Belgrades reliance on Moscow's support when it comes to Kosovo's status further empowers the Russians. Nothing is more psychologically important to the Serbian republic as a whole than the status of Kosovo, and only Moscow understands and supports this. In 2008, the former Serbian province of Kosovo unilaterally declared independence, and Moscow reacted immediately, moving to veto the move at the UN Security Council to prevent Kosovo from gaining UN membership, which would have given it international acceptance and recognition. Its lost on no one that this was the same year in which Gazprom bought out the state-run energy company for below-market price. Nor is it lost on anyone that the Serbian president has met personally with Vladimir Putin at least 12 times since 2012, according to the U.S. Committee on Foreign Relations. This is the Kosovo difference: The west ..., but the Chinese and Russians get it. This is the key to soft power. As noted by the U.S. Committee on Foreign Relations, Russias influence in Serbia manifests itself through cultural ties, propaganda, energy and an expanding defense relationship. Moscow also highlights deep roots between the countries through the Orthodox Church and a shared Slavic culture. This narrative has been carefully cultivated over the years such that Russian government disinformation campaigns find very fertile ground among the population of Serbia The Committee also noted that high-level attention by the United States has been noticeably diminished in the region since the fall of Slobodan Milosevic, while Russian engagement with Serbias leadership stands in stark contrast to that of the United States. And the opportunities keep lining up for Moscow. Not only does it have tensions between Serbia and Kosovo upon which to feed, but it also has the status of Macedonia and the political conflict over the countrys name change, as well as the heated Bosnian parliamentary elections and a political win for ethno-nationalist and pro-Russian Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik recently. Serbia likes to think its still independent. Indeed, as Mitic told Oilprice.com, military cooperation between Serbia and Russia is part of Serbias strategic decision to proclaim military neutralitythat is, not to join any military alliances, including NATO and the Collective Security Treaty Organization [CSTO]. Moscow is happy to have Belgrade think along these terms. It was also happy to agree to send Serbia six MiG-29s as a gifteven if it is an expensive one that require Serbia to foot the bill for repairs. Related: The Death Of Algal Biofuel The West is now trying to playing a bit of catch-up in Serbia, but neutralizing Russia in the region will be a daunting task that will take much more than a visit this month by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg for a NATO drill in Belgrade. Nor do paramilitary activities promoted by Russia help. In August, Serbian authorities found themselves in the tricky position of having to close down a paramilitary mountain camp in Zlatibor that had been organized by both Russian and Serbia far-right groups that included war veterans from both countries who were focused on teaching both children and adults how to use weapons to defend their country. Serbia, it would seem, is now further away from the EU than ever, and Kosovo will ensure that distance because a precondition for Serbias accession to the EU is precisely recognition of Kosovos secession, which Belgrade says it will never do. Nor is it just Kosovo, says Mitic. Serbia would, for example, have to impose sanctions on Russia, he said, and this is another no-go zone for Belgrade. But Brussels is woefully inactive on this front, too. There is absolutely no political consensus among the EU countries on future enlargement any time soon, says Mitic. Thus, even if [the other problems] get resolved, Serbia would still not enter the EU. The Russian Propaganda Machine In the meantime, Russias media presence in Serbia has strengthened exponentially, with the establishment of the online magazine Sputnikallegedly created by a presidential decree in order to report on the state policy of Russia abroad. "This propaganda appears to have had an impact. Since Sputnik was launched in Serbia in January 2015, Russias favorability numbers among Serbians have increased from 47.8 percent to 60 percent in June 2017," the U.S. Committee on Foreign Relations report noted, emphasizing that Sputniks targets are diverse, including both far-right and far-left elements of Western societies, environmentalists, civil rights activists, and minorities. The Western Balkans has long been a stage for competing world powers. Its a historical tradition that the region simply cannot shake. Its where World War I started, and everyone from world leaders to major investors should keep this in mind: What happens in Serbia next wont be confined to Serbia. This is the world stage, and from Moscows point of view its a low-cost, high-yield endeavor. And the more chaos, the more opportunity. The soft power such as that wielded by Russia in the Balkans and the Chinese in Africaand elsewhereis stuff of global dominance, and the West has a hard time competing when one of the main weapons of choice is the state-run company. By Damir Kaletovic for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Indonesian plane with 189 aboard crashes into sea near Jakarta, feared sunk An aircraft with 189 people on board is believed to have sunk after crashing into the sea off Indonesias island of Java on Monday, soon after takeoff from the capital, headed for a key tin-mining region, officials said. Although the European Union (EU) has vowed to create a special purpose vehicle to continue trade with Iran after the U.S. sanctions on Tehrans oil return next week, the bloc is struggling with the set-up of such vehicle because no EU member is willing to host it for fear of angering the United States, the Financial Times reported on Sunday, citing EU diplomats. The EU said last month that the foreign ministers of China, France, Germany, Russia, and the UKthe countries still in the Iran nuclear dealmet with Irans foreign minister and decided to create a special purpose vehicle for dealings with Iran. After the meeting, Federica Mogherini, the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said that with the planned vehicle, In practical terms this will mean that EU Member States will set up a legal entity to facilitate legitimate financial transactions with Iran and this will allow European companies to continue trade with Iran, in accordance with European Union law, and could be opened to other partners in the world. But the EU has met several hurdles in the work to setting up a payment mechanism with Iran, including the fact that no EU nation is eager to host the special purpose vehicle. No EU government wants to cross the US by having the SPV, one official told FT after meetings within European Commission. The United States will be aggressive and unwavering in enforcing the sanctions on Iran and wont let those sanctions be evaded by the European Union or anyone else, U.S. national security advisor John Bolton said after the EU announced it would be working to create such vehicle. Related: Can U.S. Gas Demand Keep Up With Surging Production? U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also criticized the EU plan for continuing transactions with Iran, describing it as one of the most counterproductive measures imaginable for regional global peace and security. The EU-Iran payment mechanism should be legally in place by November 4, when the U.S. sanctions on Iran return, three EU diplomats told Reuters last week, but added that the mechanism wont be operational until early in 2019. Still, the biggest European companiesnot only in oil and gas but in other industriesare not taking any chances and are withdrawing from Iran due to the U.S. sanctions. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Iraq should be exempted from U.S. sanctions against Iran because of the heavy reliance of the former on the latter for gas and electricity supplies, a senior Iraqi official told a Kuwaiti newspaper, as quoted by news agency Mehr. "Iraq is connected to Iran given the longest common borders, high trade volume between the two countries, as well as the electric power for the gas stations," Ali Abdul Karim al-Mousawi, Director General of the Iraqi Gas Company, a state entity, said. Earlier this month, S&P Global Platts reported that Iraq was lobbying for a sanctions exemption with Washington since Iranian electricity and gas used in electricity generation accounted for as much as a third of Iraqs electricity distribution. This amounts to some 5,000 MW of power produced at plants fed Iranian natural gas as well as 1,000 MW in electricity imports. The electricity issue is a vital one for Iraq: the summer protests in southern Iraq were in part caused by the unreliability of power supplies and frequent outages. The United States, according to sources close to the talks with Iraq, has insisted on it making a more visible effort to reduce its reliance on Iranian gas and power, offering alternatives involving U.S. companies. These include, S&P Global Platts, reports, a multibillion-dollar GE project for the upgrade and expansion of a power plant as well as another one of the same sizeinvolving oil, gas, and infrastructurecurrently negotiated by Exxon. A third project, to involve Orion Gas Processors, would focus on flared gas capturing at an oil field. How things will turn out remains to be seen. Iraq has yet to get a new government after the May elections, as the two biggest winners of the elections are an Iranian-backed formation and a populist party headed by radical Islamist Moqtada al-Sadr. Five months after the elections, the divided parliament has approved 14 out of 22 ministerial nominations made by PM designate Adel Abdul Mahdi. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Irans president Hassan Rouhani has replaced several senior economic officials a week before U.S. sanctions against Tehran come into effect, Sputnik reports, citing a statement by Rouhani from Sunday. As part of the reshuffle, economist Farhad Dejpasand will take the helm of the Ministry if Economics and Finance and will work with a new team to find ways to weather the effect of the sanctions, which prompted the International Monetary Fund to revise down its outlook for Iran for this year from a 4-percent GDP expansion to a 1.5-percent contraction. For 2019, the IMF has forecast even deeper recession of up to 3.6 percent, versus an earlier estimate for growth of 4 percent in 2019 as well. Meanwhile, Tehran officials remain relatively upbeat: the countrys Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri said this weekend, as quoted by IRNA, that Washington will not be able to reduce Iranian crude oil exports to below 1 million bpd. During the past months [before US sanctions threat], Iran was exporting 2.5 million barrels of oil per day, the VP said. now maybe we are exporting a few thousand barrels less, but we have always been determined that our oil exports should not become less than one million barrels per day. Jahangiris comments suggest Tehran has been preparing for a certain reduction in exports and higher oil pricesdespite the recent slip on global economic growth concernswill help it mitigate the effect of the sanctions. The governments efforts, however, face an internal division, as hardliners insist on greater self-sufficiency in the face of sanctions while more moderate factions are for greater cooperation with the countries who have opposed the sanctions, including the European Union, Russia, and China. Rouhani himself has urged all factions to work together to deal with the sanctions, but he is firmly in the moderates camp, urging for closer trade contracts with allies. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: 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. 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. FILE PHOTO: (L-R) Former Customs commissioners Nicanor Faeldon and Isidro Lapena BACOLOD CITY, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte came to the defense of former Customs Commissioners Isidro Lapena and Nicanor Faeldon amid the growing controversy inside the Bureau of Customs (BOC). On Saturday (October 27), the President argued that the two officials, who were both military men, are not corrupt but were just tricked by somebody inside the agency. Hindi corrupt yan. Hindi ko kunin yan kung corrupt. Sigurado ako. Nalusotan lang talaga kasi hindi nila kaya kasi insider eh. Kinain sila ng sistema, the President said. The President explained that the two officials have been of big help in the governments campaign against corruption and that he continues to trust their integrity. Because Faeldon was the one who gave me the tip that there is a cigarette manufacturer who was producing fake stamps. Galing yun kay Faeldon ang kaya maniwala na si Faeldon corrupt? Bakit ba niya sinumbong? Di sinolo na lang sana niya. And so with Lapena because he was my police chief for the longest time. Nalusutan lang talaga, he maintained. Faeldon in August resigned from the BOC amid the controversy of the P6.8 billion worth of shabu shipment from China that slipped past Customs checking. Lapena, meanwhile, was transferred to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) as Director General amid the P11 billion worth of shabu shipment contained inside four magnetic lifters that sneaked in the BOC. The President reiterated his reasons for appointing military men into key positions in the government. Unlike civilians who he said whines more than obeying, military men are trained to obey first and not to complain. Sabi ko sa kanila, Hindi ako g*** na Presidente na mag-utos sa inyo ng instruction to follow kung illegal yan. Abogado ako. Huwag ka nang magtanong, the President said. Marje Pelayo (with reports from Rosalie Coz) The post Duterte on Lapena, Faeldon amid Customs mess: Nalusutan lang talaga appeared first on UNTV News. PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to temporarily take over the Bureau of Customs (BOC) amid a scandal after two huge shipments of illegal drugs slipped past the PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to temporarily take over the Bureau of Customs (BOC) amid a scandal after two huge shipments of illegal drugs slipped past the agency through the port of Manila. But there is no presidential document yet that will provide guidelines for the deployment of military personnel to the agency. Duterte made the directive Sunday, October 28, just three days after he replaced former Customs chief Isidro Lapena with former military chief Rey Leonardo Guerrero. He said in a speech in Davao City Sunday that he was forced to take a drastic move amid the "dirty games" being played at the BOC. Duterte cited "a state of lawlessness" that he declared following a deadly 2016 bombing to justify putting the military in control of the customs bureau. Under a temporary setup, military personnel would be tasked to inspect and clear container vans in Manila and other Philippine ports. Some will be trained to operate X-ray machines used in screening cargos. Duterte also said Sunday that the BOC personnel will be put on a "floating status" and required to conduct their work in a gymnasium in the presidential palace complex. "Almost all of them there have been, in one way or the other, been charged of corruption. Lahat sila may kaso (All of them have cases). And yet, we cannot just move on because you want to be lawfully correct. So dahan-dahan lang tayo (We have to take it slowly)," he said. He asked Guerrero to deploy some soldiers with technical expertise to the Customs bureau. "They (Customs personnel) will be replaced, all of them, by military men. It will be a takeover of the Armed Forces in the matter of operating in the meantime, while we are sorting out how to effectively meet the challenges of corruption in this country," he said. "There was really a continuous play of corruption in the lower echelons of the Customs bureau. You put any other pati ako (even me), and even if I will be there at the helm of the Bureau of Customs, papalusutan, lusot talaga 'yan (smuggled products will really slip past). They will undercut you because of money)," he added. Story continues The BOC, which collects import duties and taxes for the Department of Finance, has more than 3,000 officials, customs police and employees nationwide. Its former chief, Lapena, was removed after he was heavily criticized over the multibillion-peso worth of smuggled shabu that slipped past the country's ports. Lapena's predecessor, Nicanor Faeldon, was also reassigned as the new director of the Bureau of Corrections, following the illegal entry of P6.4 billion worth of shabu that was smuggled in May 2017. Lapena and Faeldon are also former uniformed men who are currently occupying civilian posts in the Duterte administration. Duterte defended Lapena and Faeldon, maintaining that the lower-ranking officials of the BOC are the ones to be blamed over the continuing irregularities in the bureau. Lapena and Faeldon also both denied any involvement in the drug shipments but pledged to cooperate in congressional inquiries. To rid the BOC of illicit activities, Duterte said the Custom's police would also be relieved from post. But Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo told Palace reporters on Monday, October 29, that "the designation of the personnel from the AFP is only temporary." Panelo's remarks came after Duterte's order was met with legal challenges. Section 3, Article 2 of the 1987 Constitution states that "civilian authority is, at all times, supreme over the military." Section 5(4), Article 16 of the Constitution further provides that "no member of the armed forces in the active service shall, at any time, be appointed or designated in any capacity to a civilian position in the government, including government-owned or -controlled corporations or any subsidiaries." Panelo justified Duterte's latest move, noting that the President is vested by the Constitution with the authority to give orders to the military when he "deems it fit." He stressed that Duterte, as the country's chief executive, needs to take appropriate actions if any violation is committed by any offices like the Customs bureau, which is considered a "corrupt-ridden" agency. "The Constitution provides that the President is the head of government, the head of state, and the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Now, the Constitution also provides that he has control over all executive offices, and BOC is one of them," Panelo said. "Now, with respect to being commander-in-chief, has is authorized, under the law, to direct the movements of the members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and in any manner that he deems it fit," he added. Under Section 18, Article 7 of the Constitution, the President, "whenever it becomes necessary, he may call out such armed forces to prevent or suppress lawless violence, invasion or rebellion." Panelo said the President is expected to release "shortly" a presidential document that will provide guidelines for the military deployment. He assured that for now, the operations at the Customs bureau would be unimpeded. "There is no lull or stoppage of the service provided by the BOC. There will be a continuity of services rendered by them," Panelo said. "There will be continuity in the sense that these people (relieved BOC personnel) will come in to assist them first, and then eventually, they (military personnel) will be taking over the respective positions that these people have right now," he added. Panelo said Duterte was also confident that Guerrero, as the Customs chief, would pick AFP personnel with "expertise." "The President will give the new head all the leeway in deciding how he would enlist members of the AFP to help him," he said. "Certainly, he would be choosing people with expertise, and as we all know, the members of the armed forces are not limited to military work. There are a lot of them who have taken graduate schools, scholarships with respect to the technical know-how. And certainly, they will also be undergoing training to be competent in the field that they would be assigned to," he added. Asked as to when the military takeover of BOC will end, Panelo said, "until the President is satisfied that everything is in order at that bureau." (With AP/SunStar Philippines) TO SERVE as the centerpiece for the 500th celebration of Christianity in Cebu, the Patria de Cebu will be transformed into an integrated and shopping center, office and hotel structure with a Roman-inspired TO SERVE as the centerpiece for the 500th celebration of Christianity in Cebu, the Patria de Cebu will be transformed into an integrated and shopping center, office and hotel structure with a Roman-inspired central plaza. The Archdiocese of Cebu and Cebu Landmasters Inc., (CLI) signed an agreement on Monday, Oct. 29, to develop the 6,670-square-meter property with the promise of preserving and enhancing the cultural heritage of downtown Cebu. The Patria de Cebu was built in 1954. It once served as a convent for nuns, a youth recreation center and a budget-friendly hostel for city visitors. This will enliven this part of the city. This is part of the revitalization effort of the city and also of the church, for as long as you will be able to preserve the heritage value that is so rich in this area, CLI chief executive officer Jose Soberano III said. CLI is investing about P1 billion for the development and the 40-year lease of the property. On the initial signing, theres a P50-million advance rental. This is okay for Landmasters because this is also our way of extending help to the church. Its a per square meter charge on a monthly basis that will escalate every two years, with a major escalation on the 10th for the rest of the 40 years, Soberano explained. Its not too much on what we can get out of this financially, but its in the sense of pride. The structure will be demolished, Soberano said, but there will a landmark to establish the presence of the history that will be retained. The project will include a department store, supermarket, a plaza and a hotel with two towers--one is six stories and the other will be 14 stories high. He stressed that the establishments that will be available in the area will be family-oriented to complement the nearby religious and historical structures. There are certain restrictions. We cannot just have a beer house or girly joints that might be there. It has to be family-oriented and we will make sure that it will be upheld all throughout the 40 years, he said. Story continues The target completion of the plaza portion of the project is set on April or March 2021. The Catholic Church will mark its Jubilee Year in 2021, the fifth centenary or 500th anniversary of the arrival of Christianity in the Philippines. History has it that Christianity was brought to the shores of Cebu in 1521. The idea eventually is the roadway in between the Cathedral and Patria may have to be sealed off and will be only for pedestrian use. So you can see a better accessibility from the area for the churchgoers to take advantage of the facilities there in Patria de Cebu, he said. Archbishop Jose Palma said the project will pave the way for a harmonious development around the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral and Basilica Minore del Sto. Nino. There will be development that will bring about consistency of cultural heritage as well as preserving both the beauty, the ambiance, the religiosity and the culture of the churchs property, Palma said. A top Palestinian body authorised Monday the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) to suspend recognition of Israel and stop security coordination with the Jewish state. The rare meeting of the Palestinian Central Council (PCC), a body of the PLO, in the city of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank said the suspensions should be in place until Israel recognised the Palestinian state. Israeli and Palestinian security forces work closely together throughout the West Bank and any suspension would increase fears of an uptick in violence. The body made similar calls at its last meeting in January and in 2015, but the decision was ultimately not implemented by the PLO's executive committee and president Mahmud Abbas. A statement at the closure of the two-day meeting said that in light of Israel's "denial" of its obligations under agreements signed with the Palestinians, the PCC authorised the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority to "end their obligations... towards their agreements with the occupation authorities (Israel)." This included, the statement said, suspending recognition of the state of Israel until it recognises the state of Palestine with east Jerusalem as its capital, as well as halting security coordination in all forms. Speaking Sunday, Abbas again vowed to block any peace plan led by US President Donald Trump. Abbas compared the expected Trump peace plan 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 is passed, this deal will not pass," he said. The US Commerce Department on Monday targeted a Chinese tech company with restrictions to cut off access to US technology, saying the firm could harm US security. President Donald Trump has painted China as an economic threat to the United States and American companies and based his aggressive tariff strategy on the goal of preventing the country from becoming dominant in key technology sectors. The new restrictions mean US firms will need special approval to export products intended for use by state-owned Fujian Jinhua Integrated Circuit Company, Ltd., according to a statement. The firm is nearing completion of substantial production capacity for dynamic random access memory (DRAM) integrated circuits, likely to be based on US-technology. However, that production "threatens the long term economic viability of US suppliers of these essential components of US military systems," the Commerce Department said. "When a foreign company engages in activity contrary to our national security interests, we will take strong action to protect our national security," Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said in a statement. He said the export restrictions would limit Jinhua's "ability to threaten the supply chain for essential components in our military systems." China established Jinhua in February 2016 in a bid to make its own home-produced chips, with the firm investing 37 billion yuan ($5.6 billion) that year to build a production line. Semiconductors are among China's biggest imports, rivaling oil, and have become a stark reminder of its dependence on US technology. Earlier this year, Washington banned Chinese telecom and smartphone giant ZTE from purchasing crucial US components for seven years, threatening its survival, as punishment for breaking US export controls. In a politically charged settlement, Washington then allowed ZTE to resume imports under tough conditions. Bangkok, 29 October 2018 Guests desiring local cultural experiences while travelling will find spending time at local art galleries and museums enjoyable. With hotels located near popular attractions of cultural interest, ONYX Hospitality Group invites artists and art lovers to visit Hong Kong, Bangkok and Phuket and take in all the creative and artistic highlights of each of these destinations. Hong Kong Besides being a great destination for shopping and blessing trips, Hong Kong is also home to a wide range of art and cultural offerings. Travellers should include a visit to Tai Kwun, Hong Kongs latest centre for heritage and arts located in the heart of the Central district. Asa former Central Police Station compound, Tai Kwun is a massive revitalised heritage project offering an enjoyable experience in Hong Kongs historical and cultural milestones through interactive tours, educational programmes, contemporary performance arts and thematic exhibitions. With its unique architectural style, Tai Kwun is a fascinating place to wander around, with visitors immersed in arts and culture and snapping cool hipster photos. After a day of inspirational insights, guests can recharge and relax at OZO Wesley Hong Kong, a hotel which is all about sleep, connectivity and exploration. Located just a short ride from Tai Kwun, OZO Wesley Hong Kong is an ideal base for Hong Kong explorers with its prime location near Wan Chai MRT station, providing an enhanced sleep experience, smart connectivity for personal devices, local exploration tips from well-informed team members. Save the date to explore Tai Kwun, Hong Kongs latest arts and cultural centre, with OZO Wesley Hong Kong offering an advanced purchase offer with up to 15% off room rates with best rate guarantee. Nightly rates start at 734 HKD++. Get 10% off when booking at least 7 days in advance and receive an extra 5% off when booking 21 days in advance. The deal is available until 31 December 2018. For more information and reservations, please visit https://www.ozohotels.com/wesley-hongkong Bangkok Set in a charming heritage building in the heart of Bangkoks old town, Museum Siam takes history-minded travellers on a journey through Thai history displayed in a range of creative and contemporary exhibitions.. After four years of research and one year of renovations, Museum Siam was relaunched in late 2017 with a brand new permanent exhibition titled Decoding Thainess. Using innovative technology and unconventional storytelling methods, the exhibits 14 different zones explores all aspects of Thainess and its constant evolution from the past to the present.. After a day of fun immersed in Thainess, guests can hop on a tuk-tuk to return to Amari Watergate Bangkok and unwind by the pool or enjoy a wide range of dishes at Amaya Food Gallery, a signature restaurant inspired by the street food markets of Asia. Amari Watergate Bangkok invites guests to discover Thainess with a hot deal package, with nightly rates starting at 4,292 THB++, including a two-night stay in a Deluxe King Room together with 1,000 THB dining credit to experience the live cooking stations at Amaya Food Gallery and 25% off treatments at Breeze Spa. In addition, guests can take time to rest and relax, as the deal includes late check-out until 4:00pm. The package is available for stays until 31 December 2018. For more information and reservations, please contact Amari Watergate Bangkok on +66 2653 9000 or visit https://www.amari.com/watergate. Phuket Renowned for its beautiful tropical beach paradise and unique culinary specialities, Phuket is also a destination to consider for its diverse collection of street art and graffiti scattered across the old town. From Amari Phuket, guests can take a short ride to Phuket old town, where colourful Sino-Portuguese architecture is the true highlight. In between cafe visits and find hunting, travellers should look out for a series of vibrant graffiti and street art along the alleys of Krabi and Dibuk roads. Created under the artists strong intention to revive the city as a top tourist destination, this series of street artwork is an open-air art gallery that is approachable and comprehensible for all ages. More than just adding the fun for tourists, each artwork illustrates Phukets local way of life related to the area. After a day of arts immersion, travellers can retreat back to Amari Phuket for tasty delights and a favourite cocktail while soaking in the breathtaking sunset views of the ocean. Amari Phuket is now offering street art lovers the opportunity to enjoy more with the Phuket Super Saver package, with nightly rates starting at 4,980 THB++ for a minimum three nights stay in a Superior Ocean Facing Room, complimentary round-trip airport transfers, dinner at Rim Talay Restaurant, 20% off soothing treatments at Breeze Spa and a complimentary late check-out until 16:00. The package is available for stays until 31 July 2019. For more information and reservations, please contact Amari Phuket on +66 7634 0106-14 or visit https://www.amari.com/phuket. Laws on anvil to mend Kathmandu-state ties The federal government is preparing to enact necessary laws through ordinance soon in order to facilitate the works of provincial governments and to avert possible confrontation with them. Broadband 0.5 2 keV (left panel) and 0.5 7 keV (right panel) ACIS-S flux images centered on 3C 17. Image credit: Madrid et al., 2018. Using the Gemini Observatory and NASA's Chandra spacecraft, a team of astronomers has provided new information about the radio galaxy 3C 17 and its environment. The observations show that 3C 17 is the brightest member of a newly found galaxy cluster. The finding is reported in a paper published October 18 on arXiv.org. Radio galaxies emit huge amounts of radio waves from their central cores. Black holes at the center of these galaxies are accreting gas and dust, generating high-energy jets visible in radio wavelengths, which accelerate electrically charged particles to high velocities. Radio galaxies are observed to interact with their environment in often spectacular ways. For instance, in some of them, jets emanating from the central black hole are bent due to supersonic ram pressure of the intracluster medium. At a redshift of 0.22, 3C 17 (also designated PKS 003502) is a broad-line radio galaxy showcasing strong indications of interaction with its environment. Previous observations of this galaxy found that its radio morphology is dominated by a single-sided, dramatically curved jet. The remarkable morphology of 3C 17's radio jet, and several unclassified sources along the jet's path, motivated a group of astronomers led by Juan P. Madrid of Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) in Australia, to perform further studies of this galaxy. As part of their research, the team conducted observations of 3C 17 using the Gemini Multi Object Spectrograph (GMOS) of the Gemini Observatory, and analyzed observational data of this galaxy provided by NASA's Chandra X-ray spacecraft. "An optical and X-ray study of 3C 17 and its environment was carried out using Gemini and Chandra data," the researchers wrote in the paper. The observations allowed Madrid's team to identify a previously uncatalogued cluster of galaxies at a redshift of 0.22, with a projected virial radius of about 1.2 million light years, and a velocity dispersion of around 821 km/s. They found that 3C 17 belongs to this cluster and that with an absolute magnitude of 22.45 it is the brightest cluster member. Furthermore, the study also revealed that 3C 17 is dominated by broad emission lines. "Its surface brightness profile is best fit with a double component model characteristic of BCGs [brightest cluster galaxies]," the paper reads. Moreover, based on the analysis of Chandra data, the scientists uncovered the presence of extended soft X-ray emission surrounding 3C 17. They assume that this emission most likely has its origin in the hot gas of the intergalactic medium. In concluding remarks, the authors of the paper say that 3C 17's membership in a galaxy cluster explains its radio morphology. They noted that the jet of this galaxy is sharply curved as it propagates through a dense intracluster medium. The researchers added that bent-tail radio galaxies like 3C 17 could be used by astronomers as signposts for distant galaxy clusters in wide-field radio-continuum surveys to be conducted in the future. Explore further Researchers investigate the peculiar radio source IC 1531 More information: Juan P. Madrid et al. 3C 17: The BCG of a galaxy cluster at z=0.22. arXiv:1810.08274 [astro-ph.GA]. Juan P. Madrid et al. 3C 17: The BCG of a galaxy cluster at z=0.22. arXiv:1810.08274 [astro-ph.GA]. arxiv.org/abs/1810.08274 2018 Science X Network Walmart workers and supporters strike in Chicago in 2014. As union influence has declined, informal alt-labor organizations like OUR Walmart and Jobs With Justice have emerged as a complement to traditional labor action. Credit: shutterstock.com Alt-labor describes the informal coalition of organizations that is pushing to advance workers' rights in the wake of decreased union membership. "Traditional forms of union representation have declined to the point where advocates inside and outside the labor movement are searching for new strategies that work with today's economy and workforce," said Thomas Kochan, a professor at MIT Sloan and faculty director of the school's Good Companies, Good Jobs initiative. "Most of these new forms are working outside of what is considered traditional collective bargaining, and they are working hard to not get defined as a union." Kochan was quick to express dissatisfaction with the term "alt-labor," which suggests efforts beside, or distinct from, the traditional labor movement. In fact, the movements have overlapping goals, and long-standing unions often support alt-labor organizations. But terminology aside, the need for something like alt-labor is widely recognized. Andy Stern, the former president of the Service Employees International Union, argued in 2004 that, "we aren't going to rebuild the labor movement to what it wasthat workforce and economy no longer exist." Instead, he said, "we need to transform unions." Why now? The emergence of alt-labor signals the growing need to understand, and, ultimately, put in place protections for, the 21st-century workforce. In the U.S., unions represented 30 percent or more of employed workers from the end of World War II through the 1950s; in 1979, union membership constituted 25 percent of workers. As of 2017, 10.7 percent of workers were in unions, with membership at 6.5 percent in the private sector. There are several reasons for this decline, but uniting them all is the fact that the foundations of labor law no longer fit the world of today's employment. A frequently unachievable majority vote is needed to establish unions; management has gotten more sophisticated in its resistance to the unionization process; and the issues that concern employees "have changed in ways that don't conform to the scope of bargaining anticipated or protected under the National Labor Relations Act," Kochan said. This law, which passed in 1935, mandates bargaining with unions only on issues of wages, hours, and working conditions. Employees today, of course, are invested in the protection of wages, hours, and working conditions, but they are also deeply concerned about issues such as promotion opportunities and technology taking their jobs. By law, employers do not need to deal with unions on these concerns. Moreover, the growing ranks of freelancers and independent contractors are excluded from coverage of labor law entirely. Such outdated constraints have spurred the growth of alt-labor. New strategies for a new labor movement In 2001, a group of Florida agricultural pickers known as the Coalition of Immokalee Workers launched a boycott of Taco Bell, in an effort to secure better pay and working conditions for the farmworkers who pick the Florida tomatoes sold to the restaurant chain. Four years after the boycott began, Taco Bell's parent company agreed to the Workers' demands. This strategy of heavily publicized campaigning and secondary boycott would have been impossible for traditional unions under the National Labor Relations Act. To begin, the agricultural sector is exempt from coverage under the act. But, beyond that, boycotts that extend up or down the supply chain are impermissible, and retailers have no obligation to negotiate with the workers of their suppliers. "Taco Bell would have said, 'Hey, talk to the farmer'," Kochan explained. Alt-labor's mobilization outside the legal structure of the National Labor Relations Act gives it access to several novel tools in the workers' rights movement. Kochan highlighted three examples demonstrating how alt-labor is capitalizing on this blank canvas. Coworker.org provides a platform on which employees can launch and join campaigns to improve workplace conditions. "They're getting real results from employers," Kochan said, pointing to efforts by Starbucks workers to exert more control over their schedules. He also noted OUR Walmart, which uses machine learning technology to answer employees' questions about workplace rights. Restaurant Opportunities Centers United, among other tactics, publicly commends and promotes restaurants that practice fair labor management practices. Though all of these approaches hold promise, Kochan recognized one major shortcoming: a lack of durability. "This unfortunately doesn't produce an organization that can go back to McDonald's or Amazon and say, for instance, 'All right, we got you to increase wages last time. Now it's time to bargain for better healthcare benefits.'" The question of sustainability Questions about long-term influence of alt-labor advocacy are made more pressing by the ongoing and unsolved challenge of revenue collection. "Unions have a standard model in which people pay union dues," Kochan said. "None of the emerging forms of worker voice have figured out a sustainable business model." Though Coworker.org has been successful in pushing for workplace improvements, for instance, it doesn't charge for its services; philanthropic groups such as the New Venture Fund support its work. "Most rely on a combination of support from foundations and some fees for services here and there," Kochan said. Recruiting membership, too, is an uncertain prospect. Unions maintain an infrastructure of employees who are paid to support and represent their workers. Alt-labor organizations rely largely on the generosity of volunteers who recruit their coworkers. Not only must volunteers give their time without compensation, but they do so at the risk of retaliation from their employers. The need for proactive management Though uncertainties riddle the practical work of alt-labor groups, they are responding to a deep and important current of dissatisfaction among workers who experience a gap between the voice that they expect to have at their jobs and the voice they feel that they have. "Management had better start to listen to the workforce," Kochan said. "And it better recognize that if it doesn't start to look at more sensible forms of labor law, of labor policy, then it will be in a reactive position when the public does finally stand up and say enough is enough." Such a public trial of today's labor law may not be in the near future, and nor will it be a guarantee of progress, but there are hints of a growing awareness around the need to revisit labor concerns. Kochan pointed to the #MeToo movement. Though not often framed as a labor question, many of the experiences relayed involve people who feared retaliation if they raised concerns of sexual harassment and assault in work-related settings. Business can either resist these changes and risk intensifying an eventual confrontation with employees, or "business can respond in a proactive and reasonable way and start looking at what kind of labor law changes and what labor policies and practices they should be supportive of," Kochan said. "This approach could help defuse the high levels of frustration and the potential for an explosive response." Explore further Labor unions help employees take more paid maternity leave These radar images of near-Earth asteroid 3200 Phaethon were generated by astronomers at the National Science Foundation's Arecibo Observatory on Dec. 17, 2017. Observations of Phaethon were conducted at Arecibo from Dec.15 through 19, 2017. At time of closest approach on Dec. 16 at 3 p.m. PST (6 p.m. EST, 11 p.m. UTC) the asteroid was about 6.4 million miles (10.3 million kilometers) away, or about 27 times the distance from Earth to the moon. The encounter is the closest the object will come to Earth until 2093. The Arecibo Planetary Radar Program is funded by NASA's Near-Earth Object Observations Program through a grant to Universities Space Research Association (USRA), from the Near-Earth Object Observations program. The Arecibo Observatory is a facility of the National Science Foundation operated under cooperative agreement by SRI International, USRA, and Universidad Metropolitana. Credit: Arecibo Observatory Polarimetric investigation of a near-Earth asteroid Phaethon was carried out in December 2017 on its closest approach to the Earth. The study was conducted in collaboration with scientists from the Ussuriysk Astrophysical Observatory and the Astronomical Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences. The article has been published in the scientific journal Astronomy and Astrophysics. Ph.D. students Ekaterina Chornaya, Anton Kochergin and graduated student Alexey Matkin, led by Evgenij Zubko, the leading researcher at the Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU) School of Natural Sciences, studied asteroid 3200 Phaeton using the polarimetric method. They measured the degree of linear polarization of the sunlight scattered from the asteroid in collaboration with their colleagues from the Ussuriysk Astrophysical Observatory and the Astronomical Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences. "Using very simple and relatively inexpensive tools, we have achieved results comparable with those obtained with much bigger instruments. We studied Phaethon with a small telescope whose aperture (a primary mirror diameter) is only 22 cm. However, we obtained results of quite good quality. Surprisingly, our results appear to be more accurate than those measured by some of our colleagues with much more powerful telescopes. This is due to our non-standard solution: We decided to avoid any photometric filters except for the polarimeter," said Evgenij Zubko. The scientist emphasized that Phaethon is of high interest for astronomers for several reasons. First, it is a near-Earth object, which makes it possible to study Phaeton using radar and other methods. Second, the asteroid has a quite elongated orbit and approaches the sun at one-sixth of an AU. For that reason, it is heated to 750-1000 Kelvin (476726 Celsius) every 1.5 years. That's why it was named after Phaeton, the hero of the Greek myth, the son of Helios (god of the sun). The FEFU astrophysicists have shown that the Umov effect can be applied to the study of asteroids, just as it is to studies of comets. This physical law was discovered in 1905 by the Russian physicist Nikolai Umov. The crux of it is that there is an inverse correlation between the reflectivity of the surface and the degree of linear polarization of the sunlight scattered by it. In other words, the brighter is an object, the lower polarization it produces. Since the Umov law was originally developed to study the surfaces of relatively large objects such as the moon, it is also applicable to comets and asteroids. At the same time, the Umov law requires a very specific geometry of observation of the object that is difficult to achieve in practice for most of these small bodies. With Phaeton, it is possible due to its close encounters with the Earth. "The point is that the favorable conditions for observation of Phaethon happen every few years, whereas the best observational circumstances occur only few times per century," says Evgenij Zubko. "In order to accurately retrieve the Umov law in asteroids, the investigation of several asteroids is needed. It is necessary to conduct an investigation of at least one more asteroid, preferably with substantially different polarization characteristics, in order to approximately estimate the Umov effect for asteroids," the scientist said. According to the FEFU Ph.D.-student Ekaterina Chornaya, their list contains about 10 potential objects for study during the next two years and a subsequent comparison of their characteristics with Phaeton. When Phaethon was approaching the Earth in December 2017, it was observed by at least four groups of scientists in different parts of the globe. The results of measurements of the linear polarization of the sunlight reflected by the asteroid vary considerably from one group to another. This is noteworthy. Typically, observations of asteroids carried out by different teams tend to converge to nearly the same result. "A possible explanation is that the surface of the asteroid is highly heterogeneous: It may consist of different types of materials and/or has different microphysical properties of regolith. We can get such dispersion of the results because of the asteroid rotates fairly quickly and it can be observed from all sides during one night, " explains Evgenij Zubko, who made a preliminary report on the results of the Phaeton polarimetric study at The Ninth Moscow solar system Symposium 9M-S3. Explore further The Umov Effectspace dust clouds and the mysteries of the universe Provided by Far Eastern Federal University In mice, a pheromone in juvenile tears causes females to reject male sexual advances. Credit: Kazushige Touhara CC-BY-SA. A substance in young mouse tears makes female mice more likely to reject male sexual advances. This research is part of ongoing efforts at the University of Tokyo to understand how animals communicate using chemicals called pheromones. Direct connections between human and mouse behavior cannot be made because pheromones are highly species-specific. "If humans can detect anything in tears, we won't use the same pheromone signal or receptor as mice. But we are investigating if species share the basic neurocircuitry of how the brain processes an olfactory signal to affect behavior," said Professor Kazushige Touhara, leader of the research project. Pheromone population control Researchers hope to use the tear pheromone as a natural mouse birth control to reduce mouse populations in the future. "It is unlikely that other animals would be affected because pheromones are so species specific. The sex-rejecting behavior is an innate instinct, so it's also unlikely that the mice will learn to change their behavior or ignore the artificial pheromone," said Touhara. Only juvenile mice aged one to three weeks produce the pheromone, called exocrine gland-secreting peptide 22 (ESP22). ESP22 is not airborne and lacks a noticeable odor, but the pheromone spreads around the territory as mothers and young mice wipe tears while grooming. Both mothers and virgin female mice reject male sexual advances after exposure to ESP22. Less female interest in sex would theoretically benefit juvenile mice by reducing the number of younger siblings competing for resources. "ESP22 is difficult to artificially synthesize, so we want to find a smaller portion of the pheromone molecule that could be added to mouse drinking water. This could prevent mice breeding in areas where they are pests," said Touhara. Specific receptors ESP1 is an adult male pheromone that Touhara's research group has previously studied for its role in enhancing female acceptance of sex. In this new study, researchers tracked how ESP22 and ESP1 are received and processed by the adult female mouse brain. Pheromone signals from young mice overrode the signals from adult males. Virgin female mice rejected male advances when they were exposed to the sex-rejecting ESP22 even after being exposed to the sex-accepting ESP1. Both sex-rejecting ESP22 and sex-accepting ESP1 pheromones are recognized by single, dedicated receptors in the nose. Specific neurons send the different pheromone signals to the brain. The presence of similar but specific ESP1 and ESP22 receptors helps reveal how animals evolved the ability to detect and interpret pheromone signals. "The discovery of only one receptor for each pheromone shows us that single molecules can drastically affect animal behavior," said Touhara. Pheromones in the brain Pheromone signals are routed to the medial amygdala, a small group of neurons in the brain. "The medial amygdala is like a hub to receive and reroute pheromone signals," said Kentaro Ishii, a co-first author of the research paper and fifth-year doctoral student working with Touhara. ESP22 and ESP1 signals travel separately but in parallel until reaching the medial amygdala. After that point, the pheromones affect different neurocircuitry in the brain to create different behaviors. Ongoing research in the laboratory will explore pheromone-related neurocircuitry beyond the medial amygdala hub. "The medial amygdala is still very mysterious, so we are excited to discover more details about how pheromone signals are sorted and routed after they are received there," said Ishii. "Additionally, we want to understand the complexity of how the brain computes and sorts olfactory signals in a natural environment, where animals are simultaneously exposed to many different pheromones and other chemical signals all the time," said Ishii. More information: Takuya Osakada et al, Sexual rejection via a vomeronasal receptor-triggered limbic circuit, Nature Communications (2018). Journal information: Nature Communications Takuya Osakada et al, Sexual rejection via a vomeronasal receptor-triggered limbic circuit,(2018). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-07003-5 Invasive sea lampreys, subject of research at Michigan State University. Credit: Daymon J. Hartley In all animals, including humans, smellthe oldest of the five sensesplays a predominant role in many behaviors essential for survival and reproduction. It has been known since ancient times that animals react to odours. Yet researchers are just beginning to elucidate the neural pathways and mechanisms responsible for odour-induced behavior. . A first step was made by showing the existence of a neural pathway connecting the olfactory and motor centers of the brain in invertebrates with the worm C. elegans and in vertebrates with the lamprey, a primitive, eel-like fish native to the Atlantic Ocean. In a new study published in PLoS Biology, scientists at Universite de Montreal, in Quebec, and the University of Windsor, in Ontario, show that an inhibitory circuit that releases the neurotransmitter GABA into the olfactory bulb strongly modulates behaviouralresponses to odours in lampreys. The study of these modulatory mechanisms allowed the researchers to discover a new pathway linking together olfactory and motor centers in the brain. This discovery demonstrates that odourscan activate locomotor centers via two distinct brain pathways," said lead author Gheylen Daghfous, a researcher in the laboratory of UdeM neuroscience associate professor Rejean Dubuc, also a professor at Universite du Quebec a Montreal. "This work shed snew light on the evolution of the olfactory systems in vertebrates." He added: "It is well-known that animals are attracted to odors, whether it be a dog tracking its prey or a shark attracted to blood. On the other hand, we are only beginning to understand how the brain uses odors to produce behavior. Our study revealed a new brain highway dedicated to transmitting smell information to the regions controlling movements." Funded by the Great Lakes Fishery Commission (GLFC), with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Natural Sciences Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the study is the result of a long-standing collaboration between Dubuc and Windsor's Barbara Zielinski. "Our purpose was to identify the neural circuitry linking olfaction to locomotion in lampreys," a parasitic type of fish that attach themselves to other fish and suck their blood, leaving a gaping wound, said Dubuc. "Lampreys invaded the Great Lakes decades ago and have decimated large populations of fish, with major commercial impact. The GLFC is looking for new means to control lamprey populations, and attracting them using olfactory stimuli is one such avenue." Explore further Fish courtship pheromone uses the brain's smell pathway More information: Gheylen Daghfous et al, GABAergic modulation of olfactomotor transmission in lampreys, PLOS Biology (2018). Journal information: PLoS Biology Gheylen Daghfous et al, GABAergic modulation of olfactomotor transmission in lampreys,(2018). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2005512 Secondary metabolites isolated from the 50 percent CH3OH/CH2Cl2 extract of the leaves of A. longiflorum, an endangered tropical plant species. Credit: Kanazawa University A Japan-based research team led by Kanazawa University has isolated 17 secondary metabolites, including three novel compounds from the valuable endangered tropical plant species Alangium longiflorum. A newly isolated compound, 8-hydroxytubulosine, showed growth inhibitory effects at submicromolar levels against several human tumor cell lines except for drug transporter-overexpressing cells. Compound 1 caused accumulation of sub-G1 cells with no effect on cell cycle progression, suggesting that this substance is an apoptosis inducer. It is well known that natural products are valuable resources for drug discovery and development. In particular, plant-derived natural products have greatly contributed to the area of cancer chemotherapeutics. Many antitumor drugs currently in clinical use, such as paclitaxel, vinca alkaloids (vinblastine and vincristine), podophyllotoxin analogues (etoposide and teniposide), and topotecan (camptothecin analog) are based on natural plants. According to a report, 83 percent of new chemical entities identified as anticancer agents from 1981 to 2014 were derived from natural products. In the late 1980s and 1990s, the Natural Products Branch (NPB) of the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI, Frederick, MD) supported the collection of about 80,000 plant samples from tropical areas in the Americas, Africa and Southeast Asia. Extracts from about 3,000 species displayed significant antiproliferative activities at a concentration of 20 g/mL and 70 percent of these active species originated from either rainforests or their adjacent areas. Despite the importance of rainforest plants for drug discovery, unfortunately these valuable regions are declining due to climate change, and industrial and economic development, resulting in an extinction crisis for many plant species. The rainforest plant Alangium longiflorum Merr. (Cornaceae) is threatened with extinction and is currently on the Red List of Threatened Species created by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). A crude organic extract from the leaves of A. longiflorum displayed broad cytotoxicity with more specific antiproliferative effects against the growth of leukemic cell lines in the NCI-60 human tumor cell line panel. A collaborative phytochemical and biological study on this extract as a resource of anticancer leads was conducted by a research group at Kanazawa University and the NPB of the NCI. Results A 50 percent CH 3 OH/CH 2 Cl 2 extract of the leaves of A. longiflorum (NCI-N33539) was fractionated with EtOAc and water to provide EtOAc- and water-soluble fractions. The EtOAc-soluble fraction was separated by a combination of various chromatography techniques to afford three new compounds, 8-hydroxytubulosine (1), 2'-O-trans-sinapoylisoalangiside (2), and a lupane-type triterpenoid (3), as well as 14 known compounds including 8 alangisides, 9-demethyltubulosine, ankorine, -tocopherylquinone, loganic acid, methyl pheophorbide a, and pheophytin a. The structures of all isolated compounds were characterized on the basis of extensive 1D and 2-D NMR, HRMS analyses, and comparison of the reported data in the case of known compounds. Selected compounds were primarily evaluated for their antiproliferative activities against five human tumor cell lines including lung carcinoma (A549), triple-negative breast cancer (MDA-MB-231), estrogen receptor-positive and HER2-negative breast cancer (MCF-7), as well as HeLa (cervical carcinoma)-derived (KB) and its multidrug-resistant (MDR) subline (KB-VIN). A new alkaloid 1 and the related known compound 9-demethyltubulosine exhibited significant antiproliferative activities at submicromolar levels against all chemosensitive cell lines, while the MDR cell line KB-VIN was resistant against 1 and 9-demethyltubulosine. The result from the NCI-60 panel screening also demonstrated that compound 1 showed broad spectrum antiproliferative activities at the submicromolar level against most tumor types derived from the breast, central nervous system, leukemia, melanoma, non-small cell lung, ovary, prostate, and renal cells except for the adriamycin-resistant ovarian tumor cell line showing the MDR phenotype (NCI/ADR-RES) and HCT-15, both of which express drug transporter(s). Flow cytometric analysis implied that compound 1 showed no significant effects on cell cycle progression in MDA-MB-231 cells, even at 10-fold the IC50 concentration, while sub-G1 cells accumulated dramatically after 48 h of treatment. These results indicated that compound 1 induced apoptosis in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Plants are a significant source of medicines and serve as a major resource of modern drugs to date. Surprisingly, around 90 percent of higher plants have still not been subjected to phytochemical investigation. Rainforests can supply rich and diverse plants that are expected to be valuable resources for the discovery of bioactive novel natural products with unique phytochemical properties as drug candidates. We will continue to work to identify novel bioactive natural products from rainforest plants through our collaboration with the NCI. Explore further Mitochondria targeting anti-tumor compound More information: Misa Takeuchi et al, Antiproliferative Alkaloids from Alangium longiflorum, an Endangered Tropical Plant Species, Journal of Natural Products (2018). Journal information: Journal of Natural Products Misa Takeuchi et al, Antiproliferative Alkaloids from Alangium longiflorum, an Endangered Tropical Plant Species,(2018). DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.8b00411 Pancreatic cancer cells deficient in the expression of the human gene known as Schlafen 11 and resistant to chemotherapy (left panels) were re-sensitized to chemotherapeutic treatment (middle and right panels) by inhibiting the expression of the transfer RNA known as tRNA-Leu-TAA through specially designed antisense oligonucleotides. Credit: Manqing Li, Michael David Lab, UC San Diego DNA-damaging agents, or "DDAs," make up the most widely used group of cancer drugs. Yet their therapeutic success has been curtailed by drug resistanceeither present in cancer cells from the disease onset or arising during treatment. Now, biologists at the University of California San Diego have discovered a new way of re-sensitizing drug-resistant human tumor cells to the potency of DDAs. UC San Diego Project Scientist Manqing Li, Professor Michael David and their colleagues describe on October 29 in Nature Structural and Molecular Biology how a human gene known as Schlafen 11 controls the sensitivity of tumor cells to DDAs. As such, their research may pave the way to new strategies to overcome chemotherapeutic drug resistance. In 1998, David Schwarz, working in UC San Diego Biological Sciences Professor Stephen Hedrick's lab, discovered the first Schlafen gene in mice. He named it for the German word for sleep because the gene's protein product can cause cells to stop dividing. In 2012 David and Li examined Schlafen 11, a human genetic counterpart of the original discovery, and uncovered its role in HIV replication. They found that the human Schlafen 11 gene encodes a protein that hinders the replication of HIV in infected human cells by blocking the synthesis of viral proteins without suppressing the host cell's overall ability to synthesize proteins. In the new follow-on study focusing on tumors, the researchers discovered a similar selective effect of Schlafen 11 on two "master controllers" of the DNA damage response: ATM and ATR, protein serine/threonine kinases known for their central roles in DNA damage repair. "We found that if you expose cells that have Schlafen 11to DNA damaging agents, the Schlafen 11 protein gets activated and suppresses the synthesis of ATM and ATRthat's essentially what kills the tumor cells," said David, a professor in the Biological Sciences Section of Molecular Biology and UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center. "In cells that do not express Schlafen 11, you do not get this downregulation of ATM/ATR and that essentially allows the tumor cells to survive." Probing deeper into the mechanisms of how Schlafen 11 works on a molecular level, the researchers found that the activated Schlafen 11 protein cleaves a specific subset of transfer RNAs, which feature an extra stem loop in their structures. These tRNAs are not of the classic "three-leaf clover"-type design, but instead have distinctive "four-leaf clover" designs, distinguishing marks that likely serve as target points for Schlafen 11. Among those affected are all transfer RNAs for the amino acids leucine and serine. One of these in particular, "tRNA-Leu-TAA," is of extremely low abundance in the cell, but nevertheless the corresponding codon is used with high frequency in the ATM and ATR genes. When this tRNA is destroyed by cleavage, ATM and ATR are among the most susceptible targets of protein synthesis inhibition by Schlafen 11. Further investigation revealed that most of the genes involved in DNA damage repair display a similar skewing of their transfer RNA use towards tRNA-Leu-TAA as HIV does. The researchers then developed a new technique to re-sensitize Schlafen 11-deficient tumor cells to drugs by directly targeting tRNA-Leu-TAA. This intervention can influence the entire DNA damage repair pathway including ATM and ATRrather than inhibiting the function of one specific component at a time. Such a strategy, they say, could have significant potential in clinical cancer treatment and addressing the challenges of drug resistance. Study coauthor Jean Wang, professor emeritus in UC San Diego's School of Medicine, says knowing how cancer cells escape death when their DNA is damaged will create new strategies to enhance cancer cell killing through chemotherapy treatment. "These results suggest two ways to enhance the killing of cancer cells by DNA-damaging drugs by adding 1) ATR inhibitors or 2) tRNA inhibitors," said Wang. "The paper is also of significance to the basic research on DNA damage response because it shows for the first time that regulation of tRNAs determines when a damaged cell will survive or die." In addition to relevance to DNA damage and cancer, David notes that the new results carry potential applications in immunology and virology since the fundamental mechanisms behind Schlafen 11 are also at play in anti-HIV processes and likely with other viruses. Explore further Discovery may shed light on why some HIV-positive patients have more virus Credit: CC0 Public Domain Less than 10 per cent of international students and backpackers in Australia recover unpaid wages, even when they are aware they are being underpaid. An overwhelming number of international students and backpackers in Australia are suffering wage theft in silence, a landmark study by UNSW Sydney and UTS has found. Fewer than one in 10 migrant workers took action to recover unpaid wages even though most know they are being underpaid, according to the report Wage Theft in Silence. "Our study confirms that Australia has a large, silent underclass of underpaid migrant workers," said senior law lecturer at UNSW, Bassina Farbenblum. "The scale of unclaimed wages is likely well over a billion dollars." The report draws on the first large-scale national survey of temporary migrant workers, with 4322 respondents from 107 countries working across all Australian states and territories. It is authored by Farbenblum and Laurie Berg, a senior law lecturer at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). Underpayments Migrant workers comprise up to 11 percent of the Australian labour market. The authors' previous report found most international students and backpackers are underpaid, with one in three earning about half the legal minimum wage. The new report paints a bleak picture for the few who try to recover their unpaid wages. The study reported that for every 100 underpaid migrant workers, only three went to the Fair Work Ombudsman. Of those, well over half recovered nothing. The authors conclude that for most migrant workers it is neither possible nor rational to try to claim their unpaid wages through the forums that currently exist. "The system is broken," said Berg. "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." "There is a culture of impunity for wage theft in Australia. Unscrupulous employers continue to exploit migrant workers because they know they won't complain," said Farbenblum. The study dispels the popular assumption that few migrant workers would consider coming forward. In fact, though few had actually taken action, a majority (54 percent) were open to trying to claim unpaid wages. The study identified the key barriers that prevented them from coming forward. "The findings are deeply troubling but give cause for optimism, because they reveal a path forward," said Berg. "The study indicates that some of the most significant barriers to wage recovery can be practically addressed." Visa fears The most cited barriers were not knowing what to do and concerns about the amount of effort involved. However, more than a quarter said they would not speak up because of fears of losing their visa. Migrant workers' reluctance to come forward was not explained by poor English or foreign culture. In fact, Asian migrants were most willing to come forward. The report concludes that if processes and support services are improved, and immigration safeguards strengthened, more migrant workers would report and seek redress for wage theft in the future. The authors observe that if Australia is to position itself as the destination of choice for international students and backpackers, reforms must be urgently implemented to prevent wage theft and enable migrant workers to report and recover unpaid wages. They urge the government, the education sector and business to act swiftly to implement the report's recommendations. Explore further Survey to expose exploitation of temporary workers More information: The report is available at the Migrant Worker Justice Initiative (www.mwji.org) The report is available at the Migrant Worker Justice Initiative (www.mwji.org) For further information on a new initiative by the education sector to address wage theft see www.mwji.org/international-students-in-australia A study conducted in Brazil shows that flour made from roasted jackfruit seeds can replace cocoa powder in a mixture of milk and coffee used to make cappuccino. Credit: Fernanda Papa Spada According to a new study, roasted jackfruit seeds can replace between 50 percent and 75 percent of the cocoa that is blended with milk and coffee to make cappuccino without impairing flavor or aroma. "Flour made from roasted jackfruit seeds naturally releases a mild chocolate aroma," said food scientist Fernanda Papa Spada , a recipient of a scholarship, from Sao Paulo Research FoundationFAPESP, who performed the study at the University of Sao Paulo's Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture (ESALQ-USP) in Brazil. Her supervisor was Solange Guidolin Canniatti-Brazaca, a professor at the same institution in the Department of Agroindustry, Food and Nutrition. The search for a cocoa substitute was motivated by the rise in international demand for cocoa, Spada said. This rise in turn is due to the growing demand for chocolate without a corresponding growth in supply, as cocoa-producing countries fail to boost their output. Many Chinese and Indian consumers can afford chocolate for the first time. The world cocoa production has not kept up, and the commodity is increasingly scarce as a result. According to the International Cocoa Organization, 4.568 million metric tons of cocoa beans were processed in the 2017-18 crop year. This was almost the same as the total world production (4.645 million mt). The leading producer in 2017-18 was Ivory Coast, which accounted for approximately 40 percent of the total, followed by Ghana, Indonesia, Ecuador, Cameroon, Nigeria and Brazil. Brazilian law requires milk chocolate drinks and other chocolate preparations to contain at least 25 percent cocoa powder in their formulation. Even premium products typically contain less than 30 percent cocoa powder, the exceptions being dark and semi-dark chocolate (35 percent). Chocolate powder contains 30 percent-50 percent cocoa powder and cocoa butter. Dairy ingredients such as dried milk, butter, sugar and flavoring make up the rest. Canniatti-Brazaca stressed that the rising demand for cocoa and stagnant supply pose major challenges for the food industry, which is, therefore, investing heavily in the search for new cocoa substitutes for use in chocolate and chocolate products. At ESALQ-USP, jackfruit seeds were first identified as a chocolate-flavored ingredient in a project conducted between 2010 and 2013 by Canniatti-Brazaca's group and Miriam Coelho de Souza, a researcher at Piracicaba Methodist University (UNIMEP) in Sao Paulo State. "The findings showed that the seeds of the hard jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus), among other varieties analyzed, released intense chocolate-like aromas," Canniatti-Brazaca said. Spada recalled that the discovery was accidental and occurred during a class led by Souza. "They were working on the development of food products based on waste left over from fruit processing," she said. "A student baked a loaf of bread made from jackfruit seed flour, and it smelled strongly of chocolate." After the accidental discovery, several studies were performed at ESALQ-USP, and an article was published in PLOS ONE demonstrating the feasibility of using flour made from roasted dry or fermented seeds of hard jackfruit to obtain an aroma similar to that of chocolate in cappuccino. Cappuccino is now available as an instant powder containing coffee with milk and chocolate. The quality and amount of chocolate vary according to the manufacturer. "The more upmarket products use chocolate powder, but many use artificial flavoring," Spada said. Coffee and chocolate alike have a unique flavor and aroma owing to the presence of volatile compounds derived from roasting and fermentation. The challenge faced by these researchers was to determine the ideal conditions for roasting and fermenting jackfruit seeds to obtain a flour with a chocolate-like aroma of optimal intensity without impairing or even altering the coffee flavor of cappuccino. Jackfruit is a large fruit with edible pulp and seeds. The interior consists of bulbs of sticky yellow flesh with a strong sweet aroma, and each bulb encloses a seed. The seeds are an agroindustrial byproduct. They can be consumed but must first be boiled or roasted. Spada and her group analyzed the chemical composition of jackfruit seed flour. "It has no flavor but releases a chocolate aroma after roasting," Spada said. "It has to be fermented first. Without fermentation, jackfruit seed flour does not release this chocolate aroma. We analyzed 33 seed prototypes with varying degrees of roast to determine which had the strongest chocolate aroma." Sensory analysis A key part of the study funded by FAPESP consisted of asking volunteers to rank the sensory attributes of the different prototypes of cappuccino comprising varying amounts of flour made from dry or fermented jackfruit seeds. "Initially, we performed a sensory analysis with 20 volunteers by recording their impressions of aroma, flavor and color," Spada said. They sampled cappuccino prototypes with 25 percent, 50 percent, 75 percent and 100 percent substitution of jackfruit flour for chocolate powder. The final test involved 12 volunteers who reached a consensus on the prototypes considered most similar or identical to conventional cappuccino." The results showed that dry jackfruit seed flour can be incorporated as an ingredient in cappuccino formulations. The substitution of jackfruit flour for chocolate powder at 50 percent-75 percent was considered ideal because the acceptability and sensory characteristics were not altered. "According to the participants in the tests, the aroma of the cappuccino preparations made with dry jackfruit seeds resembled cappuccino, chocolate, cinnamon and coffee, with cappuccino and chocolate flavors," Spada said. A. heterophyllus is native to India, where it was domesticated more than 3,000 years ago. Jackfruit is an important part of Indian cuisine and Southeast Asian cooking. The plant was introduced to Brazil by the Portuguese. It flourished so successfully here that it soon grew abundantly, for example, in the Atlantic Rainforest and is still found in the remnants of the biome. Explore further Jackfruit seeds could help ease looming cocoa bean shortage More information: Fernanda Papa Spada et al, Physicochemical characteristics and high sensory acceptability in cappuccinos made with jackfruit seeds replacing cocoa powder, PLOS ONE (2018). Journal information: PLoS ONE Fernanda Papa Spada et al, Physicochemical characteristics and high sensory acceptability in cappuccinos made with jackfruit seeds replacing cocoa powder,(2018). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0197654 Rice University researchers have determined that particle-forming sulfur dioxide is the most damaging pollutant from Texas coal-fired power plants that lack equipment to scrub emissions. Credit: 123RF Cleaning up or replacing coal-fired power plants that lack sulfur pollution controls could help Texans breathe cleaner, healthier air, according to researchers at Rice University. A study led by environmental engineer Daniel Cohan analyzed models that measure the effects of emissions from 13 coal plants in Texas. Along with their conclusions on the modeling systems themselves, they found residents downwind of coal plants would be far better off today had the state focused on cutting particle-forming sulfur dioxide emissions in addition to those that cause ozone. "Texas has more unscrubbed coal plants than anywhere in the country and it's causing a substantial amount of air pollution damage and impacts on our health," Cohan said. "What I found eye-opening in this study is that most of the health damage is coming from particulate matter, but most of Texas' focus on air pollution has been on ozone smog. It's a real dichotomy where the standard we violate is ground-level ozone, but the biggest cause of damage is particulate matter." The study appears in the Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association. Three of the state's coal plants have closed in 2018, but the effects of all 13 are represented in data collected from 2012 to 2017 and used by Cohan and co-authors Brian Strasert, a Rice alumnus now at GSI Environmental in Houston, and undergraduate student Su Chen Teh. The researchers wrote that as coal power gets more expensive and natural gas and renewables like wind and solar energy advance, companies seem more likely to close plants based solely on economic considerations. They also point out the state missed an opportunity to accelerate the benefits that would have come with enforcement of the Obama-era regional haze plan. That would have cut emissions of sulfur dioxide, a contributor to airborne particulate matterinvisible particles less than 2.5 microns in diameterat eight of the highest-emitting plants. Instead, in 2017, the Environmental Protection Agency replaced the plan with a cap-and-trade program. "That doesn't mean the plants will get worse," Cohan said. "It just means the plants that should have been forced to clean up or close down have gotten a get-out-of-jail-free card." The researchers noted that according to EPA statistics, Texas power plants emit more than twice as much sulfur dioxide as second-ranked Missouri. The problem, Cohan said, is that even when particulate levels meet current standards, they are still health hazards, especially to those directly downwind of the plants. "We know the higher the particulate matter levels, the more people die, both on a short-term correlation when particulate matter levels are high one day, death rates are higher over the next few days and also over long-term studies," he said. "When epidemiologists study people across 10 or 20 years, they find that life expectancies are better in places that have very low levels of particulate matter than places that have high levels. "Particulate matter is the deadliest of all air pollutants, and it's not just causing deaths in the way that you might think," Cohan said. "It's not only by respiratory diseases, but it's also causing increases in rates of heart attacks and strokes. These particles are small enough to pass through the alveoli and enter the bloodstream. That lets them cause damage on all aspects of our bodily systems. "That was really striking to me," he said. "Because Texas meets the particulate matter standard, it hasn't prioritized cleaning up sulfur anywhere near the extent that it's cleaning up nitrogen pollution. We're allowing plants to emit levels of pollution that haven't been allowed since the 1970s. They're still operating today, because the state and EPA have failed since 2009 to finalize a regional haze plan." Cohan said the EPA continues to take comments on its plan for Texas. The paper also showed that recent, simple atmospheric models that help researchers quickly compute the health effects from pollution compare favorably with a more complicated state-of-the-art model. "That suggests we can take easier approaches to more quickly estimate the impacts of these plants," Cohan said. In time, he said, coal plants seem likely to close either because air pollution standards will be enforced across the board or because renewables like wind and solar make them unprofitable. "The key message of our paper," Cohan said, "is that delay has very real costs for us in Texas." Explore further A clearer path to clean air in China More information: Brian Strasert et al. Air quality and health benefits from potential coal power plant closures in Texas, Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association (2018). Brian Strasert et al. Air quality and health benefits from potential coal power plant closures in Texas,(2018). DOI: 10.1080/10962247.2018.1537984 Reconstruction of prominent temple inside Kathmandu Durbar Square finally begins The reconstruction of Maju Dega, the three-story temple at the heart of Kathmandu Durbar Square area, formally started on Monday, three and a half years after the devastating earthquake damaged the monument of Malla era. Credit: University of New Mexico A new paper recently released in Geology by researchers Jacob Mulder, Karl Karlstrom, and other Australian colleagues provides a new dataset that may resolve the more than three decades-long debate about which continents were adjacent to southwestern USA within the 1 billion year old supercontinent of Rodinia. Funded by an Australian fellowship, Mulder, from the School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment at Monash University (Australia), spent one year of his Ph.D. studies at The University of New Mexico and accompanied Karlstrom, a professor in UNM's Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, in a Grand Canyon research trip. Their research, "Rodinian devil in disguise: Correlation of 1.251.10 Ga strata between Tasmania and Grand Canyon," aimed to test models for geologic connections between the rocks of southwestern USA and Australia. "The supercontinent hypothesis is that all of Earth's continents come together about every 700 million years into supercontinents, then rift apart into separate continents only to get reconfigured into later supercontinents," said Karlstrom. "Right now, the Atlantic ocean is spreading and continents are dispersing whereas 300 million years ago, all the continents were together in the supercontinent of Pangea, which is well documented by the match of South America and African coastlines, and the sea floor magnetic stripes in the Atlantic ocean that record the opening of the Atlantic and the breakup of Pangea." Rodinia, a Russian term for "motherland," was the next older supercontinent; it came together about 1 billion years ago and rifted apart about 750 million years ago. Its existence is well agreed upon, but its configuration has been controversial for more than two decades. The scientists noticed that the Tasmanian Rocky Cape Group and Grand Canyon's Unkar Group have uncanny bed-by-bed similarity. Credit: University of New Mexico "We started this work by looking at Mesoproterozoic (~1 billion years old) sedimentary rocks in Tasmania, a small island off southeast Australia," said Mulder. "These rocks had puzzled us for a long time because they didn't look a lot like the nearby Mesoproterozoic rocks in Australia. We wanted to know where the ancient sedimentary rocks in Tasmania were sourced from so we analysed sand-sized grains of the mineral zircon, which makes up a small proportion of the sedimentary rocks." By grinding up the sandstones from each place, the scientists found and dated hundreds of sand grains of zircon in each succession to compare their "fingerprints." The ages and the hafnium compositions of the zircons from both places match very well and the authors suggest the two areas were adjacent to each other from 1.25 to 1.1 billion years ago. To fit this into the Rodinia supercontinent debate, they hypothesize that these sediments were both eroded from a continent collision called the Grenville Mountains that was similar to the modern Himalayan collision. Tasmania and Grand Canyon were both "out front," in a foreland basin, and rivers carried sand grains from high mountains that existed in what is now the Texas area. Fragments of those mountains can also be traced to the colliding Kalahari block, now in Africa. "The new correlation was not enough on its own," said Karlstrom. "Given the long controversy about Rodinia's configuration, we also synthesized all paleomagnetic data for the USA, Australia, Kalahari, and East Antarctica to see if the Rodinian jigsaw puzzle could be solved this way. We found that the TasmaniaGrand Canyon connection could reconcile past (competing) models for Rodinia." Credit: University of New Mexico "Not only do the rocks in Grand Canyon look similar to those in Tasmania and are the same age, the detrital zircons in the Grand Canyon sedimentary rocks (and related rocks in central Arizona and Texas) also share the same geochemical fingerprint as the zircons in the Tasmanian Mesoproterozoic sequences," said Mulder. "Together, these different lines of evidence support the interpretation that the sedimentary rocks in Tasmania were once a part of the same Mesoproterozoic basin system that is now exposed in Grand Canyon. Therefore, we concluded that although now on the opposite side of the planet, Tasmania must been attached to the western United States in the Mesoproterozoic." The scientists propose a new evolving plate configuration that was similar to the AUSMEX model (Australia and Mexico as neighbors) about 1.1 billion years ago, to the AUSWUS model (Australia and Western U.S. as neighbors) about 1.0 billion years ago, and to the SWEAT model (SW U.S. and East Antarctica as neighbors) about 0.9 billion years ago. "The study is important for understanding the paleogeopgrahy of Rodinia because we were able to show that the crustal block that makes up Tasmania, together with a series of small, similarly enigmatic blocks now exposed in Antarctica and submerged beneath the ocean south of Tasmania, provide key geological links between the larger continents of Australia, Antarctica, and the U.S, which together make up a significant part of Rodinia," said Mulder. "Thus, the new paper shows Tasmania to be a key puzzle piece within Rodinia," said Karlstrom. "In science, the devil is always in the details, and this new "Tasmanian devil" seems to have unlocked secrets of the Rodinian supercontinent that have remained mysterious for decades. The paper also re-emphasizes the power of international collaborations in resolving geologic debates." Explore further Cambrian Sixtymile Formation of Grand Canyon yields new findings More information: Jacob A. Mulder et al. Rodinian devil in disguise: Correlation of 1.251.10 Ga strata between Tasmania and Grand Canyon, Geology (2018). Journal information: Geology Jacob A. Mulder et al. Rodinian devil in disguise: Correlation of 1.251.10 Ga strata between Tasmania and Grand Canyon,(2018). DOI: 10.1130/G45225.1 One of the greatest challenges of astronomy is locating objects in space that are obscured by the light of nearby, brighter objects. In addition to making extra-solar planets very difficult to directly image, this problem also intrudes on surveys of the local Universe, where astronomers are unable to detect dwarf and isolated galaxies because of all the brighter ones surrounding them. Because of this, astronomers are unable to do a full inventory of small galaxies in the volume of space surrounding the Milky Way (aka the local volume). However, thanks to the efforts of an amateur astronomer and an international team of scientists, a dwarf spheroidal galaxy was recently discovered lurking behind the Andromeda Galaxy. The discovery of this object, named Donatiello I, could help astronomers learn more about the process of galaxy formation. The study which describes these findings recently appeared in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics. The research team was led by David Martinez-Delgado of the Center for Astronomy of Heidelberg University, and included members from the Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences (IPM) in Tehran, the National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF), the Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias (IAC), the Special Astrophysical Observatory in Russia, Nuovo Orione, and multiple observatories and universities. At present, the most widely accepted cosmological model (the Lambda-CDM model) predicts that there are a large number of small dark matter halos in the Local Volume, but it is unclear how many of them are associated with baryonic matter (i.e. star clusters and dwarf galaxies). As such, the ability to do a full inventory of dwarf and isolated galaxies would help resolve this question and allow astronomers to learn more about the history of galaxy formation. As Dr. Martinez-Delgado told Universe Today via email: Diagram showing the Lambda-CBR universe, from the Big Bang to the the current era. Credit: Alex Mittelmann/Coldcreation "There is a discrepancy between the observed number of low mass systems in the Local Group and its surroundings and the predicted one in cosmological simulations. A complete census of dwarf galaxies is necessary to understand the actual origin of this problem, as for example, the ingredients and assumptions in the computation of cosmological simulations or the lack of deep observations needed to trace the lowest surface brightness system in the local universe. The census of dwarf galaxies can shed light on key questions on galaxy formation and evolution." Unfortunately, creating such an inventory presents many problems, not the least of which is the fact that no large scale, deep imaging surveys have been possible so far. Whereas surveys like the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) or the PANoramic Survey Telescope And Rapid Response System (PanSTARRs) survey have been comprehensive, they have surface brightness limits (~24.5-25 magn/parcsec) that are too high to detect fainter objects. Another problem is the limits of radio surveys to detect these galaxies, like those being performed by the the Arecibo Legacy Fast Arecibo L-Band Feed Array (ALFALFA) survey. Using this method, astronomers look for hydrogen gas in the spectra lines of distant objects. But since low surface brightness galaxies have a negligible gas content, they do not appear in such surveys. As Martinez-Delgado explained, this is why the only means to detect them at present is through ultra-deep imaging, which is well-suited to amateur astronomers: "That is, the only way to find them is by means of ultra-deep imaging in wide areas of the sky. Amateur telescopes can obtain ultra-deep imaging of nearby galaxies or wide sky fields with surface brightness reaching surface brightness limit of 29 magn/arcsec2 or deeper. This provides new chance of discovery for amateurs in the field of galaxy evolution, a topic that was not feasible for amateurs one decade ago. The new generation of large scale surveys (e.g. LSST) will have a tremendous impact on this research topic too. The Sloan Digital Sky Survey telescope stands out against the breathtaking backdrop of the Sacramento Mountains. Credit : SDSS, Fermilab Visual Media Services It was one such amateur astronomer who was responsible for the discovery of the dwarf spheroidal galaxy an Italian amateur astronomer named Giuseppe Donatiello. Using a 12.7-cm telescope, Donatiello captured a mosaic of deep images of the Andromeda galaxy in 2016, the purpose of which was to detect the stellar streams, satellites galaxies and diffuse streams that had been recently discovered around Andromeda. It was as he was examining one of these images (on Sept. 3rd, 2016), Donatiello noted the presence of an object located one degree from the star Mirach (beta Andromedae). This object was then confirmed by Martinez-Delgado and his colleagues using archival images from the SDSS, and by follow-up observations made on Nov. 27th, 2016. These were performing using the 3.58 meter Telescopio Nazionale Galileo (TNG) and the 10.4 meter Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC), both of which are located at the IAC's Roque de Los Muchachos Observatory on the island of La Palma, Spain. This allowed the team to determine the dwarf galaxies distance from Earth, to resolve and study its stars, and confirm that it was indeed a dwarf galaxy in the proximity of the Local Group. This discovery not only demonstrated the effectiveness of ultra-deep surveys conducted by amateur astronomers, it also has immense significance when it comes to the study of low-luminosity dwarf galaxies. "Donatiello I can be an isolated galaxy that stopped its star formation long time ago," said Martinez-Delgado. "It is difficult to understand what mechanism was the responsible of this quenched star formation when there is not interaction with any massive host galaxy, like in the case of Donatiello I." Local Group of galaxies, including the massive members M31 (Andromeda Galaxy) and Milky Way, as well as other nearby galaxies. Credit: Wikipedia Commons/Antonio Ciccolella Because of this discovery, isolated dwarf galaxies could serve as laboratories to test theories of star formation in low-mass systems. This would be of immense use to cosmologists conducting simulations to better understand the history of star formation in the Local Group galaxies, which could help resolve the aforementioned discrepancies between observational astronomy and cosmology. And as Martinez-Delgado concluded, the discovery of this dwarf galaxy also opens opportunities for further surveys in the region: "Donatiello I could be one of the brightest members of a large population of isolated, unbound dwarf galaxies that remains undiscovered around the Local Group. A statistical comparison of these observations is extremely important to probe the predictions of state-of-the-art cosmological simulations. I think its discovery must encourage a more systematic survey of this kind of low surface brightness systems with modest instruments." This discovery is one of many that demonstrates how improvements in technology and data-sharing are allowing for new opportunities for amateur astronomers. Today, individuals with their own equipment, knowledge and access to scientific databases are able to contribute to the discovery process. And with next-generation instruments looking farther into the cosmos and in greater detail, we are likely to see more objects that were previously undetectable. These and other discoveries will teach us much about how our Universe came to be. Explore further Four newly discovered Milky Way neighbors More information: David Martinez-Delgado et al. Mirach's Goblin: Discovery of a dwarf spheroidal galaxy behind the Andromeda galaxy. Journal information: Astronomy & Astrophysics David Martinez-Delgado et al. Mirach's Goblin: Discovery of a dwarf spheroidal galaxy behind theAndromeda galaxy. arxiv.org/pdf/1810.04741.pdf Credit: CC0 Public Domain Zika which can cause severe brain defects in unborn children is spread by mosquitoes, so the insects are being targeted in the southern US where Zika-carrying mosquito species live. The new research, by the University of Exeter and the University of California, Berkeley, was sparked by a 2016 media report on millions of honeybees killed by Zika spraying. Honeybees are not native to the US and most colonies are kept by beekeepers, who play a key role in agriculture by helping to pollinate crops. By comparing data on bee densities with areas at risk from Zika, the researchers calculated the percentage of colonies that could be affected. "A colony unexpectedly exposed to pesticide spraying for mosquitoes would almost certainly be wiped out," said Lewis Bartlett, of the Centre for Ecology and Conservation on the University of Exeter's Penryn Campus in Cornwall. "Beekeepers in the US move their colonies around to support farmers, so a beekeeper with all their bees in one area at a given time could lose them all." Mosquitoes are usually targeted for spraying in summer, when the insects are most active, but this is also the key time for honeybees. Some states, such as Florida, have well-established mosquito control programmes and systems to limit the effects on unintended targets such as bees. But the researchers warn other states are less well prepared to organise measures such as warning beekeepers before spraying. "At the start of this research we spoke to a beekeeper who was caught unawares and lost all her bees," Bartlett said. "Beekeeping is a very traditional way of life in the US, with a lot of pride in families who have done it for generations, but many are struggling now. "Given all the threats facing bees, even a small additional problem could become the straw that broke the camel's back. "Many beekeepers live on the breadline, and if something like this changes things so beekeeping is no longer profitable, there will be huge knock-on effects on farming and food prices." People in many countries are rightfully concerned about Zika, but Bartlett said research and preparation were essential before embarking on "expensive and environmentally dangerous" mosquito control measures. The study found a positive correlation between honeybee colony density and areas with suitable conditions for Zika raising the risk of bees being harmed by anti-Zika spraying. These areas include Florida, the Gulf Coast and possibly the California Central Valley. The researchers said their study was only possible thanks to data from the USDA and CDC, and regulations overseen by the EPA. The study focussed on honeybees because being kept by beekeepers means there is more data on them than any other bee species. Although the findings do not directly translate to other species, Bartlett said honeybees are resilient compared to most bees so the situation for other species may be similar or even worse. The paper, published in the Journal of Apicultural Research, is entitled: "Identifying regions of risk to honey bees from Zika vector control in the US." Explore further Millions of US bees die from spray to fight Zika mosquitoes (Update) More information: Lewis J Bartlett et al. Identifying regions of risk to honey bees from Zika vector control in the USA, Journal of Apicultural Research (2018). Lewis J Bartlett et al. Identifying regions of risk to honey bees from Zika vector control in the USA,(2018). DOI: 10.1080/00218839.2018.1494914 Credit: CC0 Public Domain In his final, posthumously published book, famed physicist Stephen Hawking raises an alarm about the dangers of artificial intelligence, or AI, and the existential threat it could pose to humanity. In "Brief Answers to the Big Questions," Hawking writes, "a super-intelligent AI will be extremely good at accomplishing goals, and if those goals aren't aligned with ours, we're in trouble." University of Virginia economist Anton Korinek could not agree more, and he believes that the kind of AI that Hawking refers to "general artificial intelligence" that can equal or surpass human intelligence could be just a few decades away. "I believe that, by the second half of this century, AI robots and programs will be better than us humans at nearly everything," said Korinek, who holds a joint appointment in UVA's Economics Department and the Darden School of Business. "The fundamental question becomes, 'What will happen to humans if we are no longer the most generally intelligent beings on Earth?'" Korinek has written and co-written several published and forthcoming papers on the economic impact of increasing artificial intelligence, including a paper published by the National Bureau of Economic Research and several works in progress. He will teach a course on the topic, "Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Work," in the spring. We sat down with him to discuss the fundamental question he posed, the possible futures of artificial intelligence and what humans can do now to shape that future. Q. Hawking and others concerned about the rise of AI programs and devices focus on "general artificial intelligence." What does that mean, exactly? A. The AI systems we currently have are referred to as "narrow artificial intelligence." We have computer programs that are each built for a specific, narrow purpose, whether that is targeting the best ad to a consumer to entice sales, filtering out credit card applicants or even driving a car. But these programs cannot generalize what they have learned beyond their narrow field of application. "General AI" refers to artificial intelligence systems that could work across a wide range of fields, as humans can. We are not there yet. For example, devices like Alexa or Google Home, even though they may seem quite powerful in some respects and are getting more powerful by the day, do not have the general understanding that humans do. Q. Are we close to that point? A. There is considerable uncertainty, but I believe we may reach what most would agree is general artificial intelligence in 15 to 50 years from now. Human intelligence levels are pretty constant, barring a bit of wiggle room for advances in education. For AI, on the other hand, progress has been exponential. Though humans are still writing the computer programs that are the effectively the brains of any AI operation, many AI programs are already capable of training themselves and adapting on their own. I do not see an end to that exponential progress in the near term. I would say the odds are high that AI meets and surpasses general human intelligence sometime this century. Q. What are the economic implications of having technology eclipse human intelligence? A. In some ways, we are already seeing the impact. Over the past half-century, unskilled workers in the U.S. have barely seen any income gains. The average real wage of non-supervisory workers, for example, has declined over the past 40 years, even as the economy has almost tripled in size. Most of those gains have gone to the so-called superstars of the economy, with some estimates suggesting that the richest three Americans now own more wealth than the bottom 50 percent of the U.S. population combined. Technological advances have been an important driver of such inequality, and I would expect that to continue. Going forward, as AI systems come closer and closer to human intelligence, the labor market impacts will become more and more severe and people higher up on the skill ladder will increasingly be affected; for example, doctors, lawyers, managers and, yes, professors. Machines could generate an explosion in non-human labor supply and lead to exponential economic growth, but cause real wages to plummet for a large portion of human workers as they are displaced. This is the dilemma: Left unchecked, the economy will produce ever more, but the gains from economic growth may go to fewer and fewer. Ultimately, there is the risk, pointed out by Stephen Hawking, that super-intelligent AI systems can no longer be controlled by humans and may pursue their own agenda. Even if they respect human life, they are likely to consume significant resources, like land and energy, creating competition for such resources with humans and raising their prices, which would further impoverish humans. Beyond the economic implications, there is also the social question of what happens when humans are no longer the most intelligent beings on the planet. Will we still be able to rule the planet as we have so far? Can we direct the AI or merge with AI in a way that will advance humanity and help us rather than hurt us? Q. What are some steps government and business leaders could take now to shape this future? A. First, we need our government leaders to be aware of these important questions. They should be front and center in our policy debates, given the speed at which technology is accelerating. That is not happening in the United States right now, but it is happening in countries like China and Russia. China, for example, has declared that it wants to be the world leader in artificial intelligence by 2030, and it is investing enormous resources to reach this goal. In Russia, Vladimir Putin sees AI as the key to the future, declaring that "whoever becomes the leader in this sphere will become the ruler of the world." If we want the U.S. to lead AI developments, and to put our values of freedom and democracy at the center of those developments, our leaders need to be more active in that sphere. We need a master plan for AI to steer technological progress in a direction that is desirable for us. To me, as an economist, inequality will be one of the greatest challenges posed by future advances in AI. I have studied several economic policy measures to mitigate increases in inequality. Q. What are those? A. There are three specific ideas I have looked at in my work. The first is guarding against monopoly power. In the digital economy, there is a strong tendency for digital platforms to turn into monopolies. If you are the first decent social network, or the first decent search engine, or the first decent e-commerce site, you tend to capture the entire market because of so-called network externalities; each user that you add gives you more information and allows you to serve your existing users better. As a result, firms and their top management have enormous market power. Having such power tightly concentrated is actually inefficient for the market and calls for more aggressive anti-trust rules and enforcement. Secondly, as part of this, we should also reexamine intellectual property laws. In our knowledge economy, intellectual property laws encourage innovation, which is certainly important and a good thing. However, they also feed monopolies, given that they may grant firms exclusive access to new technologies for up to two decades. One sector where we see this clearly is the drug industry, where pharmaceutical companies are raising the prices of patented drugs to incredible levels and reaping enormous profits, often for innovations that are really insignificant. At this point in time, given the rise of AI, it might be wise to revisit intellectual property laws and recalibrate the balance between encouraging innovation and guarding against harmful monopolies. Finally, there are ways to steer technological progress in a direction that helps lesser-educated workers, instead of replacing them. Some economists have begun referring to this as intelligence assistance or IA. For example, AI could equip human call center workers to better respond to customer problems without entirely eliminating that human worker, and in fact using their unique human qualities to help solve the problem. Consciously and intentionally steering progress in that direction would improve conditions in the human labor market. Q. Is there anything else that you would like to see happening now, to better prepare humans for the future? A. One of my goals is to increase awareness of the radical opportunities and threats created by advanced AI. At present, we have more questions than answers, and we are pressed for time technological progress does not stop to give us more time to come up with good answers to the challenges posed by advanced AI. I hope that some of our best and brightest young minds will work on these questions, to the benefit of all humanity. I will discuss many of these questions with our students in a course on "Aritifical Intelligence and the Future of Work" that I will offer to economics and computer science majors this spring. As wonderful as many of the innovations in the field of AI are our phones, for example, can certainly do a lot of cool tricks now it is important to reflect on how far we have come over the past 10 years and how far we could go in the next 10, 20 or 50 years. How can we individually prepare ourselves for this "Age of Artificial Intelligence," and what will it mean for us as individual human beings, for our country and for humanity as a whole? Explore further UN report: Technologies can help lives but boost inequality FSU's research team evaluated high-tech countermeasures for wrong-way driving. Credit: Florida Department of Transportation Innovative traffic safety research from Florida State University, incorporating a fascinating mix of engineering and psychology, is being deployed on highways to save lives by targeting a deadly problem: wrong-way driving crashes. The statistics are alarming. Nationwide, wrong-way crashes kill about 350 people a year and injure thousands more, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Walter Boot, associate professor in the FSU Department of Psychology and an expert on cognition and perception, has compiled two wrong-way driving reports for the Florida Department of Transportation. The research identifies "smarter" signs and pavement markers equipped with advanced technology that can improve safety. Boot's recommendations will help shape future countermeasures for wrong-way driving. The Florida Department of Transportation is currently testing those and other recommendations on the most effective safety measures. "This is a no-brainer," Boot said. "We need to develop, test and install more visible countermeasures against wrong-way driving. We tested new technology-based, radar-triggered road alerts to determine which worked best. The evidence we collected suggested these detection-triggered countermeasures will be more effective than traditional wrong-way countermeasures." Boot started collecting that evidence as part of a contract with the state Department of Transportation following an unusual series of deadly wrong-way crashes in the Tampa Bay region in 2014. Nationwide, wrong-way crashes kill about 350 people a year and injure thousands more, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Credit: Florida Department of Transportation One in particular, a horrific crash on Interstate 275, added urgency to the search for more effective countermeasures. Early one February morning that year, a drunk driver drove the wrong way in the northbound lanes for more than 10 miles. Speeding toward oncoming traffic in a 5,000-pound Ford Expedition, the driver crashed head-on into a car with four college students. The fiery crash killed all five young men. "Wrong-way crashes are rare, representing only about 3 percent of highway crashes, but they are 27 times more fatal," Boot said. "It's tragic, but it keeps happening." Boot was determined to reverse this chronic trend of wrong-way driving, which dates to the 1960s and the original construction of access-controlled divided highways. He embarked on a multiyear research project drawing on his expertise in visual processing and visual cognition to test detection-triggered wrong-way signs and pavement markers. The goal was to identify "intelligent" technology that would better detect and prevent wrong-way driving and could be incorporated into new warning systems. Boot's research team found that installing more countermeasures ahead of exit ramps helped, but additional warnings were needed to grab motorists' attention once they started driving in the wrong direction. The next line of defense would be to install alerts that could cause wrong-way drivers to recognize their mistake, stop driving and turn around. The team, working in collaboration with the Center for Urban Transportation Research at the University of South Florida and Florida International University, evaluated seven high-tech countermeasures. They included radar-triggered blank signs that immediately lit up when they sensed wrong-way motion, as well as bright beacons that flashed asynchronously. Researchers tested new high-tech, radar-triggered road alerts to determine which worked best. Credit: Florida Department of Transportation The research included field tests on Florida highways. As a team of state troopers and traffic engineers shut down exit ramps in the middle of the night, Boot deliberately drove the wrong way on roads and ramps equipped with prototypes of the seven countermeasures. One prototype appeared blank until it detected wrong-way motion, and then it started flashing the message "WRONG WAY." Boot said the sensation of driving onto an exit ramp and traveling the wrong way was surreal. "It was frightening because I knew I was doing something very dangerous, but we had a lot of police officers there to make sure it was safe," Boot said. "Having a firsthand perspective was valuable because I could see how countermeasures might work or not work." The field tests recorded video of what Boot saw as he navigated through the countermeasures. Those recordings were later used to develop scenarios that could be imported into FSU's driving simulators. Then Boot's team enlisted 189 drivers to get behind the wheel of the simulators. They tested participants' reactions to real-life highway situations. The research team also tested safety measures using FSUs driving simulators. Credit: Professor Walter Boot The studies also tested the effectiveness of countermeasures on impaired drivers because those motorists account for nearly 50 percent of wrong-way crashes, according to a study by the Florida Department of Transportation. Researchers placed visual and auditory distractions in the simulators to mimic alcohol intoxication. Signs and pavement markers with other countermeasures proved to be the most effective countermeasures for impaired drivers. "The flashing onset of something new is the most effective thing you can do to draw someone's eyes and attention, and all of the most effective countermeasures used that technique," Boot said. "People's brains are hardwired to pay attention to things that abruptly appear, and virtually everything we tested with a red flashing light worked well." Raj Ponnaluri, project manager at the Florida Department of Transportation, said FSU's research will help guide future work with traffic signs and pavement markers to mitigate wrong-way crashes. "It's helping us better understand the need for new safety technologies, and now we are testing them," Ponnaluri said. "I think Florida is becoming a leader nationwide in developing countermeasures for wrong-way driving, and the FSU research is one reason why." Explore further Arizona aims to combat wrong-way driving with new technology The HPEV cell's extra back outlet allows the current to be split into two, so that one part of the current contributes to solar fuels generation, and the rest can be extracted as electrical power. Credit: Berkeley Lab, JCAP In the quest for abundant, renewable alternatives to fossil fuels, scientists have sought to harvest the sun's energy through "water splitting," an artificial photosynthesis technique that uses sunlight to generate hydrogen fuel from water. But water-splitting devices have yet to live up to their potential because there still isn't a design for materials with the right mix of optical, electronic, and chemical properties needed for them to work efficiently. Now researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and the Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis (JCAP), a DOE Energy Innovation Hub, have come up with a new recipe for renewable fuels that could bypass the limitations in current materials: an artificial photosynthesis device called a "hybrid photoelectrochemical and voltaic (HPEV) cell" that turns sunlight and water into not just one, but two types of energyhydrogen fuel and electricity. The paper describing this work was published on Oct. 29 in Nature Materials. Finding a way out for electrons Most water-splitting devices are made of a stack of light-absorbing materials. Depending on its makeup, each layer absorbs different parts or "wavelengths" of the solar spectrum, ranging from less-energetic wavelengths of infrared light to more-energetic wavelengths of visible or ultraviolet light. When each layer absorbs light it builds an electrical voltage. These individual voltages combine into one voltage large enough to split water into oxygen and hydrogen fuel. But according to Gideon Segev, a postdoctoral researcher at JCAP in Berkeley Lab's Chemical Sciences Division and the study's lead author, the problem with this configuration is that even though silicon solar cells can generate electricity very close to their limit, their high-performance potential is compromised when they are part of a water-splitting device. The current passing through the device is limited by other materials in the stack that don't perform as well as silicon, and as a result, the system produces much less current than it couldand the less current it generates, the less solar fuel it can produce. "It's like always running a car in first gear," said Segev. "This is energy that you could harvest, but because silicon isn't acting at its maximum power point, most of the excited electrons in the silicon have nowhere to go, so they lose their energy before they are utilized to do useful work." Getting out of first gear So Segev and his co-authorsJeffrey W. Beeman, a JCAP researcher in Berkeley Lab's Chemical Sciences Division, and former Berkeley Lab and JCAP researchers Jeffery Greenblatt, who now heads the Bay Area-based technology consultancy Emerging Futures LLC, and Ian Sharp, now a professor of experimental semiconductor physics at the Technical University of Munich in Germanyproposed a surprisingly simple solution to a complex problem. "We thought, 'What if we just let the electrons out?'" said Segev. In water-splitting devices, the front surface is usually dedicated to solar fuels production, and the back surface serves as an electrical outlet. To work around the conventional system's limitations, they added an additional electrical contact to the silicon component's back surface, resulting in an HPEV device with two contacts in the back instead of just one. The extra back outlet would allow the current to be split into two, so that one part of the current contributes to solar fuels generation, and the rest can be extracted as electrical power. When what you see is what you get After running a simulation to predict whether the HPEC would function as designed, they made a prototype to test their theory. "And to our surprise, it worked!" Segev said. "In science, you're never really sure if everything's going to work even if your computer simulations say they will. But that's also what makes it fun. It was great to see our experiments validate our simulations' predictions." According to their calculations, a conventional solar hydrogen generator based on a combination of silicon and bismuth vanadate, a material that is widely studied for solar water splitting, would generate hydrogen at a solar to hydrogen efficiency of 6.8 percent. In other words, out of all of the incident solar energy striking the surface of a cell, 6.8 percent will be stored in the form of hydrogen fuel, and all the rest is lost. In contrast, the HPEV cells harvest leftover electrons that do not contribute to fuel generation. These residual electrons are instead used to generate electrical power, resulting in a dramatic increase in the overall solar energy conversion efficiency, said Segev. For example, according to the same calculations, the same 6.8 percent of the solar energy can be stored as hydrogen fuel in an HPEV cell made of bismuth vanadate and silicon, and another 13.4 percent of the solar energy can be converted to electricity. This enables a combined efficiency of 20.2 percent, three times better than conventional solar hydrogen cells. The researchers plan to continue their collaboration so they can look into using the HPEV concept for other applications such as reducing carbon dioxide emissions. "This was truly a group effort where people with a lot of experience were able to contribute," added Segev. "After a year and a half of working together on a pretty tedious process, it was great to see our experiments finally come together." Explore further Harvesting clean hydrogen fuel through artificial photosynthesis More information: Gideon Segev et al, Hybrid photoelectrochemical and photovoltaic cells for simultaneous production of chemical fuels and electrical power, Nature Materials (2018). Journal information: Nature Materials Gideon Segev et al, Hybrid photoelectrochemical and photovoltaic cells for simultaneous production of chemical fuels and electrical power,(2018). DOI: 10.1038/s41563-018-0198-y Credit: CC0 Public Domain As Halloween revelers prepare to feast on chocolate, a new study from an international team of researchers, including the University of British Columbia, is pushing back the origins of the delicious sweet treat. The study, published online today in Nature Ecology & Evolution, suggests that cacaothe plant from which chocolate is madewas domesticated, or grown by people for food, around 1,500 years earlier than previously thought. In addition, the researchers found cacao was originally domesticated in South America, rather than in Central America. Archaeological evidence of cacao's use, dating back to 3,900 years ago, previously planted the idea that the cacao tree was first domesticated in Central America. But genetic evidence showing that the highest diversity of the cacao tree and related species is actually found in equatorial South America-where cacao is important to contemporary Indigenous groups-led the UBC team and their colleagues to search for evidence of the plant at an archaeological site in the region. "This new study shows us that people in the upper reaches of the Amazon basin, extending up into the foothills of the Andes in southeastern Ecuador, were harvesting and consuming cacao that appears to be a close relative of the type of cacao later used in Mexicoand they were doing this 1,500 years earlier," said Michael Blake, study co-author and professor in the UBC department of anthropology. "They were also doing so using elaborate pottery that pre-dates the pottery found in Central America and Mexico. This suggests that the use of cacao, probably as a drink, was something that caught on and very likely spread northwards by farmers growing cacao in what is now Colombia and eventually Panama and other parts of Central America and southern Mexico." Theobroma cacao, known as the cacao tree, was a culturally important crop in pre-Columbian Mesoamericaa historical region and cultural area in North America that extends from approximately central Mexico through Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and northern Costa Rica. Cacao beans were used both as currency and to make the chocolate drinks consumed during feasts and rituals. For the study, researchers studied ceramic artifacts from Santa Ana-La Florida, in Ecuador, the earliest known site of Mayo-Chinchipe culture, which was occupied from at least 5,450 years ago. The researchers used three lines of evidence to show that the Mayo-Chinchipe culture used cacao between 5,300 and 2,100 years ago: the presence of starch grains specific to the cacao tree inside ceramic vessels and broken pieces of pottery; residues of theobromine, a bitter alkaloid found in the cacao tree but not its wild relatives; and fragments of ancient DNA with sequences unique to the cacao tree. The findings suggest that the Mayo-Chinchipe people domesticated the cacao tree at least 1,500 years before the crop was used in Central America. As some of the artifacts from Santa Ana-La Florida have links to the Pacific coast, the researchers suggest that trade of goods, including culturally important plants, could have started cacao's voyage north. Sonia Zarrillo, the study's lead author and adjunct assistant professor at the University of Calgary who carried out some of the research as a sessional instructor at UBC Okanagan's department of anthropology, said the findings represent a methodological innovation in anthropological research. "For the first time, three independent lines of archaeological evidence have documented the presence of ancient cacao in the Americas: starch grains, chemical biomarkers, and ancient DNA sequences," she said. "These three methods combine to definitively identify a plant that is otherwise notoriously difficult to trace in the archaeological record because seeds and other parts quickly degrade in moist and warm tropical environments." Discovering the origins of food that we rely on today is important because it helps us understand the complex histories of who we are today, said Blake. "Today we all rely, to one extent or another, on foods that were created by the Indigenous peoples of the Americas," said Blake. "And one of the world's favourites is chocolate." Explore further Cacao analysis dates the dawn of domesticated chocolate trees to 3,600 years ago More information: Sonia Zarrillo et al, The use and domestication of Theobroma cacao during the mid-Holocene in the upper Amazon, Nature Ecology & Evolution (2018). Journal information: Nature Ecology & Evolution Sonia Zarrillo et al, The use and domestication of Theobroma cacao during the mid-Holocene in the upper Amazon,(2018). DOI: 10.1038/s41559-018-0697-x A wave of laser light hits the magnetic material, shaking the electron spins (arrows). This weakens magnetism and induces Weyl fermions in the laser-shaken material. Credit: J. M. Harms, MPSD Researchers from the Theory Department of the MPSD in Hamburg and North Carolina State University in the US have demonstrated that the long-sought magnetic Weyl semi-metallic state can be induced by ultrafast laser pulses in a three-dimensional class of magnetic materials dubbed pyrochlore iridates. Their results, which have been published in Nature Communications, could enable high-speed magneto-optical topological switching devices for next-generation electronics. All known elementary particles can be sorted into two categories: bosons and fermions. Bosons carry forces like the magnetic force or gravity, while fermions are the matter particles, like electrons. Theoretically it was predicted that fermions themselves can come in three species, named after the physicists Dirac, Weyl and Majorana. Electrons in free space are Dirac fermions, but in solids, they can change their nature. In the atomically thin carbon material graphene, they become massless Dirac fermions. In other recently discovered and manufactured materials, they can also become Weyl and Majorana fermions, which makes such materials interesting for future technologies such as topological quantum computers and other novel electronic devices. In combination with a wave of bosons, namely photons in a laser, fermions can be transformed from one type to another, as proposed by MPSD theorists in 2016. Now, a new study led by Ph.D. student Gabriel Topp in the Emmy Noether group of Michael Sentef suggests that electron spins can be manipulated by short light pulses to create a magnetic version of Weyl fermions from a magnetic insulator. Based on a prior study led by MPSD postdoctoral researcher Nicolas Tancogne-Dejean and Theory Director Angel Rubio, the scientists used the idea of laser-controlled electron-electron repulsion to suppress magnetism in a pyrochlore iridate material where electron spins are positioned on a lattice of tetrahedra. On this lattice, electron spins, like little compass needles, point all-in to the center of the tetrahedron and all-out in the neighboring one. This all-in, all-out combination, together with the length of the compass needles, leads to insulating behavior in the material without light stimulation. However, modern computer simulations on large computing clusters revealed that when a short light pulse hits the material, the needles start to rotate in such a way that, on average, they look like shorter needles with less strong magnetic ordering. Done in just the right way, this reduction of magnetism leads to the material becoming semi-metallic with Weyl fermions emerging as the new carriers of electricity in it. "This is a really nice step forward in learning how light can manipulate materials on ultrashort time scales," says Michael Sentef. Gabriel Topp says, "We were surprised by the fact that even a too-strong laser pulse that should lead to a complete suppression of magnetism and a standard metal without Weyl fermions could lead to a Weyl state. This is because on very short time scales, the material does not have enough time to find a thermal equilibrium. When everything is shaking back and forth, it takes some time until the extra energy from the laser pulse is distributed evenly among all the particles in the material." The scientists are optimistic that their work will stimulate more theoretical and experimental work along these lines. "We are just at the beginning of learning to understand the many beautiful ways in which light and matter can combine to yield fantastic effects and we do not even know what they might be today," says Angel Rubio. "We are working very hard with a dedicated and highly motivated group of talented young scientists at the MPSD to explore these almost unlimited possibilities so that society will benefit from our discoveries." Explore further Laser-driving of semimetals allows creating novel quasiparticle states More information: Gabriel E. Topp et al. All-optical nonequilibrium pathway to stabilising magnetic Weyl semimetals in pyrochlore iridates, Nature Communications (2018). Journal information: Nature Communications Gabriel E. Topp et al. All-optical nonequilibrium pathway to stabilising magnetic Weyl semimetals in pyrochlore iridates,(2018). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06991-8 Chandan Kumar Mandal is the environment and migration reporter for The Kathmandu Post, covering labour migration and governance, as well as climate change, natural disasters, and wildlife. Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as though nothing had happened Winston Churchill It was mid-2015 and I knew I was in trouble as soon as I walked into my docs office he was grinning from ear to ear and waving a piece of drug company propaganda at me. The FDAs approved a new miracle drug! he boomed, And its just right for you! I rolled my eyes and read the leaflet, and to my surprise there were several ways in which this new drug might actually be a miracle drug. In the first place, it was quite a scientific feat to invent the thing. Unlike statins, which take a blunderbuss approach, mucking around in the liver and reducing cholesterol levels across the board, these new drugs worked very differently. The so-called PCSK9 inhibitors, herein referred to as P-inhibitors, target LDL cholesterol with great precision, mimicking a rare genetic disorder that prevents the body from manufacturing LDL. The second miracle drug aspect of this new compound was that it reduced LDL to preposterous levels to levels never before observed in normal human populations. Of course, we might unkindly ask why anyone would want to do such a thing. LDL levels in human (and animal) populations have evolved for tens of thousands of years, as has the relative level of LDL to HDL. Moreover, we know that LDL plays an important role in human health. LDL is actually a lipoprotein, a carrier protein, and among its jobs is to transport an important chemical to every cell in the body. This chemical is a critical component of cell membranes, is a brain antioxidant, and is the raw material from which we make vitamin D, estrogen, testosterone, progesterone, and cortisol. What is this amazing chemical? Thats right, cholesterol. And heres a not-so-random factoid for you: 50% of the human brain, by dry weight, consists of cholesterol. I dont know about you, but Im rather attached to my few remaining brain cells and am not interested in having them reduced. (There is plenty of evidence that long-term statin use causes malfunctions in the brain.) I suppose it might be worth the chance of playing God if virtually eliminating LDL also eliminated heart attacks. But that was just the problem. Pretty nifty, I said to my doc, having finished reading the drug company propaganda. But this doesnt say anything about preventing heart attacks or reducing deaths. My doc waived this away. Everyone knows, he said, that LDL causes heart attacks. Eliminate LDL and we eliminate heart disease! Us cardiologists will be out of work! Of course, he added soto voce, elbowing me in the ribs, by that time Ill be safely retired. The Heart Cholesterol Hypothesis was obviously alive and well, despite the many drubbings it had taken. Fortunately, it turned out that I wasnt the only skeptic. In a sudden attack of common sense, the health insurance industry flat out refused to pay for the P-inhibitors. The entire medical establishment was outraged, but the insurers stuck to their guns. Were not in the lowering-LDL business, said the insurers, were in the saving-lives business. This put the drug companies in an awkward position. Theyd spent a decade and several hundred million dollars producing the drug, and now not one single patient would ever take it! The companies stock prices would collapse, the CEOs and chief medical officers would get sacked, other drug companies would laugh up their sleeves! Of course, none of this could be allowed to happen, so the drug companies took a deep breath and doubled down. They funded an expensive study designed to demonstrate once and for all what every medical scientist already knew that if you reduced LDL to trace levels in the human body it would be impossible for a heart attack to occur. Two years later I innocently returned to my docs office and my heart sank. He was grinning again and knowing of my allergy to drug company propaganda this time he was waving around a breathless article from the New York Times. Just as I predicted! he boomed. This stuff is a miracle drug! I sighed and read through the article. The reporter basically copied the drug companys press release, quoting a bunch of muckety-muck medical scientists to the effect that P-inhibitors had created a whole new ballgame, that heart troubles will soon be a thing of the past, blah, blah, blah. Fortunately, being something of an aficionado of puff pieces masquerading as journalism (I mean, what the hell else is a blog?), I was able to ferret out a couple of clues. The first clue was the sort that hits you over the head like a sledgehammer if you could only find it. It was buried way down in the middle of paragraph nine, read by me and probably eight other people in the entire world. But it was a doozy: [The P-inhibitor] did not show a benefit in overall death rates from cardiovascular causes. Whaaa?? The drug that was supposed to eliminate heart disease, the one that costs $15,000, the one that you have to take for the rest of your life, didnt save a single life? Nope. Heres the actual data: Number of deaths in the placebo group: 426 Number of deaths among people taking the P-inhibitor: 444 And I ferreted out a second clue as well. The Times reporter pointed out that the reduction in heart events (some of them extremely minor) was 15%. But of course that was the relative reduction. The absolute reduction the one we patients care about was a bit over 1% for heart attacks and bit under of 1% for strokes. So lets say it again we have to inject ourselves every other week for the rest of our lives, at a cost of $15,000/year, to achieve a 1% reduction in heart events? Oh and no one knows what the long-term consequences of shooting ourselves up with this powerful drug might be. Can these people be serious? And one final clue. On the day the results of the drug trial were announced, pompous quotes by muckety-mucks notwithstanding, the drug companys stock price dropped 6%. The New York Times might have been impressed by the results, and the medical establishment was certainly impressed, but the people who had to put their money where their mouths were were distinctly unimpressed. Given the dismal results of the study, and the extravagant cost of these drugs, I naturally assumed that the health insurers would fall down laughing and that we would never have to hear any more about P-inhibitors. Not so. Astonishingly, the insurers decided to pay for the drug! How can this possibly be? Well find out next week. Next up: Why We Dont Take Our Meds (Again), Part 8 Panel formed to name Province 2, pick capital The Province 2 government has formed a three-member commission to settle the long-standing issue of name and capital of the province. 9 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 Sanjeeb Phuyal is the online editor for The Kathmandu Post. He oversees breaking news reports on the web and produces content for The Post's digital platforms. By Simon Brandon Israels second-biggest city and its economic centre is a world-class beach resort, global technology hub and living historical site all rolled into one. Bordered by beaches Lying about 55km north-west of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv is bordered by 14km of west-facing Mediterranean beaches. Gordon Beach is closest to the city centre perfect for a lunchtime dip. Further south, Banana Beach, home to the Banana Beach cafe, is a popular evening spot to have a drink and watch the sunset. Dining on the beach is popular in the evenings Mediterranean climate Tel Aviv has a climate to match its beautiful beaches: the city enjoys warm Mediterranean summers and mild winters. Summer lasts from June until October, and temperatures in the coolest months average 13C. Warm summers and mild winters make for a gentle climate High-tech hub With its cluster of technology companies and start-ups, Tel Aviv is at the heart of Israels Silicon Wadi, the Middle Easts answer to Silicon Valley. Around one in 10 jobs in the city are in the technology sector, according to a report by Tel Aviv Global, the citys global economic development unit. Some of the worlds biggest technology companies, including Microsoft, Facebook and Amazon, have research and development centres in or near Tel Aviv. Tel Aviv is Israels biggest economic centre Another city that never sleeps With a nod to New Yorks celebrated insomnia, Tel Aviv has been dubbed The Big Orange. The party starts late at its numerous bars and nightclubs, and finishes even later. The Block club is known for its all-night danceathons that last well into the next day. You can recover in the morning with a breakfast of shakshuka eggs baked in a spiced tomato stew. The version served at Bucke Cafe is considered among the citys finest. Shakshuka is a breakfast favourite, especially with clubbers Culture, ancient and modern From the ancient port of Jaffa, where Tel Aviv has its origins and which has been continuously inhabited for thousands of years, to the Unesco World Heritage Site of White City, a cluster of 4,000 buildings in the Bauhaus style designed by German Jewish architects in the 1930s, Tel Aviv is rich in spoils for the culturally curious. The Eretz Israel Museum, which tells the history of Israel itself, has a live archaeological excavation of a Philistine city from the 12th century BC at its centre. One of the 4,000 buildings in the Bauhaus style in White City Photographs: Dreamstime; Getty Images; Getty Images/iStockphoto President Bhandari off to Qatar for four-day visit President Bidhya Devi Bhandari on Monday left for a four-day state visit to Qatar. Shooter among three arrested in Gauchan murder case Police have arrested three more persons in connection with the murder case of construction entrepreneur Sharad Kumar Gauchan. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. SCOTUSblog reviews of SCOTUS work in Rosales-Mireles and Chavez-Meza | Main | Suggesting home confinement as an incarceration alternative to avoid family separation back home June 20, 2018 Split Second Circuit panel reverses lengthy child porn sentence for second time; dissent notes "sentence is barbaric without being all that unusual" I do not tend to blog much any more about circuit opinions conducting reasonableness review because, now more than a decade since the Supreme Court ensured reasonableness review would be very deferential thanks to Rita, Gall and Kimbrough, few circuit sentencing opinions break any new ground. But though a Second Circuit panel opinion yesterday, US v. Sawyer, No. 15-2276 (2d Cir. June 19, 2018) (available here), does not break new ground, it still struck me as blogworthy for both the majority opinion and the dissent. The majority opinion in Sawyer is well summarized by the preamble to the opinion: Appeal from a judgment of the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York (DAgostino, J.) imposing a sentence of 300 months of imprisonment for the offenses of producing child pornography and receiving child pornography. This court previously vacated as substantively unreasonable a sentence of 360 months of imprisonment for the same offenses, identifying specific deficiencies in the district courts analysis. The district court did not sufficiently address those deficiencies on remand and suggested that it would have difficulty putting aside its previously-expressed views. The key factor that appears to have driven the original panel opinion and this second reversal was the "the district courts failure to give sufficient downward weight to the effect of the severe sexual abuse Sawyer endured at home throughout his childhood." Tellingly, even at the second sentencing, the district court stressed that the guidelines called for 80 years in prison(!), suggesting no "failure to afford sufficient weight to the way [the defendant was] raised in determining [his] sentence, looking at the fact that [the original sentence] departed by 50 years from the [80 year] guideline range." In this way in this case, we can and should see how extreme guideline ranges can persistently distort a district court's sentencing decision-making even after a circuit court has concluded that the district court failed to comply with the requirements of the first time around 3553(a). Beyond noticing the impact and import of broken guidelines even in a case in which everyone agrees they should not be followed, the Sawyer case struck me as blogworthy because of a (casual?) line in the dissenting opinion by Judge Jacobs. Here is the context for the line quoted in the title to this post, with my emphasis added: In decrying the 25-year sentence, the majority opinion observes (fairly) that this case is not the most heinous or egregious on record. At the same time, however, this is not a case such as United States v. Dorvee, 616 F.3d 174 (2d Cir. 2010), or United States v. Brown, 843 F.3d 74 (2d Cir. 2016), in which decades of imprisonment were imposed solely for looking at images created by others, and in which any harm to a child was inflicted at one or more removes. This defendant was hands-on. He produced the pornography, and he used a 4-year-old and a 6-year-old to do it. For these acts, a 25-year sentence is not a shocking departure from sentences routinely imposed in federal courts for comparable offenses especially considering that the mandatory minimum is fifteen. The sentence is barbaric without being all that unusual. I appreciate the candor and yet remain stunned by Judge Jacobs stating simply that the defendant's sentence here is "barbaric" but yet not "all that unusual" and thus ought to be affirmed despite the obligation of circuit courts to review sentences for their reasonableness in light of the requirements of 3553(a). June 20, 2018 at 10:37 AM | Permalink Comments I guess it's a simple acknowledgement that Congress' penalties for these crimes are horrendously disproportionate. Use of the term "barbaric" does suggest an 8th amendment dimension, but he wouldn't get anywhere with that and knows it. Posted by: Fat Bastard | Jun 20, 2018 2:08:52 PM I guess I should say for possession/receipt/trafficking crimes. Production is a whole other kettle of fish. That is indistinguishable from child molestation and has the added culpability of recording it for posterity and potentially profit. Posted by: Fat Bastard | Jun 20, 2018 2:45:35 PM @FatBastard From the opinion, "the sexual exploitation charges arose out of approximately 30 cellphone photos taken by Sawyer of two young girls, aged 4 and 6 at the time of the offenses. The girls had close relationships with Sawyer. The photos depicted the childrens genitals. Sawyer kept the photos and there was no evidence that he took any steps to distribute them to third parties." 25 years for that? I'm just sorry but IMHO that is not a crime at all. My own mother would have been guilty of abusing me if that had been the law when I was a kid. Posted by: Daniel | Jun 20, 2018 4:52:03 PM I'm still waiting for the judge who disagrees with the guidelines for being unduly lenient. IMO that is what it will take for reasonableness review to be given any teeth, at that point we discover whether the discretion afforded district court judges is actual. Posted by: Soronel Haetir | Jun 20, 2018 5:45:39 PM Thanks for the post Doug. I saw the decision and was also perplexed by the dissent. Random ruminations, some quite exceptions, without going anywhere or any explanation as to what should follow. Posted by: Anon | Jun 20, 2018 5:48:29 PM He was producing child porn? That's a problem. Hard to say much more without details, but if he was in the presence of actual children being abused, I would not be inclined to cut him much slack. Posted by: William Jockusch | Jun 20, 2018 11:11:50 PM Fair enough, Daniel, I did not read the opinion. Figures that that satisfies the government's burden of proof for production of CP (the way those statutes have been interpreted, along with the related guidelines, is fairly shocking). Generally speaking, however, I think my statement about production vis a vis possession/receipt/trafficking holds true. The latter crimes generally are much less culpable than production, yet frequently receive very harsh treatment. Posted by: Fat Bastard | Jun 21, 2018 7:07:27 PM Post a comment Texas jury hands down 15-year prison term after convicting police officer of murder for shooting unarmed teen | Main | "Criminal Justice Reform Is on the Midterm Ballot" August 30, 2018 Is Jeff Sessions' opposition to modest sentencing reforms going to cost him his job as Attorney General? The question in the title of this post which I would answer "I hope so" is prompted by this Politico article fully headlined "Trump personally lobbying GOP senators to flip on Sessions: Opposition to the attorney general's firing, long seen as a red line by lawmakers, has softened in recent days." Here is an excerpt from the piece of note to sentencing fans: The president, who has spent a year and a half fulminating against his attorney general in public, finally got traction on Capitol Hill thanks to the growing frustration of a handful of GOP senators with their former colleague most importantly, Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley and South Carolinas Lindsey Graham, who have been irritated by Sessions opposition to a criminal justice reform bill they support, according to interviews with more than a half-dozen congressional GOP aides, Trump advisers, and Republicans close to the White House.... Over the past week, Trump has belittled Sessions in conversations with several Republican senators, including Graham, and the idea of dismissing him no longer provokes the political anxiety it once did. Along with Graham and Grassley, Sessions has also alienated presidential son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner, the chief White House proponent of the Graham-Grassley approach on criminal justice reform, as well as his wife, Ivanka Trump. After a meeting last week that included Trump, Sessions and Kushner, the White House and McConnell delayed action on the issue until after the midterms. Grassley and other backers of the effort left the meeting hopeful for progress at that point. But Sessions office put out a sharply negative statement that suggested the president had come out against any sentencing reform in the legislation. Holly Harris, a longtime Kentucky GOP strategist pushing for a reform deal from the helm of the nonprofit Justice Action Network, blasted Sessions for an absolute mischaracterization of the White Houses stance on the issue. DOJ is making so many enemies in so many places now that I actually think its going to help our legislation. I think theyve gone way too far, Harris said, describing Sessions actions on the issue as off the rails. The criminal justice issue has been an ongoing sore point between Sessions and Grassley. The House passed a narrower bill in May that doesnt include changes to sentencing requirements something Sessions strongly opposes but that Grassley and others, including Graham, have insisted on adding. When Sessions spoke out against a broader criminal justice bill that the Judiciary Committee passed in February, Grassley publicly dressed him down. Look at how hard it was for me to get him through committee in the United States Senate, the senator said then. And look at, when the president was going to fire him, I went to his defense. No longer. Though Grassley had previously said he could not schedule hearing time to confirm a new attorney general, he changed his tune last week. I do have time for hearings on nominees that the president might send up here that I didnt have last year, Grassley said last week. Prior related post: UPDATE : This new Bloomberg piece suggests AG Sessions will be in his job at least for the next few month: "Trump Says Hell Keep Sessions Until November Despite Illegal Probe" August 30, 2018 at 12:45 PM | Permalink Comments If Trump is going to fire Sessions he'd better do it before a new Democratic majority the House votes to impeach him. Posted by: Daniel | Aug 30, 2018 4:57:12 PM Daniel, you just hit a home run. To me it looks like all roads of corruption lead back to Trump. I just done see how he can side step the big mess much longer. Washington is spending so much time on the Russian thingy and indicting Trumps cabinet its no wonder mothing is getting done. Myself, I would like to see Sessions go and Cotton just plain go away, silently Fat chance on that happening right. Posted by: MidWestGuy | Aug 31, 2018 7:15:57 AM Post a comment "Mass incarceration isnt always the issue. Uneven incarceration is." | Main | Is it a given that the end of Jeff Sessions' time as Attorney General is drawing nigh? October 29, 2018 Justice Sotomayor issues another lengthy statement in another capital case in which cert is denied Justice Sotomayor is starting to make a regular habit of adding some interest to otherwise ho-hum order lists with lots and lots of certiorari denials. Today's SCOTUS order list, for example, gets some intrigue from her statement "respecting the denial of certiorari" in Townes v. Alabama, No. 177894. Her five-page statement starts and ends this way: Today the Court denies review of Tawuan Townes capital murder conviction, the constitutionality of which hinges on whether the trial court instructed jurors that they may infer his intent to kill a victim or that they must do so. The former instruction is constitutional; the latter is not. There is no way to know for sure which instruction the trial court gave. Two court reporters certified two conflicting transcripts, and the trial court no longer has the original recording. Because Townes has not shown that the procedures below amount to constitutional error, I must vote to deny his petition for certiorari. I write separately because the trial courts failure to preserve the original recording gives cause for deep concern.... The Constitution guarantees certain procedural protections when the government seeks to prove that a person should pay irreparably for a crime. A reliable, credible record is essential to ensure that a reviewing court not to mention the defendant and the public at large can say with confidence whether those fundamental rights have been respected. Parker v. Dugger, 498 U. S. 308, 321 (1991) (It cannot be gainsaid that meaningful appellate review requires that the appellate court consider the defendants actual record). By fostering uncertainty about the result here, the trial courts actions in this case erode that confidence. That gives me and should give us all great pause. October 29, 2018 at 09:42 AM | Permalink Comments Post a comment (Adds details of phone release, comments from T-Mobile executive and Senator Warner) By Sijia Jiang and Sheila Dang HONG KONG/NEW YORK, Oct 29 (Reuters) - A Chinese smartphone company whose high-end products are little known outside a tech-savvy niche entered the U.S. market on Monday with the backing of two key local allies - chipmaking giant Qualcomm and mobile operator T-Mobile US Inc - and no questions from U.S. regulators. The foray by 5-year-old Shenzhen-based OnePlus comes after U.S. mobile carriers AT&T and Verizon this year backed away from plans to work with China's Huawei on high-end phones in face of pressure from the U.S. government, which considers Huawei a security risk. The United States also briefly banned companies from selling goods to ZTE , which was caught shipping U.S. technology to Iran and North Korea, violating U.S. sanctions. "Given the involvement of the Chinese government with other Chinese telecommunications companies, we should always take a close look any time a new Chinese telecommunications supplier tries to enter the domestic market," said U.S. Senator Mark Warner, in an emailed response to a Reuters question. "There can be real security concerns here, as we saw with Huawei and ZTE." But the OnePlus alliance, announced at an event on Monday in New York, shows how many U.S.-China business relationships, including those involving the most advanced technologies, are marching ahead despite the escalating U.S. China trade war. T-Mobile said the OnePlus 6T smart phone would launch exclusively at the carrier's stores on Nov. 1 with a starting price of $549, the first time a OnePlus handset has been sold through a U.S. wireless provider - and a deal that the firm's larger rivals such as Huawei could not pull off. While some OnePlus models have been on sale in the United States through e-commerce websites, carrier relationships like the one with T-Mobile are critical because most U.S. consumers still purchase phones through their carriers. Story continues "I don't know if it is a good time for anybody else," Carl Pei, the 29-year-old founder of OnePlus, said of the prospect of entering the U.S. carrier-bundled phone market during an interview with Reuters at an event in Hong Kong last week. "It is a good time for us." In an interview on Monday, Jon Freier, T-mobile's executive vice president of U.S. retail, said the U.S.-China trade battle played no role in this deal and the carrier has not heard from U.S. regulators. "OnePlus has a sterling reputation, and we've researched the device and vetted it thoroughly," Freier said. Xiaomi, a Chinese rival that also focuses on feature-packed phones at bargain prices, has said it plans to launch in the United States next year but did not respond to a request for comment on whether those plans are still in place. OnePlus is unusual among Chinese tech companies, which typically focus on mass-market products for domestic customers. OnePlus, by contrast, only sells premium phones that cost $400 or more and almost exclusively online except in India. It derives two-thirds of its revenue from outside China and is the top seller of premium smartphones in India. OnePlus is affiliated with OPPO, a Chinese smartphone-maker and a major force in mid-end phones, which are sold globally and cost about $300. The relationship helps OnePlus keep its costs low, said Canalys analyst Mo Jia. According to Chinese company registration records, the two companies have common shareholders. Pei shrugged off any concerns that U.S. consumer sentiment would be affected by the China-US trade conflict. "At the end of the day, all you can control is your own." Pei, who was born in China and raised in Sweden, said the brand is cross-cultural and international: "When we started, we saw that through social media, you can talk to everyone around the world, as long as you can speak their language." "If OnePlus is an independent actor and not under the thumb of the Chinese communist party, we should welcome them to compete in the US market," Senator Warner said. "But we need to make sure they are that independent actor and cannot be leveraged by the Chinese government to hurt our national security." (Reporting by Sijia Jiang in Hong Kong; Sheila Dang in New York; and Diane Bartz in Washington D.C. Editing by Gerry Doyle, Kenneth Li and Cynthia Osterman) Nineteen miners have been confirmed dead in east China following a mining accident earlier this month that trapped 22 people, state media reported Monday. The tunnel where the miners were working was blocked at both ends by coal after pressure caused rocks to fracture and break on October 20, the official Xinhua news agency said. Only one miner has been rescued so far. Rescuers working to clear the tunnel recovered six bodies Sunday. Two miners remained unaccounted for as of Monday morning. The accident took place at a mine owned by Longyun Coal Mining Co. Ltd. in Yuncheng County in Shandong province. Deadly mining accidents are common in China, where the industry has a poor safety record, despite efforts to improve coal production conditions and crack down on illegal mines. In December 2016, explosions in two separate coal mines in the Inner Mongolia region and in northeastern Heilongjiang province killed at least 59 people. Earlier that year, 33 miners were killed in a colliery explosion in October in the southwestern municipality of Chongqing, and in September, at least 18 were killed in a mine blast in the northwestern Ningxia region. According to China's National Coal Mine Safety Administration, the country saw 375 coal mining related deaths in 2017, down 28.7 percent year-on-year. However, despite improvements, "the situation of coal mine safety production is still grim," said the bureau in a statement following a coal mine safety conference in January. Apple chief executive Tim Cook seems relieved that the companys more affordable iPhone XR is apparently doing better in China compared to the tepid Chinese response to its recent high-end flagship released last month. Wonderful to see so many people in China enjoying the new iPhone XR. Glad we could help add some colour to your day! Cook said in his official Sina Weibo account on Saturday, a day after the companys cheaper iPhone models officially hit the shelves in China. The iPhone XR line-up, available in six colours, starts from 6,499 yuan (US$936) in China, about 25 per cent and 32 per cent cheaper, respectively, than the entry level versions of the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max, the US tech giants two flagship smartphones for the year. Cook did not reveal specific sales figures for the iPhone XR in China. An Apple spokesperson declined to reveal further details about iPhone XR sales in China, adding that Cooks Weibo post was not meant to hint at anything regarding the popularity of the XR versus the XS. On September 21, after the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max were launched globally, Cook said on his Sina Weibo account: Thrilled to open our first store in beautiful Suzhou! Enjoy the new iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and Apple Watch Series 4. This is surveillance: Apple boss slams weaponisation of user data The Cupertino, California-based company, which failed to attract public attention with its flagship iPhone XS debut in China last month due to high pricing and innovation issues, is also caught in the middle of the trade war between the US and China which has prompted some Chinese buyers to turn to local brands in a patriotic show of support. When the iPhone XS debuted in China in September, only a handful of people queued up outside Apple Stores across mainland China, according to photos circulated on social media in contrast to the large crowds seen at earlier iPhone launches in the country. Apple is adjusting its strategy in China where it faces fierce competition from local brands that are offering competitive products, eroding the market share of foreign brands including Samsung and Apple. Story continues In a nod to the Chinese market, where many users have more than one phone number, Apple introduced a dual-sim card tray for the iPhone XS, only available for the Greater China market. The colourful iPhone XR models are also seen as a way to appeal to younger consumers, especially those in China, who are price-sensitive yet still eager to own a premium brand like Apple. The launch of the iPhone XR is expected to help Apple unlock Chinese demand, which is the engine that Apple is looking for, Dan Ives, the managing director of equity research at Wedbush Securities, said in an CNBC interview on Friday. This article Apple CEO Tim Cook hints at popularity of new lower cost iPhone XR in China 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: Wall Street stocks finished decisively lower on Monday after an early rally fizzled and was replaced by selling amid lingering worries over slowing earnings growth and anxiety about US elections. The reversal came after European equities advanced, in part due to relief that Italy avoid a credit rating downgrade from S&P last week. US stocks opened firmly higher but the rally began fading in late morning before turning sharply negative in the last 90 minutes of trading. The Dow was down more than two percent and the Nasdaq more than three percent before staging a partial comeback ahead of the finish. The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended down 1.0 percent at 24,442.92, after experiencing a swing of more than 900 points between its session peak and nadir. US stocks have been under pressure all month, due in part to worries that the United States is exiting a period of peak earnings as the economy feels the weight of higher Federal Reserve interest rates. Analysts also pointed to a midday report from Bloomberg News on Monday that President Donald Trump's administration planned more tariffs on China if talks between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping next month are unsuccessful. "The inability of the market to hold the rally is keeping people out of the market," said Karl Haeling of LBBW, who said uncertainty over the approaching congressional elections was adding to the skittishness. "As we get to the November 6 election, people don't want to do anything new on the market," Haeling said. "The market is really nervous," said Adam Sarhan of 50 Park Investments. "Investors have been selling on strength whenever the market rallies." - European stocks advance - Earlier, equity markets throughout Europe had advanced as S&P refrained from cutting Italy's credit rating even as it cut the outlook on the country. Milan's FTSE Mib closed the day 1.9 percent higher. European stocks also benefited from reports that China was weighing a tax cut on auto purchases, boosting shares of Germany's Volkswagen, Italy's Fiat and France's Renault. Frankfurt gained 1.2 percent despite new questions over Germany's leadership. Angela Merkel on Monday announced she would quit as German chancellor when her mandate ends in 2021 following a weak performance by her coalition in a regional poll over the weekend. In Britain, Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond forecast the economy would grow 1.6 percent next year when the country exits the European Union, as he delivered his last annual budget before Brexit. The government had previously forecast 1.3 percent growth. London's FTSE 100 index gained 1.4 percent. The British government also said it would introduce a new tax for tech giants from 2020, a move that helped pressured large US tech companies. Amazon slumped 6.3 percent, Google-parent Alphabet 4.8 percent and Netflix 5.0 percent. Dow member IBM dropped 4.1 percent after announcing a $34 billion takeover of open source software company Red Hat, while Red Hat surged 45.4 percent. Fellow Dow member Boeing dropped 6.6 percent following a fatal crash of all 189 passengers operated by Indonesian Lion Air on a Boeing-737 MAX. Boeing is seen as vulnerable to further tariffs if the US-China trade dispute worsens. - Key figures around 2050 GMT - New York - Dow: DOWN 1.0 percent at 24,442.92 (close) New York - S&P 500 DOWN 0.7 percent at 2,641.25 (close) New York - Nasdaq: DOWN 1.6 percent at 7,050.29 (close) London - FTSE 100: UP 1.3 percent at 7,026.32 (close) Frankfurt - DAX 30: UP 1.2 percent at 11,335.48 (close) Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.4 percent at 4,989.35 (close) Milan - FTSE MIB: UP 1.9 percent at 19,039.85 (close) EURO STOXX 50: UP 0.6 percent at 3,154.93 (close) Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.2 percent at 21,149.80 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng: UP 0.4 percent at 24,812.04 (close) Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 2.2 percent at 2,542.10 (close) Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1384 from $1.1393 at 2100 GMT Friday Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2803 from $1.2824 Dollar/yen: UP at 112.32 from 111.91 yen Oil - Brent Crude: DOWN 28 cents at $77.34 per barrel Oil - West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 55 cents at $67.04 per barrel burs-jmb/dg Australian becomes first foreigner honoured by Hong Kong government for act outside the city, as pan-democrats are snubbed for fourth year running Being awarded a bravery medal in Hong Kong was not only a great honour but surreal for Zachary Rolfe, an Australian police officer who is the first foreign national commended by the Hong Kong government for heroic acts outside the city. Rolfe, who saved a Hong Kong woman from drowning in Australia, was one of 282 people named on the governments official honours list this year. He was presented with his medal by Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor at Government House on Saturday. The constable was commended for saving the Hongkonger, who went missing in December 2016 after the vehicle she was riding in was swept away as it tried to cross a flooded road, 30km from Alice Springs, a town in the Northern Territories. Without any communication equipment and operating alone, Rolfe, searched the highly dangerous and turbulent floodwaters for the woman, and finally found her seven kilometres away downstream. He carried her around his neck, and successfully swam across the floodwaters to reach safety. Its a great honour, definitely unexpected, Rolfe said on Saturday, with his medal freshly pinned on his navy suit. I was doing my job, but definitely feel honoured to be here today, [its] so surreal. In Hong Kong for the first time, Rolfe said he felt he was in a different world, as he has been working in a desert town, with population of 30,000 people. Im loving it [Hong Kong], he said. Meanwhile, four local firefighters who rescued two hikers trapped in Fei Ngo Shan in the middle of a raging storm last August were also honoured with silver medals for bravery. The list, gazetted on July 1, and the first one approved by Lam, has dropped to a 10-year low in terms of recipients. It is also the fourth year in a row that no pan-democrats have been included. Modelled on the British system, the awards are designed to recognise those who have made significant contributions to the community. But, it has been criticised as a system that distributes prizes to government allies. Story continues Four prominent figures were marked for the top award, the Grand Bauhinia Medal. They are Justice Robert Tang Kwok-ching, a permanent judge of the citys highest court, Cheung Hok-ming, a leading rural leader and former Executive Council member, entrepreneur Robin Chan Yau-hing, the father of Exco convenor Bernard Chan, and renowned researcher Professor Rosie Young Tse-tse. Microbiologist Professor Yuen Kwok-yung and two judges David Edmond Neuberger and Michael Lunn are among 10 who have been awarded the Gold Bauhinia Star. Actress Kara Wai Ying-hung, and Cantonese opera actor Law Kar-ying, received bronze stars, as did wheelchair fencer Yu Chui-yee. This article Australian becomes first foreigner honoured by Hong Kong government for act outside the city, as pan-democrats are snubbed for fourth year running first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018. AFPTV Russian President Vladimir Putin says the West is "escalating" the Ukraine conflict by holding drills in the Black Sea and flying bombers near Russia's borders, as the US accuses Moscow of a troop build-up near Ukraine. "(Our) Western partners are escalating the situation by supplying Kiev with lethal modern weapons and conducting provocative military manoeuvres in the Black Sea," Putin says in a speech to the foreign ministry in which he claims Western bombers are flying "20 km from our border". Hong Kong police on Monday visited the headquarters of Cathay Pacific Airways in response to a request by the company to help investigate a data breach that has seen the personal details of 9.4 million customers leaked. But the officers from the citys Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau said their task was not an easy one because of the airlines delay in reporting the incident. The search for evidence came as Hong Kongs privacy commissioner took to the airwaves to accuse the airline of failing to cooperate with a probe by his staff into the leak. The commissioner pledged legal help to any Cathay customer wanting to pursue the airline for damages. After a two-hour investigation at Chek Lap Kok, a police insider said officers had visited the headquarters to study the airlines servers and computer systems and check on the progress of follow-up action by the firm and its subsidiary Cathay Dragon. We need to know the full picture before conducting any forensic examination. We need to understand how their computer systems and servers work. We also ought to get information such as logging details and the last time the system was upgraded, the source said. We earlier sent the airline a list of items and information we needed. So today we are also checking their progress on this. But the insider said the inquiries would be long and difficult as company servers were stored at more than one location. The airline only reported this to us seven months after the incident. It is not like looking into the hacking of a single mobile phone. We are talking about the data of millions of passengers. The servers are scattered across many different places. The director of advocacy group Internet Society Hong Kong doubted whether any substantial investigation would be possible given Cathays tardiness in reporting the leak. The version of the system in place when the incident occurred no longer exists, so how can the investigators find out what actually happened? Story continues Chester Soong, Internet Society Hong Kong Waiting six or seven months and undertaking a series of actions they claim to be an investigation or remedial action, is actually, from a law enforcement point of view, tampering with evidence, Chester Soong said. He noted the computer system had been written over in the intervening months. The version of the system in place when the incident occurred no longer exists, so how can the investigators find out what actually happened? The airline reported the breach last Thursday, with representatives of the citys flagship carrier giving a statement at police headquarters in Wan Chai. A total of 403 expired credit card numbers and 27 with no card verification value were compromised, along with about 860,000 passport numbers, 240,000 Hong Kong ID card numbers, and millions of names, phone numbers, and email addresses. Privacy Commissioner Stephen Wong Kai-yi on Monday accused the airline of ignoring his organisations request for information six days after the breach was made public. Speaking on a radio show, Wong said the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data was prepared to offer legal help to anyone wanting to submit a claim for damages against the airline. A responsible organisation should give out the facts to us as soon as possible, Wong said. Fact is fact, it does not require too much thinking about. The airline has come in for heavy criticism for announcing the data leak only last week despite the fact it was detected in March and confirmed in early May. Wong said his office could offer legal advice or help secure representation from registered practising lawyers. So far the commission had received 24 complaints and 27 inquiries relating to the data breach, but no one had filed an application for help, he said. Wong refused to say if he had himself been a victim of the breach. But he said he had not opened an email from the airline about the incident because he was afraid it was a phishing scam. Cathay Pacific and IT experts have warned passengers to guard against dubious cyber links as they expect phishing activities to surge following the leak. We would like to remind people that emails related to this data security event will only be sent from infosecurity@cathaypacific.com, the airline wrote on its website on Sunday. The privacy commissioner said his staff had approached the airline requesting preliminary information be made available within 10 days so his office could assess the scale of the incident and see if an in-depth investigation was needed. Wong said Cathay had yet to respond to the request. Meanwhile, a British-based law firm has said it plans to seek compensation for Cathay passengers through collective legal action overseas. It hopes to claim up to 1,500 (US$1,920) for each affected customer, but Hong Kong lawyers have warned it may not be easy for local customers. The European Unions General Data Protection Regulation requires companies to disclose breaches within 72 hours. But companies in Hong Kong are not required by law to promptly report any leak. Wong said local authorities were considering changing the rules. This article Hong Kong police visit Cathay Pacific HQ to investigate major data breach that hit 9.4 million customers first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018. The head of the Eastern Nato has commented on Beijings anti-terrorism tactics in Xinjiang autonomous region, saying terrorism cannot be defined by nationalities, geographical adherence or religion. Rashid Alimov, secretary general of the China-Russia led Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), said: We dont divide terrorists in terms of their nationalities, their geographical adherence or religion. Because terrorism does not have any of that. "It does not matter what terrorists claim to do or the highest purpose they claim to serve to justify terrorism. Because every terrorist's goal is to kill. It's number one goal is to kill peaceful people." Alimov, a former foreign minister of Tajikistan one of eight member countries of SCO was responding to global criticism of Chinas forceful, systematic detention and enforced political education of up to one million ethnic Uygurs and other Muslims. China has called these camps vocational training centres to educate and transform people influenced by extremism. If you look at all terrorists attacks, they occur at peaceful places How can it be connected to terrorists religion, city, region? It has nothing to do with it. Therefore we will continue to decisively work towards taking the root out of the terrorist, and it is evil, Alimov said. He did not elaborate on methods of taking the root out. The SCO was set up in 2001 to fight the three evil forces of terrorism, separatism and extremism. Beijing has blamed these forces for the sporadic violence in its northwestern Xinjiang region, relating them to ethnic nationalism and radical Islam that promotes separatism. Xinjiang is home to more than 10 million Uygurs, a Turkic minority with stronger cultural links to Central Asia than to the rest of China, which is dominated by the Han ethnic majority. The stability of Xinjiang is of political and economic interest to a majority of SCO member countries which border the region. These include Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Pakistan, India, and observer country Mongolia. Story continues Ethnic Kazakhs and Kyrgyzs, or nationals from these countries, have been reportedly detained or missing in Xinjiang and in May this year Kazakhstans foreign ministry formally raised the issue during a bilateral meeting with China, requesting an objective and fair review of affairs and the release of those ethnic Kazakhs detained in China who have dual citizenship. Alimov said Chinas contributions to the fight against international terrorism were big and rational and that all member countries had praised Chinas work during its rotating chairmanship which ended this year. The SCO, which evolved from the Shanghai Five has expanded its original mission to resolve border disputes among China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan. Today its wide-ranging goals include economic cooperation, cultural exchanges, and security. It has been dubbed the Eastern version of the transatlantic security alliance formed in the West against the Soviet Union during the cold war. Since its inception, the organisation has repeatedly stressed that it has no intention to become a military bloc. Yes we conduct drills, but they are of an anti-terrorist character. These drills are not directed at any country, any organisation or anyone, Alimov said. India and Pakistan, long-time regional rivals, officially joined China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan as full members of the organisation this year. The group currently has four observer countries: Mongolia, Iran, Afghanistan and Belarus; and six dialogue partners: Turkey, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Cambodia, Azerbaijan and Armenia. This article China's anti-terrorism tactics should not be seen as targeting Uygurs, says Eastern Nato first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018. Chinas foreign minister Wang Yi has warned against external interference in the South China Sea in a pointed rebuke to the United States. The sharp words he reserved for Washington, which has been increasingly critical of Chinese militarisation of the contentious waters, came as Beijing pledged to expand its cooperation with Manila during a visit to the Philippines, signing deals that offered millions in humanitarian and policing aid. Wang urged the Philippines and other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to be vigilant against interference and disruption coming from the outside during a joint press conference with his Filipino counterpart, the newly appointed foreign minister Teodoro Locsin. As China and the Philippines, and other littoral states in the South China Sea are cooperating to uphold peace and cooperation in the South China Sea, some non-regional countries are doing things completely contrary to our efforts, he said, in a clear reference to the United States. They have been wilful in showing off their force in these waters. Regional countries need to maintain high vigilance we will not leave any opportunity to be exploited by external forces. Wangs comments come amid heightened tensions between Beijing and Washington. The US has expressed increasing concern about Beijings s militarisation of the strategic waterway, and it has been reported that the US may conduct a naval exercise in the South China Sea during Chinese President Xi Jinpings November visit to Manila. Meanwhile, relations between China and the Philippines have warmed considerably in recent years something both ministers hailed as a turnaround after the 2016 ruling of an international tribunal that dismissed Chinas claims to most of the South China Sea. The two pointed to areas of further cooperation in the disputed waters, with Wang saying China is ready to discuss the joint development of oil and gas in the South China Sea without prejudice to each others sovereign claims, as well as further mechanisms for communication. Story continues Earlier this year, China and Asean nations agreed to a draft code of conduct in the disputed waters and engaged in their first-ever joint maritime exercises. But critics have dismissed the draft agreement as one that is not only not legally binding, but one that remains far from being finalised. Locsin recognised that both sides would never compromise on our respective core interests their red lines in the maritime dispute but said that is no reason to stop them cooperating. Perhaps we will not be able to arrive at the legally binding code of conduct, but it will be the standard on how the people of Asean, the governments of Asean, will behave towards each other, always with honour, never with aggression, and always for the mutual progress, he told reporters. Wang said the two sides will also speed up consultation on the code of conduct agreement to conclude by the end of the Philippines three-year term as the country coordinator between China and the Asean states. The Philippines took over from Singapore in that role in August. China is open-minded about what specific content will be put into the text, he said. We welcome all constructive opinions within the framework of the single text that has been agreed upon. China has never been and will never be a rival to the Philippines, even less a threat. Ambassadors from the two countries also signed three agreements on Monday: a Chinese grant of US$1 million in humanitarian and disaster relief aid, 50 million yuan (US$7.2 million) in law enforcement equipment for the Philippine police and drug enforcement agency, and a feasibility agreement for a China-funded bridge project on the Davao river. The signings come after Wang inaugurated a new Chinese consulate over the weekend in Davao City, the hometown of Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte, on his two-day goodwill trip. Local media noted it was unusual that Wang would remain on the southern island of Mindano throughout his visit, avoiding the capital Manila entirely, and that the countrys top diplomat had personally opened the consulate. This article Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi warns US against interference in South China Sea first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018. Georgia's hotly contested presidential election has gone to a run-off after no candidate won the first round, in a move that may spell the end of the ruling party's reign, results showed on Monday. The election is pro-Western Georgia's last direct presidential poll as the former Soviet republic transitions to a parliamentary form of governance. The new head of state will be a largely ceremonial figure. A run-off will be held no later than December 2, the election commission said. Observers view the presidential election as a trial run for the contest between billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili's ruling Georgian Dream party and the opposition in more important parliamentary polls, which are set for 2020. Georgian Dream-backed candidate, former French ambassador Salome Zurabishvili, was considered the favourite but failed to win 50 percent plus one vote to be declared outright winner. Zurabishvili, 66, narrowly led with 38.64 percent of the vote against 37.73 percent for opposition leader Grigol Vashadze, the election commission said. Vashadze, 60, is supported by former president Mikheil Saakashvili's United National Movement and 10 other groups. Official turnout was nearly 47 percent. Some analysts described Sunday's vote as a battle between Ivanishvili and Saakashvili, who has said he wants to return to Georgia from self-imposed exile in the Netherlands. "The two commanders-in-chief of Georgia's competing political camps -- Ivanishvili and Saakashvili -- have fought a duel in these elections and Saakashvili came out a winner," political analyst Gela Vasadze told AFP. - 'Competitive elections' - Opposition parties in the country of around four million people were expected to support Vashadze in the run-off, forming a united front against the ruling party. Ex-parliament speaker David Bakradze of the European Georgia party, who came third with nearly 11 percent of the vote, endorsed Vashadze. The Republican Party and other opposition forces were also expected to close ranks behind him. Analysts said the outcome will drastically change the country's political landscape, signalling a likely end to Georgian Dream's rule. A win for Vashadze could also allow Saakashvili to return home. In June, a Georgian court sentenced Saakashvili in absentia to six years in prison over abuse of power. Saakashvili has denounced the verdict as a political vendetta by arch-foe Ivanishvili. This year he was also kicked out of Ukraine after he fell out with President Petro Poroshenko. The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe said that "Georgia showed the maturity of its democracy" by holding a "competitive and well administered" election. But it also said concerns remained over "instances of the misuse of state resources" by the ruling party. - 'Boost to opposition' - "The results of the first round mean that Georgians have said a firm 'no' to the one-party political system," said analyst Vasadze. "This is the beginning of the end for Georgian Dream's domination." Political analyst Ghia Nodia added: "Vashadze's victory in the presidential election - which now looks pretty likely -- will be a huge boost to the opposition during the parliamentary elections." Vashadze has promised to mount a campaign for a snap parliamentary vote if he is elected president. The career diplomat has criticised Ivanishvili's "informal oligarch rule" amid growing discontent over the government's failure to tackle poverty. Georgia's richest man, Ivanishvili stepped down as prime minister in 2013 after a year in office but is still seen as the country's de facto ruler. Vashadze served in the Soviet foreign ministry where he helped craft the US-Soviet Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, known as START I. He was Saakashvili's foreign minister in 2008-2012. Zurabishvili 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 in Tbilisi. Then president Saakashvili appointed her foreign minister but Zurabishvili quickly made enemies among the parliamentary majority. She was sacked after a year on the job, joined the opposition and became one of Saakashvili's top critics. Both candidates have promised to lead Georgia -- which fought a five-day war with Russia in 2008 -- closer to full membership in the European Union and NATO. JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel has carried out attacks in Syria since the accidental shooting down of a Russian surveillance plane last month, a senior Israeli official said on Monday. The Sept. 17 downing by Syrian anti-aircraft fire, after Israeli jets attacked a suspected Iranian arms shipment to Syria, caused a diplomatic rift between Israel and Russia, and Moscow blamed Israel for the incident. The Israeli official did not give details of the nature of Israel's actions since the shooting down of the IL-20 aircraft near Latakia, in which the crew of 15 were killed, or the number of times it had attacked. "The IDF (Israeli Defence Forces) have attacked in Syria, including after the downing of the Russian plane. Military coordination with the Russians continues as before," said the senior official, who could not be named. Israel's Channel 1 television said one air strike was aimed at an Iranian shipment for Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas of equipment intended to greatly increase the accuracy of their rockets and missiles. Israel, which has carried out air strikes in Syria many times during Syria's seven-and-a-half-year-old civil war, said after the Sept. 17 incident it would work to improve "deconfliction" of its missions with Russian forces, but would not halt them. But since the Russian plane was shot down shortly after Israeli jets attacked a nearby target, there have been no reports of Israeli air strikes in Syria. The apparent pause raised speculation in the Israeli media that Israel was either holding back at Russia's request or had paused the attacks over concern that they would fuel further tensions with Moscow. Netanyahu said earlier this month that he would meet Russian President Vladimir Putin "soon" to discuss security cooperation. Russia said it had upgraded Syrias air defences with the S-300 missile system after accusing Israel of indirect responsibility for the incident. (Writing by Ori Lewis, Editing by Mark Heinrich/William Maclean) ROME (Reuters) - Italy's far-right League party intervened on Sunday to block efforts by a Muslim association to turn a former hospital chapel into a mosque. The Muslim group last week made the highest offer for the chapel in the northern city of Bergamo at an auction organised by a local hospital, outbidding the Romanian Orthodox Church which had been using the building for its religious services. But the project proved short-lived, with League leaders in the wealthy Lombardy region, which includes Bergamo, announcing they would halt the sale by using a 2004 law that enables them to intervene and safeguard cultural sites. "I would never put a Church on sale and I am amazed that the hospital management did not realise what a sensitive issue this is," Lombardy President Attilio Fontana, a League politician, wrote on Twitter. "However, we will exercise our right of first refusal (for the sale) and there will be no space for any appeal," he added. His decision means the region must now buy the property. League leader Matteo Salvini warned earlier this year that Italian culture and society risked being eradicated by Islam. "Centuries of history risk disappearing if Islamisation, which up until now has been underestimated, gains the upper hand," he said in a statement. Muslims only represent a small minority in Roman Catholic Italy, with the Pew Research Centre saying they will make up 4.9 percent of the population by 2020 against 3.7 percent in 2010. Islamic associations complain that local building restrictions makes it almost impossible for them to get licences to build mosques, meaning that they often have to use structures such as garages to hold their prayer meetings. There was no immediate reaction from the Bergamo Muslim group. (Reporting by Crispian Balmer; editing by David Evans) Bangladesh's imprisoned opposition leader Khaleda Zia was handed another seven years in prison Monday on corruption charges her supporters say are politically motivated to prevent her running in a general election. Zia, arch-rival of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, is already serving a five-year term imposed in February on separate embezzlement charges. A small demonstration was held outside Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party headquarters in Dhaka after the sentencing. The opposition has vowed nationwide marches on Tuesday. The February verdict triggered clashes between police and thousands of BNP loyalists. In the latest case, Judge Mohammad Akhtaruzzman found the 73-year-old Zia guilty of abuse of power and embezzling 31.5 million taka ($375,000) meant for a charity. The verdict was handed down in a temporary court inside Dhaka Central Jail where Zia is the only inmate. Her health has deteriorated in recent months and her lawyers say she needs specialist care which has been refused by the government. The lawyers, who boycotted the verdict, have slammed the fast-track trial as "political vengeance" by Hasina, who has been accused of stifling opponents. - Election doubts - "The people will never accept this judgement," BNP secretary general Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told reporters. Zia cannot stand in the election due at the end of the year whilst serving a jail term and time is now running out for appeals to be heard to let her run. Zia boycotted the 2014 general election which Hasina won. And the latest verdict throws up more hurdles for the opposition, which says 4,000 of its supporters have been arrested since September in a pre-election crackdown. But the ruling party has agreed to hold talks on the looming election with an opposition alliance that includes the BNP, a minister announced hours after the verdict was announced. The ruling Awami League had previously rejected such talks. The Jaitya Okya Front (United Nationa Front) has demanded that the election be held under an interim neutral government. But Awami League deputy chief and influential minister, Obaidul Qader, said his side had agreed to talks "without giving in to anyone's pressure". No date has been given for the talks however. And Zia's supporters are certain that the multiple legal cases against her and her family are intended to keep her out of the election. Zia, widow of assassinated military dictator Ziaur Rahman, faces dozens of separate charges related to violence and corruption that her lawyers insist are baseless. Her son and heir-apparent Tarique Rahman was jailed for life in absentia this month over a 2004 grenade attack on a Hasina political rally. Rahman lives in exile in London. Prosecutor Khurshid A. Khan said the latest charges against Zia dated back to 2005 when she was serving her second term as prime minister of the Muslim-majority nation of 160 million. "We finally got justice, despite some delay," he told AFP. The new guilty verdict comes at a time when the independence of Bangladesh's judiciary is under question. In a recent memoir, a former chief justice alleged he was forced into exile last year after disagreeing with Bangladesh's powerful intelligence services over a case. Another judge, who now lives in Malaysia, alleged in a television interview that he was threatened to order a guilty verdict against Rahman. BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) - At least four people were killed and 10 kidnapped when suspected Islamic State militants attacked a town in central Libya, military officials said on Monday. The raid on the desert oasis town of al-Foqha south of Jufra late on Sunday lasted several hours, during which the insurgents set local government and security offices on fire, a military official who asked not to be named said. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack on Monday, according to a statement issued by its Amaq news agency. Ten people were presumed to have been kidnapped, said Ahmed Mismari, spokesman for the Libya National Army (LNA) of Khalifa Haftar, which controls much of eastern Libya. Ismail al-Sharif, a lawmaker in the eastern-based House of Representatives, said the attack had probably come as revenge because some town youths had helped catch a local Islamic State leader this month. Further details of that incident were not immediately available. The town lies in an area marked by poor security deep in the desert where Islamic State withdrew after losing its stronghold Sirte on the central coast in December 2016. The LNA had recently boosted its presence in the area, moving into al-Foqha as part of efforts to push south. The attackers had left after a LNA unit arrived, Mismari said. The North African oil producer has two governments. One is allied to commander Khalifa Haftar and based in the east. The other is backed by the United Nations and based in Tripoli in the west. Suspected Islamic State fighters have also repeatedly attacked oil facilities in the central Libyan desert. (Reporting by Ayman al-Warfalli; additional reporting Omar Fahmy and Nayera Abdallah,; Writing by Ulf Laessing; Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg) A Saudi-American dual national held by the US military in Iraq as a "foreign fighter" for 13 months has been freed, his lawyers said Monday, after his case tested the Trump administration's legal detention powers. The man, never identified in court filings but named by The New York Times as Abdulrahman Ahmad Alsheikh, was captured last year in Syria while allegedly fighting for the Islamic State group and handed over to American forces. In a series of key rulings in US federal court in Washington against the Justice Department, the Pentagon was forced to grant the man legal representation by the American Civil Liberties Union, and then was blocked from simply handing him over to Saudi Arabia when he wanted to return to the United States. Rather than bring him back to the United States and try him on charges of abetting a designated terrorist group, however, the Justice Department said in June it planned to release him back into northern Syria where he was captured with $4,210 and a cellphone. That move was also blocked after his lawyers argued it would leave him unprotected in a battlefield region and equaled a "death sentence." At each step of the case, the ACLU demanded the government charge or release the man in accordance with his habeas corpus rights under the US Constitution, testing whether the Trump administration was willing to bring back an alleged American fighter for Islamic State and put him on trial in US courts. Such a trial could have raised other fundamental issues, such as the legality of US military action in Syria. "My case has shown the worst and the best of my country," the man, who was only identified as John Doe in court filings, said in a statement. "When I fled violence in Syria, I never imagined that my country would deny me access to a lawyer for nearly four months, and imprison me without charge in solitary confinement for over a year. "No one, no matter what they are suspected of, should be treated the way my government treated me. Once I got the chance to stand up for my rights, the constitution and the courts protected me," he added. According to the Times, he was released in Bahrain after reaching a confidential settlement with the US government. Government attorneys never presented evidence that the man was an Islamic State fighter, which he denies, and his reason for having been in Syria remains unexplained. He reportedly did not give up his US citizenship, but his passport was cancelled. "Doe has requested time and privacy to rebuild his life. He also wishes to remain anonymous for the same reason," the ACLU said. Lawyer Jonathan Hafetz said the government "did all it could" to avoid proving its detention of the man was lawful. "This case shows the enduring importance of the courts in safeguarding the rights of Americans against government overreach," Hafetz added. US President Donald Trumps pushback against Beijings military expansion and diplomatic strategy in the Indo-Pacific region has seen defence ties between Washington and Taipei become closer than ever in recent months. Washington has been approving arms deals with Taipei at a much faster pace than under Barack Obama and George W Bush, while the self-ruled island has been making public US military movements near the Taiwan Strait information that would not have been released under previous US administrations. Since Trump took office in January 2017, both his administration and Congress have shifted from a policy of not enraging Beijing when it comes to Taipei, to a new policy of challenging the mainland government and focusing more on Taiwans defences. But analysts say the government of Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen needs to evaluate the significance and impact of that new direction, given the hypersensitive relations between the US, mainland China and Taiwan. Earlier this month, US Assistant Secretary of Defence for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs Randall Schriver confirmed that Washington was moving towards a more normal foreign military sales relationship with Taiwan. That was a reference to Trumps approval in September of a US$330 million deal to provide spare parts and other logistics for several types of the islands military aircraft a deal that came less than a year after the Pentagon agreed to sell US$1.4 billion of missiles, torpedoes and an early warning system to Taiwan. The US-Taiwan Business Council, which is based in the Washington area and has organised the annual US-Taiwan Defence Industry Conference since 2002, said approval of the deal was encouraging because it appears to move away from the previous bundling method of Taiwan arms sales. It called on Washington to swiftly handle any new arms sale requests from Taiwan through inter-agency assessment that does not take into account Beijings potential reaction to a proposed deal. Story continues Beijing which considers Taiwan a wayward province to be reunified, by force if necessary has been the main reason the US has taken a cautious approach to any arms deals or high-level exchanges with Taipei since Washington switched diplomatic recognition to Beijing from Taipei in 1979 and committed to observing the one-China policy. Beijing has repeatedly warned Washington against seeking closer military ties with Taipei, and has protested against every arms deal they have made including the most recent one and any US-Taiwan exchange that was seen to have violated the one-China principle. Taiwanese officials and analysts say the latest deal indicates that Trump is more willing to give the island a faster response to its arms sale requests to help Taipei build up its defences in the face of growing military threats from mainland China. We greatly appreciate that the US is willing to review our military sales requests on a case-by-case basis, instead of the bundling approach carried out previously, Deputy Defence Minister Shen Yi-ming said in a parliamentary meeting earlier this month. Beijing has suspended exchanges with Taipei and staged a series of war games around Taiwan to intimidate the island since Tsai, of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party, became president in 2016 and refused to accept its one-China policy. Beijing has also tried to isolate Taiwan internationally by poaching five of its diplomatic allies since Tsai took office. This has resulted in the Tsai administration seeking greater support from Washington. And with Trump seeing China as a strategic competitor instead of a partner, developing closer ties and helping to boost Taiwans defences have become part of his national security strategy in dealing with Beijing, said Wang Kung-yi, a professor of political science at Chinese Culture University in Taipei. Since Trump signed into law the Taiwan Travel Act in March to allow top-level officials to visit the island, US-Taiwan military ties have become even closer, Wang said. Hundreds of US arms dealers and former US military officials travelled to Taiwan for the first-ever defence industry forum jointly held by the US-Taiwan Business Council and Taiwan Defence Industry Development Association in the southern city of Kaohsiung in May. That came a month after Trump agreed to issue the marketing licence required for US manufacturers to sell Taiwan the technology it needs to build eight submarines. That project had been stalled since then-president George W Bush approved the sale in 2001. Since July, at least four US warships have risked further escalating tensions by passing through the Taiwan Strait in freedom of navigation operations to challenge Beijing over its military expansion in the Indo-Pacific region particularly the disputed South China Sea. On two occasions, when the US Navy vessels were still in transit, Taiwans military issued a statement on July 7 and again on October 22 about the destroyers movements in the Taiwan Strait. Analysts said Taiwan did not usually release information on such operations to avoid angering Beijing, but that has changed under Trumps strategy of confrontation with China as tensions mount over trade, security and strategic issues. Calling the transit a smart move, Ian Easton, a research fellow with the US-based think tank Project 2049 Institute, said it appeared Washington and Taipei had decided to publicise the ships passage to send a clear message to Beijing that the Taiwan Strait was international waters, and that the US and Taiwan would cooperate and not hide their activities there. Meanwhile, media reports have said the US Indo-Pacific Command plans to hold war games in the Taiwan Strait and the islands military would be asked to join the US in the drill. Analysts, however, said regardless of whether the drill happened, military ties between the US and Taiwan had already become much closer than at any other time. But it is necessary for the Tsai government to review the significance behind such a change, including whether Taiwan is just Trumps pawn in dealing with the mainland, and how such a change would impact cross-strait relations as well as the highly complex US-Taiwan-China ties, said Arthur Ding, an associate research fellow at the Stockholm-based Institute for Security and Development Policy. This article US, Taiwan military ties closer than ever as Donald Trump challenges Beijing 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: By Moses Ndhaye. The Uganda National Bureau of standards has refuted reports that there are fake- eggs on the market. Yesterday there where media reports indicating that, police were hunting for manufactures of fake eggs which members of the public needed to be conscious about. According to the Uganda National Bureau of standards spokesperson Godwin Muhwezi, the reports are not true. He says these where a kind of sweets packed in what looked like an egg shell. As holidays go, Halloween is relatively new to this country. There are threads you can follow all the way back to pagan festivals, but widespread celebration in the United States didnt really catch on until the mid-nineteenth century. By 1901, the Los Angeles Times had had enough. Not on religious or moral grounds, mind you, but because the holiday had degenerated into a very sorry kind of festival. The root problem? People had lost sight of the true meaning of Halloween: young girls walking backwards down cellar stairs with mirrors to catch a glimpse of their future husbands. To prove their point, the Times followed their anti-Halloween screed with a round-up of the strange, turn-of-the-last-century pranks that paralyzed the city that year, ranging from false calls to the fire departmenttiring out their horsesto upsetting the swill barrel, which, to be fair, sounds like a pretty bad thing to have happen. (Theres also a glimpse of the LAPDs institutional racism circa 1901: the police arrested three boys, released the white one on his own recognizance, held the Italian while making fun of his little brother for seeking his release, and whatever they did to the black kid after his arrest didnt make the paperswhich provides a bonus glimpse of the Los Angeles Times institutional racism circa 1901.) It doesnt sound like a very fun holiday, except for the part where ghosts ride the streetcars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The editorial was so successful and convincing that no one has celebrated Halloween ever since. Matthew Dessem Halloweens Charm Gone Lots of Bother and No Real Fun Police and Firemen Get Many Calls Gang of Tough Boys Make Life Miserable For Some People All Halloween, the way it was celebrated here last night, was a very sorry kind of festival. Halloween is not a success in cities, and it has degenerated anyhow. About all there is left to it is a signal for a unanimous uprising of tough boys to annoy the police. All the mystic charm of it has gone. Girls dont go down the cellar steps backwards anymore, for one reason because there are no cellars, and for another because girls have come to be too jaded or hopelessly practical to bother about future husbands. And they dont walk through graveyards at night or throw apple peels over their heads. The only place they do this any more is at Halloween parties, and most everybody has come to agree that Halloween parties are a bore. Advertisement So, after all, the only person that is much concerned about Halloween is the man who has to answer the telephone at the Police Station. Last night he had troubles enough. Advertisement The old phone kept a steady jangle going all evening from indignant citizens, who wanted Halloween struck off the calendar. AND THEY DID THINGS Early in the evening, a screechy female voice, which said it came from Grand Avenue, on the hills, rose to announce that boys were bothering her house. The clerk soothed her ruffled spirits and said he would notify the policeman on the watch. Pretty soon she telephoned again. She said they were spattering crude oil over her front sidewalk. I dont know why it is, she wailed, that I am the only one who has reported these boys around here, yet I am not the only one who has been troubled. Advertisement Advertisement The next time she confided to the police clerk, it was to announce that they were ringing her front door bell. Her last message was delivered in a tone of perfect despair. Hello, she said. Is this the police station again? Yes, said the clerk. Well, they have upset the swill barrel now. The patrolman must have rescued her. There were no complaints of a very serious character made. From all quarters of the city, however, trouble calls were sent. IN A POLICEMANS GRIP Advertisement A gang of about fifteen boys gathered on West Tenth street and made the night hideous with their howls. A gang of boys is like a band of coyotes; they sound as though there must be about four times as many, and the neighbors thought they were in the hands of a multitude of maniacs. Advertisement Mike Holleran, the Irishest policeman on the force, gallantly charged the whole gang with his little hatchet. One of them saw him coming and yelled to look out for the cop, and the whole gang scattered. Mike came out of the fracas holding four boys all at once, and took them to the Police Station. They gave the names of Diminick Vantalor, Daniel Berg, and Willie Brown. Willie Brown was black. Young Berg was allowed to go on his own recognizance, and after he had been out a little while, an Italian boy went to the station and wept copious tears in the interests of his brother, Diminick, whose liberty he desired. His grief, although interesting, availed him not. They wouldnt let his brother go. Furthermore, they told him if he didnt get scarce himself, they would arrest him too. He got scarce. Advertisement Advertisement OVERDID THE JOKE When it came to calling out the fire department on false alarms, it was rather overdoing the joke. Advertisement Time after time the gongs would ring and the engines would come ripping down the street with the fog thick in front so they could not see a dozen lengths ahead as they rushed over the slippery pavements. The department was called to First and Wilmington streets just after 9 oclock. Inquiry failed to develop the identity of the person who turned in the alarm. A false alarm was also turned in from the same box the night before, and the engines and truck companies raced a mile or more on a useless errand. The horses had hardly been put up before the engines were called out to answer an alarm at Third and San Pedro, and later a false alarm was turned in from Fifth and Wall streets. At 11:30, the tired teams were dragged out again and sent galloping down to Second and Los Angeles streets to answer a call for a fire which did not exist. Advertisement All the alarms were turned in in the same way. Each time when the department arrived the glass on the box was found broken, but no one was in sight. Advertisement Advertisement TAKEN ON SUSPICION After 11 oclock, Officer Zeigler arrested six boys on Fourth and Hill streets on suspicion of having turned in the false alarm from Fifth and Wall streets. Earlier in the evening, he saw them on Hill street and told them to clear out and go home and they started off in a gang in the direction of Wall street. When Zeigler met them on Hill street again after the false alarm he questioned them closely and they admitted having torn down signs and committed other depredations. Advertisement They were released on their own recognizance, one at a time, so as to break up the gang. GHOSTS RODE Although Saturday is the regular day, the ghost walked last night. There were two of them. Whether they were lady ghosts or he ghosts is not known. They got on a Ninth street car and the conductor did not dare to put them off for fear they might turn out to be women. They were dressed in sheets and masks and high peaked caps, and it was impossible to tell the sex. They did not say a word, but sat solemnly on the outside of the car all the way through town to the terminus of the road. One of the least charming features of Donald Trumps rallies is the traditiongoing all the way back to the campaign trailof supporters surrounding the media pen and screaming at the reporters, who Trump occasionally called out by name. It should surprise no one that one of the people hurling abuse at the press was Cesar Sayoc, who is suspected of eventually graduating to sending mail bombs to everyone on Trumps enemy list, including CNN. Documentarian Michael Moore, who shot a lot of footage at Trump rallies for Fahrenheit 11/9 (and who was pictured on Sayocs van with crosshairs) took a look back at the video from a rally in Melbourne, Florida on Feb. 18, 2017, about a month after the inauguration. Sure enough, theres little Cesar, chanting CNN sucks with the rest of the crew. Heres three minutes of the view from the press pen: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are two notable things about this footage besides how unpleasant it is. The first is that Sayocs sign and t-shirt seem to have been made in the basement with a lot of love, if you see what Im saying. One of his signs has a picture of a coffin labeled CNN and Buzzfeed, which seems like the kind of thing that might send up alarms in a normal political movement. The second is that you can literally see how Sayoc was radicalized. At about 0:47, Sayoc yells something that is not entirely audible, but ends with the word bastards. Its a little bit of an escalationCNN sucks is about as profane as the chants have gotten at that pointand the camera is on him immediately afterwards. Sayoc looks to his right, at the crowd, apparently to see if they approved, then laughs to himself. Its a tiny transgression, a little boundary testing, from a man who seems to have eventually figured out that there werent any boundaries at all. Hes not the only person in the shot acting that way: the entire crowd is egging each other on in a cheerful fellowship of cruelty. And this is one shot, from one rally. There were other rallies, with other supporters. There will be more. As Hollywood continues to reckon with certain industry practices in the #MeToo era, HBO has announced that it will hire intimacy coordinators for all of its shows that feature intimate scenes. The position is a combination of choreographer and advocate, with intimacy coordinators reviewing scripts, advising directors and actors about how to film sex scenes, and offering guidance on the physical execution of the scene itself. HBOs new policy was inspired by The Deuce, which hired its own intimacy coordinator, Alicia Rodis, at the request of Emily Meade, who plays a prostitute-turned-pornographic actress. Advertisement Heres how Rolling Stone describes Rodis role during the filming of a sex scene: She had given Meade a pad for her knees, knowing that the hard floor would bruise them otherwise. Between takes, she offered mouth spray and flavored lubricant. And she had spoken with Meade before the scene about her concerns and relayed them to the director. In a moment when Meade was completely exposed, Rodis was there, providing physical, social and professional protection. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The network reportedly found Rodis through her nonprofit, Intimacy Directors International, which aims to normalize a set of standards and practices surrounding the execution of sex scenes on stage and on film. Rodis has also been hired as an intimacy coordinator on the sets of Crashing, Damon Lindelofs upcoming Watchmen series, and the Deadwood movie, and is training others to work on additional HBO shows. Meade, who lobbied to have an intimacy coordinator position on set, noted that Rodis main role is to ensure that actors are fully informed and that the production is free of harassment. Shes not taking over the scene, or telling anybody to make it more PG than it is, Meade said. [Rodis] has a background in stunt choreography, physicality, body language, and how to perform and protect. She says If you know how many feet youre going to jump, its easier to fully go into it. Advertisement Directors, producers, and actors have been rethinking how they handle sexual subjects, including sexual assault, on film and television sets since the Weinstein scandal erupted in October 2017. Its worth noting that several actresses have accused The Deuce star James Franco of sexually inappropriate or coercive behavior in a professional environment, such as unexpectedly asking actresses to remove their clothing during a scene and removing protective plastic guards while simulating oral sex. Franco has said, through his attorney and in TV appearances, that those charges are not accurate, and HBO and David Simon have said that there were no such complaints about Franco on the set of the The Deuce. Kanye West now has a shirt to go with his Make America Great Again hat: The rapper helped design a line of clothes for Blexit, the campaign that urges black people to leave the Democratic Party. Conservative pundit Candace Owens unveiled the movement and apparel during Turning Point USAs Young Black Leadership Summit in Washington. 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, she said, according to USA Today. The collection includes denim hats and T-shirts that either read Blexit or We Free. Advertisement Blexit, a portmanteau of black exit and a nod to Britains vote to leave the European Union, advertises itself as a frequency for those who have released themselves from the political orthodoxy. Owens explained further in a Breitbart op-ed, writing that the black community has been in an emotionally abusive relationship with the Democrat Party. Both West and Donald Trump have previously applauded Owens for her line of thinking, and the rapper appeared alongside her during the infamous TMZ interview where he called 400 years of slavery a choice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Candace Owens of Turning Point USA is having a big impact on politics in our Country. She represents an ever expanding group of very smart thinkers, and it is wonderful to watch and hear the dialogue going on...so good for our Country! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 9, 2018 Advertisement I love the way Candace Owens thinks ye (@kanyewest) April 21, 2018 The news that West designed the Blexit logo comes just two weeks after his chummy visit to the Oval Office. And yet its hard to know where the rappers political loyalties lie at a given moment, since he also donated more than $73,000 to the Democratic mayoral candidate for Chicago, Amara Enyia, and made a short appearance during one of her campaign events alongside Chance the Rapper. Like so many fans, Id been eagerly awaiting the release of Swedish dance-pop auteur Robyns new album, Honey, her first full-length work in eight years. Id craved another immersion in the salty springs of that unique Robyn feeling, chilly at the surface but warming underneathmusic about taking such full possession of your own sadness that it transports you to unsuspected joys. She gets there in part by setting hurtling-forward dance beats and melodies against the equally unrelenting emotional nerve of her voice and lyrics, as in songs like Dancing on My Own, Be Mine!, Call Your Girlfriend, and With Every Heartbeat. That momentum carries the listener out past the bounds of inhibition, into another zone. Mind, if it were that simple, everybody would do it. And many have tried, with the likes of Taylor Swift, Lorde, Carly Rae Jepsen, and Charli XCX having plainly striven to emulate the force of 2005s Robyn and especially 2010s Body Talkeven though she hasnt had a single song chart on the U.S. Hot 100 since 1998. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, when I first put on Honey this weekend, I could not feel the old salve. It wasnt that her music had changed, though it had in intriguing ways. It was that the week had been too much. There had been the scattering of unexploded pipe bombs across the doorsteps of the supposed enemies of the people (but really of the president), and then the terrorist massacre at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, and the denials from above that mean the horrors wont stop. Meanwhile, I had spent part of the week at private mourning gatherings that reunited complex shards of past and present, which left me lonely for everyone Ive ever lost to death or disconnection, and lamenting losses that havent come yet. It felt absurd to try throwing songs at those feelings, let alone then throwing my words about those songs at the closing-in walls of the world. Advertisement The likes of Taylor Swift, Lorde, Carly Rae Jepsen, and Charli XCX have plainly striven to emulate the force of Robyns past two albums. Yet that dilemma in many ways is just what Honey is about: getting past the silencing power of loss. Robyn began her career in the mid-1990s as a teen-pop protegee of producers such as Max Martin. But despite a couple of international hits, she proved less pliable than the industry wanted, and Martin moved along to Robyn 2.0, aka Britney Spears. (Robyn recently said that Martin has told her artists now constantly bring copies of Body Talk into his studio, saying, I wanna make this, which she found sweet.) She followed with a series of self-reinventions that made her an ambassador for pops richness as an art form and a patron saint for anyone whos ever found salvation on the dance floor, especially in LGBTQ dance clubs, where her dancing-while-crying anthems joined the noble line of soul, disco, and house songs that transmute suffering into communal celebration. But after the astounding productivity of her Body Talk period in her early 30s, a breakup and the death of her longtime collaborator Christian Falk sent her spinning and questioning whether she wanted to carry on making music. It was a long route to piecing herself together, let alone these nine songs. Advertisement Advertisement Honey follows the arc of those years and that recovery. It opens with Missing U, which stretches its arms out into a palpable emptinessthis part of you, this clock that stopped/ This residue, its all Ive got. Musically, this is one of the closest tracks on the album to a prototypical Robyn banger, but even here the shimmering synth runs are more elongated than they would have been eight years ago, less insistent, falling instead like scatterings of rain so that Robyn can wander between them and take the time to observe and absorb. The album goes further into slow motion until it reaches a kind of central stillness with Honey, a song shes said took her four years to finish. Its more languid than the version that was previewed on an episode of HBOs Girls in March of 2017the way its beat buzzes and rolls somehow synesthetically suggests the feeling of reaching over and over into a honey pot and pulling your hand nearly free of the sticky goo before letting it suck you in again. And this kind of push-and-pull is a sonic signature of the album, as if evoking the way that grief lets us go only gradually, never cleanly, always leaving residue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was this dynamic, quite distinct from the levitating magic that prevailed on Body Talk, that I gradually learned to understand as I listened to Honey. I learned to let it into my chest and the base of my spine, to rock with it as if on a small craft in the wavesat first as if self-soothing for anxiety, then in the albums later songs, more sensually, more erotically. This record is much more about process, about working through blockages, than about the transports of earlier Robyn songs, though theyre here too, especially in the climactic Ever Again, which raises a toast to that newfound resiliency as a kind of superpower. (Never gonna be brokenhearted ever again, she declares, tongue darting in and out of cheek). Gradually, the healing Robyn herself found through this music became contagious. Advertisement She became an ambassador for pops richness as an art form and a patron saint for anyone whos ever found salvation on the dance floor. On the Girls episode that hinted this album was coming, the last words Adam Driver spoke over Robyns sighs were If it hurts, youll always remember. Those could be a lyric from Honeyfor instance, from perhaps my favorite track here, Because Its in the Music, which over a Blondie-meetsDonna Summer disco pulse and strings describes being haunted by a piece of music: They wrote a song about us/ Its called something like Stardust/ And on the day they released it/ Same day, you released me/ Even though it kills me/ I still play it every night. She wonders whether her absent lover hears the song the way she does. Its a cheeky flex in the first place to claim that Stardust, Hoagy Carmichaels 90-year-old American Songbook standard, was written about you (the heartbroken are so vain). More brazen yet, as Its in the Music playslike almost every song about a song, including Stardust itselfit expands to displace the original and become the very song its talking about, its own object of mourning, a Proustian cookie to be seasoned with future tears by Robyn-loving lovers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is emblematic of Honey, less the takeoff ramp of Robyn albums past than a spiral slide down into more profound depths. Not to say the rides not fun, for instance in the woozy house jam Send to Robin Immediately (based on 1989s intoxicating club hit French Kiss) or the utterly silly, texting-in-Ibiza electro-samba, Beach2k20. But it is a record by a 39-year-old womanthough one who still loves to danceand part of its potency comes from not posturing otherwise. That also makes Honey an occasion to appreciate Robyns unusual career longevity for a woman in pop, at a time when many of the superstar divas of the past decade-plus have been faltering. Shes in the footsteps of Madonna, although a Madonna without mainstream hits seems like a contradiction in terms. In fact, a lot of Robyns career seems impossible from the vantage point of American pop. How was it possible for her to reject the commercial path while still barely out of her teens (in order to keep two songs about abortion on her second album!) and come back from it to start her own label and control her own destiny? How could she dare to take nearly eight years off when she seemed on the brink of mass breakthrough? And in less practical terms, how did she pinpoint that spot between darkness and light thats her emotional specialty? Advertisement Shes in the footsteps of Madonna, although a Madonna without mainstream hits seems like a contradiction in terms. I think her aesthetic blends what she drew from her teen-pop years with her family background, touring as a child with parents who were part of an itinerant experimental theater troupe called Scheherazade. But her freedom to explore it on her terms also seems distinctively Scandinavian. True, without black American culture, Robyns own dance music couldnt exist, and being white eased her way with the indie and electronic gatekeepers that dubbed her an artists artist in the 2000sbut Im also talking about the social policies that allow these peoples so associated with Ingmar Bergmanstyle winter darkness of the soul to report themselves among the worlds most contented and secure. Robyns radical career moves bespeak that security; as a Canadian, Ive seen how access to public health care alone widens artists range of choices. And in Sweden, music is a particular beneficiary of social largesse. Ever since ABBA (whose happy-sad music is a direct precedent to Robyns) made the country realize music could be a major export, Sweden has poured tons of subsidies into the field, which is part of why Max Martin and other Swedes became such international studio magi. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scandinavia is far from a utopiawitness the situations of the regions immigrants and minoritiesbut the spirit in Robyns music, of utopian potential despite lifes vexations, partly springs from her societys aspirations, as it does for her Nordic peer Bjork. Maybe thats part of why this record proved to be a fairly effective balm for my worldly despair. There are changes that could lower the pressure thats leading so much of the American public (and others around the world) into such dangerous nihilism. Theyre hard, not impossible. As the line from the Jewish teachings of the Pirkei Avot thats been quoted widely since Saturdays temple attack goes, It is not incumbent upon you to complete the work, but neither are you at liberty to desist from it. Or, as Robyn sings on Human Being, the second song here, Theres no resolution/ No honey gold/ Theres no final union/ Theres no control, but there is one step at a time. Dont give up on me now. Lena Dunham is slated to write the screenplay for an adaptation of A Hope More Powerful Than the Sea: One Refugees Incredible Story of Love, Loss, and Survival. Dunham was approached for the project by co-producers Steven Spielberg and J.J. Abrams. The film will tell the true story of Syrian refugee Doaa al Zamel, who left Syria for Egypt in 2011 during the eruption of the countrys devastating civil war. She and her family paid smugglers to take them across the Mediterranean to Sweden, reasoning, It is better to have a quick death in the sea than a slow death in Egypt. Their boat was shipwrecked, forcing her to float in open water with two small children. She survived for days, witnessing the death of her husband and saving her children by holding one in each arm, with only an inflatable water ring for support. The nonfiction book was written by Melissa Fleming, who is the chief spokeswoman for the United Nations high commissioner, and was published by Flatiron. Girls and Camping writer and producer Dunham will adapt the book for Paramount Pictures with Abrams Bad Robot and Spielbergs Amblin Partners. Dunham will also appear next year in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Quentin Tarantinos forthcoming film. This post is part of Outward, Slates home for coverage of LGBTQ life, thought, and culture. Read more here. In the Norman Mailer novel Harlots Ghost, an Eastern Air Lines flight attendant simultaneously dates an executive at her company, Frank Sinatra, John F. Kennedy, the mafia boss Sam Giancana, and the narrator, a CIA agent stationed in Miami. Coffee, tea, or me? stewardesses joked in the 1960s, and while Mailer exaggerated the quality of his characters affairs, the quantity was plausible. A decade later, a lawsuit by a straight truck driver named Carlos Diaz forced airlines to lift their ban on male flight attendants. The me soon included a large proportion of gay men. In a study from the early 90s, Dr. Andrew Boxer concluded that gay flight attendants were building extensive social networks amongst each other, including love relationships, sexual partnerships, and lasting friendships. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Things have changed since the rarified days of Eastern Air Linesrecall the viral video of a man trying to shove a large suitcase into the overhead compartment while a third of the bag sticks out? But for gay men, flight attendant is still an attractive profession because it continues to offer nearly infinite sexual possibilities. An airline is the sexiest working environment there is, said Torsten, who was a steward for 17 years at the German airlines Lufthansa and Condor, recently over coffee in Berlin. For him, there is no other industry with a comparable global culture. Christoph, who asked me to use only his middle name because he is still works at Lufthansa as a chief purser, agreed: Its exotic, sexy. I asked Christoph if that is still true for new hires in an industry now obsessed with cutting costs. When I look at the boys who are just starting now, I think so, he said. There are a lot of them who pay serious attention to their appearance and work hard at looking good in uniform. Advertisement Grindr has revolutionized the sex lives of stewards. Its so useful for them that it might as well have been invented by a flight attendant, Christoph said. Ricky, who was flown for Lufthansa since 2015, told me when he arrives in his hotel room after a flight, he immediately gets undressed and logs on to the app. I have more sex abroad than in Berlin, he said. In Berlin, I know the city already. When I have a layover its more anonymous. Flight attendants are the fresh meat at every place they land, and unlike at home, they dont need to scroll past a litany of familiar torsos for a hookup. Advertisement Stewards have access to different modes of gay life in its gorgeous multiplicity. During a stint as a flight attendant with Japan Air Lines, Christoph went on a date with a Japanese businessman in Tokyo and explored the gay bars of Shinjuku Ni-chome. This was the 90s, when the scene was almost completely closed off to foreigners; it was an eye-opening cultural experience for him that the men there had no interest in a white guy in his mid-20s. Torsten recalled a memorable trip to Cuba in the summer of 2006. Havana is on fire with eroticism and sex. The men walk around with their shirts off, in tight pants, with their dream bodies, he said. And when they follow you with their eyes, and lead you into a side street and then an old massage parlor with one broken table, and the ladies are getting their nails done in the room next to you, and you have sex there those images stay with you. Advertisement Advertisement Sex abroad can be dangerous, giving it a potent electricity that is hard to access back home. When Ricky was scheduled to work a flight to Riyadh, in Saudi Arabiawhere the death penalty can apply for homosexualityhe initially deleted his Grindr account. But then he didnt know how else to spend his time. So he downloaded a VPN service, then Grindr again, and spent a day with a local man. They wandered the city, where preparations for Ramadan festivities were underway, before returning to Rickys hotel and sleeping together. My nerves were tingling the entire time, he said. On another trip, to Tokyo, he noticed that a soldier on a flight was checking him out, but worried it would be inappropriate to slip him his number while he was working. He jotted it down anyway, but as the passengers were departing the aircraft, the man came up to Ricky and gave him his. Advertisement Advertisement There are few other professions with so much potential for sex at work. Christoph comes from a small village in Sweden and remembered being overwhelmed by the coolness of his first itinerary. He hadnt considered the potential for sex until he met a colleague on his very first assignment, to Miami. We had a drink and ended up having a wild night on the beach, he said. Thats how my career began. Even Torsten, who adhered to a strict dont fuck the company policy throughout his career, described two memorable encounters with colleagues. On one flight to the Canary Islands, he ended up in the bathroom of a Boeing 757 aircraft with the chief steward. (It was a little uncomfortable in there, so they postponed sex until after their shift.) On another occasion, he had a threesome on the beach with two flight attendants from British Airways. Ricky has only had sex with a colleague once, and it was by accident: They met on Grindr and realized while making post-coital small talk that they both worked for Lufthansa. Advertisement Advertisement Flight attendants are the fresh meat at every place they land. Major carriers fly to a variety of destinations, so flight attendants can even schedule their shifts according to their taste in men. Ricky likes Toronto, Torsten prefers Sydney and Bangkok, and Christoph has a weakness for Americans. He likes to land in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, and these days requests a trip to Boston once a month. Some stewards take this to an extreme by fetishizing men of certain races and behaving like sex tourists, Christoph added. But there are moments of comedy. When Folsom is happening in San Francisco, the flights are staffed by all-male crews. Later, you run into them on the street in assless chaps, revealed Christoph. Advertisement If Grindr has mostly replaced old-fashioned cruising culture on the ground, the flight attendants uniform still sends a clear message to the wider world. The clothes immediately position flight attendants as objects of desire. You move differently in it, Christoph told me. (Even when off-duty, he favors whites and blues.) After arriving from a trip from Miami back to Frankfurt, Germany, Christoph made eye contact with a man in the airport terminal and ended up having sex with him in a public bathroom. Its like getting back from the club, he said. Youre overtired and horny. And thats when you look your hottest, too. It was very animalistic. Advertisement At the height of the AIDS epidemic, promiscuous gay flight attendants were depicted as handsome psychopathic demons. Gaetan Dugas, the Air Canada steward falsely identified as Patient Zero in the crisis, became an abbreviation for evil in the mainstream press. He dies becoming what every man feared, as Guy Babineau wrote in a 2004 essay re-examining the period. Homosexual desiresexcauses a man to turn into something fearful. As that stigma fades, gay sex is once again turning men into joyous adventurers. Flight attendants are negotiating desire, intimacy, and freedom in new and individual ways. For some, the sexual perks of anonymity and huge supply are a reason to stay in the job until retirement; others start to feel a need for a home. In flight, everything is new, theres no continuity, Torsten said. That was good, but Im not interested in it anymore. Airplanes fly faster than hearts. They fly faster than dicks, too. Want more Outward? Queer your ears with our monthly podcast, available via Apple, Google, and most other platforms. Daniel Mallory Ortberg is online weekly to chat live with readers. Heres an edited transcript of this weeks chat. Daniel Mallory Ortberg: Good morning, everyone. Lets chat. Q. My daughters new friends: Ive been best friends with Claudia for most of my life. Until recently, our 11-year-old daughters Maggie (mine) and Laura (hers) were inseparable. This spring, Maggie began hanging out with a more popular group of kids; some of her new friends pick on Laura. The girls friendship was rocky over the summer, and now that school has resumed, Maggie all but shuns Laura. I have tried but am failing to like Maggies new friendssince shes started spending time with them, shes been in trouble for talking back to teachers and for joining in their bullying. My relationship with Claudia has become tense, and I dont blame her. Itd be very painful to watch Laura treat Maggie the way Maggie has treated Laura. Im so frustrated by Maggies new attitude. I find myself resenting her for the wedge that has been driven between Claudia and me. I love my daughter, but I dont like her right now, and I dont know how to welcome her new friends into my home when I know theyre bullies. Do you have any advice? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A: Im so sorryit has to feel so difficult to parent a kid whos still young enough to need patience and guidance as they figure out how to empathize and avoid the thrill of feeling powerful by bullying, but also old enough to act like a real jerk. When it comes to your friendship with Claudia, I think you should give her some space while also making it clear how much you care about and support both her and her daughter. Let her know that you understand if its hard for her to spend time together right now, that youre available to get lunch or catch up one on one if she ever feels up to it, and that youre working hard to keep your daughter accountable for her own behavior. When it comes to dealing with Maggie, do any other parents whose kids took a sudden left turn into bullying and cruelty around middle school want to talk about whats worked for them? Either in helping their children change their behavior or simply in maintaining their own sanityideally both. Advertisement Q. Mutual crush gone too far?: Im in a happy, committed relationship of five years with my boyfriend, Tom. Ive been a serial monogamist for much of my adult life, but recently Tom and I have begun discussing opening our relationship. Ive also had a very flirtatious relationship with a guy in my friend group, Will, who is also in a long-term relationship. I strongly suspected a mutual attraction. Last weekend, Will and I ended up kissing while our friend group was out dancing. Kissing is allowed in our current relationships, but I didnt tell Tom right away and it caused a fight. I told Tom that I would hash things out with Will and end our flirtation. Will was very kind about the whole thing. He apologized for putting me in a difficult spot and acknowledged what he was doing. However, it deviated back into a very flirty, intense conversation thats left me feeling more confused than before. I really dont want to ruin things with Tom, but the attraction between me and Will is so intense that Im starting to feel as though Im not in control. How do I deal with my crush? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A: One thing that can help reframe unhelpful thinking when one is in the throes of a willpower-obliterating crush is to restate events with an emphasis on just who did what. Ive noticed that whenever people talk about someone theyre feeling really wild about, they sometimes lose the ability to describe who did what: It deviated back into a very flirty, intense conversation. What deviated into flirtation? The conversation. Who was having the conversation? You and Will. Rather than end the conversation at Thanks for the apology, I was also partly to blame, lets talk later, you both decided to give space to loop back into your mutual admiration and chose to start flirting. You two didnt end up kissing, eitheryou decided to kiss each other with your brains and bodies. Youre now feeling confused, but instead of sharing that with your partner, youve decided to keep the bewildering, flirtatious end of your last conversation with Will a secret from him. Crushes are powerful, thats definitely true, but theyre not irresistible forces of nature that mow down the human ability to make decisions. Advertisement My fear is that youre setting up a situation where Will becomes all the more appealing for being forbidden. If you dont want to ruin things with your boyfriend, talk to him honestly about your feelings, your concerns, and what you want out of this situation. Dont have secret, off-the-books conversations with Will that are ostensibly about setting boundaries (We shouldnt kiss again) but that are really about mutual titillation (We really shouldnt kiss again. God, it was so wrong, the last time we kissed. I feel like a terrible person with a sexy, angst-ridden conflict.) I cant promise that youll be able to rebuild trust with Tom overnight, or that your feelings for Will are going to immediately dissipate, but if your goal here is to prioritize your primary relationship and figure out how to build a new kind of openness together thats not just a morass of impulsive decisions and hurt feelings, then you need to drag your crush out in the open and expose it to plenty of light and air. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How to Get Advice From Prudie: Send questions for publication to prudence@slate.com. (Questions may be edited.) Join the live chat Mondays at noon. Submit your questions and comments here before or during the discussion. Call the voicemail of the Dear Prudence podcast at 401-371-DEAR (3327) to hear your question answered on a future episode of the show. Q. I accidentally poisoned my colleague: A few months ago, somebody started stealing my clearly labelled lunch from our common fridge at work. I immediately escalated with the office manager, sent a note to all my colleagues, and generally tried to discourage the behavior. But nothing seemed to have any effect. Finally, I got frustrated, and decided to add a nontoxic stain to my lunch box. Unfortunately, it turns out that my colleague Bill is violently allergic to the stain and had to be hospitalized after stealing my lunch. I feel terrible, but Im also worried that I could lose my job or face other consequences if this is escalated internally and equally quite angry that this dirtbag thought it was OK to repeatedly steal from me in the workplace. Do I have any responsibility here? Should I raise this with HR? Or should I let sleeping dogs lie and hope it all passes over? Advertisement Advertisement A: Ask a Manager had a very similar letter a year or so ago, although the letter writer in that situation didnt add anything intentionally to their lunch to cause an allergic reaction. If your co-worker is in the hospital, you should consult a lawyer before saying anything to HR. In general, while having your lunch stolen is genuinely frustrating, you should have asked yourself, at the point of purchasing and applying a nontoxic stain to your sandwich, whether you were expending your energy and talents in a reasonable, healthy way. Especially because nontoxic does not necessarily mean safe to eat. Talk to a lawyer. Advertisement Q. Vacation rental breakdown: I have a question about vacation etiquette, specifically about the fairest way for friends to break down the cost of group travel. My husband and I are planning a trip with another couple and their teenager. In the past, weve booked two-bedroom accommodations with this couple, whose child, at the time, was fine to bunk in their room. We would then split the lodging cost 50-50. Now that their son is well into his teens, his parents requested an extra room so he has his own space during our trip. I totally understood and booked the lodging accordingly. Obviously, larger rentals cost more. This family is travel-savvy, which is why I am baffled that they only sent half of the total bill. I assumed that theyd cover two-thirds of the bill, since they needed the extra room. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I feel like its too late to ask for them to fork over more money. Next time, would I be out of line to lay out the specifics of the costs in advance? Am I being unreasonable in expecting friends to pay by the number of bedrooms they need? A: Its not too late. Just say, Since this is a three-bedroom instead of our usual two-bedroom, your share of the bill comes to X instead of Y. When you get the chance, send over [remaining amount]. Thanks! Q. Generous neighbor: My neighbors are an older couple who I genuinely enjoy being friends with. The problem is that the husband gives me gifts every time I see him, which is often. Its usually something free or inexpensive, like a pretty rock, paperback book, or something he made. But this week he gave me something that would be worth $40 if it was new (it is used and unsellable, but thats how much he would have to pay to get a new one to use again himself). Advertisement Advertisement I worry that he feels like he has to give me something, since Ive done things for him like help him shower, dress, changed bandages for him, etc. Im thinking about asking his wife whether she is even OK with him giving me so many things. I believe it would hurt his feelings if I brought it up with him or refused his gifts. I love these folks and dont want to do the wrong thing. Should I ask his wife for her opinion? How could I word it so that I dont hurt anyone or seem ungrateful? Advertisement A: Im a little curious about some of the details of this situation! Is your neighbors wife usually not around when hes either giving you these gifts or youre rendering these (fairly personal) acts of assistance? My read on this letter is that youre a little nervous that this attention may be borderline romantic, and you want to get her read on the situation because hes trying to give you gifts under her radar. If thats not the case, and youre truly just worried hes giving you these gifts out of a sense of obligation, I think you can let it goit probably makes him feel more like you two are on equal footing, both giving each other little gifts or acts of service when you can, and preserving his sense of independence. But if you do feel uncomfortable with the constant gift-giving and want to make sure its not a secret his wife doesnt know about, then the next time youre with them both, just say: Jim, I really appreciated the book you gave me last week, but please dont feel like you have to get me something every time you see meIm perfectly happy just to enjoy both of your company. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Q. Re: My daughters new friends: Strip the friendship with Claudia angst from the letter. The reality boils down to your daughter being unkind to people. Youor her father, or bothneed to have a long talk with her about the evil of unkindness, and how it pains you to see her acting this way. You also have to strip away privileges from her if her behavior doesnt change. Decide before talking to her what those privileges will be. Make this all about kindness in general. Do not bring Laura into the conversation at all. A: My read is that the letter writer is working to shut down cruel and bullying behavior when it arises, but that talking back to her teachers, etc., is an ongoing problem. But I agree, its absolutely crucial to prioritize Maggies bullying and making sure it stops. Also, if the letter writer isnt comfortable having the girls who lead the bullying over at the house, its fair to say they cant spend the night. The letter writer may not be able to control who Maggie is friends with, but they can certainly have rules about the kind of behavior they will and wont allow in the house. Advertisement Advertisement Q. Unprofessional friends: Like a lot of folks, I have a side hustle in a creative field, and I do social media marketing. A few of my real-life acquaintances who also do creative work do the same thing. As a way of networking and building goodwill and support among local creatives, I followed (via my professional side-hustle social media accounts) their (also supposedly professional) social media accounts. And now Im regretting it. These women are supposed to be running businesses or organizations, but their social media feeds are primarily selfies that show a lot of cleavage, full body shots in revealing clothes, and the few nonselfie posts are quotes about how a good man should treat you. They are more like the kind of profiles youd see on dating sitesin fact one of these acquaintances recently griped on social media about how she gets so many dick pics and guys DMing her for booty calls. I just wanted to shake her and ask her, Well, what do you expect? Advertisement Advertisement I really just want to unfollow them, but theyll know. And I dont want to offend them; they are both nice women that I have cordial relationships with. Should I say something to them? If so, how can I say it without coming across as judgmental? Its not just that it makes me want to unfollow them; Im sure they are driving clients away because of this. Advertisement Advertisement A: If you need to mute them, you can do so; if youd rather unfollow them, you should do it. If anyone were tone-deaf enough to ask you why youd unfollowed them, you can always say something bland like, I was getting overwhelmed with the number of accounts I was following and had to scale it back only to people in my particular field. Advertisement Its also worth mentioning that posting a picture of oneself fully dressed, whether in a body-conscious dress or a full ski suit, is not an invitation for other people to send a dick pic. The only invitation to send a dick pic is, Please send me a picture of your dick at your earliest convenience. Interrogate your own desire to shake these women. You are not certain theyre driving away clients because they post selfies; you want to offload your own discomfort by presenting it as something youre sure lots of other people would share. You are being judgmental of them. Being judgmental is not always a bad thing and doesnt make you a horrible monster, but in this case I dont think your instinctive judgmental response should drive your behavior. Since it doesnt sound like youre close with these women, and you dont work together, and theyve never asked you for your professional advice, keep your opinions about how they dress or present themselves online to yourself and focus on your own business. Advertisement Advertisement Get Prudie in Your Inbox Sign up for the Dear Prudence mailing list to receive notifications of new columns and chats. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. Q. Dog not welcome: I live several hours away from my family and travel to them for the holidays. My parents recently purchased a new house and told everyone that it would be dog-free. We also have a vacation house nearby that is rented out for parts of the year. My dog is my best friend; more like family than a pet. He is a rescue with kennel anxiety, and his normal sitter does not keep dogs over the holidays. I mentioned staying at the vacation house so that my dog could still be with me for the holidays. My dad quickly informed me that it is also not pet-friendly, holding me to the same rules as the complete strangers who rent it. I asked in a very straightforward way if they would be OK trading away time with me during one of my few annual opportunities to visit by enforcing this new policy, which would require me to find and pay for somewhere else to stay and then run back and forth to check on my dog. The answer was yes. Advertisement I feel incredibly hurt by this. Both of my siblings have children who are way more destructive than my old dog, who sleeps 16 hours a day, has never had an accident inside, and has never chewed anything up. My parents told me their dogsitting days are over, but Ive never once asked them to keep my dog or even watch my dog when I have visited in the past. He goes with me wherever I go and has never been their responsibility. Advertisement Advertisement They have kept my siblings dogs and children hundreds of times over the years. My very pragmatic partner was present during the conversation and was even taken aback by the coldness from my parents (I was in tears and they didnt flinch). My partner told me that I could go with him to his family celebration, which is near where I live. My parents would be very upset if I did this, and I would miss out on spending time with other family members. One of my siblings wants to intervene on my behalf. Im not sure if it is worth the potential family drama. My parents were very clear about their new priorities. I feel like my parents are being dismissive and cruel by banning my best friend from their home. Am I being overly sensitive? Advertisement Advertisement A: My only sense that there might be something more going on beneath the surface is that line about your parents taking your siblings dogs hundreds of times over the years. Does this new policy also apply to them? If theyre applying it inconsistently, then I can understand why you feel singled out. But as much as you love your dog and consider him part of your family, I dont think its unreasonable for your parents to feel a stronger connection to their own grandchildren than to your pet, nor do I think its unreasonable for them to say they dont want to host pets along with their human guests. Advertisement When you say we have a vacation home, my read on it is that your parents own a vacation home, and you and your siblings have all been able to stay there (as well as at their main house) many times over the years. It sounds fairly generous of them, and I can understand they might feel a little exhausted after years of young kids and a variety of dogs roughhousing through their homes. Even if your dog is especially well-behaved, once they make one exception, itll be more difficult to keep from making others. I dont see your parents decision as either dismissive or cruel, although if they have a habit of responding coldly when you exhibit powerful emotions, that may well be worth talking about in a separate conversation. Advertisement As for the holidays, I think you should either find another sitter who can take your dog or book a room at a nearby hotel that allows you to travel with him. You have at least a few weeks (or a few months, depending on the holiday) to make arrangements, which is a good thing. I dont think youre wrong to care deeply about your dogs well-being, and if ultimately you decide you cant make the trip this year because you need more time to find the right sitter, I think thats a fair decision. But I dont think you should decline to attend out of a sense of being unjustly treated, or to punish your parents for their perceived cruelty, either. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Q. While my brother is out to sea: My sister-in-law has a problem with the beer or two my brother takes to relax from working on a submarine and is threatening to divorce him while hes out to sea. The bad thing is I am living with her, since I just moved out here for a job. She is constantly bagging on my brother. Life is miserable, and I dont know what to do until my brother gets back. What would you recommend? A: Start saving up for your own place and look for an apartment as soon as youre able. In the meantime, if she tries to vent to you about your brother: Im really sorry you two are having a difficult time. Im not comfortable discussing my brothers marriage when hes not around; Im not available to talk about this. Advertisement Q. Re: My daughters new friends: While they are working to help their respective daughters through this issue, both the letter writer and Claudia need to keep in mind that it is not mandatory that the girls be best friends, even though their mothers are. What is non-negotiable, however, is that they be civil to each other. (Nice would be better than civil, but maybe they can get back to that after the bullying is addressed.) A: Yes, absolutely, although Id stress that the civility/niceness needs to be addressed more on Maggies side than on Lauras. Laura hasnt had a problem being nice or civil, it doesnt sound like. Discuss this column with Dear Prudence on his Facebook page! Before the tragic deaths of four American and five Nigerien soldiers on Oct. 4, few Americans realized that U.S. troops were deployed to the West African country. While much of the media coverage since then has focused on how long it took President Trump to call the families of the four Americans who were killed, and what he said to them once he did, questions are also now being rightly asked about the incident itself. How could well-equipped American special forces have been ambushed and overwhelmed? Why did it take so long to recover the body of one of the fallen? What was the role of military contractors in this situation? And just what are American troops doing in Niger to begin with? Advertisement Those are reasonable and important questions, and the families of the nine soldiers deserve answers. But some normally responsible commentators are delving into speculation about the cause of this crisis that crosses the line from reasonable speculation to irresponsible conspiracymongering. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Case in point: MSNBC host Rachel Maddow. On her Thursday night show, in her trademark Im just asking questions style, Maddow suggested that the Trump administrations recently implemented travel ban against Chadian citizens might have something to do with the deaths of these soldiers. On Sept. 24, Chad was added to the list of countries in the latest edition of the administrations ban. This puzzled many observers, as Chad is a major partner of the U.S. in counterterrorism missions. (A CBS report this week suggested that the Chadian governments failure to provide new passports for analysis was to blame.) Since then, Chad has withdrawn hundreds of troops from Niger, where they were working with local forces to fight Boko Haram, and theres been some speculation that this was related to the ban. Maddow took this speculation a step further by suggesting that because the Chadian troops had been pulled out, American troops were left more vulnerable than they otherwise might have been. Advertisement Advertisement Many on the left are comparing the Niger story to the 2012 attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, that left U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans dead. Attempts on the right to pin responsibility for the tragedy on incompetence or malfeasance by the Obama administration came to naught, despite 33 congressional hearings on the events of that day. Maddows approach to this storyjust asking questions that are neither based in evidence nor likely to contribute to an accurate understanding of what happened in Niger and whydrags liberals down the same path that conservatives traveled with Benghazi, one of irrational, fearmongering claims that only serve to prolong the suffering of the families of the fallen while doing nothing to explain the root causes of the event. In doing so, Maddow also preyed upon Americans lack of knowledge about Africa, a widespread problem that ranges from not understanding how large the continent is to major news organizations mislabeling maps for national broadcast. Advertisement Advertisement Maddows speculation, which mirrors a conspiracy theory pushed by the Palmer Report, a fringe website, might be tempting to believe, but it makes several key errors. First, there is simply no evidence that the withdrawal of Chadian forces from Niger had anything to do with the ambush. Examining the basic geography of the crisis makes this clear. Chads involvement in Niger was limited to the fight against Boko Haram, a Nigeria-based extremist movement that terrorizes civilians in northwest Nigeria, southeast Niger, southern Chad, and northern Cameroon. The Chadians were deployed to the Diffa region, where they fought effectively against Boko Haram and restored a semblance of stability to communities the extremists had terrorized. Their withdrawal has upset communities in the Diffa region, who (rightly) believe that their own governments forces are incapable of protecting them from a renewed Boko Haram threat. Advertisement Advertisement As you can see from this map, Diffa is on the opposite side of Niger from Tongo Tongo, where the ambush occurred. Nigerian forces and their American advisers in this region of Niger were not dealing with Boko Haram but instead were working to protect communities from other extremist groups that are active in the region where Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso meet. One of these groups, the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara, is suspected of perpetrating the Niger attack. Chadian forces were not involved in counterterror efforts in this area. There are Chadians involved in the fight against ISGS and other extremist groups across the border in northern Mali, where they continue to serve, but they do not engage in Niger. Advertisement In her segment, Maddow incorrectly claimed that Chadian forces were protecting civilians from the ISIS-affiliated ISGS. This simply isnt true; Chadian forces were never fighting ISGS in Niger. They were fighting a completely different enemy in a different part of the country. Advertisement Might the withdrawal of the Chadians have somehow emboldened ISGS to feel more confident in attacking American forces in Tongo Tongo? Its unlikely due to the geographic factors noted above. Theres also no evidence that Niger withdrew troops from its west to fill the security vacuum left by the Chadians in the east. Even if that had happened, Nigerien military forces are so weak that their presence likely would have made little difference in the moment of crisis. Advertisement Advertisement The sad truth is that what happened in Niger was almost certainly the result of human error coupled with bad luck. The attacks perpetrators sensed an opportunity, American and Nigerien forces underestimated their vulnerability, and the attack had tragic consequences. What unfolded in those hours is unknown to most of us for now, but there will surely be investigations into what happened. The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday that the FBI has joined military investigators looking into the incident. American forces have been in Niger since 2012. Currently, there are about 800. Their primary mission is to advise and assist Nigers armed forces in their fight against terrorist groups that attack their citizens. This means that American soldiers are not technically at war with the terror groups; they are there to assist the Nigeriens with tasks like locating the enemy, developing strategies and tactics, and building relationships with local leaders, whose knowledge is essential for getting accurate information about terrorists activities in a very remote part of the world. Advertisement The Niger mission is part of the growth of the U.S. military presence in Africa that began under the Bush administration and greatly expanded under Obama. American forces are deployed to numerous countries undertaking a wide variety of missions, almost all of which fall under the advise and assist mode of operation. While many of these missions are secretive for obvious reasons, their existence is not. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advise and assist missions are often more dangerous than they sound. As they have increased over the years, so have the risks to American and partner forces. The likelihood was high that a tragedy of this nature would happen somewhere in Africa, sooner or later. So why is Maddow pushing this narrative? Its true that by framing it as a hypothesis she didnt say events actually unfolded this way. But using her considerable platform to introduce a wild conspiracy theory into the public debate about a confusing and unfamiliar situation was irresponsible and unnecessary. Why didnt Maddows producers call any of the number of academics who study terrorism and counterterror efforts in the Sahel? Every one of those scholars would have shot down this idea immediately, based on simple, readily available public information. Advertisement Niger is unfamiliar to most Americans, and theres a need for a long-overdue debate about why American forces are there and in other places around the world in the borderless and seemingly endless Global War on Terror. Are the threats to the United States from groups like ISGS really significant enough to spend billions of dollars deploying troops to fight them? Should lives be risked and lost in service of murky goals that often seem tangential to U.S. interests? These are questions worth asking. But trying to score political points by politicizing a tragedy with factual errors and the confusion of correlation for causation wont bring the answers we, and the families of the Niger fallen, so desperately need. Some elections only turn out to be historic with the benefit of hindsight. When Mikhail Gorbachev became general secretary of the Soviet Communist Party on March 11, 1985, for example, the event did not seem particularly significant to most Kremlinologists. Today, we know that it was the beginning of the end of the Soviet Union. In other cases, contemporaries instantly grasped the significance of an electoral upset. Though it was too early thenand remains too early nowto predict what exactly the election of Donald Trump might wreak, the victory of a proud outsider with such open disdain for the most basic rules and norms of liberal democracy clearly heralded the beginning of a new age. Advertisement Jair Bolsonaros election as president of Brazil falls squarely into this second category. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An extremist outsider until a year ago, Bolsonaro skyrocketed in popularity with a supercharged version of the populist playbook. Railing against a corrupt elite, he attacked gay people, denigrated women, and praised the military dictatorship that ruled the country from the 1960s to the 1980s. On Sunday, he handily defeated Fernando Haddad, a gray standard-bearer of the scandal-plagued Workers Party, in a runoff. Until Bolsonaros victory, it was possible (though perhaps not altogether plausible) to tell the story of Brazilian democracy as one of erratic progress. Since the overthrow of the countrys last military dictatorship in 1985, there were about four changes of government through free and fair elections. The countrys GDP grew from about $1,600 to over $10,000 per capita. The commitment to democracy gradually spread. Advertisement The biggest democracy in Latin America is now in mortal danger. Even the political turbulence of the past two decades could be given a positive spin: The election of Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva and Dilma Rousseff, the left-wing Workers Partys previous leaders, showed that Brazilian democracy was capable of integrating groups that had formerly been marginalized into its political institutions. Their subsequent indictments on corruption charges and Rousseffs removal from office threw the country into chaos and was perceived as illegitimate by many of the partys supporters, but it also did show that it was possible to hold the powerful to account for their misdeeds. Advertisement As of yesterday, it has become impossible to cast the past half-century of Brazilian politics in such a positive light. Instead, it is now the unresolved problems that seem more salient: The deep polarization of society. The vast economic gulf between the rich and the poor. The deep-seated disenchantment with democratic institutions. And of course the fact that even the politicians who set out to clean up the mess have, time and again, turned out themselves to have a penchant for corruption. Advertisement Advertisement As a result, the biggest democracy in Latin America is now in mortal danger. Over the past few years, we have seen how much damage authoritarian populists can do to democracy even in countries, like the United States, that are extremely prosperous and have a very long democratic tradition. Brazil can boast of neither of these advantages: Like many other countries in Latin America, it has never completely managed to shake its authoritarian legacy. And though the country has made significant economic progress in the past few decades, its GDP has not yet reached six digitsstill significantly shy of the kind of wealth countries have historically needed to be safe from democratic backsliding. In short, a democracy with especially big structural challenges now faces an especially ruthless authoritarian challenger. The danger to Brazils democratic institutions is very serious indeed. Advertisement Advertisement This fact is, in itself, so horrific that I feel a little reluctant to distract from its significance by drawing broader inferences from it. And yet the developments in Brazil do underline four important lessons that are of huge relevance beyond Latin America. If we fail to understand them, we risk underestimating the dangers that many countries outside of Brazilincluding the United Stateswill continue to face for years to come. 1) The populist wave is still accelerating Every time populists fail to win an election outright somewhere in the world, well-intentioned hopemongers declare that the populist wave has finally crested. The reality, sadly, looks different. Even though they were very far from taking power in Sweden in elections this September, for example, the countrys far-right populists did achieve their best ever result. Many other elections this year have brought far worse news: In Hungary, Viktor Orban was confirmed in office for another four years, with hopes of him ever being removed through democratic means continuing to dwindle. In Italy, populists pulled off an astounding upset, winning nearly two-thirds of the vote and forming an extremist government that is already assaulting democratic institutions. Advertisement Advertisement In the aggregate, the trend is unfortunately very clear: 2018 has been a bumper year for the enemies of liberal democracy. Populists continue to be on the rise and now rule in more countries than ever. 2) No single leader can save us from the populists The sky, the saying goes, is darkest just before dawn. Since the world feels plenty dark right now, I fervently hope that this piece of motivational folk wisdom will turn out to be true. But I increasingly fear that the inverse is just as likely: In many democracies that have fallen prey to populists, the day has been brightest just before dusk. Advertisement Take the case of Lula. Born into dire poverty in the city of Caetes, he became a shining light of Latin Americas left. Under his leadership, the Workers Party fought for the poor and pushed for an expanded welfare statewithout assaulting democratic institutions or vilifying the countrys corporations. During his first years in office, Lula therefore looked as though he would help to reconcile the countrys least advantaged groups with the political system and to consolidate its democracy. Advertisement But in the end, it was, in good part, Lulas failings that paved the way to Bolsonaros victory. Because of economic mismanagement, the gains of the first years faded away the longer the Workers Party stayed in office. Worse still, both Lula and his handpicked successor, Dilma Rousseff, were charged with serious counts of corruption.* The fact that such a figure of hope could turn out to be so fallible did much to make ordinary Brazilians profoundly cynical. The ascent of as blunt and angry an authoritarian as Bolsonaro probably would not have been possible without it. Unlike Lulas, Obamas presidency was remarkably free of scandal. The fact that he was ultimately unable to deliver on many of his promises had more to do with the obstinacy of his opponents than with any failings of his own. And yet it is hard to look at the past 10 years of American politics and avoid thinking that there is a certain similarity to the Brazilian case: Obamas election raised outsized hopes. When many of these hopes were dashed, a lot of Americans grew deeply cynical. And a substantial portion of those cynics then decided to send a giant, orange wrecking ball to Washington. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That, in turn, is not a good omen for countries, like France, that have now invested outsized hopes in charismatic leaders who presented themselves as the last line of defense against the rise of populism. Indeed, after sweeping to office on a huge wave of popularity, Emmanuel Macron is already facing a deeply disappointed electorate. According to recent polls, less than a third of French citizens now approve of his performance on the job. But it is far from clear who might succeed him. So unless Macron, improbably, manages to turn his presidency around, France could face its own Trump or Bolsonaro in 2022. 3) Countries dont learn from their history Brazils military dictatorship, which ruled the country for 21 years, was exceptionally brutal. When Brazilians finally managed to overthrow the generals and build a seemingly robust democracy, it looked as though the countrys intimate experience of dictatorship would protect it from authoritarian temptations for the foreseeable future. But this turned out not to be the case: Even though Bolsonaro has actively lauded the dictatorship in the past, a clear majority of his citizens have now entrusted him with the highest office in the land. As Marcelo Paiva, a Brazilian writer whose father was tortured and killed by the military regime, wrote in the wake of the election: I thought that the life of my father and the suffering of my family and of many others was an essential chapter to help Brazil reflect and evolve. We never imagined that our struggle and pain would serve no purpose. Advertisement Advertisement Another election that took place on Sunday shows that Brazil is not the only country in which elites have long been too willing to assume that a dark past would somehow pave the way for a brighter future. When I traveled to Berlin to talk to some of Germanys most senior politicians in the fall of 2016, at a time when the far-right Alternative for Germany already enjoyed double-digit support in many polls, nearly all of them assured me that Germans, well aware of the dangers of fascism, would never give the far-right the 5 percent they needed to enter the Bundestag. Less than 12 months later, they got 13 percent in federal elections held in September 2017, becoming the countrys third-strongest party. Advertisement Advertisement Alternative for Germanys streak of success has only continued since. Just this past Sunday, it took 13 percent of the vote in Hesse, a state that should provide them with less fertile hunting ground. Thanks to this latest victory, the party is now represented in every single state parliament in the country. While Germans are far from handing the levers of power over to right-wing populists, the widespread belief that the Nazi past would make it impossible for a far-right populist party to establish itself in the country has clearly turned out to be deeply naive; and if that is true of Germanya country that has grappled with its totalitarian past much more deeply than mostits fair to fear that the same could, under the right circumstances, turn out to be true of just about every other country in the world as well. 4) Authoritarian demagogues can thrive in diverse countries Demography, it turns out, is not destiny. Advertisement Advertisement Particularly in the United States, many people equate authoritarian populism with xenophobia, and xenophobia with white people. A candidate like Trump, they believe, can only appeal to a dwindling white majority running scared because it is about to lose its privileges. A surprisingly hopeful conclusion follows from this frightening premise: Because the United Statesand many other countries around the worldare growing more diverse, the potential for authoritarian populists keeps shrinking. If only we get through the next few years, the good side will win the demographic race and triumph over the populists. Bolsonaros success shows that this is simply not the case. Though his views on race relations are hardly enlightened, his form of authoritarian populism is built not on overt racial appeals but rather on sexism, homophobia, and a strident defense of traditional values. As a result, Bolsonaro has managed to win well over half of the vote in a country that is already majority minority. Advertisement Advertisement The same, Im afraid, could easily be possible in the United States. Even though Donald Trump is continually stoking resentment against immigrants from Central America, for example, a recent poll showed that more than four in 10 Latinos approve of his performance in office. If even a president who relies on such nakedly racial appeals is capable of winning a lot of support among minority voters, one can only imagine how much more appealing an authoritarian populist who actually tries to mobilize these groups might prove. In short, the rise of Bolsonaro shows that Brazilian democracy now faces an acute threat; that the populist wave continues to go strong; that we should not trust democratic messiahs to deliver us from the many devils lurking in the shadows; that even countries which have, in living memory, experienced the horrors of authoritarian rule can entrust their fate into the hands of another strongman; and of course that, in moments of perceived crisis, citizens are liable to throw the lessons of their own countrys dark history to the wind. The threat posed by populism is neither short-lived nor cured by any magical tonic known to man. Democracies around the worldnot just in Latin America but also in Western Europe and North Americawill have to grapple with the danger it poses for many decades to come. It wasnt even close. Brazil became the latest country to shift to the far right Sunday when voters elected controversial candidate Jair Bolsonaro to be the countrys next president. With almost all the votes counted, Bolsonaro had 55.5 percent of the votes against 44.4 percent for his opponent, Fernando Haddad, in the runoff election. Lots of people gathered outside the congressmans house in an upscale suburb of Rio de Janeiro to celebrate the results. The former Army captain, who has been compared to both Donald Trump and the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte, has praised Brazils military dictatorship and spoken positively about torture. He has also made numerous homophobic, racist, and misogynist comments that led many to accuse him of inciting violence against minorities. More recently, Bolsonaro has threatened to jail or exile his political opponents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bolsonaros clear victory was widely interpreted as a rejection of traditional politics in a country that has been engulfed in a political and economic crisis for years. His tough-on-crime stance that vowed to give more leeway to law enforcement to kill criminals also appealed to Brazilians fed up with rising crime. He has also said he wants to make it easier for Brazilians to buy weapons to fight crime themselves. People are very angry, Lilia M. Schwarcz, a professor of anthropology at the University of Sao Paulo, told Slates Isaac Chotiner after the first round. People are very mad at politicians and Bolsonaro presented himself not as a politician, even if he is, [but as] a kind of Messiah. People like these kinds of promises. Advertisement Advertisement Analysts didnt mince words when it came to analyzing what the results meant. The extreme right has conquered Brazil, Celso Rocha de Barros, a Brazilian political columnist, told the election night webcast of Piaui magazine. Brazil now has a more extremist president than any democratic country in the world we dont know what is going to happen. Scott Mainwaring, a professor at Harvard Universitys Kennedy School of Government, tells the New York Times the election marks a really radical shift not just for the country but the region as a whole. I cant think of a more extremist leader in the history of democratic elections in Latin America who has been elected, he said. In case you need a refresher on who Bolsonaro is, John Oliver did a segment on him a few weeks ago in which he called on Brazilians to not elect a dangerous ideologue with potentially disastrous consequences. A passenger plane carrying 189 people crashed into the sea Monday shortly after taking off from Jakarta, Indonesia. All passengers and crew are feared dead. Authorities launched a rescue mission to look for survivors of Lion Air Flight JT610, but none have been found. Authorities say they do not expect to find any survivors. According to CNN, rescuers have pulled six bodies from the water. Debris from the airplane and items belonging to the passengers have also begun to surface. Among the passengers were 20 employees from Indonesias Finance Ministry, who were on their way back from a holiday, as well as one child and two infants. Advertisement Just a few minutes after takeoff around 6:20 a.m., the pilot requested to return to the airport and was cleared. But the plane never turned around, and 13 minutes after takeoff, just after losing contact, the plane plummeted 3,000 feet into the sea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was no bad weather to blame for the accident, and the pilot and copilot were experienced. The Lion Air Groups chief executive said at a news conference that the plane, a Boeing 737 Max 8 that had been in operation since August, had experienced a technical issue on a flight the night before but had been fixed and cleared for use, according to the BBC. Lion Air is Indonesias largest budget airline. It has had several accidents since it was established in 1999, but none have been fatal. Divers, along with sonar scanners from naval ships, are searching for the wreckage underwater. Authorities hope that by locating the black box, they can shed some light onto the cause of the crash. Reports that President Donald Trump wants to send 5,000 more troops to the Southern border, at first, come as a shock. Its a startlingly high number. To put it in perspective, NATO recently deployed 4,500 troops in the Baltic nations to deter and repel a Russian tank assault. How many troops could possibly be needed to stave off an unarmed caravan of refugees walking up through Mexicoeven if, as Trump and Vice President Mike Pence maintain, with no evidence, Middle Eastern terrorists are hiding in their midst? Advertisement As might be imagined, this is not a Pentagon initiative. Last week, Secretary of Defense James Mattis ordered a mere extra 800 troops to the border, to augment the 2,000 National Guard personnel sent there last spring, and even that seemed a bit of a sop to Trumps clamoring. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement News of a 5,000-troop upgrade, reported in Mondays Wall Street Journal, may reflect a White House wishful dream. Planning is still underway, a Defense Department spokesman said Monday. It remains premature to speculate total numbers or specific forces to be selected to accomplish the requested missions. One Pentagon official further told me that those requested missions came from the Department of Homeland Security as a list of desired capabilities. It is the role of DOD planners to determine numbers required for those capabilities, he said. Advertisement The Pentagon teems with creative bookkeepers, adept at stretching the requirements to whatever contours the commander desires. These capabilities are not the stuff of combat brigades. In a Monday morning tweet about the caravan, Trump warned, This is an invasion of our Country and our Military is waiting for you! But the troopshowever many they amount towont be waiting with machine guns and artillery rockets. Rather, according to a Pentagon statement based on the DHS request, they will be providing support to the 16,000-plus Customs and Border Protection forces. Support is defined as engineers (for temporary barriers, barricades, and fencing), helicopters and planes (to move CBP personnel around), medical teams, command and control, temporary housing, and personal protective equipment. When it comes to providing this sort of operational support, the Pentagon teems with highly creative bookkeepers, adept at stretching the requirements to whatever heights and lengths the commander desires. Recall last summer when Trump was pushing the Pentagon for a military parade in downtown Washington? Neither Mattis nor the officer corps really wanted to waste their time or money on empty showboating, so, all of a sudden, the estimated cost of the parade swelled from $12 million to $92 milliontoo expensive even for Trump, who canceled it. Similarly, if Trump wants to send 800 or 5,000 or 10,000 or however many troops to the Southwestern border, the Pentagon planners will devise a plan that fits the number. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, as a retired Army commander told me in an email Monday, 5,000 is a lot, the size of a very heavily augmented brigade combat team Doable, but will require a lot of resources. Then again, Trump probably doesnt care how many troops are sent, just as he doesnt seem to care whether a big beautiful wall ever gets built. In his world, saying that something is true matters more than whether it really is true. Still, one wonders how much Mattis grinds his teeth at night. Neither he nor the brass could be happy about providing props and scenery for Trumps Halloween election pageant, in which he drums up scary stories about dark-skinned goblins invading our fair land for the sake of boosting the Republican Partys prospects in the midterms. Hate in America: In the aftermath of the deadly shooting at a synagogue in Pittsburgh this weekend, Dahlia Lithwick wrote about what role President Trumps rhetoric plays in all this violence. Were too worried about deciphering his every word, but it doesnt matter what Trump says. It matters what his followers believe. Coming to terms: Robert Bowers, the suspected killer of 11 people at that synagogue, was active on Gab, a social network that allows users to post hateful screeds in the interest of free speech. Gab has since taken down his account and stated that it doesnt condone violence, a policy that April Glaser finds dubious. Advertisement Democracy in danger: The success of far-right extremist Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil reveals that the populist wave has not yet crested but is still gaining momentum. Thats one of several lessons Yascha Mounk says we should draw from the nations presidential election. Sticky: Dance-pop darling Robyn has released her first full-length album in eight years, and although Honey may not be the sugary fun her fans want, its meditations on resiliency and grief are the balm we need, writes critic Carl Wilson. For fun: When office Halloween costumes go awry. No orange socks or silly hats, Abby President Donald Trump sent another warning to the migrant caravan about 1,000 miles away from the United States, telling them again to try to immigrate legally and threatening that if they continue toward the border, our Military is waiting for you! Many Gang Members and some very bad people are mixed into the Caravan heading to our Southern Border. Please go back, you will not be admitted into the United States unless you go through the legal process. This is an invasion of our Country and our Military is waiting for you! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 29, 2018 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perhaps Trump doesnt understand that it is legal for anyone on U.S. soil, even if they arrived without documentation or authorization, to claim asylum and start a legal process that can end with them being allowed to stay. Meanwhile, the Mexican government has been doing its best to get as many of the Central American migrants to stay in Mexico and apply for asylum there. According to the Associated Press, Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto has a plan offering shelter, medical attention, schooling and jobs to Central Americans in Chiapas and Oaxaca states if migrants apply. More than 1,500 of the original group have applied for asylum in Mexico. The 4,000 migrants who have turned down Mexicos offers for assistance are still walking toward the border and have reached the city of Arriaga. A previous migrant caravan this year ended with about 200 people at the border between Tijuana and San Diego in early May, where they turned themselves over to authorities on the U.S. side and applied for asylum. USA Today reported that the Department of Defense will deploy 5,000 military personnel to the border, where they are not expected to conduct law enforcement activities, but instead provide backup support to Border Patrol agents manning the border and be prepared to react if groups of migrants try to storm the border. The White House has reportedly been considering a more extensive shutdown of the border, including an executive order that would ban asylum applications by those who reach the U.S. 'Agreements with NK are open for misinterpretations' By Kim Bo-eun, Joint Press Corps Scott Snyder Bruce Klingner In July, Attorney General Jeff Sessions hosted a Religious Liberty Summit at the Department of Justice, inviting conservative advocates to discuss the dangerous movement that is eroding our great tradition of religious freedom. In his remarks at the summit, Sessions announced the creation of a new Religious Liberty Task Force to implement the attorney generals guidance interpreting federal law to permit discrimination against LGBTQ people and women. Sessions boasted that the Trump administration has protected free exercise of religion by allowing religious employers to deny birth control to workers and by defending a baker who refused to serve a same-sex couple. This administration, he concluded, is animated by that same American view that has led us for 242 years: that every American has a right to believe, worship, and exercise their faith in the public square. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Saturday, an anti-Semitic gunman inspired in part by Donald Trumps bigoted rhetoric walked into Pittsburghs Tree of Life synagogue during Shabbat services, shouted all Jews must die, and killed 11 people. He was armed with an AR-15 and three handguns, all of which he purchased legally. When asked about the shooting, Trump told reporters: If they had protection inside, the results would have been far better. He then proceeded to his scheduled campaign rally, where he denounced the scourge of anti-Semitism before proposing his solution to crimes like this: We have to bring back the death penalty. What Trump did not mention is that we have used the death penalty for crimes like thisand yet, somehow, they keep happening. Mass shootings in houses of worship have become increasingly common as deranged men slaughter congregants in churches, mosques, and synagogues. The possibility of capital punishment has not stopped these killers from purchasing exceptionally dangerous firearms and using them to terrorize people of faith. Sessions may wax poetic about Trumps support for religious freedom. But there is no true freedom to worship when worshippers fear being shot at any moment. Advertisement It is both disturbing and revealing that Trumps first response to Saturdays shooting was to ask why the congregation hadnt done more to prevent it. The murder of Christians, Muslims, and Jews in and around their sacred spaces is one of the most horrific aspects of Americas gun violence epidemic. Given the frequency of mass shootings in this countrylargely a result of our lax gun lawsit might not be surprising that gunmen sometimes target houses of worship. But these hate crimes are an especially frightening act of violence that traumatize religious people across the country. It is hard not to view the Pittsburgh shooting as an assault on the entire Jewish community, for instanceone that will spur frightened congregations to amp up security measures out of concerns about another anti-Semitic massacre. (Police in many cities dispatched extra officers to synagogues and Jewish centers following Saturdays attack.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unfortunately, mass shootings in sacred spaces have become a fact of life in contemporary America. In 2012, Wade Michael Page killed Sikh people during an attack at a Sikh temple near Milwaukee using a semi-automatic handgun that he purchased legally. In 2015, Dylann Roof shot and killed nine congregants at the Mother Emanuel Church in Charleston, South Carolina, with a .45-caliber Glock handgun he obtained through a legal loophole. The next year, Oscar Morel shot and killed an imam and his associate as they walked home from a mosque with an unlicensed .38-caliber revolver. In 2017, Devin Kelley killed 26 peoplehalf of them childrenat the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, using an AR-15 he could buy due to an Air Force error. Advertisement Then, on Saturday, Robert Bowers allegedly used his legal firearms to commit the deadliest attack targeting Jews in American history, during two holy events: the observance of Shabbat and the celebration of a bris, the ceremony for welcoming an 8-day-old infant into the covenant. All of these gunmen took advantage of a simple fact: It is extremely easy to obtain a gun in America and use it to murder unsuspecting congregants exercising their faith. In many faiths, houses of worship function as sanctuaries that open their doors to everyone. Recall that, in Charleston, the congregation welcomed Roof to Bible study, handing him a book and seating him next to Rev. Clementa Pinckney. Their faith called upon them to embrace the young stranger, who promptly murdered nine of them in an act of racial hatred. Advertisement Advertisement So long as monsters like Roof and Bowers can get their hands on guns, these shootings will keep happening. And so long as they continue, the free exercise of religion is in grave peril. The right to worship free of violence is a bedrock component of religious liberty, just as the right to speak free of violence is intrinsic to free expression. Countless Jews who return to their synagogues next weekend will do so under a cloud of unease. Ancient rituals will be tainted by the horror of contemporary terrorism. Some may prefer to stay home rather than risk carnage in their sanctuary. Advertisement If civil rights laws protecting LGBTQ people infringe upon religious liberty, as the Trump administration believes, surely mass shootings in sacred spaces do as well. The governments most basic obligation is to keep us safe, to safeguard our lives and liberties. As the Atlantics Garrett Epps has written, the Trump administrations refusal to address these bloodbaths threatens our very existence as a nation rather than a Hobbesian dystopia. The First Amendments guarantee of free exercise means nothing if exercising our religion may lead us to die in a hail of gunfire. We cannot worship freely if we constantly dread being killed by bullets in our churches, mosques, and temples. Advertisement Advertisement But Trump, like most Republican politicians, refuses to address this problem. He opposes rigorous background checks, robust red flag laws, longer waiting periods, and a ban on assault weapons. These laws would save lives without violating even our recently expanded Second Amendment, especially if implemented at a federal level. Trump cannot afford to endorse them, however, because the gun lobbyto whom he has sworn allegiance in exchange for massive donationswould rebel. So he blames everything else, including the Tree of Life synagogue itself, insisting that it shouldve hired more security. And he demands the use of the death penalty, despite the fact that Dylann Roofs death sentence did not dissuade Morel, or Kelley, or Bowers. It is both disturbing and revealing that Trumps first response to Saturdays shooting was to ask why the congregation hadnt done more to prevent it. When his administration perceives the slightest threat to evangelical Christians eager to discriminate against women and minorities, it rushes to court to defend their rights. When faced with a spiraling crisis of shootings in houses of worship, on the other hand, Trump found a way to blame the victim. To the Trump administration, religious liberty does not encompass the right to worship without fear of being murdered by a madman with a deadly weapon. For religious leaders seeking to shield their congregants fundamental right to worship safely, Trumps message couldnt be clearer: Youre on your own. Pittsburgh Shooting: Updates and ASIS Houses of Worship Resources 29 October 2018 Online Exclusive Shooting at Pittsburgh Jewish Temple: What We Know A gunman opened fire at the Tree of Life Jewish temple Saturday morning in the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Squirrel Hill, killing 11 people and injuring six. The suspect,46 year-old Robert Bowers, was taken into custody after the shooting, during which he was injured. He was armed with an AR-15 and three handguns during the 20-minute assault. Squirrel Hill has one ofthe largest Jewish populations in Pennsylvania, according to the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, with about 50,000 Jewish adults and children. The gunman had previously posted anti-Semitic comments online under username "onedingo" on an online community called Gab. Gab has "attracted many far-right users," according to the Washington Post. The platform said it had turned messages from the shooter's alleged account over to the FBI. Authorities immediately labeled the incident a hate crime, and U.S. Attorney Scott Brady said prosecutors are seeking to pursue the death penalty against Bowers. U.S. President Trump suggested that the tragedy may have been prevented if the synagogue had employed an armed guard. "If there was an armed guard inside the temple, they would have been able to stop him, maybe there would have been nobody killed, except for him, frankly," he said to a group of reporters on Sunday at Joint Base Andrews. Pittsburgh Mayor William Peduto rebuked Trump's comments in a press conference, and said officials should not try to "create laws around irrational behavior." The victims' names were released on Sunday. They include a 97-year-old woman, two brothers, and an elderly coupleseveral interfaith prayer vigils have been held memorializing the attack victims. ASIS International Resources: Protecting Houses of Worship White Paper: Recommended Best Practices for Securing Houses of Worship Around the World for People of All Faiths ASIS Cultural Properties Council Houses of Worship Committee: Jim McGuffey, MA, CPP, PSP, PCI; Paula L. Ratliff, BSC, MS; Doug Meacham, CRM; Phil Purpura, CPP Dick Raisler; Carl Chinn; Alistair Calton Security Management Highlights podcast SECURITY TRENDS: Protecting Houses of Worship Houses of worship are more vulnerable to attack than ever, but these properties must maintain the balance of being an open environment, as well as hardened against threats. ASIS Cultural Properties Council member Jim McGuffey, CPP, PSP, PCI joins us to talk about the latest trends in protecting these facilities. Securing Sacred Spaces SM Article by Paula Ratliff Recent attacks at houses of worship around the globe challenge security professionals with protecting open facilities on a limited budget. How to Protect Your House of Worship SM Article by Megan Gates Excerpt from Soft Target Hardening: Protecting People from Attackby Jennifer Hesterman (ASIS 2015 Book of the Year) Additional ASIS Soft Target/Active Shooter Resources Background Brief: With Tree of Life Shooting, Attacks On U.S. Jewish Community Continue By Mark Tarallo Domestic terror attack targets, like the Tree of Life Jewish temple in Pittsburgh, are usually not chosen at random, and some populations are targeted more than others. Of all religious groups, Jews continue to be the most targeted in the United States, according to the findings of a major report that was released last year. The report, Terrorist Incidents and Attacks Against Jews and Israelis in the United States, 1969-2016, examines the FBI's annual hate crimes report for the years under study. For example, in 2015, 1,354 hate crimes were recorded in the report. Of those, 695 incidents, or 51 percent, targeted Jews. "This is a consistent finding of the FBI report over many years," writes the report's author, counterterrorism expert Yehudit Barsky. Going deeper, the report catalogs 104 incidents in 2015 to better characterize the attacks. The majority, 51 percent, targeted synagogues, followed by community institutions (14 percent), Jewish persons (13 percent), and educational institutions (10 percent). In terms of means of attack, arson, shootings, and explosive devices were used in about equal frequency. Year-over-year, the total number of attacks has been declining, but they have been increasing in severity. The Tree of Life shooting, which left 11 dead, is believed to be the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in U.S. history, the Anti-Defamation League said in a statement this weekend. The threat against the Jewish people has been revived several times in the last few years. In October 2015, the Islamic State (ISIS) militant group directed its followers worldwide to kill Jews. ISIS' Al-Masra Foundation issued a video, The Slaughter of the Jews, which called for followers to "Stab the Jew with a knife or run over him with a car; poison him; bring back explosives, the [use of] explosive belts and IEDs; burn their faces and their houses." Then in 2016, ISIS published an article in its Al-Naba publication that called for followers to help Palestinian Muslims by fighting Jews around the world: "killing them, destroying their property, and harming their interests in any way they can." In addition, Jewish targets sometimes serve as precursors to larger attacks. The perpetrators of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, for example, were previously involved in anti-Jewish attacks. Given all these threats, there are some institutions and groups that are dedicated to the protection of the Jewish community. One such group is Community Security Service (CSS), a nonprofit group that sponsored the above report and whose mission is the protection of the people, institutions, and events of the American Jewish community. ASIS member Don Aviv, CPP, PCI, PSP, who is COO and director of physical security at Interfor International, is a founding member of CSS. The founding philosophy of CSS is that security should be rooted within the community, according to the idea that no one can protect a community better than itself. Volunteers from the community are trained in the basics of security, including practices such as recognizing threats and devising a system to report threats or other incidents. The other key aspect of CSS's model is that security is achieved through a partnership among community members and volunteers, contract security, and law enforcement. This is accomplished through training and by building up a framework of interaction for all stakeholders. Not only personalities, but also their sculptures experienced turbulent times. News: Receive favorite authors articles by email. Try the new feature and turn on the subscription. Ceremonial unveiling of the sculpture of T. G . Masaryk on October 28, 2010. (Source: Sme) Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled While the situation around the creation of the first Czechoslovak Republic was complicated, it was even more complicated in then Pressburg, todays Bratislava. This was due to the large Hungarian and German-speaking populations living in the city and its strategic geographical position on the Danube River. Today, several places in Bratislava honour figures who contributed to the creation of the first independent state of Slovaks and Czechs, their statues telling interesting stories about themselves. The history The vain efforts of Czechs and Slovaks for equal status within the Habsburg Monarchy resulted in their decision to leave Austro-Hungary. Czechoslovakia was created on October 28, 1918. During the creation of the new republic, there were disputes as to which state then Pressburg should belong to Czechoslovakia, Hungary or Austria. At that time, efforts to call the city Wilsons Town and make it a free city with a status similar to then Gdansk emerged. Gdansk was the Free City of Danzig, an independent quasi-state under the auspices of the League of Nations. This idea did not materialise. Read also: Read also: Bratislava almost became Wilsons Town Read more The city was declared the capital of Slovakia and on March 6, 1919, it was renamed Bratislava. Pressburger as nationality When Czechoslovakia was being created, out of 83,200 citizens of Pressburg, 30,165 declared German nationality, 27,481 declared Czech and Slovak nationality and 24,126 were Hungarians. The rest accounted for others. A strong Jewish community accounting for almost 10 percent also lived in the city. They were not recognised as an independent nation within historical Hungary and they usually declared themselves Hungarians, recalled historian Vladimir Tomcik. A nation in historical Hungary was defined on the basis of the question: What language do you like speaking the most? After the creation of Czechoslovakia, the nation was defined based on the mother tongue while many citizens of Hungarian and German nationalities filled in the nationality column with I am a Pressburger. They could not come to terms with reality and hoped that after peace negotiations, the situation would change and the city would fall under Austria, Hungary or become a kind of a free city, Tomcik told The Slovak Spectator. The dissatisfaction resulted in a protest rally on February 12 with six people shot dead. But in Tomciks opinion, Bratislava could not avoid becoming part of Czechoslovakia. He recalls that after WWI began in 1914, Tomas Garrigue Masaryk in his concept of the creation of the republic for Scottish historian Robert William Seton-Watson, presented the borders of the new state, including Pressburg. The new republic needed access to the Danube due to strategic and economic reasons, said Tomcik. For defence, the beachhead of Petrzalka on the opposite riverbank was joined to the city as well. The powers accepted the requirement and Bratislava was declared a part of the Czechoslovak Republic, even before the peace treaties were signed. Statutes, plaques and streets Today, several statues recalled the turbulent times of the creation of Czechoslovakia. Out of the three most significant figures behind the creation of Czechoslovakia, Milan Rastislav Stefanik has several statues, Tomas Garrigue Masaryk one and Edvard Benes none. President cites bias and hatred from the judge, who has had problems with the law in the past and planned to quit the judiciary. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled In a recent case Judge Miroslav Radacovsky who has been a party involved in a court case himself in the past verbally attacked Slovak President Andrej Kiska. On October 26, the judge, bringing the case to a close, ruled against Kiska in a legal dispute over land plots in Velky Slavkov in eastern Slovakia and recommended that he consider resigning and leaving the country. The case, assigned to the District Court in Poprad, concerned the ownership of a 1.2 hectare plot of land. The original owner, Jan Franc, inherited it from his father in the 1990s. Kiska, however, bought the same plot 20 years ago from Julius Sirocky. Since then, the president has been convinced the plot belongs to him and Franc, never guessing that the ownership might be in dispute, even rented the land to a local cooperative farm, the Sme daily wrote on October 26. The court decided in favour of Franc as the plaintiff. It was determined that the plaintiff is the sole owner of the disputed land specified in the geometric plan, and the court stopped the proceedings regarding the defendant's obligation to draw up the geometric plan on the plot and also decided that the claimant is entitled to 100 percent of the legal costs, the spokeswoman for the Regional Court in Presov, Ivana Petrufova told the SITA newswire. Lets be objective.... Kiska acquired the land bona fide, the judge stated in his ruling. But to whom does the question of bona fide apply if both of them acted in good faith? If the court turned down the lawsuit, what would have happened? Mr. Franc would have legally lost his property and Mr. Kiska would have remained the owner. Would that be just? With this ruling, nothing in fact has happened, as the land will remain in the hands of the person it belongs to and Mr. Kiska is entitled to claim back his money from the person he bought it from. The disputed comment Radacovsky then remarked that after losing this lawsuit the President would do better if he resigned and moved out of Slovakia to one of his preferred countries, like the USA or Israel. If I was the president of this republic and any other judge found all the facts and connections that I did, I would resign the presidency, not vie for any other political position and leave for a country where I felt at home, such as the USA or Israel and I dont want to say that I do not highly respect the American or Jewish nations but this is what I would do, the judge said, as quoted by Sme. Presidents reactions The legal representative of the head of state, Ladislav Scholcz did not rule out an appeal. There cannot be any doubt that the state erred nearly twenty years ago when it properly approved all his legal acts, and therefore Andrej Kiska had no reason to question the validity of his ownership deeds, Roman Krpelan, the President's communication advisor reacted, as quoted by the Sme daily. The President absolutely understands the emotions Mr. Franc's family would feel if they were to unjustly lose this plot. His feelings would be the same. The president respects the decision of the court, but the judge saying that he should move out of Slovakia surprised him. President Kiska is therefore considering further steps regarding this judges obvious bias and hatred towards himself and the inconceivable attack, which also harmed the positive decision for Mr. Francs family. Judge had past history with cocaine and arms Judge Radacovsky is a famous figure of Slovak justice. He was part of the five-member panel which gave the last death sentence in the country, the daily wrote. Moreover, he was also involved in a protracted, 12-year court proceeding for drug possession and illegal arms charges. In July 1999, when coincidentally stopped by Kosice police, he had 18 doses of cocaine on him as well as charges for a pistol and an illegally-owned hunting rifle. Radacovsky claimed he found them in his sons Kosice flat and, trying to prevent him from getting into trouble, took the items and was about to get rid of them. In the ensuing protracted trials, he was sentenced three times but numerous appeals prevented the verdict ever coming into effect and after 12 years he was ultimately found innocent. The Zilina Regional Court explained through its spokesperson in 2012 that the court was convinced that these deeds in this specific situation are not crimes. Also, the police officers changed their testimonies several times, which contributed to the final verdict. In the meantime, Radacovsky worked in his sons companies allegedly for free and even claimed he did not plan to return to work in the courts, suggesting he would rather move to the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, Sme wrote. Judicial Council and Justice Minister Gabor Gal will evaluate whether Radacovskys statement regarding Kiska was appropriate and if they find otherwise, a disciplinary proceeding is possible. Gal (Most-Hid) will examine the statements, the Justice Ministrys spokesperson, Zuzana Drobova, told the TASR newswire, adding that he will judge whether these words are reason to launch disciplinary proceedings against him. We view Judge Radacovskys actions against the top constitutional representative as inappropriate, Drobova also said. The international journalists organisation claims that a predators shadow hangs over Kuciak's murder. News: Receive favorite authors articles by email. Try the new feature and turn on the subscription. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled In a press release, the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) have called on the Slovak authorities to step up their investigation into businessman Marian Kocners repeated harassment of journalists and his possible role in the murder of the young investigative reporter Jan Kuciak. The businessman who has been in pre-trial custody since June on suspicion of fraud had also threatened Kuciak. The journalist repeatedly followed Kocners activities and wrote about them, RSF suggest, adding the businessman was very close to one of the four people arrested in September on suspicion of being involved in the murder of Kuciak and his fiancee, Martina Kusnirova, on February 21. The cunning businessman He acted in an extremely sophisticated manner, prosecutor Jan Santa told the Supreme Court in June, according to RSF, when seeking Kocners preventive detention for the purposes of an investigation into his fraudulent activities. He is expanding his criminal activities. He issued an astronomical sum, a total of 69 million euros, in fraudulent promissory notes, something never seen in the Slovak or Czech Republics. I am absolutely convinced that if his personal freedom is not restricted, he will pursue his criminal activities and pose an obstacle to the investigation. Read also: Read also: Kuciak murder: One of the accused said that Kocner ordered the murder Read more Kuciak had explored some of his activities and after getting in touch with Kocner, was directly threatened with reprisals if he published his information. All possible light must be shed on Marian Kocners activities, including his harassment of Slovak media outlets and his potential involvement in Jan Kuciaks murder, said Pauline Ades-Mevel, the head of RSFs EU-Balkans desk. We hail the progress made in the investigation into this double murder, but it must be pursued to the end. The authorities must send a clear message that they are going to stop the obstructions to press freedom and to guarantee the safety of Slovak journalists against predators like Marian Kocner. Slovakia cannot tolerate another tragedy. Read also: Read also: An unknown translator, a man who owes a million on taxes Read more Pertaining to harassment of journalists Kocners methods included smear campaigns, and Kuciak became one of his targets after he named the businessman repeatedly in his articles, RSF wrote, adding that when Kuciak contacted Kocner in September 2017 about the sale of an apartment in the building where then-prime minister Robert Fico lived, Kocner said: Mr. Kuciak, I am going to take an interest in your family, your mother, your father, your brothers and sisters, and I will publish absolutely everything I find out about you. He added, referring to a Dennik N reporter: You will be the first. I will give you preference over Ms. Monika Todova. Police do not act The international organisation stresses they have the knowledge thanks to Kuciak recording the call and using the recording to file a criminal complaint against Kocner. But the police did not investigate it, RSF noted, and added that after Kuciaks murder, the police acknowledged that they had not questioned Kocner about this threat. They acknowledged it again after Kocner was detained and questioned in the fraud investigation. Kocners threats and attacks on Slovak journalists intensified whenever they pressed ahead with their reporting on his activities, according to Reporters without Borders. Read also: Read also: Lawyer: There is enough evidence to keep the suspects behind bars Read more His response to a revelation by #AllForJan, an international media consortium created in March to pursue Kuciaks investigations, is particularly noteworthy, RSF wrote. As the organisation continued, after the consortium revealed that 500,000 euros were deposited in Kocners personal account by Technopol Servis, a Bratislava-based company that had been the victim of fraud, Kocner was contacted for a reaction by Adam Valcek, a journalist with the Sme daily and a member of the consortium. Kocners response was to send Valcek an email detailing confidential information about his health and his relations with his family, sensitive information that Kocner could not have obtained from public sources. Kocner had the email exchange posted on Hlavnespravy.sk, a leading Slovak website specialising in disinformation, and used it in his own online video programme, which he used to make fun of mainstream media journalists, RSF pointed out. Within two months, this video and other material produced by Kocner were viewed tens of thousands of times. After Valcek filed a criminal complaint, the police began an investigation into suspected blackmail. RSF tried repeatedly to contact Kocners lawyers to ask them about his actions, but they never responded. Slovakia has fallen ten places in RSFs 2018 World Press Freedom Index and is now ranked 27th out of 180 countries, the journalist organisation summed up. Translate About Me Kripa Foundation Largest NGO in India for rehabilitation of addicts /HIV care.affiliated to the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment Govt. Of India. View my complete profile Bay of Plenty If you love working out doors and in a small team then we have the role for you. We are needing someone who has either maintenance... View or Apply on GoodWork.co.nz The Huawei Watch GT that was announced in London alongside the Huawei Mate 20 series is now available in Malaysia for the price of RM999 for the classic variant which is available now and RM899 for the sport variant available starting 6 November 2018. The smartwatch comes equipped with battery life of up to 14 days before needing to recharge again thanks to the dual chipset that intelligently switch between a high power and low power mode in order to increase the longevity of the smartwatch. While using the GPS function however, the watch is able to stay charged for 22 hours compared to the Apple Watch S4 which has only about 6 hours of battery life while using the GPS. If the smartwatch is used exclusively as an ordinary watch, the battery would last around a month before needing to recharge. Battery life comparison Other than that, the Huawei Watch GT also comes featured with a 1.39-inch OLED screen with a screen resolution of 454x454 pixels, Altimeter, Sport Mode, 3 satellite tracking systems(GPS, Galileo, Glonass), water resistance of up to 50 meters for 30 minutes and a heart rate monitor along with TruSeen 3.0 that utilizes AI to provide more information about the wearers condition. Not only that, there is also TruSleep 2.0 function which analyze the wearer's sleep pattern and provides suggestions on how to improve quality of sleep. Check out Huaweis official website for more information about the product and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more updates like these. He has been an ambassador of Kazakhstan to Egypt since September 2020, before that, since April 2019, he was Ambassador-at-Large of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and even earlier, from October 2013 to February 2019, he worked as Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the UAE. We listen to local police and fire departments scanner traffic, but sometimes miss crimes, wrecks, fires or other incidents, especially if they happen overnight. If you know of something were not covering yet, please let Managing Editor Jeff Pownall know by emailing him at jpownall@lufkindailynews.com, or submit a news tip online by visiting lufkindailynews.com/tips. Vietnams finance ministry has turned down a proposition by Ho Chi Minh City to make public middle schools in the city free for all students, citing concerns that such a policy would create unfairness among those living in different parts of the country. According to the ministry, such tuition exemption must be passed into law by the lawmaking National Assembly. As Ho Chi Minh City has one of the nations highest per capita income levels, current tuition rates at public schools would not be a major obstacle to accessing education for local students, the ministry said in its response to the southern metropolis proposal. Public middle schools in the city charge VND100,000 (US$4.30) monthly per student in 19 urban districts and VND85,000 ($3.65) monthly per student in the other five rural districts. The Ho Chi Minh City administration in September submitted a proposal to the finance ministry asking it to seek government approval in allowing the city to offer free education at local public middle schools. The city currently collects around VND350 billion ($15 million) in yearly tuition from its public middle schools. If middle school students in Ho Chi Minh City were to be exempted from paying any tuition, it would be unfair for students living elsewhere in the country, the ministry said. The finance ministry proposed that the city work with the education ministry to provide more financial support for poor students instead. The ministrys comments are in contrast to a previous government resolution in July, where cabinet members agreed that preschoolers and students of state-funded middle schools across Vietnam should be exempted from tuition fees. The government is seeking lawmakers approval in passing a revised Law on Education to extend its tuition exemption policy. If implemented, the new policy will likely benefit over five million children in the Southeast Asian country. Vietnam already has universal tuition exemption for public grade school students. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! JAKARTA, Oct 29 - A Lion Air flight with at least 188 people on board is believed to have sunk after crashing into the sea off Indonesia's island of Java on Monday, shortly after take off from the capital on its way to the country's tin-mining hub, officials said. A spokesman for Indonesia's search and rescue agency said the Lion Air flight, JT610, lost contact 13 minutes after takeoff, adding that a tug boat leaving the capital's port had seen the craft falling. "It has been confirmed that it has crashed," the spokesman, Yusuf Latif, said by text message, when asked about the fate of the Lion Air plane, which air tracking service Flightradar 24 identified as a Boeing 737 MAX 8. Debris thought to be from the plane, including aircraft seats, was found near an offshore refining facility, an official of state energy firm Pertamina said. Wreckage had been found near where the Lion Air plane lost contact with air traffic officials on the ground, said Muhmmad Syaugi, the head of the search and rescue agency. "We don't know yet whether there are any survivors," Syaugi told a news conference. "We hope, we pray, but we cannot confirm." Relatives of passengers of Lion Air flight JT610 that crashed into the sea, cry at Depati Amir airport in Pangkal Pinang, Indonesia, October 29, 2018. Photo: Antara Foto/Elza Elvia via Reuters Flight JT610 took off around 6.20 a.m. and was due to have landed in the capital of the Bangka-Belitung tin mining region at 7.20 a.m., the Flightradar 24 website showed. "We cannot give any comment at this moment," Edward Sirait, chief executive of Lion Air Group, told Reuters, adding that a news conference was planned for later on Monday. "We are trying to collect all the information and data." Preliminary flight tracking data from Flightradar24 shows the aircraft climbed to around 5,000 feet (1,524 m) before losing, and then regaining, height, before finally falling towards the sea. It was last recorded at 3,650 feet (1,113 m) and its speed had risen to 345 knots, according to raw data captured by the respected tracking website, which could not immediately be confirmed. Its last recorded position was about 15 km (9 miles) north of the Indonesian coastline, according to a Google Maps reference of the last coordinates reported by Flightradar24. The accident is the first to be reported that involves the widely-sold Boeing 737 MAX, an updated, more fuel-efficient version of the manufacturer's workhorse single-aisle jet. The first Boeing 737 MAX jets were introduced into service in 2017. Lion Air's Malaysian subsidiary, Malindo Air, received the very first global delivery. Boeing is aware of the airplane accident reports and is "closely monitoring" the situation, it said on social network Twitter. A group of residents in southern Vietnam has earned a reputation for its grassroots philanthropy by extending a helping hand to the poor and building bridges for the local community. The group consists of just over a dozen people in O Mon District of Can Tho, a major city in Vietnams Mekong Delta. If the members know that a poor family is living in a dilapidated house, they will come to meet the household for a greater understanding of their situation before deciding to work out a support plan and build a new house. The group averagely creates six wooden homes every month, each costing about VND10 million (US$430). To facilitate the public-spirited cause, an enthusiastic member known as Le Van Loan used his own money to erect a workshop and buy saws and other pieces of carpentry equipment so that timber can be shaped more conveniently. The most strenuous part of preparing lumber is cutting down trees and carrying them to the facility, Loan said. The group has received money and construction materials from multiple donors who believe in their sincere kindness, and so far built over 200 wooden houses from the donations. Providing safer shelters is not their only act for the community. The group serves as a reliable center for gathering financial support from local people. Thanks to the groups effort, over a hundred bridges ranging in cost from VND50 million ($2,150) to VND300 million ($12,900) apiece have been constructed in the city, which is traversed by a number of rivers. They also give care to lonely old people and cover funeral expenses for families too poor to hold a ceremony for their deceased relatives. Loan said the credit for helping others in dire need goes to many people, including those who chip in money to build a house or are involved in the construction itself. I feel extremely happy whenever a house is built for poor people, Loan said. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Hoshigaki, or persimmons prepared with traditional Japanese techniques, have saved Da Lats dried persimmon industry. Hoshigaki are persimmons dried with traditional Japanese techniques which take advantage of wind and sunlight. Through a combination of hanging, hand-massaging, wind, and sunshine, the fruit forms a delicate surface with dust-like particles. Unlike sliced dried fruit, which tends to be brittle and leathery, Hoshigaki are succulently tender and moist, while still having a persimmon flavor. The fruit forms a delicate surface with dust-like particles. Photo: Tuoi Tre In 2012 the technique was first introduced to Da Lat, a highland area of Vietnam known for its dried fruits, beautiful flowers, and jams, when the persimmon industry was at stake there. During that time, many Japanese farmers and professionals from the Japan International Cooperation Agency branch in Vietnam came to Da Lat to instruct over 100 farming families in the Hoshigaki technique, which only uses wind rather than coal and firewood for drying. However, it was not until 2014 that the technique was truly used for production. Shortly after the traditional Japanese drying technique was implemented, Da Lats persimmons became well known and preferred by many people. Hoshigakis price then became two times that of the regular dried persimmons, sometimes even up to three to four times the rate of those dried by coal and firewood. According to the Da Lat Peoples Committee, thanks to the Japanese technique, the persimmon drying industry in the city has been saved and thus the persimmon trees have ceased to be chopped down. Before the application of the drying technique, persimmons fetched around VND2,000 (US$0.085), barely enough for farmers to cover the harvesting cost. Thanks to the growing need for dried persimmons, the price is now around VND10,000 ($0.43), but it varies and may be higher at the beginning and end of the harvest season. The persimmons require regular massaging to come out with the best quality. Photo: Tuoi Tre Nectar is the essence of fruit Dang Thi Thu Van, the 57-year-old owner of the Le Van dried fruit manufacturing business, was one of the first Da Lat producers to implement the Japanese technique. According to Van, the process begins when the fruit has not ripened and is still hanging on the tree. Persimmon trees. Photo: Tuoi Tre Collected fruits are washed and peeled, with their stem left hanging. The persimmon is then dried with coal in a short time to make the fruit skin firm. After that, the fruit is hung in a greenhouse for 25 days, during which it will become ripe. The main advantage of this technique is that the fruit will be dried naturally and will keep its tenderness, sweetness, as well as persimmon flavor. But since this technique depends mainly on natural light and wind, unpredictable weather may affect its efficiency. Persimmons are hung to dry in glass houses. Photo: Tuoi Tre A good Hoshigaki persimmon is the one with a stem. Looking at it, customers can picture how round and nice the fruit looked when it was still fresh, Van said. Inside, there is still nectar, which is the essence of this dried fruit. According to farmers trained by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, Hoshigaki are often enjoyed with tea in Japan. In order to store the dried fruits for a long time, they can be put in a freezer. The fruit is selected to guarantee the best quality. Photo: Tuoi Tre The best fruits are peeled, leaving only the stem so as to be naturally dried with wind and sunlight. Photo: Tuoi Tre The persimmons are hung on plastic hangers. Photo: Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Those who oppose the Vietnamese government have recently utilized domestic political and social events as the chief means in their subversive attempts in cyberspace, Major General Nguyen Minh Hoang has said. Important political events, national holidays and decisive new policies by the Party were usually capitalized on to present misinformation and foment civil unrest and anti-government activities on the Internet, Hoang said as he addressed the lawmaking National Assembly on Saturday. For instance, around 36,000 pieces of writing, 174,921 comments, 198,384 shares and millions of likes surfaced on social media after Vietnams State President Tran Dai Quang died on September 21, the member of the national legislature pointed out. They contained information and pictures that maliciously distorted the truth to defame the regime, Hoang, vice-political commissar of Vietnams Military Zone 7, said. He also mentioned the cases of Vietnams cybersecurity law, passed in June and to take effect from the beginning of next year, and its special economic zone bill, whose adoption has been delayed to have more time for deliberation. While lawmakers were discussing the draft law on special economic zones, riots, public disorder and demonstrations broke out in the country. These events were incited by anti-state elements who exploited the bill to their own advantage, Hoang said, concluding that the episodes wreaked havoc on multiple cities and provinces in Vietnam. Hoang noted many government websites had been recently hacked and this is happening with increasing frequency. It is advisable, he added, to provide national defense education to the grassroots who play important roles in the community, and landlords who lease accommodations to factory workers at industrial parks. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! On his fifth return trip to Vietnam, Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh has chosen to stay at the pagoda in the central region where he was ordained 76 years ago. The 92-year-old Zen master landed at Da Nang International Airport on Friday after leaving the Plum Village International Practice Center in northeastern Thailand, making his second visit to the motherland in over a year. He then left for Tu Hieu Pagoda, the monastery where he became a novice Buddhist monk at 16, in nearby Thua Thien-Hue Province on Sunday afternoon. Thich Nhat Hanh was welcomed at the Tu Hieu temple by a large number of Buddhist nuns, monks and lay practitioners who had already gathered there way earlier. Amongst those present at the event were foreigners. Thich Nhat Hanh was taken in a wheelchair around the pagoda before offering incense in the main hall with a statue of the Buddha. Nuns and monks get line to welcome Thich Nhat Hanh at Tu Hieu Pagoda in Thua Thien-Hue Province, central Vietnam, October 28, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre A monk holds flowers to be given to Thich Nhat Hanh at Tu Hieu Pagoda in Thua Thien-Hue Province, central Vietnam, October 28, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre He seemed to have healthy countenance, able to communicate by hand gesture and eye movement, although he looked frailer than he was during his nine-day visit to this place in September 2017. He is staying at the monastery, pursuant to a schedule that has not been specifically revealed. This is his fifth return to Vietnam, following those in 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2017. In 2014 he was taken to the U.S. for treatment for a health problem. Thich Nhat Hanh is generally considered to rank second amongst Buddhist leaders influential in the West, only after the Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama. In 1966, he left Vietnam on a peace mission and met Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who nominated him for the Nobel Prize in 1967. The monk then traveled widely across the world, spreading the Buddhas teachings on compassion and peace. He established a community of Zen Buddhists called Plum Village in rural France. In 2005 he returned to Vietnam for the first time after nearly 40 years living in foreign countries. The lifestyle at Plum Village was featured in Walk With Me, a documentary that was showed at the 2017 Southwest film festival in Texas and became available in cinemas across Vietnam early this year. Thich Nhat Hanh and other Buddhist monks are seen at Tu Hieu Pagoda in Thua Thien-Hue Province, central Vietnam, October 28, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre Thich Nhat Hanh looks at a pond at Tu Hieu Pagoda in Thua Thien-Hue Province, central Vietnam, October 28, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre A monk carries offering flowers, followed by Thich Nhat Hanh at Tu Hieu Pagoda in Thua Thien-Hue Province, central Vietnam, October 28, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre Thich Nhat Hanh offers incense sticks at Tu Hieu Pagoda in Thua Thien-Hue Province, central Vietnam, October 28, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre Thich Nhat Hanh sits in Tu Hieu Pagoda in Thua Thien-Hue Province, central Vietnam, October 28, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre Thich Nhat Hanh visits Tu Hieu Pagoda in Thua Thien-Hue Province, central Vietnam, October 28, 2018. Video: Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! This discrepancy was picked up on 31 August by Craig Murray , who suggested that the explanation was that the supposed intercepts were disinformation originating with Mossad. Drawing on his own experience as a former head of the FCO Cyprus Section, Murray suggested that, more or less, anything that there was there to be hoovered up from Eastern Libya and Egypt through to the Caucasus was likely to have been by the Troodos facility, and the U.S. did not have a comparable one. (This would make sense, given the division of labour we know to happen within the Five Eyes.) Interestingly, however, such claims featured prominently in the 30 August Government Assessment released from the White House, but not in the JIC document released the previous day. MURDERED journalist Jamal Khashoggi was about to disclose details of Saudi Arabias use of chemical weapons in Yemen, sources close to him said last night. The revelations come as separate intelligence sources disclosed that Britain had first been made aware of a plot a full three weeks before he walked into the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. A number of observations prompted by the report by the report by Marco Giannangeli in the Sunday Express on 28 October , headlined Khashoggi BOMBSHELL: Britain KNEW of kidnap plot and BEGGED Saudi Arabia to abort plans. And the capabilities of Troodos would make it eminently possible that British intelligence had indeed acquired very relevant material about the Khashoggi killing. There is however a crucial difference between picking up relevant material in advance, as Giannangeli is claiming the British had done by early September In relation to the incident, and retrieving relevant material once something has happened that makes one look for it. That Murrays claim in relation to Ghouta that what was involved was disinformation originating out of Israel is right is now I think clear I have circulated a comment I had posted on SST about this some time back to members of the Working Group. In response to Murrays 31 August post, Giannangeli produced a piece in the Sunday Express the following day, headlined Senior Syrian military chiefs tell captain: fire chemicals or be shot. It opened: BRITISH intelligence chiefs have intercepted radio messages in which senior Syrian military chiefs are heard ordering the use of chemical weapons. In one heated exchange, a regional commander was overheard demanding the captain of an artillery battery in a Government-held suburb of Damascus to fire chemical shells. When the officer protested, he was told in direct terms that failure to comply would result in him facing a firing squad, and the chemical weapons were then fired. When I posted the SST comment, I cited a report on the Daily Caller site on 28 August by Kenneth Timmerman, which purported to provide an account of what the Israeli Unit 8200 had actually intercepted. Since posting it, I have come across an account given by Yossef Bodansky on 10 September 2013, which is compatible with the earlier account but provides more information: A closer study of the much-touted electronic intercepts proves that Assad and his inner-circle were stunned by the news of the chemical attack. When the first reports of the chemical attack surfaced, a very senior Syrian military officer called in panic the artillery commander of the 155th Brigade of the 4th Armored Division of the Syrian Army which is under the direct command of Maher al-Assad. The senior officer wanted to know if the brigade had fired any chemical munitions in contravention of the explicit orders of the top leadership not to do so. The artillery commander flatly denied firing any rocket, missile, or artillery. He added that he had already checked and confirmed that all his munitions were accounted for, and invited the general staff to send officers to verify on their own that all brigades munitions were in safe storage. The senior officers took the commander to task and he was interrogated for three days as a thorough inventory of the munitions was carried out. This artillery officer was returned to duty as it was confirmed beyond doubt that no munitions were missing. (Since there was no other chemical-capable unit in the area, the claim of rogue officers should identify from where and how they had obtained chemical munitions.) The Giannangeli story reads as thought it might be the product of an uncritical retailing of a melodramatic rewriting of the actual facts so as to turn them round to incriminate the Syrian government by someone aware of the actual facts. This would be compatible with the suggestion that in fact the Troodos facility had picked up the same conversations as Unit 8200, although that does not mean that they would necessarily have come to anyones attention prior to the incident. Following the breaking of the Salisbury incident, Giannangeli was again used to challenge intelligence supposed to establish that there was smoking gun evidence of Russian responsibility. His story on 9 April was headlined: REVEALED: The bombshell Russian message intercepted on DAY of Skripal poisonings, and opened: AN ELECTRONIC message to Moscow sent on the day former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were poisoned with a nerve agent in Salisbury included the phrase the package has been delivered. Supposedly, this prompted a young Flight Lieutenant to recall a separate message that had been intercepted and discounted on the previous day. The messages were understood to have formed just one part of the intelligence packet which later allowed Prime Minister Theresa May to state it was highly likely that Russia was behind the attacks. These prompted one sushi, in a series on the incident on the Vineyard of the Saker blog, to hark back to Craig Murrays discussion of Troodos, and comment: How many messages do you think are processed by this facility in the course of one hour? Six? Twelve? Twenty-two? How about Twenty-two thousand? Perhaps two or three times that number. And a flight lieutenant picked an incriminating message out of that volume of traffic? It is doubted that any message traffic is processed on Cyprus. It is more likely that the entire take is transmitted back to GCHQ in Cheltenham via a fibre optic link. There exabytes of take are processed, not by a bored flight lieutenant, but by banks of high speed computers. Clearly someone in Cheltenham has committed a programming error. Anyone with any knowledge of secret communications knows that the code phrase used to confirm a murder in Salisbury is small pizza, no anchovies. This takes one back to the discussion of the claims made in the Government Assessment and elsewhere by sasa wawa whom it now seems overwhelmingly likely is the Israeli technology entrepreneur and former United 8200 employee Saar Wilf. A central point he made then was that there are three distinct kinds of analysis of the vast mass of material which contemporary SIGINT facilities can intercept and store. One is where crucial messages can be selected so as to give ex ante warning of an event; another where a search through stored messages is made, which is not uncommonly in attempting to understand some unanticipated event; a third where a search is made, in order to cherry pick material in favour of an interpretation decided upon in advance. In relation to Ghouta, the point sasa wawa aka Saar Wilf, and perhaps also sushi was making was that it had been attempted to suggest that the exercise performed had been of the first kind, when it had clearly been of the third. As the doctored version appeared on 24 August, it would seem quite likely that the accurate version on which it was based was the product of the second kind of exercise. In this case, it would be unsurprising if the same kind of exercise had given GCHQ accurate information about what had happened on the same timeline. This would make it easy to understand why the JIC might not have wanted to make claims about SIGINT, given that there could be too many people who knew they were false and might at some point let the information leak. When Murray put the proverbial cat among the pigeons by pointing to the actual truth, this precipitated some kind of response. But, perhaps deliberately, it was one that avoided putting GCHQ too much centre stage, both in the way the story was credited to a highly placed RAF source, and the Troodos facility characterised as an RAF one, and in that the story appeared in the Express. Precisely the same happened in relation to the Salisbury incident. A point which sushi was picking up was that the attempt to put the RAF centre stage led to an obvious absurdity. What was involved here was, once again, a blurred confusion between an attempt to suggest that intelligence on an incident was available, as it were, in real time, and an attempt to suggest that it had triggered the kind of investigation which could, as it were, identify needles in an haystack. The clear suggestion in the contemptuous remarks by sushi was that what was actually involved was simple fabrication. Also worth putting into the picture here may be the mass surveillance programme launched by GCHQ in 2012, and the controversy which was aroused following the revelation by Edward Snowden in June 2013 that both the U.S. and the U.K. were running this kind of programme. Also revealed was the fact that the NSA had paid GCHQ over 100m between 2009 and 2012. The implications of these programmes can be seen more clearly in the light of some of the arguments that sasa wawa and sushi, be they the same person or different ones, are making. Precisely because technology now makes it possible both to hoover up extraordinary amounts of data, and to search through it very precisely, it is obviously eminently possible that doing both these things can help identify terrorists and other malefactors. However, the potentialities for abuse are obvious, and massive. In addition to the obvious ones, a bizarre situation is created, where it is evident that GCHQ must be able to access information about false flags which they need to suppress and there is thus a logic impelling the organisation to become an important player in information operations. In an organisation could be expected to have accurate information that if made public would torpedo such operations, the pressures to corrupt it are liable to become very strong. At the time of Ghouta, Robert Hannigan, who had begun his intelligence career as a key figure in Tony Blairs successful peacemaking efforts in Northern Ireland, and appears to have been what one might call a long-term Blair trusty, was Director-General of Defence and Intelligence, where his responsibilities included sponsorship of MI6 and GCHQ. He was also, unsurprisingly, a longstanding member of the Joint Intelligence Committee, which he had chaired in 2011-12. The Director of GCHQ at that time was Iain Lobban, who was a long-service professional with the organisation. In the course of 2014, the controversy triggered by Snowdens revelations led to his standing down. It was announced in April that Hannigan would replace him, and he took over in November that year. It may or not be relevant that Lobban subsequently joined the Holdingham International Advisory Board. This is part of the Holdingham/Hakluyt network which Yaacov Apelbaum, drawing on the kind of search technology which GCHQ and NSA are clearly now using extensively, asserts is at the heart of Russiagate. Among others so involved is the Australian diplomat Alexander Downer, whose supposed drunken conversation with George Papadopoulos played an important role in Russiagate. As Apelbaums discussion makes clear, the capabilities of programmes which can search video material, not collected by governments but available to them, have also been increasing by leaps and bounds. In relation to the Salisbury incident, in addition to the strong likelihood that GCHQ does have relevant intercepts which tell a different story to the one which Giannangeli puts forward, there is the certainty that there is a mass of CCTV footage from Salisbury. It is not clear to me which department is in charge of the analysis of this material but it it is likely to have produced a great of information, both about the movements of the Skripals, but also about the Russians at whom the finger of suspicion has been pointed, Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov. One can reasonably infer from the fact that so little has been produced that it is does not support the narrative put forward by the British authorities. One now, I think, has some context with the help of which one may be able to make better sense of the new Giannangeli report. There are ample indications that with the breaking of story of Khashoggis murder, as with that of the poisoning of the Skripals, and that of the dossier supposedly authored by Christopher Steele, among others incidents, had problems constructing a viable narrative. What Khashoggis murder and the Steele dossier have in common and distinguishes them from the poisoning of the Skripals is the clear initial uncertainty about what narrative was appropriate. In the case of the dossier, there was very clearly an initial uncertainty was to whether the best course of action was, as it were, to hang Steele out to dry, or to defend him. In relation to Mohammed bin Salman, there seems to have been a parallel uncertainty with the unpredictability of the implications of alternative courses, and the possible risks, being an order of magnitude greater. A report by Mark Curtis on Middle East Eye on 25 October may or may not be to the point. It opens: As Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) comes under increasing pressure over the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, policymakers in Washington and London have one overriding priority: to preserve the House of Saud, a military and economic ally in which they have invested so much. Yet, if Mohammed bin Salman cannot be retained, the UK and US will likely work to ensure some face-saving transfer of power to one of his relatives. Some reason to believe that this possibility has been at least under consideration in London and Washington is provided by a Guardian report on 19 October by Patrick Wintour of remarks by Sir John Sawers, who was head of MI6 from November 2009 to November 2014, in which he unambiguously accused Mohammed bin Salman. A key paragraph: He predicted that members of the Saudi royal family, business community and conservative religious clerics will take advantage of the crown princes involvement to undermine him. There will be a reaction inside Saudi Arabia to this dreadful killing and there will be some correction. If such a strategy has been contemplated, there are obvious questions. One is whether in fact the position of MBS has been so weakened that he can be removed, and equally important whether such removal could be done by means of a face-saving transfer of power to one of his relatives. Involved here are calculations, not simply about the strength of the targets position, but his own assessment of whether he can afford to allow himself to be toppled, without risking some version of the fate he meted out to Khashoggi. At that point, a question may perhaps arise as to whether, if in fact people in London and Washington were to attempt to instigate his replacement, the fact that MBS must have a large amount of compromising material about them might not become relevant. (A reprise of the situation with Berezovsky, in a different context, perhaps.) It what Murray says about the capabilities of Troodos is correct, which I think likely, it is also likely that it did send GCHQ a lot of material relevant to the Khashoggi killing. However, one comes back to the point I made at the outset, about the need to keep in mind the distinction between material which is recognised in real time, and provides advance warning, and material identified thereafter by targeted researches through a vast mass of intercepts. It is, in my view, not all that probable that the claim that British intelligence was afoot in the first week of September is well-founded. Given the risks involved, one might then have thought that an attempt would have been made to prevent a situation which could clearly possibly end not just in murder, but in a murder that was very embarrassing for a lot of people. If one wanted to do this, obviously one would have wanted to bring the Americans in which is precisely what it is now suggested that, for some incomprehensible reason, the British failed to do. Stronger warnings could have been given to the Saudis and it might indeed also have been sensible quietly to warn Khashoggi. What however the notion that the British knew what was happening makes possible to put a spin on the affair which reversed the original suggestion by Sawers so it is suggested that there is no smoking gun incriminating MBS personally. This, I suspect, is misinformation designed to cover the contingency that the notion of toppling him is unfeasible. It then becomes necessary to, at least partially, excuse the murder. This is done by calling into question the narrative according to which Khashoggi was just a progressive freedom fighting journalist, and was murdered for that reason. This is done by bringing up Khashoggis history of links with jihadists and there appears to be a suggestion that disagreements on this point may have accounted for the supposed failure to inform the U.S. So the story also operates to distance the MI6 from support for jihadists. The final twist is the suggestion that the murder arose because Khashoggi was going to produce information that the Saudis were using phosphorus in Yemen. As it happens, I have not seen reports of Iranian claims that the Saudis have been supplying ingredients which can be used to produce sarin in Yemen. We have very strong reasons to believe that they were engaged in doing precisely this in Syria, and very likely still are. It would be very interesting to see what in fact, if anything, the Iranians have claimed. And, of course, it would not in the least surprise if they produced their own information operations in response to those practised against them. The suggestion that the Saudis have used phosphorus adds nothing material to the long list of atrocities in which they have been involved in Yemen. It does however mean that HdBG can be brought in to attempt to discredit the two accusations of which MI6 is clearly very seriously afraid. Of these, the first is that Khashoggi was murdered simply for being a journalist critical of the regime. This is a possibility which is liable to stick in the craw, as it were, even of writers for and readers of the Guardian. The second is that the Saudis may have been, and may still be, involved in supplying sarin precursors to people. On a partially but not totally unrelated topic, Publius Tacitus posted, a few days ago, a very interesting piece on new evidence which has been coming out supporting the claim that the materials from the DNC published by WikiLeaks were the product, not of an hack by the Russians, but of a leak by the organisations staffer, Seth Rich. In comments, I made the suggestion that a lot of evidence might fit into a coherent picture, if one hypothesised that the leak was originally identified, not by monitoring of information coming out at the Washington end, but rather of monitoring of information coming into Assange, which would almost certainly have been conducted, not by the NSA and CIA, but by GCHQ and MI6. Among relevant information, of course, is the surprise resignation of Hannigan in January last year. David Habakkuk 29.109.2018 This week Dateline reporter Evan Williams follows President of Greek Community in Victoria Bill Papastergiadis as he goes back to his Motherland to examine the scale of devastation of a fire in Mati, and help the victims begin the process of rebuilding their lives. A tragic fire in Greeces seaside town Mati took 99 lives in July this year. It was the worlds second largest fire death toll after Australias Black Saturday fires in 2009, which became a catalyst for major change in Australian bushfire management and early warning systems. Many questions remain: could those who lost their lives in Mati have been saved? Did the austerity measures inflicted on Greece play a part in the devastation? What role did climate change play in the fires force and intensity? While in Mati, Evan also speaks to the survivors, fire-fighters, experts and civil servants to piece together what went wrong. Dimitri Kardiakos, whose family lived in the region for generations, lost his family home and some of his lifelong friends. You dont see fire at the beginning but you feel a kind of heat as if you are opening the oven you cook in, he tells Dateline. The heat burns you. There was panic. Everything was exploding. It was like a state of war. There were tears, screaming but we were all saying we wanted to live. The biggest loss of life and property that Greece has ever experienced resulted in three days of national mourning. And that mourning extended to Australias Greek community (the largest Greek diaspora worldwide), who witnessed a similar tragedy almost a decade ago on Australias Black Saturday. In Melbourne, Bill Papastergiadis raised AUD $200,000 with Melbournes Greek Community, and then travelled to Mati to distribute the funds to the victims. For Greek Australians, there is almost an umbilical connection to the mother land, he recalls to Dateline. Pain felt in Greece, we felt that immediately in Australia. Im here to do my bit as small as it is to provide some help and assistance. Mati locals tell Dateline that public outrage was fuelled by lack of proper action by the government officials. Vangelis Bournos, Mayor of Rafina-Pikermi, says his pleas for help were ignored. We saw the fire at 4:40pm. They [authorities] had until 5:10 to give this evacuation order so that we could have evacuated the area within an hour. If a preventive evacuation plan had been given at the start of the fire, everyone would have been saved. Demetrious Karavellas, President of The World Wildlife Federation in Greece, had been warning the government to invest in prevention and preparedness to avoid tragedies like this owing to climate change in Greece. The reality of climate change in a country like Greece is a harsh reality and its a reality that we need to adapt to. Forests in Greece and Mediterranean because of climate change are becoming a lot more vulnerable and also a lot more valuable. Higher temperature, stronger winds and a problematic management system, its not going to work. I hope that something will change after 2018. In the aftermath of this tragedy, criticism has mounted over how authorities responded to the blaze in particular, the absence of a warning system or evacuation plan. In response, the Deputy Minister for Citizen Protection resigned and the Heads of both Police and Fire Brigade were dismissed. Bill Papastergiadis, however, hopes that the Australian contribution can help the victims to start rebuilding their lives in their own way. Why did we do this? We did it because wherever Greek people live they hurt for their fellow Greek. Tuesday, October 31 at 9.30pm on SBS. The Northern Territory government has released a 3 year NT Screen Industry Development Plan, to create more jobs and support local screen businesses. The plan is part of a record $9 million investment in the screen industry. The government is also calling for nominees to join a newly established Screen Industry Advisory Council (SIAC) . Minister for Tourism and Culture, Lauren Moss said, The Territory Government is investing a record $9 million into our film and screen sector over four years, recognising its importance in sharing the Territorys story with the world and its economic potential to the Territory. The new council will provide a key advisory role for Government, guiding our efforts to invest in initiatives that will grow and develop and build a self-sustaining screen industry as part of our broader cultural economy. Expressions of interest close on 25 November 2018. I see you 4K and I raise you sort of. At its AllFronts on Friday Seven announced an 8K public site screening of some of the Tokyo Olympics to be held in 2020. The 8K Ultra High Definition live sport site screening will be at one or more public sites, to be announced, making it the the first Australian media company to host an 8K event. It will be made possible due to Japan broadcaster NHK using 8K. Seven will Broadcast and stream over 3500 live hours of Olympics coverage across 52 live event streams all in 1080p HDR as well as numerous Ultra High Definition live streamed channels. Chief Digital Officer Clive Dickens said: Tokyo 2020 will be the most watched Olympics ever, even more than The Sydney 2000 Games. Once again our Aussies will be going for Gold, and Seven will be supporting them every step of the way across multiple broadcast channels and via our 7plus Olympic Hub, Australias number one commercial FTA BVOD platform. We are committed to showing even more live event coverage, in higher than HD quality, across more Connected TV screens than any sporting event in Australian history. And were proud to announce the debut of a 8K Live Site in Australia as part of a very special event to celebrate the Greatest Show On Earth. BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Prosecutors are investigating whether Belgian banks paid out interest and dividends on accounts frozen under U.N. sanctions in 2011 as the Libyan state under Muammar Gaddafi collapsed, public broadcaster RTBF said on Monday. Prosecutors, the government and Belgian banks did not comment on the report, which cited an unidentified source. RTBF said that up to 5 billion euros (4.4 billion pounds) could have been disbursed to people controlling Libyan accounts, including militia groups in the country accused of human rights abuses. RTBF said that when the United Nations agreed to freeze deposits held by Gaddafi's administration abroad, Belgium had done so but had not halted payments of interest and dividends. (Reporting by Francesco Guarascio; Editing by Alastair Macdonald and Alison Williams) EU countries have called for more time over European Commissions plans to scrap clock changes (Reuters) Britain is among a small group of countries which are resisting European Commission plans to scrap the twice-yearly clock change, it has been revealed. A timely debate on the proposal, coming just 24 hours after people had put their clocks back by an hour, was held between EU ministers in Austria on Monday. The commission wants to scrap the practice, which was adopted in the last century to save energy during wars and fuel shortages, from next year. The idea has certainly been given the time of day by EU citizens. A public consultation on the issue received 4.6 million responses the highest number ever received by such a call from the EU and 84% of respondents said they want to call time on clock changes. We have a very big majority in the EU who feel we no longer need this time change, said Austrian transport minister Norbert Hofer after Mondays meeting. Its kind of a relic from the 70s. Hofer said that three countries remained sceptical about the need for the change Britain, Poland and Sweden. Most UK respondents to the EU consultation said they wanted to scrap clock changes, but the UK had the lowest response rate of any EU country. The lack of a consensus at the meeting, where the UK was represented by transport secretary Chris Grayling, looks likely to mean the plan will be delayed. Austrian transport minister Norbert Hofer said the UK is sceptical about plans to scrap clock changes (Getty) Ministers instead backed plans to delay the move until 2021 to give airlines and other affected businesses to prepare for the change. That leaves open the possibility that the legislation would come into force after the Brexit transition period, meaning the UK was not obliged to make the change. Discussions are also ongoing over safeguard mechanism to stop a patchwork of different time zones being created. The EU has said they will let member states choose between permanent summer or winter time, opening up the possibility that neighbouring countries could suddenly find themselves in different time zones. Luxembourg is particularly worried about the possibility because almost half of its workforce travels in daily from Belgium, France and Germany. Story continues Having three different time frames would be catastrophic for us, warned Francois Bausch, the countrys infrastructure minister. The commission is hopeful though that the move can be used to eliminate the time differences which already exist. We already have three time zones within the EU and this is potentially a very good framework within which we can discuss a harmonised solution, said EU transport commissioner Violeta Bulc. Gabon leader has stroke, sources say, government says it's fatigue LIBREVILLE (Reuters) - Gabon's President Ali Bongo was hospitalised last week in Saudi Arabia after suffering a stroke, two sources told Reuters, while Gabonese authorities said he was admitted only because of fatigue. Bongo on Monday was still under observation at the King Faisal hospital in Riyadh where he was taken on Oct. 24. A medical and a diplomatic source both told Reuters that the president suffered a stroke. Government spokesman Ike Ngouoni denied this and said that Bongo instead had "severe fatigue" after months of strenuous work. The president was in Saudi Arabia to attend the Future Investment Initiative conference where he was scheduled to speak alongside other African leaders. Bongo, whose family has ruled the central African oil producer for nearly a half century, has been president since succeeding his father Omar in 2009. He narrowly won re-election in 2016 in a poll that the opposition claimed was marred by fraud. Mass protests broke out, during which the national parliament was gutted by fire. (Reporting by Gerauds Wilfried Obangome, Writing by Juliette Jabkhiro, Editing by Edward McAllister, William Maclean) Riot police dispersed jubilant students at the University of Massachusetts Amherst on Sunday, October 28, after the Boston Red Sox won their fourth World Series title in 15 years. These videos, captured by Gretchen Keller of the Massachusetts Daily Collegian, show the drama unfolding. Thousands of students were seen celebrating on campus after the Red Sox 5-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers, MassLive.com reported. Credit: Gretchen Keller/Massachusetts Daily Collegian via Storyful FILE PHOTO: Sweden's Prime Minister and Social Democratic party leader Stefan Lofven speaks during the election campaign in Stockholm FILE PHOTO: Sweden's Prime Minister and Social Democratic party leader Stefan Lofven speaks during the election campaign in Stockholm, Sweden September 8, 2018. REUTERS/Ints Kalnins By Simon Johnson and Johan Sennero STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - The leader of Sweden's Social Democrats, Stefan Lofven, on Monday abandoned efforts to form a government, extending a political deadlock that has gripped the country since an inconclusive national election seven weeks ago. The failed attempt brought the prospect of a snap election closer, though the speaker of parliament said he would try to avoid that at all costs. The Sept. 9 vote gave the anti-immigrant Sweden Democrats hold the balance of power, but neither Lofven's centre-left bloc nor the centre-right group of parties has been willing to give them a say in policy due to their white supremacist roots. "In light of the responses I have had so far ... the possibility does not exist for me to build a government that can be accepted by parliament," Lofven told reporters. The centre-right Alliance bloc's leader, Ulf Kristersson, has already tried and failed to form a government. Speaker Andreas Norlen, who on Monday held talks with all the party leaders, said he would not, at least for now, ask anyone else to try to form a government. Instead, he would on Tuesday take on a more active role in trying to mediate a way to forming a viable coalition. He would propose a prime minister to parliament at least once during the autumn, in order if possible to avoid another election. "A snap election would be a big defeat for the Swedish political system," he told reporters. A caretaker administration under Lofven has run Sweden since last month's ballot. The delay in forming a permanent government could further undermine faith in mainstream parties. Sweden Democrats leader Jimmie Akesson said a new vote could boost support for his party. Both Lofven and Kristersson said they still hope to be prime minister, but neither offered a way to end the stalemate. "I do not see any indication that anyone has changed their minds about anything at all," Kristersson told reporters after meeting speaker Norlen. Graphic - Swedish election scenarios: https://tmsnrt.rs/2p45tJh (Reporting by Johan Sennero; editing by John Stonestreet) The National Museum of Damascus has reopened for the first time since the raging Syrian civil war forced its closure in 2012. Restoration specialists and foreign archaeologists were among those to attend a ceremony marking its restoration, which was hailed as a return to normal life for locals robbed of the beloved attraction by the looming threat of conflict. After several key victories against rebel forces, relative calm has been brought back to the capital and provided the government with enough confidence to reopen the museum. Culture minister Mohamed al-Ahmad told reporters and visitors: "The opening of the museum is a genuine message that Syria is still here and her heritage would not be affected by terrorism. "I could say that this is a political, cultural and economic victory for us. Today, Damascus has recovered." Among the antiquities on display are murals from the second century Dura-Europos in eastern Syria, historical statues of the Greek goddess of victory from the south, and textiles from central Palmyra - all of which had been removed from the building following its closure. Mahmoud Hammoud, head of the government branch responsible for antiquities and museums, said four of the five sections of the museum would be open to the public, showcasing findings that date back to the prehistoric, historical, classical and Islamic eras. But he added that more funding was required to further renovate the museum, with many important artefacts and sculptures having been smuggled abroad or irreparably damaged during the crisis. Bartosz Markowski, a Polish specialist in conservation of stone sculpture and architectural detail, said at the opening 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 said. "I came right after liberation and helped with urgent conservation and protection of destroyed objects in Palmyra, but there is still a lot of damage in Palmyra." Story continues Mr Hammoud's predecessor, Maamoun Abdul-Karim, was in the role between 2012 and 2017 - when the decision was made to close the museum and hide its valuables. He said Syria would need years to reopen all museums nationwide. "We hope that today's inauguration will be a good start for Syria," he said. "After saving around 300,000 antiquities, we are waiting for these antiquities to be settled in their original museums and hope things will go back to normal in all the Syrian territories." 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The group of more than 300 Salvadorans left the capital San Salvador on Sunday. A larger group of mostly Hondurans, estimated to number between 3,500 and 7,000, 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 broke through a gate at the Guatemala border with Mexico in Tecun Uman on Sunday, and clashed with police. Local first responders said that security forces used rubber bullets against the migrants, and that one person, Honduran Henry Adalid, 26, was killed. Six police officers were injured, said Beatriz Marroquin, the director of health for the Retalhuleu region. Mexico's Interior Minister Alfonso Navarrete told reporters on Sunday evening that federal police did not have any weapons, even to fire plastic bullets. He said that some of the migrants had guns while others had Molotov cocktails, and this information had been passed on to other Central American governments. Guatemala's government said in a statement that it regrets that the migrants didn't take the opportunity of dialogue and instead threw stones and glass bottles at police. 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. Story continues "I think what the president is making clear is every possible action, authority, executive programme, 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," Nielsen added. 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. BLISTERING HEAT By Sunday evening, hundreds of the Salvadorans had crossed the border into Guatemala, having walked and hitched rides in pickups and on buses from the capital. They organised using social networks like Facebook and WhatsApp over the last couple of weeks, inspired by the larger group in Mexico. Salvadoran police travelled 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 mobilise, 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 3 am 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 themselves from the trek, which has covered an average 30 miles (48 km) a day. An estimated 2,300 children were travelling 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, Sofia Menchu and Doina Chiacu; Writing by Christine Murray; Editing by Andrea Ricci, Rosalba O'Brien and Darren Schuettler) FILE PHOTO: Wikileaks founder Julian Assange speaks on the balcony of the Embassy of Ecuador in London FILE PHOTO: Wikileaks founder Julian Assange speaks on the balcony of the Embassy of Ecuador in London, Britain, May 19, 2017. REUTERS/Neil Hall/File Photo By Alexandra Valencia QUITO (Reuters) - WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said on Monday that Ecuador is seeking to end his asylum in its London embassy and hand him over to the United States, but a judge rejected his lawsuit over embassy living conditions. Assange spoke from the embassy via teleconference at a hearing in Quito of a lawsuit challenging the Ecuadorean government requiring him to pay for medical bills, phone calls and clean up after his pet cat. He took refuge in the embassy six years ago to avoid extradition to Sweden in a sexual assault case that was later dropped. He remains there to avoid being jailed by Great Britain for violating the terms of his bail, which he has said would result in his being handed over to Washington. During the hearing, Assange said the new rules were a sign Ecuador was trying to push him out, and said Ecuadorean President Lenin Moreno had already decided to end his asylum but had not yet officially given the order. "If Mr. Assange wants to stay and he follows the rules ... he can stay at the embassy as long as he wants," said Attorney General Inigo Salvador, adding that Assange's stay had cost the country $6 million. Foreign Minister Jose Valencia declined to comment on Assange's assertion that Ecuador sought to hand him over to the United States. Judge Karina Martinez rejected the lawsuit, saying the Foreign Ministry was in charge of determining his living conditions. Assange's legal team said it immediately appealed the ruling. Embassy staff had complained of Assange riding a skateboard in the halls, of playing football on the grounds and behaving aggressively with security personnel. Ecuador's government also objected to his making online commentary about sensitive political issues in other countries, including publishing opinions about the Catalonia separatist movement in Spain. The new rules were meant to address these concerns, Salvador said. The United Kingdom in August had assured Assange that he would not be extradited if he left the embassy, Salvador told reporters last week. Story continues Valencia told Reuters last week that the government was "frustrated" by the lawsuit and that it would no longer intervene with British authorities on Assange's behalf. U.S. federal prosecutors in Alexandria, Virginia, have maintained a long-running grand jury investigation into WikiLeaks, which according to one source includes a probe into leaks of Central Intelligence Agency documents to the website. (https://reut.rs/2z8JdlY) (Reporting by Alexandria Valencia; Writing by Luc Cohen; Editing by Steve Orlofsky and Lisa Shumaker) University of North Georgia (UNG) junior and retired U.S. Army Spc. Magnum Brock believes the Veterans Day events across the campuses strike a balance between remembering troops who lost their lives serving and celebrating those who survived. "It's hard not to swell with pride," said Brock, who is a student worker for UNG's Veteran and Adult Learners program. The former intelligence analyst, who is majoring in digital arts, is participating in the National Roll Call on the Gainesville Campus. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 12 on the patio in front of the Student Center, UNG students, faculty and staff will recite the names of service members from Georgia killed in action during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Among those fallen service members are eight UNG alumni: Thomas E. Vitagliano (Iraq), Charles H. Warren (Iraq), Jeremy A. Chandler (Afghanistan), Paul Saylor (Iraq), Mitch Young (Afghanistan), Kevin M. Jenrette (Afghanistan), Andrew H. McConnell (Afghanistan), and Weston C. Lee (Iraq). UNG community members can also have their family members who served in the military during any conflict and were killed in action in or are still living added to the list. Community members may also sign up to read names. Brock said the National Roll Call is especially significant. "I don't think many people can understand the gravity of seeing your friends give their lives," Brock said. "The Roll Call helps us feel that connection to their sacrifice." While the Gainesville Campus celebrates in this single event, UNG's Corps of Cadets will participate in two events in Lumpkin County. The first will be a ceremony for veterans at 3 p.m. Nov. 9 in Memorial Hall Gym on UNG's Dahlonega Campus. The second will be the Lumpkin County Veterans Day parade at 11 a.m. Nov. 10. Cadet Zachary Navara, a senior from Columbus, Georgia, majoring in international affairs, said veterans should be appreciated year-round, but the holiday provides a great chance to remind civilians of veterans' service. "It gives people a chance to hone in and appreciate those veterans at least one day a year," Navara said. "I'm glad that the Corps of Cadets puts it on every year." The Golden Eagle Band serves as the official musical representative of UNG and the Corps of Cadets. It will play selections at the Memorial Hall Gym as part of the Veterans Day ceremony. The band has a mix of cadets and civilian students. Dr. Bart Walters, interim director of the Golden Eagle Band, is an 11-year veteran himself, having been part of the Army band system as a saxophonist. He sees UNG as having the unique perspective of bringing together veterans and cadets who will become veterans for the holiday. "It's important to honor those that have come before us and instill it in those that are moving forward," Walters said. Jakarta: A Lion Air plane that was almost brand new, at two-months-old crashed into the sea after departing from Jakarta. The Boeing 737 MAX 8 was carrying about 188 people, according to the BBC. A press statement suggested that the passengers included two babies and an infant. The Guardian reported that the "Lion Air flight JT610 was travelling from Jakarta to Pangkal Pinang on the island of Bangka in Indonesia." It lost contact after just 13-minutes of flight time. Jakarta airport got a request to return BBC notes that before the plane lost contact, the pilots requested to return to Jakarta. However, it never made it back, and later, debris seen floating on the water included wallets, aircraft seats, and handbags. The plane apparently crashed in shallow water with a depth of about 30 meters (98ft). Reuters noted that the crash happened shortly after the 6.20am take off. The pilots between them had over 11k hours flying experience. So far, there's no indication of any passengers being found. Vessels in the area include a tug that reported the debris. Additionally, workers on an offshore oil refinery saw the debris. Search and rescue operations are underway. Apart from that, it's a priority to recover the black box to establish what went wrong with the plane. Soerjanto Tjahjono, of the Safety Transport Committee, said that the black box is very important. However, modern planes like this can transmit data to the ground and We will collect all data from the control tower. Serpihan pesawat Lion Air JT 610 yang jatuh di perairan Karawang. Beberapa kapal tug boad membantu menangani evakuasi. Video diambil petugas tug boad yang ada di perairan Karawang. pic.twitter.com/4GhKcRYkpG Sutopo Purwo Nugroho (@Sutopo_PN) October 29, 2018 Boeing 737 MAX 8 had a technical problem previously SBS News reported that the plane previously had a technical issue. Discuss this news on Eunomia It had flown from Denpasar to Cengkareng (Jakarta). Lion Air's chief executive Edward Sirait said that "There was a report of a technical issue which had been resolved according to procedure." However, he did not elaborate on what the problem was. Additionally, he declared that none of the other 737 Max 8 planes in their fleet had the same problem. Therefore, they are not pulling those planes from flights. It's possible this influenced the decision by Australia. They advised that "government officials and contractors have now been instructed not to fly on Lion Air," according to the Guardian. Lion Air had some previous issues with aircraft and this is not the first time one of their planes crashed in the ocean. In 2013 a Lion Air jet "undershot the runway and crashed into the sea in Bali," SBS noted. Beberapa serpihan pesawat Lion Air JT 610 yang jatuh di perairan Karawang. Pesawat membawa 178 penumpang dewasa, 1 penumpang anak-anak dan 2 bayi dengan 2 Pilot dan 5 FA. Basarnas dan Kementerian Perhubungan terus melakukan penanganan. Beberapa kapal tug boad berada di lokasi. pic.twitter.com/Gb6P4zjCQF Sutopo Purwo Nugroho (@Sutopo_PN) October 29, 2018 Passengers on the Boeing The total number of passengers on the Boeing are not exact, due to conflicting reports. However, BBC notes that "20 employees from Indonesia's finance ministry were on board." Relatives are desperate for any information about the flight. There is slim hope for the survivors. Incidentally, the emergency transmitter never sent out a signal. In total, it's believed the number of passengers were about 188 people including the crew. Residential design students were among the first to see the new space during a seminar Cheever presented about lessons she learned during her career. The students glance down at the floor as Cheever pulls back a portion of the protective covering to give them a peek at the latest evolution of kitchen surfaces. You have to be careful with the materials you choose for your clients, she told them. A few years ago, everyone wanted stone-tile floors. But that proved problematic. If, say, you dropped a jar of mustard, the container would shatter, and youd have a big, staining mess. That type of floor can be unforgiving. In renovating the space containing her collection, Cheever chose for the floor surface a descendant of linoleum, a new vinyl product that is softer, stain resistant, and easier to clean. Although trends are a consideration, she says, good kitchen and bath design focuses on the evolution of materials. Thats why its important to stay current with the industry, rather than relying only on personal preferences or past product specifications, to solve design issues. Cheever, a Certified Master Kitchen and Bath Designer, has remained a relevant and influential figure in the industry through her roles as director of educational services and textbook author for the National Kitchen and Bath Association. She also holds certifications from the American Society of Interior Designers and is a certified aging-in-place specialist through the National Association of Home Builders. Cheever is the author of more than 20 books and manuals on kitchen and bath design standards, including three of the updated National Kitchen and Bath Associations Professional Resource Library volumes. Additionally she has been a columnist for Kitchen & Bath Design News magazine as well as a seminar leader for close to 20 years. In 2017, Kitchen & Bath Design News included her in its inaugural list of Top 50 Innovators. The publication notes that this classification honors the industrys finest dealers, designers, and leaders who are redefining the kitchen and bath trade. The newly renovated library housing the Cheever collection features products provided by industry-leading firms. Plain & Fancy Custom Cabinetry donated the cabinets; Corian Quartz Surfaces, the countertops; and Hafele America, the hardware and LED lighting system. DeHart Tile, a Christiansburg, Virginiabased company, donated the Armstrong vinyl tile flooring. In deciding where to donate the original books, columns, research projects, and seminar materials she had written since beginning her career in 1971, Cheever said she chose the Center for Real Life Design because she wanted to provide a valuable resource to residential design students. The center offers students and professionals a laboratory for exploring residential design and technologies that address the demands of families and consumers. It includes six operational kitchens that represent various price levels, product selections, and space designs. These kitchens also reflect the diversity of todays households, by including features that accommodate young children, older adults, and people with disabilities. Virginia Tech will celebrate Cheevers contribution on Nov. 1 with an afternoon of events in Blacksburg that are open to the university. Cheever will present Reflections of a Career in Kitchen and Bath Design at 2 p.m. at the Biocomplexity Institute of Virginia Tech at 1015 Life Science Circle. An opening of an exhibit of her work will follow at the Wallace Hall Gallery, along with a reception celebrating the Cheever Collection in the Center for Real Life Design, housed in Wallace Hall at 295 West Campus Drive. I hope my experiences, both personal and professional, will help students be better prepared for a career in kitchen and bath design, Cheever said. I learned from many great people over my career and this is my way of giving back. Written by Leslie King The Environment Department said it plans to file cases against five steel mills for allegedly releasing air polluting emissions that pose serious hazards to public health and the environment. The department earlier launched an investigation into the activities of the five steel mills following complaints of alleged violation of labor and environmental laws, particularly the Clean Air Act or Republic Act No. 8749. The companies were members of the Philippine Induction Smelting Industry Association which were using induction furnace for steel manufacturing, an equipment called by the Asean Iron and Steel Council as obsolete and banned in China due to the pollution that it caused and alleged substandard steel that it produced. Environment Undersecretary Benny Antiporda said in an interview that the department would not allow these companies to continue their practices at the expense of the environment. We will not allow these capitalists to cause damage to the environment, Antiporda said, citing the departments recent moves against a group of resorts for the environmental damage it had caused in Boracay Island. The AISC, calling for the ban of induction furnace in Asean, said that induction furnace facilities were environmentally unfriendly because they generally lacked proper environmental control and were not equipped with waste gas treatment system.As a consequence, the process releases harmful gases and generate high degree of pollutants to the environment, the AISC said in its position paper presented during the last meeting of the Asean senior economic officials meeting. Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu earlier ordered an investigation into possible violations of environmental laws by the five steel mills which were accused of emitting high air pollution levels. Given the veracity of the allegations, the investigation must be completed as quickly as possible so that we can take immediate measures to address the problem and, if necessary, hold these companies accountable for their pollution, Cimatu said. Labor rights group Philippine Association of Free Labor Unions and environmental group Clean Air Philippines Movement Inc. alleged that the air pollution at the five steel mills exceeded the maximum level set by the World Health Organization. Both groups also lodged a complaint with the Labor Department against the five steel mills based on their findings. About this blog In the interests of doing something different to every other wine blogger, this blog delves into the world of wine data, instead of wine itself. The intention is to ferret out some of the interesting stuff, and to bring it out into the light, for everyone to see. In particular, I draw pictures of the data as William Playfair said (in 1805): "whatever can be expressed in numbers may be represented by lines". So, I'd rather show you a graph than a paragraph. Hopefully, this will be both interesting and informative. Philippine Telegraph and Telephone Corp. said it is now ready to participate in the bidding for a third major telecom player on Nov. 7, after it obtained a certificate of no outstanding liabilities from the National Telecommunications Commission. NTC certified that PT&T had no uncontested obligations to the NTC as of Oct. 1, 2018, including supervision and regulation fees, spectrum user fees, penalties, surcharges and interests. PT&T said it paid P20.57 million in spectrum users fee to NTC from 2003 to 2018 and the uncontested P10.27-million SRF for 2018. Since embarking on its revival, PT&T has been clearing the way to meet all the pre-qualification requirements to bid for the new major player or the 3rd telco bid, PT&T president and chief executive James Velasquez said. With its long history of providing telecommunications services to the Filipino people across the nation, we believe we can meet all the stringent requirements to participate, this recent certification is another proof of that, he said. The terms of reference issued by NTC for the selection of new major player stated that interested participants should have no uncontested outstanding liabilities such as SRF and SUF, other penalties, surcharges and interests to the agency as of Oct. 1. PT&T bought bid documents for the selection of the new major player. Other companies that purchased bid documents were Now Telecom of businessman Mel Velarde, Dennis Uys Udenna Corp., the joint venture of businessman Chavit Singsons LSC Group of Companies and TierOne Communications, Norways Telenor Group and China Telecom. The submission and opening of bid documents were set on Nov. 7.Under the final terms of reference issued by NTC and Department of Information and Communications Technology, the potential bidders will be chosen based on the highest committed level of service for over a period of five years. The three criteria are national population coverage with a weight of 40 percent, minimum average broadband speed of 25 percent and capital and operating expenditure with 35 percent. A potential bidder should have secured a Congressional franchise and should have a paid capital of at least P10 billion. The participant or one of its members should have an experience in the provisioning, delivery and operations of telecommunications services for the last 10 years on a national scale. The new player is expected to invest a minimum of P40 billion in the first year and P240 billion in five years. PT&T holds a 25-year franchise which allows the company to establish, maintain and operate both wired and wireless telecommunications systems for domestic and international communication in the Philippines. Its existing scalable network and infrastructure, spanning over 10,000 kilometers of pure fiber optic cables, allow it to easily meet the network demands of customers in the Greater Manila area, northern and southern Luzon and Cebu. by Emily Ogden Unfitness to pursue our research in the unfathomable waters. Herman Melville, Moby-Dick What are the forms of unknowing? Ambivalence. Diffidence. The open mind. The broken mind. The mind faced with the sacred. Deprivation of an education. Naiveteor is it just youth? Objectivity. Credulity. Amateurism. Anti-intellectualism. Forgetting. Willful forgetting. Receipt of mercy, as when we say, its better if she doesnt know. Neither good nor bad, neither innocent nor strategic, unknowing in itself belongs neither to the right, nor to the left, nor even to the clueless, privileged middle. Yet forces conspire of late to make unknowing, both posture and reality, look like the exclusive territory of the reactionary guard. I do not think progressives should cede their claim to this common property of ours. For a little while, thennever mind how long; Im not sure yetthis column will concern unknowing: when and why one might value it. I am aware of how untimely such a project may seem, may even be. The Trump administrations aggressive, racialized ignorance has reached literally world-destroying proportions. Seemingly the one kind of expertise toward which the US president does not maintain open hostility is criminal defense litigation, and thats of necessity. Republican voters take pride in their know-nothingismsee Im a Deplorable bumper stickersand their critics agree, calling them uneducated, in denial about their white supremacist sympathies, or both. While campaigns like #bluelivesmatter and climate-change denial weaponize obtuseness, the left assumes a defensive crouch and draws tight the mantle of its enlightenment. What other choice is there? To enter certain conversationsas for example about abortion or rapeunsure of what you think is often to be judged conservative. Only slightly less often, it is actually to be so. And thus knowingness becomes at times an affected signal, and at other times a reliable sign, of progressive politics. Butbut. Arent there forms of unknowing one might want to protect, even prize? Sometimes we put on unknowing as a gracious style, in order to leave space for other peoples necessary illusions (as David Russell describes in his brilliant book on Tact). Sometimes we keep ourselves in the dark to make impartiality possible, as in various forms of blind testing and blind judgment. Sometimes our unreadiness to speak now is the price to be paid for our worthwhile work in the future. None of these forms are pure; none of these flames burn clean. I would like to shelter them from the gale nonetheless. ** While my column will range widely among the promising styles and states of ignorance, Ill begin with unreadiness. Why might we value the backward and the unprepared? Unreadiness is a good place to start because it is, itself, a refusal to start. It hangs back. In commencing the promised work, it lags perpetually. Woefully poky in an age of fast media, unreadiness is still asking who the Kardashians are and why they are famous. It never knows about peoples affairs. Its failures to keep up at the cocktail party are fatiguing to all. But it may be that unreadiness appears to dawdle only because the world has sped up. In that case, the unprepared mind is of historical value. It can serve as a measuring stick for the times that have outpaced it. By the stake it plants at the flood tides height, we can measure the extent of the ebb. So Henry Adams suggested in The Education of Henry Adams. Born in 1838 to a family whose power had peaked in the previous centuryhe was the direct descendant of the two Adams presidents of the US, John and John QuincyAdams was an eighteenth-century child destined to watch uncomprehendingly as the twentieth century dawned. In the Education, Adams proposes himself as a manikin whose misfit relations with the present will let his contemporaries apprehend their times accurately. He wryly documents just how totally his outdated expectations have been confounded. At past fifty, Adams solemnly and painfully learn[s] to ride the bicycle. At the Paris Exposition of 1900, he stands in awe before the dynamo, a device for producing electricity from coal, with his historical neck broken by the irruption of forces totally new. One knows the impact of these machines by seeing how they bend and shatter him. Ralph Waldo Emerson calls that person a poet who alone grasps and articulates the forces that her own era brings to bear on those who live itforces under which the rest of us bow, only half seeing the boots on our necks. The poet is a prophet of the present. Adams wouldnt have pretended to the poets lofty role; he would have been more likely to depict himself as one of those who were crushed to the floor. But Emerson, I think, might have seen poetry in the Education (it was published after Emerson died). Adamss unreadiness certainly would not have disqualified him. To Emerson, unreadiness is the visible sign of a poetic imagination, the surface chill left behind by the powerful draft of an inner bonfire. A person of extraordinary quickness, even omniscience, the poet nonetheless appears to be slow. Uninformed about economic and political life, lacking sparkle in casual conversations, the poet cannot be afforded to the Capitol or the Exchange. The world is full of renunciations and apprenticeships, Emerson continues, addressing the poet directly, and this is thine: thou must pass for a fool and a churl for a long season. However churlish and foolish Adams felt, others hung on his words in the Education. He published it privately and circulated it reluctantly during his life. After he died, it won a Pulitzer Prize. Unreadiness was not a stylish gesture for Adams; it was something he suffered. Many, if not all, of us share his affliction, whether or not we are scheduled to receive the posthumous compensations that came Adamss way. If there is one thing that worries me more than any other in the lefts adoption of enlightenment as its signature stance, it is that with this posture we place ourselves in opposition to what human being is actually like so much of the time. One has not read, seen, heard, or calculated even a good number of the books, people, and quantities. Judgment staggers as a result. One wishes it didnt, but it does. If knowingness becomes the price of admission to the left, what can it amount to other than a demand that hobbled ponies pretend to leap? When we feel the invisible tether hampering our steps, we might, instead, document our halting progress as Adams did. The record of our dawdling may sometimes be the yardstick that the present moment requires. It is even a remote possibility that precisely by lagging behind these times, we may be making ready for the future. Backward to follow, the dunces, perhaps, will be forward to lead. by Thomas ODwyer When a plane lands at Larnaca in Cyprus, as it rolls past the control tower one can glimpse on a misty horizon the lone pyramid of Stavrovouni mountain. The ugly airport tower then obscures the steep mountain and the ancient monastery on its summit. It could be a metaphor for modernity obliterating the spirit of places that once seemed mysterious and eternal. Its an hours drive from the airport to the sprawling concrete capital Nicosia and up and over the green passes of the Kyrenia mountain range. Then its a right turn east along the northern Mediterranean coast to the hillside village of Bellapais. A remarkable 12th-century Gothic abbey dominates the village and a couple of Crusader castles brood on the mountain ridge high above it. Even the names carry a whiff of ancient Gothic Europe Buffavento, Hilarion, Bellapais. Carob, mulberry and cypress trees crowd around the ruins as they did when knights roamed the hills. A few hundred metres up a steep path from the abbey is a small house, once traditional, now modernised. The abbey and the cottage are responsible for the tawdry trinket shops and banal tourist cafes that have all but wiped out the old village tavernas. The splendid abbey is an obvious attraction, but the unremarkable cottage? For the literary-minded, it has an equal fascination. In it was written one of the great portraits of a city in 20th-century English literature. Here in the early 1950s Lawrence Durrell reimagined and immortalised Alexandria of Egypt. It joined the Dublin of James Joyce and the Paris of Marcel Proust in literary legend. A recent British TV series The Durrells has introduced the 80-year-old saga of this oddball family to new generations. (In America, PBS airs it as The Durrells in Corfu). In 1935 a poor British widow, Louisa Durrell, abruptly moved her young family of four from Bournemouth to Corfu island. She replaced a wet and bleak England with the dazzling light and warmth of a Greek lifestyle. This happy exile produced two Durrell authors, the funny zoologist Gerald and the literary giant Lawrence. I write literature, Lawrence once told a BBC interviewer. My brother writes books that people read. Lawrences book sales never did reach the dizzy heights achieved by those of his brother. Geralds hilarious My Family and Other Animals is the basis for the TV series. But Gerald never won the critical acclaim that Lawrence did for The Alexandria Quartet Justine, Balthazar, Mountolive and Clea. In 1941, the Durrells had to flee Greece ahead of the advancing Nazi army. Lawrence separated from his first wife Nancy and moved to Alexandria, Egypt. He took a job as press attache in the British Information Office. He also met the beautiful Eve Cohen, a Jewish Alexandrian and the model for Justine in The Alexandria Quartet. He married her in 1947 and they had a daughter, Sappho. After a year in Argentina with the British Council cultural mission, Durrell was sent to Belgrade, Yugoslavia, as press attache. In 1952, Eve went to England to be hospitalised for mental health problems. Durrell moved to Cyprus with the year-old Sappho. I have managed to put what little money I have (had) into a tiny but lovely house in a tumbledown village built round a huge ruined abbey, he wrote to his friend, the explorer Freya Stark. A lovely village. Cyprus is rather a lovely, spare, big bland sexy island totally unlike Greece with a weird charm of its own. In the opening paragraphs of Justine, the first book of the quartet, Durrell writes: I have escaped to this island with a few books and the child At night when the wind roars and the child sleeps quietly in its wooden cot by the echoing chimney-piece, I light a lamp and walk about, thinking of my friends I return link by link along the iron chains of memory to the city which we inhabited so briefly together: the city which used us as its flora precipitated in us conflicts which were hers and which we mistook for our own: beloved Alexandria! No one has been more associated with the aesthetics of landscapes than Durrell. Spirit of place is a concept that moves through all his writing and to which he returns again and again. Spirit of Place was the title of one of his books and of a documentary he did with the BBC about Corfu. In the post-war period, British-occupied Cyprus was an East Mediterranean cross-road. It was where philhellenes and Middle East travellers rested from their journeys or wrote their books. Durrell was soon awash with visitors to his artsy cottage in Bellapais. Many of these were old friends from his own travels Freya Stark, poet George Seferis (who later won a Nobel Prize), historian Lord Kinross, and adventurer Patrick Leigh Fermor. A fluent Greek speaker, Durrell soon accumulated new friends on the island. But he had burned his boats on leaving the British Council and he was running out of money. He took a job teaching English at Nicosias leading Greek high school, hobbling his plans to write full time. He wrote to American author Henry Miller, with whom he had become close friends in Greece: For the last two months we have been building my little house into something beautiful. I havent even had a table to write on. Besides, started an arduous job as a teacher which involves getting up at five every morning and working till two with a 30-mile drive thrown in. In addition I have been working at a new manuscript Justine which is something really good I think. A novel about Alexandria four dimensional. Never have I worked under such adverse conditions but my enchanting daughter Sappho is well, she is adorable. Even with the work, and the child, and the visitors, he found time for his exploration of what makes a place a presence. Durrell considered himself to be a poet (T.S. Eliot was his publishers editor and his early mentor and critic). To his readers, he was an avant-garde novelist. But today his works in print are more likely to sit in the travel sections of bookshops. Durrell believed that the aim of travel was to strip away the increasing sameness of places. To do that, one had to connect with those elements that draw an enriching experience from every culture. Durrell was born and spent an early childhood in India and though never religious, he declared that he had a Tibetan mind, attuned to Buddhism. Using scientific metaphor, he said that our view of the universe had changed when we discovered that the ultimate tiny atomic particle was not something hard, but a wave. Our solid world may be real, but is also illusory and infinite. The spirit of place moves over the land like the spirit of God upon the face of the waters in Genesis, he said in an interview. Pneuma was the ancient Greek word for breath and also a metaphor for spirit or soul. Durrell often referred to a breeze rustling the Greek landscape as its pneuma, its spirit. An aware person drawing their breath in the landscape was merging their own spirit with that of the place. It is a pity indeed to travel and not get this essential sense of landscape values. You do not need a sixth sense for it, he wrote in Spirit of Place. It is there if you just close your eyes and breathe softly; you will hear the whispered message, I am watching you are you watching yourself in me? Most travelers hurry too much, burdened with too much factual information To extract the essence of a place you dont need knowledge; you need observation and a sort of science of intuitions. If you just get as still as a needle, youll be there. What he called Greekness fascinated Durrell the non-sentimental essence of Greek landscapes because that was the culture he loved most. Curiously, there was one culture he dismissed with contempt the English. God spare me from the English death, he said in an interview. English life is like an autopsy, cold and bleak. It has no spirit; it is so, so dreary. The only English-language cultures he admired were in the Celtic nations of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. The [Greek] people struck me as so fantastic. It was as if Ireland had been towed down and plonked into the Mediterranean. Because the place isnt Spanish, which has a sort of sombre quality, and it isnt Italy, which has an operatic quality. It has a kind of innocent, wide-eyed, passionate, romantic craziness. It went right to my heart, Durrell said in his BBC documentary Spirit of Place. There are islands off Dubrovnik that are as beautiful as the Greek islands, but they seem to have nothing more. Ancient Greek mythology is always at your elbow in Corfu. Its a great seduction because you do feel the presence of Aphrodite and the spirit of place. Its not sentimental to realise that in every phrase the Greeks use today, two out of five words are Homeric words. They come from Plato. Here you feel the possibility of living the maximum number of lives allotted to you, so to speak. Here youre the cat. He noted that village Greeks themselves sometimes are not aware of the ancientness of their customs. But it is there. In simple unselfconscious village weddings, he said, one could feel their whole story. They go back through Byzantium into ancient life. A wedding is ceremony and glad-rags and revelry and dancing all night. In the old costumes, villagers look as colourful as a pack of cards. The best man walks out with the bride on his arm, and she is taken away, and the festive dances begin. Its all very Homeric. Dancing is never a performance so much as the passing on of an enigmatic knowledge which the musicians have summoned up from below the earth. It flows outward, and the dancing feet draw lifes circles, stitch by stitch like a woven fabric. In Cyprus, he set out to explore the landscape of his new village. My books are always about living in places, not just rushing through them the important determinant of any culture is after all the spirit of place. He rewarded the island years later with its own Durrell classic Bitter Lemons. In it, he chronicled the final chaotic and violent end to British rule. But like his other island books about Greece, his real aim was to reveal that elusive spirit of the place to future travellers. The feeble insinuations of a shepherds flute directed my steps to the little wine-store of Clito one fine tawny-purple dusk. The sea had been drained of its colors, and the last colored sails had begun to flutter across the harbor-bar like homesick butterflies, he writes in Bitter Lemons about finding a new tavern in the little harbour of Kyrenia. The muktar village leader warns the writer not to assume he can work in Bellapais. I must warn you, if you intend to try and work, not to sit under the Tree of Idleness. You have heard of it? This giant mulberry tree dominated Bellapais square and its cafe where the village men (but not women) gathered daily to gossip and discuss news events. Its shadow incapacitates one for serious work, said the muktar. By tradition the inhabitants of Bellapais are regarded as the laziest in the island. They are all landed men, coffee-drinkers and card-players. That is why they live to such ages. Nobody ever seems to die here. Ask Mr. Honey the grave-digger. Lack of clients has driven himself into a decline. Durrell often seemed to be escaping from what the poet Philip Larkin called the importance of elsewhere Here no elsewhere underwrites my existence. In his BBC documentary, he said: When you get to a place the first thing you think is gosh, I would (or I wouldnt) like to live here. But once you find yourself thinking I wouldnt mind dying here, then youve found it. In Bellapais he produced Justine, crafting his mythical Alexandria, and gave Sappho an idyllic childhood. But, as in Corfu with the arrival of Nazis, the spirits of a place can quickly turn malignant, and Durrell really did mind dying there. In 1955, armed conflict began between the British and a Cypriot guerrilla organisation. As the crisis expanded, Durrell accepted the post of press spokesman for the British in Nicosia. It was a wretched position for a man who was both a passionate philhellene and a dutiful British expatriate. His beloved Greek people stopped looking him in the eye and turned their backs on him, and there were rumours of guerrilla plans to kill him. He came close to being shot in his local tavern. He also feared that his village friends were now in danger for associating with an Englishman. (About 500 Britons, Greeks and Turks died in the conflict before Cyprus won its independence in 1960). When he settled in Bellapais, Durrell had written to Henry Miller: Life on an island, however rich, is circumscribed, and one does well to portion out ones experiences. Taken leisurely, with all ones time at ones disposal Cyprus could, I calculate, afford one a minimum of two years reckoned in terms of novelty; hoarded as I intended to hoard it, it might last anything up to a decade. He didnt have a decade. In 1956, Durrell abandoned his house in Bellapais and left for England, where in 1957 he wrote his Cyprus memoir in the bitter aftertaste of his flight from there. He soon resettled in a Provence village in the south of France, where he remained writing until his death in 1990. Five years before that, in 1985, his daughter, the adorable Sappho, a poet who may have inherited her mothers mental illness, hanged herself at the age of 33. Lawrence Durrell never returned to Cyprus. His once tiny but lovely Bellapais house has been extended and modernised. Over-gentrified, it stands by a newly paved road and is rented to tourists for more per week than the 300 pounds he paid to buy it. It has a bright lemon-yellow sign on the wall which reads Bitter Lemons Street. Whatever spirit it once had has gone elsewhere. by Adele A Wilby It is difficult to remember a time over recent decades when a president of the United States (US) has created so much controversy and division within the US and challenged its credibility and standing in international relations as has the incumbent president, Donald Trump. Indeed, so bewildering to many is the election of a former reality TV star and dubious businessman without experience in government, to the high office of president of the US and leader of the free world, a plethora of literature to account for such a phenomenon has emerged. Similarly, commentaries on evaluations of Trumps calibre and character, and just how far he is fit for such high office and powerful position in global politics, are plentiful. Jon Meachams The Soul of America: The Battle for Our Better Angels can be viewed as a contribution to the literature on those issues. Meacham is not concerned with examining the many sociological and economic factors that offer explanations as to why the American electorate put Trump in office, nor a critical examination of Trumps suitability as president of the US. Instead, Meacham informs us Trump is not such an anomaly in terms of presidents of the US; imperfection, he reassures us, is the rule not the exception insofar as US presidents are concerned. What differentiates Trumps presidency from past imperfect presidents, in Meachams view, was their ability to dig deep into themselves and to rise above their personal views in the wider interests of the populace and the nation when required to do so, whereas Trump rarely has. The history of the US, Meachams exposition reveals, is replete with presidents with nefarious political views and social practices that besmirch the US image of its own exceptionalism. Arguably, US exceptionalism lies in the fact its founding fathers and past presidents, at crucial times in the nations history, challenged their own political views and veered on the side of social progress. Meacham reveals to us just how far US politics has historically epitomised a struggle between what he refers to as the better angels and the darker forces within past US presidents for it to emerge as the country it is today, until the election of Trump that is. However, Meacham reassures us that the darker side of politics that Trumps presidency represents for so many, will pass, and with the end of his time in office, the opportunity for the people to elect a president of a different calibre will occur again. How then does Meacham explain the assumption to office of Trump? To develop his argument, Meacham delves into the history of the political thinking and personal reflections of US presidents, and establishes how and what he considers to be the American soul. The use of the term soul initially exposes Meachams argument to contestation, particularly since he only briefly explores the philosophical usage of what is a controversial subject. Then again, it is not the purpose of his book to engage in a philosophical treatise on what could be or whether in fact there is such a thing as the soul. Instead he accepts the premise, and he turns to Saint Augustine of Hippos writing in The City of Godfor his definition of soul as an assemblage of reasonable beings bound together by a common agreement as to the object of their love. Perhaps Meachams view of soul as being what makes us us, whether we are speaking of a person or of a people is easier to relate to than the vague notion of an object of love as constitutive of a nations soul. Nevertheless, Meachams usage of the concept of soul inevitably leads on to the question of what have Americans loved in common throughout their history that amounts to an American soul? What is the American soul? Meachams answer to that fundamental question is, a belief in the proposition, as Jefferson put it in the Declaration, that all men are created equal. While a belief in the view that all people are created equal is not so extra-ordinary in the twenty first century, and indeed flows naturally to so many people, the principle of equality has had to be enshrined within the US constitution for it to hold sway over time. Yet, despite its embeddedness in constitutional legality there are those in the US who are prepared to contest such a political ideal. When the concept of equality between people within the US is positioned in the wider context of just how the US was founded: the genocide of the original inhabitants of the land, slavery, the perpetuation of white supremacy through Jim Crow, and an ongoing legacy of racism and sexism, the emergence of the humanist ideal of equality between people as the soul of the American nation is remarkable. None of these oppressive and exploitative practices could ever have come into being without the support of an ideology to give legitimacy to such inhumanity; it had to be explained and justified, and accepted by the vast sections of people, and it is only ideology that can complete such a task, an ideology that rejects the idea that we are all created equal in our humanity, that some peoples are superior to others, particularly those with white skin, and that was the work of the ideologies of racism and white supremacy. But such ideologies have not detached themselves from US history and remain deeply rooted and firmly embedded, and persist amongst sections of the US populace to one degree or another, and in one form or another till this day; the darker forces in Meachams terms. Meacham does not shy away from addressing the darker side of American history, in fact it is fundamental to his argument in accounting for Trumps presidency. For him, the American soul is engaged in an eternal struggle to overcome the darker forces deep in its heart. Indeed, it was in response to the abominable practices upon which the US is built that gave rise to the impetus for past US presidents to acknowledge the inhumanity of institutionalised slavery, racism and sexism, and to articulate ideals of equality; the better angels in the American soul. However, as former present Ronald Reagan, although speaking in a different historical context, commented, history is a living thing that never dies. Indeed, and so it within the US; the eternal struggle between the better angels who promoted the ideal of the equality of peoples, and the darker forces who uphold and promote racism, discrimination and white supremacist views, are in battle for control over the American soul, and the battle rages in contemporary times. The political views of a spectrum of past presidents from the time of George Washington till Ronald Reagan explored by Meacham reveals just how far US presidents have practised racism and held white supremacist views. George Washington for example, was a slave owner. Truman, according to Meacham, made racist slurs in private. Theodore Roosevelt, a reformist, was at the same time a harbinger of white supremacist views in his belief that the destiny of the Anglo-Saxon peoples was to rule the world. However, what puts these presidents on the side of the better angels in US political history, in Meachams view, was their ability to rise above their own proclivity for the forces of darkness within their thinking. Past presidents drew on their own humanity and the guiding principles of the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights as guiding principles to assist them in their decision making to further the greater good, and the nations interests. Ultimately, the presidents who have opted for the side of the better angels have contributed to the emergence of the US as the leader of the free world, and upholder of liberal ideals of democracy, equality, individual freedoms, and free speech, at least in principle for the American people. Thus, in Meachams analysis many of the past presidents in US history, as repositories of the countervailing forces, have assumed major roles in determining the direction of the nation. A president, Meacham tells us, sets a tone for the nation and helps tailor habits of heart and of mind, and furthermore, we are more likely to choose the right path when we are encouraged to do so from the very top. There is little to dispute on that point. Past presidents too, would agree with Meacham. Not known as a progressive before entering the White House, but with an acute sense of the political, Lyndon Johnson knew that handled properly, the passage of civil rights legislation in the US would be a historical moment. When advised to ease off on his commitment to civil rights legislation following the assassination of president Kennedy in 1964, Johnson revealed not only his leadership qualities, but his determination to do what he thought was right for the country and to address the discrimination against African Americans. Defying the opposition from his colleagues, the concerns of his southern constituency, and risking the possibility of losing the presidential election, a determined Johnson quipped in reply, well what is the presidency supposed to do? Meachams assertion that our greatest leaders have pointed towards the future not at this group or that sect has credibility. However, as Meacham points out, a tragic element of history is that every advance must contend with forces of reaction (page 258). Indeed, and what is certain is that the better angels have been unable to totally vanquish the dark forces from the American polity; the forces of racism, discrimination, and the ideology of white supremacy; they lurk, waiting for an opportune moment to seize the upper hand in the battle for the American soul. Trumps candidacy and subsequent assumption to office, as we have learned, has provided the opportunity to breathe new life into those dark elements embedded in the heart of US politics. Trumps racial profiling and divisive comments on issues of immigration, his misogynist statements, his nationalist rhetoric, and his nativism, amongst other things, place Trump within the realms of the darker forces, in terms of US presidents. He has failed to demonstrate his ability to rise above those forces as exemplified most explicitly in his reluctance to outrightly condemn Nazis and neo-Nazis in a violent confrontation with Americans who stood against such views in Charlottesville in 2017. As Obama recently commented in a speech in Illinois, how hard can that be saying Nazis are bad? We can only assume that Trump is unable to find fascist political views abhorrent. He is, as Meacham says when discussing the tradition of populists such as Strom Thurmond and George Wallace in US political history, the heir to such traditions. But it is not only the political views of the president that are important, but the character of the individual in the office too. Woodrow Wilson realised the significance of character in the person of the presidency when, speaking of the presidents approach, he says: He is the president of no constituency, but of the whole people. When he speaks in his true character, he speaks for no special interest. If he rightly interprets the national thought and boldly insists upon it, he is irresistible; and the country never feels the zest of action so much as when its president is of such insight and calibre. Eisenhower too, when speaking on leadership comments: Now look, I happen to know a little about leadership. Ive had to work with a lot of nations, for that matter, at odds with each other. And I tell you this: you do not lead by hitting people over the head. Any damn fool can do that, but its usually called assault not leadership Ill tell you what leadership is. Its persuasion and conciliation and education and patience. Its long, slow, tough work. Thats the only kind of leadership I know or believe in or will practice. Trump, as we can see, has a great deal to learn about high politics from the experience of his predecessors. Meacham has effectively revealed the way in which past presidents have sided with the better angels in the battle against the darker forces of US politics, and in so doing cultivated what he refers to as the American soul. However, his exposure of the origins of darker thinking in US political life reminds us that progressive aspects for which the US is known can never be taken for granted, and just how alive is the enduring legacy of the darker forces in US history. But even though the American people are not the focus of Meachams analysis, the final sections of his conclusion can be seen as an appeal to the people for vigilance and action if the darker forces are to be contained. Here too he draws on the thinking of past presidents. Engage in politics, resist tribalism, remember history, respect facts and deploy reason, is the advice as he arms the people with strategies to challenge and defeat the demagogic rhetoric manifest most poignantly in the incumbent president. It remains to be seen therefore, on which side of the struggle for the American soul the people will side: the better angels, to assist with the bending of the arc of the moral universe, or the darker forces in the American soul. As Eleanor Roosevelt says, it is not so much the powerful leaders that determine our destiny as the much more powerful influence of the combined voice of the people themselves. Quinn Slobodian in the New York Times: In a recent speech at the United Nations, President Trump railed against the ideology of globalism and unelected, unaccountable global bureaucracy. For those of us who came of age in the 1990s, there was an eerie sense of deja vu. Then, too, there were protests against global institutions insulated from democratic decision-making. In the most iconic confrontation, my college classmates helped scupper the World Trade Organization meeting in Seattle in 1999. The movement called for alter-globalization a different kind of globalization more attentive to labor and minority rights, the environment and economic equality. Two decades later, traces of that movement are hard to find. But something surprising has happened in the meantime. A new version of alter-globalization has won from the right. We often hear that world politics is divided between open versus closed societies, between globalists and nationalists. But these analyses obscure the real challenge to the status quo. More here. What we know from Sanford's IRS filing: nearly $5B in 2020 earnings An opposition lawmaker on Monday warned that the countrys primary tollwaysthe South Luzon Expressway and the North Luzon Expresswaywere bound to become oversized parking lots just like Edsa during the holidays because of their inferior tollgate systems. And with the expected influx of motorists going in and out of Metro Manila before and after All Saints Day, senior deputy minority leader and Buhay Party-list Rep. Lito Atienza said that people were again expected to bear the brunt of being trapped in monstrous traffic jams due to the slow transition of vehicles passing through the tollgates. Atienza noted that despite the tollgate upgrades that now allow motorists to use the so-called beep cards and RFID (radio-frequency identification) stickers, the flow of vehicles is being snagged by the slow lifting response of their barriers. Ive been to countries like Singapore where there are no barriers at entry and exit points in their expressways which definitely allow faster and smoother flow of traffic. The RFID system should ensure the smooth flow of traffic along our expressways, Atienza said. These expressways are run by big private corporations and we are paying premium rates with the expectation that we will have a more comfortable and hassle-free travel. But as it is now, it looks like our expressways are becoming our new EDSA because we have inferior tollgate systems, he added.Atienza pointed out that motorists are encountering many problems with the current system, among them instances where the barriers do not automatically open because of the failure of the scanners to detect the vehicles RFID. He added that the toll management must be able to brace itself for the coming holiday season where the flow of traffic also expressways are expected to worsen. This early, our toll operators should start upgrading their system, Atienza said. Borrowing money to start or build a business entails taking risk not just for the lender but also the borrower. But unless the entrepreneur has rich relatives or massive savings to draw on, securing capital usually requires multiple loans over many years to start and expand a business. Daven Lee has tapped into New Mexicos many small-business resources over nearly two decades to turn Love + Leche from a home-based maker of handmade soaps and lotion bars made with milk from her own goat herd and other natural products for retail sale into a viable year-round business that gets about half its revenue from wholesale markets throughout the U.S. and in Mexico, England and Australia. In 2010, she received a $12,500 value-added producer grant from the U.S. Department of Agricultures Rural Development program after eight years of selling homemade personal care products at the Santa Fe Farmers Market and other local outlets. She spent that money to hire a business adviser to help her plan the expansion. To support the actual outreach to distant markets, she developed an ongoing relationship with microlender Accion, borrowing as needed to design her branding and packaging for the larger market and to tweak her business plan as needed. What is difficult about running a small business that manufactures a beautiful, small-batch, local product is competing with mass-produced, cheap goods, she said. It can be very difficult to scale up in a way that preserves integrity and can compete in that marketplace. Individual customers appreciate these kinds of special products, but moving into the wholesale market is much harder. The mechanics of writing a business plan and trying to anticipate income and expenses can drain some of what Lee called the magic of relationships, life experience and community. But working with Accion, she said, actually enters you into a relationship that can have surprising and unexpected benefits. Daven Lee is exactly the type of business owner that Accion loves to support, said Metta Smith, vice president of lending and client experience at Accion. Year over year, she has been growing her business and getting smarter about how she operates while maintaining a commitment to her inspiration: her love of Mother Nature, an appreciation for natural, handmade products, and the passion to create a meaningful life that will inspire others. October is National Womens Small Business Month, Smith said, a time to spotlight the different ways women approach running their own businesses. Generally speaking, Lee said, Our strengths and skills are different, and this means our business will be successful under a different model from the classic, MBA-white-guy model. It is important when seeking support or advice to work with someone who knows how to work with these strengths rather than trying to make women fit into the wrong mold. The holistic, intuitive, relationship-based, cooperative model is a powerful and much-needed style of entrepreneurialism. Finance New Mexico connects individuals and businesses with skills and funding resources for their business or idea. To learn more, go to www.FinanceNewMexico.org. New Mexicos worldwide exports jumped 14 percent in the first half of 2018, despite the countrys trade disputes with China and other nations, according to the latest U.S. Commerce Department statistics. Sales to China were particularly strong, jumping 44 percent from January-June, from $463 million in 2017 to $667 million this year. That largely reflects the ebb and flow of trade between Intel Corp. in Rio Rancho and its sister facilities in Asia and other regions. Sales to China leapt from $497 million in 2016 to $1 billion last year, the vast majority of it computers and electronic products that are generally attributed to Intel. Sales to Mexico, the states largest trading partner, climbed about 3.4 percent in the January-June period, from $811 million in 2017 to $839 million in the first half of this year. Thats a significant improvement over the last two years. Sales to Mexico fell in late 2016 and early 2017 as uncertainty loomed over the future of the North American Free Trade Agreement following President Donald Trumps electoral victory. Sales to Mexico fell 7 percent in 2016 to $1.56 billion, and then flatlined last year at about $1.59 billion. Given the uncertainty about NAFTA, however, even a slight rebound this year is encouraging, said Jerry Pacheco, executive director of the International Business Accelerator in Santa Teresa and president of the Border Trade Alliance. To me, its a victory, Pacheco said. I had expected a significant dip in exports, but that hasnt happened, despite all the trade uncertainty. Still, the impact of newly imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum, plus proposed changes to NAFTA negotiated by the U.S. and its trade partners, may show up in export totals in coming years, said Robert Queen, director of the U.S. Commerce Departments New Mexico Export Assistance Center. The states exports are pretty stable now, but these statistics are only for a six-month period, Queen said. We need to see full-year data, not just for 2018, but for next year as well to see how steel tariffs and other changes in trade impact export trends. I am not a Constitutional lawyer, nor a Constitutional scholar. But like TV doctors and lawyers, I get to play act when I write this column. With that caveat, I am then protected against any criticism if I get something wrong. The Commerce Clause of the Constitution grants powers to the Congress to regulate, among other things, interstate commerce. We should not allow individual states the power to impose undue burdens on commerce between the various states. To this end the Supreme Court has identified two limits on a states ability to regulate interstate commerce. First, the state may not create regulations that discriminate against interstate commerce. Second, the state may not impose undue burdens on interstate commerce. In 1992, the Supreme Court used these Commerce Clause limits to hold that a state could not collect sales tax from a seller unless that seller had a physical presence in the state. A physical presence meant either property or employees. So a seller who simply shipped product into a state from an out-of-state location, and did not maintain either property or workers in the buyers state, was protected from the need to collect any sales tax on behalf of the buyers state. The theory was that the lack of physical links to a state, or nexus in sales tax terms, meant that the state would impose an undue burden on the seller if a sales tax liability were assessed. States tried to compensate for this by imposing use or compensating taxes on their resident buyer, but those taxes are easily circumvented. In 1992, NAFTA was signed. John Gotti was sentenced to prison for life. Euro Disney opened in France. Prince Charles and Princess Diana separated. LA erupted in riots following the Rodney King beating. Miley Cyrus was born. And people bought their stuff at physical stores. In fact, the Mall of America, the largest mall in the States, opened outside Minneapolis. Buying stuff at physical stores and Commerce Clause protections for lack of a physical presence a perfect marriage. At least in 1992. In 2018, many people prefer to do their shopping by clicking. My youngest daughter is personally responsible for 46 percent of the internet commerce in the United States. OK, I made that up, but it has to be something like that. In June, the Supreme Court came into the internet shopping era. It said that the 1992 decision was not right, at least not in 2018. So they rejected the norm of following judicial precedent. South Dakota enacted a law in March 2016 that required out-of-state retailers to collect sales tax when selling to a South Dakota resident. This law was not limited to retailers with a physical presence in South Dakota. The law was premised on the theory that even an out-of-state seller benefited from the economy and infrastructure provided by the state. This was the link that justified imposing a sales tax on those sellers. South Dakota knew it had to avoid imposing an undue burden on interstate commerce. So its law had a few nice things in it. First, it applied only to sellers that had either $100,000 or more of in-state sales or 200 or more separate transactions, both measured in either the current or preceding year. This eliminated the little guy from what might be an impermissible burden. Second, it said the tax could not be collected for years prior to the enactment of the new law. Third, it had a standardized set of rules to avoid creating administrative burdens for sales to different locations, and the state even provided free software to help administer the tax assessment. The Supreme Court said the era of e-commerce made the physical presence test removed from economic reality. It also, the court said, created a judicially imposed tax shelter for businesses that limit their physical presence but sell into a state. So states may now collect internet sales taxes? Maybe. Some states have laws like South Dakota and are already collecting tax. Others had laws on the books but must revisit the language to ensure the law is like the South Dakota no undue burden law. States thinking about such laws should follow the South Dakota road map. James R. Hamill is the Director of Tax Practice at Reynolds, Hix & Co. in Albuquerque. He can be reached at jimhamill@rhcocpa.com. New Mexicos startup economy is on fire. Dozens of new, homegrown businesses are emerging in Albuquerque and other hot spots across the state. Existing startups are growing, many infused with fresh capital from local and out-of-state investors. And some companies are hitting the fast track with expansions that could, over time, turn them into powerhouses in key, high-tech industries. The latest breakout is 3D Glass Solutions, which announced last week that its moving into a new, 16,000-square-foot facility in Albuquerques north I-25 industrial corridor to begin mass manufacturing of ceramic glass semiconductor chips for high-speed mobile communications and other next-generation products in the automotive, defense and aerospace industries. The company will invest $23 million in the new facility, growing its local workforce from 16 to 150 over the next five years. Thats major success for a local startup that built its business from scratch over the past decade. But its one of many that are now emerging as homegrown success stories, such as point-of-sale software company Lavu Inc., data analytic firms Descartes Labs and RS21, cybersecurity firm RiskSense, and the optics sensor and telecommunication companies Skorpios and Trilumina, to a name a few. Some of them also announced significant expansions this year, including Lavu and RS21, both of which are growing their workforces and upgrading their facilities in Downtown Albuquerque. That, combined with a steady launch of new, promising startups and the recruitment of more big fish like Netflix to the local market, is turning 2018 into a banner year for New Mexicos business and economic development. Were hitting the sweet spot, and its having a real impact on New Mexico, state Economic Development Secretary Matt Geisel said at last weeks event to announce the 3D Glass expansion. Were growing and diversifying the economy. Many factors are contributing to the states startup momentum, including government assistance through Local Economic Development Act funding and the Job Training Incentive Program, along with more public and private venture investment boosted by the State Investment Councils new Catalyst Fund. Other programs are also contributing, such as state innovation voucher grants for startups and more funding opportunities through the state-backed Technology Research Collaborative. But its the bustling network of public, nonprofit and private support programs thats emerged in the last few years thats providing the backbone for the states emerging innovation economy. Hundreds of individuals, organizations, and businesses have come together through Albuquerques City Alive initiative, and through the Innovate ABQ high-tech zone Downtown, to build a collaborative approach to economic development. Innovate ABQ, in particular, has united a range of people and organizations including the states research universities and national labs in a mesh of collaboration. Thats providing a broad foundation of support for entrepreneurial activities at all levels while generating creative collisions among entrepreneurs, inventors and investors, said Debra Inman, Albuquerque Economic Developments senior vice president for business development. Real collisions have occurred through all these efforts, Inman said. Its created an environment thats very conducive for entrepreneurs and technology companies to advance. Its a variety of things put in place over many years thats now really coming together. A new investigative report by research firm Startup Genome that looked at six U.S. cities working to build their innovation ecosystems said Albuquerque excels at local connectedness. Thats one of a half-dozen factors considered critical to success. The excitement (in Albuquerque) around startups is palpable, particularly as regards the creative sectors and inclusion of many groups, said the report, published Oct. 23. The collaborative environment is also giving rise to new industry-building, or cluster initiatives in the biotechnology, aerospace and information technology sectors. New Space NM launched this year to help local space-related companies grow while attracting more out-of-state firms to New Mexico. And the new DART initiative is working to unite software companies statewide to jointly attract more out-of-state contracts for local firms. All the local buzz has a multiplier effect thats boosting local and state efforts to recruit more businesses to New Mexico, said Annemarie Henton, AED vice president for business development and marketing. People start to flock to cities when they see all the technology jobs and growth, Henton said. It changes how people behave, whether theyre willing to spend money and take risks. We have great momentum here now. Indeed, New Mexicos startup fever is attracting more veteran talent to Albuquerque, such as former salesforce.com executive Mark Chavez, a native New Mexican who returned this year to launch Lens, a startup with online privacy technology. Theres a very healthy ecosystem here thats producing a lot of opportunities, Chavez said. High-tech places like Boulder (Colo.) or Austin had to get their start somewhere, and I think were now reaching that level in Albuquerque. Prev 1 of 5 Next Steve Prickett retired from Merrill Lynch in June and, without missing a beat, opened his hand-crafted Eldora Chocolate shop soon after. Prickett says the 2,000-square-foot store on Edith just south of El Pueblo is the only bean-to-bar chocolatier in Albuquerque. Its a labor of love for Prickett, who says he has always loved dark chocolate and wanted to make all-natural, fair trade products with no preservatives after learning how to do so while on a trip to Hawaii. Eldora named for wife Andrea Pricketts grandmother gets beans from Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Tanzania, Venezuela and, most recently, Mexico. Prickett roasts the beans in his shop, puts them through a refiner and transforms the resulting liquid into a variety of products, including truffles and bars that go as high as 100 percent cacao. But if youre not that much of a purist, you can also get your chocolate mixed with a 10-spice mole, tart cherry, or pumpkin spice one of the current best-sellers, Prickett says. Prices include: $2.75 for a truffle; $4 for a chocolate square and $7 for a bar with added inclusions, or ingredients. Products are also sold online at eldorachocolate.com. Eldora Chocolate, 8114 Edith NE, is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Its closed Sunday and Monday. The store can be reached at 505-433-4076. Slowing down Longtime Albuquerque businessman Pat Romero says its time to slow down. Romero, owner of The Fruit Basket of Albuquerque, is shutting down his location near 12th and Candelaria NW at the end of the month. However, the store near Fourth and Osuna NW will remain open, he said. Romero and his family have been in business for 30 years, but hes 76 now, and its time for me to scale back. He said that although its hard to compete with chain stores, he found that he was, in essence, competing with himself. Some of the customers at his 12th Street location moved to the Fourth Street store when it opened 10 years ago. The newer store is larger and has more parking, Romero said. I just would like to keep that one, he said. I would rather have one and take good care of it. Im getting to that age where its better to take it a little easy. Adding slices Because you cant have too much pizza, right? Ohio-based Marcos Pizza is offering as many as three franchises in Albuquerque as part of an initiative to add 30 locations across the country by 2020, according to a news release from the company. The company is based in Toledo and now has more than 900 locations in 35 states and three countries, according to the release. For more information on Marcos Pizza franchising opportunities, visit marcosfranchising.com or call 866-731-8209. And doughnuts As promised, Dapper Doughnut has opened at Coronado mall. The franchise, new to New Mexico, specializes in mini-doughnuts that customers get to watch being made. Each order is customized, with customers choosing from 21 toppings, according to a news release from the company. The shop is in the food court at Coronado Mall. The owners, Craig and Michelle McGregor of Santa Fe, say they have plans to expand. A niche online Albuquerque jeweler Tom Evans is one of 80 artisans who will be featured on Amazons Maker Pop-Up store for the 2018 holiday season. Evans previously has sold his work mostly at local events such as the Santa Fe artists market and the WESST holiday pop-up market. Being on Amazons Pop-Up store, he said, will give him much broader exposure and, he hopes, increase sales. Amazon chose the artists featured on the site in collaboration with the American Craft Council. Its a little bit of a validation of my new body of work to be asked to participate in this, Evans said in a recent phone interview. Ater earning a B.S. in industrial design and working in a variety of jobs, Evans said he went back to school at Santa Fe Community College to study fine woodworking. He and his wife have previously made and sold ceramics, jewelry and home decor items. The line selling on Amazon, marketed under the Griffith Evans name , consists of his wood and porcelain sculptural jewelry, which Evans says is inspired by early African jewelry and curvilinear wood furniture. A lawsuit filed this month alleges that a woman was racially discriminated against in her work at Sandia National Laboratories. Sunita Moonka argues in the lawsuit, filed in state District Court in Santa Fe, that she was harassed by a superior after being promoted to a management position around 2014. Moonka had worked at Sandia since 2002, according to the complaint. For the first time since her employment, Ms. Moonka began to experience harassment at work, finding that she was excluded from meetings, denied information necessary to perform her job, and blamed for problems, it reads. According to the complaint, Moonka was the only Asian woman working in the office. The lawsuit names Moonkas supervisor, Julie Perich, and Sandia managing and operating contractor National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia (NTESS) as defendants. Moonka alleges that she witnessed Perich making derogatory comments about non-white individuals and condoning mockery of individuals with foreign-sounding names on several occasions. After first complaining about her treatment to Perich directly, Moonka then complained to Perichs superior, who she claims never followed up with her afterward despite promises to do so. Perich also claimed that Moonka had performance issues, but Moonka was reportedly never given an opportunity to correct the alleged issues. Had Sandia and Ms. Perichs real goal been to solve alleged problems, they would have included Ms. Moonka in meetings, communicated with her, and taken other reasonable steps to ensure that she was able to address the concerns they claimed to have, the complaint reads. Moonka was eventually offered the choice between resigning and being fired, she says. She resigned. Moonka is requesting actual, compensatory and punitive damages and attorneys fees. Sandia declined to comment on the lawsuit, citing the pending litigation. Moonka did file complaints with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the New Mexico Human Rights Bureau. Both issued orders of nondetermination on the complaint, according to the lawsuit. LAS VEGAS, N.M. An 11-foot-tall steel tree sculpture depicting the total solar eclipse of 2018 is planted firmly in the earth in front of New Mexico Highlands Burris Hall, thanks to a donation from a fine arts student. The universitys Board of Regents voted unanimously to approve Marys Millers Celestial Tree sculpture installation in front of the fine arts building. Trees are used as a symbol that connects us to the sky as they grow taller, said Miller, a fine arts senior. Celestial Tree is a tree of life in a cosmic form, but the tree is also a symbol of being grounded to earth. The sculpture represents the connection between the universe and the earth. Miller said when she witnessed the total solar eclipse on Aug. 21, 2018, it was a powerful reminder that humans are small and are part of something much grander in the universe. The 22-year-old from Las Vegas created the sculpture in the universitys fine arts foundry. It was fabricated through a combination of forging, torch cutting and welding steel. Theres a central steel pipe in my sculpture thats the trunk of the tree. There are 10 steel circles I torch cut, and painted blue and orange for a cosmic look. I forged hooks to hang the circles from the tree, which is stationary. With sculpture, I love the multidimensional thinking that is used to create pieces, Miller said. Miller said shes interested in her nature and environment-themed art being accessible to the public. I also wanted to give back to New Mexico Highlands to show my appreciation for my professors, friends, and wonderful family who have been a huge support along the way. Its a big honor to have my sculpture installed in front of Burris Hall, Miller said. For progressives, the looming midterm elections apparently should not hinge on a booming economy, a near-record-low unemployment rate, a strong stock market and unprecedented energy production. Instead, progressives hope that race and gender questions overshadow pocketbook issues. The media is fixated on another caravan of foreign nationals flowing toward the U.S. from Central America. More than 5,000 mostly Honduran migrants say they will cross through Mexico. They plan to crash the border, enter the U.S. illegally, claim refugee status and demand asylum. This gambit appears mysteriously timed to arrive right before the U.S. midterms apparently to create empathy and sway voters toward progressive candidates supporting more relaxed immigration policy. Open-borders advocates and progressives assume if border-security officials are forced to detain the intruders and separate parents who broke the law from their children, it will make President Trump and Republican candidates appear cold-hearted and callous. Earlier this year, a similar border melodrama became sensationalized in the media and almost certainly dropped Trumps approval ratings. But this time around, the optics may be different. The new caravan appears strangely well organized. Marchers, many young men, do not appear destitute (or) seem to fit the profile of desperate refugees in immediate danger in their homeland. For many Americans, the would-be refugees may seem presumptuous in assuming they have the right to barge into (another) country. Most Americans realize if an organized caravan of foreigners can announce in advance plans to crash into the U.S. illegally, then the concepts of a border, citizenship, sovereignty or a country itself no longer exist. A number of other events on the eve of the midterm elections also may have the opposite of the intended effect on voters. The Supreme Court nomination hearings for Brett Kavanaugh ended up as scripted melodrama. Protestors disrupted the Senate on cue. They screamed from the gallery. Democratic senators staged a walkout. They filibustered and interrupted the proceedings. Their collective aim was to show America that male Republican senators were insensitive to the feelings and charges of Christine Blasey Ford, and therefore callous and sexist. Ford had alleged Kavanaugh 36 years earlier had sexually assaulted her at a party when they were both teenagers but produced no corroborating testimony, physical evidence or witnesses. Many of her assertions were contested by other people. Many Americans finally concluded that there was no reason to deny Kavanaughs nomination to the court. To find Kavanaugh guilty of Fords charges, Americans were asked to suspend the very ideas of due process and Western jurisprudence. The furious demonstrations that followed Kavanaughs confirmation only made the optics worse. (And) liberal icons such as Hillary Clinton, former Attorney General Eric Holder and Sen. Cory Booker seemed to encourage the incivility and disruptions. Most Americans do not want frenzied shriekers scratching at doors on Capitol Hill. They are turned off by shouters popping up in Senate galleries. Few are comfortable with efforts to bully or intimidate senators rather than to persuade them. In yet another misreading of the pubic, Sen. Elizabeth Warren produced DNA test results to prove she properly claimed advantageous minority status on the basis of alleged Native American family history. But the test only confirmed Warren might be 1 percent or less Native American, and probably not from a tribe in the continental United States. If Warrens video emphasizing her DNA claims was intended to be persuasive, it sadly ended up confirming her farce. Most Americans could claim a similarly minuscule bloodline but would not do so to game the system for careerist advantage. On the eve of the midterms, progressives believe these public spectacles showcasing feminist, immigrant and identity issues trump the booming economy and might galvanize independents and fence-sitters to vote for liberal candidates. Yet the caravan, Kavanaugh hearings and Warren fiasco remind voters of the very opposite of what was intended. Every country requires a border and the rule of law. Due process cannot so easily be thrown out in a moment. There can be no Senate without safety and calm inside its halls. Powerful, privileged Washington officials should be the last to game a system designed to help the underprivileged. Americans know all that. Strangely, progressive activists dont. President Donald Trump is a threat to national security. His lies rev people up, inspiring hate. A slew of bombs (were) discovered (last) week, targeting people and organizations Trump regularly vilifies: the Obamas, the Clintons, Rep.Maxine Waters, CNN, ex-CIA chief John Brennan, former Attorney General Eric Holder and billionaire liberal philanthropist George Soros. While Trump fabricates national security concerns to foment fear, he ignores genuine threats. Take the migrant caravan, for example. At a Houston rally on Sunday, Trump called it an assault on our country. Thousands of people making their way from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador are fleeing violence, poverty and desperation, seeking refuge and asylum in the United States and Mexico. In a tweet (last) Monday, Trump claimed Criminals and unknown Middle Easterners are mixed in. When challenged by a reporter for evidence, he flippantly replied, Theres no proof of anything. A real threat that knows no borders is climate change. Hurricane Michael roared across the warming waters of the Gulf of Mexico and tore into the Florida Panhandle two weeks ago. The town of Mexico Beach was practically wiped off the map. Fifteen miles farther west along the coast is Tyndall Air Force Base, home of a fleet of 55 F-22 stealth fighters. Before Hurricane Michael leveled the base, at least 33 of these jets were flown to safety. But as Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Dave Philipps reported, at least 17 of the planes, costing $339 million each, were likely left behind and possibly destroyed. Climate scientists point out that while no individual storm can be blamed on climate change, global warming increases their frequency and intensity. Hurricane Michael was the first recorded Category 4 hurricane to hit the Florida Panhandle and among the top three strongest hurricanes ever to hit the United States. While Pentagon reports identify climate change as a major threat to national security in the 21st century, Trump calls it a hoax perpetrated by China to hurt the U.S. economy. To abandon facts is to abandon freedom, writes Yale historian Timothy Snyder in his book On Tyranny. In the past few weeks, nothing illustrated this better than the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, Washington Post columnist and critic of the Saudi monarchy. On Oct. 2, Khashoggi walked into the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul and never came out. The Saudi government lied, saying he had left soon after. Reports almost immediately surfaced that Saudi Arabia had dispatched a 15-man kill team, which tortured, killed and dismembered Khashoggi in the consulate. Rather than denounce the murder immediately, Trump declared he would await Saudi Arabias investigation of itself (and) not cut record weapons sales to the kingdom. Saudi Arabia is waging a war on Yemen, and its relentless, U.S.-backed bombing has driven at least half of the Yemeni population to the brink of famine. The United Nations has declared Yemen to be the greatest human catastrophe on the planet today. In the midst of the Khashoggi horror, Trump held a rally in Montana praising a congressman who pleaded guilty to criminally assaulting a reporter. At the campaign event, Trump hailed Rep. Greg Gianforte, saying, Any guy that can do a body slam, hes my kind of guy. During his 2016 campaign, Gianforte body-slammed Guardian reporter Ben Jacobs. To the shock of many, at another rally (last) week, Trump officially declared himself a nationalist a label long associated with white supremacy and Nazism. You know, they have a word its sort of became old-fashioned its called a nationalist. And I say, really, were not supposed to use that word. You know what I am? Im a nationalist, OK? Im a nationalist. Nationalist. Desperate for Republicans to maintain their control of Congress, Trump continues to unleash the dark, divisive and destructive forces of racism. All of this has taken place in the month of October. Add one more dangerous move by Trump (in mid-October): He announced he is pulling the United States out of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, signed by President Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev in 1987. The INF banned all nuclear and non-nuclear missiles with short and medium ranges. Many fear this could stoke a new arms race with Russia, further destabilizing the world. As Trump campaigns around the country, he gins up fears of foreign enemies attacking the United States. But he has shown again and again, through his words and deeds, that the greatest threat to U.S. national security is Trump himself. (c) 2018 Amy Goodman and Denis Moynihan. Distributed by King Features Syndicate. New Mexico voters have an unprecedented chance to send an important message this November that New Mexico takes corruption seriously and will hold government officials, candidates and contractors accountable when they cross ethical boundaries and violate the law. As former statewide elected officials, we wince every time we see the state tarnished by poor national rankings for good government and ethics, and worry that the perception of corruption is costing us business and opportunities, discouraging civic participation and decreasing voter turnout. New Mexico is one of only six states that does not have a statewide ethics commission. Despite nearly 50 attempts and the recommendations of a high-profile ethics task force chaired by one of us, Gov. Carruthers, in 2006-2007, the Legislature has never passed a measure to create a commission. But this year, legislators agreed to send the question to the voters in the form of a constitutional amendment. It will appear near the end of the ballot, and we urge you to vote for it. The commission triggered by passage of this amendment in November will oversee public employees, state officials, contractors, candidates and lobbyists and will investigate and adjudicate violations of the governmental conduct act and campaign finance laws. It will be independent of the legislative and executive branches and provide an avenue for ordinary citizens to safely lodge complaints of possible wrongdoing. The commission will have subpoena power and the power to investigate and resolve complaints it receives or initiates. It will hold hearings and issue rulings. Illegal activities will be referred to the secretary of state, the courts or the attorney general. It will also help elected officials navigate the often-cloudy waters by issuing advisory opinions. The vast majority of elected officials are honest public servants. But the few bad apples who capture headlines and serve time in prison give all of us a bad name. The cynicism created makes it harder for government to function at all levels. Creating an ethical culture is not something that happens overnight, but an independent ethics commission is a solid step in that direction. We thank the many legislative sponsors and citizen advocates who have worked hard over the years to get us to this point. We should not let it slip away. To ensure that the ethics commission is truly independent and not just a self-policing mechanism, it will not include current legislators, candidates or politicians. Membership on the seven-member commission will be balanced, with no more than three members of the same political party. Members will be appointed by the governor, and by the majority and minority leaders of the House and Senate, who will each appoint one member. The remaining two members, who cannot be from the same party, will be appointed by the four legislatively appointed members of the commission. If the amendment is passed by the voters this fall, the legislation that details guidelines for the commission and its specific duties will be introduced in the 2019 Legislature. This enabling legislation will empower the ethics commission to begin its work, hold hearings, set deadlines for complaint and response procedures and detail the process to adjudicate complaints. Members of the commission will then be appointed. Citizens should keep their eye on the process to ensure that the commission lives up to its promise and operates transparently and with an adequate staff and budget. Nothing undermines public trust more quickly than the impression that elected officials and government employees are getting away with wrongdoing. An independent ethics commission will help restore that trust by ensuring that no one is above the law, and when laws are broken, consequences follow. New Mexicans deserve no less. Jeff Bingaman served in the U.S. Senate from 1983-2013 and as N.M. Attorney General from 1979-1983. Garrey Carruthers was governor of New Mexico from 1986-1991. Former Health Secretary Janette Garin did not show up during the preliminary investigation of the Department of Justice on Monday on the second batch of criminal complaints over the deaths of schoolchildren inoculated with the controversial Dengvaxia vaccine. The DOJs panel of prosecutors led by Senior Assistant Prosecutor Susan Dacanay earlier summoned Garin to submit her answer to charges filed by parents and guardians of eight more victims, but she did not attend the hearing. In a text message, the former Department of Health chief claimed that she was not notified of the hearing schedule. However, 23 of the 37 respondents were able to appear in the hearing and submitted their counter-affidavits. This prompted the DOJ panel to give Garin and 13 other respondents more time to file their answer on charges of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide under the Revised Penal Code and violations of Anti-Torture Act and Consumer Act and appear in the next hearing set for Nov. 5. The complainants accused Garin and others of negligence through arbitrarily, maliciously, and deliberately failure to inform the Dengvaxia recipients and their parents/families of the dangers and risks related to Dengvaxia and to obtain their informed consent. They said that the DOH under Garin failed to conduct proper screening of Dengvaxia recipients and to implement active and aggressive monitoring and surveillance over the recipients considering the risks posed by the vaccine to seronegative recipients or those who had no history of dengue.They said the respondents displayed grave recklessness, utter bad faith, lack of foresight, lack of skill, want of care, gross neglect and deliberate, arbitrary and even malicious disregard of the safety and lives of thousands of Filipino children. The DOJ, through a separate panel chaired by Assistant State Prosecutor Maria Emilia Victorio, already concluded the PI for the first batch of complaints involving nine victims - Aejay Bautista, Angelica Pestilos, Lenard Baldonado, Zandro Colite, Abbie Hedia, Jansyn Bataan, Mark Axel Ebonia, Rey Justin Almagno and Alexander Jaime. PAO chief Persida Rueda-Acosta said they would file another set of more than 10 complaints today, October 30. The PAO, which was tasked by the Department of Justice to conduct fact-finding investigation and build-up on Dengavaxia cases, has so far documented at least 94 deaths from the controversial vaccine approved and implemented during the previous administration. This letter is written in response to the Albuquerque Journals endorsement of Gary Clingman for the open position on the New Mexico Supreme Court and because of an enlightening phone conversation I had with Sylvester Talbert. Talbert is the African American man who has said he was severely beaten by then-Odessa Police officer Clingman and other officers (in 1979). Talbert told me he not only suffered a severe beating, he lost several teeth, was called the N word several times and lost his job. Because of this unwarranted incident, Talbert says he continues to suffer mental and emotional trauma. Regardless of the time that has elapsed since the event occurred, the alarming conduct and behavior demonstrated by then-officer Clingman deserves attention and scrutiny. When a police officer operates under color of law and authority and unjustly uses excessive force, it calls into question the individuals core nature and basic character. Clingmans ultimate dismissal from the Odessa Police Department supports the conclusion his actions and conduct were questionable and impermissible. Additionally, on the surface his actions appear to be motivated by racial animus and hatred. The critical question is whether Clingman can be a fair and objective Supreme Court justice when cases involving people of color are before him for a ruling? More specifically, if Clingman is elected to the New Mexico Supreme Court, can the people of New Mexico be assured his rulings on hate crime, equity, police brutality and excessive use-of-force cases will have given all sides fair consideration? In addition to the information outlined above, it is important to also note: Clingman didnt disclose his termination as an Odessa Police Officer and the reasons for such action. He appealed the administrative decision and lost; and he has failed to apologize to Talbert for his actions although the Odessa Police Chief has done so. No one should overlook the physical and psychological damage done to Talbert. Anyone subjected to such a beating deserves justice, and any individuals held responsible do not deserve judicial appointments or voter support. The N.M. Supreme Court is the highest judicial authority in the state. We must make sure we elect judges and justices who reflect the highest ethical standards so the public will not question the credibility and integrity of the court. Clingman is not the person we need sitting on the N.M. Supreme Court. Theres a vice president in Washington, D.C., and a lieutenant governor in Santa Fe. So maybe Mayor Tim Keller is on the right track in creating an assistant mayor position for the city of Albuquerque. Then again, maybe not. Keller announced earlier this month that he hired Albuquerque native Gary Lee as the new assistant mayor. Lee, who worked for President Obama for 10 years, is earning $75K a year, though with benefits taxpayers are probably paying closer to $90,000 for the honor of having a Keller mini-me. Not surprisingly, the move is eliciting an oh, brother response from some. In Thursdays Journal, some Speak Up writers called the move out as ridiculous. Is the mayor splitting his salary with his new assistant mayor? asked DP. Weve never had need for such (a position) in the past, nor do we need one now, wrote JSD. Mayor Keller, youre just like the rest of the Democrats, spend, spend, spend! Odd how you always find the bucks when its something you want. We elected YOU to do the job, nobody else. I guess an assistant leaves you more time for photo-ops right? The decision to hire an assistant mayor does come off as tone deaf, particularly coming on the heels of a gross receipts tax hike the mayor and Council rammed through to raise $51 million, purportedly because of a $40 million budget deficit that miraculously disappeared after the tax-increase ink had dried. Throw in that, just before creating the junior mayor position and just after the tax increase, Keller hired Alan Packman, who played a key role in running his mayoral campaign, for another $75,000-a-year exempt job at the city. Yes, the assistant mayor job is a re-purposed position, not one created out of thin air. Assistant to the mayor was converted to assistant mayor, although Lee is making $13,000 more than his predecessor, who moved to a different job at the city. Keller spokeswoman Alicia Manzano says the additional pay Lee is receiving is because hes an attorney, worked in the Obama administration and is taking on an expanded role. So what, exactly, will the assistant mayor do? The same things as the assistant to the mayor ensuring hes on time in addition to more policy related things, such as assisting with policy initiatives to carry out Kellers vision for the city. My goal is to bring in and implement some of the systems I saw at the White House to Albuquerque City Hall, Lee says. In announcing the appointment, Keller notes Bringing home-grown talent back to the city is important as we tackle the challenges ahead. Bringing home-grown talent back to Albuquerque is important, but it would be more impressive if Lee had come home to work in the private sector or was serving in an already established top city leadership position. Serving as a glorified babysitter is beneath Lee. While serving at the White House, Lee was part of Obamas legislative affairs team that helped pass the Affordable Care Act. After serving in the White House, he was awarded a Fulbright research scholarship in Korea. Nevertheless, Albuquerque residents are right to question the creation of this position. Packman, meanwhile, began working for the city in August, and because hes an at-will appointee of the mayor, no competitive process was required. He is a constituent services integration specialist in the citys Department of Technology and Innovation. Manzano says Packman will try to build technology and integration services for constituent services, including making the citys 311 information line more efficient and effective. Manzano says he has information technology experience. Packman may be the best IT guy in the world, but he was also responsible for Kellers in-kind contribution debacle that has the new city clerk re-writing campaign contribution rules. That extremely bad advice aside, Keller won, and so this looks like taxpayer dollars are being used to compensate Packman for a job well done. Keller received a clear mandate, garnering 62 percent of the vote last November. Its a shame hes squandering that political capital on questionable political appointments like this. 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. Copyright 2018 Albuquerque Journal While the state was preparing for the trial of a man accused of fleeing a traffic stop and other crimes last March, incident reports and documents provided to his defense attorney scarcely mention the name of the highest-ranking law enforcement official at the scene who is now himself charged with a felony for his actions during the arrest. Not even the mans defense attorney knew her client was being considered a victim of excessive force until she happened upon an article in the Journal about the charges against a sheriffs deputy in late September. Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office Sgt. David Priemazon was charged late last month with aggravated battery causing great bodily harm after a New Mexico State Police investigation determined he had kicked 34-year-old Christopher Lucero in the face, fracturing his eye socket, following the pursuit. According to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court, the physical force was not for purposes of lawful arrest, search or confinement. In Luceros jail booking photo, he is wearing a neck brace, his face is bloodied and one of his eyes appears to be swollen shut. In September, he filed a claim against Bernalillo County, but the status of that claim is unclear and no one from the countys legal department returned phone calls requesting information. Luceros defense attorney, Sarah Pepin, said she is concerned that she wasnt told about the investigation over the deputys actions during the arrest and wonders if the charges against Priemazon had not been filed whether she would have known the extent to which her client had been kicked in the face. This is about far more than Sergeant Priemazons certainly concerning conduct on the date of incident in this case, Pepin said during a motion hearing on Luceros criminal case held Wednesday. What I do know is someone at the (District Attorneys) 2nd District or someone at BCSO decided were not going to give over all this evidence that relates to Sergeant Priemazons illegal conduct in this case. Were going to scrub his presence entirely. Pepin filed a motion to dismiss Luceros case last week, alleging the state failed to disclose evidence and may be guilty of prosecutorial misconduct. A judge will hold another hearing on the matter this week. Michael Patrick, a spokesman for the 2nd Judicial District Attorneys Office, denied any misconduct and said that it was both ironic and sad that rather than crediting the District Attorneys Office for charging a bad cop for excessive force, the defense has instead chosen to twist the facts and misrepresent the law to the benefit of a career criminal. He said Priemazons actions during the arrest dont exonerate Lucero from the crimes he is charged with. Deputy Felicia Maggard, a sheriffs office spokeswoman, said she could not comment on the case because its a personnel matter. She said 48-year-old Priemazon is a 15-year veteran of the force and remains on administrative leave. Sam Bregman, Priemazons attorney, denied the charges all together. In our preliminary review of the evidence, its pretty clear this did not take place, he said. There was no excessive force used on this individual, and we look forward to clearing his good name in a court of law. Softening techniques Lucero was arrested March 19 after deputies spotted him in an orange Ford Escape bearing another vehicles license plate, according to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court. He was indicted on charges of aggravated assault on a peace officer, aggravated fleeing, possession of a firearm by a felon, use or possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance. Deputies say they tried to pull him over, but he fled, swerving toward two teenage pedestrians as he did so. A pursuit was initiated and, as he sped away, deputies say Lucero drove the wrong way on Coors SW and accelerated toward a deputy in a marked cruiser. A couple of miles away, deputies performed a pursuit intervention technique on the SUV Lucero was driving and it crashed, rolling over three times. He ran but deputies caught him and used softening techniques to subdue him, according to the complaint. These softening techniques are described in police reports by at least two deputies (not Priemazon) as striking Luceros upper bicep and back of his shoulder with closed and opened fists and using palm and elbow strikes on the fleshy, meaty portion of his back and right side. However, Sgt. Priemazons presence and behavior are not mentioned in the police reports filed in this case by deputies, Pepin wrote in her motion to dismiss Luceros case. This is despite the fact that within 24 hours of Luceros arrest, another deputy reported up the chain of command that he believed the sergeant used excessive force. And in the midst of an internal affairs investigation, the incident was sent to State Police for a criminal investigation. Pepin says there are photos of Luceros injuries and Priemazons boots that she has not been given. She provided the Journal with two copies of police reports that appear to show that Priemazons name was deleted. His name is listed as an approving officer on a physical copy turned over to the defense a week after Lucero was arrested but are missing from the electronic copies submitted as part of discovery. I dont know why there are two versions of this report one that has his name and one set without his name on it, Pepin said in a phone interview. I dont know why that exists I would have explored this if I had known it. Basically, why do two versions of the police report exist? Who did the two versions of the police report? Who made the decision to send the versions without his name? Case sent to 13th District The 2nd Judicial District Attorneys Office was notified of a criminal investigation into Priemazon after State Police began investigating and the office began receiving documents on the case in early August, according to Patrick, the DAs Office spokesman. And in mid-September about two weeks before Priemazon was charged with aggravated battery Luceros case was sent to the 13th Judicial District Attorneys Office due to the conflict of interest. In a motion filed in mid-October, prosecutors in the 13th Judicial District asked for all evidence regarding the actions of Priemazon to be excluded from testimony because it is irrelevant and highly prejudicial. Priemazon was not called to be a witness in Luceros trial. In a hearing on the motion to dismiss held Wednesday, prosecutors with the 13th Judicial District argued that they had recently received the case and didnt know what the prior prosecutors did or didnt do. They said Priemazons alleged actions during the arrest did not have any bearing on what Lucero is charged with. Lemuel Martinez, the district attorney for the 13th Judicial District, declined to comment. To sort all this out, District Court Judge Jacqueline Flores scheduled an evidentiary hearing for this week and asked Pepin to provide names of BCSO and DAs Office personnel she would like questioned. In response, prosecutor Vincent Martinez filed a motion asking for the hearing to be postponed until the state could have time to ask the New Mexico attorney general to act as a special prosecutor for them. In the motion, he wrote that the hearing creates a conflict because testimony and evidence may be required to be produced that would by its nature pull the Thirteenth Judicial District Attorneys Office into the original conflict that caused this matter to be reassigned to the Thirteenth Judicial District Attorney. KARBALA, Iraq Millions of Shiite Muslims from around the world are making their way this week to their sects holy shrines in the Iraqi city of Karbala, a pilgrimage that is as much about community as it is about religion. The shrines are of two revered Shiite imams: Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, and his half-brother Abbas. The annual commemoration, called Arbaeen, draws more pilgrims each year according to Iraqi figures than the hajj in Saudi Arabia, a pilgrimage required once in a lifetime of every Muslim who can afford it and is physically able to make it. Pilgrims stream toward Karbala on foot from the cities of Najaf, 70 kilometers (45 miles) away, Baghdad, 90 kilometers (55 miles) to the north, and other places farther afield, resting along the way in tents lined with foam mattresses and fleece blankets. Our fathers and our grandfathers walked to Karbala, and God willing, our children will, too, said Karrad Karim, a 24-year-old pilgrim journeying with four friends from Baghdad. They brought with them large flags bearing devotional sayings to the Shiite saints, but little in the way of supplies for the four-day journey. Thats because along the roads, stalls set up by charities, mosques, and devotional groups see to it that no traveler goes hungry. Cooks prepare vast amounts of stewed lamb, grilled fish, fresh bread, and rice for the pilgrims, refusing payment for the meals. The pilgrimage, known in Arabic as the Ziara, marks the 40th day of mourning of the anniversary of Husseins 7th century death at the hands of the Muslim Umayyad forces in the Battle of Karbala, during the tumultuous first century of Islams history. Hussein was seen by his followers as the rightful heir of the prophets legacy. When he refused to pledge allegiance to the Umayyad caliphate, he was killed in the battle, cementing the schism between Sunni and Shiite Islam. Husseins half-brother Abbas was also killed in the battle. Modern depictions of Hussein, stitched on banners displayed along the pilgrimage, show him with blood on his brow and bearing a Christ-like countenance. But the mood is not all somber among the pilgrims. Spirits were high as travelers approached Karbala, and improved further with generous helpings of dates and tea. This is a walk to heaven, said Alaa Dadi, 45, who was making his way with his wife and three children. Sunnis outnumber Shiites by a wide margin among the worlds estimated 1.5 billion Muslims, and Shiite rituals are far less known. The hajj is considered one of the five pillars of Islam, and an obligation for all Muslims Sunni and Shiite. The Ziara is voluntary and holds little significance in Sunni tradition. In recent years, the Iraqi government says Karbala received 10-20 million visitors during the event, with many Shiite pilgrims coming from Iraq. No figures have yet been released for 2018. This years pilgrimage is the first since Iraqs government declared victory over the Islamic State group in January, but the threat of insurgent attacks still lingers. The militant group has deliberately targeted Shiites in Iraq and elsewhere to destabilize the region. Thousands of Iraqi soldiers and special police forces have been deployed to protect the pilgrims along the routes. Iranian religious affairs official Hussein Zulfighari said 1.7 million Iranians had already crossed into Iraq for the pilgrimage, and predicted the number could reach 2 million by the events climax on Tuesday. Zulfighari, quoted in Irans Fars news agency, said the visitors include 50,000 Afghan Shiites living in Iran. Muhammad Thiqawi, 57, from Iran, said he was initially hesitant about making the journey this year. A month ago, protesters in Iraqs southern city of Basra burned down Irans Consulate over what they felt was the countrys undue influence over Iraqi affairs. Iran, the regions Shiite power, exerts considerable sway over Iraqi politics through its support for Shiite parties and government-backed militias. But, he said, the Iraqis hosted us in their homes and welcomed us. They said Iranians are our friends and guests of Hussein. On his childs stroller, he pinned a poster of the two countries flags. Ali al-Alizi, 35, traveled from Qatif, a Shiite province in eastern Saudi Arabia that has been the target of repression by the Sunni monarchy. Lord Maurice Glasman, a Labour peer in Britains House of Lords who was raised Jewish, said he came at the encouragement of his Iraqi friends to better understand the country that defeated the Islamic State groups insurgency. Politically, ethically, spiritually, it has been an extremely elevated visit, said Glasman, who arrived in Karbala on Sunday, after walking several days from Najaf. The hajj saw 2.4 million pilgrims this year but Saudi authorities regulate the tradition tightly, driving up costs for pilgrims and depriving it of some of the spontaneity seen in the Ziara. For many Muslims who cannot afford to go on the hajj or cannot get the Saudi visa, the Ziara is a satisfying alternative. The hajj is required by God, but the Ziara is voluntary, said Sayyid Abdelamir Mousawi, 46. Those who go do it out of love. ___ Issa reported from Baghdad. Associated Press writer Maamoun Youssef in Cairo contributed to this report. WASHINGTON A battle is brewing between the Trump administration and some of the presidents biggest supporters in Congress who are concerned that sanctions to be re-imposed on Iran early next month wont be tough enough. 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 Nov. 5 wont 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 Irans malign conduct. We will not allow the worlds leading sponsor of terror to develop the worlds deadliest weapons. Will not happen. The Nov. 5 sanctions cover Irans 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 Trumps 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 Trumps 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 dont disconnect Tehran. 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 administrations comprehensive strategy to address the totality of Irans 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 Irans central bank and other banks covered by terrorism and money laundering sanctions. Cruzs legislation, however, would authorize the administration to hit all of Irans 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 administrations maximum pressure campaign will not succeed if the Islamic Republic remains connected to SWIFT, the senators told Mnuchin. PITTSBURGH The man charged in the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre was brought into court in a wheelchair Monday, as some members of the Jewish community and others objected to President Donald Trumps plans to visit, accusing him of contributing to a toxic political climate in the U.S. that might have led to the bloodshed. With the first funerals set for Tuesday, the White House announced that Trump and first lady Melania Trump will visit the same day to express the support of the American people and to grieve with the Pittsburgh community over the 11 congregants killed Saturday in the deadliest attack on Jews in U.S. history. Some Pittsburghers urged Trump to stay away. His language has encouraged hatred and fear of immigrants, which is part of the reason why these people were killed, said Marianne Novy, 73, a retired college English professor who lives in the citys Squirrel Hill section, the historic Jewish neighborhood where the attack at the Tree of Life synagogue took place. Meanwhile, the alleged gunman, 46-year-old truck driver Robert Gregory Bowers, was released from the hospital where he was treated for wounds suffered in a gun battle with police. Hours later he was wheeled into a downtown federal courtroom in handcuffs to face charges. A judge ordered him held without bail for a preliminary hearing on Thursday, when prosecutors will outline their case. He did not enter a plea. During the brief proceeding, Bowers talked with two court-appointed lawyers and said little more than Yes in a soft voice a few times in response to routine questions from the judge. Courtroom deputies freed one of his cuffed hands so he could sign paperwork. He was expressionless. It was not the face of villainy that I thought wed see, said Jon Pushinsky, a congregant who was in court for the hearing. Federal prosecutors are pressing for the death penalty against Bowers, who authorities say expressed hatred of Jews during the attack and later told police, I just want to kill Jews and All these Jews need to die. After the hearing, U.S. Attorney Scott Brady called the shootings horrific acts of violence and added: Rest assured we have a team of prosecutors working hard to ensure that justice is done. The weekend massacre which took place 10 days before the midterm elections heightened tensions around the country, coming just a day after the arrest of the Florida man accused of sending a wave of pipe bombs to Trump critics. The mail bomb attacks and the bloodshed in Pittsburgh set off debate over whether the corrosive political atmosphere in Washington and beyond contributed to the violence and whether Trump himself bears any blame because of his combative language. Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto, a Democrat, said the White House should contact the victims families and ask them if they want the president to come. He also warned Trump to stay away when the first funerals are held. If the president is looking to come to Pittsburgh, I would ask that he not do so while we are burying the dead, Peduto said. Our attention and our focus is going to be on them, and we dont have public safety that we can take away from what is needed in order to do both. The White House did not immediately respond to the mayors request. Asked if Trump has done enough to condemn white nationalism, spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said he has denounced racism, hatred and bigotry in all forms on a number of occasions. Some looked forward to the presidents visit. Tree of Life Rabbi Jeffrey Myers said that Trump is certainly welcome. I am a citizen. He is my president, Myers told CNN. But Barry Werber, 76, who hid in a dark storage closet as the gunman rampaged through the synagogue, said he doesnt want Trump to come to Pittsburgh. He said Trump is trying to instigate his base, and bigots are coming out of the woodwork. Kristin Wessell, a homemaker who lives near Squirrel Hill, also said Trump should steer clear of Pittsburgh, to let the victims families grieve how they see fit. I feel a lot of his comments are very much dog whistles to nationalists and white supremacists and racists. So, yeah, I do place part of the blame on this on him, said Wessell, a Democrat, who was passing out bouquets to passersby across the street from a kosher grocery store. Anti-Semitism has always existed. But I feel like he is giving cover to people to be more blatant about it. And to be more violent about it, rather than trying to calm and heal. The youngest of the 11 dead was 54, the oldest 97. The toll included a husband and wife, professors, dentists and physicians. Bowers was charged with offenses that included causing death while obstructing a persons right to the free exercise of religion a hate crime and using a gun to commit murder. He was also charged under state law with criminal homicide, aggravated assault and ethnic intimidation. The president of the hospital where a wounded Bowers was taken said that he was ranting against Jews even as Jewish staff members were treating him. Hes taken into my hospital and hes shouting, I want to kill all the Jews! and the first three people who are taking care of him are Jewish, Jeffrey Cohen of Allegheny General Hospital told ABCs Good Morning America. Aint that a kick in the pants? Cohen, who is also Jewish and a member of Tree of Life synagogue, said he stopped by Bowers room. I just asked how he was doing, was he in pain, and he said no, he was fine, Cohen said. He asked who I was, and I said, Im Dr. Cohen, the president of the hospital, and I turned around and left. He said the FBI agent outside Bowers room told him he didnt think he could have done that. And I said, If you were in my shoes Im sure you could have,' Cohen said. Just minutes before the synagogue attack, Bowers apparently took to social media to rage against HIAS, a Jewish organization that resettles refugees under contract with the U.S. government. HIAS likes to bring invaders in that kill our people, he is believed to have written on Gab.com, a social media site favored by right-wing extremists. I cant sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, Im going in. HIAS had recently weighed in on the migrant caravan heading toward the U.S. from Central America, urging the Trump administration to provide all asylum seekers the opportunity to present their claims as required by law. The president has vilified the caravan and pledged to stop the migrants. One of the targets of the mail bomb attacks last week was liberal Jewish philanthropist George Soros, who has been accused by far-right conspiracy theorists of paying migrants to join the caravan. Bowers was a long-haul trucker who worked for himself, authorities said. Little else was known about the suspect, who had no apparent criminal record. ___ This story has been corrected to fix the spelling of Pushinsky and Jeffrey and to show Jeffrey Cohens comments were made to Good Morning America, not WTAE-TV. ___ Associated Press reporters Claudia Lauer and Kristen de Groot contributed to this report from Philadelphia. ___ For APs complete coverage of the Pittsburgh synagogue shootings: https://apnews.com/Pittsburghsynagoguemassacre PHILADELPHIA Sitting in his office beside photos of grandchildren decked in Philadelphia Flyers jerseys, Christopher Scott shakes his head. Another email has come in from another supplier. It wants to raise prices to cover the cost of President Donald Trumps tariffs. For weeks, emails and letters have been arriving in a steady stream at Howard McCray, the small Philadelphia factory Scott runs with about 85 workers. Its mostly bad news. One supplier is charging more for shelving brackets, another for electrical switches, a third for wheeled castors. McCray needs those parts for the refrigerated display cases it produces for convenience stores and restaurants. Since Trump imposed tariffs on imported steel and aluminum and on Chinese products, Scott, like many other American manufacturers, has had to rapidly switch gears. He had been optimistic about 2018, with plans for hiring and investment in new machinery. He had hoped, for example, to replace two 30-year old machines that cut holes in stainless steel sheets with a newer version that uses lasers and works twice as fast. All thats now on hold. This year, McCray has slashed in half its spending on large equipment. Scott is also leaving four jobs unfilled and instead adding more overtime for his current staff. Thats what the tariffs are doing to us, Scott, 59, said while giving a visitor a tour this month of the factory floor, straining to be heard above the pneumatic drills and hydraulic equipment. Were just going to delay it until they come off. Tax cuts that Trump pushed through Congress last year sharply reduced the tax burden on businesses. The administration argued that lower taxes would accelerate investment in machinery and high tech equipment. Over time, such capital spending tends to make workers more productive and speed the economys growth. Yet Scott says that for his company, the higher tariffs which are taxes on imports have largely nullified any benefit from the tax cuts. There is growing evidence that other companies are feeling similar strains. Business investment in large machinery and other equipment grew just 0.4 percent in the July-September quarter, the government said Friday. It was the slowest pace in nearly two years. And demand for computers, industrial equipment and other capital goods has dropped in the past two months. The prospect of a full-blown trade war with China and tariffs more generally are prompting some companies to delay investments for next year, noted Diane Swonk, an economist at Grant Thornton. The tariffs have also injected a new layer of uncertainty into Scotts business. Right now, for instance, Scott is trying to decide what prices to quote for two potential customers he is pitching. Should he pass on to those customers the higher costs of the tariffs or eat them, as he is doing now? If you price the tariffs in now, you risk losing the account, he says. If you dont price them in, you risk losing money on the account. The stated goal of the Trump administrations 25 percent tariffs on steel and 10 percent on aluminum, imposed June 1, was to limit cheap imports and spur hiring and growth in Americas metals industries. In imposing the tariffs, Trump invoked national security: His reasoning was that low-priced imports hurt Americas ability to produce items needed for national defense. Many critics have disputed that assertion. Some companies have indeed benefited. Braidy Industries, an aluminum manufacturer, has broken ground on a plant in Kentucky that it says will create 600 jobs. U.S. Steel is spending $750 million on modernizing a factory in Gary, Indiana. But across more industries, higher costs for businesses have begun spreading and leading economists to predict slower economic growth next year. And Trump has also imposed tariffs on roughly half the goods the U.S. imports from China. 3M Corp., for example, has said its raised prices to offset the higher cost of goods subject to tariffs. Ford Motor Co. says the import taxes will raise its costs $1 billion through 2019. And Caterpillar says the steel tariffs will cost it roughly $100 million in 2018. Trade concerns are among the factors that are rattling the U.S. stock market; the Standard & Poors 500 stock index has tumbled 9.3 percent from its record high in September. In the meantime, with costs rising, Scott has had to scramble to limit his companys expenses. When he visited Las Vegas this month for a trade show, only he and his wife and co-owner, Diane, went, rather than the half-dozen from his company who attended last year. It meant their booth wasnt fully staffed during the whole show. Rob Martin, an economist at UBS, notes that U.S. tariffs are now at their highest levels since 1971. And back in the early 70s, trade constituted a much smaller portion of the economy. Now, import taxes are rising at a time when the U.S. has become far more integrated with the global economy, which means tariffs now tend to inflict heavier damage. No one has seen this phenomenon in the U.S., Martin said. Though Scott has absorbed his higher costs for now, he hopes to eventually pass some of them on to his customers, which include Shell Oils convenience stores and Texas Roadhouse restaurants. First, though, he wants to see how his larger competitors handle the higher costs. Little Howard McCray cant go out and raise prices 10 percent and lose all the market share that weve worked so hard to gain, Scott said. Especially when his business, small as it is, is entwined in international trade. Like many companies, McCrary both benefits and suffers from globalization. Scott has worked to expand his business to Canada; 10 percent of his sales now come from that country. He felt relief when the U.S. agreed last month on an updated trade agreement with Canada and Mexico. On the other hand, the company produces a commercial refrigerator that Scott says Chinese companies sell for less than the cost of his parts alone. Hed favor a tariff on that refrigerator. Howard McCray buys its parts from distributors that acquire them from other manufacturers. If its American suppliers were to acquire their parts from China or some another country, Scott wouldnt always know about it maybe not until an email arrived announcing a price hike to reflect new tariffs. Like a family shopping at a department store for clothes or toys imported from China, Scott didnt choose to acquire parts from overseas. The source of where their factories are is very hard for us to stay on top of, Scott says, standing before dozens of bins holding screws, wiring and electrical components. For many products, there arent any alternative U.S. suppliers. If one moves (to China), they all move, says Bill Warren, his business partner. Scott holds up a handful of Chinese-made shelf brackets dipped in chrome. One of his suppliers now charges 10 percent more for them because of the latest round of tariffs on Chinese imports. And the tariffs are set to rise to 25 percent on Jan. 1. Environmental regulations make it too expensive to manufacture them in the United States. Scott decided to gamble a bit, and bought a years supply of the brackets in August, when he first heard the tariffs might be imposed. That decision could save the company money if the tariffs increase as scheduled. On the other hand, if the Trump administration reaches an agreement with Beijing before years end and the tariffs come off, Scott will have bought too many. Yet he has no alternative. We are still buying Chinese, Scott says. If there was an American manufacturer that made a shelf bracket, we would shift to that. ____ Contact Chris Rugaber on Twitter at http://Twitter.com/ChrisRugaber PHOENIX The agency that oversees Arizonas state parks has a history of advancing building projects by blatantly ignoring Native American sites and artifacts, a former state archaeologist said. Will Russell, a former compliance officer and tribal liaison for Arizona State Parks and Trails, filed a complaint earlier this month with the Arizona Department of Administration. According to Russell, he repeatedly warned of regulations that prohibit the destruction of artifacts and archaeological sites only to be scolded by managers. He eventually resigned in protest over what he describes as a deliberate disregard for regulations. One example he cited was the building of updated restroom facilities and beachfront cabins in Lake Havasu State Park. Russell said he told park managers about native antiquities at the construction site. They said theyd look into it, and I took them at their word, Russell told the Todays News-Herald . When I was back out there a few months later, they had a bulldozer there. Russell said agency director Sue Black rarely consulted with tribes in the Lake Havasu area and later eliminated his position as tribal liaison. I was eventually prohibited from contacting the tribes, field staff and even property owners on private, adjacent land, he said. Russell told The Arizona Republic that he and Black argued about preservation to the point where she would berate him. State Department of Administration spokeswoman Megan Rose says they are reviewing his accusations and declined to comment. Russells allegations are the latest tangle for Black, who faces one of the highest turnover rates for a director of a state agency. Parks and Trails employs nearly 180 people. Nearly 120 quit or were fired since Black was appointed in February 2015, according to public records obtained by The Arizona Republic. Black has also been accused of inappropriate and disrespectful behavior toward staff. The allegations culminated in three inquiries. The only discipline for Black so far has been from one of Gov. Doug Duceys administrators, who spoke with her about how to treat employees. Daniel Scarpinato, Duceys campaign spokesman, declined to comment on Black. President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday has ordered the abolition of the Philippine Sugar Corp., saying its functions are already obsolete. In his Memorandum Order No. 30, Duterte abolished the government-owned and controlled corporation on the basis that it no longer effectively performs its objectives and functions. The PHILSUCOR, created under the Presidential Decree No. 1890, is tasked to provide financing in the acquisition, rehabilitation, and expansion of sugar mills, refineries, and other related facilities used in the manufacture, packing, storage, distribution, and shipment of sugar and its by-products and derivatives. It also noted that Republic Act No. 10659 authorizes the Sugar Regulatory Administration to give financial assistance through socialized credit to sugarcane stakeholders.However, considering that much of the financing needs of sugar mills are already being provided by private banking and financing institutions in addition to the lending facilities offered by the Development Bank of the Philippines and Land Bank of the Philippines, the President deemed the government corporation is no longer needed. The assets of PHILSUCOR shall be liquidated to settle its outstanding liabilities... Affected officials and personnel may avail themselves of separation and retirement benefits, the memorandum said. Duterte said its abolishment will take effect immediately upon publication in the Official Gazette. In the immediate aftermath of mail bombs and suspicious packages sent to former President Barack Obama and former first lady Hillary Clinton, former CIA Director John Brennan, former Vice President Joe Biden, Representative Maxine Waters, Senator Cory Booker and former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper at CNN, among others, President Donald J. Trump said he would have the acts labeled "domestic terrorism." In his statement, Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell also referred to the incidents as "attempted acts of domestic terrorism." On Friday, authorities arrested a suspect, Cesar Sayoc, 56, in connection with the packages. There would be no respite for Americans, however, as Saturday morning brought another attack. Police say suspect Robert Bowers opened fire on a Jewish congregation in Pittsburgh, killing 11 people. Domestic terrorism International relations and national security National security Terrorism Terrorism and counter-terrorism Unrest, conflicts and war 2018 Political package bombs Bomb threats Bombs and explosive devices Continents and regions Counterterrorism Crime, law enforcement and corrections Criminal offenses Government and public administration Government bodies and offices ISIS Misc organizations North America Riots Society Terrorist attacks The Americas United States US federal government Violence in society Weapons and arms White House Neither Bowers nor Sayoc have been charged with "domestic terrorism," nor will they. This is because current US federal law fails to specify that "domestic terrorism" is a crime and "material support for terrorism" prosecutions are generally limited to those who have connections to "foreign terrorist organizations." In cases where US law does allow for such prosecutions under a generic "terrorism" label, domestic terrorists are rarely charged. As a spokesperson from the FBI Agents Association told CNN on Saturday: "It is time to treat domestic terrorism as the national threat that it is, and track, analyze, and punish political violence at the federal level. Winning the fight against domestic terrorism is not about parties or political views; it is about ending political violence." The organization has also called on Congress to immediately amend the United States Code such that "domestic terrorism" becomes a crime with specific penalties and is freed from the legal and political uncertainties in which it is currently mired. It's important now to consider the legal context any domestic terrorism prosecution currently faces. In addition to labeling domestic terrorism a crime, Congress also needs to bring "domestic terror organizations" within "Terrorist Material Support" statutes, the laws under which the vast majority of terror prosecutions are brought. Under current law, the Material Support for Terrorism Statute Section 2339A does technically permit prosecutions of domestic terrorists but is almost never used in these cases -- only two people were charged between 2012 and 2017, according to Just Security. Furthermore, Section 2339B only criminalizes support and assistance of "foreign terrorist organizations." The failure of this section to include domestic terrorist organizations is indicative of the lopsided emphasis on international terrorism as the greater threat. A stipulation to create a designated list of domestic terrorist organizations for instance, would permit greater monitoring of such organizations along with more public awareness of their illegality. Unsurprisingly, domestic terrorists, from Dylann Roof to the accused perpetrator of the pipe bombings to domestic terror organizations, have little likelihood of being caught even as they purchase arms or explosives, because they do not face the same stringent monitoring as "foreign terror organizations." The fact that First Amendment protections and intent requirements are suspended in the case of 2339B means that someone retweeting the Islamic State can be prosecuted but someone retweeting the Rise Above Movement's threat to rid the country of ethnic minorities cannot. Section 2339B of "Terrorist Material Support" statutes are US law enforcement's primary legal tool against would-be terrorists, permitting monitoring and prosecution before any intended acts are even committed. In this respect, 2339B, which is responsible for 80% of ISIS prosecutions, criminalizes assistance to a "foreign terrorist organization" where "assistance" is broadly interpreted as including financial services, lodging, weapons, communication equipment or facilities and more. The extensive reach of the statute has produced successful prosecutions, 33% of which came to the attention of law enforcement based on evidence from online statements in support of groups like the Islamic State. ISIS prosecutions take place under 2339B because it has no intent requirement and enables the monitoring and surveillance of particular groups. Even the Trump administration recognizes that domestic terrorists pose a significant threat to Americans. The administration's recently released National Strategy for Counterterrorism openly admits "domestic terrorism in the United States is on the rise, with an increasing number of fatalities and violent nonlethal acts committed by domestic terrorists against people and property of the United States." Despite this admission, no public executive or legislative effort exists to expand the reach of the 2339B Material Support for Terrorism Statute to go beyond "foreign terrorist organizations" to include domestic ones. Indeed, while a process exists for the US Secretary of State to designate "foreign terrorist organizations," support or assistance to whom is forbidden, no parallel list of domestic terror organizations even exists. Even as the 14 suspected bombs that have gone out to a president, multiple high-level officials and a media organization are being investigated, domestic terror organizations in the United States can continue openly recruiting supporters with virtual impunity. When acts of domestic terrorism are prosecuted, prosecutors must cobble together charges from assorted federal statutes. Very often there is no mention at all of "terror" in the charge sheet. This means that even maximum sentences for these crimes are far lower than those in terrorism-related cases, because the "terrorism enhancement" is inapplicable. Prosecuting US citizens according to other statutes but not as terrorists also makes "domestic terror" a hidden crime, whose numbers and characteristics are not being released by the government. The recently released federal complaint against four members of the California-based "Rise Above Movement," which carried out attacks during an April 2017 rally in Berkeley, California, is a case in point. The complaint lists charges against the men for violating federal conspiracy statutes and riots statutes without making any mention of domestic terror at all. The maximum sentences in these charges are only 10 years in prison -- less than the 15-year sentence suggested in Material Support for Terrorism cases. Similarly, the charges filed against members of the same group for participating in the "Unite The Right" rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, in August 2017, charge each of the four defendants with "one count of conspiracy to violate the federal riots act and one count of traveling in interstate commerce from California to Charlottesville, Virginia with the intent to incite a riot, organize, promote, encourage, participate in, and carry on in a riot, to commit an act of violence in furtherance of a riot, or aid or abet any person inciting and participating in or carrying on in a riot." One possible reason that legislative and executive branches have shied away from creating lists of domestic terror organizations and imposing similar legal restrictions upon them is that they fear running into First Amendment protections that do not permit restrictions on speech. Yet this is a vacuous argument, because the United States Supreme Court held in the landmark case Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project that the Material Support for Terrorism statute does not violate a plaintiff's right to free speech under the First Amendment. If US citizens tweeting and recruiting in support of the Islamic State can be prosecuted, so too should US citizens known to espouse violence and even posting pictures of themselves engaging in acts of violence on social media. As the FBI notes on its website, these domestic terrorists are persistently "crossing the line from First Amendment protected rights to committing crimes to further their political agenda" while our political leaders look the other way. The lopsided counter-terrorism strategy that tries to preemptively prosecute those who support foreign terror groups but awaits the commission of actual acts when it comes to domestic terror groups must be corrected immediately. The way to do this is to create "domestic terrorism" as a specific crime. In addition, the enforcement of 2339A should be expanded to include domestic terrorists and the scope of 2339B expanded to include "domestic terror organization." Without such reforms and the increased power they would provide law enforcement to identify and prosecute domestic terrorists, Americans remain frighteningly vulnerable to an ever-increasing spate of terror attacks committed by those who are being given free rein to do so. CHICO, Calif. - A Chico synagogue held a vigil Sunday evening to remember the 11 people that died during the tragic Pittsburgh shooting Saturday. The vigil was held at the Congregation Beth Israel Chico at 7 p.m. where people from all faiths could attend to pray, sing and mourn the victims. Numerous church leaders from the North State attended the event including Chico Police Chief Mike O' Brien. People had the chance to take a stone and saying a blessing out loud or silent and put it in a bowl. As well as light a candle and express their feelings about the tragedy towards the Jewish community. If you are interested in knowing more about the Congregation Beth Israel Chico click here. (CNN) -- The man suspected of sending 14 pipe bombs to prominent Democrats and CNN around the country was formally charged in court Monday. Cesar Sayoc, 56, of Aventura, Florida, faces five federal charges and could receive up to 48 years in prison if convicted. Sayoc appeared Monday afternoon in the federal district court for the Southern District of Florida before a packed courtroom for a hearing that only lasted a few minutes. Sayoc wore a tan jumpsuit with an orange shirt underneath, his hands and feet shackled and his hair tied back in a ponytail. About five minutes before the hearing started, Sayoc appeared visibly emotional -- his face turning red with tears in his eyes. Magistrate Judge Edwin G. Torres charged Sayoc with five federal crimes: interstate transportation of an explosive, illegal mailing of explosives, threats against former presidents and other persons, threatening interstate communications and assaulting current and former federal officers. Torres set a pre-trial detention hearing and status conference on Sayoc's removal to New York for Friday. Sayoc's lawyers also asked the judge to allow them to speak with Sayoc in person instead of through a glass partition-- the judge said this was up to the warden but would make the request. As of Friday, authorities had intercepted 14 packages Sayoc sent through the US mail system, officials said. None of the devices detonated, and no one was injured. Another package that appears identical to the others was sent to CNN's worldwide headquarters in Atlanta, but it was intercepted Monday at an off-site screening facility. Among his alleged targets were former President Barack Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former US Attorney General Eric Holder, California Senator Kamala Harris, New Jersey Senator Cory Booker and California Rep. Maxine Waters. Sayoc told investigators after he was arrested in Plantation, Florida that the pipe bombs wouldn't have hurt anyone, and that he didn't want to hurt anyone, according to a law enforcement official. But federal authorities say the bombs Sayoc allegedly sent were real and a danger to their recipients. Sayoc was being held Friday night at a federal detention center in Miami. It appears that he had been living in the white Dodge van where he was found and arrested Friday morning, the law enforcement official said. Investigators believe that Sayoc made the pipe bombs in the van, two law enforcement sources said. Inside the vehicle were soldering equipment, stamps, envelopes, paper, a printer and powder, the sources said. Hours before his arrest, Sayoc was playing music sets at a Florida strip club where he had worked for two months. The bodybuilder had previously worked as a male dancer for several years and more recently as a pizza driver. On his LinkedIn account, Sayoc described himself as a choreographer and booking agent for male strippers and burlesque shows. Criminal history Sayoc's past is marked by encounters with law enforcement. Court records show he had been arrested at least nine times, mostly in Florida, for accusations of grand theft, battery, fraud, drug possession and probation violations. In 2002, he was arrested after Miami police said he threatened to bomb a power company, saying "it would be worse than September 11th." "The defendant contacted a rep (from) Florida Power and Light Co. ... by telephone and threatened to blow up FPL," a Miami Police Department report about the incident said. The caller "threatened to blow up the building if FP&L turned off his light," the report said. He pleaded guilty to the offense, records show, and was sentenced to one year of probation. In 2014, he was arrested and later pleaded guilty to stealing copper pipes at a Home Depot, records show. Sayoc's political views Sayoc posted his political views on social media and was prolific on his two Facebook accounts and three Twitter feeds, often posting provocative photos and memes attacking liberals. In 2016, Sayoc registered to vote as a Republican in Florida, and a Facebook video showed him in a "Make America Great Again" hat at a Trump rally. He took on Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, the Democratic nominee in the Florida governor's race, more than 80 times in October alone. In other posts, Sayoc shared conspiracy theories, memes and articles slamming Clinton, Trump's opponent in 2016. On September 20, in response to a Trump tweet, Sayoc posted a self-shot video of himself at what appears to be a Trump rally. The text of the tweet threatened former Vice President Joe Biden and Holder, both of whom were targeted by improvised explosive devices discovered last week. "Go Trump Trump Trump hey Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. And Eric Himpton Holder Sr. Stick your BS all crap you talk where sun doesn't shine . We will meet your threats right to your face soon.Not option we will see you soon .Hug loved ones real close we aren't ones," the tweet read. Sayoc also posted virulently anti-Muslim memes and published the address of billionaire investor and Democratic donor George Soros, and photos of the homes of some others who later received bombs. As recently as Wednesday, Sayoc posted a tweet that was critical of Soros, Obama and others. A package to Soros had been recovered two days earlier. The Philippine National Police on Monday reiterated that it will not tolerate unscrupulous acts of police officers. PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde made the remark following the arrest of PO1 Eduardo Valencia, a rookie cop assigned at the Manila Police District, for allegedly raping a 15-year-old girl. We already said that since the start of the administration, we will show no mercy on these cops who are involved in illegal activities. We will not tolerate those misdeeds. Let him prove himself that he is not guilty for the crime of rape of a relative of the suspects who were arrested, Albayalde told reporters on Mondays press briefing, adding that Valencia will be given due process. Valencia was arrested after the girls relatives sought help from authorities. On Sunday, National Capital Region Police Office director Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar went straight to the MPD Sampaloc Police Station and admonished Valencia after he was presented to him. Valencia allegedly raped the girl in exchange for the freedom of her parents who were arrested for illegal drug charges. Pending the outcome of the initial investigation, he is facing administrative charges as well as rape and grave misconduct. As this developed, Senator Nancy Binay is convinced that the age of consent in the country should be raised to 16 years old from the present 12, after receiving reports of the alleged rape committed by Valencia. In July, Binay filed Senate Bill No. 1895 which aims to make 16 years old the minimum age to determine statutory rape for children in the country, up from under 12 years specified in the Revised Penal Code. According to Binay, the measure is still in the committee level adding that she will ask the legislative commitment of fellow senators to fast-track its passage. She said the Philippines is one of those countries which has the lowest age of consent, which is presently set at 12 years old.At present, she said our anti-rape law says it will only be considered statutory rape if the child is below 12 years old or is mentally challenged. As parents, it is our commitment to protect our children from sexual predators, Binay said. Some are using the low age of consent to evade higher penalties from their crimes against children, she added. Binay said that increasing the age of consent can prevent more cases of violence against children. Those who has sexual relations or intercourse with a minor below 16 years old could be charged with statutory rape if the age of consent will be higher, Binay said. According to the National Baseline Study on Violence Against Children (NBS-VAC), released in 2016, one of five children below 18 have experienced being sexually violated. Binay said that according to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), up to 7 in 10 women around the world experience physical and/or sexual violence at some point in their lifetime. Increasing the age of consent will provide greater protection to our children, and safeguard them from various forms of violence, she added. The legislator also said that under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, governments should protect children from all forms of sexual exploitation and abuse. It is also in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially Goal number 5, which aims to eliminate all forms of violence against women and children, including trafficking, sexual, and other forms of exploitation, Binay said. COLUMBUS, Ohio - With many infant formulas on the market promising the same benefits as breast milk, more women may forgo breastfeeding. However, when making that decision, women may not be considering the benefits breastfeeding has on their own health. Research has shown that women who breastfeed greatly lower their risk of developing breast cancer, but a new study by The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC - James) finds very few women are given this information by their healthcare providers. "Prevention is the best weapon we have to fight cancer," said Dr. Bhuvana Ramaswamy, principal investigator of the study and breast medical oncology division director at the OSUCCC - James. "Not every mother is able to breastfeed, but they should all have the information they need to make the best decision for themselves and their babies," she said. The study found that nearly 60 percent of moms knew of the link between breastfeeding and breast cancer, but of those women, only 16 percent received that information from a medical professional, something Ramaswamy says needs to change: "We have a duty as a medical community to ensure our patients have the reliable knowledge," she said. "And when it comes from a professional, medical information is much more likely to affect people's choices." Of the women who did not breastfeed, 60 percent said having this information would have influenced their decision. This is particularly important for African American women, who are much more likely to develop an aggressive and deadly form of cancer called triple negative breast cancer. The study found African American women were less likely to be informed about the health benefits of breastfeeding when compared with women of other ethnicities. The proliferation of mobile connectivity has a significant impact on the socio-economic fabric of the county and mobile broadband has empowered millions of Indians. Today, India consumes 2,360 petabytes every month, making it the largest mobile data market globally. On an average, consumers spend four hours daily on their smartphones. By 2022, smartphone users are expected to increase 2.2X to 650 million, elevating average data usage by 5.1X to 18 GB per month. During 2017-22, broadband connections are expected to grow by 25% to reach approximately 90% of Indians[1]. Digitalization has uplifted the life of a common man in India by enabling on-the-go access to host of e-services, increasing affordability and accessibility (e.g. ride sharing), and move to a cash-less economy (e.g. mobile payments). It is empowering a farmer with right information at the right time, enabling ways to increase crop yields and get wider access to market produce. People are able to pay bills, book tickets, order pizza or call a cab within seconds. Internet of Things (IoT) has the potential to address some of the basic challenges in India. IoT is expected to fundamental impact the way we live and work, reducing waste, improving health and delivering major social and environmental benefits in sectors such as agriculture (e.g. sensors for measuring soil humidity), automotive and transportation (e.g. fleet management), healthcare (e.g. remote patient monitoring), power and utilities (e.g. smart meters). In an accelerated growth scenario, IoT has the potential to reach 2 billion connections and revenues of US$11.1 billion by 2022[2]. The advent of 5G is expected to support newer applications/use cases, imbibe innovative business models and usher in cross-industry collaboration. By 2022, India is likely to transition to a Gigabit society where citizens and businesses will equally benefit from widespread fast-broadband, reliable performance delivered by robust future-proof fixed and mobile technologies. By 2022, Indias digital economy is expected to grow to US$1 trillion and lead to creation of 10 million jobs[3]. Prashant Singhal, Emerging Markets TMT Leader, EY, said, India can lead the Fourth Industrial revolution. The real opportunity is to look beyond technology, and find ways to give the greatest number of people the ability to positively impact their families, organisations and communities. At the back of this, India has the potential to unlock a trillion dollar digital economy by 2022 and add up to 10 million jobs. Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) and EY are hosting a Technology, Media and Telecommunication networking evening. It is scheduled during the India Mobile Congress on 26 October, in New Delhi and will see TMT industry stalwarts deliberating on decoding disruption. Starcom has won the media duties of Nykaa, the Indian multi-brand beauty retailer selling cosmetics and wellness products. The business was won as part of a hotly contested pitch, in which leading agency groups had participated. Commenting on the win, Rathi Gangappa, CEO, Starcom India, said, This is a prestigious win for us. Starcom, through its Human Experience approach and focus, will drive powerful, data-driven communications for Nykaa, a brand that revolutionises the beauty and wellness products business. Through innovative ideas and fresh thinking and insights on the brand, we demonstrated strong media value and will help Nykaa exceed its core marketing KPIs. We look forward to partnering with Nykaa on their expansion plans and are committed to their growth and success. On assigning the media duties to Starcom, Hitesh Malhotra, Chief Marketing Officer, Nykaa.com, said, Starcom brings in a mature team that understands the periphery of beauty and the dynamicity of eCommerce - both of which are sacrosanct to Nykaa. In a fragmented landscape, where the consumers attention is split across multiple devices, it is imperative that knowledge of omnichannel messaging is delivered through the sheer power of media, partnerships and innovation. Starcom's valuable media inputs, experience and expertise will enhance our brand further; their hunger and start-up culture of collaboration truly mirrors our own. We are confident that Starcom will help us unlock new consumer connections and will maximise returns on our media investments. Nykaa is one of Indias leading e-commerce companies, offering beauty and wellness products. It also has offline presence. Today, Nykaa sells over 850 curated brands and 35,000 products. Cimatu At least 209 business establishments in Aklans Boracay Island have been fined for a total of P43 million due to various violations of environmental laws.Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu on Monday said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Pollution Adjudication Board has ordered the owners and operators of the concerned establishments to comply with their obligation to settle their corresponding fines. He vowed to stay vigilant in the close monitoring of pollution violations and the swift adjudication of cases. Undersecretary and Chief of Staff Rodolfo Garcia, PAB presiding officer, and a retired military general said the agency has already sent notices of violations to the erring establishments. We, at the DENR, believe that anyone who pollutes or destroys the environment must pay the cost for that destruction, he said. He warned those who would fail to pay penalties would not be issued permits to operate. The DENR, together with other concerned government agencies, is firm in its resolve to clean not only the waters and air of Boracay and to manage its solid waste. It also wants to clear Boracay of irresponsible and greedy business people who have placed care for the environment their least priority, he said. Despite the reopening of Boracay Island last Oct. 26, rehabilitation efforts are not yet over, he added. We will continue to monitor all establishments and impose the necessary penalties should they be found breaking laws, he said.President Rodrigo Duterte had tagged the Boracay Island a cesspool and ordered its closure on April 26 to give way to its six-month rehabilitation. The DENR said 110 establishments have been found to violate Section 1, Rule 19 of Republic Act 8749 or the Clean Air Act of 1999 requiring a permit to operate all sources of air pollution from the agencys Environmental Management Bureau. A P1.5-million fine is imposed on each violator. Another 72 establishments have been fined a total of P2 million for operating facilities that discharge regulated water pollutants without a valid discharge permit, which is required under Section 27(c) of RA 9275 or Clean Water Act of 2004. The DENR has imposed a total fine of P39 million on five establishments for discharging untreated wastewater and exceedance of effluent standards. For violation of other provisions of both RA Nos. 8749 and 9275, 22 establishments were fined a total of P900,000. The DENRs public affairs services told the Manila Standard that some of the establishments [in the Boracay Island] have already paid their fines with the central office and the regional office, while several others have yet to settle their penalties. 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. CAIRO Egypt held its first Cairo Water Week Oct. 14 -18 to discuss Cairos concerns over the effects of climate change. The meeting closely follows the Egyptian government's acceptance of a $31.5 million grant from the Green Climate Fund Oct. 2 to protect the areas that are most affected by climate change, which threatens to flood the Nile Delta, increase desertification and impede investment for decades in coastal areas. Egypt will use the funds on projects to reduce coastal flooding in five governorates (Port Said, Damietta, Dakahlia, Kafr El Sheikh and Beheira), a strip of land stretching over 70 kilometers (43 miles). It will also set forth a national monitoring plan on climate change and rising sea levels in these areas, a project that will take seven years to be implemented. Climate change threatens to cost Egypt billions of dollars in investment and the deterioration of the tourism sector. The rising sea level is expected to erode the Egyptian coasts and damage the coral reefs. High temperatures also threaten to accelerate the deterioration of monuments and historical landmarks. According to the Egyptian government, at least five million people are expected to be displaced from the Nile River Delta if appropriate measures are not taken. In previous statements, Egyptian Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Mohammad Abdel Ati said that the ministrys climate change studies predict that Egypts two main crops, wheat and maize, will decrease by 15% and 19% respectively by 2050, and 15% of the most arable lands in the Nile Delta will become salinized. The studies also suggest that four million people will lose their jobs as a result of the deterioration of agricultural land, greatly worsening unemployment. Egypts annual water quota of the Nile water, about 55.5 billion cubic meters, will be imperiled as climate change affects on rainfall patterns in the Nile Basin. Climate changes effects also extend to public health, as government reports indicate that abnormally high temperatures will leave Egypt more vulnerable to diseases such as malaria, dengue fever and Rift Valley fever. In an exclusive Oct. 15 interview with Al-Monitor on the sidelines of Cairo Water Week, Egyptian Minister of Environment Yasmeen Fouad called the agreement with the Green Climate Fund a great step by the Egyptian government to cover the cost of protecting the coastal areas, but affirmed that it will not be enough. We still have a long way to go to achieve our goals to adapt to the impact of climate change. We still hope to have more funding to support efforts in this regard, Fouad noted, saying, Egypt is one of the most affected countries by climate change. Egypt's strategy until 2030 includes plans for adaptation in health, environmental, water, economic and social sectors. She added that it's impossible to predict the cost of such massive and evolving efforts. According to Mohamed Suleiman, director of the Coastal Research Institute (CORI) of the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, the institutes studies show that the Mediterranean Sea is rising at a rate of two to four millimeters per year due to climate change. Meanwhile, the coast of the Nile Delta is sinking at a rate of one to three millimeters per year. Suleiman explained that the sea level is expected to rise by 50 centimeters (20 inches) over the next 100 years. The danger lies in the fact that high winds and storms are increasingly occurring in an unprecedented way if we take a look over the past 10 years between 2009 and 2018. We've monitored the sea waves of the delta coast and saw that they have [increased and] caused several coastal areas to sink, he said. He added that many development projects are already threatened by climate change in the Nile Delta, including urban development projects in Damietta and New Mansoura and oil and industrial ventures in the new city of Metoubes in Kafr El-Sheikh governorate. The Burullus Power Plant, the largest in the low areas next to the lake Burullus, is threatened with flooding. There are also fish farms on the coastline that are sinking as result of climate change, Suleiman noted. According to Khalid Kheireddine, director of the Institute for Climate Change at the National Water Research Center in Egypt, the cost of climate change adaptation programs was initially estimated at $1 billion per year until 2030. He pointed out that CORI has been working on implementing a project with the Ministry of Environment to create an interactive map identifying the risks and threats of climate change to help decision-makers address affected areas. Future development plans cannot be developed in the Egyptian coastal areas without being preceded by protection programs, he said. "We spent an estimated 3 billion pounds [$170 million] in the past few years on programs to protect threatened areas in the delta," said Mahmoud El-Saadi, head of the Egyptian Public Authority for Shore Protection. He explained that protection projects include establishing sand fences to form natural barriers, a method that has been tested on the Mediterranean coastline. The normally closed world of Irans Shiite seminary has been stunned by a scandal after a grand ayatollah was threatened about his personal meetings with those deemed not supportive of the Islamic Republic. Ayatollah Mohammad Yazdi, current chairman of the Assembly of Experts and former head of the judiciary for 10 years, wrote a public letter to Grand Ayatollah Mousa Shubairi Zanjani on Oct. 27 about pictures of meetings with problematic individuals who do not have respect for the Islamic Republic and the Supreme Leader [Ayatollah Ali Khamenei]. Yazdi did not mention names, but the incident he was referencing was a meeting Zanjani had with former Reformist President Mohammad Khatami and Ayatollah Mohammad Mousavi Khoeiniha. Yazdi, who is also head of the conservative Society of the Seminary Teachers of Qom, wrote that he had spoken to Zanjani twice before about other issues but had not received a satisfactory response and therefore had no choice but to present this letter publicly. Yazdi accused Zanjani of snubbing meetings with conservative groups in Qom, where he is based, but making time to meet with these problematic individuals in Tehran. The most shocking aspect of the letter, which caught many Iran observers by surprise, was Yazdis warning to not let it happen again. Since the 2009 election, which was contested by Reformists, Khatami has become persona non grata within the establishment. The judiciary has imposed an unofficial media ban on the former president, and in the rare instance when media is forced to publish his picture, his face is often blurred. Khatami is also no longer invited to official state functions. Still, Khatami is not under any type of house arrest, as the 2009 presidential candidates still are, and there is no judiciary case against him. Yazdis letter against a cleric senior to him portends an even more restrictive political climate in which hard-line officials make up the rules as they go. Zanjanis office released a statement saying that the senior cleric would not respond to the letter and would remain silent, but that his students and junior clerics who study under him would respond. The Qom Seminary, the largest and oldest Islamic seminary in Iran, issued a statement condemning the letter, saying, Slandering a grand ayatollah for a personal action and determining [who he can meet with], with the excuse of defending the Islamic Republic and the supreme leader, will have no result but weakening the Islamic Republic and the seminary." The letter, which was signed by 84 clerics, stated ominously, No government which insults its figures and threatens them is sustainable. There were a number of reactions on social media as well. An Iranian journalist rightly noted that hard-liners cannot help themselves but to interfere in the private life of a grand ayatollah, yet some people expect them to leave the private lives of ordinary citizens alone. Hesamodin Ashna, media adviser to President Hassan Rouhani, sarcastically thanked Yazdi for introducing the younger generation to Ayatollah Shobayri Zanjani and those seeking a moderate Islam. On Oct. 27, Irans parliament also approved four new ministers for the Rouhani Cabinet. Mohammad Shariatmadari, who was previously the minister of industry, mine and trade, became the minister of cooperatives, labor and social welfare. Shariatmadari received 196 votes despite previous accusations of corruption as the head of his previous ministry. The Office of the President, Department of National Defense and House of Representatives ate up P8.98 billion or close to three-fourths of the confidential and intelligence funds of the national government in 2017. Based on the 2017 annual financial report on the national government, the Commission on Audit said the expenditures from last year increased by P4.52 billion, or 101.78 percent, compared with the P4.44 billion incurred in 2016. Confidential, intelligence and extraordinary expenses totaling P8.98 billion represented 2.97 percent of the total [maintenance and other operating expenses], COA said. This group of accounts posted an increase of P4.52 billion or 101.78 percent from the previous years P4.44 billion. The Office of the President spent P2.515 billion; the Defense department P2.222 billion and Congress P1.797 billion, with a total of P6.5 billion or 72.87 percent of the CIEF.The rest of the CIEF at 27.13 percent went to the Department of the Interior and Local Government at P883.46 million, other executive offices at P434.716 million, Department of Justice at P346.372 million, the judiciary at P236.898 million, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao at P104.502 million, the Department of Finance at P77.243 million, the Department of Education at P47.643 million, and the other agencies at P301.632 million. The Defense departments Armed Forces of the Philippines attributed the increase to massive and extensive intelligence and counterintelligence activities in the war-torn Marawi City in Lanao del Sur. The Philippine National Police credited the use of its CIEF at P845.51 million to its intensified anti-drug drive. Iran's parliamentary speaker Ali Larijani is under fire by hard-liners over his role in lawmakers recent approval of bills related to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). In this vein, hard-liners are reminding the Iranian public of Larijani's cooperation with President Hassan Rouhani in selling the nuclear deal to Iranians, arguing that Larijani is being groomed for the 2021 presidential election. Iran's parliament passed the Combating the Financing of Terrorism bill on Oct. 7, one of the four key bills that parliament must approve for Iran to be removed from the FATF blacklist. It took parliament months to pass this controversial bill due to the determination of hard-liners to stop it. Hard-liners believe the bill would cut Iran's ties to the "Axis of Resistance" an argument refuted by the Reformists, who say the FATF only recognizes groups as terroristic if they are described as such by the United Nations. The Oct. 7 parliament session turned into a real competition between the Reformists and hard-liners over the FATF bills. It was reminiscent of the day the lawmakers approved the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action back in 2015, despite the uproar from hard-liners. The FATF is an intergovernmental organization created in 1989 to combat money laundering and terrorism financing. Iran's presence on the FATF black list was suspended in 2016. Following Tehran's passing the related bills, the group has given Iran a four-month period (until February) to undertake reforms that would bring it in line with global banking norms. Hossein Naghavi Hosseini, a hard-line parliamentarian, spoke angrily at Larijani during the Oct. 7 parliamentary session, accusing him of acting against the views of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He also stated that Larijani passed the 2015 nuclear deal in 20 minutes in parliament without any accurate assessment of the deal's text. Another hard-line parliamentarian tore up the parliamentary regulations book and threw it at Larijani. Hard-liners cited Ayatollah Khameneis earlier remarks about international conventions as justification for preventing the passing of the CFT bill. Yet Larijani quoted the Office of the Supreme Leader as saying, "I have no opposition to these bills being reviewed in the parliament." Larijani's move may have been effective in convincing a number of conservatives to vote for the CFT bill. Hard-liners compare Larijani to an infamous figure in Islamic history The hard-liners reaction to Larijani's attempts to persuade parliament to vote for the CFT bill was harsh. Vatan-e Emrooz, a leading hard-line newspaper, dedicated its front page to the CFT issue, condemning Larijani for his "willingness" to give up anything the West wants from Iran. Meanwhile, on Twitter and other social networks, the reactions were worse. Hard-liners created the hashtag "Larijani's betrayal" and compared him to Al-Ash'ath ibn Qays, who played an influential role in forcing the first Shiite Imam Ali bin Abi Taleb to accept arbitration even though he was close to victory in the Battle of Siffin in 657. Moreover, a short clip of hard-line parliamentarian Javad Karimi Ghoddousi was released to the media, in which he stated that Larijani and Rouhani are examples of the betrayers that Ayatollah Khamenei has spoken about. What shouldnt be neglected here is that Larijani, once known as a hard-liner, has dealt with crucial issues in a down-to-earth manner over the past decade. Since the final years of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's presidency (2005-13), Larijani's distance from the hard-liners and the conservatives grew, reaching its peak with his cooperation with the Reformist-backed Rouhani on many key issues, including the 2015 nuclear deal. Reformists hail Larijani's management, raising the possibility of backing him as president In return, the Reformists have welcomed Larijani's stance and decisions, bringing up the likelihood of supporting him in the 2021 presidential election. This would not be Larijani's first presidential campaign. In 2005, the conservatives chose Larijani, who had headed the state broadcaster for a decade, as their candidate. But other conservative figures, including hard-liner Ahmadinejad and Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, rejected Larijani's nomination. Mahmoud Sadeghi, a prominent Reformist parliamentarian, praised Larijani's management of the parliament sessions, saying, "I dont deny the possibility that the Reformists will unavoidably move to support a figure with the characteristics of Larijani." Furthermore, Mohammad Atrianfar, a leading Reformist activist, stated on Oct. 8 that Reformists reaching a consensus over Larijani "is probable. If the Reformist friends reach this consensus, we all have the duty to back Mr. Larijani." The hard-liners have emphasized this appreciation for Larijani among Reformists as well as their remarks about possible support for Larijani in the next election. The hard-liners' plan is to destroy the influence of Larijani one of the few moderates remaining in the conservatives' camp since he is still popular among the old guard in the camp. By emphasizing Reformists' embrace of Larijani, the hard-liners seek to discredit him among the old guard. In an Oct. 13 interview, parliamentarian Naghavi Hosseini claimed he had credible news that Larijani's nomination in the next presidential election was certain. He also described the abovementioned remarks by Atrianfar as the result of Larijani's efforts to attract moderate Reformists. By "moderate reformists," he refers to a number of Reformists who are flexible and ready to form a coalition with someone like Larijani, who has a conservative background. In this vein, hard-line ANA news agency wrote on Oct. 20, "Reformists' [backing of] Larijani as well as [his] suspicious meetings are among the signs indicating Larijani's nomination in the 2021 presidential election. On one hand, Larijani sits next to [former Reformist President] Mohammad Khatami, who had an active role in the 2009 sedition and on the other hand, he approaches the [Rouhani] government to accompany them by passing bills like [those related to the] FATF. These signals show a clear goal by a spectrum of Larijani's fans, especially the Moderation and Development Party and a section of Reformists for reaching a consensus over Larijani." Of note, the hard-liners believe that Khatami, who threw his weight behind opposition figures Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, is not loyal to the political system anymore, and they have even put a media ban on him. In sum, the hard-liners' railing against Larijani is probably intended to drive a wedge between Larijani and the old guard of the conservative camp. At the same time, all these attacks could be part of a broader strategy to both discredit him among the old guard by portraying him as a Reformist-backed candidate acting against the will of the supreme leader and also to unseat him in parliament's next speakership vote, which is held every year. Nonetheless, if Larijani decides to run in the next presidential election, he faces a bumpy road ahead. He has to overcome the hard-liners' coup against him in his own camp and also gain the approval of the entire spectrum of Reformists, assuring them he is committed to their notions, because the Rouhani experience has not been pleasant for them. BAGHDAD Iraqi minorities have warmly welcomed the Oct. 16 announcement by the US State Department that it would be providing $178 million in additional aid for ethnic and religious minorities in Iraq. Murad Ismael, the executive director of Yazda, a global Yazidi organization, wrote on his Facebook page, Thank you, America, because you are the mother of persecuted minorities. The United States today stands with the Yazidi people this is not something new for America, but the Yazidis really appreciate this stand. Mona Yako, an expert focusing on the protection of minorities in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, welcomed the size and timing of the US aid. She also stressed to Al-Monitor that such aid must be disbursed fairly, be based on priorities and be free of corruption. Yako said that Christians in the Ninevah Plains were widely disappointed when the region was taken over by the Islamic State (IS). In this context, she stressed the need to allocate part of the aid for the building of a united minority force capable of defending areas inhabited by minorities. Such a force, Yako said, should work under the umbrella of the Iraqi armed forces and the official security services, especially considering that this is a legitimate and constitutional right for every Iraqi component under Article 9 of the Iraqi Constitution. Yako said that after security, the economy is the second pillar that any minority requires in order to survive, and the offered funds would be best used by reviving the economy of the region and establishing attractive projects for all groups, including women and the elderly. Confidence must be restored between citizens and the state, she added, so that citizens feel their dignity is safeguarded within the borders of Iraq and consequently refrain from migrating. Yako further said that youths should be taken into consideration and that they are the groups that must be discouraged from emigrating from the country. She also pointed to the need to distribute the funds fairly while compensating the victims and informing minorities that their rights will not be lost and that justice will prevail, all of which would help residents of the Ninevah Plains return to normal life. Saad Babir, an activist in Yazidi affairs and a media official with Yazda, also supported the idea of establishing a security force made of minorities. He said such a force should be trained by coalition forces in their areas under the supervision of Iraqs security ministries. Babir believes that the establishment of military bases for coalition forces in minority areas will significantly build confidence within these vulnerable groups, which lack protection. Asked whether assistance should be directed to Sinjar, which is the stronghold of the Yazidis, Babir proposed a plan aimed at opening colleges, institutes, hospitals and government departments such as passport and citizenship departments in minority areas. This, he said, would prevent minorities from going to cities such as Mosul, Tal Afar and Baghdad, among others. Many Yazidis are targeted in these areas based on their religious affiliation. Providing economic independence to minorities and alienating them from the dominance of political parties is extremely important in order to put an end to the political exploitation of minorities, which has led to the confiscation of their rights, deprived them of their freedoms and even posed a threat to their religious and cultural affiliation, Babir stated. While the US aid includes a strong message of support for religious minorities in liberated areas such as Sinjar and the Ninevah Plains, it also led representatives of some Iraqi minorities who are either excluded or neglected by the US government to raise questions. No allocations have been reserved for Mandaeans and other non-Christian and non-Yazidi ethnic minorities. Nadia Fadel Meghames, director of the Sabean Mandaean Endowment in Iraq, told Al-Monitor, The Ninevah Plains and Sinjar have suffered major destruction, ethnic cleansing and destruction on the part of IS. This is probably why American politicians may prioritize such areas in order to encourage the return of Christians and Yazidis to such areas." Meghames added, "However, this does not negate the fact that at least a part of the aid should be kept for the Mandaean minority, which is a millennial culture that is threatened with extinction and lacks the minimum needs required to face waves of migration. Such needs include places of worship where they can perform their rituals and preserve their heritage, culture and language. Imad Abdel Latif, an economic expert, believes that Iraq does not need such assistance. He said the Iraqi government should have such funds to support minorities. Iraq, he said, is a country that has all the material and human resources necessary to promote citizenship in a multiethnic society. He called for the creation of the necessary political will in order to efficiently manage the economic resources of the country. In this context, Latif said that minorities should be given priority because they urgently need to rehabilitate the [multidimensional] destruction they suffered from due to the lack of fair and wise distribution of resources. He added that dedicating such international assistance to the development of economic empowerment policies for minority members will be useful in the long run. Allowing minorities who, according to him, are the most important economic resource to be citizens with full rights will turn them into a scarce productive component and an everlasting economic resource. Not only will this benefit minorities alone but also all of Iraqs minorities. The Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) is considered the most important of its kind in Israel. Headed by Maj. Gen. Amos Yadlin (ret.), a former head of Military Intelligence, its researchers include retired senior military officers as well as former top diplomats and academics. Though it is considered to lean center-left because of the political orientation of its leadership (Yadlin was the Zionist Camps candidate for minister of defense in the 2015 election), even people aligned with the far-right attend INSS conferences, which receive considerable media attention. On Oct. 2, the INSS published A Strategic Outline for the Israeli-Palestinian Arena and promoted it widely. The plan, composed and edited over two years by Yadlin, Udi Dekel and Kim Lavi, proposes diplomatic measures for peace. I was eager to read the proposal and hoped to find new ideas in it. There were none. It did remind me of a story that was told in the 1960s about how Yugoslav leader Josip Broz Tito distanced himself from communism: Three cars, traveling together in a convoy, reached a fork in the road. The first car, driven by Nikita Khrushchev, signaled left and turned left. The second car, driven by John F. Kennedy, signaled right and turned right. Then the third car, driven by Tito, signaled left and turned right. It seems to me as if the authors of this proposal are also signaling left and turning right. They speak in terms of the Clinton Parameters of 2000 and the informal Geneva Initiative of 2003 (the author was one of its authors), conclude that it would be impossible to reach a permanent solution at this time and suggest a plan that would bolster the status quo, which they themselves consider extremely risky. They call on Israel to announce that it is prepared to negotiate a permanent-status agreement even though they do not believe that the Palestinians would agree to it. They then try to establish a situation on the ground that would not inhibit the creation of a Palestinian state at some point in the future, while ensuring that Israel remains a democratic state with a Jewish majority. Much like similar documents from the past, this proposal offers various possibilities for the diplomatic process. They include a single state, a Jordanian-Palestinian confederacy, an Israeli-Palestinian confederacy and a two-state solution. Each of these options, apart from the two-state solution, are offhandedly rejected by the authors. Most of the intellectual effort has been invested in the question of how a desirable solution can be reached even if there is no Palestinian partner, at least for now. The main reason that there are no negotiations with the Palestinians over a permanent-status arrangement is that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus various governments have rejected negotiations based on the 1967 borders with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Had Netanyahu agreed to do so, he would long have been engaged in direct negotiations over an arrangement. But Netanyahu is apparently unwilling to partition the land. For their part, the Palestinians are concerned about lengthy negotiations that will lead nowhere but nonetheless provide coverage for Israels policy in the West Bank, particularly in the form of continued settlement and nighttime visits by the Israel Defense Forces to the West Banks cities. The proposal's easy forgiveness of Israels refusal is as problematic as the alternative that it presents. The authors would grant the Palestinian Authority in Area B (22% of the West Bank, under Palestinian civil control and joint Israeli-Palestinian security control) the same responsibility enjoyed by the PA in Area A (18% of the West Bank, under Palestinian civil and security control). In other words, Palestinian civil and security control in Areas A and B. That way, the PA will control 40% of the West Bank without immediately transferring any additional territory to it. In Area C (60% of the West Bank, under Israeli control), the outline allows Palestinians to build factories and apartment complexes in one-quarter of the territory, with the understanding that over time, this area (15% of the West Bank) would be transferred to the PA. At the same time, Israel would continue to build in the settlement blocs, while freezing construction in the isolated settlements. The plan referred to areas that are part of a supposed Israeli consensus for a future agreement, even though this is a hazy concept that fails to consider the Palestinians demands. It may be the plans weakest point. Even if it is true that settlements along the Green Line would apparently become part of Israel in exchange for Israeli territory, this has yet to be agreed upon, and it does not legitimize construction in the settlements, which runs counter to international law as long as an agreement on borders has not been reached with the other party. Anyone who refuses to offer a complete settlement construction freeze along the lines of President George W. Bushs 2003 Road Map, which was adopted by the Sharon government, legitimizes a wave of construction in the West Bank under the umbrella of an interim process, economic aid to the Palestinians, closer security cooperation and greater regional cooperation with neighboring states, but such international legitimacy has no chance of happening. It is therefore surprising that the authors of this plan expect it to. The only person who might grant the plan some kind of legitimacy is US President Donald Trump, and even that would fade into obscurity as soon as he disappears from the political arena. The document includes some ideas worth discussing in detail, including its plan to create a Metropolitan Jerusalem with a newly created Palestinian municipality subject to Israels Ministry of the Interior, at least in the first stage. One might wonder, however, why the plan suggests that Israel announce at this early stage that it would keep some 10% of the West Bank and that it would not give it up even in the context of a comprehensive peace agreement. It's more than Prime Minister Ehud Barak suggested in 2000 and much more than Prime Minister Ehud Olmert offered in 2008. Where would Israel find territory of that size it would be willing to exchange with the Palestinians as compensation? Even more problematic, however, is the risk of another conundrum: Pragmatic and reasonable people who want peace with the Palestinians are accepting the position of the political right that there is no partner on the other side and making a series of proposals that would be rejected by the pragmatic Palestinian leadership and most of the international community. The INSS plan is hardly appealing to the current government. One senior official told Al-Monitor privately that the Netanyahu government has no problem with announcing yet again that it is prepared to enter into negotiations with Abbas without any preconditions. But the government would certainly not agree to freeze settlement construction in most of the West Bank. Meanwhile, the right can use the institutes proposal to say things like, Even the INSS agrees that the settlements should be kept in place. Even it speaks about annexation of 10% of the territory. This could be the plans only concrete outcome. The upcoming municipal elections have heightened frictions within ultra-Orthodox parties and between them. I have a hard time believing that well be able to heal the enormous rift caused by the municipal election. The final split is taking giant steps forward, one ultra-Orthodox Knesset member told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity. According to him, The ultra-Orthodox Big Bang, the split of the Ashkenazi ultra-Orthodox party Yahadut HaTorah, could happen any minute. Furthermore, closer cooperation between the Sephardic ultra-Orthodox Shas Party and the Lithuanian Degel HaTorah faction of Yahadut HaTorah could lead to a future merger of those two groups into a single party or some other format. Without joining forces in one way or another, the ultra-Orthodox parties can be expected lose strength, and with it their bargaining power in future coalition negotiations. Yahadut HaTorah is a combination of the Degel HaTorah faction, whose most prominent representative in the Knesset is Finance Committee chair Moshe Gafni, and the Agudat Yisrael faction, which represents several Hassidic courts such as Gerrer (represented by Deputy Health Minister Yaakov Litzman), Vizhnitz and Belz. The unified party was formed just before the elections for the 13th Knesset in 1992 and has run as a united front ever since. Its two factions share positions on most issues. The party has six seats in the current Knesset, but in practice, they are much more powerful. They wield enormous influence on government policy, particularly in matters of religion and state. The leaders of the Ashkenazi ultra-Orthodox community have long been a group of elderly rabbis known as the Great Sages of the Generation. The political leaders followed their instructions to the letter. But then these rabbis began to pass away: Eliezer Menachem Shach died in 2001 at the age of 102, Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv in 2012, also at the age of 102, and Rabbi Aharon Leib Shteinman in 2017 at the age of 103. Yet even before they died, there were already signs of friction within Yahadut HaTorah attributed to their rabbis great age, at a time when the ultra-Orthodox community faced changes due to the rise of the digital era and the emergence of an independent ultra-Orthodox press. The ensuing friction received attention over the last year due to issues such as the supermarket law, work on the Israel Railroad on the Sabbath and the conscription law. In each of these cases, Knesset members from Agudat Yisrael took a more extreme position than their partners from Degel HaTorah, most conspicuously in the debate over the conscription law. Litzman opposed the proposal put forth by the Israel Defense Forces, while Gafni of Degel HaTorah and Shas leader Aryeh Deri supported it. The law was approved in its first reading despite Litzmans threats, and it is scheduled to have its second and third readings in the next few weeks, during the Knessets winter session. The real rift, however, is happening right now, on the eve of nationwide municipal elections set for Oct. 30. The ultra-Orthodox sector is split between the Lithuanian and Hassidic camps in almost every town with an ultra-Orthodox community. The divide is particularly noticeable in Jerusalem. While the Hassidic sector is running Hassidic Deputy Mayor Yossi Deutsch as its candidate, Degel HaTorah and Shas both announced that they will not support him. Instead, they will support candidate Moshe Leon, who is not ultra-Orthodox. Similarly, in the ultra-Orthodox town of Elad, there is a heated competition between the Lithuanians and the Hassidim. The current mayor, Yisrael Porush, is son of Deputy Minister Meir Porush of Agudat Yisrael. He decided to run again, despite a prior agreement to give up his seat to a Lithuanian candidate. The Lithuanians responded by bringing in Jerusalems Deputy Mayor Yitzhak Pindrus as a candidate, but he was disqualified by the Supreme Court because he does not live in Elad. In Haifa, each ultra-Orthodox party supports a different candidate for mayor. In Safed, which has a large ultra-Orthodox population, there are several candidates for mayor, including two from the ultra-Orthodox community. One is Hassidic, while the other belongs to the Lithuanian sector. According to the Knesset member who spoke with Al-Monitor, the long list of party splits is evidence that the ultra-Orthodox have more that divides them than unites them, at least when it comes to choosing tactics to fight for the objectives they hold dear. At the same time, Shas is facing another kind of crisis. After the death of its spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef five years ago, Deri took control of the party, leading its former chairman, Eli Yishai, to leave Shas and form a rival party called Yachad. It received almost 3% of the vote in the last election, but that was not enough to pass the electoral threshold. In contrast, Shas won seven seats, but current polls now show that it is also teetering on the electoral threshold. One of the main reasons is that the partys non-ultra-Orthodox supporters have been abandoning it in droves. While they admired Yosef, they do not identify with Deri or his policies. Deri himself opposes Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus initiative to lower the voter threshold. Nevertheless, he is still looking for ways to ensure that he has a seat in the next Knesset. The idea of joining forces with Degel HaTorah was first raised in 2014. It gained momentum over the last year because of the decline of Shas power and the potential split in Yahadut HaTorah. Its not a bad idea as far as Degel HaTorah is concerned. It would also have a hard time passing the voter threshold to get into the Knesset on its own because a schism within that faction, led by the more extreme Jerusalem group, which is expected to merge with Agudat Yisrael. The results of the municipal elections will certainly have an impact on potential splits in the ultra-Orthodox camp and create new partnerships for the upcoming Knesset elections. If the polls are right and the ultra-Orthodox candidate for mayor of Jerusalem loses, the conflict within Yahadut HaTorah can be expected to worsen. Renewed debate in the Knesset over the conscription law and continued opposition by Litzman and the other members of the Hassidic faction will also speed a split in the party. Some on the center-left hope that a united list made up of Degel HaTorah and Shas would be more moderate on the diplomatic front and help form a center-left coalition. The chances of this happening, however, are slim, largely because the ultra-Orthodox oppose any partnership with Yesh Atid, which is expected to be the biggest party in the center. It would be more likely to join a coalition headed by Netanyahu, but then the split in the ultra-Orthodox camp would weaken them and allow Netanyahu greater flexibility in reaching coalition agreements. MOSCOW On Oct. 25, Saudi King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud called Russian President Vladimir Putin. The official readout of the conversation said that Salman confirmed his invitation to Putin to visit Saudi Arabia and that the two agreed to work out the terms of such a visit through diplomatic channels. Putin and Salman also thoroughly discussed issues of the further development of multifaceted bilateral cooperation, including in the energy sector, as well as Syria and the state of affairs in the Middle East in general. The situation around the Jamal Khashoggi case was also addressed, the readout said. Up until now, Russia has kept a low profile on one of the most heinous recent international incidents. The next day, Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Salman informed Putin of the measures the kingdom was adopting to investigate the killing of Khashoggi and bring to justice those responsible for it. Theres an official statement from the king [that the Saudi royal family was not involved in the killing of Khashoggi], theres an official statement from the crown prince. Theres no grounds to question [the statements] in principle, Peskov said. Peskov said a journalist's question about whether the Kremlin believes the Saudi family was involved in the crime was irrelevant, adding that Moscow welcomes Riyadhs intent to hold a thorough investigation. Earlier, on Oct. 18, speaking at the annual conference of the Valdai Discussion Club in Sochi, Putin subtly poked the United States over the incident, saying that since Khashoggi was a resident of the United States and chose that country as his shelter, the United States was partially responsible for what happened to him. Putin, however, steered clear of blaming any party for the incident. First of all, we have to wait and see what really happened there. We cant spoil our relations with Saudi Arabia without due knowledge of what happened. As far as I understand, this man was part of the Saudi elites, had some connections with ruling circles there. Its hard to say what is really happening there. But we also see there are complex developments happening within Americas own ruling elites; hope they wont take it that far in America, Putin joked. If it indeed was murder, then we need to see the respective evidence and take respective decisions based on it, he added. Putin also took advantage of the question on Khashoggi to expose double standards of the West over the Skripal case involving the poisoning of a former Russian spy and his daughter in the British town of Salisbury that was almost immediately attributed to Russian military intelligence. In Russia, many drew comparisons between the two incidents, calling Khashoggis murder the Middle Eastern Skripal case. You know they often take action against Russia on inflated allegations, like use of chemical weapons, and introduce sanctions against us. Theres no evidence against Russia [on these allegations] but they do take steps. Here, they say, a murder took place in Istanbul but no steps are taken. So they need to be clear about approaches to problems like these, Putin said. But let me reiterate, our policy vis-a-vis Saudi Arabia has been shaped for many years. The fact that the man has gone missing is a tragedy, but we first need to learn what really happened there, Putin concluded. Ironically, in 2017 Khashoggi attended the Valdai Conference on the Middle East in Moscow and argued for a stronger relationship between Moscow and Riyadh. The killing of Khashoggi made many Western states and companies either withdraw or reduce their participation in the Saudi-hosted Future Investment Initiative held in Riyadh from Oct. 23-25. Russia, on the contrary, expanded its participation. Thirty businessmen, mostly top managers of leading Russian companies, and cultural luminaries such as the head of the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, trained Orientalist Mikhail Piotrovsky, attended. Also, a small art collection from the State Russian Museum was exhibited in the Russian corner of the venue the first such exposition in the Middle East making the Russian delegation one of the most representative at the forum. The Kommersant newspaper reported that the Russian corner became a dress rehearsal for the Week of Russia cultural event originally scheduled for November but now postponed, most probably until Putins own visit to the kingdom. Kirill Dmitriev, 42, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund and a Harvard Business School alumnus with yearslong experience at Goldman Sachs and McKinsey & Co., led the Russian delegation. He praised the Saudi forum and gave support for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmans Vision 2030 project. Dmitriev, who was named as a young global leader by the Davos Forum in 2009, has long been working on strengthening bilateral relations in the area of finance and investments and was one of the founding fathers of the Russian-Saudi Investment Fund launched last year. Since his return to Russia in 2000, Dmitriev has been busy with similar work with American businesses. The Saudis appreciated the political message signaled by Moscow and even reiterated an earlier intent to discuss the possibility of investing $5 billion in the Arctic lNG-2 project. To date, however, theres little sign that Moscow has been able to convert this approach into geopolitical or economic capital. Riyadhs ongoing interaction with Western companies suggests the kingdom is not swinging away from more preferable business projects to bigger dealings with Moscow only to punish the former: No sooner did the forum begin when Saudi Aramco signed 15 memorandums of understanding on trade cooperation worth $34 billion, including with the French company Total. Still, putting interactions with Moscow in the headlines helps the Saudis remind the Westerners of alternative partners who can fill the void. For Russia, however, the Khashoggi case is not just about the Saudis, with whom they might exploit big opportunities if Western business partners do abandon current or future Saudi projects; the United States got its own share of disguised criticism from Putin. Once Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan began taking an active stance on the issue, there was no shortage of analysis in Russia about the opportunities Ankara seeks to exploit from this incident. While official Moscow has not publicly mentioned a Turkish factor in the situation, analysts point to three major elements at play. One is a deep-seated Saudi-Turkish animosity motivated by historical, ideological and geopolitical reasons as well as by the struggle for influence in the Sunni world; the second is Erdogans concern about the role Prince Mohammed may play in defining the fate of the future Middle East; and the third is Ankaras jealousy about Riyadhs relationship with Washington and how this could eventually strengthen Saudi position in the region and thus may make the other two concerns Turkey has regarding the kingdom come true. Erdogan is thus seen as the one being in control of the media offensive against the Saudis, where Turkey's gradual and continuous media leaks keep the story burning in order to both undermine the crown prince's position in the eyes of President Donald Trump, portraying Mohammed as an unreliable and even dangerous partner, and weaken Saudis broader claim for regional leadership. The idea is that Turkey could emerge as a more solid and influential partner than Saudi Arabia: hosting the leaders of Russia, France and Germany for a four-party summit on Syria in Istanbul on Oct. 27 is yet another means to emphasize this message to Washington. A Russian proverb says the quarrel of lovers is the renewal of love. Even if Moscow sees the Khashoggi case as a mixture of possible opportunities that may or may not be taken advantage of, the bottom line is the incident turned out to be a heavily politicized issue that regional heavyweights will be using for leverage with the United States and each other. Political relationships in the region can be easily broken and then mended in most unexpected ways and the other way around. Hence the dominant logic is if your interest vis-a-vis the region is strong and long-term, such as that of Russia, you would be wise to stay clear of incidents where you gain more with all parties by not interfering. Turkeys attack on Kurdish militants east of the Euphrates River in northern Syria for the first time escalates its fight against the US-allied group and raises the risk of a confrontation with American forces fighting alongside the rebels. The shelling of Peoples Protection Units (YPG) positions on the Euphrates eastern shore on Sunday came just two days after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave his final warning to Syrian Kurdish fighters to retreat and accused the United States of dragging its feet in an agreement to remove the group from Turkeys border. The attack also followed a summit on Syria in Istanbul, hosted by Erdogan and attended by the leaders of Germany, France and Russia on Saturday. They called for a new Syrian constitution to be drafted before the end of this year, paving the way for free and fair elections, according to a joint statement. Turkeys active role on Syria appears to be part of Erdogans wider strategy to reassert Turkish influence in the region. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the Turkish presidents high-stakes standoff with Saudi Arabias crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, over the case of murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist who was killed at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul Oct. 2. Since then, Erdogans government has orchestrated a steady stream of leaks to the media with grisly details of the murder, piling pressure on Salman, who has denied involvement despite the alleged role of senior Saudi intelligence officials in the slaying. The reports of Khashoggis gruesome murder have depicted the Saudi government as ruthless in its crackdown on dissidents and tested the kingdoms relations with the West. Ties between Ankara and Riyadh were strained before Khashoggis death over divergent views on Syria, Iran and Israel, and some observers describe Turkeys pressure campaign on the Saudis as a battle between Erdogans nominally democratic version of political Islam and the absolute theocracy of Saudi Arabia, one of the worlds biggest oil producers and the dominant force in the region. For his part, Erdogan has worked closely with Russia, despite supporting opposite sides of the Syrian conflict, as Turkeys relationship with the United States has soured in recent years over delays in arm sales, the jailing of an American pastor in Turkey, the US collaboration with the YPG and Erdogans perceived tilt away from the trans-Atlantic alliance. Last month, Erdogan brokered a cease-fire in the Syrian town of Idlib, controlled by the rebels Turkey backs, with Vladimir Putin, Syrian President Bashar al-Assads greatest defender, forestalling an imminent bombardment of the province where more than 3 million civilians live. At the Istanbul summit, French President Emmanuel Macron told reporters: Russia and Turkey have negotiated an agreement that must be strictly implemented. Assurances were made on this point. Macron said, We are counting on Russia to exert a very clear pressure on the [Syrian] regime, which very clearly owes it its survival. In June, NATO allies Turkey and the United States agreed to the withdrawal of YPG forces from the Syrian town of Manbij, which the Kurdish fighters helped clear of Islamic State (IS) militants in 2016. But Erdogan has repeatedly accused Washington of delays in the deal. Turkey views the YPG as a terrorist organization because of its close links with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), an armed group that has waged a three-decade campaign of violence for greater autonomy for Turkeys 16 million Kurds. Its presence on Turkeys long border with Syria poses a national security threat, Erdogan says, and in January, the Turkish army and the fighters it backs took the Syrian province of Afrin from the YPG after taking another swath of Syrian territory to stymie Kurdish advances in 2016. Turkey now controls some 4,000 square kilometers of Syria. Turkey fired howitzers against YPG targets east of Kobani in what appeared to be a limited offensive. Kurdish militants said one of their fighters was killed in Sundays assault and accused Turkey of indirectly helping IS. It vowed no attack against the northern Syrian territory will be left unanswered, according to a statement on a YPG website. The Turkish government uses its military to great diplomatic effect with the United States, Aaron Stein, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, told Al-Monitor. What Ankara is trying to do is to signal its continued displeasure with the status quo in Syria and to force the United States to make concessions. This was the model that led to the Manbij road map. Ankara would like to see this model replicated east of the river, so that it essentially will get a ribbon of controlled territory along the border to push the YPG deeper into Syria and off the border. But if Turkish forces delve further east into Syria, they could face off with American troops. The United States has armed and trained the YPG in its fight against IS in Syria since 2014 and keeps some 2,000 of its special forces in areas controlled by the Kurds. Stein said the delays in the agreement on Manbij have been due to negotiations on how to implement it, including the rules of engagement for patrols of the town and the locations of the patrols. Ankara wants to get into the city. The US wants the patrols limited to around the forward line of contact and in designated areas. There is a lot that needs to be settled, even though I expect the patrol will begin in November, Stein said, adding he believes the two sides have agreed that the US military will be in command. Meanwhile, the investigation into Khashoggis death continues in Istanbul, with Turkey continuing to demand greater cooperation from Saudi authorities. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu warned on Monday that Saudi Arabia must not stall the investigation. A top Saudi prosecutor met with Turkish counterparts for the first time in Istanbul on Monday. Over the weekend, Saudi authorities rejected Erdogans demand that Riyadh extradite to Turkey the 18 citizens it arrested for their alleged involvement in his killing. For most of his critics, including some foreign statesmen and politicians of the Western world, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is essentially a troublemaker. Yet he tries to portray a completely opposite image. During his speech at the UN General Assembly last month, he said Turkey was playing a key international role in helping to resolve several international conflicts. Although Turkey is no military or economic superpower, it has emerged as a global leader by becoming part of the solution in Iraq, Syria and elsewhere, he said. Indeed at least in appearance his argument holds much more water than it is portrayed as holding by his critics in the international arena. On the way back home from New York where he had a short audience with his American counterpart Donald Trump Erdogan paid a visit to Berlin, where he was accorded a red-carpet welcome with full protocol, and a state banquet. Germany became the third major Western country he paid an official visit to this year. Also, he was the first foreign head of state greeted by French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace. That was in the first week of January. Five months later, he was received in the United Kingdom at Buckingham Palace. In Germany, he was greeted by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at Schloss Belvedere in Berlin, the capital of the most influential European country he was at odds with only a year ago. The Kremlin also has been a regular visiting spot for Erdogan, where he has been welcomed by his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Today, one can say Erdogan is anything but an isolated international player. Sources who did not want to be identified say both Macron and Steinmeier had extremely negative opinions about the Turkish president. However, this did not change the fact that, for a variety of reasons, they needed to engage with Erdogan. Not only did they feel obliged to issue invitations to Erdogan who had insisted that he be received with a red-carpet welcome they also consented to follow his lead in initiatives pertinent to Syria conflict. He also insisted on hosting a quadrilateral Syria meeting in Turkey, with the participation of Russian, French and German leaders in Istanbul on Oct. 27. Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel complied. What a photo-op and PR for Erdogan! Macron and Merkel in Istanbul with Putin and the host, Erdogan. The Istanbul event has served as a verification of his statement that while Turkey is no military or economic superpower, it has emerged as a global leader by becoming part of the solution in Iraq, Syria and elsewhere. At a minimum, he can use it for domestic consumption as local elections scheduled for March 31 approach. Yet those heavily involved with Syria but absent in Istanbul (or uninvited) are also noteworthy: the United States and Iran. While the United States is the most crucial partner in Geneva talks and Iran is a part of the Astana process, a highest-level meeting involving Syria took place in Istanbul in their absence. The EU was not invited, either. The UK, with which Erdogan has a good transactional relationship, also was not asked to participate. Prime Minister Theresa May is too busy with the bruises inflicted by Brexit, which has helped make Britain an increasingly irrelevant player in the matters of the Middle East. Apparently Erdogan thinks that with French and German leaders on board, the EU will be sufficiently represented at the meeting. But can the Istanbul meeting be a third mechanism for Syria as an alternative to the Astana or Geneva processes? Probably not, because it does not represent anything other than Erdogans foreign policy gamble for regional leadership. In that sense, dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggis murder has also become some sort of a God-given gift to Erdogan. Erdogan is playing his cards effectively, from the very first day. He fed the foreign press and officials with specific evidence on the Khashoggi murder case, without employing any hostile language or act against Saudi Arabia. He kept the heat up on the Saudis until they had to admit that the journalist had been killed. Although they first claimed that the death occurred in a brawl, they later conceded that it was premeditated murder a point Erdogan was persistent on from the very beginning. The Erdogan administration also forced Trump to change his language vis-a-vis Saudi Arabia. Erdogan, skillfully playing his cards on the affair, has portrayed himself as the indispensable player of the Middle East, the president of a regional power, who rises higher than both Iran and Saudi Arabia. The concern of many is whether Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said to be the main culprit behind Khashoggis murder can survive against Erdogans chess moves. For Erdogan, however, whether Mohammed survives in his post is of secondary importance. In the international and regional arena, the prince already is tarnished irretrievably enough; the Turkish presidents main concern is his own survival in the face of a looming calamitous economic crisis in Turkey. Thus, both Erdogans way of handling the Khashoggi affair and the quadrilateral Istanbul meeting are part of his foreign policy gamble in the eye of Muslim or at least Turkish public opinion; so far, it appears it has made his chances of continuing to emerge as a winner higher. Vice President Mike Pence will be in Birmingham on Tuesday for a National Republican Senatorial Committee event, the White House announced. Pence is scheduled to arrive at Sumpter Air National Guard Base at the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport at 2:55 p.m. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey will meet the vice president when Air Force Two arrives in Birmingham. Ivey will not attend the event, which will be closed to the press. Pence had been expected to attend an NRSC fundraiser in Birmingham earlier this month, but that was cancelled. The NRSC is the campaign organization for the Senate Republicans and helps candidates with fundraising, advertising and other activities to try to protect the GOP majority in the Senate. Republicans hold only a 51-49 majority heading into the Nov. 6 mid-term elections. The odds appear to favor the Republicans holding that majority. Of the 35 seats on the ballot next week, Democrats must defend 26. Ten of the Democrats running for re-election are from states that President Trump carried in 2016, according to The Wall Street Journal. The year is 1972. The American homefront is roiling as an oppressed people struggle under the boot of systemic oppression. The war in Vietnam is equally as just. John Stewart is starting his career as the newest intergalactic guardian of a troubled planet. And Huckleberry Hound is on his way out of showbusiness. "Green Lantern/Huckleberry Hound" #1, cover On Wednesday, writer Mark Russell is once again returning to the world of classic Hanna-Barbera characters -- this time with "Green Lantern/Huckleberry Hound," a crossover that sees two characters at different points in their respective careers at a pivotal (and resonant) moment in American history. I talked with Russell about the book -- and about some of his upcoming projects for DC, including next month's "DC Nuclear Winter Special" and his 2019 series for Vertigo. How did the Green Lantern/Huckleberry Hound book come together? Mark Russell: Jim Chadwick, the editor, thought of me, because he thought it would be something up my alley to do sort of really unorthodox and unintuitive crossover like that because of other work I've done -- "Booster Gold," "The Flintstones" and obviously "Snagglepuss." He asked me if it was something I would be interested in writing and he told me he envisioned it being set in the early 70s, so it gave me a lot of ideas of what I could do with it -- the backdrop of Watergate and the Vietnam War -- so I immediately said yes. Who are these characters to you -- both John Stewart and Huckleberry Hound? Russell: I've written about Huckleberry Hound previously in my "Snagglepuss" comic as a character that gets into cartoons and there is basically a show business after because of the patronage of Snagglepuss, but John Stewart was pretty new to me. I really liked the idea of somebody learning to become a super hero, basically learning how to use their power. I also really like the idea setting it after the Huckleberry Hound cartoons sort of come to an end as his career as a cultural force sort of petered out. It's really, in a lot of ways, a story about two guys meeting at the opposite ends of their career. John Stewart, when he is just starting out and just learning what it is to be super hero, and Huckleberry Hound at the downward slope of his comedy career and how he has had a chance to go around the block a couple times and know how the world works. I thought it would be really an interesting chance for them to have a conversation about John Stewart and his newness meeting the experience and waft of Huckleberry Hound. "Green Lantern/Huckleberry Hound" #1, interior This is not your first time with the Hanna-Barbera stable of characters. How have you been able to find so much depth in these characters? Russell: I think the key to any good writing is to really to take your character seriously to think of them not as two-dimensional icons or punchlines but to really flush them out as people and think about what it would be like to live in their situation. That's really where the story always begins. What would it be like to be Huckleberry Hound in 1971 after his cartoon had gone off the air? How would he be making his living? What's sorts of things would he be doing? What sort of lessons would he have learned from failed career in show business? "Green Lantern/Huckleberry Hound" #1, interior Do you think you're done with them? Russell: I think so, largely because DC is done with them for the moment. I would love to come back and do some more Hanna-Barbara work in the future, like you say it's been such a great grist for the mill to try and find new life in these old characters and to take characters that have been discarded by our popular imaginations seriously once again. If you could pick another, what would you go with? Russell: I would probably go with the Jetsons just because they're sort of the counter point to the Flintstones. An examination of the future and also for an examination of the same sort of cultural and civilizational fundamental flaws that never got fixed from the beginning of civilization at Bedrock to the end of civilization at the Jetsons' world. "Green Lantern/Huckleberry Hound" #1, interior What interested you in writing in the Vietnam War era? What was fascinating about writing something set in 1972? Russell: I feel like there is a similar sensibility about politics today as there was then, and the cynicism of how we've been lied to on a grand scale and everyone knew that the Vietnam War was lost, but we were still committed to fighting it because nobody could find a good way out of it. Watergate was happening and the president was denying any involvement in the scandal that was really only done to benefit him. It really is a message about the political cynicism and the sense of helplessness that people had over their own political fates at that time. It really an examination of power and its abuse, which is I think what most super hero comic books were about in the beginning. "Green Lantern/Huckleberry Hound" #1, interior There's a line in the book that really interested me and speaks to larger issues in your work. You have John's mentor talking about the difference between "justice" and "peace and quiet." What's that distinction mean to you? Russell: It's really about how power works and how power fails, and as he says in the book, the only power that really lasts is not the power you have over people, but it's the power you have with people. I think that is what makes civil disobedience work -- when it does work -- is the fact that you are not just doing it alone, but you are expressing the frustration of millions of others and that's when you start a movement that culminates, ultimately, into change. That's really the hope I wanted offer him my rumination about power in this comic book. If you have enough people as powerless as you are, all wanting the same thing, then that in itself becomes overwhelming source of power and change becomes inevitable. It's really a message of not giving up hope in the face of hopelessness -- it's really about finding hope in the other people who are feeling hopeless around you. The last time we talked was in January 2017. What has it been like trying to write satire the last 22 months? Russell: It's been an interesting time, largely because I think the biggest challenge in the last 22 months and the Trump era in general is trying to write satire without giving into cynicism or without feeling like there is no point. I think a lot of it is, when in doubt just write about the world, and you feel about it, and how it's killing you, and as long as it's sincere and your points are thought out, and you're encasing it in a good story, then I think it's relevant regardless of whether or not you feel like reality is out flanking your ability to satirize it or you feel like you're being too negative. "Green Lantern/Huckleberry Hound" #1, interior What do you want people to take away from this? Russell: I think a sense of hope that they can affect change not only in their own lives but in the world around them. "Green Lantern/Huckleberry Hound" #1, interior What can you say about the "DC Nuclear Winter Special"? Russell: It's all these stories all set in some sort of post-apocalyptic world, but they're also holiday season stories. The irony of that really appealed to me and my story in particular is the interstitial story that connects all of them. I'm writing a story about a Rip Hunter, who is a time traveler, and he is stuck in this post-apocalyptic future, and he's waiting for his time machine to power up -- he's recharging it in the ruins of the Google campus at their electric vehicle recharging station. While he is charging his time machine to be able to leave, he is accosted by these barbarians, these futuristic cannibals, and he has to tell them stories about these DC characters in order to convince them not to eat him. It does sort of end up being a Christmas holiday story as bleak as that sounds. I tried to make it funny, so hopefully I succeeded there. It is one of the more fun things I've written in a while. And what about your Vertigo book coming out next year? Russell: It's slated to come out March 2019, and it's called "Second Coming." It's about a Superman-esque superhero (not to be confused with Superman himself) who shares a two-bedroom apartment with Jesus Christ. Much like the "Huckleberry Hound/Green Lantern" crossover, it's a meditation on power and sort of the limitations of physical power and how it really is only useful against 1 percent of the problems we face -- the rest have to be solved with empathy and cooperation. I'm really looking forward it. It's also an examination on the Christian religion and where it went wrong after Christ and about where we join Christ in teaching and maybe has hope for fulfilling his promise in doing so. I'm really excited about it, and I think it's going to be really funny and thought provoking. At least that's my hope. I know you're also working on "The Lone Ranger" book at Dynamite. You sound like you are pretty busy. Russell: Yeah, I'm incredibly busy right now -- which is a good problem to have. "Green Lantern/Huckleberry Hound" #1, interior "Green Lantern/Huckleberry Hound," from writer Mark Russell, penciler Rick Leonardi, inkers Dan Green and Ande Parks, colorist Steve Buccellato, letterer Wes Abbott and DC, goes on sale Wednesday. Sincerity doesnt need a script. Don Cheadle, the famed and respected actor, took a day off from shooting a film in Los Angeles and arrived at Fred R. Shuttlesworth airport around 7 a.m. on Saturday. He was in Birmingham to serve as Grand Marshal for 2018 Magic City Classic and to shed light on Woke Vote, the black millennial voter registration and turnout initiative that helped get Doug Jones elected to the U.S. Senate last December and remains a force in Alabama and other states with vitaland, in some cases, historicupcoming elections. Cheadle had never been to our historic city yet was well-schooled in Birminghams vital legacy. It was a flash point, no pun intended, for the movement, he said, donning a Woke Vote sweatshirt to stave off the days slight chill. Dr. [Martin Luther] King, [Rev. Ralph] Abernathy, Shuttlesworth, everyone who put their lives on the line, not just for African-Americans but for the entire country. Everyone gained from the civil-rights movement, not just African Americans but also women, all people of color, and the LBGTQ community. This is one of the places, he said, we learned how to fight. The Academy Award- and Emmy-nominated thespian called out two local races of importance, in particular, to African Americansthe Jefferson County sheriff battle between Republican incumbent Mike Hale and Democrat Mark Pettway, and the Jefferson County District Attorney race featuring Democrat Danny Carr and Republican Mike Anderton. Those [offices] obviously affect the black community, he said, disproportionately in some ways. Its important to show up [and vote]. Dont disenfranchise yourself. It was a whirlwind day for Cheadle. He was barely wheels-down before leading the annual parade through downtown. He later spent several hours at Legion Field (casually chatting up and graciously posing with virtually anyone who get close enough, including Birmingham Irons Trent Richardson), then closed out the evening (on fumes, no doubt) at a reception with Woke Vote leaders and supporters at East West restaurant downtown. Before reaching Legion Field, Cheadle paused for a tour of the 16th Street Baptist Church where, of course, four young girls were famously killed by a bomb planted by the Ku Klux Klan in 1963. The visit was all the more fitting after the three hateful and horrific acts that still leave is stunned: the attempted bombings of critics of Donald Trump, the murders of two innocent African Americans by a white supremacist in a Kroger grocery store in Louisville, KY (after he failed to get into a black church); and the killing of 11 worshipers (and injuring six more) at the Tree of Life Synagogue just that morning in Pittsburgh, PA. Cheadle called seeing 16th Street very humbling. Its hallowed ground, he said. I recognize that. It reminds me of the importance of pushing back, the importance of coming together as a community and really participating in this [voting] process. It was early one morning last December when Cheadle stunned Woke Vote founder Dejuana Thompson, a Birmingham native, with a telephone call saying hed seen her talking about the initiative on a national cable news show and pledging to help. Thompson was still in bed and initially thought she was getting punked by a friend. The realization that the voice on the other end of the line was actually Cheadle caused her to sit straight up, she says with a laugh. He participated via Facebook Live in a pre-U.S. Senate election rally Woke Vote hosted at Work Play and agreed to be the Classics Grand Marshall for free. On Saturday, vowed to be a feeder for other members of the Hollywood community to be supportive. I try to get people in the spotlight who need it and may be having trouble finding the bandwidth to communicate those needs, he said. I feel like its a responsibility for me. That sense of obligation was nurtured by Cheadles very vocal parents during a nomadic childhood that began in Kansas City, MO and found its way to Denver, CO where he graduated high school. They always impressed upon me the necessity of making my voice heard and speaking up if you think somethings wrong, he shared. Not standing by if you see theres an injustice not just for yourself but for everyone. Cheadle was inspired to reach out to Woke Vote by the events and brewing racial tensions that swelled after Trump took office. We have issues that need to be addressed, and you get them addressed by showing up [to the polls] in numbers that are too big to manipulate, he said. If the margins are close people will be able to fudge it, but if theres blood in the streets and all over the ballot they wont be able to. The seeds of hate and divisiveness we see today were planted long ago, Cheadle acknowledged. Its not like [hate is] new, he said. In some ways, it was lying dormant. Now, its back in full force. Its important to push back against it. Birmingham understands it better than anyplace in the country. We need thoughtful youth leaders and organizations like Woke Vote to come together and push back. [Hate] is trying to push us over. We cant be silent. We cant sit on our hands. Its all-hands-on-deck. Thats why I flew out here. Woke Vote raised more than $2 million prior to last years U.S. Senate election. the initiative raised an additional $1.8 million. Thats enabled Woke Votes influence to grow well beyond Alabama. Thompson and her team created a strategy and infrastructure that registered black millennials and is educating and empowering communities to maximize election-day turnout in North Carolina, Louisiana, Georgia, and Florida. (Unless youve been under a rock, you know voters in the latter two states could each elect their first-ever African-American governor.) Young people, Cheadle said, must fight complacency or the feeling as if their vote does not matter. They have more importance than they believe, they have more influence than they believe, he said. What he witnessed during his first visit in Birmingham inspired Cheadle to believe woke is afoot. When you see this energy, the passion, the devotionespecially from the young people, he said. If you can bottle that up you can move mountains. And, of course, elections. Roy S. Johnsons column appears in The Birmingham News, the Huntsville Times, the Mobile Register and AL.com. Hit me up at rjohnson@al.com or/and follow me at twitter.com/roysj or on Instagram at instagram.com/roysj/ A Marshall County woman is indicted on two federal charges of producing child pornography, authorities said. Anna Marie Gomez, 31, is charged with two counts of persuading a minor child to engage in sexually explicit conduct to produce an image of that conduct and transmit it across state lines, federal prosecutors and investigators announced today. The indictment was filed today in U.S. District Court in the northern district of Alabama. Anna Marie Gomez is accused of producing child pornography, federal prosecutors said. (File photo) These crimes are detestable and our investigators and prosecutors will remain ever vigilant in protecting victims, said U.S. Attorney Jay Town in a news release. Those who violate these laws can expect to find themselves facing a federal charge in federal court and, if convicted, a federal prison bed. Gomez took sexually explicit pictures of a 5-year old girl and sent them to a person in Florida, the indictment alleges. If convicted, Gomez faces up to 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each charge. Immigration and Custom Enforcements Homeland Security Investigations probed the cases, which the Assistant United States Attorney Robert Becher, Sr. is prosecuting. Gomez initially was arrested on state charges in Marshall County last year. Then, the sheriffs office said it was investigating electronic devices seized from the womans home. Shelby County Coroner Lina Evans has released the identities of the three people who were killed Saturday afternoon in a fiery traffic accident on northbound I-65 near Alabaster. The victims were 71-year-old Kentucky resident Janice Manning and Georgia residents Jacqueline Walters, 35, and Debbie Decker, 58. All died from thermal burns, Evans told AL.com Sunday night via email. Two of the victims were transported to UAB Hospital and the third was transported to Shelby Baptist Medical Center following the crash, which involved four vehicles, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Two other people were injured in the wreck, which snarled traffic for hours as traffic was diverted at I-65 Exit 239 in Alabaster Saturday afternoon, but their names were not released. Note: Updated on Oct. 30, 2018 to show the car lot is under new ownership. A man has been indicted on 15 federal charges, including multiple counts of rolling back odometers on vehicles sold at his south Huntsville used car lot, authorities said. Randy Eugene Greene is charged with 12 counts of tampering with vehicle odometers and three counts of bank fraud, the Department of Justice announced today. Greene is indicted in U.S. District Court in the northern district of Alabama. Greene is accused of rolling back odometers on vehicles sold at RJs Auto Sales between October 2014-November 2016, according to the DOJ. One odometer was rolled back more than 218,000 miles, federal prosecutors said. On average the 12 vehicle odometers were rolled back more than 122,000 miles, according to the DOJ. Anyone who violates federal laws and commits fraud will be vigorously investigated and prosecuted, said U.S. Attorney Jay Town in a news release. Congress passed these kinds of laws to protect consumers, financial institutions, and the economy as a whole, and people who engage in this kind of shameful activity should know that there will be serious consequences when they are caught. The bank fraud charges stem from loans Greene got from Redstone Federal Credit Union, Town said. The credit union financed three of the vehicles on which the odometers had been changed, authorities said. Town said Greene has to forfeit at least $28,000 related to the fraud. It is very important that consumers and financial institutions know that the vehicle being purchased from any auto dealership represents the true odometer reading, said U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Michael Williams. If you have purchased a vehicle from RJs Auto Sales of Huntsville within the last five years and believe you are a victim of odometer rollback fraud, please contact the U.S. Secret Service at 256-922-5408. If convicted, Greene faces up to three years imprisonment for each odometer tampering charge and up to 30 years in prison on the bank fraud charges. He faces up to $1 million in fines on the bank fraud charges. The Secret Service is investigating the case, which Assistant United States Attorney Russell E. Penfield is prosecuting. Formerly RJ's Auto Sales, the south Huntsville car lot is now under new ownership. Co-owner Jason Sanderson says he and his brother have no affiliation with the former owner. The car lot on Memorial Parkway in south Huntsville is now under new ownership, said Jason Sanderson, who co-owns the business with his brother Jeremy. We have no affiliation with the former owner, Jason Sanderson said. Updated on Oct. 30, 2018 to show the car lot is under new ownership. A 29-year-old Jemison woman was killed Sunday morning in a two-vehicle collision just north of Prattville. Marlena Nicole Hayes died after the 2007 Honda Civic she was driving crashed into a 2011 Ford F-150 on U.S. 31 near the 193 mile marker at 6:15 a.m. Sunday, according to the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency. Hayes was not wearing a seatbelt and was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. The F-150s driver sustained injuries in the collision and was transported from the scene to Baptist Medical Center South in Montgomery, ALEA said. No further information about the crash is available while Alabama State Troopers investigate the crash. A 48-year-old man was killed Saturday night in a single-vehicle crash about five miles north of Athens in Limestone County. Ronald Lee Haggard, of Elkmont, died after the 1999 Ford F-150 he was driving went off the road on Alabama 99, struck a culvert and overturned, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Haggard was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash, and authorities pronounced him dead on the scene. No other information was available Sunday afternoon, as Alabama State Troopers were investigating the crash. A Methodist pastor from Massachusetts was escorted out of the room today after interrupting Attorney General Jeff Sessions to question the Trump administrations immigration policies. Sessions was speaking at the Boston Lawyers chapter of the Federalist Society when a man, later identified as United Methodist Pastor Will Green of Ballard Vale United Church in Andover, Mass., interrupted with quoted lines from the Bible. I was hungry and you did not feed me. I was a stranger and you did not welcome me. I was naked and you did not clothe me, Green said. Brother Jeff, as a fellow United Methodist I call upon you to repent, to care for those in need, to remember that when you do not care for others, you are wounding the body of Christ. The pastor was then escorted from the room. Another pastor, identified as Darrell Hamilton of First Baptist Church of Boston, also addressed Sessions and was escorted out. Sessions responded to the comments with thank you for those remarks and attack, adding I would just tell you we do our best every day to fulfill my responsibility to enforce the laws of the United States. "I don't believe there's anything in my theology that says a secular nation-state cannot have lawful laws to control immigration in this country. Thats what were talking about," Sessions said. "Its not immoral, not indecent and not unkind to state what your laws are and then set about to enforce them, in my view. I feel like thats my responsibility and thats what I intend to do. Sessions and President Trump have come under fire for their immigration policies, criticism that grew this summer when the separation of immigrant families dominated the headlines. They were professors and accountants, dentists and beloved doctors serving their local community. A day after the shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue that left 11 dead, officials released the names of the victims. The oldest of them was 97. The youngest was 54. They included a pair of brothers and a husband and wife. Said Stephen Cohen, co-president of New Light Congregation: "The loss is incalculable." CECIL AND DAVID ROSENTHAL: 'SWEET, GENTLE, CARING MEN' This undated photo provided by Barry Werber shows Cecil Rosenthal, left. Rosenthal was killed when a gunman opened fire at a Pittsburgh synagogue on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. (Courtesy of Barry Werber via AP)AP Cecil and David Rosenthal went through life together with help from a disability-services organization. And an important part of the brothers' lives was the Tree of Life Synagogue, where they never missed a Saturday service, people who knew them say. "If they were here, they would tell you that is where they were supposed to be," Chris Schopf, a vice president of the organization ACHIEVA, said in a statement. Achieva provides help with daily living, employment and other needs, and the organization had worked for years with Cecil, 59, and David, 54, who were among the 11 killed in Saturday's deadly shooting. They lived semi-independently. Cecil was a person who was up for all sorts of activities: a concert, lunch at Eat 'n Park a regional restaurant chain known for its smiley-face cookies even a trip to the Duquesne University dining hall, recalls David DeFelice, a Duquesne senior who was paired with him in a buddies program three years ago. The two became friends, DeFelice said. "He was a very gregarious person loved being social, loved people. ... You could put him any situation, and he'd make it work," chatting about the weather or asking students about their parents and talking about his own, said DeFelice. And when DeFelice recognized Hebrew letters on Cecil's calendar, the elder man was delighted to learn that his buddy was also Jewish and soon invited him to Tree of Life. DeFelice joined him on a couple of occasions and could see that Cecil cherished his faith and the sense of community he found at temple. "He was such a strong practitioner of his faith," DeFelice said. This undated photo provided by David DeFelice shows DeFelice, left, and his friend Cecil Rosenthal. Rosenthal was killed when a gunman opened fire at a Pittsburgh synagogue on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. (Courtesy of David DeFelice via AP)AP Emeritus Rabbi Alvin Berkun saw that, too, in Cecil, who according to his obituary was known as the honorary mayor of Squirrel Hill, and David, who worked at Goodwill Industries. "They really found a home at the synagogue, and people reciprocated," he said. Cecil carried a photo in his wallet of David, whom Schopf remembers as a man with "such a gentle spirit." "Together, they looked out for each other," she said. "Most of all, they were kind, good people with a strong faith and respect for everyone around." The two left an impression on state Rep. Dan Frankel, who sometimes attends services at Tree of Life and whose chief of staff is the Rosenthals' sister. "They were very sweet, gentle, caring men," Frankel said. "... I know that this community will really mourn their loss because they were such special people." BERNICE AND SYLVAN SIMON: HELPING OTHERS AS A TEAM Bernice and Sylvan Simon were always ready to help other people, longtime friend and neighbor Jo Stepaniak says, and "they always did it with a smile and always did it with graciousness." "Anything that they could do, and they did it as a team," she said. The Simons, who were among those massacred Saturday, were fixtures in in the townhome community on the outskirts of Pittsburgh where they had lived for decades. She'd served on the board, and he was a familiar face from his walks around the neighborhood, with the couple's dog in years past. Sylvan, 86, was a retired accountant with a good sense of humor the kind of person his former rabbi felt comfortable joking with after Sylvan broke his arm a couple of weeks ago. (The rabbi emeritus, Alvin Berkun, quipped that Sylvan had to get better so he could once again lift the Torah, the Jewish holy scripture.) Bernice, 84, a former nurse, loved classical music and devoted time to charitable work, according to Stepaniak and neighbor Inez Miller. And both Simons cared deeply about Tree of Life Synagogue. "(They) were very devoted, an active, steady presence," Berkun said. The Simons had married there in a candlelight ceremony nearly 62 years earlier, according to the Tribune-Review. Tragedy has struck their family before: One of the couple's sons died in a 2010 motorcycle accident in California. And now the Simons' deaths are reverberating through their family and community. "Bernice and Sylvan were very good, good-hearted, upstanding, honest, gracious, generous people. They were very dignified and compassionate," Stepaniak said, her voice breaking. "Best neighbors that you could ask for." This undated photo provided by Barry Werber shows Melvin Wax. Wax was killed when a gunman opened fire at a Pittsburgh synagogue on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. (Courtesy of Barry Werber via AP)AP MELVIN WAX: A SWEET, SWEET GUY Melvin Wax was always the first to arrive at New Light Congregation in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighborhood and 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 a few minutes after Sabbath services began. Fellow members of the congregation, which rented space in the lower level of the Tree of Life Synagogue, said Wax was a kind man and a pillar of the congregation, filling just about every role except cantor. "He was a gem. He was a gentleman," recalled fellow congregant Barry Werber on Sunday. "There was always a smile on his face." 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 and a pillar of the congregation. "If somebody didn't 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," said Snider, a retired pharmacist and chairman of the congregation's cemetery committee. "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 won't 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 had just been released from a six-week hospital stay for pneumonia and was not at Saturday's 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' Dr. Jerry Rabinowitz and his partner in his medical practice were seemingly destined to spend their professional lives together. He and Dr. Kenneth Ciesielka had been friends for more than 30 years, since they lived on the same floor at the University of Pennsylvania. Ciesielka was a few years behind Rabinowitz, but whether by fate or design, the two always ended up together. They went to the same college, the same medical school and even had the same residency at UPMC a few years apart. "He is one of the finest people I've ever met. We've been in practice together for 30 years and friends longer than that," Ciesielka said. "His patients are going to miss him terribly. His family is going to miss him terribly and I am going to miss him. He was just one of the kindest, finest people." Former Allegheny County Deputy District Attorney Law Claus remembered Rabinowitz, a 66-year-old personal physician and victim in Saturday's 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. "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. He had a truly uplifting demeanor, and as a practicing physician he was among the very best." Rabinowitz, a family practitioner at UPMC Shadyside, was remembered by UPMC as one of its "kindest physicians." The hospital said in a statement that "the UPMC family, in particular UPMC Shadyside, cannot even begin to express the sadness and grief we feel over the loss." "Those of us who worked with him respected and admired his devotion to his work and faith. His loss is devastating," Tami Minnier, UPMC chief quality officer, wrote in a statement on Twitter. Olivia Tucker's grandmother was treated for cancer by Dr. Jerry Rabinowitz. Tucker, who is transgender, also visited Rabinowitz for a checkup. "He's the only doctor who ever has made a misstep about my trans-ness, and followed it up with really insightful questions with the purpose of learning and growth," Tucker said. "I felt blessed to have had him." JOYCE FIENBERG: 'MAGNIFICENT, GENEROUS, CARING' Joyce Fienberg and her late husband, Stephen, were intellectual powerhouses, but those who knew them say they were the kind of people who used that intellect to help others. Joyce Fienberg, 75, who was among the victims in Saturday's shooting, spent most of her career at the University of Pittsburgh's Learning Research and Development Center, retiring in 2008 from her job as a researcher looking at learning in the classroom and in museums. She worked on several projects including studying the practices of highly effective teachers. Dr. Gaea Leinhardt, who was Fienberg's research partner for decades, said she is devastated by the death of her colleague and friend. "Joyce was a magnificent, generous, caring, and profoundly thoughtful human being," she said. The research center's current director, Charles Perfetti, said Fienberg earned her bachelor's degree in social psychology from the University of Toronto, in her native Canada. She brought a keen mind, engaging personality and "a certain elegance and dignity" to the center, Perfetti said. "One could have elevated conversations with her that were very interesting," even if they were brief, he said. "I was always impressed with her." Stephen, who died in 2016 after a battle with cancer, was a renowned professor of statistics and social science at Carnegie Mellon University. His work was used in shaping national policies in forensic science, education and criminal justice. The couple married in 1965 and had moved to Pittsburgh in the early 1980s. Joyce began her work at the center in 1983. The couple had two sons and several grandchildren. This undated photo provided by Barry Werber shows Danny Stein. Stein was killed when a gunman opened fire at a Pittsburgh synagogue on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. (Courtesy of Barry Werber via AP)AP DANIEL STEIN: PASSIONATE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY AND ISRAEL Daniel Stein was a visible member of Pittsburgh's Jewish community, where he was a leader in the New Light Congregation and his wife, Sharyn, is the membership vice president of the area's Hadassah chapter. "Their Judaism is very important to them, and to him," said chapter co-president Nancy Shuman. "Both of them were very passionate about the community and Israel." Stein, 71, was president of the Men's Club at Tree of Life. He also was among a corps of the New Light members who, along with Wax and Richard Gottfried, 65, made up "the religious heart" of the congregation, said Cohen, the congregation co-president. Stein's nephew Steven Halle told the Tribune-Review that his uncle "was always willing to help anybody." With his generous spirit and dry sense of humor, "he was somebody that everybody liked," Halle said. ROSE MALLINGER: SHOOTER'S OLDEST VICTIM Former Tree of Life Rabbi Chuck Diamond said he worried about Rose Mallinger as soon as he heard about the deadly shooting at the synagogue. The 97-year-old had almost unfailingly attended services for decades, he told The Washington Post, and was among the first to walk in. "I feel a part of me died in that building," Diamond said. The oldest of those killed in Saturday's shooting at Tree of Life, Brian Schreiber told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that he regularly saw her at services. "Rose was really a fixture of the congregation," Schreiber, president and CEO of the Jewish Community Center of Pittsburgh, told the Post-Gazette. Her daughter, Andrea Wedner, 61, was among the wounded, a family member said. She remains hospitalized. This undated photo provided by Barry Werber shows Richard Gottfried, center. Gottfried was killed when a gunman opened fire at a Pittsburgh synagogue on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. (Courtesy of Barry Werber via AP)AP RICHARD GOTTFRIED: READYING FOR RETIREMENT Richard Gottfried was preparing for a new chapter in his life. Gottfried ran a dental office with his wife and practice partner Margaret "Peg" Durachko Gottfried. He and his wife met at the University of Pittsburgh as dental students, according to the Washington Post, and opened their practice together in 1984. Gottfried, who often did charity work seeing patients who could not otherwise afford dental care, was preparing to retire in the next few months. He, along with Wax and Stein, "led the service, they maintained the Torah, they did what needed to be done with the rabbi to make services happen," Cohen said. "He died doing what he liked to do most," said Don Salvin, Gottfried's brother-in-law, told the Washington Post. IRVING YOUNGER: 'NEVER HAD AN UNKIND WORD' A neighbor in Pittsburgh's Mount Washington neighborhood on Sunday remembered victim Irving Younger as "a really nice guy." Jonathan Voye told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that Younger, 69, was personable and occasionally spoke with him about family or the weather. "I'm scared for my kids' future," Mr. Voye told the Post-Gazette. "How can you have that much hate for your fellow neighbor?" Tina Prizner, who told the Tribune-Review she's lived next door to Younger for several years, said he was a "wonderful" father and grandfather. The one-time real estate company owner "talked about his daughter and his grandson, always, and he never had an unkind word to say about anybody,' Prizner told the Tribune-Review. Beth Markovic, owner of Murray Avenue Kosher grocery and deli, said Younger was a dedicated customer who was especially fond of her meatloaf and chicken salad and asked her to alert him when she was making it. So every time I make those things, I will certainly be thinking of him, Markovic said. I have his phone number right in front of me where I do my work. . So, we feel it. We feel it very much. The Muscle Shoals Police Department says it is investigating a threatening note that was found on the floor of a hallway at Muscle Shoals High School on Friday. The exact wording of the note has not been made public. But Muscle Shoals City Schools Superintendent Brian Lindsey and Muscle Shoals High Principal Chad Holden wrote in a letter released Sunday that stated that they are aware that an orange post-it note with a threatening message toward Muscle Shoals High School related to Halloween day has been circulating on social media." AL.com was not immediately able to locate any such social media postings. We are currently working to identify the source of that note, the letter, which Holden posted on his Facebook page Sunday afternoon, states. We have worked throughout the weekend interviewing individuals believed to have knowledge of the notes source and have reviewed camera footage from Friday that has provided us some of the answers we are seeking. The letter goes on to state that the school officials are keeping police appraised of their findings. Please see the attached press release related to a threat toward Muscle Shoals High School that has been circulating on social media Posted by Chad Holden on Sunday, October 28, 2018 The Muscle Shoals Police Department issued a separate press release on Sunday stating that it is working closely with the school system to investigate the threatening note. We have been in continual communication with [the] administration and will continue to assist in the investigation as to the source of the note, the release states. As a precautionary measure beyond normal patrols of our school resource officers, parents should expect an enhanced police presence to demonstrate MSPDs commitment to safety and to ease the concerns of parents, students and staff." On Sunday, the Muscle Shoals Police Department released a statement about a threatening note found at Muscle Shoals High School on Friday. The police departments press release urges anyone with information about the threatening note to contact the police department at (256) 383-6746. The letter published by the school system and school urges people with such information to contact the schools administration, Thanks to everyone who notified us of this concern, the letter states. As always, the safety of our students is our #1 priority. Roy Moores son and his attorney are calling on voters to not support Republican Attorney General Steve Marshall on November 6. In a robocall circulating Monday and in a Facebook video released Friday, both Caleb Moore and Montgomery attorney Melissa Isaak call on voters to consider someone other than Marshall. What bothers me most about the reported ethics violation that Steve Marshall accepted 730,000 in illegal contributions, a Class B Felony? Its that I see so many fathers fall behind on their child support because they dont have the ability to pay. They go to jail DESPITE a valid defense. So many men are denied the ability to parent their children after tens of thousands of dollars, briefs submitted to the court of appeals and watching DHR violating the civil rights of parents in Alabama. How does this guy, our TOP law enforcement officer, get away with this? Steve Marshall, the Republican candidate, wont rely on my robotic-like straight ticket vote. The only robotic activity out of this conservative will be the robo calls Caleb Moore and I will be making to other Republicans. Posted by Melissa Isaak on Friday, October 26, 2018 Moore, the 28-year-old son of the former Alabama chief justice and last years Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate, urges voters to write-in a real Republican. Isaak, who is representing Roy Moore in ongoing legal matters from last years Senate campaign, said that while she considers herself a conservative Republican, shes supporting Marshalls Democratic opponent. Marshall is being challenged by Birmingham lawyer, Joseph Siegelman, who is the 30-year-old son of former Democratic Gov. Don Siegelman. Isaak, in an email to AL.com, said she cannot support Marshalls campaign based on what she says is his acceptance of illegal contributions. She said the matter has been brought to Marshalls attention, that the Alabama Ethics Commission has received complaints and that the Montgomery County District Attorneys office has been asked to address this issue. Marshall was accused by Republican Troy King, during the primary campaign, of violating Alabama campaign finance law by accepting donations in a political action committee to PAC transfer. Marshall has received over $730,000 from the Republican Attorneys General Association or RAGA, money which King and Siegelman have argued is a violation of state law. Marshalls campaign has previously said that Alabamas law against PAC-to-PAC transfer does not apply to federal PACs. As a Republican, I do not typically support candidates who are Democrats, said Isaak. However, my party affiliation does not overshadow my ability to recognize corruption within my own party. I believe that Joe Siegelman, a civil rights attorney, will truly put the people of Alabama over politics. Marshalls campaign spokeswoman declined comment, other than to point out that Isaak has contributed to Siegelmans campaign. According to state records, she has given $1,660 to Siegelman, with the first $500 contribution occurring in April. Siegelman, in a statement to AL.com, said, Alabamians value honesty and integrity over party, and I have been overwhelmed by the Republican support Ive received. Marshall and King, the former Alabama Attorney General, squared off against each other in July 17 GOP runoff, which Marshall overwhelmingly won. Siegelman defeated opponent Chris Christie in the June 5 Democratic primary. Its unclear how Roy or Kayla Moore feel about the attorney generals race. An email to Kayla Moore seeking comment had not been returned as of Monday afternoon. Roy Moore, in an interview with the Alabama Political Reporter published last week, was quoted as saying that the Alabama Ethics Commission should weigh-in on a contributions Marshall received from the Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA). Moore, according to the article, declined to say who he was voting for. Siegelman, in recent weeks, has made a similar request in pushing for the Ethics Commission to reconsider the complaint against Marshall. The commission is not scheduled to meet again until after the election. Joseph Siegelman, Democratic candidate for Alabama Attorney General, meets with supporters during a campaign event on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2018, at the Lionz Den in Fairhope, Ala. Jess Brown, a retired political science professor at Athens State University and a longtime observer of state politics, said that while Roy Moore has a loyal following, he doesnt believe it would be large enough to eliminate the gap between Marshall and Siegelman leading up to Election day. Brown also questions if Siegelman has enough campaign cash on hand to sufficiently publicize this message with Moores supporters before November 6. The latest campaign finance report, filed on October 19, showed Siegelmans campaign account with $23,194. Marshall has over $311,000 cash on hand. The GOPs base vote is so large in Alabama that Democrats need a very large percentage of independents to win any statewide race, said Brown. Perhaps many of Moores loyalists can be diverted from Marshall, but frankly, I doubt it. An Alabama-made Standard Missile-3 Block IIA successfully shot down a target in the sky off the Hawaiian coast last week. Sailors on board the USS John Finn fired the SM-3 at a medium-range ballistic missile target Oct. 26, the Missile Defense Agency said Friday. Produced at Raytheons facility at Redstone Arsenal, the SM-3 Block IIA is being developed cooperatively by the U.S. and Japan and operates as part of the AEGIS Ballistic Missile Defense system. Officials said the test met its objectives in destroying the target. This was a superb accomplishment and key milestone for the SM-3 Block IIA return to flight, said MDA Director Lt. Gen. Sam Greaves. My congratulations to the entire team, including our sailors, industry partners, and allies who helped achieve this milestone. The first successful test of the SM-3 Black IIA took place in 2017 but two subsequent tests failed, including one in January. When Bessemer Mayor Kenneth Gulley planned a news conference last week for Monday on the future of UAB Medical Center West, he intended to announce that the city would take legal action against the city of Hoover if Hoover snatched the hospital away from its home of 54 years. But after developments on Friday, when UAB West announced that it would stick in west Jefferson County and replace the Bessemer hospital with a state-of-the-art facility in McCalla, Mondays news conference turned into thanks to UAB for its decision. Gulley said Bessemer plans to annex the McCalla property off I-459 Exit 1. In our opinion, thats the only way that this works, is if we incorporate that property into the city of Bessemer, the mayor said, adding that the move would not result in a major economic impact to the city. Hoover dangled $20 million in economic incentives to UAB to build the new hospital there, but the deal was dead on arrival after the city council said it would not back the proposal. After a much lengthy process of evaluating both sites, we feel that our original plans are the best plans for Medical West and our communities, said hospital CEO Keith Pennington. He said Bessemer had not offered tax incentives. Pennington said the hospital needs a new facility to address inefficiencies. For instance, UAB Medical West has MRI machines in one building and CT scans in another. UAB would look to repurpose the existing hospital, possibly into a specialty hospital that would not have the same requirements as an acute care hospital, according to Pennington. The McCalla property where UAB plans to build the new hospital was purchased by the health system last year. Pennington said the site is an ideal location, pointing out that UAB has health centers in Hueytown, Vance, Tannehill and Park West. Really, when you look at the map, Exit 1 really puts you right at the center of all of our market, he said. West Jefferson County officials and clergy said they were prepared to protest a move to Hoover. Weve been dealing with this issue of regional cooperation, regional participation, and I strongly believe that had this hospital gone through a move to Hoover, it would have set back our relationship probably 10 years or more because we cannot have cooperation or participation without trust, said Midfield Mayor Gary Richardson. And we cant do it at the expense of those who have less and giving more to people who have more, and there has to be a balance. Gulley said Richardson had a valid point. If we are to have a corporate cooperation we cant poach off of each other, he said. We have to find a way to work together. Pastor Tommy Lewis of Bethel Baptist Church of Pratt City said if Hoover was selected as the site of the new hospital then we had to put our marching shoes on. If the children of Israel could march through a wilderness for 40 years to get to the promised land, then certainly, Mr. Mayor, we were ready to march to keep our hospital In our promised land, Lewis said. Gulley said he was glad that Bessemer didnt have to initiate legal action with Hoover since the cost involved would have hurt both municipalities. Im glad we did not have to fight a legal battle because nobody wins in a legal battle, he said. The process of relocating UAB West is still in the early stages. The hospital has to submit a certificate of need to the state, which it has not yet done, and have the certificate approved before it can move to McCalla. A 19-year-old has been criminally charged in a Sunday-night shooting that killed one of his closest friends. Fairfield police announced a manslaughter charge against Xavier Thompson. He is charged in the death of 19-year-old Ladarius DeJuan Whiteside. The shooting happened at 11:54 p.m. Sunday in the 6500 block of Forest Drive. Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Yates said information from police was that he was inside the home visiting with friends where there were guns. A gun was discharged, and the round struck Whiteside. He was pronounced dead at the home at 12:18 a.m. Monday. Fairfield Police Chief Nick Dyer said the group was playing with the guns when Thompson accidentally shot Whiteside in the head. There were multiple people in the home at the time. The Jefferson County District Attorneys Office issued the manslaughter warrant against Thompson Monday afternoon. According to Alabama law, a person commits the crime of manslaughter if he or she recklessly causes the death of another person or under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to human life, he or she recklessly engages in conduct which creates a grave risk of death and thereby causes the death except that he caused the death due to a sudden heat of passion caused by provocation and before a reasonable time for the passion to cool and for reason to reassert itself. Manslaughter is a Class B felony. Thompson was booked into the Jefferson County Jail at 5 p.m. with bond set at $30,000. A Mexican national was indicted by a federal grand jury in Birmingham after authorities say he illegal re-entered the U.S. for the fifth time. Gerardo Frasco-Gutierrez, 44, is charged with illegally being in the U.S. on Feb. 10 after having been removed from Texas on four previous occasions, according to a joint announcement by U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town and ICE Homeland Security Investigations Assistant Special Agent in Charge for Alabama James G. Hernandez. Frasco-Gutierrez, who was living in Boaz, was first removed in March of 2006. In 2007, Frasco-Gutierrez was convicted of distributing methamphetamine in Etowah County and subsequently removed in March of 2008 and again in April 2012, authorities said. In July of 2016, Frasco-Gutierrez was convicted of illegally reentering the United States in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama and sentenced to 27 months in federal prison. He is now being held without bond in the Morgan County Jail on a federal hold. Immigration and Custom Enforcements HSI investigated the cases, which the Assistant United States Attorney Michael Pillsbury is prosecuting. The maximum penalty for illegal re-entry when a prior aggravated felony conviction exists is 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Entering the United States without following lawful processes is a federal crime. Doing it five times is intolerable, especially while dealing poisonous methamphetamine in our District, Town said. Our nations laws must be respected, followed, and enforced fully, all elusive concepts for this illegal immigrant. The federal prison bed this defendant recently left will remain available for his return and we will work hard to ensure his stay behind bars is even longer. The HSI Alabama Team is committed to promoting public safety in both the state of Alabama and the Nation, Hernandez said. HSI, in concert with our state and local partners, tirelessly pursues dangerous criminals threatening our society. We are proud to partner with U.S. Attorney Town in these efforts here in the Northern District of Alabama. This story was updated to show the suspect is a Mexican national, not a Honduran national as originally reported by authorities. A North Carolina man is behind bars after Hoover police caught him breaking into vehicles over the weekend in the citys Lake Cyrus community. Hoover police officers were dispatched just after 1:30 a.m. Sunday to the 1800 block of Lake Cyrus Club Drive on a report of someone breaking into a vehicle, said Lt. Keith Czeskleba. The resident called 911 after looking outside and seeing a white male rummaging through a vehicle in their driveway. Officers responded to the area and began looking for the suspect on foot. They tracked the man to another home in the 5600 block of Park Side Road, where he was caught inside of a parked vehicle parked in a driveway. The suspect was identified as Isaak Christian Stoltzfus. He is 30, and lives in Andrews, N.C. Czeskleba said a backpack was found that was full of items that appeared to come from other vehicles. Investigators determined that all of the vehicles the suspect entered were unlocked. Stoltzfus is charged with seven counts of unlawful breaking and entering a vehicle and possession of burglary tools. He is also wanted in Tennessee on burglary charges. The suspect will be transferred from the Hoover City Jail to the Jefferson County Jail where he will be held on bonds totaling $120,000. A majority of car burglars operate just like Mr. Stoltzfus. They dont want to make noise by breaking windows because they dont want to be seen, so they walk from car to car checking door handles to see which ones are unlocked. If theyre locked then they move on to the next car, said Capt. Gregg Rector. Simply locking doors and keeping valuables from plain sight goes a really long way towards not becoming a victim of a property crime. Jefferson County judicial candidate Linda Hall can have her votes counted in next weeks election, but she wont be eligible to take office if she gets the most votes. Fayette County Circuit Judge Samuel Junkin ordered Friday that even though Hall is disqualified from the election, he does not have the authority to tell the countys chief election official not to count Halls votes. Accordingly, any votes cast for Defendant Linda Hall in the general election, although ineffective to elect Hall, shall still be tabulated in order to determine the result of the election, the judge said in his order. Junkins latest ruling comes after Hall was disqualified from running for Jefferson County Circuit Court place 16 because she didnt meet residency requirements that say a candidate must live in the county in which they are campaigning in for at least 12 months prior to the election. Hall was the Democratic nominee for the seat, and was planning to face Republican incumbent Judge Teresa Pulliam on November 6. In his order, Junkin said his court will retain jurisdiction over the case until after the election to determine the effect of the outcome. In a separate order issued Friday, Junkin said former candidate Peter Davis cannot claim Halls spot as the Democratic nominee for the judicial seat. Davis was Halls opponent in the Democratic primary earlier this year and after a county voter filed a lawsuit claiming Hall should be barred from running because of she had lived in Shelby County for the majority of the past 12 months, Davis said he was the rightful nominee. Junkin dismissed Davis claims with prejudice, meaning Davis cannot bring back his motion. He may pursue non-judicial remedies under the rules and bylaws of the Alabama Democratic Party if he chooses to do so, the order says. Hall was disqualified from the race after a Junkin determined she had not lived in Jefferson County for the required amount of time. Junkin was appointed to preside over the case after all Jefferson County judges recused themselves. During a day-long trial, Hall testified about her living arrangements for the past 18 months and said she would not have ran if she was aware she had lived in Shelby County. She said she is aware of the requirement that a person must live in the county in which theyre campaigning in for at least 12 months prior to the election. Hall said she lived in the Park at Callington apartments until early 2016, when mold infested her unit and she had to move out. From there, Hall moved in February 2017 to apartments on Kenley Waywhich was the address she provided on her declaration of candidacy forms with the Alabama Democratic Party. According to her testimony, Hall provided the zip code 35219, which doesnt match the Kenley Way address, because she didnt know the correct zip code. Hall said the 35219 zip code matched her P.O. box address in Homewood where she received all of her mail. Documents shown in court also show Hall provided the Kenley Way address, along with the incorrect zip code, on forms submitted to the Alabama Ethics Commission. Over the course of 2018, Hall said she has lived in four different apartments because of various issues with mold, foul odors, and smoking neighbors. Hall said the complexes of Kenley Way, Cahaba Grandview, and Inverness Cliffs all advertised they were in the city of Birmingham. Parts of Birmingham overlap into Shelby County, but Hall said she never inquired about the county she was residing in. Her latest apartment, which Hall said she moved into in early October, is in Jefferson County. Hall also testified that she lived in St. Louis, MO, between August and December 2017. In St. Louis, she lived in several extended stay hotels. Hall is also the focus of a death row inmates appeal, where his new lawyers have said Hall was mentally unstable during the time she represented Randy Lewis during his capital murder trial in 2007. She was questioned during a hearing for Lewis last week about the case and her mental state during the time period, but said she didnt remember much about the case and couldnt look back at her file on Lewis because it had been destroyed. She also denied claims that she poured salt around her home to ward off evil and that she hung talismans in the trees surrounding her home also in attempts to ward off evil. Hall denied having claimed she could conjure the dead and pretending her niece was her own child, which were several of the claims mentioned in Lewis appeal. Hall is represented by Kearney Hutsler and Everett Wess; the complaining voter who filed the residency lawsuit is represented by Barry Ragsdale and Meghan Salvati. John Robbins and Texys Morris are representing Lewis in his appeal. The spooky grinning skull-shaped asteroid that made a Halloween appearance in 2015 will be a little late to trick-or-treating this year. The asteroid, officially known as Asteroid 2015 TB145, looked like a skull when it made its appearance on Oct. 31 three years ago, earning it the name The Great Pumpkin. Then, it missed the early by 300,000 miles. This year, it wont make its appearance until Nov. 11 and will be 25 million miles away from Earth, or about a quarter of the distance from the Earth to the sun, according to NASA. This time its not coming close enough (to Earth) to be any larger than a dot of light, Paul Chodas, manager of NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory Center for Near Earth Object Studies, told CNN. Chodas said the trajectory of the asteroid is well understood and the asteroid poses no risk to Earth. In 2015, the comet was estimated to be about 2,000-feet wide. Its likely smaller now and is whats known as a dead comet, meaning its shed its volatile materials during its trips around the sun. The comet will make another Halloween appearance in the future, but you will have to wait until 2088 for an Oct. 31 visit, when it will zoom by about 20 lunar distance from the Earth. Its orbit will take it closer to Venus and Mercury in 2024, 2028 and 2037. Asteroid 2015 TB145 was discovered on Oct. 10, 2015, by the University of Hawaiis Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System on Haleakala, Maui. John Meredith, of Huntsville, is a former Capitol Hill lobbyist who was recognized as one of the countrys 100 most influential Black Republicans. Alabama is a good place to be Republican. On the eve of the mid-term elections, our congressional delegation is poised to remain solidly conservative. Three of the four top statewide offices to be decided in November appear destined to be filled by Republicans. In the greater Huntsville area, voter support for judges, state legislators and county offices are all coalescing around GOP candidates. Alabama Republicans have earned the trust of voters by cleaning out the governors mansion and the state house. By creating economic development initiatives that have brought tens of thousands of jobs to Alabama. By passing laws that benefit people and developing politicians who, while not perfect, are honest and focused on bettering the lives of all Alabamians. To their credit, the Alabama Democratic Party did field its best slate of candidates in years. Locally, there are no finer human beings than Amy Wasyluka (SD2) and Terry Jones (HD21). Either would serve north Alabama residents honorably in Montgomery. The problem for them is Republicans Tom Butler and Rex Reynolds, their respective opponents, are also wonderful peopleand both experienced legislators. Perhaps the hardest campaigning local Democrat is Deborah Barros (SD7). This candidates come from behind runoff victory was impressive and if she can maintain that momentum, Barros could make the race against GOP opponent Sam Ghivan one of the more exciting local races. Frank Barger, candidate for Madison County Probate Judge, is undoubtedly the hardest working local Republican. His opponent, Michael Walker, has been so outworked almost no one knows he is running. The only candidate with less name recognition than Walker is Heather Milam Nikolich, Democratic candidate for Secretary of State. Unfortunately for her, GOP incumbent John Merrills record of service to, and in, largely Democratic communities of color is exceptional for a Republican and should prove an insurmountable advantage for an unknown candidate limited to Democratic support. Walt Maddox would be the gubernatorial front runner in many states but not ours. While the Democratic challenger has attempted to provide voters a side-by-side comparison of his executive experience and vision for Alabama, our unelected Republican governor avoids such a comparison as if her job depends on it. Instead of vanquishing her opponent on the debate stage, Ivey stacked her calendar with gubernatorial events where she could charm voters without defending her record or addressing her opponent. This should prove a winning strategy for Ivey but one that fails the people of Alabama. The Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor, Will Boyd, is a good man with much to offer Alabamians. Unfortunately, his chances evaporated before our eyes as Republican Will Ainsworth emerged from the Republican primary as the future of the GOP in Alabama. There is, however, legitimate hope for Democratic success at the state level. The first of two such opportunities resides in the race for Attorney General. Steve Marshall survived a brutal GOP primary and runoff but lost Republican support over alleged campaign finance irregularities. By contrast, Joseph Siegelman has Democratic unity and the support of some Republicans. With this GOP support, Siegelman can win if Democrats turnout for him. The second hope for Democrats statewide is the contest for Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court. In this race, Republicans have nominated Tom Parker, whose association with Roy Moore has lead to GOP defections. Combine the defections with an excellent judicial reputation, and Democrat Bob Vance has good chance of winning regardless of turnout. With the exception of Tom Parker, I believe this cycles GOP candidates embody conservative values and will make us proud whether they serve us in Washington, Montgomery or one of 67 counties that form this great state. Democrats in our state have much to be proud of but theres no better time or place to be Republican than Alabama today. This is an opinion column New research coming out of the University of Alabama at Birmingham detailing an explosive growth of Antisemitism online should be a wake-up call for everyone, particularly after last weekends shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue. Conservatives should be especially concerned, because even though these uninvited bigots are relatively few, they have indeed glommed on the fringes of our movement and must be shaken off before they do lasting damage. I know what my fellow conservatives are thinking: We dont have anything to do with those guys. Right. But theyre trying really hard to have something to do with us. The report from UAB, titled A Quantitative Approach to Understanding Online Antisemitism, found that events involving President Donald Trump the election, his inauguration, debates about his travel ban occurred within proximity to several notable increases in anti-Semitic language online. A similar spike was seen when the infamous Unite the Right rally was held in Virginia. So it seems that they really want to associate themselves with the president or his policies (which are mostly conservative). Combine that data with stories about white nationalists trying to elbow their way into conservative gatherings and one must admit we have an authentic problem, however smallish we perceive it to be. We analyzed more than 100 million posts from the largest alt-right-affiliated social platforms, said one of the reports co-authors, Jeremy Blackburn, Ph.D., a computer science professor at UAB, when the report was released last month. Among the platforms that Blackburn and his co-authors tracked was Gab, the right-leaning outlet that the Pittsburgh shooter, Robert Bowers, used to post his final message before entering the synagogue. On it, he claimed that a Jewish charity was bringing in invaders that kill our people before writing: I cant sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, Im going in. Blackburn said users of platforms like Gab identify themselves with conservatism, and the report noted how their discussions sometimes migrate to more mainstream platforms like Twitter and Reddit in the form of memes, for example. These communities also claim they represent and speak for conservatives in general, Blackburn told me Sunday afternoon via email. For conservatives, I think that being associated with communities like Gab is something youd want to avoid. Its not a very good look. To say the least. I know. I know. Conservatism rejects the type of identity politics that partly fuels Antisemitism and white nationalism to begin with. And of course, President Trump didnt inspire the murderer who killed 11 people at the Pittsburgh synagogue on Saturday morning (the shooter was no MAGA-hat wearing super fan). But conservatives want a border wall. So does the alt-right. Conservatives dislike cultural relativism and the division it sows within our country. So does the alt-right. And conservatives prefer an America First trade and foreign policy. And so does the alt-right. Thats why its possible to conflate their brand of tyranny with our brand of order. The alt-rights problem, however, is that their ideas have left them politically homeless and without any meaningful constituency, so theyre trying to squat on the political landscape that conservatism has tended and tilled for centuries. And theyre using the internet to do it. So, what are we supposed to do? In his best-selling book 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos, clinical psychologist Jordan Peterson, himself a frequent target of the alt-right, offers a simple suggestion: Set your house in perfect order before you criticize the world. Conservatives need to police their advocates as much as they need to advocate for their beliefs. William F. Buckley provided a great example of how this is done when we read the John Birch Society and Ayn Rands acolytes out of the movement in the 1960s. Traditional conservatives must continue clearly refuting the alt-right at every turn, and especially online. Look no further than the progressive left for an example of what happens without such self-regulation. Theyve become the regressive left, abandoning free speech, free expression, and free association among other tenants of classical liberalism because their fringe elements, their loudest elements, are now running the show. The internet isnt making any of this better, either. Its a large part of the problem and one that Blackburn characterizes as socio-technical in nature. The web has brought people closer together but has also been harnessed for ill intent by people aiming to spread hateful ideology, he said. There may be 100 racists in your town; but in the past, they would have to find each other in the real world. Now they just go online. So now the lone nutcases in every zip code are linked online, forming a daisy-chain of hate, fueling each others envy, growing larger through each others rage, and passing it along from one man to the next until it ends up in the murderous mind of someone like Robert Bowers. And then its too late to talk sense to anyone. But right now, while the alt-right is loitering aimlessly on the fringes of the internet, conservatives should take the opportunity to push them off into the political abyss. Because thats where their ideas belong. J. Pepper Bryars, author of American Warfighter, is a senior fellow at the Alabama Policy Institute. Follow him on Twitter at @jpepperbryars. The difficulties of keeping everyone onboard, an agreed path to peace in Syria, highlights that radically different approaches are likely doomed to failure, the outgoing United Nations Special Envoy for the war-torn country warned on Friday. Briefing the Security Council on his meeting with the Syrian Foreign Minister, held in Damascus on Wednesday, Staffan de Mistura said that an impasse had been reached over a proposed new constitution for Syria, with the UN playing a major role, as directed by the Council. The veteran envoy, who recently announced he would be stepping down at the end of next month, said that the sticking point revolved around the Syrian leaderships view that constitutional reform, was an internal matter. He said Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem had strongly underlined the principle of non-interference in Member States affairs, adding that the constitution was a highly sensitive matter of national sovereignty. The key sticking point, de Mistura told the Council, was over the so-called Middle Third List of 50 names that the UN is backing to serve on a Constitutional Committee, to create a more democratic post-war Syria. He said the UN was not opposed to constructive and moderate suggestions so long as spirit of credibility, balance and international legitimacy of the Middle Third List is maintained. It is important to ensure the minimum 30 percent [participation of] women in the constitutional committee and this requires at least 24 out of the 50 in the Middle Third List to be women, stressed the UN negotiator. The Middle Third List refers to a third of the delegates to the constitutional committee, representing Syrian experts, civil society, independents, tribal leaders and women. The other delegates would be drawn from the Government and opposition. He further said that Minister Moualem proposed that the suggested list, which was drawn up by the UN in consultation and with inputs from all actors, be withdrawn. Staffan de Mistura reiterated that the UN could withdraw its proposal, only if there is an agreement on a new credible, balanced and inclusive list, consistent with Security Council resolution 2254 and final peace talks led by Russia, Iran and Turkey. In response, the Minister indicated that he would get respond after instructions from the Syrian leadership and that the Minister preferred at this stage to await the outcome of the UN Special Envoys upcoming consultations with the Astana Guarantors, said Mr. De Mistura. The UN Special Envoy further said that given the different understanding by the Syrian Government of the role of the UN and other on-going diplomatic efforts, a very serious challenge is ahead. But he said he would spare no effort to address these challenge in the forthcoming weeks. Addressing the Council in New York via tele-conference from Lebanon he told members he would also brief the Presidents of France, Germany, Russia and Turkey, in Istanbul, on Saturday, on the latest developments. While the window of opportunity to find lasting peace for the more than seven-year conflict remains open, he said, it needs to be seized urgently. A personal story of owning and learning from a legacy associated with modern interpretations of racism in the US. More than 150 years ago, its creators surely intended for it to awe. Down the wide avenue, Robert E Lee sits on a horse; a powerful stallion carved into stone as he rides into battle. I marvel at its power and stare at Lees uniform, Confederate insignia moulded in bronze on his lapel, in defence of slavery. Then I look at his face and it looks like mine. My cousin, General Robert E Lee led the southern Confederate States Army in a campaign against the northern Union during the American Civil War in the 1860s. The North fought to free all enslaved African Americans. They won, my cousin lost. The inheritance of guilt Today, the US is gripped by a debate over what Confederate monuments like my cousins, which stands in Richmonds Monument Avenue, stand for. I carry that debate in my blood. General Robert E Lee is part of my family. Five generations on, we still share a physical resemblance, and I wonder and fear what else my genes have predisposed me to be. Were there emotional or psychological traits that inclined him towards the choices that he made, towards his moral failings? Is that part of him in me? I wonder what traditions or cultural habits might have been passed down from his generation to mine and whether the good inherent in the family I see around me could have saved him. James Gannon with the statue of General Robert E Lee, in Richmond, Virginia [Al Jazeera] My parents werent as wealthy as Lee was, with his sprawling plantation estates. I grew up in a farmhouse in a working-class neighbourhood. I went to a public school. But Im still acutely aware of how our ancestral wealth, gained from enslavement, may have trickled down, contributing to my comfort or education. Even the school I attended was funded primarily by the property taxes paid by a majority white community, enriched from the misdeeds of previous generations. When it comes to the inheritance of guilt, where do you draw the line? Is there a debt owed to black Americans for the centuries of oppression by my white ancestors? A symbol for modern-day racism In the middle of a summer night last year, I watched the Charlottesville violence roil from the Al Jazeera newsroom in Doha on multiple screens and I felt enraged. People were using a member of my family as a reverent symbol for modern-day racism, for hate. {articleGUID} White supremacists had organised a rally to protest the planned removal of a statue of Robert E Lee. They came armed and planned for violence. In the aftermath, one of their supporters crashed his car into a crowd of counter-protesters, killing 32-year-old Heather Heyer and injuring dozens. My rage intermingled with shame that people in the US were still capable of this hatred, this vitriol, and they were using my family name to justify it. And beyond that I felt profoundly sad for my country because its unable to shake its short-sighted past; and for my family, because we had to bear this relation. There have been many Lees since him, who definitely werent racist, and yet his perceived legacy continues to haunt our history. The James statues were an attempt to reshape a narrative, to emphasise the noble qualities of its heroes and diminish their atrocities.] Rewriting history Eight months later, I was standing at the foot of my cousins statue in Richmond, an hours drive from Charlottesville. Lees statue wasnt put up during the Civil War or his lifetime, but after the conflict, in 1890 following the so-called Reconstruction Era. {articleGUID} No other country erects statues to the losing side of a civil war. The North won the war, but put old southern leaders into place to rehabilitate the Union with political compromise. They, in turn, attempted to reassert notions of white supremacy. The monuments to Confederate heroes were paid for by groups that sought to sanitise the Civil War and American history of the horrors of slavery. The statues were an attempt to reshape a narrative, to emphasise the noble qualities of these leaders and diminish their atrocities. This wasnt never again historical evidence, like plantation slave dwellings. This was the rewriting of history. At the dedication of my cousins monument in Richmond, the flag of the defeated Confederate Army was flown, a military-style band played battle songs. At its unveiling, white supremacists called abolitionists fanatical and unconstitutional. Then local and state governments established laws to restrict the civil rights of African Americans, violence against them was rampant. In rebuilding the south that was obliterated by the war, blacks were to be given 40 acres and a mule a military order never fulfilled. This was a chance for true equality or at least the pursuit of it. For a moment, almost possible, this dream of freedom was dashed by broken promises. A sign on the statue of Robert E Lee calls for the park to be renamed for Heather Heyer, who was killed at a far-right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, in August 2017 [Reuters] White wealth has flourished through unearned racial advantage The statues erected in the place of that dream were and are a physical manifestation of a culture unrepentant of its racism, a belief system carved in stone. From childhood, I knew I was a Lee. Growing up in Virginia, all the kids I grew up with thought that was really cool. Later in life, I realised it wasnt quite so. Throughout my life, Ive had to resolve this past sense of admiration with the reality of history. After the violence in Charlottesville, I realised my voice as a Lee descendant could add legitimacy to the movement to remove the statues and monuments. But I knew I first had to try and understand the true legacy of slavery. When I began this journey, I thought it would end with an understanding of how removing my cousins statue would help right racial injustice in America. Instead, through making the film A Moral Debt, I met individuals of all different shades scholars, activists, artists, mothers, sons who helped me understand that although doing so might provide a superficial manifestation of change, it would do little to address the underlying causes or right the wrongs of the past. Not being a racist is not enough ... I've lived a life of privilege that is a result of our nation's racist past. James Gannon The US is meant to be a place where each person has an equal chance at a life of dignity and opportunity. Though the enslaved were freed after the Civil War, little was done to equalise their position, and for decades after, through the Black Codes to Jim Crow to redlining, the law was used to institutionalise their oppression a codified basis for ongoing widespread violence and personal racism. {articleGUID} Through all of this, one fact is undeniable: white wealth has flourished through unearned racial advantage, while the wealth of black people in the US has failed to grow. Duke Universitys Professor Sandy Darity told me that in the aftermath of the Civil War, blacks owned less than one percent of American wealth; the comparable measure today is two percent. So the question remains: What debt is owed? Like all white Americans today, I played no role in pre-Civil War institutionalised slavery, nor the other explicit institutions of oppression that followed. But not being a racist is not enough. I acknowledge that, separate from any wealth passed on through my family, Ive lived a life of privilege that is a result of our nations racist past. Ive been treated with less suspicion by authorities, Ive lived in neighbourhoods that benefited from preferential development and investment for whites. Blacks face discrimination in job opportunities, harsher treatment in the criminal justice system and underservice in healthcare. To acknowledge that the US built its economy and stature with the uncompensated labour of African Americans is to acknowledge a debt. Taking down a racist statue is a step in the right direction, but to truly make inroads towards equality, much greater action is required. America would not be the wealthiest country on earth without the toil of enslaved African Americans. James Gannon As European nations look to recognise the misdeeds of their colonial past, so too should the US issue an apology for the centuries of institutionalised enslavement and oppression. Beyond this, we must look to making amends for the wrongs of the past and levelling the playing field. America would not be the wealthiest country on earth without the toil of enslaved African Americans. Reparations for these contributions and the oppression suffered since are the only moral way to repay that debt. Confederate monuments are an obstacle to moving forward My cousin Robert E Lee didnt want statues like the ones in Richmond or Charlottesville to be put up in the first place. Before his death in 1870, in deriding efforts to create a Gettysburg memorial to the wars bloodiest battle, he wrote, I think it wiser, not to keep open the sores of war but to follow the examples of those nations who endeavored to obliterate the marks of civil strife, to commit to oblivion the feelings engendered. He didnt want to dwell on the horrors of the war and the past; he didnt want all of that blood to have been spilled for nothing. Even though he was on the losing side, he wanted to make something of the sacrifice, even if it was just to move on. Here, my cousin and I have perhaps found some common ground. Gannon and members of The Peoples New Black Panther Partys defence arm, the Huey P. Newton Gun Club. The party has a message of separation and do not want to live with white America [Al Jazeera] More than 150 years later, I agree with Lee. These kinds of monuments are an obstacle to moving forward and addressing the roots of racial oppression and inequality in our country. Its exceedingly difficult to judge the past and our family members who inhabited it. We have to acknowledge were viewing them through the lens of our own experience. But that also doesnt preclude our moral judgement, for which we bear a personal responsibility. In 2015, as the killer of nine black churchgoers in Charleston, South Carolina draped himself in a Confederate flag, it was, for me, a reminder of how much the image of my ancestor had been used as a crutch to keep racial hatred alive today. In 2017, as I watched as statues in his image were torn down around the country, I felt a kinship with those tugging the ropes. Now, I know thats what he too would have wanted. Mosul, Iraq Amid the rubble and devastation of the old city in west Mosul, it was difficult to imagine that Bulgaria would be the one thing local people would want to talk about the most. In the deserted Nineveh Street in al-Saaa (clock) neighbourhood, I met Adel Hassan, who had recently returned to his damaged home after having run out of money to pay rent for an apartment in the relatively less devastated east Mosul. He said he was the only one in his area to have come back. I asked about his life now, but he was curt in his replies. Zein (good) was the answer to each of my questions. When he found out I am from Bulgaria, he was eager to ask me one: Is Bulgaria zein now? Was it better before? Socialism was good? We had more dictatorship than socialism, I answered. He waved his hand, told me I had lost the plot, and departed with his young wife, Amira. Communist Bulgaria seemed to be remembered fondly by the few people (all middle-aged Muslim men) I could find to talk to in the empty streets of al-Saaa neighbourhood. I went to Bulgaria in the 1980s. It was very beautiful and cheap, Faris Ibrahim told me. He had just re-opened his small shop, spending his own money to repair the damage that the fighting had caused last year. I spent just 150 dinars on my trip to Bulgaria. This was the standard of living we enjoyed back then. We were the masters of the world. And where are we now us, the masters of the world? he said. Today that sum of money can buy you half a kilo of potatoes in Mosul. Nineweh Street in Mosuls old city where friends Faris Ibrahim and Joheir Halil have their shops used to be a bustling shopping street [Mariya Petkova/Al Jazeera] Iraq and Bulgaria, then and now The time my interlocutors were reminiscing about was indeed a time of prosperity for the Nineveh province and its capital city. Mosul was the birthplace of a number of high-ranking Baathist officials and army generals, which ensured that it was well-provided for by the state. When oil prices shot up after the 1973 oil crisis, Saddam Husseins regime used part of the revenue to build vast infrastructure projects and improve education. In the 1980s, while the war with Iran was devastating the southeast of the country, especially Basra, the northwest continued to prosper. Major infrastructural projects were still being built, including the Mosul Dam and the Fifth Bridge on the Tigris river. Throughout this time, Baathist Iraq kept close relations with the Eastern bloc, especially Bulgaria, under the patronage of the Soviet Union. Cultural, educational, military and trade relations flourished. The local economy was strong enough for many Muslawis (Mosul residents) like Ibrahim to afford the day-and-a-half car trip through Turkey to Bulgaria. Back then, the Iraqi passport used to open up many doors in the Eastern bloc and beyond and the Iraqi dinar was stronger than the US dollar. Today, some of the Iraqis who do make it to Bulgaria are refugees seeking to reach Western Europe and unlike the communist regime, the current Bulgarian government has hardly made them feel welcome. Iraqi refugees like all others have endured the violent pushback policies of the Bulgarian state at its southern border with Turkey. For example, in January 2015, after 12 Iraqi Yazidi men were severely beaten and robbed during a pushback by the Bulgarian border police, two of them froze to death near the border. Since the early 2000s, Iraqi-Bulgarian relations also have a new patron. In 2003, shortly after the US invasion, the Bulgarian government, which at that time was eager to earn favour with Washington and join NATO, sent hundreds of Bulgarian troops to back the war effort. The justification the Bulgarian government gave for the deployment of Bulgarian troops for a mission the United Nations had not approved was that it was seeking to get back the $3.5bn in debt Iraq had accumulated buying Bulgarian weapons during the 1980s and secure reconstruction contracts for Bulgarian firms. It got neither. In 2007, the Bulgarian government under pressure from the Bush administration cancelled 90 percent of the debt. The following year the mission of the Bulgarian troops ended; 13 of them died during the deployment. Ninety percent of west Mosul, where the old city is located, has been damaged or destroyed [Mariya Petkova/Al Jazeera] The old city, where Muslim and Christian kids played till 3am The nostalgia for the prosperity and security under the Baathist regime I saw in Iraq was not limited to Sunni Muslims alone. Older Christians I talked to in the nearby Christian-majority city of Bakhdida also shared similar views, and so did individual Baghdad-educated Kurds (albeit not so directly). Reminiscing about the old days is perhaps one way to process the shocking devastation that stares at you at every corner of Mosuls old city. Intense air raids by the US-led coalition helped to destroy whatever historical heritage the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group had not, along with civilian homes, schools, hospitals, etc. Once a vibrant, diverse and prosperous area, the old city is now but a shadow of its old self. This used to be a busy shopping street. To the right and to the left, all these were shops, Joheir Halil told me. Now, its all destroyed. Just three shops were open in the area one of them belonging to his friend Ibrahim. Halils own carpentry shop has also been damaged and he hasnt been able to reopen it yet. He had worked in it for four decades, renting the space from the church across the street. We used to run and play together here in this street til 3am in the summers us, Muslim kids, and the Christian kids, recalled Halil. When ISIL captured the city in June 2014, it forced Christians who had lived there for almost two millennia to choose between converting to Islam and leaving. Christian families chose the latter. Today, a year and a half after the liberation of Mosul, Halil knows of only one Christian who has returned to the old city. This used to be their city, he murmured under his breath. The clock (now missing) of the famous Latin Church was donated by French Empress Eugenie de Montijo in the mid-19th century. Across from the church stands al-Safar Mosque [Mariya Petkova/Al Jazeera] Across the street, the Latin Church still stands, the crosses at the top of its two domes missing and its famous clock which gave the name to the neighbourhood removed. Underneath its wall, a big sign of the ICRC warns people of the dangers of mines and unexploded ordinance. Just a few hundred metres away are the remains of al-Nuri Mosque, in which 2014 Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi announced the creation of the ISIL caliphate. Apart from the lack of security and the trauma of what had happened, Christian, Muslim and other residents of the old city are reluctant to return also because of the absence of basic services. There is no electricity, no water, no services. When it rains, everything floods because there is no sewage, said Ibrahim. Aid and reconstruction are slow to come to the old city. Both Ibrahim and Halil say that local residents have not received much outside help so far, although efforts to clear out the rubble and mend the roads could be seen. According to Dr Muzahim al-Khayat, president of Nineveh University and head of the Reconstruction Team of Nineveh province, reconstruction of residential areas is not the first priority of the local authorities and international aid agencies. In a phone conversation, he said that for now, the main focus of the reconstruction effort is infrastructure and then universities, schools and hospitals. A UNDP project for the rehabilitation of 4,500 partially destroyed homes in the old city is likely to start over the next year, he said. Reconstruction will be a slow process in Mosul and its old city. If the plan which Dr al-Khayat and his colleagues had submitted to the government is fully implemented, it would take more than eight years to restore the city. But even then Mosul is unlikely to reach the prosperity it once enjoyed. There is no future, no hope here, Ibrahim said. Observers have expressed concern that the growing grievances over the lack of reconstruction in some areas could feed resentment among local people and encourage them to join ISILs remnants. Asked whether he fears ISIL returning, Ibrahim was categorical: It will not come back. Weve already seen this film. It has ended. A day after this conversation, a bomb exploded at a busy market in Mosuls Qayyara district, killing six and injuring more than 30. Russia is focusing its efforts on blackmailing Europe into paying for reconstruction and pushing the US out. After several delays, the Istanbul summit finally took place on Saturday, bringing together the leaders of Turkey, Russia, France and Germany to discuss peace in Syria. The four-way meeting was originally scheduled for early September, but major differences between the four led to its postponement. The summit brought together parties from the Astana process group (Russia, Turkey and Iran) and the Syria Working Group (the US, the UK, France, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt), but it failed to mend differences between and within each of the two groups. Apart from a very broad joint statement that emphasised the need to initiate an inclusive, Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political process to end the Syrian conflict, no agreement was reached on how to achieve it. The main divisive issues continue to be the political fate of Bashar al-Assad, foreign military presence, the question of the refugees and reconstruction, and the future of the Kurdish areas in the northeast. Russias refugee card After realising its main military objectives defeating the opposition and securing the regime of President Bashar al-Assad Russia is trying to translate this victory into political gains. It seeks to normalise the situation in Syria by focusing on reconstruction and the return of the Syrian refugees. Now, its main political objective is to convince potential donors, mainly the EU and the Gulf states, to pour money into the ailing Syrian economy and help rebuild the country. Moscows call for the return of the refugees is quite popular in Europe and with it, the Russian leadership seeks to convince Germany which hosts more than a million Syrians to lead the EU into a reconstruction deal. Russia has used the refugee card before. It was deliberately targeting civilians in opposition-held areas with the aim of flooding Turkey and Europe with Syrian refugees and forcing them to reconsider their support for opposition armed groups. Refugees indeed became a key issue in European politics, contributing to the rise of populist and ultranationalist forces across the continent. Many EU countries, including Germany, seem willing to fund reconstruction in Syria, but only after a political settlement is reached. The Syria Working Group believes that after the Russian-backed military victory of the regime, funding for reconstruction is the only tool left in the hands of the international community to pressure Assad and his allies to accept a political solution to the conflict. Russia, by contrast, wants reconstruction to be detached from any political process. Disagreement over this issue overshadowed the Istanbul summit, which was reflected clearly in the subsequent press conference. Russian President Vladimir Putin raised the stakes when he stated that the Sochi agreement on the demilitarised zone in Idlib province is a temporary measure, hinting that a military option is still on the table. Many interpreted that statement as an implicit threat aimed at Turkey, Germany and France: If they do not go along with Russian plans, they should be prepared for three million civilians currently living in Idlib fleeing towards their borders. Why Russia really wants the US out Putins remarks on Idlib were also an indication that his ultimate goal in Syria is to end all foreign military presence there, including Turkish, French, and particularly the US. In early October, Putin said: We should pursue a goal that there would be no foreign forces, [the forces] of third states in Syria at all. In fact, Russia was very disturbed by the US plans to maintain a military presence in Syria after the end of the war against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). The stated objectives of the US decision to stay in the northeast of the country were articulated in September: to preclude the resurgence of ISIL, contain Iran and prevent it from establishing a land corridor through Iraq and Syria to Lebanon, and use this military presence as a bargaining chip to force a political solution to the Syrian conflict. Today the US controls one-third of Syrian territories through its alliance with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF); Russia (through the Syrian regime) dominates a bit more than half of the country; and the rest is under Turkish supervision (through the Syrian opposition forces it supports). The SDF-controlled area contains 90 percent of Syrias oil and gas reserves, including al-Omar, its largest oil field, as well as most of its water resources, major dams, and power plants. The northeast is also Syrias breadbasket. As long as this area is out of its control, no government in Damascus can survive independently from foreign aid. And the Russians, who are eager to reap the economic benefit of their military intervention in Syria, do not want to and cannot provide financial aid. Hence, the withdrawal of the US forces is essential for the survival of the Syrian regime and for the success of Russias Syrian venture. Therefore, without a US-Russian agreement, there can be no significant progress made on a political solution in Syria. In this sense, the Istanbul summit was doomed to fail because the US was not there. Perhaps it was for this reason that French President Emmanuel Macron announced that on November 11 he will be hosting a US-Russia summit on Syria in Paris. The political future of the Kurds The US military presence on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River is troubling for Turkey, too, but for completely different reasons. It supports and funds the SDF whose core consists of the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG), an affiliate of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) which has engaged in a guerrilla conflict with the Turkish government for decades. Turkey believes therefore that the continued presence of the US forces near its southern borders with Syria empowers the Kurds and nurtures their ambitions for independence. French support for the Kurdish fighters in eastern Syria was also a bone of contention between Paris and Ankara before and during the Istanbul summit. The French have in recent months expanded their military presence in the area in support of SDFs fight against ISIL. As a sign of displeasure, Turkish intelligence disclosed the positions of the French Special Forces in SDF-controlled territories. France has also suggested that the SDF should have a seat at any constitutional committee formed to rewrite the Syrian constitution in the future, which Turkey has flatly rejected. But France and the US are not the only ones supporting the SDFs cause; Russia is also pressing Turkey to accept some kind of Kurdish representation in any political talks on the future of Syria. It is pushing for some form of decentralisation of the Syrian political system. Despite being partners in the Astana process, Russia and Turkey do not necessarily trust each other. For the past year, Ankara has watched powerlessly how Moscow used the Astana process to eliminate or expel the Syrian opposition from three of the four de-escalation zones agreed on in May 2017. Over the summer, Russia was also considering plans to invade Idlib and finish off the last remaining stronghold of the Syrian opposition. With all these different agendas, interests and objectives, it is extremely difficult to see how the main powers in the Syrian conflict can reach an agreement. In the end, even if they do, it will certainly be at the expense of the Syrian people, who appear to have no say in negotiations on the future of their country. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. Sandy Tolan Sandy Tolan is author of the international bestseller, The Lemon Tree, and of the acclaimed Children of the Stone, about one Palestinians dream to es... more tablish music schools under Israels military occupation. He is a professor at the Annenberg School for Journalism and Communication at the University of Southern California. Khaleda Zia found guilty of misuse of power as PM in collecting $375,000 for a charitable trust from unknown sources. Bangladeshs imprisoned opposition leader Khaleda Zia was handed another seven years in prison on Monday on corruption charges her supporters say are politically motivated to prevent her running in general elections due at the end of the year. Zia, long a rival to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, is already behind bars after being handed a five-year term in February on separate embezzlement charges. Judge Md Akhtaruzaman on Monday found her guilty of misuse of power as prime minister in collecting $375,000 for the Zia Charitable Trust Fund from unknown sources. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader was absent in court as she is currently hospitalised while serving a prison term. The terms will run concurrently, meaning she will spend an extra two years in jail. {articleGUID} The judge also sentenced three others to seven years in jail each for collecting the money from undeclared sources for the trust named after Zias late husband and former President Ziaur Rahman. Her lawyers, who were also absent during the verdict, have consistently described the trial as political vengeance by Hasina, who has been accused of stifling her opponents. The opposition vowed nationwide marches on Tuesday to protest against the guilty verdict. The people will never accept this judgement, BNP Secretary-General Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told reporters. In February, Tarique Rahman, Zias elder son and heir apparent, and four others were also sentenced to 10 years in the case. Pre-election crackdown The fresh conviction is expected to further impede Zias chances of challenging her erstwhile ally Hasina in the parliamentary elections slated for December. Zia boycotted the 2014 general election which saw her arch-rival Hasina returned to power. The BNP had been hoping a higher court would overturn Zias earlier sentence, setting her free and paving the way for the veteran opposition leader to run against Hasina. {articleGUID} But the latest guilty verdict throws up more hurdles for the opposition, which says 4,000 of its supporters have been arrested since September in a pre-election crackdown. Prosecutor Khurshid A Khan said the latest charges against Zia occurred in 2005, during her second term as prime minister of the Muslim-majority democracy of 160 million. We finally got justice, despite some delay, he told AFP. Zia entered politics in the mid-1980s after her husband, a former military dictator, was assassinated in an abortive coup. She faces dozens of separate charges related to violence and corruption that her lawyers insist are baseless. The 73-year-old leader says the charges are designed to keep her family out of politics. It is not Zias first time in prison. She and her son Tarique Rahman spent one and a half years behind bars after being held by the army-backed government in 2007 awaiting trial for alleged corruption. Zias sentencing was yet another blow for her political dynasty with Rahman, her eldest and heir apparent to the opposition movement, jailed for life in absentia this month. He lives in exile in London. Rahman was found guilty of playing a key role in a 2004 grenade attack on one of Hasinas political rallies, which injured the then opposition leader and killed at least 20 others. Nineteen people were sentenced to death over the attack on Hasina, whose father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman led Bangladeshs push for independence from Pakistan and long feuded with Zias own father, an opposition hero. The guilty verdict comes at a time when the independence of Bangladeshs judiciary is under question. In a recently published best-selling memoir, a former chief justice alleged he was forced into exile last year after disagreeing with Bangladeshs powerful intelligence services over a case. Supporters of jailed Shia scholar Ibrahim el-Zakzaky were marching in Abuja to call for the release of their leader. Clashes have erupted in Nigeria between security forces and the supporters of an imprisoned Shia cleric marching in the capital, Abuja. The army and police confronted hundreds of members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), the groups spokesman Ibrahim Musa told AFP news agency on Monday, amid reports of casualties. A witness told Reuters news agency that the military shot at the protesters who were demanding the release of Ibrahim el-Zakzaky, a pro-Iranian cleric. The security agents attacked members of the IMN when they were in the procession coming into Abuja, Musa told AFP. People were killed definitely, said Musa, who was not at the procession and could not give a death toll. {articleGUID} We dont carry arms on our procession, we dont block roads the security agents have decided to shed our blood, he added. The group says el-Zakzaky must be freed after a court ruled his detention without charge illegal. On Saturday, the military shot dead three Shia followers during a similar confrontation on the outskirts of Abuja. According to the army, soldiers transporting weapons and ammunition were attacked by groups members an account the IMN categorically refutes. The group members had established an illegal roadblock denying motorists free passage and when the military tried to clear the barrier they were met with stiff opposition, army spokesperson James Myam said in a statement on Sunday. Soldiers opened fire on the IMN members after they pelted the troops with stones and attempted to cart away the ammunition and missiles the troops were escorting, the statement added. {articleGUID} El-Zakzaky has been jailed since December 2015 when security forces killed hundreds of members of his group in a crackdown on the group. Rights groups have accused Nigerias military of killing more than 300 IMN supporters and burying them in mass graves during the 2015 confrontation, a charge the army strongly denies. The cleric, who lost an eye and was left partially paralysed in the violence, has been at loggerheads with authorities for years because of his call for an Iranian-style Islamic revolution. Northern Nigeria is majority Sunni Muslim. Once completed in 2028, the new facility in the Turkish megacity is expected to handle up to 200 million passengers. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has inaugurated a massive new airport project in Istanbul, which, once complete, is expected to become one of the worlds largest. More than 50 foreign dignitaries from at least 18 countries on Monday attended the lavish opening ceremony of the first phase of the new facility, called Istanbul Airport, local media reported. Istanbul is a beautiful jewel between two seas thats why we called [the airport] Istanbul, Erdogan said at the ceremony which coincided with the 95th anniversary of the Turkish Republic. We see Istanbul Airport as investment not only in our country but also in our region and the world, he added. The new Istanbul airport will provide more than $30.65bn of revenue for the government [Murad Sezer/Reuters] Erdogan said the new facility will continue to grow for the next decade until all phases are completed by 2028, according to state-run Anadolu Agency. It is expected that a daily 2,000 aircraft from more than 250 carriers will go through the airport by the end of 2018 to over 350 destinations, said Anadolu. Constructed at an initial cost of $7.2bn, the new facility is expected to provide more than $30.65bn in revenue for the government and host 90 million passengers by the end of the 2018 and up to 200 million upon completion in 2028. According to preliminary 2017 figures from the Airport Council International, Atlanta airport in the United States hosted almost 104 million passengers last year. Istanbuls new airport is expected to host 90 million passengers by the end of 2018 [AFP/Turkish Presidential Press Office] Next came Beijing with 95.7 million passengers, Dubai with 88.2 million, Tokyo with 85.4 million and Los Angeles with 84.5 million. Praising Istanbuls geographic location, a bridge between Asia and Europe, Turkish Airlines CEO Bilal Eksi said: The opening of Istanbul New Airport will further contribute and create new opportunities to promote the cultural and commercial relations between Istanbul and Hong Kong. Among those present at the inauguration ceremony were Qatars Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and leaders from Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Albania and Serbia. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) says global air traffic is growing at an annual rate of 3.5 percent, with 4.1 billion passengers expected to take to the air this year, doubling to 8.2 billion by 2037. IATA has repeatedly warned that airports around the world will struggle to deal with this expansion, and has urged governments to make necessary investments. According to IGA, the company responsible for constructing and operating the new facility in Istanbul, the airport will initially have three runways and, by 2028, six runways with a capacity of 500 aircraft. Spread over an area of 76.5 million square meters, it will also boast car parks for around 70,000 cars. The airports maiden voyage will be from Istanbul to the Turkish capital, Ankara, on October 31. Meanwhile, Istanbuls current main airport named after Mustafa Kemal Ataturk will remain in operation until the end of this year, Erdogan said, after which it will be closed to commercial flights. A Turkish journalist residing in Germany has said he has been asked to leave the EU country by late January next year or will be deported for what he believes is linked to his call for freedom for journalists in Turkey during a press conference held in Berlin by host Angela Merkel and visiting Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Adil Yigit, who writes for the German newspaper TAZ, told German media he was informed Friday by German migration authorities to leave the EU power house by January 22. The 60-year old journalist has been living in Germany for 36 months and believes that the decision is linked to his call for freedom for journalists in his home country during the press conference. The two things have to be related, theres no other possible explanation, Yigit told German news agency DPA. In September, Yigit was hauled out of the press conference room for wearing a T-shirt reading Freedom for journalists in Turkey. Migration authorities said the journalist Yigit is unemployed and is no longer living with his children. Ankara has requested Berlin to hand over critics and dissidents. Hundreds of people have sought asylum in Germany as they face arrest back home in the aftermath of the July 2016 failed military coup. Thousands have been arrested in connection with the botched coup. Bongos office says president admitted to hospital with severe fatigue, while sources tell Reuters he suffered stroke. Gabons President Ali Bongo has been hospitalised in Saudi Arabia with fatigue, his office said. Bongo was admitted to hospital last week because of severe fatigue, government spokesperson Ike Ngouoni said in a statement on Sunday, while sources told Reuters news agency that he had suffered a stroke. The Gabonese president was still under observation on Monday at the King Faisal hospital in Riyadh, where he was taken on October 24. A medical and a diplomatic source both told Reuters that the president suffered a stroke. Ngouoni, however, denied this and said that Bongo instead had severe fatigue due to months of strenuous work. Bongo is feeling better and has been told to rest, Ngouoni added, while calling for vigilance against fake news following false reports of his death. A Cameroon TV station had announced live on air on Saturday that the Gabon president had died, without providing any evidence, he said. The 59-year-old president was in Saudi Arabia to attend the Future Investment Initiative conference where he was scheduled to speak alongside other African leaders but was not seen during the discussion. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visited him in the hospital that evening, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said on Thursday. However, in a separate dispatch, SPA said Bongo attended a speech by bin Salman at the conference on Wednesday. Bongo, whose family has ruled the oil-rich central African nation for nearly half a century, has been president since succeeding his father Omar in 2009. He narrowly won re-election in 2016 in a poll that the opposition claimed was marred by fraud. Mass protests broke out, during which the national parliament was gutted by fire. The country went to the polls this month for the first time since that vote, with the second round of legislative elections on Saturday seeing Bongos party coasting towards victory. Police fired rubber bullets, tear gas as more than 1,000 migrants and refugees attempted to cross border into Mexico. Tecun Uman, Guatemala and Tapachula, Mexico A Honduran man was killed late on Sunday as the crackdown on migrants and refugees walking from Central America to the United States intensified. Henry Diaz, a 26-year-old Honduran, was shot in the head with a rubber bullet, causing a deep head wound. He died on the way to a local hospital. Diaz was among more than 1,000 migrants and refugees, most of them from Honduras, who attempted to force their way through the Tecun Uman crossing on Sunday. Police also used tear gas; more than 100 people were wounded. The group at the Mexican border on Sunday are attempting to catch up to the initial wave of now more than 7,000 migrants and refugees who began their journey north more than two weeks ago. The group has been dubbed a migrant caravan. Santo Avila, a 29-year-old labourer from Palestina, a rural community in eastern Honduras, told Al Jazeera the confrontation was a setback for the group. We advanced maybe 10 percent, but we have been set back 100 percent, said Avila, while sitting on the bridge over the Suchiate River between Guatemala and Mexico. If the Mexican government does not let us through then we will have to return to Honduras where we will continue to suffer from extreme poverty and be threatened by the government, he said. We want to maintain the peace and find the support of the [Mexican] government in order to find opportunity. Central Americans, part of a caravan trying to reach the US, stand near the Mexican border gate on the bridge between Guatemala and Mexico as they try to cross into Mexico [Carlos Garcia Rawlins/Reuters] The Tecun Uman border crossing, the principal crossing between Guatemala and Mexico, has been closed for more than a week. Blocked from crossing, groups of Hondurans travelling up through Guatemala gathered until they had a sizable group to attempt to enter Mexico together. After migrants and refugees broke through a border gate and tried to force their way past Guatemalan police, officers deployed tear gas, batons and flash-bang grenades. People in the crowd responded by hurling tear gas canisters back at police, along with any items they could find, including tree branches, water bottles, and even personal backpacks. Among those injured were children, according to local news reports. Several police officers were also wounded, the Guatemalan national police force said. The Mexican government rejected that violent protests took place at the border, Mexican Minister of the Interior Alfonso Navarrete said on Sunday in a press conference. {articleGUID} Navarrete denied Diaz was killed by Mexican forces. Mexican federal police were not carrying any weapons, not even plastic bullets, he said at the press conference. But migrants and refugees as well as observers and media, including Al Jazeera, witnessed federal police firing rubber bullets. The only way to enter Mexico is by following immigration laws, Navarrete said. He added that Mexico does not criminalise undocumented migration and mentioned that Mexico is recognised internationally for its absolute respect for migrants human rights. Violates international law But international human rights groups disagree. Amnesty International accused the government of effectively detaining more than 1,000 migrants and refugees who requested asylum in what the government has described as a shelter. Guatemalan and Mexican official human rights commissions have also raised concerns about governmental responses to the groups of migrants and refugees travelling through both countries. {articleGUID} Guatemalan human rights ombudsman Jordan Rodas lamented Diazs death in a statement on Sunday. He called on authorities to act within a framework of respect for human rights and privileging dialogue, and on migrants to remain peaceful. Carla Rubio was caught up in the border chaos, having crossed onto the bridge after the crowd brought down a border fence. She was happy to finally be one step closer to Mexico and frustrated at the police repression that had occurred. It is inhumane what the [Guatemalan police] have done, she told Al Jazeera. A 38-year-old woman from Tegucigalpa, the Honduran capital, Rubio is travelling with her family, including three children. The police response was unjustified, she said. There was no aggression. We only wanted a dialogue, said Rubio. Thousands of Honduran migrants and refugees are making their way north through Mexico, fleeing violence and unemployment [Sandra Cuffe/Al Jazeera] Tensions remained high throughout the day. Various military and police forces were present throughout the border region, and a Mexican federal police helicopter circled overhead. Mexican Marines were deployed in boats on the Suchiate River and made periodic announcements warning migrants against crossing into the country between official ports of entry, saying they should instead seek to apply for asylum. But those within the caravan remain sceptical. They say they are going to give asylum, Rubio told Al Jazeera, but said that they are not providing the means, it is a lie. {articleGUID} Rubio and her family are fleeing Honduras due to the threat of violence. She and her husband want to find work and provide a better future for their family. Our country does not have the conditions for them, she said of their three young children. Most migrants and refugees fleeing north cite unemployment or violence or both as their primary reason for leaving Honduras. The country has one of the 10 highest per capita homicide rates in the world and more than two-thirds of its inhabitants live in poverty. More threats and challenges While some caravan participants have always planned to seek a new life in Mexico, reaching the US is the goal for most. {articleGUID} But there, US President Donald Trump has threatened to cut US aid to Central American governments and to shut down the southern border of the US. Reuters, citing an unnamed source, reported on Monday that thousands of US troops may be sent to the border. The Pentagon declined Reuters request for comment, saying planning was still under way. There were also unconfirmed reports last week that the White House was considering an executive order to block the migrants and refugees from entering the US. Many families with small children are among the thousands of Honduran migrants and refugees fleeing to the US [Sandra Cuffe/Al Jazeera] Still more than 1,200km from the US border, the caravan participants are undeterred. Although they have been met with overwhelming support from many of the towns theyve walked through, Mexican security have attempted to stop the group at several points along the way. On Saturday, Mexican federal police blocked the highway and temporarily prevented the advance of the caravan through the state of Chiapas. {articleGUID} Mexican police cleared out after more than two hours, after the crowd agreed to continue dialogue with the Mexican government about President Enrique Pena Nietos offer of temporary jobs and access to services for migrants and refugees should they choose to remain in the states of Chiapas and Oaxaca, in southern Mexico. The offer was only made to the large initial group already travelling up through Mexico, the proposal Pena Nieto announced Friday was not directed at any new groups seeking to enter the country. Meanwhile, hundreds of people set out Sunday from both Olancho, in eastern Honduras, and San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador. Following the police crackdowns at the border Sunday, the group set up sleeping areas on the Guatemalan side of the border. Overnight, Guatemalan authorities reinforced and fortified a border fence with barbed wire. On Monday, a large group set out to cross the Suchiate River into Mexico. The situation at the border is tense, but they still hope to make it into Mexico and catch up to the thousands now in the state of Oaxaca. After a night of being stopped at the Mexican border, the Honduran migrants have crossed the river on foot pic.twitter.com/8YuNwxMsLl Jeff Abbott (@palabrasdeabajo) October 29, 2018 Jeff Abbott was reporting from Tecun Uman, Guatemala and Sandra Cuffe was reporting from Tapachula, Mexico. Boeing 737 with 189 people on board goes down into the Java Sea shortly after takeoff from the capital, Jakarta. Indonesias search-and-rescue agency said on Monday there are likely no survivors from the Lion Air passenger flight that crashed into the sea north of Java Island. Rescue officials told Al Jazeera there were 189 people on board the aircraft. We need to find the main wreckage, Bambang Suryo, operational director of the agency, told reporters. I predict there are no survivors, based on body parts found so far, Suryo said. The plane which was travelling from Jakarta to the island of Sumatra lost contact at 6:30am (23:30 GMT) 13 minutes after takeoff, according to the official. The Boeing 737 MAX 8 airliner was flying from the capital to the city of Pangkal Pinang at 1,113 metres above sea level when it lost contact with air traffic controllers. Pilots requested to return to base shortly before losing contact, said Yohanes Sirait, a spokesman for the countrys air navigation authorities. The [traffic] control allowed that but then, it lost contact, Sirait said. Wreckage was found near where the aircraft lost contact, said Muhammad Syaugi, head of the search-and-rescue agency. Rescuers retrieve debris and belongings from the sea [Courtesy: National Search and Rescue Agency, Indonesia] President Joko Widodo said he has ordered the National Commission for Transportation Safety to investigate the crash. Rescuers are making their best efforts to find victims and urged Indonesians to keep on praying, he said. Meanwhile, an Indian embassy official in Jakarta said one of the pilots was Indian citizen Bhavye Suneja. The official said there were no Indian passengers on board the flight. The crash was the worst airline disaster in Indonesia since an AirAsia flight plunged into the sea in December 2014, killing all 162 on board. Divers were deployed at the scene of the wreckage, marked by lifejackets and mobile phones floating in the sea. The National Search and Rescue Agency said the flight ended in waters off West Java that are 30 to 35 metres deep. An official from Indonesias safety transport committee said he could not confirm the cause of the crash. We will collect all data from the control tower, said Soerjanto Tjahjono. The plane is so modern, it transmits data from the plane and that we will review, too. But the most important is the black box. The flight path of Lion Air flight JT610, which took off from Jakarta on Monday morning [Flightradar 24] The Flightradar website showed the plane looping south on takeoff and then heading north before the flight path ended abruptly over the Java Sea, not far from the coast. Flightradar said the aircraft climbed to about 1,520 metres before losing then regaining height, before finally falling towards the sea. It was last recorded at 1,113 metres and its speed had risen to 345 knots. Indonesia energy firm Pertamina official told Reuters that debris, including plane seats, were found near its offshore facility. Indonesian TV showed dozens of people waiting anxiously outside the Pangkal Pinang airport and officials bringing out plastic chairs. The Boeing plane was delivered to Lion Air in August, according to air accident investigators. It had completed 800 flight hours. The accident is the first to be reported that involves the widely sold Boeing 737 MAX an updated, more fuel-efficient version of the manufacturers workhorse single-aisle jet. The first Boeing 737 MAX jets were introduced into service in 2017. Boeing is aware of the crash reports and is closely monitoring the situation, the company said on Twitter. Under international rules, the US National Transporation Safety Board will automatically assist with the inquiry into Mondays crash, backed by technical advisers from Boeing and US-French engine maker CFM International. Lion Air is one of Indonesias youngest and biggest airlines, flying to dozens of domestic and international destinations. Oil workers inspect debris [Courtesy: National Disaster Mitigation Agency] Indonesia relies heavily on air transport to connect its thousands of islands, but has a poor aviation safety record and has suffered several fatal crashes in recent years. A 12-year-old boy was the sole survivor of a plane crash that killed eight people in mountainous eastern Indonesia in August. Lion Air, a low-cost airline, has been involved in a number of incidents. Last year, one of its Boeing jets collided with a Wings Air plane as it landed at Kualanamu airport on the island of Sumatra; no one was injured. In May 2016, two Lion Air planes collided at Jakartas Soekarno-Hatta airport, while a month earlier a plane operated by Batik Air part of the Lion Group clipped a TransNusa plane. In 2013, a Lion Air jet with a rookie pilot at the controls undershot the runway and crashed into the sea in Bali, splitting the plane in two. Several people were injured in the crash, although no one was killed. Christian party to join new government led by Saad Hariri, clearing way for agreement five months after elections. The Lebanese Forces (LF) party said it will join a new national unity government led by Saad Hariri despite an unfair offer of cabinet posts, clearing the way for an agreement on a new cabinet five months after an election. Hariri has been trying to form a government since the May parliamentary election, with the rivalry between the LF and President Michel Aouns Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) both Christian groups seen as the main obstacle. A government formed on this basis would mark a political victory for Aoun, an ally of the Iran-backed Shia group Hezbollah, over the LF, which is the groups most prominent opponent in Lebanon. Hariri said this month that the countrys economic problems meant further delay could not be allowed. Lebanese politicians have warned that their country, which has the third-highest level of public debt in the world, faces an economic crisis. LF leader Samir Geagea, in a televised news conference, said the ministerial portfolios offered to his party represented an injustice when compared with the size of its parliamentary bloc 15 MPs and the ministries offered to other groups. {articleGUID} There is a very big injustice to the Lebanese Forces, he said. However, the party had decided to enter the government to continue to work from inside the government to achieve our goals, he said. Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri earlier suggested a breakthrough could be imminent. In principle, something should happen today, Berri said in response to a question about the government. His comments were broadcast by Lebanese media. Forming a government is seen as an essential first step on the long road to repairing Lebanons heavily-indebted and stagnant economy, allowing authorities to start overdue reforms and unlock billions in donor financing. Alain Aoun, an FPM member and member of parliament, said he expected agreement on the government on Monday or Tuesday. We are almost there, he told Reuters news agency via text message. Hezbollah member Mohammad Raad, speaking in comments broadcast by Lebanese media, said: We are in the last phase and the period of serious anticipation. We hope the formation will be soon. NATO military drills: Germany sends largest contingent The German armed forces lead the biggest military exercises of NATO since the Cold War. Saudi Arabia has arrested 18 Saudi nationals in connection with the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul. Istanbul, Turkey When Saudi Arabias top prosecutor met with Istanbuls chief public prosecutor on Monday, it was a rare display of cooperation in the investigation into the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Nearly three weeks since the two sides agreed to conduct a joint probe and almost a month since Khashoggi was killed at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Ankara and Riyadh appear to be pursuing separate strategies with seemingly divergent aims. The Saudis have also launched their own internal investigation, arresting 18 individuals, but have rejected Turkish requests to extradite the men. For its part, Turkey has drip-fed evidence from its probe to local and international media, heaping pressure on the Saudis to provide answers. On Monday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu called on the kingdom to reveal the whole truth about the murder. Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir has said that Riyadh is determined to uncover every stone in its investigation. We want to make sure that those who are responsible are punished, he told Fox News on October 21. We are determined to find out all the facts and we are determined to punish those who are responsible for this murder. Non-transparent trials Political leaders in the United States and Europe, as well as the United Nations and international human rights groups, have urged the Saudis to conduct a thorough, transparent, timely investigation and deliver accountability for the murder. But legal and human rights experts told Al Jazeera that if Riyadh were to investigate and eventually try the suspects in Saudi Arabia, there would be little chance of a fair and transparent process. There is basically no separation of powers in Saudi Arabia, said Noha Aboueldahab, visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution in Doha. The judicial system is not independent and as a result, you have unfair and non-transparent trials. Saudi Arabia will probably use national security as an excuse to prevent the recording of this trial, Aboueldahab, an expert on the prosecution of political leaders in the Arab world, added. {articleGUID} These practices are common in Saudi Arabia, Aboueldahab said, citing a recent UN report. The June report stated that Saudi Arabia uses its anti-terror laws to torture suspects and that those in prison are prevented from talking to lawyers. Antoine Madelin, director for international advocacy at the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), agreed with Aboueldahabs view that the chances of a fair trial in the kingdom are small. Saudi Arabia has proven itself as a country where there is no independence of the judiciary and [has] a track record of human rights violations, particularly when these trials regard the Saudi Arabian authorities, Madelin told Al Jazeera. Anything related to this crime will neither be independent nor democratic, he argued. Death penalty? Suspects convicted of murder, rape, terrorism and drug trafficking offences face the death penalty under Saudi Arabias penal code. Last year, at least 146 executions took place in the kingdom, Amnesty International said in a report. According to Sultan Barakat, director of the centre for conflict and humanitarian studies at the Doha Institute in Qatar, if the suspects are executed, the truth of Khashoggis murder and who ordered the killing may become harder to uncover. I think if they are put on trial, we can see anything, [including] execution of the whole lot, so well never know exactly what happened, Barakat said. That is not good for anyone, itll cover up the story. But Aboueldahab said the chances of the 18 suspects being tried and executed are slim because the case was being followed closely around the world. Saudi Arabia has been criticised for using the death penalty, as have other countries in the region, so it probably wouldnt do Saudi Arabia any favours to give these people the death penalty, she said. International pressure Turkish officials allege a 15-member Saudi assassination squad flew to Istanbul to kill Khashoggi, a critic of the powerful Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said the team carried out reconnaissance north of Istanbul and deactivated the consulates security cameras. While stopping short of accusing Saudi royals of the savage killing, Erdogan has also said Turkish authorities have gathered more evidence, which will be made public when the time comes. Meanwhile, al-Jubeir, the Saudi foreign minister, last week criticised the global outcry surrounding Khashoggis killing as hysterical and said the investigation would take time and facts should be determined as inquiries continue. Aboueldahab said the Saudis could prolong their probe, dragging out the process while hoping the worlds attention will shift away from the murder. Yes, investigations take time. But pressure from the international community is crucial and that pressure needs to be sustained, she said. FIDHs Madelin said international pressure had been extremely effective, effectively pushing Riyadh to shift its narrative surrounding the circumstances of Khashoggis killing. What has happened over the weeks has been a surprising chain of revelations that were totally outside of the Saudi Arabian government control, he said. {articleGUID} It has gradually pushed the Saudi government into a position to admit part of its responsibility, so in this context, I believe the only way to know more about who is responsible is by keeping pressure on them. Madelin also expressed concern that the Saudis may decide to hold a trial to show the world it had served justice, without actually holding those behind the killing responsible. I dont think Saudi Arabia will allow this trial to be held independently, in case anyone wants to unveil the fact that authorities are actually responsible, he said. I fear that we will be having a mock trial, something to please the international community. Aboueldahab concurred, adding that there are thousands of Jamal Khashoggis, not just in Saudi Arabia, but in other countries in the region as well. The thing is, if there is genuine concern [among Saudi Arabian authorities] about the fate of Jamal Khashoggi, I think you would see additional trials happening for all the other Saudi citizens who have been detained and tortured and ultimately killed. Sacked prime ministers party calls for protests as speaker warns of possible violence over parliaments suspension. A previous version of this article stated Mahinda Rajapaksa appointed a 12-member cabinet. This was incorrect. It was President Maithripala Sirisena who made the appointments. Colombo, Sri Lanka Sri Lankas President Maithripala Sirisena has come under increased pressure to allow legislators resolve a power struggle with his sacked prime minister, amid warnings that the countrys deepening political crisis could devolve into a bloodbath. The concern over possible violence came on Monday as legislators loyal to removed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe called on their supporters to converge on Sri Lankas capital, Colombo, to protest against what they said was a coup by Sirisena. Speaker Karu Jayasuriya urged the president to let Wickremesinghe prove his majority support on the parliament floor. If we take it out to the streets, there will be a huge bloodbath, he told a news conference. Referring to the death of one man when the bodyguard of one of Wickremesinghes deposed ministers opened fire on a crowd at the state-run Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) on Sunday, Jayasuriya added: There is unrest and foreign countries are issuing travel warnings. This will set the country back on the international stage and damage our economy. Police on Monday took the dismissed minister, Arjuna Ranatunga, into custody after workers at the CPC threatened to strike, demanding his arrest over their colleagues killing. He was released hours later. Ranil Wickremesinghe (centre) insists he remains the prime minister [Lakruwan Wanniarachchi/ AFP] Sri Lanka, a Buddhist-majority nation in the Indian Ocean, was plunged into chaos on Friday when Sirisena sacked Wickremesinghe in a surprise move. He also suspended parliament in an apparent bid to shore up support for newly appointed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, a former president accused of human rights abuses and corruption. The shock and confusion triggered by the presidents moves dissipated by Monday and Sirisena was under increasing political and diplomatic pressure to reconvene parliament and resolve the constitutional crisis. In a statement late on Sunday, Heather Nauert, a spokesperson for the US state department, expressed concern and backed the call by Wickremesinghes supporters to reconvene parliament. We urge all sides to refrain from intimidation and violence, she said. Democracy at stake Patali Champika Ranawaka, a member of Wickremesinghes United National Party (UNP), said some 126 legislators in the 225-member House sent letters to Jayasuriya, the speaker, on Monday, urging him to summon parliament. That figure includes 104 members of the UNP, and 22 members from the minority parties, the Tamil National Alliance and the Peoples Liberation Front, he said. This is a constitutional coup and spells the death knell for democracy, Ranawaka told reporters. I challenge Mahinda Rajapaksa to turn up at the parliament and show his majority. The legislator said the prime ministers supporters will gather in downtown Colombo at midday on Tuesday to protest his removal. Sirisenas party, however, said the speaker does not have the authority to recall parliament. Dayasiri Jayasekara, a member of Sirisenas party, also accused Wickremesinghe of stirring unrest. The UNP leader created this tense situation because he is greedy for power. If he feels the constitution has been violated, he should go to the Supreme Court, he said. Sirisena said on Sunday that he had no choice but to invite Rajapaksa a former rival he had defeated in elections in 2015 to form a new government. The reason being the alleged involvement of a member of Wickremesinghes cabinet in an assassination plot against him, he said. Sirisena also appointed 12 legislators to his cabinet, including ministers for finance, transport, education, agriculture, tourism and sports. Meanwhile, Rajapaksa assumed on Monday the duties of the prime ministers office at a ceremony attended by Buddhist monks in Colombo. In a statement on Sunday, the former president, who ruled Sri Lanka from 2005 to 2015, pledged to eschew politics of hate and call a snap election as soon as possible. His return to power, however, has worried human rights groups, who hold him responsible for alleged crimes committed by the military at the close of the countrys 26-year-long civil war against Tamil separatists. The conflict ended in 2009. Mahinda Rajapaksa (right) assumed duties of the prime ministers office [Dinuka Liyanawatte/ Reuters] Alan Keenan, analyst at the International Crisis Group, said Sirisenas actions were illegal and urged the international community to ramp up pressure on the president. Sri Lankas democracy is at stake, he said. Rajapaksa appears to be in a strong position. He has the backing of the president and the sympathy of the police and army. The longer he controls the state, the more likely it is for him to win the vote when parliament convenes, Keenan told Al Jazeera. The international community must tell Sirisena to allow a free and open vote immediately. They must also let him and his supporters know that there will be a price to pay if this farce continues and Rajapaksa ends up staying in power. The crisis has sparked widespread concern. China called for dialogue on Monday, with Lu Kang, spokesperson for the countrys foreign ministry, saying that Beijing was paying close attention to developments in Colombo. Antonio Guterres, the UN chief, said he was following developments closely, and called on the government to respect democratic values and uphold the rule of law. Earlier on Sunday, neighbouring India said it hoped Sri Lanka will follow the constitutional process. A group of prominent Sri Lankan students issued a statement calling on Sirisena to resume parliament. They said the presidents sacking of Wickremesinghe was the first unconstitutional and illegal transfer of power in the country since 1931. The Church of Ceylon, meanwhile, appealed to the security forces to act impartially and with restraint and said the countrys democratic constitution must not be abused for political expediency. Rathindra Kuruwita reported from Colombo. Zaheena Rasheed reported and wrote from Doha. Suicide attack targets Afghanistan election workers in Kabul A suicide bomber blew himself up near a vehicle as it entered the head office of Afghanistans Independent Election Commission on Monday, wounding at least six people, officials say. A female suicide bomber detonated her explosives near a shopping centre on busy Habib Bourguiba Avenue, officials say. At least nine people have been wounded in a suicide bomb blast that rocked the centre of Tunisias capital, Tunis, according to the interior ministry. A 30-year-old suicide bomber detonated her explosives on Monday afternoon near Le Palmarium shopping centre on the busy Habib Bourguiba Avenue, said Sofiene Zaag, interior ministry spokesperson. Eight policemen and one civilian were wounded following this suicide attack, he said, adding that the bomber was the only fatality. Zaag said the injured were transferred to Hospital Charles Nicolle in Tunis and the military hospital. According to Radio Mosaique FM, the bomber used a hand-made grenade containing small quantities of explosives. Pictures published on the stations social media platforms showed a veiled woman who appeared to be dead wearing dark trousers, a pink top and a short dark jacket with serious wounds on her left hip and stomach lying on the ground in a cordoned off area. Ricardo Gonzalez, a Tunis-based journalist who lives near the site of the attack, said the explosion was not very strong. In fact, I had a doubt whether this was a bomb or maybe a car accident, he told Al Jazeera. I went down to the street and saw many people moving towards the place where it had taken place. [As I got closer,] I saw several agents [security officers] lying on the ground and complaining about injuries. He also said some civilians were trying to give first aid to those wounded before the arrival of ambulances up to 10 minutes later. The 2015 attacks decimated Tunisias crucial tourism sector [Fethi Belaid/AFP] The busy avenue, which has many cafes and restaurants as well as hotels, has a regular security presence due to the proximity of government buildings. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. Since the 2011 uprising that toppled dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, attacks in Tunisia have killed dozens of members of the security forces and foreign tourists. In June 2015, 38 people were killed in a shooting rampage at the coastal resort of Sousse which targeted tourists, while an attack on the National Bardo Museum in Tunis the same year left 22 people dead. The attacks decimated Tunisias crucial tourism sector, which made up seven percent of gross domestic product. The country has been under a state of emergency since November 2015, when a suicide bombing claimed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) armed group in Tunis killed 12 presidential guards. Citys Jewish leaders publish open letter to US president demanding that he stops rhetoric against minorities. Jewish leaders in Pittsburgh, including the former president of the Tree of Life synagogue that was targeted in Saturdays deadly shooting, have said US President Donald Trump is not welcome in the city because of his rhetoric against minorities. A letter published by Behind the Arc, which describes itself as a movement for progressive Jews, said Trump would not be welcome until he distanced himself from white supremacists. For the past three years your words and your policies have emboldened a growing white nationalist movement, the letter read, addressing the US leader directly. You yourself called the murderer evil, but yesterdays [Saturdays] violence is the direct culmination of your influence, it continued. The group said Trump had undermined the safety of Muslims, the LGBTQ community, people of colour, and those with disabilities. Yesterdays massacre is not the first act of terror you incited against a minority group in our country. Robert Bowers, the man police say is responsible for the slaying of 11 Jewish worshippers, had blamed a Jewish organisation, the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS) for helping bring immigrants to the US. He said HIAS was bringing invaders into the country, in posts he made on Gab, a social media network that serves as a sanctuary for far-right activists barred from other sites. Trump has condemned the killings and Bowers criticised the US president for not hating Jews strongly enough. Opponents accuse Trump of having contributed to the climate of hate that made the attack possible. Mourners at a memorial service at the Sailors and Soldiers Memorial Hall of the University of Pittsburgh [Cathal McNaughton/Reuters] Speaking to CNN after the Behind the Arc letter was issued, Lynette Lederman, the former president of the Tree of Life synagogue said she agreed with the letter. I do not welcome this president to this city, she said, describing the Republican leader as a purveyor of hate speech. The hypocritical words that come from him tell me nothing. We have a very strong leadership in this city, we have a very strong mayor with very strong values, a very strong county executivewe have people who stand by us, who believe in values, not just Jewish valuesand those are not the values of this president. On Monday, the White House announced that the president and First Lady Melania Trump will visit Pennsylvania on Tuesday to express the support of the American people and to grieve with the Pittsburgh community. Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, the Tree of Lifes spiritual leader who survived the attack, told NBC that he would welcome a visit from Trump, but that we turn to leaders of our country, and weve gotta stop hate we need to act to tone down the rehtoric. Trump slammed for suggesting armed groups would have helped Trump also drew criticism for saying that the synagogue should have had an armed guard. If there was an armed guard inside the temple, they would have been able to stop him, the president said just hours after the incident. Trump also called for the death penalty, and he said the shooting looks definitely like its an anti-Semitic crime, and that is something you wouldnt believe could still be going on. According to a 2017 study by Brandeis University, 63 percent of the citys Squirrel Hill community, where the shooting took place, were a little or somewhat concerned about anti-Semitism. About 18 percent were very much concerned, the study found. The Anti-Defamation League found that the number of anti-Semitic incidents in the US rose 57 percent in 2017 when compared with the previous year. Vigils Communities across the US held ad-hoc vigils over the weekend to mourn those who were killed by Bowers, and more are planned for the week. US flags were flown at half-mast over public buildings in the capital Washington, DC, and elsewhere to remember the victims. People mourn the loss of life as they hold a vigil for the victims of Pittsburgh synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S [John Altdofer/Reuters] A multi-faith ceremony in Pittsburgh drew Christian choirs and Islamic groups, who announced they had raised more than $123,000 in a crowdfunding campaign for survivors and relatives of those who died. A separate GoFundMe campaign has raised more than $609,000 for those affected. The United States chief envoy for North Korea sought to give a boost to nuclear talks on Monday, saying he was absolutely certain Washington and Seoul could work together to secure the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula. We have a shared goal here, which is to bring an end to 70 years of war and hostilities on the Korean Peninsula, Stephen Biegun, told South Korean counterpart Lee Do-hoon as the two met in Seoul. The primary requirement for us to get to the end point is to achieve final, fully, verified denuclearisation of North Korea, he added. I am absolutely certain we can do this together. In recent weeks, South Korea has pushed ahead with efforts to engage with North Korea, raising US concerns over a range of issues from sanctions enforcement to a proposed no-fly zone between the two Koreas. Lee said Washington and Seoul are working to ensure both countries engage North Korea in a united front. Because the denuclearisation process is at a critical juncture, we need to meet up as often as possible to make sure there is no daylight whatsoever between our two allies, he said. While Biegun is not scheduled to visit North Korea, he said he was eager to begin working-level negotiations with the reclusive state as soon as possible. He said early this month he had offered to meet his North Korean counterpart, Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed to work towards denuclearisation during an unprecedented summit with US President Donald Trump in June, but North Koreas actions have failed to satisfy US demands for irreversible steps to scrap its arsenal, including a full disclosure of nuclear facilities and material. Auction for super-yacht, Equanimity, closes in one month and bidders must pay a $1m deposit to take part. Equanimity, the luxury ocean-going yacht at the heart of the 1MDB scandal, went on sale on Monday as Malaysias new government tries to retrieve some of the billions of dollars that are thought to have gone missing from the state fund. The sale is being handled by London-based brokerage, Burgess Yachts. The judicial sales process will follow strict guidelines, but essentially shall be by the submission of sealed bids by qualified potential buyers, to be opened by the Sheriff of the High Court of Malaya in November/December 2018, the broker said on its website. 1MDB lawyer Ong Chee Kwan confirmed the sale on Friday after a series of court hearings. {articleGUID} Those who are interested to bid need to pay one million dollars as deposit, he said. The auction closes on November 28. The $250m Equanimity has been anchored at Port Klang on Malaysias west coast since August, after being seized in Bali at the request of US authorities investigating the 1MDB scandal. The US Department of Justice has said more than $4.5bn was stolen from 1MDB by high-level officials and their associates and used to fund increasingly extravagant lifestyles. At least six countries including Singapore, Switzerland, and the United States are investigating what happened. Impressive beach club The US said Jho Low, the Malaysian financier accused of being at the centre of the corruption scandal, bought the 91.5-metre Equanimity with money diverted from the fund and advised its builders on his preferred specifications. Burgess Yachts said under admiralty law, the judicial sale would provide any buyer with an internationally recognised ownership title free of mortgage, attachment and all encumbrances. Low, who has so far evaded investigators, has issued statements through US lawyers claiming the transfer of the yacht to Malaysia was illegal, but he did not claim ownership, allowing a Malaysian courtto award ownership to 1MDB and the government. Super-yacht Equanimity belonged to the Malaysian businessman known as Jho Lo [Ahmad Yusini/EPA] The teak-decked ocean-going ship, which was built by Oceanco in the Netherlands in 2014, can accommodate as many as 22 guests in its suites and boasts an impressive beach club, according to Burgess. It also has an extensive gym and spa facilities with a massage room, hammam and sauna, as well as a helipad. Former Prime Minister Najib Razak set up the 1MDB fund with Jho Lows assistance in 2009, but investigators allege huge sums of money were stolen through a web of offshore bank accounts. Najib has appeared in court four times since his party lost power in Mays general election amid simmering public anger over 1MDB. It was the first change in government since the country won its independence from the UK in 1957. Rosmah Mansor, Najibs wife, has also been charged. Both have pleaded not guilty and their trials will start next year. And as Haiti decends into chaos after the assassination of its president, Biden says he is not sending US troops there. Cloward-Piven is a political strategy first described in 1966, by two Columbia University sociologists, Richard Cloward and Frances Fox Piven. This was published appropriately in the far-left The Nation, the oldest continuously published news magazine in the country. Cloward-Pivens goal was the creation of, A political crisis would result that could lead to legislation for a guaranteed annual income and thus an end to poverty. The objective was chaos and turmoil, or in their words, A massive drive to recruit the poor onto the welfare rolls. This would be followed by, A federal program of income redistribution has become necessary to elevate the poor en masse from poverty. The strategy uses community organizers to mobilize welfare recipients. Then, As the crisis develops, it will be important to use the mass media to inform the broader liberal community about the inefficiencies and injustices of welfare. Its more effective when a community organizer is the leader of the country for eight years assisted with a compliant and nonobjective national media. Or as Rahm Emanuel said, You never want a serious crisis to go to waste. Frances Fox Piven and Richard Cloward standing directly behind Bill Clinton at the 1993 signing ceremony for the Motor Voter Law (Wikipedia) By crisis, Cloward and Piven mean, A publicly visible disruption in some institutional sphere. How do they create such a crisis? Crisis can occur spontaneously (e.g., riots) or as the intended result of tactics of demonstration and protest which either generate institutional disruption or bring unrecognized disruption to public attention. In other words, community organize protests, riots, and generalized chaos. And overwhelm Americas welfare system to the point that the only way out is through the tunnel leading to a centralized social-welfare state, as is seen in many European and South American countries. Since the articles publication over 50 years ago, steady progress has been made in the direction Cloward and Piven advocate. From Medicare and Medicaid, to the Great Society. New government agencies and bureaucracies choking innovation and economic growth. Ill-conceived and endless wars, expansion of food stamps, Medicaid, and other social welfare programs, resulting in the majority of Americans receiving government benefits. Each program brought on by some crisis. Seniors and the poor not getting their medical care. Kids hungry at school. The worlds poor arriving on our shores needing to be cared for. Democrats have no ideas or policies appealing to the majority of Americans, so this is their hail mary pass, creating enough chaos to bring down the current system, so they can rebuild it in the image of Cuba or the Soviet Union. Fortunately a funny thing happened on the way to the forum. But not so funny for the Cloward-Piven crowd when Donald Trump won the presidential election in 2016. Trump is the first federal elected official in recent time, with the exception of the occasional vocal Congressman or Senator, to throw a wrench into the plans of the big government, globalist elites. In addition to expanding the welfare rolls internally, another way to overwhelm the system is to import more welfare recipients with the goal of overwhelming the system. This occurs via immigration, both legal and illegal. Think of what the current migrant caravan means in terms of Cloward-Piven. Thousands of poor, unskilled migrants entering the US. They need health care, education, housing, food, clothing, and other basic needs which all cost money. Who pays for this? The migrants arrive with the clothes on their back, not with job offers from Fortune 500 companies and guaranteed self-sufficiency. Trump has other plans. Common sense rather than chaos and doing whats best for America and her citizens, rather than virtue signaling to the world. Donald Trump recognized Cloward-Piven the day he announced his candidacy. After riding down the escalator at Trump Tower, he told America that if elected, he would build a wall on our southern border, and make Mexico pay for it. Its his signature issue. At his rallies, one of the usual chants, aside from lock her up and CNN sucks is build that wall. The average American who supports Trump doesnt want unlimited immigration into America, bringing expense, disease, and crime into their neighborhoods. Gallup reports, 150 million adults worldwide would migrate to the US if they could. That would be 50 percent increase in US population, most of whom would rely on some sort of government assistance. Give the left their way and how many of those 150 million would they welcome into America? Even if a few million at a time, the chaos would rapidly build. How many of these 150 million would be ill with polio, drug-resistant TB, hepatitis, scabies, and chicken-pox? As an example, chicken-pox broke out recently in a Denver immigrant detention center. The system must deal with the cost of this including quarantine and medical care. Big media fans the flames, calling Trump and his supporters racists, xenophobes, and Nazis for wanting to stop wanton illegal immigration. They welcome the chaos as it supports their political agenda without affecting them personally. Elected officials too, on both sides of the aisle, are happy to welcome overwhelming chaos to our shores. Democrat Representative Joe Kennedy III, invoking everyone from his great uncle, to Reagan and Jesus, writes in Time how America must welcome the migrant caravan. Just as long as they are in your backyard as they wont be welcome anywhere the Kennedy compound in Hyannisport. Ohio Republican Governor John Kasich, famous son of a mailman, told CNN we have a moral obligation to accept those invading our southern border because of the accident of our birth in the US. Im sure the virtue signaling governor would welcome every illegal immigrant in Ohio. Or does his virtue stop at his states border? Overwhelm the system via an unstainable growth in the welfare state. Thats the Cloward-Piven strategy; create such chaos that the only solution is socialism, creating power for the elite and misery for most Americans. But dont worry about the Kasichs, Kennedys, Clintons, Obamas, Acostas or any of the other political-media elite who will be sure they and their families are prosperous, safe in their secure communities and schools, far from the hordes of third world immigrants. The migrant caravan, aside from attempting to influence the midterm election, is typical Cloward-Piven strategy. Overwhelm the system including border security agencies and now likely the military. If this caravan gets refuge in the US, a dozen more caravans will pop up next week, and every week thereafter, an endless burden on the US, dispiriting Trump supporters, paving the way for increasing Democrat control of government. Cropped from Fox Business Network via YouTube This is one of many reasons why the midterm elections are so important. Aside from policy differences, its Americas last defense against overwhelming the socio-economic backbone of the country, paving the way for turning America into Europe, one illegal immigrant at a time. Brian C Joondeph, MD, MPS, a Denver based physician and writer. Follow him on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. More than 242 years after the United States was founded, only 37 percent of Americans are satisfied with the current state of the country, according to a recent Gallup poll. Of the 61 percent that are unsatisfied, many believe the social, economic, and cultural issues plaguing the country will lead to its downfall. This belief begs the question: How long can a democracy last? According to Scottish historian Alexander Fraser Tytler, only about 200 years: A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship. The average age of the worlds greatest civilizations has been 200 years. These nations have progressed through this sequence: From bondage to spiritual faith; From spiritual faith to great courage; From courage to liberty; From liberty to abundance; From abundance to selfishness; From selfishness to apathy; From apathy to dependence; From dependence back into bondage. If this cycle of democracy only lasts 200 years, is the United States running on borrowed time? From Bondage to Spiritual Faith During the initial stage of the so-called Tytler Cycle, a people who are suffering from injustices develop a philosophy to break their bonds. In the early years of America, this occurred when King George III implemented restrictions upon the colonists, and the colonists began to recognize the injustices dealt upon them. From Spiritual Faith to Great Courage The second stage of the Tytler Cycle involves taking action to right the injustices identified in the first stage. In the 1770s, this occurred in multiple instances, most notably the Boston Tea Party, which led to the American War for Independence. During this time, colonists fought for the principles they developed under the height of King George IIIs tyranny. From Courage to Liberty In the third stage of the Tytler Cycle, the battles fought to escape injustice have been successful, and liberty takes hold and evolves. After the Revolutionary War, the still-young American nation embraced its newfound liberty: The states ratified the U.S. Constitution and passed the Bill of Rights, the American government took shape, democracy spread across North America, and the 13th Amendment abolished slavery after the Civil War. From Liberty to Abundance The fourth stage of the Tytler Cycle occurs when liberty leads to prosperity. Through sacrifice, hard work, and other virtues, a civilization reaches its apex. The United States entered this stage in the late nineteenth century and lasted more than 100 years. During this pivotal period of American history, the United States became an industrial powerhouse, the worlds financial center, and the leading innovator of new technology, such as electricity, communications, transportation, information, and household goods. In the blink of an eye, America went from a fledgling country to the worlds economic superpower. From Abundance to Selfishness During the fifth stage of the Tytler Cycle, members of a civilization become more concerned with their own needs and desires than contributing to their civilization. In this stage, a democracy begins its precipitous decline. In the United States, this stage began in the 1960s, when young Americans launched the counterculture movement and engaged in rampant drug use, free love, and numerous illicit activities -- purely for their personal enjoyment. Few during this period wished to fight for the ideals their country was built upon. Not only that, but the family unit experienced a major breakdown. From Selfishness to Apathy Whereas the previous stage was the turning point in which selfishness took root, the apathy stage is where it spreads like a virus. In the United States, this occurred when the Baby Boomers came of age and began to fill leadership roles in the country, not only spreading their self-indulgence across the nation but also infecting the culture with a me mentality and the greed is good philosophy. As Bill Clinton entered the Oval Office and Americans lived well beyond their means, the values of the Founding Fathers -- liberty, selflessness, and discipline -- fell by the wayside. From Apathy to Dependence This stage of the Tytler Cycle occurs when the selfish tendencies of a society cause it to become reliant on government. In the United States, this stage truly took shape in the early twenty-first century, when a greater number of Americans began to rely on the government for food, shelter, and other necessities they felt entitled to, rather than working hard to earn them. In 2012, Republican Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney said, There are 47 percent who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe the government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you-name-it. As a result of this, Romney was ostracized (probably by the 47 percent) and lost the election. From Dependence to Bondage The final stage of the Tytler Cycle represents a reversion to bondage and powerlessness. Members of a civilization are fully dependent on the centralized government, and have little to no power, freedom, or liberty. In the United States, this is sadly represented by the explosion of the size and scope of the federal government in the past decade. During this ominous period, the national debt has reached more than $21 trillion. The federal governments workforce is at an all-time high, not to mention the skyrocketing number of state and local public officials. Overregulation and complicated laws are forcing Americans into a state of perpetual compliance to the ever-growing creeds of government. The days of liberty have long passed us by: Now, the government can determine what foods we eat, what type of car we drive, and even what kind of lightbulb we use in our homes. Bearing all of this in mind, there is still reason for hope. Although the United States is following the path of many powerful civilizations that eventually fell into decay, there is something fundamentally different about the United States: it is a constitutional federal republic. Power is shared between the states and the national government, and the Constitution guarantees that states remain sovereign, not beholden to the national government. Although many argue that the national government has usurped states rights, the states have many mechanisms to restore their diminished power. For instance, the Supreme Court has recently made decisions in favor of a limited national government and increased state power. Following the Kavanaugh confirmation, this trend will likely continue into the foreseeable future. Additionally, Article V grants states the power to propose a constitutional amendment, such as the Balanced Budget Amendment, which is gaining momentum, or congressional term limits. There are an infinite number of possibilities for what the United States will become, but hopefully the exceptional model of American democracy will survive well beyond the historic 200-year lifespan. Chris Talgo and Emma Kaden are free-market editors and writers for The Henry Dearborn Institute for Liberty. Liberals, Democrats, and the legacy media are forever prattling about how the toxic rhetoric of President Trump before and after his election has inspired a culture of violence expressed most recently (in their view) in the flurry of packages sent to leading Democrats containing amateur-night explosive devices some of which could only explode if you used a real explosive to set them off. Words do have consequences and can inspire the unhinged, but nowhere in Trumps rhetoric are urgings to build and deliver explosive devices to your political opponents, not even those who urge their followers to get in the face of Republicans in their congressional offices or favorite eateries. Despite their constant references to David Duke in an attempt to paint Trump as racist, Trump did not seek any political endorsement from the likes of Duke and repudiated it when it came. His record of black empowerment in terms of rising employment, home ownership, and small business formation, reflected in rising black support in the polls, belies the racism accusations. Following the Democrats own reasoning, one can credibly say by embracing noted anti-Semites Louis Farrakhan and Al Sharpton Democrats have been enablers of the deadly anti-Semitic hate most recently seen in the horrific massacre at a synagogue in Pittsburgh: President Donald Trump took a pounding at the service for Aretha Franklin. The Rev. Al Sharpton took Trump to task for supposedly demonstrating a lack of respect by saying, She worked for me on numerous occasions. Other speakers took shots at the president either by name or by implication for his supposed racism and bigotry. Onstage, in the front row, sat Sharpton, Nation of Islam Minister Louis Farrakhan, the Rev. Jesse Jackson and former President Bill Clinton, all of whom know a thing or two about racism and bigotry. Their careers depend on exaggerating the extent and the impact of anti-black white racism. At a rally in Harlem in 1991, Sharpton said, If the Jews want to get it on, tell them to pin their yarmulkes back and come over to my house. A few days later, a young black boy was accidentally killed when struck by a car driven by a Hasidic Jew. For three nights, Jews in Crown Heights were subjected to what one Columbia University professor called a modern-day pogrom in which two people died and almost 200 were injured. On day two of the riots, Sharpton led a march of about 400 protesters in Crown Heights, shouting, No justice, no peace. Days later, Sharpton referred derisively to Jews living in Crown Heights as diamond merchants. A few years later, Sharpton called whites moving businesses into Harlem interlopers. Sitting next to Sharpton at Franklins funeral was Farrakhan, whose hand Clinton shook. As recently as February 2018, Farrakhan said: Jews were responsible for all of this filth and degenerate behavior that Hollywood is putting out, turning men into women and women into men. White folks are going down. And Satan is going down. And Farrakhan, by Gods grace, has pulled the cover off of that Satanic Jew, and Im here to say your time is up. Your world is through. If you have a picture of President Trump sitting just a few chairs down from David Duke, posing for a picture, or shaking his hand, present it to the Trump-deranged liberals and media. We do have a picture of President Barack Hussein Obama with the bigot Farrakhan, both with beaming smiles. Harvard Law Professor and longtime Democrat Alan Dershowitz said he would not have campaigned for then- Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) if he knew about the future president's photo op with Louis Farrakhan. Farrakhan, leader of the Nation of Islam, is a "virulent anti-Semite and anti-American," Dershowitz said on "Fox & Friends." "He has called Judaism a gutter religion. He is a horrible, horrible human being," he said. A photographer, Askia Muhammad, showed Fox News' Tucker Carlson a 2005 picture of Obama and Farrakhan smiling together. He said that afterward, the Congressional Black Caucus contacted him and demanded to have the photo back. I gave the original disk to him and in a sense swore myself to secrecy because I had quietly made a copy for myself, Muhammad said. Muhammad said he thought the CBC was concerned a photo with Farrakhan could hurt the young senator's future presidential aspirations. As it should have. From Ferguson to Baltimore and beyond, President Obamas words aiding and abetting the war on cops and inciting racial division have been the equivalent of yelling fire in a crowded theatre. He has encouraged a false narrative of racist cops and racist police departments whose officers are guilty until proven innocent, or buried, whichever comes first. Never mind in both Baltimore and Ferguson the cops accused of racism and murder were found guilty of neither. It was Ferguson, Missouri, where President Obamas Justice Department sent 40 FBI agents to prove Officer Darren Wilson was a racist murderer of an innocent black teen. He made the anti-Semitic, race-baiting Al Sharpton, who helped create the myth of hands up, dont shoot, a key adviser on race matters and Ferguson. Keith Ellison, the controversial Democratic candidate for Minnesota attorney general, has had warm past relations with the nation of Islam and high praise for Louis Farrakhan: The Minnesota congressman has written about his support for a separate nation for black people. He has actively worked with and for the Nation of Islam, which openly and actively promotes a blacks only nation Then in 1997, Ellison was a spokesman for the Nation of Islam using the last name Muhammad. He spoke at a public hearing in connection with a controversy involving Joanne Jackson of the Minnesota Initiative Against Racism (MIAR). Jackson was alleged to have said, Jews are among the most racist white people I know. Jackson denied making the statement or insisted that it had been taken out of context. Ellison appeared before the MIAR on behalf of the Nation of Islam in defense of Jacksons alleged statement. According to the Star Tribune and the full text of the statement published in the Minneapolis Spokesman-Recorder, Ellison said: We stand by the truth contained in the remarks attributed to [Ms. Jackson], and by her right to express her views without sanction. Here is why we support Ms. Jackson: She is correct about Minister Farrakhan. He is not a racist. He is also not an anti-Semite. Minister Farrakhan is a tireless public servant of Black people, who constantly teaches self-reliance and self-examination to the Black community.... Louis Farrakhan is not a tireless public servant. He is an anti-Semitic bigot who has been warmly embraced by the leaders of the Democratic party who now condemn Donald Trump. As we mourn the tragedy in Pittsburgh, let us remember who the enablers of such horrific hate have been. Daniel John Sobieski is a freelance writer whose pieces have appeared in Investors Business Daily, Human Events, Reason Magazine and the Chicago Sun-Times among other publications. The Cuban regime needs dollars or other forms of hard currency desperately. At the same time, they are not making it possible for Cubans to participate in foreign investment ventures. Therefore, the money comes in and leaves the island. As stated in the Miami Herald: The Havana Consulting Group, based in Miami, has estimated that in 2017 more than 48,000 Cubans made an average of 11.5 trips abroad to buy merchandise. The value of that activity far surpasses the foreign investments that the Cuban government has managed to attract to the Mariel special development zone barely $265 million in 2017. Havana Consulting has estimated more than $2 billion may leave the country with the Cuban shoppers, about the same amount that the Cuban government estimates it needs in foreign investment per year. The Cuban government "is not taking advantage... of the large amount of hard currency that these businesspeople generate, compared to the drought of hard currency faced by state companies and the central government administration, which has forced the government to drastically reduce the purchase of raw materials abroad and led to its failure to pay many providers," Havana Consulting President Emilio Morales wrote in a report. The $2.39 billion that Morales estimates leaves the country winds up abroad with airlines, hotels, drivers, shop owners and the companies that ship packages to Cuba. Many Cuban business owners also have managed to obtain residence in the United States, Spain and other countries, which allows them to buy properties and obtain loans and credits that they use to finance businesses on the island[.] ... But the government allows all that money to seep out of Cuba because of its ambivalent attitude toward the private sector, experts say. I am not sure that it's ambivalence about the private sector. The real answer is that they are scared to death that all of these joint ventures will make Cubans prosperous and independent of government and suddenly turn them into capitalists. Also, Cubans will start having meetings with foreigners about their business ventures, and government will not be around to know what's going on. Cuba is ambivalent about the private sector because it is ambivalent about freedom. The story is still the same. You can bury Fidel and talk about reforms. However, you can't reform a communist state, as Gorbachev learned in the late 1980s. PS: You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter. The CBS Battleground Poll of three key Senate races shows Republicans leading in two contests while the Democrat leads in another. Polls from Arizona, Florida, and Indiana all show tight races. But in Indiana and Florida, Democratic incumbents are in trouble, as GOP enthusiasm and a roaring economy could make election day a nightmare for Senators Joe Donnelly and Bill Nelson. Daily Caller: It's anyone's game in three key Senate races, where the outcomes could decide which party controls the upper chamber of Congress, according to a CBS-YouGov poll released Sunday. Republican challenger Mike Braun leads Indiana Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly, 46 percent to 43 percent. In Arizona, GOP Rep. Martha McSally trails Democratic Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, 44 percent to 47 percent. In Florida, Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson is tied with Republican Gov. Rick Scott, with both candidates polling at 46 percent. The surveys were conducted between Oct. 23-26 among likely voters, with all three being within the margin of error. The latest survey comes as welcome news for Braun, a former Republican state lawmaker who had previously trailed Donnelly in most of the recent polls out of Indiana. Donnelly led in three separate surveys earlier in October. However, Braun has since closed the gap and surpassed the Democratic senator, leading in the latest two polls. The 76-year-old Florida senator, Bill Nelson, may have reached the end of the road. While Scott hasn't run the best campaign, he receives high marks from voters for his handling of the recent hurricane and scores well on the economy. Nelson has been trying to talk up health care, but it hasn't generated the kind of enthusiasm seen on the Republican side. Braun has been scoring points against Donnelly for the incumbent's hypocrisy on outsourcing and a backlash against the Kavanaugh nomination fight. The Republican is also benefiting from Trump's popularity in the state. In Arizona, Democrat Sinema has been exposed as a radical: McSally, an Arizona GOP congresswoman, had trailed Sinema by as much as double digits over the summer. However, recent revelations into Sinema's past has made the race much more competitive. The RealClearPolitics average of recent polls shows McSally barely ahead by 0.7 percentage points. This is a competitive race despite the revelations about Sinema's antiwar past. Health care is a big issue in the state, and most observers believe that this is one race that may not be decided on election day. They did it. Brazil went and pulled the trigger: its voters elected conservative Jair Messias Bolsonaro, colloquially known as Tropical Trump for his open admiration of President Trump and his comparable agenda. The margin was huge: 55-44 over his socialist rival. The press, of course, is aghast. These journalists are all using headlines with terms like "far-right" and "fascist" to describe him, something they never did when real fascists and far leftists, such as Hugo Chavez, got elected. Yes, Bolsonaro talks out of turn you can see a collection of politically correct and sometimes just bad things he's said, all of which has driven the left to clutch its pearls, with all the craziest stuff said two decades ago. Meanwhile, the Brazilian Deep State and the rabid left are planning protests and riots. They aren't going to take this any better than U.S. Democrats did. One of them already stabbed the man and nearly killed him, for starters, and they aren't going to get better. On the lower level of the attack front, people have been run out of restaurants. Sound like any place you know? There's a symmetry in this, a reason it had to happen, and that's worth looking at for perspective on how it can be used here. What makes Brazil similar to the U.S.? Well it's a giant country, and it's somewhat separated from its neighbors by both its language and its vast and impenetrable Amazon jungle. It's also got a big racial mix. It's definitely got exceptionalism, because it is different. Big. Racially diverse. Separate. Most Latin American states can't say that. But Brazil can, and that gives it some things in common with the U.S. It's also got a rich coastal elite, a giant welfare class, and a hinterland of taxpayers whose interests nobody cares about. Sound like the deplorables? You bet. Then it's had a long stretch of left-wingery. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who indeed was a far leftist affiliated with what's known as the Sao Paulo Forum of Castroite (kid you not) and Chavista leftists, got elected in 2002 and, like President Obama, was the King of Cool. By no small coincidence, President Obama was a big-time admirer of the man, who came off as so reasonable and hip in Oliver Stone's documentary about Latin leftist leaders, South of the Border. Like Obama, Lula proceeded to do what all socialists do: spend the country into the ground, expand the dependency class, expand the bureaucrat class, hike taxes and fees such as bus fares, and introduce unpopular social engineering. What's more, street criminals were coddled as poor underprivileged pitifuls, not the thugs preying on the public that they really were. Vast government cash rolled their way. As if that wasn't bad enough, then the lefties did the other things socialists do, which is engage in Our Thang corruption, in what became a series of giant scandals of insider pocket-lining, from corruption at the state oil company to the collection of congressional corruptions known as "the car wash." Socialist insiders in, the rest of the public out. Lula ended up in jail for it, and his successor ended up thrown out, but the soggy conservative who replaced them was implicated in congressional money scandals, too, suggesting a swamp where payoffs and revolving doors were out of control. Like our swamp. Then, with the fall of oil prices, the same thing happened to Brazil as happened to Venezuela: the money ran out. Brazilians were left with nothing: a truly atrocious economy and some international humiliation with the Olympics, too. If the message wasn't clear enough about the impact of a long stretch of heavy hipster socialism and a fawning media, well, the thousands of refugees from socialism pouring in from Venezuela to Brazil's northern states pretty well gave the reminder. Any questions as to why they wanted a Trump? Their beautiful country needed a hosing out so badly that there was no other alternative. Taking a flying leap with this guy seemed like the only way to get any change at all. Bolsonaro did make some sexist remarks, but according to Foreign Affairs, huge numbers of women went for him anyway. The Salena Zito dynamic of "seriously but not literally" seemed to be operative in that country, too. I knew right away without opening the story as to why they did: violent crime, because violent crime affects women more than anyone. I used to be such a victim myself in San Francisco's crappier zones in the 1990s, repeatedly getting assaulted and robbed and watching the illegals and people who needed involuntary institutionalization get away with it as the police stood by mouthing platitudes. It was absolutely transformative. I know what they know. When there's one set of laws for one group of people and another for the women, you could not care less about stupid remarks about using money, sex, and who's attractive. You go with the guy who promises the guns, which is what Bolsonaro has done. This is unheard of, given the pervasiveness of pacifism from the left in the face of criminals. Bolsonaro is also on record as expressing admiration for the generals who ruled Brazil in the 1970s, back when the country faced a scourge of left-wing terrorism far more serious than ours. It was a nation of One, Two, Many Ayerses, and one of them, Lula's successor, Dilma Rousseff, profited handsomely for it, taking up politics as a guerrilla bookkeeper and then becoming Brazil's president. Who says crime doesn't pay? But along with the generals, and Bolsonaro's admiration for them, similar to Trump's, there's one significant beauty spot embedded in that stance: Bolsonaro, like the Chilean military ruler he also admires, Augusto Pinochet, has admitted he knows nothing about economics. He's done what Pinochet did, which was hand the economics over to the free-market Chicago Boys, who turned that country from a socialist pit even worse than Brazil into a first-world paradise. Trump has embraced the free market, too, but not with the guts it takes for Bolsonaro to do it, because free-market ideas are accepted more widely in this country. Pinochet is the dirtiest word in all Latin America, a guy whom it's absolutely taboo to bring up and talk about seriously, owing to the influence of Castroite propaganda on the continent. But Bolsonaro has noticed the reality: that Pinochet's military government's human rights violations against leftist Ayers types and others pale in comparison to his economic legacy, which is stellar. The left has long dishonestly used the former to discredit the latter, which is why Latin America has been so pathetic about embracing free markets. Bolsonaro has broken that cycle and appears hell-bent on embracing free markets again, same as Pinochet did (and Trump did, breaking the weak GOP record after Reagan). If he does what the Chicago Boys did in Chile, he will have some seriously impressive results. To be fair, it's not going to be easy to clean up after the socialist mess. Argentina, despite electing conservative Mauricio Macri president, is sinking under the cleanup effort because the previous socialism was so bad. If you read the memoirs of the Chicago Boys, such as those of Jose Pinera and Hernan Buchi, you will learn that those geniuses who transformed Chile had an absolute hell of a time cleaning up after the socialist morass they started with, too. Brazil has gargantuan debt and is going to have to privatize many resources just to dig out. There are going to be ups and downs. But if Bolsonaro is as serious as he appears, and has no intention of turning into a failed populist such as Duterte of the Philippines, he'll keep this course, because it's what really gets results. It's helpful that Brazil does have a serious free-market scene with some impressive Milton Friedman-like economists, such as guided President Reagan. Results are what did it for Trump, enabling the public to rally to him in the aftermath of his outsider election after such a thick curtain of press, state, and political opposition. That's what allows an outsider to thrive, and Trump provides a recent example of how it's really done. It's also helpful that the left is still denying the bad results of its policies or denying that there's any such problem, yawning at complaints about crime and debt, and trying to blame the other guy. Denying a problem is only going to make the public tune out and stay open-minded on hard choices. Brazil badly needed an outsider. It's a great thing that the outsider they embraced is a guy who looks to Trump's record of success. It's a big smile-inducer to read that President Trump has heartily congratulated Bolsonaro, too. Let's hope the U.S. under Trump is as supportive as possible for Brazil's effort to dig out from under its socialist ruin and transform itself into the nation its geography says it ought to be: a nation addicted to "winning." Michael-in-Norfolk disclaims any and all responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, completeness, legality, reliability, operability, or availability of information or material displayed on this site and does not claim credit for any images or articles featured on this site, unless otherwise noted. All visual content is copyrighted to it's respectful owners. Information on this site may contain errors or inaccuracies, and Michael-in-Norfolk does not make warranty as to the correctness or reliability of the site's content. If you own rights to any of the images or articles, and do not wish them to appear on this site, please contact Michael-in-Norfolk via e-mail and they will be promptly removed. Michael-in-Norfolk contains links to other Internet sites. These links are provided solely as a convenience and are not endorsements of any products or services in such sites, and no information or content in such site has been endorsed or approved by this blog. Brett Kavanaugh's main accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, has raised nearly $1 million from two GoFundMe accounts, and she's asking for more, according to an article by RealClearInvestigations. Ford is also fielding offers for a book deal. All of this despite Democrats making a big deal during the Kavanaugh confirmation hearings that she had "nothing to gain" from coming forward. "You had absolutely nothing to gain by bringing these facts to the Senate Judiciary Committee," Sen. Dick Durbin said during her testimony last month. This sentiment was echoed by other Democrats, who presented it as evidence that Ford was telling the truth. "I want to thank you," added California Sen. Kamala Harris, "because you clearly have nothing to gain for what you have done." In fact, Ford stands to gain some $1 million and counting from national crowdfunding campaigns launched by friends and other supporters, while she is said to be fielding book offers. The potential seven-figure windfall, which she says she intends to cash in on while still asking donors for more money has some questioning her motivation for accusing the conservative judge after 35 years of silence, and whether it goes beyond personal or even political justice. Others worry the largesse sets a dangerous precedent: Crowdfunding, which unlike political donations is unregulated, could be routinely used in the future as a bounty for providing political dirt on opponents. Two GoFundMe accounts have raised more than $842,000 for Ford, and the money is still coming in weeks after she testified and left the spotlight. The total does not include a third account collecting $120,000 for an academic endowment in her name. "The costs for security, housing, transportation and other related expenses are much higher than we anticipated and they do not show signs of letting up," Ford said in a recent statement posted on the GoFundMe page of the "Help Christine Blasey Ford" campaign, which is still bringing in donations. "Funds received via this account will be used to help us pay for these mounting expenses." GoFundMe spokeswoman Katherine Cichy told RealClearInvestigations that Ford and her husband can withdraw as much as they want whenever they want for any purpose. Payments would be electronically deposited into the Fords' bank account within two to five business days of initiating withdrawals. There is no doubt that Ford went through an ordeal. Regardless of whether you think she's lying or imagining things or exaggerating what happened, the truth is, it cost her dearly. Would you like to get death threats and be pilloried online? If you do, I have a friend named Marquis de Sade who would love to meet you. That said, she would have been a hero if she promised to use the funds only for her security and expenses during the hearings while giving the rest to #MeToo and other women's groups. What will she do with proceeds from the book deal? In a few months, she will become a footnote to history. She will return to anonymity a forgotten relic of the culture wars. Will she be like Cindy Sheehan, the woman who camped out in front of President Bush's home in 2005 to ask why her son had to die in Iraq? She became a liberal celebrity and then tried to hang on to her notoriety by appearing at antiwar events and other demonstrations until people started asking "Cindy who?" Finally, she slipped back into her old life a pathetic figure. Ford, too, will be a forgotten heroine. But at least she'll be rich. A father leaving an Alabama McDonald's with his two sons found himself in a gunfight with an armed suspect who was about to enter the store. The gunman was killed in the fight, while the father and one of the sons sustained injuries. WSFA: The shooting took place at the McDonald's across from Princeton Hospital. A masked man entered the restaurant when an employee opened the door for a father and his sons to leave. The masked man then opened fire in the restaurant. At that point, the father began shooting at the masked man. Both the father and the masked man were struck along with one of the children. Police later confirmed that the masked man is now deceased, and the father had non-life threatening [sic] injuries. A minor had non-life-threatening injuries Authorities do not know at this time if the masked man was robbing the store or targeting an employee who worked there. Police indicate the father will not be facing charges at this time. Those who wish to disarm the American populace will probably be outraged that the father is not in trouble with the law. But the father who drew down on the would-be shooter was doing more than protecting his family. He was protecting his community. That's what the Second Amendment is all about something Trump realizes and his critics don't. The president thinks places of worship should have armed guards. His critics went ballistic on him for saying that. But scholar Michael Ledeen thinks it's an excellent idea: I am dismayed at the number of people who are furious at President Trump for saying that maybe there should have been some armed security at the synagogue. They remind me of the Jews who quietly climbed onto the trains and went quietly to the death camps. No doubt they are a majority in Jewish communities throughout the diaspora, as they were in the early and mid-twentieth century. Despite the clear evidence Jewish cadavers they want to insist that weapons don't belong in our houses of worship. Yet we should have learned one of the lessons of the Holocaust, namely that we must defend ourselves, and fight our enemies. All people are not the same, and all people are assuredly not good. Yet today I understand, more than ever, how hard it is for the intended victims of evil to face these unpleasant facts and act accordingly. You're not going to find a better argument made in favor of protecting your community than that one. European leaders who dismiss opposition to their open door policies as "racist" or "xenophobic" might want to observe what's happening in Germany to Chancellor Angela Merkel. More than a million people from North Africa and the Middle East have settled in Germany since 2015 and the social problems created by this mass exodus are wreaking havoc on German cities - and German politics. It's not just the crime and the financial burden that the newcomers are placing on German citizens. A growing number of Germans are becoming fearful that the new arrivals are changing the national character of the country. While many in politics condemn this fear as "racist," it is, in fact, the will of the people. And Angela Merkel is experiencing the practical political downside of her policies. The results from a regional election in the state of Hesse were an unmitigated disaster for Merkel and her "grand coalition" with the social democrats. Politico: The chancellors CDU won 27 percent of the vote in Hesse, down from 38.3 percent in the last election in 2013, according to preliminary results. The Social Democrats (SPD) finished equal-second with the Greens, in terms of vote share, on 19.8 percent, dropping from 30.7 percent, . The Greens finished just ahead of the SPD in terms of number of votes cast and nearly doubled their 2013 result. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) scored an even bigger jump, more than tripling its 2013 result to 13.1 percent. The pro-business Free Democrats finished with 7.5 percent, according the preliminary results, while the far-left Die Linke party won 6.3 percent, both improving from 2013. We've seen this electoral drama play out across the continent of Europe. Nationalist parties - dismissed as "fringe" or "neo-Nazi" - making huge gains at the expense of "mainstream" parties. The media has tried their best to demonize the right wing, which makes you wonder what their vote total would be if the media didn't portray the populist parties as radically racist. For Merkel, the results in Hesse appear to have been the last straw. She is stepping down as leader of the CDU Party. Merkel would still remain chancellor after handing over the party leadership. But giving up the party post would weaken her authority and reinforce the sense that her long reign is coming to an end. Merkel has been leader of the CDU since 2000 and chancellor since 2005. One potential successor to Merkel as CDU leader wasted no time in throwing his hat into the ring. Friedrich Merz, a former leader of the conservative bloc in the Bundestag, is ready to stand for the post, Bild reported just minutes after the news broke. Another likely candidate for the leadership is CDU Secretary-General Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, a former premier of the state of Saarland, who was appointed to her current post by Merkel earlier this year. Many observers say it's only a matter of time before she resigns as chancellor - perhaps as soon as the CDU elects a new leader. What's amazing to me is that despite the enormous effort by mainstream European parties to demonize the right and belittle those who worry about the migrant invasion of their countries, the political consequences of those leaders opening their nations to unfettered immigration are only beginning to be felt. Newly surfaced information now appears to confirm at least some of the rumors surrounding Samsungs next premium flagship, the Samsung Galaxy S10, according to details provided to Bloomberg by an unnamed source said to be familiar with the devices. Most notably, the source claims that the company is currently in talks with Verizon regarding the inclusion of 5G wireless connectivity on the carriers network. The implication is that one of the three purported Samsung Galaxy S10 handsets will support next-generation mobile networking and be presented first through that service provider. Unsurprisingly, the source claims each will run Android 9 Pie out of the box. But another big change that might show up in at least one of the phablets is the removal of the 3.5mm headphone port. Theres no indication as to which of the three might include support for those radio bands or see the removal of the headphone jack. In the meantime, there will reportedly be at least two standard flagships in the group, following Samsungs tradition of including a standard and Plus variant. The overall size and shape of the smaller Galaxy S10 are said to be approximately the same as this years Galaxy S9 model at 5.8-inches. That will also incorporate a new design to enable a considerable reduction to top and bottom bezels. The larger configuration will be sold as well and both will feature three primary cameras with a single front shooter thats visible but moved underneath the display panel. The fingerprint scanner will also be placed under the panel, the sources claim. Simultaneously, the company is said to be working to release a less expensive model that drops the curved edge display technology and uses a more standard fingerprint scanner in order to cut costs. The purpose of including a budget model as well as more traditional ones is to help stave off encroaching Chinese companies and gain a stronger footing against long-time rival Apple, according to the industry insider. Samsung has predominantly remained ahead of the latter company in sales but Apple periodically catches up with the launch of new devices. Meanwhile, companies such as Huawei and Oppo are said to be causing trouble for Samsung because they offer a similar performance at a significantly lower price point. Advertisement Background: Samsungs last flagship only just launched in March but rumors and leaks have already been running rampant about the next generation of the series for several weeks. While most of whats included in this latest batch has already been rumored in prior speculation, there is at least one discrepancy between those. An earlier alleged GF Securities leak via Chinese social media network Weibo included images which seemed to show four total variants rather than three. The images showed that each would have a different RAM capacity, likely associated with cost. Those included a 4GB version that would presumably be used in the budget-friendly Galaxy S10, in addition to configurations with 6GB, 8GB, and 12GB. Its possible that the source behind the newest information is mistaken and that both the device without a headphone jack and the one with 5G support will be completely separate but it isnt clear what other differences might exist between them. Impact: The differences between leaks from various sources, however, dont necessarily mean much. It isnt unusual for details about phones that are still in development to come forward with minor deviations while most of the commonly shared information among those bears out. Whats more, the handsets arent expected to launch until some time near the beginning of 2019, following Samsungs long-established timeline for new device launches. Samsungs mobile head DJ Koh has also previously said that the Galaxy S10 will bring a lot of change to the Korean tech giants flagship family. So it wont likely be more of the same from Samsung, regardless of how accurate the rumors turn out to be. It seems like yet another Google-made app will receive Dark Mode in the near future, Google Phone. This is not exactly a secret, as the company itself already teased dark mode for Google Phone, but the new APK teardown actually reveals more info about it. Google Phone 25 reveals that Google Phones dark mode will be referred to as Dark Theme, and the app will be able to automatically enable it when the system battery saver is enabled, though youll have full control over that functionality, of course. You will, of course, be able to flip the switch and make the app dark all the time. Now, the Dark mode in device Settings is on is also mentioned in the code, which means that it will be able to automatically activate itself when youre using system dark mode, though this is referring to stock Android dark theme mode, so it will probably not work with third-party skins, but who knows. On top of everything, Google Phone 25 teardown also reveals that the dark theme will have to ability to automatically apply itself if its applied in the Google Contacts app. If you check out the gallery down below, youll get a good idea as to how the dark theme will look in Google Phone, as those screenshots actually show it in action. This is not all that Google Phone 25 APK teardown revealed, though. It seems like Google is working on the ability to migrate blocked numbers to other apps, and this could be a reference to Googles Messages app, as texts are cited in the code. The best way to get the ability to activate Dark Theme is by signing up for the Google Phone beta program, you can do that via the apps Google Play Store listing, just look for the button that says Become a beta tester, and youre good to go. Background: Google has already rolled out the dark theme to some of its applications, not to mention that stock Android offers such a mode as well, though it doesnt work as it should in Android Pie, some menus are still not dark for whatever reason, Google is expected to fix that soon, though. In any case, Googles Messages app (formerly known as Android Messages), received the dark theme update a while back, and it can be enabled within the apps settings, if thats what you prefer. Google is expected to roll out the dark theme to pretty much all of its main apps, even though the rollout is proceeding slower than expected. The company is also rolling out its new Material Theme to its apps, and that is not exactly going as far either, as Google Keep (aka Keep Notes), Google Photos, Messages, and several other apps received the update thus far, but not YouTube, Gmail and some other apps that are expected to get it soon. Advertisement Impact: the dark theme is not exactly a ground-breaking feature, but some people simply prefer it over the almost all-white layout of Googles apps, especially after the new Material Theme arrived, and made apps whiter (referring to the background) than ever before. Flipping the switch and enabling dark theme can also have a positive effect on your battery life if your phone is using an OLED display, so some users may use it for that reason specifically. In any case, the dark theme is expected to arrive to Google Phone stable channel in the near future, so stay tuned. The OnePlus 6T will become official later today, and while were waiting for that to happen, a number of OnePlus smartphone prototypes have surfaced on YouTube. These prototypes were filmed by a YouTube called Mrwhosetheboss during his trip to China, as he visited OnePlus in Shenzhen. In his video, the OnePlus 6T is blurred out, as the phone did not launch yet, but you do get to see a number of differently-colored back covers that OnePlus has been working on / considering on launching. These back covers seem to be made for the OnePlus 6 (and a few for the OnePlus 5T), even though they never really hit the market. There are quite a few backplate color variants shown in this device, ranging from gradient ones, to regular ones. In one instance, OnePlus combined black, purple and dark blue colors, in other, gold, yellow and black colors were combined. A lilac-colored back cover is also shown in the video, and a number of others. These are all colors that OnePlus considered on pushing out, and even though they did not get released with the OnePlus 6, that doesnt mean that they wont make their way to consumers in the future, as part of some other smartphone, maybe even the OnePlus 6T. In this video, you can also reminisce, as the OnePlus One got shown, as did the OnePlus X. Background: The OnePlus 6T is the companys upcoming smartphone, as many of you already know, and it will become official later today. The device has been leaking for a long time now, and the company had already shared quite a few info about it. OnePlus confirmed that the device will not sport a 3.5mm headphone jack, while the company also said that it will offer a better camera experience compared to the OnePlus 6. The phone will not sport a rear-facing fingerprint scanner like its predecessor, but it will include an in-display fingerprint scanning module. OnePlus had also confirmed that a brand new UI is coming to the OnePlus 6T, which probably means well get an update to the OxygenOS. OnePlus gesture-based navigation system will get an update as well, as the company is looking to improve its responsiveness, and make it more fluid to use, not to mention that new gestures are coming to the table. You will be able to swipe from the center to the upper right side in order to call upon Google Assistant, for example, that is a gesture that the company mentioned in its blog post. It is also worth noting that the company had confirmed recently that its smartphone which supports 5G will become official in the first half of 2019, it will probably arrive in the form of the OnePlus 7 in May or June. Impact: Quite a few info got released when it comes to the OnePlus 6T, and it seems like the device will be similar to its predecessor in many ways. It is expected to offer a better camera setup, in other words, shoot better pictures, while it will also include a different fingerprint scanner, and look better overall. The device will include the so-called teardrop notch, which is considerably smaller than the notch on the OnePlus 6. Other than that, the two devices will sport a similar shape, and will look quite similar on the back as well, even though the OnePlus 6T will not have a fingerprint scanner back then. The phone is launching in New York later today, so stay tuned. This was a pretty massive day for OnePlus, even if the planning for it was rather last-minute due to Apple. Today, the company announced the OnePlus 6T, its latest Android smartphone thats obviously the best one yet, and given how extensively the device leaked in recent weeks, it also came with few surprises. The unsurprising nature of the reveal also encompassed the OnePlus 6Ts availability details, though it didnt diminish their importance. Naturally, the subject at hand here is that for the first time ever, a OnePlus handset will be sold by an American carrier. Not just any operator, at that; the third-largest one in the country T-Mobile. By winning a distribution partnership with the self-proclaimed Un-Carrier, OnePlus succeeded where many others failed, outmaneuvering much-better-funded Chinese manufacturers such as Huawei and Xiaomi. Whereas Huawei is effectively blocked from large-scale stateside business due to its close ties to Beijing and Xiaomis U.S. launch is an Apple lawsuit waiting to happen, OnePlus is now set to enter the worlds largest flagship market with one of the most aggressively priced high-end handsets in the world. If there ever was a perfect opportunity for the company to attract mainstream popularity in spite of its frugal marketing efforts that come down to encouraging users to advertise its products for free, its this one. Not even the most hardcore OnePlus fans will (probably) argue the claim that the firm made some major mistakes in recent years but given its consistent growth, it certainly got more things right than not. Since its late 2013 inception and the 2014 OnePlus One, every following Android smartphone from the manufacturer became its fastest- and best-selling one, largely due to the fact that its brand recognition got stronger and its distribution network continued to expand, even as global handset demand started stagnating and even falling as of last year. The firm continued the same strategy this year with new carrier deals in Europe but the addition of T-Mobile to its list of partners is by far the biggest win it recorded in recent times. With over 75 million subscribers, the Bellevue, Washington-based company already has a massive pool of customers, many of whom will encounter the OnePlus 6T in the coming months, whether in one of its 5,600 stores throughout the country that will carry the smartphone or online. Advertisement Combining that increased exposure with the fact that the OnePlus 6T will also be the companys first device to work on Verizons 4G LTE network, its not difficult to predict that the firm has another massive hit on its hands which will outsell every one of its previous products. To call that development significant would be an understatement; while popular among the tech-savvy crowd in many parts of the world, OnePlus is still a niche brand. The OnePlus 6 released earlier this year was its fastest-selling device to date, moving a million units in a matter of three weeks. That figure is nothing to scoff at but fades away in comparison to tens of millions of flagships the worlds largest manufacturers are selling on an annual basis. And if your only product is of the high-end variety and youre not a financial powerhouse like Huawei, you cant become a major player in the industry without the backing of at least one major U.S. carrier, which makes the T-Mobile partnership so significant. Not only did T-Mobile agree to sell the OnePlus 6T, the company is also preparing an extremely aggressive offer for its buyers, guaranteeing over half off on the base model of the handset. Regularly priced at $549, T-Mobile customers will be able to purchase the handset for as little as $249 with an eligible trade-in. Some 30 smartphones are encompassed by the promotion, including all previous devices from OnePlus. Half-off deals and trade-in programs are far from a rarity in the U.S. but for T-Mobile to attach such a value-oriented promotion to a product from an entirely new partner, the company certainly had to have placed a lot of confidence in OnePluss potential, regardless of how good of a deal it managed to negotiate otherwise. As T-Mobile proved time and time again under John Legeres leadership, it understands growth, which also happens to be OnePluss specialty, so this certainly seems like a match made in tech heaven. Ever since its beginnings, OnePlus clearly aimed to transition its portfolio from a collection of flagship killers to a series of high-end devices that perhaps wont save you hundreds of dollars but will still deliver an extremely tempting proposition for anyone interested in getting the best mobile performance on the market without paying the highest possible price. Thats precisely why all of its releases after the OnePlus One experienced a so-called price creep, which prompted some criticism, though its hard to argue these arent some of the most value-oriented handsets in their respective categories. Android flagships are generally geared toward an abundance of features and no-compromise performance, so the sole fact that OnePlus is doing them while still retaining a semblance of focus on value is a major selling point that no other manufacturer with a significant U.S. presence currently offers. In that regard, the company is now on course to carve out a niche of its own, but one with a massive commercial potential. Advertisement So, all puzzle pieces are now in place for OnePlus to finally enter the mainstream market in the U.S. and show American consumers why its products are so popular in many other parts of the world. Whether the company ends up seizing that opportunity or not remains to be seen but given its track record with growth, theres little doubt that the OnePlus 6T will at the very least break all internal performance records, both in the U.S. and abroad. While the two companies are yet to comment on the planned longevity of their relationship, their Monday announcement clearly implied the collaboration thats starting with the OnePlus 6T is meant to continue, further strengthening the stateside foothold OnePlus is now poised to seize. The only question that remains is who will be the biggest loser of this turn of events, i.e. whose sales will suffer because many more Americans will soon start buying OnePlus smartphones. T-Mobile recently filed claims with the FCCs Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, stating that Dish has no plans to utilize all of its wireless spectrum holdings and its wireless plans are no more than a bid to hoard valuable spectrum assets, FierceWireless reports. More directly, the carrier asserted that Dishs proposal for building out an NB-IoT network would utilize less than 2-percent of its mid-band spectrum holdings. That would, the company said, not only be in stark contrast to the rules set forth by the FCC with regard to the use of spectrum holdings. It would also be in direct conflict with a recent memorandum put forward by the Trump administration, which called for more spectrum to be freed up in support of expanding 5G networks more rapidly. By comparison, T-Mobile says, its own use of spectrum highlights that consumer demand is high and that it is growing, in spite of Dishs allegedly inadequate plans. More directly, the company points to its recent report about the deployment of 600MHz Extended Range LTE in 1,254 cities across 36 states and Puerto Rico. Background: T-Mobile and Dish have been at odds since the former company first revealed its intention to acquire the current number four US operator, Sprint. The merger would place a massive amount of spectrum at the carriers disposal and Dish, for one, has vehemently argued against the merger. That opposition has included Dishs own filings with the FCC, urging the agency to take a closer look at the deal and to not approve it on the basis that it would stifle competition. As things currently stand, according to information given by Macquarie Capital this month, Dish holds almost as much spectrum as T-Mobile. That would make the claims particularly serious if they are found to be true since that would indicate that Dish is holding onto quite a lot of bandwidth without actually using it. Meanwhile, Dish was recently reported to be under scrutiny by the FCC with the organization questioning the provider on its planned use of spectrum, leading up to T-Mobiles filing. Dish had rebutted the claims and the concerns from the FCC by stating that it plans to roll out its NB-IoT network in 2020 and will spend approximately $1 billion on the build-out. It has also since responded to T-Mobile by stating that the carrier has been aware of its plan since at least 2017 and that its build-out meets the FCCs requirements for the use of spectrum holdings. Although that doesnt address T-Mobiles claims that its project will only utilize around 2-percent of its holdings, Dish has also proposed a massive new 5G-only mobile network. That could cost the company an investment of around $10 billion and result in around 50,000 towers, placing Dish on par with its competitors but with a direct focus on only offering 5G services without the baggage of legacy technologies. Theres no date set for that, however, with Dish simply referring to that portion of its network rollout as phase two. So it may or may not be the case that T-Mobile is correct in asserting that the company wont be using its spectrum within a reasonable timeframe. Advertisement Impact: Bearing all of that in mind, even if stipulations on how much of Sprints spectrum could be used by the company are enacted in the merger, T-Mobile would gain a lot of advantages from the transaction. Sprint currently holds the largest amount of spectrum in the US. On the other hand, T-Mobile has been actively pursuing still more spectrum and theres no guarantee that the merger will be allowed. Regardless of the veracity of the claims, the current situation between Dish and T-Mobile will likely remain volatile at very least until after some decision is reached by the FCC with regard to the T-Mobile and Sprint merger. Marysville, CA (95901) Today Cloudy skies. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 58F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 46F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Aeroflot will operate regular daily flight between Moscow Sheremetyevo and DWC during the winter schedule, in addition to its existing flights at Dubai International (DXB) bringing the total number of weekly flights on the Moscow-Dubai route to 28. Aleksander Efimov, Ambassador of the Russian Federation in the UAE, Jamal Al Hai, Deputy CEO of Dubai Airports, Oleg Fomin, Consul General of the Russian Federation in the UAE, and Eugene Barry, Executive Vice President of Commercial Group at Dubai Airports were joined by representatives from the airport community to accord a warm welcome to the inaugural flight. TAV Airports Holding Executive Board Member & CEO Sani Sener said: TAV is Turkeys global brand in airport sector. Under this brand name, we operate a portfolio of 15 airports in seven countries. In addition to these airports, our service companies operate in 63 other airports in a total of 20 countries. Excluding Turkey, our service companies are in 19 countries and 40 airports. We provide leadership and best in class execution in airport management, financing, investing and design all over the world and provide infrastructure solutions to more than one hundred million people each year. The global brand that we have created in a short amount of time is just another reflection of the great potential and dynamism of Turkey. In 2018 May, we added the fifteenth airport to our portfolio by purchasing a 50% stake in the company operating Antalya Airport for EUR360 million. Antalya Airport is Turkeys second largest airport in terms of international passengers that served 26 million passengers in 2017. In the first nine months of 2018, international passengers served in Antalya airport regstered a 27% year on year growth. Given that it is Turkeys top holiday destination, Antalya offers an excellent growth potential for TAV Airports. 2018 is a year of records for most of the airports that we operate which are at all-time highs in international passenger numbers. Tunisia grew 50%, Georgia 21% and Macedonia grew 18% in total passenger numbers. While our ex-Antalya Turkish portfolio passenger traffic grew at 10%, the international airports grew at 15%. Sener added: In the first nine months of 2018, we achieved 36% surge in our passenger numbers. Even excluding the inorganic contribution from Antalya Airport, we achieved a 11% passenger growth (like-for-like growth). We have crowned the record passenger numbers with all time high financial results for the first nine months of 2018. Our revenue increased 6% and reached EUR 902 million. Our EBITDA increased 23% and reached EUR 485 million. Despite the sharp depreciation of Turkish Lira in the third quarter, the nine months net profit of EUR 206 million with a 25% growth is well within our guidance of significant double digit growth. We reaffirm our guidance for full year of more than 30 percent growth in total TAV passengers, 8 to 10 percent growth in Istanbul Ataturk Airport international passengers, 11 to 13 percent growth in Istanbul Ataturk Airport international O&D passengers, as well as 14 to 16 percent growth in EBITDA and significant double digit net profit growth; subject to our traffic and FX assumptions, with the inclusion of Antalya Airport since May 2018. Our ground handling companies Havas and TGS will be clear beneficiaries of the growth that the New Istanbul Airport will provide in Turkish aviation sector, as we agreed with our partner Turkish Airlines to extend our partnership in TGS for 15 more years. TAV Operation Services, BTA and TAV Technologies are all transforming into global companies in their own respective fields and they enlarge their portfolio to new airports. As the third pillar of our companys growth strategy, the service companies now comprise 36% of our combined revenue. Turkeys global brand in airport operations owes its success to our employees, our shareholders and all our business partners. I wholeheartedly thank all of them for their efforts and trust in building TAV Airports. According to an announcement on Polands ministry of Defense website posted on Oct. 19, the country has provided the U.S. a letter of request for one M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, division as part of what its calling its HOMAR program. Poland had planned to buy the Lockheed Martin-made systems since 2015, but its original plans to share in production work for the HIMARS systems through PGZ, its state-run defense group, proved complex and ran up against several walls in the negotiation process. Lockheed Martin M142 HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) (Picture source: US Army) The country announced this summer that it had decided to go the direct Foreign Military Sales route and buy the HIMARS systems from the U.S. government. After Romania, Poland would be the second Eastern European country to buy HIMARS. The U.S. State Department cleared a possible $250 million sale in November 2017 for 56 HIMARS launchers. Poland also plans to buy missiles as well as a logistics and training package to go along with the rocket launchers. The next step, according to the ministry of Defense, is to negotiate a draft agreement with the U.S. government. The M142 HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) is multiple rocket launcher system mounted to a 6x6 FMTV truck chassis. HIMARS was developed by Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control under an advanced concept technology demonstration (ACTD) programme, placed in 1996. The purpose of HIMARS is to engage and defeat artillery, air defence concentrations, trucks, light armour and personnel carriers, as well as support troop and supply concentrations. HIMARS is able to launch its weapons and move away from the area at high speed before enemy forces are able to locate the launch site. Offering Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) firepower on a wheeled chassis, the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) is the newest member of the MLRS launcher family. HIMARS carries a single six-pack of rockets or one ATACMS missile on the Army's new Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) 5-ton truck, and can launch the entire MLRS family of munitions. HIMARS is operated by a crew of three - driver, gunner and section chief - but the computer-based fire control system enables a crew of two or even a single soldier to load and unload the system. HIMARS received approval to enter production in March 2003 and is currently in Full Rate Production. HIMARS successfully completed initial operational test and evaluation in November 2004. In May 2005, the 3rd Battalion, 27th Field Artillery Regiment, XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery was the first unit equipped with HIMARS. HIMARS has been a joint system since 2000 when the U.S. Marine Corps joined the program. It was successfully combat-tested in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Russia will finance Cuba for the purchase of Russian military equipment for an amount of $50 million, according the Russian newspaper Kommersant, citing two sources of Russian technical and military cooperation. An agreement will be signed by the two countries during the 16th intergovernmental commission on economy, trade and scientific-technical cooperation that will take place in Havana on October 29-30. Local production of Soviet-made BTR-60 8x8 APC fitted with T-55 main battle tank turret at military parade in Havana, Cuba. (Picture source video footage Pond5) The money invested by Russia to Cuba could be used to purchase armored vehicles and aviation equipment as helicopters. Cuba could also received spare parts to maintain its fleet of Soviet-made main battle tanks T-62 and BTR-60 wheeled APC Armored Personnel Carrier. From 1966 until the late 1980s, Soviet Government military assistance enabled Cuba to upgrade its military capabilities to number one in Latin America and project power abroad. Since 1975, the Soviet Union has undertaken a major modernization of all branches of the Cuban military, transforming it from a home defense force into the best equipped military establishment in Latin America and one possessing significant offensive capabilities. The Cuban armed forces are mainly equipped with armored vehicles from the former Soviet Union including T-62 and T-55 main battle tank, BMP-1 / BMP-2 tracked armored IFV Infantry Fighting Vehicle, and BTR-40/BTR-60/BTR-152 wheeled APC Armored Personnel Carrier vehicles. Cuba also has upgraded locally some combat vehicles adapting weapons systems to combat vehicles, typified by the fitting of T-55 and BMP-1 turrets to BTR-60 chassis, fitting 122mm D-30 Howitzers to BMP-1 chassis and to trucks and adapting RBU-6000 rockets to being fired from a truck flatbed. In December 2016, Russia and Cuba signed a program of technology cooperation in the defense sector until 2020. The document was inked at a meeting of the Russian-Cuban intergovernmental commission in Havana by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin and Vice President of Cubas Council of Ministers Ricardo Cabrisas Ruiz. In 2017, Havana formally turned to Russia requesting modernization of the countrys military equipment. The combined firm will be headquartered in London and will be led by Gordon Dadds managing partner and CEO Adrian Biles, supported by Ince chair Peter Rogan. Ince is a highly successful and well-respected business with an iconic brand and I will be delighted to welcome our new colleagues to the Group, said Biles. The merger will build upon the complementary strengths of the two firms in terms of industry expertise and range of services. He added that the management model will also allow Inces partners and fee earners to focus even more on providing market leading legal advice to a stellar client base. Im very pleased that I will be supported in leading the combined firm by Peter Rogan and his colleagues at Ince, said Biles. Rogan said that the merger is an exciting, cutting-edge deal, which is good news for Ince. SUV 4WD Thismade its debut in December 2017 with a 2.2-liter diesel. But because diesel is still a big risk and the CX-8 is selling like hotcakes, Mazda has also added a 2.5-liter Skyactiv-G. As the name suggests, the gasoline engine in question is a regular naturally-aspirated one.But regardless, it's got the same max output of 190 horsepower as the best 2.2L. Only front-wheel-drive versions will be made, all fitted with a 6-speed automatic gearbox. Prices in Japan start from about 2.9 million yen or about $26,000.But wait, there's more. The CX-8 Proactiv and L Package are also available with a 2.5L direct-injected turbo engine, which makes 230 HP and 420 Nm of torque . It starts from 3,742,200 yen or $33,400. The equivalent diesel withis slightly more expensive but gets better gas mileage too.As is usually the case with Japanese cars, Mazda makes small changes every year to improve the CX-8. For example, it's added GVC Plus or G-Vectoring Control Plus. It's said to use the brakes to improve the stability of the car during high-speed emergency maneuvers. The system will also suppress sudden unintended movements from the driver on snowy or icy roads.Engineers also saw the need to fit a thicker front stabilizer bar and thinner rear one, increasing low G responsiveness and stability at high speeds. Also, to raise the comfort of the interior, the height of the armrest of the front seat was lowered by about 15 mm. And this being a 2019 model, it will come with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatible with Google Maps after iOS 12. The new Brio will be exported to multiple countries in the Southeast Asia region (ASEAN) starting with Vietnam which is set to receive the first shipment. With it, Indonesia is the first country to make and export the second-generation Brio for other markets. If you're one of the few that are eagerly waiting for the arrival of the next-generation Honda Brio, we have some good news for you. PT Honda Prospect Motor, the official manufacturer and distributor of Honda cars in Indonesia, has officially announced that they will begin exporting the all-new Brio in the first half of 2019. First revealed at the 2018 Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show, the all-new Brio is essentially the production version of the Small RS Concept from which it borrows many styling elements. Starting with its front fascia, the Brio now gets its face from the Mobilio with its upswept headlights, broader front grill and sportier front bumper. The rear, on the other hand, also gets a major makeover and appears to have been made bigger and sleeker than before. A new set of C-shaped taillights, along with a more curvaceous rear bumper makes its way on the second-gen Brio. The quirky glass tailgate has also been replaced by a more traditional metal tailgate. Inside, the Brio now has a Jazz-inspired dashboard (which is also seeing use in the Mobilio). Depending on the variant, the Brio can come with colored trim pieces, as well other in-car amenities like touchscreen infotainment and a digital air-conditioning system. Powering the Indonesian-spec Brio is a 1.2-liter four-cylinder i-VTEC engine that complies with the country's Low Cost Green Car (LCGC) program. It puts out 90 PS with 110 Nm of torque and can be paired to either a five-speed manual or continuously variable transmission (CVT). Other markets could get a different engine spec, which may likely be the carried-over 1.3-liter four-cylinder. With the Brio set to arrive in ASEAN markets next year, it won't be long until the five-door hatchback makes its way to the Philippines as well. With help from the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), and Grab Philippines, IPC turned over several units of their modern public utility vehicles (PUVs) to the Boracay Local Transport Group (BLTG) last October 26 at the island's Bolabog Terminal. After being closed to the public for six months, Boracay is once again open to tourists. With many set to flock the island resort in the coming months, Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) decided to give a helping hand to the local transport community. In attendance during the turnover ceremony were key executives and personnel from IPC, DOTr, Grab, and Almazora. These included DOTr Assistant Secretary Manny Gonzales, Head of Strategic Supply for Grab PH Laurence Bahia, IPC president Hajime Koso, and Almazora Motors executive vice president Conrad Almazora. The PUVs that will be seeing duty in Boracay are the Class II QKR77 made by Almazora. It gets side-facing seats that can accommodate more than 22 passengers, and is also capable of carrying standees. It even comes with creature comforts and security features like CCTV cameras, hand rails and a LCD screen that can show ads or other types of media. Powering the PUV is a Euro IV-compliant 3.0-liter turbo-diesel that benefits from BluePower technology. The engine puts out 106 PS at 3200 rpm with 230 Nm of torque at 1400 - 3200 rpm. Power is then transferred to a five-speed manual transmission that drives the rear wheels. Both the front and rear suspension sit on multi-leaf springs while the braking system consist of drum brakes all around. To ensure that both locals and tourists remain comfortable while inside the PUVs, all units are equipped with an air-conditioning system that keeps the cabin cool. For added safety, the PUVs also have fire extinguishers and carry provisions for persons with disabilities. Initially, only three units of Isuzus PUVs will operate in Boracay. In the future however, they are looking to have a fleet of 60 units going around the island which will be operated by Grab. All of the PUVs will ply along the Boracay Circumferential Road. I congratulate all concerned individuals and organizations in the public and private sectors for pooling their efforts to restore Boracay's place among the world's most beautiful islands. IPC is most certainly proud to share its expertise and world-class vehicles with the people of the island. Our modernized PUVs are very much aligned with the government's vision of a modern, safe, efficient, cost-effective and environment-friendly transport system not only for Boracay, but for the entire Philippines, said Koso. As an added bonus, locals and tourists alike can take a ride in the PUVs for free until the end of the year. There is no word yet as to how much will be the fare come next year. When a crime is committed within a mile of the Chula Vista Police Department in southern California, chances are the first on the scene will be a drone. The police in the community near San Diego are the first to get an FAA waiver to fly over buildings and people to help officers assess a situation and decide on an appropriate response. With drones, officers can see if suspect has that weapon so they can plan that game plan or that avenue of approach thats safer, said Chief Roxana Kennedy. Under the experimental program, certificated police pilots control the aircraft from the roof of the police building and can monitor the view below on their phones or on monitors. The drones must be operated within visual line of site within a mile of the police station, at least for now. In the first week, the drones responded to 30 calls and got to those calls within two minutes. The department eventually wants to operate drones from the roof of every fire station in Chula Vista. If we got to that model, wed be able to respond to any call for service in the city of Chula Vista in two minutes, and give real-time data quality decision to any police officer, live via their phone, said CVPD Capt. Vern Sallee. When Chinese garlic farmer Zhu Yue had to admit to himself that he would never achieve his lifelong dream of learning to fly, he did what he considered to be the next best thing. The ambitious and apparently prosperous agriculturalist and welder build a full-scale steel model of an A320 in his hometown of Kaiyun. I hit midlife and realized I couldnt buy one, but I could build one, he told AFP. Its not clear what type of aircraft Zhu thought he might want to buy but the $374,000 he spent on the enormous model of Airbuss bread and butter airliner should have given him a lot of options. Nevertheless, he forged ahead with the complex project, using an 80th-scale model and photos to guide him. The result is a somewhat faithful replica that weighs more than 130,000 pounds. Zhu plans to use the replica as a restaurant where diners will be seated in 36 first class seats. We will put down a red carpet so every person who comes to eat will feel like a head of state, Zhu said. A Lion Air Boeing 737 crashed into the Java Sea just after takeoff early Monday and the fate of the 189 people aboard remains unknown. The aircraft was en route toPangkal Pinang island, about 400 miles north, when it went down just off the coast. It crashed into the water13 minutes after takeoff following an erratic climb. We are waiting for a miracle of God, Nugroho Budi Wiryanto, deputy operations chief at the national search-and-rescue agency, told news agencies. At least 300 rescuers were deployed to the crash site, where they were recovering crash debris but, as of early Monday east coast time, no survivors. Controllers lost radio contact with Lion Air JT-610 before it descended 3000 feet to impact the sea off the coast of Jakarta. FlightAware and Flightradar24 showed the aircraft, a new Boeing 737 Max 8 purchased earlier this year, climbing erratically, never reaching its assigned altitude. Lion Air was established in 1999 and is Indonesias largest budget airline. AVweb will update this story as more information becomes available. Among the passengers were 20 Indonesian government officials. There were no early reports of casualties but small wreckage, including seats, has been found floating on the surface. The aircraft left Jakarta at 6:21 a.m. Monday morning and the aircraft crashed about 13 minutes later. Winds were calm and skies were mostly clear at the time of the crash. When Carli McConaughy pulled on the big control column in the middle of the helicopter she was flying in over Honolulu last week, she had no idea what she was doing but she likely saved her own life and those of her fianc and the unconscious pilot beside her. McConaughy, 35, and her newly betrothed Adam Barnett, 31, both of Joliet, Illinois, took a sightseeing flight as part of their Hawaiian vacation after getting engaged on Oahu. They told the Chicago Tribune that as they skirted the waterfront at 1,000 feet, the pilot suddenly slumped over and the Robinson R-44 dove for the water. Barnett yelled from the back seat for her to pull it up while gesturing to the cyclic control between their seats and McConaughy, who had no flight experience, gave it a mighty tug. It arrested the descent enough that all survived the impact with relatively minor injuries. We hit the water hard, she said. I just think it was the best way we could have crashed. We all survived. The aircraft crashed in waist-deep water and Burnett was able to pull his future bride and the 57-year-old pilot out. They were taken to shore by first responders on jet skis. All had broken bones but no life-threatening injuries. The company that operated the helicopter told the Honolulu Star Advertiser the pilot suffered a medical issue on the flight but did not elaborate. Former president and Georgia native Jimmy Carter has written a letter to Brian Kemp, the state's Republican nominee for governor, urging him resign as Georgia's secretary of state, a position that requires him to oversee the gubernatorial election, reports the AP. The big picture: Georgia's gubernatorial race has also been clouded by voter suppression concerns. Kemp has been sued by a coalition of civil rights organizations for placing 53,000 voter registration applications on hold, nearly 70% of which belong to black voters. Carter's full letter, via the AP: October 22, 2018 To Secretary of State Brian Kemp: I have officially observed scores of doubtful elections in many countries, and one of the key requirements for a fair and trusted process is that there be nonbiased supervision of the electoral process. In Georgias upcoming gubernatorial election, popular confidence is threatened not only by the undeniable racial discrimination of the past and the serious questions that the federal courts have raised about the security of Georgias voting machines, but also because you are now overseeing the election in which you are a candidate. This runs counter to the most fundamental principle of democratic elections that the electoral process be managed by an independent and impartial election authority. Other secretaries of state have stepped down while running for election within their jurisdiction, to ensure that officials without a direct stake in the process can take charge and eliminate concerns about a conflict of interest. In order to foster voter confidence in the upcoming election, which will be especially important if the race ends up very close, I urge you to step aside and hand over to a neutral authority the responsibility of overseeing the governors election. This would not address every concern, but it would be a sign that you recognize the importance of this key democratic principle and want to ensure the confidence of our citizens in the outcome. Sincerely, Jimmy Carter Jair Bolsonaro, a far-right candidate whose misogyny, racism and reverence for military dictators has made him one of Latin America's most polarizing figures, won Brazil's presidency yesterday with over 55% of the vote. Why it matters: Brazil is already an important oil producer at roughly 3 million barrels per day, and has been auctioning offshore tracts thought to contain huge hydrocarbon resources to some of the world's largest energy companies. And the Amazon also makes Brazil vital to the world's climate and biodiversity. What's next: One oil executive told S&P Global Platts recently that "Bolsonaro represents the current, favorable status quo although there could be some hiccups." They note that a policy plan he floated early this month backed "reinforced expectations Bolsonaro would likely continue reform efforts that lured investment from heavyweights such as BP, Equinor, ExxonMobil, Shell and Total." Yes, but: Their piece and others note the he could install a military general atop state-energy giant Petrobras who would favor a heavier state grip on hydrocarbons. On the environment, this Washington Post analysis points out that while he's backed away from plans to abandon the Paris climate deal, "that doesnt mean Bolsonaro has suddenly become the Lorax." "Bolsonaro is a powerful supporter of agribusiness one of the pillars of his political platform and is likely to favor profits over preservation." "He has called for a new, pro-business approach to exploiting Brazils natural resources, insisting that overzealous bureaucrats have harassed farmers for simply trying to make a living by carving out patches of jungle." The views of Paulo Guedes, the University of Chicago-trained economist advising Bolsonaro, were examined in a Reuters piece: TBILISI and RUSTAVI The strength of Georgia's democracy and of its all-powerful ruling party will be put to the test over the next two weeks after a deadlocked presidential election on Sunday necessitated what is sure to be a bitter runoff. Why it matters: In Georgia, it goes almost without saying that Moscow is the enemy, the West provides the path forward and strengthening democracy is the way to get there. But leading figures in the former Soviet republic's politics and society are fearful that this consensus is beginning to break down. In four days here I heard the phrase "existential crisis" more than once. As always, one chief fear is Russia. Another is that the fragile system will begin to implode through some combination of corruption, hopelessness and political score-settling. Sunday's election was supposed to matter little, except as a show of strength ahead of crucial parliamentary elections in two years time. Georgia's next president will have greatly reduced powers as the country transitions to a new political system, and the ruling party Georgian Dream (GD) was expected to win fairly easily. Instead, GD backed Salome Zurabishvili, an unpopular, French-born "independent" candidate who was decried by her political enemies as a racist and, based on comments she made about the 2008 war with Russia, a traitor. an unpopular, French-born "independent" candidate who was decried by her political enemies as a racist and, based on comments she made about the 2008 war with Russia, a traitor. Grigol Vashadze , her fairly uninspiring opponent from the United National Movement (UNM), meanwhile, was labeled a puppet and a Russian mole because he'd lived and served in Moscow. The letters "KGB" were sprayed across many of his campaign posters. , her fairly uninspiring opponent from the United National Movement (UNM), meanwhile, was labeled a puppet and a Russian mole because he'd lived and served in Moscow. The letters "KGB" were sprayed across many of his campaign posters. The ruling party in Georgia has enormous institutional advantages, which were on display in the industrial town of Rustavi. "Observers" lingered outside polling places, crossing the names of those expected (or pressured) to vote for GD off their lists. Still, Zurabishvili fell short of 50%. The election was ultimately a proxy war between one man who lost power and wants it back, UNM leader-in-exile Mikheil Saakashvili, and another who has tremendous power and exerts it largely from the shadows. It felt appropriate that among the only leading Georgians we did not meet was Bidzina Ivanishvili. An oligarch who built his $5 billion fortune in Russia, founded GD (which he now chairs), served briefly as prime minister after toppling Saakashvili and then retreated to his glass palace above Tbilisi, Ivanishvili seemed to linger in the background of our conversations with officials but rarely entered them directly without prodding. that among the only leading Georgians we did not meet was Bidzina Ivanishvili. An oligarch who built his $5 billion fortune in Russia, founded GD (which he now chairs), served briefly as prime minister after toppling Saakashvili and then retreated to his glass palace above Tbilisi, Ivanishvili seemed to linger in the background of our conversations with officials but rarely entered them directly without prodding. Outgoing president Giorgi Margvelashvili, who was hand-selected by Ivanishvili before falling out with him spectacularly early in his term, claims even he doesn't know how involved the oligarch is in day-to-day governing. "People say, 'this is a message from the ultimate truth, from God," he told me, referring to Ivanishvili. "I have no way of knowing if it's true. It's all only rumors." who was hand-selected by Ivanishvili before falling out with him spectacularly early in his term, claims even he doesn't know how involved the oligarch is in day-to-day governing. "People say, 'this is a message from the ultimate truth, from God," he told me, referring to Ivanishvili. "I have no way of knowing if it's true. It's all only rumors." Zurabishvili told me she has met with Ivanishvili only three times, but expects to consult him before taking major decisions as president in order to avoid a political schism with a man who has churned through three prime ministers in the past three years. Unlike in much of the former Soviet Union, there is real suspense to Georgian democracy. I found myself on an elevator with Vashadze after a pre-election meeting in which he exuded all the anger and exhaustion of a man who believed he would be robbed of an election. I mumbled a question about the polls, and whether they'd match the official results. He grabbed me by the arm as I went to leave: "You're in Georgia! Anything can happen." Go Deeper... I spent the past four days as part of a German Marshall Fund delegation observing Sunday's presidential election and meeting with the leading candidates, the current president, foreign minister and speaker of parliament and leaders in civil society, the clergy and business. A Lion Air Boeing 737 MAX 8 crashed into the ocean shortly after taking off from an airport in Jakarta, Indonesia, likely killing all 189 people on board, the AP reports. The big picture: Indonesian airlines have been known for their spotty safety records, and bans on flights to Europe and the United States had only been lifted over the last few years. An Indonesian official said the pilot had requested to return to the airport just minutes after taking off, adding that the plane had experienced a technical issue on its previous flight. Between the lines: The crash is noteworthy for being the first to involve the Boeing 737 MAX, which is a more powerful and efficient version of the popular 737. The aircraft is used on trans-Atlantic routes, and more than 4,700 are on order worldwide, Boeing says on its website. MONGSTAD, Norway This Nordic nation offers a window into how an economy fueled by oil and natural gas can attempt aggressive action on climate change. Why it matters: It sounds contradictory, but given that our world has remained 81% dependent upon fossil fuels for the past 30 years, cutting greenhouse gas emissions while using these fuels is probably going to be unavoidable. In two separate upcoming decisions, Norway will show the extent to which its committed to its climate ambitions and diversifying its wealth, which is largely derived from oil. The big picture: President Trump has said he likes Norway, though its not clear why. This admiration comes despite the fact that Norway has some socialist policies, most notably its staggering tax rate Norway has some socialist policies, most notably its The money raised goes into its sovereign wealth fund, the largest in the world at nearly $1 trillion. That high tax rate was left out of a White House report issued last week Nordic countries have socialist policies by pointing to their low corporate tax rates. Driving the news: The Norwegian government will decide this autumn whether its sovereign wealth fund will divest from oil and natural gas stocks. If it does, it would boost efforts around the world to urge investors to drop fossil-fuel investments as concerns grow about climate change. Norway is also set to decide in the coming years whether to fund what would be one of the world's most ambitious initiatives to capture and store underground carbon dioxide emissions. The technology is technically possible, but prohibitively expensive in most instances. If Norway follows through here, it would be a pivotal step toward showing the financial commitment many experts say is needed to address climate change in our fossil-fuel driven world, including commitments laid out in the 2015 Paris climate accord. Between the lines: Inaction on either of these fronts would raise a difficult prospect: If Norway rich from its fossil fuels and genuinely ambitious about addressing climate change doesnt follow through, who would? The intrigue: One misty October morning, I was on a tour of an industrial site here considered the largest test facility in the world for technologies capturing CO2 emissions, 10 times larger than the biggest one in America. Owned by four European energy companies and the Norwegian government, the facility is now a testing ground for several American companies. The Energy Department has this year awarded funding companies This type of technology is crucial so that the United States and the world can use fossil fuels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, said Steve Winberg, assistant secretary for fossil energy at the Energy Department, who visited Norway this summer. Indeed, technology capturing CO2 emissions is vital for oil and natural gas to thrive in a world addressing climate change. Norways actions are as much for its own economic survival as they are for the planet. Norways oil and natural gas sector accounts for That economic backdrop has the government considering divesting from oil and gas stocks in its sovereign wealth fund. Norwegian officials say its decision isnt related to climate change, but thats a distinction without a difference. Concerns are growing about being too dependent upon oil and gas precisely because the world is looking to curb emissions from fossil fuels. We are so exposed to oil and gas because a large part of our economy is based on oil and gas activities, Ingvil Smines Tybring-Gjedde, State Secretary of Norway's Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, said in an interview after a recent dinner event in Oslo. Its a huge misunderstanding. We did not want to withdraw from oil and gas because its oil and gas. Its to be not exposed as much to oil and gas. Whats next: After the imminent decision about the sovereign wealth fund, the focus will turn to whether the carbon capturing project goes through. That 1.6 billion proposal includes capturing emissions at two separate facilities a cement manufacturer and a power plant that burns garbage for electricity and then storing the CO2 under the seafloor. The catch, as Tybring-Gjedde said at the Oslo event, is that the Norwegian government says it can't fund the project on its own. It is necessary to do something about the climate that we are looking at, Tybring-Gjedde said. However, we need European partners because it will be difficult to carry the financial burden of this project on our own. The Pentagon plans to deploy 5,200 troops to ports of entry on the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas, Arizona and California by the end of this week to support immigration authorities' efforts to stop Central American migrants headed for the U.S., officials announced Monday. The details: Terrence J. OShaughnessy, head of the U.S. Northern Command, told reporters that a group of 800 soldiers was already heading to Texas from Fort Campbell and Fort Knox. The announcement comes in the closing days of the midterm elections season, in which President Trump has said he will cut off federal aid to the countries from which migrants are fleeing. He is reportedly planning to deny any requests for asylum and close the southern border as a migrant caravan makes its way north. TBILISI and RUSTAVI, Georgia An enormous winged insect buzzed through the room, causing continual disruptions and hovering close to the conversation. Parliamentary Speaker Irakli Kobakhidze, who had been addressing us in a low monotone about constitutional reform, deadpanned: "It's Russian." Russia is ever-present in Georgian politics. Kremlin propaganda and misinformation are rife, and the rise of far-right groups which aren't explicitly pro-Russian but instead anti-Western can be linked directly to Russia. Given the dynamics surrounding oligarchs who made or hope to keep their fortunes in Vladimir Putin's Russia, it's also not entirely clear whether Ivanishvili is outside of Moscow's gravitational pull. It's not just politics. Many priests and members of the Georgian Orthodox Church hierarchy trained in Russia. Some almost certainly had (or have) links to Russian intelligence. The church tends to be closer to socially conservative Russia, and more suspicious of Europe, than the population at large. The church is the most trusted institution in Georgian society, and Patriarch Ilia II is one of the most influential figures. He tends to reflect the pro-Europe views of the country as a whole. He's also 85 and in ill health. His successor is likely to have a different view. is the most trusted institution in Georgian society, and Patriarch Ilia II is one of the most influential figures. He tends to reflect the pro-Europe views of the country as a whole. He's also 85 and in ill health. His successor is likely to have a different view. The Georgian church hasn't taken a position on the granting of independence to the Ukrainian church, a dramatic split that infuriated Moscow. There's concern in Tbilisi that if Georgia backs Ukraine, Russia could support independent churches in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Meanwhile, exports to Russia have been gradually rising. Zurab Kachkachishvili, director of the International Chamber of Commerce, says Russia is viewed as "a savior" by some in the agricultural sector, but he's urging them to diversify. Moscow wants Georgia to be reliant on the trading relationship, he says, to increase the pain when it cuts back. The bottom line: David Usupashvili, a presidential candidate who ultimately finished fifth, put it this way: "The fragmentation of society is reaching a very dangerous level. And there is Mr. Putin. And he is waiting." On Nov. 4, the U.S. will re-impose sanctions on Iran that had been lifted under the Iran nuclear deal. In response, the Bank of Kunlun, which handles Chinas financial transactions with Iran, informed customers that on Nov. 1 it will stop processing them. Chinas largest oil refiners, Sinopec and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), may also stop importing Iranian oil in November. Why it matters: China is Irans largest oil importer and most important trading partner. Because China is better insulated from U.S. sanctions than other major importers, Iran could avoid the worst economic effects of U.S. sanctions if China continues buying its oil. But if China cuts back, Iran will likely pull out of the nuclear deal, leaving it free to resume an unrestricted nuclear program. The background: Nevertheless, Chinese government officials have been deeply critical of President Trumps nuclear deal withdrawal. At the UN Security Council's September meeting, Foreign Minister Wang stressed economic sovereignty and defended the legitimate right of all countries to normal economic relations and trade with Iran. There are three ways to think about Chinas latest moves: A bargaining strategy. China is seeking discounts and other favorable commercial terms for continued trade with Iran, so leaking that its oil refiners are rethinking their positions gives China leverage. Since Trump is sensitive to oil prices, China may also be trying to soften the U.S. position by surprising the market and pushing prices up. A way to restructure trade with Iran. China may simply be further insulating its biggest firms from Iran-related sanctions by removing them from this trading relationship, leaving smaller Chinese refiners and banks to step into the gaps left by Kunlun, Sinopac and CNPC. This would put some effective limits on Iranian oil sales and other trade without totally shutting it down. A diplomatic concession. If China is preparing to comply with re-imposed U.S. sanctions, it might be as a sweetener to secure a TrumpXi meeting at the November G20 to make progress on the trade war, which is vastly more important to both countries than Iran sanctions. The bottom line: In any case, the Trump administration has succeeded in creating the impression that China bowed to U.S. pressure, something China was careful to avoid when it substantially reduced Iranian oil purchases under President Obama. By acting before Trumps November deadline and leaking waiver requests, China has made, in principle, an important concession. Jarrett Blanc is a senior fellow in the Geoeconomics and Strategy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. The largest parliamentary party on Monday again effectively blocked the passage of a raft of major amendments to the Electoral Code drafted by his government for snap general elections expected in December. One week after voting down the package the Republican Party of Armenia of ex-president Serzh Sarkisian again opposed the changes that were one more time brought to the parliament floor after more than a quarter of lawmakers initiated a relevant special session, using their powers. The amendments formally approved by the government on October 16 are aimed at facilitating the proper conduct of the elections. They would, among other things, change the existing legal mechanism for distributing seats in the National Assembly which many believe favored the HHK in the last parliamentary elections held in April 2017. Under Armenias constitution, any amendment to the Electoral Code must be backed by at least 63 members of the 105-member parliament. Only 62 lawmakers voted for the government bill this time around, with two lawmakers voting against it. Still a week ago Pashinian accused the parliament majority of sabotaging the work of his cabinet. The former ruling party has dismissed the accusations, insisting that it has officially voiced its opposition to the proposed changes and simply followed its policy. The HHK deems it wrong to change the Electoral Code less than two months before expected general elections. It has also accused the government of ignoring a number of alternative proposals that were jointly made by the four political factions in the current National Assembly. HHK lawmaker Armen Ashotian on Monday described the second attempt at getting the draft legislation passed as a travesty of democracy. Changing an electoral law just 40 days before an election is simply absurd, he commented, talking to RFE/RLs Armenian Service (Azatutyun.am). Especially explaining such an antidemocratic step by the intention of strengthening democracy is a travesty of democracy, Ashotian added. The bill would have passed if at least one of two members of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) faction who were absent from the voting had participated in it and voted in favor of the amended electoral law. Speaking after the session, Alen Simonian, a lawmaker with the pro-Pashinian Yelk alliance, stopped short of accusing any political party or group of the failure of the bill, but said that individual lawmakers who did not vote for the bill effectively sabotaged the effort. I think we will participate [in the elections] by the current law and will see whether it will do any good to those who opposed the bill or were pretending to be ill [during the vote]. Well see whether they can succeed in being returned to the National Assembly and have a say in the next parliament, because the [rejected] bill was designed to ensure maximum representation in the National Assembly, Simonian said. In the 2017 elections, Armenians voted for not only parties and blocs as a whole but also their individual candidates running in a dozen nationwide constituencies. The individual races greatly helped the HHK to score a landslide victory at the time. Wealthy HHK candidates relied heavily on their financial resources and government connections to earn both themselves and their party many votes. The bill put forward by Pashinians government also envisaged safeguards against vote rigging and other major changes such as lower vote thresholds for winning seats in parliament and recovering election deposits. Gianni Buquicchio, the president of the Council of Europes Venice Commission, said on October 20 that the draft amendments pursue legitimate aims and seem mostly positive. In a statement, he also noted the specific situation in Armenia, which requires the holding of early elections. Buquicchio said at the same time that the commission still has reservations about the proposed change of the electoral system. He stressed, though, that these reservations are less relevant if there is consensus among political forces about the change. The Armenian National Assembly is expected to be dissolved later this week when, according to an apparent political agreement, its members will again vote down the candidacy of acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian for the post of the head of the government or otherwise fail to elect a new prime minister. Todays narrow defeat of the key election bill, therefore, almost certainly means that the expected preterm general elections in December will be conducted in accordance with the existing legislation. Acting Prime Minister Pashinian and his political team have expressed confidence that they will win the expected ballot and form the next government either way. They have argued, at the same time, that amendments to the existing electoral legislation would have raised the political quality of the election campaigns. The troika of international mediators advancing peace efforts to resolve the protracted Armenian-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh paid a visit to Yerevan on Monday. While in the Armenian capital the American, Russian and French co-chairs of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europes (OSCE) Minsk Group Andrew Schofer, Igor Popov and Stephane Visconti met with the countrys political leadership, including acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian, acting Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanian and acting Defense Minister David Tonoyan. During the meetings the Armenian officials and the Minsk Group co-chairs, who were accompanied by the OSCE president-in-offices personal representative Andrzej Kasprzyk, in particular, addressed the meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders on the margins of a summit of post-Soviet leaders in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, in late September. Acting Armenian Prime Minister Pashinian and the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs addressed the dynamics of the Karabakh peace process after the latest political changes in Armenia, according to the press office of the acting head of the Armenian government. The sides exchanged views on the meeting between the Armenian prime minister and the president of Azerbaijan that took place in Dushanbe in late September as well as agreements reached during that meeting. Nikol Pashinian attached importance to sticking to the agreements and implementing them effectively, which will promote the formation of mutual trust and a corresponding atmosphere for the peace process. The sides outlined future possible steps, the statement issued by Pashinians office said. During a separate meeting Armenian Defense Minister Tonoyan briefed the Minsk Group co-chairs on the situation at the Armenian-Azerbaijan state border and along the line of contact between the armed forces of Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan, according to an official report. Stressing the importance of the agreement reached between the Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders in Dushanbe about the launching of operational communications, the Armenian defense minister expressed a hope that the co-chair countries would make efforts to establish and launch communications based on the example of the communication between the parties in the Nakhijevan direction, also in other operational areas, the report said. Stressing that the Armenian armed forces are closely monitoring the situation and control any movements, Tonoyan said that in the current conditions, unconditional adherence to the ceasefire between the parties, the implementation of measures aimed at reducing risks and preventing incidents are of key importance. For his part, Armenian Foreign Minister Mnatsakanian stressed at his meeting with the international mediators that the practical application of the agreements reached between Pashinian and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev is aimed at forming and promoting an atmosphere of peace. He stressed that the need for rejecting militarist and unconstructive policy remains urgent. The sides reportedly discussed further steps of the co-chairs. In this regard, Mnatsakanian stressed that it will be possible to assess further steps more comprehensively after the mediators visit Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan, the report said. Russia has chided the United States, alleging Washington is trying to drive a wedge between Moscow and former Soviet republic Armenia. Russia's Foreign Ministry said on October 29 that it took issue with U.S. national-security adviser John Bolton's comments during a visit to Yerevan last week that the Kremlin says were a thinly veiled call for Armenia to break with its traditional ally. Bolton "demanded openly that Armenia renounce historical patterns [sic] in its international relations and hardly bothered to conceal the fact that this implied Armenias traditional friendship with Russia," the ministry said in a statement. "Naturally, he did not forget to advertise U.S. weapons that Armenia should buy instead of Russian weapons," it added. Armenia has long had close ties with Russia, but questions about relations between the two have risen since Nikol Pashinian led a bloodless revolution to oust Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian, seen as close to Moscow. During a visit to Yerevan on October 25, Bolton said he had discussed the issue of possible sales of U.S. military equipment to Armenia. In an exclusive interview with RFE/RL later that day, Bolton said that buying U.S. military equipment was a viable "option" for Armenia. Bolton also said in the interview that Armenia's "excellent" prospects for becoming a "stable democracy" were "really fundamental to Armenia exercising its full sovereignty and not being dependent on -- or subject to -- excessive foreign influence." Russia's Foreign Ministry said that "it would be good for John Bolton to ponder the meaning of his own words." Asked by reporters on October 27 whether Yerevan was actually going to purchase military equipment from the United States, Pashinian said, "The [Armenian] government is not constrained by anything. If there is an offer from the United States that is good for us, we will discuss it." By Sara Israfilbayova October 29 sees the 25th anniversary of the occupation of Azerbaijans Zangilan region by the Armenian invasion troops. Zangilan, having a 157 mile border with Armenia, had a significant place in the gradual increase in tensions in the region from 1988 at the start of Armenias open hostile actions aimed at claiming Azerbaijans Nagorno-Karabakh region. Armenian armed forces surrounded the region from three sides and exposed all settlements of the region to continuous shelling, inflicting new destruction and casualties. People of Zangilan gathered at the Araz River to flee to the Iranian territory. They found a way out by crossing the Araz River to get to Iranian territory. Otherwise, they could have been subjected to horrors similar to those that the residents of Khojaly suffered in February 1992. Occupation of Zangilan led to serious consequences: 200 residents were killed, 395 children lost one of their parents, 127 became disabled and 44 people are still missing. As a result of the continuous ethnic cleansing policy pursued by Armenia, the residents of Zangilan were expelled. Today, 35,000 displaced people from Zangilan and their descendants are dispersed in various parts of Azerbaijan. The historical, cultural and natural heritage of the city has been completely destroyed. Located along the Baku-Julfa-Nakhchivan railway, this area is of great strategic importance. The basis of the economy of the region was agriculture, namely, viticulture, tobacco growing and animal husbandry. In Zangilan region, which before the occupation consisted of one city, one settlement and 83 villages, there were 9 pre-school institutions, 19 primary and 15 secondary schools, one vocational school, one music school, 35 libraries, eight cultural centers, 23 club-houses and 22 film projector facilities. The largest platanus forest in all of Europe was also located in this area. Now these trees are cut down by Armenians and sold to foreign countries. Valuable tree species, molybdenum, marble, gold, granite and other wealth of the subsoil are also being plundered by Armenians. Occupation of Zangilan was the last stage of the military operations of the Armenian armed forces to seize the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan and seven adjacent regions. More than 20 percent of the territory of Azerbaijan was occupied, more than 20,000 people were killed, more than 50,000 people were wounded and maimed. More than 1 million people, victims of the policy of genocide and ethnic cleansing carried out by Armenia against Azerbaijan, live in the situation of refugees and IDPs, are deprived of basic human rights. Armenia continues its illegal actions, efforts aimed at detaining the military occupation, activity to artificially change the demographic situation in the occupied Azerbaijani territories, thereby disregarding the position of the international community. The Azerbaijani side hopes that the international community, in order to ensure the restoration of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which poses a threat to peace and stability throughout the region, will take a more decisive approach to quickly resolve this conflict. --- Sara Israfilbayova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Sara_999Is Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Junaid Nabi BOSTON On a recent trip to India, I hailed a rickshaw that was pedaled, I soon noticed, by a man with a lame leg. It turns out that a few weeks earlier, the driver had been hit by a car while navigating the busy streets of New Delhi. Although he had managed to obtain medication from a local pharmacy for the agonizing pain probably because his leg was broken he could spare neither the time nor the money to see a surgeon. This type of tragic calculus is strikingly common. The Lancet Commission on Global Surgery estimates that some five billion people almost 70% of the worlds population lack access to safe, affordable surgical and anesthetic care, while 33 million people are saddled with unbearably high health expenses. Not surprisingly, the global poor suffer disproportionately: while low-income countries are home to close to 35% of humanity, they account for just 3.5% of all surgical procedures. One of the biggest obstacles to achieving universal health coverage which the United Nations has declared a global goal is financing. And, paradoxical as it may sound, one of the best ways that governments can get the money they need to expand coverage is by making surgery more widely available. Time-sensitive health problems such as injuries from traffic accidents and pregnancy-related complications are among the leading causes of death and disability in low- and middle-income countries. But untreated or undertreated conditions requiring surgery also hurt economic productivity. For example, the Lancet study estimated that the failure to improve surgical care in developing countries would translate into $12.3 trillion of lost economic output by 2030. Failure to maintain strong surgical capacity could even undercut economic gains made by middle-income countries, reducing total GDP growth by approximately 2% annually. For many leaders, the common perception is that provision of surgical care is not sustainable or cost-effective. When faced with tough budget choices, governments often favor programs that combat infectious and chronic diseases, leaving people like my rickshaw driver in the lurch. But a growing body of evidence suggests that these views are misplaced. When researchers at the Harvard Medical School analyzed surgical interventions in low- and middle-income countries, they found a remarkable disconnect between economic assumptions and reality. For example, they calculated that money spent on cesarean sections and joint surgeries yields higher returns than spending on the management of HIV or heart disease. To be sure, chronic and infectious diseases need our attention, too; we cannot restructure health systems overnight, nor should we turn our backs on those being treated for non-surgical illnesses. But reforms that focus more attention on the importance of surgery would boost economic productivity and help create more equitable health care for everyone. For starters, health ministries and physician organizations should formally recognize that surgical and anesthetic care are an essential part of universal health coverage. To make this case, health-care providers will need to improve their collection and analysis of data on surgical outcomes, which would increase transparency on mortality and morbidity and strengthen overall accountability. Decisions about how to expand services could be guided by the Lancet commissions core indicators on preparedness, delivery, and impact of surgical care. Second, to pool risk and guard against cost overruns, countries that are considering universal coverage policies should put surgical care under publicly financed plans. While some funding for expanding surgical services could come from taxation, health-care providers should also explore innovative financing options such as social justice models, whereby people pay according to their means. Finally, to streamline resources and increase surgical capacity, hospitals should explore task-sharing, whereby non-emergency cases are referred to licensed nurses and physician assistants. Longer-term strategies include investing more in medical education to bolster the ranks of doctors and surgeons. The tremendous economic progress that many developing countries have made in recent decades has been largely driven by vibrant, young, and ambitious populations. One of the most effective ways to maintain this growth and development is to ensure access to safe and affordable healthcare including surgery. While the cost of providing it may be high, the cost of not providing it is even higher. Copyright: Project Syndicate: Surgery for all --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Sara Israfilbayova Wencai Zhang, Vice-President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), tells AzerNews about ADB-Azerbaijan cooperation, current and future plans Question: How will ADBs new corporate strategy support Azerbaijans national development strategy for development and facilitate closer cooperation? Answer: Thank you for the question and for the warm welcome of my visit to your beautiful country. Im very pleased to be here. Strategy 2030 sets the course for ADBs efforts to respond to the changing needs of Asia and the Pacific until 2030. In the past five years, we have seen Azerbaijans needs significantly change as the countrys economy has expanded and diversified. Strategy 2030 identifies seven operational priorities which were developed in close consultation with our members, including Azerbaijan. Our priorities are (i) addressing remaining poverty and reducing inequality; ii) accelerating progress in gender equality; (iii) tackling climate change, building climate and disaster resilience, and enhancing environmental sustainability; (iv) making cities more livable; (v) promoting rural development and food security; (vi) strengthening governance and institutional capacity; and, (vii) fostering regional cooperation. These focus areas, with due consideration of the countrys specific needs and the governments policy priorities, will guide our engagement with Azerbaijan in the medium-term. Our current Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) with Azerbaijan will end in 2018. A new CPS (20192023) is now being prepared. It is expected to be completed in the first half of 2019. The new CPS will build on extensive consultations with a wide range of development stakeholders in Azerbaijan; an analysis of binding constraints to inclusive growth; the governments strategic roadmaps; as well as ADBs Strategy 2030. Q.: You mentioned that a new CPS for Azerbaijan is now being prepared. Are you able to share the main differences between the current CPS (2014-2018) and the new CPS (2019-2023)? A.: It is a little too early to discuss specifics. ADBs Independent Evaluation Department is currently evaluating what worked well in the current CPS and what could be improved. We have also commissioned a country diagnostic study to identify and suggest solutions to address the main constraints to inclusive growth, and another study on state-owned enterprises (SOEs) to identify how to improve their efficiency and effectiveness. The government has also provided guidance on their expectations for the new CPS in terms of its sector and thematic focus, and support modalities and instruments. The three main areas that ADB will likely focus on over the next five years in Azerbaijan are: (i) supporting the acceleration, sustainability and diversification of the country's economy; (ii) improving the efficiency of the public sector; and (iii) improving infrastructure and human capital to meet the needs of a diversified economy. In addition, ADB will continue supporting Azerbaijans participation in regional cooperation and integration. Q.: What kind of support does ADB intend to provide to improve the public sector? A.: The government has undertaken several important reforms to increase the efficiency of public spending and improve SOE performance. These reforms are supported by ADBs Improving Governance and Public Sector Efficiency Program a programmatic approach to support policy reforms that was approved in December 2017. Specifically, the government has adopted fiscal rules to reduce budget dependency on oil revenues; a medium-term expenditure framework to sustain state budget expenditures on critical infrastructure projects and social sector (education, health, social assistance); and a public debt management strategy to ensure fiscal sustainability of the governments and public corporate sectors borrowing. We commend these measures. As Ive mentioned, ADB has conducted a study on Azerbaijans SOE sector. The study proposes a four-step reform approach: (i) the development of a state-ownership policy; (ii) the alignment of the legal and regulatory framework with the state-ownership policy; (iii) the setting up an overarching commercial performance framework for SOEs; and (iv) upon successful completion of the previous steps, increasing the private sectors role through the adoption of a strategic divestment approach and mainstreaming public-private partnerships (PPPs) in some sectors. ADBs support may also extend to providing financial and technical assistance to transform relevant SOEs from budget-dependent and loss-making to commercially viable and financially sustainable corporations. Q.: ADB is working with Azerishiq to make the power supply more reliable. This summer we had a blackout due to a disruption in the system. Does ADB intend to continue to support the power distribution sector? A.: ADB supports the Governments efforts to reform the energy sector and ensure a reliable supply of power to households and businesses. The introduction of two layers of differentiated electricity tariffs in December 2016 and the establishment of the Energy Sector Regulator in December 2017 are welcome reforms. The government now plans to undertake further reforms, which we also support. They are: (i) establishing a regulatory framework for sustainable tariff mechanisms; (ii) adopting an electricity market law; and (iii) creating the Renewables and Alternative Energy Framework, including legislation on Efficient Use of Energy Resources and Energy Efficiency; (iv) further power sector unbundling or separation of transmission assets from generation. The first tranche of ADBs multitranche financing facility (MFF) for Power Distribution Enhancement Program has helped reduce the losses of electricity and generate additional revenues via enhanced collection. The second tranche, if implemented, can further promote the technical and financial viability of the Power Distribution Company (Azerishiq). Apart from rehabilitation of critical elements of power distribution infrastructure, the first tranche also supported the preparation of the electricity sectors financial recovery plan. The approval of this plan, which recommends a new electricity tariffs structure, will encourage private sector investment and provide a foundation for ADBs continued support. ADB will continue to support the governments plan to develop renewable energy, including through the pilot design-build-operate project on floating solar panels on Boyukshor Lake. We are discussing with the government on how ADB can continue to support the power distribution sector. Q.: Are there opportunities for ADB to build partnerships in other sectors or areas? A.: Yes, there are. In December 2017, the Government established the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDA). SMEDA and ADB are working together to promote PPPs in the country. The Government also recently drafted a concept that provides an overarching vision and policy statement on PPPs. ADB commends the government for their focus on PPPs. Through our policy-based loans we can support reform measures on creating an enabling environment and adoption of government-support mechanisms (such as viability gap funding) to facilitate the roll-out of PPP projects across the country. We are also discussing with the government on several PPP proposals to encourage private sector participation, including two pilot power-sector projects, and one project for the student accommodation in Baku that we are closely working on with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Economy. In the finance sector, the government and ADB is focused on easing access to finance for businesses. This is key to growing the private sector and generating jobs, especially for SMEs. To this end and given the still fragile condition of the banking sector, it is important to develop domestic capital markets as an alternative source of funding for the private sectors investment needs. ADBs local currency bonds could serve this purpose. ADB held the first round of dialog on this matter in September 2018. We hope that the government will provide the necessary approvals and confirmations to launch the first-ever issuance of ADB bonds in manat. If successful, these ADB manat-denominated bonds will have longer tenors and the proceeds will be attractive for selected local banks and non-banking credit institutions. These financial intermediaries could offer a more diverse menu of manat financing with better terms and conditions for their customers. We will also discuss with the government on how ADB can support the urban and rural infrastructure and human capital development. Q.: Last year, ADB approved a sector development program to finance the first phase of the North-South Railway Corridor. What is the status of this project and will ADB support the second phase? A.: In December 2017, ADB approved two loans for a total of $400 million for the Azerbaijan Railway Sector Development Program. The Program is designed to improve Azerbaijans rail services and the financial viability of its operators. It consists of two parts: a $250 million policy-based loan and a $150 million project investment loan. The policy component supports railway sector reforms, such as strengthening corporate governance of Azerbaijan Railways (ADY) through, for instance, establishment of a professional supervisory board, and improving financial and asset management systems. We commend the government and ADY with initiation of the comprehensive railway sector reforms and stand ready to support their effective and timely implementation and completion. The project component will finance the rehabilitation of a double-track and structures on the Yalama-Sumgayit section. This section is a critical part of the NorthSouth Railway Corridor within the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation program. The project component is also jointly co-financed by the French Development Agency AFD. The preparation of bid documents for the scope of work is almost complete. The tender announcement is expected by the end of next month. We hope that work will commence on the project in early 2019. The second phase, as we understand, will include the rehabilitation of the southern section down to Astara. The Railway company ADY - has recently started preparatory works, including the project design. If the government approaches ADB to provide financing for this project, we will be happy to consider the request. Q.: How will the governments new debt management strategy affect cooperation with ADB? Does the bank plan to change its strategy as a result? A.: ADBs Strategy 2030 encourages broader engagement with upper middle-income countries (UMICs), such as Azerbaijan. Our focus will be on the areas where we can add the most value. Given the Governments conservative approach to external borrowing, the new CPS, in its early years, will support the Government through policy-based operations, technical assistance, policy dialogue, and capacity development of key government institutions. We also aim to increase our work in private sector operations; provide local currency financing through tapping the domestic capital market; and deploy new lending approaches such as project-ready financing for the preparation and design of projects, which was requested by Government during the initial years of the CPS. In the second half of the CPS, when we expect bigger public borrowing space, ADBwhile continuing to support structural policy reformswill selectively finance high-priority, innovative and smart development projects, especially those that utilize the latest technologies and are regarded as international best practice. --- Sara Israfilbayova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Sara_999Is Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Narmina Mammadova The recent export mission to Mongolia has brought great results as it was agreed that Azerbaijani products will be exported to the country. The export mission, organized in the Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar by the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation with the support of the Ministry of Economy, was completed, Azerbaijani Ministry of Economy said on October 29. The aim was to promote the Made in Azerbaijan brand and local products in foreign markets. The export mission with the participation of 17 Azerbaijani companies operating in the production of wines and other spirits, milk and dairy products, canned products, medicinal herbal teas, confectionery, mineral water, in the field of ICT and others, met with Mongolian colleagues and discussed export issues. Speaking at a meeting with Mongolian businessmen, Deputy Minister of Economy Niyazi Safarov informed about the diversification of the Azerbaijani economy, the development of the non-oil sector, activities carried out in the area of sustainable improvement of the business environment. The development of the private sector, the expanding of Made in Azerbaijan brand, the promotion of foreign investment, the possibilities of expanding Azerbaijani-Mongolian cooperation and economic ties were also under discussion. The products of the Azerbaijani companies included in the export mission caused great interest among Mongolian companies. Azerbaijani companies Absheron-Sharab, A + SO, Merit Brand, Sharg Ulduzu, Agro-Azerinvest, Aspi Agro, Azeri met with the largest distributor of wine products in Mongolia - World Wine LLC and Sansar chain stores. Primary agreements were reached on the export of Azerbaijani wines to Mongolia, as well as on the export of products between the Azerbaijani company Aspi Agro and the Mongolian company World Wine. An agreement on the sale of plant extract was also reached between the Azerbaijani company Herba Flora and the Mongolian company Vitalit Invest. The Azerbaijani company Konfirom and the Mongolian companies Shizhirzhin Group, Altan Jolo Impex, McN Export negotiated on the export of confectionery products, Gilan FMCG and the Mongolian Vertus Group and supermarket chain Sansar - on the export of fruit juices and canned products. The services offered by the Azerbaijani companies Cybernet, Sinam, Neuron Technologies and AZINNEX, operating in the ICT field, were met with great interest by businessmen and representatives of the state structures of Mongolia. The export missions play an important role in expanding non-oil exports and promoting the domestic made products. To date, Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO) has organized 13 export missions to 10 foreign countries-Germany, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Qatar, Kazakhstan, Hungary, China, Russia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia. Exhibitions, organized by the state bring excellent results. National entrepreneurs took part in different international exhibitions-Gulfood 2017, Prowein, ANUGA, Worldfood Moscow 2017 and the International Exhibition of Wines and Alcoholic Beverages in Hong Kong to promote the brand. President Ilham Aliyev signed the decree on large-scale promotion of local non-oil products in foreign markets as Made in Azerbaijan on October 5, 2016. This decree includes nine different support mechanisms to stimulate exports and promote Made in Azerbaijan abroad. Depending on the support mechanisms, the costs relating to their realization are fully or partially covered by the state budget. Promotion of the Made in Azerbaijan brand on foreign markets became one of the priorities of the countrys foreign economic policy. In January 2018, President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on amending the procedure for determining and regulating the payment mechanism for part of the expenses paid from the state budget for organizing export missions to foreign countries, studying foreign markets and marketing activities, promoting the Made in Azerbaijan brand to foreign markets, the receipt by local companies of certificates and patents in foreign countries in connection with exports, research programs and export development projects. According to the decree, this year the number of export missions that can be organized with the participation of Azerbaijani entrepreneurs in one calendar year has been increased from 10 to 25. Also, the number of international fairs and exhibitions, where a national stand can be presented with the participation of Azerbaijani businessmen was increased from five to ten. Diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Mongolia were established in 1992. Relations and cooperation between two countries are expanding not only at the bilateral, but also at the international and regional levels. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Sara Israfilbayova The use of new methods will result in 28 instead of 15 kilograms of honey from each hive. The Agriculture Ministry reported that as a result of the installation of mobile bee pavilions, which will be acquired for farmers in the framework of the Project to strengthen the competitiveness of agriculture, productivity is expected to double. According to the ministry, modernization will create conditions for better processing and packaging of farmers products from Guba, Khachmaz, Yevlakh, Barda and Zagatala regions. The use of modern technologies will not only allow to obtain high-quality honey, but also increase productivity, reduce costs and, thus, achieve a more competitive level of products in the domestic and foreign markets, the ministry said. The rich climate of subtropics, the riotous diversity of flora and the valuable qualities of local bees - these are the favorable natural conditions of Azerbaijan, which contributed to the maintenance of the centuries-old tradition of beekeeping in Transcaucasia. During the excavation in The Azokh Cave, where one of the most ancient settlements of the primitive man was discovered, a bowl with the bee depicted on it was found, which once again proves that beekeeping has deep roots in Azerbaijan. An apiary organized in Mughan at the Caucasian silkworm station in 1889 became the center of rational beekeeping for the entire Transcaucasia. From 1990 to 1999, beekeeping in the country decreased by 45 percent. There were many reasons for that. Most apiaries were destroyed in the area of military operations. Currently, the Azerbaijani government does all its best to contribute to the rehabilitation and further development of beekeeping with creating favorable conditions for beekeepers. In September 2016, Simplified support to family business (ABAD) under the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations operating under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan (ASAN) was created in order to support the active participation of citizens in the social and economic development of Azerbaijan, the development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SME), increase of employment of the population. The main task nowadays is to increase the production of honey and export it through participation of beekeepers in international markets under the Made in Azerbaijan brand. There are about 600 species of honey plants in Azerbaijan, of which almost 200, as a source of nectar and pollen, create even greater natural opportunities for the expansion of beekeeping. --- Sara Israfilbayova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Sara_999Is Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz In order to maintain this blog I have to pay for its upkeep including a hosting company, support services, virus and other malicious hackers. If you appreciate what I write please make a donation. 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 [] By Trend The E-Government Education and Training Center of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies of Azerbaijan has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Microsoft Azerbaijan company on establishment of the Internet of Things laboratory. The document has been signed by the Rauf Jabbarov, Director of the E-Government Education and Training Center of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies of Azerbaijan and the Member of Board of Directors, General Manager for Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan at Microsoft CIS company Sarkhan Hashimov. The laboratory helps to increase the staff potential of young specialists in the field of innovations. Hashimov noted that the Internet of Things is a new trend in the world and the issue of training specialists in this field is an important component in terms of the development of the knowledge-driven economy. "Microsoft is closely participating in this process. And the laboratory being established is open to everyone. It will be possible to fulfill at this laboratory the skills and knowledge related to any industry where innovations can be introduced. The presentation of this laboratory will also take place within the Bakutel-2018 exhibition," Hashimov said. The signed document covers a three-year period and provides, among other things, for Microsofts close cooperation with the government agencies of Azerbaijan. "This refers not only to acquiring software solutions, but also to creating a protected environment in the country. The document also covers such issues as development of the non-oil sector, formation of new sectors and segments, creation of e-services of innovative focus, expansion of accessibility of e-services to the public. As for the software part, this refers to basic software solutions of Windows OS and Microsoft Office, in addition, Microsoft will also provide Azure and other solutions to students free of charge for the development of start-ups", said Hashimov. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Laman Ismayilova The office branch of Azerbaijan Translation Center has solemnly opened in France in order to promote Azerbaijan's national literature abroad. One of the co-founders of Kapaz publishing house, the director of the Strasbourg representative office of the center, Nijat Kazimov, told Azertag that various publications of Azerbaijan Translation Center will be presented in France and French-speaking countries. The office branch will contribute to the establishment of close ties with famous French writers, and promotion of Azerbaijani literature. Notably, Kapaz publishing house has cooperated with the Azerbaijan Translation Center before the establishment of the representative office. However, the creation of a branch office strengthens the responsibility of the publisher. "In recent months, Kapaz publishing house has been working on the book "Anthology of Azerbaijani Literature". The publication will include the stories of 27 Azerbaijani writers of the 19th century and our contemporaries. During the work on the book, we constantly maintained close ties with the Azerbaijan Translation Center and exchanged views," Kazimov said. Founded in 2014, Azerbaijan Translation Center is an executive body which centralizes translation work, manages socio-political, scientific, technical, literary and cultural ties from the point of view of language and translation, oversees the standard of translation in the republic and improves its quality. --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Laman Ismayiloca The Wrocaw Opera hosted the ballet "Giselle" by Adolphe Adam on October 27-28, led by the Honored Artist of Azerbaijan, conductor of the State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater Eyyub Guliyev. The performance was based on the choreography of the outstanding world choreographers Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot (France). Eyyub Guliyev was appointed music director and conductor for the performance at the invitation of the Polish Theater. The ballet was staged under the direction of the leading choreographers of the Warsaw National Opera Theater - Eva Glovatska and Sofia Rudnitskaya. The set and costume designer is Tatiana Kvatkovska, stage director is Julian Zikhovich, and Eyyub Guliyevs assistant-Rafal Karchmarchek, Trend Life reported. At the end of the performance, the audience applauded to the Azerbaijani conductor and all the participants of the premiere. After that, a solemn reception was held, where the director general of the Wroclaw Opera Theater, Marcin Naecz-Niesioowski , and philanthropists from the Friends of the Theater Foundation thanked conductor Eyyub Guliyev, choreographers and all the soloists for their great work. Marcin Naecz-Niesioowski personally invited the Azerbaijani conductor to continue cooperation with the Wroclaw Opera House and offered him to perform stage pieces from the theater repertoire in the upcoming season. Notably, Eyyub Guliyev is the winner of several competitions, including the International Conducting Competition after B. Lyutoslavckiy in Belostok in 2006 and the International Conducting Competition after D. Mitropoulos in Athens in 2008. In 2010, Guliyev won the top award, the Giuseppe Sinopoli prize, at the International Conducting Competition named after Arturo Toscanini in Parma. "Giselle" ballet is about a peasant girl named Giselle, who dies of a broken heart after discovering her lover is betrothed to another. The Wilis, a group of supernatural women who dance men to death, summon Giselle from her grave. They target her lover for death, but Giselle's great love frees him from their grasp. The romantic ballet in two acts was first performed in 1841. The performance was an unqualified triumph. Giselle became hugely popular and was staged in Europe and the U.S. --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Laman Ismayilova A concert of Michael Pipoquinha (Brazil) mesmerized jazz lovers at the Rotunda Jazz Club on October 26. The event was held as part of Baku International Jazz Festival , Azertag reported. Michael Pipoquinha is young Brazilian bass player, who became famous with his homemade bass videos uploaded to Youtube. His playing combines slapping style of Victor Wooten with Brazilian melodic and harmonic heritage. Michael mention Jaco Pastorius, Arthur Maia, Victor Wooten, Nico Assumpcao, John Patitucci and Luizao Maia as his main influence. The musician participated in various music big festivals such as Brazil Fortaleza Bass Festival, Guaramiranga Jazz and Blues Festival and Rio das Ostras Festival, performing with great names in national music such as Nelio Costa, Artur Maia, Jeferson Goncalves and Big Time Orchestra. In 2015, Pipoquinha had his first show in Europe and was invited to sing in "Weve got a talen" show, where he sang authorial songs from his album Cearencinho playing with renowned Big Band WDR, in Colony, Germany. He also participated in the recording of the famous bass players Sergio Groove DVD. The performance of the Brazilian musician was warmly received by listeners and caused a storm of applause. The Baku Jazz Festival is a forum and musical festival including education (seminars, master classes), competition ("Best Jazz Performer"), a "Kids jazz day", art and photo exhibitions, jam sessions and jazz concerts with the participation of best performers of the world of jazz. It has become a member of the Europe Jazz Network, which brings together 115 members from 34 countries. Each year the festival prepares programs of great interest and diversity. The festival features extensive and diverse program. --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By 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. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has attended the inauguration of Gakh-Gipchag-Aghyazi road. Chairman of the Board of Directors of Azerbaijan Highway State Agency Saleh Mammadov informed the head of state of the work done. President Ilham Aliyev cut the ribbon symbolizing the opening of the road. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 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. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By 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. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By 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. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva attended the opening of the Flag Museum in Shaki. The head of state cut the ribbon symbolizing the opening of the Flag Museum. The museum is located in the territory of the Flag Square. Renovation and landscaping work was carried out, trees, and flower bushes were planted in the square. The construction of the Flag Museum started this March and was completed in October. The museum has an exhibition hall, and the administrative and auxiliary rooms. The museum`s collection features the map and flags of the khanate period in Azerbaijan, medieval warriors` clothing, coats of arms of the Azerbaijani cities dating back to the 19th century, ancient metal coins, constitutions, emblems, flags, postage stamps, orders and medals relating to Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, Azerbaijan SSR and the independent Republic of Azerbaijan. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has sent a letter of condolences to his US counterpart Donald Trump. I was deeply saddened by the news of casualties and injuries as a result of an armed attack at a synagogue in the city of Pittsburg, Ilham Aliyev said in his letter. On the occasion of this tragic event, on my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, I extend my deepest condolences to you, families and loved ones of those who died and all the people of the United States. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva have attended the opening of the Shaki ASAN Hayat complex. President Aliyev cut the ribbon symbolizing the opening of the complex. The President`s Assistant for Work with Law Enforcement Bodies and Military Issues, department head Fuad Alasgarov and chairman of the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan (ASAN Service) Ulvi Mehdiyev informed President Aliyev and the First Lady of the complex. Shaki ASAN Hayat complex is the 15th center of the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The construction of the complex started in 2017 and was completed this October. The president launched the Shaki ASAN Hayat complex. The complex will serve 510,000 citizens in Shaki, Gakh, Zagatala, Balakan and Oguz disticts. A total of more than 300 services will be provided for citizens by 11 public authorities in ASAN Hayat complex. The complex employs a 190-man staff, and 50 volunteers. President Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva then got acquainted with Shaki ASAN Pesha center, which is part of ASAN Hayat complex. President Aliyev familiarized himself with innovations in the ASAN Visa system. The Shaki ASAN Hayat complex will also feature the CoWorking center. President Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva then met with employees of the Shaki ASAN Hayat complex and posed for photographs with them. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend The 6th Baku International Humanitarian Forum is a historic event for world peace, world security and intercultural dialogue, Peter Tase, US expert on Global Politics and Transatlantic Relations, adviser to Global Engineering Deans Council and other prestigious international institutions, told Trend. What the president of Azerbaijan has been doing over the last 10 years with the Baku Process, there is no other head of state who has been doing so much in promoting international peace, international security and fostering economic growth not only in the Caucasus, but also throughout Europe and beyond, he said. Tase noted that Baku International Humanitarian Forum addressed many issues from humanitarian aid to disinformation, to information warfare, the 10th anniversary of Baku Process and the most pressing problems that the world is facing today. Those are some of the matters that this years forum was able to address effectively and bring to the center of attention the most pressing challenges that the world is facing today. At the same time, I had a pleasure to deliver a speech in the disinformation session and I spoke about the human environmental destruction in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan committed by Armenians, noted the expert. Tase said it is very sad to observe that the international community has been silent in addressing the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and unfortunately, OSCE has lost relevance and the Minsk Group even more so. It is not delivering the mission for which it was originally assigned and I believe that the UN and all of its relevant parties should pay a close relook to the situation, because the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has direct implications towards the fulfillment of the UN Sustainable Development Agenda 2030. Without peace in the Caucasus, without the recovery of the full territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, these Sustainable Development Goals 2030 so much promoted by the UN will not be fulfilled, will not be accomplished, he said. The expert pointed out that the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh is very tragic. We have provocations from the Armenian armed forces going on every day. The major international media outlets do not pay enough attention to this crisis, at the same time, you do have a major environmental destruction going on in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, said Tase. What should be emphasized is that the government of Azerbaijan has been very patient, it has been very understandable and has been working hard to solve this armed conflict by peaceful means, he said. But on the other hand, the newly elected government of Armenia prefer to maintain the status quo and refrain from engaging in effective dialogue and effective negotiations, and thats the most critical problem that we have now, said the expert. Tase noted that the absence of the international pressure towards the Armenian government that is very concerning. Metsamor nuclear power plant is another issue that was never brought up at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. That is not only the problem of Armenia, but also for the whole region, he said. Tase went on to add that close trade relations between Azerbaijan and Europe must be joined with direct and concrete measures taken by European countries when it comes to solving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. It is critical for Europe to maintain close commercial and trade relations with Azerbaijan. At the same time, this must be joined with direct and concrete measures taken by European countries when it comes to solving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. I am one of those few scholars who believe that oil and energy cooperation between Azerbaijan and Europe should not be addressed in an isolated fashion from other agenda items that exist between EU and Azerbaijan, said the expert. Tase noted that over the last years Azerbaijan has an acceleration of the energy projects, the country has a wonderful progress in terms of building pipelines and providing natural gas to European countries. But at the same time, European countries, and EU member countries are not delivering reliable, concrete results when it comes to solving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Both of these matters should be addressed on a joined fashion, rather than be dealt as isolated items, he said. Further, talking about the progress in Azerbaijan over the last 15 years, Tase said that Azerbaijan has achieved strong microeconomic development. Azerbaijans president has been able to successfully diversify the national economic production metrics not only by developing the oil sector and pipeline sector and natural gas exports, but also implementing some positive and pragmatic policies that strengthen the agricultural economy, dairy production and domestic production of grain, said the expert. He noted that now Azerbaijan has a more diversified economic platform and is becoming a prestigious brand when it comes to wine production, tea exports and carpets manufacturing, silk production and many other enzootic and useful products for other countries. The government of Azerbaijan has been able to successfully diversify the economic production framework. This will have a positive impact in the long run and will help further reduce the unemployment in the short term, said Tase. The expert noted that Azerbaijan has impressive culture, unique history and it has contributed to the strengthening of democratic institutions not only in Azerbaijan, but throughout the world. The promotion of Azerbaijani culture in the US has been going through various positive results thanks to the hard work and determination of Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev and also thanks to Ambassador Elin Suleymanov, who has been very active in conducting so many lectures and public events that bring Azerbaijan closer to the US society, said Tase. He pointed out that multiculturalism of Azerbaijan is an important asset for the world. Baku has become the worlds capital city of multiculturalism and interreligious dialogue. At the same time, in Baku we see the rare combination of various architecture schools and that speaks volumes and that speaks so much about Azerbaijani culture, history and folklore. Another important factor is the economic cooperation between Azerbaijan and the US, which is at its best levels. The diaspora of Azerbaijan in the US is also playing an important role to bring the two countries together and make sure that there is no misunderstanding in the communications between these two cultures, two nations and governments, added Tase. Tase also spoke about his own initiatives to develop cooperation between Azerbaijan and Latin America. One of the projects that I have been trying to promote now is the tourism project between Azerbaijan and Argentina. We are trying to bring three groups of tourist from Argentina to Azerbaijan. Each group will include on average ten people. We are working closely with Equilibrium Global, digital journal published in Buenos Aires. The editor of this web-page is Diego Fernando Velaskes. He is very active in promoting Azerbaijan in Argentina. This is one of the projects we have been working on together. There are some tours that will take place from Uruguay, Chili within the tourism framework in the coming years, he added. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend European natural gas production is expected to continue to decline, the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) said in its analysis. EIA believes that this is because of an aging, mostly depleted resource base. "In addition, the Netherlands largest natural gas field, Groningen, has been subject to increasingly strict production reduction measures." Domestic natural gas production in EU-28, two-thirds of which is in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, has steadily declined in recent years and in 2017 accounted for 25 percent of EU-28 natural gas supply, according to the analysis. "From 2011 through 2014, relatively high natural gas prices led to less consumption of natural gas for electric power generation in several EU-28 countries, especially the United Kingdom and Spain. More recently, the use of natural gas in power generation increased in the EU-28. In 2017, several factors such as low hydroelectric output in Spain, Italy, and Portugal as well as unplanned nuclear plant shutdowns in France led to greater natural gas consumption and higher LNG imports," said the EIA. This is while the imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the 28 countries that make up the European Union (EU-28) averaged 5.1 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in 2017, increasing for the third consecutive year but remaining below their 2011 peak. "In 2017, imports of LNG into EU-28 accounted for 13 percent of the global total. LNG import capacity in EU-28 currently stands at 20 Bcf/d, or almost one-fifth of the global total, but utilization of EU-28 LNG import facilities has declined from about 50 percent in 2010 to between 20 percent and 25 percent in recent years as expansions in regasification capacity far exceeded demand for LNG imports," said the EIA. Currently, 13 of the EU-28 member countries import LNG. In 2017, LNG accounted for 11 percent of EU-28s overall natural gas supply, according to EIA estimates. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend On October 24, the State Committee for Tourism Development of Uzbekistan hosted a meeting with representatives of the Uzbekistan-Japan Center, Uzbek media reported. During the meeting, an agreement on cooperation between the committee and the Uzbekistan-Japan Center was signed. The agreement provides for the holding of seminars and other forms of training programs that facilitate the implementation of processes for the exchange of experience between Uzbekistan and Japan in the tourism sector. During the meeting, the Japanese side noted positive changes in the field of tourism and the development of cooperation between the countries. The parties also offered to develop cooperation between the representatives of business tourism of the two countries. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend The Turkmen Foreign Ministry hosted a meeting with Manfred Grund, head of the Inter-Parliamentary Group for Central Asia of the German parliament, the Turkmen Foreign Ministry said in a message. During the talks, an exchange of views on regional issues and areas of international security took place. The parties expressed their commitment to intensify inter-parliamentary relations and considered issues of cooperation in the fields of politics, economy and transport, the message said. The meeting participants discussed expansion of cooperation in the cultural and humanitarian sphere. A meeting with Manfred Grund was also held at the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan (UIET). German MPs noted the interest of representatives of their countrys business circles in expanding cooperation with Turkmen colleagues, the message said. In this regard, an interest was shown in opening a representative office of the UIET in Germany. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend The 11th Eurasian Economic Forum, titled The Art of Innovation: Economy of Trust and Business Diplomacy from the Atlantic to the Pacific, was held in Verona, Italy, on Oct. 25-26, UzDaily reported. A delegation of Uzbekistan ranked second by the number of participants in the forum. The Uzbek delegation included 18 representatives of the business community engaged in production of textiles, medical equipment, building materials, leather, and tourism. A special session dedicated to the presentation of Uzbekistans trade, economic and investment potential, titled Uzbekistan and Italy: Major Joint Projects, was organized at the forum by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan and the Italy-Uzbekistan Chamber of Commerce with the assistance of the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Italy. Uzbekistan was the only country invited to present its economic potential at the forum. During the forum, bilateral meetings were held. Following the meetings, a cooperation agreement was signed between the chambers of commerce of Uzbekistan and the comune of Como, Italy, as well as a cooperation agreement was signed with the Italian textile company ST & I. S.p.a, providing for the establishment of cooperation in development of textile industry in Uzbekistan, as well as introduction of advanced Italian experience in textile sector. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov has sent a congratulatory letter to his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan and all Turkish people on the occasion of the Republic Day of Turkey, celebrated Oct. 29, the Turkmen government said in a message. The letter reads that the traditionally friendly and fraternal relations between Turkmenistan and Turkey are distinguished by a high level of mutual understanding and cooperation. Turkmen president expressed firm confidence in the further development and strengthening of relations in the interests of the peoples of the two countries. Turkey is one of the largest trade partners of Turkmenistan: about 600 Turkish companies operating in trade, investment, construction, energy, transport, communications, textile and processing industries have been registered in Turkmenistan. Turkmenistan exports the products of textile, energy, chemical, agricultural industries. Metals and products made of metals, household goods, equipment, building materials, electrical goods, products of chemical and light industries, food products, vehicles, and medicines are imported from Turkey. Ashgabat and Ankara expressed readiness to develop energy cooperation. Turkey declared its readiness to promote the transportation of the Caspian energy resources to Europe through Turkish territory, one of the options being the transportation along the bottom of the Caspian Sea and further across the territory of Azerbaijan. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz The sister of a missing Beaumont man said Monday Brian Cook, 25, was reportedly spotted in Sealy, Texas on Oct. 4. Cook's father, David Cook, said in a Facebook post Saturday that he is offering a reward $1,000 for information that results in finding the man. Cook was reported missing by his family on Oct. 23, although the last known contact he made from his cell phone was recorded on Oct. 2, according to his sister Genny Kovacevich. No other leads to his whereabouts have developed since then, she said. In David's Facebook post from Saturday, it was reported that Cook's Ford Mustang that had been left unlocked in the parking lot of Cook's apartment complex after his disappearance was moved to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office impound lot. Kovacevich said she and her father met with a BPD sergeant at Cook's Country Village apartment on Daniel Drive after a welfare check revealed it had been cleared out. Despite typical family issues, Kovacevich said, she and her brother were very close and spoke almost daily. She said that contact stopped a few days before Oct. 2. "People don't just vanish like this," the Dickinson woman said of her brother. "We always had a rapport where we'd check up on each other and stay in touch." Kovacevich didn't say if she believes Cook may have run away or if foul play is involved, but said her brother is a "good kid." "Our family is suffering, and I don't care about anything else," Kovacevich said. "I just want to know he's OK. If I know he's okay, or anything else, then he'd no longer be a missing person, and right now, the silence is deafening." Kovacevich said she has a message for Cook: "Can you let me know you're alive and breathing? I'm not here to place judgment, and we don't know what to think. Just knowing that he's okay would suffice." According to Beaumont Police, no additional information is available at this time. Krista.Chandler@beaumontenterprise.com Twitter.com/KristasBeat This week's Newton County Sheriff's Report: Hope everyone had great week. Not too bad here. Let's see what went on. Let me start out by thanking everyone who was here at the square Friday. It was great to see the support ya'll showed us. Thanks We have received several reports about ATV's being driven on highways or county roads. We had two accidents reported and one with serious injuries. Both accidents were with vehicles. We had a couple of calls from people about corn sacks on the side of the road and in their yards. Going to church Sunday we counted 23 in a 4 mile stretch on Hwy 253. Come on, all of us hunters need to do better than that. Let's secure our empty corn sacks. Halloween is on top of us. Please be careful and keep a close watch out for all the little goblins. Mom and Dad, make sure ya'll have lights and keep a very close eye on the kid 'os. We received two reports of deer camps being broken into. No camera's. Would love to catch these people. Camera's do help us. Anyone lost a Bay Gilding contact us. It was picked up on 87 between the county barn and Watson Chapel. Gotta Go. Thought for the week. People seem to read the Bible a lot more as they get older, guess they are cramming for their final exam. Ya'll have a great week. God Bless. Note: This report has been published exactly as received. The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday denied the appeal of a Jasper man convicted in the 1998 dragging death of James Byrd Jr., clearing the way for a court to set an execution date for John William King. King, one of three white men convicted of capital murder for the racist lynching, appealed to the nation's highest court in June, arguing that he was denied due process in his 2016 appeal to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in which he alleged errors in his 1999 trial and conviction. The 44-year-old Georgia native has been on death row at the Polunsky Unit in Livingston since Feb. 25, 1999. A hearing to set an execution date had not been set as of Monday afternoon, the Jasper County District Attorney's Office said. King's co-defendants, Shawn Berry and Lawrence Russell Brewer, were found guilty of the hate crime. The Jasper men chained the 49-year-old African-American man by his ankles to the bumper of a pickup and dragged him three miles on an old logging road on the outskirts of Jasper in June 1998. Berry, 43, is serving a life sentence. Brewer was executed in 2011. RELATED: King appeals Byrd conviction again, this time citing 'fantasy' claim The New Orleans-based appeals court ruled that King could appeal only on the claim that his lawyers failed to effectively present his case of actual innocence. In his June 20 Supreme Court appeal, King's attorney Richard Ellis argued that the lower court "leapfrogged to a conclusion" by denying his right to appeal on other claims. The court should have decided whether a "reasonable jurist" could believe King's claims were debatable, not weigh the actual merits of the claims, according to Ellis. The California-based attorney did not respond to requests for comment Monday. King has repeatedly appealed his conviction and sentence, according to court documents, insisting on "the inadequacy of his representation." In response to King's latest appeal 18 years later, Assistant Texas Attorney General Katherine Hayes wrote that the Supreme Court shouldn't review the case because King "merely disagrees with the result" of the lower court. Hayes did not respond to requests for comment Monday. King's case was one of about 200 denied review by the Supreme Court on Monday. According to information from the administrative office of the U.S. Courts, the Supreme Court hears about 100 to 150 of the more than 7,000 cases it is asked to review each year. Phoebe.Suy@BeaumontEnterprise.com Twitter.com/PhoebeSuy 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. There are several trends popping up in relation to healthcare mergers and acquisitions, including the interest of private equity firms, combination transactions, consolidation of physician-owned practices and formation of more management services organizations. During a panel discussion at the Becker's ASC 25th Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs Oct. 18 in Chicago, Matthew Searles, partner of Merritt Healthcare Advisors, and Jay Pruzansky, MD, principal of Honolua Healthcare LLC, discussed these trends in ASC and MSO deals in greater detail. Here is a breakdown of what the two experts in healthcare M&A had to say: 1. Private equity firms are interested in healthcare. Wall Street is pushing into the healthcare space because it views private practices and ASCs as safe investments, explained Dr. Pruzansky. "What we are seeing is private equity is willing to come in, pay large multiples to buy a part of the cashflows of a practice. It is a way for physician practices remain competitive, independent and own stake in their company," Dr. Pruzanksy said. 2. Combination transactions. Though ASC deals traditionally didn't cross over to practices and practice deals didn't cross over to ASC deals, that is beginning to change. "In the past, you really had separate buyer pools and valuation metrics between practices and ASC deals. But now, healthcare reform is favoring scale and integration of care," Mr. Searles said. 3. Consolidation of already sizable physician run practices. Market trends are driving healthcare deals that can consolidate providers and services across the continuum of care, explained Mr. Searles. As a result, practices are consolidating at a rapid pace. 4. Why more MSOs are forming. MSOs are entities designed to help practices with non-medical work, including administrative duties like payroll and human resource issues. They can be owned by non-provider investors, physician groups, hospitals or health plans. However, these organizations are morphing as the push to value-based care continues. "MSOs are a way physician practices can stay independent and own their brand," Dr. Pruzansky said. "The goal of the MSO is to grow by adding on ancillary services, including things like dermatology, orthopedics, physical therapy with a goal of the MSO being sold again in three to five years at a much higher rate." Private equity has been very interested in owning MSOs, Dr. Pruzansky added. So far, Merritt Healthcare Advisors and Honolua Healthcare have seen positive effects on valuation trends with ASCs in combination deals and MSO deals, the two presenters said. For example, for practices or ASCs entering into combined deals, they often trade at higher multiples. Traditionally, if valued between six to eight times earnings before interest, taxes and amortization as a standalone, the practice can trade at eight to 12 times EBITA when combined, Dr. Pruzansky said. Bundled payments, physician recruitment and space-sharing partnerships are challenges many ASCs tackle while also pursuing growth opportunities. At Becker's ASC 25th Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs, Oct. 18-20 in Chicago, three panelists weighed in on how ASCs can capitalize on these growth opportunities. The panelists included: Alfonso Del Granado, administrator for the Ashton Center for Day Surgery Woody Moore, founder of The Physician's Advocate, the Texas ASC Society and the Hawaii ASC Association. Bill Stewart, area vice president, value-based purchasing for DePuy Synthes, a Johnson & Johnson company Here are the three biggest opportunities for ASCs: Bundled payments. "Bundles are working," Mr. Stewart said. "The surgeon who is attracted to the outpatient space is the same surgeon who's going to be attracted to the bundles. You own the risk in the outpatient setting, so why not manage the post acute phase? It's a huge financial opportunity." Mr. Del Granado echoed Mr. Stewart, commenting on how ASCs can build on bundled payments. "For those who have been working with bundles for a while, the next step is risk management," Mr. Del Granado said. "If you have surgeons who have done the same procedure over and over again, you've got good outcomes and you know what your maximum exposure is, you can find a company to reinsure you." Recruiting high-performing surgeons. "It's not always easy to find a good physician partner," Mr. Del Granado said. "Just counting on someone else's experience with that surgeon is not going to be enough." Mr. Moore said making connections within the burgeoning ASC industry is one way to ensure future success. "We have a very mature industry at this point," Mr. Moore said. "What I do is I help set up a partnership, looking for the right surgeons as well as getting to know the current physician partners. Also, allocating shares helps keep an eye on the horizon." Space sharing arrangements. "We have just started developing partnerships with larger organizations that have their own ASCs, but are exceeding their capacity," Mr. Del Granado said. "So, rather than lose those cases to a hospital, they would prefer to enter some sort of partnership with us. One of our surgical centers is underutilized, so that's the one they're using." Mr. Stewart touched on the potential pitfalls of space sharing arrangements. "Most of the ASCs I work with are owned by an orthopedic or neurosurgical group," Mr. Stewart said. "Even then, when the [ASC] is within the same group, difficulties [exist] between the partners in figuring out how to manage the ASC. I can only imagine the complexity gets much more difficult when you're sharing the space with someone who's not from your group." Almost every other industry has price transparency, and it is time for healthcare to catch up, said Stephen Blake, JD, CEO of Arlington, Texas-based Central Park ENT & Surgery Center. "We need to bend the cost curve. Price transparency should be our culture. Every other industry has the capability. We shouldn't be the only industry that doesn't," Mr. Blake said during a panel discussion at the Becker's ASC 25th Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs Oct. 18 in Chicago. Two other experts Amit Patel, MD, interventional pain physician at metro-Atlanta-based Georgia Pain & Wellness Center and Craig Moriarty, vice president of business development and corporate strategy for clinical productivity software developer Provation joined Mr. Blake on the panel for a discussion about the key issues facing ASCs. The panel experts also offered solutions. Beyond the key issue of a lack of price transparency, here's what the experts had to say: 1. Consolidation. Mr. Blake, whose organization remains independent, said "consolidation has presented some threats. On the negative side it makes it tougher to recruit new physicians because alliances are forming. We are also seeing narrow, exclusive networks forming, which has presented some issues for us as independent." The ASC market is getting more complex as more stakeholders enter the market because they see its potential, explained Mr. Moriarty. "We are seeing more hospital, ASC joint ventures and more deals with management companies which is changing the market dynamics, but it may also present opportunities as ASCs may have more resources available to them," he said. 2. Reimbursement rates. Historically, ASC reimbursements have lagged well behind hospitals and hospital outpatient departments. However, ASCs can remain competitive in this environment for several reasons. The first is the push to consumerism, which can favor ASCs if they invest in price transparency, Mr. Blake said. ASCs often have a lower procedural cost, which could be beneficial for ASCs if consumers shop around for care. Dr. Patel added that ASCs can remain competitive because they can provide more efficiency. "In HOPDs, it often takes forever to get an appointment, the preop time is long. For us, a lot of times the same procedure takes less time so from an efficiency standpoint, patients are in and out faster. At ASCs we deliver lower cost, higher quality," Dr. Patel said. 3. Proper data collection to inform decisions. It has been difficult to capture utilization, capacity and generate other reports from data to inform efficiency decisions in ASCs. This is especially true because many ASCs are new to EMR systems as they weren't pushed as hard as hospitals were with incentives to implement them. However, there are vendors out there with solutions, Mr. Moriarty said. "Certain technologies are creating solutions economical for ASCs one of the most important things these solutions can do is drive better data collection, so ASCs can better inform decisions to reach peak-productivity," Mr. Moriarty said. More articles on turnarounds: Recruitment, case costing & transactions: 4 thoughts from ASC insiders Ransomware attack on Jones Eye Clinic and Surgery Center exposes 40K patients' data: 5 things to know Dr. Paul Beebe brings chronic pain expertise to Seaside Surgery Center 3 insights Keeping costs low is not simply a matter of purchasing less expensive equipment or laying off staff members. Instead, ASC executives can utilize benchmarking systems to ensure their dollars are being spent properly. At Beckers ASC 25th Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs in Chicago, Oct. 18-20, an expert panel discussed how ASCs can better leverage benchmarking. The panel featured Stephanie Martin, vice president of operations at Westchester, Ill.-based Regent Surgical Health, and Temi Oluwayomi, director of supply chain at Regent Surgical Health. Benchmarking is all about setting standards, according to Ms. Martin. She went on to explain the various ways it can be measured. One is internal. Are we looking at just what is in our center on a weekly, monthly or yearly basis? Competitively, we want to look at what is going inside our center and compare it to similar centers. Strategic is a little different. This is looking at what is going on internally and comparing it to something outside of the industry. Within supply management at ASCs, Ms. Oluwayomi stressed being proactive. In materials management, sometimes people dont know when something is going wrong until it goes wrong. I think the goal here is to be proactive and manage the process and benchmark against yourself at various time points. Supply chain experts need to get data points from numerous people in the center, from vendors to physicians. However, its not just about tracking the numbers. Diving in and figuring out what the numbers mean results in big changes. At Regent Surgical Health, Ms. Martin asks why? five times. And although it may seem redundant, after the fifth why? the real problem is discovered, and solutions can be made. The American Academy of Ophthalmology will recognize several ophthalmologists for their professional contributions at AAO 2018, Oct. 27 to Oct. 30 in Chicago. Here are the honorees: 1. Laureate Recognition Award: Steven T. Charles, MD. Dr. Charles will receive AAO's highest honor. Dr. Charles is a leader in advancing vitreoretinal surgery and the innovator behind some of ophthalmology's most commonly used instruments. He has more than 100 issued or pending patents. 2. Distinguished Service Award: Medical School Education in Ophthalmology directors. AAO is recognizing the group of directors because of the role they play in shaping future ophthalmologists. 3. Special Recognition Award: The National Medical Association. NMA is working to close racial health disparities. 4. Outstanding Advocate Award: Bradley Black, MD. Dr. Black worked with the National Association of School Nurses and American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus to improve pediatric vision care. 5. Outstanding Humanitarian Service Award: David Heiden, MD, and William White, MD. Dr. Heiden worked with a team of physicians to prevent blindness in the HIV/AIDS population. Dr. White built the first eye clinic in Haiti. He has performed tens of thousands of free examinations at the clinic. 6. International Blindness Prevention Award: Jacob Pe'er, MD. Dr. Pe'er works with physicians around the world to educate them and train them to provide ophthalmologic care. 7. Straatsma Award: Preston Blomquist, MD. Jointly presented by the AAO and Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology to a school director, the honor goes to Dr. Blomquist for his teachings at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. He has been program director for 163 residents to date. 8. Artemis Award: Camila Ventura, MD, PhD. The Artemis Award recognizes a young ophthalmologist. Dr. Ventura was the first to report ocular findings in babies affected by the Zika virus. She specifically studied how Zika caused structural damage to the eyes as well as the pathophysiology behind the manifestations. 9. EnergEYES Award: Julia Haller, MD. AAO's leadership award was presented to Dr. Haller for her efforts helping to shape and develop the next generation of ophthalmologists. 10. Guests of Honor: AAO invited Wallace Alward, MD, Paul Lichter, MD, and Jeffrey Nerad, MD, to serve as guests of honor for their contributions to ophthalmology. Read more about the awards here. San Mateo and San Francisco Counties formed a task force that will meet bi-weekly in an effort to keep Daly City, Calif.-based Seton Medical Center open, according to ABC 7. Redwood City, Calif.-based Verity Health System, the hospital's owner, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in August, and the task force is worried Seton Medical Center could close as soon as March 2019. The hospital serves patients in both San Mateo and San Francisco counties, 80 percent of whom are low-income or seniors. "It is sad that throughout the U.S., hospital bankruptcies are plaguing poor communities. It's an absolute shame for what happens to poor people," said San Mateo County supervisor David Canepa."You have to understand, if Seton closes, our next emergency room is potentially in Millbrae or San Francisco." After filing for bankruptcy, Verity is now looking for potential buyers for Seton. The task force will meet to discuss how it can begin to solve the financial issues at the hospital, including a required multimillion-dollar seismic retrofit and the more than $1 billion of debt and unfunded liabilities the hospital owes. These issues could pose a large obstacle for potentially interested buyers. "We are taking a proactive approach with supervisors and state officials to really ensure that this institution remains," said Juslyn Manalo, Daly City mayor. Here are four recent health IT vendor contracts and go-lives: 1. Amazon's cloud-computing platform Amazon Web Services teamed up with the National Institutes of Health's research initiative to connect biomedical researchers with one another. 2. Chicago-based Rush University Medical Center is adding indoor navigation to its MyRush patient app through a collaboration with patient engagement company Connexient. 3. La Jolla, Calif.-based Scripps Research Translational Institute partnered with technology company Nvidia to apply artificial intelligence to data from genomics and digital medical sensors. 4. Walmart and global consumer health and hygiene company RB launched a telehealth initiative with Doctor On Demand. Orlando-based Florida Hospital appointed Rajan Wadhawan, MD, senior executive officer, overseeing Florida Hospital for Children and Florida Hospital for Women, both in Orlando. Here are four things to know: 1. Most recently, Dr. Wadhawan served as CMO and medical director of neonatology at Florida Hospital for Children. 2. He joined Florida Hospital for Children in 2012, prior to which he worked at All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg, Fla. 3. He is an associate professor for pediatrics at the University of Central Florida. 4. In addition to his medical degree, Dr. Wadhawan holds a master's degree in medical management from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. Under a new program at Naples (Fla.) Community Hospital, some patients will lose the ability to select their own physicians for treatment, reports Wink News. The program will only allow a physician employed by NCH to admit patients, give medical orders and add notes to medical records. NCH will permit an unaffiliated physician to visit a patient at the facility, review his or her medical record, and work with the hospital to create a care plan. Many physicians and patients have voiced their opposition to the program. "As a patient, I want my doctor, who I think is extremely competent," Paul Kardon, a retired physician and past patient at NCH, told Wink News. Cesar Deleon, DO, president of the Collier County Medical Society, said the program is "not only shocking to me but scary for the care of my patients." However, NCH Healthcare System stands by the program, saying it helps improve patient outcomes. "[Patients in the new model of care] are having a better patient experience, are having a shorter length of stay and are having a lower chance of being readmitted within 30 days," NCH Healthcare System said in a written statement to Wink News. Jerry Rabinowitz, MD, was among the at least 11 people killed after a man opened fire at the Tree of Life synagogue in Squirrel Hill, Pa., early Oct. 27, according to NBC News. Here are six things to know: 1. Robert Bowers, 46, entered the synagogue Oct. 27 armed with an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle and three handguns, CBS News reports. The incident lasted roughly 20 minutes, during which 11 people were killed and at least six were injured. Mr. Bowers eventually surrendered himself to police. 2. During the shooting, Mr. Bowers reportedly expressed hatred toward Jewish people, according to a charging document obtained by CBS News. Federal prosecutors are seeking approval to pursue the death penalty against Mr. Bowers, who is expected to make his first court appearance Oct. 29. 3. Among the 11 killed was Dr. Rabinowitz, a 66-year-old primary care physician from Edgewood Borough, Pa., according to CNN. In a Facebook post Oct. 28, Dr. Rabinowitz's nephew said, "When [Dr. Rabinowitz] heard shots he ran outside to try and see if anyone was hurt and needed a doctor. That was Uncle Jerry, that's just what he did." 4. Dr. Rabinowitz was affiliated with Pittsburgh-based UPMC. Tami Minnier, BSN, MSN, RN, chief quality officer of Pittsburgh-based UPMC Shadyside, told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "The UPMC family, in particular UPMC Shadyside, cannot even begin to express the sadness and grief we feel over the loss of Dr. Jerry Rabinowitz." 5. A spokesperson for the district attorney's office also told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Dr. Rabinowitz served as the personal physician for former deputy district attorney Law Claus for 30 years. 6. Pittsburgh-based UPMC and Allegheny Health Network treated seven victims of the shooting. Three UPMC physicians, Pittsburgh Emergency Medical Services and other first responders arrived on the scene within a half-hour of the shooting. After working on separate medications for years, pharma giants Novartis AG and Pfizer will collaborate to develop combination treatments for a liver disease. Experts predict a highly lucrative market for such treatments, Reuters reports. The two drugmakers plan to develop combination therapies to help combat nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, a chronic disease in which fat accumulates in the liver. Left unchecked, the buildup causes liver inflammation and eventually liver failure. The fatty liver disease, closely associated with obesity and diabetes, is poised to become the leading cause of liver transplants by 2020. Novartis and Pfizer will use the medicines they have been working on separately. Scientists at both companies say attacking NASH with two or more drugs that act in the liver differently will help patients suffering from the disease. "The way this disease develops is, first you get fat in the liver, and then for reasons which nobody understands, the fat provokes an inflammatory response ... and then lastly, you get scarring and fibrosis," Morris Birnbaum, MD, PhD, Pfizer's chief scientific officer for internal medicine, told Reuters. He added that the combination therapy would target all these stages. Pfizer has medications aimed at reducing fat accumulation in the liver. Novartis' drugs fight liver inflammation and scarring. Estimates show the market for fatty liver treatments will grow to $20 billion to $25 billion. Read the full report here. Health officials confirmed 33 cases of measles in Rockland County, N.Y., as of Oct. 29, according to PIX 11. The new figure marks an 18-case increase since Oct. 23, reports CBS New York. Health officials are still waiting to confirm five additional cases. The initial outbreak spread among Jewish communities in New York after several individuals contracted measles while traveling to Israel. Most of the measles exposure happened in the Monsey, New Square, Nanuet, New City and Montvale New Jersey. About 2,000 people received a mumps, measles, rubella vaccine in response to the outbreak, many of whom were vaccinated at free health clinics run by the Rockland Department of Health. The New Jersey Department of Health is asking non-immunized children attending schools with students testing positive for measles to stay home for 21 days from the last known exposure to the virus. More articles on clinical leadership and infection control: Thousands of pediatricians team up to reduce medical errors, improve care Essentia Health introduces 30-minute flu, strep testing systemwide 10 hospital objects that breed infection-causing bacteria Ohio hospitals are working with county health departments to combat a surge in hepatitis A cases, according to the Journal-News. Butler and Montgomery counties in Ohio had 62 and 81 cases, respectively, as of Sept. 24, the state health department reported. Numbers of outbreak-linked cases in the counties have jumped to 127 and 118 cases, respectively, through Oct. 22. According to the most recent data from the Butler County General Health District, Fort Hamilton (Ohio) Hospital has diagnosed 79 patients with hepatitis A this year. "Fort Hamilton Hospital has been working with the Butler County General Health District in reporting volumes, pertinent transmission and presentation data for outbreak investigational purposes," said Erika Sanso, MSN, RN, the hospital's director of clinical quality. "We are actively screening patients presenting with symptoms." The hospital is providing extensive education for patients, including community resources on where vaccination is possible, Ms. Sanso said. Although Montgomery and Butler are the only counties with more than 100 cases so far in 2018, the outbreak is statewide. As of Oct. 22, there have been 717 cases recorded in 54 of Ohio's counties this year, resulting in 451 hospitalizations and one death. The median number of annual cases from 2012 to 2016 was only 38, according to the Ohio Department of Health. 23:18 The Congress on Tuesday said the "real tribute" to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel would be that his order banning the RSS should be placed at the foot of the 'Statue of Unity' in Gujarat. Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma, at a press conference, alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party does not have any idols of its own and highlighted that Patel was from the Congress and also a former president of the party. His remarks came a day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate the world's tallest statue the 'Statue of Unity' at Kevadiya in Gujarat. The 182-metre statue of Patel will be dedicated to the nation on his birth anniversary in Narmada District of Gujarat. "Probably Prime Minister Narendra Modi does not know that after the Bardoli Satyagraha, the Father of the Nation gave the title of Sardar to Vallabh Bhai Patel and on 4th February, 1948, Home Minister Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel had issued a hand written order banning the RSS. "My suggestion to the prime minister is...with the help of China, you can get the statue made, install it, but real tribute to Sardar Patel would be that he should put a bronze plate or a copper plate, on which Sardar Patel's order banning the RSS is written along with the the correspondence between Sardar Patel and Guru Golwalkar, under the statue," Sharma said. To a separate question on 2008 Malegaon blast case accused Lt Col Prasad Purohit, Sharma said terrorism in all its forms and manifestations has to be fought and condemned. "We have always maintained as a party that terrorism has no religion, they actually do more harm to people they claim to represent nor do they have any mandate or sanction. "As a rule based, rule governed society and a democracy, the due processes of law must follow and the judiciary is independent to punish and sentence anyone who is accused of the crime of committing acts of violence or terrorism in this country," he said. -- PTI Pittsburgh-based UPMC and Allegheny Health Network treated seven victims of the Oct. 27 shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Squirrel Hill, Pa., which killed 11 individuals, reports Pittsburgh Business Times. Here are five things to know: 1. Three UPMC physicians, Pittsburgh Emergency Medical Services and other first responders arrived on the scene within a half-hour. Leonard Weiss, MD, a UPMC critical care physician and EMS medical director who lives near the synagogue, arrived within minutes of the shooting. First responders found 11 people dead inside the building, along with six injured, including four police officers. "There was a lot of interaction right at the scene, all the way through to the hospital, about what's the best care that needs to happen," Don Yealy, MD, UPMC's chair of emergency medicine, told Pittsburgh Business Times. 2. Pittsburgh's four level 1 trauma centers received an emergency operations alert to prepare for potential mass casualties around 10:15 a.m. UPMC Presbyterian received five patients, two of whom were in critical condition. The hospital is just 2 miles away from the synagogue. UPMC Mercy and Allegheny General Hospital which was put on standby each received one patient. 3. UPMC Presbyterian staffed six emergency medicine attending physicians, six attending trauma surgeons and various residents, specialists and other clinicians to treat the shooting victims. "At the beginning, when we didn't know how big this could be, we actually did call in extra physicians at both facilities," Dr. Yealy told Pittsburgh Business Times. 4. The two critically injured patients are a 70-year-old man with multiple gunshot wounds to the abdomen and a 55-year-old police officer who confronted the shooter, according to Pittsburgh Business Times. Both victims underwent surgery at UPMC Presbyterian, and the officer is now in stable condition. The hospital is also treating a 61-year-old woman in stable condition and a 40-year-old male police officer in critical condition. A 27-year-old officer was treated and released Oct. 27, according to an update from UPMC. 5. In separate interviews with Pittsburgh Business Times, Dr. Yealy and Thomas Stein, MD, an emergency physician and disaster response leader at Allegheny General, said the health systems' mass casualty plans, which aim to prevent one hospital from getting flooded with patients, worked correctly. "We have one of the most advanced EMS systems in the country ... decades of investment and people, excellent EMS. It's not by luck. It's by design of local government and the local healthcare facilities," Dr. Yealy said. "What people don't recognize about Pittsburgh, there's a well-integrated physician presence in EMS, separate from the outstanding EMS providers that the city has hired, trained and continue to train. Most other cities don't have that type of involvement in the field." More articles on clinical leadership and infection control: Active shooter false alarm locks down Louisiana hospital 4 children admitted to San Diego with rare airborne illness New Jersey adenovirus outbreak up to 23 cases The FDA is investigating Aid Access, a European telemedicine abortion provider that began distributing medications in the U.S. earlier this year, CNN reports. Aid Access uses online consultations to connect healthy women who are less than nine weeks pregnant with a physician. If the woman is deemed eligible for a medication abortion, the organization's founder Rebecca Gomperts, MD, PhD will prescribe two pills to terminate the pregnancy, misoprostol and mifepristone. The prescription is sent to a pharmacy in India, which mails the pills to the U.S. The FDA is questioning whether Aid Access has violated a set of restrictions that the agency placed on Mifeprex, a brand name for mifepristone, when it approved the drug 18 years ago. These restrictions are "necessary to ensure the safe use of Mifeprex," the FDA said in a statement to CNN. "Mifeprex is only available to be dispensed in certain healthcare settings, specifically, clinics, medical offices and hospitals, by or under the supervision of a certified prescriber," the FDA said. "Mifepristone, including Mifeprex, for termination of pregnancy is not legally available over the internet." However, recent research has suggested telemedicine is as safe as in-person treatment when dispensing medication abortions, and some clinicians who spoke with CNN argued the FDA's restrictions on the medication may be unnecessary. Abigail Aiken, MD, PhD, an assistant professor at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin who researches the topic, told CNN the restrictions don't help to mitigate risk. "In fact, it's actually one of the biggest barriers to the widespread use of a very safe and effective medication," she said. To read CNN's report, click here. Louis Levitt, MD, vice president of The Centers for Advanced Orthopaedics in Bethesda, Md., is a leader at one of the largest orthopedic practices in the country. Here, Dr. Louis examines the trend toward value-based care and alternative payments in orthopedics, as well as outlines where his practice will be headed in the future. Question: What do you see as the biggest shift in healthcare as it relates to orthopedics in 2018? How will that impact care in 2019? Dr. Louis Levitt: In 2019 and over the next two to three years, the industry will enter a battle to determine who is going to control the market share in orthopedics and who will control the musculoskeletal marketplace. I believe orthopedic physicians like those that make up The Centers for Advanced Orthopaedics (CAO) should maintain this control over musculoskeletal care from the time a patient sees a primary care physician complaining of pain to the time they need a joint replacement. With all the integration and consolidation happening across the industry, the trend seems to be that many larger companies are looking to manage healthcare by influencing referrals and studying best practices through acquisition of large primary care groups. In addition to traditional methods of healthcare delivery, we're also seeing large self-insured groups reaching out to specialty groups like CAO to directly contract for services as long as those particular organizations can prove their value with current data. The biggest questions for the market in 2019 will be who is going fight for control and who can prove their value? Additionally, I believe the future of all healthcare providers will be related to documenting and measuring patient outcomes to ensure they are satisfied with their care. Q: What is your biggest concern heading into 2019? LL: I am most concerned with finding the expertise that can manage a company of our size without compromising our standards and values. We have a unique business model, but we don't want to give up the control of our company, and we will guard against any practice or expense that risk producing best outcomes. Since we are a large organization, we need to gather the best expertise in country, but we won't do it at the expense of quality. Q: Where does The Centers for Advanced Orthopedics plan to grow in 2019? What are the biggest opportunities? LL: We are looking to expand into adjacent communities regionally close to us, and we will consider opportunities to have joint ventures and co-partnerships with individuals in new regions. By the end of 2018, our ranks should increase to more than 200 doctors. We are also aggressively seeking to develop co-management partnerships with hospitals in the D.C./Maryland/Virginia area to work with their orthopedic service lines. The biggest opportunity in the future is to influence healthcare not only regionally but also nationally. Q: How do you see value-based care affecting orthopedics over the next two to three years? What is CAO doing now to participate in value-based care, and what are its plans in the future? LL: In the near future, value-based care will go beyond just participating in structured government programs like bundled payments. At one point, we thought we could do bundles in the private sector for joint replacements, scopes, ACLs, rotator cuffs. But we learned there were challenges with collecting all the information required to successfully run a bundle. So, CAO decided we need to prove that we are as good as we say we are, and to do that, we'll have to take risks so we can improve musculoskeletal medicine. We think we can financially improve the cost of medicine in the musculoskeletal space. It is becoming very clear that value-based medicine will become about managing the entire episode of musculoskeletal care. The future for orthopedic surgeons in a value-based world is now to become care managers managing the entire episode of care, not just the surgical experience. Q: What are your top goals for 2019? How will CAO grow? LL: My personal goal is to spend more time at CAO. I will probably be practicing a little less and instead working to take our business to the next level. To accomplish that next level, CAO's goal in 2019 is to secure the expertise and capital that we need to advance the company. We want to demonstrate what our data shows, prove our concept and by 2021 be able to complete full at-risk contracts. Since we launched five years ago, we've spectacularly exceeded our mission of becoming a community of the most qualified orthopedic surgeons. Long term, our goal is to fulfill our vision of being the national leader in orthopedic care and we're excited to move the needle on that in the coming year. Police have appealed for "cool heads" after two linked attacks on property in Carrickfergus. Windows of a home were smashed on Monday afternoon in Rockfergus Avenue. It came after a car in the same street was attacked on Sunday. Two have been arrested. A 38-year-old was charged and appeared in court over the Sunday incident. While a 25-year-old was detained on Monday and remains in police custody. Superintendent Darrin Jones said: The arrested male remains in custody at present. "We are investigating a link to an attack on a vehicle parked at another house on the same street early on Sunday morning, 28 October. A 38 year old man was arrested, charged and appeared in court this morning in connection with that incident. "We aware that these incidents have caused tension in the local area and I am appealing for cool heads while police investigate. A Belfast man accused of sticking a glass in a drinking partner's face claims the injuries were caused by slipping in spilt beer, a court heard today. Thomas McCartney, 36, allegedly inflicted serious wounds in an attack at his flat on King Street in the city. Police said the injured man sustained two facial lacerations, one requiring nine stitches to his upper lip, during the incident in the early hours of Sunday morning. McCartney appeared before Belfast Magistrates' Court charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent, and possessing a quantity of cannabis. Opposing bail, a detective said the defendant and alleged victim had spent most of the day drinking together. "The injured party says the would-be banter started to turn nasty, he got up to leave and the accused is alleged to have stuck a glass in his face," he told the court. District Judge Fiona Bagnall also heard McCartney allegedly threatened to get the other man and his family if he phoned police. According to the detective the accused's tenancy at the flat has been withdrawn since the incident. Defence solicitor Pearse MacDermott put it to him that his client was putting the alleged victim up after he had been made homeless. Both men had been drinking at the weekend before McCartney asked the injured party to leave his flat, the lawyer contended. "While he was walking to the door in the hallway he slipped on spilt beer and fell on the glass that caused his injuries," Mr MacDermott added. McCartney was also said to have fallen on the broken glass found at the scene, with an injury noted above his eye. With alternative accommodation proposed in Co Down, Judge Bagnall granted bail to an address approved by police. She also excluded McCartney from Belfast, imposed an alcohol prohibition and banned him from contacting the alleged victim. The victim of a vicious serial rapist from Northern Ireland has said she is delighted and relieved that her attacker will be staying behind bars for the foreseeable future. Christine Jones (36), who waived her anonymity to campaign against William Fenton being released early, told of the joy she felt when the Parole Board informed her he would continue to serve time in a Scottish prison. Mrs Jones - who is believed to be the first victim in the UK of drug rape - was just 17 when she was drugged and repeatedly raped by Bangor man Fenton during a horrific 30-hour ordeal in 2000. Fenton was initially jailed for 12 years, but relocated to Scotland after serving half his sentence and was incarcerated again in 2013 after being found guilty of raping another woman and sexually assaulting three others, all of whom had been drugged. "I'm just so relieved that this monster is off the streets for another few years," said the mother-of-two. "This ordeal has put my mental health at risk again and I've been through hell, but I knew I had to fight for this fiend to stay behind bars where he belongs." The Co Down businesswoman also revealed that another six alleged victims of Fenton had come forward since she launched her Change.org petition to deny the repeat offender parole. Fenton was recently informed by the authorities that his application for parole had been denied, and that he would remain behind bars. This newspaper understands that a new review date will be set by the Parole Board for Scotland within two years. Mrs Jones added: "I'm glad I was able to help delay his release for another while, but I'm still angry that he'll get out ridiculously early, in my opinion. "This man should never be released. No woman is safe with him back on the streets." Mrs Jones, who admits she remains traumatised by the ordeal more than two decades later, drummed up 4,100-plus signatures for her online campaign aimed at keeping Fenton (60) "where he belongs". Mrs Jones (nee McCabe), who is originally from Belfast, was attacked by Fenton on St Patrick's Day, 1997. She had planned to go to a party but never made it because, after picking her up in his car, "the sick brute" gave her a drink laced with drugs, drove her to his house and repeatedly raped her. Fenton eventually left his deeply traumatised and still heavily drugged victim at the side of a road. Mrs Jones, who is now happily married to her 38-year-old husband with whom she has twins, said she initially became a recluse after the ordeal - but not anymore. "I wasn't able to fight him off when I was 17 because I was drugged, but now I'm standing strong against him with the help of others," she added. "The petition was my fight against him. I'm standing strong for every woman he's raped and keeping him behind bars feels like a small victory for us all. "There are so many women who've never had a voice until now. I am happy I found the strength to stand up publicly against him and be heard for everyone who never had a voice." The High Court judge who jailed Fenton in Scotland in 2013 described him as "a clear danger to females". "I note you have been convicted in the past of the sexual assault of young girls and of women," Lord Burns told him. "In 2000 you were convicted of rape and later that year indecent assault on a female after administering some stupefying substance upon her. "The risk you present to the public is a high one." Along with the nightmares and flashbacks from her ordeal, Christine said she was traumatised with worry in the run-up to Fenton's parole hearing. "There's always that 'What if?' at the back of your mind, so getting positive news was a real relief," she said. "But it's hard feeling so happy about such an ugly situation. It definitely doesn't take away from the anger I feel about him getting out of jail so early because he's still getting out in three years. "In two years' time I know I'm going to have another fight against him - but at least it's delayed for a while and the monster is off the streets for the foreseeable future." Mrs Jones said there was a lot of input from various sources, including police officers, ahead of Fenton's hearing on October 18. "I was told that it was one of the biggest dossiers that has ever come before the Scottish Parole Board," she added. "Another six victims came forward to me personally and the petition also got 4,000 signatures, which we needed. "I'm so happy other women got their voices heard and others got an opportunity to get some justice too. "What we've managed to do here proves that we are survivors, not victims." A spokesman for Parole Board Scotland said that it did not comment on individual cases. 'The committee also heard that no harm was caused to any resident and no duties were neglected while Mr Loughran was sleeping' (stock photo) A care assistant has been allowed to continue working even though he was found to have put vulnerable children at unwarranted risk of harm. The Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC) found Brendan Loughran fell asleep on a number of occasions while he was employed as a support worker for Praxis Care at Rainbow Lodge in Ballymena. A fitness to practise panel found Mr Loughran's "behaviour in sleeping when he was on waking nights posed a risk to the vulnerable service users in his care". In their findings, the panel said Mr Loughran "was noted to be sleeping on more than one occasion while responsible for the needs of vulnerable children". The panel said this behaviour constituted misconduct and that it "fell well below the standards to be expected of social care workers". The NISCC committee said it was "satisfied that the registrant's fitness to practise at that time was impaired because of his misconduct". However, it ruled that his fitness to practise was not currently impaired, so no sanctions were imposed on his license. Mr Loughran was employed by Praxis Care from June 23, 2014 as a night support worker at Rainbow Lodge. The facility provides residential and respite care for children with learning disabilities. On August 8, 2017, an anonymous letter with video clips was sent to the chief executive of Praxis Care alleging that Mr Loughran was sleeping on duty during waking night shifts. The fitness to practise hearing was told Mr Loughran was seen in the video in a relaxed state, with his feet up, head to one side, breathing heavily and his chest going up and down. In some of the video clips, Mr Loughran had a blanket over him, the panel heard. Mr Loughran was called to a disciplinary meeting on September 26, 2017, and he accepted "he may have nodded off on one occasion". A witness told the hearing Mr Loughran would be expected to provide immediate support to one of the children and that there had been occasions where he had suffered a seizure and required hospital treatment. The panel was also told Mr Loughran had said he had used a blanket as it could become very cold during the night and that other members of staff did the same. He said a colleague came to work with a hat and scarf. The committee also heard that no harm was caused to any resident and no duties were neglected while Mr Loughran was sleeping. During the hearing, Mr Loughran denied he was sleeping in the video footage although he accepted that it appeared to show him sleeping. He also said he did not believe he was responsible for monitoring the resident at risk of seizure at the time he was caught on video, although he "accepted sleeping was unacceptable and had the potential to increase the real risk of harm". He said: "I let my guard down, I assured my boss that it would not happen again and that I asked for a transfer out as I could not do the work anymore". Despite Mr Loughran's position, the panel found he had been sleeping while on duty. They also said he had shown limited insight as he continued to maintain a distinction between "nodding off", "closing his eyes" and "sleeping". However, the committee said he has been working for a period of time for the same employer and there was no evidence of any further issues. In the findings, the panel said: "The committee was of the view that whilst the registrant's actions had put vulnerable children at unwarranted risk of harm in the past, in light of the evidence provided it was unlikely that he would put a service user at unwarranted risk of harm in the future." Shared and integrated cross-community education programmes in Northern Ireland are to receive an extra 300 million following Mondays Budget, the Chancellor said. Fifteen schools projects to free up more places across the country could be progressed, integrated education authorities said. The money is part of a previously-announced commitment made by the UK Government following the Stormont Fresh Start Agreement with the main local political parties. Today's announcement shows this governments support for an inclusive future in Northern Ireland, with 300 million for shared and integrated educationKaren Bradley Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley said: Todays announcement shows this governments support for an inclusive future in Northern Ireland, with 300 million for shared and integrated education. Integrated education involves the teaching of Catholic and Protestant children together. Most schools are overseen by either the state, attended mainly by Protestant youngsters, or the Catholic church, meaning traditionally pupils were separated by denomination. Over the next month we will be promoting https://t.co/WLnEPMCTIT at cinemas across NI. Let us know if you see our Liam Neeson advert. #IsawLiam #integratededucation pic.twitter.com/MDMSTINO2O Integrate My School (@IntegrateMS) October 25, 2018 Integrated Education Fund chief executive Tina Merron welcomed the draw down of extra cash from Westminster coffers. She said: Fifteen integrated schools around Northern Ireland have been waiting for more than two years for proposals to progress, and we look forward to seeing these projects now being able to move forward so that more families can access places in integrated education. A shared education campus in Omagh in Co Tyrone is under construction, separately from Mondays announcement. The biggest school building project in Northern Ireland will see six schools built on the site of the former Lisanelly army barracks in the town. The Government has previously announced a 140 million contribution towards the cost, unrelated to Mondays Budget. Cross-community Alliance Party Assembly member Kellie Armstrong said: I look forward to reading the detail and to seeing which schools have finally been allocated the necessary capital funding to increase the provision of integrated and shared education. I recently met with the NIO as I was concerned by the lack of movement and announcements regarding this funding. Today it fell to the Chancellor and the Treasury to announce the expenditure. I will be encouraging the NIO to use the small remaining amount to further develop opportunities such as nursery provision. A dog tag, a section of uniform, pipes and matches believed to date back to the First World War have been discovered at an Army base in Co Down. The finds 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 in 2012. Michael King, heritage manager at the 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 said. "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. "The great thing is, when the hut was removed we found a lot of artefacts in the sand that will tell the story of the hut." 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 the Troubles. Mr King said they are also trying to trace relatives of the soldiers who owned the items. The scene after the UFF attack on the Rising Sun bar The chaotic scene inside the Rising Sun on October 30, 1993 after loyalist gunmen opened fire and killed eight people inside Greysteel: Remembering the victims at the unveiling of a memorial plaque in the village SDLP leader John Hume is comforted as he weeps at the funerals A man who was one of the first on the scene after the Greysteel massacre has said the horror he witnessed that night will stay with him for ever. Andre Johnston (51), from Claudy, was working as a part-time cabbie on October 30, 1993. He entered the Rising Sun bar not long after the shooting had stopped and the UFF killers had fled. Hours later Mr Johnston, who also worked for a funeral director, returned to remove the dead. As the village prepares to mark the 25th anniversary of the atrocity in which eight people died, he said the horror remained all too vivid. "It feels like yesterday. I was working as an undertaker and was doing taxi driving at night. I was working on the night of the attack," he explained. "I had got a fare and was driving back into Greysteel past the Rising Sun when the dispatcher put it out over the radio that there had just that minute been an attack on the bar. "I don't know why but I pulled straight into the bar. "I had the intention that if I saw a car, I was going to ram it off the road. "I pulled up outside the bar and I ran in. I opened the door and went in and saw what had been left. The smoke from the guns was still there, the smell of it was horrible. It was just minutes after the gunmen had left." Expand Expand Previous Next Close Andre Johnston was one of the first people on the scene of the atrocity The aftermath of the 1993 gun attack in which eight people died / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Andre Johnston was one of the first people on the scene of the atrocity The eight who died were Karen Thompson (19) and her boyfriend Stephen Mullan (20); James Moore (81), the father of the bar's owner; Joseph McDermott (60); Moira Duddy (59); John Moyne (50), and ex-UDR man John Burns (54). Former B Special Victor Montgomery (76) died the following April after blood clots from a leg wound spread to his lungs. Mr Johnston, whose 16-year-old daughter Alexandra passed away in January after a cancer battle, recalled the harrowing scenes as he entered the pub. Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Funerals of five of the victims of the Greysteel massacre Torrens Knight Photopress Belfast Stephen Irwin Defiant: Knight claims this infamous photo was all a stunt for the cameras after his arrest for the Greysteel massacre. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Funerals of five of the victims of the Greysteel massacre "The victims were there in the bar. It was an horrendous sight. Young and old," he said. "There was a young woman still sitting in her seat, dead. There was an older man at the door, they must have got him when they came in the door. "There was a woman who I had dropped off in my taxi just hours earlier. "These were people I knew, they were friends. "It was horrendous to witness something as horrific as that, to see what people can do. "There was no reason, no country, no anything, there is nothing in this world that could possibly justify that kind of destruction." Mr Johnston said his first thoughts were for the victims' families. "I walked to the door and had the mind to try and stop any relatives of those poor people coming in to see this until the police arrived. I just knew that they would be scarred for life," he said. "Greysteel is such a small village, when people heard what had happened they ran down and were there in minutes. In the end I had to stand back and let them go in. The police arrived then. It was mayhem, no one seemed to know what to do. The ambulances hadn't arrived yet. "Panic struck and there was a worry that the nearby Longfield Inn would be targeted. But the police said that those who had done this had done their hit and would be away now. "Survivors were standing around in absolute shock. I did what I could to comfort the husband of one of the victims. I just put him down on the chair and sat with him, stayed with him. Ambulances arrived and people were trying to get people out into them. "People were starting to filter in. There was a priest there and the reality of it all started to filter through." Mr Johnston, who worked with his father-in-law at their Coleraine funeral directors Ivan Murdock and Sons, found himself back at the Rising Sun in the early hours of the morning removing the bodies of the dead. "I went home later that night," he added. "At 3am my father-in-law called me and said that we needed to go back down to the Rising Sun and remove the bodies of those who had passed away. "We arrived there with our hearses and were able to take the people out before the morning, before the Press came, in the quiet of night." He said he was still affected by that night. "I can still smell the smoke from their guns 25 years later," he added. "That night still haunts me. It took me two years to cry about it, to release it. "I went to counselling. My mother thought that it changed me. I try not to think about it. "But it comes into my mind a lot, maybe it's a news story about some other atrocity in the Troubles. "You just think to yourself that nothing justifies doing that to another human being, on either side. "To this day Halloween wouldn't be a great holiday. We might do something for the children but that's it. Every year it brings it back. It's like it happened yesterday. Once you see something like that, you never forget." Mr Johnston also recalled the devastating impact the atrocity had on the community, just a week after the Shankill bomb which killed nine people and one of the IRA bombers. "It shook our community so much," he added. "A lot of people who might have had strong political feelings one way or another, it changed them completely. "Unfortunately, it took something like that to do it. "For two atrocities like the Shankill bomb and then Greysteel to happen within a week, it made people think that something has to be done. "It brought the community strongly together. It was a day in the Troubles that should never have happened." The Halloween Monster Mash event is expected to attract as many as 20,000 / Credit: Belfast City Council Northern Ireland is set to see thousands attend events across the province this Halloween. Falling midweek, motorists are being advised to be aware of the various events taking place. Expand Close The Halloween Monster Mash event is expected to attract as many as 20,000 / Credit: Belfast City Council / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Halloween Monster Mash event is expected to attract as many as 20,000 / Credit: Belfast City Council Here is what to look out for: There Halloween Monster Mash will be taking place on the Titanic Slipways on Halloween Night on Wednesday. The free family event will run from 6pm to 8pm, concluding with a fireworks display. Attendees are encouraged to travel to the event by shuttle bus, which will operate from Chichester Street outside SS Moore's every 15 minutes from 5.30pm until 7.15pm. Patrons taking the bus will be dropped off on Queen's Street. Return buses will leave from Titanic Studios on Queen's Street from 8.15pm onwards, dropping off at Donegall Square West. There is no dedicated parking for the event, although pay spaces are available in the city centre and parking is also available in the Titanic Quarter near to The Slipways, at Titanic Belfast and at the Belfast Met. No on-street parking will be available at Queen's Road. Motorists are also advised that police may close Queen's Road to vehicles during the event if it becomes to necessary to do so for road safety reasons. What's about in Derry? Anyone planning on travelling west for Londonderry's Halloween festivities has been encouraged to plan their journies. Motorists are advised to expect delays and diversions during the event. The Awakening the Walls events have been running since Saturday and will continue until Tuesday. Between 5pm and 10pm traffic restrictions will be in place on Magazine Street, Butcher Street, Bishop Street within, Society Street, London Street, Pump Street, and Artillery Street. Society Street car park will also be closed during this time. For the main Carnival and Fireworks Display on 31 October, motorists are advised there will be lane closures on the Strand Road and the Foyle Embankment. The city bound approach to Water Street will operate from 6.30pm until around 8.45pm. Strand road, Harbour Square, Queens Quay, Whittaker Street and the Foyle Embankment, between Water Street and the City Hotel, will be closed to traffic for varying lengths of time during the evening events, between 6.30pm and 8.45pm. Alternative diversion routes will be available during these times. Visitors are advised to visit the website for the Derry Halloween festival for more information on the availability of parking during the event. Firefighters deal with a major blaze at Primark in Belfast on August 28th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Firefighters deal with a major blaze at Primark in Belfast on August 28th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Firefighters deal with a major blaze at Primark in Belfast on August 28th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Firefighters deal with a major blaze at Primark in Belfast on August 28th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service are attending an incident in Belfast city centre. The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service are attending an incident in Belfast city centre. Firefighters deal with a major blaze at Primark in Belfast on August 28th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Firefighters deal with a major blaze at Primark in Belfast on August 28th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Firefighters deal with a major blaze at Primark in Belfast on August 28th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Firefighters deal with a major blaze at Primark in Belfast on August 28th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Firefighters deal with a major blaze at Primark in Belfast on August 28th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Firefighters deal with a major blaze at Primark in Belfast on August 28th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Firefighters deal with a major blaze at Primark in Belfast on August 28th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Firefighters deal with a major blaze at Primark in Belfast on August 28th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Firefighters deal with a major blaze at Primark in Belfast on August 28th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Firefighters deal with a major blaze at Primark in Belfast on August 28th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Firefighters deal with a major blaze at Primark in Belfast on August 28th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Firefighters deal with a major blaze at Primark in Belfast on August 28th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Firefighters deal with a major blaze at Primark in Belfast on August 28th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Firefighters deal with a major blaze at Primark in Belfast on August 28th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Firefighters deal with a major blaze at Primark in Belfast on August 28th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Firefighters deal with a major blaze at Primark in Belfast on August 28th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Firefighters deal with a major blaze at Primark in Belfast on August 28th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Firefighters deal with a major blaze at Primark in Belfast on August 28th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Firefighters deal with a major blaze at Primark in Belfast on August 28th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Firefighters deal with a major blaze at Primark in Belfast on August 28th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Compsite showing the fire from 11:06 am to 4:35 pm Firefighters deal with a major blaze at Primark in Belfast on August 28th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Firefighters deal with a major blaze at Primark in Belfast on August 28th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Firefighters deal with a major blaze at Primark in Belfast on August 28th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Firefighters deal with a major blaze at Primark in Belfast on August 28th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Belfast city centre will be handed a 2 million lifeline in today's Budget. The cash injection, to be announced by Chancellor Philip Hammond, is aimed at regenerating the area around Bank Buildings, which was destroyed by fire in August. It will more than double the amount already allocated by Belfast City Council on recovery work for the city centre. The blaze at the landmark building housing Primark raged for three days. It has had a severe impact on the city's economy, with a cordon in place around the building forcing 14 businesses to close. Earlier this month the Belfast Telegraph reported how an economic assessment had estimated the city will lose up to 3m per month in the short-term as a result of the fire. However, the Chancellor has moved to give the city a boost in the run-up to Christmas. His 2m injection comes on top of the 1.69m committed by the City Council, including building a temporary walkway between Royal Avenue and Donegall Place. Last night Glyn Roberts from Retail NI welcomed the Chancellor's intervention. "This is great news for Belfast and it follows pressure from our own organisation who have been talking to MPs and pushing the case at Westminster for additional funding from the Treasury," he said. "I am absolutely delighted that our efforts have paid off and we have got this funding, which will be a great basis for the rejuvenation of the city centre." Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Aerial views showing the aftermath of the fire in the Bank Buildings - Primark Belfast - August 29th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott) Kevin Scott Aerial views showing the aftermath of the fire in the Bank Buildings - Primark Belfast - August 29th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott) Kevin Scott Aerial views showing the aftermath of the fire in the Bank Buildings - Primark Belfast - August 29th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott) Kevin Scott Aerial views showing the aftermath of the fire in the Bank Buildings - Primark Belfast - August 29th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott) Kevin Scott Aerial views showing the aftermath of the fire in the Bank Buildings - Primark Belfast - August 29th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott) Kevin Scott Aerial views showing the aftermath of the fire in the Bank Buildings - Primark Belfast - August 29th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott) Kevin Scott Aerial views showing the aftermath of the fire in the Bank Buildings - Primark Belfast - August 29th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott) Kevin Scott Aerial views showing the aftermath of the fire in the Bank Buildings - Primark Belfast - August 29th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott) Kevin Scott Aerial views showing the aftermath of the fire in the Bank Buildings - Primark Belfast - August 29th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott) Kevin Scott Aerial views showing the aftermath of the fire in the Bank Buildings - Primark Belfast - August 29th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott) Kevin Scott Aerial view over Bank Buildings following Tuesdays fire. Photo by Gregory Weeks. Photo by Gregory Weeks. Aerial view over Bank Buildings following Tuesdays fire.. Photo by Gregory Weeks. Aerial view over Bank Buildings following Tuesdays fire.. Aerial view over Bank Buildings following Tuesdays fire. Photo by Gregory Weeks. Photo by Gregory Weeks. Aerial view over Bank Buildings following Tuesdays fire.. Photo by Gregory Weeks. Aerial view over Bank Buildings following Tuesdays fire.. Photo by Gregory Weeks. Aerial view over Bank Buildings following Tuesdays fire.. Photo by Gregory Weeks. Aerial view over Bank Buildings following Tuesdays fire.. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Aerial views showing the aftermath of the fire in the Bank Buildings - Primark Belfast - August 29th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott) A planning application to start repairing the gutted Bank Buildings was approved by Belfast City Council on Friday, with work expected to start shortly. News of the Chancellor's 2m boost came as North Belfast MP Nigel Dodds called on Mr Hammond to give Northern Ireland a helping hand in today's Budget. Mr Dodds also called for extra funds to support vulnerable people during the introduction of the controversial Universal Credit welfare scheme. Expand Expand Previous Next Close Chancellor Philip Hammond PA DUP's Nigel Dodds Getty Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Chancellor Philip Hammond "The Chancellor has visited Northern Ireland in recent months at our invitation where he has heard the arguments for air passenger duty and tourism VAT," he said. "However, since his last visit, the city centre of Belfast has been rocked by the Bank Buildings fire. DUP MPs Emma Little-Pengelly, Gavin Robinson and myself have been pressing the Chancellor to recognise the difficulties faced by city centre traders within his budget. "This is a crucial period in the retail calendar and funding for a support package would be a win for Belfast and undoubtedly appreciated throughout the city. Indeed, additional funding could complement the packages already in place." Mr Dodds also said he wanted progress on the Belfast regional City Deal. "This City Deal process started as part of the DUP-Conservative 'confidence and supply' agreement and we want to see it taking another step forward. City Deals have transformed other UK regions. "We want to see that happen in Belfast and the surrounding region too." Reports that a group of people dressed as Ku Klux Klan members posed outside an Islamic prayer house are being investigated as a hate incident. Photographs of the group outside an Islamic Centre in Newtownards emerged online over the weekend. Read More The incident was reported to the PSNI on Sunday afternoon at around 5pm. Reports say the group was seen wearing the distinctive pointed-hooded costumes in the vicinity of Greenwell Street on Saturday night. Inspector Richard Murray said: "We are also aware of images that are circulating that show people dressed as Ku Klux Klan members. "Our enquiries are ongoing, and we are treating this as a hate incident at this time. "Hate crime, in all its forms, is totally unacceptable. It is the responsibility of each and every one of us to ensure that we live in a society where diversity is respected." In one of the images posted over the weekend, the group of around 10 people are pictured in a threatening pose, some with fists raised, outside the town's Islamic Centre. Strangford Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong called the photographs "unacceptable" and said she will be asking police to investigate. "I've seen the pictures on Facebook and social media of this group of men, women or whatever," she said. "Some people might try to say they were out for Halloween but I'd have to say if that's the case then these are certainly not the most appropriate costumes to be wearing. "It is not appreciated by our community, it is not funny and it should definitely not be treated as a joke." The Ku Klux Klan is a racist group established by white supremacists in the United States. Ms Armstrong added: "Everyone knows the history of the Ku Klux Klan, what they stood for, the crimes the organisation committed and the connotations these outfits convey. This was not a mistake or an unfortunate choice of outfits. "I certainly hope the PSNI are looking into it and I would see this as a hate incident. "For someone to think these were a good ideas for costumes for Halloween, if that's what they actually are, is disgusting. That's not the image of Newtownards we want to be portrayed. "It's bad enough that these people thought it appropriate to parade around the centre of the town in these costumes, but to then actually stop and pose outside the Islamic Centre and Mosque is pathetic. "CCTV cameras are installed all around the centre of Newtownards and these individuals will have been caught on camera and I will be urging police to study the footage." DUP MLA Peter Weir said those behind the stunt were "morons". "What sort of morons go about Newtownards dressed in KKK costumes?" he said. "That the same group were then photographed outside the Islamic Centre clearly shows malevolent intent." He added: "It is totally unacceptable." In August 2017 a pig's head was left at the Islamic Centre's door and graffiti painted on the building. Anyone with any information about the incident is asked to contact police on the non-emergency number 101, quoting the reference 1066 with the date 28/10/2018. The public can also contact independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. William McQuade, actor Charlie Lawson, Alan Quail and Michael Adair who are campaigning for the memorial to be visible all-year round An almost forgotten memorial to railway workers from Ulster who died in the First World War is set to become visible to the public again. It was erected at Belfast's old York Street station. The terminus, which operated from 1848, closed in 1992. There is now a maintenance depot on the site, within which the cenotaph is located. It is open to the public only on Remembrance Day, or by prior arrangement. However, a group of locals have been campaigning for the memorial to be visible to the public all-year round. They have reached agreement for a window to be inserted in a wall in front of it. Coronation Street actor Charlie Lawson has backed the campaign. Following meetings with Translink, the company has offered a compromise option of inserting the window into the wall to allow the cenotaph to be visible. Campaigner William McQuade described it as a "small but significant victory" for lower north Belfast. He said it was particularly fitting 100 years on from the end of the Great War. "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 monument just behind the works wall should be on public display," he said. A previous request for the war memorial to be moved to a site on the Shore Road was unsuccessful. It was originally erected by the Midland Railway Company at York Street station to commemorate railway staff who lost their lives in the 1914-18 conflict. 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. Translink 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". Jean McConville with three of her children The son of a Belfast mother-of-10 abducted and murdered by the IRA in 1972 has called for a face-to-face meeting with PSNI Chief Constable George Hamilton following new claims about her killing. A book to be published on Thursday alleges that a prominent republican could have been the mystery third member of an IRA team who fired the shot that killed Jean McConville, one of the most high-profile victims of the Troubles. Say Nothing, by American journalist Patrick Keefe, claims information that this person was involved in the murder of Mrs McConville came in an interview Dolours Price gave to journalist Ed Moloney in 2010 and which police have had since 2013. The PSNI could not be contacted for comment last night. However, Michael McConville said any suggestion of police knowledge was awful and shocking. Price claimed in the documentary film I, Dolours, released earlier this year, that an unnamed person had fired the shot to end the life of Mrs McConville. The widow was abducted from her Divis Flats home by the IRA in 1972, one of the Disappeared until her body was found on Shelling Hill beach, Co Louth, in 2003. The book by Keefe, a staff writer at the New Yorker magazine, alleges that Mrs McConville was murdered by a three-person team, one of whom had been offered a job as Gerry Adamss personal driver. The Sunday Times reported that Keefe has discovered that in an interview Price gave to the Boston College oral history project, she named the person who had been offered this role. The Belfast Telegraph is not naming the individual for legal reasons. Keefe says he also interviewed another individual in whom Price confided before she died in 2013. I asked whether she had ever mentioned (this person) playing a role in the McConville killing, he writes. The person confirmed she had... Keefe said he wrote to a lawyer for the person spelling out what he intended to publish and asking whether they would deny it. He never wrote back. The same lawyer was also approached by the Sunday Times and a comment requested about Keefes allegation. Again there was no response. Mr McConville said: Every time there is another story about our mothers murder, it twists a knife in a wound that will never heal. But to know that the name of the person who may have fired the shot in that depraved murder that ended her life and orphaned 10 children has been known to the PSNI for years and yet nothing has been done makes it even worse. He added: My brothers and sisters and I want to know why Dolours Price was not interviewed after her admissions that she drove my mother to her death. And if (this person) has been interviewed by the PSNI, why have we not been informed, and if (this person) hasnt been interviewed from 2013 to the present day, why not? Who is protecting these people and why are they being protected? Will anyone involved in murdering our mother ever be held to account? Our family deserves answers and I want to meet the Chief Constable George Hamilton face to face to get them. Price previously admitted being part of the three-person IRA squad involved in the murder of Mrs McConville and her interview with Mr Moloney featured in the I, Dolours film. She said they left the widow with an IRA unit in Dundalk, but were called back four or five days later to shoot her and has previously identified Pat McClure, who died in America in 1986, as another member of the team. Killers have been let out of Northern Ireland's prisons nearly 400 times this year. More than 95% of applications by people convicted of murder for leave or temporary release from jail were granted. The reasons include home visits and time out to help them readjust to normal life. It follows controversy after five killers were photographed on a trip to Newcastle, where they hiked in the Mournes and had tea on the promenade. However, figures reveal many other incidents where convicted killers were let out. Between January 1 and September 30, people with murder convictions were released 386 times from local jails. Just 20 of the 406 applications - less than 5% - were turned down. The Prison Service said all prisoners are subject to robust risk assessments before being granted temporary release. However, TUV leader Jim Allister said he was shocked. "It sounds like the Prison Service is taking the soft option here - if someone wants out, they get it," he said. Expand Close Jim Allister / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Jim Allister "What concerns me is the scale of the releases. It begs the question: to what extent are these applications being sifted and examined?" Prison Service figures show that: - 76 applications from convicted murderers for leave were granted between January and September. Just one was refused. - The number requesting - and given - leave has more than doubled. Last year 28 applications were made, with 23 granted. - 310 applications for temporary release - such as the Mournes visit - have been granted this year. Just 19 were turned down. - Around a quarter of all releases were on compassionate grounds or for health reasons. The figures were disclosed after a Freedom of Information request from this newspaper. Prisoners can be released for various reasons. Some are given home leave, normally for an overnight stay, to reintegrate them with family after a spell in custody. Others are given resettlement leave - normally for six to eight hours - for matters such as job interviews and to arrange post-custody housing. There is also compassionate leave, such as a bereavement or imminent death of a close relative. In other cases prisoners are given accompanied and unaccompanied temporary release from jail. The final category is prison rule 27, which includes hospital appointments and any other type of temporary release deemed appropriate. The recent visit to the Mournes came under this category. The five killers were photographed enjoying a day out in Newcastle last month. The group were transported to Donard Park by a prison minibus and were accompanied on their walk by two warders in civilian clothing. They hiked past the Ice House structure before taking a steeper route up Slieve Donard, where they had a packed lunch before returning to their minibus. The group moved on to Newcastle promenade where the men had a cup of tea while taking in the sea view. The five prisoners were: - Kenneth McConnell, who suffocated pensioner Annabella Symington in her south Belfast home in 1989. - Gerard O'Kane, who stabbed his estranged wife Ann Marie O'Kane in her north Belfast apartment in 2011. - Siu Ching Wong, who strangled pregnant waitress Candy Ho in a suspected contract killing in 1998. - William Mawhinney, who drowned Lorraine Mills, the mother of his two children, in a bathtub in their Ballymena home in 1995. - Billy Moore, who shot Richard Hamill in the head in Bangor in 2003. There has also been controversy after some killers went AWOL while on release. In September convicted child murderer John Clifford vanished after being allowed out of Maghaberry Prison to attend an appointment. Clifford, who was jailed in 1989 after being convicted of the murder of his eight-year-old niece Sue-Ellen Clifford, was later arrested in Newry. Mr Allister said he had concerns over the scale of prisoner releases. "You have a limited pool of people who are in prison for murder, yet the amount of releases seems very high," he added. "Often these releases will happen without the knowledge of victims' families - they are not told about it. "We have also seen incidents where people are let out of prison and then go missing." Victim Support NI said families can register with the Prisoner Release Victim Information Scheme to be informed about releases. "Through our support of victims and their families we know that potentially encountering the offender within the community can be a cause of anxiety and has the potential to create further trauma," it said. The Prison Service said: "The Northern Ireland Prison Service has two key roles which are to keep people in a safe, decent and secure environment, and to prepare people for release to reduce their risk of reoffending. "Pre-release testing is a crucial part of that work. "Each year, more than 4,000 people come in and out of our prisons. "There are many reasons for these, with people entering prison for the first time or being released, but there are also compassionate releases, either accompanied or unaccompanied as well as the pre-release testing programme. "In all cases prisoners are subject to robust individual risk assessments before a decision is made to grant temporary release." Police have confirmed they are treating reports of a group of people dressed like Ku Klux Klan members who posed for pictures outside an Islamic Centre as a hate crime. Photographs of the group outside the Newtownards building emerged online over the weekend. Read More The incident was reported to the PSNI on Sunday afternoon at around 5pm. The group was seen wearing the distinctive pointed-hooded costumes and with a wooden cross in the vicinity of Greenwell Street on Saturday night. Police opened an investigation and on Monday afternoon confirmed it was being treated as a hate crime. The Ku Klux Klan is a racist group established by white supremacists in the United States. In one of the images posted over the weekend, the group of around 10 people are pictured in a threatening pose, some with fists raised, outside the town's Islamic Centre. DUP MLA Peter Weir said those behind the stunt were "morons". "The Klu Klux Klan is a deeply repugnant racist organisation and anyone happy to associate themselves with such a vile body is clearly a moron. That such a large group of people took the time and the effort to get their costumes completely correct, and above all the fact that they chose to pose outside the Islamic Prayer Centre in Newtownards, takes this episode of stupidity to a more sinister connotation." He added: "There are very good community relations in Newtownards, with a sense of friendship to all and neighbourliness. All communities are welcome within the town, and everyone should have a right to live free from intimidation and harassment . Local people will completely reject this sort of behaviour and stand against it. "The PSNI will be investigating this matter, and I call on anyone with any information to come forward to the Police. Such boorish and malevolent behaviour has no place in our town and it is right that it is condemned across the board." Strangford Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong called the photographs "unacceptable" and said she will be asking police to investigate. "Some people might try to say they were out for Halloween but I'd have to say if that's the case then these are certainly not the most appropriate costumes to be wearing," she said. "It is not appreciated by our community, it is not funny and it should definitely not be treated as a joke." Sinn Fein MLA Mairtin O Muilleoir welcomed the cross-party unity over the incident. He said those responsible should know "the entire society is appalled by these actions and will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the victims of this intimidation". The Bangladeshi community makes an enormous contribution to our society and any threat to the members of the Newtownards mosque is a threat to everything we hold dear." Police are appealing for information. Anyone with any information about the incident is asked to contact police on the non-emergency number 101, quoting the reference 1066 with the date 28/10/2018. The public can also contact independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Two Northern Ireland men are preparing to visit China to rescue dogs destined for the meat trade. Caolan Maguire (26) runs Pets Lost and Found Fermanagh on social media. At the end of January, Caolan, from Enniskillen, will be among five people travelling to China where they will spend time with, and help to rehabilitate, dogs in a rescue centre that have been saved from a horrific fate. Among the group will be another animal lover, David Foster (38) from Co Antrim, who has a Facebook page 'Play for Strays' created to donate toys and boredom relief to rescue animals all over the world. David recently transported an abused dog 5,000 miles from the Amazon back to Northern Ireland after finding the animal on a remote, uninhabited island. When Caolan shared David's story on his own Facebook page, the two struck up a friendship. David then invited Caolan to join him on his mission to China, where it is estimated that 10 million dogs are slaughtered annually for the meat trade. Caolan said: "Dogs of all shapes and sizes, many of them family pets still wearing their collars, are snatched from the streets and forced into tiny cages. Many suffer broken limbs as they are transported vast distances, without food or water. "When they finally arrive at the dog meat markets, injured, dehydrated and exhausted, they are forced to watch in terror as other dogs are bludgeoned to death or thrown still alive into boiling water to remove their skins. "David has offered me an opportunity of a lifetime which I feel would be pretty stupid to pass up." Caolan says up to 25 dogs will be brought back from China and then transported to rescue centres across the UK to be rehomed. As the trip is self funded, Caolan has set up a GoFundMe page to cover the expenses of his 1,500 trip including flights, hotels and visas and he also plans to run some fundraising events. 'Police said that after opening her door the victim was pushed back and held inside by one of the thugs while the other two ransacked the property' (stock picture) An elderly woman has been left badly bruised and "extremely shaken" after a gang wearing masks invaded her home and stole hundreds of pounds. The incident happened shortly after 9pm on Saturday when three men called to the house of the pensioner, who is in her 80s, at Glenvarna Drive in Newtownabbey. Police said that after opening her door the victim was pushed back and held inside by one of the thugs while the other two ransacked the property. The attackers fled after finding a considerable sum money belonging to the woman. A neighbour said she was disgusted by what happened. "They pushed the door when she answered and made her fall. She has a bruised hip and back and her lip was cut," she said. "There's marks on her mouth as well, so she's badly bruised and shaken." She said the woman had been a resident there for 40 years and had been living alone since her husband passed away several years ago. "It's very worrying. Obviously she thought it was people out for Halloween, it was only 9pm when it happened," the neighbour added. "I never lock my door and now I've started to, it is scary." Describing the trio of attackers as "despicable cowards," she added: "That wee woman can't fight for herself and there's three men who did that. I'm disgusted, it's not a nice thing to have to think about at all. "Some have said that older people shouldn't answer their door at night, but it angers me she would even have to think that way. "You shouldn't be afraid to leave your own home." Another neighbour said the news brought back upsetting memories of when her late father was attacked and robbed at his home on the same street 13 years ago. Others in the normally quiet residential street said they were outraged by the attack and would be keeping an extra eye out for elderly neighbours. Ulster Unionist councillor Mark Cosgrove said the woman was now staying with a family member. "She was physically assaulted before they ransacked her house and stole money," he said. "Somebody knows who these people are. "They've left her absolutely traumatised. "So I hope somebody will come forward through social media or otherwise and contact the police." Addressing those responsible, he said: "Imagine if it was your own family. "If you've got a problem and you're targeting the most vulnerable in society, recognise this is wrong and hand yourself in. "To anyone that might know someone that's doing this, hand them over to the police. "We need to get these evil scum off the streets." Mr Cosgrove urged neighbours to be vigilant and cautious about opening their own doors at night. He added: "Clearly the fact that this is Halloween makes this all the more shocking. "There was an expectation the lady might open the door to kids. "That just adds a further layer of cynicism to the whole thing." The PSNI said: "This was a deplorable act by unscrupulous individuals preying on a vulnerable lady and detectives are asking for the public's assistance to help apprehend those responsible. "If you noticed any suspicious activity in the Glenvarna area on Saturday, or if you have any information which could assist with the investigation, you are asked to call detectives in Newtownabbey on 101 quoting reference number 1349 for October 27, 2018. "Alternatively, information can also be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 which is 100% anonymous and gives people the power to speak up and stop crime." The shocking incident follows a similar attack on an elderly woman in Seaforde in Co Down. Last Tuesday the woman, who is in her 70s, was outside her home on the Newcastle Road around 7.30pm when two men forced her inside and pinned her to a chair. After searching the house they too fled with a sum of money, leaving the woman badly distressed. Police can be contacted on 101 for this earlier incident, quoting reference 399 for October 24, 2018. PSNI Chief Constable George Hamilton has condemned reports of an incident where people dressed up as the Ku Klux Klan in Northern Ireland (PA) Reports that a group of people dressed as Ku Klux Klan (KKK) members posed outside an Islamic prayer house are being investigated as a hate incident, police said. Images circulating on social media purport to show individuals dressed as members of the far-right group in a town close to Belfast over the weekend. The suspected incident happened in the Co Down town of Newtownards on Saturday evening. The group are understood to have posed near an Islamic prayer house. A local resident, who asked not to be named, said: I saw them on Saturday night, passing by Georges Street, Newtownards. They were fully robed and crossing over to The Pub, a bar in Ards. One of them gave a fascist salute to his KKK clad friends before they all crossed over and went into the bar. This was about 10.30pm, Saturday evening. I saw them again, leaving the bar, still robed, at 2am. One of the bars they entered was The Spirit Merchant JD Wetherspoon. Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: We can confirm that a group dressed in KKK clothing came to our pub, The Spirit Merchant, in Newtownards. They were refused entry by door staff, but pushed past them into the pub. They were told by bar staff that they would not be served. They remained in the pub for five minutes, unserved, and then left. The KKK was a group based in the southern United States which was responsible for lynchings and mob attacks on black people. The incident has been roundly condemned, and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) is treating it as a hate crime. Inspector Richard Murray said: We received a report around 5pm yesterday, Sunday 28 October, about a group of people dressed as KKK members in the vicinity of Greenwell Street in the town on Saturday night. We are also aware of images that are circulating that show people dressed as Ku Klux Klan members. Our inquiries are ongoing, and we are treating this as a hate incident at this time. PSNI Chief Constable George Hamilton told BBC Radio Ulsters Nolan Show: Its disgusting, distasteful. Its horrible, we dont need it, theres no place for it anywhere in Northern Ireland. We will investigate this, well gather evidence and well report that evidence to the Public Prosecution Service. What sort of group of idiots go round Newtownards dressed in KKK costumes? That the same group appear photographed outside the Islamic Centre shows malevolent intent. Totally unacceptable Peter Weir (@peterweirmla) October 28, 2018 Democratic Unionist MLA Peter Weir said there scenes are totally unacceptable. The PSNI will be investigating this matter, and I call on anyone with any information to come forward to the police, he said. Such boorish and malevolent behaviour has no place in our town and it is right that it is condemned across the board. Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong said: Everyone knows exactly what the KKK stands for. The KKK represents a brand of hatred not wanted or welcome in the area. This group did not simply dress up for Halloween, rather they deliberately posed outside the prayer house in Newtownards. This is a clear demonstration of aggression and bullying towards one particular religion and that is a hate crime. Last year, a pigs head was placed outside the same centre in Newtownards. Sinn Fein MLA Mairtin O Muilleoir welcomed the universal condemnation of the incident. The people who posed as members of the Ku Klux Klan outside an Islamic Centre should know that the entire society is appalled by these actions and will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the victims of this intimidation, he said. I call on the PSNI to do all they can to bring those responsible for this hate crime to book. A woman who lost her parents in the Shankill bombing has rejected an apology from one of the killers. Michelle Williamson said she was angered at the remarks from Sean Kelly. She said his presence at a commemoration in Belfast at the weekend in memory of the second bomber, Thomas 'Bootsy' Begley, was like dancing on the graves of the victims. Speaking at Saturday's event, Kelly described the 1993 atrocity as an "IRA operation which went tragically wrong". Begley and nine others were killed when the bomb he was carrying exploded in Frizzell's fish shop on October 23, 1993. Kelly posed alongside Begley as a delivery man when the two planted the bomb on a busy Saturday afternoon. He was badly injured in the explosion and convicted for his role in the atrocity. Among those who attended the memorial at the republican plot at Milltown Cemetery were senior Sinn Fein figures including Bobby Storey and Belfast councillor Seanna Walsh. Kelly laid a wreath and addressed a crowd of 200 people gathered around Begley's grave, as did Mr Walsh. Kelly, who has said sorry for the attack in the past, used the anniversary event to reiterate his apology. "I am truly sorry for the loss of life and injuries suffered on that day, but there is nothing I can say that can bring any comfort to the families of the victims," he said. "Let me say, however, that today's event is one of respectful and dignified commemoration of Bootsy. This is no glorification of the events of that awful day, but we stand in solidarity with Bootsy's grieving family and we remember all of those who died during the conflict. "So Bootsy, may you rest in peace. You were my friend, you were my comrade, and I will never forget you and I will cherish the times we had together." Moments earlier Kelly had knelt down to plant a kiss on a marble memorial plaque dedicated to Begley and other IRA members before laying a wreath. Members of the Begley family also took part in the event. In an apparent U-turn, Billy Begley had confirmed his attendance on Friday afternoon despite previously saying he had nothing to do with the event. The commemoration for Begley, which came just four days after hundreds of people from both sides of the community in marked 25 years since the Shankill atrocity, had been heavily criticised by victims and politicians. And yesterday Ms Williamson, whose parents George (63) and Gillian (47) died in the explosion, expressed her anger at the apology issued by Kelly. "Every single person that tried to glorify Begley on Saturday was dancing on the graves of his innocent victims," she told the Belfast Telegraph. Gina Murray, whose daughter Leanne was one of two children killed in the no-warning blast, also accused Sinn Fein of "having no feelings" over attending Saturday's memorial, saying the party had "gone too far". "All they ever do is rhyme on about respect, but they definitely don't show it," she said. While Mr Walsh insisted the "meaningful" remembrance was respectful, he conceded there was "very little" that he could say to help the families feel better about the perpetrator being remembered. He said: "I am a former IRA comrade of Sean Kelly and the others involved. "That's why I feel a responsibility to pay respect." Paying tribute to the bomber, he said: "Ardoyne lost a much-loved and treasured son and his comrade lost a highly respected volunteer. "Everyone has the right to remember their dead in a respectful manner. "There can be no hierarchy of victims. Republicans recognise that." Paul McLean at the RVH stroke unit with consultants Enda Kerr (centre) and Ian Rennie who saved his life A man has told how his life was saved by a ground-breaking operation that involves doctors removing a blood clot from the brain after a stroke. Paul McLean was just 40 when he suffered a devastating stroke in June 2016. Thanks to a remarkable set of coincidences, he made an incredible recovery and even managed to complete the gruelling 500-mile Camino de Santiago during the summer. Speaking out on World Stroke Day today, Paul, now 42, explained how he was at home in Lurgan when he fell ill. "It was a really bizarre situation and a series of fortunate coincidences probably saved my life," he said. "For one, my wife Suzanne wasn't meant to be there. "She had changed her work plans at the last minute and stayed home with me. "If she hadn't been there and got help so quickly I would probably be dead. "I noticed that I couldn't move my left hand. "I was trying to show Suzanne something but couldn't lift my hand to point. "I tried to speak but she was just staring back at me blankly. "I didn't realise that my face had drooped and my speech was slurred. In my head I was speaking perfectly clearly but she couldn't understand. "Suzanne did the FAST test and rang an ambulance. "It seemed like just minutes before the paramedic arrived. Luckily, the rapid response car had been nearby. "Almost immediately he called for back-up and soon there were three ambulances, the fire brigade and police at the house. "I'm so grateful to all the amazing people who came to help me." Paul added: "It was surreal experience. I wasn't feeling any pain but my whole body had started to slow down. "My right-hand side was paralysed and my left was feeling numb too. I couldn't speak. "The only thing that kept me sane was the inner monologue in my head. "Anyone who knows me will know I love to talk, so I kept talking to myself and telling myself I would recover." The paramedics who attended the call decided to bypass Craigavon Area Hospital and take Paul directly to the Royal Victoria Hospital. It was a decision that undoubtedly saved his life. He said: "I'm so grateful to the paramedic who insisted I was taken to the Royal. He obviously knew how ill I was and wanted to give me the best possible chance of recovery. "When I arrived in Belfast I was scanned and they discovered my stroke was caused by a massive blood clot in my brain. "Ian Rennie happened to be in the hospital and the nurses ran down to his office and asked him if he could scrub in to do the procedure and he said yes. "It was another fortunate coincidence that he was there on a Saturday, a bit of a miracle. "Any other Saturday and I might not have been able to get the surgery that I needed." Dr Rennie warned Suzanne to prepare for the worst and told there was only a 10% chance Paul would survive the surgery. But within three hours he returned with the news the clot had been removed at the first attempt. Even with the surgery, however, Paul's brain was damaged as a result of the stroke and he went through intensive physiotherapy and speech therapy in an effort to rebuild his life. "At first I couldn't really speak at all," he said. "I had a few words and could say my name but that was about it. It was really scary. "The thought of not being able to chat to my wife or friends again was terrifying. Slowly but surely more words came back but it's taken a long time and I'm still relearning some words and phrases. "I've had to teach myself how to read again by listening to audio books and reading along. "I've been attending the Stroke Association's Communication Plus group. "It's brilliant and it really helps me. I'm around people who know what it's like when your words disappear or you say things in the wrong order." Then, during the summer, Paul - who has not been able to return to his job as a teacher - travelled to Spain to fulfil a dream to complete the Camino de Santiago. He said: "I firmly believe there is a reason I survived my stroke, there's a reason the specialist doctor was there that Saturday and saved my life. "I'm determined to live each day to the full and I want to raise awareness that stroke happens to younger people." A traumatised teenage girl offered her piggy bank savings to masked men before they shot her dad in a brutal paramilitary-style attack. The girl was also threatened with being shot and chased upstairs to her bedroom where she pleaded with the men to leave her father alone. Instead they stole her phone to prevent her calling for assistance, shot and severely beat her dad in front of her and left her alone to give him first aid. The 45-year-old victim was shot in both arms and legs in the attack in his home in the Kurin Lane area, one mile outside Garvagh, Co Londonderry, just before 10.30pm on Saturday night. The gang also beat him with a bat or iron bar, causing what police have called 'serious, life-changing injuries', and leaving his daughter 'severely traumatised'. Detectives in Coleraine confirmed they are investigating what they called a paramilitary-style attack. A senior officer strongly condemned those responsible. 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 man's 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. "The injured man is currently in hospital receiving treatment for the gunshot wounds and head injuries from being beaten. "This was 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 going to be? "It's quite obvious the hypocrites who carried out this dreadful attack don't 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. "If you saw anything or know anything about this incident which could assist us with our investigation, I would ask that you contact detectives in Coleraine on 101 and quote incident number 1478 27/10/18 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111." DUP councillor Sam Cole said the whole town was shocked by the attack. "I was speaking to a neighbour after church on Sunday morning and everyone who lives in the area is traumatised by what has happened," he said. "It has sent shockwaves through the town. "Everyone is angry and upset at the nature of the attack and the fact it all took place in front of his young daughter. "I sit on the PCSP (Police and Community Safety Partnership) and we are extremely aware there are real concerns about the growing number of incidents like this. "I would urge anyone with information to contact police immediately. UUP councillor Richard Holmes lives less than a mile away from the scene of the attack and added: "There's disbelief that something like this could happen in what is a quiet, rural area. "Everyone is disgusted that someone could bring this sort of attack to our doorsteps. "There's particular shock that a young teenage girl was in the home at the time and it's horrific to think of what she has gone through. "We live in a democracy with a police force, judicial system and the rule of law. "Nobody should ever have recourse to take the law into their own hands." Sinn Fein MLA Caoimhe Archibald also 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." Monday's budget is expected to feature an announcement about a city deal for Belfast Monday's Budget, the final one before the UK exits the European Union, is expected to have a number of talking points for Northern Ireland. Alongside a cash injection for Belfast city centre, Chancellor Philip Hammond could also potentially make announcements on city deals for Belfast and Londonderry. City deal packages bundle together additional funding and decision making powers aimed at driving growth in regions of the UK. The Chancellor made the first solid commitment to a city deal for Belfast in last year's Budget, announcing negotiations on the deal were set to take place. Belfast City Council announced it has submitted a "detailed, ambitious proposition" and aims at securing 1bn in investment from a number of sources. Monday's Budget will reveal whether Philip Hammond has agreed to stump up the 450m being asked for as part of the deal. Expand Close Chancellor Phillip Hammond is expected to make an announcement about Belfast's city deal on Monday / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Chancellor Phillip Hammond is expected to make an announcement about Belfast's city deal on Monday If successful, it is projected the deal could deliver 20,000 jobs through a 10-year investment strategy, and through the 1bn worth of public funding could leverage a further 3bn of investment from the private sector. Where else has city deals? City deals were launched back in 2011 with the aim of handing over more power to drive economic growth to cities across the UK. The first wave of the project saw deals for the eight largest cities outside of London, with this then being expanded to include the six cities with the highest population growth over the 10 years between 2001 and 2010. Originally confined to England, included among the aims of the deals were to allow the cities to "take charge and responsibility of decisions that affect their area" and to "do what they think is best to help businesses grow". After its initial roll-out, city deals were expanded out into the regions, and as of July last year there were 26 city deals in England, four in Scotland, and one in Wales. Is the deal exclusively for Belfast? If approved, the Belfast City Region Deal encompass five local authorities in the east of the province alongside Belfast City Council, as well as a number of educational institutions. Also included in the deal are Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, Ards and North Down Borough Council, Belfast City Council, Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council and Newry, Mourne and Down District Council. Queen's University, Ulster University, Belfast Metropolitan College and other further education colleges are also included in the deal. The envisaged deal, which has now been submitted to Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley, focuses on four key investment pillars digital and innovation; infrastructure; tourism-led regeneration; and skills and employability. Some of the measures included in the proposal are: the creation of a Global Innovation Institute; the creation of further centres of innovation; investment in digital connectivity; investment in new tourist attractions; and the extension of Belfast's Rapid Transport System. What about the city deal for Derry? At the time of the last Budget in 2017, Philip Hammond was criticised by politicians from the north west for failing to mention a possible city deal for Derry, with SDLP leader Colum Eastwood labelling the omission a "disgrace". "For too long Derry and the North West has been treated like the poor relation. Like second class citizens and we aren't taking it," said Mr Eastwood at the time. In July, Chancellor Philip Hammond made the strongest commitment to date for a city deal for Northern Ireland's second largest city. Mr Hammond said he was seeking to support productivity growth in Northern Ireland by inviting a "a bid for a Derry-Londonderry city deal, an opportunity for the region to continue to drive forward economic growth and build an economy that works for everyone". The document outlining the proposal for the city deal was submitted last month, with a delegation from Derry and Strabane District Council travelling to London. At a meeting of the council last week the Council's Chief Executive John Kelpie said significant progress had already been made. The Derry Journal reports Mr Kelpie saying the Council would continue to "lobby the Treasury and the relevant government departments to give a firm commitment" and that formal negotiations could begin following an announcement in Monday's budget. Writing in the Derry Journal on Friday, Sinn Fein MP for Foyle Elisha McCallion said it would a "major step forward" if a city deal was announced as part of the Budget. Fianna Fail has poured cold water on the prospect of controversial presidential candidate Peter Casey joining and running for the Irish parliament. Senior party figures have rejected the idea of adding the Londonderry-born businessman to their ranks ahead of the next general election. But some TDs have warned that his message, which attracted more than 340,000 first preferences, cannot be ignored. After his second place finish, Mr Casey said he wanted to join Fianna Fail and contest the Dail election for the constituency of Donegal. The main Opposition party has already selected sitting TDs Pat 'The Cope' Gallagher and Charlie McConalogue to run in Donegal at the next election. Sources said the strategy for the five-seat constituency is to limit the ticket to "two candidates to ensure the retention of two seats". Mr McConalogue declined to comment but Mr Gallagher said: "If Mr Casey wants to join Fianna Fail he can contact the party headquarters and make his application in the usual way." Limerick TD Niall Collins rejected Mr Casey as a future colleague, adding: "You can't just rock up to political parties and think you can get your way." Sinn Fein's vote collapsed in the Irish presidential election as Michael D Higgins secured another term in office. Mr Higgins (77) eased to victory with a landslide margin of more than 55% of the vote. Derry-born businessman Peter Casey, initially an outside contender whose late poll surge followed critical comments about the Travelling community saw him propelled into second place, got 23% of the vote. Sinn Fein candidate Liadh Ni Riada gained half of the support achieved by the late Martin McGuinness in 2011. After receiving 6% of the vote, she said it was important the election was held, rather than allowing Mr Higgins to return to office unchallenged. "The people of Ireland spoke today and spoke with a resounding yes to put Michael D Higgins back in office," she said, congratulating the president. Mrs Ni Riada also said she hopes voters in Northern Ireland would soon be able to vote in Irish presidential elections. A referendum on the issue is anticipated next year. Mr Higgins said his re-election was a vote for hope over fear. All 40 constituencies around Ireland were declared shortly after 7.30pm on Saturday. Some 1,492,338 votes were cast. After he was re-elected, Mr Higgins said: "The people have made a choice as to which version of Irishness they want reflected at home and abroad. "It is the making of hope they wish to share rather than the experience of any exploitation of division or fear." He said his version of Ireland draws on traditional genius and contemporary creativity. "The presidency belongs not only to any one person but to the people of Ireland," he said. "I will be a President for all the people, for those who voted for me and those who did not. "I am so proud of this country, I am proud to be a President for all of you and with all of you, and I look forward with joy and hope to all that we will achieve together." Taoiseach Leo Varadkar hailed Mr Higgins's re-election as an "historic victory". In his speech, Mr Casey congratulated Mr Higgins. "It's been amazing, it's been a real experience the past six weeks or so," he said. "I'd like to congratulate President Higgins and wish Sabina a wonderful seven years. "I'm sure the sentiments you described so wonderfully there, I'm sure they are shared by everyone here - wishing you all the very, very best." Gavin Duffy, who gained just 2% of the votes, said: "Was I disappointed? Yes. Did I have regrets? No." Liquidate 1MDB And Appoint A Special Prosecutor M. Bakri Musa With former Prime Minister Najib, his wife, Deputy, and other former top officials now facing dozens of serious charges, the Mahathir Administration can no longer be accused of focusing only on the small fries in its fight against corruption. There is however, a price to be paid for that. This 1MDB mess consumes an inordinate amount of attention and resources from the Administration to the detriment of its other responsibilities. I suggest liquidating 1MDB and appointing a special prosecutor (or extend the terms of the present one) to investigate and prosecute all matters pertaining to 1MDB. That should free up the government. For all its frenetic activities and high profile arrests, no financial institution has as yet had its license yanked or anyone convicted. At least Singapore and Switzerland have shuttered a few banks and sanctioned the individuals involved. Singapore even jailed a few. America meanwhile has seized hundreds of millions of assets allegedly linked to 1MDB. 1MDB is a humongous mess, with labyrinthine international tentacles stretching from Cayman Islands to London and New York. Its transactions flout the borders of legality through its multiplicity and complexity. Regulatory agencies have proven themselves woefully impotent. Malaysia must get to the bottom of this and punish those culprits, and do so severely to deter others from even thinking about committing those same offences. If Malaysia succeeds in unraveling and exposing this grand robbery scheme, she would make a significant contribution towards making complex international financial dealings more transparent and thus less subject to corruption. Saya menunggu arahan (I await directives) mindset. Mahathir was wise in enlisting a distinguished private attorney to lead the prosecution. I hope that prosecutor would seek lawyers, accountants, and forensic experts from the private sector to help him. Bypass the tainted, incompetent civil service with its (I await directives) mindset. dedak-dependent. Najibs Attorney-General, the now disgraced Apandi Ali, had destroyed what little credibility and professionalism there was in the local public prosecutors office. Besides, many of those remaining were Najibs enablers. They could sabotage the investigations. Indeed if not for their earlier collusion, or if they had been a wee bit professional or faithful to their oath of office, this boondoggle would not have happened in the first place. Najib is not that smart to have executed this massive heist on his own. He was smart only in recognizing and exploiting the fact that his ministers and top civil servants were-dependent. Beyond expanding the powers of the current special prosecutor to investigate all matters pertaining to 1MDB, Mahathir should also liquidate the company and its myriad subsidiaries and associated entities. A special prosecutor would be far more efficient and effective than a Royal Commission. With the former, charges could be brought in as soon as sufficient evidence is adduced. With the latter, we would have to wait for the full report, which could be months or years. With a special prosecutor, the investigations and interviews would be private. The evidence would be public only during a trial. I would livestream the trials and give running commentaries in Malay so kampung folks and others would be apprised of the scheming of their leaders and institutions. These crooked leaders have betrayed citizens trust in them. A public trial would expose them. Liquidating 1MDB would contain and minimize the financial and other liabilities. The trial would also be a splendid teaching moment, educating citizens on the associated massive lost opportunity costs. This colossal disaster did not arise out of the blue. The climate incubating it had long been nurtured. It began during Mahathirs first tenure as Prime Minister. He cannot escape the blame and responsibility. There had been many mini 1MDBs in his time, from the London Tin debacle to the Bank Bumiputra flop. Because those were tolerated and the responsible individuals not punished (neigh, they were amply rewarded!), we have this current massive scandal. However, were Mahathir to be successful in punishing those responsible for 1MDB, and introduce laws that would prevent future recurrences, he would have expiated to some extent his earlier sins. He has started that process just by getting rid of Najib. He should go further and ensure that Najib is thrown into the slammer for good. The fiancee of Jamal Khashoggi has called for the evil criminals and their cowardly political masters to be held to account for his death. Speaking at a memorial event held in Westminster, Hatice Cengiz, through a translator, said: I believe that the Saudi regime knows where his body is. They should answer my demand, for this is not only the demand of a fiancee, but a human and Islamic demand, from everyone, every nation. At Remembering Jamal, @mercan_resifi receives a standing ovation for her moving speech on her beloved Jamal #JamalKhashoggi Please follow our live blog at https://t.co/JJvej7a4cp if you can't be here pic.twitter.com/z8Dkerx2O6 Middle East Monitor (@MiddleEastMnt) October 29, 2018 She also expressed disappointment in the actions of leaders in other countries and called for US President Donald Trump to help reveal the truth and ensure justice be served. Mr Khashoggi, a former Saudi insider and US resident, was killed in Saudi Arabias consulate in Istanbul on October 2. The Washington Post columnist was picking up paperwork from the consulate needed for his upcoming marriage. Expand Close People attend a memorial event for murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Mechanical Engineers Institute in London (John Stillwell/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp People attend a memorial event for murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Mechanical Engineers Institute in London (John Stillwell/PA) Ms Cengiz told the memorial that the disappearance of Mr Khashoggi has left a void in [her] heart and soul. She said: If only I knew what would happen, I would have entered the consulate myself. If only I knew that would be the last time I would see my Jamal, his smile, hear his laughter, I would have stood in front of that murderous team myself. The event on Monday was organised by the Middle East Monitor (MEMO), in association with the Al Sharq Forum. Expand Close Hatice Cengiz speaks at the memorial event (John Stillwell/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Hatice Cengiz speaks at the memorial event (John Stillwell/PA) Mr Khashoggis last public appearance was at an event in London last month, which was organised by MEMO. Other speakers at the memorial included Crispin Blunt MP and Michelle Stanistreet, Secretary General of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ). Wadah Khanfar, president of the Al Sharq Forum and former director general of Al Jazeera, spoke about Mr Khashoggi, who he referred to as a friend. Mr Khanfar said: Jamal could have had the opportunity to live very comfortably in Saudi Arabia, could have accepted to be an adviser to the regime there, could have had the most comfortable life. But he gave up all of that and chose to live free and we should choose the same. Crowds gathered outside Mansion House in central London to mark the end of the First World War in 1918 (PA) Why were tensions between major European powers running so high before the outbreak of war? At the beginning of the 20th Century there was diplomatic disarray in Europe fuelled by the competing economic, military and colonial ambitions of the major powers. Germanys Kaiser Wilhelm was determined his country, which had not yet asserted itself as a colonial superpower having only recently been unified, should compete on the world stage. They sought to build an army to match the vast land forces of Russia and France and a battleship fleet to challenge the Royal Navy. Most historians agree conflicting imperial ambitions and widespread nationalism made war all but inevitable. What triggered the conflict? The spark that ignited the international conflict was the assassination of Austria-Hungarys Archduke Franz Ferdinand by pro-Serb political dissidents in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina. After the assassination Austria-Hungary, backed by Germany, made stringent demands on Serbia and, when these were not met, sent troops to the Serbian border. Serbia and ally Russia then mobilised their armies in preparation for an invasion, causing Austria-Hungary to declare war on Serbia and Germany to declare war on Russia. However it was the web of alliances across Europe that meant conflict quickly spread, dragging in countries including Britain and France. Expand Close Archduke Franz Ferdinand (obscured) moments before he was shot in Sarajevo in 1914. PA Archive/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Archduke Franz Ferdinand (obscured) moments before he was shot in Sarajevo in 1914. Why was it a World War? It was a dispute between European states that started the war, but the global reach of the colonial European superpowers meant conflict quickly spread between continents. British soldiers fought in Gallipoli and Mesopotamia against the Ottoman Empire, for example, and conflicts sprung up around the globe. America and Canada joined the war effort and vast numbers of soldiers were brought in from the colonies to bolster the ranks in European trenches. Expand Close An Australian sentry guards a military camp near the pyramids in Giza in 1915. PA Archive/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp An Australian sentry guards a military camp near the pyramids in Giza in 1915. Why was the death toll so high? War had never before been fought on such an industrialised scale. Both sides initially thought conflict would be brisk and decisive but the Allies and Central Powers eventually settled into the bloody stalemate of trench warfare. Around 8.5 million soldiers, including 700,000 Brits, died after countries on both sides geared their economies for total war by drafting unprecedented numbers of civilians into either active military service or the mass production of weapons. Innovations in chemical weapons and explosives meant the warring powers could inflict untold damage on each other in a war of attrition. Expand Close British soldiers using a heavy artillery gun at the start of the Battle of the Somme in 1916. PA Archive/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp British soldiers using a heavy artillery gun at the start of the Battle of the Somme in 1916. Why did the Allies win? America ending its policy of isolation to enter the war played a key role in the eventual Allied victory. When Germany eventually agreed to surrender they expected to be offered a generous peace deal brokered by the Americans. The Central Powers were firmly on the back foot by the end of the war and had been unable to break Britain by targeting ships bringing essential food supplies into the country. The arrival of vast amounts of American resources meant the Allies finished the war in a substantially stronger position than their enemies. Expand Close King George V and Queen Mary talking to a girl at their carriage as they drive through London during the Armistice celebrations. PA Archive/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp King George V and Queen Mary talking to a girl at their carriage as they drive through London during the Armistice celebrations. It was described at the time as the war to end all wars. What went wrong? A new generation had been exposed to the horrors of war and when the fighting finally stopped many thought conflict on that scale would never return. The European victors were keen to make Germany pay for their perceived role in triggering the conflict and the trail of destruction that had been left across Europe. As well as being forced to accept punitive reparations as part of the Versailles Treaty, which brought the war to an end, Germany was also forced into an admission of guilt for starting the conflict in the first place. Germanys ritual humiliation and resulting economic troubles caused mass public disquiet which would later be ruthlessly exploited by Adolf Hitlers Nazi Party, eventually leading to the Second World War. A psychiatric patient who murdered a grandmother believed that she had suffered a miscarriage and was smoking high-strength cannabis in the weeks before the killing, an inquest has heard. Nicola Edgington virtually decapitated Sally Hodkin with a butchers knife in Bexleyheath, south-east London, in October 2011, six years after killing her own mother. The diagnosed schizophrenic was discharged from the Bracton Centre mental health facility after just three years in 2009 to live in the community, despite an order she be detained indefinitely following the killing of her mother Marion. Expand Close Nicola Edgington virtually decapitated Sally Hodkin with a butchers knife (Met Police/PA) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Nicola Edgington virtually decapitated Sally Hodkin with a butchers knife (Met Police/PA) But in the months and weeks leading up to the stabbing of 58-year-old Mrs Hodkin, a series of events identified as major risk factors contributed to a collapse in Edgingtons mental state, an inquest at South London Coroners Court heard. Around two weeks before the killing, Edgington believed she had suffered a miscarriage, which was significant because she had had a termination against her will shortly before killing her mother, the inquest heard. She had also made a number of emergency calls to police about crackheads stealing from her flat in early October, and had also been using skunk cannabis. On September 29, she sent a Facebook message to her brother telling him about the miscarriage and saying she wanted to reconnect, giving him her mobile number. The message also mentioned their mother, with Edgington saying: No-ones taking care of me like she would. Her brother replied on the same day: You stabbed her to death and left me to find the body. Good news about your miscarriage do us a favour and slit your wrists. Elizabeth Lloyd-Folkard, a forensic social worker who was looking after Edgington, told the inquest that on October 6, around a week before the killing, she had no cause of concern about her state of mind and that Edgington sounded fine on the phone. Contact with family members, substance misuse, and any issues around pregnancy were noted in reports as high-risk factors that could affect her mental health, the inquest heard. Mrs Hodkins son and solicitor Len Hodkin told the inquest: All of those risk factors were present in the two to three weeks leading up to October 10. Its not coming with the benefit of hindsight, this information was available to you and other members of the multi-disciplinary team at the time. The now-retired mental health worker, who had known Edgington for around six years and was part of a team responsible for her care, responded: All of those things were dealt with in counselling. We wouldnt have left her feeling like that if the counselling hadnt been effective. I didnt know at the time that she had used skunk cannabis. That was the most high-risk factor. She knew if she used it would send her into a psychotic episode. A damning report last year concluded a catalogue of NHS and police failings led to Mrs Hodkins brutal murder. On the day of the killing, Edgington repeatedly called police to beg for help and told A&E staff she needed to be sectioned and felt like killing someone. The inquest continues. Police are appealing for information about the crash (Joe Giddens/PA) A man is in hospital with life-threatening injuries following a collision between a car and a scooter. The 65-year-old was riding a Yamaha VP 300 scooter which was involved in a crash with a white Renault Clio in the Grange Road area of Grangemouth on Sunday evening. He was taken by ambulance to Forth Valley Royal Hospital. Police are appealing for information about the crash which happened at around 7pm. Sergeant David Marr said: This was a serious road traffic collision in which a man suffered life threatening injuries and our investigation is ongoing to establish the full circumstances. We are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the collision or have dash cam footage to get in touch to help officers with their investigation into what happened. Anyone with information can call Police Scotland on 101 quoting reference 3996 of 28 October or make a report anonymously through the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex speak to an emotional Joe Young (Dominic Lipinski/PA) Harry and Meghan comforted a schoolboy who became overwhelmed when he met the royal couple outside a cafe in Wellington. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex had visited Maranui Cafe on Monday to meet with mental health workers and discuss their work. Ten pupils from nearby Houghton Valley School got the chance to meet the couple as they left the cafe, with one of the children handing Meghan flowers. Harry gives shy Joe Young a tummy tickle after meeting him outside Maranui cafe, Wellington #RoyalVisitNewZealand pic.twitter.com/dtcBG0YSca Alexander Britton (@adbritton) October 28, 2018 Joe Young, five, was on the end of the line of pupils and rubbed his eyes as the royal visitors approached. The duchess kneeled and touched his hand and the duke then went in to tickle Joes stomach. Expand Close The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are in Wellington (Dominic Lipinski/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are in Wellington (Dominic Lipinski/PA) Monica Mercury, deputy principal at the school, said: Im a huge fan of Harry and I always wanted him to share his crazy life with someone and he finally found someone so Im really happy for him. Its not every day this sort of thing happens. Joe was very nervous and Harry was very nice with him too. The couple made their way down the line, with eight-year-old Max Dash giving the flowers to the duchess. At the start I was a bit freaked outMax Dash, who gave Meghan flowers He said: I gave her the flowers and she said thank you. It was so exciting. At the start I was a bit freaked out. The children were then given cake as the royal entourage headed to Abel Tasman National Park after a request from the duchess. Expand Close Harry waves to the crowd in Wellington (Dominic Lipinski/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Harry waves to the crowd in Wellington (Dominic Lipinski/PA) Mother-to-be Meghan, wearing Outland jeans, a Jac+Jack top and a Club Monaco coat, went back into the cafe and asked staff to bring out trays of cakes for the youngsters as she really wanted all the food to be brought outside for the children. Monica Young-Leathers, eight, said: I begged to come up here and shake hands with Prince Harry and Meghan and surprisingly my teacher said yes. It was really exciting. Chatting with Jazz Thornton and Gen Mora, founders of Voices of Hope which Jazz and Gen launched to provide hope for those struggling with mental health issues. #RoyalVisitNZ pic.twitter.com/GGqxxM7GS8 The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) October 28, 2018 Edith Prebble, six, was practising her curtseys in the line before the duke and duchess arrived. She said: My granny sent a text to my dad saying I hope you get to curtsey. I said My name is Edith and they said its very nice to meet you. Rewa Ririnui, eight, said: The most amazing thing ever happened to me. We were told we were going to get a big surprise and they said when they come down the stairs youll get a thumbs up. And we wondered who was going to come down the stairs and I was so surprised when Harry and Meghan came down and shook our hands. We told them our names and what school we came from. It is understood Mrs Merkel will not seek a fifth term as chancellor (AP) German chancellor Angela Merkel has told her conservative party that she is ready to step down as its leader following state elections in which it lost ground but plans to stay on as chancellor for the rest of her term in office, according to reports. Mrs Merkel also reportedly said that she will not seek re-election to parliament after its current term ends, indicating that this will be her final term as chancellor. This is something that had been widely assumed, but Mrs Merkel has not offered confirmation until now. The 64-year-old had previously indicated that she planned to seek another two-year term as leader of her conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) at a December party conference, but appears to be moving quickly to acknowledge pressure for change as her fourth-term government struggles to gain traction. Expand Close Social Democratic Party leader Andrea Nahles (AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Social Democratic Party leader Andrea Nahles (AP) Mrs Merkel has led the CDU since 2000 and has been Germanys chancellor since 2005. There is no single obvious successor, but several potential contenders. The current parliamentary term is due to expire in 2021, and the dpa news agency reported that Mrs Merkel said she will not seek re-election. She currently governs Germany in a grand coalition of what traditionally have been the countrys biggest parties the CDU, Bavarias conservative Christian Social Union, and the centre-left Social Democrats. Her fourth-term government only took office in March, but has become notorious for squabbling. An election in the central state of Hesse saw both the CDU and the Social Democrats lose significant ground amid gains for both the Green party and the far-right Alternative for Germany party. Expand Close German defence minister Ursula von der Leyen and health minister Jens Spahn, arrive for a CDU partys leaders meeting in Berlin (AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp German defence minister Ursula von der Leyen and health minister Jens Spahn, arrive for a CDU partys leaders meeting in Berlin (AP) Mrs Merkels party managed an unimpressive win, narrowly salvaging a majority for its regional governing coalition with the Greens in Hesse. The debacle followed a battering in a state election in Bavaria two weeks ago for the CSU and the Social Democrats. Citing unidentified party sources, the dpa reported that Mrs Merkel told an ongoing CDU leadership meeting that she is prepared to step down as party leader but intends to remain chancellor. The mass-circulation daily Bild also reported that she said she will not run again as party leader. That is a major concession for Mrs Merkel, who for years has insisted that the chancellor should also be party leader. However, there is precedent for splitting the two jobs. Mrs Merkels predecessor, Gerhard Schroeder, stepped down as leader of his centre-left Social Democrats in 2004 as his government struggled, but remained chancellor until he narrowly lost an election 18 months later. Helmut Schmidt, West Germanys chancellor from 1974 to 1982, never led the Social Democrats. The CDU faces a turning point, Mike Mohring, a regional party leader from eastern Germany, told Welt television. Angela Merkel knows best what to do, and now she has decided. And that demands respect. He said that it is important to avoid long personnel debates and restore peoples confidence in the CDU as a governing party. Mrs Merkel dragged the CDU to the political centre in her years as leader, dropping military conscription, introducing benefits encouraging fathers to look after their young children and abruptly accelerating the shutdown of Germanys nuclear power plants following Japans Fukushima disaster in 2011. She allowed large numbers of asylum-seekers into Germany in 2015, many fleeing the fighting in Syria, declaring that we will manage it, before gradually pivoting to a more restrictive approach. That decision has led to lasting tensions in her conservative Union bloc, particularly with the CDUs Bavaria-only sister party, the CSU, and helped the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany party gain support. The Social Democrats leader, Andrea Nahles, demanded a clear, binding timetable for implementing government projects before the federal coalition faces an already-agreed upon mid-term review next autumn. Germanys governing parties have lost significant support in a state election marked by discontent with infighting in Chancellor Angela Merkels national government. Projections showed Mrs Merkels conservatives heading for an extremely lacklustre win in the vote for the central Hesse regions state legislature. Her centre-left governing partners were on course for a dismal result, running neck-and-neck with the Greens for second place. The result has prompted calls for the chancellors administration to get its act together quickly. Mrs Merkels conservative Christian Democratic Union was defending its 19-year hold on Hesse, previously a stronghold of the centre-left Social Democrats, the chancellors federal coalition partners in Berlin. There was widespread pre-election speculation that a disastrous result for either or both parties could further destabilise the national government, prompting calls for the Social Democrats to walk out and possibly endangering Mrs Merkels own position. Andrea Nahles, the Social Democrats leader, said that the state of the government is unacceptable. Expand Close Andrea Nahles (AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Andrea Nahles (AP) She said her party would insist on Mrs Merkels governing coalition agreeing on a clear, binding timetable for implementing projects, and that how that is implemented ahead of an already-agreed midterm review next autumn will show whether we are still in the right place in this government. Hesses 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. Mrs Merkels chief of staff, Helge Braun, said that the national government must now pull together and show we are solving the problems that really move people. Projections for ARD and ZDF public television, based on exit polls and partial counting, gave the CDU 27-28% support and the centre-left Social Democrats about 20%. When Hesse last elected its state legislature in 2013 on the same day that Mrs Merkel was triumphantly elected to a third term as chancellor they won 38.3% and 30.7%, respectively. That would be the worst result in the region for the Social Democrats since the Second World War. There were gains for the Greens, who were roughly level with Social Democrats at nearly 20% compared with 11.1% five years ago. And the far-right Alternative for Germany was on course to enter the last of Germanys 16 state parliaments with more than 12%. The pro-business Free Democrats were seen winning above 7% and the Left Party around 6.5%. Survivors are recounting the terror of hiding in a cupboard during the massacre that left 11 people dead at a Pittsburgh synagogue and asking why the gunman blamed them for the worlds problems. Suspect Robert Gregory Bowers is expected to appear in federal court after the mass shooting on Saturday morning. Authorities say he expressed hatred toward Jews during the rampage and in later comments to police. US attorney Scott Brady said federal prosecutors intend to pursue the death penalty. Expand Close The Anti-Defamation League called it the deadly attack on Jews in US history (AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Anti-Defamation League called it the deadly attack on Jews in US history (AP) Barry Werber said members of the Tree of Life Synagogues New Light Congregation were in the basement and beginning to pray when they heard crashing coming from upstairs. They looked out, and saw a body on the staircase. Mr Werber said he called 911 but was afraid to say anything for fear of making noise as gunshots echoed out. Rabbi Jonathan Perlman closed the door and pushed them into a large supply cupboard, he said. When the shots subsided, he said, 88-year-old Melvin Wax opened the door, only to be shot and fall back inside. There were three shots, and he (Mr Wax) falls back into the room where we were, he said. The gunman walks in. Expand Close A memorial to the victims (AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A memorial to the victims (AP) Apparently unable to see Mr Werber and the other congregants in the darkness, Bowers then walked back out. The 76-year-old Mr Werber said of the gunman: 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. It breaks my heart. Bowers opened fire with an AR-15 rifle and other weapons, killing eight men and three women before a tactical police team tracked him down and shot him, according to official documents. He apparently posted an anti-Semitic message on a social media account linked to him just a few minutes before he allegedly opened fire. Bowers expressed hatred of Jews during the rampage and later told police that I just want to kill Jews and that all these Jews need to die, authorities said. Expand Close Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, right (AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, right (AP) The Anti-Defamation League called it the deadliest ever US attack on Jews. Six people were injured, including four officers. Bowers has now been released from Allegheny General Hospital after undergoing surgery. The dead were 97-year-old Rose Mallinger; brothers Cecil and David Rosenthal, 59 and 54 respectively; husband and wife Sylvan and Bernice Simon, 86 and 84 respectively; Melvin Wax, 88; Dr Jerry Rabinowitz, 66; Joyce Fienberg, 75; Daniel Stein, 71; Richard Gottfried, 65; and Irving Younger, 69. All three congregations at the synagogue were conducting Sabbath services when the attack began just before 10am on Saturday in the tree-lined residential area of Squirrel Hill, about 10 minutes from the centre of Pittsburgh and the hub of the citys Jewish community. Speaking at a vigil in Pittsburgh on Sunday night, Tree of Life Rabbi Jeffrey Myers said about a dozen people had gathered in the main sanctuary when Bowers walked in and began shooting. Seven of his congregants were killed, he said. Expand Close A memorial for those killed and injured takes place at Temple Israel in Crystal, Minneapolis (Richard Tsong-Taatarii/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A memorial for those killed and injured takes place at Temple Israel in Crystal, Minneapolis (Richard Tsong-Taatarii/AP) My holy place has been defiled, he added. Mr Werber called the gunman a maniac and a person who has no control of his baser instincts. Bowers was a long-haul trucker who worked for himself. Little else is known about the suspect, who had no apparent criminal record, and it appears he acted alone. The suspect was charged with 11 state counts of criminal homicide, six counts of aggravated assault and 13 counts of ethnic intimidation. 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. Of the six survivors, four remained in hospital on Sunday night, and two including a 40-year-old police officer are in a critical condition. Top Saudi and Turkish prosecutors have discussed the investigation into the killing of Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi. The show of cooperation comes amid Turkish demands that Saudi Arabia should turn over 18 detained suspects for a murder trial over Mr Khashoggis death at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Saudi Arabias top prosecutor, Saud al-Mojeb, met with Istanbuls chief public prosecutor, Irfan Fidan, for an hour and 15 minutes at Istanbuls main courthouse, Turkeys state-run Anadolu news agency said. The two countries have announced a joint investigation into the journalists killing in Saudi Arabias consulate in Istanbul, although Turkey has leaked evidence to the media in an apparent effort to pressure its regional rival over the crime committed by Saudi officials. Turkey alleges a hit squad from Saudi Arabia travelled to Istanbul to kill the journalist, who had been critical of the Saudi leadership, before attempting to cover the killing up. Under mounting international pressure, Saudi Arabia has changed its narrative about Mr Khashoggis killing several times, only recently acknowledging that Turkish evidence shows it was premeditated. Expand Close Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan (AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan (AP) Turkey said a trial in Turkey would be transparent, reflecting concerns about Saudi attempts to dodge responsibility over the death. Ankaras foreign minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, welcomed the cooperation between Turkish and Saudi investigators and said he hoped there would be no further delays. The investigation should be concluded as soon as possible, Mr Cavusoglu said. The whole world is curious. All the truth should be revealed. Turkey has been pushing Saudi Arabia to help locate Mr Khashoggis body, which has not been found. Ankara is seeking the extradition of the Saudi suspects detained for the killing, which happened after Mr Khashoggi entered the consulate on October 2. Expand Close Saudi Arabia has detained 18 suspects over the killing (AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Saudi Arabia has detained 18 suspects over the killing (AP) Saudi foreign minister Adel al-Jubeir, however, said the kingdom will try the perpetrators and bring them to justice after the investigation is completed. Saudi officials characterised the killing as a rogue operation carried out by Saudi agents who overstepped their authority. Yet some of those implicated in the killing are close to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdoms heir-apparent, whose condemnation of the killing has failed to ease suspicions that he was involved. Mr Khashoggi, a former 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. Expand Close Protesters hold up an image of the murdered journalist (AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Protesters hold up an image of the murdered journalist (AP) Mr al-Mojeb, the prosecutor visiting Istanbul, was named attorney general by Saudi King Salman last year after a palace shake-up that saw Prince Mohammed sideline his elder, more experienced cousin, Mohammed bin Nayef, for the title of crown prince. Months later, Mr al-Mojeb played a key role when high-level Saudi princes, businessmen, government officials and military officers were detained and stripped of significant sums of their wealth in exchange for freedom. The sweep, described by Prince Mohammed bin Salman and his backers as an anti-corruption drive, helped the new crown prince consolidate his power and weaken potential rivals. Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country will reveal more evidence about the killing but is not in any rush to do so. US defence secretary Jim Mattis has said the killing undermines regional stability and has urged Saudi Arabia to conduct a full and complete investigation. In a new video, journalists from a number of media organisations read extracts from Mr Khashoggis last Washington Post column, entitled What the Arab world needs most is free expression. We will continue to campaign for truth and accountability for his horrific murder, by those who planned, ordered and executed it, said Kumi Naidoo, secretary general of Amnesty International, which released the video. If Mary Lou McDonald was the leader of a normal political party, after the disastrous performance of Liadh Ni Riada in the Irish presidential election, she would, as they say, be considering her position. But she isn't. She is president of Sinn Fein, anointed by her predecessor Gerry Adams and his circle, otherwise known as the boys in the backroom. It is this disgruntled group who will be considering her position, though in fairness to Ms McDonald, they should also be considering their own. Ms Ni Riada, the only contender standing as the candidate of a political party, came fourth out of six, which considering the poor quality of her rivals was pathetic. The figures were: 77-year-old incumbent Michael D Higgins (56%); Peter Casey, whose support surged when he articulated such politically-incorrect concerns as the conduct of the Travelling community (23%); Sean Gallagher, who famously was probably cheated out of winning the 2011 presidential election by a combination of RTE bias and Sinn Fein skulduggery (6.5%), and Ni Riada (6.4%). She just squeaked ahead of the almost unknown Senator Joan Freeman, founder of a mental health charity (6%), and businessman Gavin Duffy (2%). Ni Riada's vote got into double figures only in three constitutencies - Cavan-Monaghan, Donegal, and Dublin Central, a poor area and McDonald's stomping ground. So which optimist decided that unlike every other political party, Sinn Fein would put 200,000 into running a candidate, although that required the candidate to win 12.5% of the total vote if the State was to reimburse her? And who decided that the right choice to attract women and the middle-classes was a little-known MEP who seems almost as devoid of personality and oomph as Michelle O'Neill? And who thought having an unfamiliar and difficult Irish name would be an advantage? Or that a central message about the importance of a united Ireland was going to go down well with people who mostly don't want it - not least because they're worried enough about Brexit to be terrified of any further upheaval? Or that the electorate are pining for yet another hectoring feminist progressive? Casey zoomed up in the polls from sixth to second place mainly because - at a time when Ireland is suffering a housing crisis - he described as selfish and unreasonable the six Tipperary Traveller families who refused to move into the houses the council spent 1.7m building for them because they didn't have stables and grazing land? Like many populist leaders in America and Europe, he said what ordinary people thought but were afraid to say. One exit poll said 54% of those who voted for Casey cited his "ability to stand up for ordinary people" as a key reason for their support. Oh, and who decided to keep Ni Riada's name under wraps until September 16, rather than have her canvassing the length and breadth of the Republic for months? Then there was the perplexing decision to leave the Sinn Fein brand off her campaign literature and to have the formidable McDonald mostly noticeable for her absence. It's understandable that Ni Riada seemed attractive because she didn't join the party until a few years ago, and that, as a Sinn Fein member put it, meant "less IRA stuff coming up". Yet although she didn't enthusiastically extol killers, she was required, like all Sinn Fein candidates, to pussyfoot, showing more decency than most of them by describing the Enniskillen bombing as an atrocity that "should be condemned", but then floundering with "but look, the IRA have been gone the last 20 years, we have a peace process in place, we should be cementing that and working on building that rather than constantly revisiting what labelling and semantics and all of that". Ms McDonald already has an awkward issue over several revelations that emerged last week in the RHI Inquiry, including the information that Mairtin O Muilleoir was asking permission from unelected IRA ex-convicts like Martin Lynch and Padraic Wilson to make a key decision in his capacity as Finance Minister, which sits oddly with McDonald's insistence that Sinn Fein is a normal democratic party. As a historian, I sure hope MI5 are recording for posterity whatever showdown the backroom boys have with their protege. 'These attacks are repellent and carried out by thugs with weapons' (stock photo) Once again there are horrific headlines about another punishment-style attack and the trauma caused to the victims. The latest occurred in Garvagh when masked men broke into the home of a man of 45 and shot him in the arms and legs. He was also beaten callously with a bat or iron bar. To add to the his distress, the attackers turned their attention to his teenage daughter who offered the contents of her piggy bank to try to ward off the onslaught. Instead of listening to her pleas, the masked thugs threatened to shoot her and stole her phone. They also threatened to set fire to items in the house. The effects on the family will continue long after the attack. The man has suffered potentially life-changing injuries and his courageous daughter will relive the horror for a long time. As a senior detective asked: "What sort of men would think it is acceptable to subject a young girl to this level of brutality and violence? What are the long-term effects on her going to be?" These are pointed questions indeed. If this kind of outrage happened elsewhere in the UK it would make national headlines for days. Sadly, we in Northern Ireland have become used to the horror of it all, almost as if it is part of life here, where the Troubles still leave their own dark legacy. These attacks are repellent and carried out by thugs with weapons. Some of them claim bizarrely that they are an 'alternative' police force, meting out their own inexcusable form of 'justice'. In reality this is just another sinister way for the paramilitaries to continue to prey on the ordinary people they cynically claim to protect. It is shocking that this is still happening two decades after the Good Friday Agreement. A new campaign has been introduced to show the disturbing reality of paramilitary activity in its gruesome details and this is intended to shock the public into the realisation of what happens behind the headlines concerning these attacks, which fade away far too quickly. Hopefully this initiative will make more people realise that there can be no place in our society for such arbitrary attacks. Sadly the reality, pain and horror of such violence was brought home to one family this weekend. The rest of us can move on with our own lives, but for this family the pain may last for a lifetime. John Hume declared in April 1965: "In Derry there is absolutely no evidence of bigotry among ordinary citizens, who have learned to live in harmony in spite of differences." At the same time, however, the people of Londonderry faced serious problems. Recent television programmes and newspaper articles on the 50th anniversary of the civil rights movement have examined why the city was such a political powder keg. Much of the coverage has been valuable, but some has been simplistic and even inaccurate. Other dimensions of the situation deserve attention. What happened in the city after October 5, 1968 is worth recalling. Problems over housing, unemployment and unfair local government arrangements created a real crisis in the late-1960s. By the mid-1960s there was a great shortage of new houses in the city. Nonetheless, we should note that this followed what the Cameron Commission described as a "vast programme" of new housing in Derry's predominantly Catholic south ward. Between 1944 and 1968 over 4,000 houses and flats had been built in the city by the corporation, the independent NI Housing Trust and private enterprise. This included the Creggan estate in the 1950s and the Rossville Street redevelopment in the early-1960s. In her autobiography Dana (Rosemary Brown) records how her family first lived in a new house in the Creggan estate and then moved in 1967 to the Rossville Street flats. She describes how these flats "were much admired when they were first built". By the mid-1960s, however, new housing programmes had been largely curtailed because the corporation refused to extend the city boundaries, which would have upset unionist control. Many families urgently needed new homes. In February 1968 the Derry Housing Action Committee was formed to protest at the situation. By the late-1960s there was serious unemployment, but this had not always been the case. In the 1950s and early-1960s, Government efforts to bring employment to the city had been very successful. In November 1955 the Press, including the Belfast Telegraph, noted that there was an "employment boom" and "abundant work" in the city. Birmingham Sound Reproducers (BSR) and Du Pont were examples of firms which came at this time. During the 1960s, however, the city witnessed growing unemployment. Critically, in 1966-67, BSR (by now called Monarch Electric) closed with the loss of nearly 2,000 jobs. The economic situation was compounded by the decision to locate the new university in Coleraine and not Derry. The main problem related to unfair local government arrangements. Recent claims that only property owners could vote are incorrect. The franchise, however, was restricted to ratepayers and spouses and a small company vote. More significant was the arrangement of ward boundaries for corporation elections. In 1967 Catholic voters numbered 14,429 and others 8,781. The Cameron Commission noted the "extraordinary situation" whereby unionists returned 12 members of the corporation, but nationalists only eight. This gave unionists control of the corporation and, therefore, control of corporation housing allocation and jobs. Such an unfair situation caused strong criticism from the nationalist and Catholic community. Why did unionists support this system? Many saw themselves facing a hostile Irish nationalism, both in the city and across the border. In Co Donegal Protestant numbers dropped from 21% of the population in 1911 to 14% in 1961, and a gerrymander of the Donegal seats in 1961 lost them their last independent TD. On October 5, 1968, a civil rights march was held in the city to protest about the housing situation and to promote "one man, one vote". Media coverage of the violent response of the police to the march served to draw great attention, local and international, to civil rights issues. This event had major repercussions for the city and also Northern Ireland politics. The Derry Citizens Action Committee (DCAC) was formed to organise protest on non-violent lines. Other civil rights marches, such as a 15,000-strong event on November 16, marshalled by DCAC stewards, passed off peacefully. Prime Minister Terence O'Neill, in spite of challenge from some cabinet members and other loyalists, in particular Ian Paisley, brought in reforms. On November 22 the Government agreed a new system of fair allocation of houses, a development commission to replace Londonderry Corporation and abolition of the company vote, but not yet "one man, one vote". Faced with opposition to his policies, O'Neill called a general election for February 24, 1969. The contest revealed significant changes in the city's politics. In the Foyle division the sitting nationalist MP Eddie McAteer faced John Hume, who advocated a just society. Hume accepted there could be no change in the constitutional position of Northern Ireland without the consent of the people. Eamonn McCann stood as a Northern Ireland Labour Party candidate. The result was a defeat for traditional nationalism, with Hume gaining 8,920 votes against 5,267 for McAteer. McCann lost his deposit. Traditional unionism also faced significant challenge. In the City division, the sitting MP was Albert Anderson, who opposed O'Neill and the Government's reforms and who was supported by Bill Craig, a former minister, who ordered the October march ban and was later sacked by O'Neill. He faced not only the liberal Claude Wilton, but also an independent unionist, Peter Campbell, who backed O'Neill. Over 300 unionists signed a petition in the Press supporting O'Neill and "the just cause to which he has committed himself". Hamilton called for a "tolerant Ulster" and urged support for O'Neill and his "progressive policies". Anderson's vote fell from 9,122 at a 1968 by-election to 6,480. However, the opposition was split, with 4,181 votes for Campbell and 5,770 for Wilton. Anderson won, but clearly a significant number of unionist voters now accepted the need for change. In the end, however, these efforts to develop new politics failed. Events in the city in August 1969 created another major crisis. They also caused the collapse of the challenge to traditional Orange and Green politics, which had prospered briefly in the city after October 1968. Amid the violence of August 1969, the possibility of political reconciliation and peaceful change was lost. Professor Emeritus Brian M Walker was a student at Magee College from 1966 to 1968 Should Christians celebrate Halloween? This is a very common and highly debated topic in Christian circles. Many Christians struggle with whether to celebrate, particularly because of its pagan origins. They see it as a satanic holiday established to worship evil spirits and promote darkness and wickedness. While some see it as a day filled with dark influence, others see it is a harmless day for candy and fun costumes. So who is right and is it possible to celebrate Halloween without compromising your faith? The first place we should turn to is Scripture. While the Bible doesnt speak at all about Halloween, it does give us some principles on which we should turn to. In the Old Testament, witchcraft was a crime punishable by death. The Bible tells us, You should not permit a sorceress to live (Exodus 22:18). The Bible also tells us, Do not turn to mediums or necromancers; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them: I am the LORD your God (Leviticus 19:31). We can also find examples throughout the New Testament. One can be found in Acts 8:9-24. The story of Simon shows that occultism and Christianity dont go together. The account of Elymas the sorcerer in Acts 13:6-11 reveals that sorcery is violently opposed by Christianity. We know that Halloween, no matter how commercialized it is has almost completely Pagan origins. While the day may seem innocent for many, it is not something to be taken so lightly. So should Christians celebrate Halloween? While there is nothing evil about a Christian dressing up as a princess or a superhero and going around the block for candy, there are things about Halloween that should be avoided. If you choose to allow your child to participate in Halloween, be sure to keep them away from the darker aspects of the day. If your child is going to take part in Halloween, their attitude, dress and most importantly, their behavior should still reflect Christ. How can the Church take advantage of the opportunities Halloween provides? Here are a few things that you can do at Halloween that still reflect Christ: Harvest Festivals Many churches around the country host alternative family fun events on or near Halloween. These festivals or events incorporate costumes, but in a godly environment. They are promoted as safe options for families, ideal for those concerned about their children wandering dark neighborhoods at night. Some provide a clear faith focus for their events, while others take the opportunity simply to connect with their communities in a positive way. Some churches go all out featuring Christian concerts, food vendor booths and carnival rides. Regardless of the size of your church, you can easily host a harvest event. It is a great alternative for your community. Fall Decorating If youre looking for a more family-centered Christian alternative to Halloween, you might consider planning a pumpkin carving project. This would be a more personal time of fellowship with the members of your family. The festivities can conclude by partaking in a slice of homemade pumpkin pie. Some churches will also hold youth fundraisers around Halloween. These can be organized pumpkin patches that create an exciting Christian alternative to Halloween. The church youth can sell the pumpkins and the profit can go towards funding youth events. Hand Out Candy and Tracts With Gospel Messaging Halloween is a great opportunity to reach children who dont know Jesus. Thats why some Christians use this opportunity to share the Gospel by handing out candy with Gospel-messaging. The kids will be super excited receiving candy and cartoons with the message of Christ. You can simply drop a tract or two and some candy into their bags and youll be giving the gospel to kids and their families without leaving home. Many Christians see this as a once a year opportunity to reach kids and their parents with the gospel. When handing out tracts on Halloween, consider the ages of the trick-or-treaters when deciding which tracts to drop in their bags. While some tracts are designed for young children, others are better suited for older kids and teens. Have a Community Party Some church communities have redefined how they interact with Halloween. Instead of retreating to the shelter of their building or their homes, they engage with their neighborhoods. Their children get dressed up and go door to door in the neighborhood asking for candy, and people in the community sit on their front lawns talking with their neighbors. For these people, Halloween isnt just another day; rather it is the one day of year when all the neighbors are out in the streets practicing community with one another. This provides a unique opportunity for interacting with everyone. Have a Reformation Day Party October 31st is not only Halloween. It is also Reformation Day, the anniversary of Martin Luther nailing his 95 Theses on the door of All Saints Church an event that sparked the Protestant Reformation. For many Christians, this time of year can be a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the Reformation. This can include books, interactive activities including plays, crafts, treats and costumes for the occasion. Its totally fine to choose to not celebrate Halloween. Its also ok to consider alternative approaches to Halloween. You can use the day as an opportunity to engage your community and reach those who may not know Christ. The story of Joseph is one of the most popular and well-known tales in the Bible. It is the final story in the book of Genesis and leads straight into the tale of Moses and the Exodus. The story of family strife, slavery, redemption, revenge and forgiveness has been made into a movie and a beloved musical. It also has been the subject of intense historical debate as it has been tied closely to a period of turmoil and mystery in Egyptian history. Around 1720 B.C. a group of foreigners invaded the Egyptian kingdoms and set up a kingdom of their own in the Nile delta. The ancient Egyptians called these people heqa-khaset or rulers [of] foreign lands, an expression used to refer to almost any non-Egyptian peoples. The ancient Greeks, however, called these people Hyksos meaning king shepherds, an expression that was based on the Egyptian phrase but used for a specific group of people from the area surrounding the Nile. Where the Hyksos came from is a matter of debate that is of enormous interest to biblical historians because the Hyksos could be the missing link that cracks the mystery of both the story of Joseph and the tale of the Exodus wide open.Historians have wondered for decades how the Egyptians could forget a man like Joseph who, essentially, saved their entire civilization. How could the ancient Egyptians, who deified their dead pharaohs and held elaborate grieving rituals for the dead, forget a national hero so completely that they enslaved his descendants? Why did Joseph not appear in ancient Egyptian writings? The Hyksos invasion may answer those questions.When the Hyksos invaded, they had the most advanced weaponry in the region. Their weapons of war included the composite bow, horse drawn chariot, improved battle axes and the battering ram. They were also capable of using far more advanced fortification techniques than were known in the area at the time. This would already have given them an advantage in their conquest, but to make matters worse, Egypt was in the middle of a period of intense turmoil and infighting. As such, the Hyksos were able to conquer a sizeable area of Egypt and set up a fortified capital in Avaris as well as a dynasty of their own. Eventually, the Hyksos lost control of the native Egyptian population. The Hyksos dynasty was destroyed, and the Hyksos and their allies who remained in Egypt were killed, enslaved or expelled from the Nile delta. Among those allies may have been the Israelites.There are no records of a Hebrew named Joseph in ancient Egypt. The Egyptians, however, may not have been the people that Joseph saved. The Hyksos called their kings pharaohs as well, and they are believed to have come from Canaan or at least traveled through the area. As such, the Hyksos may have been familiar with the culture Joseph grew up in and willing to hear out a stranger who claimed to be able to interpret the kings dreams. This would fit with what archeology has found in territories controlled by the Hyksos as there have been a number of artifacts uncovered in the area do not match Egyptian typology but do fit with what is found in Israel. When the Hyksos were defeated, the remaining Israelites were enslaved.Since the Egyptians also had a habit of trying to erase people they did not like from history, such as the attempts to eliminate all mentions of Hatshepsut, the woman who was one of the most successful pharaohs in history, it is not out of the question for them to have decided to remove mentions of Joseph as well. This would also explain why the pharaoh in Exodus knew not Joseph. Joseph had been advising the Hyksos, not the Egyptians.Other scholars claim the complete reverse. Joseph, they say, advised the Egyptians, but the Israelites were enslaved by the Hyksos. Ancient Egypt kept records of a man called Imhotep who, according to hieroglyphics found carved near Aswan, saved Egypt from a famine when the annual Nile floods failed seven years in a row. The story of Imhotep is very similar to that of Joseph in the Bible. If Imhotep was the same person as Joseph as some scholars suggest, then it may have been the Hyksos who enslaved the Israelites. As foreigners, they would not have known who Joseph was or of his importance.One piece of evidence supporting this theory is, oddly enough, a grave robbery. A tomb from before the Hyksos invasion was found by archaeologists to have been robbed in ancient times. This in and of itself is not unusual. Grave robbing was, and still is, a good source of black market goods. What is strange is what was stolen. The grave robbers took the actual body from the tomb. While modern grave robbers might get a pretty penny for ancient bones, most grave robbers of old were interested in gold, silver and other burial treasures.They would have had no interest in the actual body of the person who was buried in the tomb. Some suggest, based on evidence including hieroglyphs and the Asiatic appearance of a broken statue, that the grave robbers were none but faithful Israelites who removed Josephs body to keep it safe from Hyksos who desecrated the tomb. This would then help explain why the Israelites could so easily gather up Josephs bones to take with them during the Exodus. They had already stolen the body. This would also be in keeping with the theory that Joseph and Imhotep were the same person as Imhotep was said to be deified by the Egyptians after his death, and the ancient Egyptians were known to build elaborate tombs for important people who died.The Hyksos are often seen as nothing more than an interesting historical footnote in Egyptology, but they are of far greater interest for biblical scholars and historians. The appearance of this foreign people in Egypt may account for one of the greatest mysteries in the tale of Joseph and the story of the Exodus. Joseph was not remembered by the Israelites enslavers because the slavers never did know him. He may have saved a people, but it was not their people, and so they took his descendants as slaves until such time as God led his people out of Egypt and back to the land He had promised them so long ago. No matter what some people may seem to think, Christianity does not exist in a vacuum. It is one of many religions on this earth. It may be the largest and arguably the most widespread, but that is not the same as being alone. Christianity itself is certainly not a single, solid monolith either. It is composed of a variety of traditions and denominations, each of which is further made up of individual congregations, families and individuals. The other religions are in the same situation. They are made up of, at the core, individuals. These individuals almost inevitably interact in todays multicultural world. As such, understanding other religions has become an increasingly important skill in the modern world. People can do so much more than simply avoid insulting each other when they take the time to learn about one anothers religions. If they begin their research, however informal it may be, with an open mind, they will see that there is a great deal each religion can teach the others. Some people close their eyes to this fact because they feel that admitting that another religion has valid points or practices is tantamount to abandoning their own. This is nonsense. Learning from another teacher does not negate anothers teachings. If anything, adherents of other religions can teach Christians how to deepen their own faith and better their own practices. So what can Christians learn from other religions? A full listing would fill endless volumes, but here are some of the key lessons that Christians can take away from their friends of other faiths. Begin With Celebrations Pixabay.com Christians are always looking to bring new people into the fold. They want to spread their faith and many of them work hard to entice friends, family members and coworkers to join their church. Unfortunately, some have a tendency to forget what it is that is most likely to draw someone to a new faith. Conversion is not easy on a person, and it is a process. One of the most important things to do is to make the process look like it is worth it and to entice a person to give Christianity a chance. To do that, Christians need to understand what appeals to an outsider. Christians find the knowledge that Jesus died for their sins and saved them to be joyous. Someone who is from another religion might be horrified at the fact that Christians appear to be celebrating a torturous death or confused as to why Christians are so happy to hear that they are inherently sinful and were doomed. Combine this with the serious air that many Christians take on when talking about their faith, and many newcomers will be turned away. Remember, Christianity already has a reputation for being joyless and solemn, so make it a point to change the narrative. Adherents of other religions are excellent at making it a point to begin sharing their faith with celebrations. Hindus invite non-Hindu friends to festivals such as Holi or Durgapuja where there is laughter, music, dancing and homemade food. The air is one of celebration and joy which makes outsiders more interested in returning and learning more. Faith is meant to be a celebration of God, so show that off. More flies are caught with honey than vinegar. The serious discussions about sin can come later. Start at Home Shutterstock.com Some Christian families make it a point to discuss their faith with their children. Others, however, tend to pass the responsibility off to their church or their childrens Sunday school teacher. This is a mistake. Although Christian parents must be careful to avoid pressuring their child to conform to the familys beliefs or to force a child to memorize Bible verses when it is the first sunny day in weeks, there is great value in discussing religion candidly at home. Religious rituals and traditions practiced at home can help provide an anchor for children and teens who are growing in their religious lives. Keeping faith a central part of life at home also demonstrates for Christian youth that religion should permeate every aspect of their lives. It is not something that happens for an hour or two on Sundays. Many other religions are excellent at this. Jewish families in particular practice this as their faith is less common than many others and has been so persecuted. Teaching children about the purity laws and history of Judaism is done largely at home as is much of the preparation for a childs bar mitzvah or bat mitzvah. Neopagans also tend to be very good at encouraging faith at home without undue pressure. This is in many ways done out of necessity. There are few to no Neopagan schools to help teach young Neopagans about their faith unlike Muslim and Christian schools and camps. Embrace Reason Whoever decided that faith and reason were mutually exclusive deserves to be slapped. Unfortunately, the delusion that one must choose logic or religion has stubbornly persisted. The result has been that too many Christians either reject science and reason entirely in order to cling to their faith or they abandon their religion because they are unsure of how to reconcile their beliefs with what they learn in school. The situation is not helped by the fact that Western Christians live in an atheist dominated culture that is increasingly hostile to other religions. Too many Christians continue to live with and live by the false idea that reason and religion cannot coexist in a single persons mind. Buddhism, however, shows this is wrong. Many Buddhists place a high value on logic and science without compromising their faith. Christians should strive to emulate this and teach their children how to marry science and faith to avoid either the spiritual withering that comes from abandoning faith or the willful blindness that comes from denying science simply because it is science. Make Time For God How much time do most people really devote to God each day? The answer across religions is probably not enough, but there are an awful lot of Christians for whom the answer is very little. A number of Christians have lukewarm faith. They go to church on Sundays and might occasionally break out the Bible but beyond that and the occasional prayer, they largely forget about God in their daily lives. Muslims and Jews do a much better job of remembering God in their daily lives. Muslims stop everything five times a day to pray, and many women wear the hijab, a tangible, visible reminder of their devotion to their faith. Jews are often better at keeping the Sabbath than their Christian cousins. They have special meals on Shabbat complete with unique and ritual prayers. Neither one of these religions leaves their faith behind when they leave worship services. Accepting Other Paths Shutterstock.com For whatever reason, many Christians love to create divisions over minor differences and dismiss or demonize other denominations. The theological disagreements between Lutherans and Episcopalians are small, but there are plenty in both denominations that see the other as heretics. This sort of interdenominational squabbling is neither helpful nor holy. All it does is create anger and divisions where there do not need to be any. Hinduism is made up of a wide variety of traditions so different that some religious scholars argue they should be counted as separate religions. Despite this, most Hindus hold to the theory that all Hindus are walking the same path to liberation, some paths just take longer to reach the goal. Imagine what Christians could accomplish in the world if they would stop worrying about whether a person was a Catholic, Lutheran or Episcopalian and instead focused on the fact that all three denominations are Christian. Start With Yourself Shutterstock.com Christians are known in many ways for reaching out. They usually do a great deal of volunteer work in their communities, and evangelism is celebrated across denominations. That outward focus is often a good thing, but the emphasis on serving others selflessly can make it difficult for Christians to give their own needs the attention that they need. It also means that many Christians are evangelizing and trying to convert others before they have truly dug deep and explored their own faith. For Mahayana Buddhists, a person must achieve enlightenment themselves and become a bodhisattva before they can put their entire focus toward saving other beings. That does not mean that Buddhists are selfish prior to achieving enlightenment, but they understand that a person who is still blind themselves cannot lead others. Christians would do well to remember that the Bible speaks against having the blind leading the blind and encourage people, especially new converts, to explore their own faith before actively working to convert others. A sick physician with the best of intentions still spreads more illnesses than cures. Preserving an Identity Shutterstock.com What makes a Christian a Christian? What distinguishes a Christian from non-Christians? Ask almost anyone these questions and their answers will revolve around what Christians believe. Beliefs, however, are not always enough to form an identity. Identities are based not just on what people believe or how they think but what they do and how they act. In this way, Christians do not actually have many distinguishing characteristics. The rituals and actions that once made up the Christian identity have largely been lost to time and shifting cultures. At one point, this was not as much of a problem because the culture in which most Christians lived was at its core a Christian culture. Today, however, most Christians live in cultures that are either actively hostile to Christianity or passive-aggressively unfriendly. The lack of a clear Christian identity in this atmosphere has contributed in part to the decline of Christianity. When it comes to preserving an identity, Christians would do well to look to their Jewish brothers and sisters for advice. Despite spending most of their history either in exile, captivity or as the oppressed subjects of empires and nations, the Jewish people retained a clear identity. Unlike most conquered peoples, they did not merge with the wider culture and become lost within it. If Christianity is to survive, it needs to take a lesson from its sibling religion and form the sort of distinct identity to which Christians in hostile or unfriendly environments can cling. There is much that can be learned from people of other faiths. From practices that Christians should adopt to reminders of how to keep a religious identity alive in a multicultural world, people of every faith have something that they can teach others. This is the beauty of living in an increasingly interfaith world. There are nearly endless sources of knowledge surrounding each person, and everyone has someone they know that can act as an outsider and see what a religious insider may have missed. From there, spiritual needs that may have been missed can be fulfilled. Anyone can deepen their own faith by observing anothers faith. They only need to be brave enough to reach out to another religion and say, teach me. Members of a rescue team transfer body bags into a vehicle at the port in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta, after bodies were pulled out of the sea where Lion Air flight JT-610 crashed off the north coast earlier in the day, Oct. 29, 2018. Updated at 3:41 ET on 2018-10-29 Debris and body parts were found after a Lion Air jetliner with 189 people on board crashed into the sea on Monday minutes after takeoff from Jakarta's international airport, according to officials who said there likely were no survivors. It's not clear what caused the crash, officials said. The pilot of the new Boeing 737 MAX 8 asked to return to the airport before radio contact was lost with the control tower at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport about 13 minutes after the plane took off, the airline said. Flight JT-610 was bound for the city of Pangkal Pinang, on the island of Bangka Belitung off Sumatra when the crash occurred. Weve scoured the surface of the sea and found no survivors, Muhammad Syaugi, head of the National Search and Rescue Agency, told BenarNews by phone late on Monday. The aircrafts fuselage was believed to have sunk to the bottom of the sea, at a depth of about 30 meters (98.4 feet) and off the coast of Karawang regency about 70 km (43.4 miles) from Jakarta, he said, adding his agency had dispatched divers to find the planes main section and retrieve bodies. My prediction is no one survived, from looking at the body parts that have been found, Syaugi told reporters earlier during a news conference, which was broadcast on local television stations. We are focused on retrieving bodies." Search teams found several body parts, as well as a crushed mobile phone, a torn bag, life vests and a large piece of wreckage believed to be from the doomed aircraft in waters off Karawang, he said. Investigators said they were focused on retrieving the cockpit voice and data recorders. "There was no sign of burning, only broken parts," Bambang Suryo Aji, director of operations for Indonesia's national search and rescue agency (Basarnas), referring to the recovered debris. He said four ships were involved in search and rescue efforts. An Air Lion official told the Associated Press there were two foreigners on the plane its Indian pilot and an Italian passenger. The plane, operated by the Indonesia-based budget carrier, was scheduled to land in Pangkal Pinang at 7:20 a.m. (local time). The crew of a ship belonging to the state-owned company Pertamina first found the debris near its offshore site, according to Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman for the National Disaster Management Agency. Lion Air CEO Edward Sirait said the plane was carrying 181 passengers and eight crew members. Our pilot worked according to procedure and when he saw a problem he requested to return to base, but we know how it ended, Sirait told a televised news conference. The Boeing 737 MAX 8 had had a technical problem on a previous flight but that was resolved before Mondays flight, he said. The plane was built in 2018 and the airline took delivery of it in August, Lion Air said. Putri (center), a woman whose husband and child were on board the crashed Lion Air flight, is consoled at Pangkal Pinang airport in Bangka Belitung province, Oct. 29, 2018. [AFP] Boeing Company, in a statement posted on its website, said it would provide technical assistance to government investigators. "We extend our heartfelt sympathies to the families and loved ones of those on board." it said. Washington will also assist Indonesia in its probe, U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement. The United States extends its deepest condolences to those who lost family and loved ones, Nauert said. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Indonesia in this time of sorrow. Conditions were considered safe At the headquarters of the National Search and Rescue Agency in Jakarta, a woman cried inconsolably as she arrived to get news about four of her relatives who were on the plane. They were supposed to attend a family event, the woman, who gave her name as Veny, told BenarNews. The weather conditions were considered safe when the plane took off, according to Dwikorita Karnawati, the director of the Meteorology, Geophysics and Climatology Agency. It was a bit cloudy but there were no clouds that could have endangered flights. When there is a significant weather condition, we usually issue a warning, so that flights can be postponed, she told BenarNews. According to Nufransa Wira Sakti, a spokesman for Indonesias Finance Ministry, 21 staffers were aboard the crashed airliner. Sony Setiawan, another employee with the ministry, missed the flight because of a traffic jam. My knees became weak and I cried when I heard the news, Sony told CNN Indonesia. My friends were on the plane. With a population of 260 million and a growing middle class with disposable income, Indonesia is a lucrative market for budget airlines The worlds largest archipelagic country, Indonesia has seen a boom in low-cost carriers since the early 2000s following the liberalization of the airline industry. Lion Air is the largest among budget airlines operating in the country. Lion Air made news in 2013 when one of its Boeing 737s, with more than 100 people aboard, crashed into the sea while trying to land on Bali island. There were no fatalities in the accident in which the aircraft was split in two. In June, the European Union removed Indonesian airlines from its list of carriers that do not meet international safety standards. The blanket ban preventing Indonesian carriers from operating in Europe was imposed in 2007 after a string of deadly air incidents. Several Indonesian airlines, including flag carrier Garuda, were removed from the list in 2009 after steps were taken to improve safety. Before Mondays crash, Indonesia's last major commercial aviation accident occurred in 2014, when an Air Asia Airbus A320-216 plunged into the Java Sea during bad weather, killing all 155 passengers and seven crew on board. The following year, a C-130 Hercules belonging the Indonesian Air Force crashed into the city of Medan on Sumatra island, killing 121 people on board and 22 people on the ground. The Boeing 737 Max 8 was delivered to Lion Air in mid-August and put in use within days, according to the Associated Press. Malindo Air, a Malaysian subsidiary of Jakarta-based Lion Air, was the first airline to begin using the 737 Max 8 last year, it said. Boeing has received 4,783 orders for the 737 MAX, of which 219 had been delivered by the end of September, according to Reuters. It said Southwest Airlines has received 23, making it the biggest operator of the type to date, followed by Air Canada with 18, American Airlines with 15 and Lion Air with 13. Tria Dianti in Jakarta contributed to this report. Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin (center left), meets with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Davao, Philippines, ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinpings planned visit in November, Oct. 29, 2018. Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin (center left), meets with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Davao, Philippines, ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinpings planned visit in November, Oct. 29, 2018. A legally binding code of conduct to govern actions by Beijing and other claimants in the South China Sea might not be attained, the Philippines said Monday, two months after the ASEAN regional bloc announced a breakthrough in related negotiations. Teodoro Locsin, the newly appointed Philippine foreign secretary, made the comments after meeting with his Chinese counterpart and after the chief of U.S. naval operations stressed that his country would continue to advance freedom of navigation in the disputed sea region. Perhaps, we will not be able to arrive at a legally binding COC but it will be the standard on how people of ASEAN, governments of ASEAN will behave toward each other always with honor, never with aggression and always for the mutual progress, Locsin said at a joint news conference with his Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, referring to the so-called Code of Conduct. Rival territorial claims are a burning issue that must be resolved between the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China, but there is no reason why joint cooperation cannot move forward, Locsin said. Apart from China and Taiwan, the Philippines and fellow ASEAN countries Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam have overlapping claims in the sea. The Philippines and the other ASEAN claimant states have been pushing for a legally binding code. In August, China agreed to a draft that would eventually serve as its basis. Officials said the code would spell out legal parameters of what each claimant state could do in a bid to avoid the disputes from spiraling out of control. Some countries want the code to be binding and subject to ratification by signatory states. Wang said China would follow the final agreement, saying that whether or not it is legally binding, any document we have signed we will strictly abide by it and firmly implement it. He said the relationship between the Philippines and China had improved significantly since President Rodrigo Duterte took office in 2016 and that the situation in the South China Sea was improving and getting more stable. Countries concerned have come back to the table of dialogue and negotiations and consultations to properly handle the differences, Wang said. Together with ASEAN countries, China and these countries are jointly upholding peace and stability. He said Chinese officials were looking forward to working with ASEAN and other claimants as they stepped up efforts. China, in particular, was ready to discuss with the Philippines joint development of oil and gas in the disputed region, a proposal that contains political wisdom, Wang said. If our two countries can have joint development without prejudice to each others sovereign claim, that will help resolve a potential energy shortage in the Philippines, he said. It will also provide a practical way for China and the Philippines to properly handle the related differences. Whats more, if the joint venture goes ahead without a hitch, it would set an example for similar cooperation efforts between China and other claimants, he said. The two countries are working on a proposal to jointly develop the area, with a 60 percent to 40 percent sharing deal favoring the Philippines. No details have been finalized, but Philippine officials had said the project could take place in Reed Bank. The area lies within Manilas exclusive economic zone, which is believed to lie atop rich natural deposits, and joint exploration there is against the Constitution. Xi plans visit Philippine and Chinese officials also discussed Chinese President Xi Jinpings planned November visit, which, they said, could signal an increase in cooperation between the two countries. Previously, Chinese officials had expressed concern over what they claimed were planned U.S.-led maritime exercises to coincide with Xis visit. On Monday, American navy chief Adm. John Richardson said there was no such operation being planned in the region, even while he indicated that U.S. forces would keep pressing for freedom of navigation in the South China Sea and elsewhere. Richardson met with Filipino military chief Gen. Carlito Galvez and said the U.S. stood shoulder to shoulder with the Philippines in pursuit of regional peace and stability. For more than 70 years the United States and the Philippines have remained steadfast friends, partners and allies dedicated to ensuring security, order and prosperity throughout the region, he said. Our relationship is built not just on shared values, but strong people-to-people and societal ties and nowhere is that felt more than in the military relationship, Richardson said. Mark Navales in Cotabato City, Philippines, contributed to this report. Check out the top stories from BGSU and beyond in our newscast and online edition of our newspaper every Wednesday. 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Title IX Administrative Contact information Complaints or notice of alleged policy violations, or inquiries about or concerns regarding Title IX (sexual harassment) and procedures, may be made internally to: Lakeshia Dowlen, Title IX Coordinator, Office of Title IX, 207 Hayes Hall, Bowling Green, Ohio 43403, 419-372-8476. Inquiries may be made externally to: Office for Civil Rights (OCR) U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20202-1100 Customer Service Hotline #: (800) 421-3481 OCR@ed.gov Title IX Deputy Coordinators See It. Hear It. Report It. Plus, Bill's Message of the Day, Why is Kamala Harris so Unpopular? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Trump Administration Withholding Protection for 78 Species The Trump administration is dragging its feet on lifesaving protection decisions for 78 endangered animals and plants, including those desperately in need of protection for their last remaining habitat on Earth. The Center for Biological Diversity's new analysis examines the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's failure to adhere to a plan it developed in 2016. Under Trump the agency has failed to decide whether to protect 57 species under the Endangered Species Act and whether to protect the habitat for another 21 species. Among those neglected are wolverines, lesser prairie chickens and Hermes copper butterflies. "The Trump administration's anti-regulatory agenda is turning it into the extinction presidency," said the Center's Noah Greenwald. "The vast majority of Americans want to see endangered species protected, but Trump officials are flushing these vanishing plants and animals down the toilet to hand easier profits to their patrons in polluter industries." Read more in our press release. The award was given by IMA in the inaugural function of 63rd Annual Medical Conference of IMA, Madhya Pradesh organized on 27th & 28th October 2018 at Jabalpaur Dr Raju Vaishya, a well-known Orthopaedic Surgeon, has been honoured with DR. B. C. ROY ORATION AWARD, 2018 of Indian Medical Association, Madhya Pradesh for his outstanding achievement and remarkable role in the field of Health care. The award was given away in the inaugural function of 63rd Annual Medical Conference of IMA, Madhya Pradesh organized on 27th & 28th October 2018 at Jabalpaur. A large number of doctors and other dignitaries were present during the function. Prof. (Dr.) Vaishya is a Senior Orthopaedic and Joint Replacement Surgeon at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi. He is also the President of Arthritis Care Foundation and Indian Cartilage Society. Recently he was awarded Pride of Asia Award in Bangkok. He has been featured in Limca book of records four times in 2912, 2013, 2014 and 2016.He has made a record by publishing 58 research papers in one year alone (2015). He has more than 300 scientific research papers in peer reviewed and indexed medical journals, with the highest number of publications among 7000 Consultants of 69 Apollo group of hospitals. He is credited to have the largest published series on fracture of neck radius in children, Irritable hip, Megaprosthesis for resistant nonunion of the distal femur, Galeazzi variants in adults, and Acacia thorn injuries. Something Dreamy, Something Real, Priyanka Chopra's Bridal Shower Gown Is The OOTD Bollywood Wardrobe Devika Tripathi Priyanka Chopra looks stunning in her Bridal Shower; watch Video| FilmiBeat Well, it seems wedding is around the corner for Priyanka Chopra. The actress had quite a weekend as her stylist, Mimi Cuttrell took to her social media to post a picture of Priyanka. The diva looked absolutely gorgeous in her traditional white dress, which was a cross between dreamy and reality. Priyanka wore a gown by Marchesa for the joyous celebration. It was an off-shouldered piece that was structured and razor-sharp, but it also had an abstract and imaginative side to it. The bodice was satiny and was crafted from a free-flowing soft fabric, which accentuated her slender frame. The gown also featured subtle floral embroidery, which added an interesting dimension to her outfit. Her gown was splashed in an ivory hue- the traditional bridal colour. However, the gown was also enhanced by ruffled feathery detail. It was an eye-catching layer that made the gown look more contemporary. The sprinkle of feathers made the gown wispy, lightweight, and fun. Priyanka paired her white gown with beige-hued Louboutin pumps, which notched up her look. She accessorised her look with a delicate neckpiece. The makeup was nude and spruced up by a matte lip shade. Her side-swept tresses rounded off her look. So, how did you find Priyanka Chopra's outfit of the day? Feel free to share opinions in the comment section. 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 A local family is getting a hand with medical expenses from the Shriners for their son, who is living with a rare bone disease. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 26/10/2018 (1120 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Advertisement Advertise With Us A local family is getting a hand with medical expenses from the Shriners for their son, who is living with a rare bone disease. Cher Andruski, who lives in Brandon, said shes grateful for the assistance she has gotten from the organization to help out her son, 10-year-old Rainey Delaurier. SUBMITTED Cher Andruski, her son Rainey Delaurier and Shriner Wayne pose for a photo in Montreal in May. Delaurier was diagnosed with Olliers disease back when he was six years old. Its a rare bone disease that causes noncancerous growths of cartilage that affect growth plates, and leave the person susceptible to pathological fractures. "Theyre very supportive and willing to help in any way they can, its great what they do," Andruski said of the Shriners organization. Theyve paid for her and Rainey to fly to Shriners Hospital for Children in Montreal, she said. Although they have a doctor in Winnipeg who Rainey visits, this enables them to get a second opinion. If doctors in Winnipeg recommend something theyre not sure about, they can speak with a doctor in Montreal. "We can go out there and ask what suggestions they would have," she said. The Shriners will pay for their transportation from Winnipeg to Montreal, the hotel in Montreal, as well as pay for their flights to come back. And, the help extends to when they arrive at the airport in Montreal as well. "Theres a Shriner waiting with their [signature tall, red] hat and then they take really good care of you, drive you to the appointment and drive you back," she said. The assistance started when Andruskis partners dad read something about the Shriners hospital having more of a focus on very rare conditions. They thought they should give them a call, she said, so they called Shriners in Brandon. From there, it moved like clockwork. "They connected us with a Shriner in Winnipeg, who makes all the arrangements to getting to the hospital and hotels and everything," she said. While theyre in Montreal, they can also take time to see other specialists. Last time while they were there, they visited with a nutritionist, while also discussing whats to come, she said. "We do consults, so talk about what will happen in the future, what they can offer for treatments out there," she said. "For example, looking at correcting the deformities and leg-lengthening surgeries can be done out there, so thats something that we have an option of going out there [to Montreal] for the surgeries." Its also beneficial to go to Montreal because the doctors out there are familiar with that condition, she said. "Its such a rare condition, and it can be kind of scary to go to Winnipeg in the Emergency Room. A lot of times doctors have never even heard of that condition." The disease affects about one in 100,000 people, she said. So far, theyve been to Shriners Hospital in Montreal twice once in 2015 and once in May of this year for advice and medical help. As hes growing, it can make things more complicated, she said. "Things can change, and as he grows the leg length discrepancies will increase, so those are the kinds of challenges hes faced [with]," she said. Through the challenges, the help that the Shriners organization has provided them has been paramount, she said. "Its a really amazing service. Were well taken care of." mverge@brandonsun.com Twitter: @Melverge5 After years of practising ballet, 10-year-old Isabella Howland has gone to Toronto to follow her dreams of becoming a professional dancer. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 24/10/2018 (1122 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Advertisement Advertise With Us After years of practising ballet, 10-year-old Isabella Howland has gone to Toronto to follow her dreams of becoming a professional dancer. Howland, from Brandon, was accepted into the National Ballet School in Toronto earlier this year, after taking classes at the Brandon School of Dance. It was bittersweet to let her go, said Sabrina Guay, Isabellas mother. "At first it was difficult, but this is her dream, and this is what she wanted to do since she was little," Guay said. "I know that if I didnt let her go now, the chances of her getting in when shes older just makes it that much harder." Howland lives at the school in Toronto, where she has a more rigorous dancing schedule. This year, the Brandon School of Dance saw four dancers go off to pursue their dancing dreams Camilla Hood and Anne Forman went to the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, and Serena Froese and Howland went to the National Ballet School in Toronto. "Its very exciting, because its very rare that from one class the majority four of them gets into a professional school of the calibre of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School and the National Ballet School," said Maritel Centurion, director of the Brandon School of Dance. There are three things that help make a successful dancer, Centurion said. "Its their mind you have to have a good frame of mind to be able to take this discipline as well their physical facility and their spirit, a soul component," she said. "All three are necessary, and you dont get that very often." Isabella Howland has all three. On Saturday, she was back in Brandon with her mom for a week before heading back to school again in Toronto. Her goal after becoming a professional dancer is to teach dance. The 10-year-old twirled around the school of dance on Saturday, always practising. The school in Toronto has been great so far, Guay said. "Theyve been so accommodating. There are kids that go to school there during the day and their families have really stepped up and been in contact with me," she said. "They pick her up on weekends, they take her to their house and do family suppers with her, so she does get a family atmosphere once in a while." Her day at the ballet school in Toronto starts with academics from 8 a.m. to noon, followed by ballet for two hours after lunch, then a break, then more academics, and the day is finishes off with more dance. And theres always time at the end of the day to Skype her mom. "They have time set aside that we Facetime in the evening," Guay said. "Its good," Howell said. "Its far, but its easy because theres people who live farther than you do." Ever since she was little, she has been actively involved with dance. When she was seven, she won a trophy for a variety duet, and this year she won the junior ballet trophy, and came fourth place in Winnipeg in a competition. Although there have challenges since Howell has been away, its something Guay said she would encourage other families who may be on the fence about it to do. "I would totally recommend it," she said. "I look at it that it is only a plane ride away." mverge@brandonsun.com Twitter: @Melverge5 The voting for parliamentary, Wolesi Jirga, elections kicked off in southern Kandahar province of Afghanistan earlier today. With the Taliban operating freely across much of the country and heavy pressure from global partners for the vote to be held, the election was seen as a major test of the credibility of the government. Afghanistan's first parliamentary elections since 2010 were held against a backdrop of near-daily attacks by the Taleban, who have seized almost half the country and have refused offers to negotiate with the government. Kabul police chief spokesperson Basir Mujahid said the bomber exploded his vehicle outside the office of the Independent Election Commission after police suspected his intentions and opened fire. The election, held up for years amid disputes between political factions over voting rules, is one of the biggest tests of Afghanistan's ability to protect itself since an global security force mostly withdrew in 2014. Hajji Hamdullah Gulalai, head of one of the largest tribes in south Kandahar, complained bitterly about the chaos at polling stations, where workers were late arriving and had difficulty finding the names of people waiting to cast their ballots. It had also cautioned teachers not to use schools as voting booths. Voters also complained about problems with the voter lists and said that there were also problems regarding the biometric system. It was not immediately clear how many people were at the site at the time of the attack. Hottak said the vehicle bomb detonated in the provincial capital of Maidan Shahr as two busloads of mechanics arrived at the gate to begin their day's work. Voting centres opened at 7 a.m.in Kandahar on Saturday and were scheduled to remain open till 4 p.m., Election Commission spokesperson Abdul Aziz Ibrahimi was cited as saying by Efe news. Preliminary nationwide results are expected to be released in November. At least one policeman and civilian were killed in a suicide explosion bombing outside the offices of Afghanistan's election body in Kabul on Monday morning, TOLOnews reported, quoting police. Miller escaped unhurt, but US Brigadier General Jeffrey Smiley was among 13 people wounded in the shooting claimed by the Taliban. By Padraig Hoare A team at CIT is carrying out major research on golden opportunities for SMEs in the so-called silver economy, which is estimated to be worth 5.7 trillion in the next eight years. The Hincks Centre for Entrepreneurship at CIT said SMEs have a rapidly-growing untapped market of over 50s who tended to have greater access to resources both financial and time, and have different needs to younger customers. The cohort of older people have different needs again which creates a segmented market, leading to a golden opportunity for SMEs and the economy, according to the Hincks Centre, which is researching the value of the silver economy in the region and across Europe. Headed by Dr Helen McGuirk, the Hincks Centre is one of nine EU partners taking part in the European Interreg, co-funded Silver SME research. A European Commission study estimated in 2015 that the European silver economy is worth 3.7 trillion, will potentially be worth 5.7 trillion in 2025, will contribute 32% of GDP in Europe and support 38% employment. Hincks said that based on CSO and Commission figures respectively, the number of people over 50 in Ireland is estimated to increase from 31% in 2018 to 43% by 2050 and by 2060, one in three Europeans will be over 65. The aim of the Silver SME project is to improve regional policies for SMEs competitiveness by taking better advantage of opportunities derived from the silver economy, Hincks said. The project will conduct an analysis of the strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats (SWOT) of each of the nine EU partner regions, and produce a composite report before drawing up recommendations for regional policy. Silver economy CIT lead researcher, Dr Aisling Conway Lenihan, said the research would inform national and EU policy and will advance opportunities for the domestic and international SME sector. A key part of the collaboration of the partners across Europe is to identify inter-regional examples of good practice measures. These measures will support the research and the development of policy. Fianna Fail says delayed discharges of patients are leading to overcrowding in emergency departments. TD Mary Butler says over 136,000 hospital bed days have been lost through delayed discharges in the first eight months of the year. Patients are classified in this way when they no longer need to be cared for in an acute hospital setting. Deputy Butler says older people do not have the step-down facilities they need. "They're waiting to go home but they don't have the step-down facilities available to them. "Last week, for example, we learned from the Care Alliance report that 6,000 people are now waiting for home care services. That's an awful lot of people. "Unfortunately in an awful lot of instances, these people have to stay in hospital. They're in the acute hospital setting because there are no step-down facilities available for them." Digital Desk By Patrick Flynn An elderly man has been seriously injured in a single-vehicle collision in Co Clare. The alarm was raised at around 10.40am today when emergency services received a report that a car had collided with a wall at Kilcurrish about 6kms from Ennis. The incident happened on a country road just off the main Ennis to Corofin R476 route. Two units of the fire brigade from Ennis, ambulance paramedics and gardai responded to the incident. On arrival, emergency crews found a man, believed to be in his 70s, seriously injured in the car. The casualty was removed from the vehicle by fire crews and rushed by ambulance to University Hospital Limerick for treatment. The road was closed to traffic while emergency services dealt with the incident and until members of the divisional crime scene investigation unit completed their examination of the site. The road has since reopened while gardai from Ennis are investigating the cause of the collision. Emergency services were called to a house fire on the northside of Cork city in the last hour. The fire was reported to Cork City Fire Brigade at the house on Assumption Road, Blackpool at around 9.45am. Canadians were so excited about getting their hands on some legal, recreational marijuana the country is reportedly experience a shortage. Nevertheless, it seems that Canadians are happy to have joined the growing list of countries that have legalized marijuana. Canada's new law allows the taxation of legally produced cannabis. Former Toronto police chief Bill Blair has led the government's legalization program and told the CBC the Canada did not have enough supply to meet the demands for legal sales. "But, you know, they've got a pretty good infrastructure in place and I'm confident it will work". Canada is only the second country in the world to legalize and regulate the use of recreational cannabis. Although some cannabis companies, like MedMen, have posted large revenues with considerable expenses to counter its gains, other cannabis companies have enjoyed much rosier financial outcomes; such as Delta 9 Cannabis Inc. According to the new law, upper limit to carry cannabis in public is 30 grams. South Korea has warned its citizens against smoking marijuana in Canada, telling them that even though the country legalised weed last week, using it there was still an offence under Seoul's own laws. The average fee on outstanding shorts in the cannabis sector is 15.4 per cent, with Tilray costing 72 per cent to borrow as a result of high demand and a small public float, according to Ihor Dusaniwsky, head of research at S3. The Ontario Cannabis Store, the government-run website that's now the only way to buy marijuana in Canada's most populous province, said late Tuesday that it has processed more than 100,000 orders since October 17 but warned of longer-than-expected delivery times due to high demand and rotating strikes at Canada Post. They also estimate that almost 4.9 million Canadians smoke already. Gardai in Galway are investigating after a serious collision between a 20-year-old man and a minibus. The incident occurred on Sunday, October 28 in Indreabhan at around 11.05pm. By Stephen Maguire A county councillor has urged Presidential candidate Peter Casey to give his 100,000 expenses to the people of Donegal. Donegal county councillor Jimmy Kavanagh said there are many deserving charities in Donegal which the millionaire businessman could help. And if he didnt want to give it to one particular group, he could give the cash to Donegal County Council to go towards improving roads or water supply. Councillor Kavanagh said One of Peter Caseys ideas in running for the Presidency was that he would not accept a salary and instead give it to a different county council each month and let them choose a suitable charity. He performed really well in the election and as a result will have his expenses returned by the State, given that Peter is a big hearted man maybe he would consider donating that money to Donegal county council instead of taking it back. It would prove that Peter is indeed true to his word and would have acted on his promise had he been elected. There are many worthy causes in the County that could make great use of that money, Donegal Hospice springs to mind or Pieta House or indeed the Donegal Travellers Project. I would urge Peter Casey to investigate if it is possible for him to forego the return of his expenses and put it to good hear in the County where he lives, it would also be a nice gesture given that Peter pays his income taxes in the United States rather than to the Irish State. Casey told RTEs Today With Miriam Show that he will be recouping his expenses from the Presidential election and will donate the cash to a charity of his choice. He added that he plans to run in the next general election and will top the poll. Although Fianna Fail has appeared to distance themselves from the Greencastle-based businessman, he says he needs to align himself with a party. He said that although he has no Fianna Fail connections he would like to contest the next general election in Donegal as a candidate for the party. You have to be aligned to a party to be successful, he said. He said that the people who had voted for him, had done so out of frustration and managed to take 23% of the overall vote. The Confidence and Supply Agreement, between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, has not worked to anyones benefit, they wanted to send a message, to show how disconnected they are, the feeling that there is no light at the end of the tunnel. Mr Casey said he suspected that Mr Martin would not take his call and that he did not have his number. However, he added They definitely need someone like Peter Casey. I will definitely top the poll when I stand in Donegal. He said Donegal needs a strong candidate saying local TD Charlie McConalogue is a very strong candidate but had a swipe at another Donegal TD, Pat the Cope Gallagher. Pat the Cope Gallagher said he was passionate about standing for Donegal, then he put his hat in the ring for Ceann Comhairle. Thats a bit disingenuous. A protest will take place later outside Beaumont Hospital in Dublin over the HSE's failure to replace a machine which saves stroke patients lives. The Irish Heart Foundation has organised the demonstration at midday today, saying the equipment has broken down on several occasions. It is the final call for student grant applications. Susi, the national student grant awarding authority, says November 1 is the closing date for anyone applying for a grant for the current 2018/19 academic year. Communications Manager Aoife Greene says time is running out. "We're issuing our final call this week for student grant application," she said. "Our online system will be closing on Thursday, November 1 and after that you won't be able to make an application online. "We are looking for students to do that as soon as possible." Digital Desk The Sandinista Revolution (1979 1990), which sought to transform Nicaragua into a new Cuba, was well-known for many things, including the way in which it highlighted the new alliance between the Latin American Communist movements and liberation theologians. Among the Sandinista leaders was Father Ernesto Cardenal. He was the perfect prototype of the guerrilla priest: a Rosary in his pocket, Marxs Das Capital in one hand and an AR-15 in the other. In 1983, Nicaragua was also the scene of one of the very few disastrous trips of Pope John Paul II in 1983. The pope found himself having to deal with popular hostility encouraged by regime officials and liberationist priests. Upon his arrival in Managua, the world witnessed Pope John Paul II giving a lecture to Father Cardinal, telling him to regularize his situation with the Church. Perhaps it was at that moment that the Vatican and millions of Catholic outside Latin America realized the sheer chaos that Liberation Theology was provoking in the Catholic Church across the region. In a number of subsequent official documents, Cardinal Josef Ratzinger, the future Pope Benedict XVI, systematically refuted the many theological aspects of liberation theology. It marked the beginnings of a strong intellectual push back against liberation theology, which, it is fair to say, liberationists struggled to provide a coherent response. Orthodoxy seemed to have prevailed. Many people thought the victory was so clear that the conservative Catholic historian Ricardo de la Cierva proclaimed the death of Liberation Theology in 1996. More than three decades after the refutation made by Cardinal Ratzinger, however, liberation theology and its offshoots are still alive and active in the Latin American Catholic Church. Every political movement has two dimensions: the discursive and the political action. The discourse is a theoretical justification of the political movement; it stands, as the intellectual tradition which the movement claims for itself as a way to establish intellectual legitimacy. The dimension of political action is where the struggle for power occurs once the intellectual foundations have been established. In Marxism, praxis (action) and thesis (theory) function according to a dialectical logic in which one shapes the other. According to Marxist logic, it is the praxis that really matters. The theory functions as an icebreaker, as an instrument of domination. The theory is shaped to condition the intellectual environment to allow the success of the political action. According to the Austrian conservative philosopher Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihin, a coherent intellectual structure is thus ultimately unnecessary in Marxist-inspired movements, in particular, and leftist movements, in general; what matters to them is the seizure of power. The whole theoretical framework is submitted to the imperatives of political action. Hence, when Cardinal Ratzinger refuted the discursive dimension of liberation theology, it effectively meant nothing to liberation theologians. They did not really produce comprehensive rebuttals of Ratzingers criticism. Why? Because theological issues are not very important to them. Praxis is what counts for the liberationists. Thus as the theoretical dimension of liberation theology was being discredited, its adherents responded by (1) trying to stifle criticism of their theological beliefs and (2) seeking to take control of all centers of power in the Catholic Church in Latin America. Brazil is an excellent example of this process. Ratzingers critique of liberation theology did not change the behavior of the progressive clergy. As early as 1980, liberation theologians joined groups of unionists and ex-Marxist terrorists to create the Workers Party: the political party which two decades later elected Lula da Silva President of Brazil. One of the fathers of liberation theology, the former priest Leonardo Boff stated in his 1988 book, The Church Made People, that it was all a bold plan, conceived along the lines of the strategy of the slow and subtle occupation of spaces advocated by the Italian Communist theoretician Antonio Gramsci. For Boff and others, it was a matter of gradually filling all the decisive posts in the seminaries and universities religious orders, Catholic media, and the ecclesiastical hierarchy, without much fanfare, until the time when the great revolution could appear in public. But liberation theologys intellectual sterility and heavy reliance upon specific individuals who were focused on political action are some of the reasons it has lost so much traction in the Catholic Church in Brazil. People like the Brazilian Dominican Alberto Libanio Christo, more widely known as Friar Betto, and Leonardo Boff are still the leaders of the movement and failed to create successors. They are also quite elderly. The popularity of their ideas also began to decline in the face of the undeniable evidence that it was causing the Catholic Church in Brazil to lose adherents to the Protestant Churches. As the saying goes, The Church opted for the poor, and the poor opted for the Evangelicals. Significantly, Clodovis Boff Leonardo Boffs brother and also a priest not only left liberation theology circles but became one of liberation theologys greatest critics. He noted that the liberationists simply did not respond to major criticisms of liberation theology that Clodovis Boff found convincing (such as the error of transforming people in material poverty into the touchstone of theological truth) Liberation theology has thus lost strength because of the weakness in theory that, ultimately, they thought were not so important turned to be very important. The internal contradictions associated with Christian Marxism were unsustainable. It also had the problem of being unable to offer any deep spirituality. It is also worth noting that millions of Catholic laity throughout Latin America forthrightly rejected liberation theology. In Brazil, it was not only the obvious problems associated with trying to transfer Christ into a Lenin-like being. It was also the extreme politicization of the clergy advocated by liberation theologians which led many lay Catholics to reject not just liberation theology but also leftism more generally. The association of liberationist clergy the very corrupt Workers Party proved to be very damaging for the liberationist cause. Intellectually speaking, liberation theology has largely disappeared from much of the Church in Brazil. Few if any books are published on this revolutionary ideology. The Archbishop of Sao Paulo, Don Odilo Scherer, explained this way in an interview with a Sao Paulo newspaper in 2012: It was a moment in the history of theology. It has lost its own motivations because of Marxist background ideology atheistic materialism, class struggle, use of violence to achieve goals that are not compatible with Christian theology. That said, liberation theology is still present, though moribund, both in some universities, in certain faculties of theology, and populist preaching. It is still possible to note a Marxist outlook on the part of some older members of the clergy. It will, therefore, take a little more time for the effects of liberation theology to disappear from these spheres. In the last decade, new Catholic movements such as the Charismatic Renewal and the return of conservative Catholicism among the laity and much of the clergy have helped to push liberation theology to the periphery of Brazilian Catholic life. More generally, significant changes have been taking place in the Brazilian Catholic Church which are leading to a better understanding of the Churchs teachings. Hopefully, we are witnessing a process of rebuilding the Catholic Church in Brazil. Homepage photo credit: : . , . Author Volodymyr D-k. Wiki Commons. It is not clear how many people were on board. The Indonesian authorities have mounted a search and rescue operation for a missing Lion Air plane, which lost contact with air traffic controllers at 6.33am. "It has been confirmed that it has crashed", Yusuf Latif, a spokesman for the agency, said by text message, when asked about the fate of the plane. Flight Radar reported that the plane, powered by two CFM LEAP-1B engines, had been delivered to Lion Air in August this year. "We have forwarded the information to search and rescue teams". The plane was reportedly flying from Jakarta to Pangkal Pinang on the Indonesian island of Bangka. "We can not give any comment at this moment", Edward Sirait, chief executive of Lion Air Group, told Reuters. A spokesman for the air navigation company AirNav told the broadcaster Metro that the Boeing 737-800 had lost contact. There was no reports about the passengers on board. Two other ships, a tanker and a cargo ship, near the location were approaching the site, he said, and a Basarnas rescue boat was also on the way. Lion Air's Malaysian subsidiary, Malindo Air, received the very first global delivery. By the age of 34, Akiko Naka has already experienced more career-wise than most people do in a lifetime. She started by getting hired by Goldman Sachs, where she worked as an equity saleswoman. When she left that job, she tried to make it as a professional manga comic artist. When that didn't work out, she landed a job at Facebook. At 34, Akiko Naka has already put together a varied career. Credit:Bloomberg And not content to leave it at that, she quit to establish her own company, a recruiting social network called Wantedly Inc. She took it public on the Tokyo Stock Exchange last year, and is one of the youngest women to head a Japanese listed company. Naka is an example of a young Japanese person who's shunning what was long a standard career path in Japan - graduating from a top university and staking out a career at a major company. Instead, she's going it alone, seeking to harness the power of social media - and her own past experiences - to try to reinvent how recruitment functions. Frank Green founder Benjamin Young has spent 2018 designing a 'sippy cup' as he prepares to launch in the US. "We've just come out with a new sippy lid - everyone in America walks around with a cup with a straw in it for their filter coffees that they have," Young says. Frank Green founder and chief executive Benjamin Young. Credit:Justin McManus The coffee cup inventor says his team is finally in a position to set up shop in America, having spent significant resources developing a brand new product line including stainless steel reusable coffee cups in order to make a formal move into the US market. "Americans dont want plastic and they dont want glass. They dont want plastic because of BPA then they dont want glass because of the litigious nature of it - and glass does break, glass doesnt keep the heat in," Young says. So please, take a moment. Take a moment to try and understand the awfulness of it all before we get back to talking objectively about it. Its important. Most of us survive, and, if were lucky, get to appreciate the sounds of birds hurling crockery at each other in the trees of a summer morning. But, no matter how much we talk about it, it is in fact staggeringly, almost incomprehensibly awful. Like war, childbirth and other traumas, its almost impossible to explain if you havent been through it. Thirty years later, in the wake of the 2012 fatal gang rape in Delhi, that story went viral . Drawing on her own experience, and her work with hundreds of survivors as the head of a crisis centre in Boston, she has released a book striving to bring the subject of rape into the light and to change the way we talk about it. This is an excerpt from her book, What We Talk About When We Talk About Rape. New York-based author and former rape crisis centre manager, Sohaila Abdulali, was gang-raped as a teenager in Mumbai. Indignant at the silence on the issue in India , she wrote an article for a woman's magazine challenging the way in which rape and rape victims were perceived. I have one terrible fear about this book. Its worse than the fear of ridicule and negative reviews, or the fear of someone saying to me, Youre still talking about this? Its the fear that, in my hopes of contributing to the conversation in a level-headed manner, I will appear to be saying that rape is no big deal. Its the fear that, in saying it does not have to be the end of hope and light, I will appear flippant and not honour rape victims terrible suffering and trauma. Hence this chapter. Sometimes people intellectually understand that men can sexually force women, but have trouble comprehending the pain and indignity involved. Perhaps thats because, no matter how hard we scream and yell at Take Back the Night marches, rape does indeed have a lot to do with sex. Its like sexs evil twin. All the things that make sex wonderful intimacy, connection, sensation, choice make rape so horrible and hard to bear. And confusing. What should be transcendent isnt. What should be a sacred human connection, or even just a fun interaction, isnt. Rape is not a harmless fantasy of violation and domination. It is not a role-play with rules and limits or a titillating fetish. It is real, and it doesnt come with a safe word. Are you a person who has never had his or her body violated? I hope you never do. But, just for a moment, imagine this. Imagine someone, maybe someone you like, maybe someone youve never met, but someone who has momentary control of you, forces your legs apart, your mouth open, and rams a piece of himself inside the most intimate parts of you, the soft parts, the vulnerable parts, the trusting parts. There you are. You cant move. You cant breathe. You no longer belong to yourself. Maybe youre afraid youll die. Maybe youre afraid youll never ever feel good again. Maybe youre right. When youre down there, spread apart, with someone inside you, rape is not a metaphor. It is most definitely physical. Its blood and gore and tipped with poison, and it hurts. I read an article in the New York Times about a girl who shares my name. Souhayla is 16 years old, and escaped after three years in Mosul when her Islamic State captor was killed. She is Yazidi. She was thirteen when she was taken into captivity, and has spent the last three years being raped constantly and afraid for her life. When she first reunited with her family, she ran to them and hugged them. But soon she stopped speaking. Now she sleeps most of the time, and does not even have the strength to sit up. Doctors who have examined escapees like her have reported extraordinary signs of psychological injury. She and other escapees lie all day on mattresses, unable to move. If a Queanbeyan man who allegedly sold the rifle used to kill Colin Winchester had been loyal or fearful of the killer, why did he search for and deliver spent cartridges cases to the police? This is a question defence counsel George Georgiou, SC, asked jurors as part of his closing submissions in David Eastmans murder trial on Monday. Mr Eastman has pleaded not guilty to the murder of the then ACT police chief, Mr Winchester, on January 10, 1989. David Harold Eastman arrives at the Supreme court Credit:Karleen Minney The Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner was killed by two shots at close range as he sat in his car after he had pulled into his neighbour's driveway about 9.15pm. The local mayor has described the drownings of a Chinese father and son who were on holiday in the Whitsundays as "a tragic accident". Whitsunday mayor Andrew Willcox said the lagoon would reopen on Tuesday and the local council had given CCTV and other information to police as part of the coronial investigation into Sunday's drownings. Airlie Beach lagoon on Queensland's Whitsunday coast. Credit:Google Maps - Paul Toogood "The hearts and prayers of the Whitsunday community are with the family of the father and his son during this incredibly difficult time," he said. "I would also like to personally praise the efforts of all who assisted during all rescue and resuscitation attempts. Police have released footage of Toyah Cordingley's final moments, after CCTV cameras captured her at a north Queensland market she is believed to have visited before driving to a beach further north and being killed on the sand. The 24-year-old Cairns woman is believed to have died on Sunday, October 21, after she didn't come home that night and her body was found by family members on Wangetti Beach the following morning. Her dog was found alive by family on the same beach that same morning. CCTV cameras captured Toyah Cordingley at Rusty's Markets in Cairns the day she disappeared. Credit:QPS Detectives released vision of Ms Cordingley at Rusty's Markets in Cairns, where she visited between noon and 1pm on the day she disappeared, in the hope it would jog someone's memory and lead to them contacting police with vital information that could identify the killer. Investigators were also trying to track down a family, two adults and two children, who spoke to a couple with a dachshund in the southern car park at Wangetti Beach about 1.20pm on October 21. From the outside, the double storey orange brick house looks just like any other home dotted along the quiet residential street in Melbourne's leafy inner-east. But police on Monday morning discovered a sophisticated hydroponic marijuana crop growing undetected inside the house that sits just metres away from Kew East Primary School. Crop house in Kew East. Credit:Reddit Police raided the Kitchener Street house after aerial infra-red thermal technology detected suspicious temperatures inside the house. Images of the house posted to Reddit show yellow light beaming from the upstairs windows and clearly visible huge, green crops stretching almost as high as the ceiling. Slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi was about to disclose some detailed information about Saudi Arabia's use of chemical weapons in Yemen and the United Kingdom had been made aware of a planned plot against him weeks before he was killed in the Saudi Consulate building in Istanbul, a British tabloid claimed on Sunday. U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has said the killing undermines regional stability and has urged Saudi Arabia to conduct a full and complete investigation. Turkey says it has secret recordings of the events, which Turkish officials recently played for CIA Director Gina Haspel. Turkey says a trial in Turkey would be transparent, reflecting concerns about Saudi attempts to dodge responsibility for the killing. Cavusoglu called on Riyadh to conclude the investigation as soon as possible. "The whole world is curious". "I am sure the investigation will include the evidence that Turkey has put forward so far". The 59-year-old Washington Post contributor, who had criticised Saudi Arabia's powerful Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, vanished after entering the consulate on 2 October to obtain paperwork for his marriage to his Turkish fiancee. Mattis said he met Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir during a conference in Bahrain on Saturday and discussed the killing. Saudi officials, however, continue to characterize the killing as a rogue operation carried out by agents who exceeded their authority. Khashoggi, a onetime Saudi insider and USA resident who lived in self-imposed exile for nearly a year before his death, had written critically of the crown prince in columns for the Washington Post. Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu made the request on Monday, as Saudi Public Prosecutor Saud al-Mojeb arrived in Istanbul overnight, more than three weeks after he contradicted days of Saudi statements by asserting that the ill-fated journo was killed according to a plan, and not accidentally during a tussle in the diplomatic mission. Months later, al-Mojeb played a key role when high-level Saudi princes, businessmen, government officials and military officers were detained and stripped of significant sums of their wealth in exchange for freedom. 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. Riyadh has dismissed the request, saying they will be prosecuted in Saudi Arabia. Confidence in the WA economy may be up but a new report by CommSec released on Monday is a sobering reminder of just how far the state has fallen after the boom at the beginning of the decade. Western Australia ranked last in Commsec's State of the States report, and last or second last in every single economic indicator. The housing sector was still hurting according Commsec Credit:Tamara Voninski The report looks at the latest readings for indicators such as unemployment, the housing sector, construction activity, retail spending and economic growth and compares them with decade averages. WA ranked last in economic growth, unemployment and construction and seventh for the other five categories. An elderly woman who was thrown to the ground in a violent attack in Perth over the weekend has been treated in hospital for her injuries. The 87-year-old was on Cayley Street near the Glendalough train station on Sunday when a woman grabbed her handbag and threw her to the ground. The victim sustained lacerations, grazing and bruising. A 25-year-old woman from Mount Claremont is facing charges over the incident. She will face court on Monday. A woman who was targeted by thieves due to her disability says she is too frightened to leave the house following her ordeal. Tegan, 26, lives with spina bifida and was using her mobility scooter when she visited the Bentley Plaza Shopping Centre with friend Sam. About 10.30pm, Tegan took $50 from the ATM and was about to put it in her wallet when she was approached by a man. "[He] tried to snatch my $50 out of my hand," she said. A popular bar which has been at the forefront of re-energising Perth's cultural centre is facing the axe after the state government pulled its lease. The owners of the PICA Bar told Gareth Parker on 6PR's Morning Show they received a letter on Thursday ordering them out of the tenancy they sublease from the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA) on November 13. Brian Buckley and Melissa Bowen said they had been subsequently told they would be granted an extension while Culture and the Arts (WA) now part of the new Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries put the sublease for the bar out for expressions of interest. But they still face closure. A Perth drug trafficker has had his sentence slashed on appeal after successfully arguing the judge made a mistake about the quantity of methamphetamine involved in one of his five charges. Michael Ross Harvey was 39 in May last year when he was sentenced to eight and a half years in jail. The case was heard in the WA District Court. Credit:Emma Young The District Court of Western Australia heard Australian Federal Police intercepted the father-of-two talking with an unknown man overseas, who told him to pay Andrew Laird $10,000 and take a package from him. Laird, dressed as a female and carrying a sealed Australia Post box, went to a train station to meet Harvey but was arrested. Coalition conservatives led by former prime minister Tony Abbott are pushing back against moves to bring refugee children and their families from Nauru to Australia, as views soften in the government about getting minors off the island. Mr Abbott warned taking the remaining 50 children off Nauru would signal to asylum seekers that they could get to Australia if they just brought minors with them. "If we give them what they want, we will get more of them - that's to say, the boats will start up again," he told 2GB radio on Monday. "It's a very, very pleasant island": Tony Abbott warns against taking children off Nauru. Credit:Photo: Glenn Hunt "Of course 'kids off Nauru' is a great slogan, but it's a dreadful guide for policy because if we aren't allowed to have kids on Nauru, [asylum seekers will believe] just bring some kids with you and you automatically get to Australia." Former City of Perth chief executive officer Martin Mileham says he was not notified of his termination in any way, shape or form. A special council meeting held on Monday confirmed Mr Mileham's termination, which is to take effect immediately. Martin Mileham has been CEO at the City of Perth since 2016. Credit:City of Perth However Mr Mileham said he was only notified about the motion via the City of Perth website and in the media. "At the time of this release the termination of my employment has not been notified to me in any way, shape or form," he said in a statement released to the ABC. In todays news, technology is often maligned with stories of how the industry is driving racial and gender biases, eroding personal privacy, destabilising democracies and isolating communities. At the same time, technology such as open source software is bringing together people from all walks of life to address pressing social issues, one line of code at a time. GitHub a cloud based platform for developers is at the centre of the open source movement, playing host to a community of 31 million programmers globally contributing their time and expertise to software projects. Developers use GitHub to share the source code of their software for free so that others can take and modify for their own needs. It is also a platform where developers can come together and work collaboratively in teams to solve a particular problem through software. GitHub is used by everyone from individual developers and small startups to large companies like Microsoft (which acquired the site this year) and Google. Recently, at the annual GitHub Universe event in San Francisco, the company made a concerted effort to share the stories of creators that used open source software to make a social impact. Indonesian President Joko Widodo with former Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull. Credit:Amilia Rosa Denpasar: Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has taken a thinly-veiled swipe at the Morrison government's decision to consider moving the Australian embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, warning of a very negative reaction in Australias near neighbour and a risk to the national interest. And Mr Turnbull, following a half-hour meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Bali, also expressed confidence that the Indonesia-Australia free trade agreement would be signed in a matter of weeks, despite the diplomatic brouhaha. In a rebuke of Mr Morrisons proposal, which was floated during the Wentworth byelection, Mr Turnbull pointedly distanced himself from the idea. The conclusion that I took, and my government took, after very careful and considered advice was that a policy that is well over 40 years old, 50 years old, should remain exactly the same as it is, he said. 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. A child peeks out from her crib at Salhiya Orphanage. Credit:AP 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 towards 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. 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 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 $US1800 to another Iraqi militant. 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 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 afterwards. 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 about three years old only once since. Several months ago, she visited her at the Baghdad orphanage, spending two days with Maria. She did not recognise me, but I recognised her, Umm Maria said. How could I not? She is a piece of me. The Yazidis were estimated to number about 700,000 before 2014. Since the IS 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 3000 Yazidis remain missing or in captivity. Of these, experts believe, only a third may still be alive. The Yazidi community 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 Loading 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 nine-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 recognise you. We will make him forget everything. His comments came after Saudi Attorney General Sheikh Saud al-Mojeb met with Istanbul chief prosecutor Irfan Fidan in the Turkish city's main Caglayan court for around 75 minutes, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported. Earlier, Turkey pressured Saudi Arabia to allow inspections of both the consulate and the consul general's residence in Istanbul, and Turkish forensic officials did gain access to both sites - although after delays - and collected even more evidence. Pro-government Turkish media have published new photos of cars owned by the Saudi diplomatic mission being cleaned before police were allowed to search them. The killing has tainted the image of Prince Mohammed, who has positioned himself as a Saudi reformer, and tested ties between Washington and Riyadh as Western powers demand answers over Mr Khashoggi's death. He moved to the U.S. more than a year ago, where he continued to comment on his country both in print and on television. "We will know the truth", Jubeir said. Sources close to Jamal Khashoggi say the murdered Saudi journalist was to reveal details of Riyadh's use of chemical weapons in Yemen. Asked whether the United States would limit its support to the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, Mattis said on Sunday: "We'll continue to support the defence of the kingdom". A driver who drove some of the Saudi team to the airport after Khashoggi's murder told A Haber television that the men had appeared relaxed and cheerful, smoking and drinking alcohol on the way home. And there are strong indications that top Saudi leadership - Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman in particular - has been involved in the killing. The Saudi authorities initially denied they had anything to do with Khashoggi's disappearance before eventually admitting he had died in a fistfight with officials who had embarked on an unauthorised extradition operation. "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. Erdogan said on Saturday the extradition request was being relayed to Saudi Arabia via Turkey's Justice Ministry. 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. Khashoggi's body has not been found, although police have conducted searches of woods and farmland outside Istanbul. Khashoggi was, at one time, a consultant to Saudi intelligence and is generally believed to have been a regime insider. A campaign-era tweet about Hillary Clinton superimposed a Star of David over dollar bills. He said the white-supremacist marchers at Charlottesville last year were "fine people". Loading After I published a profile of Trump's third wife, Melania, that displeased her - and his supporters - the alt-right deluged me with anti-Semitic insults and imagery, culminating in clear death threats - such as an image of a Jew being shot execution-style or people ordering coffins in my name. When Trump was asked to condemn these attacks by his supporters, he said "I don't have a message" for them. That day, my terrified father called me and pointed out that it was the 26th anniversary of our family's arrival in America. Why had we come from the Soviet Union in the first place? My mother tells the story this way: "The decision came one summer when my little daughter was six months old and my older one was five," she said in a recent interview. "There were these persistent rumors of pogroms, because it was the upcoming 1000th anniversary of the Orthodox Church in Russia ... People were saying that the police had lists of Jews and their addresses, and they would give them out." Loading She began to talk about her maternal grandmother, Riva, a paediatrician who had to care for all her siblings after a pogrom had riven their Ukrainian town in the early years of the 20th century. "Her parents," my mother recalled matter-of-factly, were slaughtered "in front of nine children. All of them were there, forced to watch how their parents were brutally murdered." My mother had been deeply resistant to the idea of emigrating, but that day she gave my father dispensation to start the process. She understood, suddenly, that she lived in a political climate so tolerant of anti-Semitism that, by 1988, a pogrom was truly plausible. The nation was steeped in anti-Semitism. In the years after the nation lost 1 million of its Jews to the Nazis, Joseph Stalin had ushered in a campaign against "rootless cosmopolitans", including Jewish doctors who were supposedly poisoning their Gentile patients. Loading Suddenly, Riva's patients believed the government propaganda that she was trying to poison their children. Her daughter, my grandmother, told me recently that, even after watching her parents' execution, surviving two World Wars and a civil war, "this was the closest I've ever seen her to suicide". The campaign continued for decades, with Jewish quotas at universities, informal bans on Jews serving in certain politically sensitive professions, and constant anti-Zionist and anti-Semitic propaganda. In 1988, the year of my mother's panic, ultranationalist, anti-Semitic groups such as Pamyat ("Memory") emerged. They were curated and controlled by the KGB to galvanise the patriotic Soviet masses against the pernicious influences of the pro-Western - and heavily Jewish - intelligentsia. All of this gave licence to casual anti-Semitism in daily life. The state didn't have to tell everyday commuters to call my grandmother a "k---" in a crowded Moscow subway car. It didn't have to. It had made its preferences perfectly clear. Culpability is a tricky thing, and politicians, especially of the demagogic variety, know this very well. Unless they go as far as organised, documented, state-implemented slaughter, they don't give specific directions. They don't have to. They simply set the tone. In the end, someone else does the dirty work, and they never have to lift a finger - let alone stain it with blood. I saw it while reporting on Russia, where, after unexpected pro-democracy protests and the annexation of Crimea, Russian President Vladimir Putin created an environment so vicious, so toxic (he called his critics "national traitors" and "a fifth column") that, when assassins killed opposition leader Boris Nemtsov at the foot of the Kremlin walls in 2015, it was easy for people to blame the divisive political rhetoric as if it were a spontaneous weather pattern, rather than Putin himself for creating it. And everyone understood immediately the message it sent: dissent is a deadly business. Putin may not have ordered Nemtsov's assassination, but Russia's elite could clearly see he wasn't too upset about the outcome. Loading When I was faced with the anti-Semitic rage of Trump supporters defending "Empress Melania", I saw it clearly. Should Trump win the election, his followers - some of whom threw the word "k---" around as happily as they use the n-word - would be heartened and empowered, and they would quickly surpass the gas-chamber Twitter memes they were then deploying. In the 2 years that followed, Trump's tune has become a deafening roar. The closing ad of his campaign reprised the kind of anti-Semitic tropes that populated The Protocols of the Elders of Zion. "It's a global power structure that is responsible for the economic decisions that have robbed our working class, stripped our country of its wealth and put that money into the pockets of a handful of large corporations and political entities," Trump's voice said, as pictures appeared of then-Federal Reserve Board chairwoman Janet Yellen (a Jew), billionaire progressive donor George Soros (a Jew), and then-Goldman Sachs chief executive Lloyd Blankfein (also a Jew). The ad was called "Donald Trump's Argument for America". In fact, Trump had so much to say about the Jews that his Jewish son-in-law has had to publicly defend him as "not an anti-Semite". Loading But the anti-Semites have not been convinced. A month after he had ordered his trolls to attack me, white supremacist Andrew Anglin told the HuffPost what he thought of Trump's refusal to denounce them. "We interpret that as an endorsement," he said. To his readers, he wrote, "Glorious Leader Donald Trump Refuses to Denounce Stormer Troll Army." When Trump blamed "both sides" for Charlottesville, his supporters heard him loud and clear. "I knew Trump was eventually going to be like, meh, whatever," Anglin said. "Trump only disavowed us at the point of a Jewish weapon. So I'm not disavowing him." Many others in the alt-right praised Trump's statement as moral equivocation on Charlottesville. To them, this, rather than the forced, obligatory condemnation, was the important signal. (According to the Anti-Defamation League, the incidence of anti-Semitic hate crimes jumped nearly 60 per cent in 2017, the biggest increase since it started keeping track in 1979. What made 2017 so different? It was Trump's first year in office.) 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 When Trump called himself a nationalist in Houston last week, the alt-right knew exactly what he meant. One alt-right commenter was elated because nationalism "is inherently connected to race". Another wrote that he was "literally shaking" with glee. Still another wrote "THE FIRE RISES". The President did not tell a deranged man to send pipe bombs to the people he regularly lambasts on Twitter and lampoons in his rallies, so he's not at fault. Trump didn't cause another deranged man to tweet that the caravan of refugees moving towards America's southern border (the one Trump has complained about endlessly) is paid for by the Jews before he shot up a synagogue. Trump certainly never told him, "Go kill some Jews on a rainy Shabbat morning." But this definition of culpability is too narrow, too legalistic - and ultimately too dishonest. The pipe-bomb makers and synagogue shooters and racists who mowed a woman down in Charlottesville were never even looking for Trump's explicit blessing, because they knew the President had allowed bigots like them to go about their business, secure in the knowledge that, like Nemtsov's killers, they don't really bother the President, at least not too much. His role is just to set the tone. Their role is to do the rest. Brazilian politics lurched to the far right on Sunday after Congressman Jair Bolsonaro won the presidency of Latin America's largest nation. Bolsonaro, 63, is a former army captain who has appalled critics and thrilled supporters over his views on abortion, the environment, immigration, race, women and more. He won 55.2 per cent of votes cast with a promise to restore law and order and prioritise family values. Conservative Michel Temer has led Brazil for the last two years. His relatively brief tenure follows the impeachment of left wing President Dilma Rousseff. Bolsonaro is a pro-gun, pro-torture, small-government politician who said he is "in favour of dictatorship". He has been charged with hate speech by Brazil's Attorney-General and was stabbed and nearly died while campaigning for the presidency. Latest News Effi launches solution that can get brokers paid their commission on the day of settlement New product can reduce the time it takes for commissions to get paid from 45-60 days to just one NAB throws weight behind e-lodgement disruptor Sympli Major mortgage lender signs deal with conveyancing start-up An Australian financial services group has announced it is heading into the New Zealand market through a partnership with one of the countrys leading mortgage groups. Astute Financial Management (Astute) supports more than 500 members and provides solutions on finance, insurance and wealth, including the Astute Simplicity Home Loan. The joint venture will allow Astute to provide a more diversified product offering, through a partnership with Mortgage Express New Zealand. Astute will provide its fully integrated financial services model to the new joint project, which Mortgage Express will adopt in order to enhance its current service offering to their member base. Both groups have a strong focus on compliance, with Mortgage Express being early adopters of a new compliance regime in New Zealand. Director of Astute, Brad Wood, said, Astute have been in the Australian market providing services to high quality financial services businesses for over 18 years. We have been investigating our options to enter the New Zealand market for over five years but have been waiting for the right partner to work with. We have found that partner with Mortgage Express. We are really excited to be bringing this full-service financial model to New Zealand. It was very important to us, when looking to partner with someone in New Zealand, that our culture and values were aligned. We are very comfortable that this is the case with Mortgage Express, whose reputation is one of innovation, compliance and quality, values we hold dearly. Sarah Johnston, formerly of Mortgage Express and now incoming CEO of Astute Financial Management in New Zealand said, The joint venture opens up an opportunity for us to deliver a diversified product range to members in New Zealand and also to their clients. It will be a truly game changing offering for our members. We look forward to getting to work now and helping our members to grow a full service financial services experience. The official launch date of the venture is 1 November, when the existing business will roll into the new business. The joint venture is only with Mortgage Express in New Zealand and has no bearing on its Australian operation. Latest News Effi launches solution that can get brokers paid their commission on the day of settlement New product can reduce the time it takes for commissions to get paid from 45-60 days to just one NAB throws weight behind e-lodgement disruptor Sympli Major mortgage lender signs deal with conveyancing start-up After the recent announcement that the final major bank and its subsidiary will no longer offer reverse mortgages, an industry association is calling on brokers to fill the void. Commonwealth Bank of Australia and Bankwest will be dropping their reverse mortgage products from 1 January 2019. The Finance Brokers Association of Australia (FBAA) said this was an opportunity for brokers who understand the offering and the needs of their clients. Peter White, who is now operating under the new title managing director of the FBAA, said banks had just put reverse mortgages in the too hard basket. He added, They have become almost scary for some because of the well-publicised failures, but often those failures are because banks have been negligent in their assessment of the needs of older Australians. Earlier this year the FBAA said there should be mandatory training and accreditation for anyone offering reverse mortgages to ensure borrowers receive the right advice and understand the long-term implications and opportunities. White said while the FBAA introduced a leading-edge course that helps educate brokers about the product, its time for all brokers to consider this market. Sign up for our PoliticsNY newsletter for the latest coverage and to stay informed about the 2021 elections in your district and across NYC Bear with them! A superhero team of humans-turned-bears will save the world in Bear Squad, a television show that only exists as a bunch of bunch of drawings and a script, to be read aloud by a group of comedians at Friends & Lovers in Crown Heights on Nov. 3. The show satirizes 90s era superhero cartoons, adding the grizzly twist that the heroes tear deserving criminals apart with their bear hands, said its creator. Its like a light-hearted goofy superhero show where bears start mauling criminals, said Cobble Hill comedian Jeremy Kaplowitz, who also created the Lizard People of New York Facebook page. Its very violent, sort of like a combo of the newer Batman combined with the fun silly Batman movies, trying to combine those two facets of superheroes. The roughly 90-minute show features three bears and their leader, living in a make-believe Great White North where superheroes transform into large furry mammals hungry for criminal nogoodniks, said Kaplowitz. The script is about a team of superheroes who have the ability to turn into bears and maul criminals, he said. It takes place in a whimsical version of Canada that doesnt really exist. Its a whole bunch of animals, its like a silly sort of cross between talking animals and superheroes. The cast fur the reading will feature a dozen comedians, including veterans from Upright Citizens Brigade, Funny or Die, and MTV. While they read on the stage of the Crown Heights venue, Kaplowitz will project about 50 of his creative illustrations behind them, in order to take people on a visual journey as the team bears the burden of fighting villains, he said. Kaplowitz based his script on a song, also called Bear Squad, that he and his friends wrote in college. He turned the lyrics into a satirical and gory superhero comedy, he said. It was a very simple thing I sort of extrapolated into characters, said Kaplowitz. Its very silly, dark, and satirical. I think its going to be really fun. Bear Squad at Friends and Lovers (641 Classon Ave. between Pacific and Dean streets in Crown Heights, www.fnlbk.com). Nov. 3 at 8 pm. Free. Reach reporter Julianne Cuba at (718) 2604577 or by e-mail at jcuba @cngl ocal.com . Follow her on Twitter @julcuba. Sign up for our PoliticsNY newsletter for the latest coverage and to stay informed about the 2021 elections in your district and across NYC Its a spook-tacular Windsor Terrace tradition! A menagerie of costumed canines dressed to impress on Sunday for a neighborhood animal rescues annual Halloween event that a dog owner praised as one of the boroughs favorite fall pastimes. The dogs all come dressed up in their Halloween costumes, and theyre really cute, said Windsor Terrace resident Waleska Salgazo, who dressed her pitbull-shih-tzu-mix Leia as a candy-corn witch for the occasion. Do-gooder Sean Casey and employees of his eponymous no-kill shelter celebrated the 10th installment of their beloved Howl-o-ween costume contest at the bash outside the E. Third Street facility between Fort Hamilton Parkway and Caton Avenue, which raises some $15,000 annually to ensure continued operation of the rescue that takes in roughly 2,000 critters of all sizes and shapes each year, a co-organizer of the pup party said. More than 100 dolled-up doggies paraded down the catwalk during this years freaky fashion show, showing off costumes that included pumpkins, rabbits, and French dandies, and only a few of the tail-wagging models let their egos get the better of them, according to Helen Bowers, an employee of local dog-walking outfit Brooklyn Bark, which partnered with Casey to throw the event. The dogs were delightful, and well behaved mostly, said Bowers, who came to the event dressed as the devilish dognapper Cruella de Vil from The Hundred and One Dalmatians. The fashionable face-off which awarded one lucky mutt with the honor of Best Costume, and named two four-legged runners-up unfolded as part of a larger block party that also featured a show of costumed kids, as well as prize raffles and Italian and barbecue grub. Other canine-themed attractions included a portrait station staffed by a photographer for the Westminster Kennel Clubs dog shows and a kissing booth worked by a couple of furry smoochers, according to Salgazo, who said she was all too pleased to spend some cash at the festivities in support of the local shelter. They had a cute kissing booth where you got to kiss one of the dogs, she said. All the proceeds go to Sean Casey, so we were happy to do everything there. Reliance Industries, currently India's second most valuable listed company, got rich by trading fuel across Asia, Africa and Europe while effectively ignoring its home market. Reliance's refineries processed crude from the nearby Middle East and sold fuel to fast-growing markets in North Asia including China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. That began to change when India's oil demand surged, overtaking Japan as the world's third-biggest consumer. Reliance took more interest in the country's retail fuel sector and has opened more than 1,300 service ... 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 IBM is making a big move to bring more software developers under its wing by acquiring Red Hat, the largest distributor of the popular open-source operating system Linux, for $34 billion. The purchase, announced on Sunday afternoon, is the latest competitive step among large business-software companies seeking an edge in the fast-growing market for cloud computing. In June, Microsoft acquired GitHub, a major code-sharing platform for software developers, for $7.5 billion. With the deal for Red Hat, IBM is trying to position itself as a kind of corporate ... The Supreme Court Monday stayed the Bombay High Court order refusing extension of time to the state police for filing chargesheet in the Koregaon-Bhima violence case. Recently, the Bombay High Court had set aside the lower court's order allowing extension of time to police to file its probe report against the rights activists in the violence case. Taking note of the appeal of the Maharashtra government, a bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi stayed the high court order and issued a notice to rights activists on the plea. Earlier, the apex court had refused to interfere with the arrest of five rights activists by the Maharashtra Police in connection with the Koregaon-Bhima violence case and declined to appoint a SIT for a probe into their arrest. The Pune Police had arrested lawyer Surendra Gadling, Nagpur University professor Shoma Sen, Dalit activist Sudhir Dhawale, activist Mahesh Raut and Kerala native Rona Wilson in June for their alleged links with Maoists under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The arrests had followed raids at their residences and offices in connection with the Elgar Parishad conclave held in Pune on December 31 last year, which, the police had claimed, had led to violence at Bhima Koregaon the next day. Indian pilot Bhavye Suneja was killed on Monday after the ill-fated Indonesian plane he was flying crashed into the sea, the Indian Embassy in Jakarta said. The a Lion Air plane flight JT610 en-route to Pangkalpinang crashed with 188 passengers and crew near Kerawang, 13 minutes after taking off from Jakarta Soekarno Hatta International Airport. "Our deepest condolences on the tragic loss of lives in the Lion Air Plane crash, off the coast of Jakarta today. Most unfortunate that Indian Pilot Bhavye Suneja who was flying JT610 also lost his life... Embassy is in touch with Crisis Center and coordinating for all assistance," Indian Embassy in Jakarta tweeted. The flight carried 178 adults, 1 child and 2 infants. The plane also had 3 crew under training and 1 technician, the airline said in a statement. The Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft was commanded by Captain Suneja and co-pilot Harvino with six cabin crew members. The 31-year-old captain has 6,000 flight hours and the co-pilot more than 5,000 flight hours, the statement said. The on Monday stayed a Madras High Court order directing a CBI probe against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. into allegations of irregularities in the award of tenders. A bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and K.M. Joseph stayed the order after hearing senior counsel C.A. Sundaram, appearing for Palaniswami, and advocate Mukul Rohatgi for Tamil Nadu. The apex court also issued notice to DMK MP R.S. Bharathi who had filed a petition accusing of misusing his official position to allocate various road construction projects to companies owned by his relatives and others. The Chief Minister has contended that the Madras High Court had wrongly passed the order without issuing him a notice and providing him an opportunity to defend himself. The High Court order had come on Bharathi's plea seeking direction to the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) to register a case against the Chief Minister. It rejected a preliminary report submitted by the DVAC giving clean chit to the Chief Minister. US is unlikely to accept India's invitation to be the chief guest at the celebrations, sources said Sunday. The US is understood to have conveyed to that may not be able to honour the invitation as he will have pressing engagements, including his (SOTU) address, around the time will celebrate its This comes at a time when Indo-US ties have witnessed some strain after went ahead and sealed a deal with 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 has already shortlisted names of two-three heads of states for extending invitation to be chief guest at the parade. Earlier this year, the US announced sanctions against under CAATSA for its alleged meddling in the American in 2016. Under CAATSA, the US can punish entities and governments engaged in transaction with the defence or intelligence establishment of India and the US were in touch with each other over New Delhi's invite to 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, 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 had invited Trump for a bilateral visit to India during their talks in in June 2017. Every year, India invites world leaders to attend its Republic Day celebrations. In 2015, the then US had attended it as the chief guest which was his second visit to India as American president. This year, leaders from 10 ASEAN countries had attended the Republic Day celebrations. In 2016, the then French president was the chief guest of the parade while Japanese Prime Minister 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. Simply defined, democracy is a system of governance which is for the people, by the people and of the people. Primary healthcare, similarly defined, is healthcare provided to all, especially the most marginalised, with their participation and for their needs. If the primary healthcare system of a country is not functioning well, it is symptomatic of problems in its democracy itself. In a democracy, the government acts in the best interests of the people because if it doesnt, it will be voted out. Amartya Sen and Jean Dreze have argued that this is one of the reasons ... Amid differences between the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the finance ministry, officials said the government was upset with the central bank for not consulting it before finalising norms for prompt corrective action (PCA) and classification of non-performing assets (NPAs). The RBI did not discuss these at its board meetings either, a senior government official said. The PCA framework was revised and tightened in April 2017, but there was no discussion in any board meeting. The government does not know the rationale behind revising the framework and how the RBI arrived at it. ... The government is considering a proposal to increase import duty on aluminium with a view to supporting domestic players, sources said. The industry has demanded an increase in import duties on aluminium scrap and primary aluminium amid a high growth in inwards shipments of these items, they said. Chairman Anil Agarwal, too, has asked the government to increase import duty on primary and scrap aluminium to 10 per cent, noting that India was becoming a dumping ground amid ongoing tariff war between the US and China. Currently, the basic customs duty on aluminium scrap and primary aluminium is 2.5 per cent and 7.5 per cent, respectively. The industry has also urged the government to consider imposing minimum import price and some kind of quota on the imports for the user industry. Total production of aluminium in India is about 4 million tonnes and consumption is about 3.6 million tonnes. The Aluminium Association of India (AAI) has urged the government to increase the duty on imports of aluminium scrap. The demand comes in the wake of the US imposing 10 per cent duty on certain aluminium products. China, too, has raised the duties. The association has said that an estimated 30 per cent of China's aluminium scrap imports come from the US. In this regard, a delegation of the association had met Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) Secretary Ramesh Abhishek. Aluminium is required by industries like automobile, construction, consumer goods, etc. All these industries are growing in India and the country is producing sufficient amount of required metal domestically, AAI has said. As per estimates, during the first quarter of the current fiscal, imports of aluminium scrap increased to 36,000 tonnes from 16,000 tonnes. and his Japanese counterpart held delegation-level talks Monday during which the two leaders discussed a range of bilateral, regional and global issues including the situation in the Indo-Pacific region. The formal summit comes a day after the two prime ministers spent about eight hours together at a picturesque resort near Mount Fuji in Yamanashi prefecture discussing ties between the two countries and ways to deepen strategic dimension of the bilateral relationship. Modi, who arrived in Japan Saturday to attend the 13th India-Japan annual summit, was given a guard of honour upon his arrival for the annual summit talks at the Kantei, the Prime Minister's Official Residence. 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. It is Modi's 12th meeting with Abe since he first visited Japan as prime minister in September 2014. During the formal summit, Modi is likely to 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, where China is flexing its muscles. 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". India and Japan Monday concluded a $75 billion bilateral currency swap agreement, a move that will help in bringing greater stability in foreign exchange and capital markets in the country. The agreement will further strengthen and widen the depth and diversity of economic cooperation between the two countries. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is visiting Japan, and his Japanese counterpart held delegation-level talks during which the two leaders discussed a range of bilateral, regional and global issues including the situation in the Indo-Pacific region. "With a view to enhancing financial and economic cooperation, governments of Japan and India welcomed the agreement to conclude a Bilateral Swap Arrangement (BSA) of $75 billion," said India-Japan Vision Statement issued after the summit-level meeting between the two leaders. The swap agreement, a Finance Ministry's release said, should "aid in bringing greater stability to foreign exchange and capital markets in India...This facility will enable the agreed amount of foreign capital being available to India for use as and when the need arises". Recognising the unparalleled potential for development of relations between the two countries, the prime ministers reviewed the significant milestones achieved over the last four years. Monday said it has partnered with (CII) to train small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurs on using the messaging platform to connect with customers and growing their businesses. and will work to enhance business communication for Indian through CII's SME Technology Facilitation Centre that was set up in November 2016, a statement said. and will also develop informative content to be distributed among entrepreneurs both in physical and digital formats, it added. Neerja Bhattia, Executive Director at CII, said the centre provides an opportunity to its technology partners to expand their market and reach out to spread throughout the country with their product and services. The centre was set up to help in India with technological solutions that can be optimally adopted to enhance overall competitiveness. According to the statement, there will be on-ground training around the country to explain the features and best practices on the WhatsApp Business app that was launched in January this year. Over three million people are already using the WhatsApp Business app globally. "...business owners located in the hinterland will have the opportunity to attend training webinars to help them grow and expand their businesses. The training material will be available on the SME website," it added. Ben Supple, Public Policy Manager at WhatsApp, said small businesses need to meet their customers where they are. "...in India, that's on WhatsApp. With the WhatsApp Business app, small businesses can easily and efficiently connect with their customers, and we'll be introducing new features in the future to continue helping them grow," he added. The Congress on Monday launched a dedicated website to take suggestions from the public to prepare the party's manifesto for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections under the theme 'Jan Aawaz' (people's voice). At a press in conference New Delhi, senior party leader and former Finance Minister P launched the dedicated website -- www.manifesto.inc.in -- to receive suggestions from the public. He said that the website has the option for 16 languages and also a dedicated WhatsApp number to receive suggestions. "We hope that millions of people participate in the manifesto consultations," said. The former Minister announced that the "Congress has started work to write it's manifesto for the 2019 elections", adding that a 22 member committee has been constituted to make it. "The process of consultation started on October 1," said, adding that there were over 20 subjects that would be taken care of including agriculture, economy, industry and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME). "Till date, over 30 consultations have taken place for the preparation of the manifesto and about 150-160 more till December end." The Congress Working Committee will take a decision on a draft manifesto prepared by the committee. The manifesto will be launched at an appropriate time before the 2019 elections, Chidambaram added. The held a core committee meeting on Monday to prepare a list of probable candidates and discuss political equations ahead of the assembly elections in Rajasthan due December 7. Speaking to reporters here, state Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Arun Chaturvedi said the conclusions drawn from the meeting would be presented before the central election committee of the party in New Delhi on November 1. The parliamentary board of the party would decide the final names of the candidates, he said, adding that the meeting would also be held on Tuesday. Chaturvedi said the core committee is working on all 200 assembly seats in the state. 'Winnability' of candidates and their dedication towards the party would be considered before finalisation of names, he said. A suggestion of candidate names meeting was held in Ranakpur and Jaipur earlier this month. So far, the party has received nearly 7,000 applications from interested persons for contesting elections. The meeting was attended by union ministers Arjun Ram Meghwal, Gajendra Singh, C R Chaudhary, party vice-president Om Mathur, state chief Madan Lal Saini, Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rajendra Rathore. president Monday began his two-day tour of politically significant Malwa-Nimar region in the poll-bound Madhya Pradesh by offering prayers at the famous Mahakaleshwar temple, devoted to Lord Shiva in Ujjain. Clad in a 'dhoti', he performed 'puja' at the ancient temple, which is one of the 12 'Jyotirlingas' (special shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva) in the country. It was Gandhi's second visit to the shrine. He had last visited the temple in 2010, a party leader said. Wearing cream-coloured 'shola' (dhoti called in temple dialect), the chief entered the sanctum sanctorum along with state party unit president Kamal Nath and campaign committee chairman Jyotiraditya Scindia. The 48-year-old Amethi MP performed the puja amid chanting of 'mantras' (hymns) by temple priests. Gandhi's grandmother and former prime minister Indira Gandhi, his father Rajiv Gandhi and mother Sonia Gandhi too had visited the temple in 1979, 1987 and 2008, respectively to pay their obeisance to Lord Shiva, state spokesman Pankaj Chaturvedi told PTI. The Gandhi scion performed the puja of Lord Mahakal (Shiva) for around half an hour, he said. The Congress, had last year, said Gandhi was an ardent "Shiv bhakt". In August this year, he had undertaken Kailash Mansarovar Yatra to seek blessings of Lord Shiva. BJP president Amit Shah had visited the temple on July 14. He had then flagged off the 'Jan Ashirwad Yatra' of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Madhya Pradesh, where the Congress is in opposition since 2003, will go to polls on November 28. During his two-day tour, the Congress chief will visit Malwa-Nimar, a politically crucial region which accounts for 66 of the 230 assembly seats in the state. In the 2013 assembly elections, the BJP had won 56 seats in the region. The Congress had managed to bag just nine seats, while one went to an Independent. During his tour, Gandhi would address rallies in Jhabua, Indore, Dhar, Khargone and Mhow, and also take part in a road show in Indore. He will also address a rally in Ujjain Monday afternoon. Shortly after US President Donald Trump announced in May he would reimpose sanctions on Iran, the State Department began telling countries around the world the clock was ticking for them to cut oil purchases from the Islamic Republic to zero. The strategy is meant to cripple Iran's oil-dependent economy and force Tehran to quash not only its nuclear ambitions but this time, its ballistic missile programme and its influence in Syria. With just days to go before renewed sanctions take effect November 5, the reality is setting in: three of Iran's top five customers - ... Moroccan security services have announced the arrest Saturday of an engineering student with ties to the jihadist terror group, ISIS. The arrest was made in the city of Mohammedia (near Casablanca) by Moroccos FBI, Central Bureau of Judicial Investigation (BCIJ). According to Moroccan authorities, the captured ISIS member was planning a terrorist plot to undermine the stability of the country by using an explosive belt. The investigators seized in his lodging computers, two hard disks, several CDs, two mobile phones, diving equipment, a wooden stick, electrical cables, a voltmeter, and an adhesive tape. In September, BCIJ arrested 12 jihadists operating in Casablanca and Tangier. Since its creation in 2015, the BCIJ has arrested hundreds of suspected terrorists and dismantled nearly 60 terrorist cells. Morocco has a comprehensive counterterrorism strategy that includes vigilant security measures, regional and international cooperation, and counter-radicalization policies. Thanks to this strategy, there have been no terrorist attacks on Moroccan soil since 2011. The authorities have placed counterterrorism at the top of priorities following the Casablanca terror attacks in 2003 and the two subsequent attacks of 2007 and 2011. Moroccos counterterrorism efforts mitigated the risk of terrorism, but the country continues to face threats, largely from numerous small, independent violent extremist cells. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has told leaders of her Christian Democrats (CDU) that she will not seek re-election as party chairwoman at a conference in early December, a senior party source said on Monday. Merkel, 64, has been CDU chairwoman since 2000 and giving up the role would start a race within the party to succeed her as chancellor. The euro fell to session lows on the news. German news agency DPA, citing sources, tweeted that Merkel wanted to remain chancellor. Monday's developments come after the CDU came home first but bled support in a vote in the western ... 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 ... On January 17 1803, a young man named George Forster was hanged for murder at Newgate prison in London. After his execution, as often happened, his body was carried ceremoniously across the city to the Royal College of Surgeons, where it would be publicly dissected. What actually happened was rather more shocking than simple dissection though. Forster was going to be electrified. The experiments were to be carried out by the Italian natural philosopher Giovanni Aldini, the nephew of Luigi Galvani, who discovered animal electricity in 1780, and for whom the field of ... The Supreme Court on Monday issued a notice to activist Gautam Navlakha on a petition related to his transit remand and house arrest in the Bhima Koregaon case. The petition was filed by Maharashtra government against the Delhi High court order which had allowed Navlakha's release from house arrest. The apex court also set aside a Bombay High Court order that had refused to grant more time to Pune Police for filing the charge sheet against some activists arrested in the case. A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India issued notice to Navlakha who is one of the five activists arrested in the case. The Bench also set aside Delhi High Court order of quashing Navlakha's transit remand. On October 1, the Delhi High Court had freed the activist from house arrest, which, earlier had been extended by the apex court to four weeks. The High Court bench, while delivering the judgement, had said that the detention was untenable in law. Navlakha, along with four activists, was detained on August 28 for his alleged involvement in the violence that erupted in Pune district in January this year during an event organised to mark 200 years of the Bhima Koregaon battle. The clashes left one person dead and several others injured, including 10 policemen. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Locals of Pakistan and China will soon have the option to travel to either of the countries on road, as a bus service between has started between Lahore (Pakistan) and Tashkurgan (Kashgar - China). Passengers availing the service will have to shell out PKR 23,000 per ticket for a round trip, while a one-way ticket from Lahore to Tashkurgen will cost PKR 13,000 per person. Similarly, a one-way ticket from Tashkurgen to Lahore will cost RMB 600 per seat. In a journey spanning two days, the passengers will have multiple stops, including one at Islamabad or Rawalpindi to pick passengers, and scheduled stops at Mansehra for breakfast, Besham for lunch, Chelas for tea and Gilgit for dinner on a trip from Lahore to Tashkurgan on the first day. On the second day of the journey, a breakfast halt will be made at Sost before heading towards the Sost border for immigration, customs, and lunch. The bus will cross over to China through the Khunjerab Pass at the Pakistan-China border, where checking will take place twice- once on the Pakistani side and once on the Chinese side. Similarly, the bus originating from Tashkurgen (China) will start at 11:00 am (local time) and will travel through Khunjerab pass before taking the Sost-Gilgit-Chilas-Besham-Mansehra-Islamabad or Rawalpindi-Lahore route. Passengers have been asked to carry a valid passport, 'NIC', visa and a return ticket as travel documents for the commute. The bus will ply from Lahore on Monday, Tuesday, Saturday, and Sunday, while the bus will be available for departure from Tashkurgan on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Special arrangements have been made for the security of the passengers and the service, while the driver will have all information to contact security guards at various check posts. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and member of Zila Panchayat, Nandlal Mudami was attacked by Naxals in Palnar area of Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district on Sunday. He has been admitted to the district hospital and his condition is critical. "Mudami played a major role in bringing people in Palnar to the mainstream. This angered the Naxals. We used to keep getting the info that they are planning to strike back," said Abhishek Pallav, Superintendent of Police, Dantewada. "Some villagers are involved in this case too. We have launched an investigation and will soon arrest all the culprits," Pallav added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) According to a recent study, images of diseased body parts and smoking horror stories told by real people would be most influential in getting smokers to stop smoking. At least 120 countries around the world require pictorial warning labels on cigarette packages. For example, gangrene feet or a dead body. But the United States is notably missing from the list. Despite a 2009 Congressional act instructing the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to implement pictorial warning labels, American cigarette packs still contain text-only warnings. A new court order issued in September 2018 says the FDA must speed up its timeline for the implementation of pictorial warning labels. A new research from the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania aimed to contribute valuable research toward this end. Researchers analyzed more than 300 pictorial warning labels to determine which features most effectively get smokers to quit. They found that the testimonial frameworks and images of diseased body parts were the most effective individual features. Jazmyne Sutton, lead author of the study, said, "Humans act in response to our emotions. When we feel a negative emotion--like fear, disgust, etc.--we want to avoid the source of that emotion." The study, "Perceived Effectiveness of Objective Features of Pictorial Warning Messages," was published in Tobacco Control. As part of the study, to analyze the various features used in pictorial warning labels, the researchers collected more than 300 warning labels from various sources. They used pictorial warning messages on cigarette packs in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom; pictorial warning messages proposed by the FDA that have not been implemented; a set of anti-smoking messages produced by tobacco companies; testimonial pictorial warning messages developed for an experimental study; and pictorial ads used in various local and national campaigns. The researchers identified 48 objective features that could be present in the ads, including factors like image colour, photo type, the presence of male or female characters, presence of medical equipment, and argument type. They then recruited nearly 1,400 current smokers to view the ads and answer questions about how the ads affected them. The researchers said they hope that this study can offer generalizable guidelines for label designers to create more effective pictorial warning messages, which will eventually impact smoking-related attitudes and promote behavior change. In upcoming studies, they will focus on the relationship between text that appears on the labels and the pictorial elements. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Algerias ailing President Abdul Aziz Bouteflika, in power since 1999, will be candidate to his own succession in 2019. The no-news was announced Sunday by the head of Bouteflikas ruling National Liberation Front Djamel Ould Abbes. Outgoing President Bouteflika will be the partys candidate at the presidential elections set for April 2019, the FLN Secretary General said. His candidacy (for a fifth term) has been demanded by all the FLN cadres and activists across the country, Ould Abbes said at a ceremony in honor of the new leader of the FLN parliamentary group, Mohamed Bouabdallah. According to Ould Abbes, the FLN Central Committee will meet very soon to formalize Bouteflikas candidacy. Bouteflika, 81, has been at the helm of Algeria since 1999, but has been incapacitated since he suffered a stroke in 2013. Since his re-election in 2014, his public appearances have become very rare and he regularly goes to France or Switzerland for medical treatment. He made his latest public address to the nation more than six years ago. If he wins the 2019 polls, he will be 87 at the time of the following elections, in a country where more than 40 percent of the 41-million strong population is under 25. Actually, Bouteflikas candidacy for a fifth term at the head of Algeria is far from having unanimous support, even within the FLN itself. It also comes in a particular context marked by the sacking of senior Algerian army officers and following what analysts called a coup against the speaker of the National Peoples Assembly Said Bouhadja, who had been replaced by Mouad Bouchareb. Prominent Algerian academics, writers and politicians wrote an open letter last May urging Bouteflika not to run, saying his frail health would prevent him from effectively leading the country. And just last week, Louisette Ighilahriz, a figure of the Algerian war of independence, resigned from the Senate to protest against Bouteflikas candidacy for a fifth term in office: I keep all my faculties, but I cannot vote for someone invisible. The president is being held hostage, the Senator said. However, besides the FLN, the National Rally for Democracy and the Rally for Hope for Algeria -the three parties holding the majority in the lower house of parliament and having links to the presidencys inner circles or military intelligence apparatus are in favor of extending Bouteflikas tenure. They are acting so to protect their interests as the country is at grips with growing social woes and popular resentment. Hours after the Supreme Court adjourned the Ayodhya title suit till January 2019, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy said that the court is not above the Parliament and that he would raise the issue in the upcoming winter session. Swamy also said that the Parliament has the right to alter laws and the apex court can only consider whether they are in violation of the Constitution or not. He further said that the top court cannot pass any law and only the Parliament can. "So they have put it off to January, that's the court's authority but in my opinion Parliament also has an authority. The court is not above Parliament. This mistake should be removed from the minds of the people. We have the right to alter laws. The Supreme Court can consider whether this is a violation of the Constitution or not. Nothing more than that. Supreme Court cannot pass any law, only Parliament can," the BJP leader said. "In my opinion, we should do it (bring an ordinance on the matter). We have waited enough. This is the matter for which it's very clear that there was a Ram temple. I will raise it in the Parliament session. No question about it that we should bring an ordinance proclaiming a law which says that the 2.67 acres of land be given to Hindu organisations to start building a temple," he added. Earlier in the day, the apex court adjourned the Ayodhya title suit till January to fix the date of hearing in the matter. Sharing details of the case, counsel for Hindu Mahasabha Barun Kumar Sinha said, "The matter was regarding the hearing today but the Chief Justice bench said that this matter be placed before the bench in the month of January when they will decide the dates of hearing." The 2010 verdict of the Allahabad High Court had divided the disputed land in Ayodhya into three parts for each of the parties- the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three people were killed on Monday morning after being run over by a train near Nangloi railway station. The deceased were allegedly drinking alcohol on the tracks around 7.15 am when the incident took place. Sharing details of the incident, Chief Public Relations Officer of Northern Railway Nitin Chowdhary informed, "At about 0715 hours today, three persons were run over by Train no 12446 Bikaner-Delhi Express near Nangloi Railway station. Further legal action is under process." The incident comes days after the Amritsar train tragedy in which as many as 61 people were mowed down by a train while they were watching Dussehra celebrations in Choura Bazar near Jhoda Phatak area on October 19. . (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi, on Monday, continued to choke on 'very poor' air quality as the city woke up to a thick, pale haze. According to the data by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the air quality index (AQI) in the capital was recorded at an alarming 348. The AQI between 0 to 50 is considered good, 51 and 100 fall under the category of 'satisfactory', 101-200 is marked as 'moderate', 201 to 300 'poor', 301 to 400 'very poor' and 500 and beyond is considered as 'severe'. Health experts say the 'very poor' air quality can lead to respiratory illness, especially among children and elderly people, on prolonged exposure. Weather conditions over the next few days, to an extent, are expected to play an important role in deciding which way the city's pollution will go. Indian Meteorological Department and Ministry of Earth Science have predicted that Delhi-Safdarjung area will record a minimum temperature of 15 degree Celsius and maximum temperature of 32 degree Celsius with a misty weather. According to the government-run System of Air Quality Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), pollution will not get into the 'severe' bracket but will hover in the upper levels of "very poor" category. Stubble-burning in adjoining states of Punjab and Haryana is a major contributor to air pollution in the Capital Region. 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. 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.) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) sources on Monday said that the required documents and files in connection with the investigation against its Director Alok Verma are being submitted to the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC). "As per direction of the Supreme Court and CVC, required documents and files are being submitted to the CVC in connection with the investigation against CBI Director Alok Verma," CBI sources said. On October 26, the apex court ordered a CVC inquiry into the allegations against Verma under the supervision of retired Supreme Court Judge Justice AK Patnaik. The court also said that an inquiry must be completed within two weeks and M Nageshwar Rao, who was appointed as the interim Director, cannot take any policy decision till court hears the matter again on November 12. The government recently sent Verma and his deputy Rakesh Asthana on leave after both leveled allegations of accepting bribes against each other. However, the CBI on October 25 informed that Verma and Asthana would continue to remain as CBI Director and Special Director, respectively. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress MLA from Dhrangadhra, Parsottam Sabariya was arrested in Gujarat's Morbi district on Sunday for allegedly demanding bride from an irrigation department engineer. Besides Sabariya, a lawyer named Bharat Ganesh, an assistant engineer, a contractual person, and two others have been arrested by the police. "He (Sabariya) demanded Rs 60 lakh from a state irrigation department engineer and settled for Rs 35 lakh. The lawyer used to collect money for him," said Karanraj Vaghela, Superintendent of Police, Morbi. "A grant of Rs 20 crore was approved for the Irrigation Department for various projects. Thereafter, complaints were received from some places that no work had been done there but payment was done. Therefore, we have arrested the MLA, lawyer, an assistant engineer, a contractual person and two others," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Indian Army has fired at Pakistan Army's administrative headquarters situated near Poonch district along the Line of Control (LoC). According to sources, the attack by Indian forces comes in retaliation to the firing of mortar shells witnessed in Poonch and Jhallas on October 23. Soon after the firing from the Indian side took place, sources said residents in the neighbouring villages of Poonch witnessed smoke emanating from the site. However, sources said that the Indian Army has exercised maximum restraint in spite of continuous provocation by Pakistan. In doing so, the Indian side has consciously avoided targeting or harassing civilian population in Pakistani towns of Hajira, Nikial and Samani which are in close proximity to the LoC. The attack comes over two years after the Indian Army carried out surgical strikes in September 2016 at terrorist launch pads across the LoC in response to the strikes witnessed in Uri and Nagrota sectors of Jammu and Kashmir. Earlier in the month, a reported published by The Dawn had noted that uneducated and unemployed youth were being targeted primarily for carrying out a wide range of terrorist activities. The report further claimed that deprivation and penury of PoK locals suited the Pakistan Army, which, while ensconced in the safety of their posts, used these youth as cannon fodder for action along the LoC. In this regard, sources said it was high time to call out the bluff of the Pakistan Army and take necessary action against perpetrators of terror. Disturbance along the LoC has restricted the movement of Indians to PoK who visit the area either for business purpose or to meet relatives and friends. Sources added that in the wake of the situation prevailing in PoK only a handful of Indian residents are able to visit PoK mainly due to the number of restrictions imposed in the region by the Pakistani authorities. Compared to this, a fairly larger number of Pakistani citizens have been crossing over to the Indian side. According to data, a total of 283 PoK residents have crossed over to the Indian side from June this year, whereas only eight Indian citizens have been able to cross from the Indian side to PoK. Sources said Indian citizens cite excessive restrictions when they visit PoK and constant shadowing by intelligence operatives as the reason for their reluctance to visit their relatives in PoK. Compared to this, Pakistani citizens have a fairly easy movement in India. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With an aim to further strengthen the economic cooperation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe on Monday agreed to conclude a bilateral currency swap agreement amounting USD 75 billion. "The Prime Ministers of India and Japan, building on great friendship between the two countries and to further strengthen and widen the depth and diversity of economic cooperation, agreed during Prime Minister Modi's visit to Japan, to conclude a Bilateral Currency Swap Agreement for an amount of USD 75 billion," a release of the Ministry of Finance read. The statement further noted that the arrangement particularly reflects the depth of mutual trust and understanding, personal relationship and warmth between the two leaders built over many years. "This arrangement between Japan and India has been the high point of economic and financial agreements between the two countries, during the visit of the Prime Minister of India. This represents an increase of 50 per cent over the last currency swap arrangement between the two countries. It is indicative of close bonds between the two countries nurtured by the two leaders. As reported, Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe has said that he is a friend of India forever," the statement added. The arrangement would help in bringing greater stability to foreign exchange and capital markets in India. "With this arrangement in place, prospects of India would further improve in tapping foreign capital for country's developmental needs. This facility will enable the agreed amount of foreign capital being available to India for use as and when the need arises," the statement added. Prime Minister Modi, who is on a two-day visit to Tokyo to participate in the 13th India-Japan Annual Summit, earlier in the day held bilateral-level talks with his Japanese counterpart. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that India is witnessing "a massive transformative phase" today and added that the country's services towards humanity are being appreciated worldwide. Addressing an Indian Community Event here as part of the 13th India-Japan Annual Summit, the Prime Minister said, "India is going through a massive transformative phase today. The is appreciating India for its services towards humanity. The policies being made in India, the work being done towards public welfare, for these the nation is being felicitated today. "Through the United Nations' Champion of the Earth Award and the Seoul Peace Prize, the has honoured India," Prime Minister Modi added. He also took note of India's progress in the field of digital infrastructure, saying, "Today India is making tremendous progress in the field of digital infrastructure. Broadband connectivity is reaching villages, and there are over 100 crore mobile phones active in India." The Prime Minister further stated that internet services are "becoming the tool for service delivery," adding that a GB of data is available at costs cheaper than a "small bottle of cold drink." He also conveyed an early Diwali wish to the audience, saying, "The way Diwali lamps spread light, I wish that all of you continue to make yourself and India proud in Japan and in other parts of the " The Prime Minister is slated to attend a meeting of the India-Japan Business Leaders Forum later in the day, prior to addressing the 'Make in India: India-Japan Partnership in Africa and Digital Partnership' seminar. Prime Minister Modi will also hold delegation level talks with his Japanese counterpart and discuss the strengthening of collaboration in key areas such as defence, security, Indo-Pacific cooperation, and technology as well as review the progress of India-Japanties. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Lion Air flight JT610 that crashed on Monday morning was commanded by Delhi-born Captain Bhavye Suneja and co-pilot Harvino. Captain Suneja, who was a resident of Mayur Vihar, Delhi, did his schooling from Ahlcon Public School in 2005. He was a trainee pilot for the Boeing 737NG and later went onto join as an airline pilot for the PT Lion Air from March 2011. The passenger plane which was travelling from Soekarno-Hatta (Tangerang) to Pangkalpinang crashed near Kerawang on Monday morning after taking off from Jakarta Soekarno Hatta International Airport. "The Lion Air flight JT610 en-route to Pangkalpinang has crashed near Kerawang (S 5'49.052" E 107' 06.628"), 13 minutes after taking off from Jakarta Soekarno Hatta International Airport at 6:20 AM. The flight carried 178 adults, 1 child and 2 infants, including 3 crew under training and 1 technician. The aircraft is a Boeing 737 MAX 8 with registration number PK-LQP. It is made in 2018 and started its operation at Lion Air since 15 August 2018. The aircraft was declared operationally feasible. The aircraft is commanded by Captain. Bhavye Suneja and co-pilot Harvino with six cabin crew Shintia Melina, Citra Noivita Anggelia, Alviani Hidayatul Solikha, Damayanti Simarmata, Mery Yulianda, and Deny Maula. The captain has 6,000 flight hours and the co-pilot has more than 5,000 flight hours. Lion Air is concerned with the incident and will work with the relevant authorities and agencies on this matter," Lion airlines said in a statement. According to Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS), a fuel tank from the plane was recovered which was broken due to an explosion. "Nobody survived. The fuel tank has been recovered broken and exploded. Above the fuel tank there is a leak," BASARNAS spokesperson said adding that there were no survivors. In fact, media reports claimed that rescue teams had started recovering body parts of the victims. A massive search and rescue operation was launched by the Indonesian authorities after debris of a plane were noticed by ships near the western coast of Java island fuelling speculation that the plane had possibly crashed in the sea. Local media reported that the plane had faced technical problems during its previous flight from Denpasar to Jakarta which was resolved before its take off. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Coming down heavily on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said that the BJP chief's "strength" won't be enough to pull down the Communist Party of India (Marxist) led Kerala government. Addressing at the Left Democratic Front (LDF) rally on Sunday in Palakkad, the Kerala Chief Minister said, "BJP workers' godfather Amit Shah made a declaration in Kerala that they would topple the incumbent state government. I don't think that his body (Shah) has the strength to do that. His (Shah) physique, which is made up of only water, won't be enough to do that. You do not have any place here. It is best if you (Shah) do all this in Gujarat." Vijayan further said that despite trying all tricks, the BJP chief had failed to get a grip over Kerala. "You came with huge expectations and conducted a yatra here, but in the end, you had to run away. You people have no place on this (Kerala) land," he added. Continuing his tirade, Vijayan said, "Who are you trying to threaten the Supreme Court? Your intention to threat the Supreme Court was evident. The Supreme Court is going to hear the Babri Masjid case. You want the Supreme Court to pronounce its verdict according to your direction." Addressing party workers in Kannur on Saturday, the BJP chief had criticised the Supreme Court verdict allowing entry of women of all ages inside Kerala's Sabarimala shrine and advised the state governments and courts to give only those orders, which can be followed. "Are these the words that should come from the chief of the country's ruling party? Can a leader of the ruling party adopt such an undemocratic stand," Kerala Chief Minister questioned. During a press conference on October 27, Vijayan termed Shah's comments against the constitution and law of the land. "Amit Shah's statements (on Sabarimala issue) in Kannur are against constitution and law of the land. It's a clear intention of their agenda not to guarantee the fundamental rights. This shows the agenda of the RSS and Sangh Parivar," he had added. Calling the row over Sabarimala as a communist conspiracy, the BJP president had also given a stern warning to the Kerala Chief Minister to stop suppression of Lord Ayyappa devotees. On September 28, a five-member constitutional bench headed by then Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra had lifted the ban on the entry of women falling in the age group of 10 to 50 years in the temple, citing the practice "irrational and arbitrary". Earlier, women of menstruating age were barred from entering the Sabarimala Temple by its officials, who argued that the temple deity Lord Ayyappa had taken a vow of celibacy. Meanwhile, the apex court on Tuesday agreed to hear the review petitions challenging its order, and listed the matter for hearing on November 13. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) King Mohammed VI has attached utmost priority to overhauling the countrys vocational training system to enable the youth to easily integrate the job market and contribute to Moroccos social and economic development. After he stressed on multiple speeches the need for addressing the mismatch between training and the job market requirements, the King had asked the government to upgrade vocational training at a meeting held on October 1. The meeting focused on the development and diversification of the vocational training offer and modernization of pedagogical methods. The King then gave the government a three-week deadline for preparing a program for that purpose. Last week, the King extended the deadline after a request from the head of the government to grant the committee extra time. In a speech on August, the King had stressed that further attention needed to be given to vocational training at all levels, and to creating a new generation of centers for the vocational training of young people, keeping in mind current needs as well as the particularities and expectations of each region. Later, at the opening of the Parliaments fall session (Oct.12), the King insisted on the need to work on creating more bridges and links between vocational training programs and general education courses within a unified, integrated system. There should also be a balance between theoretical training, on the one hand, and practical, workplace training, on the other. In October last year, the King dismissed Larbi Benckheikh, Secretary of State in charge of vocational training and former Director General of the Vocational Training Institute (OFPPT) for falling short of achieving the sectors objectives. The job was assigned to Loubna Tricha who has been tasked with revamping the countrys vocational training in a way that fits into job market needs. Leicester City chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha was on Sunday confirmed to be among the five killed in the helicopter crash following his team's Premier League draw against West Ham United. "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," a statement from the club read. Srivaddhanaprabha had written himself into Leicester folklore as he oversaw the fairytale success of the 2015-16 season, as the Foxes defied 5000-1 odds to be crowned champions of England. The Thai billionaire had bought the club in 2010 for 57 million. "In Khun Vichai, the world has lost a great man. A man of kindness, of generosity and a man whose life was defined by the love he devoted to his family and those he so successfully led. 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," the statement added. Srivaddhanaprabha, two members of his staff identified as Nursara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare, pilot Eric Swaffer and passenger Izabela Roza Lechowicz were confirmed by Leicestershire Police to be dead in the tragedy. Leicester's Tuesday League Cup clash against Southampton and the development squad fixture against Dutch outfit Feyenoord in the Premier League International Cup on Tuesday have been postponed in light of the incident. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Credit rating agency Moody's on Monday expressed concern that the ongoing political crisis in Sri Lanka has caused the 'credit negative' to the island nation as the sudden appointment of a new Prime Minister has heightened the policy uncertainty. On October 26, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena sacked Ranil Wickremesinghe from the post of Prime Minister and replaced him with his (Sirisena) predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa. Matthew Circosta, Analyst, Sovereign Risk Group, Moody's Investors Service said, "The current political crisis in Sri Lanka is credit negative for the sovereign. The President's sudden appointment of Rajapaksa as Prime Minister significantly heightens policy uncertainty." The agency also claimed that additionally, the possible social tensions that may unfold in the next few weeks would have a negative impact on the economy. "At a time when global financial markets are turbulent, uncertainty about the direction of future policy could have a large and lasting negative impact on international investor confidence. Such a development would undermine Sri Lanka's ability to refinance forthcoming external debt in early 2019 at affordable costs," Circosta added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched India's first automatic Early Warning Dissemination System (EDWS) on Monday. The inauguration coincided with Odisha Government observing Disaster Preparedness Day. On this day, 19 years ago, the state was left devastated by "Super Cyclone" in 1999. In total 122 alert towers have been set up under the Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP) along the coastal line of Odisha to give early warning on the risk in impending natural calamities like tsunami, cyclone and flood. During the launch, Patnaik also announced the programme for preparations of Village Disaster Management Plans (VDMPs) in 7000 villages in the first phase to build resilient community and to undertake a study on the vulnerability of landslides in Gajapati district of Odisha for taking preventive measures against loss of lives and property due to disasters in future. Other than EDWS, NCRMP also includes satellite-based mobile data voice by terminals (SBMDVT), digital mobile radio (DMR), a mass messaging system to be operated from the state emergency operation centre and a universal communication interface to allow interoperability among different communication technologies. While addressing the mass gathering at the launch, CM appreciated the work done by response forces, government officials, non-government organizations and volunteers in rescue operations during Cyclone Titli and subsequent floods. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday challenged the Prime Minister Narendra Modi led central government to bring an ordinance on Ram temple after the Supreme Court adjourned the Ayodhya case till January 2019. "Why don't they bring it (ordinance on Ram temple)? Let them do it. Every time they are threatening that they will bring an ordinance. How long they will bluff people?" Owaisi said. He, however, said that everyone has to accept the apex court's verdict. "I challenge the government to bring an ordinance. How long they will bluff people? The country will run on the Constitution. You are in power. I challenge you to bring it (ordinance)," Owaisi added. Earlier in the day, the apex court adjourned the Ayodhya title suit till January next year to fix the date of hearing in the matter. The top court's decision came after hearing a petition challenging Allahabad High Court's 2010 verdict which ruled that the disputed land in Ayodhya be partitioned equally among three parties - the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with top business leaders from India and Japan at the Business Leaders Forum here on Monday. Modi asserted that inputs offered at the Forum would help India to achieve global benchmarking while also requesting the Japanese businessmen to engage more with India. Official Spokesperson of Ministry of External Affairs Raveesh Kumar tweeted, "Growing confidence in India. PM @narendramodi interacted with top business leaders from India and Japan at Business Leaders Forum. PM said that inputs offered at the Forum will propel India to achieve global benchmarking and urged Japanese businessmen to engage more with India." Before the commencement of the Forum, Prime Minister Modi was called upon by Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) Hiroshige Seko. The two leaders met and discussed ways to enhance the Indo-Japanese economic engagement. The METI plays a significant role in strengthening the India-Japan economic partnership. Modi also met with Foreign Minister of Japan Taro Kono and the two leaders held a discussion on bilateral, regional and global issues. Terming the discussion as "productive", Kumar tweeted, "Strengthening the strategic orientation of our relationship. Foreign Minister of Japan Taro Kono called on PM @narendramodi. Held productive and focused the discussion on bilateral, regional and global issues." Secretary-General of Liberal Democratic Party Toshihiro Nikai also called on the Prime Minister before the Forum. Modi appreciated Nikai's vision and experience in the strengthening of the India-Japan bilateral relationship over the years. Prime Minister Modi will also address the 'Make in India: India-Japan Partnership in Africa and Digital Partnership' seminar later in the day. Modi, who arrived in Japan, last week, is on a two-day official visit to Japan to participate in the 13th India-Japan Annual Summit. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With the festive season right around the corner, Preethi Kitchen Appliances gears up to make this Diwali season even more joyous. With new product launches and exciting "Diwali Super Sale" offers Preethi promises to ensure a festive celebration. Preethi has launched a host of new products to strengthen its Gas Stove category. The Gas Stove/Hobs/Cooking Range market in India is worth Rs. 7.5 billion. This huge market has a number of branded and non-branded players fighting it out to catch the consumer's eye. Although, Preethi entered this category just 3 years back, yet, the focus on quality, innovation and service has helped the brand carve a niche for itself. To expand its footprint, Preethi has launched a new series of Glass Top Gas Stoves "Valentino" created in collaboration with Saint-Gobain which offers Lifetime Warranty on Glass and Burners. Adding to the festive fervour, the brand has announced "5 Year Warranty on Glass and Burners" for all other Glass Top Gas Stoves. It has also entered the Cook Hobs category recently. Srinivasan Subramanian, CEO, Preethi Kitchen Appliances Pvt. Ltd., said, "Tamil Nadu has always been the highest contributing market for Preethi. Being the market leader in the food preparation segment has provided us a strategic advantage in the cooking segment as well." Subramanian said, "Despite being a late entrant to the category, Preethi's brand promise of meaningful innovation, uncompromised quality and best in class service has helped to become a leading player within a short span of 3 years. Our new range of Gas Stoves and Cook Hobs is our attempt in reimagining kitchens across India and providing the best to our consumers. Our vision is to reach 100 million consumers enabling them to be the best in their kitchens, and we are continuously striving towards it." Swetha Sagar G, General Manager, Marketing, said, "We, at Preethi, are firm believers of elevating our consumers to the next level. The Blu Flame Valentino with a lifetime warranty on Glass and Burners and the Decor Cook Hobs are perfect examples of this. All our products are designed impeccably to address various consumer pain points derived from extensive consumer research." Further while launching the new consumer offers she said, "Diwali is a grand celebration for our consumers. It is an opportunity to upgrade to products with new technology. The Diwali Super Sale offers to include the best sellers from the house of Preethi, which have been selected with great care such that there is something for everyone. This is our way of expressing gratitude for 40 years of love and support." Preethi has always stressed continuous consumer interactions to understand the latent needs of the consumer. The new range of Decor Cook Hobs adapts to the western concept of Hobs for an Indian market, is the elegantly crafted and has industry highest thermal efficiency of 68 per cent. Preethi's Valentino addresses the prime concern of glass durability with its heat soaked glass which comes with a lifetime warranty. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Even though the wedding date is under wraps, bride-to-be Priyanka Chopra's glamorous bridal shower has left fans guessing if her wedding with fiance Nick Jonas is around the corner. Fabulously dressed in a white strapless Marchesa dress, Priyanka was all smiles as she stepped out for pre-wedding celebrations. She paired the dreamy dress with a pair of nude Christian Louboutin pumps and a string of diamonds around her neck. According to US Weekly, the party was thrown by her bridesmaids Mubina Rattonsey and Anjula Achari, at Tiffany's Blue Box Cafe in New York City. The 'Baywatch' actor took to her Instagram stories to share a picture in which she can be seen getting ready for the fun night. Posing with her girls, she wrote "My girls are in town #anyreasontoparty #preweddingcelebrations Priyanka's stylist Mimi Cuttrell posted a picture of PC, straight from the Bridal shower. "THE brighter version for everyone. @priyankachopra #styledbymimicuttrell (sorry I was too excited when I posted the first pic)," the caption read. Chopra and her beau confirmed their engagement in August during a trip to Mumbai, where their families gathered for festivities, including a roka ceremony and a big engagement bash. Since their engagement, the much-in-love couple has been traveling all around the world together. They've gone to Mexico for a quick weekend getaway, Mammoth Mountain in California and a favourite spot of Jonas', Mumbai, New York Fashion Week, among many more. On the work front, Priyanka recently wrapped up the London shoot of her upcoming film 'The Sky Is Pink', also starring Farhan Akhtar and Zaira Wasim. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Anti-Money Laundering (AML) refers to a set of rules, policies, procedures and regulations implemented to mitigate the risks of money laundering and terrorism financing. The implications of non-compliance with AML regulations are far-reaching. For example, when a bank needs to provide credit or allow a customer to open a bank account, it is compulsory for the customer to complete its AML procedures. The onus of conducting the AML checks is on the bank and not on the customer or the government. AML procedures act as a safeguard against the risks associated with money laundering, including supporting crime and corruption, undermining the legitimate private sector, weakening financial institutions, and causing reputational, operational, legal and concentration risks. Globally, AML regulations and policies are framed and monitored by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Wolfsberg Group. According to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, a typical organisation loses 5 per cent of its annual revenues to fraud. This enhances the need for a robust AML framework at both global and regional levels, which would focus on verifying the identity of customers, vendors and employees. Key Statistics -In 2014, it was estimated that global spending on AML compliance alone amounted to USD 10 billion. -Banks have spent USD 321 billion in fines since 2008 for regulatory failings, money laundering, terrorist financing and market manipulation. -In the AML Basel Index 2017, India ranked #88 (out of 146 countries) with a risk score of 5.58 (risk of money laundering and terrorist financing); US and UK were ranked 116 and 118 with a risk score of 4.85 and 4.81 respectively. Risk range is 0-10; 10 denotes highest risk and 0 denotes no risk. -UNODC indicates that around 2-5 percent of worldwide GDP is laundered globally every year. AML Framework in India Policies and Compliance - FATF: In June 2010, India became a member of the FATF and was placed in the category of countries which required 'regular follow up process'. In June 2013, India attained a satisfactory level of compliance and was removed from the regular follow up process. PMLA: The act came into effect in July 2005; and was amended in 2009 (in force from June 2009) and in 2012 (effective February 15, 2013). The 2012 amendment brought India's AML legislation at par with global norms. Regulatory bodies - Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) under the Finance Ministry, Government of India is the nodal agency for AML measures prescribed in PMLA. Other Regulators for AML Checks are RBI (for Banks); IRDA (for Insurance); SEBI (for Asset Management companies), Enforcement Directorate (ED), CBI, Police and NCB. Steps taken by the Government under PMLA - As of December 2017, over 226,000 companies have been 'Struck Off' for being inactive for a period of two or more years. Over 300,000 Directors, who failed to comply with regulatory requirements, have been disqualified from holding directorship in Indian entities. Of these directors, over 200,000 disqualified Directors had been on the Board of unregistered companies. As of January 31, 2018, FIU has categorised 9,500 NBFCs (out of ~11,500 registered) as 'high-risk financial institutions', indicating them as non-compliant of PMLA and rules thereof. According to the Finance Ministry, as of February 2018, approximately 884 companies are under the scanner for money laundering and assets worth Rs.50 billion have been attached following probes initiated under PMLA. In 2016-17, ED conducted searches in 161 cases filed under PMLA and the number went up to 570 until Feb 2018, registering an increase of over 300 per cent. Investigations have been initiated in 318 cases and concluded in 417, however, convictions have been secured only in 4. Recent Developments / Proposed Changes - In November 2017, the Supreme Court held a provision in PMLA as unconstitutional as due to the said provision an accused could be denied bail till the Court was convinced that the person was not guilty of money laundering. The Supreme Court remanded all such previous cases for reconsideration in which bail under the impugned provision was denied to accused. The Enforcement Directorate is proposing an amendment to PMLA, which allows ED's case against an individual or a group to stand even if a case on the same matter by CBI falls through. The amendment, if cleared, would be a step towards tightening laws against corruption to bring PMLA at par with the laws of Australia and UK. The Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018, received the President's assent on July 31, 2018, and it came into force retrospectively w.e.f. April 21, 2018. The Act provides measures to deter fugitive economic offenders (linked to funds over Rs. 1 billion) from evading the process of law in India by staying outside the jurisdiction of Indian courts and to preserve the sanctity of the rule of law in India. It allows the government to confiscate properties and assets of such offenders. The next FATF review in 2021 will lead to an increase in regulatory activities and enforcement over the next two years. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking its direction to appoint judges in Karnataka High Court. Dismissing the plea filed by advocate G.R. Mohan, a three-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi said, "There is no merit in the petition." "Many judges have been appointed and also in future, many more judges would be appointed. What kind of PIL is this? There is no merit in the petition," the bench said. The advocate approached the top court, saying that there are several vacancies that exist in the Karnataka High Court against the sanctioned strength of 62 judges. He also said that such a vacuum affect rights of litigants to get speedy justice. The petitioner also asked the Centre to take immediate steps to conclude the process of appointment of judges in the earliest possible manner. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court on Monday put a stay on the Madras High Court's order in which it had directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe into allegations against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edapaddi K Palanaiswami. There are allegations against Palanaiswami of illegally awarding contracts of road construction to his relatives. The top court's order comes following Tamil Nadu's Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) moving the court challenging the Madras High Court order which directed the CBI to take over the case. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi had also issued a notice to Organising Secretary of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) RS Bharathi, who had filed the plea in the Madras High Court. The Madras High Court had issued the order over two weeks back. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Local Problems, Global Tech Happy Halloween, this coffin is full of metaphors. Photo: Courtesy of Tech Open Air On a July evening in 2016 at Factory Berlin, a sleek work space for technology entrepreneurs in the German capital, aspiring founders gathered in a darkened auditorium to pay their respects before a casket adorned with green-and-white wreaths. They had come to mourn their dead start-ups. The Irish Startup Wake, co-hosted by visiting entrepreneurs from Startup Dublin and complete with a condolence book, whiskey, and ham sandwiches, was part of an ongoing series of efforts by various groups within Berlins tech community to promote a healthy embrace of failure in the citys entrepreneurial ecosystem an attitude that founders and investors say is contrary to how Germans traditionally tend to be wired. While the prevalence of chatter around ventures-gone-south in Silicon Valley now borders on cliche, Berlin founders whose companies tank say their reputations can suffer within the burgeoning local tech scene, damping their appetite for tackling thorny problems. Moreover, German investors traditionally have tended to be somewhat risk-averse preferring midsize ventures with a clear path to profitability over big, messy ideas and past botched enterprises typically have stood out as red flags in pitch meetings. Some Berlin business leaders worry that this conservative mind-set is hindering potential growth. In Germany, failing is a stigma, Lukas Kampfmann, Factory Berlins co-founder (whos since left the company for a new venture), told me. The notion is hugely problematic, since it discourages people from starting a company. In years past, some Berlin tech founders dealt with this fear of failure by mitigating risk often simply imitating successful American start-ups. This model has proved successful for companies like Rocket Internet, seen as the progenitor of Berlins start-up scene, which launched in 2007. Rocket is known to have relied heavily on building and spinning off near facsimiles of successful foreign ventures, including U.S. food-delivery and ride-sharing apps. Many, like its Seamless copy Delivery Hero now a public company valued last year at more than $5 billion were inherently safe bets for Rocket, which itself has reportedly raised roughly $2.2 billion in venture capital to date. But this careful formula has done little to persuade investors that Berlins ecosystem fosters the sort of invention or risk-taking that might spawn the citys next generation of unicorns. (Eight Berlin start-ups have cleared the billion-dollar threshold; thats compared with Londons 36, and roughly 128 from Silicon Valley.) Some more recent Rocket efforts like its Uber knockoff, Tripda, or its Airbnb copy, Wimdu have fizzled. More Berlin entrepreneurs are realizing that imitation is no longer a dependable business model. To be sure, the occasional Berlin start-up has already found commercial success outside of this duplicative comfort zone. N26, a branchless retail-banking mobile platform, almost passes for a risky venture in a nation enamored of cash payments. It recently raised a $160 million Series C funding round from international investors. And so, rather than continuing to emulate Silicon Valleys products, a new crop of Berlin-based founders and investors a significant portion of whom hail from overseas lately has begun to instead adopt its credos touting personal resilience in the hope of eventually mirroring its results. In a talk at Columbia University last year, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates summed up the mind-set as willingness to take risk; the idea that if you have the failure, its not a mark of shame its Hey, whats your next start-up gonna be? It might not come naturally, but Berlin is working on it. In addition to the wake, Factory Berlin also began hosting FuckUp Nights, a global event series where founders convene to chat about where they went wrong, and how to move forward. And in an effort to normalize entrepreneurial missteps inherent in risk-taking, Berlins Humboldt University invited three Berlin-based founders with failed companies in their past to share their experiences with a packed auditorium. One was Max von Waldenfels, whose Berlin delivery start-up Food Express folded in 2016. The experience, he said, was painful. But he felt that local attitudes had begun to soften. Things are changing, he said. For instance, once-wary local venture capitalists might now offer a founder a second chance if you can show that you learned your lesson, he explained. Hes since launched health-software and printing-services companies in Berlin. Venture-capital veterans like Bo Ilsoe of NGP Capital, who has overseen the firms investments in several Berlin start-ups, see promise in a younger generation of Berlin entrepreneurs. Due both to conscious efforts and the growing influence of the citys foreign transplants, he told me, these up-and-comers seem less shackled to the notion of failure as anathema. Ilsoe, who is Danish, pointed to the healthy early fundraising efforts of Berlin-based travel platforms GetYourGuide (in which NGP invested) and GoEuro, which count Swiss and Indian emigres, respectively, among their founding teams. That infusion of blood of foreign talent completely changes the mix, he said. Ilsoe believes that the moment is ripe for Berlin founders whove played it safe in the realms of, say, e-commerce or media to undertake more complex challenges, perhaps in artificial intelligence. I think you will have more experienced entrepreneurs coming out, who have made money. They have a higher appetite to take on some risk, he told me. Maybe theyll want to build bigger companies not selling at the first, second offer. And maybe theyll have some bolder ideas. Five Border Security Forces (BSF) personnel were injured on Monday after terrorists opened fire at two BSF patrol vehicles in Srinagar's Pantha Chowk. The injured jawans have been rushed to the hospital for medical treatment. Speaking about the attack, Ravi Deep Singh Sahi, inspector-general, CRPF said, "Things are under control now. Today around 6 pm near BSF HQ, two cars which were returning from duty were attacked by the terrorists. Four to five people sustained bullet injury. The search operation is on." Last week, one soldier was killed and two terrorists were gunned down after an encounter broke out in Jammu and Kashmir's Sopore district. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Researchers of a recent study have found that the side effects of drugs in lungs are more widespread than thought. The University of Manchester research has been published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine. Though the 27 drugs treating a range of conditions including arthritis, cancer and the heart are successful for most patients, doctors - according to the team - need to be more aware of the potential risks to their respiratory systems. Though drug-induced interstitial lung disease (DIILD) can cause difficulty in breathing, inflammation and fibrosis, the risk sometimes only becomes apparent after the drugs have been in use for some years. Though the team said clinicians are hindered because most of the papers they reviewed were of low or very low quality. Between 4.1 and 12.4 million cases of DIILD per year were reported worldwide accord to the review. And the review also found that DIILD accounted for around 3-5 per cent of all interstitial lung disease cases. In some of the studies, mortality rates of over 50 per cent were reported and overall, 25 per cent of all the patients studied died as a result of respiratory symptoms. Steroids were the most common drug used to treat DIILD, but no studies examined their effect on the outcome. John Waterton of The University of Manchester said, "Though this area is not well researched, we can say that the side effects of drugs on the lung are much more widespread than previously thought." "We do know it affects a considerable number of people, which is why we want to develop better imaging tests to pick up any lung problems before they become serious. It's important to stress that patients can safely continue to take their medication - but it's also important that doctors monitor and assess them closely for side effects in the lung," added Waterton. Dr Nazia Chaudhuri of The University of Manchester, said, "Doctors need to be aware and vigilant to the possible lung toxicities and harm that can be caused by some drugs. With newer drugs coming on the market this is an increasing yet under recognised problem and we need better ways of detecting these side effects before they cause harm. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday said the Congress party handing over the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government a bimaru or sick state in 2003, which he claimed to have transformed into a developed one. "The Congress had destroyed Madhya Pradesh. With a lot of efforts, we have changed it from a bimaru state into a developed state. We have to make it enriched now," Chouhan told reporters here. Chouhan also urged people to vote for the BJP in the forthcoming assembly elections, so as to "take Madhya Pradesh forward." "I request people to vote for the BJP so that we can take Madhya Pradesh forward," the Chief Minister said. Earlier, BJP president Amit Shah had also alleged that it was the Congress government which made Madhya Pradesh a "bimaru state". The elections, which were earlier seen as a direct political battle between the ruling BJP and the Congress party, is now seeing many political parties coming to the fray. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led government will try to win for the fourth consecutive term, while the Congress will be fighting to regain power, which it lost in 2003. The single phase assembly polls in the state will be held on November 28 to elect representatives of 230 constituencies. The counting of votes will take place on December 11. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday launched a scathing attack on Congress president Rahul Gandhi, asking him about his 'gotra'. Speaking at a rally in Indore, the BJP spokesperson, Sambit Patra said, "If Rahul wears a 'janeu', what type of 'janeu' does he wear, what is his 'gotra'?" Patra was commenting on Rahul Gandhi's ongoing visit to Ujjain where he went to the Mahakaleshwar Temple to offer prayers on Monday. Janeu is a sacred thread worn by some devout Hindu men. Gotra, in Hinduism, refers to a clan or a descendant in an unbroken line from a common male ancestor. The BJP's vitriolic against the Congress chief has come close on the heels of senior Congress leader, Shashi Tharoor equating Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a scorpion. Speaking at the launch of his book 'The Paradoxical Prime Minister' at the Bengaluru Literature Festival, on Sunday, Tharoor had said, "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." Patra, on Monday, urged Rahul to axe Tharoor from the party, "The Congress has been bad-mouthing Lord Shiva, and the party chief Rahul should remove Shashi Tharoor from party ranks with immediate effect." Last year in November, Rahul Gandhi had invoked Lord Shiva while responding to the BJP's criticism of his visits to the temple during the Gujarat assembly elections. "Main Shiv ka bhakt hoon, sachaai mein believe karta hoon. BJP jo bhi bole main apni sachaai mein believe karta hu (I am a devotee of Shiv. The BJP may say anything, but I will remain honest.)," Gandhi had retorted. The BJP, since then, has often criticised the Congress party chief for resorting to Lord Shiva as an election gimmick. "For over 70 years since independence, the Congress has been playing 'bitter' in the name of secularism. They have been treating Hindus as second-grade citizens," Patra said in his latest tirade against the opposition Congress party. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Voice of Karachi (VOK) chairman, Nadeem Nusrat said that Pakistan's decision to observe 27 October as a Black Day to protest over human rights situation in Kashmir is "laughable". The VOK chairman, in a statement, said that Pakistan security forces are involved in large-scale human rights violations in Karachi, Balochistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, tribal areas and Gilgit Baltistan for the many years. "Human Rights situation in Pakistan's other areas is no more different, for Punjabi-dominated military forces are actively busy punishing Balochs, Pashtuns, people of Gilgit-Baltistan, Hazarah and tribal areas as well for raising voice for their rights. Just like Karachi, extrajudicial executions are a routine in Balochistan; thousands of people belonging to Pakistan's non-Punjabi ethnic groups have gone missing since being taken into unlawful custody," Nusrat reiterated. Taking a jibe at Pakistan for observing Black Day, Nusrat said that Pakistani security forces have a shameful record of human rights violation and their disregard for the rule of law. "Pakistan has absolutely no moral ground to extend support for Kashmiris or any other persecuted group in the If Pakistan is sincere with Kashmiris or wants its voice to be treated with respect globally, it will have to fix its own house first, and will have to not only stop the ongoing human rights abuses throughout Pakistan, it will also have to punish all those officials, no matter how high position they may hold, who were or are involved in extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, physical torture on detainees, and interference in political matters," he added. Shedding the light on Pakistan's shameful human rights record in dealing with its own people, the VOK chairman said that in Karachi alone, over 25 thousand Mohajirs have been killed since 1992 by Pakistani security forces, most extrajudicially. It is on record that Pakistan's two federal governments were sacked from the office by the then-president in the 1990s over massive extrajudicial executions in urban Sindh, mainly in Karachi, of Mohajirs. Successive Pakistani governments, both military and civil, have yet to explain why not a single culprit of such crimes against humanity was ever brought to justice. Nusrat also reminded the that Karachi has been facing yet another brutal security operation since 2013, in which thousands of innocent Mohajirs have been arrested without any justification. Hundreds of these arrested Mohajirs have gone missing since their arrests, and nearly one thousand are still languishing in prison under fabricated charges. Hundreds of cases of enforced or involuntary disappearance have been documented by the United Nations' special group on missing persons in its last 15 quarterly reports. "Pakistan's security forces didn't even spare 73-years-old, Harvard-educated Professor Zafar-Hasan Arif and dumped his tortured dead body in the outskirts of Karachi after killing him extra judicially early this year. Recently, a security officer admitted on camera how men in uniform routinely kill innocent civilians and Mohajir political workers in Karachi, but culprits of such crimes are never punished, nor their masterminds are ever exposed," Nusrat pointed out. Nusrat asserted that Pakistan 's own policies are responsible for most of the situation that Kashmiri people have been facing since 1947. "It was Pakistani military that had precipitated the war merely a few weeks after its independence, apparently against the wishes and knowledge of Pakistan's founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah, by launching tribal Lashkar(militia) from Waziristan into Kashmir. The inconclusive result of this adventure still affects the geopolitics of both countries. In addition, Pakistan's constant involvement into Kashmir has turned a purely regional problem into a bone of contention between the two nuclear-armed states. Also, due to Pakistan 's involvement, the international community sees Kashmir issue as a Pakistani grievance, rather than an organic movement run by Kashmiri people," he said. He further advised Pakistan to end its occupation of Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan and withdrawal of its forces from Karachi and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa before asking India to withdraw troops from Kashmir. "If Pakistan is sincere in seeking a permanent solution for Kashmir, it must first end its occupation of Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan and withdraw its forces from Karachi and KPK (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) before demanding India to withdraw its troops from Kashmir. Without taking these steps, Pakistan's decision to hold the Black Day would be considered nothing more than a butt of jokes," Nusrat said. While talking about taxes, he drew attention to the fact that Pakistan runs on taxes paid by Karachi, but Pakistan's Punjabi-dominated military has been treating this great city as worse than an occupied territory and its people as slaves. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday announced that she would not seek re-election when her term expires in 2021. Merkel, who has been Chancellor since 2005, made the announcement during a news conference in Berlin. "It is time today for me to start a new chapter. This fourth term is my last term as Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany. In the next Bundestag election in 2021, I will not run again as Chancellor. I will not run for the German Bundestag any more, and I do not want any other political office," CNN quoted Merkel, as saying. Earlier in the day, Merkel had announced that she would step down as the leader of her centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party after 18 long years. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath late on Sunday inspected various development projects in Varanasi. "Due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foresight, these projects are being fulfilled in Varanasi. By conducting such inspections, I am just fulfilling the promises that we made to the people. Few projects in Varanasi are in the concluding stages. Also, traffic is least affected when we conduct such inspections in the night," Adityanath told media. Adityanath first went to see the construction work near the Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport. Later he inspected the work at the under-construction waterways port in the city. The port will provide water connectivity from Varanasi to Haldia in West Bengal. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The demand for Indian Construction Equipment (ICE) grew by 24% in FY 2017-18, up from 13% in FY 2015-16, and the sector crossed 90,000 units for the first time due to increase in infrastructure expenditure, according to an ASSOCHAM-Feedback consulting joint study. The Indian Construction Equipment industry grew despite the hiccups of emission and GST during April and July 2017, respectively. Demonetisation also had a negligible effect on the industry growth, conducted by The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) jointly with consulting firm Feedback. The government, which is a major demand driver, also plays a facilitator's role through policy and regulations. It is the largest end customer accounting for nearly two thirds of the demand for ICE products and hence has a very significant impact on the industry. Also, its role in setting policy and regulation has a further impact on the industry. Be it GST or 'Construction, Earthmoving, Material Handling, Mining (CEMM) Act' or the RERA Act for the Real Estate sector or the sand mining policy or the 'concrete site mix usage, land acquisition guidelines', the ICE industry looks to the Government to act as an enabler. Its policy for facilitating export growth helps the ICE manufacturers reach out to existing and new markets, adds the study. The study also highlighted that highway construction (Roads) has been one of the key drivers for equipment growth. Earthmoving & Mining equipments are largely used for initial land clearing for Road construction. Similarly, Concrete equipment witnessed a growth, Railways and Metro. Material Handling Equipment (MHE) growth was from a mix of Road & Railways, Metro segment. Material processing was largely led by the Quarry segment, which supplies aggregates to Road Construction, Railways, Irrigation sector and Real estate, noted the joint study. The Indian construction, mining equipment industry continues to be highly dependent on the demand for Backhoe loaders and Hydraulic Excavators. The Backhoe Loader alone contributed to 40% of the overall sales by volume during FY 2017-18, a very India specific phenomenon. Backhoe Loaders in china account for hardly 0.5% of overall construction equipment sales while in North America it accounts for 8.5%, reveals the joint study. Capacity utilisation among Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), is above 70% levels. Most of them have expanded and some others are planning expansions in equipment like Hydraulic Excavators, Wheel loaders and other specialized equipment. OEMs are focusing on exports to improve their capacity utilisation. The interest in Indian Backhoe loaders in certain African countries is on the rise. Recently there have been spurts of government announcements particularly in the roads sector to kick start growth through public spending till private investments kick in. The Government has decided to go down the route of massive increase in targeted spends in capital expenditure and infrastructure to revive economic growth. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two men have been arrested for their alleged involvement in a suspected sexual assault of a Sikh teenage girl inside an ambulance in Pakistan's Punjab province, Dawn newspaper reported on Monday. The 15-year-old girl, said to be mentally unstable, had gone missing at midnight on Saturday from her home in Nankana Sahib city, some 80 km from Lahore, police said. The family looked for her everywhere but could not trace her. The girl's father said they spotted an ambulance of the Punjab Emergency Services Rescue 1122 parked at Nankana bypass. On peeping inside, the family found that two men, identified as Ahsan Ali and Sameen Haider, were sexually assaulting their daughter, the Express Tribune reported. According to a FIR registered by the police, when the victim's family raised an alarm, the suspects drove the ambulance away, threw out the victim near a sugar mill on Nankana Road and escaped. A police spokesperson said the suspects were arrested. District Emergency Officer Akram Panwaar told the daily that a high-level committee had been set up to investigate the incident. "Once the crime is proven, strong departmental action will be taken against the rescue workers." --IANS soni/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi government has issued orders to shut down 417 polluting units in the national capital, a statement said on Monday. The decision came at a time when Delhi's air quality has deteriorated drastically and fast moving to the severe levels. Officials informed Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal during a meeting that 113 polluting industries, including 67 in highly-polluted Bawana and Narela, were asked to shut down for not converting to piped natural gas. The meeting was attended by Delhi Minister Imran Hussain and Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) Chairman Bhure Lal, among others. During the meeting, Delhi Pollution Control Committee officials informed that they have deputed marshals for night patrolling in several pollution hotspots including Bawana, Narela, Mundka, Nangloi, Punjabi Bagh, Dwarka, Anand Vihar, Bhalaswa and Ghazipur. Baijal directed more deployments of environment marshals. --IANS kd-vv/shs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) This article is written by Leon M. Gomez Rivas and translated by Joshua Gregor. It was originally published by RedFloridaBlanca and is republished with permission. It was with great pleasure that I received the invitation to contribute to this brief commemorative series on a great Catalonianand therefore Spanishthinker of the 19th century. I have before me the previous entries by Josep Castella and Alejandro Chafuen (who kindly cites a commentary I wrote for the Juan de Mariana Institute, in which I dealt with Balmess pioneering insights into the theory of marginal utility). These previous articles form a perfect summary of some of the subjects Jaime Balmes covered, beginning with the value theory of economics as well as his critical analysis of socialism, which he experienced firsthand during his trips to Paris in the 1830s. In this vein, we recall that Balmess family owned and operated a small business in Vic (their business was the manufacture of rabbit-skin caps), and thus he was personally acquainted with the nascent textile industry and its use of steam power in the production process. We have an interesting letter he wrote to his brother in which he describes the technological advances he observed in France. Those trips also gave rise to an essay entitled La Poblacion (Population), which demonstrates his clear notion of the demographic revolution then taking place in industrialized Europe. Relying on a work by Ramon de la Sagra, Jaime Balmes cites a number of philosophers and economists who had written on that subject from two different perspectives: The first, whose defenders include Montesquieu, Necker, Mirabeau, Adam Smith, Everett, [and] Moren de Vinde, holds that states strength and wealth are in proportion to population increase, since population is considered in light of its productive potential. The other, defended by Ortes, Ricci, Franklin, J. Stewart, Arthur Young, Towesend [sic], Malthus, J.B. Say, Ricardo, Destutt de Tracy, Droz, Duchatel, Blanqui, Sismondi, de Coux, [and] Godwin, considers population increase a true evil (Estudios sociales). A final commentcoming from Ernest Lluchon Jaime Balmess economic views brings us to the interesting debate on liberalism and protectionism, already present in the first half of the 19th century. Lluch explained that Catalonian entrepreneurs were fearful of English capacities, preferring Gibraltar remain under British control in exchange for some protectionist laws for their industry. Balmes also entered into this debate with some far-seeing ideas, such as the recognition that England saw a threat, not just a market to expand into, from Catalonias textile industry. Other innovative proposals by Balmes included industrial diversification in Catalonia rather than the established specialization in textiles, and also a concern for professional training and formation. Balmes implemented many of these ideas through an organization linked to Fomento del Trabajo Nacional (a Catalonian employers organization founded in 1771). As Fomento is still in existence, it would be a valuable effort to conduct further research on this point. Balmes the political theorist is also of interest; thus I share the description of him as liberal-conservative (a regrettably rare characteristic in 19th-century Spain). We should keep in mind that Balmes was a controversial figure, involved in 19th-century Spains civil wars (which we now call Carlist wars). He is usually counted, somewhat prejudicially, among the conservatives opposed to the Isabelline courts liberalism, perhaps because he founded El pensamiento de la nacion (The Thought of the Nation), a journal seemingly close to traditional royalism (known as Carlism). Certainly it was his lot to live during a complex time in the history of Spain, with the succession of Ferdinand VII, the aforementioned Carlist warshe endured the siege and bombardment of Barcelona in 1842or controversial liberal reforms such as Mendizabals confiscation of Church property. However, I think it is most correct to view him in the current of Spanish political Catholicism, as a proponent of dialogue with liberalism and the Churchs accommodation to the needs of the timemaking freedom and religion compatible. Please read carefully the excellent article by my fellow columnist Josep Castella in order to better understand the complicated world of 19th-century Spain. There were traditionalists who supported the old territorial agreements from the time of the Spanish Habsburgs; incipient nationalists, the fruits of Carlism, whose followers saw the Fueros (semiautonomous areas such as the Basque region) as an excuse for independence; doctrinaire liberals who defended the idea of a centralized and hyper-interventionist state; and moderate liberals who were poised to offer a truly modern solution to Spanish politics. Amidst these disputesas Castella also recallsBalmes embarked on a special policy of national reconciliation by suggesting that Queen Isabella II be married to Carlos Vs son, thus uniting two claimants to the throne. In this he had support from conservatives and moderate Carlists, even the Count of Montemolin, and in 1845 an agreement was reached with the Carlists. This was cut short in the following year, however, when Isabella married Francisco de Asis de Borbon. For years I have been encouraging doctoral students to conduct in-depth studies of Balmess Escritos politicos (Political Writings) and of his barely-known editorial work on El pensamiento, a journal that sought to rebuild Spanish politics based on dialogue among liberals, conservatives and non-ultramontane (i.e. non-papist) Carlists. I hope this article will convince at least one reader to take on the task. Leon M. Gomez Rivas is a professor in the Department of Economics and Business and in the Faculty of Social Sciences and of Communication at the European University, Madrid, Spain. (Photo credits: public domain.) Local Problems, Global Tech Photo: Luke MacGregor/Bloomberg via Getty Images Xiaowei Wang is a Bay Areabased designer, developer, and scholar whose work explores and connects disparate spaces like art and academia, coding and cooking, and rural Sichuan and Silicon Valley. Her current research focuses on how technology is transforming the Chinese countryside (and vice versa), and will be the subject of a forthcoming book, Tech Goes Down to the Country (recently announced as part of a special series by FSG in collaboration with Logic magazine that will be published in 2020). The narrative of China as a rising cyber-superpower is one that is increasingly central to foreign policy on both sides of the Pacific, but is all too often framed by abstract buzzwords, rather than ways that reflect the reality of 1.3 billion people. As a geographer, Wang believes that to understand Chinas technology trajectory, its useful to take a more experimental approach and map it through the landscape and the body. Here, she elaborates on the contrasts between high tech in the Chinese and American countryside, divergent national perspectives on innovation versus stability, and the possibilities of Sinofuturist cooking. The conversation below has been edited and condensed for clarity. Chinas rapid pace of urbanization has been a momentous story over the past decade, but more discourse is now focusing on the rural. Why is rural China crucial to the story of emergent Chinese technology? For one, the countryside has recently become very important again in Chinese policy and rhetoric. Many Americans think that the Chinese government has a centralized vision and decades-long plans, but it doesnt. Its constantly changing and is very responsive to things. After a huge push to urbanize the country and grow massive city populations, it questioned the sustainability of that model. It started asking, There are all of these hollowed-out villages, what do we do? So it began policies for rural revitalization. Related to this, success for Chinese start-ups doesnt come from catering to the one percent or the 10 percent in the same way as apps in the U.S., which might target middle-class urban millennials. They need to cater to the broader public, and about half of that broader public lives in the countryside or are from the countryside. Its interesting to think about Chinese history and see how the peasant has gone from this figure representing liberation and the soul of the nation, to being almost scoffed at during Chinas urban boom, to becoming a valued demographic again. What are some of the most interesting developments happening now in regards to big tech and the countryside? Lately, we have seen big technology companies like Alibaba and Tencent who are exploring soft power through rural initiatives. Theres a new Alibaba rural-development strategy that looks like something that the Rockefeller Foundation would put out, and addresses questions that normally an NGO or the government might, like financial inclusion, economic livelihood programs, or literally providing discounts on fertilizer to farmers. If you imagine this in the U.S., it would be like Google deciding to focus on a couple of towns in the Midwest where they would offer Google health care and Google banks and discounts on Google fertilizer to be purchased through Google, of course. When youre spending time in tiny villages in Sichuan, Shandong, or Guangdong, what type of innovations are you most surprised to observe? I always find the advanced infrastructure to be the most shocking. For instance, observing the rural distribution centers for e-commerce. They might be very physically remote, high in the mountains, and you wonder, How can they get this bottle of shampoo that people ordered to the correct address? On top of that, I find it incredible that theres even internet or cell service in the mountains and extremely remote areas. As you know, living in California you can go out for a hike right in Berkeley, and theres no cell-phone service. In China, Ive never been anyplace without it. Xiaowei Wang Photo: courtesy of Xiaowei Wang The Silicon Valley concept of technological progress is tied to disruption, and the ethos of move fast and break things. Would you say theres a different ethos and set of associations for China? And how does this relate to the countryside and agriculture? I do think that in China, narratives of technological progress are much more tied to ideas of social stability, centralized control, and this imagined collective future. People forget, especially in the U.S., that Chinas a pretty young country. When it first started off, things were not stable, especially around food and agriculture. There was a lot of starvation, and then the Great Leap Forward, which led to famines, etc. And now when people talk about progress in China, a key mark of progress is being able to choose what you want to eat. Maintaining stability for such a large number of people really does end up driving government policy. How does this compare to the role and reach of technology in rural America? I feel like being in California and the Bay Area, that rural-urban divide between the two countries feels definitely more amplified. I mean, look at the contrast between the Bay and the Central Valley. Of course, when you read the history of technology writers, they love to talk about farm mechanization and how California has been at the center of it. Near Santa Cruz there is Driscolls, which is pioneering next-level science and technology its putting berries on the blockchain. What are your thoughts on how the rise of Chinese technology is currently covered in Western media, or generally perceived by those outside of China? It seems like theres an intertwined Orientalism and xenophobia. There is definitely a kind of neo-Orientalism at work, and I think the fear of China and Chinese technological development is a very convenient one for both the left and the right. From the left, China is seen as an authoritarian, repressive regime using these technologies for awful things and human-rights abuses. On the right, its Trump threatening a trade war. So its interesting that people all across the spectrum currently have this fear of China, and I think its ultimately tied to the anxieties that the U.S. is experiencing right now as a fragmented, declining empire and seeing, on the other side of the world, another country emerging. How is the development of China as a global tech superpower seen by average Chinese people? Whats the perception like on the home front? It is definitely class related. In remote rural regions, if someone hears that I live in America, theyre very apologetic and say things like, Oh, America is beautiful; were so sorry about this bathroom that is a hole in the ground. You probably dont have that in America. Theres still this intrinsic belief that the foreign moon is more round [a reference to the Chinese idiom: ]. Then you go to a city and wealthier urban people will say, Yeah, I went to Europe and it was really inconvenient; I couldnt use my apps, and I had to use cash, and everyone seemed so slow, and the food is just terrible. Youre working on a series of Sinofuturist food recipes that will be included in the book. The term Sinofuturism emerged from related concepts like Afrofuturism, but has proven somewhat controversial to define. Whats your personal definition? I view it with positivity and optimism, and I think its empowering. The parallel it shares with Afrofuturism is this reimagining of a political and technological history where China wasnt subject to colonialism, where there was a different trajectory than the Imperial powers crippling most of Asia as well as Africa. Its also a rebuttal to the limited and inaccurate image of technology and science in the West, which only centers around the idealized Enlightenment-era man who is rational and heroic. I think its really exciting to rethink technology through the lens of other cultures, like that of China, where collectivity, community, and family are important. It also counters the idea that innovation was started in the Renaissance in Europe, and shows how deep-seated invention and engineering is in Chinese history and identity. China has been one of the technological leaders of the world for thousands of years this isnt new. What made you decide to create a cookbook out of this research? Ultimately, I just wanted to make talking about Chinese technological development much more concrete for people so to combine food, tech, and embodied experience. When the recipe book started, I was sitting in a remote town in Inner Mongolia, going through some complicated personal stuff. We were decompressing, and the way of decompressing was just looking through an app on our phones and talking about food and all of the different things that we might or might not order. Yeah, I would get the hot pot. Then I would get the frozen tofu. Hmm, I cant really eat ducks blood. We were just doing this for hours, and it seemed like we couldnt talk about how intense this emotional process had been, but we could offset it by looking at pictures of food on a food-ordering app. It was like, This is how you process feelings. What kind of recipes will you include? Food is the ultimate technology of the self, so this book will take the medicinal aspects of ingredients in Chinese food and amplify that. One recipe Ive started doing is a hot pot divination. I think our attraction to AI is that it gives answers that are so finite. Yes, definitely give that person a loan, or No, that person is totally unreliable. Its a way of coping with the general uncertainty of the world. So I see a fascinating similarity to this divination aspect thats present in traditional fortune-telling. With hot pot, you may think, Well, you dont know whats at the bottom. You know, there could be some answers on the surface, but underneath there might be something entirely different. Amid the speculation surrounding his upcoming film, director Anurag Basu on Monday said it is not a sequel to his critically acclaimed movie "Life... In A Metro", released in 2007. "I have nowhere mentioned that the movie that I am shooting now is a sequel of 'Life... In A Metro'. The only similarity is that there are four different stories in this movie as well," Basu said while interacting with the media here after shooting in adjoining areas. He said all the four stories are interlinked. Also, the film is not at all like "Life... In A Metro" and neither is the previous story being carried forward. Expressing his happiness over working with actor Abhishek Bachchan, he said: "I am glad that he said 'yes' as after writing a few scenes, I could imagine Abhishek doing this film. Even he agreed after reading those few scenes." "I really like his work. He is a nice man. He should get his due as he is an amazing actor. I was looking for an opportunity to work with him and finally got it." Basu, who has directed films like "Murder", "Gangster", "Kites", "Barfi" revealed that he will be in Kolkata again to shoot the portion with Rajkumar Rao, Fatima Sana Shaikh and Aditya Roy Kapoor. --IANS bnd/ssp/rb/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court on Monday directed for the appointment of Lt Gen Manomoy Ganguly as the Director General Medical Services (DGMS)-Army as it struck down the shifting of Air Marshal Rajvir Singh from DGMS-Air to DGMS-Army as impermissible. Allowing the petition by Lt Gen Ganguly, the bench of Justice A.K. Sikri and Justice Ashok Bhushan said: "We ... issue mandamus directing the respondents to appoint the petitioner as DGMS-Army." Leaving no scope for any further delay in the appointment of Lt Gen Ganguly, the court said that necessary orders in this regard should be passed within one week. Issuing the directive, the court said: "Having regard to overall circumstances of the case and the manner in which this case has been dealt with in the past, we are left with no alternative but to give the directions ourselves." Holding the lateral shifting of Air Marshal Rajvir Singh as a "fundamental error", the court said it is contrary to the policy guidelines of July 10, 1992. "The guidelines permit such a lateral shifting 'only in exceptional circumstances'. No such exceptional circumstances are stated anywhere on the basis of which this move of lateral shifting is justified," the judgment said. Noting the fact that the Centre has not questioned the suitability of Lt Gen Ganguly and he is the senior most officer in Army Medical Corps, the court said: "No doubt, (we) explained the meaning of 'inter se suitability' by examining the same on the basis of calibre, competence, attributes, skills and experience of the officers." However, these attributes are to be seen in the context of "suitability of the eligible persons", said the judgment, adding that the "criteria is 'inter se suitability' and not 'inter se merit'". "Thus, suitability of the persons was to be adjudged with the adoption of the said criteria." Holding that the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) was under an "erroneous impression" may be bona fide that "comparative merit" of the officers is to be adjudged, and for that purpose better method would be to go through the Overall Average Performance (OAP). "It seems that the COAS got an impression (may be bona fide, but definitely erroneous impression) from the judgment dated August 01, 2018, that "comparative merit" of the officers is to be adjudged and for that purpose better method would be to go through the OAP," the judgment said. "We fail to understand as to on what basis this methodology was thought of, when concededly ACR gradings have never been used as a criteria for posting of a Lieutenant General-rank officer earlier," said Justice Sikri speaking for the bench. Elaborating, the court said that July 10, 1992 guidelines are in place for the last over 26 years and "if it (OAP) has not happened earlier and there was no such mandate of this Court also, as the Court never meant that performance of an officer from the beginning of his career is to be adjudged, such an exercise was unwarranted". The entire case is rooted in Lt Gen Ganguly reputedly knocking the doors of Armed Forces Tribunal and that of Supreme Court to assert his right to be appointed DGMS-Army and authorities every time citing criteria to deny him the same. This finds reflection as Justice Sikri in the judgment said: "There is a chequered history in this case, which is getting curious with each round of litigation. Present proceedings are the repeat attempt of petitioner Maj Gen Manomoy Ganguly to get the position of DGMS-Army, which has illuded him till now." --IANS pk/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Popular Australian comedians like Daniel Connell, MelButtle and Aaron Chen will be a part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow, to be held in five Indian cities next month. Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune and Kolkata will host the comedians. Excited to perform at the event, Chen said in a statement: "I'm incredibly excited to perform in India and also just to be in India for the first time. I don't know what to expect from this beautiful country except open arms and warm naans (I hope to have at least one)." Comedian Guy Montgomery is a fan of Indian comedians and cannot wait for them to compliment him. "Every year at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, I'm blown away by the quality of the comedians who come over from India. I can't wait for them to say the same about me," he said. The main purpose of the show is to promote cultural exchanges between the two countries. And this is the fifth year that the Melbourne International Comedy Festival roadshow is coming to India. "It's a true cultural exchange with some of the world's funniest from our Festival sharing the stage with our Indian comedy collaborators, some of whom have already visited Melbourne and some who we hope to welcome in the future. It will be a huge night of laughs, celebrating India and Australia's shared sense of humour!," added Susan Provan, Festival Director, Melbourne International Comedy Festival. --IANS sim/rb/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Boeing Company said that it was "deeply saddened" by the loss of Indonesia's Lion Air Flight JT 610, which crashed into the sea off western Indonesia with 189 people on board. "Boeing is providing technical assistance at the request and under the direction of government authorities investigating the accident," the Chicago-based plane maker said in a statement, Xinhua news agency reported on Monday. The Boeing 737 Max 8 of Indonesia's Lion Air crashed into the sea shortly after taking off from Jakarta at around 0610 a.m. local time. Indonesia's national Search and Rescue Agency said that all the 189 people on board might have died. Two black boxes of the ill-fated aircraft have been located, and Boeing said all inquiries about this accident investigation must be directed to the investigating authority in charge, the National Transportation Safety Committee of Indonesia. --IANS vc (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Far-right congressman Jair Bolsonaro has won the Brazilian presidential run-off with 55.42 per cent of the valid votes and will succeed President Michel Temer on January 1 to govern until 2022. According to official results, with 97 per cent of the votes counted, Bolsonaro has clinched the presidential vote, soundly defeating Workers Party (PT) candidate Fernando Haddad, who has garnered 44.58 percent of the votes, Efe reported on Sunday. Bolsonaro celebrated his victory, saying in his first public remarks after learning of his win that "Together we're going to change Brazil's destiny. We knew where we were going. Now we know where want to go, my dear Brazilian people. Many thanks for your confidence." The reserve army captain, who has been a supporter of and apologist for the country's 1964-1985 military dictatorship and is well-known for his openly-expressed racist, macho and homophobic opinions, had led all the voter surveys for months and won a plurality in the first electoral round on October 7. Haddad began his campaign only on September 11, when Brazil's judiciary ruled that former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, with the PT but serving a 12-year prison sentence for corruption, was ineligible to contest the election. In the first electoral round, Bolsonaro garnered 46 per cent of the votes, with Haddad coming in second in a field of 13 candidates with 29 per cent. On September 6, during the first round campaign, Bolsonaro was stabbed in the abdomen at a political rally and remained hospitalised for 23 days, undergoing two operations. Since that time, he has limited his election activity to the social networks and did not even participate in any of the four television debates with Haddad that had been anticipated during the run-off campaign. Haddad criticised that position, in particular because doctors had said that Bolsonaro could participate in the debates. Bolsonaro, 63, has been a lawmaker for almost three decades and was elected president as the representative of the Liberal Social Party (PSL), a small party until now, but which in the October 7 legislative election garnered 52 of the lower house's 513 seats. The PSL will only be exceeded in the new legislature by the PT, which will hold 56 seats in a completely fragmented parliamentary chamber in which 30 parties have seats, most of them having expressed support for Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro's running mate -- and now vice president-elect -- is reserve army Gen. Hamilton Mourao, who has extolled Brazil's military dictatorship in his campaign speeches. The new president-elect, in his own campaign speeches, has promised to take a hard line against crime and to allow civilians to buy firearms, along with announcing a neoliberal line on the economy including privatisations of state-run firms and a significant reduction of the size of the state. Meanwhile, former Sao Paulo Mayor Joao Doria, a businessman with little political experience, on Sunday won the gubernatorial run-off vote in the same-named state, maintaining the hegemony of the social democrats in Brazil's richest and most populous region. Doria garnered 51.73 per cent of the votes to Brazilian Socialist Party candidate Marcio Franca, who received 48.27 per cent. And former Judge Wilson Witzel, with the Christian Social Party, who had received Bolsonaro's support, won the run-off election for the governorship of Rio de Janeiro state with 59.8 per cent of the votes over Eduardo Paes, who had been the city of Rio de Janeiro's mayor during the 2016 Olympic Games. --IANS vc (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China on Monday hoped that Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's visit to the country later this week will deepen bilateral ties. Beijing also said that China-Pakistan relations will not be affected by changes in the international and domestic situation. Khan will be on a four-day China visit from November 2, his second foreign trip after Saudi Arabia since coming to power in July. Khan was critical of his predecessor Nawaz Sharif for alleged corruption in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the heart of Beijing's Belt and Road connectivity project. Officials in Khan's government reportedly said that deals under the CPEC were "unfair" and Islamabad was having a rethink on the project. However, Khan pledged open support for the $60 billion project. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said Khan will meet President Xi and Prime Minister Li Keqiang. The Pakistani leader is likely to ask for fresh Chinese loans in the light of Pakistan's ever increasing foreign debt. "During Imran Khan's visit, Xi will hold talks with him. Premier Li will also hold talks with him. The two sides will have in-depth exchange view on the bilateral relation and issues of common interests," Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said. "We hope the two sides can take this visit as an opportunity to deepen our cooperation across the board and move forward in all strategic partnership," he added. "Our bilateral relations will not be affected by the changes in the international and domestic situation. In recent years, we have enjoyed very frequent high-level exchanges and our pragmatic cooperation has deepened. The CPEC has achieved fruitful outcomes and our friendship has become deeper and deeper." --IANS gsh/soni/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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. At a policy dialogue in Brussels titled "the EU-China Strategic Partnership 15 years on-What Direction for the Next 15 Years", Zhang Ming, head of the Chinese mission to the EU, said figures from bilateral interactions were convincing, Xinhua news agency reported on Monday. Bilateral trade was $125.2 billion 15 years ago, while just in the first eight months of this year, trade already reached $445 billion, he said, adding that "at the end of this year, we could expect an amount more than four times that of 15 years ago." In the past 15 years, mutual visits increased from 3 million to over 7 million. 600 flights travel between China and the EU every week, Zhang said. China and the EU have a comprehensive strategic partnership. "Comprehensive means that our cooperation is not just about trade, but about a broad range of areas, like foreign policy, security, culture, science and technology, global governance, to name just a few," Zhang said. "Strategic" means that we embrace a big-picture and long-term thinking for cooperation, going beyond our differences in history, cultures, values and political system. In a time of uncertainties, strategic partners are poised to communicate on major issues with a sense of trust, and enhance coordination to add a sense of certainty, he added. "China supports a united, stable, open and prosperous EU. This is our consistent and firm stance, never swayed by those pessimistic views on European integration." Zhang said. China has set out to expand reform and opening-up and improve business environment, he said, as "reform and opening-up is widely supported by the 1.4 billion Chinese people, and that it is a certain way to go if China wants further development in the future." "I understand that some European friends are eager to see even more out of reform and opening-up in China. Many of their opinions and recommendations are largely in line with our future direction. Their concerns will be gradually and properly addressed on the way ahead, like in the past 40 years," he said. "We have difficult challenges to tackle in the course of economic transformation. Development remains daunting, and there is still a long way to go," Zhang said, adding that "We hope that European friends could see China's reform, opening-up and development in a more objective light, and with more confidence and patience." --IANS vc/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress on Monday accused the BJP of polarising views on the Ram Temple issue ahead of Lok Sabha polls while it would wait for the Supreme Court verdict on it. "Well this is a familiar story. Every five years before elections, the BJP tries to polarise views on Ram Mandir," former Finance mInister P. Chidambaram said at a press conference at the AICC headquarters here shortly after the Supreme Court directed listing of the Ayodhya matter in January next for hearing. He said the Congress stand on the Ram temple was clear. "Congress party's position is that the matter is before Supreme Court and everyone should wait until SC decides... I don't think we should jump the gun," he said. Chidambaram was replying to a question on a statement by BJP President Amit Shah and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath that the Supreme Court has given its judgement in the Sabarimala issue and Union Minister Giriraj Singh saying that the "patience" of Hindus was running out over the Ram temple issue. The Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi listed hearing in January on a batch of petitions challenging the 2010 Allahabad High Court verdict trifurcating the disputed site in Ayodhya into three parts -- for Ram Lalla, Nirmohi Akhara and the original Muslim litigant. When asked about the BJP alleging that the Congress was stalling the Supreme Court proceedings in the case, the Congress leader said, "If you make that statement in public it will an order of contempt of the Supreme Court. So, my request is don't make that statement in public. "The Supreme Court will decide when to hear the case. We don't decide when the court hears the case," he said. Responding to a question over a demand for an ordinance for construction of the temple, Chidambaram said, "It (the issue of ordinance) is decided by the executive government. If someone is asking for an ordinance, it is for the Prime Minister to respond, if he will respond at all to the issue," he added. --IANS aks/vsc/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress on Monday launched a dedicated website to take suggestions from the public to prepare the party's manifesto for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections under the theme 'Jan Aawaz' (people's voice). At a press conference here, senior party leader and former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram launched the dedicated website -- www.manifesto.inc.in -- to receive suggestions from the public. He said the website has the option for 16 languages and also a dedicated WhatsApp number to receive suggestions. The former Minister announced that the "Congress has started work to write its manifesto for the 2019 elections", adding that a 22-member committee with Rajeev Gowda, MP, as its Convener has been constituted to make it. "The process of consultation started on October 1." Chidambaram said the committee has been divided into 20 subject groups with each one under of the members. "Till date, over 30 consultations have taken place for the preparation of the manifesto and about 150-160 more till December end." He said that Congress President Rahul Gandhi has made it clear that the party's manifesto will be written following an inclusive process. "It will be based on the basis of conversation with the people of India. We will ask people, encourage people and motivate people to tell us what they expect of the Congress party and when it forms the government and then what they expect from the government," he said. "We hope that millions of people participate in the manifesto consultations," Chidambaram said. The Congress Working Committee (CWC) will take a decision on a draft manifesto prepared by the committee which is expected to complete the consultation process by December end. The manifesto will be launched at an appropriate time before the 2019 elections, Chidambaram added. Rajeev Gowda said, "The larger theme of the process is that your aspirations shape the future of India, your voice inspires change and the Indian National Congress is listening to you." Replying to a question over Subramanian Swamy's claims that Chidambaram would join the BJP, he jokingly replied, "I am also planning to join the Democratic Party in US, Republican Party in US, Communist Party in China." Asked about Shashi Tharoor likening Prime Minister Narendra Modi to a scorpion seated on a Shivling, Chidambaram described it as "a complete non-issue". "Tharoor did not make that comment. He quoted comment made six years ago from a writer in the Caravan magazine," he said. "I think between the time comment is made and the time it gets publicity, everything changes, the author changes, the words change and the subject changes," he said, adding that please go back and that "Tharoor has clarified that he was quoting an article six years ago". When asked about Reserve Bank of India Deputy Governor Viral Acharya's statement advocating independence for the central bank, Chidambaram said, "It's not only too early to comment, it's only a sketchy information available." "But there must be some information available, it must be some grave information why the Deputy Governor delivered that speech," he said, adding that in the footnote he (Acharya) says that "he is grateful to RBI Governor (Urjit Patel) for encouraging him to explore the subject". "I think the matter is serious enough and it will be best if the RBI and the government don't talk across each other through lectures. We had two already. Instead of talking to each other through lectures, it might be better if the time-honoured practice of the Finance Minister (Arun Jaitley) and RBI Governor meeting often in private and talking issue. "We have done in the past and it has worked well. Why are the people delivering lectures across each other I don't know," he added. --IANS aks/vsc/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress on Monday said that ailing Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who has not been seen in public since October 14, may be no more, drawing a sharp rebuttal from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). "Yes, we are taking that call. It is an extreme call that the honourable Chief Minister may not be there at all," Congress spokesperson Jitendra Deshprabhu told the media here. Parrikar has not had a single public appearance since his return from Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences on October 14 and is currently bedridden at his private residence, which party sources said has been converted into a sophisticated medical facility, with doctors and para-medical staff on 24-hour duty. The Congress alleged that a coterie of officials around the Chief Minister were "illegally" taking decisions in his "absence". The BJP called the statement a result of Congress "frustration" and accused the party of lowering the political discourse. On October 27, soon after Health Minister Vishwajit Rane for the first time officially revealed that Parrikar was suffering from pancreatic cancer, the Chief Minister's Office said that Parrikar was expected to hold a cabinet meeting on Wednesday at his private residence. Deshprabhu told reporters that the BJP and the BJP-led coalition should prove to the people of Goa that Parrikar was alive. The Congress leader also accused the media of trying to play down the severity of Parrikar's ailment. Goa BJP General Secretary Sadanand Shet Tanavade said that "Deshprabhu must be frustrated if he is making statements like this". --IANS maya/shs/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Photo: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images If theres one company that could insidiously insert itself into every facet of American life, its Amazon. Its already deeply embedded into how many of us purchase things, and therefore has a pretty robust psychographic profile of your taste. Thanks to Amazon Web Services, it undergirds a significant portion of the internet (including the website youre reading this on right now). Its aggressive in its dealings with competitors, unafraid to wield its power when dealing with municipalities, and has a checkered history of relations with its employees at its fulfillment centers as well as with its white-collar office drones. But take a look at the results from the Georgetowns 2018 American Institutional Confidence Poll, released last week. It found stark differences in Democrats and Republicans respective trusts in the executive branch, religious institutions, and local police. The one institution that both sides loved? Amazon. Photo: 2018 American Institutional Confidence Poll Democrats ranked it at the top of the list, higher than any other major institution in the poll higher, even, than colleges and universities. Republicans ranked it third, with only the military and local police winning more institutional trust. From a certain perspective, this shouldnt be surprising; even as large tech companies have come under more scrutiny, theyve largely remained popular. But the poll finds somewhat stark contrasts in the levels of trust for some other major companies along partisan lines: overall, Democrats expressed trust in Google, for example, while Republicans very much did not. In other ways, Amazon is a strange institution for both sides of the political spectrum to avow so much trust in. Donald Trump has publicly attacked the company for overwhelming the USPS and for not paying its fair share of taxes (though his attacks on Amazon seem more to do with his personal animus with the Washington Post and Jeff Bezos). Bernie Sanders, meanwhile, was able to successfully shame Amazon into paying its fulfillment workers more through legislation aimed directly at Amazon and Jeff Bezos. Its likely that some of the goodwill Amazon benefits from comes down to simple utility. While Americans are increasingly wary of tech companies that control information Facebook is ranked lowest for institutional trust among both Democrats and Republicans Amazon is still largely seen as the company that gets the box with the friendly grinning logo to your doorstep day in, day out. Even if you factor in that Amazon actually does gather quite a bit of information about you (hi, Alexa!), a recent survey by Reticle Research and the Verge found that, when compared to Apple, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, and Twitter, Amazon is by far the most well-liked tech company: the one most trusted to keep users information safe, and the company users were most likely to recommend to their friends and family. So where does this overwhelming goodwill come from? You could point down to Amazons business strategy, which has seen the company burn its endless cash reserves to improve services and expand what it can do. Apple is content to sit on mountains of cash. Google spends its revenue on moon shots and self-driving cars, projects whose payoffs may be decades away. Facebook acquires companies and pays TV advertising rates to apologize for leaking your data. Amazon, meanwhile, pours its profits back into offering a video streaming service for Prime members that roughly rivals Netflix, building out a fresh grocery delivery service, and attempting to solve the problem of shopping for clothes online with Prime Wardrobe. It also isnt above using smart marketing tricks. That smiling logo on their packages doesnt just let you know you have a delivery from Amazon it lets all your neighbors know, too. After acquiring Whole Foods last year, one of the first things Amazon did was to lower the price of avocados and other trendy food items. And unlike nearly every other tech behemoth out there, its managed to do all this without suffering a major privacy or data scandal. But we should also keep in mind what the Georgetown survey was attempting to measure: not warmth of feeling, but trust. And Amazon has become so deeply embedded in many Americans lives and with so little apparent downside that it may not ultimately be surprising that its trusted by so many on both sides of the political spectrum. I like higher education and nonprofits quite a bit, but Im not sure I always trust them to fulfill their mission. When I hit that one-click order button on Amazon, however, I deeply trust that the humidifier for my daughters nursery will arrive within two days. Shiv Sena on Monday said "the court will not do anything" on the Ayodhya issue and demanded that a Ram temple be constructed in Ayodhya. "We didn't demolish Babri structure 25 years ago after asking the court. Our thousands of kar sevaks didn't sacrifice their lives after asking the court. We did not take court's permission before starting Ayodhya movement. "We want Ram Temple in Ayodhya. We are not demanding to construct Ram Temple in Pakistan or Karachi. Our demand is to construct Ram Temple in God Ram's Ayodhya," Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said reacting to the Supreme Court listing the hearing in the matter to January next. He said that the party chief Uddhav Thackeray would visit Ayodhya and put his point before the country over the issue. Raut said they were not bothered about the date fixed by the court for the next hearing. --IANS rak/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Minister of State for Home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir on Monday said the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) project will help in containing crime and criminality in a huge democracy like India. Speaking at the inauguration of a two-day conference on "CCTNS - Good practices and Success Stories", organised by the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB), Ahir said the system and associated technologies can help us get information fast and track the criminals quickly. Appreciating the CCTNS, Ahir said all states and Union Territories should effectively use it to contain crime. "The states and Union Territories should coordinate and integrate the various organs of the criminal justice system, such as police, courts, prisons, prosecution, forensic laboratories, finger prints and juvenile homes, with the CCTNS database," the Minister suggested. Ahir said the Ministry of Home Affairs has always been supportive of modernisation of the police force in the country by appropriately funding it and that it has already given nod for developing CCTNS phase II. He also released a compendium of "CCTN - Good practices and Success Stories" on the occasion. In his welcome address, NCRB Director Ish kumar said at present 14,749 police stations (Out of 15,655) and 6,649 higher offices (out of 7,931) are connected through CCTNS and sending data to the National Data Centre regularly, except Bihar. Out of the remaining nearly 1,000 police stations, 894 are from Bihar. According to Kumar, of the 36 states and Union Territories, 35 have launched their citizen portals for providing services to citizens like filing of complaints online and antecedents verification of tenants and domestic helps. "Crime record check of applicants of Global Entry Programme of the USA is being done by NCRB using CCTNS," he added. --IANS rak/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi Cabinet on Monday approved a proposal to revise the pay-scales of teachers and administrative posts in universities and colleges in line with the recommendations of the seventh Central Pay Commission (CPC), said an official. "The Cabinet approved the Department of Higher proposal for the grant of revised pay-scales to teachers and equivalent cadres and administrative posts in universities and colleges following the revision of pay scales of Central government employees on the recommendations of the seventh CPC...," said an official statement. Delhi's Directorate of Higher is running three universities, 12 fully funded colleges, 16 partially-funded colleges of Delhi University and one more educational institute. "The Delhi government, with a view to provide quality in these institutions, has been taking appropriate measures from time to time to ensure that the faculty has the talent and commitment to effectively contribute towards achieving the desired objectives," it said. The Cabinet also gave approval for allowing the Quality Council of India to be engaged as system integrator by the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights to assist in the project management of comprehensive school evaluation exercise of all schools -- government, municipal, aided and unaided -- in Delhi, on nomination basis. --IANS nks/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi Dialogue and Development Commission (DDC), an advisory body of the AAP government, on Monday got a head in Jasmine Shah, an alumnus of IIT Madras and Columbia University, after being headless for months. Shah was selected for the post of Vice Chairman by the council of ministers headed by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, also the Chairman of DDC. The post was lying vacant since April after Ashish Khetan, who was appointed to the post in 2015, resigned. Khetan later quit the Aam Aadmi Party as well. "It's an honour and a privilege to serve as the VC of Delhi's Dialogue and Development Commission... Will leave no stone unturned in ensuring Delhi government's policies have maximum impact on the lives of countless aam aadmi," Shah said in a tweet. An alumnus of Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), Shah was also a Nehru Fulbright Scholar. Shah, with over a decade of experience of working on urban governance and policy issues, has been advising the Delhi government since 2016 on budgetary and transport policy reforms. "With his expertise on government monitoring and evaluation systems, Shah was the architect of Delhi's first comprehensive Outcome Budget for 2017-18, a first-of-its-kind initiative in India to bring in complete transparency and accountability in public spending," reads an official statement. For the past year, Shah was working as the advisor to the Delhi Transport Minister and has worked on several crucial initiatives of the government like the Common Mobility Card, bus route rationalization and last mile connectivity initiative and large-scale induction of electric buses in Delhi among other projects. The DDC is an initiative of the Delhi government to facilitate a dialogue between the people of Delhi and the government towards creating a clean, green, safe and corruption-free city. It identified 21 focus areas and encourages people and experts to come up with ideas and suggestions related to governance, electricity, water and education among others. --IANS nks/mr (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday invited Japanese businessmen to engage more with India to speed up the investment process in New Delhi. "I always talk about 'strong India strong Japan'. On this occasion, I express my gratitude to Japanese businessmen for showing their faith in India. I invite you all to engage with India to speed up the investment process there," Modi said while interacting at the Business Forum Summit here. The Prime Minister highlighted "low cost manufacturing" in India as a major benefit for businesses. Talking about his government's efforts in the "ease of doing business" front, he said: "India has started ranking its 36 states and Union Territories on the ease of doing business. This has resulted in a healthy competition among them for investment and led to better results." On industrial progress, he said India was moving rapidly towards "Industry 4.0" because of inventions in the field of technology like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), 3D printing and robotics. Highlighting the achievements of his government in the last four years, the Prime Minister said India was continuously working with the spirit of "Indian Solutions-Global Applications". Modi, who arrived here on Saturday for his annual summit with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe, said: "Some years ago, I spoke about making a mini Japan in India. It's a matter of great happiness for me that today, you are working in an even larger number in India." Modi said the Japan-backed Delhi-Mumbai industrial corridor project was on track because of Tokyo's collaboration. He said the 'Make in India' programme was making India a global hub for electronics and automobile manufacturing. On the IT sector, he said: "The partnership between our software and your hardware sectors can do miracles. "I have always kept ease of doing business as my priority. India was at the World Bank's 140th position in 'ease of doing business' when I took (charge) in 2014. Now India has reached the 100th position and we are working towards still better ranking." He emphasised on Japanese contribution in creating smart infrastructure to build a 'New India'. Coordination between India and Japan in the field of electric mobility would benefit both the countries, he said. --IANS rak-rrb/ksk/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) "Bird Of Dusk", a docu-feature based on the life story of late National Award-winning Bengali filmmaker Rituparno Ghosh, offered an absorbing experience to the audience during its India premiere at the 20th MAMI Mumbai Film Festival with Star. The movie was screened here on Sunday night, and left the audience emotional about the filmmaker's personal journey. Directed by Sangeeta Datta, the docu-feature captures Ghosh's transformation from the copywriter of an ad agency to a cultural and fashion icon of Bengal with his celebrated films. The movie includes several interviews of actors like Nandita Das, Sharmila Tagore, Arjun Rampal, Aparna Sen, Konkona Sen Sharma along with cinematographer, other filmmakers who had a long association with Ghosh. Ghosh's personal creative journey touched the audience, and many budding filmmakers and youngsters regretted not knowing Ghosh and his contributions to Indian cinema, well enough. A 19-year-old viewer said: "I loved this documentary and now I cannot wait to binge watch Rituparno Ghosh's films. Unfortunately, I had not much idea about his personality, though I have watched some of his work like 'Chokher Bali'." The docu-feature also shows Ghosh's transformation from being a man to coming out of the closet as one of the third gender. Datta had worked closely as an associate director with Ghosh. Asked if she had any conversation to know Ghosh's opinion on the third gender and his frame of mind after coming out of the closet, she said: "There was a time when a number of his friends stood back when he started experimenting with his own body. We knew that he was diabetic and such an operation would be risky for his body, which eventually turned out lethal. "During 'Chitrangada' (a film in which Ghosh acted), he talked about the possibility of change from male to female and then explaining that it is not that simple, from one gender to another, but it is about androgyny. "In fact, we had several conversations on androgyny. Ritu would ask me, 'What is it?' and I would explain how I interpret the concept of Ardhnarishwar, which has a reference in our ancient text. Yet, our society will not accept that concept," she said. That was an emotionally dark time for Ghosh. Dutta said: "At one point, a larger group felt laid down because Ritu did not go through sex reassignment surgery and that remains a topic of conversation in the Bengali film industry. The question was hanging on if Ritu is a man or a woman... but Ritu did not answer any of them." --IANS aru/rb/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Playwright Ntozake Shange, who wrote the 1975 Tony-nominated play "For Colored Girls", is dead. He was 70. Shange died on Saturday in Bowie, Maryland, according to her family, reports variety.com. Shange, who was also a poet and author, had suffered a series of strokes in 2004 and died at an assisted living facility. The influential play, a series of poetic monologues, has been hailed by numerous artistes, including Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Lynn Nottage. The play centers on the racism and violence experienced by seven black women. "For Colored Girls" played approximately 750 performances on Broadway, and became a feature film by Tyler Perry. Thandie Newton, Anika Noni Rose, Kerry Washington and Janet Jackson starred in the 2010 film. Washington tweeted that she was "so grateful for her vision and voice." Shange was born Paulette Williams in New Jersey and graduated Barnard College and received a master's from USC. Her Zulu name Ntozake means "She who comes with her own things" and Shange means "She who walks like a lion." She won an Obie for the drama as well as for her adaptation of "Mother Courage and Her Children." Her other plays include "A Photograph: A Study of Cruelty", "Boogie Woogie Landscapes" and "Black and White Two Dimensional Planes". Among her novels are "Sassafrass, Cypress, and Indigo" and "Some Sing, Some Cry," written with her sister, Ifa Bayeza. Shange worked with a number of black theater companies and taught at universities including Brown, Rice, Villanova and DePaul. Ava DuVernay also paid tribute, tweeting: "Rest now, Queen." --IANS dc/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi High Court on Monday initiated contempt proceedings against Swaminathan Gurumurthy, Editor of a Chennai-based Tamil weekly news magazine "Thuglak", for his tweets against sitting judge Justice S. Muralidhar. Taking suo motu cognisance of the issue, a bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Yogesh Khanna has asked Gurumurthy, who is also a Reserve Bank of India (RBI)'s part-time non-official Director, to file a response on the contempt proceedings. The court has listed the matter for further hearing on December 11. The court order came after receiving a letter from advocate Rajshekhar Rao, who sought contempt action against the scribe and requested to remove the tweets and online video against the judge. Gurumurthy had shared a tweet alleging bias by Justice Muralidhar while delivering an order on October 1. On October 1, a division bench headed by Justice Muralidhar set aside a lower court order allowing the Maharashtra Police to take Navlakha to Pune and said Navlakha's detention had exceeded 24 hours which was "untenable" in law. --IANS akk/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Holy men in Uttar Pradesh on Monday expressed disappointment over the Supreme Court deferring the hearing on the Ayodhya title suit to January. Mahant Paramhans Das, who had recently gone on an indefinite sit-in to press for an early construction of a Ram temple on the disputed site in Ayodhya, said that the Hindu community and the holy men have no patience to wait for long. He asked the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party to immediately announce the commencement of the Ram temple construction, failing which the BJP, RSS and the VHP will face the wrath of the Hindus. "BJP rode to power both at the Centre and UP on the promise of Ram temple construction. Now the time has come for them to fulfil their promise" he added. Satyendra Das, the chief priest of the Ram Janma Bhoomi, said it pained him that the delay by the apex court would now mean a "longer wait for Lord Rama under the tent." The Muslim petitioner in the case, Iqbal Ansari, too said that he was sad that Lord Ram's idol was under the tent, but reiterated that everyone should wait for the verdict of the Supreme Court and that this would be acceptable to both sides. President of the Akhil Bharatiya Sant Samiti, Jitendranand Saraswati, warned the government against any further delay in the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya and said they will not wait for the SC hearings and would rather build pressure on the Narendra Modi government to bring a law in Prliament for construction of the Ram temple. A spokesman of the Nirmohi Akhada said that they had lost faith in the BJP government as far as the Ram temple issue was concerned, and would accept whatever the apex court ruled. Reacting to the postponement of the hearing by a bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya said: "The postponement has not sent the right message". --IANS md/shs/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The growth in bilateral trade between India and Italy has picked up in recent years and increased by 10 per cent in 2017-18 over the previous fiscal, Italian Trade Agency Chief Executive Piergiorgio Borgorelli said on Monday. Speaking to reporters here on the sidelines of the India-Italy Technology Summit organised by industry chamber CII in collaboration with India's Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Italian government, Borgorelli said bilateral trade during the first-half the current fiscal had grown by over by over 5 per cent, while Italy's exports to India in this period had risen by over 15 per cent. The India-Italy bilateral trade stood at $10.5 billion in 2017-18, up from $8.8 billion in the previous fiscal. Italy is partner country in this year's edition of the DST-organised Technology Summit, reflecting the growing intensity of the bilateral economic relationship, Borgorelli said. The two-day technology summit that began on Monday focuses on the areas of renewable energy, clean technology, information and communication technology, healthcare, aerospace, education and preservation of cultural heritage. Borgorelli pointed out that despite a slowdown in trade growth in recent years, the bilateral trade relationship is an old and established one, with over 450 Italian companies operating in India, which is Italy's fifth largest trading partner in the European Union (EU). "The fixed stock of Italian FDI (foreign direct investment) in India amounts to over Euro 2 billion," he said. He said that the focus themes of the Technology Summit would become the main pillars of future economic bilateral cooperation between the two nations. Inaugurating the conference earlier, India's Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan called for promoting high quality collaborative research projects across the value chain with a focus on boosting technological entrepreneurship. "We must look at developing competitive products together. India and Italy are already part of great innovative collaborations such as the Mission Innovation to accelerate global innovation in clean energy. We need to promote that," he said. Italian Deputy Minister of Economic Development Michele Geraci said Italy looked forward to greater collaboration with India in science and technology. --IANS bc/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Gab, a social network for racists. Photo: Gab.com Its impossible to discuss the anti-Semitic hatred of Pittsburgh synagogue shooter Robert Bowers without discussing the technology that facilitated such vitriol. Shortly after news of the shooting broke, an account attributed to Bowers was found on Gab, a clone of Twitter that markets itself, under the guise of standing up for free speech, to people too bigoted even for Twitter to tolerate a weirdly high (or low?) bar to clear. Anyway, if you want a perfect example of how the far right is able to bring outsized levels of hatred into the mainstream, Gabs response to the shooting is one. In an official statement on its now-suspended Medium account, Gab wrote, We have nothing but love for all people and freedom. We have consistently disavowed all violence. The statement also noted Gabs cooperation with law enforcement regarding Bowerss account. The statement is strategically unobjectionable. Who could argue against love for all people and freedom of speech? Officially, Gab is an apolitical service committed to the principle of freedom of speech. Unofficially, it is a barely disguised haven for racists. (Gabs stance regarding bigotry is that more speech is the solution not unlike Twitters suggestion that journalists should just fact-check Alex Jones until he goes away.) On Twitter, Gab is being less diplomatic about the renewed attention to its platform. This weekend, their tweets bragged about the site receiving more than 1 million hits an hour in the wake of the shooting; insulted journalists criticizing the site; and celebrated the election of fascist Jair Bolsonaro as president of Brazil. Gab is also throwing a tantrum regarding its loss of access to technology services that power the site. The registrar GoDaddy threatened to revoke the sites domain name (making it difficult to get to Gab by typing in its URL, gab.ai). Elsewhere, PayPal and Stripe stopped processing payments made to support the sites upkeep. Gab was also kicked off of its hosting service, making it impossible to get to the site even with its domain name. By last night, Gab was claiming that it was under attack because technology providers decided not to support a digital meeting place favored by and catering to racists. The site specifically called on Donald Trump and other conservative politicians to take up its cause (which, as a reminder, is effectively, It should be illegal for non-governmental enterprise to punish us for fostering bigotry). This series of events echoes the deplatforming of neo-Nazi site The Daily Stormer in the wake of 2017s Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville. Hounded by criticism, Matthew Prince announced that he was ending the Daily Stormers relationship with his company, Cloudflare, which provides services for protecting sites against distributed denial-of service (DDoS) attacks and maintaining their stability. He stated that he was uncomfortable with his companys power to effectively kick a site off the internet. (Citing their belief that DDoS protection should be considered a right on the modern internet, Cloudflare subsequently began offering it for free to the public, mostly eliminating the criticism that the company profits from providing protection to sites that spread hate.) PayPal, Stripe, and GoDaddy have been put on a similar defensive footing this time around. The Gab situation, in addition to shedding more light on online radicalization, has once again raised the debate surrounding the internets structure. What parts of the internet are a right, and what parts of it are a privilege? Where in the hierarchy of foundational systems and protocols is that boundary? Within the bounds of the law, net neutrality principles dictate that any internet user should be able to access Gab and upload garbage to it if they so please. Those are rights. But thats probably where the list of rights ends. Hosting a website is a separate proposition from accessing one. A domain name, hosting servers, DDoS protection, and credit-card payment processing are not inherent rights of internet users, nor should they be. They entail ongoing, contingent agreements between separate parties; they are modern conveniences for those who adhere to the general social contract of not being an enormous asshole. The companies that pulled their support for Gab made it very difficult for the site to stay online, but they did not make it impossible. (There is an argument to be made that fundamental web services like domain registrars should be impartial, but given that the threshold for punitive action seems to be, roughly, explicit Neo-Nazi online hangout, Im not losing too much sleep, yet.) Gab is a terrible site with a higher-than-average proportion of racists, sexist, xenophobes, Islamophobes and anti-Semites, and nobody is obligated to specifically provide infrastructure support for them or maintain those business relationships in the face of public pressure. What these situations further expose is another type of moderation that is lacking in the tech industry, separate from the poor moderation efforts plaguing sites like Twitter and Facebook. Online companies like PayPal and Stripe make it very easy to use and deploy their tools without anyone reviewing who is doing so. This makes such tools widely accessible and affordable to upstarts, bootstrappers, and the technically deficient. It also forces the companies to be reactive to bad actors rather than proactive in weeding them out. The era of tech companies playing dumb about whos harnessing their tools is coming to an end. This does not bode well for social media shitposters, and it also threatens to ensnare the less flashy infrastructure providers that gird small independent communities. In what could be seen as remarks hinting at China, India and Japan on Monday called for a "free and open" Indo-Pacific and agreed to hold a 2+2 dialogue of foreign and defence ministers of the two countries. A vision statement issued after the annual bilateral summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe said the two leaders' vision for the Indo-Pacific is "based on a rules-based order that respects sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations, ensures freedom of navigation and overflight as well as unimpeded lawful commerce, and seeks peaceful resolution of disputes with full respect for legal and diplomatic processes in accordance with the universally recognised principles of international law, including those reflected in the UNCLOS (UN Convention for the Law of the Sea), without resorting to threat or use of force." This assumes significance given China's growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region and its belligerence in the South China Sea. "Based on their shared vision, the two Prime Ministers reiterated their unwavering commitment to working together towards a free and open Indo-Pacific," the vision statement said. "The two leaders also affirmed that Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) unity and centrality are at the heart of the Indo-Pacific concept, which is inclusive and open to all," it stated. "They shared willingness to expand concrete cooperation with the US and other partners." The two sides also exchanged notes for seven yen loan agreements for key infrastructure projects in India. India and Japan committed to further consultations with host governments to foster tangible cooperation focusing on development of connectivity and other infrastructure in the Indo-Pacific. "This synergy is embodied in collaborative projects between India and Japan in the Indo-Pacific region, including in Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Bangladesh as well as in Africa," the Vision Statement said. It also stated that both leaders reaffirmed their desire to further deepen bilateral security and defence cooperation and institute Foreign and Defence Ministerial 2+2 Dialogue in addition to existing mechanisms, including the Annual Defence Ministerial Dialogue, Defence Policy Dialogue, the National Security Advisers' Dialogue, Staff-level Dialogue of each service. "Without the cooperation between India and Japan, the 21st century cannot be an Asian century," Modi said in a joint address to the media with Abe at the summit meeting. "Abe-san and I have agreed to start a 2+2 Dialogue between our foreign and defence ministers," he said. "Its aim is to further boost peace and stability in the world." Describing Japan as the confluence of the best aspects of eastern and western civilisations, Modi said that the country has taught that the path to the development of mankind is not a conflict between the ancient and the new, but its co-existence and creation. "The relations between India and Japan are as deep and wide as the Indian and Pacific Oceans," he said. "These relations are based on shared commitment to democratic values and freedom and the rule of law." Modi said that he and Abe agreed that from digital partnership to cyberspace, health to defence and from oceans to space, both sides will strengthen their partnership. He also said that the $2.5 billion new investments that Japanese investors have committed earlier in the day will help create some 30,000 jobs. On his part, Abe said that cooperation between the naval forces of the two countries will increase. He also said that to boost regional connectivity, Japan and India will work together in third countries like Bangladesh. According to the Vision Statement, the two leaders welcomed the joint exercise between each of the three defence services of the two countries and the commencement of negotiations on the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA), which will enhance the strategic depth of bilateral security and defence cooperation. The two leaders also welcomed recent developments in the Korean Peninsula, including the US-North Korea summit in Singapore in June and three inter-Korean summits this year as a step towards the comprehensive resolution of the outstanding issues regarding North Korea. "They underscored the importance of realising North Korea's complete, verifiable, and irreversible dismantlement of all weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles of all ranges in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs), and the importance of addressing concerns related to North Korea's proliferation linkages," the statement said. The two Prime Ministers condemned in the strongest terms the growing threat of terrorism and called upon Pakistan to bring to justice the perpetrators of terrorist attacks, including those of November 2008 in Mumbai and January 2016 in Pathankot. "They looked forward to strengthening cooperation against terrorist threats from groups including Al Qaeda, ISIS (Islamic State), Jaish-e-Mohammad, Lakshar-e-Tayyiba, and their affiliates," the statement said. The seven loan agreements signed totalling 316.48 billion yen will be utilised for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high speed rail, project for renovation and modernisation of Umiam-Umtru Stage-III hydroelectric power station in Meghalaya, the third phase of the Delhi Mass Rapid Transport System Project, road network connectivity improvement project in northeastern India, project for the construction of Turga pumped storage in West Bengal, project for the construction of Chennai Peripheral Ring Road and project for sustainable catchment forest management in Tripura. In all, 32 documents were exchanged in front of the two Prime Ministers following the meeting, including on cooperation between the naval forces of the two countries, healthcare, digital and new technologies, and food processing. --IANS ab/vsc/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India and Japan will start a 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue involving their respective foreign and defence ministers to work for peace and stability in the world, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Narendra Modi said on Monday. "Without the cooperation between India and Japan, the 21st century cannot be an Asian century," Modi said in a joint address to the media with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe following their annual bilateral summit here. "Abe-san and I have agreed to start a 2+2 Dialogue between our foreign and defence ministers," he said. "Its aim is to further boost peace and stability in the world." India started a similar 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue with the US last month in which External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defence Secretary Jim Mattis participated. Describing Japan as the confluence of the best aspects of eastern and western civilisations, Modi said that the country has taught that the path to the development of mankind is not a conflict between the ancient and the new, but its co-existence and creation. "The relations between India and Japan are as deep and wide as the Indian and Pacific Oceans," he said. "These relations are based on shared commitment to democratic values and freedom and the rule of law." Modi said that he and Abe agreed that from digital partnership to cyberspace, health to defence and from oceans to space, both sides will strengthen their partnership. "I have been told that today Japanese investors have announced that they will invest $2.5 billion in India," the Indian Prime Minister. "This will help boost employment generation." On his part, Abe said that cooperation between the naval forces of the two countries will increase. He also said that to boost regional connectivity, Japan and India will work together in third countries like Bangladesh. Following the talks, agreements were signed on cooperation between the naval forces of the two countries, healthcare, digital and new technologies, and food processing. --IANS ab/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India, Russia and Iran will hold a trilateral meeting on the International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC) on November 23 to make the 7,200-km-long ship, road, and rail route operational soon, an official statement said on Monday. Union Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu, in a meeting with a Russian business delegation on raising investments and business between the two countries on Saturday, said "all issues may be resolved in order to operationalise the route as early as possible". Prabhu informed that the corridor is an important initiative taken by India, Russia and Iran to promote transport cooperation and to enhance connectivity with central Asian countries. "The INSTC is the shortest multimodal transportation route linking the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf via Iran to Russia and North Europe," the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said in the statement. "The estimated capacity of the corridor is 20 to 30 million tonnes of goods per year and will reduce time and cost by 30 per cent to 40 per cent," it added. Russia has invested $1.2 billion in India between 2000 and 2017 mainly in oil and gas, defence equipment supplies, power and energy and large-scale infrastructure projects. He said there was possibility for Russian investments in Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC), smart cities, railways, public transport, sanitation and low-cost housing. Though Russia is a primary source of defence equipment supply to India, ample opportunities have further opened up for both the countries with the opening up of FDI in defence production in India, the Minister said. "Russian companies may consider investing in a dedicated industrial park for defence manufacturing under the new norms to supply parts to helicopters, nuclear reactors and solar panels," Prabhu said. Inviting Russian aerospace companies to participate in the Global Aviation Summit to be held in India in January 2019, he sought Russian investments in green and brown field airports in smaller cities and towns in India. In 2017, total trade between India and Russia was at $10.13 billion. --IANS mgu/shs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Lion Air passenger plane came down in the sea after taking off from Jakarta on Monday, said Indonesian officials. Flight JT-610 was on a scheduled flight from the Indonesian capital to Pangkal Pinang, the main city in the Bangka Belitung Islands. It was not immediately clear how many people were on board the plane, believed to be a Boeing 737, an airplane official told the BBC, adding that the company did not yet know what had happened to the plane. A search and rescue operation was under way. --IANS in/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday urged the Indian community in Japan to invest in India to maintain cultural ties with their motherland. Interacting with the community here, he described them as Ambassadors of India in Japan. Japan is home to around 27,000 Indians, according to the Indian Embassy here. Modi said India was continuously working with the spirit of "Indian solutions-global applications". He said India's model of financial inclusion, especially JAM (Jan DhanYojana, Mobile, Aadhar) trinity and digital transaction model was now appreciated all over the world. He also highlighted India's hugely successful space programme and robust digital infrastructure. --IANS ab/ksk/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The body of Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi who was killed after entering his country's consulate here has not been found yet, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Monday. Cavusoglu told the in Istanbul that Saudi Arabia's Chief Prosecutor Sheikh Saud al-Mojeb met Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Irfan Fidan in the city earlier in the day and had "very beneficial" exchange of information about the death of Khashoggi. reports said the meeting between the chief prosecutors lasted an hour and 15 minutes. The two countries were conducting a joint investigation into the killing and Al-Mojeb was expected to conduct a probe at the Saudi consulate later in the day, Efe news reported. Khashoggi, the Washington Post columnist and a supporter-turned-critic of Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, was last seen alive entering the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul on October 2. After weeks of providing conflicting accounts of what happened to Khashoggi, Saudi Arabia last week said that he was killed "accidentally" in a fist fight at the consulate by "rogue" agents. However, it denies the ruling royal family's involvement in the killing. The kingdom had earlier dismissed five high-ranking officials -- including the Crown Prince's chief and the deputy head of the Saudi intelligence service -- and arrested 18 people in the case. Ankara requested last week for the extradition of the suspects for trial in Turkey, but that was rejected by Riyadh. Turkish police and crime scene investigators have conducted searches in the Saudi consulate, the residence of the Saudi consul general as well as a forest in Istanbul, trying to find the body of Khashoggi. --IANS soni/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actress Kriti Kharbanda, who turned 28 on Monday, spent her birthday shooting for "Housefull 4". "It's been a great year and I'm grateful to God for being so kind and the audience for showering their love and support. I'll be shooting all day for 'Housefull 4' on my birthday but no complaints," Kriti said in a statement. This year, the actress has had releases like "Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana" and "Yamla Pagla Deewana Phir Se", and she is always on the lookout for challenging opportunities. Kriti will celebrate her special day with close friends once she wraps up her work for the day. --IANS rb/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actor R. Madhavan's upcoming film "Rocketry - The Nambi Effect", on the life of scientist and aerospace engineer S. Nambi Narayanan, will release in Hindi, English and Tamil. Madhavan on Monday took to Instagram to share a video in which he said: "There are many personal stories in the world you would have heard about and many more you have no clue about. But there are a few stories knowing nothing about which means that you know very little about your nation. "Nambi Narayanan's story is one such story. Because when you hear this man's story, and see his achievements, then I promise you will never be able to stay slient. 'Rocketry - The Nambi Effect'... For those who don't know will be aware and for those who think they know this will be a revelation." As a senior official at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Narayanan was in-charge of the cryogenics division. In 1994, he was falsely charged with espionage and arrested. The charges against him were dismissed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (C.B.I.) in 1996, and the Supreme Court of India declared him not guilty in 1998. The teaser of the movie will release on October 31, Madhavan said. --IANS dc/rb/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced on Monday that she will not seek re-election when her term expires in 2021, following recent election setbacks. Merkel, who has been Chancellor since 2005, made the announcement during a news conference. "This fourth term is my last term as Chancellor of Germany. In the next Bundestag election in 2021, I will not run again as Chancellor. I will not run for the German Bundestag any more, and I do not want any other political office," she said. "It is time today for me to start a new chapter." She also said she would not seek re-election as leader of the centre-right CDU party in December. She has held the post since 2000, the BBC reported. The shake-up at the top of one of Germany's major political forces came following the CDU's poor showing in regional elections in the states of Bavaria and Hesse, which Merkel called very "disappointing and bitter". "The image given by the governing coalition is unacceptable," she said, in reference to the major public disagreements that emerged between the CDU and its Bavarian counterpart, the Christian Social Union (CSU). The CSU's leader and Interior Minister Horst Seehofer has been highly critical of Merkel's refugee policy and assumed a hardline stance far to the CDU's right on immigration issues. In the recent elections in Bavaria, the CSU lost its absolute majority in the regional Parliament and saw a drop from 47.7 per cent to 37.2 per cent of the vote. In Sunday's election in Hesse, the CDU fell from 37.2 per cent to 27 per cent. The electoral decline of the CDU/CSU has been accompanied by an even stronger plunge by the third federal coalition partner, the Social Democratic Party (SPD), which in the past couple of years suffered its worst results in the post-World War II era. The waning of both the centre-right and centre-left has been paired with the resurgence of the German far right, embodied by the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, as well as a slight growth of the environmentalist Alliance '90/The Greens, which takes part in regional coalition governments with both the SPD (Hamburg) and the CDU. --IANS soni/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Issuing strict guidelines for male officers and ministers on dealing with harassment of women at workplaces, the Punjab State Women Commission on Monday said that any sexual overtures during and after office hours with women staff will not be tolerated. "Any communication happening on mobile devices including mobile phones, tablets, computers, or even landlines are not limited by office hours and hence any objectionable content sent by a male colleague, junior or senior, to a female, even outside the office hours, shall not be tolerated by the Commission and be dealt with in lines with sexual harassment," Commission Chairperson Manisha Gulati said on Monday after issuing the guidelines. The guidelines were issued by the Commission amid a controversy around Punjab Technical Education Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, who is under fire from the opposition after reports of a complaint against him that he recently sent indecent messages to a senior woman IAS officer in Punjab on her mobile phone. Gulati said that any jokes, photos, GIFs, videos or even plain text sent to any female's mobile phone by a male colleague, junior or senior, shall be seen as sexual harassment of the female employee and shall be dealt with strictly. "All male officers and ministers are required to understand that if a female employee is being called for any kind of discussion or meeting into a confined space, he needs to have a minimum of one other woman in the office for the entire duration of the meeting. "No discussion which includes salary appraisals of the female junior or involving money shall be done with any indication of receiving any favour from the female employee," she said. Gulati said the Commission has decided to frame a policy for the entire staff, administrators and elected officials "so that no one harasses a woman in future at workplaces". "Under these guidelines, sexual harassment may occur not only where a person uses sexual behaviour to control, influence or affect the career, salary or job of another person but also between co-workers." Gulati said that physical contact and advances shall be considered as sexual harassment and it was mandatory that no male employee shall behave in any manner which can be construed as sexual in nature. "Sexually colored remarks or remarks of a sexual nature about female's clothing or body are strictly prohibited at workplace. Indulging in any humour laced with sexual innuendos, sexual teasing and sexual pranks are not allowed," she added. Gulati said the Commission had announced the rules and regulations to prevent any kind of sexual harassment. The Commission, under the Punjab State Commission for Women Act 2001, has the powers of a civil court trying a suit. It can summon people, examine them on oath, direct the discovery and production of any document, receive evidence on affidavits, requisition any public record from any court or office and issue orders for the examination of witnesses and documents. --IANS js/shs/vm (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.) Surfing a wave of money. Photo-Illustration: Elenarts/Getty Images Plus (Donkey); John Lund/Blend Images/Getty Images (Surf) Donors to U.S. political campaigns are facing a dilemma in October: The more likely you are to know about a campaign, the less likely it is to need a donation from you. Take Senate hopeful Beto ORourke, who has raised over $62 million, almost half of that from small donations; with just eight days until November 6, $60 to Beto isnt much more than political retail therapy. But down-ballet, where attorney general and state legislature candidates operate on a fraction of the budget and attention of a national race, small donations represent an astronomically higher return on investment. Traditionally, Republicans have invested more resources on the state level, one reason that the party holds 26 trifectas that is, control of the governors mansion and both state houses to Democrats 8. But targeted, smart donations could help to balance that inequality. (Or inflate it a Republican analysis is to follow.) Likewise, in states like Arizona and Florida, where Democrats hope to flip the state legislature or bring it close to parity, candidates like Ralph Atchue and Debra Bellanti scrape together runs on $50,000 and $75,000. For a lot of these campaigns, an injection of a few thousand dollars is the difference between canvassing or not, radio or not, digital ads or not, says Sean McElwee, co-founder of the progressive think tank Data for Progress. Weve raised about $600,000 this cycle, which would be a rounding error in Betos campaign. A lot of these state chambers are going to be very narrowly decided, and they have incredible control over peoples lives. Consider attorney Manka Dhingra, who won a Washington special election last year in a state senate district just east of Seattle, flipping the chamber and giving Democrats a statewide trifecta. In the year since, Washington which often acts as the vanguard on progressive issues passed legislation to enact automatic voter registration, ban bump stocks on semiautomatic weapons, outlaw gay conversion therapy, and mandate birth control coverage in all health plans offering maternity care. Having raised almost $1.5 million, her campaign was a bit more expensive than the state senate average of around $500,000. But, in terms of impact, a donation to Dhingra in 2017 was about as cost-effective as small-donor funding gets: spending smart money on a normally obscure seat to push a state party toward a strong legislative position. By the simple virtue of making it really easy to give, the website and nonprofit ActBlue has helped expand the influence of small donors in the Democratic Party. Founded in 2004, it lends its PayPal-like software to any Democratic candidate, fundraiser, or local party affiliate. Register your information and simply click to begin donating to candidates, ranging from centrist red-staters to members of the Democratic Socialists of America. The service has seen a huge increase in use, growing from just under $1 million raised in 2004 to over $1 billion raised for the 2018 midterms; last midterm cycle, ActBlue had so many contribution in October that it crashed the Federal Election Commissions server. If 2014 was a banner year, with 12 percent of House candidates money coming from ActBlue, this midterm has shattered that record so far, 34 percent of House candidate funds have been raised on ActBlue. Half of our contributions come from mobile devices, says CEO Erin Hill. We want to meet donors where they are. While ActBlue has streamlined the donation process, research-intensive sites like Data for Progress and Daily Kos have been fine-tuning formulas for how to give wisely, creating lists of candidates with the highest possible return on investment. These organizations have provided answers to the vital last-minute question: if you want to give $1 or $100, where will it have the greatest effect? These lists allow you to pick your own political priority. Perhaps you want to focus your donations on progressive women candidates, or to give to the candidates most likely to tip the balance in a close state legislature. I went into this thinking that weve reached some sort of political equilibrium, where giving money to candidates is reasonably efficient, said McElwee. But thats 100 percent not true. Were like a small-market Robert Mercer, finding arbitrage opportunities to fund the candidates who should have more. How to Give If Your Priority Is Flipping Legislatures in Key States Flippable, an organization dedicated to turning whole chambers from red to blue, has focused on ten states wracked by gerrymandering and voter suppression, in the hope of giving Democrats legislative command before the 2021 redistricting. Many of the 23 candidates they endorse on their ActBlue page are running in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Florida. Florida is the worst offender on everything, says co-founder Catherine Vaughan. They have terrible voting laws, its gerrymandered to bits, and it has the fifth worst teacher pay in the country. But, its also flippable. Theres well over a dozen seats in the Florida legislature that Hillary won, and they need five seats to turn it blue. Five is a lot when theres only 40 Senate seats, but a major swing state with more accessible voting laws and balanced districts could have a serious impact on national politics: since 1996, the presidential candidate that has won Florida has won the Electoral College. If Your Priority Is Helping Women in Pivotal Races Data for Progress has identified eight women running in state legislatures that could tip the balance or otherwise excel in progressive politics. There are a lot of barriers to entry in politics that disproportionately affect women, says McElwee. A fund like this helps not only to enfranchise women currently campaigning, but to motivate future candidates to get in the running. Vaughan points to the 2017 special elections of Florida state senator Annette Taddeo and state representative Margaret Good as victories that helped inspire candidates for 2018. Among the women on the DfP list are Padma Kuppa and Dayna Polehanki, who are running in red Clinton-won legislative districts in Michigan. And in the Texas senate, theres Rita Lucido running for a Galveston-area seat and supporting new flood infrastructure and health care expansion. Democrats need to win just two seats in the Texas senate to be able to block Republican legislation, like past efforts to limit abortion access and transgender rights. If Your Priority Is Breaking State-level GOP Trifectas 26 Republican trifectas mean that the party dominates local policy in over half of the United States. Daily Kos has focused on the gubernatorial candidacies of Andrew Gillum, whos currently leading in Florida, Stacey Abrams in Georgia, Gretchen Whitmer in Michigan, Richard Cordray in Ohio, and Tony Evers in Wisconsin. Sam Wang, a Princeton neuroscientist and elections wonk, has singled out the Wisconsin gubernatorial race as the single most impactful donation to make this year, as Evers has the potential to topple a national figure in Scott Walker and ensure that Democrats are at the table with veto power for the 2021 redistricting. To donate to governors specifically, click the drop-down option to allocate funds toward your candidate of choice. Flippable, meanwhile, is focused on the legislature, including opportunities to break the Republican trifectas in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Last year, Democrats picked up trifectas in New Jersey and Washington, and in the midterms they hope to grab at least one more, with a two-seat opportunity to flip the state senate to Democrats in Colorado. Already, Colorado is a leader in environmental justice says Vaughan. If they can get those two seats, Democrats will be able to amplify that, and write legislation to mend Colorados housing crisis. If Your Priority Is Winning Key State-level Positions Attorney general seats offer a flexible opportunity for parties to check national policies counter to their interests, and to defend against overreach if theyre on the wrong end of a trifecta. Under Obama, Republicans used state attorneys general to attack policies, and launch lawsuits against Obamacare, says Carolyn Fiddler, communications director at Daily Kos. In states like Arizona and Nevada, Democrats have a chance to block Trump administration policies and keep Republicans at bay in trifecta states. The six candidates identified by Daily Kos represent the best chance to swing AG numbers toward a balance: Republicans hold 27 AG posts to Democrats 22. Secretaries of state, meanwhile, present Democrats with a chance to protect voting rights the pivotal goal for Democratic hopes to expand their electorate. The GOP holds 28 secretary of state offices to Democrats 17, and Daily Kos has targeted six candidates to bring that number toward parity. In Colorado, theres Jena Griswold, running against a Republican incumbent opposed to same-day voting registration and universal vote-by-mail. If Jocelyn Benson is elected in Michigan, she can combat Republican efforts to get rid of straight-ticket voting, which would create longer waits mostly in African-American precincts. The secretary of state is essential to making sure voters have ballot box access, says Fiddler. Or [to] limiting that access, in Republican cases. If Your Priority Is Turning New York State Into a Progressive Powerhouse Since 2010, the New York state senate has been in Republican control, limiting Democrats hopes that the state could become the East Coasts answer to the progressive powerhouse of California: a state with serious economic power-drafting policies ripe for adaptiation by other Democratic states. With a blue trifecta in New York, legislators could also reform the states notoriously cranky voting laws. Data for Progress has identified eight candidates with the opportunity to flip the Senate, including Andrew Gounardes in SD-22 one of the last Republican bastions in New York City and Monica Martinez, an immigrant from El Salvador running in SD-3, a district which Obama won by double digits, but which went to Trump in 2016. Thousands of migrants, most of them Hondurans, broke through a metal fence separating Guatemala and Mexico and after clashing with police, poured across the border into Mexican territory. Guatemalan riot police fired tear gas at the migrants on Sunday who, in desperation to continue their northward trek toward the US border, responded by hurling stones and sticks, reports Efe news. "Let's go to Mexico," shouted the migrants in the group as they headed for the Mexican customs office, where a heavy police presence initially prevented them from crossing the bridge or the river separating the two countries. There was significant tension during the confrontation, with parents pulling their children out of the line of fire. Ultimately, however, the migrants broke through the fence into Mexico, despite police opposition. An initial caravan of migrants - now comprising some 7,000 people, mainly Hondurans - departed from San Pedro Sula on October 13 heading for the US and a large number of them are currently traversing far southern Mexico on foot after making it through Guatemala. Most of the members of this caravan on Sunday postponed their departure from San Pedro Tapanatepec, in Oaxaca state, to reorganise their security measures after a fight occurred on Saturday night in which one person was injured. Caravan spokesman Alexander Martinez said that all except about 300 members of the group decided to remain in the town and resume their journey on Monday morning while they organise safety and security committees. Meanwhile, this second caravan of about 1,500 people is moving through Guatemala in several groups. Some 150 Salvadorans, including women and children, on Sunday began heading northwards toward the US looking for better living conditions, just like the other groups. The Salvadoran caravan departed from San Salvador, where the members gathered to organise, and members told Efe that they intended to head for the border with Guatemala, then enter Mexico and finally travel the 1,000 or so miles north to the southern US border. US President Donald Trump has taken a hard line toward the first caravan, threatening to deploy Army troops along the border to prevent entry and saying he will significantly cut economic aid to Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador in reprisal for their inability to halt the caravans. --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Reang tribals, sheltered in Tripura for over 20 years, have demanded the setting up of polling stations in refugee camps to cast their votes for the November 28 Mizoram Assembly polls, a refugee leader said on Monday. Over 35,000 Reang tribal refugees, comprising 5,907 families, fled from Mizoram and have been staying in Tripura's Kanchanpur and Panisagar sub-divisions since October 1997 following ethnic tension after a Mizo forest official was killed in the neighbouring state. Among the refugees, only a little over 11,000 immigrants are eligible to vote in next month's elections to constitute a new Assembly in the Congress-ruled Mizoram. "Though the names of little over 11,000 refugees are enrolled in the electoral lists of Mizoram, but there are over 5,000 more people among the immigrants who have the eligibility to become voters but due to the negligence of the Mizoram administrations, their names are yet to be enrolled in the electoral lists," refugee leader Bruno Msha told IANS over phone from Kanchanpur. Msha, who is the General Secretary of the refugees' apex body Mizoram Bru Displaced People's Forum (MBDPF), said that the Election Commission and the Mizoram Election Department were yet to respond to their demand for setting up the polling stations. A senior official of the Mizoram election department said that the issue of setting up the polling stations was discussed when the full Election Commission headed by Chief Election Commissioner Om Prakash Rawat visited the state on October 16. "However, the Commission has not yet communicated its decision to us in this regard," the official said. Meanwhile, leaders of various political parties including the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are visiting the seven refugee camps as part of their election campaign. The BJP-led alliance government on October 22 resumed the supply of food and relief material to the refugees after the relief was stopped from October 1. --IANS sc/ksk/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A top US official said here on Monday that that complete and verifiable denuclearisation of North Korea was within reach. US Special representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun expressed confidence on behalf of President Donald Trump's administration that Pyongyang would give up its nuclear arms, despite an ongoing deadlock on the issue between the two sides, reports Efe news. "We have a shared goal here, which is to bring an end to 70 years of war and hostilities on the Korean Peninsula. And the primary requirement for us to get to the end point is to achieve final, fully, verified denuclearization of North Korea," Biegun said at a meeting with South Korean representative Lee Do-hoon. "I am absolutely confident this is within reach," he added. Lee highlighted the need for the US and South Korea to maintain close cooperation in dealing with Pyongyang, after differences have emerged publicly between the two countries over the need to continue with sanctions against North Korea. "We need to meet up as often as possible to make sure there is no daylight whatsoever between our two allies," he said. Biegun on Sunday had began a three-day visit of South Korea, during which he is expected to focus on discussions centering on talks with North Korea. He is also set to meet South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon. The Trump administration was allegedly unhappy with Seoul's willingness to start economic cooperation and infrastructure projects with Pyongyang, although the North Korean regime had not taken any new steps to abandon its nuclear weapons. Biegun's Seoul visit comes at a time when Washington is in discussion with Pyongyang to organise a second summit between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, although the date and venue are yet to be decided. The South Korean government had also hoped that Kim will visit Seoul before the end of this year for another meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in. The two had last met in September for what was their third summit this year. --IANS ksk/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actress Olivia Munn says she will continue to speak up for the #MeToo movement even if it comes at the cost of her career. The actress, 38, made the statement in an interview with Cosmopolitan magazine. She also called for a change in Hollywood to abolish the 'unfair stigma' surrounding women, reports dailymail.co.uk. Her comments come after she fought to have her former co-star Steven Wilder Striegel -- a registered sex offender -- removed from "The Predator" and spoke out about disgraced director Brett Ratner, accusing him of sexual harassment. "I'm not for sale... if speaking up costs me my career, I don't want it anyway," she said. The #MeToo movement has garnered much attention since last year, after Hollywood director Harvey Weinstein was faced with multiple allegations of sexual misconduct. Many of Hollywood's leading ladies have come forward, recalling their own experience with sexual harassment and sexual assault in the workplace. Munn has been vocal in her crusade to speak out against the unequal power at play in the movie industry. "I remember where I was when I heard that people were getting outraged about Weinstein and I thought, 'People care? They didn't used to care, nobody cared." --IANS sug/rb/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Monday launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he hasd opened the doors on the terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir which has left the state burning. Gandhi was addressing a public meeting in Ujjain during his two-day visit to Madhya Pradesh as part of his poll campaign ahead of the November 28 elections to the state Assembly. Attributing his allegation to some unnamed former Army officers, he said: "Army personnel are extremely upset with the style of working of the Prime Minister, due to which terror activities have increased in J&K. Today, terrorism is burning the state." Referring to the one rank-one pension (OROP) scheme, he said the former defence personnel told him Modi has repeatedly lied to the nation about its implementation. "'We are yet to get any benefit of OROP', they said," Gandhi quoted them. Prior to addressing the public meeting, the Congress chief prayed at the Mahakal temple here. He alleged that Modi, his ministers and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) have been trying to mislead the people. "He (Modi) will talk about surgical strikes, but he won'n tell you what all he has done for the soldiers. No politician or Prime Minister was killed in Kashmir (sic)...it's soldiers who die every day." Gandhi was accompanied by Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Kamal Nath, head of the party's state campaign committee Jyotiraditya Scindia and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Ajay Singh, among others, during his visit to the city. --IANS hindi-nir/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress President Rahul Gandhi arrived here on Monday in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh. He took a special flight to Ujjain to launch his two-day campaign with a visit to a temple. Gandhi would be speaking at rallies in Ujjain and Indore on the first day and kick-off day-2, with a meeting of senior members of the press. He would visit Dhar, Khargosh and Mau before returning to the national capital. The Congress chief was received by state President Kamal Nath and poll in-charge Jyotiraditya Scindhia, who accompanied Gandhi to Ujjain, where they performed special pujas at the Mahakaleshwar temple. Gandhi was scheduled to address a rally in Ujjain's Dashahra Maidan. He will proceed to Jhabua town later to address a gathering at the college ground. There would be a roadshow in Indore around 5.45 p.m., police said and he would address people at the Rajwada Chowk. According to the Congress on Tuesday, Gandhi would hold discussion with editors, journalists and businessmen at the Indore Radisson Blue Hotel. Later he would head to Dhar and Khargosh before paying floral tribute at B.R. Ambedkar's statue around 4.50 p.m. in Mau where another gathering would wait to hear him. He would leave for Delhi from Indore around 7 p.m. --IANS hindi-rak/in/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Sri Lankan strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa assumed duties as the country's new Prime Minister on Monday following the ouster of his predecessor Ranil Wickremesinghe by President Maithripala Sirisena last week. Rajapaksa assumed charge at the Prime Minister's Office in the morning, the Daily Mirror reported. A faction of the new Cabinet was expected to take oaths before the President later in the day. A political crisis erupted in the island country after Sirisena sacked Wickremesinghe on Friday and replaced him with former President Rajapaksa. The President, in a letter sent to Wickremesinghe, had said he had been removed after the Sirisena-led United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) quit the national coalition government. The coalition government consisted of the UPFA and the United National Party (UNP) led by Wickremesinghe. Sirisena on Saturday suspended Parliament till November 16. Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed concern over the deepening crisis and called for restraint from all parties in the island country. His remarks followed Sunday's shooting by a bodyguard of a former minister at a crowd in which one person was killed and two were injured. --IANS soni/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Australia tolerates a "culture of impunity" in the face of wage payments to foreign temporary workers, who tend not to complain about such abuses for fear of losing their visas, according to a study published on Monday. "Unscrupulous employers continue to exploit migrant workers because they know they won't complain," said Bassina Farbenblum, an academic at the University of New South Wales. The study, titled "Silent Wage Theft", reveals that less than 10 per cent of international students and backpackers in Australia can recover unpaid wages, including if they are aware that they have been paid less than stated in the law. The investigation, supported by interviews with 4,300 foreign temporary workers from 107 countries, confirmed that Australia has a large silent sub-class of poorly paid migrant workers, Farbenblum said. Immigrant workers form 11 per cent of the Australian labour market and, according to previous studies by both authors, one in three international students and backpackers earn half the legal minimum wage, which is A$18.93 per hour ($13). The new report indicates that only a few foreign workers try to recover the unpaid money given that for every 100 poorly paid people only three went to the Fair Work Ombudsman. And out of the total number of those who claimed, slightly more than half were able to recover their money. The study indicates that 54 per cent are open to claiming unpaid wages but the most common barriers are the lack of knowledge (42 per cent), the effort involved (35 per cent), the fear of immigration consequences (25 per cent) and the fear of losing their job (22 per cent). --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A cashier working for a gas agency was shot dead by unidentified bike-borne assailants here in Uttar Pradesh on Monday and Rs 10 lakh cash looted from him, police said. Shyam Singh, who worked for the Bihari gas agency at an HP Gas outlet, had withdrawn the money from a bank when he was attacked. Singh was gunned down on the Urdu Academy Road outside the Bank of India premises in Gomtinagar. The gunmen -- one wearing a mask and the other a helmet -- then sped off on their bike. The critically wounded cashier was rushed to the Lohia hospital where he was declared dead on arrival. His wife and two daughters have been informed of the tragedy. In a similar incident, a cashier of a petrol pump in Amethi was also robbed and shot at. The robbers snatched Rs 6.5 lakh from Bhagwat Singh while he was crossing the Lodi Baba bridge in Gauriganj. He was to deposit the money in the bank. The petrol pump belongs to former Minister and BJP leader Jang Bahadur Singh. The petrol pump employee's condition is serious, police said. A manhunt is on. All petrol pump owners in Amethi have called for a shutdown demanding immediate arrests. --IANS md/in/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Monday called for enactment of a law to facilitate construction of a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya and said the RSS will support whatever decision is taken by saints on the matter. "The RSS is of the view that Ram temple must be constructed at the birth place of Lord Ram and the place should be given to Ram Janmbhoomi Nyas. The construction of temple will create harmonious atmosphere. Taking this into account, the Supreme Court should take a decision at the earliest," Arun Kumar, Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh (communications incharge) of the RSS said. "However, the government must bring a legislation to pave the way in case of any obstacles. The saints and the Dharm Sansad have been spearheading the Ram temple movement since the begining and the RSS has supported them. We will stand by whatever steps they take." The senior RSS functionary's remarks came hours after the Supreme Court directed for listing of the Ram Janmabhoomi title suit for an appropriate bench that will fix the dates in January 2019 for the hearing of a batch of petitions challenging the Allahabad High Court verdict trifurcating the disputed site. Over the last few months, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has been calling for the construction of Ram temple "at the earliest" and also asked the government to enact a law for the purpose. Delivering the organisation's customary message on the occasion of Dussehra, Bhagwat had also urged the Narendra Modi government to start building the Ram temple in Ayodhya, even if it calls for formulation of a law. --IANS bns/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Deplorable. Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images In recent months, President Trump has warned the public that Democrats want illegal immigrants, no matter how bad they are, to pour in and infest our Country, like MS-13 because liberals view them as potential voters. The nations most-watched cable news network has echoed this charge, reporting, in its prime-time hour, that Democrats are plotting a coup against the U.S. government, using illegal immigrants as their shock troops. In recent weeks, Trump has told supporters that the caravan of Central American migrants currently headed towards the U.S. didnt just happen, and that the Democrats had something to do with it while also stipulating that there were known criminals and Middle Eastern terrorists in the caravan. Meanwhile, Republican congressman Matt Gaetz suggested that migrants were being paid possibly by George Soros, who frequently donates to Democratic causes to storm the US border @ election time. Conservative commentator Erick Erickson made the same point less equivocally, tweeting, It is not a coincidence that this caravan to the south of us is happening 2 weeks before our federal elections. And pundits at just about every major right-wing outlet began describing the caravan as a literal invasion of the United States, with some explicitly arguing that the attempt by thousands of (disease-riddled) Central Americans to secure asylum in the United States should be regarded as an act of war. The caravan is an invasion and an act of war Legal immigrant Amapola Hansberger pic.twitter.com/CKheXo8ALB FOX & friends (@foxandfriends) October 22, 2018 It is a full-scale invasion by a hostile force -@michellemalkin reacts to the migrant caravan, and discusses the need for the border wall pic.twitter.com/ZrPTNbqBjI FOX & friends (@foxandfriends) October 26, 2018 Taken together, then, the president and his allies have been telling millions of Americans that the (Soros-funded) Democrats are orchestrating an invasion of the United States by violent Central American migrants, because, allegedly, the Democrats believe that doing so will help them steal the November 6 elections in the immediate term, and render Republicans incapable of reclaiming power through the democratic process in the long run. On Saturday, a neo-Nazi who believed that Jews were orchestrating an invasion of the United States by violent Central Americans migrants as part of a broader plan to render the white race incapable of reclaiming power in the U.S. (allegedly) murdered 11 people in a Pittsburgh synagogue. One day earlier, authorities had arrested a virulently xenophobic Trump supporter who (allegedly) attempted to assassinate George Soros, and much of the Democratic Partys leadership, with explosives. Now, many liberals are arguing that the president bears some responsibility for these acts of political violence. Some (self-styled) conservative intellectuals have responded with exasperated umbrage. Whats even the theory supposed to be that Trump is an anti-Semite? Rich Lowry (@RichLowry) October 27, 2018 I say this as a Jew meh on Trump. The desire to use dead Jews as yet another way to attack Trump is vile. Bethany S. Mandel (@bethanyshondark) October 28, 2018 Remember that time everybody correctly avoided blaming Bernie Sanders for one of his supporters shooting up a bunch of Congresspeople? Because that's not going to happen today with crazy bomber guy. Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) October 26, 2018 A couple of the rights complaints bear a striking resemblance to fair points. For example, it would be unreasonable to ask Republicans to avoid making any criticisms of George Soross interventions in U.S. politics that anti-Semites could plausibly interpret as a vindication of their ideology. Individuals who use their wealth to advance political causes are worthy subjects of scrutiny in any democratic society. In my view, there is evidence that Sheldon Adelsons political spending has made American foreign policy more deferential to the interests of the Israeli government and also, evidence that virulent anti-Semites would be happy to hear me say that. I do not believe that the latter fact should deter progressives from making the former argument. It is also unreasonable to expect politicians to avoid saying anything that might inspire a single person, in a nation of more than 300 million, to act out violently. To establish such an expectation would be to prohibit elected officials from communicating the actual stakes of many political disputes which, in some cases, really are matters of life and death. For much of 2017, Bernie Sanders told the public, on a near-daily basis, that congressional Republicans were trying to pass a bill that would kill more than 43,000 Americans each year. Then, a Bernie Sanders supporter tried to kill a few dozen congressional Republicans. It isnt hard to understand how a violent person might take the claim, GOP lawmakers are about to do something that will kill exponentially more Americans than the 9/11 attacks as a rationale for killing GOP lawmakers. That said, these legitimate conservative objections to the most sweeping (and sloppy) liberal arguments are ultimately beside the point, because the primary problem with the Republican Partys claims about the migrant caravan is not that they are evocative of anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, or liable to inspire violence but rather, that they are wildly dishonest, and thus, aid Nazi propagandists and increase the risk of political violence for no defensible purpose. When Bernie Sanders claimed that Paul Ryans health-care bill would cost tens of thousands of Americans their lives, he was basing his allegation on peer-reviewed studies, and thus, fulfilling his civic duty as a senator to highlight the likely consequences of pending legislation. If the president had similarly credible evidence to support the allegation that George Soros and the Democratic Party are trying to steal the midterm elections by smuggling thousands of Central American migrants, Middle Eastern terrorists, and criminal gang members across the southern border, then it would be perfectly appropriate for Trump to alert the public to Team Blues nefarious plan even if doing so was likely to foment neo-Nazi organizing, and increase the overall risk of political violence in the U.S. But the president has no such evidence. And neither do Erick Erickson, Tucker Carlson, Matt Gaetz, or any other conservative who has spent the past two weeks promoting this narrative. Which is to say: The president and his allies have been baselessly telling their supporters that they cant necessarily trust the official results of the upcoming midterm elections, because the opposition party is aiding and abetting an invasion of the United States, as part of a plot to wrest control of the government away from native-born Americans in the heartland. This rhetoric would be vile, and worthy of bipartisan condemnation, even if Cesar Sayoc and Robert Bowers had never forced their names into our national consciousness. Democracy is impossible without the peaceful transfer of power and maintaining the latter requires mass acceptance of the legitimacy of elections, and the right for politicians to compete in them regardless of their partisanships. Republican rhetoric about the caravan explicitly challenges the legitimacy of both of those things, by (baselessly) insinuating that Democrats are subverting election laws, and by aligning themselves with enemies if the United States. Robert Bowers may have despised Donald Trump for supporting Israel and for allowing his daughter to marry a Jew. But he did share the presidents putative belief that a nefarious internal enemy was orchestrating an invasion of the United States by third-world migrants, and saw that as a justification for waging war on what he saw as the enemy within. Thus, Bowerss attack is an indication that Trumps narrative is not only mendacious and destructive to democratic norms, but also liable to amplify neo-Nazi messaging, and inspire violence against Democratic Party elites (who are, in Trumps telling, the nefarious internal enemy operating puppet strings to draw migrants toward the border). Given all of this, it is perfectly appropriate for Democrats to respond to the atrocity in Pittsburgh by calling on the Republican Party to cease its promotion of a paranoid fiction that closely resembles neo-Nazi propaganda. Conservatives who are more troubled by right-wing authoritarians than by liberal straw men will join in such calls; those who arent will decry Democrats for using dead Jews as yet another way to attack Trump, as the reigning authoritarian-in-chief himself carries on blaming anti-Semitic violence on a news media conspiracy, and lambasting his political rivals for organizing an invasion of the United States. The Supreme Court on Monday nixed a Kerala government order asking its employees to donate a month's salary to help rebuild the flood-ravaged state. The apex court ruled that those Kerala government employees who are not willing to part with a month's salary for rebuilding Kerala need not give their unwillingness in writing, as demanded by the state government. State Finance Minister Thomas Issac called the ruling a setback to the government's efforts to rebuild the state. "Now that the ruling has come, we are duty-bound to obey it and hence from the coming month, only those who have given their willingness will have to contribute," said Issac. The SC decision prompted the opposition parties to slam the CPI-M government headed by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The BJP sought the resignation of Issac, while the Congress said that this was a slap on the face of the Vijayan government's arrogance. The Kerala government had appealed to the apex court after the Kerala High Court stayed the government's directive asking the employees to contribute a month's salary over a period of 10 months, with three days' salary transferred every month. The Kerala High Court had stayed the order in September, after media reports surfaced that action was being taken against those who were not willing to part with their salaries. --IANS sg/shs/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court on Monday stayed a Bombay High Court order disallowing more time to the Maharashtra Police to investigate five activists accused of being linked to a banned Maoist outfit and file a charge-sheet. The Bombay High Court by its October 24 order had set aside the Special Court's order permitting another 90 days time to the police to complete its investigation against Surendra Pundlik Gadling, Sudhir Pralhad Dhawale, Rona Jacob Wilson, Dr. Soma Sen and Mahesh Sitaram Raut. A bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice K.M. Joseph, while staying the Bombay High Court order, issued notice to another activist, Gautam Navlakha, who was granted bail by the Delhi High Court. Navlakha and four others were accused for suspected links with the outlawed CPI (Maoist) following investigation in the Bhima Koregaon case. They have been booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. In the case of Gautam Navlakha, the notice is returnable in two weeks. Gadling, Dhawale, Wilson, Dr. Sen and Raut too have been accused of links with CPI (Maoist) and booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. The Special Court in Maharashtra had on September 2 granted the extension of 90 days time to the police as is permissible under Section 43D(2)(b) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. Assailing the High Court order setting aside the Special Court order, the Maharashtra petition has contended that the High Court has "resorted to a pedantic view rather than resorting to a pragmatic view". It has further stated that the investigating officer has filed a report of the application under his signature giving reasons for extension of time on August 30, 2018. The very same day the public prosecutor submitted her report/application carving out the grounds for extension of time. The matter relates to alleged singing of "objectionable songs" and instigating comments, speeches and sloganeering by Dhawale and others on December 31, 2017. Accusing the five activists of links with the CPI (Maoist), the Maharashtra government alleged that they mislead the backward people and ingrained radical Maoist thoughts in their minds. --IANS pk/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a move that could see the Ayodhya issue not decided before the Lok Sabha elections, the Supreme Court on Monday directed the listing of the Ram Janmabhoomi title suit matter for an appropriate bench that will fix the dates in January 2019 for the hearing of a batch of petitions challenging the Allahabad High Court verdict trifurcating the disputed site. During a brief hearing, a bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice K.M. Joseph gave its decision on the petitions challenging the 2010 Allahabad High Court ruling by which the disputed site in Ayodhya was divided into three parts -- for Ram Lalla, Nirmohi Akhara and the original Muslim litigant. "We have our own priorities. Whether the case will come in January, February or March, it will be for the appropriate bench to decide," CJI Gogoi said as a lawyer urged the court to decide on the dates when the hearing on challenge to the High Court judgment will take place. The listing of the matter for January could prolong the hearing in the case for a few months -- by when the country would be in election mode due to general elections due in April-May 2019. On September 27, the top court bench headed by then Chief Justice Dipak Misra, along with Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice S. Abdul Nazeer, by a 2:1 majority rejected the plea that the challenge to the 2010 verdict be heard by a bench of five judges. It was contended by the Muslim litigants before the three-judge bench headed by then Chief Justice Misra that the challenge to the 2010 verdict should be heard by a larger bench as the High court had relied on 1994 apex court judgment that said that mosque was not essential to Islam for offering Namaz prayers. Rejecting the plea for hearing by a larger five-judge bench, then Chief Justice Misra and his colleagues on September 27 directed that the matter be listed for October 29 hearing. --IANS pk-vsc/in/mr (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As the Supreme Court on Monday directed the listing of the Ram Janmabhoomi title suit matter for January 2019, the RSS and the VHP mounted pressure on the government to enact a law, with the Shiv Sena joining the chorus. The government remained cautious in its reaction. In a move that could see the Ayodhya issue not decided before the Lok Sabha elections, the Supreme Court directed the listing of the Ram Janmabhoomi title suit matter for an appropriate bench that will fix the dates in January 2019 for the hearing of a batch of petitions challenging the Allahabad High Court verdict trifurcating the disputed site. During a brief hearing, a bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice K.M. Joseph gave its decision on the petitions challenging the 2010 Allahabad High Court ruling by which the disputed site in Ayodhya was divided into three parts -- for Ram Lalla, Nirmohi Akhara and the original Muslim litigant. "We have our own priorities. Whether the case will come in January, February or March, it will be for the appropriate bench to decide," CJI Gogoi said as a lawyer urged the court to decide on the dates when the hearing on challenge to the High Court judgment will take place. The listing of the matter for January could prolong the hearing in the case for a few months -- by when the country would be in election mode due to general elections due in April-May 2019. As the apex court postponed the hearing, the RSS and the VHP mounted pressure on the government calling for a law. The government maintained that it had full faith in the court adding that a lot of people want that the hearing on the issue should be completed soon. "I would like to humbly say that a lot of people in the country want that the hearing on the issue should be completed soon. We have full faith in the court and we fully respect it," Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters in poll-bound Chhattisgarh. Arun Kumar, Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh (communication in-charge) of the RSS, said: "The RSS is of the view that Ram temple must be constructed at the birthplace of Lord Ram and the place should be given to Ram Janmbhoomi Nyas. The construction of temple will create harmonious atmosphere. Taking this into account, the Supreme Court should take a decision at the earliest. "However, if any obstacle comes on the way, the government must bring a legislation to pave the way. Since the beginning of the Ram temple movement, the sants and Dharm Sansad are leading it and the RSS has supported them. Whatever steps would be taken by sants in this regard, we will stand by them," he added. The VHP said the Supreme Court had adjourned the hearing of the Ram Janmabhoomi appeals to 2019. "This fortifies our stand that a solution is not in eternally waiting for the hearing of the appeals. We reiterate our demand for enacting a law in Parliament for construction of a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya," VHP Working President Alok Kumar said. "The winter session of Parliament is ahead and this can be done," he added. The Shiv Sena said "the court will not do anything" on the Ayodhya issue. "We want a Ram Temple in Ayodhya. We are not asking for a Ram Temple in Pakistan... Our demand is to construct Ram Temple in God Ram's Ayodhya," Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said, reacting to the Supreme Court listing the hearing in the matter to January. The court ruling was seen as a setback to the supporters of the Ram temple movement. Expressing disappointment, Mahant Paramhans Das, who had recently gone on an indefinite sit-in to press for an early construction of Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya, said the Hindu community and holy men do not have indefinite patience. "BJP rode to power both at the Centre and UP on the promise of Ram temple construction. Now the time has come for them to fulfil their promise" he added. Satyendra Das, the chief priest of the Ram Janmabhoomi, said it pained him that the delay by the apex court would now mean a "longer wait for Lord Rama under the tent". The Muslim petitioner in the case, Iqbal Ansari, too said that he was sad that Lord Ram's idol was under the tent, but reiterated that everyone should wait for the verdict of the Supreme Court and that this would be acceptable to both sides. Union Minister Giriraj Singh said Hindus were running out of patience due to the delay in constructing a grand Ram temple at Ayodhya and warned that no one can predict what will happen if they lose their patience. Meanwhile, the Congress accused the BJP of polarising views on the Ram Temple issue ahead of Lok Sabha polls. "This is a familiar story. Every five years before elections, the BJP tries to polarise views on Ram Mandir," former Finance MInister P. Chidambaram said shortly after the Supreme Court ruling. He said the Congress stand on the Ram temple was clear. "Congress position is that the matter is before the Supreme Court and everyone should wait until SC decides... I don't think we should jump the gun." --IANS bns/mr/shs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah was the guest of honour at the launch of "The Best Mistakes Of My Life", an autobiography of veteran actor-producer Sanjay Khan, who became emotional at the event. Other guests at the event included Farrukh Dhondy and Sunil Alagh, apart from film celebrities like Shatrughan Singa, Hema Malini, Dia Mirza, Sahil Sangha, Neelam Kothari, Samir Soni, Simone Arora, Poonam Dhillon, Kabir Bedi and Apoorva Lakhia. Sanjay's children Zayed, Sussanne, Simone and Farah as well as wife Zarine were present too. Dia, a close friend of the family, was the host for the event on Sunday. She narrated anecdotes from the life of the actor. Sanjay said: "This is an extremely emotional moment for me. I had never really thought of writing an autobiography but the process made me relive most parts and has made me value my life, my friends and those who stood by me even more. It gives me so much happiness to be able to share this moment with all those who are so precious to me." He also read out an excerpt from his book. The excerpt was about his mentor and his greatest inspiration, the late Raj Kapoor. The autobiography has Sanjay sharing his journey in Bollywood and outside of it. From films to politics to his near-death accidents, he has opened up on his life-changing moments. Sanjay has acted in more than 40 films and produced and directed films like "Chandi Sona" and "Kala Dhanda Gore Log" and the television classic "The Sword of Tipu Sultan". --IANS rb/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Monday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "removing" CBI chief Alok Verma following an internal conflict in the agency and alleged that Madhya Pradesh's Shivraj Singh Chouhan government is pursuing a "dharma of corruption". Addressing a rally in the poll-bound state, Gandhi also targeted the Modi government over jobs, saying he (Gandhi) feels upset to see a number of products with "Made in China" written on them. Gandhi alleged that the Chouhan government was involved in the Vyapam scam and also accused it of financial irregularities while organising Simhastha Kumbh in Ujjain in 2016. "Nearly 50 persons were killed in the aftermath of Vyapam scam. The state's education infrastructure has been finished. They talk of dharma but their dharma is corruption. They did not spare even the Kumbh. There was corruption in (Simhastha) Kumbh...the cost was inflated nearly 10 times. There was a demand for CBI inquiry...but even the CBI Director has been removed by Modi," he said. The Congress chief targeted Modi over the Rafale deal as well and alleged there was corruption from top to bottom. He also accused Finance Minister Arun Jaitley of remaining silent on the Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam "to protect his lawyer daughter", who, he said, was a paid retainer of accused Mehul Choksi. "There is 'chowkidar' (watchman) on top, there is Arun Jaitley below and further below Shivraj Singh Chouhan. There is corruption at every level," he said, adding that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders take money from the people of state even for small works. Gandhi said the Modi government has waived off loans of big industrialists but when farmers want their waiver of their loans, where the amount involved in much less, Jaitley would not oblige. "We will waive off farmer loans in 10 days. I do not make false promises. If the Congress Chief Minister is not able to waive off loans in 10 days, there will be a new Chief Minister," he said. The Congress will not do a favour to farmers by waiving off their loans, as this is their right, he added. Listing the "failures" of the Modi government, he said it has not fulfilled promises like creating job opportunities for the youth, unearthing black money and raising the minimum support price of crops, among others. Earlier, Gandhi reached Ujjain by a special flight on a two-day visit to the state. He performed special puja at the Mahakaleshwar temple. He was accompanied by state Congress President Kamal Nath and poll campaign in-charge Jyotiraditya Scindia. Elections to the state Assembly will be held in Madhya Pradesh on November 28. The Congress is seeking to oust the BJP which has been in power in the state for the past 15 years. --IANS ps/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Monday lauded Guru Nanak Devji for his "commitment to serve the poorest of the poor" and for laying the foundation of a community whose "primary duty lies in serving the people". "Guru Nanakji, the founder of Sikhism, made immense contribution to this great nation with his commitment to serve the poorest of the poor, irrespective of cast creed and religion. He laid the foundation to build a society whose primary duty lies in serving the people," Naidu said while releasing a book, 'Prominent Sikhs of India', authored by Prabhleen Singh of Panjab University. The book, which highlights the lives of 50 distinguished Sikhs of India, was released on the occasion of the 550th birth celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev. Naidu also praised the Sikh community for their readiness to defend the nation whenever the need arose, adding that the book will serve as inspiration to the youth of today. "Indian history is witness to the fact that Sikhs have always shielded the nation whenever the need arose... In my view, this literary piece is a celebration and a salute to the highest summit of professional excellence and social responsibility attained by these exemplary Sikhs of India," he said, according to a statement issued from his office. The Vice President named former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Union Ministers Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Hardeep Singh Puri, bureaucrat Montek Singh Ahluwalia and sprinter Milkha Singh among those who have made their mark nationally and internationally. "The book is step towards enlightening the world about Sikhs and their pro-active contribution to the humanity especially in the contemporary tempestuous times of mistrust, prejudice and intolerance," he said. --IANS vn/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Suspended Central Bureau Investigation's (CBI) Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Devender Kumar, arrested in a corruption case allegedly involving Special Director Rakesh Asthana, on Monday moved his bail plea in a Delhi court. CBI Special Judge Santosh Snehi Mann said she will hear the plea on Tuesday. The CBI will present him before the court on October 30 on expiry of his CBI custody. Kumar was arrested last week on charge of falsification of records while probing allegations against meat exporter Moin Qureshi and was remanded to CBI custody till October 30. Kumar was an Investigating Officer in a case against Qureshi, who is facing multiple cases of money laundering and corruption. The CBI alleged that bribes were taken at least five times between December 2017 and October this year. Asthana, a 1984 batch IPS officer of Gujarat cadre, is accused of accepting a bribe of Rs 2 crore from a Hyderabad-based businessman Sathish Babu Sana who was under probe in the Qureshi case to "wreck" the investigation. The case was being examined by a special investigation team (SIT) headed by Asthana. --IANS akk/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A woman died here due to swine flu, while another was still under observation, a health official said on Monday. The 58-year-old woman, who tested positive for the flu following her return to Shillong after visiting her sons in Pune and Chennai, died on Sunday night at the Nazareth Hospital, Health and Family Welfare Secretary Pravin Bakshi told IANS. The other woman, a resident of Mumbai, has been diagnosed with the H1N1 virus and is under close observation in the hospital, he said. The woman was in Shillong to attend a religious convention. Bakshi said the state government has sounded a health alert across Meghalaya and has also alerted the Airport Authority of India officials at the Guwahati international airport, Shillong airport and officials from Meghalaya helicopter services. Swine flu is a respiratory disease which infects the wind pipe (respiratory tract) of pigs and gets transmitted to human beings. It results in nasal secretions, cough, decreased appetite and restlessness. --IANS rrk/ksk/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tata Sons said on Monday that it would end its contract with brand consultant Suhel Seth, who has been accused of sexual harassment by several women in India's #MeToo campaign. The holding firm of the Tata Group of companies said in a statement here that Seth will no longer work with the Tata Group after his contract ends next month. "Counselage's contract with Tata Sons will end on November 30, 2018," a Tata Sons Spokesperson said in a statement. Seth is the Chief Executive of brand marketing consultancy Counselage. Seth has been called out for sexual harassment by six women, including model Diandra Soares, filmmaker Natasha Rathore and writer Ira Trivedi. The #MeToo movement gathered momentum in the country after actor Tanushree Dutta accused co-star Nana Patekar of sexual harassment during the shooting of a film in Mumbai in 2008. --IANS rv-bc/shs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A memorial outside the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. Photo: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images Until Saturday morning, when he allegedly entered a Pittsburgh synagogue and gunned down 11 innocent congregants, Robert D. Bowers was known to his neighbors as an unremarkable man who said little about anything, including his apparent hatred for Jews. I wish I had known what was going on in his head, his neighbor Chris Hall told the Post-Gazette. I wish there was some sort of warning sign. Bowerss attack on the Tree of Life synagogue killed 11 and injured another six. It took only 20 minutes for him to pull off what became the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in U.S. history. As he was attempting to leave the synagogue, Bowers encountered police and a shootout began. The 46-year-old was eventually taken into custody after suffering multiple gunshot wounds. Theyre committing genocide to my people, he told the SWAT officers who arrested him, according to a federal complaint. I just want to kill Jews. #BREAKING: Law enforcement confirms this is Robert Bowers, the suspect in the Pittsburgh mass shooting at a synagogue this morning: https://t.co/3pxIKevSlV pic.twitter.com/t1y2h13R4H WPXI (@WPXI) October 27, 2018 Though Bowers hid his anti-Semitic rage from his neighbors, it was on full display online. He was an active member of Gab, the social media site that has become popular with white nationalists, where his posts hinted at the massacre to come. His last post before entering the synagogue read, I cant sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, Im going in. Along with his anti-Semitic screeds, Bowers posted photos of three pistols that he called his glock family. Police say he used three pistols, along with a semiautomatic rifle, in the massacre. Post on gab from the shooter, he could have used one of these. pic.twitter.com/CwhLfueetw Sardonic (@__sardonic) October 27, 2018 Some have laid blame for the shooting at the feet of President Trump and his constant stoking of racial division. Bowers went out of his way on Gab to say he was no Trump booster. Despite Trumps own embrace of the nationalist label, Bowers wrote on Gab that Trump is a globalist, not a nationalist. He also declared in May that he didnt vote for Trump and had never owned, worn, or even touched a Make America Great Again hat. Like Trump, though, Bowers complained about the caravan of Central American migrants moving through Mexico. On Gab, he wrote that the migrants, who he preferred to call invaders, were coming to the U.S. to commit violent acts. He blamed the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS) for bringing the invaders to kill our people. HIAS is an aid organization that has helped resettle Jewish refugees since its founding on the Lower East Side of Manhattan in 1881. In recent years, it has expanded its work to help non-Jewish refugees. As CEO Mark Hetfield has said, We decided to help, not because they are Jewish, but because we are Jewish. There are no words to express how devastated we are by the events in Pittsburgh this morning, HIAS said in a statement. This loss is our loss As we try to process this horrifying tragedy, we pray that the American Jewish community and the country can find healing. Bowerss racism wasnt only directed at Jews, the Washington Post reports. Many of his rants expressed racism against African Americans, according to an analysis of posts gathered by the Network Contagion Research Institute, a group of scientists and engineers who study online hate. Half a dozen of Bowerss posts included slurs against women who had relationships with black men. He uploaded many posts that referenced nooses and ropes and hanging. Nearly 20 posts used the n-word. Bowers faces upwards of 50 federal and state charges for the massacre. On Sunday, prosecutors said they will pursue the death penalty against him. Software major Tech Mahindra on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Japanese electronic company Rakuten for building next-generation (4G and 5G) software-defined network laboratories in Bengaluru and Tokyo. "Our collaboration with Rakuten will help us further drive innovation in the 5G space and enable us to enhance customer experience and lead the transformation in mobile network technology," CP Gurnani, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Tech Mahindra, said in a statement. The collaboration is aimed at driving innovation to bring transformation of mobile network technology and enhance customer experience for users in Japan. "We are very excited to collaborate with Tech Mahindra to launch world-class labs in Tokyo and Bengaluru that will contribute to creation of the next generation of mobile broadband, enabled by 5G," said Mickey Mikitani, Chairman, President and CEO, Rakuten, Inc. The network labs in Tokyo and Bengaluru will focus on fostering innovation in the telecom space, banking on Tech Mahindra's capabilities in the 5G domain such as mobile networks, IT, Cloud and enterprise applications and Rakuten's vision to create a fully automated 5G-ready network in Japan. Tech Mahindra will also provide network integration capabilities to add value to the lab operations. --IANS ksc/na/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three Border Security Force (BSF) troopers were injured on Monday when militants fired at their vehicle on the outskirts of Srinagar, police said. Police said the militant attack took place at Zeewan crossing. "Three BSF troopers were injured. They have been shifted to a hospital," a police officer said. --IANS sq/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Odisha government has said the Royal Bengal Tigress Sundari, which allegedly killed two persons, will be shifted from Satkosia Wildlife Sanctuary to Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar. Forest and Minister Bijayshree Routray on Monday said once it is tranquilised, the tigress will be shifted to a well-protected in the zoo. "Our plans are to keep Sundari in Nandankanan and we will inform National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) about the decision. If they do not accept our proposal, we may consider sending back the tigress to Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh from where it was brought as a part of tiger translocation programme," informed the Minister. He said efforts are on to capture the elusive tigress in Satakosia wildlife sanctuary in Angul district. Meanwhile, two experts team from Pench and Kanha tiger reserves in Madhya Pradesh arrived to tranquilise tigress Sundari. The Odisha Forest Department had requested its Madhya Pradesh counterpart to send two teams to capture the tigress. The Royal Bengal tigress was brought from Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve on June 28 in a pilot inter-state transfer project to increase the big cat population in Odisha. It was released into the Satkosia Tiger Reserve. However, locals demanded to shift the tigress after it allegedly killed two persons inside the reserve. --IANS cd/vc (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has 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, Xinhua news agency on Sunday. 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. --IANS vc (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Monday accused the Congress of proximity to "Urban Maoists", which prompted the United Progressive Alliance government that it led for 10 years to not take any effective steps against the left insurgents. "Maoists have the blessings of 'Urban Maoists', who also shelter them. They can never fight elections. Their security amount will be forfeited. Yet, they believe that they only will run the nation... You have no right to break the nation. "And it is our open allegation that no effective measures were ever taken against Maoists during 10 years of Manmohan Singh's government, because their patrons were part of Sonia Gandhi's advisory committee," Prasad, who is the Union Law Minister, said here at a press conference The BJP leader, on a campaign in Chhattisgarh that goes to polls next month, claimed that the number of Maoist-affected districts has reduced from 150 to 78-80 over the years, and condemned the "human rights leaders" for their "double standards" . "... They (human rights activists) make a lot of noise when Maoists are killed. But when brave soldiers are killed, do they have any human rights or not? Why do these people who tour New Delhi, Dantewada, Raipur, remain silent then. This is their double standard," he said. --IANS vn/shs/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Monday hailed Reserve Bank of India Governor Urjit Patel for 'defending' the central bank from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, after reports suggested that tension prevailed between the RBI and the Centre. "Nice that (Urjit) Patel is finally defending the #RBI from 'Mr 56'. Better late than never. India will never allow the BJP/RSS to capture our institutions," Rahul said. RBI Deputy Governor Viral Acharya had last week spoken on the need for the central bank's autonomy at a memorial lecture. He had spoken on the "Importance of Independent Regulatory Institutions - The Case of the Central Bank". Acharya had said that the theme of his speech was suggested by Patel. The RBI Employees Association on Monday came out in support of Acharya, stating that "undermining the country's central bank is a recipe for disaster". Media reports have said that there have been difference on a host of issues between the government and the RBI Governor and there has also been a breakdown of communication. --IANS ps/shs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sri Lanka's ousted Prime Minister on Monday reiterated his call for Parliament to be summoned immediately in order to resolve the ongoing political crisis in the island nation. Speaking to the Foreign Correspondents Association from his official residence here, Wickremesinghe maintained that he was still the Prime Minister despite President Maithripala Sirisena's move sacking him and replacing him with former strongman Wickremesinghe said he still enjoyed a majority in Parliament and would prove his numbers when sittings convene, Xinhua news agency reported. "I am confident I am the only person who can get a majority in Parliament. If anyone else feels they have a majority, they can prove it in Parliament as it is the supreme authority," he said. Wickremesinghe said that several political parties including his United National Party (UNP) and the opposition Tamil National Alliance had written to the Speaker and expressed concern over the present political environment and called for Parliament to be summoned. A government Minister told Xinhua news agency that 126 political legislators out of the 225-member Parliament had signed a letter asking for Parliament to be summoned and handed it over to Speaker Karu Jayasuriya. ALSO READ: Rajapaksa assumes charge as new Sri Lankan Prime Minister Sirisena last week sacked Wickremesinghe and appointed former President Rajapaksa to the post. The coalition government consisted of the UPFA and the UNP led by Wickremesinghe. Rajapaksa assumed office as new Prime Minister earlier on Monday, vowing to strengthen the economy and work for the betterment of the nation. A new caretaker government was expected to be sworn in later in the day, Sri Lankan media reports said. Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Monday recommended that yoga be made a part of school curriculum as more and more people are suffering from ill health due to lifestyle diseases. Speaking after releasing a book, "Yoga and Mindfulness: The Basics" by yoga exponent Mansi Gulati (Konark Publishers), Naidu said that while life had become easier with modern gadgets, it had brought with it issues like sedentary lifestyle. People have to adopt a "meaningful proportion in our activities", Naidu said. The Vice President said the air conditioner while conditioning the surrounding air was also "conditioning the mind". "We can't see the sun or the light, we can't enjoy the nature," he said. People were going to doctors for Vitamin D deficiency or lack of exposure to sunlight. "Food includes sunlight also," he said to applause. The Vice President said earlier physical activities used to be part of daily routine. "Literally there is no activity now and the effect is that diseases are propping up," he said. He added that people were not in touch with nature and they were not exercising. "Yoga has acceptance across the world and it has nothing to do with religion," he said. Anyone with any religion can practice yoga. It would help the mind and body work better. "I personally feel that yoga should be made part of the school curriculum." --IANS mr/soni (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) This refers to Govt-regulator consultation the way to go: FM (October 28). The unnamed target of Arun Jaitleys ire when he says Nation higher than any institution or government is fairly obvious. However, the finance minister has got it wrong. In India, citizens are supreme, as set out in the Constitution of India. They gave us our fundamental charter and defined the character of the state, that is, India. It is time that our leaders understand that citizens are above the president, the Parliament, the prime minister or the Chief Justice of ... Photo: Courtesy of retailers. When it comes to holiday gifts for guys, you cant really go wrong with a wristwatch. The problem with watches for men, however, is that were not in a place to spend tens of thousands of dollars. To find the best watches that arent obscenely expensive, we talked to James Stacey, watch expert and senior writer at Hodinkee for his professional take on the best mens watches you can get for under $200. And to widen the field, we also asked him what he thought of some of our all-time favorite watches, plus ones weve written about in the past. The main takeaway here is that there are plenty of great mechanical watches almost anyone can afford. Here are Staceys and our recommendations. Dont miss all of the Strategists holiday gift coverage right here, too. The Best Watches With Mechanical Movements Timex Marlin Leather Strap Watch, 34mm $199 At the top of Staceys and our list is the Timex Marlin. Stacey explains the appeal: Youre getting a classic style that plays into Timexs history as an original manufacturer in the States, but youre also getting a proper mechanical hand-wound movement, which is typically not accessible at this price. This watch is a reissue of one that Timex made in the 1960s, which is most likely why they opted to go with a 34-inch case on the smaller side of what is typically offered these days. Its got a bit of grandpa charm, you know the Don Draper effect where it looks like youre wearing something from another era. $199 at Nordstrom Buy Seiko SRP704 Japanese Automatic Stainless Steel Casual Watch $390 Still, if Stacey had to choose a watch for himself from the bunch, hed go for a Seiko. Seiko is a fully vertically integrated company, so theyre capable of producing a wide variety of watches, including pieces that cost $40 or $50 all the way up to a few thousand, and at this price point you dont commonly get mechanical automatic movements. This watch made the list thanks to its gold tone, which Stacey has been seeing interest in the last few years. $390 at Amazon Buy $390 at Amazon Buy Seiko SNZG09 5 Sport Automatic Khaki Watch $117 If gold tone isnt your thing, though, Seiko also makes a ton of other styles, like this olive-green military-inspired automatic watch. Not only is Seiko offering an almost limitless selection of mechanical watches: diver, military, classic, but also each one is a simple robust, super-reliable watch thats easy to get repaired. For what you might pay for a nicer Casio, you can get a really legit enthusiast sport watch. $117 at Walmart Buy Swatch YIS404 Irony Sistem 51 Sistem Fly Automatic Watch $195 Stacey has good news for lovers of Swatch watches and beginner enthusiasts. Swatch now makes their own line of watches called the Sistem 51, a very cleverly produced and manufactured collection of automatic watches. These are really cool, and we even did a Hodinkee launch when they came out. If youre even a little bit interested in the mechanics of the watch, you can turn it over and see that the manner in which they developed the movement is super modern and very minimal. This is a great move for someone who appreciates cutting-edge technology and design. $195 at Amazon Buy $195 at Amazon Buy The Best Watches With Quartz Movements Braun BN0032WHSLMHG Classic Mesh Japanese Quartz Silver Watch $184 Here at Strategist HQ, were big fans of Braun, and so is Stacey. For the Apple crowd that isnt into an Apple watch, this kind of Dieter Rams aesthetic clean and minimal, but not to the extent that its not functional works really nicely. Theyre not expensive and are well worth the $100 youll pay for one. Plus, they look good on everyone. I dont think you can be too old or too young to wear this watch, and theyre also not gendered in any way. I think the Milanese style mesh bracelet is really comfortable, and it deals really well in hot climates. $184 at Amazon Buy $89 at eBay Buy Timex Navi Ocean Reversible NATO Strap Watch, 38mm $155 The Timex Navi Ocean with its reversible strap is a great choice for a wide range of guys. Its in that dive-watch aesthetic, which I think works pretty well for most guys. You dont have to overthink how it will match up with what youre wearing. $155 at Nordstrom Buy Breda Visser Square Leather Strap Watch, 35mm $90 Breda wasnt on Staceys initial list, so we asked him what he thought about the simple square-faced watch. I like the design of Bredas Visser quite a bit. I like that it comes in a bunch of different colors, a nice size, with a simple Japanese quartz movement, and a nice warranty. $90 at Nordstrom Buy The Best Digital (and Water-Resistant) Travel Watch Casio Mens A500WGA-1 Gold Metal Quartz Fashion Watch $51 Stacey didnt hold back his enthusiasm for this throwback gold Casio. Casio still makes a lot of their most popular watches from the 80s and 90s. This one comes in a bunch of styles, costs somewhere around $50 bucks, and weighs barely anything on your wrist. Plus this watch makes a really great travel companion, not only because it does multiple time zones really easily but also because youre not going to get a bunch of attention if you travel with it, you can take it in the pool, and its not a big deal if it breaks. Im a huge fan of these watches. $51 at Walmart Buy The Best Activity-Tracker Watch Withings / Nokia | Steel HR Hybrid Smartwatch $180 Stacey is admittedly more of a mechanical-movement nerd than a smartwatch nerd. So we wanted to know how he felt about this non-smartwatch-looking smartwatch. I think Withings is a very interesting company, and I like them from a design standpoint. Where this type of smartwatch really works out is for someone who wants a Fitbit but doesnt really want to wear one. Or someone who has worn a Fitbit for a long time and wants to retain the functionality but go back to wearing a watch. If thats you, I think it makes perfect sense. $180 at Amazon Buy $180 at Amazon Buy get the strategist newsletter Actually good deals, smart shopping advice, and exclusive discounts. Email This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Terms & Privacy Notice By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us. The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change. Every editorial product is independently selected. If you buy something through our links, New York may earn an affiliate commission. BJP president Amit Shah, who has pledged his party's support to devotees protesting the entry of women of all ages into Ayyappa temple, has expressed wish to offer prayers at the hill shrine in Sabarimala during the annual pilgrim season starting on November 17, a party leader said Monday. "The BJP president has expressed desire to visit the But no decision has been taken so far," a senior unit BJP leader told PTI in Thiruvananthapuram. Shah's wish to trek the hills comes days after he declared BJP's full support to the agitation by the devotees against CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front government's decision to implement the Supreme Court order lifting the ban on entry of women in 10-50 age group from offering prayers at the shrine. In a scathing criticism of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for taking action against Sabarimala protesters, Shah last week claimed an "Emergency-like" situation was prevailing in the state and accused the government of "playing with fire". If the state government does not stop hurting the devotees, BJP workers would be forced to bring it down, Shah said, drawing a strong reaction from Vijayan, who termed the BJP president's warning an "attack" on the Supreme Court, Constitution and the country's judicial system. Police have arrested over 3,500 people till Sunday in connection with the protests that rocked the state earlier this month. A large number of frenzied devotees staying put at the temple complex and base camps had prevented at least a dozen women of menstrual age from entering the temple when it opened for monthly pujas between October 17 and 22. Protests were also held in several other parts of by the devotees, who included a large number of women, seeking to protect the tradition of the shrine whose deity, Lord Ayyappa, is celibate. Intensifying the agitation, the BJP-led NDA Sunday announced a six-day 'Rath Yatra' from Kasaragod to Sabarimala from November 8 to save the customs and traditions of the famous temple. Various other agitation programmes, including a fast in front of the state DGP's office Thiruvananthapuram, had also been planned. The BJP is apparently seeing the Sabarimala issue as an opportunity to widen its support base in the southern state. The party has so far failed to make a strong presence in the bi-polar polity in the state, dominated by the LDF and the opposition Congress-headed United Democratic Front (UDF). In 2016 assembly polls, the BJP had scripted history by winning the Nemom seat, and garnered 14.65 per cent votes. : Eleven fishermen from Tamil Nadu were arrested Monday by Sri Lankan Naval personnel for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary line and fishing near Neduntheevu in the island nation. President of a local fishermen's association P Sesu Raja said he had received information the 11 fishermen had inadvertently crossed the IMBL while looking for a good catch following the recent spell of rain. The fishermen were later taken to Kankesanthurai in the island nation. Their two boats were also seized. Earlier this month, nearly 1,000 fishermen were chased away by the Lankan Navy for allegedly fishing off Katchatheevu islet and their fishing gear was destroyed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India already has a 515-km functional network of metro tracks in various cities and 15 more will soon have over 660 kilometres of tracks for rapid urban transportation, Union Minister said Monday. Interacting with the members of the Consultative Committee attached to the Housing and Urban Affairs (HUA) Ministry, Puri informed them on HUA's initiatives on urban transport in India. According to a statement released by the housing and urban affairs minister, the state governments and union territories have been advised to prepare and submit the Detailed Project Report (DPR) in line with the provisions in the Metro Rail Policy 2017. "Hardeep S Puri, Minister of State (I/C) for Housing and Urban Affairs has stated that more than 664 kms of metro rail projects in 15 cities are presently under various stages of implementation, while more than 515 kms of metro line are already operational in India," the statement said. He said several new cities are now aspiring to have metro rail systems. To bring together the technology and service providers, policy makers, officials in urban transport from India and abroad, the 11th Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference is planned from November 2-4 at Nagpur, with the theme "Green Mobility" to disseminate up-to-date and best urban transport practices information to the cities, he added. A minor girl was allegedly gang-raped by a quack and his friend inside the former's clinic here, police said on Monday. The incident took place on Sunday afternoon in a residential locality under Muradnagar Police Station, they said. The eight-year-old was alone at home when the accused duo lured her inside the clinic by giving her Rs 20 and gang-raped her, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Ghaziabad Prabhat Kumar said. When the girl's parents returned home at around 10.30 pm, she narrated the ordeal to her mother and complained of pain in the abdomen. Based on the complaint by the parents, the police registered an FIR against the quack, Shoeb and his friend Farukh alias Montuunder section 376 of the Indian Penal Code and the Protection Of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Both the accused are still at large but will be nabbed soon, police said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The BJP-led central government and the AAP dispensation Monday indulged in a blame game over the rising air pollution in the national capital and accused each other of not taking effective steps to curb it. Delhi's air quality continued to remain in the very poor category Monday as a thick haze engulfed the city, which was battling alarming levels of pollution. An overall Air Quality Index of 367 was recorded which falls in the very poor category, according to data of pollution watchdog CPCB. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal blamed the Centre, and the governments of Haryana and Punjab Monday for the severe air pollution in Delhi, alleging they were not ready to do anything despite the efforts by the Aam Aadmi Party government. "The pollution was in control in Delhi throughout the year, but this time (winters) every year, Delhi has to face severe pollution due to the governments at the Centre, BJP-led Haryana and Congress-led Punjab," he tweeted in Hindi. "Despite our all-out efforts, they are not ready to do anything. Farmers of these two states are also fed up with their governments," he said. Responding to Kejriwal's charges, Minister Harsh Vardhan alleged the AAP dispensation had "failed" to undertake basic measures to curb pollution. He said Kejriwal "cannot absolve himself of responsibility" by targeting the Centre and the state governments. Vardhan said the Centre had undertaken a series of measures like the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) for Delhi and the national capital region (NCR) and setting up of air purifiers. "This is your responsibility. We have been tracking farm fires with the help of satellites and compared to previous years, it has been consistently going down. It is wrong to blame Haryana, Punjab and the central governments. Your work is being done by the Centre," Vardhan claimed. Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari asked the party-ruled municipal corporations to step in to tackle the rising air pollution in the city, alleging the AAP government had "failed" to take effective measures. In a letter to mayors and commissioners of the South, North and the East Delhi Municipal Corporations, which are ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Tiwari requested them to ban all construction activities in the national capital with immediate effect. Delhi's air continued to remain in the "very poor" category with an overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of 348 Monday. He claimed it was very unfortunate that the Delhi government only remained a "mute spectator" to this "serious health hazard" Delhi was facing. Tiwari alleged that in the last four years, the AAP dispensation had "failed" to take any effective measure to curb air pollution. "Being administrative heads of Delhi's premier civic bodies, it is imperative upon you to step in to tackle air pollution," he said in the letter. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court-appointed Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) agreed to the recommendations made by the CPCB for the first ten days of November when the air quality is likely to deteriorate further due to festival season and stubble burning in neighbouring states. The recommendations include closure of all construction activities that generate dust pollution between November 1 and 10. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)-led task force also recommended shutting down 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. The task force also recommended efforts to provide uninterrupted power supply in the NCR to avoid requirement of operating diesel generator (DG) sets. Also, authorities asked 113 industries to shutdown for not converting to Piped Natural Gas (PNG) in the national capital. Of the 113 units, 67 are located in Bawana and Narela industrial areas, an official statement said Monday. In a meeting chaired by Lt Governor Anil Baijal here, officials told the LG that 1,368 show cause notices and 417 closure directions were issued against polluting units by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC). "It was further informed that closure directions have been issued to 113 industries which have not converted to PNG," the LG office said in a statement. It stated that DPCC officials informed Baijal that the committee had deputed " marshals" for night patrolling in Bawana, Narela, Mundka, Nangloi, Punjabi Bagh, Dwarka, Anand Vihar, Bhalaswa SLF and Ghazipur SLF. The LG directed for more deployment of environmental marshals keeping in mind the emergent air pollution condition. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The RSS Monday pressed for the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, saying it would lead to an atmosphere of "goodwill and harmony" in the country. The organisation will be holding a three-day meet of its representatives in neighbouring Palghar between October 31 and November 2, which will be addressed by its chief, Mohan Bhagwat, on the first day. "The RSS is of the opinion that a Ram temple should be constructed at the disputed site. The Supreme Court should immediately decide the case. If there are problems, the Centre should bring a legislation to remove the obstacles and hand over the Ram Janamsthan bhoomi to the Shri Ramjanmabhoomi Nyas," Arun Kumar, the Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, said. "Building a Ram temple at Ayodhya would lead to an atmosphere of goodwill and harmony in the country," he added. Kumar claimed that with the Allahabad High Court's decision, it was already established beyond doubt that the land concerned was the birth place of Lord Ram and a temple existed at the site before the disputed structure. Now the issue was limited to the decision on the construction of the temple on the said land, he said. Kumar added that the RSS would stand by the decision taken by religious figures and seers in this regard. Speaking about the RSS meet starting Wednesday, he said the organisation took a review of its functioning twice a year, first at the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (ABPS) in March and then at the half-yearly meet between Vijaya Dashami and Diwali, which was known as the Akhil Bharatiya Karyakari Mandal (AKBM). "The ABPS is attended by around 1,400 representatives and resolutions are passed in it. The ABKM is a comparatively smaller meeting with around 350 representatives from 11 regions and 43 state units of the RSS and the organising secretaries of seven of its prominent allied organisations," Kumar said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Air India's international budget arm Air India Express Monday launched its non-stop flight to Singapore from Bengaluru as part of its winter schedule expansion plans. The flight, inaugurated by Air India chairman and managing director Pradeep Singh Kharola along with Air India Express chief executive officer K Shyam Sundar, will be operated four-times a week with a Boeing 737-800 aircraft, a release said. The Bengaluru-Singapore service of Air India Express will be available four times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, it added. ********************** United Airlines launches Boeing 777-300ER on Mum-NY route * American carrier United Airlines Monday launched its latest Boeing 777-300ER on the Mumbai-New York/Newark route. The new wide-body plane, which features the all-new United Polaris business class seats, replaces the 777-200ER, which was being used to operate the route so far, the airline said in a statement. United Airlines has already placed into service 17 of the 18 aircraft in its first 777-300ER order, it added. ********************** Linc Pen joins hands with China's Deli * Writing instrument brandLinc Pen Monday said it has entered into a partnership with Chinese stationery giant Deli to market the latter's over 2,000 products in India. Under the partnership, Linc will be using its strong distribution channels to cater to market Deli products in India, a release said. The partnership will begin from November. ********************** Hester Biosciences Q2 net up 12% to Rs 9.93 cr * Hester Biosciences Monday reported a 12 per cent increase in net profit at Rs 9.93 crore for the quarter ended September, against a profit of Rs 8.85 crore in the same period last year. The company's net sales also increased by 11 per cent at Rs 42.54 crore, against Rs 38.48 crore in the year-ago period, the company said in a statement. The firm's board Monday also declared second interim dividend of 20 per cent, that is Rs 2 per equity share on the face value of Rs 10 per share. The company has already paid first interim dividend of Rs 2 per equity shares. Its scrip ended 0.36 per cent up at Rs 1,155 apiece on the BSE, against 2.15 per cent rise in the benchmark. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Vedanta Group Chairman Anil Agarwal Monday asked the government to increase import duty on primary and scrap aluminium to 10 per cent, noting that India was becoming a dumping ground amid ongoing tariff war between the US and China. At present, the basic customs duty on primary aluminium is 7.5 per cent while the same on aluminium scrap is 2.5 per cent. "As the US and China are enhancing import duty on aluminium scrap to protect their domestic industry, India is becoming a dumping ground, evident from over 140 per cent jump in scrap import last quarter, unheard of in the industry," Agarwal said in a tweet. "Time for immediate action like raising import duty of primary and scrap aluminium to 10 per cent to support domestic industry," he tweeted while tagging the twitter handles of PMO and the prime minister. Vedanta Ltd, a Vedanta group firm, is a leading aluminium producer in the country. In March, the US imposed a 25 per cent tariff on steel and a 10 per cent tariff on aluminium imports. In April, China also slapped new tariffs on 128 US products, including pork and fruits, worth about USD 3 billion in response to the duties. The domestic aluminium industry has raised concern that India is becoming a victim of the escalating trade war between the US and China. India's aluminium scrap import jumped 21.44 per cent to 6,57,000 tonnes during the first half of 2018-19 from 541,000 tonnes in April-September period of 2017-18, according to the Aluminium Association of India (AAI). The AAI had also urged the government to increase the duty on imports of aluminium scrap to protect the domestic industry from cheap imports. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Photo: Retailer Whether youre a renter, a college student, or just a commitment-phobe, temporary wallpaper adds personality to your space while coming down easily when its time to move. A few years ago, thinking of using wallpaper in a rented apartment wasnt even a choice, says Karen Richani, an interior designer at Havenly. Luckily, those years are gone, and now we see many options available that can instantly transform any space. Devin Shaffer, the lead sales designer at interior-design service Decorilla, agrees. A big reason wallpaper has made a comeback is because of its instant way of volumizing a space, he says of the way certain wallpapers exaggerated texture and dimension in their patterns can make a room feel cozier or larger, depending on what youre going for. As far as application goes, Shaffer has a couple of pointers. First, as with any visual treatment, consider the length of time you plan to have it in your home. While peel-and-stick wallpaper can be a quick fix, he says to apply it slowly and carefully, noting that a little advance preparation of the walls in question can go a long way toward a smooth application (and better end result). Twenty-four hours before taking on the project, be sure to go over the walls with a damp sponge or cloth and a mild, nonabrasive cleaner, says Shaffer. Once dry, let the DIY fun begin. After measuring your space to find out how much wallpaper you may need, its also never a bad idea to get some extra to account for mistakes and redos. And when it comes time to remove any wallpaper, Alessandra Wood, VP of style at Modsy, has a tip: A few passes with a hair dryer can loosen up any that isnt coming off easily. To find the best removable wallpaper, we asked Shaffer, Richani, and five other interior designers about the styles theyd recommend for a variety of spaces. Their favorite wallpapers run the gamut from bold styles with graphic patterns, equally eye-catching options with geometric prints, wallpapers that lend more of a textural feel, and even a couple stick-on murals that provide the effect of wallpaper. If you know what youre looking for, you can click any of the links in the last sentence to jump straight to that category. Best removable wallpaper with graphic patterns Scalamandres zebra wallpaper pattern is more or less the definition of an iconic wall covering, one whose origins start at Manhattans now-shuttered Ginos restaurant and extend to Wes Andersons The Royal Tenenbaums (and lots of other things in between). Part of the wallpapers rise to cultural relevance is because the print is available far and wide, as both traditional and peel-and-stick wallpaper (and even paper napkins). Two experts recommend it: interior designer Elaine Griffin and home decorator Carrie Carrollo, who calls the red version, available on Etsy in a range of sizes (starting at 23.5 inches wide by 48 inches long), a quirky statement. (Carrollo has used this style to cover the back of a bookshelf in her home.) Griffin prefers the denim color from WallPops, a company she told us was an early adopter of peel-and-stick wallpaper industry. WallPops sells it by rolls that measure 20.5 inches wide by 18 feet long, so you get a bit more square footage of wallpaper for a bit less money. Chasing Paper Bubble Wallpaper From $40 From $40 Carrollo also likes the offerings from Chasing Paper, which she says has something for everyone and an easy to navigate website. Her favorite from the brand is this more subdued bubble pattern, which she says is fun and quirky without being over-the-top. Its the kind of print you can use everywhere, in any type of room. Its sold in tiles that range in size, starting from 2 feet by 4 feet and going up to 2 feet by 12 feet. From $40 at Chasing Paper Buy DeccoPrint Japanese Style Removable Wallpaper From $31 $44 now 30% off From $31 Following the aquatic theme, heres a print that Griffin is wild about for its Japanese-inspired ocean wave pattern that she says is so densely packed, it almost reads as a solid. The dense pattern, she adds, acts as the perfect foil against other boldly patterned furniture, flooring, or rugs. Its available in various sizes, starting with a roll that measures 19 by 59 inches. From $31 at Etsy Buy Cuckoo Walls Black Dots Removable Wallpaper From $37 $41 now 10% off From $37 Carrollo has also used wallpaper from Etsy seller Cuckoo Walls in her home. The paper is exactly right, she says, thick enough that it feels sturdy and wont tear and insanely easy to reposition during installation. One of her favorites is this matte polka-dotted print, which she used to create an accent wall in her studio. Rolls come in a range of sizes, starting with one thats 23.5 inches wide by 48 inches long. From $37 at Etsy Buy Urban Outfitters Whimsical Floral Removable Wallpaper $49 $49 Photo: courtesy of the Retailer It is undeniable the impact that using wallpaper creates in a room, says Richani. When shes decorating for clients with maximalist vibes, she turns to the floral prints at Urban Outfitters, like this colorful pattern. Each roll is 24 inches wide by 48 inches long. $49 at Urban Outfitters Buy Spoonflower Cherry Sprigs Sage By Foxlark Removable Self Adhesive Wallpaper Roll From $29 From $29 For a floral print thats a little more subdued, Griffin recommends this one of cherry sprigs from Spoonflower. She calls it modern, stylish, and fun, telling us she sees it shining brightly in a white kitchen or bath. Its available in various sizes, starting with a 24-by-36-inch roll. From $29 at Etsy Buy Tempaper Self-Adhesive Wallpaper, Tropical Jungle $98 $98 If you like the idea of a botanic theme but prefer foliage to flowers, Wood recommends this palm-leaf pattern from Tempaper, which she recently used in a project re-creating the Golden Girls house. If Golden Girls is not your vibe, we think this also looks a lot like the palm-leaf wallpaper that famously covers the walls at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Each roll is 11 yards long by 20.5 inches wide for a total square footage of about 56 square feet. $98 at Food52 Buy Spoonflower Peel and Stick Removable Wallpaper - Cute Swimmers From $24 From $24 To make an even more memorable impression with your wallpaper, consider an illustrated pattern like the cheeky swimmers that dot this style recommended by Shaffer. Its retailer, Spoonflower, offers hundreds of pages of kitschy wallpaper options, according to him, but Shaffer says that the figures paper-doll-like styling will you to get even more creative with the application of this specific pattern. I will be using this on a ceiling, he says of one unexpected place that he plans to put it. But the swimmers, he assures, can basically go anywhere. This pattern is available in tiles of various sizes, including 2 feet by 3 feet, 2 feet by 9 feet, and 2 feet by 12 feet. From $24 at Spoonflower Buy Wallshoppe Malibu Removable Wallpaper Blue on White $58 $58 Temporary wallpaper is also an ideal way to decorate spaces for little ones, whose tastes are known to evolve as quickly as their shoe size. This beach-themed print would be particularly adorable in a kids room or nursery; it comes recommended by Anna Tatsioni, an interior-design director at Decorilla, who says Wallshoppe is a great choice if you are looking for variety in colors and patterns, and it offers more uncommon options. This wallpaper is sold by the panel; each measures 27 inches by 54 inches. $58 at Wallshoppe Buy Drop It Modern Femme Removable Wallpaper $180 $180 Wood turns to Drop It Modern for its unique, abstract shapes, which she says are really forward-thinking on trends. This paper, with its nod to Picasso line drawings, is a great background for Instagram shots. As for installing it, Wood explains that with careful application, you can mimic a much more expensive professional installation. You want to line up your pattern even if you might have to waste a foot or two to make it look more seamless and professional, she says, noting that using a squeegee to smooth out bubbles under the paper is never a bad idea. Each roll measures 25 inches wide by 120 inches long. $180 at West Elm Buy $127 at Drop It Modern Buy Best removable wallpaper with geometric prints Chasing Paper Starburst Tile From $40 Like Carrollo, Richani considers Chasing Paper an excellent choice for removable wallpaper especially if the style Im looking for is more geometric, modern, and minimal, like this starburst pattern that she says mimics a tiled wall. Lining up a print is even more important with a geometric style, and Richani advises that you always use a level to guarantee it is going to be installed perpendicular to the floor. This pattern is sold in tiles that range in size, starting from 2 feet by 4 feet and going up to 2 feet by 12 feet. From $40 at Chasing Paper Buy Mitchell Black Removable Wallpaper Kazi in Olive Green - Forbes & Masters From $84 From $84 Interior designer Leah Alexander says that her favorite removable wallpaper is this Kazi pattern in olive green that Atlanta-based studio Forbes & Masters did for wallpaper company Mitchell Black. I love the luxe color of this wallpaper and its versatility, she says, noting that the entire Forbes & Masters collection is a good place to find unique colorways and patterns. The peel-and-stick wallpaper is sold in 2-foot-wide rolls that come in lengths of 10 or 18 feet. From $84 at Mitchell Black Buy Mercer41 Rodas Shatter Geometric Peel and Stick Wallpaper Roll From $50 From $50 Tatsioni calls this gold paper a great option for creating visual interest and covering your walls imperfections. The wallpaper is vinyl, a weightier material that she says is sturdier than others. The heavier the paper, the higher the quality, Tatsioni explains. Quality goes beyond the print to whats happening on the back of the paper. Each roll is 20.5 inches wide and 16.5 feet long. From $50 at Wayfair Buy RoomMates Mid-Century Beads Green and White Peel and Stick Wallpaper $40 $42 now 5% off $40 Shaffer calls this retro wallpaper insanely stylish, with felted negative space and organic geometry. He loves that it incorporates different colors, including the subtleties of taupe on white and the moody blend of forest green and off-white, all of which give it an energetic look. Shaffer says it would make a nice Zoom background in an office space or in any type of space where there is already energy and activity, like a kitchen, playroom, or game room. Because of its bold pattern, adorning one wall with it is more than enough to give an entire room a style boost, according to him. Each roll is 18 inches wide by 18.86 feet long. $40 at Amazon Buy $40 at Amazon Buy Tempaper Grasscloth Fans Removable Wallpaper $125 $125 Griffin, like Wood, is also a fan of the removable wallpaper options from Tempaper, a company she calls a pioneer in the industry. It still sets the style standard for design pros, she tells us. One of her favorite patterns is this geometric, tribal-inspired one that she says looks flat-out hand-stenciled. As for where shed use it: Id put this in a room to add warmth, comfort, and chic a perfect backdrop for bold textures and a statement sisal rug. It comes in a double roll that measures 27 inches by 9 yards. $125 at Tempaper Buy Best textural removable wallpaper Devine Color Textured Brick Peel & Stick Wallpaper $34 $34 Removable wallpaper can also give a space more texture or the illusion of it, as is the case of this style that Wood recommends. Its trompe loeil pattern provides the same effect as actual exposed brick, but requires far less time-consuming installation. Each roll measures 20 inches wide by 198 inches long. $34 at Target Buy Sure Strip Sisal Cl1029 Removable Wallpaper (2 Rolls) $168 $168 For those who want to achieve the look of fabric walls, Griffin recommends this sisal pattern from Decorators Best. She calls it a great denim-blue grasscloth wallpaper that has chic summertime vibes. Its sold in what the manufacturer calls a double roll that combines two single rolls in one continuous length that measures 36 inches wide by 24 feet long. $168 at Decorators Best Buy patternsColoray Neutral Light Green Terrazzo Wallpaper From $37 $41 now 10% off From $37 A pastel take on terrazzo, this paper from patternsColoray is another favorite of Carrollos. This is a nice way to incorporate terrazzo into your space without committing to something permanent, like a countertop, she says. This style comes in a range of sizes and starts at 23.5 inches wide by 48 inches long. From $37 at Etsy Buy Cuckoo Walls Atrament Dots Removable Wallpaper From $37 $41 now 10% off From $37 For an unexpected dose of texture, consider this watercolor-patterned removable wallpaper that Carrollo also recommends. She describes it as a slightly lower-key polka-dot that, well, looks almost as if it were painted on. Blue is an easy way to put a fairly neutral color in your space, she adds. She also likes that this, and all of Cuckoo Walls wallpapers, come in strips rather than squares. Getting a design to line up is crucial when it comes to making the paper to look consistent and elevated, she says, adding that the strips make it particularly easy. This style also comes in a range of sizes, starting with strips that are 23.5 inches wide by 48 inches long. From $37 at Etsy Buy Best removable wall murals Blik NCC Blues Wall Panels $149 $149 Wood is also a fan of using peel-and-stick murals or decals for unique-looking walls. Theyre easier to put up and create a fun and quirky statement, she says. In fact, Modsys first office was decorated primarily with removable wall decals from L.A.-based Blik, including a wall with this abstract design. $149 at Blik Buy get the strategist newsletter Actually good deals, smart shopping advice, and exclusive discounts. Email This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Terms & Privacy Notice By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us. The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change. Every editorial product is independently selected. If you buy something through our links, New York may earn an affiliate commission. / -- AntWorks, a global artificial intelligence and intelligent automation company, announced a partnership with LiveChat, a company that offers premium customer service software used by businesses to communicate with customers browsing their website. The primary beneficiaries of this partnership will be the joint customers of AntWorks and LiveChat who will be able to improve customer service as well as the quality of online conversations. With this partnership, both LiveChat and AntWorks have proven they are focused on innovation in the rapidly changing and dynamic technology business. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/766766/AntWorks_Logo.jpg ) (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/775391/LiveChat_Logo.jpg )The solution leverages LiveChat's product which supports or replaces traditional sales methods within a company. LiveChat helps to quickly and intuitively reach customers visiting the company's website or online store. In addition, LiveChat helps businesses create customer delight through immediate online support that guides customers seamlessly through their purchase journey. AntWorks is known for redefining automation landscape by addressing data challenges with its unique platform, ANTstein. The first - and only - intelligent, integrated, end-to-end automation platform that does not use OCR, ANTstein is built using the principles of fractal, not neural, networks. Additionally, AntWorks offers integrated Cognitive Machine Reading, Robotic Process Automation and Machine Learning coupled with Natural Language Understanding, which sets it apart from other current RPA players. "With ANTstein, we have built a powerful platform to tackle one of the biggest challenges for the industry - unstructured data," says Asheesh Mehra, Co-founder and CEO of AntWorks, adding, "With the LiveChat partnership, we will enable businesses simplify the online experience for their end customers. Our ANTstein platform can be leveraged to provide natural language understanding and machine learning capabilities, as well as the ability to transport the processed data into any system using our robotic process automation tool. In turn, LiveChat's communication tools, resources, and expertise will enhance Antworks' automation and artificial intelligence capabilities. We look forward to developing more such integrated solutions for our joint customers." LiveChat LiveChat Software S.A. is a global IT company operating in SaaS (Software as a Service) model. LiveChat continues to dominate the market with 25,000+ customers in over 150 countries. AntWorks AntWorks' path-breaking AI and RPA technologies helps enterprises with effective automation to enhance productivity, go to market faster, enhance customer delight while reducing costs. AntWorks has successfully implemented its solutions across North America, Europe and Asia. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Get ready for some laugh riots as Australia's largest comedy festival is coming to India next month as part of a mega event that will take it to five cities, including Delhi. The Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow is returning to India as part of Australia Fest, a six-month long celebration of Australian culture and creativity that kicked off recently. The comedy festival will be heading for a five-city tour this November, hitting Mumbai, Pune, Kolkata and Delhi before a season at the Bengaluru Comedy Festival, the Australian High Commission said Monday. Australia's High Commissioner to India Harinder Sidhu said, "Audiences in Australia have been enjoying the fun and frivolity of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival for a long time now." "We are thrilled to bring four of the funniest Australian comedians to India to showcase everything from stand-up and sketch to satire as part of Australia Fest," she said. It featuring a diverse and dynamic line-up of performers the ideal Aussie comedian Daniel Connell, the relatable and hilarious Mel Buttle, a stand-up comedian with a surreal take on the everyday Guy Montgomery, and an observational and often-absurd comedian Aaron Chen, the embassy said in a statement. "The Melbourne International Comedy Festival is delighted to be a part of Australia Fest returning to India with the roadshow for the fifth year. It's a true cultural exchange with some of the world's funniest from our festival sharing the stage with our Indian comedy collaborators," it said. It will be a huge night of laughs, celebrating India and Australia's shared sense of humour," said Susan Provan, Festival Director, Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Aaron Chen, one of the comedians, said, "I'm incredibly excited to perform in India and also just to be in India for the first time. I don't know what to expect from this beautiful country except open arms and warm naans (I hope to have at least one)." Another comedian Guy Montgomery said, "Every year at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival I'm blown away by the quality of the comedians who come over from India. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bangladesh's Election Commission (EC) Monday formally scrapped the registration of Jamaat-e-Islami, a crucial ally of jailed former prime minister Khaleda Zia's Opposition BNP, five years after the Supreme Court disqualified the fundamentalist party from polls. "The commission today scrapped the registration of the party on receipt of the full copy of the verdict of the Supreme Court's Appellate Division," an election commission spokesman said. He said the EC has issued a notification cancelling the Jamaat's registration as a political party. A high court bench in 2013 declared Jamaat's registration with the EC illegal on a writ petition filed by several Islamic groups, saying the party's ideology was contrary to Bangladesh's Constitution. The Supreme Court upheld the high court judgment when Jamaat challenged the verdict in the apex court. The hardline Islamist party, however, is now in a dilapidated state with most of its senior leaders executed in the past five years after being convicted by special tribunals on 1971 war crimes charges. Jamaat was opposed to Bangladesh's 1971 independence from West Pakistan and its leaders and workers sided with Pakistani troops in carrying out atrocities and genocide in then East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). Bangladesh's post-independence government banned Jamaat but the subsequent regimes withdrew the ban allowing the party to re-emerge in The party became a crucial partner of Zia's BNP-led four-party alliance government in 2001 and its chief Moti-ur-Rahman Nizami and secretary general Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujaheed became ministers. The incumbent Awami League government assuming power after its victory in the 2008 elections and initiated a process to bring to justice the Bengali perpetrators of the 1971 war crimes. Both Nizami and Mujaheed were sentenced to death along with several other party stalwarts by special courts. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bangladesh's ruling Awami League in a dramatic move on Monday agreed for unconditional talks with the newly-formed opposition National Unity Front (NUF) which includes the BNP of jailed prime minister Khaleda Zia over the upcoming general elections. Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said that the NUF proposal came without any "precondition" and the party responded to the call as "the door of dialogue is open for all". The NUF (Jatiy Oikya Front), led by Kamal Hossain, emerged earlier this month as a platform comprising BNP and several political groups and civil society figures and floated an 11-point demand that includes ensuring checks and balances in the state power, decentralisation of administration and abolition of a constitutional provision prohibiting them from voting against the party decision. "We agree to the Unity Front proposal, the Road Transport Minister said at a press conference, a day after receiving the NUF's letter seeking the dialogue. Quader did not set any possible date for the dialogue but hinted that the talks could take place ahead of the polls, expected to be announced by the election commission in next few weeks. In his letter to Hasina, Hossain, a former leader of the Awami League, wrote: "In order to take part in a participatory election in a peaceful and cordial atmosphere, the Jatiya Oikya Front feels the need for a meaningful dialogue with Bangladesh Awami League and we are expecting an effective initiative. Highlighting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's keenness on participatory elections", Quader said: PM Hasina has not shut the door to talks to anyone, nor does it remain shut. Quader did not announce any date for the potential talks. Another report quoting Awami League sources suggested that Prime Minister Hasina herself could lead the ruling party side in the dialogue with Hossain. The BNP that boycotted the tenth parliamentary election, has been calling for talks since the 2014 polls. But the Awami League said it saw no need for the discussion. Hasina earlier criticised Hossain for joining hands with killers and criminals in an oblique reference to BNP chief and ex-premier Zia and her fugitive elder son and party's acting chairman Tarique Rahman. Political analysts said the NUF so far could not take any political shape as it accommodated groups and individuals having contradictory views and ideologies with Hossain being its convenor, a former senior Awam League leader who voluntarily quit the party in early 1990s and subsequently floated his Gano Forum as a socio-political group. Despite being the main opposition, BNP, apparently exposed to a political wilderness, remained just an ordinary partner of the alliance with its chairperson Zia is serving prison term on graft charges and its acting chief Rahman staying in London to evade justice. Rahman was sentenced to life imprisonment last month for masterminding a deadly grenade attack on an Awami League rally in 2004 when 24 people were killed and Hasina escaped the assault sustaining wounds. Hossain, who led a parliamentary group in framing the post independent Bangladesh's Constitution, in his proposal had asked Hasina to take steps towards dialogue referring to Bangladesh's founder and the premier's father Bangabandhu's ideology and values. Bangabandhu taught us how healthy unite a nation and turn it into a force to realise people's legitimate rights...(but) how the unhealthy has (now) split the nation and plunged it into a great crisis is known to all of us, the letter read. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bangladesh's Supreme Court cleared the way for a lower court to deliver its verdict on Monday in a graft case against imprisoned ex-prime minister and main opposition BNP chief Khaleda Zia, rejecting her plea to halt the proceedings. The apex court rejected a leave-to-appeal petition filed by Zia challenging the High Court judgement that allowed a lower court to continue trial in the graft case in her absence. "The Appellate Division (of the Supreme Court) with Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain cleared the way for the court concerned to go on with the trial proceedings," a spokesman for Attorney General's office said. "The court concerned is to pronounce its verdict today," he said. The court on September 20 decided to continue the trial inside the old Dhaka central jail in Zia's absence. The 73-year-old former premier on September 27 filed a revision petition with the High Court (HC) challenging the court's September 20 order. On October 14, the HC rejected the revision petition of Zia and cleared the way for the trial court to continue with its proceedings. Zia, who is serving a jail term after being convicted in another case related embezzlement of funds of an orphanage named after her husband president Ziaur Rahman in February, has recently filed the leave-to-appeal petition with the SC challenging the HC order. Zia had skipped appearances in the case citing illness. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) lodged the Zia Charitable Trust graft case against Zia and three others with Tejgaon Police Station in August 2011. According to the case, the former prime minister and three others abused their power and raised funds for the trust from unknown sources. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress president said Monday it is nice to see Governor "finally defending" the central bank from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and noted that the country will never allow the BJP-RSS combine to "capture" institutions. He said it was not too late for the governor to stand in defence of the Reserve Bank of India, after reports said there was a rift between Patel And 'Team Modi'. "Nice that Mr Patel is finally defending the from 'Mr 56'. Better late then never (sic). India will never allow the BJP/ RSS to capture our institutions," Gandhi said on Twitter. Former finance minister and Congress leader P Chidambaram said there must have been some grave reason why RBI Deputy Governor pitched for "effective independence" of the bank and, in the footnote, said he is grateful to Patel for encouraging him to explore the subject. "So I think the matter is serious enough and it'll be best if the RBI and the government don't talk across each other through lectures, we've had two already," he said. Chidambaram said it would be better if the time-honoured practice of the finance minister and the governor of the RBI meet in private and discuss issues. "We have done that in the past and it has worked well, why are people delivering lectures across each other I don't know," he said when asked about the controversy. As per reports, the long-simmering discord between the central bank and the government is turning into a very public brawl. Acharya in a hard-hitting speech Friday on central bank's independence startled his audience by invoking Argentina of 2010. Acharya had said governments that do not respect central bank's independence would sooner or later incur the "wrath of financial markets, ignite economic fire and come to rue the day they undermined an important regulatory institution". Amid instances of apparent differences between the government and the RBI, Acharya emphasised that undermining a central bank's independence is akin to committing a "self goal" for any government. Delivering the A D Shroff Memorial Lecture, he said, "What matters is the effective independence with which these powers (vested in the Acts governing the RBI or any central bank) can be exercised in practice. The governing body of Bharati College has sent its recommendations to the Delhi University (DU) administration on the action to be taken against a professor found guilty of sexual harassment, an official said on Monday. The report of the college's Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) had found the professor guilty of sexually harassing a student and had recommended compulsory retirement for him, sources said. The professor had presented himself before the governing body earlier this month and was also issued a show cause notice to which he replied last week. On Monday, the body studied his reply and after finalising their decision about the action to be taken, the report was sent to the varsity authorities for approval, the official said. Meanwhile, Bharati College principal Mukti Sanyal refused to comment on the issue. In February this year, a student had complained to the Delhi University authorities that the professor had sent lewd messages to her and had also submitted a video in which she was seen confronting the professor. Following the allegations, the teacher was sent on leave. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The BJP in Maharashtra once again reached out to its estranged alliance partner Shiv Sena for forging an alliance for the Lok Sabha elections in 2019 "to prevent division of votes". BJP state unit president Raosaheb Danve said in Nagpur that the alliance with Sena could happen on a formula that had been agreed upon by BJP leader Pramod Mahajan and Sena patriarch Bal Thackeray (both deceased now) (in 1990). However, he clarified that the number of seats to be contested by each parties would be decided through deliberations. Responding to a query of reporters on whether BJP will fight the upcoming polls in alliance with the Sena, Danve said, "It is our wish to contest the polls jointly with Sena because that party is our old ally of many years. We also want to prevent division of votes". He said the BJP and Sena had fought all elections together with an exception of 2014 state assembly elections. When asked if the BJP is keen to contest with its allies because it is not sure of victory in 2019, Danve referred to the first NDA (National Democratic Alliance) alliance government that had came to power under Atal Bihari Vajpayee. "From the time of Vajpayee (now deceased),the BJP has the ability to form government with the alliance partners. Vajpayee had run the NDA government comprising 23 alliance partners," he said. "We feel that all alliance partners should stay together and contest elections jointly," he said, adding that the BJP is strong and not helpless. "However, it is our wish to contest the elections with alliance partners," said Danve. Citing an internal survey conducted by his party, Danve said the BJP would win 200 seats in the 288-member Maharashtra assembly and emerge as the largest party in the state in elections due in October next year. In 2014 assembly polls, the BJP had won 122 seats and the Sena 62. In the Lok Sabha polls held that year, the BJP bagged the highest 23 seats and Sena (18) of the total 48 seats. Among remaining seats, the Congress won 2 and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) 4, while one seat went to Swabhimani Paksha of Raju Shetty. When asked if construction of Ram Mandir would be the BJP's agenda for upcoming elections, he said party would contest on the plank of development, but at the same time would not drop the issue of the temple. Recently, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar have expressed hope the Sena will tie up with the BJP for the 2019 assembly and Lok Sabha elections. BJP president Amit Shah had met Thackeray at the latter's residence in Mumbai in June this year, apparently to placate the recalcitrant ally. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The OECD Observer online archive takes you on a journey through half a century of public policy and world progress. Since November 1962, the OECDs experts and leading guests offer insights on the questions facing our member countries with concise and authoritative analysis, and provide our audiences with an excellent opportunity to understand policy debates and consider solutions. Each edition of the OECD Observer reports on a core theme of the OECDs on-going work, from economics and society through governance, finance, and the environment, and articles are bolstered by tables and graphs. State-run Corporation Limited (BPCL) Monday posted a 48.3 per cent decline in its net profit to Rs 12.1871 billion for the second quarter ended September 2018. The company had earned a net profit of Rs 23.5740 billion in the same quarter a year ago. During the quarter, its revenues from operations rose to Rs 828.84.82 billion as compared to Rs 64,133.01 in the July-September period of 2017. Total expenses of the refiner also increased to Rs 815.5012 billion as against Rs 614.75.13 billion in the second quarter of the previous fiscal. The average gross refining margin (GRM) for the quarter ended September 2018 was $5.57 USD per barrel as compared to $7.97 per barrel a year ago. "The corporation has accounted compensation towards sharing of under-recoveries on sale of sensitive petroleum products of Rs 4.9678 billion by way of subsidy for the current period (Rs 3.1990 billion April-September 2017) as revenue from operations and nil under-recovery has been absorbed by the Corporation on this account during the reported periods," it said. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) Monday said Hindus cannot wait eternally for a court judgement on the Ayodhya land dispute case and asked the Narendra Modi government to bring a law for building a Ram temple. The VHP said it will reach out to MPs of all parties, irrespective of political differences, and urge them to enact a law in Parliament to construct the temple. A three-judge Supreme Court bench, headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Monday said an "appropriate bench" will decide in January the future course of hearing on the appeals filed against the Allahabad High Court verdict in the Ayodhya land dispute case. VHP working president Alok Kumar, speaking soon after the apex court moved the hearing, urged the government to bring a legislation in the Winter Session of Parliament. "The apex court has once again adjourned the hearing. This fortifies VHP's stand that the solution to the Ram Janambhoomi issue is not in eternally waiting for hearing of appeals pending for over seven years. We reiterate our request to the Union government to enact a law to clear the way for building a grand temple of Lord Ram at his birthplace in Ayodhya," Kumar told PTI in Delhi. The head of the RSS affiliate said the Hindutva organisation will intensify its campaign for such a legislation if the government does not act. The organisation has called a two-day 'Dharam Sansad', a meeting of seers, on January 31 and February 1 next year to discuss the Ram temple issue. This will be held on the sidelines of the Kumbh Mela in Allahabad. VHP joint general secretary Surendra Jain told PTI over phone in Kolkata that the programme to reach out to MPs of various parties will begin from November after Diwali. "We will reach out to all MPs of all political parties and urge them to support us on the issue of Ram Mandir. We will request them to support us and work towards enacting a law in Parliament irrespective of political differences," he said. "Those who will support our cause, we will ask them to request their party leadership to support us. And the people would get to know those who won't support our cause," Jain said. VHP West Bengal unit president Sachindranath Singha said the organisation would launch a mass awareness campaign on the issue and reach out to the people in the state. "We will meet MPs of TMC, BJP, Congress and Left in Bengal and request them to support our cause. We hope they will support us. We will also organise dharma sabhas in each district of the state to create a mass opinion on this issue," Singha added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) CBI's Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Devender Kumar, arrested in connection with bribery allegations involving the agency's Special Director Rakesh Asthana, moved a bail application before a court on Monday. Special Judge Santosh Snehi Mann fixed the matter for hearing on Tuesday, when Kumar will be produced before the court on the expiry of his seven-day custody granted by the court earlier. In his bail application, moved by advocate Rahul Tyagi, Kumar termed his custody "illegal" and urged the court to set him free. The application also said Kumar was ready to abide by the conditions imposed by the court while granting him bail. It claimed that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) sleuths did not have valid search warrants when they raided Kumar's office and residence. His eight mobile phones, an iPad and his son's laptop were seized, the plea said, seeking a direction to the agency to release these articles. Kumar and Asthana have already challenged the legality of the FIR filed against them. Besides them, two alleged middlemen -- Manoj Prasad and Somesh Prasad -- have also been named as accused in the case. The agency had earlier told the court that Kumar had tried to fabricate evidence during the investigation in another case. Kumar had claimed that he was falsely implicated in the case and that he was a victim of rivalry among the senior officers of the central probe agency. He had said he was investigating a case against meat exporter Moin Qureshi, in which the complainant in the present case -- Satish Babu Sana -- was a suspect and the names of some past and present senior officers had surfaced. Kumar had claimed that his arrest in the present case was motivated to stall the investigation in the case against Qureshi and that there was no direct allegation against him. If convicted, the accused may get a maximum 10-year jail term in the case. The FIR in the current case was lodged on the basis of a written complaint from Sana on October 15, wherein it was alleged that Kumar, being the IO in the case against Qureshi, was repeatedly calling the complainant to the CBI office to harass him and compel him to pay a bribe of Rs 5 crore for getting a clean chit in the case. The complaint had also said a part of the bribe was paid by Sana. The Supreme Court on Monday disposed of a contempt plea against the CBSE after it submitted that it was ready to provide copy of answer sheets at Rs 2 per page to the students under the Right To Information (RTI) Act. A bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph accepted the submissions of senior advocate Maninder Singh, appearing for the Central Board for Secondary (CBSE), that the apex court order was being followed. It disposed of the contempt petition that claimed that exorbitant fees was being charged by the CBSE from students in violation of the court's order for accessing the answer sheets under the RTI. The CBSE, in its response to the contempt plea, said that it would provide answer sheets at Rs 2 per page to students as per the order of the Supreme Court. The contempt petition was filed by Whistle for Public Interest (WHIP), an organisation of young lawyers that claims to be working for promoting transparency and accountability in the affairs of public authorities in India. It was alleged that CBSE has been charging as much Rs 1,000 for Class X students and Rs 1,200 for Class XII students who sought copies of their answer sheets and revaluation of the same under the transparency law. The contempt plea has alleged that the CBSE has wilfully and deliberately disobeyed the directions of the apex court, which had in 2016 said that the board should 'scrupulously' follow its 2011 verdict holding that the students have the fundamental and legal right to access their evaluated answer-sheets under the Right to Information Act. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Editor-in-Chief and CEO of a channel in Uttarakhand was arrested from his Ghaziabad residence on Sunday for allegedly putting pressure on one of his employees to do a sting operation on prominent politicians including the state chief minister with an intent to blackmail them, police said. Samachar Plus CEO Umesh Kumar Sharma was arrested from his Ghaziabad residence after raids were conducted at his office in Noida and residence in Ghaziabad, ADG (law and order) Ashok Kumar said. Samachar Plus channel, which has operations in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, was in the in 2016 when it did a sting operation of the then Chief Minister Harish Rawat purportedly showing him negotiating a deal to bribe disgruntled MLAs and buy their support ahead of a floor test in the state assembly. Sharma was arrested following a complaint lodged against himby a journalist of the channel Ayush Gaud accusing him of threatening to eliminate him after he failed to do a sting operation on prominent politicians and senior bureaucrats of the state for which he was being pressured, he said. The FIR on the basis of which Sharma was arrested accuses him and four others of doing sting operations on senior politicians and bureaucrats with the purpose of blackmailing them and extorting money from them. A case has been registered against Sharma under sections 386 (extortion by putting a person in fear of death or grievous hurt) , 388 (extortion by threat of accusation of an offence)and 120 b (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC, Kumar said. Rs 39.73 lakh in cash, USD 16,279, 11,030 Thai Baht besides a number of mobile phones, hard disc, pen drives, memory cards, i-Pad, laptop and camera have been seized from Sharma's office and residence, the ADG said. Assistant Superintendent of Police (circle officer Indirapuram) Ravi Kumar said Uttarakhand Police had sought assistance from local police and conducted raids. Sharma has been brought to Dehradun and is being interrogated, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) / -- Enrolled through SPEC admission stream CGI has partnered with the International Institute of Information Technology Hyderabad (IIIT-H) to provide scholarships for students underrepresented within the IT industry, including women and underprivileged individuals from rural areas. The scholarships will support those who are pursuing undergraduate and post-graduate education in technology, engineering and related subject areas. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/600789/IIIT_Hyderabad_Logo.jpg ) Through a Special Channel of Admission (SPEC) initiated last year, IIIT-H encourages women and students from rural areas to join its programmes. IIIT-H admitted a total of 15 applicants from the Rajiv Gandhi University of Knowledge Technologies, a college run by the government to serve rural underprivileged students, and UDAAN, a project to address the low enrolment of female students in prestigious engineering institutions. Through this partnership, these students will receive scholarships to fully fund a four-year bachelor of technology programme. In addition to the scholarships, knowledge-sharing seminars and career-mentoring sessions will be conducted by CGI as part of its efforts to promote career opportunities in the IT industry among youth. "As one of the leaders in the IT industry, one of CGI's priorities is to give back to the communities in which we live and work," said George Mattackal, President of CGI's Asia Pacific Global Delivery Centers of Excellence. "Through partnering with premier educational institutions, we want to empower youth to become future technology leaders and innovators, while supporting efforts to bridge the skill gap in the technology industry." Commenting on CGI's grant and the SPEC admissions channel, Professor P J Narayanan, Director, IIIT-H said, "We've always been an inclusive institute and are happy to see more women and rural students interested in technology and keen to join our institute. CGI's generous contribution will allow them to follow their passion and make significant contributions in various areas of research." In India, CGI has around 14,000 professionals across eight offices in five cities, including Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Pune. For the past two decades, CGI's experts in India have provided global delivery support to 200+ clients across the globe, ensuring close collaboration, accountability, flexibility, superior service and, most importantly, expected business results. About IIIT-Hyderabad: The International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad (IIIT-H) is an autonomous research university founded in 1998 that focuses on the core areas of Information Technology, such as Computer Science, Electronics and Communications, and their applications in other domains through inter-disciplinary research with great social impact. Some of its research domains include Visual Information Technologies, Human Language Technologies, Data Engineering, VLSI and Embedded Systems, Computer Architecture, Wireless Communications, Algorithms and Information Security, Robotics, Building Science, Earthquake Engineering, Computational Natural Sciences and Bioinformatics, IT in Agriculture and e-Governance. Website: www.iiit.ac.in About CGI: Founded in 1976, CGI is among the largest independent IT and business consulting services firm in the world. With 74,000 professionals across the globe, CGI delivers an end-to-end portfolio of capabilities, from IT and business consulting to systems integration, outsourcing services and intellectual property solutions. CGI works with clients through a local relationship model complemented by a global delivery network that helps clients digitally transform their organizations and accelerate results. With annual revenue of C$10.8 billion, CGI shares are listed on the TSX (GIB.A) and the NYSE (GIB). Learn more at cgi.com. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The chorus for bringing a law to build a Ram temple in Ayodhya grew louder on Monday following the Supreme Court's decision to defer hearing on Ram Janmabhoomi land dispute case to January. While RSS spokesperson Arun Kumar said the court should deliver an early verdict and the government should make a law to remove hurdles in the way of giving land for a temple if required, the Sangh's affiliate VHP was more blunt, saying Hindus cannot wait eternally for judicial verdict as it pushed for a legislation. The ruling BJP, which has been looking at the issue as a potential rallying point for its voters during the Lok Sabha polls, maintained silence, but its leaders like Union minister Giriraj Singh and former minister Sanjeev Baliyan said they were for an early construction of the temple at the site where the Hindu God was believed to be born. Speaking in Mumbai hours after the court's decision, Kumar said the RSS believes a grand Ram temple should be constructed soon by allotting the land at the disputed site for this purpose. "With this in view, the Supreme Court should make an early decision and if there are any difficulties, the government should make a law to remove all hurdles in the way of giving land for temple at the Ram Janmabhoomi site," he said. With the construction of the temple, an atmosphere of unity and harmony will be created, he said, in a repeat of sentiments expressed by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat recently. Bhagwat in his Dussehra address at Nagpur had first given a call for bringing a law to build a temple, and the demand has since then intensified with other RSS affiliates and BJP leaders echoing his view. VHP's working president Alok Kumar said the apex court's decision to adjourn the hearing on the case has "fortified" the organisation's stand that the solution to the Ram Janambhoomi issue is not in eternally waiting for hearing of appeals pending for over seven years. "We reiterate our request to the Union government to enact a law to clear the way for building a grand temple of Lord Ram at his birthplace in Ayodhya," Alok Kumar said. This may be done in the coming winter session of Parliament, the head of the RSS affiliate said, adding that the Hindutva organisation will intensify its campaign for such a legislation if the government does not act. The organisation has called a two-day 'Dharam Sansad', a meeting of seers, on January 31 and February 1 next year to discuss the Ram temple issue. BJP president Amit Shah is also expected to attend the meeting, which will come less than three months before the start of the Lok Sabha polls. The saffron party has so far not taken a clear stand on the demand for a law but its leaders have pointed out that this is one of the legitimate measures to end the dispute which has been going on in courts for many decades. Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters that the government has full faith in the court but added that a lot of people in the country want that the hearing on the issue should be completed soon. BJP's bickering estranged ally Shiv Sena also stressed that the Ram temple is an issue of faith and demanded that the government come out with an Ordinance soon. BJP leader Vinay Katiyar alleged that the issue was being delayed "under pressure" from the Congress, which has denied the charge, while Giriraj Singh said Hindus are running out of patience. A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, has said earlier in the day that an appropriate bench will decide the future course of hearing in January next year on the Ayodhya land dispute case. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Monday inaugurated the administrative building of Purnea University at a function at Purnea. Purnea university is among the three new universities created by the state government. Patliputra university in Patna and Munger university are the other two. Kumar also inaugurated the university's basket ball court, synthetic court, seminar hall, badminton hall at a function held at Purnea College campus from where Patna University is currently functioning. Besides, he also inaugurated the work for carrying out boundary wall and beautification of the university premises, an official release said. Kumar handed over a letter for transfer of 37.24 acres of land for building Purnea University's own campus to its Vice Chancellor Prof Rajesh Singh. Addressing the function, Kumar said that "I am very happy to be here in the inaugural function. Out of the three universities that the state government created at Purnea, Munger and Patliputra, two universities have been inaugurated. I would like that our Department Principal Secretary R K Mahajan should also fix a date for inauguration of Munger University." Stating that Purnea University should become an ideal university, the CM said that the state government would provide all possible assistance and funds to the university for the purpose. "37 acres of land have been transferred to Purnea University. The government would provide land to the University if it required in future...I would like to see the university should move to its own campus at the earliest," he said. Purnea has been a medical centre, he said adding that the tender process has been completed for setting up a medical college in Purnea. The state needs teachers in large numbers which are dwindling because of their retirements, Kumar said adding that the process for recruitment of 3350 teaching posts is currently underway while the 1424 recommendations have been received for appointment so far. On the issue of providing electricity to all, he said that energy department would provide electricity connection to every household by October 31 against the scheduled target of December 31, 2018. Prominent among those who were present on the occasion included Minister Krishnandan Prasad Verma. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) : DMK chief M K Stalin Monday attacked the ruling AIADMK, saying Chief Minister K Palaniswami was leading a government of 'Corruption, Commission and Collection' and was scared of facing the public in the local body polls and bypolls. Speaking at a wedding function at Thirukkadaiyur in the district, he said the government was facing the wrath of the people on all fronts and was scared of facing them. "Despite the Madras High Court's directions to hold local body polls in the state, the State Election Commission is delaying the process. When bypolldates to Thiruvarur and Thirparankundam assembly constituencies were to be announced, the Chief Secretary wrote to the Election Commission of India,requesting for postponement, citing the coming monsoon as the reason." All these actions clearly showed that the government was afraid of facing the people through the democratic electoral process, he said. Stalin also referred to corruption charges against the Chief Minister and a couple of ministers. "They know for sure that they have no chance of getting re-elected" and hence were indugling in corruption, he said. Stating that DMK was ready to face the polls, Stalin said that if elections were held to 20 assembly constituencies (2 vacant seats+ 18 disqualified), DMK would emerge victorious in all the seats. 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. Stalin also accused the state government of remaining subservient to the BJP government at the centre. "When I point out this fact, the Chief Minister is filing defamation suits. They have filed seven such cases against me so far," he said. Top DMK leaders and former Union Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar were among those who participated in the wedding. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Hyderabad-based businessman on whose complaint an FIR was registered against CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana moved the Supreme Court Monday seeking police protection and a stay on the notice issued by the agency summoning him for interrogation. The CBI booked Asthana on October 15 on the basis of a complaint from Satish Sana, facing probe in a 2017 case involving meat exporter Moin Qureshi, claiming the special director had allegedly helped him to get a clean chit from the probe agency. Besides seeking a stay on CBI's summons against him, Sana in his petition has expressed fear for his life and sought police protection during the pendency of the inquiry against Asthana, who along side CBI Director Alok Verma has been divested of his duties and sent on leave by the Central government. The businessman, in his plea, referred to the apex court's October 26 order on the petition of the CBI Director by which the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) was asked to conclude inquiry against Verma within two weeks under the supervision of former apex court judge Justice A K Patnaik. He said that the CBI moved "in haste" to issue notice to him under Section 160 of the CrPC (Code Of Criminal Procedure) to attend the proceedings on October 29 before the probe agency and said that the same be recorded before Justice Patnaik. "This notice dated October 26 was pasted at the door of the residence of the applicant at Hyderabad at 5:30 pm on the same day. It is submitted while the initial investigating officer was A K Bassi, DSP, CBI, the present notice has been sent by Satish Dagar, SP, CBI, the new investigating officer," he said. Sana said he gave a statement under section 161 before the CBI on a October 20 and on the same day, under section 164 statement was recorded before Metropolitan Magistrate in Saket Court and the relevant statements of the applicant are already in record. He said that he has written a letter to Justice (retired) Patnaik, who would be supervising the CVC's inquiry into the allegations against Verma, stating readiness and willingness to give statements under his supervision. "It is submitted that the applicant fears that he will be intimidated and threatened to withdraw/modify his statements already made. In case the CBI is permitted to question him without supervision, the applicant perceives imminent threat to his life and personal liberty," the plea said. He sought the court's direction that he be questioned only under the supervision of Justice Patnaik. "This will ensure that the interests of justice are met since the applicant came forward as a whistle blower trusting the officials of the CBI. "Without casting any aspersions on the present Investigating Officer, the applicant fears that the change in IO and other surrounding circumstances may put his life in danger and therefore seeks a direction to the Hyderabad SP to provide police protection to the applicant till such time as the enquiry mandated by the top court is completed," the plea said. Sana said he was willing to cooperate with the investigation by coming to Delhi as and when directed by the judge supervising the enquiry. The feud between Verma and Asthana escalated recently leading to registration of an FIR against Asthana and others including Deputy Superintendent of Police Devender Kumar, who is in the CBI custody in an alleged bribery case. The FIR was lodged on a written complaint of Sana on October 15. It alleged that Kumar, the investigating officer (IO) in a case, was repeatedly calling him to the CBI office to harass and compel him to pay bribe of Rs 5 crore for giving him clean chit. Asthana and Kumar have both challenged the FIR in the Delhi High Court. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Updates about Olive Tree Genealogy website and other FREE genealogy records. Bringing you tutorials, genealogy book and app reviews, genealogy news, genealogy specials and more. Helping you find your family tree and ancestors. Opposition Congress and BJP Monday came down heavily on the Odisha government over allegedly harassing farmers who are on their way there to stage a demonstration on November 5. The farmers are on a padayatra demanding price, prestige and pension, were stopped by the police at several places and attempted to disrupt the programme, alleged Naba Nirman Krushak Sangathan (NNKS) leader Akshya Kumar. Kumar alleged that the farmers were detained on their way at Keonjhar, Balugaon, Jatasinghpur, Jajpur and others. They will assemble in the state capital on November 5 to press for their demands, he said. Reports received here said that the police detained hundreds of activists at the Keonjhar railway station in the morning. Police also picked up NNKS convener of Cuttack district, Subash Panda. The police also detained several activists at Kuakhia in Jajpur and Balugan in Khurda district on Sunday night while they were on a padayatra. Police even seized their utensils used for cooking food, the activists alleged. It appears that the state government has clamped a state of emergency. Even during the British rule, such instances were not seen. Now action is taken against people if they say anything against the government, Kumar said. OPCC president Niranjan Patnaik said, "It is really undemocratic to stop farmers to raise their voice. They are on padayatra in peaceful manner and being stopped and harassed by police." BJP leader Pritiwiraj Harichandan asked the govenrment to refrain from taking action against the farmers who are demanding higher price for their crop and pension for elderly fearmers. Ruling BJD spkesman P K Deb said he did not have any such information regarding the farmers rally. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Seeking to strike a direct connect with the electorate, the Monday launched its manifesto website for the 2019 to invite suggestions and ideas from the general public. Launching the website, senior party leader P Chidambaram said its theme was "Jan Awaz - Your Voice" and the party would adopt an inclusive approach while putting the public responses in its manifesto. He added that though the were some distance away, the party thought the process should start early enough. Chidambaram said president Rahul Gandhi had made it clear on several occasions that the party manifesto would be prepared following an "inclusive process". "It will be based on conversations with the people of India. We will ask people, encourage people, motivate people to tell us what they expect of the party and should the form the government, what will they expect from the government," he told reporters. The broad theme under which the manifesto would be prepared was "Jan awaz - Your Voice", Chidambaram said. He said manifestos were important to make governments accountable to people, whichever party came to power, adding that every political party was obliged to tell the people what would it do if it formed government. "I do not think you should diminish the importance of manifestos and go by jumla-like promises," the former Union minister said, taking a dig at the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government. He added that a 22-member manifesto committee was formed by the Congress and Rajeev Gowda was its convenor. Chidambaram, who is the chairman of the panel, said it would be divided into 20 subject groups, each under a member, adding that the consultation process had started on October 1. He said the committee members had travelled to different parts of the country and held both closed-door and open-house consultations. "We had a huge open-house consultation in Mumbai the day before yesterday in the famous amphitheatre of Bandra Bandstand. Over 400-500 people had gathered, one half of them Congress workers, but one half of them general public. "We expect that each of our sub-groups will hold eight to 10 consultations, which will mean that through the length and breadth of the country, we will have about 150-160 consultations. The process is expected to be completed by December," the former finance minister said, adding that there was no deadline for sending suggestions. Gowda said the process of consultation and receiving responses would end by this calendar year and after that, the panel would prepare a draft manifesto, which will finally be approved by the Congress Working Committee (CWC), the highest decision-making body of the opposition party. Chidambaram said since the Congress wanted to involve as many people as possible, "we are launching a dedicated website for manifesto ideas, manifesto consultation". He said India had an Internet user base of about 40 crore people and the use of the Internet was increasing every day, adding that the party thought it must tap into this technology to get ideas from different parts of the country. Chidambaram said people could send their suggestions and ideas in as many as 16 languages through emails to manifesto@inc.in or through a dedicated WhatsApp number -- 72920-88245. He added that the party hoped that millions of Indians would participate in the process and in addition to Congress workers, millions of individuals who were not attached to any political party would also take part. Organisations, trade unions, trade bodies, student bodies, mahila groups could also participate in the process, the Congress leader said. "We want to make this as inclusive as possible, as broad-based as possible and have as many conversations as possible," he said. Gowda said the website was dedicated to the manifesto consultation process and the larger theme was "your aspirations shape the future of India, your voice inspires change and the Indian National Congress is listening to you". Asked whether the issues of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh and farm loan waiver would be included in the party manifesto, Chidambaram said, "Suggestions will come. We will take your suggestions on board. At the moment, I have a notebook where I am writing the suggestions. I am not reading out any promises yet, that stage will come closer to the election." On whether any time-bound promise would be made by the party in the manifesto, he said it would depend on the CWC's decision. "Our job is to prepare a draft manifesto. Ultimately, it has to be approved by the CWC," Chidambaram said, adding that the structure of the document changed from one election to another. With Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik cancelling the state's tie up with Reliance General Insurance for mandatory mediclaim facilities to the government employees and pensioner, the Congress Monday sought a high-level probe into the "bungling". J&K Congress chief Gulam Ahmed Mir also demanded a probe into the alleged "political appointments" on extraneous grounds in J&K Bank and other government services during the previous PDP-BJP regime. "We demand a high level probe into each of the shady affairs including the insurance scam involving Anil Ambani's General Reliance Insurance, besides the recruitment scam in J&K Bank and other appointments in various government services during the previous regime," said Mir. Mir said the recent revelations by Governor Malik has exposed the messy affairs, which prevailed during the PDP-BJP regime. Governor Malik cancelled Thursday the state government's tie up with Reliance General Insurance for mandatory group mediclaim policy to the government employees, saying there were "some bungling" in it. The decision came after the Reliance insurance for the state government employees and pensioners had sparked a political row. After initial criticism over awarding of the contract, Reliance General Insurance had issued a statement claiming that the company won the contract after a rigorous and transparent competitive tender process in which seven insurers had participated". Demanding the probe, Mir said the revelations by the governor have "vindicated the Congress stand and substantiated the candidates' allegations in the recent past, but the PDP-BJP government and the authorities always remained in denial mode". "It is the question of dignity of the highest office in the state now and only a credible probe and strict follow up action would meet the ends of justice," he added. Mir said the congress party held a series of protests all over the state "against the misgovernance, misrule, corruption, favouritism and nepotism, in every sphere of government's activities, especially the bungling in the government jobs". "The BJP, however, till its last day in the government, kept claiming that everything was fair and all right and that the government will last its full term due to complete understanding and harmony within it," he added. Governor Malik whipped up a political storm recently by disclosing that the politicians had set aside the J&K Bank's selection list of 582 candidates for appointing their political workers. The appointments had taken place during the erstwhile PDP-BJP coalition government's rule in the northern state. The Congress chief asked people to question the BJP, which he said, was "fully responsible for the present mess on all fronts in the state". He hoped "the governor would be allowed to go ahead in the current exercise against the high profile people involved in these matters and beneficiaries of big contracts, illegally, as disclosed." He demanded that the deduction of employees for insurance scheme should be returned at the earliest. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress should apologise for party MP Shashi Tharoor's remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shivlinga, and sack him if it found the statement derogatory, BJP leader Kailash Vijaywargiya said Monday. Tharoor on Sunday claimed that an unnamed RSS source had told a journalist that Prime Minister Modi was like a scorpion sitting on a Shivlinga who cannot be removed by hand or hit with a chappal (slipper). Referring to Congress chief Rahul Gandhi's visit Monday to the Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain as part of his two-day tour of poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, the BJP leader asked if the former would "apologise to the people of the country while standing in the Mahakal temple". He also asked whether Gandhi believed what Tharoor had said was proper. "Will you apologise to the people of the country while standing in the Mahakal temple? But if you really agree with Tharoor's statement, then I don't have to say anything as in that case people of the nation will come to know that you are sporting a tilak on forehead and janeu (sacred thread) to fool them," Vijaywargiya said. "Otherwise you (Gandhi) have to throw him (Tharoor) out of the party and apologise to the nation," he said. The BJP national general secretary claimed that Tharoor by his remarks had shown his "level". He also lashed out at the Congress over its senior leader and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Digvijay Singh "staying away" during Gandhi's visit. While Singh tweeted that he was not present during Gandhi's visit to Indore earlier in the day as he had been assigned an important work by the Congress president, Vijaywargiya claimed that Singh had been "prevented" from attending. "He is worried and as a face saving measure, Singh is tweeting to inform that he is very busy. But, I feel that he was prevented from coming to the state," he said. Earlier a video, apparently shot on October 13, showed Singh telling party workers that the votes of the Congress reduced when he campaigned for the party. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Delhi court has released Aam Aadmi Party MLA Prakash Jarwal, held guilty of intimidating a woman in Sangam Vihar area last year, on probation for one year. The court directed Jarwal to pay Rs 1 lakh as the cost of court proceedings and asked him to ensure that he is not involved in any offence during the period, saying that any registration of FIR against him may make him liable for cancellation of probation. Jarwal will receive the sentence as may be given by the court if the benefit of probation is withdrawn, the court said on October 27. "Considering primarily that the complainant had not suffered any physical injury in this case and in order to give an opportunity to the convict to reform himself, I am not inclined to award a sentence forthwith and deem it fit to release the convict on probation of good conduct for period of one year...," said Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal. He however set certain conditions. "The convict shall deposit Rs one lakh in the court as the cost of proceedings in the court... The convict shall not involve himself in any offence and any registration of FIR against him may make him liable for cancellation of probation and he shall receive the sentence as may be given by the court if the benefit of probation is withdrawn," Vishal said. The court further directed Jarwal to maintain peace and harmony and to refrain from any criminal activity. While allowing Jarwal's plea to release him on probation of good conduct, the court considered that Jarwal was not a previous convict and was of 30 years of age. During the proceedings, Jarwal told the court that "being in political life, he has to serve the society and therefore leniency may be shown to him in punishment". He also told the court that he got married last year and has a family to support and the offence for which he was convicted was not very serious in nature and that the complainant had not received any injury. The public prosecutor appearing for the police told the court that the Jarwal was a habitual offender and he should be awarded maximum punishment without any leniency. The maximum punishment for the offences he was held guilty of, was two-year-jail term. Jarwal was convicted in 2017 case for the offence punishable under 352 (assault or criminal force otherwise than on grave provocation) and 506(1)(criminal intimidation) of Indian Penal Code. According to the FIR, on July 14, 2017 the Jarwal along with his associates went to the house of the complainant and assaulted her with an intention to outrage her modesty and intimidated her and her husband. A charge sheet was filed under sections 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of IPC. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Courts won't do anything in the Ram temple matter, BJP's sparring ally Shiv Sena said Monday. This assertion by Sena leader Sanjay Raut followed the Supreme Court fixing the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute cases for January before an appropriate bench, which will decide the schedule of hearing. "We are not paying attention to what the Supreme Court verdict (on Ram temple issue) is and what date it gives (for the verdict). We don't want to pay attention. The court won't do anything in the Ram temple matter," Raut told reporters in Mumbai. "We did not ask the court before demolishing the Babri structure 25 years ago," he said. A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, said Monday the appropriate bench will decide the future course of hearing in January next year on the appeals filed against the Allahabad High Court verdict in the Ayodhya land dispute case. Raut said Sena president Uddhav Thackeray will reach Ayodhya on November 25. He will have a 'darshan' of Ram Lalla. He has 4 or 5 important programmes in Ayodhya, he said. "Our hundreds and thousands of 'kar sevaks' did not become shaheed (martyr) after seeking court permission. We have not started any movement on Ayodhya after seeking the court nod," Raut said. "We feel that there should be a Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. We are not demanding a Ram temple in Pakistan but in Prabhu Shri Ram's Ayodhya. Uddhav Thackeray will go to Ayodhya and put forth his views on the Ram Mandir before people of the country," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Communist Party of India (CPI) Monday slammed BJP president Amit Shah for "ridiculing" Supreme Court's verdict on Sabarimala temple, saying he had "incited" BJP workers to defy the verdict. "BJP president Amit Shah has ridiculed the Supreme Court's judgment. His statement on Sabarimala temple verdict is atrocious and provocative", alleged D Raja, national secretary of CPI. Escalating his attack on the Left dispensation, Shah Saturday alleged an "Emergency-like" situation prevails in Kerala with the state government "playing with fire" in quelling with "brutal force" protests by Ayyappa devotees over Sabarimala issue. "You concentrate on developing the state rather than attacking the Ayyappa bhakts," the BJP president had said and warned Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan that he would have to pay a "heavy price" if this continues, as BJP workers "would not hesitate to pull down the government". Till date, police have arrested over 3,000 persons across Kerala who took part in the Sabarimala agitation. In a landmark verdict, the SC on September 28 lifted a ban that prevented women and girls between the age of ten and 50 from entering the famous Sabarimala temple in Kerala, stating that the century-old Hindu religious practice was illegal and unconstitutional. Raja said that initially all political parties had welcomed the apex court's verdict but BJP at the state level started campaign against the SC's verdict on the temple issue. "BJP has opposed Supreme Court's verdict on the Sabarimala temple entry issue. Later Congress took a peculiar position in the state", alleged Raja. The CPI national secretary alleged the BJP president in his speech had vowed to topple the LDF government in Kerala if it continued to uphold the SC judgement. This, he said was another display of the "anti-democratic, authoritarian attitude typical of Amit Shah." "Shah goes to the extent of saying that LDF government will be pulled down. How can he pull down the LDF government? What is BJP's strength in Kerala?" asked Raja. The CPI leader warned the BJP not to adopt any dubious means to topple the democratically elected government in Kerala. "If Amit Shah and his party will try to topple LDF government, people of Kerala will give BJP a befitting reply", warned Raja. After the SC verdict on Sabarimala temple issue, the state had witnessed massive protests from devotees at various places, including Sabarimala, Nilakkal and Pamba, against permitting women of all ages to enter the shrine when it was opened for monthly poojas from October 17-22. CPI is the second biggest party in the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in Kerala led by the Communist Party of India-Marxist. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress President alleged Monday that in 2016 was carried out to "convert of a few rich people into white" and that Prime Minister was a "magician" who performed this act. Addressing a public meeting here in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, he also targeted Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, alleging that "rampant corruption" had taken place in the state during his rule. He claimed that the name of the son of 'mamaji', a chief minister, had figured in the Panama Papers but no action was taken against him. Though Gandhi did not specifically identify the CM, he was possibly referring to Chouhan because he is popularly known as 'mamaji'. "Udhar Chowkidar, Idhar Mamaji. Mamaji ke jo bte hai, Panama Papers me unka naam nikalta hai. (On one side, you have the watchman (apparently referring to Modi), on the other side you have 'mamaji'. The name of the son of 'mamaji' figured in Panama Papers)," Gandhi said. "Nawaz Sharif Pakistan ke Prime Minister ka naam nikalta hai..Pakistan jaise desh me unko jail me daal dete hai. Magar Yahan ke chief minister ka beta, uska naam Panama Papers me nikalta hai to koi karyawai nahi hoti (The name of former Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif appears in Panama Papers. In a country like Pakistan, he is jailed. Here, the name of the son of a CM figures in Panama Papers but no action is taken)," Gandhi added. BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijaywargiya termed the allegations as "baseless". "Probably, Rahul, after visiting Mahakal Temple in Ujjain and after having 'prasad', got influenced by it and levelled these baseless allegations, Vijaywargiya said. State BJP spokesman Rajnish Agrawal, while laughing at the allegation, remarked, I have heard in social media that he is not in his senses while delivering speech. The speech at Jhabua proves that he is immature mentally and levels baseless allegations." He added that, "as president of the Congress party, he (Gandhi) is committing a crime morally and legally. The party leadership will decide what action needed to be taken in the matter." Gandhi alleged that "rampant corruption took place in the state (MP) under the chief minister Chouhan including Vyapam, e-tendering and Mahakumbh mela."Referring to demonetization, Gandhi alleged, "The exercise was carried out to convert of a few rich people into white."Alleging that Modi was the "magician" who coverted into white, the Congress chief said, "Kaisa jadugar hai. Kamaal ka jadugar hai. Ameeron ke liye jadu karta hai, (What a magician he (PM) is. Amazing magician. He does magic for rich people)."He alleged that "Chowkidar ne chori karwa di (The watchman ensured theft)."Addressing the gathering, Gandhi asked, "When demonetization was announced, did mothers sitting here stand in queues? Did you see any rich person standing in a queue those days. In the initial two-three days people had thought that it was a right exercise but after two three months they realized what happened actually."The Congress president reiterated that if his party comes to power in Madhya Pradesh, the farmers' loan will be waived within 10 days and "not 11 days". He also said that his party wishes to make an India which is equal for all sections of the society and "not two Hindustans, as is the present situation." Criticizing BJP and RSS for having two flags, he said that Congress believes in one flag only that is of the nation for which large number of people including tribals like Birsa Munda among others sacrificed their lives. Rahul also criticized the BJP-led government for changing the provisions of the land acquisition bill that was meant to award a compensation four times more than the market rate to those whose land is acquired. Nearly 300 fresh cases of dengue have been reported over the last one week in Delhi, taking the total number of people diagnosed with the vector-borne disease this season to 1,310, a municipal report released Monday said. At least 829 cases were reported in the month of October only. Also, 427 cases of malaria and 129 of chikungunya have been reported this season till October 27, the report said. It says nearly 830 new dengue cases came to light in the first four weeks of October, which accounts for over 64 per cent of the total cases reported this season. Of the 1,310 dengue cases this year, 374 were recorded in September, 58 in August, 19 in July, eight in June, 10 in May, two in April, one in March, three in February and six in January. Two malaria cases were reported in February, one each in April and March, 17 in May, 25 in June, 42 in July, 82 in August, 138 in September and 119 till October 27, according to the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) which tabulates data on vector-borne diseases in the city. A senior doctor at a government-run facility advised people to take precautions like wearing full-sleeves and not allowing the breeding of mosquito larvae inside their homes. "Water coolers should be dried up when not in use as dengue infection carrying mosquitoes breed there a lot. Mosquito nets should be used at home," the doctor said. The cases of vector-borne diseases are usually reported between July and November, but the period may stretch to mid-December. No vector-borne disease case was reported till January 13. The report said domestic breeding checkers found mosquito breeding in 2,15,995 households in the city till October 27. It said 1,73,462 legal notices have been served for various violations and "24,696 prosecutions initiated". As a pro-active measure, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal had a few months ago directed local bodies and other agencies to intensify vector-control measures. He had also asked for regular meetings at the level of district magistrates with all stakeholders to review the situation in their respective districts. According to the SDMC, 10 people died due to dengue in Delhi last year, of whom five were not residents of the national capital. Overall, the vector-borne disease had affected 9,271 people in the city last year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Harried bus commuters faced hardships in reaching their destination on Monday as contractual and permanent employees of the Delhi Transport Corporation went on strike despite imposition of Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) by the government. The DTC Contractual Employees Union claimed 60 per cent of buses did not ply due to their strike. But the DTC has put the number substantially lower. A senior DTC officer said out of nearly 3,600 buses, only about 300 did not leave the depots, and services were largely unaffected. The commuters, however, complained of overcrowded buses and delays. Commuters were seen at many bus stands in large numbers due to decreased frequency of buses. "I am waiting for a bus to Manglapuri for the past one hour. A bus came, but it was over crowded and I could not board it," said 25-year-old Rajesh, a salesman by profession, at an ITO bus stop. The contractual workers demanding restoration of their wages reduced after a court order, reinstatement of workers terminated due to strike, same pay for same work, and strengthening fleet of DTC buses, are on strike since October 22. The DTC Workers Unity Centre has in the meantime served a notice for strike on Monday. At a Lajpatnagar bus stop, 45-year-old housewife Asha said in the afternoon she had been waiting for a bus for the past 45 minutes. "But they are coming at very less frequency. And those that are coming are over-crowded. The autowallahs are over charging." She said she had to visit to a hospital to see a relative. The problem was more pronounced at peak evening and morning hours when office-goers came out to reach their destination. "Only 40 per cent buses left the depots. Due to the strike, marshals and drivers were deployed as conductors in the buses. Some such conductors were challaned by traffic police for not having proper badge and licence," claimed Manoj Sharma, the president of DTC contractual Employees Union. He said the strike will continue and three contractual employees including a physically disabled female conductor will sit on hunger strike at DTC headquarters from Tuesday. The employees affiliated to DTC Workers Unity Centre supported by other unions were also on strike. The DTC on Sunday said that Delhi government has restored the minimum wage rates prevailing before August 4, 2018 of contractual employees and withdrew the orders for reducing the 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 announcement, however, failed to impress the employees who asserted they will continue the agitation. Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal has imposed Essential Service Maintenance Act, 1974 on DTC for six months banning all strikes by its employees. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) I guess there is no rest this month. Last week I was speaking at B&H Photo and at Photo Plus in New York, and flew home just in time to photograph a Bar Mitzvah all day yesterday. Now I am off to Spokane, Washington to speak at Whitworth University tomorrow and Tuesday. For those of you who live in the Spokane area, I will be presenting (for the first time ever) all my favorite Olympic images from the last 6 Games. This is on Tuesday evening and is free to the public. You can get more information HERE from the university web page. __________________________________________________________________________ Scientists may have confirmed two elusive clouds of dust first reported in 1961, located just 400,000 kilometres away from the Earth. The clouds, named after Polish astronomer Kazimierz Kordylewski, are exceptionally faint, so their existence is controversial, said researchers from Eotvos Lorand University in Hungary. The Earth-Moon system has five points of stability where gravitational forces maintain the relative position of objects located there, according to the study published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. Two of these so-called Lagrange points, L4 and L5, form an equal-sided triangle with the Earth and Moon, and move around the Earth as the Moon moves along its orbit. L4 and L5 are not completely stable, as they are disturbed by the gravitational pull of the Sun. They are thought to be locations where interplanetary dust might collect, at least temporarily. Kordylewski observed two nearby clusters of dust at L5 in 1961, with various reports since then, but their extreme faintness makes them difficult to detect and many scientists doubted their existence. The team, led by Gabor Horvath from Eotvos Lorand University, modelled the Kordylewski clouds to assess how they form and how they might be detected. The researchers were interested in their appearance using polarising filters, which transmit light with a particular direction of oscillation, similar to those found on some types of sunglasses. They then set out to find the dust clouds. With a linearly polarising filter system attached to a camera lens and CCD detector at Judit Slz-Balogh's private observatory in Hungary, the scientists took exposures of the purported location of the Kordylewski cloud at the L5 point. The images they obtained show polarised light reflected from dust, extending well outside the field of view of the camera lens. The observed pattern matches predictions made by the same group of researchers in an earlier paper and is consistent with the earliest observations of the Kordylewski clouds six decades ago, researchers said. Horvath's group was able to rule out optical artifacts and other effects, meaning that the presence of the dust cloud is confirmed. "The Kordylewski clouds are two of the toughest objects to find, and though they are as close to Earth as the Moon are largely overlooked by researchers in astronomy," Slz-Balogh said. "It is intriguing to confirm that our planet has dusty pseudo-satellites in orbit alongside our lunar neighbour," Slz-Balogh said. Given their stability, the L4 and L5 points are seen as potential sites for orbiting space probes, and as transfer stations for missions exploring the wider solar system. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Bihar police are conducting raids to arrest the remaining accused in the Begusarai unnatural sex case, officials said Monday. A video of four college students being brutally tortured and forced into performing unnatural sex went viral on Sunday, leading to the arrest of seven persons. "While seven persons have been arrested, raids are being conducted to nab the other accused," SHO Town Police Station Trilok Mishra said. Madhepura MP Pappu Yadav and senior RJD leader Alok Mehta visited the victims in the hospital on Monday. The inmates of Kushwaha Hostel, a private male students boarding in Pokhariya area, were on Wednesday kidnapped by some persons from Kali Asthan Chowk, police said. The victims were taken behind Begusarai Divisional Jail and assaulted by the miscreants. They were then disrobed and forced to indulge in unnatural sexual acts with each other, police said. The accused also shot at the toes of the boarders, all male college students in the age group of 18 to 21 years, and made them drink liquor, police said, adding that the shocking act continued the entire day. The boarders were subjected to the cruelty allegedly due to their refusal to buy water from a plant owned by one of the accused, police said. The miscreants made a video of the incident and threatened to make it viral if the students lodged a complaint. However, the video was anyway released on Saturday after which the police arrested seven persons. Those who were arrested following a registration of an FIR by the boarders are-- Golu Kumar, Ajay Kumar, Vinod Kumar, Raja Kumar, Rohit Kumar, Ganesh Kumar and Rahul Kumar, Mishra said. Golu Kumar, who was arrested on Thursday owns the water treatment plant, police said, adding that another six were held on Saturday night. The condition of the victims who were admitted to the Sadar Hospital was said to be stable. This report of unnatural sex comes close on the heels of sexual abuse of girl inmates in a state-funded shelter home in Muzaffarpur. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ambassador of Estonia to India Riho Kruuv called on Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal here Monday to discuss issues of mutual interest, including investment opportunities and trade relations, an official release said here. During the meeting, Chief Minister Sonowal talked about the potential sectors for investment in Assam with the envoy and requested him to take a lead in bringing business from Estonia to the state, it said. The CM also outlined the initiatives taken up in Assam to maximize business potential, under India's Act East Policy, and transform Guwahati into gateway of South East Asia. In response, Kruuv evinced interest in developing strong trade relations between Assam and the European country, the official statement said. Sonowal also sought cooperation from the Estonian ambassador in tackling cyber crime, which has surfaced as a major global threat, it stated. Principal secretary to the chief minister, Sanjay Lohiya, was present at the meeting, the release added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The on Monday assured the High Court that every genuine devotee would be provided necessary assistance for offering prayers with sanctity and dignity at the Lord Ayyappa temple at The government stated this while the division bench, comprising Justices P R Ramachandra Menon and Devan Ramachandran was hearing a plea by four women devotees in the menstrual age group, seeking a direction to the government to provide them security to offer prayers at the temple. The state also informed the court that necessary and requisite action would be taken to maintain law and order in The Court then closed the petition, saying that the apprehensions raised by the petitioners were premature and irrational. It also expressed the hope that no untoward incidents would occur in Sabarimala, and the upcoming pilgrim season commencing next month would go on smoothly. In their petition, the women, including two lawyers, submitted that despite the judgement permitting entry of all women into the hill shrine, the hopes of female devotees of Lord Ayyappa were still in limbo. The petitioners also alleged that the thanthris (priests) and the Pandalam royal family, who are bound to act under the directions of the TDB, which manages the shrine, were committing contempt of court by protesting in support of those challenging the fundamental rights declared by the apex court in favour of woman of all ages. Considering another petition by a BJP functionary, the bench observed that the Lord Ayyappa temple belonged to all and it was a shrine where devotees of all faiths could enter to offer prayers. The Bench made the observation while considering a petition by T G Mohandas, a BJP functionary, seeking to restrain non-Hindus and non-idol worshippers, in It observed that the plea "will ruin the non communal fabric texture of Sabarimala." The Court directed the state government and the Travancore Devaswom Board to file their version on the plea in two weeks. In his petititon, Mohandas said entry of non Hindus and non-idol worshippers into Sannidhanam violates the verdict and rules of the Kerala Places of Public Worship (Authorisation of Entry) Act, 1965. Considering another plea challenging the "massive" arrest of Ayyappa devotees, the bench directed police to file a proper statement about the action taken against those identified as having taken part in the violence during the recent monthly pooja. The Court also directed police to file a proper statement on the action taken against police personnel who were allegedly involved in the "atrocities." Petitioners Suresh Kumar and Anoj Kumar, hailing from Pathanamthitta where the hill shrine is located, alleged that even devotees who participated in the 'Nama Japa Yajnam' (chanting of Ayyappa mantras) were harassed by police. The state police has arrested over 2,000 people in connection with the protests. Coming down on the state government for the large-scale arrest of devotees, the Friday warned that a heavy price would have to be paid if innocent people were arrested. 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 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 Jharkhand government Monday told the Supreme Court that former minister Yogendra Sao and his MLA wife Nirmala Devi, accused in rioting cases in 2016, have been violating bail conditions. The apex court sought a response from both Sao and Devi in three weeks on the plea of the state seeking cancellation of their bail. A bench of justices S A Bobde and L Nageswara Rao, issued a notice to the former minister and the legislator from Barkagaon in Jharkhand, and sought their reply in three weeks. The state government said Sao and his wife Devi, who are accused in a rioting case of 2016, were granted bail last year by the top court which had imposed a condition that they shall stay in Bhopal and not enter Jharkhand except for attending court proceedings. It said they have grossly violated the bail conditions and had stayed in Bhopal hardly for a month. Advocate Tapesh Kumar Singh, appearing for the Jharkhand government said there was gross violation of bail conditions by both the accused. Senior advocate Vivek Tankha, appearing for Sao and Devi said they need sometime to file the reply. The court posted the matter after the Diwali vacation and said in three weeks the reply should be filed. The government in its application said both of them had been staying in Jharkhand and were not attending court proceedings. It said several criminal cases were pending against the couple. The cases are at various stages, including at the stage of framing of charges, where their presence is needed, the Jharkhand government said. The application said despite the apex court's direction that they will attend court proceedings, they have not been attending it and as a result, cases are not moving forward. The government has annexed details of 25 to 30 flights they have undertaken from Ranchi to Delhi, and their call details records to show that the Sao and Devi had violated the bail conditions. The apex court had earlier termed as "some kind of joke" the charge framing order passed by a court in Jharkhand through instant messaging application WhatsApp. It wondered how this kind of a "joke" was allowed to happen in a court of law in India. A lower judge in Hazaribagh district had put the accused on trial by pronouncing the order framing charges against them through a 'WhatsApp' call. Both the Sao and Devi, had challenged the order in apex court saying that the trial judge had on April 19 this year framed charges against them through a 'WhatsApp' call despite they raising objections to it. The apex court took serious note of it and observed that this process cannot be allowed, and administration of justice cannot be allowed to be brought into disrepute. The couple had sought transfer of their cases from Hazaribagh to New Delhi. When, counsel for Jharkhand pointed out that Sao had been violating the bail condition imposed on him last year, the apex court asked him to file a separate plea seeking cancellation of his bail. Both Devi and Sao were accused in the case relating to violent clashes between villagers and police in 2016 in which four persons were killed. Sao had become a minister in the Hemant Soren government in August 2013. Devi had led an agitation against NTPC authorities for their alleged attempt to forcefully evacuate villagers from Barkagaon without giving them due compensation or rehabilitation, According to police. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Flipkart India, the B2B arm of the e-commerce major Flipkart, has registered a manifold jump in losses at Rs 2,063.8 crore during 2017-18 compared to the previous fiscal as the Walmart-backed company fights a bruising battle against rival Amazon. The company's total loss stood at Rs 245.04 crore in 2016-17. Its revenue from operations, however, saw a 40.4 per cent jump to Rs 21,438.65 crore in FY2017-18 from Rs 15,264.42 crore in the previous fiscal, as per regulatory documents filed with the corporate affairs ministry. Flipkart India's employee benefit expenses grew to Rs 331.54 crore in the said fiscal from Rs 166.66 crore in 2016-17, the documents provided by business intelligence platform Tofler showed. Flipkart's e-commerce business Flipkart Internet also posted a consolidate loss of Rs 1,160.6 crore for the financial year ended March 2018. While this was lower than the previous year's Rs 1,640.2 crore. The combined loss of the two Flipkart entities -- Flipkart India and Flipkart Internet -- was well over Rs 3,200 crore in FY2017-18. Flipkart's holding company is registered in Singapore. It operates different entities for various functions, and provides e-commerce and support services through Flipkart Internet. The revenue of Flipkart Internet is mainly generated from services like collection, marketplace, storage and logistics. Flipkart and its rival Amazon have been pumping in millions of dollars towards promotions, building infrastructure and logistics as they woo customers to shop online. Amazon, on its part, has also been aggressively investing in the Indian market across its e-commerce, payment and logistics operations. It had committed USD 5 billion to the Indian operations and a large part of that has already been pumped in. Earlier in the year, Flipkart inked a blockbuster deal with Walmart under which the American retailer picked up about 77 per cent stake for about USD 16 billion. The deal gave handsome return to investors like SoftBank which sold their complete shareholding. The deal with Flipkart will also have a bearing on Walmart's financials. Earlier this month, the US retail giant had said its investment in Flipkart will hit its operating income as well as earnings per share. The transaction with Flipkart, which was completed in August this year, will not only help Walmart strengthen its e-commerce play but also cash in on the burgeoning e-tailing market in India that is poised to touch USD 200 billion in the next few years. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das on Monday laid the foundation for various projects worth Rs 428 crore in Chaibasa, the district headquarter of mineral-rich West Singhbhum. While Rs 380 crore would be spent on eight water projects to provide drinking water in the rural belt of the district, the remaining amount would be spent on road construction in rural areas. Regretting that the people of Chaibasa were forced to drink unsafe water even 70 years after independence, the chief minister said he had promised to provide drinking water through pipelines in each villages of the district. The foundation of water projects was a step in this direction, he said adding that economy of the rural pockets would improve if the infrastructure including road and electricity was improved. Director of District Rural Development Agency (DRDA), Amit Kumar said the government has set a target to provide piped drinking water to all the villages of the district by 2022. The chief minister assured to provide electricity in each villages of the state by December 2018. The Detail Project Report of a proposed medical college in Chaibasa was ready and tender would be floated soon to ensure that the work of the 500-bed medical college-cum-hospital start in a month or two, he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid the foundation of two medical college and hospital including the one in Koderma during his visit to the state last month. Besides, the government has also decided to establish a school in Khuntipani block of West Singhbhum district on the lines of famous Netarhat school of Latehar district. Prior to the foundation stone laying ceremony, Das also inaugurated a "Jubilee Park" surrounding a lake, which was renovated and developed by Tata Steel for Rs 10 crore in the township. Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Das hailed Tata Steels role in making a difference to the lives of people living in and around its operational areas. Referring to the new projects, Das said a majority of them will be on water and road construction worth Rs 427.92 crore which was being spent from the District Mineral Fund. "During my first visit to Chaibasa after becoming the chief minister of the state, I had promised the people here to change the face and fate of the township and the inauguration of the park was fulfilment of my commitment," Das said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A speeding truck collided with a jeep carrying passengers on Lakhimpur-Nanpara highway here, killing four people and injuring 11, police said Monday. The accident occurred Sunday night when the vegetable traders were returning home from a local market here, Deputy Superintendent of Police Vijay Prakash said. While Fariyad, Sajid and Aas Mohammad succumbed to injuries in a local hospital, Kamal died on the way to a hospital in Lucknow, Prakash said, adding all the deceased were aged between 22 and 25. The truck driver has been arrested, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Eight persons were arrested as police busted a gang of highway robbers, a senior police official said here Monday, adding Rs 5 lakh cash and goods were seized from their possession. Four pistols were also found in the possession of the gang members, SP (city) Ombir Singh said. The gang was busted Sunday, he said, adding its members confessed to have looted people on highways in Muzaffarnagar, Rampur, Moradabad, Hapur, Basti, Bijnore, Meerut as well places in Haryana, Uttarakhand and West Bengal. Cash worth Rs 5 lakh, 335 cartons of cosmetics, a car and four pistols were found in the possession of the accused, the officer said. The gang came on the police radar after a truck loaded with consignments of Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) was looted by the accused at Muzaffarnagar two weeks ago. Police also seized 335 cartons of goods looted from Ghaziabad and Noida. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Goa Congress Monday said that Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar should give the party's delegation an appointment since he is already meeting cabinet ministers and officials. Parrikar is undergoing treatment for a pancreatic ailment at his private residence here after returning on October 14 post hospitalisation from AIIMS in New Delhi. "If Parrikar can hold a cabinet meeting on October 31 that means he is sound enough to meet others like Congress members," Congress Goa spokesperson Jitendra Deshprabhu said. Parrikar is scheduled to hold a meeting of the state cabinet Wednesday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The government has full faith in the judiciary and fully respects it, Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said here on Monday, hours after the Supreme Court postponed hearing on the Ayodhya issue to January next year. At the same time, he said a lot people in the country want the case to be heard quickly. The Supreme Court has fixed the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute cases for the first week of January next year before an appropriate bench, which will decide the schedule of hearing. Addressing a press conference here in poll-bound Chhattisgarh, Prasad said the BJP never linked the Ram Mandir issue with polls. "The Supreme Court today said the hearing (on the Ayodhya land title dispute cases) will be held in January. As a law minister, I should not say anything else, as you understand that there are certain limitations," Prasad said. "I would like to humbly say that a lot of people in the country want that the hearing on the issue should be completed soon. We have full faith in the court and we fully respect it," the minister added. Prasad was in Chhattisgarh for campaigning for the first phase of voting, scheduled to be held on November 12. The second phase of polling will be held on November 20. "We have never linked the Ram Mandir issue with polls. It is good if it (the issue) can be resolved through talks. A lot of people want that the hearing should be held as early as possible over the matter," said Prasad. "I was representing 'Ram Lalla' (infant Lord Ram) in the Allahabad High Court where we won (in 2010), and it was concluded that the place where Ram Lalla is placed, should be given to Hindus. Later, the other party approachedSupreme Court," he said. A three-judge bench of the Allahabad high court had in 2010 ordered that the 2.77 acres of land be partitioned equally among three parties -- the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla. As many as 14 appeals have been filed against the high court judgement, delivered in four civil suits, that the 2.77 acres of land be partitioned equally among three parties -- the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla. A three-judge bench of the supreme court, by a 2:1 majority, recently refused to refer to a five-judge constitution bench the issue of reconsideration of the observations in its 1994 judgement that a mosque was not integral to Islam. The matter had arisen during the hearing of the Ayodhya land dispute. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The government is understood to be exploring options for the chief guest at the Republic Day parade after US President Donald Trump turned down its invite for the ceremony. Sources said the government has in mind leaders from three countries including a head of state from a leading African nation. "We have very little time left for deciding on the chief guest and the process will be completed soon," a source familiar with the development said. Trump has declined India's invitation to be the chief guest at the parade, citing pressing engagements, including his State of The Union (SOTU) address, around the time India will celebrate its Republic Day. It came 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 the US threat of punitive action under CAATSA (Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act). The sources said India has already short-listed names of two-three heads of state for extending invitation to be the chief guest at the Republic Day parade. 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 had said that Trump has received an invitation to visit India, but no decision has been taken yet. 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 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. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 38-year-old school teacher was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Delhi on Monday, police said. The deceased has been identified as Sunita, a resident of Bawana village and a teacher at the Government Senior Secondary School in Ferozepur town, Haryana. Sunita was going to school on her scooty in the morning, said Rajneesh Gupta, deputy commissioner of police (Rohini). "The police received a call at around 8.05 am regarding the shooting incident in Rohini's Bawana area. After reaching the spot, it was found that a school teacher sustained three bullet injuries -- two in the chest and one in the stomach -- and was lying in a pool of blood," Gupta said. Sunita, who is survived by a 16-year-old daughter and an eight-year-old son, was rushed to a hospital where she was declared brought dead. The body was handed over to her family members after a post-mortem examination, the DCP added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Monday said his government is committed to make all-out efforts to implement transparency and good governance initiatives in the fight against corruption. The state joined the rest of the country in observing the 'Vigilance Awareness Week' on Monday, based on the theme 'Eradicate corruption Build a New India'. The awareness week seeks to motivate stakeholders to collectively participate in defeating corruption and also aims at raising public awareness regarding its consequences. In his vigilance week message, Rio said the PDA government shall endeavor to bring out a comprehensive zero tolerance policy towards corruption. The CM called upon citizens to actively participate in the movement to eradicate corruption and build a new India. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two groups of people have clashed and fired bullets injuring at least one person in the city over a local issue, police said on Monday. One person was arrested and six persons were detained by the police in this connection. The clash on late Sunday evening was the fallout of an altercation between owners of an e-rickshaw and a four-wheeler in the Rajendra Nagar area some hours back. Though the matter was initially sorted out with the intervention of the police, but later one group of people from over bridge locality attacked some houses on road number 10, beat up people besides teasing girls, police said. The people of the locality retaliated and pelted stones after which 8-10 rounds were fired in which a 16-year-old boy was injured, police said. Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Manu Maharaj visited the area. "Two groups clashed yesterday evening in which firing also took place. We received complaints that intoxicating materials like ganja, toddy laced with chemicals are sold below the Rajendra Nagar over bridge. We have recovered such substances," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress leaders Monday staged a protest against the arrest of party MLA Parsotam Sabariya and submitted a complaint to local police against Gujarat Minister of State for Home Pradipsinh Jadeja. Sabariya was Sunday arrested by Morbi A Division police for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe from persons accused in an irrigation scam in Morbi district, over 60 kilometres from here, in return for not raising the issue in the state Assembly or before the government, a senior official had said. Around a dozen Congress MLAs from Saurashtra region along with their supporters Monday protested outside Morbi A Division police station and submitted a complaint to the police demanding similar action against Minister of State for Home Pradipsinh Jadeja on the basis of an audio clip in which he was heard demanding bribe. The police, however, refused to take their complaint, stating that the matter did not fall in their jurisdiction. Meanwhile, a local court in Morbi sent Sabariya in police remand for one day. The arrested MLA told reporters that the case was a "conspiracy" to end his political career. Congress MLAs maintained that Sabariya, a leader from the Koli community, was being targeted by the BJP as he refused to shift allegiance to the ruling party despite being pressured. "With Patidar leaders shifting their support away from the BJP, the ruling party is using all means--allurement or misuse of state machinery--to bring leaders from Thakor-Koli community under its fold," a protesting Congress leader said. "If the police has arrested Sabariya on the basis of an audio clip (in which he is allegedly heard talking about bribe money ), we demand action against Pradipsinh Jadeja on the basis of a similar audio clip that had recently gone viral," protesting Congress MLA Lalit Kagathara said. "The case dates back to 2017, when Sabariya was not even an MLA. The BJP has been in the government since last 22 years, and in 2017 people showed them the door in Morbi, which is why they are misusing state machinery to frame a simple, innocent person," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A woman police officer was allegedly hacked to death in Gujarat by her husband and in- laws who were eyeing her property, police said Monday. The incident took place Sunday night at Junagadh town, around 315km from here, they said. The body of Kiran Joshi (41), who was serving as an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) at the Visavadar police station in Junagadh district, was found in a pool of blood at her residence in the Madhuram area Monday morning, they said. In his complaint to the police, Kiran Joshi's brother Mahesh Joshi has alleged his sister was killed by her husband Pankaj Vegda, brother-in-law Dipak Vegda, mother-in-law Rasila Vegda and father-in-law Bhavani Vegda as part of a conspiracy to grab her property. While Kiran Joshi's husband is untraceable, the police have started questioning the other three accused named in the complaint, said Deputy Superintendent of Police H S Ratnu. "Kiran was murdered using a sharp weapon at her residence yesterday night. We have found stab wounds on Kiran's neck and abdomen area," said Ratnu. In the complaint, Kiran Joshi's brother Mahesh Joshi has alleged his sister's husband and in-laws were pressuring the victim to transfer in their names her house as well as some vehicles. "Her husband even took a loan from a bank by mortgaging Kiran's 35 tola jewellery. Kiran used to pay the EMIs for that loan. "Pankaj and in-laws were asking her to transfer the house as well as some vehicles in their names as these properties were in here name," Mahesh Joshi told reporters. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi High Court on Monday asked the AAP government's Delhi Agricultural Marketing Board (DAMB) to explain what action it has taken for compliance of its order banning slaughtering of birds in the Ghazipur murga mandi here. A bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice V K Rao directed the DAMB to file an affidavit stating the action taken by it and listed the matter for the end of November. When the counsel for traders at the mandi said their livelihood was affected due to the ban, the bench said, "You claim for damages from the mandi or go somewhere else. Unless they comply with the provisions, we will not permit it." When the court asked the counsel for traders as to what was their agreement with the mandi, he claimed it was for selling birds and slaughtering also. Advocate Sanjeev Ralli, appearing for Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), told the bench that no one has applied to it for consent to operate. He said from July till now, they have not come across any such application seeking consent to operate. The high court, in its interim order on September 24, had banned slaughtering of birds and only permitted selling of live birds in the Ghazipur murga mandi. The court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) alleging that poultry birds are being traded and slaughtered illegally at the Ghazipur mandi in east Delhi. The court asked the authorities to come up with a plan to set up a designated slaughter house in the area and till then the interim order will remain in operation. The bench noted that after conducting an inspection at the mandi on April 24, the DPCC had given its report highlighting the violations. The DPCC had directed closure of the slaughterhouses operating from DAMB premises at the mandi. The court had on August 31 directed the DAMB to shut down all the poultry slaughter houses running from its premises at Ghazipur without the approval of the pollution controlling body DPCC. It had also directed the DAMB to remove from the site the slaughterhouses which were operating illegally. The plea by animal rights activist Gauri Maulekhi has contended that there was "blatant violation" of mandatory health checks and veterinary screening of the birds which leads to spreading of infectious diseases such as avian flu. The petition also draws attention to the conditions in which the birds are kept, saying they are "tied up and hung upside down, de-feathered, stuffed in wire cages without sufficient food or water and slaughtered while alive". It has claimed that waste generated as a result of the slaughter of the birds was not properly disposed of and was either flushed down the drain ending up in the rivers or dumped in open grounds. It has sought directions to the authorities to "forthwith stop the illegal slaughter of poultry birds at the Ghazipur mandi" as well as form a committee for carrying out weekly inspections of the area. The plea has also sought that the birds be examined by the authorities and veterinarians after they are transported to the mandi to ensure none of them are infected with any disease. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The on Monday refused to stay framing of charges by the trial court against Lt Col Prasad Shrikant Purohit and other accused persons in the 2008 Malegaon bomb blast case. A bench of Justices S S Shinde and AS Gadkari, however, agreed to hear next month, a petition filed by Purohit, one of the seven accused in the case, challenging his prosecution under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). It directed the Investigation Agency (NIA) counsel Sandesh Patil to file a reply to Purohit's plea by November 21, the next date of hearing. The bench refused Purohit's request for staying the proceedings in the trial court, noting that in the past, both the and the Bombay HC had passed orders directing the trial court to expedite the hearing in the case. Framing of charges is a process after which the trial in a criminal case starts. The trial court, the special NIA court in the present case, is scheduled to begin framing of charges against Purohit and other accused Tuesday. Six persons were killed and over a 100 injured when an explosive device strapped on a motorcycle went off near a mosque in Malegaon, a power loom town located about 200 km from here in North Maharashtra, on September 29, 2008. Besides Purohit, the other accused case are Pragya Singh Thakur, Major (retd) Ramesh Upadhyay, Sameer Kulkarni, Ajay Rahirkar, Sudhakar Dwivedi and Sudhakar Chaturvedi. All of them will face trial under the UAPA since earlier this month, the special NIA court had rejected their pleas on the applicability of the anti-terror law against them. On December 27 last year, the special NIA court had dismissed the pleas filed by Purohit, Thakur and the others seeking that they be discharged from the case. Discharge is a pre-trial process in a criminal case. At the time, the special court had dropped stringent charges under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against the accused, but had said they will face charges under the UAPA and other sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including murder and criminal conspiracy. Purohit, however, has argued through his counsel Shrikant Shivade that he cannot be prosecuted in the case since the sanction granted by the government to prosecute him was "wrong in law". A prior government sanction for Purohit's prosecution was required since he was a serving army officer at the time of his arrest. On January 17, 2009, such a sanction was issued by the Additional Chief Secretary of the Maharashtra home department. Shivade, however, has maintained that under the UAPA, the state law and judiciary department, which is the sanctioning authority, has to constitute an appropriate authority and seek its report first. In his case, the sanction was given in January 2009, but the authority was appointed only in October 2010, he has argued. The sanction in Purohit's case thus, was not valid under the UAPA, Shivade has maintained. The on Monday directed the CBI to maintain status quo till November 1 on the criminal proceedings initiated against its Special Director Rakesh Asthana, who has challenged the FIR lodged against him on bribery allegations. Justice Najmi Waziri questioned the CBI for not filing its response to the petitions of Asthana and the agency's Deputy Superintendent of Police Devender Kumar, who has been in CBI custody since October 23. The high court, in last hearing on October 23, had asked CBI to file its response by today. It had ordered the agency to maintain status quo on the proceedings against Asthana. When CBI's Special Prosecutor K Raghavacharyulu prayed for a "little" more time to file its reply, the court asked as to why it has not been done yet. "You took three days time the other day (October 23). This court was taking up the matter the next date itself, but you took time. What do you mean by little more time, please explain," the judge said. The high court directed the CBI to file reply on the pleas of Asthana and Kumar on or before October 31 and listed the matter for hearing on November 1. The CBI prosecutor told the high court that delay in filing of reply occurred as the case files have been sent to Central Vigilance Commission (CVC). The court was hearing three separate pleas of Asthana, Kumar and a middleman Manoj Prasad, seeking quashing of the FIR lodged against them by the CBI on bribery allegations. Kumar, whose 7-day CBI custody is expiring tomorrow, moved a trial court on Monday seeking bail in the case. The plea would be heard on Tuesday. Prasad's plea seeking quashing of FIR and staying the investigation was also heard on Monday by the high court which observed that his case was on a different footing from that of Asthana and Kumar. The court said Prasad was a private person while Asthana and Kumar were public servants and nothing stops the CBI from probing a private individual. The court will continue hearing his plea tomorrow. The CBI counsel at the outset placed before the high court the October 26 order of the in which it has directed the CVC to complete in two weeks inquiry against CBI Director Alok Kumar Verma, who has been divested of his duties and sent on leave in view of the feud between him and Asthana. Asthana has also been sent on leave along with Verma since October 24. The apex court had also issued notices to the Centre and CVC seeking their response on Verma's plea which has challenged the government's decision to divest him of his powers and prayed for a stay on the Centre's order giving interim charge of his post to Rao, a 1986 batch Odisha-cadre IPS officer. However, the high court said that as far as this court was concerned, there was no whisper of the matters pending before it in the apex court's order. Senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, appearing for Prasad, also said the challenge to the FIR before it was different from the subject matter of the apex court order. Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Maninder Acharya, appearing for DoPT, also said that the was seized of the matter and Asthana has also filed a petition there. The judge asked "has notice been issued in the petition before the " When senior advocate Amrendra Sharan, representing Asthana, said the entire case and petition here and before the apex court was different and no notice was issued by the top court on it, the high court judge said, "so, this matter is not before the Supreme Court". Sharan was referring to the separate petition filed by Asthana before the Supreme Court in which he has claimed himself as the whistle-blower and has sought stay of the order sending him on leave. His petition in the apex court was not heard on October 26 by a bench headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi. In the matter pending before the high court, Justice Waziri sought to know the reason for delay in filing the response and asked CBI whether the Supreme Court order says no further probe? "It is your FIR. It is up to you to file reply or not. Don't leave it to me, you tell me how much time you want," the judge said. CBI's counsel said a fair and impartial investigation was required in the matter and he needed time to be briefed as no CBI officers have come to him. Senior advocate Dayan Krishnan, appearing for Kumar, said his client was in custody and every moment of illegal custody was violation of his right to protection of life and liberty. The apex court had on October 26 directed that the CVC inquiry be conducted under the supervision of a retired apex court judge and also barred IPS officer M Nageswara Rao, who has been given interim charge of looking after the duties of the CBI Director, from taking any policy decision or any major decision. Kumar, earlier the investigating officer in a case involving meat exporter Moin Qureshi, was arrested on October 22 on the allegations of forgery in recording the statement of businessman Sathish Sana, who had alleged to have paid bribe to get relief in the case. The Delhi High Court Monday issued contempt notice to the editor of a Chennai-based, Tamil magazine for his tweets against Justice S Muralidhar. A bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Yogesh Khanna initiated contempt proceedings and sought response of Swaminathan Gurumurthy, the editor of the weekly 'Thuglak' magazine, and listed the matter for further hearing on December 11. Gurumurthy is also a part-time director of the Reserve Bank of India. After the high court division bench headed by Justice S Muralidhar passed order on October 1, releasing rights activists Gautam Navlakha from house arrest in the Koregaon-Bhima violence case, Gurumurthy had tweeted alleging bias by Justice Muralidhar. The high court, which took up the matter after receiving a letter from advocate Rajshekhar Rao who sought contempt action against the scribe, said the tweets and online video making allegations against the judge be taken down. Rao, in his letter, has stated that the tweet was a deliberate attempt to attack a sitting high court judge. On October 25, the matter was listed before a bench headed by Chief Justice Rajendra Menon which said that it be listed before the roaster bench. Earlier in March this year, the high court had dubbed as "mischievous" certain tweets by the journalist in connection with its decision granting interim protection from arrest to Karti Chidambaram, son of senior Congress leader P Chidambaram in the INX Media money laundering case. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Madras High Court Monday reserved its order on pleas challenging the amendments made by the Tamil Nadu government to its Land Acquisition Act, bypassing the Central one enacted in 2013. The amendments, enabling acquisition of lands for certain purposes under the state Act, were brought in by a government order dated January 21, 2014. The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act was enacted by the Centre in 2013. Alleging that the state had brought such amendments only to bypass and deny benefits to the victims guaranteed under the Central Act, that too without any authority, an outfit 'Anaithu Vivasayikal Paathukapu Nalasangam Naganenthal' and few other land owners approached the court. During the course of hearing, senior counsel for the petitioners, P Wilson, submitted that the state brought in amendments fearing financial burden in view of the changes brought in by the Central legislation. As a result, land acquired for various projects, including metro rail, should also be put to scrutiny, he said and wanted the court to declare the amendments unconstitutional and void. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi High Court on Monday reserved its verdict on the appeals challenging the trial court's judgement in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case in which Congress leader Sajjan Kumar was acquitted. A bench of justices S Muralidhar and Vinod Goel concluded hearing arguments on the appeals filed by the CBI, riots victims and the convicts and asked the parties to file written submissions, if any, by November 22. Former Congress Councillor Balwan Khokhar, a retired naval officer Captain Bhagmal, Girdhari Lal and two others were held guilty in the case relating to the murder of five members of a family in Raj Nagar area of Delhi Cantonment on November 1, 1984, after the assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The trial court had acquitted Congress leader Sajjan Kumar in the case but awarded life term to Khokhar, Bhagmal and Girdhari Lal and a three-year jail term to two others - former MLA Mahender Yadav and Kishan Khokhar. They had challenged their conviction and sentencing by the trial court in May 2013. The CBI has also filed an appeal, alleging they were engaged in "a planned communal riot" and "religious cleansing". The CBI and the victims have also appealed against the acquittal of Kumar. The high court had on March 29 last year issued show cause notices to 11 accused including Khokhar and Yadav in five 1984 anti-Sikh riots cases which were earlier closed. The matter is being heard by another division bench. The accused, who were acquitted of the charges, were asked as to why should the court not order reinvestigation and retrial against them as they faced allegations of "horrifying crimes against humanity". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Bombay High Court, in an interim order passed Monday, restrained Mumbai University from implementing its new '60:40 assessment system' for law students in the current academic year. A bench of Justices BR Gavai and MS Karnik directed the University to ensure that examinations for all law courses in the 2018-19 academic year be conducted under the prevailing system that entails a semester-end written exam for 100 marks. The new evaluation system was introduced "mid-session" for all law colleges between August and September this year. It comprises a semester-end exam for 60 marks, and 40 marks for internal assessments, attendance, student's conduct in class, projects, etc. The bench, however, said that while the new system was a more dynamic one and was aimed at improving the standards of legal in the state, it had been introduced by the University in haste. It said that the University's decision to introduce the new system all of a sudden, without giving prior notice to students and without training the faculty members or issuing guidelines to regulate the internal assessment methods, could prejudice the interest of the students. The bench was hearing two writ petitions filed by two final year students of law and a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by a practising lawyer, who is also a faculty member in one of the law colleges in the city, challenging the new system. The petitioners submitted that while they were not opposed to the new evaluation system, they were only objecting to the way it was being implemented. By the University's own admission, for the 53 law colleges in the state, there existed only 43 permanent faculty members. While there were enough number of part-time faculty members available, they were not adequately trained to evaluate the students based on the internal assessments, projects and their conduct etc, the petitioners said. The University's counsel Rui Rodrigues argued that the new evaluation system was recognised worldwide, and was aimed at improving the standards of legal in the state. He added that the University had taken all stakeholders on board before issuing a circular on August 24 this year, informing principals of all law colleges in the state that henceforth, the new 60:40 system would be implemented in their colleges. The bench, however, asked Rodrigues what was the need to introduce the new system "in a sudden manner?" "Why not introduce it in the 2019-20 academic year?" the bench asked. "Remember that Rome was not built in one day. So, if you are taking such a big decision, it has to be introduced systematically. Students should have been put on notice, faculty members should have been trained," it said. The bench also noted that while the University issued the circular notifying the new system in August, some colleges published an exam timetable earlier this month based on the old 100 percent written examination system. This showed that there remained much confusion about the new evaluation system, the court said. "While the new evaluation system is dynamic and commendable, and any efforts to better the standards of legal and future lawyers must be appreciated, the fact can't be ignored that leaving 40 percent of the assessment to the discretion of untrained faculty will prove contrary to the interest of the students," it said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Madras High Court has upheld the judgment by a lower court here convicting seven policemen and a doctor in a case of custodial death reported in Puducherry in December 1993. The trial court in 2002 had sentenced three policemen to seven years rigorous imprisonment (RI) and three others along with the doctor to one year RI. Another police man had died during the trial while three other policemen were acquitted. Upholding the conviction, Justice M V Muralidharan observed that the public has lost faith in the police and had to seek help from the court for redress of grievances. The notion that police is a friend of the public remains only on paper, in reality it is not so, the judge said. When an ordinary citizen goes to the police station to lodge a complaint, the personnel there should receive it and inquire into it in a manner known to law without being influenced by any political, monetary or other source, only then would people respect and trust the police, he said. The judge made these observations in a matter related to the death of Chandrasekar who was brought to Odiansalai Police Station in Puducherry on December 29, 1993 for questioning and was allegedly beaten to death. The lower court had sentenced the doctor who conducted the first post-mortem examination on the body along with the guilty policemen. However, the police personnel and the doctor had filed an appeal in the high court challenging the judgment. Dismissing their plea, Justice Muralidharan said, "This is a case of custodial death and it is seen from the records that the discrepancies found between the first and the second post-mortem reports... are the basis for the prosecution case to make it fit for consideration." "There cannot be much difference between the two reports unless manipulation is made in any one of them," he noted. "Moreover, the discussion of the learned trial judge in placing reliance upon the evidence of prosecution witnesses cannot be shattered in any way. At the same time, this court is unable to find reasons to disbelieve the case of the prosecution," he said further. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The employees protesting for the last 14 days decided Monday to extend their strike till November 2 against the state government's decision to run 700 private buses. The stir has hit public transport services despite the state government making alternate arrangements including appointing drivers and conductors and hiring buses from other sources. Expressing solidarity, government employees across Haryana have decided to go on a two-day strike starting October 30. 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, at a meeting here, announced that various employees unions have lend their support to the roadways employees. Some khaps too extended their support to the roadways employees. Leader of Opposition Abhay Singh Chautala hit out at the state government on the issue. He said, "The apathy of the government in holding meaningful dialogue with the roadways unions is designed to further the agenda of privatisation, which is regrettable". He said it was not too late to hold discussions with the roadways employees. The employees had Thursday decided to further 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 The roadways, having a fleet of 4,100 buses, cater to about 120 million passengers daily. Huge potential exists in sectors like information and communications technology (ICT), aerospace, healthcare, agri, infrastructure and transport to boost trade and investments between India and Italy, a top Italian official said Monday. Italy's Deputy Minister for Economic Development Michele Geraci said that his government is finalising a programme to attract more foreign investments by cutting red-tape, increasing fiscal incentives, and speeding up the procedures of legal disputes. "Italy and India are two countries with an enormous potential of cooperation - from ICT to aerospace, from healthcare to agri-food and food processing, from infrastructure and transport to energy and green economy," Geraci told PTI in an e-mail interview. He said that all these fields would become the main pillars of future economic bilateral cooperation between the two nations. The Italian minister said that Indian IT engineers are among the best-skilled in the world and they can help Italy in pushing the digital revolution in the European country. "We are planning to launch a world exchange program for start-up companies, choosing several pilot-economies, among which we are considering to select India, a country with a stabile growth perspective and an immense potential of development," he added. Talking about the long-stalled negotiations for the proposed free-trade agreement (FTA) between India and the European Union, he said, "In May, we will have EU Parliamentarian elections, so I presume to see significant progress in this FTA. We will have to wait next year". The Italian minister is here for DST-CII India Italy Technology Summit. The negotiations for the FTA, officially dubbed as Bilateral Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA), have been held up since May 2013 as both the sides are yet to bridge substantial gaps on crucial issues. Launched in June 2007, the negotiations for the proposed BTIA have witnessed many hurdles with both sides having major differences on key issues like intellectual property rights, duty cut in automobile and spirits, and liberal visa regime. The two sides have to iron out differences related to movement of professionals. The bilateral trade between the countries increased to USD 10.5 billion in 2017-18 from USD 8.8 billion in the previous fiscal. India is Italy's fifth largest trading partner in the EU. India main exports to Italy includes iron, steel, chemicals, petroleum products, footwear, vehicles, marine products jewellery. Imports includes machinery for textile, parts and accessories for vehicles, paper and cardboard, machine tools for metal shaping and ornamental and building stone, limestone, gypsum, chalk and slate. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hundreds of Hondurans have crossed a river into Mexico in a fresh wave of migrants heading to the United States, AFP reporters on Guatemala's border with Mexico said Monday. Men, women and children crossed the Suchiate River on rafts made from truck tires, or by forming human chains to avoid being swept away. Others swam across after Mexican authorities refused to open a border bridge. More than a thousand Honduran migrants broke through a Guatemalan police cordon to reach the river the day before, attempting to join a larger caravan walking toward the US border. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi has emerged as a premier centre for engineering and research, fulfilling the aspirations of people of the region, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday. In his message on the sixth convocation of the institute in the hill-state of Himachal Pradesh, Modi stressed that it was one of the youngest IITs in the country as he congratulated the graduating students. The prime minister's message was read out by IIT Mandi director Timothy A. Gonsalves at the function. On the occasion, degrees were conferred upon a total of 211 students including 29 PhD scholars, 11 MS (by Research), 28 MSc (Chemistry), 11 MSc Mathematics, 20 MTech and 112 BTech students. The number of Research Scholars graduating this year increased to 40 from last year's 31. Delivering the chief guest address, Padma Shri Ashok Jhunjhunwala, Institute Professor, IIT Madras, said, "A lot has to be done in the area of energy-storage to enable renewables to become the dominant source of energy for the nation and the world." "And the students could dream of a fossil-free future, probably the only way the earth will have a future," he added. He further stated that most of India's vehicles would be running on electric power by around 2030. Presenting the annual report, Gonsalves said, "We now have a total of 1,276 students including 274 Ph.D., 46 M.S. and 17 I-Ph.D. Research Scholars." "In the 2017-18 placement season, 58 companies visited our campus at Kamand, which is the highest ever at our Institute till now. Among these companies more than 83 per cent were core companies," he said. IIT Mandi researchers published 292 peer-reviewed articles during the Academic Year 2017-18, he added. Subodh Bhargava, Chairman, Board of Governors, IIT Mandi, said, "This year faculty members visited SAARC countries to recruit students." "IIT Mandi has also been appointed the nodal Institute for collaboration with German universities in the recently launched 'Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration' (SPARC) by the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development." he added. The Guest of Honour Sonam Wangchuk, Reformer and Founding Director, Students' Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), said, Mountains have a lot of problems. It is an asset that an institute like yours is in the mountains... Youngsters should come up with solutions. Wangchuk was presented the Award of 'Eminent Technologist of the Himalayan Region 2018' during the convocation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China said on Monday that Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's maiden visit to Beijing this week will open a new chapter in the all-weather bilateral relations, amid reports of his plans to downsize the CPEC projects and seek Chinese loans to avoid the IMF bailout. Khan will arrive here on November 2, his first visit to China since he assumed the office in August. He will hold meetings with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang and the two sides will review the entire range of bilateral relations. "You know that this is Prime Minister Imran Khan's first visit to China after assuming the office. This will provide an opportunity for the leaders of our two countries to open a new chapter of the development of bilateral relations under the new circumstances," Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told the media here. Lu said the USD 60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has achieved fruitful outcome and "our friendship has become ever deeper to deeper". The CPEC is the flagship venture of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a pet project of President Xi aimed at enhancing Beijing's influence around the world through China-funded infrastructure projects. Khan is visiting China amid anxieties here over his government's plans to downsize some of the projects like USD eight billion Karachi-Peshawar railway line by about USD two billion. Cash-strapped Pakistan has also approached International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a bailout package but Khan has said his country need not approach the international lender as his government is consulting some friendly countries and seeking their help. An assessment by the State Bank of Pakistan and the Finance Ministry showed that Pakistan needed USD 11.7 billion to service its external debt in current fiscal year 2018-19. The IMF also wants to scrutinise the CPEC projects. During his recent visit to Saudi Arabia, Khan secured USD three billion loan assistance and differed oil payment to the tune of USD three billion. Reports from Pakistan say he may seek more loans from China to tide over cash crunch back home. "We hope the two sides can take this visit as an opportunity to deepen our cooperation across the board and to move forward all-weather cooperative partnership," Lu said. He said apart from official events in Beijing, Khan will also travel to Shanghai to attend the first China International Import Expo on November 4. "I want to stress that China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic cooperative partners. Our friendship date back to long time and our two sides enjoy very strong political mutual trust," Lu said. The bilateral relations will not be affected by changing international situation and the domestic situation, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India and Japan on Monday decided to cooperate for the first time in the areas of Indian traditional medicinal systems such as Yoga and Ayurveda to provide holistic healthcare and wellness in both the countries. The Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) between India's Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) and the Kanagawa Prefectural Government was signed during the ongoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Japan. The MOC will also complement another MoC to promote cooperation in the areas of National Health Protection Mission. "The MoC will complement another MoC concluded during the visit between Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of India and the Office of Healthcare policy of the Cabinet Office of Japan & Japan's Ministry of Health. It aims to promote cooperation in the areas identified under the National Health Protection Mission, such as primary healthcare, prevention of non-communicable diseases, sanitation, hygiene, nutrition and elderly care," said a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs. Modi is in Japan to attend the 13th India-Japan annual summit. During the Governor of Kanagawa, Mr Yuji Kutoiwa's call on PM, the two sides discussed the potential to integrate Japan's Artificial lntelligence technologies and innovation with India's healthcare initiatives, the statement said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India and Qatar on Monday decided to establish a joint commission to regularly review all the bilateral matters, as well as regional and global issues of mutual interest. A joint declaration to establish the joint commission between the two nations was released during the ongoing first visit of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to Qatar. The inter-ministerial High Level Joint Committee will be tasked to strengthen the relations between the two countries particularly in the economic, commercial, cultural, scientific, technological, information technology and educational fields, the ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. The commission will be responsible for following up the implementation of the agreements concluded between the two countries and finding suitable solutions for the resulting problems of the implementation thereof. "Facilitating the exchange of information and expertise and encouraging bilateral consultation in service of cooperation between the two countries," the statement said. The joint commission will be co-chaired by the Ministers of External Affairs and Foreign Affairs of the two countries or their representatives and may include in its membership representatives of the sectors concerned with the bilateral cooperation in both the countries. The JC will also hold a meeting at a time agreed by both countries alternately in each country. Extraordinary session may be held at the consent of both the countries. "The joint commission may, when necessary, form subordinate committees or permanent or temporary joint working groups to discharge specific tasks within their mandates," the statement said. "These subordinate committees and joint working groups will present their recommendations to the Joint Commission for consideration," it added. The draft agenda for each meeting will be decided by consultation between the two countries through diplomatic channels in advance of the respective meeting. The scope of cooperation under this joint declaration may be modified with mutual written consent of both the countries. 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 Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani 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 in the Gulf country. Qatar is a reliable energy partner, supplying more than 50 per cent of India's natural gas imports, it 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.) Indian companies' in their overseas ventures fell by 47 per cent to $1.54 billion in September 2018, Reserve Bank data showed. Indian had invested $2.91 billion in their joint ventures (JVs) and wholly-owned subsidiaries (WoS) abroad during September 2017. In August, the by domestic in overseas firms was a mere $992.14 million. Of the total $1.54 billion in September, $950.82 million was in the form of loans, $251.84 million was infused as equity capital and $352.08 million was through the issuance of guarantees, RBI data on outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) showed. Major investors included UPL, which pumped in $408.12 million in its wholly-owned subsidiary in Mauritius, Sanmar Group International infused $77.55 million in WoS in Switzerland and put in $74.87 million in five tranches in its wholly-owned unit and joint ventures located in the US, Italy and Chile. KEC International invested $71.35 million in a JV in Saudi Arabia; Ltd $59.37 million in its joint-ventures in Russia and Vietnam and Sage Metals put $33.50 million in a wholly-owned unit in the US. India and Japan Monday concluded one of the largest bilateral currency swap agreements at USD 75 billion that will help in bringing greater stability in foreign exchange and capital markets in the country. The agreement will further strengthen and widen the depth and diversity of economic cooperation between the two nations. "With a view to enhancing financial and economic cooperation, governments of Japan and India welcomed the agreement to conclude a Bilateral Swap Arrangement (BSA) of USD 75 billion," said India-Japan Vision Statement. The statement was released after India-Japan Annual Summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe in Tokyo. Commenting on the development, Economic Affairs Secretary S C Garg said in a tweet: "Bilateral swap arrangement with Japan for USD 75 billion is one of the largest swap arrangements in the world. "Accepting Japanese request, India agreed to do away with requirement of mandatory hedging for infrastructure ECBs of 5 years or more minimum average maturity". The finance ministry said the currency swap agreement should "aid in bringing greater stability to foreign exchange and capital markets in India...This facility will enable the agreed amount of foreign capital being available to India for use as and when need arises". The facility will also help in bringing down the cost of capital for Indian entities while accessing foreign capital market, it added. Recognising the unparalleled potential for development of relations between the two countries, Modi and Abe reviewed the significant milestones achieved over the last four years and outlined a shared vision for the future of India-Japan relations. The two leaders remain committed to synergising India's demographic dividend and Japan's capital and technology to realise the true potential of the India-Japan economic partnership for a prosperous future. "In this regard, India welcomed Japan's strong support for key transformational initiatives such as Make in India, Skill India and Clean India Mission, through sharing of resources and advanced technologies, and active mobilisation of Japanese public and private sector investments," said the vision document. The two leaders "reviewed with satisfaction" the progress made, including the signing of the Exchange of Notes for yen loan, on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high speed rail project, which is an important symbol of India-Japan collaboration. They also welcomed the continued cooperation on metro projects which support smarter development of Indian cities. "India further appreciated Japan's role in promoting connectivity through quality infrastructure projects such as the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor and the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor," said the vision document. Modi and Abe welcomed the expansion of Japan's FDI in India under the "India-Japan Investment Promotion Partnership, the progress made in Japan Industrial Townships (JIT) and other initiatives included in the Japan-India Roadmap for Investment Promotion. Both leaders welcomed the launching of a comprehensive India-Japan Digital Partnership with a vision to develop IoT and AI solutions for societal benefits and explore collaboration in emerging technologies by utilising 'Japan-India StartUp Hub' in Bengaluru and NASSCOM's IT corridor project in Hiroshima Prefecture. Recognising the close cooperation in IPR between the Intellectual Property Offices of the two countries, the leaders concurred to start a bilateral Patent Prosecution Highway programme on a pilot basis in certain identified fields of inventions in the first quarter of FY 2019. On currency swap pact, the finance ministry said the arrangement is expected to help in containing the current account deficit and rupee volatility. It further said the government has taken various measures to attract foreign capital, like relaxing the external borrowing norms, issuance of off-shore Masala bonds and hiking import duty on non-essential items. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The government, for the third time, is expected to postpone the deadline for the imposition of higher customs duties on 29 US products, including almond, walnut and pulses, by another 45 days, an official said. The commerce ministry has asked its finance counterpart to extend the deadline for the rollout of duty hike further and a notification in this regard will be issued soon, the official added. In June, India decided to impose retaliatory tariffs from August 4. But it was extended by another 45 days till September 18 and then till November 2. The duty hike move by India was in retaliation to US President Donald Trump's March 9 decision to impose heavy tariffs on imported steel and aluminium items. Senior officials of India and the US are in discussions to finalise a kind of trade deal. Both the sides holding two track discussions -- to increase trade in short and medium term, and identify long-term trade potentials. India is pressing for exemption from high duty imposed by the US on certain steel and aluminium products, resumption of export benefits to certain domestic products under their generalised system of preferences (GSP), greater market access for its products from sectors, including agriculture, automobile, auto components and engineering. As many as 3,500 Indian products from sectors such as chemicals and engineering get duty-free access to the US market under the GSP, introduced in 1976. On the other hand, the US is demanding greater market access for its farm and manufacturing products, including medical devices. As part of the imposition of higher import duties, New Delhi has notified higher tariffs on several products. While import duty on walnut is to be hiked to 120 per cent from 30 per cent, duty on chickpeas, Bengal gram (chana) and masur dal will be hiked to 70 per cent from 30 per cent. Levy on lentils will be hiked to 40 per cent from 30 per cent. Other products which would attract higher duties include boric acid, phosphoric acid, diagnostic reagent, flat-rolled products of iron, certain flat-rolled products of stainless steel. India's exports to the US in 2017-18 stood at $47.9 billion, while imports were $26.7 billion. The trade balance is in favour of India. The Indian Army has targeted Pakistani military administrative headquarters across the Line of Control in retaliation to the recent shelling in Poonch and Jhallas, security officials said Monday. The Army retaliated in the Khuiratta and Samani areas of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), they said. The Pakistani army had shelled the brigade headquarters and other Indian military formations in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch on October 23. "In response to Pakistani army's firing of stray shells on Poonch and Jhallas on October 23, 2018, the Indian Army has sent a strong signal by firing at Pakistani army administrative headquarters... and the residents of border villages also reported that they could see smoke emanating," the officials said. Following the shelling in Poonch, the Indian Army has in its "strong signal" to Pakistan, fired on its army administrative headquarters in PoK, they said. Quoting information received from across the border, the officials claimed that several photographs "stood testimony" to the reports of border villagers that they had seen smoke emanating from the Pakistani headquarters after the Indian military's retaliatory action. They said the Indian Army has exercised maximum restraint, despite continuous provocation by the Pakistani army. The Army has avoided targeting civilian population living in the close proximity of the Line of Control (LoC) in PoK areas such as Hajira, BandiGopalpur, Nikial, Samani and Khuiratta, the officials said. Following the 2016 surgical strikes, the pressure on the Pakistani army was kept across the LoC through "proactive and precise targeting" by the Indian Army, they said The officials claimed that against the more than 138 fatal casualties suffered by the Pakistani army in the area in 2017, the numbers reduced to half till May 2018 after the neighbouring nation was forced to request for a ceasefire in the face of mounting deaths and injuries. They also highlighted the recent killing of two Pakistan Border Action Team personnel in the Sunderbani sector on October21 and the country's refusal to accept their bodies. "Deprivation and penury of locals of PoK suits the Pakistan army that while ensconced in the safety of theirposts, use these unwitting and brainwashed youths as cannon fodder for actions along the LoC, a cowardly and unprofessional modus operandi for any self respecting army," the officials said. "These acts of the Pakistan army are accentuated by their propensity in refusing to acknowledge and accept the dead bodies of their soldiers as also of terrorists, each time the terrorists are neutralised in operations along the LoC or the hinterland," they said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India, the world's biggest exporter of rice, on Monday made a big pitch to export its rice varieties to China and urged it to open up its USD 2 billion rice import market based on an agreement signed between the two nations during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to China in June. A protocol on the exports of non-Basmati Rice from India to China was signed in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping during their meeting at Qingdao in June on the sideline of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit. Subsequently, the Chinese authorities visited India to inspect the rice mills and last week approved 24 Indian rice mills for exports of rice to China, the Indian Embassy here said in a statement. Out of the 24 approved mills, six attended a seminar and business to business meeting. In which 44 Chinese importers including China National Cereals, Oils and Foodstuffs Corporation (COFCO) took part. The China Chamber of Commerce of Foodstuffs and Native Products (CFNA) partnered with the Indian Embassy for the event. With world class quality and cost competitiveness, India has emerged as the biggest exporter of rice in the world, Prashant Lokhande, Economic and Commercial Counsellor at the Indian Embassy, said outlining the nature of the bilateral trade and prospects of exports of Indian rice. Thanking the Chinese authorities for opening up non-basmati rice imports from India, he hoped to have significant quantities of rice shipped to China at the earliest to cater to USD 1.5 billion to USD 2 billion rice import market of China, the statement from the embassy said. Bian Zhenhu, the president of CFNA, expressed satisfaction on the growth of bilateral trade between the two countries. A K Gupta of the Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, said that though India exports more than 12 million MT of rice every year, none comes to China. He appealed Chinese importers to try rich varieties of Indian rice which can suit all tastes and requirements including as ingredient in the processed food, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Fourth seed Raegan Alburquerque failed to clear the final hurdle, going down fighting to China's Ding Shixian 8-11, 12-10, 11-13, 9-11, 11-13 in the Junior Boys final at the Egypt Open in Sharm El Sheikh. The unseeded Chinese, making his maiden international appearance, conceded the second game before wrapping it up for an excellent career beginning and forcing the Indian to settle with a silver. Having accounted for host nation's Marwan Abdelwahab 11-7, 14-12, 7-11, 11-3, 14-12 in the semifinals on Sunday, Raegan was expected to make use of the opportunity later in the evening. Though his start was not as good as he would have wanted, he did manage to take the second game. The 14-year-old Chinese, playing cautiously and maintaining his form, won several crucial points to upset the Indian's attacking style of game. Ding won two vital games, the third and the fifth, on extended points for the title. In Mini Cadet Boys singles, Vishal Rajveer Shah defeated Badr Mostafa of Egypt in another straight game final to claim the title. The Indian won 11-6, 11-6, 11-7. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indian pilot Bhavye Suneja died on Monday after the Indonesian plane he captained with 188 passengers and crew on board the budget carrier crashed in the Java Sea, Indian Embassy here confirmed. Suneja, 31, was flying the Lion Air flight JT610 which lost contact with the ground officials 13 minutes after taking off from Jakarta Soekarno Hatta International Airport. The Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft en-route to Pangkal Pinang city crashed near Kerawang, 32 miles east of Jakarta. "Our deepest condolences on the tragic loss of lives in the Lion Air Plane crash, off the coast of Jakarta today. Most unfortunate that Indian Pilot Bhavye Suneja who was flying JT610 also lost his life," Indian Embassy in Indonesia said in a tweet. "Embassy is in touch with Crisis Center and coordinating for all assistance," it said. The flight carried 178 adults, 1 child and 2 infants. The plane also had 3 crew under training and 1 technician, the statement said. The aircraft was commanded by Captain Suneja and co-pilot Harvino with six cabin crew members. Suneja has 6,000 flight hours and the co-pilot more than 5,000 flight hours, the airline said in a statement. Captain Suneja was a resident of Jakarta. He is originally from New Delhi and attended Ahlcon Public School in East Delhi's Mayur Vihar. According to his Linkedin profile, he had been working at Lion Air since March 2011 and was also a trainee pilot with Emirates from September and December 2010. The plane was delivered in August and had 800 hours of flying time. It sank in waters about 30 to 35 metres depth, north of the coast of Java island. The aircraft was declared operationally feasible, the airline statement said. Preliminary flight tracking data from the Flightradar website, which tracks air traffic in real time from all around the world, showed the aircraft climbed to around 5,000 feet before losing, and then regaining, height, before finally falling towards the sea. It was last recorded at 3,650 feet and its speed had increased to 345 knots, the website showed. The agency's chief Muhammad Syaugi told a conference that divers were trying to locate the wreckage. The top priority for investigators will be finding the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder to help determine the cause, a media report said, quoting safety experts. The pilots had asked to turn back to airport shortly before losing contact with air traffic control, the report said, quoting spokesman for Indonesia's air navigation authorities. Privately owned budget carrier Lion Air was founded in 1999 and its only fatal accident to date was when a MD-82 crashed upon landing at Solo City in 2004, killing 25 of the 163 people on board, according to the Flight Safety Foundation's Aviation Safety Network. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indian pilot Bhavye Suneja died on Monday after the Indonesian plane he captained with 189 passengers and crew on board the budget carrier crashed in the Java Sea, Indian Embassy here confirmed. Suneja, 31, was flying the Lion Air flight JT610 which lost contact with the ground officials 13 minutes after taking off from Jakarta Soekarno Hatta International Airport. The Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft en-route to Pangkal Pinang city crashed near Kerawang, 32 miles east of Jakarta. "Our deepest condolences on the tragic loss of lives in the Lion Air Plane crash, off the coast of Jakarta today. Most unfortunate that Indian Pilot Bhavye Suneja who was flying JT610 also lost his life," Indian Embassy in Indonesia said in a tweet. "Embassy is in touch with Crisis Center and coordinating for all assistance," it said. According to media reports, all 189 passengers and crew are feared dead. "My thoughts are with the families and friends of those who lost their lives in the plane crash in Indonesia. May Almighty give them strength and courage in this hour of grief," tweeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi who was in Japan for a bilateral summit with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe. The flight carried 178 adults, 1 child and 2 infants. The plane also had 3 crew under training and 1 technician, the airline said in a statement. The aircraft was commanded by Captain Suneja and co-pilot Harvino with six cabin crew members. Suneja has 6,000 flight hours and the co-pilot more than 5,000 flight hours, it said. Captain Suneja was a resident of Jakarta. He is originally from New Delhi and attended Ahlcon Public School in East Delhi's Mayur Vihar. According to his Linkedin profile, he had been working at Lion Air since March 2011 and was also a trainee pilot with Emirates from September and December 2010. The plane was delivered in August and had 800 hours of flying time. It sank in waters about 30 to 35 metres depth, north of the coast of Java island. The aircraft was declared operationally feasible, the airline statement said. Preliminary flight tracking data from the Flightradar website, which tracks air traffic in real time from all around the world, showed the aircraft climbed to around 5,000 feet before losing, and then regaining, height, before finally falling towards the sea. It was last recorded at 3,650 feet and its speed had increased to 345 knots, the website showed. The agency's chief Muhammad Syaugi told a conference that divers were trying to locate the wreckage. The top priority for investigators will be finding the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder to help determine the cause, a media report said, quoting safety experts. The pilots had asked to turn back to airport shortly before losing contact with air traffic control, the report said, quoting spokesman for Indonesia's air navigation authorities. Privately owned budget carrier Lion Air was founded in 1999 and its only fatal accident to date was when a MD-82 crashed upon landing at Solo City in 2004, killing 25 of the 163 people on board, according to the Flight Safety Foundation's Aviation Safety Network. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) / -- Initiative taken in collaboration with NIIT Foundation to promote digital literacy To impact 48,000 lives across 12 villages in VadodaraReaffirming its commitment towards improving the quality of education in rural India as part of the National Digital Literacy Mission, Indus Towers, the world's largest telecom tower company (outside China), today unveiled a Digital Transformation Van (DTV) in Vadodara to promote digital literacy in rural areas. The DTV was flagged off by Dr. Jigeeshaben Jatinbhai Sheth, Mayor, Vadodara Municipal Corporation. The event was also graced by the presence of dignitaries including Shri Ajay Bhadoo (IAS), VMC Commissioner, Shri Satish Patel, Standing Committee Chairman and Shri Sudhir Patel, CEO Vadodara Smart City. Launched in association with NIIT Foundation, the initiative to launch the digital literacy program has been taken by Shri Manish Kumar S. Bhatt, IT Director that seeks to contribute towards making Vadodara as the knowledge hub of Gujarat. (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/776083/Indus_Towers_DTVan.jpg ) The 20-seater solar-power enabled bus showcased today will act as a digital classroom equipped with computing and printing technology, software and e-learning tools to empower the rural population with technology skills. The program will have five components, namely Digital literacy as part of the National digital literacy mission, IT education, Entrepreneurship development program, Common Public utility services and Video conferencing consultation. Through this initiative, Indus Towers in association with NIIT Foundation aims to reach out to 48,000 lives across 12 villages in Vadodara. Under the program, digital literacy will be provided to 100 children/adults, IT literacy to 40 people, entrepreneurship development training to 20 people, video conferencing sessions to 700 beneficiaries and online services through Common Service Center (CSC) to 2000 beneficiaries per month per village. To further develop capacity building in digital literacy, NIIT will also certify the beneficiaries who have completed all the courses, which will make them eligible for other high level courses and host of other benefits. Commenting on the inauguration, Nishith Dave, CEO-Gujarat Circle, Indus Towers, said that, "Promoting education is the first step towards transforming a society and at Indus Towers we are extremely proud to be working towards it in collaboration with the NIIT Foundation. Through this initiative, we aim to impart and benefit thousands of lives and help them enrich the present-day advancements of learning, seeking information around the globe and gaining additional knowledge across sectors." Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Jigeeshaben Jatinbhai Sheth, Mayor, Vadodara Municipal Corporation, said that, "We strongly believe that knowledge is the key to transformation, and it is indeed a moment of pride that we have been able to successfully launch the Digital Transformation Van to promote quality digital education in the state." Vadodara is fast becoming the knowledge capital of Gujarat and is on its way to become an IT hub. The initiative launched by Indus today will help spread digital literacy awareness, education and create capacity building that will help rural and the under-served communities to fully participate in the global digital economy. About Indus Towers Limited Indus Towers Limited is an independently managed company offering passive telecom infrastructure to all telecom operators. Indus is headquartered in the National Capital Region. Founded in 2007, Indus Towers Limited has been promoted under a joint venture amongst (i) Bharti Infratel Limited (group company of Bharti Airtel limited, rendering telecom services in India under the brand name Airtel), (ii) Vodafone India Limited (group company of Vodafone Group- UK) rendering telecom services in India under the brand name Vodafone, since merged with Idea Cellular Limited and (iii) Aditya Birla Telecom Limited (group company of Idea Cellular Limited, now re-named as Vodafone Idea Limited) which created history by collaborating to share telecom towers & infrastructure. Indus has presence in 15 telecom circles of India and has achieved over 2,78,408 tenancies till date. With the current count of over 1,23,639 towers, Indus has the widest coverage in India and is also the largest telecom tower company in the world (outside China). Indus Towers has been actively involved in developing scalable models for smart cities. The company's approach is to enable the integration of the digital infrastructure with the existing infrastructure. Recently, the company executed Smart Poles project for NDMC as part of its efforts to make Delhi a smart city. Indus' vision of "Transforming Lives by Enabling Communication" is setting a new paradigm for a networked economy, on a world leading scale, whereby there is inclusive and impactful growth for all. For any further information please visit the website http://www.industowers.com About NIIT Foundation: NIIT Foundation (NF) is a not-for-profit education society set up by the promoters of NIIT in 2004. Its mission is to positively impact the underprivileged of the country through its educational processes and also by providing them employability skills that betters their job prospects. Towards that, NF runs various grass roots initiatives by setting up skill development centers in urban and rural areas, installing hole-in-the-wall learning stations to bridge the digital divide, industry tie-ups for job placement of the underprivileged youth and supporting other NGOs through capacity building. NF brings professional skill set to the CSR domain and partners with corporates to implement their CSR projects. NF's vision refined and revisited in 2017 is 'We will use skilling and education to show demonstrable, deep impact in every underserved community we work in.' NF has chosen to show this deep impact on communities by ensuring that every NF student becomes a change maker - A change-maker is someone who takes responsibility of self, her/his family and the community. These are three levels where she/he exhibits leadership abilities and brings about a change. The mission is to create 500,000 change makers by 2020. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) : An Israeli delegation, led by Consul General of Israel to South India, Dana Kursh, Monday discussed setting up of the two proposed centres of excellence in Tamil Nadu, with state agriculture minister R Doraikkanu. During the brief interaction at the Secretariat, the officials held discussion on setting up these Centres at Krishnagiri and Dindigul and how assistance from Israel can benefit farmers in Tamil Nadu, an official release said. India has chosen Israel as a strategic partner in the field of agriculture. The partnership evolved into Indo-Israel Agricultural project, based on a MoU signed by the respective agricultural ministers of India and Israel in 2006. The partnership also envisages setting up Centres of Excellence in various States on crop diversity, increasing productivity and efficient water management. In Tamil Nadu, the proposed Centres for Excellence is expected to come up in Krishnagiri and Dindigul, respectively. It would be the first agro-technology development centre to be established in State with support from Isreal. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Israeli minister Miri Regev on Monday shared a video on Facebook of her touring a famed mosque in the United Arab Emirates, in an unprecedented visit by a cabinet member. The culture and sport minister, known for controversial comments about Arabs, was dressed in a red abaya with a white scarf covering her hair at Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. "I toured the site," Regev told the camera, in Hebrew, surrounded by a group of people in traditional Emirati dress. "This is the first time that an Israeli minister is here on a visit." Regev, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party, visited the mosque on Sunday, according to her spokesman. Her country does not have diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates. Israeli officials publicly toured landmark sites in the UAE at the weekend, the first such visit, days after Netanyahu travelled to the neighbouring Gulf state of Oman. The delegation, which includes the country's communications minister, was in Dubai for the International Telecommunication Union Plenipotentiary Conference this week. "We arrived the day (Sunday) before the conference. We went around the town, and we visited the mall," a member of the delegation told AFP. "We were impressed, and we didn't expect the town to be like this, this beautiful," she said on condition of anonymity. The visit came a day after Israel's national anthem was played at a judo tournament in Abu Dhabi after one of its athletes won gold - believed to be the first time the anthem has been played publicly in an Arab Gulf state. Netanyahu visited Oman on Thursday for talks with the country's ruler, Sultan Qaboos, on regional security issues, according to official statements by both countries. And at a cabinet meeting on Sunday, Netanyahu said of his Oman visit: "There will be more." Israeli Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz is scheduled to visit Oman next week for a transportation conference, according to his office. Netanyahu has long sought a rapprochement with other Arab states, citing in part concerns over their common enemy Iran. But Israel currently has full diplomatic relations with only two Arab states, Egypt and Jordan, as Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory remains a major obstacle to official recognition by Arab countries. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte will be on a day-long maiden visit to India on Tuesday during which he will hold talks with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi to boost cooperation in key areas such as trade and investment, besides participating in the India-Italy Technology Summit. The highlight of the visit will be the Italian prime minister's participation at the 24th edition of the India-Italy Technology Summit which is being organised by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) in partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). The summit will focus on a number of areas including healthcare, aerospace, education, clean technology, renewable energy and information and communication technology. During the Conte-Modi talks, focus is expected to be on discussing ways to boost trade and investment. The bilateral trade between the countries increased to USD 10.5 billion in 2017-18 from USD 8.8 billion in the previous fiscal. Italy is India's fifth largest trading partner in the European Union and the annual trade turnover between the two countries was USD 10.4 billion in 2017-18. Over 600 Italian companies are operating in India. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Monday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made "mistakes" on Jammu and Kashmir, as a result of which the state is "on fire". Addressing a public meeting here, Gandhi also alleged that the 'One-Rank, One-Pension' scheme has not been implemented so far and the prime minister was speaking "lies" on the issue. He said a couple of days back, a delegation of ex- servicemen met him and said they had trusted Modi over OROP but were "disappointed" now. The prime minister "claims that OROP has been implemented. He speaks lies. OROP has not been implemented so far. Modi ji claims but ex-servicemen said it was not executed," the Congress leader said. Referring to Jammu and Kashmir, he said the state is "on fire" right now, apparently referring to the latest killings in the state by the terrorists. The Modi government "opened the doors of J&K for terrorists. No politician was martyred in J&K but army men are laying their lives there because of Narendra Modi's mistakes," Gandhi said. "The prime minister talks about surgical strike, army, navy but doesn't talk about army men. He makes claims. At least, tell us what you did about those who carried out the surgical strike (of September 2016)," he said. Taking a jibe at Modi for his remark that "selling of pakoda is also a job", Gandhi said, "If you fry pakodas, then BJP will take away the money of the oil. Moreover, it will eat fried pakodas." He also alleged that Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had allowed indebted liquor baron Vijay Mallya escape from the country. "Mallya had a meeting for 40 minutes with Arun Jaitley before leaving the country. FM has the government agencies under him and he could have informed him," Gandhi said. Jaitley has already rubbished the allegations. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) on Monday backed India's membership bid to join the elite (NSG), which is opposed by China. and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe during their summit talks also sought "expeditious and meaningful" reforms of the "After India's full accession to three export control regimes, the two leaders pledged to continue working together for India's membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, with the aim of strengthening the global non-proliferation efforts," according to the India- Vision Statement issued after the talks. India is already a member of the Australia Group, the Wassenaar Arrangement and the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). "India and seek expeditious and meaningful reforms of the United Nations, in particular the comprehensive reform of the Security Council (UNSC), to make it more legitimate, effective and representative, taking into account the contemporary realities of the 21st century," it said. India, Japan, Brazil and Germany have formed the G4 grouping to support each other's bids for permanent seats on the Security Council. The two leaders also expressed their determination to accelerate the process of UN reforms, including the launch of text-based negotiations in the intergovernmental negotiations in the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly, it added. Modi and Abe welcomed recent developments in the Korean Peninsula, including the US-North Korea Summit at Singapore in June and three inter-Korean Summits this year as a step towards the comprehensive resolution of the outstanding issues regarding North Korea. ALSO READ: India deserves to be in NSG, still not there due to China's opposition: US "They underscored the importance of realising North Korea's complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of all weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles of all ranges in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs)," the statement said. The two leaders underscored the importance of addressing concerns related to North Korea's proliferation linkages. "They reaffirmed their commitment to the full implementation of the relevant UNSCRs. They also urged North Korea to address the earliest resolution of the abductions issue," the statement said. Prime Minister Abe stressed the importance of early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). China has been stridently opposing India's bid primarily on the grounds that New Delhi is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Its opposition has made India's entry into the group difficult as the works on the principle of consensus. China's repeated stonewalling on India's membership bid in the has become a major stumbling block in bilateral relations. After India's application for entry into the elite group which controls nuclear trade, Pakistan, China's all-weather ally, too had applied with the tacit backing of Beijing, which is a key member of the NSG. The 48-member grouping seeks to limit the export of nuclear equipment, materials or technology. Jessica Williams is set to lead the cast of "Four Weddings and a Funeral", a series being developed by Mindy Kaling. The "2 Dope Queens" star will play Jess, a young communications director for a New York senatorial campaign, who receives a wedding invitation from her college schoolmate now living in London, EW reported. The official synopsis of the project from Kaling and fellow Mindy Project alum Matt Warburton further reads: "Jess leaves her professional and personal life behind, in favour of travelling to England and reconnecting with old friends and ends up in the midst of their personal crises. "Relationships are forged and broken, political scandals exposed, London social life lampooned, love affairs ignited and doused, and of course there are four weddings... and a funeral." The Hulu show will be an anthology series remake of the 1994 romantic comedy of the same name. Similar to the film, the series will follow a group of friends as their lives intersect through the five events. Each season will revolve around a different story arc. Kaling will pen the remake with "Mindy Project" showrunner Matt Warburton. Nikesh Patel, Rebecca Rittenhouse and John Reynolds are also part of the cast. The show is expected to debut next year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Jharkhand government is hoping to attract investments in agriculture and food processing sectors from companies based in West Bengal, officials said. "We are confident in getting investment from this state (West Bengal). ITC already has atta making facility and wants to expand. Keventor Agro also expressed keenness to invest," Jharkhand department of industries secretary Vinay K Choubey said on the sidelines of a roadshow on Monday. Jharkhand is organising a two-day Global Agriculture & Food Summit 2018 on November 29-30 in Ranchi. "We are holding one-on-one meeting with 32 companies of this state," he said. Jharkhand is aiming to become a major food processing hub in India and has opened doors to investors from West Bengal and other parts of the country, Jharkhand agriculture secretary Pooja Singhal said. She said currently, agriculture contribute 12-13 per cent of state GDP and the government and is keen on increasing farmers' income. Officials said the state has 212 food processing units and will be inaugurating 50 more next month. Choubey said China will be the partner country for the summit and a delegation of 20 companies from Hunan province is slated to attend and evaluate opportunities in Jharkhand. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Auto parts manufacturer ZF Steering Gear has fired 236 employees after they were found guilty of going on mass leave for more than six weeks without any prior intimation. The company said it terminated the employment contract of 236 engineers after they proceeded on en masse leave from December 2, 2017 till about January 19, 2018 without showing any 'sufficient cause'. Germany-based ZF Steering Gear manufactures and supplies ball and nut integral hydraulic power and roller mechanical steering system at its plant near Pune. Its clients include Ashok Leyland, Tata Motors, Volvo Group, AMW Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, among others. The company said that following this 'misconduct', enquiry proceedings were initiated and an enquiry officer was appointed to investigate the charges of 'misconduct' leveled against those employees. "The enquiry proceedings were conducted in fair and just manner and following all the principles of natural justice. The concerned employees were found guilty of misconduct in the said proceedings," it said in a release. The auto parts maker said it held several rounds of discussion with the concerned employees but no solution emerged. "The Company finally decided to terminate the employment of these 236 employees with effect from 26/27th October, 2018. All the concerned employees have been paid their due amount under the provisions of law," it added. Bangladesh's ailing former prime minister Khaleda Zia suffered a major setback on Monday when a court here jailed her to seven years in a second corruption case for embezzling millions from a charitable trust in her late husband's name, ahead of general elections. Zia, 73, is already behind bars after being handed a five-year term in February in another case related to embezzlement of funds of an orphanage named after her husband late president Ziaur Rahman. The latest sentence, which comes ahead of general elections in December, is related the Zia Charitable Trust. According to the case, Zia and three others abused their power and collected USD 375,000 for the trust from unknown sources. Judge Mohammad Akhtaruzzaman announced the verdict from the temporary premises of the court at the old central prison at Dhaka's Nazimuddin Road. The final trial proceedings in the case went ahead in the absence of Zia, the leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), after the prison authorities repeatedly failed to bring her to the court. She had recently complained to the court that she was losing feeling in her hand and in a leg. The Zia Charitable Trust graft case was filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission in 2011. Zia's former political affairs secretary Harris Chowdhury, his former aide and former Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority acting director Ziaul Islam Munna and former Dhaka mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka's personal secretary Monirul Islam Khan are the three others convicted in the case. "All the convicts were also fined Taka 10 lakh (USD 11,784)," chief prosecution lawyer Mosharraf Hossain Kajol said. "The judge simultaneously ordered confiscation of the piece of land in favour of the state," Kajol said. BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir described the verdict as a "politically motivated judgment" and said the party would stage a nationwide protest against it. "BNP is rejecting this judgment," Alamgir said. Earlier in the day, Bangladesh's Supreme Court cleared the way for a lower court to deliver its verdict in the case by rejecting Zia's plea to halt the proceedings. The apex court rejected a leave-to-appeal petition filed by Zia challenging the High Court judgement that allowed a lower court to continue trial in the graft case in her absence. The court on September 20 decided to continue the trial inside the old Dhaka central jail in Zia's absence. The former premier on September 27 filed a revision petition with the High Court (HC) challenging the court's September 20 order. On October 14, the HC rejected the revision petition of Zia and cleared the way for the trial court to continue with its proceedings. Zia had skipped appearances in the case citing illness. On October 6, she was taken to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University hospital, where she is currently receiving treatment. The verdict is crucial as it came ahead of the parliamentary elections in December. Zia's party had boycotted the 2014 elections. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) : Kannur International Airport Ltd Monday said it was KIAL and not the state government which granted landing permission to the chartered aircraft carrying BJP President Amit Shah at that city on October 27, ahead of its formal inauguration on December 9. The clarification came in the wake of the controversy which had erupted over the flight landing ahead of the inauguration date, with a Minister slamming Shah Sunday for threatening to oust the LDF government despite it allowing him to arrive there as part of state's 'tradition of hospitality.' A KIAL release Monday said that since Kannur airport had received license for operations of non-scheduled flights, it can allow any requests for landing of flights,though operation of scheduled flights would commence after December 6. KIAL said the requisite amount for landing of the flight has to be paid to the airport operator, the release said. On that basis, the chartered flight carrying the BJP president was permitted to land at the airport and the necessary charges were also paid. Besides this, two non scheduled flights were also permitted to land. It was KIAL and not the state government which granted permission for the flight to land, the airport authority said. The main opposition Congress had also taken on the LDF government for allowing the BJP chief to use the airport. The party had alleged Sunday that Shah landed at the airport following an 'understanding' between him and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The release said that when the previous Congress led UDF government conducted a trial run of a flight at the airport, most of the infrastructure had not been completed and only 2,300 metres of runway was laid. Work on the runway and safety area, parallel taxiway, airfield ground lighting and ATC tower were among those which had not been completed, the release said. It was only after the LDF government came to power that various works at the airport were completed on a war footing, the release added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The ruling AIADMK Monday asked the 18 disqualified party MLAs siding with rival leader T T V Dhinakaran to "kneel" and "apologise" at the memorial of late Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa in order to return to the party fold. Party mouthpiece 'Namathu Amma' credited the victory of all 18 individuals in the 2016 Assembly polls to the late AIADMK supremo and asked them to "deeply repent" their action of siding with Dhinakaran before returning to the parent organisation. A write-up in the vernacular daily came days after the AIADMK leadership extended an olive branch to the 18 disqualified legislators, asking them to jump on to the ruling party bandwagon, as the ruling party leaders O Panneerselvam and K Palaniswami alleged Dhinakaran of "misleading" them. The disqualified MLAs have "come on the streets" by siding with Dhinakaran and are in a "pitiable situation," it said, adding those who became MLAs because of Jayalalithaa were now virtually reduced to nothing by joining the "wrong camp". "You had deserted the temple called AIADMK and joined AMMK. Whether you went for benefits or unwittingly, this situation has come up because of your veering off the path shown by Amma (Jayalalithaa)," it said. "Deeply repent (your actions). Kneel before Amma (at her memorial at Marina) and seek a tearful apology. Issue an apology letter to the party and return on time," it said. The mouthpiece also recalled that Dhinakaran had been earlier dismissed from the party by Jayalalithaa. The Madras High Court had on October 25 upheld the June 14 order of the then chief justice disqualifying the 18 rebel AIADMK MLAs, in a huge relief to the K Palaniswami government. Justice M Sathyanarayanan had heard the pleas of the rival parties after a bench of then Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M Sundar gave a split verdict on June 14. On Saturday, party coordinator Panneerselvam and joint coordinator Palaniswami had said party functionaries, including the 18 disqualified MLAs, had chosen to travel on an "alternative path as a result of being misled and due to some bitterness". "We invite you with love and affection to join again the massive people's movement nurtured by Puratchi Thalaivar MGR and Puratchi Thalaivi Amma," they had said in an open letter to cadres. However, key Dhinakaran loyalist and one of the disqualified MLAs, P Vetrivel, had ruled out going back to the ruling camp. He had said they would retrieve the AIADMK by going to the people and facing the polls. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With a few days to go for the Kalipuja and Diwali festivities, organisers of the firecracker fair here are now scouting for a new place as the Army was yet to give its nod to hold it in the Kolkata Maidan where it was being held since 1995. The Army is the custodian of Maidan, a large open ground in the heart of the city. The fair is slated to begin from November 1 and the Kalipuja and Diwali would be held on November 6 and 7 respectively. "We are looking for an alternative ground in south Kolkata which will be conveniently located since the consent letter from the Army is yet to arrive," Burrabazar Fireworks Dealers' Association Secretary Chittaranjan Maity said Monday. The association was in touch with the Kolkata Police and Kolkata Municipal Corporation on the issue, Maity told PTI. The response of Army authorities on the issue could not be ascertained. The fair began in the Maidan in 1995 and was being held there since then. Only 44 stalls had come up in the fair last year, down from the number of around 150 stalls a couple of years back, Maity said adding that each stall recorded a daily business of Rs 5-6 lakh in the six-day fair last year. Two other fireworks fairs at Tallah in north Kolkata and Behala in the city's southern fringe would be open from November 1. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a relief to the Maharashtra police, the Supreme Court Monday granted it more time to conclude its probe and file a chargesheet in the Koregaon-Bhima violence case. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi stayed the Bombay High Court order, which had set aside the lower court's verdict allowing extension of time to the police to file the probe report against the rights activists arrested in the case. The bench, also comprising justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph, issued notice to the rights activists on a plea of the Maharashtra government, seeking their replies within two weeks, and stayed the operation of the high court order. The bench considered the submissions of former attorney general and senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, who appeared for the Maharashtra government, that denial of time would entitle the accused to statutory bail due to non-filing of the chargesheet within the stipulated time period of 90 days. Assailing the high court order, Rohatgi said the investigating officer (IO) of the case had filed the application seeking extension of time for filing the chargesheet before the trial court and the same was endorsed by the public prosecutor as well. Senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi opposed the submissions, saying the high court had rightly held that filing of such applications was illegal as such pleas were filed by the public prosecutor independently, after taking note of the IO's requirement. The bench stayed the order, paving the way for extension of time to file the chargesheet in the case. Meanwhile, the bench also issued notice on another plea of the Maharasthra police challenging the Delhi High Court order quashing the transit remand in the case of activist Gautam Navlakha. Rohatgi said the Delhi High Court should not have entertained the habeas corpus (bring the body) writ petition in the case as the apex court had ordered the house arrest of the accused. "How can there be a habeas corpus petition when the Supreme Court is saying they will be kept in house arrest," he said. Earlier, the apex court had refused to interfere with the arrest of five rights activists by the Maharashtra police in connection with the Koregaon-Bhima violence case and declined to appoint a special investigation team (SIT) for a probe into their arrest. The Pune police had arrested lawyer Surendra Gadling, Nagpur University professor Shoma Sen, Dalit activist Sudhir Dhawale, activist Mahesh Raut and Kerala native Rona Wilson in June for their alleged links with Maoists under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The arrests had followed raids at their residences and offices in connection with the Elgar Parishad conclave held in Pune on December 31 last year, which the police had claimed had led to violence at Koregaon-Bhima the next day. The Maharashtra government had moved the apex court on October 25, challenging the Bombay High Court order by which the extension of time granted to the state police to conclude the probe in the case was set aside. In the previous hearing, the bench had considered the submissions of lawyer Nishant Katneshwar, who appeared for the Maharashtra government, that the appeal needed to be heard on an urgent basis. The lawyer had said if the high court order was not stayed, the accused in the case would be entitled to statutory bail for the non-filing of the chargesheet within the stipulated period. Under the UAPA, a chargesheet must be filed within 90 days of arrest. However, the prosecutor can file a report before the trial court, explaining the reasons for the delay, and seek more time. If satisfied, the court can extend the time by 90 days. In the present case, the Pune Sessions Court had granted the police the additional 90 days, following an application from the IO and written submissions made by an assistant commissioner of police (ACP). Gadling had challenged this, saying the report and the submissions came from the police, not the prosecutor. Under the UAPA, the report should be filed by the prosecutor, he had said. The Maharashtra government's petition filed in the apex court had said the IO had filed an application in the trial court under his signature, giving reasons for extension of time, on August 30. "On the very same day, the public prosecutor submitted her report/application, carving out the grounds for extension of time. The public prosecutor, by way of abundant precaution, took the signature of the investigating officer. But the high court was carried away by the signature of the investigating officer and arrived at a conclusion that the report/application was not by the public prosecutor," the plea had said. It had also said the high court should not have been carried away by the mentioning of names of the parties in detail. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court Monday stayed the Bombay High Court order refusing extension of time to the state police for filing charge sheet in the Koregaon-Bhima violence case. Recently, the Bombay High Court had set aside the lower court's order allowing extension of time to police to file its probe report against the rights activists in the violence case. Taking note of the appeal of the Maharashtra government, a bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi stayed the high court order and issued notice to rights activists on the plea. Earlier, the apex court had refused to interfere with the arrest of five rights activists by the Maharashtra Police in connection with the Koregaon-Bhima violence case and declined to appoint a SIT for probe into their arrest. The Pune Police had arrested lawyer Surendra Gadling, Nagpur University professor Shoma Sen, Dalit activist Sudhir Dhawale, activist Mahesh Raut and Kerala native Rona Wilson in June for their alleged links with Maoists under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The arrests had followed raids at their residences and offices in connection with the Elgar Parishad conclave held in Pune on December 31 last year, which, the police had claimed, had led to violence at Bhima Koregaon the next day. The Maharashtra government had on October 25 moved the apex court challenging the Bombay High Court order by which the extension of time granted to state police to conclude probe in the Koregaon Bhima violence case was set aside. In the previous hearing, the bench had considered the submissions of lawyer Nishant Katneshwar, appearing for the Maharashtra government, that the appeal needed to be heard on an urgent basis. The lawyer had said that if the high court order is not stayed then accused in the violence case would become entitled for grant of statutory bail for want of non-filing of charge sheet within the stipulated period. Under the UAPA, a charge sheet must be filed within 90 days of arrest. However, the prosecutor can file a report before the trial court, explaining the reasons for the delay, and seek more time. If satisfied, the court can extend the time by 90 days. In the present case, the Pune sessions court had granted the police the additional 90 days, following an application from the investigating officer (IO) and written submissions by an assistant commissioner of police (ACP). Gadling had challenged this, saying the report and the submissions came from the police, not the prosecutor. Under the Act, the report should be filed by the prosecutor, he said. The petition filed in the top court by the state government said the investigating officer had filed an application in the trial court under his signature giving reasons for extension of time on August 30, 2018. "On the very same day, the public prosecutor submitted her report/application carving out the grounds for extension of time.The public prosecutor, by way of abundant precaution, took signature of the investigating officer. But the High Court was carried away by the fact of signature of the investigating officer and arrived at a conclusion that the report/application was not by the public prosecutor," the plea had said. It had also said that the high court should not have been carried away by the fact of mentioning of names of the parties in detail. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A circus lion pounced on a four-year-old girl, ripping its claws into her face, during a show in southern Russia that was intended for young children, officials said Monday. The girl has been hospitalised for treatment of her injuries, said the Investigative Committee, which is probing Sunday's incident. The incident occurred at a show in Uspenskoye village in Krasnodar region some 1,250 kilometres (775 miles) south of Moscow. Amateur footage broadcast on television showed the animal, held on a lead by a lion tamer, pouncing suddenly on the child. Such attacks are a regular occurrence in Russia, where acts using wild animals remain common and numerous poorly regulated circuses travel the provinces. The Investigative Committee launched a probe into safety breaches at a performance intended for young children, and detained its director, who could face up to six years in prison. Video footage showed only loose netting protecting the audience. The images also showed the girl standing near the ring, apparently with her back to the lioness. Officials said the girl was taken to a children's hospital in the regional capital of Krasnodar with lacerations to her face and other injuries. A local official told RIA Novosti agency that the lion did not bite the girl but lashed her with its paw. Lion tamer and director of the Moscow Big Circus, Eduard Zapashny, criticised "criminal negligence" by the detained circus director and the "extremely unprofessional" tamer, in comments to National Service radio station. Russian media named the circus involved as Mondial, based in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don. During a circus show in Siberia in 2016, a leopard broke free and bit a woman. In 2012, a cheetah gored a seven-year-old boy in the face and neck in the Moscow region. The same year, a tiger at a travelling zoo clawed a three-year-old boy in the head in far eastern Russia. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two motorcycle-borne men fired at a former corporator in Malegaon in Maharashtra's Nashik district, a senior police official said Monday. Shaikh Khalil Shaikh Rashid was returning from his field in the early hours Sunday when two persons on a motorcycle shot at and injured him on the hand, said Malegaon Additional Superintendent of Police Neelotpal. Rashid was rushed to a nearby hospital and doctors there said his condition is now stable, Neelotpal informed. A hunt is on for the attackers who are yet to be identified, the Addl SP added. Rashid is a former chairman of the Standing Committee of the Malegaon Municipal Corporation. He is the uncle of Malegaon's Congress MLA Asif Shaikh and brother of Malegaon mayor Shaikh Rashid Shaikh Shafi. The MLA and mayor, speaking to reporters separately Sunday, said police was probing the issue and they would wait for the outcome of the investigations before offering any comment on the incident. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Traders' body CAIT Monday appealed to the Election Commission to make accountable for the promises made in their manifesto. In a letter to Chief Election Commissioner O P Rawat, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) demanded that should give a detailed account of the steps taken by them in furtherance of the promises made in the CAIT Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal in his communication to CEC said it is highly regretted that once the elections are over neither the political party in power or in opposition cares for its respective "It appears that the election manifestos are released just to lure the voters only in pre-election period and once the elections are over, the political party in power never bothers to fulfil the statements made in the manifesto and equally the parties in opposition never take steps to pursue the government for its promises made in the manifesto," Khandelwal said in a statement. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment said Monday the man who died working inside a DJB sewage pumping station tank in northwest Delhi was not provided the prescribed safety gear. It said only mask and safety belt were provided to Dooman Ray, a 32-year-old native of Katihar in Bihar, who died inside the DJB tank in Jahangirpuri on October 21. The prescribed manpower, including doctor with ambulance, and safety gears were not provided at the time of accident, which show a clear violation of provision of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act 2013, the ministry said in a statement. It said not providing the adequate safety gear also violated a Supreme Court order dated February 27. The National Human Rights Commission on October 22 sent notices to the Centre and the Delhi government over Ray's death. On Monday, the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK) sought a report from the Delhi government, the police and other authorities on Ray's death. On October 24, police said they have arrested three men, including the project manager and safety officer, for alleged negligence in connection with Ray's death. The three men have been sent to judicial custody. Police said they will question senior officers of Spun India Ltd, the contactor firm hired by DJB. An NCSK team, accompanied by district magistrate, north zone, additional deputy commissioner of police, SDM of Jahangirpuri, officials from Delhi Jal Board recently visited the site of the accident. The chief executive officer there told them that repair and rehabilitation work was being carried out by the contactor firm when the accident happened, the ministry stated. Manual scavenging is prohibited under the 2013 Act. The government has said it aims to completely eradicate manual scavenging in its various manifestations. In September, five men died after inhaling toxic fumes while working in a sewage treatment plant in west Delhi's Moti Nagar area. NCSK has asked the district magistrate, north district, to release a payment of Rs 10 lakh as compensation to Ray's family. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Popular porn website Pornhub has found an alternative for the Reliance Jio subscribers who are not able to access their website after it was banned by the Mukesh Ambani-led company. Yes, acknowledging the difficulty faced by some of its Indian subscribers in accessing the website, the company has now produced a separate domain -- '.net' instead of '.com' -- specifically for the Indian internet users. Notably, Reliance Jio had banned hundreds of pornographic websites from its network, including the ones like Pornhub and Xvideos after the Department of Telecom issued a directive asking the internet service providers to block around 800 porn websites. "In response to Pornhub getting censored and blocked in India, our fans there can now fully access the site at Pornhub.net," the company said in Tweet. The issue pertains to a September 28 judgement of the Uttarakhand High Court, which directed all internet service providers (ISP) in India to abide by the Union government's order to ban hundreds of pornographic sites. The High Court decided to ban these websites after reports of a gangrape in Dehradun where the perpetrators were schoolchildren allegedly influenced by porn clips. An unlimited access to pornographic content has to be curbed or blocked to avoid an adverse influence on the impressionable minds of children, the court had said. Back in August 2015, the Department of Telecommunications had directed (ISPs) to block more than 800 websites, including Pornhub that is legal in the US, for showing porn or face the risk of losing their licenses. While speculation was rife that other telecom service operators could soon follow suit on banning the pornographic content on their network, most porn websites circumvent the rules by simply changing their URL or domain names. Apart from sites with pornographic content, there are a lot of other websites that are blocked in India. Sites with disturbing content, file sharing and torrent sites, etc, cannot be viewed in India, but the block is not to the impenetrable kind, like in the case of the ban on Google sites in China. A local ISP-level block, which is commonly seen in India, can be surpassed by using VPN, Tor web browser, a different DNS server, or similar methods. However, content with child pornography, child abuse or extreme acts of violence are explicitly illegal in the country, and accessing them in any manner could lead to legal action. Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi Monday asked child-care homes run by the Missionaries of Charity (MoC) to "come back into" the government's system of adoption services. In 2015, an ideological row erupted between the ministry and the Mother Teresa-founded organisation over issues such as the MoC's denial to give children to separated or divorced parents. Following this, the Missionaries of Charity decided to stop putting children up for adoption under the government's Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) system. Maneka Monday met a MoC delegation led by Sister Mary Prema Pierick, who heads the organisation after Mother Teresa, and requested them "to come back into" the CARA system of adoption. The CARA functions as the nodal body for adoption of children and is mandated to monitor and regulate in-country and inter-country adoptions. The Union minister said the move aims to bring children living in the 79 MoC homes into family care. "Prema agreed to my request to work jointly on each of these homes so that the children in the MoC homes can be on-boarded into CARINGS expeditiously," she tweeted. The Women and Child Development Ministry and the MoC have been involved in a number of rows in the past. In July this year, Maneka had ordered all states to get the child-care homes run by the MoC inspected, after cases of alleged illegal adoptions carried out by the homes came to light. A shelter home run by the MoC in Ranchi has allegedly been involved in "selling" three children and "giving away" another one. Taking cognisance of the cases of alleged illegal adoptions carried out by the MoC in Jharkhand, Maneka ordered all the states to get the child-care homes run by the organisation inspected immediately, the ministry had said in a statement in July. There was also a conflict in 2015 over the MoCs not allowing adoption by separated or divorced or single parents. Maneka had then said the government would have to derecognise the organisation if it continued to defy the revised guidelines but the Missionaries of Charity itself decided to stop putting children up for adoption. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi has asked the National Commission for Women to set up a cell dedicated to cases related to NRI marriages and monitor them on real-time basis. Maneka on Monday reviewed the progress of cases of wives who have been abandoned by their NRI husbands. She said she has asked lawyers representing these women to have weekly review meetings with the NRI cell of NCW. "I have asked NCW to set up a dedicated cell to work on each of the cases and monitor them on real-time basis. I have also asked lawyers representing these wives to have weekly review meetings with the NRI cell of NCW," Maneka said in a tweet. She also met women abandoned by their NRI husbands. "The aggrieved women put forth their concerns as well. WCD Secretary (Rakesh Srivastava) and NCW Chairperson Rekha Sharma were also present," she tweeted. Gandhi had in July urged states to get their marriage registrars inform the ministry about registration of such marriages immediately, so as to make the portal operational at the earliest. The ministry had said all NRI marriages would soon need to be registered within seven days, and if the same was not done within the stipulated time, the passports and visas would not be issued to the people involved. Another proposal was holding the properties of NRI offenders in escrow, in case they abscond abandoning their spouse. Escrow is a legal concept in which a financial instrument or an asset is held by a third party on behalf of two other parties that are in the process of completing a transaction. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari Monday asked the party-ruled municipal corporations to step in to tackle the rising air pollution in the city as the AAP government has "failed" to take effective measures. In his letter to mayors and commissioners of the South, North and the East Delhi Municipal Corporations, which are ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party, Tiwari requested them to ban all construction activities in Delhi with immediate effect. Delhi's air continued to remain in the "very poor" category with an overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of 348 on Monday. It is very unfortunate that the Delhi government only remains a "mute spectator" to this "serious health hazard" Delhi is facing, he alleged, adding that in the last four years, the AAP dispensation has "failed" to take any effective measure to curb air pollution. "Being administrative heads of Delhi's premier civic bodies, it is imperative upon you to step in to tackle air pollution. "In view of the worsening situation, which is likely to aggravate after Diwali, I request you to ban all construction activities in the national capital with immediate effect," he said in the letter. The Delhi BJP chief said a ban on construction activities would significantly help contain pollution in the city and cleaning of roads should also be done on an urgent basis. Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal blamed the Centre and the governments of Haryana and Punjab for the severe air pollution in Delhi, alleging that they were not ready to do anything despite the all-out efforts by the Aam Aadmi Party government. "The pollution was in control in Delhi throughout the year, but this time (winters) every year, Delhi has to face severe pollution condition due to the Centre, the BJP-led Haryana and the Congress-led Punjab governments. "Despite our all-out efforts, they are not ready to do anything. Farmers of these two states are also fed up with their governments," Kejriwal tweeted in Hindi. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Health authorities in Meghalaya Monday have sounded an alert for swine flu after one of the two patients who had tested positive for H1N1 virus died in a private hospital here, a senior minister said. This is the first swine flu death in the state in 2018. Swine flu had claimed its first victim in Meghalaya in 2009, health officials said on Monday. The 57-year-old woman, who was admitted to Nazareth Hospital on October 19, with symptoms of fever, cough, weakness and respiratory distress passed away Sunday, Critical Care Unit head of the hospital, Dr Himjyoti Das, told PTI. The woman had gone to Pune to attend a family function and on her return, her swap samples had tested positive for the H1N1 virus, Dr Das said. Taking into consideration the seriousness of the matter, state Health Minister A L Hek told PTI, "An alert has been sounded across the state to monitor the situation and hospitals have been directed to take preventive measures and ensure that proper treatment is made available to patients." The Airport Authority of India officials in Guwahati International Airport and Shillong airport here have also been asked to take precautionary measures. Another woman had tested positive for swine flu in the Meghalaya state capital and admitted to a hospital on October 24. The 27-year-old woman and her mother, hailing from Mumbai, had come to Shillong to attend a church convention. Her condition has improved and she is now out of the ICU, Dr Das said. Swine flu is an infectious flu-like respiratory disease which infects the wind pipe of a person resulting in nasal secretions, cough, decreased appetite and restlessness. (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 on Monday called on Pakistan to bring to justice the perpetrators of the Mumbai and Pathankot terror attacks. The two leaders strongly condemned the growing threat of terrorism and its universal reach during their formal summit here. "They called upon Pakistan to bring to justice the perpetrators of terrorist attacks, including those of November 2008 in Mumbai and January 2016 in Pathankot," according to the India-Japan Vision Statement issued after the two leaders held two days of summit talks. Ten Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists had sailed into Mumbai from Karachi and carried out coordinated attacks, killing 166 people and injuring over 300 in November 2008. India has expressed concern to Pakistan over allowing Mumbai attack mastermind and Jammat-ud-Dawah chief Hafiz Saeed to roam freely in the country and has demanded bringing him to justice. India blames the Pakistan Army for supporting the "non-state actors", who had carried out the January 2-4 terror attack on the Indian Air Force (IAF) base at Pathankot in Punjab. Six terrorists of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) crossed over from Pakistan to India and carried out the attack, killing seven security personnel and a civilian before being gunned down. "They looked forward to strengthening cooperation against terrorist threats from groups including Al-Qaida, ISIS, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Lakshar-e-Tayyiba, and their affiliates," the statement said. The two leaders called on all countries to work towards rooting out terrorist safe havens and infrastructure, disrupting terrorist networks and financing channels and halting cross-border movement of terrorists. They underlined the need for all countries to ensure that their territory is not used to launch terrorist attacks on other countries in any manner, the statement said. "They emphasised the need for stronger international partnership in countering terrorism and violent extremism, including through increased sharing of information and intelligence," it said. Modi and Abe reaffirmed their shared commitment to the total elimination of nuclear weapons and remained resolute in the task of strengthening international cooperation to address the challenges of nuclear proliferation and nuclear terrorism, it said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday asked Japan's medium, small and micro enterprises to explore business opportunities in India and assured them of a more conducive environment to consolidate bilateral trade ties. Modi, who is here to attend the 13th India-Japan annual summit, said the ease of doing business was his top priority. "Some years ago, I spoke about making a mini-Japan in India. It's a matter of great happiness for me that today, you are working in an even larger number in India," Modi said while addressing 'Make in India: India-Japan Partnership in Africa and Digital Partnership' seminar in Tokyo on Monday. Modi said when he became prime minister in 2014, India was at 140th position in the 'ease of doing business' ranking of the World Bank. "Now India has reached 100th position and we are working towards better ranking," he said. He said the Indian government was making all efforts to change the country's business environment and ensure that there is ease of doing business and ease of living. "There are ample possibilities for Japan's [micro] SMEs in India," the prime minister said. "It's not only big companies but Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) that are welcome to India. Through MSMEs, too, Japanese entrepreneurs can take their businesses to new highs." Low cost manufacturing and competitive labour cost make India more favourable for doing business. "Our software industry is very powerful. As I said earlier if we combine our software and your hardware, we can do a miracle in the world," he said. The cooperation between Japan and India in the field of electric mobility is going to be very beneficial, he said. "We are doing wonderful work in infrastructure sector. Our emphasis is now on next generation infrastructure. We are trying to develop such a competitive economy which would be based on skill, speed and scale," Modi said. "I always speak of a strong India, strong Japan," he said, inviting Japanese businesses to accelerate the pace of investment in his country. "I assure you that you will be helped in all possible ways to further consolidate India-Japan trade ties," he said. Earlier, Modi asked Japanese businessmen to engage more with India as he interacted with top business leaders from the two countries at a forum here. Modi said that the inputs offered at the Business Leaders Forum will propel India to achieve global benchmarking. "He urged Japanese businessmen to engage more with India," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted. Earlier, Modi interacted with some Japanese venture capitalists. "Participants gave a thumbs up to reform measures initiated by the government and offered suggestions on further improving the start up and innovation ecosystem in India," Kumar said. The bilateral trade during April - August 2017 was USD 6.1834 billion. India's export to Japan for 2016-17 was USD 3.86 billion; whereas India's Import from Japan for 2016-17 was USD 9.76 billion, according to official data. Japanese FDI in India (during 2016-17) was USD 4.7 billion (an increase of 80% over the last year). Cumulatively, since 2000 the investments to India have been around USD 25.7 billion (Japan ranks third now among the major investors). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) are not getting the required attention of investors, despite being the "real drivers of economy", Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said Monday. Speaking at a conclave here, Sangma said the MSME sector provides maximum employment and makes significant contributions towards the country's growth. "There are six crore listed and unlisted units in the country, employing almost 11 crore people. They are the real drivers of economy. The sector gets an investment of USD 120 billion as against the requirement of around USD 320 billion," he said. The chief minister contended that banks provide 85 per cent loans to the big enterprises, whereas just 15 per cent is allotted for the MSMEs. "Clearly, we see that the gap in terms of support the MSMEs need and get. A lot of work needs to be done in this regard," he asserted. Sangma also said that his government has adopted a policy of promoting 'Make in Meghalaya' to encourage the entrepreneurs of the state. "We have taken a decision that the Chief Minister's Office and offices of the deputy commissioners will procure and promote products from entrepreneurs as part of our 'Make in Meghalaya' endeavour," he stated. He highlighted the fact that the MDA government is pumping in Rs 70 crore for five years for the state's jackfruit mission, the policy document for which was released earlier this year. "The state has around 1 million jackfruit trees and the industry is worth Rs 500 crore. The tourism department has been asked to write to hotels and restaurants to request them to include at least one jackfruit item in their menus," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bhavye Suneja's family was eagerly waiting for him to return home for Diwali, a feature at their Delhi residence that has continued for years. That wait tragically ended Monday for all times to come. Suneja, 31, was flying the Lion Air flight JT610 which lost contact with ground officials, 13 minutes after taking off from an airport in Indonesia, and crashed into the Java Sea, tragically ending all possibilities of his homecoming. The distraught family struggled to accept the news, when they saw on television that the plane Bhavye was flying had crashed. His mother, Sangeeta Suneja was in tears. With folded hands, she requested mediapersons gathered outside their Mayur Vihar residence to "please pray for us". Neighbours recalled the 31-year-old as a "sweet boy". They had seen him grow and were shocked on hearing about his sudden death. "My daughter studied with Bhavye in school. Today, she called me from Dubai to say, 'Bhavye died' and expressed her shock," said the family's neighbour P K Sinha. "Bhavye's father has been putting up a brave front and has not cried but we know what he is going through." Sinha said Bhavye visited home for Diwali every year, and even this year he was to come. After he completed his studies at Ahlcon Public School in Mayur Vihar, Bhavye received his flying licence in 2009. His father, Gulshan Sukheja, is a chartered accountant and his mother, Sangeeta, worked with Air India. He married in 2016 and was based in Jakarta with his wife Garima Sethi, a former manager at the Indian Express. Bhavye's younger sister, Ruhaani, aspired to become a pilot, just like her brother, neighbours said. "The Sunejas had gone to visit Bhavye for Raksha Bandhan and were very happy. He would always acknowledge elders and we would often see him around Diwali," said Renu Nagpal, another neighbour. "He was to come for Diwali on November 5. Ruhaani and my daughter are school friends and she was here till late on Sunday night discussing about her brother and Diwali plans." One of Sangeeta Suneja's friends, who requested anonymity, said Bhavye's sister "has been in denial" and the family still hopes he could be alive and return to them. The Indian Embassy in Jakarta confirmed Monday afternoon Bhavye died in the crash. "Our deepest condolences on the tragic loss of lives in the Lion Air Plane crash, off the coast of Jakarta today. Most unfortunate that Indian Pilot Bhavye Suneja who was flying JT610 also lost his life," the embassy said in a tweet. Recalling his memories of Bhavye, Anil Gupta, another neighbour, said he used to play with him when Bhavye was a kid. "His mother was leaving for work when they heard about the plane crash on television and since then, they have been hoping that Bhavye is fine," Gupta said. Kalicharan, a washerman who has known the family for 25 years, said, "Kuch log achhe hote hain aur kuch bahut achhe. Yeh log bahut achhe hain." (Some people are nice, but some are very nice. This family is very nice.) He said Bhavye was an "ever-smiling" person and then he broke down. The Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft that Bhavye was flying en-route to Pangkal Pinang city crashed near Kerawang, 32 miles east of Jakarta. He had an experience of 6,000 flight hours and the co-pilot more than 5,000 flight hours, the airline said in a statement. According to Bhavye's LinkedIn profile, he had been working at Lion Air since March 2011 and was also a trainee pilot with Emirates between September and December 2010. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Scientists have developed novel driverless car technologies which they claim could lead to a world without traffic lights and speeding tickets. The researchers at the University of Delaware in the US also believe the innovations will bring about the development of driverless cars that use 19 to 22 per cent less fuel. Connected and automated vehicles could adjust to driving conditions with little to no input from drivers, researchers said. When the car in front of you speeds up, yours would accelerate, and when the car in front of you screeches to a halt, your car would stop, too, they said. Andreas Malikopoulos from the University of Delaware uses control theory to develop algorithms which he says will enable this technology of the future. "We are developing solutions that could enable the future of energy efficient mobility systems," said Malikopoulos. "We hope that our technologies will help people reach their destinations more quickly and safely while conserving fuel at the same time," he said. Malikopoulos and collaborators from Boston University in the US developed a solution to control and minimise energy consumption in connected and automated vehicles crossing an urban intersection that lacked traffic signals. Published in the journal Automatica, the research used software to simulate results and found that the framework allowed connected and automated vehicles to conserve momentum and fuel while also improving travel time. Malikopoulos and colleagues from the University of Virginia in the US formulated a solution that yields the optimal acceleration and deceleration in a speed reduction zone, avoiding rear-end crashes. Simulations suggest that the connected vehicles use 19 to 22 per cent less fuel and get to their destinations 26 to 30 per cent faster than human-driven vehicles, according to the research published in the journal IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi High Court Monday directed the AAP government not to take any coercive steps such as suspension or rustication against the students of the city schools for not providing self-attested copies of voter ID cards and mobile phone numbers of their own and that of the family members. A bench of justices Sanjiv Khanna and A S Bhambani made it clear that no student would be forced to provide the details asked for by the Delhi government's Directorate of (DoE) through an October 8 circular, which has been challenged in the court in a public interest litigation (PIL). Issuing notice to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government and the DoE, seeking their stand in the matter, the court made it clear that the information sought under the circular should not be used to deny admission on the basis of the neighbourhood criterion. The bench said "enforcing the neighbourhood area" criterion by this method would be "unacceptable". It directed the Delhi government and the DoE to indicate in their affidavit why the information was required and listed the plea, moved by the Government School Teachers' Association, for further hearing on December 18. In the petition, filed through advocate Kamlesh Kumar Mishra, the association has contended that there is no rationale for seeking the information from the students under the circular. Mishra said the DoE should give reasons behind asking for the information. The October 8 circular was issued a week after the high court had told the DoE not to make it mandatory for students to give Aadhaar and voter ID details of their own as well as of their family. The direction had come on a PIL moved by the association challenging a September 11 DoE circular calling for Aadhaar and voter ID details of the students of all the city schools as well as their siblings and parents. After the DoE assured that the submission of the details would be optional, the court had disposed of the plea against the September 11 circular. Subsequently, the DoE came out with the October 8 circular. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court on Monday adjourned the hearing of a batch of pleas challenging the Allahabad High Court's 2010 verdict to January 2019. The Allahabad High Court's verdict had divided the disputed land on the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid area in Ayodhya into three parts. On September 27, the apex court had declined to refer to a five-judge constitution bench the issue of reconsideration of the observations in its 1994 judgment that a mosque was not integral to Islam which had arisen during the hearing of the Ayodhya land dispute. In a majority verdict of 2:1, a three-judge bench headed by then chief justice Dipak Misra had said the civil suit has to be decided on the basis of evidence and the previous verdict has no relevance to this issue. Justice Ashok Bhushan, who had penned the judgment for himself and the Chief Justice of India, had said it has to find out the context in which the five-judge bench had delivered the 1994 verdict. However, Justice S Abdul Nazeer had disagreed with the two judges and had said whether a mosque is integral to Islam has to be decided considering religious belief which requires detailed consideration. The court had on September 27 said the civil suit on land dispute would be heard by a three-judge bench on October 29. The issue whether a mosque is integral to Islam had cropped up when the three-judge bench was hearing the appeals filed against the Allahabad High Court's verdict. The three-judge high court bench, in a 2:1 majority ruling, had ordered that the 2.77 acres of land be partitioned equally among three parties -- the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla. With PTI Inputs The BJP Monday said party chief Amit Shah's remarks that courts should desist from pronouncing "impracticable" verdicts, against the backdrop of the Supreme Court ruling on Sabarimala, should not be misconstrued as a "conflict with the judiciary". Addressing a press conference here, Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) national spokesperson Sambit Patra said the saffron party was only raising the "issue of faith" with "utmost humbleness". A recent verdict of the apex court lifting the age restrictions on entry of women to the Kerala-based hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa, who is believed to be a celibate as per traditions, has led to massive protests by the devotees. The BJP and its ideological mentor Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) have extended their support to the devotees who are opposing the entry of women of menstruating age to the abode of the Lord. Shah had Saturday said that courts should desist from pronouncing verdicts that cannot be implemented, drawing flak from Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, the Congress and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). Responding to a query on the Sabarimala row and Shah's remarks, Patra said, "There is no confrontation (with the judiciary on the issue). The BJP only believes that faith should be respected." "Be it the Sabarimala temple or 'Shivlinga' they are the centres of our faith. We are standing by our faith with great humility and love," he added. Responding to a query on whether Narendra Modi government would bring in a law to construct a Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya, Patra said the government wanted to construct the temple as per Constitutional norms. "The legal case related to the Ram temple is sub-judice. A big section of the country's polity is trying to delay the trial of this case. The BJP wants to construct the temple of Lord Ram as per Constitution," he said. The issue of Ram temple came to the centre-stage after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat recently appealed to the government to bring in a law to facilitate the construction of the temple in Ayodhya, which he said was necessary for "self esteem". When asked to comment on the continuous attacks by Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Modi government over the Rafale fighter jet deal, Patra said, "Why Congress is not approaching the court if the Congress president knows facts and (has) documents related to the deal?" "He is continuously making false statements on Rafale. A lie cannot become truth if repeated multiple times," the spokesperson said. Taking a dig at the Gandhi scion, he said the word "Rafale" actually stood for "Rahul+Fail" as he went on to allege that the erstwhile Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government had "ignored" the security of the country. When asked if the BJP was planning to file a defamation suit against Rahul Gandhi for his statement "desh ka chowkidar chor hai" (country's watchman is a thief referring to the prime minister), Patra said it was not needed. Gandhi made the statement while addressing a public rally in Ujjain in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh earlier in the day. "The BJP does not need to file a defamation case against Rahul because the people of the country had given their verdict in the past assembly elections for such language used by Congress leaders against the prime minister," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The ruled on Monday that no person, including judges, would be entitled to hold more than one house or tenement at a time in Maharashtra under any state government scheme. A division bench of justices B R Gavai and Bharti Dangre said there was nothing wrong if the government floated a scheme to allot houses to judges and other persons at a concessional rate, but if a person took advantage of this and obtained more than one house, it would amount to using their position for unjust enrichment. The court passed its order in a public interest litigation (PIL), filed by former journalist Ketan Tirodkar, questioning the state government's decision to construct a high-rise residential building in suburban Oshiwara for sitting HC judges. Tirodkar in the petition said the procedure followed in allotting houses in the said society was wrong and that a "pick-and-choose method" was being used. The building has a total of 63 tenements, of which 39 have been allotted to sitting Tirodkar in his petition claimed that some of the judges who were allotted flats in the building, already had houses under a different scheme of the government. The high court in its judgement directed the state government to formulate a scheme by which a person, including judges, would be entitled to only one house/tenement under any scheme in the state. However, if a person wants to upgrade or opt for a flat in any other city, he or she would have to surrender the existing flat to the government so as to be entitled for the allotment in a better scheme, the court said. "It is not possible for judges of this court who, after sacrificing their practice, have answered the call to serve the nation and the society, by becoming a judge, to purchase a flat/house from the open market in a city like Mumbai," the court said. As such, there should be nothing wrong if the government floats a scheme for a special category for such persons (judges), the order said. "However, having one house/tenement from any of the schemes floated by the state government or any other authority under its control and having multiple houses/tenements from the state government are two different things," it said. "We have no hesitation to observe that if a person gets the advantage of allotment of the tenements/houses from the government at a concessional rate on more than one occasions, it would amount to nothing else but using the office for unjust enrichment," the court said in its order. It further observed that judges held an important constitutional office and as such, were expected to be people of the highest moral standards. The HC added that while it is always said that the judiciary is not answerable to anyone, the answer to this is that the judges are accountable to their own conscience. The court directed the government to formulate the policy within a period of six months. Regarding the remaining 24 flats in the said building at Oshiwara, the court directed the registrar general of the high court to draw up a list of sitting HC judges as per seniority and find out from them if they wished to opt for the said allotment and submit the list to the government. The National People's Party (NPP) on Monday announced it would contest the elections to the 40-member Mizoram legislative assembly scheduled to be held on November 28. The NPP has received 25 applications seeking party tickets. These are being scrutinised by the leadership, party convener Lianzuala told reporters. The number of seats the party would contest as well as the names of the nominees would be announced soon, he said. General secretary from Nagaland and the party's national observer for the Mizoram polls, Sasank Ghatraj, said though the NPP is a constituent of the BJP-led North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), it has its own identity. "NEDA is not a political party, but a forum or a platform for non-Congress political parties in the region," Ghatraj said, adding that the party is part of the coalition governments in Manipur, Nagaland and Meghalaya, and so is the BJP. NPP national secretary and co-convener of the party in Mizoram, Lalrina, said there has been no pre-poll or post-poll alliance anywhere in the northeast and also in Mizoram. He said the main objective of the party was for significant representation of northeast tribals in Delhi. "We hope that we would be the voice and representative of the northeast in the national capital," Lalrina said. The NPP was launched in Mizoram by its president and Meghalaya Chief Minister on September 29. The party was founded in 2013 by veteran parliamentarian following his ouster from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). On Sunday, had said that the party is likely to play a major role in Mizoram polls. Sri Lanka's ousted prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Monday that he still commands the majority in parliament as the Speaker feared that there could be "bloodshed" on the streets amid the current political crisis. The political developments unfolded after President Maithripala Sirisena's broader political front United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) withdrew from the unity government with Wickremesinghe's United National Party (UNP). Sirisena on Friday night sacked Wickremesinghe and appointed former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa as the new prime minister. Sirisena also suspended parliament till November 16 after Wickremesinghe sought an emergency session to prove his majority. Addressing the foreign journalists association, Wickremesinghe said, "The Speaker has the powers to summon parliament and he will decide tomorrow. Wickremesinghe said he commands majority in the House and it could be proved when parliament is reconvened. "We have majority in the House and now told the Speaker to summon parliament," he said referring to letters sent to Jayasuriya by the main Tamil party Tamil National Alliance and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna. "No one can interfere with parliament," Wickremesinghe said. Sri Lankan parliament speaker Karu Jayasuriya warned that there could be bloodshed as some people were trying to resolve a power struggle between the president and his ousted premier on the streets. Addressing reporters in Kandy, Jayasuriya said the issue should be resolved inside parliament. "Some are trying to settle this outside on the streets. If that is allowed there can be bloodshed, two (sic) people have died already, internationally the country will suffer damage," he said. The crisis in Sri Lanka took a deadly turn on Sunday as one person was killed in violence at the headquarters of state oil company Ceylon Petroleum, 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. Mangala Samaraweera, the finance minister in the ousted government, the so called Rajapaksa government had been formed as a result of "a coup". "All those accepting illegal positions in an unlawful government would be legally dealt with," he said. Matthew Circosta, Analyst, Sovereign Risk Group, Moody's Investors Service said, "The current political crisis in Sri Lanka is credit negative for the sovereign." "The President's sudden appointment of Mr Rajapaksa as Prime Minister significantly heightens policy uncertainty. And at a time when global financial markets are turbulent, uncertainty about the direction of future policy could have a large and lasting negative impact on international investor confidence," he warned. Rajapaksa, meanwhile assumed duties in the prime minister's secretariat, but is yet to prove his parliamentary majority. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) : AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi Monday challenged the Modi government to bring in an ordinance for early construction of the Ram temple at Ayodhya, amid demands within BJP and some Sangh Parivar outfits to do so. Soon after the Supreme Court said the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute cases would be heard by an appropriate bench in the first week of January 2019, voices emerged within the BJP, favouring early construction of the temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya. Asked if the government may bring an Ordinance under pressure following the demands, Owaisi asked "why don't they bring it...let them do it.every time they are threatening". Every Tom, Dick and Harry of BJP, RSS, VHP is saying this. You are in power. Let us see. I challenge them to do it," Owaisi told reporters here. A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi Monday said the future course of hearing in January next year on appeals filed against the Allahabad High Court verdict in the Ayodhya land dispute case would be decided by that bench. Owaisi said the Apex Court had taken a considered decision that the matter would be heard by an appropriate bench in January (next year) and it would decide the dates. They had also rejected the Uttar Pradesh government's contention for an early hearing, he said. On Union Minister Giriraj Singh's comments that Hindus were running out of patience on the Ram temple issue, Owaisi challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi,now in Japan,to change the Attorney General and appoint Giriraj Singh as AG and said he (Giriraj) could then present it before the Supreme Court. "I would urgently demand that PM Modi, who is on his trip to Japan... maybe from there he can order on a decision to be taken that the next AG should be Giriraj Singh. Once he (Giriraj) is made AG, he can say the same thing in front of the Supreme Court, Owaisi said. On BJP president Amit Shah's comments on Sabarimala,he said the nation is run on the Constitutionand cannot be run on the "whims and desires of an individual". "...whatever he has said is a clear violation of Supreme Court...you are openly committing contempt and it is high time his speech is taken as contempt of Supreme Court,"Owaisi said. Shah had during his one day trip to Kerala on October 27 alleged that an Emergency-like situation prevails in Kerala with the government playing with fire in quelling with brutal force, protests by Ayyappa devotees on the Sabarimala issue. He listed court verdicts which had 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. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An accountability court Monday extended the physical remand of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz president and opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif in the custody of the country's top anti-graft agency for another 10 days in a multi-crore housing scam. Shehbaz was brought to the accountability court here amid high security. A large number of PML-N workers who gathered outside the court to see their leader clashed with police. Police baton charged the workers when they tried to get closer to Shehbaz. The PML-N president was produced before the accountability court a day before the expiry of 14-day remand given to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on October 16. As the hearing resumed today, Shehbaz told the court he has been implicated in false cases and that the NAB is blackmailing him. "The National Accountability Bureau is blackmailing me. It is not allowing me to meet my family. Even a prisoner of an enemy country is allowed to see his familywhy I am denied?" Shehbaz told the accountability court. "I have blood cancer but the NAB is not allowing my medical check-up. The kind of restrictions I am facing in NAB were not even implaced in the martial law regimes," he said. After hearing the NAB prosecutor's arguments, the court extended Shehabz's remand till November 7. NAB had arrested Shehbaz on October 5 in the Rs 1,400 crore Ashiyana housing scam. Shehbaz is primarily accused of ordering the cancellation of a contract given to successful bidder Chaudhry Latif and Sons in the Ashiana housing in order to oblige his favourite fir' - Lahore Casa Developers, resulting in a loss of millions of rupees to the exchequer. He also attended the National Assembly session Monday after the speaker ordered his production order. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan's parliament on Monday unanimously passed a resolution condemning the alleged violence against people in Kashmir by the Indian security forces. The resolution was presented in the National Assembly, the lower house of the parliament, by Pakistan's Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Ali Amin Gandapur. The house said in the resolution that Kashmir issue should be resolved in light of United Nations Security Council resolutions. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Seven British men of Pakistani origin were on Monday found guilty of sexually grooming and abusing young girls in the northern England town of Rotherham. Mohammed Imran Ali Akhtar, 37, Asif Ali, 33, Tanweer Ali, 37, Salah Ahmed El-Hakam, 39, Nabeel Kurshid, 35, Iqlak Yousaf, 34, and a seventh man who cannot be named for legal reasons, were convicted after a trial at Sheffield Crown Court. The gang are due to be sentenced on November 16. The trial heard how they abused five young girls over a seven year period and were convicted of offences including rape and indecent assault. An eighth man, Ajmal Rafiq, 39, was found not guilty of one count of false imprisonment and one count of indecent assault. The convictions are the latest to come out of Operation Stovewood, the UK National Crime Agency's (NCA) investigation into child sexual exploitation in Rotherham, which has identified more than 1,500 victims. During the latest trial, the jury was told that the men preyed on the girls' vulnerability before they were sexually assaulted and passed on to other men. Prosecutor Michelle Colborne said the girls had been "lured by the excitement of friendship with older Asian youths" but were then "targeted, sexualised and in some instances subjected to acts of a degrading and violent nature". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Pakistani-origin radical Islamist preacher, who was recently freed from a UK jail after serving part of a sentence for inviting support to the ISIS, will now take part in a compulsory anti-extremism course, according to a media report. Anjem Choudary, 51, was released earlier this month under very strict licence conditions from the high-security Belmarsh prison in south London after serving less than half of his five-and-a-half-year sentence for reported "good behaviour". His early release prompted the UK government to move on closing a legal loophole that would not allow those convicted of inviting support for groups such as Islamic State (ISIS) to be eligible for early release in future. According to 'The Times', it has now emerged that Choudary has been ordered to attend the government's Desistance and Disengagement Programme (DDP) as part of his probation. The compulsory course requires him to receive mentoring and theological advice as part of the government's wider deradicalisation programme. Failure to attend would result in Choudary being sent back to jail to complete his five-and-a-half-year prison sentence. The DDP was run as a pilot scheme last year before its capacity was increased. It involves tailored interventions and practical support and includes psychological sessions and theological and ideological advice. It had been unveiled by UK home secretary Sajid Javid earlier this year as part of an updated Counter-Terrorism Strategy. "Work to enable those who have already engaged in terrorism to withdraw and rehabilitate will be further developed, including through the expansion of the Desistance and Disengagement Programme, a new element of Prevent," the UK Home Office said. "Through Prevent, the government, local authorities, police and communities will continue to safeguard and support vulnerable people from the risk of being drawn into terrorism, working with a wide network of partners to prevent radicalisation and build resilience," it noted. Besides Choudary, referred to as a hate preacher, a total of 230 extremists and fighters who have returned from abroad are expected to take part in the DDP by the middle of next year. UK-born Choudary was jailed at the Old Bailey court in London in September 2016 for radical preaching and urging Muslims to support the terror group ISIS. He led the now-banned extremist group Al Muhajiroun and was accused of pledging an oath of allegiance to the ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Monday launched the early warning dissemination system (EWDS) and the mass message system to inform people in advance of impending calamities on the occasion of Odisha Disaster Preparedness Day. The system is the first of its kind automatic public address system in the country to alert the general people about the possible cyclone, tsunami and others, official sources said. Odisha Disaster Preparedness Day is observed every year on October 29, the day on which super cyclone hit the state and killed over 10,000 people. The EWDS will help to warn the vast population residing along the coast in the state from the state headquarters through alert siren system from towers installed at 122 locations. The towers have been placed at a distance of 1.5 km approximately from the coastline. Patnaik also offered condolences to human lives lost in the recent landslide and heavy rains in the state. No state in the country faces natural disaster with as much frequency as Odisha. Almost every year we have some form of natural calamity. In spite of that Odisha marches ahead maintaining a growth rate higher than the countrys. This exemplifies the resilience of our people and I am inspired and humbled by it, Pataik said. The chief minister also expressed his gratitude to all those who worked tirelessly beyond the call of duty to make sure that people living in vulnerable areas of the coastline from Ganjam to Balasore were evacuated to safety during Cyclone Titli earlier this month. More than three lakh people were evacuated in less than 24 hours and nearly Rs 1300 crore have been provided for relief and restoration, the chief minister said. Patnaik lauded the Odisha Disaster Preparedness System for the low casualty during the calamity. Drawing parallels between the very severe Cyclone Titli and Super Cyclone of 1999, Patnaik said some more work is needed to be done in areas of precision forecast and vulnerability mapping, especially of interior areas where there was loss of lives and property in recent calamities. Patnaik pointed out that for the first time in Odisha. a landslide incident killed people in Gajapati district and said vulnerability mapping will be done and steps taken at hilltop villages wherever required. The chief minister also appreciated the departments concerned for quick restoration of water, electricity and essential services in the afternath of cyclone Titli. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi High Court Monday ordered the CBI to maintain status quo till November 1 on proceedings against its Special Director Rakesh Asthana, who was sent on leave by the government. A bench of Justice Najmi Waziri questioned the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for not filing reply to pleas of Asthana and another official Devender Kumar, Deputy Superintendent of Police, seeking quashing of FIR lodged against them. CBI has lodged FIR against Asthana and Kumar in connection with bribery allegations. The high court also directed the CBI to file reply on the two pleas on or before November 1. The CBI prosecutor told the high court that delay in filing of reply occurred as the case files have been sent to Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and sought more time for filing the response. Kumar, earlier the investigating officer in a case involving meat exporter Moin Qureshi, was arrested on October 22 on the allegations of forgery in recording the statement of businessman Sathish Sana, who had alleged to have paid bribe to get relief in the case. The high court had on October 23 directed the CBI to maintain status quo on the criminal proceedings initiated against its special director Asthana, who has challenged the FIR lodged against him on bribery allegations. Meanwhile, CBI DSP Devender Kumar, arrested in bribery case against Special Director Rakesh Asthana, moves bail application before Delhi court. The verbal duel between Shiv Sena and NCP, sparked by Sena president Uddhav Thackeray's Ram temple construction pitch, has intensified with a close relative of NCP chief Sharad Pawar assailing the Sena leader. Rohit Pawar, son of Sharad Pawar's nephew Rajendra, hit back at Thackeray over his criticism of former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar over the temple issue. Addressing a rally in Jalna last week, Ajit Pawar, nephew of the NCP chief, said Uddhav Thackeray had failed to construct a memorial in the name of his father, Bal Thackeray, but was "harping" on construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya. The Sena had hit back, with an editorial in party mouthpiece Saamana calling Ajit Pawar a "gutter insect" of Pune who lives off his uncle Sharad Pawars fortune as he was left with no importance in Maharashtra In a counter attack, Rohit, in a Facebook post Sunday, said, "During his last day, Balasaheb had appealed people to look after Uddhav. Yesterday, we learnt what he meant when he made the appeal. His words meant his son was gullible and therefore should be taken care of," Rohit said. The late Sena founder was a clever and big leader who had command over language and would attack political opponents through the weekly magazine Marmik and Saamana but those who engage in using Bal Thackeray's name have insulted his pen by launching tirade against Ajit Pawar, Rohit said. "Uddhav Thackeray neither got elected through public, nor has he toiled to see Maharashtra by stepping out of Matoshree (the Thackeray family residence in Mumbai). While Maharashtra is on fire, this man is hoodwinking people by sharing power (with BJP)," Rohit said. The Sena, despite being BJP's ruling alliance partner, has been critical of the Amit Shah-led party. The NCP and other Opposition parties have often asked it to walk out of the government. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) NCP president Sharad Pawar Monday hit out at BJP chief Amit Shah for his remarks that courts should desist from pronouncing "impracticable" orders made in the backdrop of the Supreme Court verdict on Sabarimala. Addressing a "Save Constitution" rally organised by the women's wing of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) here, he also attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government on a host of issues, including the recent turmoil in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Slamming Shah, Pawar said the BJP chief's comments indicated that the Supreme Court verdict allowing entry of women of all ages to the Sabarimala shrine in Kerala was not acceptable to the saffron party. A recent verdict of the apex court lifting the age restrictions on entry of women to the hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa, who is believed to be celibate as per traditions, has led to massive protests by the devotees in the southern state. Shah had Saturday said courts should desist from pronouncing verdicts that could not be implemented, drawing flak from Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, the Congress and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). Pawar said, "The Kerala government has decided to implement the apex court order on allowing entry of women of all ages to the Sabarimala shrine. "BJP president Amit Shah went to Kerala and said how could the Supreme Court pronounce orders that could not be implemented." He pointed out that Shah also said people would lose faith in the judiciary if the courts started pronouncing verdicts that could not be implemented. "Shah's comments reflect that the order of the Supreme Court is not acceptable to them (the government and the BJP). The remarks also show that they do not accept gender equality," the former Union minister said. He added that the current scenario, wherein the people in power did not have faith in the Constitution, judiciary and administration, was "dangerous for the country". The NCP chief also accused the BJP of "misusing" power and "attacking" the Constitution. "Today, those who are in power have taken a stand to misuse the power they hold. We are also witnessing that how a stand of safeguarding the interests of a handful of people in the society is being adopted and how there are continuous attacks on the Constitution," he said. The veteran leader also referred to the Centre divesting CBI chief Alok Verma and Special Director Rakesh Asthana of all powers and sending them on administrative leave, in the wake of allegations and counter-allegations of corruption against them. The CBI was known for conducting thorough investigations and its independent stand, he said. "We have seen how the chief of the CBI was sent home at 2 AM and another person (M Nageswara Rao), who is facing several inquiries, was brought in. "By doing this, they (government) want to send a message to the entire system that whatever they do or decide to do is right and that you (the system) should act as per their orders," Pawar said. The present scenario was "dangerous" as the people in power did not have any faith left in the Constitution, he added. Pawar also alleged that the government was not taking any measures to resolve issues like quota, drought, safety of women and unemployment. "The entire picture is worrisome. Maharashtra is facing a drought and the common man, farmers, women -- all are facing hardships. However, the state government is not taking any decision," he said. Pawar appealed to the youth to oust the BJP from the Centre and Maharashtra for its "failure" to resolve various issues concerning the people. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Pentagon could send thousands more troops to the US-Mexico border, a US official said Monday as President Donald Trump warned a caravan of Central American migrants that the military was waiting for them. The Wall Street Journal reported that 5,000 troops would deploy to the southwest US border, much higher than earlier estimates of about 800 last week. A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the 5,000 figure was right but cautioned that planning is still under way and no final decisions have been made on numbers. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A week out from the midterm elections, the said Monday it is sending 5,200 troops, some armed, to the Southwest border this week in an extraordinary military operation to stop Central American migrants travelling north in two caravans that were still hundreds of miles from the US. The number of troops is more than double the 2,000 who are in fighting the Islamic State group. Donald Trump, eager to focus voters on immigration in the lead-up to the elections, stepped up his warnings about the caravans, tweeting: "This is an invasion of our Country and our Military is waiting for you!" His warning came as the began executing "Operation Faithful Patriot," described by the commander of US Northern Command as an effort to help Customs and Border Protection stiffen defenses at and near legal entry points. Advanced helicopters will allow border protection agents to swoop down on migrants trying to cross illegally, he said. "We're going to secure the border," Air Force Gen Terrence O'Shaughnessy, the Northern Command leader, said at a news conference. He spoke alongside Kevin McAleenan, commissioner of Customs and Border Protection. Eight hundred troops already are on their way to southern Texas, O'Shaughnessy said, and their numbers will top 5,200 by week's end. He said troops would focus first on Texas, followed by Arizona and then The number of people in the first caravan has dwindled to 3,500 from about 7,000, though a second one was gaining steam and marred by violence. About 600 migrants in the second group tried to cross a bridge from to en masse on Monday but were met by ranks of Mexican federal police who blocked them from entering. The riverbank standoff followed a more violent confrontation Sunday when the migrants used sticks and rocks against police. One migrant was killed Sunday night by a head wound, but the cause was unclear. The first group passed through the spot via the river wading or on rafts and was advancing through southern That group appeared to begin as a collection of about 160 who decided to band together in Honduras for protection against the gangs who prey on migrants travelling alone and snowballed as the group moved north. They are mostly from Honduras, where it started, as well as El Salvador and Overall, they are poor, carrying the belongings that fit into a knapsack and fleeing gang violence or poverty. It's possible there are criminals mixed in, but Trump has not substantiated his claim that members of the MS-13 gang, in particular, are among them. The president's dark description of the caravan belied the fact that any migrants who complete the long trek to the southern US border already face major hurdles, both physical and bureaucratic, to being allowed into the Migrants are entitled under both US and international law to apply for asylum, but it may take a while to make a claim. There is already a bottleneck of asylum seekers at some US border crossings, in some cases as long as five weeks. McAleenan said the aim was to deter migrants from crossing illegally between ports, but he conceded his officers were overwhelmed by a surge of asylum seekers. He also said Mexico was prepared to offer asylum to the caravan. "If you're already seeking asylum, you've been given a generous offer," he said of Mexico. "We want to work with Mexico to manage that flow." The is also weighing additional border security measures, including blocking those traveling in the caravan from seeking legal asylum and preventing them from entering the US. The military operation drew quick criticism. "Sending active military forces to our southern border is not only a huge waste of taxpayer money, but an unnecessary course of action that will further terrorize and militarise our border communities," said Shaw Drake of the American Civil Liberties Union's border rights center at El Paso, Military personnel are legally prohibited from engaging in immigration enforcement. The troops will include military police, combat engineers and others helping on the southern border. The escalating rhetoric and expected deployments come as the has been trying to turn the caravans into a key election issue just days before the midterm elections that will determine whether Republicans maintain control of "This will be the election of the caravans, the Kavanaughs, law and order, tax cuts, and you know what else? It's going to be the election of common sense," Trump said at a rally in Illinois on Saturday night. On Monday, he tweeted without providing evidence: "Many Gang Members and some very bad people are mixed into the Caravan heading to our Southern Border." "Please go back," he urged them. "you will not be admitted into the unless you go through the legal process. This is an invasion of our Country and our Military is waiting for you!" The troops are expected to perform a wide variety of functions such as transporting supplies for the Border Patrol, but not engage directly with migrants seeking to cross the border, officials said. One US official said the troops will be sent initially to staging bases in California, and Arizona while the CBP works out precisely where it wants the troops positioned. US Transportation Command posted a video on its page Monday of a C-17 transport plane that it said was delivering Army equipment to the Southwest border in support of Operation Faithful Patriot. In India's first container movement on inland waterways post-Independence, food and beverages major PepsiCo through Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) will move its 16 containers from Kolkata and Varanasi on river Ganga, the government said Monday. "IWAI will transport container cargo belonging to the food and beverage giant PepsiCo (India) from Kolkata to Varanasi on river Ganga (National Waterway-1) tomorrow. This would be the country's first container movement on inland vessel post-Independence, and a milestone moment in the history of India's IWT sector," Ministry of Shippping said in a statement. PepsiCo (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. MV RN Tagore will make its return journey with fertilisers belonging to IFFCO that will be procured from its Phulpur plant near Allahabad. Shipping secretary Gopal Krishna along with IWAI chairman Pravir Pandey will flag off the vessel carrying the consignment in the presence of PepsiCo representatives. The event coincides with another momentous day for IWT in India as IWAI's first foray into public private partnership (PPP) model will become a reality with the handing over of operation and management of its terminals in Kolkata to Summit Alliance Port East Gateway (India) Pvt Ltd (SAPEL) on a supply, operate and maintain (SOM) model. The statement said container cargo transport comes with several inherent advantages and added that it reduces the handling cost, allows easier modal shift, reduces pilferages and damage, it also enables cargo owners to reduce their carbon footprints. The government is developing NW-1 (River Ganga) under JMVP from Haldia to Varanasi (1,390 Km) with the technical and financial assistance of the World Bank at an estimated cost of Rs 5,369 crore. The project would enable commercial navigation of vessels with capacity of 1500-2,000 DWT. Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari had flagged off a consignment of Maruti cars from Varanasi to Haldia in August, 2016. Since then pilot movements on National Waterways are currently being done on various stretches. More than 15 of them have already been successfully completed, including integrated movements through NW-1 (Ganga), Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route and NW-2 (Brahmaputra). The PepsiCo cargo will be the first container movement on inland waterways in the country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three bike-borne men robbed a petrol pump employee of Rs 4,30,000 cash here Monday, police said. SHO, Gauriganj, JB Pandey said Paras Nath Verma, manager of Brij Mohan Automobile, and his companion Bhagwant Singh were going to a bank in Barna Tikar to deposit the cash, when the incident occurred. When the two reached Lodi Baba Bridge on Banda-Tanda National Highway, three men beat them, snatched the bag of cash and fled the scene. The two men were shifted to District Hospital Gauriganj, where their condition is said to be "out of danger". Gauriganj police has lodged a case under relevant sections of IPC, the SHO said, adding that the police is combing the area and the accused may be nabbed soon. In protest of this incident most petrol pumps in the district allegedly stopped business on Monday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Swiss shipping company said Monday that 12 crew members of a bulk carrier who were abducted by pirates more than five weeks ago near Nigeria have been released, as Polish authorities confirmed a new hostage-taking off the West African country's coast. Massoel Shipping said the seven Filipinos, a Slovenian, a Ukrainian, a Romanian, a Croatian and a Bosnian who were abducted in September were freed on Saturday in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, and were in Switzerland before returning home. The Geneva-based company said it would not provide details of the release "as to do so would only encourage further criminal acts of this kind." Massoel said the ship carrying wheat was attacked September 22 as it sailed from Lagos to Port Harcourt. The attackers apparently boarded using long ladders and cut razor wire on the deck to reach the bridge. Seven crew members were not captured. Blake Sinclair, a spokesman for Massoel, said the crew members were "as well as can be expected, given the circumstances." He said details of their detention were not immediately available. In the latest hostage-taking, Poland's Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz confirmed that 11 crew members of a Liberian-flagged container ship, the Pomerenia Sky, including eight Poles, had been abducted off Nigeria's coast. "Poland's consulate is in talks. We will see," Czaputowicz said, adding that he could not reveal more details. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday condoled the death of nearly 190 people in an Indonesian plane crash. The Indonesia Lion Air flight crashed into the sea with 189 passengers and crew aboard and no survivors were expected, reports said. The plane was being flown by Indian pilot Bhavye Suneja. "My thoughts are with the families and friends of those who lost their lives in the plane crash in Indonesia. May Almighty give them strength and courage in this hour of grief," the Prime Minister's Office tweeted quoting Modi, who is in Japan. (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 Monday held "fruitful and extensive" talks during which they discussed issues of bilateral interest, the situation in the Indo-Pacific region and threats posed by nuclear terrorism as the two sides signed several agreements including on a high speed rail project and naval cooperation. The two leaders also agreed to initiate 2+2 dialogue involving their foreign and defence ministers. India has a similar agreement with the US and the two sides held the first round of 2+2 dialogue in New Delhi last month. "Held fruitful and extensive talks with PM @AbeShinzo. Today's discussions focused on aspects relating to better economic ties, stronger cooperation in areas of defence and security," Modi tweeted after two days of summit-level talks. During the 13th annual summit, the two prime ministers reviewed developments in bilateral relations and explored new areas of cooperation, focusing on shared vision for peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific, where China is flexing its muscles. China claims almost all of the South China Sea and also laid claims on the Senkaku islands under the control of Japan in the East China Sea. Chinese ships routinely patrol around the Senkaku Islands. China has resorted to aggressive patrols in the last few years. Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have counter claims over the South China Sea. Abe hosted Modi days after he went to Beijing where held talks with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and President Xi Jinping. Abe's visit -- the first by any Japanese prime minister since 2011 -- was aimed at repairing ties that have been riven by disputes over territory, military expansion in the Pacific and World War II history. Modi and Abe agreed that India and Japan must work together for a rules-based and inclusive world order that fosters trust and confidence by enhancing communication and connectivity to ensure rule of law, unimpeded trade and flow of people, technology and ideas for shared prosperity. "The two leaders' vision for the Indo-Pacific is based on a rules-based order that respects sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations, ensures freedom of navigation and overflight as well as unimpeded lawful commerce, and seeks peaceful resolution of disputes...without resorting to threat or use of force," said the India-Japan Vision Statement issued after the talks. "We both agree that from digital partnership to cyber space, from health to protection, and from sea to space, in every field we will strengthen our partnership," Prime Minister Modi said. The two leaders reviewed the progress made on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail project, which is an important symbol of India-Japan collaboration. The two sides signed an agreement on yen loan for the project. They also welcomed the continued cooperation on metro projects which support smarter development of Indian cities. The two sides also signed an agreement on the implementing arrangement for deeper cooperation between the Indian Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). Prime Minister Modi expressed his appreciation for the significant contribution of Japan's Overseas Development Assistance to the socio-economic development of India. He appreciated Japan's role in promoting connectivity through quality infrastructure projects such as the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor and the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor. "The two leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to the total elimination of nuclear weapons and remained resolute in the task of strengthening international cooperation to address the challenges of nuclear proliferation and nuclear terrorism," the Vision Statement said. They condemned in the strongest terms the growing threat of terrorism and its universal reach. The two leaders called upon all countries to work towards rooting out terrorist safe havens and infrastructure, disrupting terrorist networks and financing channels, and halting cross-border movement of terrorists. They underlined the need for all countries to ensure that their territory is not used to launch terrorist attacks on other countries, in an apparent reference to Pakistan which is accused by its neighbours of providing safe havens to terrorists. "They called upon Pakistan to bring to justice the perpetrators of terrorist attacks, including those of November 2008 in Mumbai and January 2016 in Pathankot. They looked forward to strengthening cooperation against terrorist threats from groups including Al-Qaida, ISIS, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Lakshar-e-Tayyiba, and their affiliates," the statement said. After India's full accession to three international export control regimes, the two leaders pledged to continue working together for India's membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, with the aim of strengthening the global non-proliferation efforts. The formal summit between Modi and Abe comes a day after the two prime ministers spent about eight hours together at a picturesque resort near Mount Fuji in Yamanashi prefecture discussing ties between the two countries and ways to deepen strategic dimension of the bilateral relationship. Earlier, Modi was given a guard of honour upon his arrival for the annual summit talks at the Kantei, the Prime Minister's Official Residence. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India and Japan signed six agreements, including on a high speed rail project and naval cooperation, and agreed to hold 2+2 dialogue after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe held talks Monday during which they discussed a range of bilateral, regional and global issues including the situation in the Indo-Pacific region. During the 13th annual summit, the two prime ministers reviewed developments in bilateral relations and explored new areas of cooperation, focusing on shared vision for peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific, where China is flexing its muscles. The two leaders agreed that India and Japan must work together for a rules-based and inclusive world order that fosters trust and confidence by enhancing communication and connectivity to ensure rule of law, unimpeded trade and flow of people, technology and ideas for shared prosperity. They agreed to hold a 2+2 dialogue between the Foreign Ministers and Defence Ministers of the two countries. India has a similar agreement with the US and the two sides held the first round of 2+2 dialogue in New Delhi last month. "We both agree that from digital partnership to cyberspace, health, defence, ocean to space, in every field we will strengthen our partnership," Prime Minister Modi said after the talks. The two leaders reviewed the progress made on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail project, which is an important symbol of India-Japan collaboration. The two sides signed an agreement on yen loan for the project. They also welcomed the continued cooperation on metro projects which support smarter development of Indian cities. The two sides also signed an agreement on the implementing arrangement for deeper cooperation between the Indian Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). The formal summit between Modi and Abe comes a day after the two prime ministers spent about eight hours together at a picturesque resort near Mount Fuji in Yamanashi prefecture discussing ties between the two countries and ways to deepen strategic dimension of the bilateral relationship. Earlier, Modi was given a guard of honour upon his arrival for the annual summit talks at the Kantei, the Prime Minister's Official Residence. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Earlier this month, the housing finance regulator National Housing Bank (NHB) had decided to increase the refinance limit from Rs 24,000 crore to Rs 30,000 crore in order to help alleviate the liquidity crunch that the sector is facing. With this development, the NHB on Saturday claimed to have sanctioned Rs 19,990 crore till date to 19 eligible institutions, including 14 housing finance companies (HFCs), thereby indicating that a things haven't escalated to a liquidity crisis among the non-banking finance institutions. NHB, the wholly-owned subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of India, is the principal agency to promote Housing Finance Institutions, currently numbering 97, and extend financial support to eligible institutions. As a regulator, it also monitors the liquidity position of HFCs regularly. "They [NHB] have already disbursed around Rs 9,000 crore and assured [the government] that there are no systemic concerns," a senior government official told The Economic Times. Furthermore, the NBFCs and banks have reportedly told the government that they do not fear any liquidity crisis. Significantly, only one HFC may have some issue, but they did not reveal its name. On Friday, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley met the heads of several top public sector banks to take stock of the liquidity situation, especially for NBFCs. Besides officials from the FinMin, key executives from SBI, Punjab National Bank, Bank of Baroda, Union Bank, and Bank of India were present in the meeting. According to the daily, the lenders have assured the government that they will continue to refinance NBFCs. The country's largest bank, State Bank of India, has said it could buy NBFC assets up to Rs 45,000 crore. NHB meets about 4% of the capital needs of NBFCs. Moreover, just 10 days ago, the apex bank allowed the banks to use government securities equivalent to their incremental credit to NBFCs for a three-month period to meet their liquidity coverage ratio requirements. Moreover, the single borrower exposure limit for NBFCs that do not finance infrastructure stands increased from 10% to 15% of capital funds, up to December 31, 2018. This is "over and above the amount of credit to NBFCs and HFCs outstanding on their [banks'] books as on October 19, 2018," the RBI had said. The provision is expected to allow banks to free up Rs 50,000-60,000 crore of liquidity, which banks can lend to NBFCs till year-end. So perhaps the SBI has hit the nail on the head by saying "the concerns in the market may be a little overblown" in its latest Ecowrap report. Edited by Sushmita Choudhury Agarwal Political parties in Jammu and Kashmir Monday condemned the killing of a police officer and a PDP activist by militants in separate incidents in the Valley on Sunday. Imtiyaz Ahmed Mir, a 30-year-old Jammu and Kashmir Police sub-inspector posted in the CID department, was gunned down by terrorists in the militancy-infested Pulwama district of South Kashmir when he was on his way home to meet his elderly parents. Later, militants shot dead a PDP worker - Mohammad Amin Dar (40) near his residence in Gangbugh area of Tengpora in the city outskirts here. Condemning the killings, former chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti expressed concern over violence "becoming rampant in the valley. "Again a young budding SI Imtiyaz Mir & Mohd Amin Dar, a political activist fell prey to the cycle of violence .Condemning these acts of violence & conveying my heartfelt condolences to families of Mohd Amin Dar- our party activist and Sub Inspector Imtiyaz Mir of @JmuKmrPolice, Mehbooba wrote on Twitter. Later, in a statement, she hailed Dar's services for the party. "The deceased was working earnestly for the upliftment of the downtrodden of this area and his death has come as a shock for the entire party, she said. National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah and vice-president Omar Abdullah expressed profound grief over the brutal killing of the PDP activist and the police officer. Strongly condemning the brutal killings, the father-son duo expressed solidarity with the victims' families and prayed for peace to the departed souls, a NC spokesman said. Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) also strongly condemned the killings and conveyed deepest condolences to bereaved families. In a statement, JKPCC described the killings as shameful and cowardly. "The killings, in any form, must be condemned by every section of the society, the JKPCC said in a statement, demanding stern punishment for those behind the killings. The NC spokesperson said senior leaders including party General Secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar, provincial president Nasir Aslam Wani, party leaders and legislators have also expressed profound grief and sorrow over the killings and prayed for peace to the departed souls. The spokesman said Wani visited Dar's residence at Gangbugh here and offered heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and also offered prayers for the departed soul. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Police have seized 77 tortoises of rare species from Bihar's Purnea district and arrested four smugglers in connection with the seizure. During a search operation near Barsoni toll plaza under Dagarua police station on Sunday, sacks containing the tortoises were recovered from a jeep, Superintendent of Police (SP) Vishal Sharma said on Monday. Among the four held, one is a woman, Sharma said, adding, they were going to UP from West Bengal to sell the tortoises. Forest department officials said the seized tortoises belong to the rare terrapin species, and are in demand for medicinal purposes. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said Monday Congress chief Rahul Gandhi was trying to build his image as a "Shiv bhakt" with his temple visits, but warned him that the BJP would not tolerate this "drama" because a "small-time" leader of his party is repeatedly insulting Hindu gods. Prasad was referring to Gandhi's visit to the Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain on Monday as part of his two-day visit to poll-bound Madhya Pradesh and Kerala MP Shashi Tharoor's reported remarks last week against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shivlinga. Tharoor reportedly claimed that an unnamed RSS source had told a journalist that Modi was like a scorpion sitting on a Shivlinga which cannot be removed by hand or hit with a slipper. "Congress president Rahul Gandhi today visited a temple in Ujjain. I wish him on his new Shiv bhakti. With this temple run, he is trying to build his identity as a Shiv Bhakt but a leader of his party Shashi Tharoor has made objectionable statements against Shivlinga," Prasad said at a press conference. "On one hand Rahul Gandhi visits Mahakal Temple in Ujjain and pays obeisance there, on the other one of his 'chhutbhaiya' leader insults gods and deities," he claimed. "Rahul ji, this drama (of piety) will not be tolerated," Prasad added. "He (Tharoor) has not done such a thing for the first time. Earlier also, he had said that India is turning into a Hindu Taliban," Prasad remarked. The Union minister also attacked the Congress chief on the Rafale deal, claiming Gandhi was playing with national security and making statements similar to the ones made in Pakistan. He said Pakistan was raising questions on the Rafale deal as it did not want India to have such sophisticated aircraft. "For the first time, the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government had made efforts to increase the strength of the Air Force. After the UPA came to power, it could not even decide on the procurement of the jets." Prasad said the UPA government had held talks with Dassault to buy Rafale jets and had shortlisted the firm in July 2012 but then, six months later, had claimed that it wanted to re-negotiate the deal. He further alleged that the UPA government during its tenure did not ink any weapons deal because the "Gandhi family" wanted "dakshina". Quoting from an interview of Dassault Aviation CEO (Eric Trappier) published in an English daily three days ago, Prasad said the CEO had clarified that the French firm's relationship with the Anil Ambani-led firm was since 2012, when the UPA was in power. Accusing Gandhi of lying, Prasad said Rs 30,000 crore worth of spares for the Rafale fighter jets, which would be made in India, would be distributed among 100 different companies. The share of Reliance Defence in this is merely Rs 850 crore, he said. The Reliance Group, too, has denied the Congress's allegations. Prasad also spoke on the threat from naxals in poll-bound Chhattisgarh and alleged that the previous Manmohan Singh government did not launch any major offensive against the Maoist rebels. This, he alleged, was because "Maoist patrons" were in the Advisory Committee headed by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. "You very well know how many Maoists were linked to the Congress party. The Manmohan Singh government did not take effective action against Maoists as their patrons were in the advisory committee of Sonia Gandhi," Prasad claimed. Speaking about "urban Maoists", Prasad said, "They want to run the country but if they fought an election, their deposits would be forfeited." He said the government accepted one's right to speak and criticise, but not the right to shout slogans against the unity and integrity of the country. "You don't have a right to break the country," he said. Prasad claimed the NDA government had successfully managed to bring the district affected by naxalism from 150 to around 75-80 now. Incidentally, Prasad's public meeting in Dantewada in poll-bound Chhattisgarh was cancelled due to security reasons. In a naxal attack in Palnar village in Dantewada district Sunday evening, a BJP panchayat member Nandal Mudiyami was seriously injured. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) : Tamil Nadu governor Banwarilal Purohit Monday asked politicians, MPs and MLAs to propagate Ayushman Bharat, the national health protection mission, as awareness on the scheme in the state was lacking. He made this request after inaugurating speciality centres and additional buildings as part of an expansion plan of a private hospital here. The governor said the United Nations and the World Health Organisation have emphasised on universal healthcare coverage, but statistics show access to healthcare varied across countries. With a view to ensuring universal healthcare in India, the central government introduced Ayushman Bharat which covers the poor and the vulnerable groups with Rs 5 lakh per family per year, he said. On the change in life-style and food habits over the years, the governor said it had led to obesity and various diseases and noted that Mahatma Gandhi preferred chapathi over poori as the latter was 'poison' when eaten fried. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa Monday assumed charge as Sri Lanka's new Prime Minister after the surprise sacking of his predecessor Ranil Wickremesinghe by President Maithripala Sirisena which plunged the island nation into an unprecedented political crisis. Rajapaksa assumed the duties in the prime minister's secretariat which was not used by the ousted prime minister Wickremesinghe, officials from his People's Party (SLPP) said. Sirisena on Friday night sacked Wickremesinghe and appointed Rajapaksa as the new prime minister in a surprise move that is being debated as a constitutional coup. 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. At least a few Cabinet members will to be sworn in later, the party officials said. "There will be ministers of finance, law and order, foreign and home affairs who would be sworn in," said a spokesman of the SLPP. Wickremesinghe continues to remain in his Temple Trees office cum residence of the prime minister. President Sirisena has summoned the Colombo-based diplomats for a briefing at 5 pm Monday. He is facing pressure over his controversial decision to suspend parliament. UN chief Antonio Guterres and and the US State Department have called on the country's government to respect democratic values and constitutional provisions and process. Speaker Jayasuriya, who had written to Sirisena over the issue of not consulting him in suspending parliament, visited the influential Buddhist chief monks in the central town of Kandy to apprise them on the ongoing political crisis. Jayasuriya told them that convening parliament was the only way to resolve the crisis. Wickremesinghe's United National Party (UNP) said that at least 128 MPs in the 225-member assembly have signed to call for an immediate reconvening of parliament. Rajapaksa was defeated in the 2015 presidential election by Sirisea who had the backing of Wickremesinghe's UNP. After a unity government, the political relationship soured between the two, leading to Wickremesinghe's sacking by Sirisena. The second largest opposition group in parliament Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) said they had asked the Speaker to convene parliament in order to end the political impasse. Rajapaksa in his statement last night called for a snap parliamentary election to end the impasse. The UNP said they rejected all personal allegations made by President Sirisena against Wickremesinghe. The city of Colombo was put under tight security with president Sirisena's official residence area being sealed off for normal traffic. The RSS said Monday that the Supreme Court should make an early decision on the Ram Janmabhoomi land dispute in Ayodhya and the Union government should bring a legislation to remove hurdles, if any, in the way of the construction of a Ram temple at the site. RSS chief spokesperson Arun Kumar said the Allahabad High Court in its verdict has accepted that the site is the birthplace of Lord Ram and a temple existed there. The high court judgment, delivered in four civil suits, had said the 2.77-acre land be divided equally among three parties the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla. "The Sangh believes a grand Ram temple should be constructed soon at the birthplace of Lord Ram. And land should be allotted at the birthplace for temple construction. With the construction of the temple, an atmosphere of unity and harmony will be created. "With this in view, the Supreme Court should make an early decision and if there are any difficulties, the government should make a law to remove all hurdles in the way of giving land for temple at the Ram Janmabhoomi site," Kumar said in a statement. Kumar said the high court has accepted that the said site is the birthplace of Lord Ram. "Ever since this andolan was started by saints, we have supported it and will continue to support them in their decisions in future," he said. The Supreme Court on Monday fixed the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case for the first week of January before an "appropriate bench", which will decide the schedule of hearing. A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, said the future course of hearing in January next year on the appeals filed against the high court verdict will be decided by that bench. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union minister Kiren Rijiju Monday paid tribute to the police martyrs at a special function organised by the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) here at the national police memorial. In the programme 'An Ode to Martyrs', organised by the ITBP, women commando contingent, ski contingent, regular contingent and para troopers saluted the memorial through a march past while a women band presented a special display, a home ministry release said. The programme concluded with the tune 'Abide with me'. The ITBP guards the Sino-Indian border along the Himalayan frontiers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had dedicated to the nation a refurbished national police memorial here on October 21. The memorial consists of a 30-feet-tall and 238-tonne heavy black granite central sculpture honouring the slain troopers, a museum and a wall of valour bearing the names of over 34,800 martyred personnel. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three unidentified persons Monday looted Rs 32 lakh from a cash van in Adipur in Kutch district after opening fire and injuring three persons, police said. The incident took place late Monday afternoon when cash was being transferred from a van to an Axis Bank ATM near Vinay Talkies, an official said. "When three persons were carrying a bag and a box with cash from the van towards the ATM, they were attacked by three unidentified persons who had come in a car. The robbers opened fire and looted Rs 32 lakh," said Kutch (East) Superintendent of Police Parikshita Rathod. Two of the persons were shot on the legs while one man suffered a bullet wound on the waist, police said, adding that the condition of all three was stable. Local Crime Branch Inspector J P Jadeja said that the incident had been captured by CCTV cameras installed in the area. He said that the robbers had covered their face and had also likely fired six rounds in the air. An official said that major roads in the area had been blocked and extensive search operations were on to nab the robbers. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) After wowing audiences in Russia, the Moscow Musical Theater's iconic performance 'Reverse' 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 on Sunday 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 was 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 countries 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.) Nearly 150,000 South Koreans have backed a demand by three sisters to have their father executed for the brutal killing of their mother, in a case highlighting the country's lax punishment of domestic violence. The trio's mother was stabbed to death by her ex-husband in the car park of her apartment complex last week after years of physical abuse. "Our father is a heinous criminal who must forever be isolated from society," the daughters said in a petition filed on the website of the presidential Blue House. "We are petitioning for him to be sentenced to death to prevent further victims." It had received more than 147,000 signatures by Monday afternoon. South Korea retains the death penalty in law, but last carried out an execution in 1997 and is regarded as abolitionist in practice. The murder has shone a spotlight on South Korea's poor handling of domestic abuse cases, where the perpetrators are often assigned to counselling or given restraining orders. According to a report by the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, nearly half of 16,868 cases of domestic violence reported to police in 2015 did not result in any criminal punishment. Rights groups say that the current law focuses more on maintaining a family structure rather than punishment of the abuser, perpetuating the problem. "A perpetrator is a subject for punishment, not a subject for counselling," said activist Kim Myung-jin at a rally in downtown Seoul on Monday. "Counselling cannot be punishment." Last week's assailant -- identified only by his surname, Kim -- was arrested and reports said he had admitted the killing during police questioning, quoting his lawyer telling reporters that Kim was "regretful" for his actions. His daughters said their mother had endured more than 20 years of physical abuse and death threats from their father. "Even after their divorce, our father came to our home with a knife," one of the three told the Chosun Ilbo newspaper. "Whenever that happened, we had to move." Their mother was always on the run from their father, hiding at women's shelters and in the countryside for months but every time she would be discovered and beaten, her daughters said. "At one time, my father followed my sister and found out where we were living," they said. "He brought a knife, some tape and ropes and threatened to kill us." "We always lived in fear," they said. "We moved six times in the last four years. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Baidu has developed a new technique for smoother real-time machine translation. The challenge: Developing a simultaneous translation system has been a tough nut to crack because word order differs between different languages. Consider this sentence in English, then Chinese: The US president meets with the English prime minister. . In English, the word meets appears near the beginning; its Chinese counterpart, (huiwu), appears at the end. Because of this, commercial real-time translation systems wait for the person to complete a sentence before translating it into the target language. The result is a clunky user experience with awkward delays. How it works: Baidus new approach shortens the delay by starting before a sentence is finished. If the system were translating the sentence above from Chinese to English, for example, it would anticipate the English word meets after hearing the first part of the Chinese sentence, based on the likelihood that the US president would meet with someone. The idea was inspired by an anticipation technique commonly used by human translators to keep up with the speaker. Work in progress: Like any predictive machine-learning model, the system only works with reasonable accuracy when trained on copious amounts of language data with similar sentence structures. As a result, there are still significant limitations to deploying this system at scale. Baidu researchers found that the system doesnt perform as well as full-sentence translators in experiments on Chinese-to-English translation with a five-word delay. But the researchers are excited about the new path forward. Simultaneous translating for human interpreters is extremely challenging and burdensome, says Liang Huang, the principal scientist at Baidu Research, so were hopeful machines can step in and really make this service more accessible for professionals and consumers. 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. : Continuing its crackdown on protesters who took part in the Sabarimala agitation, police have so far arrested over 3,000 persons across Kerala. DGP Loknath Behera Monday said in a statement that 3,505 people have been arrested in 529 cases registered in connection with the violence and demonstration against implementation of the Supreme Court verdict, allowing women of all age groups into the Lord Ayyappa temple. Condemning the police action on the Ayyappa devotees, BJP in Kerala has said it would observe a day long fast in front of the DGP office here tomorrow. Party President P S Sreedharan Pillai, who will lead the strike, said in a statement that the agitation was against the CPI-M led LDF government's attempt to arrest 'devotees' by registering false cases on them. The saffron party has extended full support to the agitation of devotees and planned to organise a 'Rath Yatra' to save the customs and traditions of the Sabarimala temple. The yatra would commence from Kasaragod on November 8 and end in Pathanamthitta on November 13, party sources said. The hill temple had witnessed high drama recently with around a dozen women in the 10-50 age group being prevented by protesting devotees from entering it after the doors were opened for all women following the apex court verdict. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The CEO and editor-in-chief of Samachar Plus was arrested and sent to judicial remand till November 8 for allegedly conducting sting operations on prominent politicians and bureaucrats in Uttarakhand with an intent to extort money, officials said Monday. Umesh Kumar Sharma was arrested from his Ghaziabad residence on Sunday after a journalist working with the channel accused him of putting undue pressure on him to conduct sting operations on prominent politicians in Uttarakhand, including a former chief minister. "Sharma was produced Monday before the additional chief judicial magistrate here. He has been sent to judicial remand till November 8," Dehradun Senior Superintendent of Police Nivedita Kukreti told reporters. The Noida headquartered regional channel has presence in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. According to Uttarakhand Additional Director General (law and order) Ashok Kumar, Sharma had hatched a conspiracy to destabilise the state government and blackmail senior politicians and bureaucrats by conducting sting operations on them. The channel was in in 2016 when it conducted a sting operation on the then chief minister Harish Rawat showing him negotiating a deal to bribe disgruntled MLAs and buy their support ahead of a floor test in the state assembly. Citing the FIR lodged in connection with the case, the ADG said Sharma was mounting pressure on a subordinate to do the same and grind his own axe. "He told his subordinate that by doing so everyone would be under their control and none of their work would get obstructed," the ADG said. Sharma's arrest followed raids at his office in Noida and residence in Ghaziabad, he said. The action was taken after a journalist working with the channel, Ayush Gaud, had lodged a complaint against Sharma in August. He had accused Sharma of threatening to eliminate him after he failed to do a sting operation on prominent politicians and senior bureaucrats of the state, police said. The FIR on the basis of which Sharma was arrested accuses him and four others of conducting sting operations on senior politicians and bureaucrats with the purpose of blackmailing them and extorting money from them. The ADG said the role of the four others named in the case is being probed. A case has been registered against Sharma under IPC section 386 (extortion by putting a person in fear of death or grievous hurt), 388 (extortion by threat of accusation of an offence) and 120 b (criminal conspiracy), Kumar said. Police recovered Rs 39.73 lakh in cash, USD 16,279, Thai currency Baht 11030 besides a number of mobile phones, hard disc, pen drives, memory cards, i-Pad, laptop and camera from Sharma's office and residence, the ADG said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The country's largest lender State Bank of India Monday formed a joint venture with Hitachi to create a digital payment network. It is planned that Hitachi Payments will invest 26 per cent in SBI Payment Services Pvt Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SBI, and both parties will proceed to apply for regulatory approvals, a joint statement said. Hitachi Payments, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hitachi, and SBI have signed a definitive agreement to enter into a joint venture for the establishment of a card acceptance and future ready digital payments platform for India, it said. "Financial services market in India is making remarkable progress led by economic growth, financial inclusion policy and Digital India initiatives. Bank account holders have increased substantially in the past few years and as a result, banking transactions on ATMs and digital transactions have correspondingly increased dramatically," it said. The SBI with more than 6,00,000 POS terminals is the largest merchant acquirer in the market in terms of terminals through its subsidiary SBI Payment. Through this joint venture, Hitachi enters a new field of business, which is the merchant acquiring business in India, it said. Hitachi will contribute to the development and expansion of digital payments service business in India by creating a digital payments platform that will enable better convenience and quality through integrating our individual strengths, it said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Whatever the Supreme Court has ordered on the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute cases should be honoured, All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) member Zafaryab Jilani said on Monday as the apex court fixed January to hear the matter. "It is not appropriate for anyone to either welcome or condemn the order," the senior counsel told PTI. "Whatever the Supreme Court has said has to be honoured," Jilani added when asked to comment on the Supreme Court fixing the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute cases for the first week of January next year before an appropriate bench. He said they could present their grievances, if any, through a plea before the court. "But it will not be on public platform," Jilani stated. All India Shia Personal Law Board spokesperson Yasoob Abbas also did not comment directly on the Supreme Court developments of the morning. "This case should be resolved and it should not be allowed to hot up in the run-up to (Lok Sabha) elections," Abbas told PTI. "Many mothers have lost their children, while wives lost their husbands over the temple-mosque conflict. India is a land of unity where people of different religions and faith live," he said. The apex court has fixed the first week of January next year for the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute cases. The matter will come up before an appropriate bench, which will decide the schedule of hearing. A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, said the appropriate bench will decide the future course of hearing in January next year on the appeals filed against the Allahabad High Court verdict in the Ayodhya land dispute case. "We will fix the date of hearing of the Ayodhya dispute case before the appropriate bench in January," the bench, which also comprised justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph, said. As many as 14 appeals have been filed against the high court judgement, delivered in four civil suits, that the 2.77 acres of land be partitioned equally among three parties -- the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Declining an urgent hearing of the Ayodhya land dispute case, the Supreme Court Monday fixed the politically sensitive issue for first week of January before an "appropriate bench" and left a decision on the timeline to it, sparking demands for an ordinance for construction of a Ram temple at the disputed site. The order by a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi triggered a chorus of demands from within the BJP and various Sangh Parivar outfits that the Centre bring an Ordinance or legislation in the Winter session of Parliament for early construction of Ram temple at Ayodhya ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha polls without waiting for the apex court verdict. However, Congress and Muslim groups wanted all stakeholders to wait for the verdict. Observing that the apex court has its "own priorities", the CJI said the future course of hearing on multiple appeals filed against the Allahabad High Court verdict on the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute will be decided by the "appropriate bench" that will be constituted. "We will fix the date of hearing of the Ayodhya dispute case before the appropriate bench in first week of January," said the bench, which also comprised Justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and senior advocate CS Vaidyanathan, appearing for the Uttar Pradesh government and deity Ramlala respectively, sought early listing of the appeals in the case after referring to their long pendency. "We have our own priorities. Whether the matter will be heard in January, February or March, the appropriate bench will decide," the court said after a brief hearing. As many as 14 appeals have been filed against the high court judgement, delivered in four civil suits, that the 2.77 acre land be partitioned equally among three parties -- the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla. Amid the clamour for an ordinance or alternatively bringing in a legislation in the Winter session of Parliament, the Congress called for restraint and awaiting the Supreme Court verdict without linking the issue to "votebank politics". The winter session is likely begin in the first half of December. The Centre said it had full faith in the judiciary and fully respects it. Outlining the government's stand, Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, at the same time, said a lot people in the country want the case to be heard quickly. The RSS said the Supreme Court should take an early decision on the Ram Janmabhoomi issue and that if there are any hurdles in the path of Ram temple construction at the site, the government should bring a law soon. "The Sangh believes that a Ram Temple should be constructed early at the birthplace and should get land for tempe construction at the birthplace. With the construction of the temple, an atmosphere of unity and harmony will be created. "With this in view, the Supreme Court should take an early decision and if there is any difficulty, the Government should make a law to remove hurdles in the construction of the Ram temple to grant land at the Ram Janmabhoomi site," RSS chief spokesperson Arun Kumar said in a statement. BJP's estranged ally Shiv Sena also stressed that the Ram temple is an issue of faith and demanded that the government come out with an Ordinance soon. Opposing any ordinance, All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Asaddudin Owaisi dared the government to take this route, saying the BJP refers to the Ram Temple again and again. "If they have the courage, they should bring an Ordinance on Ram Temple construction. They are trying to scare us about bringing an Ordinance, why don't they bring it," he said. Iqbal Ansari of Sunni Waqf Board, a litigant from the Muslim side, welcomed the decision of the court and said it will wait for the verdict. "The demand for making a law is a political gimmick since a political party always raises the issue of the construction of Ram Mandir in any way ahead of Lok Sabha polls," he said in a veiled reference to the BJP. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) said whatever the Supreme Court has ordered should be honoured. Union minister and senior BJP leader Giriraj Singh said Hindus are "running out of patience" on the Ram temple issue while his party colleague Vinay Katiyar alleged that the issue was being delayed "under pressure" from the Congress, which denied the charge. "The decision is being delayed under pressure from the Congress. People like Kapil Sibal and Prashant Bhushan are pressing for delaying the issue. Till when will Ram bhakts (devotees) wait? In 2019, the Congress will come to know," he said. Another BJP leader Sanjeev Baliyan said, "I am surprised at the priorities of the court. I am of the view that the Ram temple should be constructed. The government should explore all possibilities." Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram, however, observed that it was a familiar story every five years before the elections when the BJP tries to polarise the issue. "The Congress's stated position is that the matter is before the Supreme Court and everyone should wait until the Supreme Court decides... We should not jump the gun," he told reporters. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) said Hindus cannot wait eternally for a court judgement on the Ayodhya land dispute case and asked the government to bring a law for building a Ram temple. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court on Monday fixed the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case for the first week of January before an "appropriate bench", which will decide the schedule of hearing. A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, said the future course of hearing in January next year on the appeals filed against the Allahabad High Court verdict in the Ayodhya land dispute case will be decided by that bench. "We will fix the date of hearing of the Ayodhya dispute case before the appropriate bench in January," said the bench, which also comprised Justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and senior advocate CS Vaidyanathan, appearing for the UP government and deity Ramlala respectively, sought early listing of the appeals in the case after referring to their long pendency. "We have our own priorities. Whether the matter will be heard in January, February or March, the appropriate bench will decide," the bench said. Earlier, a three-judge bench, by a 2:1 majority, refused to refer to a five-judge constitution bench the issue of reconsideration of the observations in its 1994 judgement that a mosque was not integral to Islam. The matter had arisen during the hearing of the Ayodhya land dispute. The apex court bench headed by the then Chief Justice Dipak Misra had said that the civil suit has to be decided on the basis of evidence. It had also said that the previous verdict has no relevance to this issue. The bench had fixed the batch of appeals for final hearing today. As many as 14 appeals have been filed against the high court judgement, delivered in four civil suits, that the 2.77 acre land be partitioned equally among three parties -- the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court on Monday fixed the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute cases for the first week of January next year before an appropriate bench, which will decide the schedule of hearing. A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, said the appropriate bench will decide the future course of hearing in January next year on the appeals filed against the Allahabad High Court verdict in the Ayodhya land dispute case. "We will fix the date of hearing of the Ayodhya dispute case before the appropriate bench in January," the bench, which also comprised Justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph, said. Earlier, a three judge bench, by a 2:1 majority, refused to refer to a five-judge constitution bench the issue of reconsideration of the observations in its 1994 judgement that a mosque was not integral to Islam. The matter had arisen during the hearing of the Ayodhya land dispute. An apex court bench headed by then Chief Justice Dipak Misra said the civil suit has to be decided on the basis of evidence, adding that the previous verdict has no relevance to this issue. The bench had fixed the batch of appeals for final hearing today. As many as 14 appeals have been filed against the high court judgement, delivered in four civil suits, that the 2.77 acres of land be partitioned equally among three parties -- the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court Monday said it would hear in January next year the plea seeking de-sealing of Uphaar theatre which was shut down after 59 people died during the screening of Bollywood movie 'Border' on June 13, 1997. A bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph was considering the plea of Ansal Theatre and Clubotels Private Ltd seeking early hearing of its petition for de-sealing of the cinema hall which was shut down by the CBI. "This is an application for early hearing of the appeal. Let the matter be listed in the month of January, 2019 before the appropriate bench. The application is accordingly disposed of," the bench said. Earlier, the apex court had declined the plea for urgent hearing of the company. The company and the theatre owners, Sushil Ansal and Gopal Ansal, had sought urgent listing of the appeal seeking release of the sealed cinema hall. The CBI, which has probed and prosecuted the two owners in the case, was opposing the de-sealing and release of the cinema hall. The agency and the Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT), led by Neelam Krishnamurthy, were alleging that the plea seeking trial of then IPS officer Amod Kanth, who in the capacity of DCP (Licensing), had allegedly allowed retention of 37 extra seats in the theatre in 1979 in violation of the Cinematography Act, was still pending. The release of cinema hall might lead to loss of crucial evidence that extra seats had resulted in closure of gangway leading to death of cine-goers, the AVUT had said. The Supreme Court had on February 9 asked Gopal Ansal to serve one-year jail term while his elder brother Sushil Ansal got relief from incarceration with prison term already undergone by him. Fifty-nine people had died of asphyxia when a fire broke out during the screening of 'Border' in Uphaar theatre in the Green Park area of south Delhi. Over a 100 people were injured in the subsequent stampede. A two-judge bench of the apex court had on March 5, 2014 held Sushil and Gopal Ansal guilty, but differed on the quantum of sentence to be awarded to them after which the matter was heard by a three-judge bench. The Delhi High Court on December 19, 2008 had awarded one-year jail term to both Sushil and Gopal Ansal in the case while reducing the two-year sentence imposed on them by the trial court. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court Monday was not impressed with the Nagaland government's submissions in support of amendments to a local law to ensure the chief minister's role in selection and appointment of Lokayukta. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, which was hearing a PIL seeking appointment of an anti-graft ombudsman in every state, had earlier summoned the Nagaland chief secretary to interact on the issue of change in the local law governing selection and appointment of Lokayukta in the state. "The state says that it will give a go by to the Constitutional principle then we cannot help," the bench, which also comprised justices S K Kaul and K M Jopseph, said while expressing dissatisfaction with the response of the chief secretary. "If your chief secretary does not understand the simple question then we are sorry. We do not have the time," it said while adjourning the hearing to October 31. The top bureaucrat could not give satisfactory answers to the queries posed by the bench on the amendment to Section 3(2) of the Nagaland Lokayukta Act, 2017, bringing in the chief minister as one of the persons who will have a role in the selection of the ombudsman. Earlier, the bench had said though it did not want to comment on the necessity of an amendment to a statute as it was the prerogative of the legislature, it had summoned the chief secretary to know the reasons for the change in the law. "We would like to interact with the chief secretary of the state of Nagaland on this aspect of the matter who will be personally present on October 29," the bench had said. However, the bench Monday said,"The statement made by the chief secretary of Nagaland before the court seems to be inappropriate. Let the chief secretary file a personal affidavit." It further said the presence of the chief secretary was not required further. The court is hearing a petition, filed by BJP leader and lawyer Ashwini Upadhyay, which has sought appointment of Lokayukta in every state. It has also sought a direction to states to provide adequate budgetary allocation and essential infrastructure for effective functioning of the Lokayuktas. According to the PIL, the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act 2013, had received presidential assent on January 1, 2014, and came into force from January 16, 2014, but the executive has not established a Lokpal yet. The petitioner has alleged that many state governments were "deliberately weakening" the Lokayukta by not providing adequate infrastructure, sufficient budget and workforce. The apex court has been also dealing with the issue of appointment of Lokayuktas or the anti-graft ombudsmen in 11 other states, including West Bengal, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Jammu and Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Odisha. The top court had earlier asked the chief secretaries of 11 states to specify the reasons for not appointing the anti-corruption ombudsman in the respective states even after the law was enacted in 2013. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 41-year-old school teacher was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Delhi on Monday, police said. The deceased has been identified as Sunita, a resident of Bawana village. "The police received a call at around 8.05 am regarding the shooting incident in Rohini's Bawana area. After reaching the spot, it was found that a school teacher sustained three bullet injuries and was lying in a pool of blood. The woman was rushed to Maharishi Valmiki Hospital where she was declared brought dead," said Rajneesh Gupta, deputy commissioner of police (Rohini). The body will be handed over to her family members after post-mortem, the DCP said, adding that further details were awaited. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Adani Power and Tata Power stocks closed higher on Monday after the Supreme Court allowed power regulator, Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC), to amend power purchase agreements (PPAs) of three power plants in Gujarat. While the Adani Power stock closed 18.73% or 6.65 points higher at 42.15, the Tata Power stock rose 12.40% to 77.50 level. The Adani Power stock rose 23.66% intra day to 43.90. The stock has been gaining for the last two days and has risen 27.73% during the period. During the last one year, the stock has gained 29.10% and risen just 1.20% since the beginning of this year. The Tata Power stock rose 24.95% intra day to 86.15 level. The midcap stock has risen after three days of consecutive fall. It has lost 9.09% during the last year and fallen 17.42% since the beginning of this year. Adani Power, Tata Power Co and Essar Power operate three power plants with a total capacity of 9,940 megawatts (mw) in Gujarat based on imported coal from Indonesia. These projects ran into losses when the Indonesian government increased the price of coal, but the PPAs did not allow them to pass on the increase in fuel cost. The apex court's ruling paves the way for CERC to amend the PPAs, thereby allowing these companies to pass on the increase in fuel cost. The court has given CERC two months' time to decide on the issue. The three plants - Adani's 4,620 mw, Tata's 4,000 mw and Essar's 1,320 mw - are currently operating below their full capacity. On October 24, SBI moved the Supreme Court seeking implementation of a high-power panel's recommendation to amend the PPAs between various discoms and three Gujarat-based electricity producers who were running losses as they could not hike tariffs to compensate for the rise in cost of coal imported from Indonesia. SBI is part of a consortium of banks that funded the three power producers-Tata Mundra, Adani and Essar-who were not allowed by the apex court to charge compensatory tariff in lieu of the increase in cost of coal they were importing from Indonesia. The top court by its order of April 11, 2017 had set aside the decisions of the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) and Appellate Tribunal for Electricity allowing the power producers to charge compensatory tariff. Subsequently, all stakeholders including the firms had a meeting with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. Thereafter, the central government recommended formation of the high-powered committee, State Bank of India said in its application filed through advocate Sanjay Kapur. Earlier this month, according to the plea, the panel recommended that the power purchase agreements (PPAs) which the three companies had with discoms in several states be amended based on the cost of coal imported from Indonesia. It also said that after the committee gave its recommendation, applications were moved by the Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd (GUVNL) and the state government in the apex court for permission to amend the PPAs SBI, seeking to be impleaded in the matter and supporting the pleas of GUVNL and the state government, had contended that entire net-worth of the three companies had almost eroded and the monies loaned to them by the banks was "at serious and imminent risk". "So far, as Essar Power Gujarat Ltd is concerned, it is already a non-performing asset (NPA)," it has said, adding that the remaining two companies have sent letters saying they would be constrained to stop operation as they cannot run their plants at a loss. According to SBI's plea, the consortium of banks had till March 31, 2017 lent Rs 19,127 crore to Adani Power, Rs 4,214 crore to Essar Power and Rs 10,159 crore to Tata Mundra to run their plants. A special ward with 12 beds has been set up at the V S Hospital here to treat Zika virus-affected patients after the first case of the mosquito-borne disease this year in Gujarat was detected, an official said Monday. In 2017, three Zika cases were reported in Ahmedabad. "We have set up a special ward with 12 beds to treat the patients hit by the Zika virus infection. Patients from any part of the state will be treated here. "However, no patient has been admitted at present (in the ward)," said Bhavin Solanki, the Medical Officer of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), which runs the hospital. An outbreak of the Zika virus was reported in neighbouring Rajasthan earlier this month. On October 26, the authorities had said a woman admitted to a civil hospital here had tested positive for the mosquito-borne disease. While the woman, admitted to the hospital on October 22, has since recovered and has been discharged from the hospital, the local administration has swung into action to stop the spread of the virus. The AMC had already launched a massive drive to stop the possible spread of the virus, officials said. Addressing a press conference here on October 26, Gujarat Commissioner of Health Jayanti Ravi had said there was no need to panic as the situation was under control due to the proactive steps taken by the administration. "The Zika virus spreads through mosquito bites. The mosquitoes, which carry the dengue and chikungunya virus, also carry the Zika virus. So, the best way to stop its spread is to control the mosquitoes," she had said. Ravi had also said that since there was no specific medicine for Zika, patients could take paracetamol. According to Ahmedabad Municipal Commissioner Vijay Nehra, an intensive screening exercise has been taken up with the help of 390 teams. "We have formed 390 teams and screened over 7.33 lakh people since October 22. Fogging and destruction of larva have been carried out to control the mosquito menace in the city," he said. The virus could affect the health of an unborn child if a pregnant woman contracted the infection, Nehra said. The Zika virus disease is caused by a virus transmitted primarily by Aedes mosquitoes, which bite during the day. The symptoms include fever, rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise or headache. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China on Monday said it is closely monitoring "the political turmoil" in Sri Lanka but maintained that it is the internal affairs of the country and hoped that the relevant political parties can resolve their differences through dialogue and consultations. Sri Lanka had plunged into political crisis since President Maithripala Sirisena sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinge and appointed pro-China former president Mahinda Rajapaksa as his successor. Asked about China's stand on the current political crisis in Sri Lanka considering that Beijing has made huge investments in the island nation, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told media here that China is following the crisis closely. "China and Sri Lanka are friendly neighbours. We are closely following the changes in the situation in Sri Lanka," he said. China, he said will always follow the principle of non-interference in internal affairs of other countries. "The changes in Sri Lankan situation belongs to its internal affairs. We believe the Sri Lankan government political parties and people have enough wisdom to deal with the internal situation," he said. "China sincerely hopes that the relevant parties in Sri Lanka can properly resolve differences through dialogue and consultations and safeguard the national stability and development," he said. On question about the Chinese Ambassador in Sri Lanka Cheng Xueyuan meeting both Rajapaksa and Wickramasinghe, Lu said "we have maintained communication with relevant political parties in Sri Lanka. Chinese Ambassador met respectively Wickramasinghe and the new Prime Minister and exchanged views on bilateral relations with the two". The reference Rajapaksa as "new Prime Minister" by the spokesman was seen as significant by the observers here considering that Wickramasinghe maintains that he is still the Prime Minister. Reports from Colombo said Chinese Premier Li Keqiang greeted Rajapaksa, though Lu did not respond to the question. China has developed high stakes in Sri Lanka since it made over USD eight billion Chinese investments, including the Hambantota port and the Colombo port project during the tenure of Rajapaksa who is widely regarded as pro-China. China is investing billions of dollars in infrastructure and developments in Sri Lanka since 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. Sirisena government subsequently gave Hambantota port on a 99-year lease to China for USD 1.1 billion debt swap deal raising concerns in India as Beijing stepped its presence in the Indian Ocean region. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The headmen of 22 villages situated near the Sardar Sarovar Dam Monday wrote an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi stating that villagers would not welcome him at the inauguration of the Statue of Unity on October 31. Local tribal leaders have also announced a boycott of the function citing destruction of natural resources due to the memorial. The Statue of Unity, a memorial to Sardar Patel, is situated on an islet here and, at 182 metres, is touted as the world's tallest statue. "These forests, rivers, waterfalls, land and agriculture supported us for generations. We survived on them. But, everything is being destroyed now and celebrations are also planned. Don't you think its akin to celebrating someone's death? We feel so," the letter, having common content and signed by sarpanchas of 22 villages, stated. "We all villagers want to tell you with extreme grief that we will not welcome you on October 31. Even if you come here like an unwanted guest, you are not welcome here," it added. They alleged that people's hard-earned money is being wasted on projects like Statue of Unity though several villages of the area are still deprived of basic facilities like schools, hospitals and drinking water. "If Sardar Patel could see the mass destruction of natural resources and injustice done to us, he would cry. When we are raising our issues, we are persecuted by police. Why you are not ready to listen to our plight?" the letter said. Earlier this month, tribal activists had announced that people living in 72 villages near the dam will join the protest on October 31 by not cooking food. "We have also urged tribals of the eastern belt of Gujarat, from Dang till Ambaji, to join our protest by observing bandh that day. We are confident that the entire tribal population will stand up against the injustice" said tribal leader Anand Mazgaokar. Meanwhile, unidentified persons tore and defaced posters of Modi and Chief Minister Vijay Rupani in several parts of the district during the last few days. "It happened because locals are angry. No one provoked them. We have only given call for bandh," Mazgaokar added. Gujarat Chief Secretary J N Singh Monday visited the site to take stock of ongoing preparations. "We have invited dance troupes from across the country to perform here during the inauguration. Air Force planes and helicopters would shower flowers on the statue during unveiling. I am here today to see how we can synchronise them" Singh told reporters. The Gujarat Congress also targeted the BJP government and Modi over the non-completion of Narmada canal network. Ahead of the inauguration of the statue, Leader of Opposition in Gujarat Assembly, Paresh Dhanani, wrote a letter to Rupani and demanded that the Narmada project should be declared as a national project to give a "fitting tribute" to Sardar Patel. "The construction of the dam got delayed because of litigations and stay by the Supreme Court. But, there was no ban on the construction of canal network. But, instead of completing the network, BJP only did politics. Thus, canals having cumulative length of of 20,000 kms are yet to be constructed" Dhanani said in the letter. Former Gujarat CM Shankersinh Vaghela demanded that the contribution of all the royals who had "gifted" their princely states to build a united India after independence, should get a mention in the museum built beneath the Statue of Unity. He attacked Modi saying that the statue is just a "marketing tool" for the ruling BJP and demanded that plight of tribals and poor must be heard first. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday exhorted bureaucrats to adopt a "positive approach" in their everyday work to accelerate development in the state. She asked the officers to work at a steady pace and refrain from following any system that slows progress. The CM, while reviewing the status of ongoing and upcoming projects at an administrative meeting here, also asked the bureaucrats to maintain regular communication with the state authorities. "I am asking everyone to keep a positive stance and avoid following a system which delays the development process. "From execution of projects to maintenance of law and order, the officers should not dither in taking decisions. They should also approach the higher authorities as and when necessary," she told the bureaucrats after inaugurating Utsav Auditorium near Sagardighi here. The CM, who is here on a two-day visit, directed the officials to take prompt action to complete pending projects. "We had long been thinking about setting up an industrial park in Coochbehar to boost the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME)," she said, directing the officials to identify a land for the project. To another question about Coochbehar airport lying non-functional, Banerjee said, "We have done our bit. Now the ball lies in the court of the Centre (Ministry of Civil Aviation). You must realise how much power is vested on the state, and how much power the Centre enjoys." Drawing attention of the police and the border guards, the chief minister asked them to maintain strict vigil on the India-Bangladesh boundary to contain cross-border crimes. A public meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday here, where the chief minister will be distributing benefits of state government schemes among the people of Cooch Behar. The CM will also lay foundation stones and inaugurate projects in the district. Later in the day, she is scheduled to visit Siliguri, where she will be holding a meeting at Uttar Kanya, the administrative headquarters of North Bengal. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 17-year-old student was reportedly injured in celebratory firing during a wedding at Belda village here, police said Monday. The incident occurred Sunday evening when the DJ was playing music, SHO B P Singh said. Adil was injured when someone fired in the air, he said, adding the boy was rushed to a hospital. Efforts are on to trace the accused, police added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A former Swiss bank executive has been sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for his role in a USD 1.2 billion international scheme to launder funds embezzled from Venezuela's state-owned oil company Petrleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA), the US Justice department has said. Matthias Krull, 44, a German national and Panamanian resident, had pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering on August 22. The former managing director and vice chairman of a Swiss bank, Krull has also been ordered to pay a fine in the amount of USD 50,000 and a forfeiture money judgment of USD 600,000, the Department of Justice said on Monday. The PDVSA is Venezuela's primary source of income and foreign currency namely, US Dollars and Euros. As part of his guilty plea, the Department of Justice said Krull admitted that in his position with the Swiss bank, he attracted private clients, particularly clients from Venezuela, to the bank. In this role, Krull's clients included Francisco Convit Guruceaga, who was indicted on money laundering charges on August 16. His clients also included three unnamed conspirators described in the August 16 indictment. Krull admitted that the conspiracy began in December 2014 with a currency exchange scheme that was designed to embezzle around USD 600 million from PDVSA, obtained through bribery and fraud and the conspirators' efforts to launder a portion of the proceeds of that scheme. By May 2015, the conspiracy had doubled in amount to USD 1.2 billion embezzled from PDVSA, federal prosecutors alleged. Krull joined the conspiracy in or around 2016, he admitted, when a co-conspirator contacted him to launder the proceeds of a PDVSA foreign-exchange embezzlement scheme. Ultimately, Krull joined the conspiracy to launder USD 1.2 billion worth of funds that were embezzled from PDVSA, he admitted. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An assistant professor at the Symbiosis Law School, Hyderabad (SLSH) has been suspended for alleged sexual harassment. Following a complaint by two students of BA LLB course who accused the professor of sexual harassment on a social media platform, the Internal Complaints Committee at the institute suspended the faculty member on October 16. In a related development, the two students were also asked to vacate the campus after the institute charged them of trying to "misrepresent facts" and "divert the attention from the issue of disciplinary misconduct by these two students". "The two (female) students of Symbiosis Law School, Hyderabad (SLSH), were involved in repeated disciplinary violations over the last one to two years, which includes abuse of social media, damaging the reputation of the institute, disrupting class, campus and hostel life, amongst others," a statement issued by the registrar, Symbiosis International, on its website said. According to the registrar, the two students were also involved in misbehaviour with the campus administrator, staff and security guards. After a detailed inquiry, to ensure conducive and peaceful environment on the campus, and to enable other students to study for the ongoing examinations, in the interim, these two students were asked to vacate the campus, the registrar said. "It is clarified that action against these two students has no relation to their reporting the instance of sexual harassment against an assistant professor. The Internal Complaints Committee has taken cognisance of (their) complaint and has already suspended the Assistant Professor on October 16," the statement added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tata Sons, the promoter of major operating Tata group companies, has severed ties with celebrity consultant Suhel Seth, following allegations of by several women, according to a company official. Ever since several women, including model Diandra Soares, filmmaker Natasha Rathore and writer Ira Trivedi, accused Seth of sexual misconduct, stopped dealing with Counselage, a brand consultancy firm owned by Seth. When asked to confirm if has severed ties with Seth after allegations of in # campaign in India, a company official said "Yes". "Post the allegations, has not engaged with Counselage," a source said. When contacted, a Tata Sons spokesperson said, "Counselage's contract with Tata Sons will end on November 30, 2018." Although the company did not elaborate on the future of its contract with Counselage, the source, however, said considering the backdrop it would not be renewed. Comments could not be immediately obtained from Seth, who is among the leading brand consultants in the country. He played a key role in rebuilding the Tata brand after crisis hit one of the most trusted corporate brands in India in the wake of abrupt sacking of then Tata Sons chairman Cyrus Mistry in 2016. and Japanese telecom firm Rakuten Mobile Network on Monday said they have entered into an agreement to set up and 4G network labs in Tokyo and Bengaluru. "With this collaboration, Rakuten and aim to build a world-class ready network lab which will be one of its kind in the industry," a joint statement by both the said. Rakuten is close to launching fourth mobile network in after NTT Docomo, KDDI and with investment of over $5 billion. Mickey Mikitani, Chairman, President and CEO, Rakuten, Inc said Rakuten is on the path to launch services in October 2019. The announcement comes on the sidelines of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to to further strengthen Indo- business ties. "With Tech Mahindra's capabilities in the domain - mobile networks, IT, cloud and enterprise applications, and Rakuten's vision to create a fully automated 5G ready network in Japan and beyond, the labs in Tokyo and Bengaluru will focus on fostering innovation in the telecom space," the statement said. will also provide network integration capabilities under the collaboration. "5G has the capability to unlock unprecedented opportunities in every industry vertical and domain. Our collaboration with Rakuten will help us further drive innovation in the 5G space, and enable us to enhance customer experience and lead the transformation in mobile network technology from the forefront," Tech Mahindra MD and CEO CP Gurnani said. Thailand Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn will visit Imphal next month to attend the Sangai festival, an annual programme organized by the state government to promote Manipur as a global tourism destination. The 10-day festival, beginning on November 21, will showcase the culture, handicrafts, indigenous sports, cuisines and music of Manipur, an official release issued on Sunday by Directorate of Information and Public Relations said. Among others who would be gracing the fest include chief ministers of Sagaing and Mandalay regions of Myanmar and US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster. The director of Manipur State Cooperative Bank Limited has recently handed over a cheque of Rs 5 lakh to Chief Minister N Biren Singh for the 10-day gala, the release said. Earlier, Panthoibi Housing Finance Company Limited had donated another Rs 5 lakhs for the festival. "Three venues have been chosen to host the event, which will witness the presence of many dignitaries between November 21 and 30," the release stated. It also said that the CM has expressed his happiness over the support pouring in for the festival. "People extending support and co-operation for the festival is a positive sign and would lead to its grand success," the official statement said quoting Singh. An official of the tourism department said Princess Sirindhorn will spend a night in the capital town before returning to Thailand. The office-bearers from Royal Thai Embassy in Delhi will be visiting the state on October 21 to monitor the preparations for the festival, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The next generation 5G technology is the talk of the town. In the recently-concluded India Mobile Congress 2018, entities across the board - telecom operators, equipment vendors, government bodies - turned their focus entirely on 5G sharing use cases, broad timelines, and details of their trials in various parts of the country. Amongst all operators - now that only four are left - Reliance Jio was possibly the most spirited. For instance, Samsung announced field trials with Jio in New Delhi early next year which was in addition to Jio showcasing use cases - 5G-connected cars and VR-enabled driving - that are jointly developed with Ericsson. In his address at the IMC 2018, Mukesh Ambani, chairman of Reliance Industries, said that "by 2020, I believe that India will be a fully-4G country and ready for 5G ahead of others. Every phone in India will be a 4G enabled phone and every customer will have access to 4G connectivity." Earlier, Jio reportedly said that the operator will launch 5G services within six months of spectrum allocation. Sunil Mittal, chairman of Bharti Airtel, also mentioned 5G adoption but pointed out towards the need to keep spectrum prices reasonable and lower down the taxation rates in the sector. The investments in 5G are going to be more obligatory than voluntary for incumbent operators like Airtel and Vodafone Idea Limited given their financial health. While Jio already has a nation-wide 4G network, these players are still in the process of gradually rolling out 4G, and have earmarked huge investments. It seems that by the time these operators will have pan-India 4G network (somewhere around 2020), they will be pushed into 5G without a choice. It means that without making enough returns on their 4G spends; the incumbents will be required to make additional 5G investments. For Jio, the shift to 5G will require lesser incremental cost - perhaps software upgrades in some cases - as compared to incumbents who still have substantial legacy networks that require upgrades to 4G/5G. In August, ratings agency CARE had warned of a lukewarm telco participation if the government pushes for an early 5G spectrum sale. "It appears like the government is very keen on early adoption of 5G technology. With the financial difficulties faced by the telecom companies, it appears very unlikely that the telcos will opt for spectrum auction which the government plans to roll out in near future," the CARE report had said. Telecom regulator TRAI has recommended the base price of Rs 492 crore per megahertz (MHz) for 5G airwaves that are likely to happen in the second half of 2019, as mentioned by telecom secretary Aruna Sundararajan last month. According to CARE estimates, if the government sells the 175 MHz of spectrum at the TRAI's recommended price, it will result in payment of Rs 86,100 crore by the telcos, which would be significantly higher than the amount generated by the exchequer - Rs 64,809.1 crore - in the 2016 spectrum auction that had received weak response from the telcos. At the moment, the Indian telco story is more about long-term sustainability of the telcos than next-gen technology. The sector has witnessed major consolidation over the past two years with number of serious players reducing down to three (in addition to state-run BSNL). The challenge for telcos, especially incumbents who have seen vast erosion of net worth, is how to make business sustainable where they are able to generate enough revenues and profits so that they can afford to invest in 5G, be it spectrum, network roll-out or fibre. Three supporters of an imprisoned Shiite cleric were killed over the weekend in the Nigerian capital Abuja after clashes with the army, a military spokesman said. According to Nigeria's military, soldiers transporting weapons and ammunition were "attacked" by members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) at the Zuba Bridge on Saturday afternoon. The IMN members had established an "illegal roadblock denying motorists free passage" and when the military tried to clear the barrier they were met with "stiff opposition", James Myam said in a statement released on Sunday. Soldiers opened fire on the IMN members after they "pelted the troops with stones" and attempted to "cart away the ammunition and missiles the troops were escorting", the statement said. "Unfortunately, during the encounter three members of the sect were killed while two soldiers sustained various degrees of injuries," Myam said. But the IMN disputed the claim, calling the military account "false" and "unsubstantiated". Spokesman Ibrahim Musa said the army had attacked a peaceful mourning procession. "We categorically refute the storyline of the Nigerian army," he added. Pro-Iranian cleric Ibrahim Zakzaky has been in government custody since bloody clashes between his supporters and the army broke out in December 2015. Rights groups have accused Nigeria's military of killing more than 300 IMN supporters and burying them in mass graves during the 2015 confrontation, a charge the military strongly denies. Zakzaky has been at loggerheads with Nigeria's secular authorities for years because of his call for an Iranian-style Islamic revolution. Northern Nigeria is majority Sunni Muslim. His supporters have held a series of protests in Abuja over the past year to demand his release and have had a series of standoffs with police. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Odisha government has decided to shift Royal Bengal tigress 'Sundari', who had allegedly killed two persons, from Satkosia Wildlife Sanctuary to an enclosure at any place including in Nandankanan Zoological Park here, a state minister said. The step was being taken in view of public resentment over the tigress' presence at the sanctuary in Angul district, state Forest and Minister Bijayshree Routray said after reviewing the situation. The big cat had allegedly killed two persons within a span of 45 days. "The tigress will be kept inside a special enclosure or in the tiger safari after it is tranquilized by the expert teams who are now at Satkosia," the minister said. To a querry whether the state government has taken the permission of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) for relocating the tigress, Routray said "We will like to keep Sundari at Nandankanan. If the NCTA does not agree, we will send the animal back to Bandhavgarh National Park in Madhya Pradesh from where she was brought." The minister, however, clarified that no decision has yet been taken to send the tigress back to Madhya Pradesh. Meanwhile, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Sandip Tripathy said the tigress has moved out of the sanctuary and was found roaming in the nearby Asanabahal village area. Two specialist teams from Kanha National Park and Pench Tiger Reserve from Madhya Pradesh are deployed to track the exact location of the animal. Meanwhile, Routray said the carcass found at Damodarpada jungle near Khajuria village under Bhatli Forest Range in Bargarh district has been identified to be that of a leopard and not a Royal Bengal Tiger. Initial reports of the expert team suggest that the carcass of animal recovered in Debrigarh forest of Bargarh, is that of a leopard. The leopard was buried there after its death, Routray said. The exact reason behind the leopard's death can only be ascertained after getting the test reports from the forensic lab, he added. Officials said that the body parts of the animal (leopard) have been sent to the Wildlife Institute in Dehradun for examination. Tripathy said that the divisional forest officer of Debrigarh who was asked to make a spot visit, had informed that the carcass is two to three weeks old. The carcass recovered from the jungle on Sunday was suspected to be that of a Royal Bengal Tiger. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Tamil Nadu government urged the Supreme Court on Monday to allow bursting of firecrackers on Diwali morning as per religious practices in the state, besides the already permitted period between 8 PM to 10 PM. The plea, filed through advocate B Vinod Khanna, sought modification of apex court order that allowed bursting of firecrackers from 8 PM to 10 PM on Diwali and other festivals and said the state should be given permission between 4.30 AM to 6.30 AM as well. According to the petition, as far as Diwali celebrations are concerned, each state or sect has a separate set of beliefs, traditions and culture and the apex court's restriction would amount to "rejecting the people with their due religious rights and would subject the people of the state into much hardship". "Diwali is a practice religiously and scrupulously followed by the Hindus from time immemorial and it had become a core and essential religious practice which is also protected under Article 25 of the Constitution as their fundamental right," it said. Diwali is celebrated in the state early in the morning to commemorate the death of Narakashura, the evil slain by the Goddess in the early hours of dawn, it said. The plea contended that the modification sought by it was in the interest of environment. "It would be in the interest of environment not to subject the entire population to burst firecrackers within a stipulated short time as it would lead to larger volume of emissions within a short span. Permitting people to burst firecrackers at two different times with due intervals would facilitate dissemination of the smoke. "Further, making fire and rescue facilities available in case of any mishap would also be convenient when crackers are burst at different points of time with intervals than in the case of the entire mass bursting crackers within limited hours," it said. The petition also sought permission to allow people to continue to celebrate Diwali in their traditional way by bursting fire crackers in the early morning as well as during the time fixed by the top court. "In view of the presence of large population of people from other states of India in Tamil Nadu, it is necessary to permit them to celebrate Diwali as per their religious practice in the evening hours," it said. The top court had on October 23, said that people in the country can burst firecrackers from 8 PM to 10 PM only on Diwali and other festivals and had allowed manufacture and sale of just "green crackers" which have low emission of light, sound and harmful chemicals. It had carved out an exception for the Christmas and the New Year eve saying that crackers for these occasions would be burst between 11.55 PM and 12.30 AM, since these celebrations start at midnight. It also banned the manufacture, sale and use of joined firecrackers (series crackers or laris) saying that they cause "huge air, noise and solid waste problems". The apex court had said the noise and smoke emission limits of the crackers will have to be approved by the Petroleum and Explosive Safety Organization (PESO), under the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Ministry of Commerce and Industry. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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 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 per cent of the vote to 44.87 for leftist opponent Fernando Haddad, with 99.99 per cent 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 "Tropical Trump," as some have dubbed him, 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 the longtime congressman 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. 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. Human Rights Watch called on Brazil's judges, journalists and civil society to be vigilant. "We will join them in standing up against any attempt to erode... democratic rights and institutions," said the organization's Americas director, Jose Miguel Vivanco. 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. Centre-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. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The ruling TRS in Telangana Monday stepped up its canvassing for the December 7 Assembly elections, with its key leaders, including minister K T Rama Rao, hitting the campaign trail. According to party sources, TRS president and caretaker chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao is in Delhi Monday to undergo routine eye tests in view of the campaign schedule in the run-up to polls. TRS MP K Kavitha, daughter of the TRS president, spoke at a party meeting at Jagtial near Karimnagar. She slammed Congress and TDP for coming together (as part of "grand alliance" also comprising CPI and TJS) for the elections as TDP was founded by late N T Rama Rao on anti-Congress plank. TDP is reviving Congress which has become weak, she claimed. She said TDP's Telangana unit president L Ramana, who hails from Jagtial, would face defeat if he does not think on behalf of Telangana. She said regional parties think about people whereas a particular state is one among many issues for national parties. "Regional parties think about people. (For) National parties, we become one issue for them among many. We are not special as a subject for them," she said. Congress has not done anything special for Telangana in the last 60 years, she alleged. She also alleged that TDP president and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu was creating hurdles for development of Telangana. Addressing two meetings during the day, Rama Rao, son of Chandrasekhar Rao, attacked the "grand alliance" alleging that Naidu had written to the Centre against irrigation projects in the state in his capacity as AP chief minister. Rao Sunday said the state government has taken all sections along and those from Andhra Pradesh need not have any apprehensions about his party. He also said he would "personally" stand by those from Andhra Pradesh. AICC secretary Madhu Yashki Goud, however, said Rama Rao's comments lacked sincerity. "Changing colours like chameleon, he says he is speaking as son of KCR that he will stand by Andhra people," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Trump administration is "aggressively and appropriately" enforcing hate crimes laws and laws protecting churches and faith groups, US Attorney General Jeff Sessions said on Monday, two days after 11 people were shot dead in a mass shooting inside a Pittsburg synagogue. Under President Donald Trump, the Department of Justice is going to courts across America to defend the rights of people of faith, Sessions said at an event in Boston, The Trump administration, he said, is aggressively and appropriately enforcing civil rights laws, hate crimes laws, and laws protecting churches and faith groups. Since January 2017, we have obtained 14 indictments and 10 convictions in cases involving arson or other attacks or threats against houses of worship and against individuals because of their religion, he said. Over the last 12 months, the Department has obtained 30 hate crime convictions, and since January 2017, has indicted 50 more such defendants. And this weekend, we added once again to this list. We charged Robert Bowers with 29 federal counts for the heinous murders at the Tree of Life Congregation, Sessions said. Meanwhile, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein announced a grant of more than USD 840,000 to University of New Hampshire to conduct a national survey of hate crime incidents and victimisation. He also announced that a USD 10 million technical assistance programme launched last March by Sessions will now include the prosecution and prevention of hate crimes. Rosenstein said the Department of Justice will continue to work with partners to prevent hate crimes and make all of our neighbourhoods free from violence and fear. Since January 2017, the Department of Justice has prosecuted more than 50 defendants for hate crimes. Many of the cases were filed under the Shepard-Byrd Act, he said. In August 2018, a defendant was sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to federal hate crimes and firearm charges for shooting three men at a bar in Olathe, Kansas, he added. The defendant shot and killed an Indian engineer named Srinivas Kuchibhotla and attempted to kill an Indian co-worker and a third man who came to their aid. The crime was motivated by bias, Rosenstein said. Earlier this month, Congress, with the support of the administration, enacted legislation that strengthens another federal hate crime law and further protects religious freedom. This law, the Church Arson Prevention Act, protects the rights of individuals at all houses of worship, to exercise their religious beliefs free from force or threats of force, Rosenstein said. The Department also announced the launch of a hate crimes website. Hate crimes are an attack on a fundamental principle of the United States to be free from fear of violence because of your sexual orientation, gender identity, race, color, religion, or national origin, said Acting Assistant Attorney General John Gore of the Civil Rights Division at a round table. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Donald Trump called Jair Bolsonaro on Sunday to congratulate the far-right candidate on winning Brazil's presidency, the White House said. "President Trump called President-elect Bolsonaro of Brazil this evening to congratulate him and the Brazilian people on today's elections," White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said in a statement. "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. Bolsonaro, a former army captain sometimes called a "Tropical Trump" for his politically incorrect vitriol, publicly admires the American leader. 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, winning Brazil's presidential runoff election on Sunday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Donald Trump has interviewed an Indian-American woman to replace Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in the powerful federal appeals court in Washington, DC, according to a report. Neomi Jehangir Rao, 45, who is currently administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, was recommended for the judgeship on the DC Circuit Court by former White House counsel Don McGahn, website Axios reported Sunday. Citing sources, the website said Trump was interested in Rao so that he could appoint a minority woman to Kavanaugh's old job. Rao, a former clerk for conservative Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, was confirmed by the Senate with a 54-41 vote in July 2017 to head the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. The agency reviews executive branch regulations, a task the DC Circuit often addresses. Rao in this capacity is called the regulatory czar of the Trump administration. Before being sworn in as the US Supreme Court Judge, Kavanaugh, whose confirmation process was marred by sexual misconduct allegations, was a judge at the United States Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. The position has now fallen vacant and Trump is reported to be interviewing several individuals for this position. Sree Srinivasan is another Indian-American on this prestigious US federal court. While one source told the website that Rao did not leave Trump with a good first impression, another said the president had not ruled her out of contention. "Immediately after Trump met with Rao, two sources briefed on their encounter say they got the strong impression that the president was not impressed by her, the portal said. "Yes, but: A third source, who is close to Trump, told me late this week that it seemed like he was reconsidering his initial judgement of Rao and may still pick her, Axios said. Rao has previously served in all three branches of the federal government. She served as Associate Counsel to President George W Bush; counsel for nominations and constitutional law to the US Senate Committee on the Judiciary; and law clerk to Justice Clarence Thomas of US Supreme Court. She practiced public international law and arbitration at Clifford Chance LLP in London. Rao received her JD with high honours from the University of Chicago and her BA from Yale University. Last December, Trump had praised Rao's contribution in cutting down regulations. Rao was born to mother Zerin Rao and father Jehangir Narioshang Rao, both Parsi physicians from India. She grew up in Michigan and did her schooling from Detroit High School. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 26-year-old woman delivered in a local train in Mumbai on October 25 after she was allegedly refused admission by at least two civic-run hospitals and was directed to approach another facility in Central Mumbai while she was in labour, her husband alleged Monday. Taking a serious note, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to set up an enquiry into the "unprofessional and unethical" conduct of the staffers of the hospitals concerned, a senior officer said. The woman, identified as Surekha Tiwari, delivered a baby in a compartment of a suburban train ahead of the Dadar railway station when she was travelling to Nair Hospital in Central Mumbai along with her husband Sushil Tiwari, after she was allegedly turned away by two civic hospitals in suburban Bhayander and Kandivli. Nair Hospital is one of the premier medical facilities run by the Mumbai civic body. Sushil claimed that he first rushed his wife to Tembha civic hospital in Bhayander in the wee hours of October 25, after she went into labour. "The hospital staffers gave her some tablets and told me to take her to the Shatabdi Hospital in Kandivli (a distance of around 17 kms from Bhayander), saying they don't want to take risk," claimed Sushil, who works as a security guard in Bhayander, an extended suburb in the Mumbai metropolitan region. Sushil claimed when he and Surekha reached the Shatabdi civic Hospital, the nurses there refused to admit her for want of case papers from the Tembha hospital. "I had no option but to leave my wife in labour pain and rush back to Bhayander to bring the case paper. When I returned to Shatabdi Hospital at around 11.30 am, the doctors there asked me to go to Nair hospital in Mumbai Central, which is located around 33 kms away from Kandivli," he said. Sushil claimed that the doctors didn't give any reason for ordering shifting of Surekha. "I mustered courage and boarded a local train with my wife to avoid road traffic. As soon we boarded the compartment, my wife started writhing in pain. She delivered a boy when the train was approaching the Dadar station at around 1 pm," he claimed. Sushil said other passengers in the compartment advised us to get down at Prabhadevi station and rush to the state-run KEM hospital. Sushil said he had to rush his wife, who was bleeding, to KEM Hospital with the umbilical chord of the newborn still intact. He claimed that no passenger came to their help except an RPF (Railway Protection Force) personnel who flagged down a taxi. "When we reached the KEM Hospital, the doctors cut the umbilical cord of the newborn and admitted him in the ICU," said Tiwari. When contacted, a Shatabdi Hospital doctor refused to comment on the allegations. Officials at Tembha hospital could not be contacted. Doctors at the KEM hospital said the infant weighed just 950 grams at the time of the birth, but is doing fine now. Chief medical superintendent of BMC-run hospitals Dr Shashikant Wadekar said the incident, if it has happened, is really "unfortunate". "An inquiry will be conducted into this unfortunate incident. If hospital staffers are found guilty, then action will be taken against them," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two minor girls have escaped from a short stay home in Bihar's Khagaria district, officials said Monday. The short stay home for girls is run by an NGO and is funded by the government. Following the Muzaffarpur shelter home sex scandal, where over 30 inmates were allegedly raped, girls from shelter homes in different districts in Bihar were transferred to the short stay home here, official sources said. The two were among five girls brought from Vaishali in August. An FIR was lodged at the local police station Sunday evening in this connection on the basis of a written complaint by the home's caretaker, Mohammad Muslim. "Two girls escaped from the short stay home due to the negligence of two female guards that included a DAP (District Armed Police) constable deputed at the home," District Magistrate Anirudh Kumar told PTI. On Sunday morning, when the guards were taking a nap, three girls took the keys to the gate on the pretext of going to the washroom, opened the locks and fled, he said. The entire incident has been captured by CCTV cameras installed at the premises, the DM added. However, one of the girls changed her mind and returned later, Kumar said. The DM said he had ordered a probe into the incident and stern action would be taken against the two guards for dereliction of duty and others found guilty in the matter. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is under pressure from the government to relax the norms of its prompt corrective action (PCA) framework that has put wide-ranging restriction on banks on lending. Close to a dozen public sector banks (PSBs) are under PCA framework, monitored by RBI with lending restriction till they nurse back to good health. In an election year, no government would want state-owned banks to not support the small businesses. The government's concerns are justifiable but as an owner, they also have to address the issues that pushed these banks to restricted lending mode. In good times, a wild and a reckless strategy easily passes through the test of a good bank. But it is the tough and challenging times that separate the wheat from the chaff. A tough period also throws open the cracks in the business model. The Indian banking system, especially the public sector banks (PSBs), are completely exposed. Here are the bigger issues the banks are dealing with: i) Lack of capital PCA framework applies on banks whose capital slips below the minimum regulatory threshold of 9 per cent. These PCA banks have been starving for funds for long because of inadequate capital as government finances are too tight. These banks are not in a position to raise capital on their own. For example, the market capitalisation of fifth largest bank Bank of Baroda is just Rs 27,000 crore. The mid- sized Dena Bank has a market cap of Rs 3,500 crore. In fact, the market cap of these banks is far lower than some of the non-banking financial institutions (NBFCs) in India. There is not enough capital in these banks to kick-start lending to SMEs or MSMEs. ii) No let-up in deteriorating asset quality The second criterion for PCA is unusually high non-performing assets (NPAs) of over 10 per cent. Higher NPAs are not good for the health of a bank as it reflects poor credit standards and failure to recover loans through collateral. These banks need higher provisioning from profits to provide for any future losses before kick-starting any fresh loans. The SME or the MSME segment is too risky to lend at these times. These banks are better off doing fee-based business or retail loans, which don't require much capital and have historically lower NPAs. iii) Balance sheet clean-up drive is already underway For long, the banks were known for kicking the can down the road to avoid NPAs. This approach changed after RBI governor Raguram Rajan assumed office in 2013. He started the exercise to clean the balance sheet of banks. Governor Urjit Patel has also continued the clean-up drive at the banks. This is a good long-term exercise along with a good recovery and restructuring mechanism of bankruptcy code. These measures would stabilise with some short-term pain. Any relaxation on PCA framework at this stage will derail the process, which may have longer term negative implications. iv) Not much on the governance or reform front There is a bigger issue of governance reforms in PSBs. There are some half-hearted measures like Bank Board Bureau (BBB), but it doesn't have many powers. The next logical step of having an investment holding company for all the PSBs also does not look in sight. The government recently experimented with having outside professionals, especially in Bank of Baroda, but now the government has decided to merge the three banks --Vijay Bank, Dena Bank and Bank of Baroda. But the issue of ownership (holding company, autonomy, and governance reforms) still hangs. United Nations chief Antonio Guterres has expressed great concern over Sri Lanka's deepening political crisis and called on the country's government to respect democratic values and constitutional provisions and process. A constitutional crisis has gripped Sri Lanka since President Mathripala Sirisena's sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Friday, and appointed former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa as the new prime minister. A new caretaker government is expected to be sworn in on Monday. "Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is following the latest developments in Sri Lanka with great concern. He calls on the 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," the Secretary General's spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement Sunday. Guterres urged all parties to exercise restraint and address the unfolding situation in a peaceful manner. Sri Lanka's President Sirisena suspended the national Parliament for two weeks on Saturday, in an effort to build support for his decision to remove Wickremesinghe as the country's prime minister following months of disagreement. Many Members of Parliament and Government Ministers denounced the move as unconstitutional and Sirisena swore in Rajapaksa as the new prime minister. In the midst of the crisis, a man was killed allegedly by a politician's bodyguard, who reportedly fired on a crowd of demonstrators. Sunday's shooting came amidst street protests which erupted, resulting in a crowd blocking one of the now-sacked cabinet ministers, from entering his office. Suspended prime minister Wickramasinghe is refusing to accept his dismissal, and is appealing for support among Member of Parliaments, arguing that he still commands a parliamentary majority. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and appointed former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa as the new premier. Sirisena's move has triggered a constitutional crisis in the country. Here are some points about the unfolding crisis and the role of key players: Government - Sri Lanka has a semi-presidential system of government in which a president exists alongside a prime minister and a cabinet. The prime minister is responsible to the legislature of the country. Major players - Maithripala Sirisena, the current president whose broader political front United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) withdrew from the unity government. Ranil Wickremesinghe, the senior leader of the United National Party (UNP), who was sacked as the prime minister by the president last week. Mahinda Rajapaksa, the former two-time president, who was appointed as the new prime minister by the incumbent president in a dramatic move. Political background - Sirisena secured a surprise victory in the presidential elections in 2015, defeating two-time president Rajapaksa. Sirisena and Wickremesinghe joined hands 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. Sirisena on Friday sacked his ally Wickremesinghe and appointed former rival Rajapaksa as the new prime minister. Sirisena also suspended parliament till November 16 after Wickremesinghe sought an emergency session to prove his majority. Why there is a political crisis in Lanka - According to the 19th Amendment enacted in 2015, the president no longer enjoys the power to remove the prime minister at his discretion. The prime minister can only be dismissed if the Cabinet is dismissed or the prime minister resigns or the prime minister ceases to be a member of parliament. The president can remove a minister only on the advice of the prime minister. Parliament's Speaker Karu Jayasuriya has refused to endorse Wickremesinghe's sacking as the prime minister. In a letter, Jayasuriya questioned the president's decision to suspend Parliament till November 16, saying it will have "serious and undesirable" consequences on the country. What political parties say - President Sirisena's camp says that the Cabinet ceased to exist the moment the UPFA withdrew from the national government. When there is no Cabinet, the president has the power to appoint the person whom he thinks commands the majority in parliament as the prime minister. According to Wickemesinghe, what Sirisena did was unconstitutional because as per Article 46 (2) of the 19th Amendment of the constitution, the president cannot sack a prime minister who enjoys majority support in parliament. Wickremesinghe asserts that he has majority support in parliament. Parties tally: Wickremesinghe's United National Front has 106 MPs while Rajapaksa has 95 MPs of the United Peoples' Progressive Alliance (UPFA). Rajapaksa needs 18 more MPs to give him a simple majority of 113 in the House of 225 members. Rajapaksa has already got the support of two UNP MPs on Friday Vasantha Senanayake and Ananda Aluthgamage. Main Tamil Party Tamil National Alliance has 16 MPs and the Janatha Vimukthi PeramunaJVP, a communist and MarxistLeninist party, has 6. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Uttar Pradesh government Monday signed an agreement with its neighbouring state Uttarakhand to strengthen inter-state bus services. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said his government is committed to provide better transport facilities to the people of the state. "Travelling since time immemorial has been a major reason for growth. Better mode of transportation makes commuting easy, helps economy and boosts cultural integration," Adityanath said. He said both the states share common tradition and heritage. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, present on the occasion, said "This agreement was possible because of the positive stand of the UP government". Adityanath also flagged-off UPSRTC's 51 Prayagraj Kumbh Shuttle buses and three CNG buses that will run in the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The top US envoy for North Korea on Monday expressed confidence about achieving North Korea's nuclear disarmament, despite worries about the slow pace of nuclear diplomacy in recent weeks. Meeting with his South Korean counterpart in Seoul, Stephen Biegun said that Washington and Seoul have a shared goal of ending seven decades of hostility on the Korean Peninsula. "The primary requirement for us to get to that endpoint is to achieve the final, fully verified denuclearization of North Korea," Biegun said. "So I am absolutely confident that this is within the reach, and I think our two presidents are singularly focused on this goal." South Korea's chief nuclear envoy Lee Do-hoon said that "denuclearization process is at a critical juncture and we need to meet up as often as possible." Since entering nuclear talks earlier this year, North Korea has taken some measures like halting nuclear and missile tests and dismantling its nuclear testing site. The United States suspended some its annual military drills with South Korea, but is reluctant to provide the North with big political or economic benefits unless it takes more serious disarmament steps. The North's closure of its nuclear testing site was watched by foreign journalists, not examined by experts. Earlier this month, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made his fourth visit to North Korea, and he was coordinating with allies Japan and South Korea to arrange a second summit between President Donald Trump and Kim. The moves brightened prospect for related high-profile U.S.-North Korean exchanges, but no major breakthrough has since been reported. US officials later said Trump will likely have his second meeting with Kim early next year. Their first summit in June in Singapore produced the North's vague disarmament pledge that didn't include any detailed timetable or roadmap for North Korean steps. Separate from nuclear diplomacy, the two Koreas, in coordination with the American-led UN Command based in the South, are taking steps to lower military tension between the rivals. The steps, reached last month during an inter-Korean summit in Pyongyang, included disarming the Koreas' border village, clearing mines at a frontline area to launch joint searches for Korean War dead and establishing buffer zones along the border. Last week, the Koreas and the U.N. Command finished withdrawing weapons from guard posts at the border village of Panmunjom. The three sides later jointly verified the demilitarization work and the guard posts were sealed on both sides, the U.N. Command said in a statement Monday. A trilateral meeting is set for Tuesday to discuss the standards of interaction, verification review and surveillance, it said. The UN Command is tasked with overseeing an armistice that ended the 1950-53 Korean War. About 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US military personnel and veterans especially those returned from war zones are increasingly turning to yoga for a healthy life. Veteran Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie, in an op-ed in Newsday, listed yoga as one of the alternative systems being pushed by his department for military veterans fighting pain and addiction. Army veteran Michael Streeter from Huntsville, who was diagnosed with PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), found his inner peace through yoga, reported Rocket City Now in a latest article. "Before I had yoga and meditation and everything, it felt like I was in the back of a bus, and someone was driving and making the decisions for me," Michael told the local daily from Huntsville, Alabama. "I'd start yelling and screaming and getting mad at someone or something. It was a lot of turmoil inside. I had given up at one point in 2013. I felt like I wasn't man enough, wasn't good enough and no one wanted me. I had applied for all these jobs, and everyone was turning me away. So I felt like I wasn't contributing anymore. I wasn't the asset I used to be," he said. Michael, who now teaches yoga in Huntsville, argues that yoga is not just about the poses, but about the mind as well. "It's about clearing the mind and being at peace during a challenging moment. That's what I teach in my class. When poses reach their challenging moments, you just breathe, and find peace in the pose in the breath," he said. Yoga is not new to the US military, but it has been gaining ground every passing year. As early as 2006, it was revealed that US Navy Seals and other military units were getting trained in yoga. Last week, the Wounded Warrior Project held a yoga session for the veterans, during which they focused on restoring and healing their bodies and minds. "It was a chance to try a new way to relieve pain," said Army veteran Jennifer Martin. "It helped, and I learned a lot. Also, I could relate to many of the other veterans. The event really helped me feel that I'm not alone with being in pain. We all deal with some of the same things," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Pentagon will deploy more than 5,000 soldiers to the US-Mexico border, a top general said Monday, as President Donald Trump warned a caravan of Central American migrants that the military was waiting. "By the end of the week, we will deploy over 5,200 soldiers to the southwest border," Air Force General Terrence O'Shaughnessy, commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command, told reporters. The deployment would represent a sharp increase from initial estimates last week, when US officials said about 800 active-duty troops would be sent to provide assistance. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Centre Monday told the Supreme Court that spread of canine distemper virus, which led to the death of several lions in Gujarat's Gir sanctuary recently, was now "fully under control". A bench comprising Justices Madan B Lokur, S Abdul Nazeer and Deepak Gupta expressed concern over the deaths and questioned the "reluctance" in shifting lions from Gir to other places like Kuno wildlife sanctury in Madhya Pradesh. "Several lions have died in Gir incident. Every forest has its limit. I do not know why there is reluctance in shifting lions to Kuno?," Justice Gupta observed. The bench also observed that spread of such virus could led to wiping out of the entire breed if the lions would be placed at one place only. Additional Solicitor General A N S Nadkarni, appearing for the Centre, told the court that area under the Gir sanctuary have been increased and lions have been kept in pockets now to avoid any such incident. During the hearing, the bench also took note of the recent incident in Odisha where seven elephants had died due to electrocution. The bench was informed by an advocate that he would file an application regarding the Odisha incident matter which is pending before the apex court. The Supreme Court also dealt with an application filed by National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) which has sought its direction stating that the top court's 2013 decision rendered in a wildlife case does not prevent authorities from taking steps in conformity with law to re-introduce cheetahs from Africa to suitable sites in India. The counsel appearing for NTCA told the bench that they have taken consent from International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), an organisation working in the field of nature conservation, for re-location of cheetahs from Africa to India. To this, the bench observed, "We have to be little cautious. We have had a problem in Gir. They are saying that it is under control now but the issue is why should such a problem has cropped up at all". The bench asked both the Centre and NTCA to file their respective affidavits in the matter. The apex court had earlier asked the Centre to look into the mysterious deaths of 23 lions in Gir amid fears that the wild cats could have died due to virus infection. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) on Monday announced she will quit as German chancellor when her mandate ends in 2021, as she sought to draw a line under a series of political crises that have rocked her fragile coalition. Taking a decisive step towards the end of her political career, the veteran leader who has led Germany for 13 years said she hoped her planned departure would end bitter fighting in her coalition and finally focus it on its task of governing Europe's biggest economy. "Today, it is time to begin a new chapter," she told reporters at her party headquarters. Referring to the quibbling within her coalition that has sent it from crisis, Merkel noted that "the picture that the government is sending out is unacceptable". Electoral drubbings like the latest on Sunday in the state of Hessen were "a watershed, but in them could lie a chance", Merkel said, for Germany's mainstream political parties including her own to find a way forward. Merkel, 64, will stagger her political exit by first giving up the leadership job of her Christian Democratic Union in December, which comes up for reelection during a party congress in December. She added that she would not stand in Germany's next elections nor seek to renew her mandate as chancellor when her fourth term ends in 2021. At least four candidates declared their interest to seek Merkel's job after she made her stunning announcement. But she said she would not name a successor. "I will accept any democratic decision taken by my party," she said. Often hailed as the world's most powerful woman and Europe's de facto leader, Merkel's power has been on the wane since her 2015 decision to keep Germany's borders open at the height of Europe's migrant crisis, ultimately allowing in more than one million asylum seekers. The mass arrivals deeply polarised Germany and are credited with fuelling the rise of the far-right. Railing against the newcomers, the anti-immigrant AfD is now the biggest opposition party in the Bundestag, and after a strong showing in Hesse now has seats in all German state parliaments. At the same time, the AfD's rise has prompted her conservative Bavarian allies CSU to champion hardline immigration policies, something that in turn sent moderate voters drifting to the centre-left Greens. AfD leader Joerg Meuthen hailed Merkel's planned departure as "good news". Die Welt reporter Robin Alexander said the path could now be clear for CDU general secretary Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, nicknamed AKK, to take the reins. "The two women have taken back the momentum, because none of their opponents were ready for this," he tweeted. But other contenders are waiting in the wings, including ambitious health minister Jens Spahn, a frequent Merkel critic. The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung said Sunday it would be "a mistake" for Merkel to cling to power. "By passing the baton of her own free will she would show that she knows the same thing everyone knows: the end of her chancellorship is approaching." Merkel's first step towards the exit is likely to send ripples across the European Union, where she has served a beacon of stability as the bloc grapples with multiple global crises, Brexit and an unpredictable ally in the White House. While still widely respected abroad, her recent domestic woes have kept Merkel away from the European stage, thwarting French President's Emmanuel Macron's push to reform the eurozone with Merkel by his side. Despite her global standing, Merkel has no plans to seek a post in the European Commission after bowing out of German politics, a CDU source told AFP, quashing speculation to that effect in Brussels. But the woman dubbed the "eternal chancellor" may not get to choose her own timetable -- and her departure could be hastened if her junior coalition partner brings down the government before 2021. SPD chief Andrea Nahles said her centre-left party, Germany's oldest, had failed "to break free from the government" and carve out a clear profile of its own after serving in multiple, compromise-laden "grand coalitions". She said the SPD would now lay out a "roadmap" in Berlin demanding concrete progress on key issues by next October, including pension rights and better childcare, before deciding whether to remain in the coalition. Increasing numbers of SPD members have been calling for the party to quit the government and lick its wounds in opposition, as it is presently polling below AfD nationwide, at 15 percent to the far-right's 16 per cent. By Alex Lawler and Ahmad GhaddarLONDON (Reuters) - According to Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih, no one has any idea how much oil Iran will be able to export after new U.S. sanctions against the Islamic Republic kick in on Nov. 4.But more precisely, Iran's shipment figures - crucial to oil markets - are already a mystery.Iran's oil exports are becoming harder to measure as ships switch off tracking systems, oil industry sources say, adding uncertainty over how far U.S. sanctions are scaring off buyers. The prospect of more oil heading into storage could make number-crunching even ... LONDON (Reuters) - British airline easyJet's plan to fly electric passenger jets on some of its routes by 2027 is making progress, it said on Monday, with a partner moving to the next stage of engine development. Last year, Europe's No.2 low cost carrier after Ryanair said it was aiming to use environmentally-friendly, lower-noise electric aircraft by 2027 through a partnership with U.S. start-up Wright Electric.Wright is now working on an electric engine for a nine-seater plane that will fly next year, after success with a two-seater, giving the airline confidence in the future of electric ... Podcast: 8 of top 10 firms lose Rs 1.35 lakh cr in market valuation Loading the player... Eight of top 10 companies lose Rs 1.35 lakh crore in market valuation Eight of the 10 most valued Indian firms suffered a combined loss of Rs 1,35,162.15 crore in market capitalisation last week with benchmark BSE Sensex diving around 3 per cent. TCS, RIL and Infosys took a severe beating in market valuation while only two bluechips, HDFC and ICICI Bank, managed to record gains in market capitalisation (m-cap) for the week ended Friday. UIDAI asks banks to use Aadhaar eKYC for DBT users; voluntary offline Aadhaar for other customers The UIDAI has clarified to banks that Aadhaar eKYC can be used to authenticate beneficiaries of government subsidies and welfare schemes while for other customers physical Aadhaar card can be used for verification, a source said. The Aadhaar-issuing authority Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) wrote to the banks last week clarifying the instances and modes in which Aadhaar can be used, and a copy of the same was also sent to the Reserve Bank of India. One97 communication's losses shoot up 78% to Rs 1,490 crore in FY18 Paytm's parent company One97 Communications has reported a higher net loss of Rs 1,490.4 crore for the year ended on March 31, 2018, compared to Rs 879.6 crore in the previous fiscal, according to regulatory filings. The entity, which competes against the likes of Flipkart, Amazon, Snapdeal and Shopclues, saw its revenue from operations rising manifold to Rs 744.15 crore in FY2017-18 from Rs 7.16 crore in the previous year. Govt expects recoveries to exceed Rs 1.80 lakh crore in FY19 Enthused by the impact of new insolvency and bankruptcy law, the government expects bad loan recoveries to exceed Rs 1.80 lakh crore target for the current financial year, an official said. Some big accounts are in the process of getting resolved while some more are lined up for resolution under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), a senior Finance Ministry official told PTI. PM Narendra Modi meets Shinzo Abe on two-day Japan visit; formal talks today 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 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'. Sanjay Kumar Mishra named new interim Enforcement Directorate chief The Centre has appointed IRS officer Sanjay Kumar Mishra as the new chief of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday. He will hold this office in an additional capacity for at least three months. Mishra will replace incumbent ED chief Karnal Singh whose tenure ends on Sunday. The PM Narendra Modi-led Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has appointed Mishra as the principal special director in the ED, along with assigning him the additional charge of ED director. Finance Ministry seeks input from ministries for Arun Jaitley's next Budget speech The Finance Ministry has sought inputs from different central ministries for Arun Jaitley's Budget Speech, which would be the last budget of the current BJP-led NDA government before the 2019 general polls. Earlier this month, the ministry began the budgetary exercise for 2019-20. During the process, meetings will be held with ministries of steel, power, and housing and urban development to finalise revised expenditure for the current fiscal and projections for the next financial year. The meetings are scheduled to continue till November 16. By Makiko YamazakiTOKYO (Reuters) - Hitachi Chemical Co has told customers it falsified inspections for material used to encapsulate semiconductors, an industry source familiar with the matter said - the firm's second compliance failing this year and the latest in a run of such scandals at Japanese firms.Shares in the Hitachi Ltd unit tumbled 8 percent on the news. While the exact nature of the falsification is not known, the likelihood of a wide-scale recall is seen as slim as most clients normally conduct their own quality inspections."Therefore it may be the case that there are no major ... By Sumeet Chatterjee and Lawrence WhiteHONG KONG/LONDON (Reuters) - HSBC Holdings Plc's renewed push to rein in costs and boost its share of business in the mainstay Asian region helped the lender post a better-than-expected 28 percent rise in third-quarter profit, sending its shares sharply higher on Monday.Europe's biggest bank by assets has in recent years reaped the benefits of a wider restructuring after the global financial crisis, but rising costs have been a concern as CEO John Flint, who started in the job in February, steps up investments.Stubbornly high costs have in recent ... By Sumeet Chatterjee and Lawrence WhiteHONG KONG/LONDON (Reuters) - HSBC Holdings Plc posted a higher-than-expected 28 percent rise in third-quarter profit as a renewed push to rein in costs and market share gains in its mainstay Asian region paid off, sending its Hong Kong shares sharply higher on Monday.Europe's biggest bank by assets has in recent years reaped the benefits of a wider restructuring after the global financial crisis, but rising costs have been a concern as CEO John Flint, who started in the job in February, steps up investments.Stubbornly high costs had in previous quarters ... By Lawrence WhiteLONDON (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia is unlikely to see significant impact on its foreign trade and investment flows following the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the chief executive of Europe's biggest bank HSBC said on Monday."It has been a difficult few weeks for the kingdom, this has not been good for Saudi Arabia," HSBC CEO John Flint told Reuters in an interview."I understand the emotion around the story, but it is very difficult to think about disengaging from Saudi Arabia given its importance to global energy markets," he said.Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist ... South Korea's Hyundai Motor Group has created two entities to develop future technologies and appointed new heads of product strategy and design in a reshuffle, as it battles plunging profits that have pushed its shares to almost nine-year lows. The shake-up at Hyundai and its affiliate Kia Motors - together the world's No.5 auto group - comes a month after it promoted heir-apparent Euisun Chung to executive vice chairman, moving him a step closer to succeeding his octogenarian father as head of the country's second-largest group. The group created an ... SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's Hyundai Engineering & Construction said on Monday that it scrapped a 595 billion won ($521 million) deal to build a petrochemicals complex in Iran, saying the Iranian customer's ability to fund it had been hit by the prospect of U.S. economic sanctions against Tehran.In a regulatory filing, Hyundai E&C said the consortium it led for the project's construction cancelled the contract on Sunday. "The contract was cancelled because financing is not complete, which was a prerequisite for the validity of the contract, as external factors worsened such as economic ... SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's customs agency said on Monday exports this year are likely to exceed $600 billion and reach a record, up from last year's $573.7 billion. Total exports exceeded $500 billion as of Monday, according to the Korea Customs Service. From January to September, exports stood at $450.3 billion, up 4.7 percent from a year earlier, it added. (Reporting by Hayoung Choi; Editing by Nick Macfie)(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The United States is preparing to announce tariffs on all remaining Chinese imports by early December if talks next month between presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping fail to ease the trade war, Bloomberg reported on Monday. The list would apply to imports from China that aren't already covered by previous rounds of tariffs, which may be $257 billion using last year's import figures, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Though final decisions have not been made, US officials are preparing for such a scenario in case a planned Trump-Xi meeting ... The ongoing quarterly results season, macroeconomic data announcements and movement of the rupee are likely to determine the stock market trend this week. Volatility in the global markets may also play a key role. Nearly 100 companies including Tata Power, BPCL, Colgate and LIC Housing Finance are likely to announce their September quarter earnings on Monday. Amid stock specific action, ICICI Bank will be in focus on Monday after bank saw its net profit for the September quarter fall by 55.8 per cent to Rs 9.09 billion against Rs 20.58 billion a year ago, said the lender. Investors will look forward to Eight Infrastructure Industries Index to be released on Wednesday and Nikkei PMI manufacturing data due on Thursday. On Friday, the rupee depreciated by 20 paise to close at 73.47 against the US dollar amid a strengthening greenback and sustained foreign capital outflows. GLOBAL MARKETS Asian shares look set for a modest bounce on Monday, though sentiment remains fragile as bears are on the ascendancy after steep declines across world financial markets last week on heightened worries over corporate earnings and global growth. MSCIs broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan 0.2 per cent higher after sliding almost 4 per cent last week. The S&P 500 ended at its lowest level since early May on Friday and flirted with correction territory, pressured by heavy losses in technology and internet shares. Investors of public sector banks (PSBs) are pinning their hopes on positive earnings surprise from September quarter earnings going by Thursdays rollover data, according to derivatives analysts. Traders rolled over their positions to November in PSBs with rollovers of 90 per cent in Allahabad Bank, Bank of Baroda, Oriental Bank and Canara Bank ahead of their earnings. In the past one year, the index has lost more than half of its value. The worst could be behind us, said an analyst. Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs), the biggest non-promoter shareholders in the Indian stock market, increased their allocation in health care and information technology (IT) services companies in the quarter ended September, while reducing holdings in banks. An analysis of Capitaline data for 492 companies from the BSE 500 universe that have disclosed their shareholding pattern for the quarter shows FPIs raised their stake in 175 companies and decreased their holding in 251 companies on a quarter-on-quarter basis. French FBO chain Sky Valet has launched its Sky Valet Connect brand, coinciding with the opening of four new destinations in Italy and Bulgaria. Sky Valet Connect gives member FBOs the opportunity to retain their independence while benefiting from market power, the reputation of the brand and network, and increased international visibility. ') } else { console.log ('nompuad'); document.write(' ') } // --> ') } else if (width >= 425) { console.log ('largescreen'); document.write('') } else { console.log ('nompuad'); document.write('') } // --> In Italy, Sky Valet has opened a new facility at Cuneo International Airport, near Turin, and the company has also expanded in Bulgaria with three new destinations operated by Omega Aviation: Sofia, Burgas, and Gorna Oryahovitsa, the only privately owned international airport in Bulgaria. Michel Tohane, Sky Valet executive VP and director of general aviation, said, The creation of Sky Valet Connect goes hand in hand with our goal of becoming the leading business aviation ground handling network in Europe. This label gives us the flexibility we need to progress in structuring our network while maintaining our reputation for excellence. The much-hyped OnePlus 6T will come out from under the covers in a few hours time. This mid-cycle flagship will succeed the existing flagship from the company, the OnePlus 6. As can be gathered from the pre-launch ad campaign and several reports before that, OnePlus is going to introduce the under-display fingerprint sensor with its next launch. The Chinese smartphone maker is touting this feature as the USP of OnePlus 6T, along with improved camera functionality and bigger battery. The OnePlus 6T is most likely going to sport the same internals as the OnePlus 6, which means a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC under the hood, with 6GB or 8GB of RAM and upto 256GB of internal storage. The camera modules on OnePlus 6T are expected to be the same as the OnePlus 6 - a 16MP and a 20MP sensor at the back and a 16MP shooter at the front. OnePlus does claim to have improved the camera functionality on the OnePlus 6T. Coming to what's new with the OnePlus 6T, the device will not have a physical fingerprint reader. The sensor has been placed under the screen, which puts OnePlus 6T in league with the likes of Oppo Find X, Oppo R17, Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer, Huawei Mate 20 Pro, and Vivo NEX. A waterdrop notch at the top of the screen seems eminent too. Conventionally, OnePlus flagships are known to take design cues from their counterparts at Oppo as they have the same parent company. With the Oppo R17 and R17 Pro featuring a teardrop notch, chances are high that the OnePlus 6T will have one too, which means more screen real estate. OnePlus has decided to do away with the 3.5mm audio jack in the OnePlus 6T, and only have a USB Type-C port. A USB Type-C version of the OnePlus Bullets earphone was launched recently to somewhat help with the transition. A 3,700mAh battery is expected to show up with the OnePlus 6T. Also, the device will run Oxygen OS based on Android 9.0 Pie. How to watch OnePlus 6T launch event LIVE OnePlus had to push its launch event for its next flagship from a day ahead to October 29 so that it does not clash with Apple's launch event on October 30. The keynote in New York will begin at 11:00 am EDT and will be streamed live via YouTube. The event will also be watched at the official OnePlus 6T launch page, https://www.oneplus.in/6t/launch. Simultaneously with the New York launch event, the OnePlus 6T will be launched in India at an event in Delhi from 8:30 pm today. It is also the first time that an OnePlus device is being launched in UAE. Expected pricing and availability There is no clarity on the pricing of the OnePlus 6T yet, but OnePlus is likely to follow convention and price its new launch higher than the OnePlus 6. The OnePlus 6T is expected to be priced around $600 (around Rs 44,000). A listing on a European website, which now has been removed, suggested that the 8GB/128GB variant of the OnePlus 6T would be priced around EUR 569 (around Rs 47,600). The OnePlus 6T goes on sale from November 2, and is already available for pre-booking on Amazon India for two more days. It can also be picked from the pop-up events OnePlus is hosting in 12 locations across nine cities on November 2. Edited by Vivek Punj Also Read:Should you junk your old iPhone and buy the new OnePlus 6T? The Chinese dominance of the Rs 1.5 lakh crore Indian smartphone market, growing at about 10-11% as per research reports, has never been questioned. But it's still surprising that Indian consumers doubled their spending (year-on-year) on the top four Chinese brands - Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo and Honor - to over Rs 50,000 crore in FY18. These four brands along with a few other Chinese brands like Lenovo-Motorola, One-Plus and Infinix, make up more than 50% of the total Indian smartphone market by sales, The Economic Times reported, adding that data available thus far suggests their sales are growing rapidly this year too. According to tracker Counterpoint Research associate director Tarun Pathak the top Chinese brands have easy access to the Shenzhen hardware and R&D hub and the supply chain ecosystem. "This has helped them to be innovators and to be always on top of trends," he told the daily. Their pricing strategy is the icing on the cake. The Chinese brands have been able to tap the Indian consumer's preference for products made by multinationals by selling high-specification models at lower prices than South Korean, Japanese and even Indian counterparts. The chief of one of the largest cellphone retail chains further pointed out that the Chinese brands have established themselves in key price segments - Xiaomi in the Rs 6,000-13,000 band, Oppo and Vivo in the Rs 10,000-22,000 one. Honor is gaining share in the Rs 8,000-12,000 segment. "These price segments account for more than 80% of the overall market where no Indian brands have managed to cut the ice and Samsung is the sole non-Chinese brand to fight it out," he told the daily. As per Registrar of Companies filings for FY18, Xiaomi Technology India's revenue from operations stood at Rs 22,947.3 crore, up from Rs 8,334.4 crore in FY17 while that of Oppo Mobiles India jumped nearly 50% to Rs 11,994.3 crore in the same period. The most impressive growth was posted by Vivo Mobile India, up 77.6% year-on-year to Rs 11,179.3 crore. Meanwhile, Huawei Telecommunications India's mobile business revenue went up 56% to Rs 5,601.3 crore. Honor, a leading smartphone e-brand under the Huawei Group, claimed to have registered an unprecedented growth of 281% in the first half of 2018 and rank among the among top 2 brands in the online segment in the second quarter (Q2) of this fiscal. The combined sales of these four Chinese smartphone makers in FY18 almost doubled to Rs 51,722.1 crore from Rs 26,262.4 crore in FY17, despite already being on a higher base. However, while Xiaomi and Huawei have been profitable in the Indian market, BBK Electronics Corp's biggest brands Oppo and Vivo are yet to break even. Then, there's the OnePlus brand, which has managed to retain leadership in the Rs 30,000-plus premium segment for two consecutive quarters. India is the largest market for this brand, also a part of BBK's stable, accounting for about 30% of its global revenue that was pegged at $1.4 billion in 2017. In comparison to the Chinese performance, top cat Samsung, which has been present in India for two decades, posted smartphone sales of Rs 34,261 crore in FY17 (the latest figures are not available with the RoC yet) while Apple posted sales of Rs 13,097 crore in FY18. Citing analysts the daily added that the Chinese aggression in the Indian smartphone market is expected to continue in the current fiscal, courtesy factors like the growing hold of the top brands and the launch of new sub-brands such as Pocophone by Xiaomi and Realme by Oppo. The high growth of newer Chinese players like Transsion Group with its Itel, Tecno and Infinix brands are also playing a crucial role in the numbers game. This also spells good news on the job creation front. Thanks to the Make in India policies, Xiaomi, Oppo, Lenovo-Motorola, Huawei and Vivo are all investing in local manufacturing, thereby giving a fillip to employment. Vivo already employs more than 5,000 people in its plant, while Oppo is establishing two new manufacturing facilities in Uttar Pradesh. In April, Xiaomi had hosted more than 50 of its global component suppliers in Delhi to showcase opportunities in India, a move it claimed could create around 50,000 jobs and invite an investment of Rs 15,000 crore. The company has already started manufacturing printed circuit boards in Tamil Nadu to reduce smartphone production costs and improve supply. With PTI inputs India-Bangladesh river cruise is set to become a reality soon. From as early as March next year, you will be able to plan a river cruise to the neighbouring country. The cruise will set out from Kolkata via Guwahati to Dhaka. The cruise will go via Ganga, Padma and Brahmaputra rivers. Recently India and Bangladesh finalised and accepted the standard operating procedure for the movement of passenger cruise vessels. The operation is expected to start in March next year. Abdus Samsah, Bangladesh's shipping secretary said that private players will be allowed to operate river cruise between the two countries that will cover about a distance of 1,539 km, as mentioned in a report in Times of India. Both the countries have also allowed private players to run coastal cruises from Chennai to Bangladesh's Cox Bazaar. Kolkata-based heritage cruise that operates the Ganges Voyager has proposed to run the first cruise on the route in the last week of March next year, as mentioned in the daily. A Shipping Ministry official said that they are hopeful that more private players will express their interest on the river cruise. According to the official, the route will be through the Sunderbans along with other areas, adding that the river cruise will be a lifetime experience. Gopal Krishna, the Indian shipping secretary said that secretary-level talks were followed by signing of an agreement to use the Chattogram and Mongla ports in Bangladesh for the movement of goods to and from India. IBM Corp is all set to acquire US software company Red Hat Inc for USD34 billion, including debt, as it is looking to expand its hardware technology and consulting house into high earning products and services. Investors have continued to grow impatient as IBM saw a revenue decline almost every quarter after Ginni Rometty took the role of chairman and chief executive officer in 2012. Warren Buffett gave up on IBM last year as his conglomerate, Berkshire Hathaway reduced its stake in the company by almost 94 per cent and invested in Apple Incorporation, reported Bloomberg Quint. The stock declined 19 per cent this year and nearly 31 per cent in the last five years, making IBM's market value USD114 billion. Rometty stated that "The acquisition of Red Hat is a game-changer. It changes everything about the cloud market". IBM will continue to grow its dividend, without cutting jobs after the deal, she added. "This is an acquisition for revenue growth, this is not for cost synergies," she said. The Red Hat deal represents an admission by Rometty that in house growth wasn't going to be enough to keep IBM from falling permanently behind in a market that is growing in importance and size. The company has fought to compete with younger technology, because of divestitures, that are mostly from dipping sales in existing hardware, software and services offerings. Rometty has been trying to make IBM more of modern businesses utilising the cloud technology, artificial intelligence and security software with uneven results. The 107 year old computer services giant, IBM's cash deal, increases its credentials in the fast growing cloud and gives it the much needed boost for raising revenue. The mainframe computing company has been sluggish to adopt cloud related technologies and had catch up to market leaders Microsoft Corp. and Amazon Inc. regarding offering services over the internet. IBM will pay USD190 a share in cash for Raleigh, North Carolina based Red Hat, according to a statement from the companies on Sunday. That's almost 63 per cent premium over Red Hat's per share price of USD116.68. Rometty said that IBM "paid a very fair price. This is a premium company. If you look underneath, this is strong revenue growth, strong profit strong free cash flow." Revenue at Red Hat is expected to increase by USD3 billion for the first time this year as the company's Linux product will attract business from large customers. The company reported a record 11 contracts in last quarter, valued at over USD5 million each and 73 over USD1 million, according to Greg McDowell, JMP Securities analyst. JPMorgan Chase and Co. and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Lazard Ltd. were advisers on the deal. Guggenheim Partners and Morgan Stanley were financial advisers to Red Hat, while Skadden Arps Slate Meagher and Flom assisted with legal aid. (Edited by Vivek Dubey) Accountability institutions are not being dictated by govt: Shah Mehmood Qureshi Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi Sunday said the accountability institutions are not being dictated by the government. We want the process of accountability to continue. But, accountability institutions are not being dictated by the government Pakistan Peoples Party Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari knows very well that we are not pressuring anyone, he said while talking to reporters in Multan. Regarding the oppositions upcoming all parties conference (APC), Qureshi said, I have failed to understand the agenda of the APC it appears to be an attempt by the opposition parties to save themselves from accountability. Pakistans problems were not created in the last 60 days even the nation knows what the countrys issues are, he said, to another question. To a question about new province, he said, A new province in southern Punjab is need of the hour and no one can deny it. However, to carve out a new province, we need oppositions support to bring a constitutional amendment in this regard. He said a committee has been already set up to develop political consensus for the creation of the new province. He said the establishment of a separate province in southern Punjab was part of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insafs manifesto. He said the committee will deliberate on the matter and come up with the recommendations, which would then be put before the opposition parties. On behalf of the PTI government, he requested the opposition parties to rise above politics and take a decision based on objective realities and considering the needs of the people. To another question, Qureshi said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was a symbol of cordial ties between the two countries. He said Prime Minister Imran Khan will be holding talks with the Chinese leadership during his upcoming visit. To a question, the foreign minister reiterated that Islamabad has always wanted good relations with all its neighbours, including Afghanistan. news, latest-news A group of bereaved families and friends gathered on Monday to remember loved ones who had died through the misuse of drugs. The names of more than 250 victims were recited at the annual remembrance ceremony. Families stood in line to lay flowers at a "memorial stone". A circle of pairs of shoes was laid - some brought by the relatives of those who had died - to symbolise the numbers of victims and also, the organisers said, a path to a better future. The ACT government's Attorney General, Gordon Ramsay, laid flowers and said his government was looking at reforming the law in the territory to a "more restorative approach" - treating addiction rather than punishing, particularly for possession of small amounts of cannabis. "It is clear that there is no one simple answer to the problem we face from drug related harm," he said. "However, we can say definitively, and this government accepts, that an exclusively prohibitionist policy does not work and will not work. The intent of criminal laws is to hold people morally responsible for wrongdoing. "But the evidence is overwhelming that treating addiction as an issue of right and wrong not only is ineffective; it simply does not stack up to what we know about the biology and psychology of drug use." Mr Ramsay said the government was considering what sort of "alcohol and drug court" to set up. This would be concerned with treatment and rehabilitation far more than criminal courts were. The president of the campaigning group, Bill Bush, said he welcomed the minister's assertion that he had an open mind about reform. Mr Bush said one problem was that teenagers tried drugs as a matter of experimentation with forbidden fruit and then found themselves within the criminal system. Once in, it was hard to get out. He likened it to someone who fell down a well and was clambering back out but every time they reached the rim, the criminal system hammered their fingers and down they fell again. Mr Bush said he wanted to "get the criminal law out of being the destructive influence with people who are struggling with dependency and young people who are risk-taking and who dabble with things they shouldn't". The group is also concerned about people who become dependent on legal drugs - medications. Ann Finlay's son, Paul, died after wrestling with mental problems and a dependency on a cocktail of addictive substances, often prescribed medicines. In the two years before he died, he was treated as a serious addict beyond hope. His mother said that he needed better care rather than being dealt with mostly as someone with a "hopeless addiction", rather than a vulnerable young person with mental-health problems. She said in her speech that she still missed his "blue, blue eyes, his smile, his deep, deep voice and most of all, just him". /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/bbe7c3da-bbed-4720-a2a5-0bfe46ef687b/r0_1098_2285_2389_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news Canberra is set for a burst of record-setting hot weather, as temperatures push into the mid-30s in the first week of November. The Bureau of Meteorology is predicting a top of 33 degrees in the capital on Thursday and Friday, the city's warmest days since March 18. If the forecast holds, it will mark the hottest temperature recorded at this time of year since the bureau started taking observations at Canberra Airport in 2007. A top of 29 degrees is forecast for Tuesday, while Wednesday is expected to reach 31. The bureau's NSW/ACT duty forecaster Anita Pyne said while the weather pattern was not unseasonal, the strength of the system at this time of year was unusual. "We have had hotter temperatures in November - we recorded 36.1 degrees on November 20, 2015 - but it has never been this hot, this early," Ms Pyne said. She said the hot weather was being caused by a high-pressure system, which would bring north-westerly winds through the capital later in the week. South-westerly winds are expected to blow through Canberra at the start of the weekend, causing the temperature to drop, albeit slightly, to 28 degrees. ACT Rural Fire Service chief officer Joe Murphy said the burst of hot weather was an "early warning shot across the bow" for Canberrans ahead of an expected long and dry summer. Mr Murphy said the fire danger rating was expected to be elevated to "very high" for the first time this bushfire season. The start of the bushfire season was this year brought forward a month, to September 1, amid an increased risk of extreme events. The bureau's climate outlook predicted a drier than average summer in 2018, as large parts of eastern Australia continue to struggle through drought conditions. Canberra received below average rainfall throughout winter, depleting water storage levels across the territory's dam network to below two-thirds of its capacity. ACT Ambulance Service chief officer Howard Wren said people should be wary of the unseasonally hot weather. "We are not talking about 40-plus degrees days, but even just a little burst of moderately hot weather can catch people unaware," Mr Wren said. The early taste of summer will be welcomed at Dickson Pool, which opened for another season last Monday. The warm weather certainly lifts the spirits of the whole community here at the Dickson Aquatic Centre," the pool's general manager, Chris Graham, said. "The shady environment and three outdoor pools make it the perfect place for people to come and cool off. It is also a timely reminder as the warm weather hits for all Canberrans to learn to swim and keep watch around our public pools, lakes and rivers. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/09fcd50f-1041-42dc-a5ca-7debd202564c/r0_230_4256_2635_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg Our Promise: Welcome to Care2, the world's largest community for good. Here, you'll find over 45 million like-minded people working towards progress, kindness, and lasting impact. Care2 Stands Against: bigots, racists, bullies, science deniers, misogynists, gun lobbyists, xenophobes, the willfully ignorant, animal abusers, frackers, and other mean people. If you find yourself aligning with any of those folks, you can move along, nothing to see here. Care2 Stands With: humanitarians, animal lovers, feminists, rabble-rousers, nature-buffs, creatives, the naturally curious, and people who really love to do the right thing. You are our people. You Care. We Care2. RITES Limited has invited applications from candidates to apply for the post of Deputy General Manager. The opening is on an urgent requirement and selected candidates will be posted in Anantpur and Bengaluru. The applications must be sent through the respective administration officers with a no objection and a vigilance clearance certificate. Send your CV in the prescribed format along with the applications. Engineering Professionals Hired Through RITES Limited Recruitment 2018 RITES Railway Jobs 2018 Vacancy Details CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Posts Deputy General Manager Organisation RITES Limited Educational Qualification Full-time and first-class degree or diploma in science or electronics Experience 11 years experience in railway signalling, project doubling, third line and railway electrification Skills Required Managerial skills Job Location Anantpur and Bengaluru Salary Scale INR 70,000 to INR 2,00,000 per month Industry Railways Application Start Date October 25, 2018 Application End Date November 23, 2018 Maximum Age Limit: 56 years Also Read: Railway Jobs 2018: IRCON International Limited Is Hiring How To Apply For RITES Railway Jobs 2018 In order to apply for RITES Railway Jobs 2018, follow these steps: Step 1: Open the detailed advertisement from the RITES Limited official website. Step 2: Scroll down to the bottom of the file. Step 3: Take a printout of the application form. Step 4: Enter your details in the fields provided. Step 5: Send the applications to RITES Ltd. RITES Railway Jobs 2018 Application Format And Mailing Address Superscribe on the envelope, "Application for the post of *name of the post*" and send it to: RITES BHAWAN, 1, Sector 29, Gurgaon, Haryana, India-122001. Follow the link - http://rites.com/web/images/stories/uploadVacancy/DGM-ST-161018.pdf to read the detailed official notification. Afghan supports Imarn Khan quest for open border with Afghanistan: Afghan Ambassador Afghan Ambassador to Pakistan Omar Zakhilwal has said that his country supports Prime Minister Imarn Khans quest for open border with Afghanistan but at the same believes that the best thing for Afghan refugees is to return to their home. Prime Minister Khan in his victory speech had wished to have open borders with Afghanistan on the pattern of European Union at a time when the Pakistan Army was busy fencing its porous border in a bid to plug traditional routes for cross-border movement of militants. That will be the best thing between Pakistan and Afghanistan if we get that, Zakhilwal, who is Afghan President Ashraf Gahnis special envoy for Pakistan, told Daily Times in an interview when asked to respond to Imran Khans idea he floated on July 26. But when asked as how that could be implemented when Pakistan was fencing border with Afghanistan, he said: We oppose the fencing as it will restrict interdependency and flow of people from both sides of the border. But we appreciate PM Khans idea and there is no doubt about that. When his attention was invited to Pakistans stance that the fencing was part of the border management to stop infiltration of militants, the ambassador said, I think that preventing infiltration requires more of a policy change than restricting ordinary peoples lives. That is not an effective way. He argued that change in policies would be helpful to counter the threat of militants and said both sides should support each others peace and stability initiatives. There is a need to promote trade, free flow of people and culture exchange that exists between the people of the two countries as barbed wires or barriers cant address the existing grievances. When asked about Imran Khans suggestion to grant Pakistani citizenship to Afghans refugees, he opposed the suggestion. Our preference for Afghan refugees is to return to Afghanistan. They want to return to their country. When asked about Kabuls stance on Afghans refugees who want to stay in Pakistan, the envoy said that the Afghan government wont push them to return. He, however, said that Afghan refugees who had already got Pakistani citizenship would also return to Afghanistan after restoration of peace. To another question about Pakistans role in bringing the Afghan Taliban to negotiating table, he said that is was a shared responsibility for lasting peace in Afghanistan. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Rennie Sloan, rennie.sloan@cartercenter.org +1-404-420-5129 Rosalynn Carter Mental Health Journalism Fellowship Program Announces New Qatari Fellow and New Initiative to Include Students from Northwestern and Georgetown Universities in Qatar ATLANTA The Carter Center has partnered with The World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH), an initiative of Qatar Foundation (QF), to announce an expansion of the Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism program started with WISH in Qatar in 2016. As part of this ongoing partnership, a new Qatari fellow has joined the class of 2018-19 Rosalynn Carter Mental Health Journalism Fellows. The Qatari fellow, Khalid Al Naama, is a broadcast journalist from Al Rayyan TV. The total number of Rosalynn Carter Mental Health Journalism Fellows trained since 1997 is 210. In addition, a new initiative was started to train student journalists to learn how to report ethically and accurately on topics related to mental health and illnesses. The initiative is supported by Northwestern University in Qatar (NUQ) and Georgetown University in Qatar (GUQ), who each recommended one qualified student for the new program. NUQ Dean Everett Dennis and GUQ Dean Ahmad Dallal were present at an October signing ceremony held in Qatar, along with Ayilah Chaudhary (NUQ) and Asma Al Jehani (GUQ), the first two journalism students to participate in this initiative. In September, the two students attended the annual training meeting of journalism fellows, where they met former U.S. First Lady Rosalynn Carter and participated in expert-led sessions and workshops for the incoming and outgoing class of fellows. We are delighted that the deans of NUQ and GUQ have given their students this unique opportunity, and are grateful to The Carter Center, as this new initiative builds on the success of the ongoing program, the Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism, said WISH CEO Sultana N. Afdhal. Over the next year, the students will work with their professors and professional journalists in both the U.S. and Qatar to learn how to produce accurate and balanced reports on mental health issues. We congratulate the students on taking part in this pilot Rosalynn Carter Mental Health Journalism Fellowship program and are confident that the training will help them in their future careers and address the critical issue of stigma and discrimination around mental illnesses, said Dr. Eve Byrd, Mental Health Program director for The Carter Center. These students will have access to mental health experts and program alumni from many countries including the U.S., Colombia, South Africa, and New Zealand. Mental illness and substance use conditions are among the most common health conditions in the world, yet sensationalized news coverage or underreporting of these issues can perpetuate myths and misconceptions and discourage people from seeking effective treatment. The Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism were founded to increase accurate reporting on mental health issues and decrease incorrect, stereotypical information. Carter Center fellows receive intensive training from leading mental health and journalism experts and a stipend for a comparable amount for international fellows) to report on a mental health topic of their choice. The fellowship program challenges recipients to delve deeper into learning about a mental health issue of interest to ensure the public is provided with reliable information about mental illnesses. Over the history of the program, Rosalynn Carter fellows have produced more than 1,500 mental health-related projects, including several books and documentaries; hundreds of newspaper, magazine, and online pieces; multiple hours of radio and television airtime; and countless uses of multimedia, all in conjunction with the fellowship. Former fellows have been nominated for The Pulitzer Prizes and have won Emmy and Peabody Awards for their fellowship projects. The fellowship program is part of the Carter Center's Mental Health Program, which works around the world to improve access to mental health care and reduce stigma and discrimination against people with mental illnesses. Editor's Note: Learn more about the Carter Center's Mental Health Program > Learn more about Rosalynn Carter Fellows for Mental Health Journalism > About the World Innovation Summit for Health The World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) is a global healthcare community dedicated to capturing and disseminating the best evidence-based ideas and practices. WISH is an initiative of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) and is under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, its Chairperson. The inaugural WISH Summit took place in Doha in 2013 and convened more than 1,000 global healthcare leaders. Through international summits and a range of ongoing initiatives, WISH is creating a global community of leading innovators in healthcare policy, research and industry. Together, they are harnessing the power of innovation to overcome the worlds most urgent healthcare challenges and inspire other stakeholders to action. ### "Waging Peace. Fighting Disease. Building Hope." A not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization, The Carter Center has helped to improve life for people in more than 80 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity; preventing diseases; and improving mental health care. The Carter Center was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide. Photo: The Canadian Press Police officers outside the Tree of Life Synagogue in the aftermath of deadly shooting in 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. 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 Sunday, all of them middle-aged or elderly. The victims included a pair of brothers and a husband and wife. The oldest was 97. Mayor Bill Peduto called it the "darkest day of Pittsburgh's history." Calls began coming in to 911 from the synagogue just before 10 a.m. 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 and used all four weapons in the attack, 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 U.S. history. Bowers was also charged Saturday 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. U.S. 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." Calling the shooting an "evil anti-Semitic attack," President Donald Trump ordered flags at federal buildings throughout the U.S. to be flown at half-staff in respect for the victims. He said he planned to travel to Pittsburgh. In the city, thousands gathered for a vigil Saturday night. Photo: CTV Vancouver A pair of St. Bernard Cross puppies were plucked from a cliff edge Sunday, rescued by Mission Search and Rescue after spending four days crying for help. People living in the rural area on Stave Lake Road say they heard the puppies whimpering from the woods for four days, leading one resident to hike into the bush to seek out the source of the whining. Its day four that Ive been listening to them whining and crying. Theyre obviously in distress, Emma Wilfert told CTV Vancouver. Theyre howling and crying all day until dusk. When she pinpointed the dogs at the top of an unclimbable cliff, she alerted Mission Search and Rescue. It was an unusual request for the team, but the volunteers understood if they didnt go someone else might and require rescue themselves. Its always a concern for us as search and rescue. We want to make sure the public is safe, said SAR manager Dean Osen. The two 16-week female puppies were in good health, but wolfed down the food brought to them by rescuers. They were excited to see us, said Roger, one of the SAR volunteers. They were on a cliff. We had to calm them down, make sure they didnt fall off or jump off. They got so excited, we held out a couple jackets, they rolled into those jackets, and they came right out to us, he said. with files from CTV Vancouver Postponing the salary bonus for the base year PIS/Pasep 2020 to next year, which was supposed to be paid in... Country heading towards progress for the first time ever: CJP Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar Sunday said he can feel the country heading towards progress for the first time ever. For the first time, it feels like the country is taking off towards progress and if collective efforts are made with sincerity, the country will soon achieve the goal of development, he told reporters after performing the inaugural ceremony of the 975th annual urs of Hazrat Ali bin Usman Al-Hajveri, popularly known as Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh (RA) here at Data Darbar. The chief justice appealed to the people to contribute for dams who leheartedly as construction of dams was very much necessary for water security in the country. The nation is actively donating to the dam fund. The construction of dams is essential. We have to build dams on an immediate basis as they are very crucial for us, he said. The chief justice said that sufi scholars always emphasised on following Islam in its true spirit. Islam gives a message to serve people and to create facilities for them, he said, adding that there are a number of things in the country which needed to be corrected. We have to express our love for the country by discharging our duties honestly, he added. On the occasion, the chief justice was also given cheques by several devotees for the dam fund. Later, Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Noorul Haq Qadri said teachings of Sufi scholars needed to be followed in letter and spirit, adding that everyone has to play due role for the progress and prosperity of the country. Bilfinger awarded Bardon Hill contract by Aggregate Industries 29 October 2018 Bilfinger, a Germany-based industrial services provider, has won an order from Aggregate Industries to assist with the expansion of Bardon Hill quarry in the UK. The contract includes the development, delivery, installation and networking of the electrical infrastructure of the many components and technology platforms required for the project, according to a press release. "The expansion of the quarry at Bardon Hill is one of the most ambitious projects being pursued in the European cement industry. We are very proud to have won the contract for this comprehensive service contract. This is thanks first of all to our expertise, which allows us to also take on highly complex and technologically sophisticated tasks. On the other hand, our broad and integrated scope of services allows our clients to reap substantial added value since all the needed services are provided by a single source, meaning they can dispense with complex coordination processes," said Tom Blades, CEO, Bilfinger. The objective of the project is to provide the quarry operator with real-time information for the purposes of steering the facility and monitoring the status of individual system elements. In this way, the company will contribute a key portion of the facility's intelligent automation system. The project is due for completion by the summer of 2019. Published under Increased export revenue MoM and YoY for Pakistan producers in 3MFY19 29 October 2018 According to the Federal Bureau of Statistics, Pakistan's cement industry earned foreign exchange revenue of US$29.05m by exporting 671,913t of cement during September compared to US$27.57m on 617,745t of cement in previous month. This represents a MoM growth of 5.4 per cent and 8.8 per cent in terms of value and quantity, respectively. Compared to September 2017, earnings of US$17.76m on 359,766t of cement, it translates to a growth of 63.5 per cent in earning of foreign currency and 86.8 per cent YoY in quantity. On cumulative basis, export revenue during the first three months of July-September 2018, surged by 23.7 per cent to US$77.58m, exporting 1.76Mt of cement, compared to US$62.70m from exporting 1.23Mt in July-September 2017. The growth in Pakistani rupees stood at 45.7 per cent to PKR9.6bn during this period, but value in dollar terms fell from US$50.92/t to US$53.96/t in the first three months of current fiscal year. As per data of All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA), cement exports from Pakistan to Afghanistan and India recorded a fall of 25.6 per cent and 12.4 per cent to 489,915t and 242,055t, respectively during first three months of the current financial year. However, cement exports to rest of the world rose by over 200 per cent to about 1.058Mt during this period. According to a local research house, following the PKR depreciation in the country, cement players in Pakistan are not only exporting surplus quantities but also getting better prices of US$44t. Moreover, re-imposition of US sanctions on Iran could restrict its cement exports (12Mt in FY18) going forward, allowing Pakistan to have a bigger share in the region. Published under CMA meets with government Commerce and Industry advisor 29 October 2018 During a meeting on 27 October, Pakistan's Cement Industries Association (CMA) has informed the the country's Advisor to the Prime Minister on Textile, Commerce, Industry, Production and Investment, Abdul Razak Dawood, that Pakistani companies are exporting clinker by sea to Bangladesh, where clinker demand and prices have risen. "It's a good breathing space for Pakistani cement manufacturers to export our surplus clinker to Bangladesh and other parts of the world," said the CMA> Abdul Razak Dawood said the cement industry should be ready to increase production capacity. The increased demand from housing infrastructure projects portray a positive picture for the future of Pakistan's cement sector, added the advisor. A local research house forecasts that available effective capacity will increase from 49Mta (in FY18) to 77Mta (in FY21) to meet the demand in the country. Published under Siam Cement Group's Philippine sales rise 46% July-September 2018 29 October 2018 Siam Cement Group (SCG) of Thailand has reported a cement sales increase between July-September 2018 of 46 per cent, boosted by the government's 'Build, Build, Build' in the Philippines. SCGs Philippine sales from July to September expanded by to PHP5.09bn (US$94.8m), from PHP3.48bn during the same period last year. This put its total sales in the Philippines at PHP14.29bn after three quarters, 34 per cent better than the previous year's PHP10.62bn. SCG's sales in southeast Asia, excluding Thailand, in the 3Q18 amounted to PHP50.12bn, which is 25 per cent of the cement company's total revenue of PHP198.76bn for the period. The figure is representative of its local operations in each southeast Asian economy, as well as imports from its Thailand cement production. However, SCG President and CEO, Roongrote Rangsiyopash, said profit went down due to rising cost of raw materials, coincided by the escalating trade tension between the USA and China. "SCG's operating results for (for 3Q18) and (from January to September 2018) showed an increase in revenue in all business units due to improved overall market conditions, higher demand of cement and building materials from Thailand and foreign investment projects by public and private sectors, consistent market demands in chemical and packaging business, though the profit was dropped from higher raw materials and energy costs, together with global trade slowdown and asset impairments write-down," said Mr Rangsiyopash. Published under New syllabus not being introduced in madaris: Asad Qaiser National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser Sunday said new syllabus was not being introduced in madaris. We imposed that the Holy Quran be taught with translation and included the fundamental article of faith on finality of Prophethood in the syllabus in schools across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and will do the same in Punjab, the speaker told media in Panjpir area of Swabi. Incorrect reports are being circulated regarding the syllabus of madaris. We are neither introducing a new syllabus nor are we drafting any policy, he clarified. Till the time Prime Minister Imran Khan and I are here, no such thing can happen. Madaris are Islams forts which preach peace, and are among our top priorities, the NA speaker added. College remediation is a big, expensive deal. More than two-thirds of students in two-year colleges take a remedial class at some point after enrolling, and about 40 percent of those in four-year courses do, too. The courses are costly for students who pay for them, especially since they dont get credits for taking them. And finally, advocates fiercely debate whether the classes do anything to better prepare studentsor whether theyre just a big roadblock to a degree. A few years back, Tennessee began trying out a novel solution to some of these problems: a transition course in senior year, in which high school students could master the math skills colleges requireand then directly enroll into credit-bearing classes, rather than remedial ones. The idea of transition courses has since caught on among states eager to save kids (and taxpayers) cash. Now, the first large-scale study of Tennessees initiative finds some good news for the program, but also raises questions about its underlying purpose. On the one hand, the study finds that the Tennessee initiative did help participating students enroll directly into college math, and to earn a few more credits compared to those students who didnt take the class. But the new course did not seem to boost students actual math knowledge. In all, the findings led the researchers leading the project to ponder whether higher educations entire approach to college remediation needs a serious rethink. High school transition classes may be a good first step, but perhaps remediation needs to begin earlier in students high school trajectories, or coupled with a more intensive menu of services, they concluded. Whether its in school or in college, we need to identify a more effective model of remediation, said Thomas Kane, the Harvard researcher who co-led the research team. We need to commit to piloting and testing different models, perhaps a more intensive model, perhaps moving remediation earlier in high school. Context of Tennessees SAILS Reform The study was conducted jointly by the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard Unviersity and the Peabody College of Education and Human Development at Vanderbilt University, in Tennessee. Since its debut, more than 57,000 students have enrolled in Tennessees math transition class, called Seamless Alignment and Integrated Learning Support, or SAILS. Begun in 2011 at Chattanooga State Community College, it has since expanded to high schools throughout the state. SAILS math uses a blended-education format, in which students proceed at their own pace through computer-based modules, including homework, assignments, and quizzes. Nearly 90 percent of students enrolled in SAILS completed it by the end of the 2017-18 school year, according to the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. The programs evolution has also paralleld a decline in the number of entering community-college students needing remediation. Lets step back a minute here to review why the new Harvard-Vanderbilt research matters. For one, there is not much research on what students learn in developmental education in general. Most studies instead focus on those courses relationship to enrollment and completion rates. Second, transition courses like SAILS are only now starting to get a good look from education researchers. The few studies of them so far find generally small effects, some positive and some negative, noted Elisabeth Barnett, a senior research scholar at the Community College Research Center at Teachers College, Columbia University. The transition courses make total sense. Why wouldnt you want students to graduate ready for college? But of the research results weve seen so far, the outcomes havent been headline-making, Barnett said. There are still a lot more people doing transition courses than there were even a few years ago, and theres a lot of momentum about the idea of using 12th grade to do this kind of thing. The question is, how can we do it well? The idea has indeed taken off among states, as Education Week reported a few years back. California, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee, and West Virginia all offer variations on the theme. It has also spawned efforts to develop some shared curricula. The Southern Regional Education Board has crafted model math and literacy transition courses for states and districts to adopt. More Credits, More Learning? The Harvard and Vanderbilt team used several methods to gauge the effect of SAILS. First, because the program expanded each year from 2012-13 through 2015-16, the researchers were able to compare outcomes for students in SAILS schools with those in schools that hadnt yet implemented it. To do that, they took advantage of the programs cutoff point. Students who received a score on the ACT college-entrance test below 19 were recommended to enroll in SAILS. To make up a sort of natural control group, the researchers compared them to students who just passed the ACT threshold. (This is the next best thing to having a random-assignment study.) Finally, for a subset of high school seniors, the researchers gave a modified version of the ACT math exam to compare how students who enrolled in SAILS did in relation to those who took some other math course in their senior year. Heres a look at the most important findings: In their first year in community college, participants enrollment in college math did increase by 29 percentage points, and roughly half of those students passed that course. By their second year, the students had taken 4.5 additional credits (about a course and a half) compared to students in high schools without SAILS. That said, the increases werent enough to change the proportion of students completing an associate degree or certificate within two years. SAILS also improved students attitudes about maths usefulness and their preparation in math. SAILS did not noticeably boost performance on the math test. A shift in policy might have affected these findings, too. By 2014, Tennessee moved to allow students to enroll in college remediation alongside credit-bearing courseswhats known as co-requisite classes in higher education lingoand that effectively undercut some of the appeal of SAILS. The researchers didnt study the blended-learning nature of SAILS. They did note, though, that teachers took different approaches to the online course. Some teachers provided more guidance and some whole-class teaching after finding that students struggled with one topic in particular; others were more inclined to simply let students work at their own pace. (All students took the class on school computers, not from home.) SAILS has won numerous awards since its rollout, and it wasnt immediately clear whether the findings would prompt changes to the initiative. We appreciate the analysis undertaken on the program, and as we conduct our review of the study, its important to remember this was a targeted solution developed and implemented for Tennessee, and SAILS has truly surpassed all expectations since its inception, said Mike Krause, the executive director of the Tennessee Higher Education Commission in a statement. The return on investment for our students has been seismic, saving both credit hours and tuition dollars by avoiding math remediation. Funding for the research came from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Pak confirmed released of AfghanTaliban Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Pakistan on Sunday confirmed that it has released senior Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar in line with our commitment to facilitate the peace process in Afghanistan. Baradar, the former Taliban deputy chief, was captured in Karachi in 2010 in a joint raid by Pakistani and US security officials at a religious school. Taliban sources had earlier told reporters that Baradar and another leader, Abdul Samad, the head of Taliban logistics, were freed on Oct 24, weeks after Taliban representatives met US Special Envoy on Afghan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad in Qatar to explore ways for political solution to the conflict. The release of prisoners is one of the confidence building measures that had been discussed during the Taliban-US talks in Qatar, according to Taliban sources. Pakistan embassy in Kabul also confirmed the release of Baradar and Abdul Samad in a brief statement sent to the Afghan and Pakistan media. Mullah Bradar and Mullah Samad Sani were released by Pakistan in line with its commitment to facilitate peace process in Afghanistan, the statement said. We remain committed to an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process, it added. Samad Sani, chief of a religious school and a well-known trader, was arrested in Balochistan in October 2016. Recognising Israel nor any such discussion took place at govt level: Dr Arif Alvi President Dr Arif Alvi Sunday said that neither there was any possibility of recognising Israel nor any such discussion took place at the government level. In our government, neither any such thing was discussed nor are relations with Israel being established, he categorically remarked while talking to media at the Islamabad International Airport before departing on a three-day official visit to Turkey. He said historically, Pakistan had been supporting Palestine because like Kashmir, Gaza had also been faced with unprecedented atrocities. There is no such possibility, discussion or debate (to recognize Israel), the president reiterated. Regarding the reports of arrival of any Israeli aircraft in Pakistan, the president said even those who had spread such reports had confessed their inaccuracy. To a question, he said though Pakistan had nothing to do with the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, however he desired that both Turkey and Saudi Arabia take this matter to its logical end while maintaining good ties. He said that Turkey always supported Pakistan, be it is Kashmir or any other issue. Since Khilafat Movement, the people of Pakistan had been enjoying brotherly relations with Turkish people throughout all ups and downs. He said it was pleasing that the democracy stood victorious in Turkey during President Recep Tayyip Erdogans government and it remained intact there despite international conspiracies. The president said during his visit to Turkey, he would also interact with the Turkish leadership to further strengthen bilateral ties, besides interacting with other leaders attending the opening of the Istanbul International Airport. To a question, he said the PTI government was very strong, and lauded it for taking measures to provide a breathing space to the national economy. He also thanked Saudi government for supporting Pakistan in this hour of crisis by agreeing to provide $3 billion to address the balance-of-payment crisis and supply oil worth $3 billion on deferred payment. He said Pakistan was open to investment in mining and oil refinery sectors. He hoped that the prime ministers visit to China in first week of November would also bring about positive developments. Likewise, he said, Pakistan also desires to expand its cooperation, investment and exports with the UAE. The president said though it would take some time to address the crisis inherited by the incumbent government, however the country would finally manage to come out of it. He said the appreciation of dollar value had nothing to do with this governments policies because it stood at around Rs 128 even before Imran Khan assumed the prime ministers office. We are a society obsessed with finding out who and what to blame each and every time there is a disaster, mass killing, etc. There has to be a reason for every event. Part of this need exists so that we can simply label the event. Part of the need serves as knowledge that can be used to prevent future events (we hope). The truth is there are situations that must be stopped with direct prevention rather than after the fact. If the rhetoric of President Trump is responsible for the bomb mailings, then who is to blame for the ball field attack that almost resulted in the death of Steve Scalise. That shooter was a a fan of Bernie Sanders. Is Bernie to blame? Who is to blame for the Vegas shooting? Nothing they found out about Steven Paddock has led to an exact cause of his killing rampage. Is President Donald Trump to blame for the shooting at the Jewish Synagogue because he declared Israel a nation and moved our embassy to Jerusalem? Do you see how this works? Who is to blame for all the leftists demonstrations that spawned the destruction of property, the cancellation of conservative speakers, GOP politicians being punched and spit on, and entertainers talking about bombing the White House? Gathering information that could help us prevent future terrorist actions is fine, granted that those who see suspicious activities report that observation. That is information that can be investigated by someone else. Your responsibility ends with reporting. To spend time assigning blame without proper facts is an hysterical waste of time and energy. I encourage everyone to stop joining blame groups and exercise your power to vote. Action is always better than naming and blaming. Ted Ladd Within four minutes after a surely-crazed monster walked inside the Pittsburgh synagogue, calls of an active shooter began to flood the Allegheny County 9-1-1 center. Within the next four minutes the heroic Pittsburgh police had the Jewish worship center completely surrounded. Two minutes later, over the police radio, came the voice: Were under fire! Were under fire! it said. Hes got an automatic weapon, hes firing at us from the synagogue. Those 10 minutes paralyzed our entire nation Saturday morning and, as we hear after every mass murder, there is a strong belief that if just one person at the shabbat service could have returned fire, perhaps some lives could have been saved. Miraculously, some very brave police officers engaged the 46-year-old Robert Bowers within 60 seconds and in the next seven minutes took the man who killed 11 people and wounded six others into custody. The lesson is the same one we can never seem to grasp. The only way to instantly stop a bad gun is with a good gun. Doubters laugh, saying thats some NRA pitch, but I cant find one law-enforcement expert who will deny it and you cant, either. The police response boggles the mind. It was lightening fast compared to mass-shooter incidents elsewhere in the country, but to give a mentally-ill killer a 10-minute head start is law enforcements biggest nightmare. There is not a police chief or county sheriff who doesnt wince from the threat every day. Further, we must never forget why we were forced to become Chattanooga Strong. There is no law that we can create that a bad guy is going to obey. There is also no better way to register and buy a legal firearm than is now in place in the United States. But the criminals, the mentally ill, those who hate these types have never played by societys rules. In Chicago there are no street-legal guns but there have been 2,546 people shot so far this year. Get this: in just the last seven days, within Chicagos city limits, 63 people were shot in as many incidents, 10 fatally. Look at what is happening in America. In 2018 alone, including the most recent carnage at the synagogue in Pittsburgh, there have been 47,220 gun-related incidents resulting in 11,984 deaths in the United States, this according to data compiled Sunday by Gun Violence Archive, an independent data-collection and research group. Bowers reportedly had a semi-automatic assault rifle and three pistols. It makes no difference if they were legal or illegal. Any gun is just a tool. The shooter is the entire problem. He was killing Jews at will but immediately focused on the police, knowing they were armed, and, as soon as they returned fire, Bowers ran back inside. Until a gun can shoot back, the playing field is a rock cliff. Nobody anywhere in the United States wants guns in churches, schools, hospitals, rock concerts or anywhere else we gather. But the chilling fact is that we now have 157 incidents and 40 deaths every single day in our country and that does not include 22,000 suicides. Of the 11,984 fatalities, 548 were children, while 2,321 were teenagers. A mass killer will not go where there are other guns that can shoot back. Thats why schools, churches, hospitals are so vulnerable. This week it was learned police officers in Nashville have confiscated 7,911 guns since January 2015. This year in Tennessees capital they are expected to end the year with 2,700, which will be a third more than last year. And the clincher is that not one of those guns was legal, else they would not have been confiscated. Kimberly Brown, the director of the Forensic Evaluation Team at Vanderbilt, told reporters at the Nashville Tennessean recently that when she talks to youth defendants, she asks them, How could you get a gun, you are underage? and said the kids readily tell her how easy it is. The black market is thriving in all of Tennessees larger cities and the going rate is between $80 and $200. And, no, there are no forms to fill out, no receipts given, and absolutely no age limits. * * * It is not lost on me that in the first hours after the Jewish synagogue was attacked, a Muslim crowd-funding source was set up to help their Jewish brothers with a goal of $25,000. By Sunday morning twice that much had been given. We wish to respond to evil with good, as our faith instructs us, and send a powerful message of compassion through action, the appeal read, No amount of money will bring back their loved ones, but we do hope to lessen their burden in some way, adding that the money will help with medical and funeral expenses. * * * "But among the 2018 shooting incidents, only 1,478 cases, or 3.1 percent of the total, involved the defensive use of weapons," according to Gun Violence Archive and, while three percent seems small, a smarter view is that 1,478 crimes were interrupted saving at least as many lives. * * * ALL-FAITH COMMUNITY VIGIL IN CHATTANOOGA TONIGHT In response to yesterdays horrific shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, an all faith community vigil will take place to begin the healing process and assure that peace and loving kindness in lieu of fear is promoted in our community. The event, a stand against hatred and intolerance, will take place at the Jewish Cultural Center, 5461 North Terrace Road, at 6:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend this free event regardless of religious affiliation. This event is made possible by the Jewish Federation of Greater Chattanooga, Bnai Zion Congregation, Mizpah Congregation and Chabad of Chattanooga. For more information contact (423) 493-0270. royexum@aol.com The downtown Sears during a fire in 1951 - photo by Courtesy of Earl Freudenberg Sears downtown as it looked in 1977 - photo by Courtesy of Chattanooga Public Library Sears at corner of Sixth and Market streets in 1963 - photo by Courtesy of Chattanooga Public Library Parking garage for Sears customers under construction in 1962 - photo by Courtesy of Chattanooga Public Library In 1927, Sears, Roebuck & Co. set up shop at Sixth and Broad streets with its first Chattanooga store. What would follow would be a long shopping relationship between the retail chain and the city that survives to this day although just barely. As many people know, Sears filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Oct. 15 and announced that a number of stores, including the one at Hamilton Place Mall, would be closing. It was not surprising, as the department store giant has been struggling for some time. In an era when such once-proud retail chains have been trying to keep pace with lower-cost stores, more-specialized big box retailers, and, of course, online sales, Sears has not done well financially over the last few years. But it once thrived everywhere, including in Chattanooga. While it might be easy to assume a Sears was first located in Chattanooga around the turn of the 20th century, as was the case with Lovemans and Miller Bros., the chain actually arrived a few decades later. However, the business itself goes back that far. Richard Warren Sears had started a watch and jewelry business in the mid-1880s in Minnesota and soon teamed up with a watch repairman named Alvah C. Roebuck. They later moved to Chicago and in 1887 started a mail-order catalogue business. The business was later sold and restarted, and by 1893 began offering other products in its catalogues. The catalogues of course became American institutions, and many of them can still be found on microfilm at the Chattanooga Public Library. In 1925, the company decided to begin opening retail stores around the country, and that is how one opened up in 1927 in Chattanooga in an apparently already-built building at the northeast corner of Sixth and Broad streets. But the store would not offer the full-product line for which it would later become known. A 1928 Chattanooga Times newspaper article said the store initially offered only sporting goods and automobile accessories, but demand forced them to start carrying numerous other products. They were also forced to expand and begin using space in an adjoining building. At the time, Sears was regionalized in its operations, and the Chattanooga store was under control of the Atlanta district. In an interview for the paper, Chattanooga Sears store manager P.J. Drennan, who had come to Chattanooga from Atlanta and Chicago, was impressed with the Scenic City and its interest in Sears. In my opinion Chattanooga is especially good for retail business because of the steady manufacturing interests and the healthy industrial condition which exists here, he said. He added that except for his position and those handling the additional new business due to the expansion, most of the employees of the Chattanooga Sears were local people. Evidently, the store continued to do well, even right through the heart of the Great Depression. In 1932, a photograph in the Chattanooga Times showed demolition work beginning at the north side of Sixth Street between Market and Broad for the new Sears. This would be the Sears that became familiar for decades with the brick curved at the corner in the style of the 3M Building off Cherokee Boulevard that later became the Business Development Center. The structure was designed by architect R.H. Hunt and was being built through the Chattanooga Trust Co. headed by Z.C. Patten. The store, which ran the length of Sixth Street from Market to Broad, opened on Nov. 17, 1932, right after Franklin Roosevelt had been elected president amid the countrys economic problems. Apparently, enough Chattanoogans had some money to buy retail items and keep it operating well. To mark the occasion, radio station WDOD broadcast from there that day. The two-story store featured 39 employees and was offering more space than had existed in its former cramped quarters. Our new store will be more accessible to them (customers) and more pleasant and comfortable, and its ample area will permit the handling of more extended merchandise lines, said the manager, H.W. Hersheimer. The new store featured horizontal Sears, Roebuck and Co. signs on Market, Sixth and Broad streets. It had giant vertical signs on Market and Broad streets, with the latter advertising Sears Tire Service. The business carried such now-forgotten products as Coldspot refrigerators, Allstate Tires, Silvertone radios and plenty else. It had giant showroom windows on the first floor and regular vertical ones on the top floor. However, after World War II, as the economy began to improve, Sears, Roebuck & Co. announced that the downtown store was going to expand to 2 times the size it currently was. Two more stories were being added, with the second-floor windows being replaced by upper windows only on the sides facing Market and Broad streets, manager J.R. Brookshire announced. The basement and three main floors were to be used for retail, while the fourth was to be used mostly for offices. The architect was to be Hunt, Caton & Associates, while the contractor was Lindsey-Davis Company. In 1960, three historic buildings that had housed such businesses as Contor Bros. clothing store and the Cameo Theater/Peacock Jewelers were to be razed for a parking facility on the north side of the store. Among the other events in the life of the local Sears documented in old newspaper clippings filed at the Chattanooga Public Library, the store offered a charm school on Saturdays in 1966 headed by local TV and theater personality Gay Martin. The store also began to expand a little physically with the opening of a warehouse building and service building for appliances off Amnicola Highway in 1969. But downtown was still the heart of its operation, and in 1971 demolition began on the back/Broad Street side of the store to make way for a new automotive center, which opened in 1972. While other local department stores had also opened local branches in places like Highland Plaza, Eastgate, East Ridge and other parts of Brainerd Road during that time, Sears had not expanded its number of local stores beyond one. However, that changed when Northgate Mall opened in March 1972, and Sears announced it would build a department store on the end closest to Highway 153. That store and the nearby auto center building which was just razed in recent months -- opened in early 1974. The store was designed by the architectural firm Cooper, Cary and Associates. When the Northgate department store opened on Feb. 27, 1974, Congressman LaMar Baker, County Judge Chester Frost, Mrs. Joy Walker (representing husband and Chattanooga Mayor Robert Kirk Walker) and Miss Chattanooga Jan Cochrane took part in the festivities. In 1977, Sears celebrated its 50th anniversary in Chattanooga, with several longtime employees or former employees recognized. But the ideal situation for Sears in Chattanooga began to change ever so slightly. That started when longtime local lawyer and philanthropist Burkett Miller, who apparently acquired at some point the land where the downtown Sears sat, donated the tract in his will to the University of Virginia after his death in 1977. In 1981, U.Va. decided to put the land up for sale. Meanwhile, Sears began doing a little diversifying in Chattanooga. It had opened a plant and landscape center in 1978 at its Amnicola Highway facility, perhaps seeing a growing market for that type of business that is now quite popular. In 1982, meanwhile, it opened a surplus store at Eastgate, and in 1985 completed a Store of the Future renovation with its Northgate store. In the mid-1980s, officials with CBL & Associates announced plans to build a giant mall off the Shallowford Road exit of Interstate 75, and Sears soon announced it would locate there. As a result, it said it would close its landmark downtown store when it relocated. The last day for the Sears to be in operation downtown was April 30, 1988, while it opened its new store at Hamilton Place in early May 1988, about nine months after the mall had actually opened. In 1989, it began using state-of-the-art and more automated cash registers. Regarding what would happen to the downtown Sears, a local developer who was already drawing some attention for his successful building projects announced plans to redevelop the building into office space. His name was Bob Corker, who later became mayor of Chattanooga and is currently finishing out his second term as U.S. senator from Tennessee. A new exterior look was given to the building, renamed Market Court, and the historic and unique 1930s and 40s facing that had been the trademark of the downtown Sears for decades disappeared. In more recent years, Sears made a number of new business unveilings in Chattanooga. A repair center was opened off Jersey Pike in 1997, a smaller style Sears Essentials opened up in the former East Ridge K Mart in 2005 before the same site became a Sears Grand in 2006. In late 2008, a Sears Outlet was opened in the former Winn-Dixie off Highway 153 in Hixson, while in 2009 a flood closed the East Ridge Sears in the old K Mart building. That perhaps served as a metaphor for the problems the chain was facing in Chattanooga and beyond. It still has the Northgate Mall store locally, but one can only wait and see if that store can survive for the long haul due to the retail chains financial struggles in this era when physical department stores are no longer the actual mall anchors anymore. But if someone walking through the less-crowded store these days is looking for more hustle and bustle inside a Sears, particularly one located in downtown Chattanooga, he or she might just check the files of the public library. There, the grand old department store comes back to life in sterling fashion. To hear former radio news announcer Tom Nobles discuss a 1951 fire at Sears, listen here. Jcshearer2@comcast.net Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox comes to the Tivoli Theatre on May 2 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $85, $65, $49.50 and $39.50 and available here beginning Friday at 10 a.m. Review for Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox: To usher in the upcoming Twenty-Twenties, famed time-twisting musical collective Postmodern Jukebox will circumnavigate the globe in 2019 on their Welcome to the Twenties 2.0 Tour. The tour is meant to prepare the world for a new decade -- one that Postmodern Jukebox creator Scott Bradlee hopes will see a return to the style and craftsmanship that typified the music of past generations. Last time around the 'Twenties gave us Jazz, America's one true art form. Who knows what is possible in the 2020s?" says Bradlee. "One thing that is for sure is that there are a lot of folks that are tired of the clickbait headlines, mindless reality TV, and smartphone addiction that has only served to divide people in the last decade. We're using our small corner of the pop culture space to tell people to forget their troubles, and come join us for a night of celebrating true musical talent and timeless style - live and in real life." The Postmodern Jukebox, Welcome to the Twenties 2.0 Tour, will host official Twenties 2.0 initiation performance parties in nearly 250 cities. When creating a touring version of the Postmodern Jukebox concept, we work on pairing the right talent with the right material and building a unique and amazing experience for Postmodern Jukebox fans, Bradlee says. Get ready for the most sensational '20s party this side of The Great Gatsby." Started by Bradlee in 2009, Postmodern Jukebox has gone on to amass over one billion YouTube views with 3.5 million subscribers, and have chalked up more than 1.7 million fans on Facebook. For the past half decade, PMJ has toured the world, playing hundreds of shows to sold-out houses on six continents. Theyve also performed on shows like Good Morning America, topped iTunes and Billboard charts, and caught the attention of NPR Music, NBC News and a wide array of celebrity fans. For the 25th consecutive year, pre-med and health science students from Lee University will travel to Guatemala and Honduras with Summer of Studies in Medical Missions to provide medical care for those in need. Lee professors Dr. Jonathan Cornett, associate professor of biology, and Pamela Hobbs, lecturer in health science, lead the trip, while Dr. Jeri Veenstra, professor of health science at Lee, serves as the dentist for the trip. SOSMM aims to provide education for pre-health professions majors while emphasizing a personal commitment to Jesus Christ with servanthood to mankind. Along with receiving service hours and course credits, participating students learn more about the need for competent health care workers in poverty-stricken areas, said officials. God has blessed us with so many students committed to integrating their faith with their practice of health care, said Dr. Veenstra. Our firm belief is that if we are Christians and health professionals, we have a responsibility to the poor to give much because much has been given to us. The Guatemala team is based in Huehuetenango. The team varies from 12-18 students, in addition to the other dozen providers, family members, and translators, all of whom are led by Pastor Estuardo Clara Vela of Casa de Amore. The team works in clinics that provide primary care for the people in the city and surrounding villages, along with local physicians and dentists from the church in Huehue. The Honduras team serves with Lee alum Dr. Martin Williams, who established the Jungle Hospital in Rio Viejo under his ministry Healing Hands Global. Students stay at the HHG ministry center, which is also where they set up clinics. Day trips are taken into the surrounding more remote villages. The hospital also provides longer internship opportunities for graduates of the program. Its been our privilege for the past 25 years to help our students pursue their callings in the health professions, and it is our hope that they will continue to serve in medical missions throughout their careers, Dr. Veenstra said. For more information on this or other Global Perspective trips, contact 614-8357 or visit http://leeuniversity.edu/global/ Cleveland State Community College will be hosting a Story Power Workshop by the Creative Story Project on Friday, Nov. 9 at 10 a.m. in the Career Education Building on the CSCC campus. This program is designed to teach attendees how to use story and story prompts in work with Alzheimer's/dementia patients. The program also includes a brief component on aging, the elderly and dementia. This workshop is for anyone who is in a helping field or anyone who has important aging loved ones as a part of his/her life. The workshop is taught by Pete and Joyce Vanderpool. "The Vanderpools have long employed storytelling as an engaging way to reach the children of our community," officials said. "Pete is well known for his messages on health and safety. The Vanderpools saw the potential of the evidence-based TimeSlips program and the value it could bring to our community. Both have completed training in the TimeSlips method and have incorporated some of its principles in to their Story Power program." Over the years as proponents of story, we have identified the power that story holds, stated Ms. Vanderpool. People relate to story much faster than to facts and figures. As a result, we started using story to work with children to teach them about personal safety. When we discovered the need for mind stimulus for those with cognitive disorders such as dementia and learning challenges, we developed Story Power specifically for that purpose. "Everyone is invited to come and enjoy learning about story and its inherent power to make a change in the lives of those with Alzheimer's/dementia or other cognitive challenges. You just might gain a new understanding of the uses of story, and have some fun too. The workshop is free and open to the public. For more information on the Story Power Workshop, contact Ms. Vanderpool at joyce@creativestoryproject.com, or call 423-310-7333. Royal tours and state visits have taken the British royal family all over the world. Their trips arent vacations. But members of the royal family still get to travel far more extensively than most of us ever will. They go on royal tours to meet foreign heads of state. And the planning process gets started either when the British government thinks a trip is in order, or when royals receive an invitation from another government. Queen Elizabeth II has made hundreds of trips abroad over her long reign. But did you know that both the queen and former daughter-in-law Princess Diana made trips to Qatar, a tiny country on the Arabian Gulf? Heres what we know about the royal womens visits to one of their most surprising destinations. Queen Elizabeth II visited Doha in 1979 As illustrated by rare photographs unearthed by The Express, Queen Elizabeth II visited Qatar in 1979, as part of her tour of the Gulf States. She was photographed in Doha, and Princess Anne was spotted arriving at the Doha airport with her mother. The trip to Qatar was an official state visit, and Queen Elizabeth II was also photographed with Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, then the ruling Emir of Qatar. Today, his son, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, is Emir. Archival photos provide a surprisingly detailed look into what Queen Elizabeth II did when she visited Qatar. She took the royal yacht Brittania to Qatar and inspected the Guard of Honor after her arrival at the port of Doha. The queen also drank coffee likely Arabic coffee in a Bedouin tent upon arrival in Qatar. She and her husband, Prince Philip, were welcomed into the city by pearl divers on a traditional wooden dhow, or boat, flying both the British and Qatari flags. One photo says that she visited the Doha National Museum, the museum that originally stood on the site of the new Qatar National Museum. Elizabeth and Philip also made an appearance at an English-language junior school that they officially opened in Doha. A dinner was held in her honor at the Al-Rayyan Palace. But as you can see in photos of Doha, the capital of Qatar, from the 1980s, the glittering skyline of modern Doha actually didnt come along until quite recently. So if she visited today, Queen Elizabeth II might not recognize the Doha that she saw almost 40 years ago. Princess Diana traveled to Qatar While Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip visited Qatar in 1979, Princess Diana and Prince Charles made an official visit in 1986, as part of their own royal tour of the Gulf States. And true to form, Diana wanted to dress the part when she visited the Muslim-majority country. As People reports, sketches have emerged of a burqa-style dress that David and Elizabeth Emanuel designed for Dianas trip to the Gulf States. The dress was never made, but Diana wore other modest outfits when she visited Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia. During her visit to Qatar, she also wore the pearl-and-diamond earrings that the emir had gifted her as a wedding present. Prince Charles seems to have a close relationship with Qatars ruling family Prince Charles would visit Qatar on several occasions, beginning in 1986, 1997, 2007, and then in 2013. In 2013, he even toured the Museum of Islamic Art, which makes its way onto every list of what to do in Doha. And a year later, he returned to Qatar for another visit. The British ambassador to Qatar explained at the time, The personal relationship between His Royal Highness and His Highness The Emir is both a symbol of this friendship between nations and important to the work we do together as the British and Qatari peoples to tackle the challenges facing us in the region and globally. As The Express notes, Prince Charles seems to have a close relationship with Qatars ruling family, the Al Thanis, who have funded some of the Prince of Waless projects. The family has also bought up valuable real estate in London, making it their second home, where they own Harrods, Chelsea Barracks, Camden Market, and the Shard. Queen Elizabeth II has met with Qatari royalty in the U.K., too Just as the royal family has made state visits to Qatar, the small nations emir has also traveled for official visits to the United Kingdom. After all, royal tours by members of the British roayl family arent the only time that Qatari royalty gets face time with their counterparts in the U.K. The emir makes periodic state visits to spend time with Queen Elizabeth II in London. Most recently, he visited in July 2018. Plus, Vanity Fair reports that Qatars Hamad bin Abdullah Al-Thani purchased a London mansion called Dudley House and restored its 44,000 square feet of lost glory, emerging as a major collector and popular host to Londons elite, including the Queen. The Daily Mail reported in 2012 that the 185-year-old mansion was poised to become Londons priciest property. It has views across Hyde Park in central London, and has undergone an expensive renovation that involved combining the three original properties on the Dudley House estates into one giant mansion. Read more: Look Back at Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philips Most Memorable Travels and Royal Tours Check out The Cheat Sheet on Facebook! 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. From Greg Swank, 12-4-2 You are about to read a list of 45 goals that found their way down the halls of our great Capitol back in 1963. As... At a Bible camp hosted by Siloam Christian Ministries in Peru, dozens of children gave their lives to Jesus. According to Christian Today, Siloam Christian Ministries, a UK-based ministry, hosted a Bible camp for impoverished and underprivileged youths from the Coma district of Lima, Peru. Christian Today reports that 66 children between the ages of 12 and 16 attended the camp where they played games, did crafts, participated in Bible studies and worshiped together. According to Siloam Ministries, 27 children gave their lives to Jesus by the end of the camp. The ministry noted that most of the kids who attended the camp came from one-parent or dysfunctional families and as such volunteers at the camp were specially trained to engage with the kids. "It takes about three days for youngsters to really express how they feel about themselves and their difficult home situations," Camp director Margot Alzamora said. "Our caring teachers and counselors are trained to engage with the children and the issues they face." According to CBN News, the theme for the camp was "Our Eternal Father," and volunteers sought to teach the children to look past their circumstances and know that they have a God who loves them. "Our ethos is to reach out with the Gospel wherever needed most," the director of Siloam UK Richard Norton said. "That is why we chose to partner with local believers for our first-ever Bible Camp in Peru." Siloam Christian Ministries has projects all over the world including the Philippines, India, Portugal and Ghana, which aim to educate people on the bible and provide social and medical relief to people in need. Photo courtesy: Aaron Burden/Unsplash On Saturday, October 27, Robert Gregory Bowers entered the Tree of Life Synagogue just outside of Pittsburg and gunned down 11 people. ABC News reports that Bowers, opened fire with an AR-15 rifle and several other concealed weapons during a worship services, killing eleven people ranging from 54 to 97 years in age. According to authorities, Bowers voiced anti-sematic remarks after being obtained telling S.W.A.T. team members that "all these Jews need to die." One survivor of the attack told the Associated Press that he was hiding in a supply closet with several other people when the gunman walked in. They worshippers hiding in the closet feared for their lives 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 can't say anything, and I'm barely breathing," recalled Barry Werber, 76, in an interview with AP. Werber then expressed relief when saying, "He didn't see us, thank God." According to ABC News, Tree of Life Synagogue houses three congregations and is a central hub for the Jewish community near Pittsburg. At a vigil Sunday night, Tree of Life Rabbi Jeffrey Myers noted that about 12 people had gathered in the synagogue's main sanctuary for Shabbat services when Bowers walked in and opened fire. Myers said, he lost seven congregants in attack. "My holy place has been defiled," he lamented. Stephen Cohen, co-president of New Light Congregation which is also housed in the Tree of Life Synagogue said "The loss is incalculable. Mayor Bill Peduto called the day of the attack, the "darkest day of Pittsburgh's history." In the wake of this mass shooting driven by hate, religious leaders from many different faiths are speaking out and offering prayers. In St. Peter's Square, Pope Francis led a prayer for the victims of this horrendous crime, their families and the city of Pittsburgh. "In reality, all of us are wounded by this inhuman act of violence," Francis said. He continued asking 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 issued a statement by the Chancellor on Twitter charging people to "confront anti-Semitism with determination everywhere." Along with the 11 dead, six people were injured, including four police officers during the attack. Bowers was shot during the attempt to arrest him and is currently in custody. According to the U.S. Attorneys office, federal prosecutors are planning to pursue the death penalty. Photo courtesy: Getty Images/Jeff Swensen/Stringer JOS, Nigeria, October 29, 2018 (Morning Star News) The execution last week of a revered tribal leader of a majority-Christian area in southern Kaduna state, Nigeria after a large ransom was paid to his kidnappers was an extension of Islamic extremist violence earlier this month, sources said. The body of Raphael Maiwada Galadima, a Catholic who was highly esteemed as the traditional ruler of an ethnic Adara chiefdom in southern Kaduna state, was found early Friday morning (Oct. 26). Officials said he was likely killed the previous night. Kidnapped on Oct. 19 along with his wife in an attack that killed four members of his security escort, Galadima at the time of the abduction was returning to his palace in Kachia after having accompanied the state governor on a visit to the site of the Oct. 18 Islamist attack that killed dozens of Christians in the market area of Kasuwan Magani. This incident is overwhelming to our people, as it is coming a few days after the attack on Christians in Kasuwan Magani, Awemi Dio Maisamari, president of the Adara Development Association, told Morning Star News. We believe that the killing of our leader has a link to the attack on the Christian community here. While the kidnappers have not been identified, area Christians believe that after the market attack, Muslim extremists saw Galadimas visit to the town as an opportunity to kidnap and kill him. Kidnappings by Muslim extremist groups aiding violence by Muslim Fulani herdsmen have been rampant in southern Kaduna for several years. Adara officials said Galadima was shot twice in the head, with bullet wounds in his ears and neck, in spite of the captors collecting a ransom that unconfirmed reports asserted was as high as 10 million naira (US$27,400). His corpse was taken to the mortuary of St. Gerald Hospital in Kaduna, Maisamari said. The kidnappers had released his wife on Oct. 21 after mistreating her, and she was reportedly receiving medical care at the same hospital. A spokesman for Kaduna Gov. Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai mourned the killing in a press statement on Friday (Oct. 26). We are pained and heart-broken that criminal elements have taken away from us a man who did his best for peace and harmony in our state, Samuel Aruwan, senior special assistant to the governor said. The Kaduna state government extends its condolences to the family of this revered leader and to the people of the chiefdom he led with dedication and commitment. Following the abduction of the royal father, the security agencies and the government worked strenuously to secure his release. The government is shocked and disappointed by this unfortunate development. The government of Kaduna state and security agencies will pursue justice for this revered man. Galadima was a man of peace who continually made positive contributions for co-existence and tranquility in his chiefdom and the entire state, he said. He was a gentleman to the core. Kaduna state has lost a cherished leader, Aruwan said. The government also wishes to appeal for calm in the chiefdom and beyond. The criminal elements who have done this heinous deed should not be allowed to further divide us. The statement said a 24-hour curfew had been re-imposed in the state, days after a previous curfew had been relaxed from 24 hours to dusk-to-dawn. A report by advocacy group Jubilee Campaign earlier this year highlighted how Islamic terrorist groups such as Boko Haram including some based in north-central Nigeria, rather than militant troops moved from bases in the northeast are working with Fulani herdsmen. While there is some evidence that Fulani militants are hiring fighters from other areas, including outside of Nigeria, the same evidence shows those fighters are operating in conjunction with established terrorist cells throughout northern and central Nigeria, according to the Jubilee report. In an age of decentralized terrorism, attacks are planned and carried out locally, and the groups claiming responsibility are often providing little more than moral support to the actual fighters on the ground, the report states. The terrorist cells are based in Plateau, Benue, Adamawa and elsewhere in north and central Nigeria, the report states. While Boko Haram took responsibility for more than 650 deaths last year, this year Fulani militant herdsmen have been responsible for violence that killed more than 1,860 people, Jubilee reported, citing a study by the Stefanos Foundation. Boko Haram has killed more than 300 people this year, the group added. Again, most of these victims are Christians from small ethnic minority communities in the northeastern states, Jubilee reported. Galadima was the second Christian community leader to be kidnapped and murdered in Kaduna state this year. In January, Gambo Makama, the Etum Numana or community leader of the Numana ethnic group, and his pregnant wife were kidnapped and killed in Arak, Sanga Local Government Area. The Numana are predominantly Christian. Appeal for Peace Maisamari of the Adara Development Association appealed for calm in a press statement. Words alone are not enough to express the past, present and future grief of the Adara nation and indeed other persons of goodwill over the frightening and agonizing events of this week within and outside our community, he said. We are, however, comforted by the knowledge that those who bring evil, death and destruction are not enemies of Adara people but the enemies of humanity and indeed the Almighty. If the Adara people obey God, His goodness will be manifested even in the midst of cruelty and wickedness, he said. God is powerful enough to fight His enemies if only we are obedient to him by remaining true to our faith in the God of love and forgiveness, he said. Let us refrain from negative, inciting, inflammatory or unwholesome speeches or posts on social media. Let us also cooperate with all relevant authorities and agencies concerned to ensure peace and tranquility in this period of mourning for our citizens and our Royal Father. We do not deny our rights to express our legitimate opinions, feelings and frustrations. But that must be done at the appropriate time, manner and place and to the appropriate authorities. Christians make up 51.3 percent of Nigerias population, while Muslims living primarily in the north and middle belt account for 45 percent. Nigeria ranked 14th on Open Doors 2018 World Watch List of countries where Christians suffer the most persecution. If you would like to help persecuted Christians, visit http://morningstarnews. org/resources/aid-agencies/ for a list of organizations that can orient you on how to get involved. If you or your organization would like to help enable Morning Star News to continue raising awareness of persecuted Christians worldwide with original-content reporting, please consider collaborating at https://morningstarnews.org/ donate/ ? In 2020, we were the church on our heels. A global pandemic shut down much of our world. But the church has been on the move since it was birthed; it will continue to be on the move until God makes all things new. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Jang-mi was startled as the door to her cell swung open. Bruised, bloody, and soaked from her captives' attempts to wake her with buckets of water, she was surprised to see her uncle walk through the door. Jang-mi lives in the most oppressive country in the world for Christians North Korea. We've changed her name for her own protection, but as the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church approaches, it is important that stories like hers are shared. Just two months earlier, Jang-mi was happily married and living in China. She had successfully escaped from North Korea and was living free from persecution and oppression. Shortly after arriving in a Chinese border town, Jang-mi met and fell in love with her husband, who also was from North Korea. Then, they both met and fell in love with Jesus. They were happy ... but her husband's heart was hurting. He wanted to go back to North Korea and tell his family about his newfound faith. The Bible had introduced him to true freedom, and he wanted everyone to know about it. "I'll be back tomorrow," Jang-mi's husband told her. She watched as he crossed the frozen river, headed back into North Korea. As snow swirled around him, she hoped his final words would be true. Surely, she would see him tomorrow. But she didn't. A few days went by, then a week, then a month. Finally, Jang-mi knew she had to go after her husband. She knew that crossing the North Korean and Chinese border is dangerous, no matter what direction you are traveling. North Korean police are instructed to shoot on sight. Despite all this, she took the risk. She tried to cross the river and was immediately captured by guards. She ended up in prison. All day and all night, Jang-mi endured torture. The soldiers yelled at her, calling her ironically "Judas" for betraying North Korea and following Jesus. Finally, Jang-mi was released, and her uncle brought her to her family home. There, he gave her a gift her father's old military hat. "Your father wanted you to have this," he said. "Look inside the hat." Jang-mi looked inside the cap and tugged on the interior flap. There, in the place where most soldiers wrote their names, was a little cross. Jang-mi was shocked. "You mean my father was a believer in Jesus?" Jang-mi asked. "But how? Why did he never tell me?" "Because he was trying to protect you and your family," her uncle replied. When a Christian is caught in North Korea, it is a death sentence. Whether you are discovered sharing the Gospel or holding a single page of God's Word, you can be sentenced to 15 years in a labor camp. Few people in the camps survive more than a couple of years. Jang-mi's father is now in one of those prison camps. She knows he probably won't outlive his sentence. She also found out that her husband had been caught crossing the border and was later executed for his faith. Heartbroken, Jang-mi once more risked the cold crossing back into China. She saw her old friends, stayed in her old home, and she remembered once more how passionate her husband had been about sharing the Gospel. She thought about her father, and how he, too, was willing to die for his faith. "I have to go back," she thought. "I have to go back and tell those who have not heard." Jang-mi studied God's Word thoroughly, knowing that Bibles are few and far between in her home country. Inside the Bible's pages, she found encouragement and spiritual food for her weary soul. Then, she made her way across the frozen river one more time determined to share the Gospel with those who do not know Jesus. Jang-mi is just one of the many brave Christians who are risking everything to bring the hope of Jesus to North Korea. In border towns like the one Jang-mi and her husband lived in, Chinese and North Korean believers wait to share food and God's Word with those who risk their lives to escape to China. Many of those Christ-followers return to North Korea, equipped with a passionate love of Jesus, but little biblical knowledge. They are begging for copies of God's Word to aid them as they share the Gospel, and organizations like World Help are working hard to meet that need. In just a few days on Nov. 4 Christians around the world will come together as one body and pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ. On the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, take some time to pray for Jang-mi and other believers like her. Pray that they will find the strength to face any abuse, and pray that God's Word will continue to make its way into North Korea and other persecuted nations around the world. Brazilians elect right-wing firebrand Bolsonaro in major shift Jair Bolsonaro, a far-right firebrand former Army captain, won Brazil's presidential election in convincing fashion, wooing voters with promises to gut endemic political corruption and wage a brutal battle against powerful drug gangs. Bolsonaro, who early in his legislative career declared he was 'in favour' of dictatorships and demanded that Congress be disbanded, vowed after his Sunday night win to adhere to democratic principles while holding up a copy of the country's constitution. US President Donald Trump said he had an 'excellent call' congratulating Bolsonaro and tweeted about their plans to 'work closely together on Trade, Military and everything else!' Markets also cheered Bolsonaro's victory, sending Brazil's benchmark Bovespa stock index to an all-time high on his pledges to balance the federal budget and privatise state firms. Bolsonaro's transition team planned to meet on Monday with President Michel Temer's team to start work ahead of his January 1 inauguration. Bolsonaro's win alarmed critics around the globe, mainly because of his vows to sweep away leftist political opponents and his history of making insulting comments about gays, women and minorities. His victory brings Brazil's military back into the political limelight after it spent three decades in the barracks following the country's 1964-1985 dictatorship. Several retired generals will serve as ministers and close advisers. 'You are all my witnesses that this government will defend the constitution, of liberty and of God,' Bolsonaro said in a Facebook live video in his first comments after his victory. An outspoken Trump admirer, Bolsonaro also vowed to realign Brazil with more advanced economies such as the United States, overhauling diplomatic priorities after nearly a decade and a half of leftist rule. Bolsonaro joins a list of populist, right-wing figures to win elections in recent years such as Trump, Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte and Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban. Trump's friendly congratulatory call augurs closer political ties between the two largest economies in the Americas both now led by conservative populists promising to overturn the political establishment. Easy win Bolsonaro won 55.2 per cent of votes in a run-off election against left-wing hopeful Fernando Haddad of the Workers Party (PT), who garnered 44.8 per cent, according to electoral authority TSE. The 63-year-old congressman'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. Thousands of Bolsonaro supporters cheered and set off fireworks outside his home in Rio de Janeiro's beachfront Barra de Tijuca neighbourhood as his victory was announced. Investors also cheered Bolsonaro's ascent, relieved that he could keep the PT out of power and hopeful that he would carry out fiscal reforms proposed by his orthodox economic guru. 'I don't idolize Bolsonaro and I don't know if he will govern well, but we are hopeful. People want the PT out, they can't take any more corruption,' said Tatiana Cunha, a 39-year-old systems analyst in the midst of the noisy celebrations. Brexit, sex and science: can we challenge the fake news? I was listening to an American political commentator on the radio the other day, who was saying that the divisions between two political sides in the USA were getting worse. Neither side is listening to the other; families and friends are divided; each side listens to what it wants to hear. He'd convened focus groups of differing views where within 10 seconds people were taking sides, and within five minutes were shouting at each other. 'Everyone wants to be heard', he said, 'but no one is listening.' On Saturday October 20 there was a big march in London calling for a People's Vote on Brexit. Three days later I sat at my breakfast table in London listening to the chanting of supporters of Tommy Robinson at the Old Bailey. Two sides, two views, and who is working to reconcile them and to listen to the other? Who will include the excluded, on either side? And what really is the truth? The 'post-truth' undermining of rational evidence and reasoned argument makes it hard to know what to believe. In the 2016 referendum campaign opinions were presented as facts; truth may be undermined by innuendo or downright falsehood. With climate change for example, doubt is thrown on carefully monitored conclusions by partial studies, in a similar way to how the tobacco lobby fought for years to minimise the harm done by its products. You don't have to disprove the science: you just have to enable people to ignore it, by giving them an alternative narrative they want to believe, by creating 'fake news'. And the same thing is around in the church's debates on sex. There's been huge progress made in the scientific understanding of issues around human sexuality over the last 50 years, and there's much evidence about sexuality to engage with. But that scientific evidence doesn't necessarily fit with inherited ways of interpreting the Bible: so how do those who feel uncomfortable with the evidence respond? The Church has been tempted to follow the way of the world: setting up binary splits (eg GAFCON), disputing the evidence, finding alternative narratives which undermine credible scientific studies, ignoring the challenges of the experiences of others, refusing to engage with those with whom we disagree. A presentation at the Church of England's General Synod in July 2018, about the work of a group reviewing the relationship between scientific understanding and the Church's views on sexuality, began with reference to St Augustine's comments on how literalist interpretation of the scriptures (in relation to creation) by some Christians was bringing the faith into disrepute among pagans who knew it didn't tally with scientific understanding of the world which God had created. Augustine's point was that, while the Scriptures are authoritative and contain the truth of God's salvation in Christ, the way they are interpreted needs to be carefully assessed, in order not to conflict with the truth of God made known in the world around us, the truths of reason. Just as we no longer insist, for example, that the earth is the centre of a universe surrounded by water, so we need to listen to and engage with the truth of sexuality in the world around us. We have the ability to understand the human body, the human psyche, the human brain and the human condition better than we've ever done before and we should therefore be open to being challenged about our preconceptions and misguided assumptions. The science doesn't determine our ethical conclusions, but it will helpfully inform how we should interpret and use the tradition. That's why I'm hosting a day in London on December 8, 2018, to help Christians understand more about how science is helping to illuminate our understandings of sexuality. This isn't a polemical event arguing for change: it's offering the opportunity to listen across binary divides, to listen to scientific truth which may be uncomfortable, but is the reality of how God's world is. A particular example is people who are born intersex, whose sex at birth is ambiguous or uncertain. Because they don't fit the binary model of what's 'normal', such people have often been forced as children, without their consent, to undergo life-changing surgery. If you're open-minded enough to encounter four brave young people who don't 'fit' and who may challenge how you think, spend four minutes watching this video. On December 8, Sara Gillingham will be sharing her own story about how she has been treated, and Dr Peter Hegarty will be explaining how society has responded to intersex people over time and the harm that has been done to them. We also need to be open to the truth about the significant harm many LGBTI people have suffered over the years, as evidenced by high levels of depression, self harm and suicide. Professionals such as Professor Michael King have been studying this for years and as Christians we need to hear the facts from his studies, and respond pastorally to them. Jesus says in John's Gospel: 'You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free... because I tell the truth, you do not believe me.' Chapters 8 and 9 of John are concerned with 'fake news': how good religious people didn't accept the truth of who Jesus was, because of what they believed should be the case. The religious group they belonged to believed the truth couldn't be like that, and they were more loyal to their group than to God's truth. Jesus doesn't call these good religious people true believers. He calls them 'slaves to sin' and 'not of God'. Because God is the God of truth, even when the truth doesn't fit with what we believe should be the case about God. Because not living in God's truth leads us into sin. God in Jesus calls us to listen to others, to learn and to love. Are we willing to be challenged by the uncomfortable truth? Or will the Church follow the way of the world and avoid the uncomfortable facts which don't fit what we want to believe? The Very Rev Dr David Ison is the Dean of St Paul's. This article appeared on ViaMedia News and is reproduced with permission. Donald Trump, morality and amorality I know I'm not alone in having those moments when you shout at the TV or radio when you hear what a politician's said. It is of course easy to criticise and as a Christian I am told not to judge, so I need to challenge myself as I write this. However there are times when things just jar. I had one of those moments when Theresa May suggested extending the transition period to leaving the EU. Brexit is clearly not a simple job but it laid bare the elephant in the room, which is that we don't know how to do this. Regardless of where you stand on Brexit, it's clear that those advocating for Brexit didn't have detailed plans for it. The effort went into the campaign. At no point during the campaign did a Brexiteer step off the shiny '350 million quid a week for the NHS' bus and discuss what Brexit would mean for the Irish border. I had another of those jarring moments when Donald Trump suggested that Jamal Khashoggi had been killed by rogue agents. There have been a lot of twists and turns within this sad tale but certain things seem indisputable: - Khashoggi was a critic of the Saudi ruling family - Khashoggi was seen going into the Saudi consulate in Turkey and was then not seen to leave - The Saudis are responsible for what happens in their consulate - Khashoggi is dead - The UK and the US are still selling arms to the Saudis Trump's position has changed frequently over all this but the 'rogue agents' comment seemed a blatant attempt to somehow separate what had happened in the Saudis domain from the Saudi state to avoid having to challenge them and take meaningful action. Putin is happy to lie about Novichok and even Churchill was a bit economical with the truth as he sought to rally his people. Do I just need to get over it and accept that that's what politicians do and even sometimes should do? Does the end sometimes justify the means? The problem with lying is that once people start, how do they then stop again? What is a good lie or a white lie? When lying becomes the norm then truth goes from a reality to a marketing tool. When politicians lose their integrity, why should we believe they make decisions out of anything but self-interest, popularity, re-election and their desire for a legacy? When I see Donald Trump I don't see integrity. I see a man who has devoted his life to pursuing money and chasing attractive women. I see a man who sends his press secretary out to tell lies about how many people attended his inauguration. I see a man who bullies opponents, mocks disabled people and glories in violence against journalists. Of course he has a right to stand for office and people have a right to support him. In an electoral system that puts huge power in the hands of one person who needs to source massive wealth to run for office it will be difficult for anyone not to be tainted and compromised. Where I get angry is the idea that Trump is being backed by the church. I'll say now that without being a member of any political party I am left of centre. I respect people having different political views but I cannot find a basis as a Christian for supporting the politics of individualism. I believe that God has made us to live in relationship and community, which means we have responsibility for others as well as ourselves, recognising that not everyone has a great start in life. The only way that Trump can be seen as a Christian candidate is to boil Christianity down to a series of moral issues for the individual. By supporting an idea of faith as the totality of these defining moral issues we present Christianity as a law. This is expressly what Jesus came to overthrow because it fails to change the human heart. What Jesus offers is the Kingdom a way of life, lived out of a relationship with him, full of his grace, led by his Spirit. Make no mistake, this should affect everything, including the decisions we take on key issues but not as the Pharisees did by burdening people with law but rather by walking in step with our creator. Trump cannot lay claim to a Christian morality by seeking to impose Christian values. Christian values come out of a decision to follow Jesus not legislation. Trump, I fear, like Putin is amoral he will do whatever it takes to further his own powerbase such as ignoring the inevitable logic that more guns equals more dead people. Jesus of course said the truth sets you free. I know from experience that the truth is a challenge it knocks us off the pedestal of pride we foolishly clamber up. But once on the solid ground of truth God is always able to lead us forward. Dave Luck is the author of 'What Happens Now? A journey through unimaginable loss' and blogs weekly on www.daveluckwrites.co.uk. Follow him on Twitter @dluckwrite or on Facebook at the 'Daveluckwrites' page. Jamas nos callaran Fisica y culturalmente Nec plus ultra, nec variatur Precio del Brent To get the BRENT oil price, please enable Javascript. Precio del WTI To get the oil price, please enable Javascript. Paginas vistas en total Dolar USA Vs Euro Sin ellas, no seremos Deja vu Nada que celebrar Hasta cuando? Colombia Hoy Para nunca olvidar 'Parasite' painted on a statue of Queen, Elizabeth in Kent, England Sin palabras La UE le apunta a la paz Cada vez mas solo Precio del Oro To get the gold price, please enable Javascript. LULA y su Pueblo Bye Bye Homenaje al genial Quino Fueron ellos Una imagen que resume Tan bajo ha caido que se deja tocar el trasero? Porky y el Nene (archiconocido narcotraficante) Ladrones al poder Asi mira el perrito a su amo Crazy Clamor popular La nueva inquisicion Bolivia Chile Hoy Eso es todo amigos! Piensalo! Pinerachet No More Trump Adios Macri, hasta nunca La Marioneta se desinfla Asi o mas cinico Almugre Mexico en 1794 Mas arrastrado imposible Hasta cuando! La pura verdad Solidaridad con Palestina Serie Capitalismo Espejismos de la clase trabajadora Asi es! Comerciantes o delincuentes No pasaran! Asi es la vida USA HOY 01/01/1959 La avaricia no tiene limites AYUDA HUMANITARIA? Chile Hoy Asi son las cosas Mapa Electoral de Venezuela Patagonia argentina? Un aniversario mas del mayor genocidio de la Humanidad Retrato del franquismo en Espana Visca Catalunya! El Chulo de Madrid Cuando la policia se roba la democracia Una imagen dice mas que mil palabras La purita verdad Asi gobierna la maldita burguesia Mi pobre clase media Como Chavez nadie Comparte La Colmena via twitter Twittear Programa de la MUD Asi o mas clarito Por que Trump no ataco Corea del Norte? Hace 15 anos Por que la OEA no se pronuncio? Una verguenza nacional La luz que nos guia La Union Europea Premio Nobel de la Paz? Feudalismo ayer y hoy Obama, el mentiroso Curiosa coincidencia Un mundo de cerdos No es extrano? La Marioneta Los ricos protestan, los pobres celebran MARICORI Y OBAMA Cuantas muertes este ano? 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Por culpa de Chavez Cerveza Polar Algun dia Colombia volvera a la ideologia de Bolivar Translate LOS REVOLUCIONARIOS NO TOMAN CACA-COLA No se trata solamente de un capricho, sino de una sana actitud en todos los sentidos. Desde la solidaridad con el pueblo colombiano donde la empresa Caca-Cola ha cometido los mas grandes abusos contra sus trabajadores incluyendo el presunto secuestro y asesinato de los dirigentes del sindicato, hasta la proteccion de la salud de nuestros hijos, enviciados por ese jarabe de cola y azucar, que les produce obesidad prematura. Pensemos tambien los revolucionarios, que ese dinero que gastamos en los refrescos es utilizado por esas empresas para financiar el terrorismo en nuestro pais. Es cierto, no se trata solo de la Caca-Cola, sino tambien de la cerveza, de los cigarrillos y todos esos articulos innecesarios y mas que eso, daninos para nuestra salud. Podriamos incluso pensar en un dia de parada para cada uno de ellos. Es cuestion de irnos organizando. Pero para empezar, que tal si dejamos de comprar Caca-Cola y sus similares? Cuando lo extraordinario se vuelve cotidiano... Discurso del Acto de Grado en Barinas en 12 de Febrero del 2005 Queridos Graduandos: Mas que un discurso, quiero dirigirles algunas palabras que escribi anoche, despues de visitar en las clinicas, a los estudiantes heridos, a consecuencia de los enfrentamientos con la policia de hace apenas dos dias. Me ha tocado por razones del destino, ser la persona que les otorgue el titulo que bien merecieron con sus estudios. Y me siento sumamente orgulloso de serlo. Me consta que la Universidad de Los Llanos Occidentales Ezequiel Zamora, a pesar de lo dicho por los enemigos de esta universidad, es una universidad de primera. No tendremos la mejor planta fisica, en los salones hace calor. En el comedor hace calor. Pero no es en lo material que las cosas deben valorarse. El mayor capital es el ser humano. Y en eso, nuestra UNELLEZ, lo digo con conocimiento de causa, esta sobrada. Los llaneros venezolanos son nobles, valientes, de coraje. En la UNELLEZ hacen vida, en este momento, aproximadamente 67000 personas. El 97% de ellas son estudiantes. Jovenes que, como Ustedes hasta el dia de hoy, buscan ese titulo, que constata los anos de dedicacion y de estudio. Los jovenes son el rio de la vida, ustedes graduados deben ser los capitanes de esos barcos que naveguen por el rio de la vida. Nuestra Patria atraviesa momentos muy dificiles porque decidio dejar de ser esa matrona de edad vetusta y complaciente, para ser joven, rebelde y altanera. Nuestra imagen ya no es la de una acaudalada ricachona mayamera. En nuestro rostro brilla ahora la sonrisa del Che Guevara, con su diente delantero torcido, su pelo largo y su boina con la estrella. Entender esto, a mi me ha tomado practicamente toda la vida. Tengo 53 anos, y ya perdi mi oportunidad de derramar sangre joven a causa de un ideal. Ustedes son jovenes, estan en la flor de la vida. No cometan por favor el error de renunciar a su instinto de rebelion. El Che Guevara fue Ministro de a Economia en Cuba. Los billetes y las monedas se adornaban con su rostro. Nada de eso le importo. Primero fue a Angola donde paso un penoso ano de combate. Despues se fue a Bolivia, donde encontro la muerte. El Che era el ultimo que comia, el que cargaba la mochila mas pesada. Siempre se sacrificaba por los demas en un estoicismo que mas parecia fervor religioso que ideologia marxista. Si quieren un modelo de vida. Ahi lo tienen. Dije hace unos momentos que el 97% de la poblacion de la UNELLEZ es estudiante. Se imaginan Ustedes la Universidad que podriamos tener si todos los estudiantes tuvieran la abnegacion, la combatividad del Che? Los momentos que se avecinan van a requerir de una gran unidad del pueblo venezolano. La alternativa de continuar siendo libres o regresar a la pobreza se nos planteara en los proximos dias de forma enmascarada, o quizas peor, desenmascarada, vestida con uniforme de soldado del Imperio. Por nuestra parte podemos esperar lo mejor. La macroeconomia no podria ir mejor, la justicia social ha mejorado notablemente. Las misiones ocupan un papel muy importante en el pago de dicha justicia social. Aqui en Barinas ya hemos cumplido con dos de las misiones, la mision Robinson y la mision Sucre. No hay analfabetismo y no hay exclusion en la educacion superior, en estas tierras de Zamora. Pero ay malhaya! Son precisamente estos exitos los que nos hacen mas antipaticos al Imperio. Para ellos, somos inclusive un mal ejemplo que se esta contagiando al resto del continente y cuidado sino al resto del mundo. Nunca venceremos al Imperio. Estara siempre ahi, acechando. Por lo menos hasta que el mismo no se autodestruya. Porque, sepanlo senores, el neoliberalismo es canibal. Cuando le ataque el hambre, se devorara a si mismo. Ustedes, queridos graduandos, a partir de hoy pasan a conformar la elite profesional que debe sostener este pais en los proximos cuarenta o cincuenta anos. Anos decisivos para el logro de nuestra libertad y del rescate de nuestra Soberania. No se dejen comprar. No se dejen corromper. No se dejen gritar. No se dejen pisar. Que nadie les diga que comer, o que vestirse, o que leer. Sean siempre autenticos, rebeldes, contestatarios. Pero eso si, profundamente patriotas, dignos de ser hijos de Bolivar. Muchas gracias y que Dios los bendiga. Alguna duda? Medio siglo de Holocausto Palestino Oscar Zanartu Nacio en Caracas en 1960. Ha realizado exposiciones individuales en las galerias Minotauro, Clave y San Francisco, y en salas de Coro, estado Falcon, y Puerto Ordaz, estado Bolivar. En Paris su obra ha sido exhibida en el Centro Cultural Tanagra, en la Exposicion Cite Internationale des Arts, en las galerias De Mars y Arver Space, al igual que en la Galeria Municipal Levallois, en Levallois Perret (Francia). En muestras colectivas, su obra se ha expuesto en Belgica, Francia, Estados Unidos y Venezuela; en Caracas intervino en la exposicion "Del genesis a la memoria", 1995, organizada por la Fundacion La Previsora. En 1982 obtuvo el Premio Nacional Critven y en 1990 la Mencion de Honor Jose Antonio Paez, en la Embajada de Venezuela en Paris. En 1991 se le concedio el primer premio de Pintura Itinerante, en Levallois Perret, Francia. OZ1 OZ2 OZ3 OZ4 Homenaje a Jason Galarraga La Victoria de Samotracia Odalisca Mas fotos de la nevada del pasado agosto 2008 La Sierra Nevada de Merida Nuestro precioso Churum Meru Homenaje a Picasso Autoretrato Sabes lo que bebes en una Coca-Cola? La formula de la Pepsi tiene una diferencia basica con la de la Coca-Cola y es intencional, para evitar el proceso judicial. La diferencia es a proposito, pero suficientemente parecida como para atraer a los consumidores de Coca-Cola que prefieren un gusto diferente con menos sal y azucar. Mi profesion? Tuve que aprender quimica, entender todo sobre componentes de gaseosas, conservantes, sales, acidos, cafeina, enlatado, produccion, permisos, aprobaciones y muchas otras cosas. Monte mi propio mini-laboratorio de analisis de productos. Sal en la Coca Cola? A patadas. El Cloruro de Sodio no solo refresca sino da mas sed, como para pedir otra gaseosa. Y no resulta desagradable porque la sal mata literalmente la sensibilidad al dulce... del que por cierto tambien tiene mucho: 39 gramos de azucar. De los 350 gramos de producto liquido, mas del 10% es azucar, o sea que en una lata de Coca-Cola mas de un centimetro y medio es puro azucar en polvo. Aproximadamente tres cucharadas soperas llenas de azucar por lata!!La formula de la Coca Cola es muy sencilla: Concentrado de azucar quemado caramelo- para dar color oscuro y gusto Acido fosforito (para darle el sabor acido) azucar (HFCS-jarabe de maiz de alta fructosa) Extracto de hojas de la planta de Coca (Africa e India) y otros pocos aromatizantes naturales de otras plantas Mucha Cafeina Conservante que puede ser Benzoato de Sodio o Potasio Dioxido de Carbono en cantidad para sentir freir la lengua cuando se bebe Sal para dar la sensacion de refrigeracion El uso del acido fosforito y no del acido citrico como en todas las demas gaseosas, es para dar la sensacion de dientes y boca limpia al beber. El acido fosforito literalmente frie todo y dana el esmalte de los dientes, cosa que el acido citrico lo hace en menor grado.Trate de comprar acido fosforito para ver las mil recomendaciones de seguridad que te dan para su manipulacion (quema el cristalino del ojo, quema la piel, etc...). Esta prohibido usar el acido fosforito en cualquier otra gaseosa; solo la Coca Cola tiene permiso. Porque claro, sin el acido fosforico, la Coca Cola sabria a jabon.El extracto de coca y otras hojas casi no cambia en nada el sabor. Es mas bien un efecto cosmetico. El extracto forma parte de la Coca-Cola porque legalmente tiene que ser asi. Pero sin el, no se nota ninguna diferencia en el gusto, que esta dado basicamente por las cantidades diferentes de azucar, azucar quemada, sales, acidos y conservantes.Sabor a que...? ja, ja, ja. Aqui en Bartow, sur de Orlando, hay una empresa quimica que produce aromatizantes y esencias para zumos. Envian diariamente camionadas de sales concentradas y esencias para las fabricas de helados, gaseosas, jugos, enlatados y comida colorida y aromatizada.Cuando visite por primera vez la fabrica, pedi ver el deposito de concentrados de frutas, que deberia ser inmenso, especialmente los de naranja, pina, fresa y tantos otros. El encargado me miro, se rio y me llevo a visitar los depositos inmensos... pero de colorantes y componentes quimicos. Las gaseosa de naranja no contiene naranja. En los zumos dizque de fresa, hasta los puntitos que quedan en suspension estan hechos de goma (una liga quimica que envuelve un semi-polimero). Pina, es un popurri de acidos y goma. La esencia para helado de aguacate usa peroxido de hidrogeno (agua oxigenada) para dar la sensacion espumosa tipica del aguacate. Bebidas Light? Quieres saber la cantidad de basura que tiene un refresco 'light'? Yo ni siquiera los uso para destapar mi lavaplatos pues temo que danen los tubos de PVC. Los productos endulzantes 'ligth' tienen una vida media muy corta. Por ejemplo el Despues de toda mi experiencia con la produccion de bebidas embasadas, puedo afirmar sin dudar un segundo: la mejor bebida es el agua, como tambien los jugos exprimidos de naranja o limon. Nada mas, cero azucar y cero sal. Publicado por loretahur En realidad, la formula secreta de la Coca-Cola se puede detallar en 18 segundos en cualquier espectrometro optico, y basicamente la conocen hasta los perros. Lo que ocurre es que no se puede fabricar igual, a no ser que uno disponga de unos cuantos millones de dolares para ganarle la demanda que te metera la Coca-Cola ante la justicia (ellos no perderian).La formula de la Pepsi tiene una diferencia basica con la de la Coca-Cola y es intencional, para evitar el proceso judicial. La diferencia es a proposito, pero suficientemente parecida como para atraer a los consumidores de Coca-Cola que prefieren un gusto diferente con menos sal y azucar.Tuve que aprender quimica, entender todo sobre componentes de gaseosas, conservantes, sales, acidos, cafeina, enlatado, produccion, permisos, aprobaciones y muchas otras cosas. Monte mi propio mini-laboratorio de analisis de productos.A patadas. El Cloruro de Sodio no solo refresca sino da mas sed, como para pedir otra gaseosa. Y no resulta desagradable porque la sal mata literalmente la sensibilidad al dulce... del que por cierto tambien tiene mucho: 39 gramos de azucar.De los 350 gramos de producto liquido, mas del 10% es azucar, o sea que en una lata de Coca-Cola mas de un centimetro y medio es puro azucar en polvo. Aproximadamente tres cucharadas soperas llenas de azucar por lata!!La formula de la Coca Cola es muy sencilla:Concentrado de azucar quemado caramelo- para dar color oscuro y gustoAcido fosforito (para darle el sabor acido)azucar (HFCS-jarabe de maiz de alta fructosa)Extracto de hojas de la planta de Coca (Africa e India) y otros pocos aromatizantes naturales de otras plantasMucha CafeinaConservante que puede ser Benzoato de Sodio o PotasioDioxido de Carbono en cantidad para sentir freir la lengua cuando se bebeSal para dar la sensacion de refrigeracionEl uso del acido fosforito y no del acido citrico como en todas las demas gaseosas, es para dar la sensacion de dientes y boca limpia al beber. El acido fosforito literalmente frie todo y dana el esmalte de los dientes, cosa que el acido citrico lo hace en menor grado.Trate de comprar acido fosforito para ver las mil recomendaciones de seguridad que te dan para su manipulacion (quema el cristalino del ojo, quema la piel, etc...). Esta prohibido usar el acido fosforito en cualquier otra gaseosa; solo la Coca Cola tiene permiso. Porque claro, sin el acido fosforico, la Coca Cola sabria a jabon.El extracto de coca y otras hojas casi no cambia en nada el sabor. Es mas bien un efecto cosmetico. El extracto forma parte de la Coca-Cola porque legalmente tiene que ser asi. Pero sin el, no se nota ninguna diferencia en el gusto, que esta dado basicamente por las cantidades diferentes de azucar, azucar quemada, sales, acidos y conservantes.Sabor a que...? ja, ja, ja.Aqui en Bartow, sur de Orlando, hay una empresa quimica que produce aromatizantes y esencias para zumos. Envian diariamente camionadas de sales concentradas y esencias para las fabricas de helados, gaseosas, jugos, enlatados y comida colorida y aromatizada.Cuando visite por primera vez la fabrica, pedi ver el deposito de concentrados de frutas, que deberia ser inmenso, especialmente los de naranja, pina, fresa y tantos otros. El encargado me miro, se rio y me llevo a visitar los depositos inmensos... pero de colorantes y componentes quimicos.Las gaseosa de naranja no contiene naranja.En los zumos dizque de fresa, hasta los puntitos que quedan en suspension estan hechos de goma (una liga quimica que envuelve un semi-polimero).Pina, es un popurri de acidos y goma.La esencia para helado de aguacate usa peroxido de hidrogeno (agua oxigenada) para dar la sensacion espumosa tipica del aguacate.Quieres saber la cantidad de basura que tiene un refresco 'light'? Yo ni siquiera los uso para destapar mi lavaplatos pues temo que danen los tubos de PVC. Los productos endulzantes 'ligth' tienen una vida media muy corta. Por ejemplo el aspartamo , despues de tres semanas mojado, pasa a tener gusto de trapo viejo sucio.Para evitar eso, se agregan una infinidad de otros productos quimicos, uno para alargar la vida del aspartamo, otro para neutralizar el color, otro para mantener el tercer quimico en suspension porque sino el fondo de la gaseosa quedaria oscuro, otro para evitar la cristalizacion del aspartamo, otro para realzar el sabor, dar mas intensidad al acido citrico o fosforito que perderia su sabor por el efecto de los cuatro productos quimicos iniciales... y asi sucesivamente.Un consejo final !!Despues de toda mi experiencia con la produccion de bebidas embasadas, puedo afirmar sin dudar un segundo: la mejor bebida es el agua, como tambien los jugos exprimidos de naranja o limon. Nada mas, cero azucar y cero sal.Publicado por loretahur MARGARINA o MANTEQUILLA La margarina fue producida originalmente para engordar a los pavos; cuandolo que hizo en realidad fue matarlos.Las personas que habian puesto el dinero para la investigacion quisieronrecobrarlo asi que empezaron a pensar en una forma de hacerlo.Tenian una sustancia blanca, que no tenia ningun atractivo como comestible,asi que le anadieron el color amarillo, para venderselo a lagente en lugar de la mantequilla.Que tal esa?... Ahora han sacado algunos nuevos sabores para vender mas alos incautos como usted y yo.CONOCE USTED la diferencia entre la margarina y la mantequilla?Siga leyendo hasta el final... porque se pone bastante interesante!Comparacion entre mantequilla y margarina: 1.- Ambas tienen la misma cantidad de calorias. 2.- La mantequilla es ligeramente mas alta en grasas saturadas: 8 gramos,comparada con los 5 gramos que tiene la margarina. 3.- Comer margarina en vez de mantequilla puede aumentar en 53% el riesgo deenfermedades coronarias en las mujeres, de acuerdo con un estudiomedico reciente de la Universidad de Harvard. 4.- Comer mantequilla aumenta la absorcion de gran cantidad de nutrientesque se encuentran en otros alimentos. 5.- La mantequilla provee beneficios nutricionales propios mientras lamargarina tiene solo los que le hayan sido anadidos al fabricarla. 6.- La mantequilla sabe mucho mejor que la margarina y mejora el sabor deotros alimentos.7.- La mantequilla ha existido durante siglos mientras que la margarinatiene menos de 100 anos. Ahora... sobre la margarina: 1.- Es muy alta en acidos grasos trans. (Si, esos que recien ahora loscientificos descubrieron que son malisimos y los gobiernoscomenzaron a prohibirlos) . 2.- Triple riesgo de enfermedades coronarias. 3.- Aumenta el colesterol total y el LDL (el colesterol malo) y disminuye elHDL (el colesterol bueno). 4.- Aumenta en cinco veces el riesgo de cancer. 5.- Disminuye la calidad de la leche materna. 6.- Disminuye la reaccion inmunologica del organismo. 7.- Disminuye la reaccion a la insulina. Y he aqui el factor mas inquietante (AQUI ESTA LA PARTE MAS INTERESANTE! ):A la margarina le falta UNA MOLECULA para ser PLASTICO...!!Solo este hecho es suficiente para evitar el uso de la margarina de porvida, y de cualquier otra cosa que sea hidrogenada (esto significaque se le anade hidrogeno, lo cual cambia la estructura molecular de lassubstancias).Usted puede ensayar lo siguiente:Compre un poco de margarina y dejela en el garaje o en un sitio sombreado.Dentro de unos dias notara dos cosas: * No habra moscas; ni siquiera esos molestos bichos se le acercaran (esto yale debe decir a usted algo). * No se pudre ni huele mal o diferente porque no tiene valor nutritivo; nadacrece en ella. Ni siquiera los diminutos microorganismos puedencrecer en ella.Por que? Porque es casi plastico!! No a la guerra, Si a la Paz Misterios de la ciencia... Los costos de la guerra medicos y capitalismo... Capitalismo... medicos (2) Quien educa a nuestros hijos? Los Medios... Sin Palabras... Chistes feministas - Cual es el problema, Eva? - Se que me has creado, que me has dado este hermoso jardin, todos estos maravillosos animales y esa serpiente con la que me muero de risa... pero no soy del todo feliz... - Como es eso, Eva? - replico Dios desde las alturas. - Me encuentro sola, y ademas estoy harta de comer manzanas... - Bueno Eva, en tal caso, tengo una solucion... creare un hombre para ti. - Que es un hombre? - Un hombre sera una criatura imperfecta, con muchas artimanas. Mentira, hara trampas, sera engreido... vamos, que te va a dar problemas... Pero, va a ser mas fuerte y rapido que tu y le gustara cazar y matar cosas... Tendra un aspecto simple, pero como te estas quejando, le creare de tal forma que satisfaga tus... eh... necesidades fisicas... Y tampoco sera muy listo, y destacara en cosas infantiles como pegarse o dar patadas a un balon... Necesitara tu consejo siempre para actuar cuerdamente. - Suena bien - dijo Eva, mientras levantaba la ceja ironicamente. - Cual es el truco?. - Pues... que lo tendras con una condicion. - Cual? - Como te decia, sera chulo, arrogante y muy narcisista... asi que le tendras que hacer creer que le hice a el primero... recuerda... es nuestro secreto... de mujer a mujer. Por que a los hombres no les puede dar la enfermedad de las vacas locas? Porque todos son unos cerdos Un dia, en el Paraiso, Eva llamo a Dios: Tengo un problema.- Cual es el problema, Eva?- Se que me has creado, que me has dado este hermoso jardin, todos estos maravillosos animales y esa serpiente con la que me muero de risa... pero no soy del todo feliz... - Como es eso, Eva? - replico Dios desde las alturas.- Me encuentro sola, y ademas estoy harta de comer manzanas...- Bueno Eva, en tal caso, tengo una solucion... creare un hombre para ti.- Que es un hombre?- Un hombre sera una criatura imperfecta, con muchas artimanas. Mentira, hara trampas, sera engreido... vamos, que te va a dar problemas... Pero, va a ser mas fuerte y rapido que tu y le gustara cazar y matar cosas... Tendra un aspecto simple, pero como te estas quejando, le creare de tal forma que satisfaga tus... eh... necesidades fisicas... Y tampoco sera muy listo, y destacara en cosas infantiles como pegarse o dar patadas a un balon... Necesitara tu consejo siempre para actuar cuerdamente.- Suena bien - dijo Eva, mientras levantaba la ceja ironicamente.- Cual es el truco?.- Pues... que lo tendras con una condicion.- Cual?- Como te decia, sera chulo, arrogante y muy narcisista... asi que le tendras que hacer creer que le hice a el primero... recuerda... es nuestro secreto... de mujer a mujer.Por que a los hombres no les puede dar la enfermedad de las vacas locas? Porque todos son unos cerdos Ellas... Ellas (2)... Tres venganzas femeninas VENGANZA NUMERO 1 Hoy mi hija cumple 21 anos y estoy muy contento porque es el ultimo pago de pension alimenticia que le doy, asi que llame a mi hijita para que viniera a mi casa y cuando llego le dije: -Hijita, quiero que lleves este cheque a casa de tu mama y que le digas que: Este es el ultimo maldito cheque que va recibir de mi en todo lo que le queda de su puta vida!!! Quiero que me digas la expresion que pone en su rostro. Asi que mi hija fue a entregar el cheque. Yo estaba ansioso por saber lo que la bruja tenia que decir y que cara pondria. Cuando mi hijita entro, le pregunte inmediatamente: -Que fue lo que te dijo tu madre? -Me dijo que justamente estaba esperando este dia para decirte que no eres mi papa! VENGANZA NUMERO 2 Un hombre que siempre molestaba a su mujer, paso un dia por la casa de unos amigos para que lo acompanaran al aeropuerto a dejar a su esposa que viajaba a Paris. A la salida de inmigracion, frente a todo el mundo, el le desea buen viaje y en tono burlon le grita: - Amor, no te olvides de traerme una hermosa francesita Ja ja ja!! Ella bajo la cabeza y se embarco muy molesta. La mujer paso quince dias en Francia. El marido otra vez pidio a sus amigos que lo acompanasen al aeropuerto a recibirla. Al verla llegar, lo primero que le grita a toda voz es: - Y amor me trajiste mi francesita?? - Hice todo lo posible, - contesta ella - ahora solo tenemos que rezar para que nazca nina. VENGANZA NUMERO 3 El marido, en su lecho de muerte, llama a su mujer. Con voz ronca y ya debil, le dice: - Muy bien, llego mi hora, pero antes quiero hacerte una confesion. - No, no, tranquilo, tu no debes hacer ningun esfuerzo. - Pero, mujer, es preciso - insiste el marido - Es preciso morir en paz. Te quiero confesar algo. - Esta bien, esta bien. Habla! - He tenido relaciones con tu hermana, tu mama y tu mejor amiga. - Lo se, lo se Por eso te envenene, hijo de puta!!! machismo y cibernetica Chiste machista La NASA ha enviado al espacio una mision experimental tripulada por dos monos y una mujer.Apenas abandona la atmosfera, se establece comunicacion con Houston. -Atencion, simio 1, verifique sistemas hidraulicos, controle adecuada presion de los propulsores de arranque. A 60.000 pies disminuya un 25% la velocidad. El simio hace la sena de OK. -Atencion, simio 2, nivele al cruzar la estratosfera y active sistemas anticongelantes. No olvide monitorear sistemas de comunicacion e indicadores de presion. Comprendido?. El simio hace la sena de OK. -Atencion, Houston llamando a mujer: no se olvide. -Mujer: Si, si, ya se! -interrumpe enojada- que no me olvide darles de comer a estos monos de mierda y que no se me vaya a ocurrir tocar nada!. .Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti. Un abogado mantiene un romance con su secretaria.Al poco tiempo, esta queda embarazada y el abogado, que no quiere que su esposa se entere, le da a la secretaria una buena suma de dinero y le pide que se vaya a parir a Italia.Esta pregunta: Y como voy a hacerte saber cuando nazca el bebe ? El abogado responde: Para que mi mujer no se entere, tan solo enviame una postal y escribe por detras: Spaghetti. Y no te preocupes mas, que yo me encargare de todos los gastos. Pasan los meses y una manana la esposa del abogado lo llama al bufete, algo exaltada: Querido, acabo de recibir el correo y hay una postal muy extrana viene desde Italia. La verdad, no entiendo que significa.El abogado, tratando de ocultar sus nervios, contesta:Espera a que llegue a casa, a ver si yo entiendoCuando el hombre llega a casa y lee la postal, cae al suelo fulminado por un infarto.Llega una ambulancia y se lo lleva. Ya en el hospital, el jefe de cardiologia se queda consolando a la esposa y le pregunta cual ha sido el evento que precipito tan masivo ataque cardiaco. Entonces la esposa saca la postal y se la muestra diciendole: No me explico, doctor; el solamente leyo esta postal. Vea usted mismo lo que trae escrito.Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti."Tres con salchicha y albondigas y dos con almejas Gol !!!! Chistes de Borrachos Entra un borracho a su casa todo manchado con lapiz labial por todos lados hecho un desastre, y la mujer le pregunta:-Hombre que te paso?Y el borracho le responde:-No me vas a creer, me pelee con un payaso! Este es un borracho que entra en un bar y le dice al camarero:-Me da cinco copas de whisky?Al rato:-Me da cuatro?Al rato:-Me da tres copas?Despues:-Me da dos copas?Luego le dice:-Me da una copa?Y le dice al camarero:-Ves? Cuanto menos bebo, mas borracho estoy! Vatican meeting ends with call for greater role for women in Church A major meeting of Catholic bishops ended on Saturday with a call for women to play a greater role in Church decision-making as a 'duty of justice', but appeared to water down language that would have been more welcoming to gays. The role of women took centre stage at the synod, which was focused on reaching out to young people but has been overshadowed by the scandal over sex abuse in the Church and acrimony between social conservatives and reformers. In a sign of the divisions, the synod used what appeared to be compromise language on the topic of homosexuality, saying people could not be identified solely by sexual orientation. A working paper for the gathering, which began on October 3, had used the acronym LGBT, but this did not appear in the 60-page final document. The document also called for stricter measures to combat sexual abuse, including more transparency in Church structures, and denounced a culture of elitism among some Church leaders which it said can facilitate cover-up and corruption. All three issues were among the subjects debated at the gathering, officially titled Young People, Faith and Discernment of Vocation and attended by some 300 bishops, priests, nuns and lay participants. Only 'synod fathers', including bishops and some other male representatives, were allowed to vote on the final document. It will be sent to the pope, who will take it into consideration when he writes his own document. Attention was drawn to the issue of women's rights by the synod's own rules, under which two non-ordained monks who lead religious orders were permitted to vote, while a nun with a similar role was not. The Catholic Church restricts the priesthood to men, but allows people of both sexes who are not priests to hold positions of authority in other areas. However, none of the Vatican's 60 departments is headed by a women and only six women hold decision making roles in the Vatican bureaucracy. Young people, the document said, believed the Church still lagged in attempts to give women 'space in decision making processes' in jobs not restricted to priests. Change unavoidable 'The synod recommends making everyone (in the Church) aware of the urgency of an unavoidable change ...,' the document says. It called for 'a female presence in church roles at all levels, even in positions of responsibility', which it described as a 'duty of justice'. The three sections on sexuality in the document were not as strong or as inclusive as some young people had wanted, although it renewed the Church's 'commitment against all sexually-based discrimination and violence'. The acronym LGBT appeared for the first time in a Vatican document in the working paper for synod issued in May. That working paper said: 'Some LGBT youths wish to benefit from greater closeness and experience greater care by the Church.' But conservative bishops, including those from Africa and at least one from the United States, opposed the mention. 'There is no such thing as an "LGBTQ Catholic" or a "transgender Catholic" or a "heterosexual Catholic", as if our sexual appetites defined who we are', Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput said in his address to the synod. The Church teaches that having homosexual urges is not sinful but people must not act on them. In its sections on sexual abuse scandals that have scarred the Church in a number of countries, the document called for "strong preventive measures to prevent any repeat" and supported calls for a stricter selection of men who want to be priests. The financially struggling Houston company Gastar Exploration said Monday it will file for bankruptcy with support from the company's largest creditor and shareholder, the Los Angeles private equity group Ares Management. Gastar said the prepackaged bankruptcy plan will eliminate more than $300 million in debt but give controlling ownership of the company to Ares. MIDDLETOWN Middletown resident Sarah Steinfeld grew up four blocks away from the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. The Bridgeport-based attorney lived in the same Squirrel Hill neighborhood where 11 people were killed and six injured Saturday morning during Shabbat services in what is being called the deadliest attack on Jews in American history. Authorities say accused gunman, Robert Bowers of Pittsburgh, 46, who acted alone, used an AR-15 and three pistols during the assault and yelled anti-Semitic slurs as he opened fire. Steinfeld, wife of state Rep. Matt Lesser, D-Middletown, shared her recollections and insights during a memorial service and candlelight vigil for the victims Sunday on the South Green organized by Adath Israel Middletown Interim Rabbi Marshal Press and President Jonathan Shapiro. Because of the Shabbat, Press and Shapiro began planning the vigil Saturday after nightfall by creating a Facebook event and relying on local officials, police and other residents to spread the word. The air was chilly as between 200 and 300 people of all faiths and walks of life turned out for the observance, held less than 200 yards from the synagogue. The Wesleyan Universitys a cappella group the Mazel Tones opened and closed the vigil with musical selections, including Oseh Shalom, a song of peace. We reached our hands out to each other. We reached our hands out from Middletown to Squirrel Hill. Thats how you prevent violence like this, and thats how you help people heal, Steinfeld said. I was very moved by the turnout, Shapiro said. Theres a lot of comfort in seeing everyone brought together so quickly. It was particularly difficult seeing photographs of the vigils held immediately following the shootings a block from where she once lived, Steinfeld said. Once she learned of the massacre, she reached out to friends through social media. She was thankful all were safe. I thought of it as my front yard in many ways. Seeing photos of the street, just flooded with people showing up in Squirrel Hill, and not being there, was, in some way, heartening, but also alienating. I really just wanted to be there, she said. Still, Steinfeld found comforted by the support of those in her new adopted home of Middletown. She didnt attend temple growing up, but did have friends who attended Tree of Life, and others who had bat mitzvahs there. I drove by it every single day, she said of the Jewish neighborhood, host to a number of other synagogues. Its not like deep Brooklyn, its a very pluralistic neighborhood, but its got Jewish roots. Youve got folks who are culturally Jewish living right next to Hasidic and Orthodox Jews, and Conservative and Reform, in addition to everybody else from all walks of life. Youve got Christians and Muslims all living next to one another, less than two miles from the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University, Steinfeld said. Amid that melting pot of culture, the area definitely has this Jewish character. Its a really great place to be, and everybody there, regardless of their background, feels a little bit Jewish. This wasnt an attack on one synagogue, it was an attack on the whole neighborhood and its really painful for that reason, said Steinfeld, who isnt commonly overcome by fear. I am a person whos always immediately driven to action. This isnt my wake-up call. Ive been awake to the problems of gun violence for a very long time, unfortunately, she said, pointing to her work at the Capitol lobbying politicians. Thankfully, in Connecticut, we have some of the strongest gun safety law in the country, but that didnt just happen. Thats because of peoples actions and speaking out to legislators and voting, Steinfeld said. She has worked on lawsuits brought on behalf of Sandy Hook families trying hold gun companies responsible for the mass casualties that are being inflicted as result of putting these weapons of war in civilian hands, she said. Steinfeld derives strength and hope from The very Jewish notion of welcoming a stranger. As such, she believes in starting conversations with people and not operating in these little vacuums, where it becomes much easier to alienate people and think of people you dont understand or know as enemies, she said. In the grand scheme of things, thats how you reduce these acts of violence: if you reach across differences and you hug people close and get to know them. Thats how it becomes much more difficult to demonize the unfamiliar. You familiarize yourself with the unfamiliar, Steinfeld said. In mid-September, the same congregation was targeted by someone who sent a letter containing a powder-type substance. Authorities said the incident was believed to be connected to similar packages mailed to government offices and other businesses during that time. In response to the shootings, Adath Israel is revisiting its security policies. The Middletown community has united for these reasons far too often, Shapiro said. Every time we do it, I hope its the last time, but its not. You see so much hate out there. To see the camaraderie, its reassuring, its refreshing. Sometimes the headlines are dominated by the negativity and the hate, and to see the positivity out there and the caring within the community, it give hope to everyone, he added. I am not a fearful person, but I dont want these people with evil intentions to win, so my gut instinct is to go forward, hug our neighbors a little bit closer, but go forward with business as usual. I dont think it should interrupt the way we live our lives and the way were practicing our faith, because you just cant control every single person out there. Youve got to go forward and live your life, Steinfeld said. Bowers is facing 29 state and federal charges, including homicide, attempt to commit homicide, aggravated assault and ethnic intimidation. Prosecutors are pushing for the death penalty. Managing Editor Cassandra Day can be reached at cassandra.day@hearstmediact.com. Dance instructor Eduardo Ramos says that for every opportunity he finds, he takes it. Ramos is the instructor at Dance Heights, his own studio that teaches salsa, bachata and cha-cha-cha, and that wouldnt be the case if it werent for Hurricane Harvey. Ramos, who is originally from Mexico City, noted that dancing was always his passion, but he initially did it without knowing the technique. When I came here to this country, I found an opportunity to learn a little more about dance. After taking classes for eight months, I got an opportunity from a studio to start teaching, Ramos said. He had been teaching at the shared studio space for a few years when Hurricane Harvey hit last August. Ramos and his wife Tami, who is also a dance instructor at Dance Heights, found themselves without a home, and Ramos without his main job after both spaces flooded. It was really tough for us, but we made it through, Ramos said. The Ramos stayed in a hotel for a month after Hurricane Harvey, and then moved back into their home, which Ramos fixed and finished himself. At the same time, Ramos thought to himself about teaching dancing, Why can I not just do this by myself? I always believe in what I do, Ramos said. It was just another opportunity. Ramos also noted that it was easy to make the leap because his students followed him from the first studio space to his newly opened studio, located at 1987 West TC Jester, Houston. A year later, he says he is still learning a lot about the business aspect of things, but he thanks God for the support from friends. This is an opportunity to discover and offer more of me, Ramos said. Dance student Sonia Charbonneau thinks that Ramos perseverance, and the hardships he endured helped to make him be a great instructor. He never complained He worked day and night repairing his home and setting up the new dance studio. Despite the challenges set forth by Harvey he remained dedicated and enthusiastic, qualities that serve a dance teacher well, and translate into exceptional instruction for students, Charbonneau said. Charbonneau says that Ramos studio offers a friendly atmosphere and he is welcoming to students of all dance levels. Ramos makes things fun by holding dance socials and workshops. His classes are enjoyable and his teaching methods are creative, Charbonneau said. He is a fun instructor who is patient and encouraging with beginning dancers. Student Ellie Morse has been taking classes with Ramos for two years now, and she says shes hooked. When pictures of the flooded studio surfaced, we were all just devastated. Even though Eduardo and Tami had experienced flooding in their home, Eduardo and a friend searched almost immediately to find a place where he could continue teaching his passion, Morse said. Morse continued, His individualized attention to students during the classes make his instruction even more meaningful. His helpmate and wife, Tami, complete the salsa experience Together, they are truly a team with much to offer the dance community. Morse notes that she enjoys being around the other students as well. Since the flood, the classes have been small, and that has given us the opportunity to enjoy each other as friends and dancers. We are at different skill levels but Eduardo unites us with music and his humor, Morse said. It has been a very tough time, but I am happy now. I pushed myself and I discovered that I could do this, Ramos said. For more information about Dance Heights visit www.danceheights.com. More than 600 Houstonians and individuals from across the United States gathered at the Hilton-Americas for Faith In Practices 2018 Gala, Guided by the Humble on Oct. 19 to raise approximately funds to provide life-changing medical care to the poor in Guatemala. The event, chaired by Mary Favre and Dr. Robert and Mrs. Elizabeth Morrow, honored Dr. Gene and Mrs. Kathy Huebner of Sugar Land and Kenneth and Donna Wine of Northwest Houston, long-term volunteers and supporters of Faith In Practice, which is based at 7500 Beechnut St #208, in southwest Houston. The Huebners are active in the Sugar Land community, and Gene is the vice-chief of staff and chief of perinatal services at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital. The Wines have also been active in the greater Houston area for many years. Ken was previously the COO to the Memorial Hermann Hospital System, and he currently serves as a Faith In Practice board member. WASHINGTON - Debt levels at oil field services companies have reached "unsustainable" levels, the debt rating agency Moody's Investors Service said in a new report. With limited options to restructure their debts or bring in new investment, the only option left to many companies is to cut expenses or generate more cash. Houston coworking company The Work Lodge is preparing to go national. The Work Lodge, which offers private offices and shared workspaces, has two locations in Houston and one in Dallas, with three more Houston offices opening in 2019. Now it is preparing to expand the franchise model to create locations across the nation. The company signed its first franchise agreement in Fort Worth in October, and is in talks with potential franchisees from Dallas, Tampa and Las Vegas. Work Lodge CEO Mike Thakur said there is widespread appeal in the coworking model, which allows tenants to change the size and location of their offices with their needs. "Look at the world we live in nowadays how fast things change and how fast things move," he said. "For these small and midsize companies, does anybody really know where they'll be in five years, in terms of employee count and revenue?" Leases for workspace at the Work Lodge tend to be on the short side from one to three years and allow a company to scale up or down over the life of the lease. While WeWork, which has 477 office locations in 95 cities, does not offer franchises, a number of smaller coworking companies have turned to franchises as an avenue to quick expansion. Office Evolution of Colorado and Serendipity Labs of Rye, N.Y., also offers franchises. CO-WORKING: Co-working concept takes off in The Woodlands "It definitely gives us the ability to scale our footprint quicker," Thakur said. "It allows people to move between our different locations as well." The company aims to have 100 locations by 2025, and traveling Work Lodge members have access to all of the offices. The Work Lodge differentiates itself from other co-working companies in part by its philanthropic endeavors. The Work Lodge funds The Gabriel Foundation, which has partnered with local organizations to provide food to the homeless, fight human trafficking and provide Harvey Aid. Currently, the Gabriel Foundation is taking applications from local nonprofits for a free five-employee workspace in one of its locations. Thakur, a former preacher, named the foundation after the angel Gabriel, a symbol for hope. "Because shared coworking spaces are in demand, potential Work Lodge franchisees have the opportunity to capitalize on an industry that hasn't yet been exploited while giving back to those in need," Thakur said. "We're also able to provide Work Lodge franchisees with unmatched support ranging from site selection to lease negotiations to build-outs. We walk this process together and do business with a greater purpose." Its not quite a done deal yet, but Liberty County commissioners are close to finalizing a plan for upgrading dated judicial technology that will take them comfortably into the future and eliminate some antiquated costly processes. At a workshop on Oct. 23, commissioners met with stakeholders who were ready to share their opinions and, in most cases, a readiness to get the new system installed. Before commissioners can pull the plug on the old system, they had questions about functionality and conversion of current information into the new system by Tyler Technologies. The only stickler with the purchase of the program came from the Justice of the Peace courts who are happy with their current software purchased little more than a year ago. The only thing the JPs really need is access to the jail information which they can receive from Tyler Technologies as view-only access, said County Attorney Matthew Poston who is heading up the search for the technology. Stephen Stehling, a Tyler Technologies sales executive, said the only disadvantage he could see with the JPs being on a different system would be a slight lag in the information sharing between the two systems. With view-only ability, they could see it in real time, he said. And, Stehling said the county wouldnt be charged for them to have the view-only capability. He explained the technology. Tyler Technologies integrated products allow the Liberty County law enforcement, jail, and courts to share data between offices in real-time to streamline the justice system and protect the public more effectively, he said. An officer at a crime scene can quickly access suspect identification, historical arrest records, and open warrants from the software system allowing them to make better, faster decisions as Stehling described it. Prosecutors can make better decisions with the latest status updates and court filings available at their desk instead of taking the time to call other offices or wait for paper documents to arrive at their office. When a clerk creates a case file, critical information is already pre-populated and available from the jail and the prosecutor, he said. Judges also benefit from the technology as well. When a judge makes a decision on bail or case disposition, they can easily access real-time information about jail behavior, custody status, and the latest warrants from neighboring jurisdictions, the sales executive said. The judicial software will be utilized by the Sheriffs office, District and County Attorney offices, District and County Clerks offices and the courts. Stehling said the software will save both time and money for the county. It will mean reduced data entry by court and jail staff, automatic information sharing between offices, saving time and paper, allowing the public and attorneys to get what they need online for faster access to information while eliminating the need for court staff to handle the request, all while automating manual processes (reports that are generated manually today will print out of the system automatically). The warden running the jail said her staff had reviewed the software and was happy with the results as well as Chief Don Neyland with the Sheriffs Office. The IBM server at the jail would eventually be gone once the county is setup with Tyler. We are already in a conversion of our files with Tyler, said Dwayne Gott, CPA and auditor for the county. Kim [Harris], Harold [Seay], and I expect to be completely on their system by May of 2019 and that will alleviate the problem of having to buy a new server, he said. All four departmentsauditing, county purchasing agent, human resources and treasurers officeswill all be on Tyler Technology software and the integration will save the county resources, both human and financial. It will take about 14 months for the conversion once the contract is signed, Stehling said. Wed probably start with the dispatch and CAD system first simply because its a smaller project and then the rest of the county would move on the 14-month schedule. The annual cost is approximately $305,00 and would include the jail, prosecutors, clerks, courts, law enforcement and CAD. Judges would also receive a program called Smart Bench that allows them to pull up the documents while theyre on the bench in court. The county judge said they planned on using a tax note to secure the funding for the new software and bundling two other major projectsa new chiller for the jail and new voting machinesand a few smaller projects. The election equipment will be obsolete next year and so we have to consider that quickly, he said. Commissioners pushed back the purchase of all until after the election to allow the incoming county clerk to get pricing on the new election equipment, and a committee to assess all the other needs and bring them back at the next meeting in order to figure out procurement for those projects. We need to get this done so that we can have the HVAC ready before March when the weather starts to get warmer, the county judge said. Gott said the county could use a tax note, signed off by the Attorney Generals office, to procure the money for the projects. Once thats done, the final step would be to execute the contract in commissioners court, Poston said. dtaylor@hcnonline.com Over the weekend the Battleship Texas in La Porte received a brand new paint job, courtesy of a generous corporate donation. PPG Paints donated 250 gallons of paint for PPG employees, a local scout group, and Texas Parks and Wildlife volunteers to use to paint the ship on Saturday afternoon and into the early evening. PPG also chipped in for rollers and brushes to get the job done. A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE: Spending a night aboard the Battleship Texas, the last of her kind Andy Smith According to a battleship representative the job wasn't quite completed as the paint ran out with only about 90 percent of the deck painted. The battleship is constantly maintained by TPWD but this job did require a few extra hands. This was a job initially planned for June, but heavy summer rains pushed back the project's timeline. A portion of volunteers also got the extra incentive of dinner and breakfast provided for them by the Battleship Texas Foundation. Those that were so inclined were also welcome to spend the night aboard the ship and get a behind-the-scenes tour. DOME MEMORIES: The story of the 15-year-old guru who came to the Astrodome to save the world Andy Smith, the manager of Battleship Texas State Historic Site, said Monday that the paint used on the deck called Deep Base and made especially for wood decking like the battleship has. "PPG reached out to us about this in June and we had to reschedule it and as it turns out the weather this past weekend was amazing," Smith said. "PPG brought about 40 people out there." According to Smith the paint company is going to send additional gallons of paint out to the ship to finish the job at a later date. HISTORY NEWS: JFK assassination artifacts up for auction as 55th anniversary looms Brian Kettler managed the project for PPG with Scott Oates, a local PPG store group manager. "Our PPG employees are proud to participate in the restoration of a pivotal piece of American history," Kettler said in a statement this week. "The Battleship Texas was in service during both World War I and World War II and is an important educational landmark in our city of Houston." "Due to a lack of funding and consistent exposure to the elements, the battleship's deck was in poor condition and desperate need of repair. We are delighted to bring new life to this historic ship and promote preservation through the use of PPG products," he added. Craig Hlavaty covers Houston history and pop-culture. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com. | craig.hlavaty@chron.com | Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message A Firethorne resident who thinks residents are paying too much for their fire protection continues to explore options although he has withdrawn his petition for annexation to the Fort Bend County Emergency Services District No. 4. Chad Norvell, who has lived in Firethorne for more than 12 years, said he is talking with attorneys regarding the contract signed by Fort Bend Municipal Utility District 151 with the Katy Fire Department effective May 21. Norvell had submitted a petition to ESD No. 4 with more than the minimum 50 required signatures and expressed confidence in an Oct. 25 interview that residents would have supported the issue if an election had been called. Firethorne has approximately 3,000 homes In my opinion, the MUD signed such a bad contract. It has no exit clause. I did not want to bind the neighborhood for a year of expenses, said Norvell. Katy Mayor Chuck Brawner said the contract provides for a one-year notice but also has a 30-day clause. Im not sure how that would work, he said. Thats the part attorneys would have to work out. Under the agreement, the MUD pays costs plus a 5 percent administrative fee. . Keith Gier, president of the Fort Bend MUD 151 board, said in August that the contract estimate initially was about $150,000 a month with a quarterly true-up, a reconciliation of actual costs to budgeted figures. Costs for the first two months were about $85,000 each month, said Gier. But Norvell disputes those figures and said the costs are higher. Gier could not be reached for comment for this story. Brawner said the costs are less than originally estimated but figures were unavailable on Oct. 25. Further cost savings may be down the road for Firethorne residents, he added. Texas Department of Insurance ISO representatives recently audited Katy Fire Department operations to determine fire suppression ratings on a scale of 1-10 with 1 being the best. Katy FD now is rated 2, while Firethornes rating is slightly higher. This years audit will encompass Firethorne and a better rating will affect homeowners insurance premiums, said Brawner. The rating wont be known until the end of the year, but Brawner expressed confidence that it would be a good rating. Firethorne residents also will have a lower tax rate. The MUD 151 board at its Sept. 19 meeting voted to reduce the 2018 ad valorem tax rate by 2 cents to 95 cents per $100 of valuation. The MUD purchased a fire truck for approximately $550,000, according to Gier, under the contract with the city as well as upgraded communications/dispatching equipment. One issue Norvell raised earlier involves Katy using that Firethorne fire truck for calls outside of the subdivision for which the city doesnt pay. And thats my primary issue, he said. If the cost were fairly shared, Id have no issue at all. Were paying more than our fair share, said Norvell. It (fire protection) is very pricey. But out-of-contract responses by the fire truck are being addressed, said Brawner. City officials will have a proposal for the MUD board that may make a little difference in contract costs, he said. Gier said Katy staffs the station at Crossover and FM 1463 with four personnel, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. One of the four is a paramedic who can perform advance life support. Norvell was MUD 151 board chairman when the fire station opened in May 2013 to serve Firethorne. Katy provides excellent service, said Norvell, who added that hes very satisfied with fire protection. ESD No. 4 had been providing fire protection to Firethorne from the Crossover station through an agreement with MUD 151. When the ESD No. 4 gave notice in March 2017 to terminate the contract in 2018 because Firethorne residents were paying less for service compared with residents living within the district, the MUD board opted after study to have the Katy Fire Department pick up the service. karen.zurawski@chron.com Our company purchases high quality pellets A2 for export to Czech Republic of such specifications: Ash - 0.9 Moisture - 6-8. The primary amount - 1000 tons per month. Send your offer with the price and certificate attached. Caleb Caldwell was three years old when he picked up a pencil and began writing letters and drawing pictures on printer paper. His mom, Denise, would later staple the pages together to make a tiny book. Seven years later Caleb, a Katy Independent School District fourth grader at the (Robert and Felice) Bryant Elementary, is one of 78 student authors and illustrators to be honored at this years 9th Annual iWrite Luncheon & Book Signing Saturday, Oct. 27 at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Houston. Well its very exciting, the 10-year-old told the Rancher. When I heard that I got published, I was freaking out. Caleb Caldwells story titled, Joey Save the World, is about a boy named Joey that helps the robot that comes to Earth, said Caleb. His love for science fiction and the theme to this years luncheon environmental writing helped motivate him to focus on writing. Hes currently reading Michael Crichtons Jurassic Park, but its my favorite book so far, he said. Denise Caldwell said writing has been an outlet for Caleb. We just encourage it for him because it helps him kind of just wind down at night, Denise Caldwell said. I have never been critical of anything that hes written in terms of whether hes misspelled a word or if he didnt capitalize it. When kids are learning, a lot of times they feel stifled. I tell him that whatever you put on that paper is valuable and that whatever you write is important. Whatever it is to him. I think that helped him. Calebs sister, Hailey, will also be honored for poem, Denise Caldwell said. Those honored at Saturdays luncheon will be published in the 9th anthology, I Write Short Stories by Kids for Kids. The iWrite Literacy Organization raises awareness about childrens literacy and supports fundraising efforts for literacy programs at economically Title I elementary schools, said Kelly Hess, this years luncheon co-chair. Hess own children are also published authors through the iWrite nonprofit program, she said, noting that they will be signing their own works on Saturday. Hess said she expects more than 450 family, friends, special guests and sponsors to attend Saturdays festivities. The organization was founded by Melissa Williams, a childrens author who wanted to maker bring in the cool factor back into literacy, Hess said. Saturdays luncheon will also kick off an annual fundraising goal of $75,000, Hess said. Lake Houston area residents may have noticed more smoke from local pitmasters on their commutes over the last few months. Several barbecue joints, recently opened or about to, are blooming all over the Lake Houston area, and each has its own trick to attract bellies clamoring for brisket or dreamers of sausage links. Take Fire Craft BBQ, which slated to open in 2019. The restauant is settled next to Nicos Bar & Grill on Loop 494. The owner, David Welch, said the place will be a contemporary farmhouse-style restaurant serving barbecue and small-plate items. Or consider Gilbert & Co. at 6110 FM 1960 Ste. B. in Atascocita, which had its grand opening Oct. 6. Other than the barbecue staples like ribs and brisket, the restaurant will feature weekly Soul Food Sundays, where oxtails, greens and banana pudding extend the menu. Two more barbecue restaurants also opened in Atascocita and New Caney this month. The local eateries are a boon for the Lake Houston area, said Mark Mitchell, President of the Lake Houston Economic Development Partnership. I think theres a saturation of the restaurant chains, and restaurant goers are looking for unique and new-quality restaurants, Mitchell said. That variety and that quality are great for the area as far as giving people more options to get unique meals as opposed to the standardized, national meal where its just a platter, the meat-and-two-sides type of thing. Gilbert & Co. co-owner Shawn Gilbert said barbecue is in their genes. With all of us being Burnses and Gilberts were families, said Andre Burns, the restaurants pitmaster and youngest son of Mr. Burns of Burns BBQ in Acres Homes. We decided to get together and make a happy place way out here where people can enjoy some good barbecue and dont have to drive so far. Its in our blood, its in our clothes, its in our genes Our new cologne, Gilbert interjected. He and Burns then let out a hearty laugh. Prior to the public debut of Gilbert & Co., the familial staff handed out samples to motorists waiting for the green light at the nearby intersection. Be on the lookout for a Gilbert & Co. food truck in the near future, Gilbert said. FM 1960 is one of the busiest streets in the nation, said Burns, explaining the decision to settle Gilbert & Co. in the Lake Houston area. You got three, four different cities coming through FM 1960. You [also] got Kingwood and Humble. Similar to Gilbert & Co., pitmaster Raul Jacobo Jr. of Cobos, located at 6030 FM 1960, followed his barbecue calling from others in the household. He said his mom, Blanca Jacobo, has been one of the key sources of support since his first brush with this cooking style at 12 years old and after a lot of burnt chickens. The way I serve a plate: I feel like my mom is behind me saying No, you better give them more, said Jacobo Jr., who co-owns Cobos with his wife Monica. I feel connected to all of our customers. The familys matriarch is also the source of many dishes, he revealed, a feature that allows Cobos menu to exhibit a blend of standard barbecue and his Mexican heritage. Consider this winter special he thought of: Moms pozole, but instead of boiled pork it will be smoked pork shoulder. For other possible off-menu selections, follow Cobos Facebook, he said. Although hes from Aldine, Jacobo Jr. said he moved to Atascocita 15 years ago after being drawn to the areas beauty and the communitys love for his cooking. The latter was intense enough for him to say no to prospect investors who entertained the idea of opening a Cobos in The Heights and another on Washington Avenue. We like our area. And we stick to our area, he said. We want to stick to one place and serve it well. The place, a minutes walk from Gilbert & Co., held its grand opening Oct. 27. Pitmaster Allen Rhoden of The Rusty Buckle BBQ Company, at 22664 Community Drive in New Caney, welcomed its first patrons Oct. 20. Rhoden said he refuses to turn his brand into a chain. To be successful in this business you have to be hands-on, Rhoden said. And theres always gonna be good people here that want to eat good food. He also pointed out that he opened the Rusty Buckle was due to a lack of local barbecue options in the area since the early 80s. Thats the past now, and proof takes the form of a place its owner described as where rustic ambience meets cutting-edge cooking. Rhoden serves up specials like the redneck sushi breakfast sausage, shrimp and cream cheese wrapped in bacon, then smoked a bit, afterward painted with pepper jelly and glazed and Hollapeno Lemonade the popular beverage with a jalapeno-cucumber twist. The main thing was to make sure that the business was one thats small enough still where he would enjoy cooking, said LaShawna Roden, Allens wife and a Porter High School art teacher of eight years. We want to make sure that this is where families come, and it becomes more tradition and you build into that family atmosphere so that its generational. Shes also the places creative director, the mastermind behind a vibe Allen described as off-the-wall. Utilized as decorations: belt buckles, license plates, disco ball, ball-and-chain, Johnny Cash records, discolored buckets and a John Deere tractor. Mitchell also remarked that craft foods businesses the kind that characterizes Fire Craft BBQ, Gilbert & Co., Cobos and The Rusty Buckle BBQ Company is a beacon for new jobs and opportunities to build specialized skills. nguyen.le@chron.com Andrew Lazo enjoyed reading The Chronicles of Narnia as a child, fell in love with other C.S. Lewis writings in his 20s and even met his wife while discussing the author on a radio show. On Saturday, Oct. 20, the Houston Christian High School English teacher became the first C.S. Lewis expert to speak at the Smithsonian in Washington since 2004. Lazo delivered his four-part presentation C. S. Lewis: Life and Legacy, Philosopher, Fantasist, and Mere Christian in front of around 80 attendees at Smithsonian Associates, the worlds largest museum-based educational program. The presentation focused on a short biography, Lewis as both a lifelong philosopher and compelling fanaticist and some of Lewis concepts that can be applied in readers lives. Lazo said after he became a Christian in high school, he began to see the Narnia books in a whole new way. Later, as an adult, a friend showed his some of Lewis more grown-up writings. I soon read Surprised by Joy, Lewiss spiritual autobiography and that book impacted me enormously, Lazo said It came at a time of crisis in my faith, and in Lewis, I discovered someone who had thought through his atheism better than Id ever thought through my faith. I was hooked, and I started trying to get to the bottom of him. Still trying, in fact. Lazo said Lewis was an avid reader with an incredible memory, capable of reciting back almost anything he put his hands on. Although Lewis died within hours of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963, Lazo said his writings are still relevant and help readers to examine themselves and the world around them differently. So between his 40-plus books, dozens of essays and talks and 50,000-plus letters, readers can dive in almost anywhere and find something for them, Lazo said. Imagination, reason, long-ranging wisdom about situations both ancient and contemporary I think people can learn an enormous amount about themselves and the whole world, past and present, seen and unseen. In December 2015, Lazo and his future wife Christin Ditchfield Lazo appeared on a radio show from different parts of the country, after having both contributed to the same book on Lewis. A few weeks later, Lazo reached out to her and said he was going to be just minutes from where she lived in Florida. He asked her if she wanted to meet up to discuss Narnia. The rest is history they got engaged 17 days after meeting that first time in person and married a year after that. Today, they enjoy studying Lewis work together. John Stoetzer Gray, Jr., graduated from HCHS in 2016 and is now a junior at the U.S. Military Academy studying nuclear engineering. Gray said although he always had more of a knack for math and sciences, Lazos passion for teaching inspired him to be more engaged in his learning and that he was well prepared when he arrived at West Point. When someone is profoundly interested in something, takes great pride in it and truly loves it day in and day out, it naturally rubs off on you. I have never had a more positive, energetic and consistent teacher as Mr. Lazo, Gray said. Lazo used active drills to help Gray and his classmates memorize, getting them up and out of their chairs and moving. Even now in college, Gray still employs some of those methods to learn. Mr. Lazo tipped a domino in me that slowly knocked over bigger and bigger dominoes, but it took that one special person to switch the light bulb on in my head, and everything started clicking, Gray said. I still use his methods to this day, as I am sure many of his students do. I do not think I would be who I am today without him. Lazo and Ditchfield Lazo are working together to produce an Advent retreat for both adults and families with reading-aged children (eight to 16 years). The retreat is slated for Friday, Nov. 30-Sunday, Dec. 2, at Camp Allen in Navasota, Texas. The theme is C. S. Lewis and the Gift of Christmas. Lazo said he is excited about helping attendees slow down and breathe during what can be a very busy season. We'll dip into that old favorite The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe to discover again what happens when Father Christmas arrives, giving gifts that offer strength, courage and even healing to the overwhelmed children, Lazo said. I believe we need those moments too, and so at the beginning of Advent, well take a couple days to listen to the quiet and think about the greatest gifts of all. For more information about the retreat, visit http://campallen.org/. tracy.maness@hcnonline.com A shooter is on the loose after critically wounding a man in the parking lot of a Twin Peaks restaurant Sunday night in Shenandoah. At least one bullet struck the man in the chest. He was rushed from the back parking lot at the eatery to a local hospital in critical condition, according to the Montgomery County Reporter. The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion is inviting area residents, corporations, organizations and students to sign up for a rewarding, one-of-a-kind volunteer experience at the upcoming 23rd Annual Childrens Festival presented by ExxonMobil. On school days - Thursday, Nov. 8 and Friday, Nov. 9 - volunteers will help escort over 10,000 students and chaperones from their buses to their seats for a free performance at the venue. There is one shift on Thursday and one on Friday. Volunteers need to arrive at 8 a.m. on Thursday and Friday. Volunteers will be provided a continental breakfast prior to orientation at 8:30 a.m. each day. On the weekend - Saturday, Nov. 10 and Sunday, Nov. 11 - volunteers will help with face painting, arts and crafts, hat-making, parachute races, kite flying on the hill and more. Volunteers will have access to the Volunteer Hospitality Area where beverages and light snacks will be available. On Saturday, those who volunteer both the morning and then the afternoon shift will be served lunch in between shifts. There are two shifts on Saturday from 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. and one on Sunday from 11:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. All volunteers must sign an Authorization and Release of Liability Form that is available for download on The Pavilion website. Please note that if a volunteer is under the age 18, a parent and/or guardian must also sign the release form along with the minors signature. Those interested in volunteering can fill out the online form and waiver available at www.woodlandscenter.org/cf-2018/volunteer. Volunteers can also call 281-364-3010 or email csmiley@woodlandscenter.org for additional information. Students rewarded for creative ways to stop bullying Forty-three local students representing 25 schools throughout the county were recognized and awarded cash prizes in a packed courtroom of teachers, school principals, parents and excited youth in grades K-8. The winning student artists were participants in the 2018 Conflict Resolution Day Bookmark Art Contest sponsored by the Dispute Resolution Center of Montgomery County, Inc. (DRC-MC). Twenty-four art contest judges from 12 different organizations chose the winning bookmarks based on their creativity and message in showing how to Say No to Bullies and resolve conflicts peacefully. Judge Kathleen Hamilton, 359th Judicial District Court, presented the awards to all the winning students on Oct. 19 at Commissioners Courtroom. Each student was also handed an anti-bullying book to be donated to their school in honor of their teacher. The anti-bullying books were donated by The Woodlands Bar Association and the Montgomery County Bar Association. The 2018 winning bookmarks are displayed at the Montgomery County Memorial Central Library for the next 30 days. The list of winners from the 2018 Annual Conflict Resolution Day Bookmark Contest can be found www.resolution-center.org/bookmark. Find out more about the Dispute Resolution Center of Montgomery County, Inc. by visiting www.resolution-center.org. Visit their Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/MontgomeryCountyDRC and call (936) 760-6914, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday for additional information. Lone Star College announces scholarships for students from underserved communities Students living in communities that traditionally lack resources to succeed now have an opportunity for a brighter future thanks to the Lone Star College Promise Firsts Scholarship program. I am very proud that Lone Star College can now provide additional scholarships specifically designed to help lift students from these communities through higher education, said Stephen C. Head, Ph.D., LSC chancellor. Eight donors pledged a total of $250,000 for the fund and another $250,000 in matching dollars will be provided through Lone Star College Foundation from the Chancellors discretionary fund. The LSC Promise Firsts Scholarship program will be made available to qualifying first-generation students to go to college, first-time-in-college, and first responders. A first-generation college student is defined as a student whose parents have not attended college. A student who has never attended a postsecondary college or university is considered a first-time-in-college student. The eight donors include Magdalena and Tony Grijalva; H-E-B.; Alex and Cathy Lopez Negrete, Lopez Negrete Communications; George and Kathryn Martinez; Paula Mendoza, Possible Missions; Monty & Ramirez, LLP; Saul and Lisa Valentin; and Massey Villarreal. The LSC Promise Firsts program is scheduled to begin fall 2019. Visit LoneStar.edu/Giving for more information. A driver was injured Sunday night after crashing in Piney Point Village, landing vertically and wedging his car in a fence. The man was driving north on Fondren around midnight Sunday, when he failed to make a curve on Piney Point, according to Metro Video. Amid a tense election season, a Korean translator and activist is calling out a Harris County election judge who she said forced her and other translators to stand outside a Houston polling place, barring them from effectively helping voters. Dona Kim Murphey said she and roughly 10 other volunteers at the Trini Mendenhall Community Center were instructed to stand in the parking lot Sunday afternoon, beyond the 100-foot markers that draw a boundary for where people can electioneer. Murphey said she thought translators typically were allowed to stay in the polling place to offer help. But Sonya Aston, Harris County's elections administrator, said what Murphey and others were doing was against the rules. Ballots are printed in English, Spanish, Vietnamese and Chinese. People who need help with another language are supposed to bring their own translator, Aston said. In her view, it shouldn't be that they are approached and asked if they need help in line at the polls. "That's simply not allowed," Aston said. GROUP CLAIMS: Voting machine errors changed votes in Cruz-ORourke race Murphey said ads in Korean media and other outlets encouraged people to vote Sunday, because others had volunteered to be there to help translate. She said the trouble first arose because students were also at the center to try to get names on a petition for a Korean language ballot in future elections. She said that behavior stopped as soon as the students were told not to do it. A group of people chatting in Korean just outside the polling place grew, however, and that's when Murphey said the judge -- who presumably could not understand them -- told the translators they needed to offer their services beyond the electioneering line. "Practically speaking, it means that the only way to offer our services is to basically flail around, jumping up and down and screaming, to try to get somebody's attention so that they know translation is available," she said, adding, "We were suppressed." Law enforcement and the clerk's office were called to the site, Murphey said. (Ted Cruz, coincidentally, also came to cast his ballot.) Murphey, who posted several videos documenting the incident to Facebook, said she plans to explore legal action. The Houston Chronicle is participating in Electionland, a ProPublica project that will cover access to the ballot and problems that prevent people from exercising their right to vote during the 2018 election. This story is part of that project. You can help us by signing up now.Text VOTE to 81380. You can also WhatsApp at us at +1 850 909-8683 or reach us through Facebook Messenger here: http://m.me/electionland emily.foxhall@chron.com Twitter.com/emfoxhall Although the underpass project on Research Forest Drive at the intersection of Grogans Mill Road was not supported by the township board of directors last week, that does not mean the project is dead. The possible six-lane underground tunnel being proposed by Montgomery County and The Woodlands Road Utility District No. 1 could still be submitted for funding consideration by the Oct. 31 deadline. Despite the momentary victory for opponents of the project, theres another aspect residents in opposition to the potential underpass project are citing as a possible roadblock local bald eagles that have become an iconic symbol of The Woodlands. Area resident Richard Somerville who made it clear that he was not an eagle or environmental expert presented his concerns about the underpass project to elected officials and others in regard to The Woodlands resident bald eagles, who live in a nest along Lake Front Circle near Hughes Landing. The bald eagle family has been the subject of local appreciation and adoration, with residents flocking to sites around the eagles nest to watch the majestic raptors go about their daily lives, searching for food and hopefully raising young eagle hatchlings. Somerville, who has spoken out against the project at several meetings of The Woodlands Township Board of Directors, said that when considering a major transportation project like the underpass, which is being proposed to possibly use federal funds, an environmental impact assessment will need to be done. The assessment would study things like tree removal and flooding impacts, as well as the effect on the quality of life for animals especially those that have a protected or endangered status occupying the nearby habitat, he added. The key thing is that (the eagles) have to be addressed. Its going to have to be added (to the project factors) because of the environmental study, Somerville theorized. Additionally, in a letter sent to Montgomery County Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack, Somerville also explained that bald eagles are protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, which mandates that the eagles must not be disturbed to an excessive degree. Yet, the idea that disturbing the eagles could hamper the project or bring it to a halt was contradicted by Randy Scott as well as an environmental manager with the Howard Hughes Corp., which owns the land the bald eagles are currently nesting on. Scott, who has been watching the bald eagles for more than a decade and started the Facebook page Save The Woodlands Eagles, said that the eagles would not be disturbed by construction on the project, which is less than 1 mile from the proposed underpass. The eagles just dont care. The birds adapt to their environment. Theyre able to live and raise a family right there in the midst of a bustling project, Scott said. Fred LeBlanc, an environmental manager with the Howard Hughes Corp., added that he doesnt think the project would be an issue for the birds nesting and feeding activities. Based on all the development the past 20 years or so around Lake Woodlands, it would probably not be an issue, LeBlanc said. The reason for his belief, LeBlanc said, is because he said the birds get most of their food from the nearby Lake Woodlands, and theyve proven to be resilient while the area around the lake has been developed in the past. The underpass project is currently in the hands of Noack, who, according to project planners, will make the final decision as to whether the project is submitted to the Houston-Galveston Area Council by the Oct. 31 deadline for consideration for federal funding. Under the proposal, project supporters were hoping to secure as much as $17 million in federal funding if the project was chosen by H-GAC for support. The remaining $7 million portion of the $24 million price tag for the project was expected to be paid for by The Woodlands RUD No. 1. jane.stueckemann@chron.com A mermaid was among a line of protesters in Englewood, Florida, during morning rush hour earlier this month, chanting at the passing cars. "Defeat red tide! Defeat Rick Scott!" they shouted, getting more thumbs up than middle fingers from drivers. They were soon joined by a two-man counter-protest: a father and son waving a flag bearing Trump's name, yelling: "Red tide is naturally occurring!" This skirmish is echoed in election campaigns across Florida as the state battles an ugly pair of algae epidemics: Reddish clusters along the beaches and a blue-green stew that spread east and west from Lake Okeechobee, the heart of Florida's water supply. Democrats blame Republicans -- especially Gov. Scott, now a candidate for the U.S. Senate whom they call "Red-Tide Rick." The nickname stuck, and it's dragging down other GOP candidates on the Nov. 6 ballot, said Alex Patton, a Florida-based Republican consultant. Environmental experts also say the responsibility for the algae problem lies largely with the state government. Scott faults his election opponent, incumbent Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson, for a lack of federal funding for projects to control the algae. President Donald Trump boosted that argument on Oct. 9, tweeting, "Bill Nelson has been no help!" Mother nature is never far away in Florida, where a rising sea level is seeping into low-lying cities and storms like Hurricane Michael threaten human life, infrastructure and -- this year -- voter turnout. Republican and Democratic candidates alike have taken note, especially as months of noxious algae remind beachside towns that much of Florida's tourism-based economy depends on protecting the environment. The record algae outbreaks are also affecting Florida races for governor and a handful of closely contested House districts. In this geographically and culturally diverse swing state, that could mean the difference for Republican control of Congress, as well as Trump's re-election bid in 2020. "We saw numbers dramatically change in polling" after the red tide, Patton said. "The coastal communities where the red tide has hit, it's a significant issue." The algae attacks stem from two separate but related problems, each the result of years of policy decisions. The first is the high level of phosphorous and nitrogen -- mostly from agricultural runoff -- entering the waterways that run south through central Florida to Lake Okeechobee, resulting in the blue-green cyanobacteria algae. The second is the decades-long delay in building a reservoir to send this contaminated water south to treat it before it flows into the Everglades. Without this reservoir, the nutrient-heavy water is sent east and west in rivers toward Florida's Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts, where it fuels the toxic red Karenia brevis algae. "We are just crying over what's happening to us with the runoff," said Linda Kolber, a shopkeeper in Punta Gorda, just north of where the Caloosahatchee River empties into the Gulf. "There are a lot of people that blame our governor because they feel that for years with big business he's looked the other way." Sherry O'Connell, a 66-year-old artist who dressed as a mermaid to join the protest in Englewood on the Gulf Coast, said, "It's an election year, and that's part of my beef: After all the damage that's been done, the Republican candidates are trying to run as environmentalists." Chris Hartline, a spokesman for Scott's Senate campaign, said "it's ridiculous" to blame the governor for red tide and algae blooms and said the federal government bears responsibility for not fixing the dike around Lake Okeechobee that would allow the water level to rise. Much of this year's problem stems from record rainfall in May that threatened to overwhelm the dike around Lake Okeechobee. After the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was forced to increase the flow of water into the rivers that run east and west from the lake, the runoff nutrients fed monstrous blooms of blue-green algae. When those nutrients reached the Florida coasts, they fed the red tide -- part of the reason the natural phenomenon that normally occurs for just a few days has turned into months of dead fish and toxic air. "The idea is that, because these organisms are naturally occurring, their high abundance is also naturally occurring," said Rachel Silverstein, executive director of Miami Waterkeeper, a clean-water group. "And that's a logical fallacy." Almost three-quarters of the nutrients that enter Lake Okeechobee come from agriculture, according to data compiled by the Everglades Foundation and confirmed by the state Department of Environmental Protection. Agricultural runoff is chiefly the responsibility of the state, not the federal government, according to Richard Grosso, a professor at Shepard Broad College of Law at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale. "It's the state that enforces, and requires, best-management practices on farms," Gross said. Scott has shielded the agriculture industry from regulations that would cut those nutrients, environmentalists say. After becoming governor in 2011, Scott asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to delegate the regulation of nutrient runoff to the state. Scott then set up rules that are "nearly impossible to use as real limits," according to Alisa Coe, a lawyer at Earthjustice, a nonprofit environmental law group that sued the EPA to impose regulations a decade ago. The governor also canceled a 2015 deadline to limit the amount of nutrients that can enter Lake Okeechobee. "There's a lot of opportunities the state has missed to address this problem," Coe said. "It's why we're in this crisis." Scott and others have cited upriver human waste as part of the problem, and he promised to help communities switch to sewage systems instead of septic tanks. Yet the data from the Everglades Foundation show that only about 12 percent of excess nutrients in the lake comes from urban runoff. Gary Ritter, assistant director of government and community affairs at the Florida Farm Bureau Federation, said farmers have already reduced the nutrients coming off their land. He said the solution is for the federal and state governments to build infrastructure that can hold and treat water before it reaches Lake Okeechobee. "Agriculture should not be the only one that is responsible for getting these nutrient loads down," Ritter said in a phone interview. Others reject that argument. "If I take my garbage and dump it over my fence into the neighbors' yard, they're not going to be happy," said Larry Brand, a professor of marine biology and ecology at the University of Miami. "Agriculture is allowed to let their nutrients run off into public waterways." The nutrients running into the lake are only half of the problem. A century ago, the land south of the lake was part of the Everglades, the ecologically precious "river of grass" that moved water south from Lake Okeechobee to the coast. A series of drainage canals allowed farming of the land, giving rise to the state's massive -- and politically influential -- sugar industry, but also disrupting the southward flow of water. Plans to buy land to create a 60,000-acre reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee to treat its nutrient-contaminated water were moving forward when Scott became governor, but he canceled the deal. Last year, Scott signed a bill authorizing the construction of a smaller $1.6 billion reservoir on land the state already owns. Congress has authorized but hasn't appropriated its half of the cost; at that point, it will take nine to 10 years to plan and build the reservoir, said Randy Smith, a spokesman for the South Florida Water Management District, the state agency that will build it. "It's a large construction project," Smith said. Residents of coastal communities hope the reservoir will capture and cleanse the water that currently goes east to the Atlantic Ocean and west to the Gulf of Mexico. In recent weeks, Florida's Gulf Coast got some relief after Hurricane Michael swept much of the harmful red tide back out to sea. "It moved out further to the gulf so we're not impacted -- out of sight, out of mind somewhat -- and so it's no longer as big of a drag as it was previously," said Joe Gruters, the Sarasota County GOP chairman who is running for the state Senate. "The Democrats were effectively articulating the message of: Republicans are in charge, Republicans are at fault." Even as the Gulf Coast began to clear, the red tide made its way to Florida's east coast, threatening beaches from Miami to near Orlando. Environmentalists hope the scope of the crisis means something will change, whoever wins next month. "It is the Cuyahoga River lighting on fire," said Paul Schwiep, a Miami lawyer who has represented environmental groups, referring to the polluted river in Ohio whose 1969 combustion pressured Congress to pass sweeping environmental-protection laws. "At least, it should be." Our company offers straw pellets in bulk or big bags to Finland, DAP terms. The price is about 130-140 EUR/ton. A self-declared republic in Somalia asked Ethiopia to reroute its nascent oil and gas exports via a proposed new pipeline, challenging Djibouti's long-held plans for a conduit. The overture from Somaliland comes as Ethiopia begins exploiting an estimated 8 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and test-drilling for oil in its restive east. It's the latest bid by the Somali territory, which has sought statehood for almost three decades and plans its own crude output, to leverage its strategic location near the Red Sea to attract major foreign infrastructure projects. "Why not send natural gas and crude oil from the Ogaden basin to Somaliland's coast at Berbera?" Somaliland Minister of Energy and Minerals Jama Mohamoud Igel said in an interview, referring to the region's main port. Such a pipeline would be more "cost-effective" at only 400 kilometers (249 miles), rather than the 700 kilometers to Djibouti, he said. Somaliland's offer is a bold challenge to Djibouti, a tiny former French colony that's benefited from its location on a global shipping choke-point to host the U.S. and China's only official permanent military facilities on the continent. It comes as the broader Horn of Africa region sees dramatic changes, with landlocked giant Ethiopia promising multi-party democracy and peace with long-time foe Eritrea. Somaliland, which unilaterally declared independence from civil war-ravaged Somalia in 1991, isn't officially recognized by any other nation. Speaking in the self-proclaimed capital, Hargeisa, Jama didn't specify which officials he'd made the suggestion to, saying "the decision is for the Ethiopian government." The government will also approach GCL-Poly Energy Holdings, which is pumping the fuel, over its proposal, Jama said. A partnership between GCL-Poly and the closely held Hong Kong-based Golden Concord Group signed five production-sharing agreements with Ethiopia in 2013 to explore in the Ogaden basin. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has said gas exports to Djibouti will begin in 2021, two years later than initially planned, and bolster what's already Africa's fastest-growing economy. The chairman of Djibouti's ports authority, Aboubaker Omar Hadi, said he wasn't aware of the offer, but GCL-Poly and his government had already signed the contract for a pipeline. "Business is about competition," he said by email. An Ethiopian spokesman for the mines and energy ministry, Mikahil Mengesha, referred requests for comment to an official at the institution's Petroleum Licensing & Administration Directorate, calls to whom didn't connect. Tedla Minda, a senior accountant at GCL-Poly's Ethiopian branch, said he would forward emailed questions to the general manager. Berbera in Somaliland is already the site of a United Arab Emirates military facility, as well as a port being built by DP World Ltd., which the Dubai state-controlled harbor operator says will help boost trade flows to the UAE. Somaliland, which is bigger than the state of Florida, is also planning its own oil production. Genel Energyc, an oil company founded by Nathaniel Rothschild and ex-BP Chief Executive Officer Tony Hayward, is preparing to drill as many as three wells in the territory's east, where it has production-sharing agreements, Jama said. Genel will start drilling at one well in the fourth-quarter of 2019, near Burao in the Togdheer region, according to Jama and Genel's communications head, Andrew Benbow. "There is oil for sure, but they have to come to know if this is viable for commercial business," Jama said. Seismic processing is near-complete and preliminary analysis and interpretation underway, Benbow said. RAK Gas of the UAE, which has production-sharing agreements for two blocks south and east of Berbera, is in talks with Genel over co-drilling arrangements, according to Jama. The company didn't respond to two emailed requests for comment sent to an address on its website. Three Chinese companies will explore with local partners for jade in southeast Berbera, between the Genel and RAK gas blocks and near the UAE base, according to Jama. He said unidentified Canadian, Chinese, Norwegian and British companies are interested in exploring three offshore blocks on the approach to the Bab el-Mandeb, where the Red Sea meets the Gulf of Aden. Chinese and British companies are also in talks over two further onshore blocks at Somaliland's border with Ethiopia. Steven Lindsay, a public health entomologist at Durham University in England, has been researching malaria control for decades. His preferred approach, he says, is to "sit on the boundaries," drumming up ideas that others might not. So it's perhaps unsurprising that his latest project was inspired by the baggage-claim area at Dulles International Airport. If the beagles there could use their noses to detect explosives or contraband in suitcases, he wondered, could they also be trained to sniff out an intractable disease that kills more than 400,000 people each year? Lindsay ended up tackling that question in a project that involved the dirty socks of hundreds of African children and a trio of sniffer dogs in England - and the answer strongly pointed to yes. The dogs correctly identified socks worn by malaria-infected children 70 percent of the time and those worn by noninfected children 90 percent of the time. "I think it is quite extraordinary," said Lindsay, the lead scientist on a study being presented Monday at the annual meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. "We put these socks on African children for 12 hours, take them off, freeze them for 15 months before we start training, and then the dogs can pick up that odor." Funding for the project came from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which put out a call for research on malaria tests that are noninvasive, unlike current tests that rely on blood samples. Lindsay and his colleagues focused on asymptomatic carriers because they play a key role in malaria's persistence, acting as hidden reservoirs. But finding them is a challenge because current methods make mass testing impractical. Lindsay and his colleagues gave nylon socks to nearly 600 children who had been tested for malaria in Gambia, where the disease is endemic, and asked them to wear them overnight. Researchers ended up with 30 socks from asymptomatic malaria carriers and 145 socks from children who tested negative for the disease. Those were then wrapped in foil, frozen and sent to England, where they were stored at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine while a charity called Medical Detection Dogs trained the pooches. That malaria alters the volatile compounds that make up a person's odor has been established, and previous research has found that the mosquitoes that spread the disease are more attracted to carriers, including asymptomatic ones. "If a mosquito can do it," Lindsay said, "why not a dog?" Dogs, after all, have proved adept at sniffing out cancer, narcotics, human remains and even orca feces. Just what they're smelling when they detect disease isn't clear, said Jennifer Essler, a postdoctoral fellow who works with dogs that sniff for ovarian cancer at the Penn Vet Working Dog Center. "What we present them with is the blood plasma," Essler said, referring to her own research. "Does that mean they're detecting the body's response to the cancer? Is there something from the cancer in the blood? We're not really sure." Essler's team is working with scientists from the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia to find out what ovarian-cancer-detection dogs smell. That's because the end goal, she said, is not to have dogs screen patients, but to take what's learned from the dogs to create an "electronic nose" that could screen for ovarian cancer. "For many reasons, you can't deploy dogs to a lot of places," she said. Too, "they're still beings. There are still days when they come in and have a bad day." But the malaria research provides another strong example of dogs' potential, Essler said: "It's awesome that people are recognizing the capabilities of dogs and how they can be used to help people." When it comes to malaria, Lindsay said he does not envision squadrons of canines patrolling villages in sub-Saharan Africa. Malaria-detecting electronic noses are also one possible outcome of further research, he said. But in the shorter term, malaria-detection dogs might work at ports of entry in countries that have eliminated the disease and want to keep it out. There, dogs could identify carriers before they come in, Lindsay said. Training sniffer dogs costs many thousands of dollars, he acknowledged, but "it's cheap compared to the cost of having malaria come back into your community." Twice now, Judah Samet has almost paid with his life for being Jewish. More than 70 years ago, he narrowly escaped death in Germany's Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. Again Saturday, he looked death in the face - not in his native Hungary, where nationalism is resurgent, but in the country where he found sanctuary after the Second World War. Samet, 80, almost died in the parking lot of Pittsburgh's Tree of Life synagogue, his place of worship, when a gunman who "wanted all Jews to die" killed 11 people during morning services. It was the deadliest attack against Jews in U.S. history. "I survived the second time yesterday," he said in an interview on Sunday. The question put to him repeatedly following the attack, he said, was whether memories of the Holocaust had flashed before his eyes as he watched anti-Semitic violence convulse his adopted home. "And I said, 'it never stops,'" he told The Post. The octogenarian's recollections are particularly noteworthy as more information emerges about the victims of Saturday's massacre. They ranged from 54 to 97, ages that made them more conscious than most of the ghastly outcome in the previous century of anti-Jewish hatred. "I used to say, 'I can't look back,'" Samet said. "But then, about seven or eight years ago, I looked around and noticed that most survivors were in their 90s, and that pretty soon there wouldn't be anyone else in Pittsburgh to talk." Samet, who owns a downtown jewelry shop he inherited from his father, has been a member of the Conservative congregation for 54 years. For four decades, he was a part-time cantor, chanting prayers and helping to lead worship. On Saturday morning, he did what always does on the Sabbath - he went to synagogue. Services start at 9:45 a.m. Yet that morning, Samet was delayed. "I was talking to my housekeeper here; she comes once a week," he said in a phone conversation from his apartment, where he lives alone. He needs only a few minutes to drive the leafy streets to his synagogue in Squirrel Hill, the nucleus of Jewish Pittsburgh. "I was four minutes late. Instead of 9:45, I got there about 9:49, maybe 9:50." Those four minutes may have saved his life. He entered the parking lot and was pulling into a handicapped spot when someone knocked on his window. A man dressed in black advised him to back out carefully. "He said there was an active shooting going on inside the synagogue," Samet recalled. That's when he saw an officer crouched on his passenger side, two feet ahead of his car, popping his head out from behind a barrier to fire in the opposite direction. "I wanted to see who he was shooting," Samet said. The gunman had emerged from inside the building, he said, "and had a shoot-out with police, then he went back and finished the job in my synagogue." He heard three or four salvos before he pulled out of the parking lot and raced home. He turned on Fox, his network of choice. "I'm very unique," he said. "I'm a Jewish Republican." Seeing a phone number on the screen, he dialed in to investigators. They later used his description of the suspect on TV, he said - tall, with short hair, dressed in blue jeans. Samet prides himself on his powers of recollection. He can remember the name of a customer who bought an engagement ring 30 years ago, he said. And he still remembers how Jewish life was dissolved by the Nazis when they invaded Hungary in 1944. Born in Debrecen, Hungary's second-largest city, he was 6 years old when the family of six was put on a train to Auschwitz. But the route was blocked by Slovak resistance fighters, who blew up the railroads in what was then Czechoslovakia. "Hungary didn't want us, so they took us to Austria," he said. His family was stationed at a "huge lumberyard owned by a major Austrian Nazi," where his parents toiled 12 to 14 hours a day, before they were redirected to Bergen-Belsen. They were held there for more than 10 months, he said. He turned 7 at the camp. "I'm basically a very strong person, and I went through a lot, but nothing, nothing ever defeated me," Samet said. "In the camp, I was out all the time. I found a friend. My brothers were in the bunk. My mother couldn't hold me in." An estimated 50,000 people, including the child diarist Anne Frank, died in Bergen-Belsen, according to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. Before the camp was liberated by the British forces in April 1945, Samet's family boarded a train, along with about 2,500 others, intended for the Theresienstadt camp but liberated by American troops before it reached its destination. "Americans!" cheered Samet's father, who was studying English, according to an article last year in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. His father soon died of typhoid, while the rest of the family went to Paris and then to Marseille, on France's southern coast, where they boarded a boat to Israel. There, Samet completed high school and entered the Israeli army. He joined an uncle in Toronto in 1961 but didn't like the cold and relocated to New York, where he also had family. At a bar mitzvah on Long Island, he met the woman who would become his wife, a teacher in Pittsburgh. "Tonight I spoke about my life to about 200 people in a church," Samet said Sunday, weary from a day spent telling his story to a community desperate for answers. "They asked me, 'What brought you to Pittsburgh?' I said, 'Love.'" Now, the city will always be a reminder that history doesn't end, he observed. Having lived through the Holocaust, he said, "It's almost like, 'Here we go again.' We're now more than 70 years away from it, and here it happens all over again." He said he feared rising anti-Semitism, and the prevalence of white supremacist groups in western Pennsylvania and West Virginia, even though he has rarely encountered direct prejudice. Once, he said, a woman bought an item from his store, and told him, "I don't mean to Jew you down." At the same time, Samet dismissed the notion that President Donald Trump bears responsibility for inciting anti-Semitic violence. He supports the president. "I don't fall in love with people, except my family, but I love him for what he's doing," Samet said. "Our economy is fantastic. Obama was a jerk and hated Israel." Fox has given a megaphone to commentators unhappy about U.S. policy toward Israel under former president Barack Obama. "Obama stabbed Israel in the back," argued a December 2016 column by Todd Starnes, a conservative columnist and radio host who more recently wrote that women protesting the confirmation of Brett M. Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court were "screaming animals" who should be "tasered" and "handcuffed." Samet also said he was unconcerned by Trump's declaration last week that he was a "nationalist," a label associated with some of the worst crimes of the 20th century. So, too, he waved away objections to the president's criticism of "globalists," language that has historically encoded anti-Jewish prejudice, and his promotion of a conspiracy theory about George Soros, the liberal, Jewish philanthropist and a fellow Hungarian and Holocaust survivor. Soros was one of the targets of last week's pipe bombs. "Is he a nationalist? To me, America comes first," Samet said. "Israel is important, but since I've been living here all this time, I'm very patriotic." For Samet, Judaism is essential, second only to his family. And he sees violence as anathema. "Hatred is not in the Jewish DNA," he said at an event in April near Pittsburgh. "I mean, everybody tried to kill us, destroy us. Can we hate everybody in the whole world? No, we don't hate." But he also said he could never forgive the Germans: "Because if I forgive, I'm talking for 6 million Jews." Although he withholds forgiveness, his faith has helped him come to terms with what happened to him when he was a child. At first, he blamed God. Deeper knowledge of the story of Genesis, however, changed his perspective. Now, even as he grieves the murder of 11 Jews, he is marveling that he was spared - again. "God gave us a choice, and we chose to have freedom, which is a great thing," he said. "You know the size of the universe? You think we are his only subjects? Maybe I survived this weekend because of him." Our company buys fuel briquettes for export to Latvia. We are interested in 15-20 kg packing or big bag (1000 kg). Send your inquiry with min order volume, cost of delivery and price-list attachment. The Czech government may postpone its decision on whether to force utility CEZ into an unprofitable multi-billion-dollar construction of new reactors as it looks how to avoid lawsuits from minority shareholders. The central European country is evaluating multiple options to finance and build new nuclear units to help phase out coal-burning plants and reduce carbon emissions, according to Industry and Trade Minister Marta Novakova. She said one possibility is to delay the start of the country's biggest infrastructure project ever, which is already attracting interest from companies in Russia, the U.S. and China, and instead extend the lifespan of the Soviet-built Dukovany nuclear station. "The decision about building nuclear units can't be done under pressure and we don't want to be put under pressure from suppliers or other entities," Novakova, 63, said in an interview in Prague last week. "The Finance Ministry is also analyzing the risk of potential court disputes." The Czech Republic is betting on atomic energy, which now accounts for about 40 percent of its power output, as neighboring Germany pushes renewable sources to replace both coal and nuclear power. Minority shareholders of eastern Europe's largest traded power producer have said saddling CEZ with the cost of nuclear expansion would wipe out its profits and dividends. The government says new reactors will be needed to protect energy security. While gas-fired facilities are cheaper to build, they expose the country to swings in gas prices and increase dependence on imports, according to Novakova. Prime Minister Andrej Babis has argued that CEZ, which is 70 percent state-owned, can afford to build at least one more unit at Dukovany with the state providing only a loan guarantee. CEZ management is against, saying the cost of one reactor would be at least 150 billion koruna ($6.6 billion), or about half of the company's market capitalization. Michal Snobr, who represents a group of activist shareholders, considers it "practically and legally impossible" to force the company to make a "self-destructive" investment. CEZ Chief Financial Officer Martin Novak has said new atomic facilities must be built by a fully state-owned entity to avoid lawsuits from minority owners. The industry minister said she is working with lawyers, as well as with Babis and Finance Minister Alena Schillerova, to find a solution addressing the legal pitfalls and minimizing the cost for the state. The government is commissioning additional feasibility analyses and is scheduled to announce it's preferred course by the end of 2018. "We realize there is a real risk of personal legal liability not just for CEZ management but also for the prime minister, myself, and the finance minister," said Novakova. "We obviously hope to find a model for the construction of new reactors that would eliminate those risks." CEZ shares have plunged by almost a quarter over the past decade, underperforming their European peers over concern that the utility might have to shoulder the cost of the project. After Novakova's comments, the stock rallied the most in seven weeks after Novakova's comments were published on Monday, gaining 3.1 percent to 541 koruna at the end of trading. Babis has refused to provide U.K.-style guarantees for new nuclear facilities because they would merely pass on potential losses to the consumers or the government. He has also rejected a proposal to split CEZ into a fully state-owned company with coal and nuclear assets, which would build reactors, and a publicly traded entity focusing on distribution and renewable energy. "Buying out minority shareholders in CEZ is the most expensive option, and, based on the debates we're having, I would say the least preferred," said Novakova. "It's obvious that the government wants to minimize the guarantees it will provide, and would rather push CEZ to at least participate in the financing of the project." The whole discussion revolves around the cost of borrowing as the state can raise money "significantly cheaper" than a private company, according to the minister. Extending Dukovany's lifespan beyond the current expiration date of 2035 is possible, she said, and the government could make the decision on its replacement later, depending on energy market trends and new technologies, including so-called pocket reactors. "If we want to keep reducing carbon-dioxide emissions, nuclear power stations must remain part of our energy mix -- we can't meet the targets without nuclear energy," said Novakova. "Generally, I think discussions about whether or not we should build reactors are irrelevant. Rather, the question is when, where, and how many." The Lebanese Forces, a Christian group with close ties to Saudi Arabia, will join a future Cabinet, sweeping away a major hurdle that's held up formation of a government for six months. Party head Samir Geagea said his faction's share of Cabinet seats was "the biggest issue" behind the delay. The group will get three ministerial portfolios including social affairs and labor, Geagea said. Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri was named in May to form a government following the first parliamentary elections since 2009. The vote gave greater representation to an Iran-backed alliance that includes Hezbollah as well as the two main Christian parties. Their enhanced legislative clout led to demands for greater representation in the Cabinet, complicating Hariri's task. The Lebanese Forces and Hariri's allies create a "political balance needed to offset the weight of Hezbollah's alliance," said Rosanna Bou Monsef, a columnist for the daily Annahar. "A government without the Lebanese Forces would have left Hariri as the face of a Hezbollah-led cabinet, and that would have easily drove away investments the country desperately needs," Bou Monsef said. "But Hariri would have never accepted that." Hariri is expected to meet President Michel Aoun later in the day to discuss possible names for a seat reserved for Sunni representatives not allied with the premier, Hariri-owned Future TV reported citing an unidentified person, the last hurdle to announcing the cabinet lineup. Lebanon, the world's third most-indebted country, has been grappling with political deadlock and fallout from the civil war in neighboring Syria, which has led to an influx of 1.5 million refugees and the closure of vital trade routes. The World Bank has halved its 2018 economic growth projection for Lebanon to 1 percent. Public debt will likely reach 180 percent of GDP in five years from 150 percent in 2017, the International Monetary Fund said. The Cabinet will face the tough task of implementing the structural and fiscal reforms needed to unlock $11 billion in loans and grants pledged by the international community to finance critical infrastructure projects. Earlier this year, Hariri's previous government committed to lower the fiscal deficit by 1 percentage point annually for the next five years and address rampant corruption. Forming a Cabinet is a positive step, yet "far from enough," said Sami Nader, head of the Beirut-based Levant Institute. The government will need to find ways to boost growth and attract foreign direct investments, he said. Lebanon is also facing a set of political challenges as the U.S. increases pressure on Iran through sanctions, in the process targeting Tehran's Lebanese proxy, Hezbollah, which has fought alongside government forces in Syria's civil war. Israel has warned it won't allow its chief regional foe Iran to establish a presence in Syria and has attacked what it said were Iranian targets in the war-torn country. The black women waiting for help from the American Automobile Association said they could smell the alcohol on the breath of Susan Westwood, the slurring, unsteady white woman who had approached them in a dark parking lot in Charlotte, North Carolina. But Westwood had no trouble conveying a racially-tinged message straight out of the Jim Crow era. She is white, she told the two black women, and a resident of the apartment complex in one of the city's most exclusive neighborhoods where they happened to be standing. She makes $125,000 a year and pays hefty rent, and her children attend Myers Park High School. "This is Myers Park. What are you doing hanging out here on a Friday night?" she asked. "I am white and hot. So what are you doing here?'" Mary Garris's night had started to sour even before Westwood sauntered up. She was visiting her sister, Leisa, on Oct. 19, but when she went to leave, her car wouldn't start. They got on the phone with AAA, but the call was interrupted by Westwood's meandering tirade. So instead, the sisters used the cellphone to record the moment when waiting for a tow truck became yet another thing you can't do while black. Note: the video below includes graphic and offensive language In viral incidents over the past few years, black and brown people have found themselves accosted or worse while going about their daily lives, in almost laughably innocuous scenarios, such as waiting for a school bus while black, throwing a kindergarten temper tantrum while black, drinking iced tea while black, waiting at Starbucks while black, AirBnB'ing while black and shopping for underwear while black. But people who suddenly found themselves on the receiving end of racial harassment have been empowered by a new weapon: cellphones. Recordings of the incidents have sparked viral videos and spontaneous hash-tagged nicknames for people like #BBQBecky and #PermitPatty, who have been scorned publicly and on social media and, in some cases, fired from their jobs. But the Garrises' encounter went beyond an uncomfortable moment for a black person in a public space, as Westwood escalated to profanity, racial stereotypes then threats. First Westwood asked, "Is your boyfriend here? Is your baby daddy here?" Repeatedly, she raised her cellphone in a mocking tone: "Mmm, girl girl, I got you. I got you girl, girl." Westwood demanded to know where the women lived and screamed, "You're not going to sell drugs here!" Then she warned that it could be dangerous hanging out in the mostly white neighborhood. "Do I need to bring out my concealed weapon, too?" she asked the women. "This is North Carolina, by the way." The sisters' growing unease was reflected in the 911 call Leisa Garris placed after retreating to an apartment balcony. "The lady keeps coming out here harassing me still," she said to the dispatcher, imploring officers to come faster as Westwood can be heard screaming insults in the background. "I don't know what to do still. The lady was pushing me in my face." No one was injured, but officers who arrived found that Westwood's actions merited criminal charges. Westwood could not immediately be reached for comment. According to Officer Keith Trietley, a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department spokesman, Westwood has been charged with two counts of communicating threats and two counts of simple assault. The police report is scant but notes that Leisa Garris does, in fact, live at the apartment complex in question. The drunken outburst also cost Westwood her job at the local cable company that paid her $125,0000 and allowed her to live in the exclusive community. "The incident recorded in Charlotte is a blatant violation of Charter's code of conduct and clearly disregards the company's commitment to inclusion and respectful behavior," Patrick Paterno, a spokesman for Spectrum Communication, wrote in a statement about the incident. "As such, Ms. Westwood's employment with the company has been terminated, effective immediately." But even days later, the incident - and the fact that they could be accosted and threatened by a woman they'd never met - still stung. "We are so distraught and still very upset about what has taken place only because of the color of our skin," Mary Garris told Charlotte TV station WCCB. "It's so upsetting to know that today, we still have this overt racism that's going on in 2018." On Thursday, Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered the nations military group that monitors the South China Sea and Taiwan to prepare the war, at a time when tensions between China and the US continue to grow over trade issues and Beijings expansion in the Indo-Pacific. "It's necessary to strengthen the mission [] and concentrate preparations for fighting a war," according to the Chinese president, who was quoted by state broadcaster CCTV on Thursday during an inspection of the Southern Theatre Command (one of the five war zones of China's People's Liberation Army) in Guangdong province. "We have to step up combat readiness exercises, joint exercises and confrontational exercises to enhance servicemen's capabilities and preparation for war," the president added. The Southern Theatre Command is responsible for monitoring activities in the South China Sea, one of the world's most militarily contested maritime regions. Beijing's extensive territorial claims in the waters, which include islands, banks, reefs and maritime ways, are challenged by Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei and Taiwan. "We have to step up combat readiness exercises, joint exercises and confrontational exercises to enhance servicemen's capabilities and preparation for war," Xi added, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported Friday. On Thursday, during the Xiangshan Forums opening ceremony, Wei Fenghe, China's minister of defense and a State Council member, noted that "China will take decisive steps regardless of the cost to preserve its territorial integrity and repel attempts to separate Taiwan from the country." China considers self-governing Taiwan to be part of its territory and claims sovereignty over it. Taiwan, by comparison, still bears the name of the pre-communist-era government, the Republic of China, whose territorial control was confined to the island at the conclusion of the civil war in 1949, when the People's Republic of China was established in Beijing on the mainland. US-Chinese relations deteriorated further last month when the US claimed that a Chinese destroyer came close to colliding with the USS Decatur, as the latter was conducting a "freedom of navigation operation" within 12 nautical miles of the remote Spratly Islands, currently claimed by China, Sputnik previously reported. When the Bangladeshi Islamic Community Centre opened in Newtownards, Ireland, there was some uneasiness among the non-Muslim locals. But quickly, things settled down. Politician Naomi Armstrong-Cotter told the Irish News in 2015 that there are "no issues." "Groups from across the area have made an effort to integrate with them and have had cooking lessons from the Bangladeshis," she said. "They keep themselves to themselves. There is no proselytizing going on here." It seemed like an integration success story. "We have many businesses run by Muslims in Newtownards and many of the Muslim nursing staff at the Ulster Hospital live here," one store owner told Belfast Live. Then things began to change. In 2015, a trio of far-right activists posted a photo of themselves near the center with a caption incorrectly stating that they had been harassed by Muslims. Online, followers of the xenophobic Britain First threatened to "torch" the center. Two years later, a pig's head was left on the facility's doorstep, a particular insult to Muslims who don't eat pork. Vandals spray-painted racist graffiti nearby saying "Muslim rapists out," in foot-tall black letters. And on Saturday, a group of people dressed like the Ku Klux Klan posed outside the center. Photos of the gathering show nine people dressed in pointed hoods and white robes. Some bear crosses, others have their fists raised. One witness said he saw someone perform a fascist salute. Police official Richard Murray told reporters his team was investigating the incident as a hate crime and that investigators were pulling footage from nearby public cameras. The incident has set off panic in the town's Muslim community. "They could have gone to anywhere in Newtownards, anywhere in Northern Ireland dressing in any uniform, but to go in front of an Islamic prayer room, it's totally making people afraid," Belfast Islamic Centre executive treasurer Raied Al-Wazzan told "The Nolan Show." "They are afraid to come out or even to go there." Others have suggested it may have been a Halloween costume gone awry. But leaders dismissed that explanation. "What sort of morons go about Newtownards dressed in KKK costumes?" politician Peter Weir asked, according to the Irish Times. "That the same group were then photographed outside the Islamic center clearly shows malevolent intent." "It is totally unacceptable," he said. SAN DIEGO - Backed by a private-equity firm, a large bail-bond company here is financing a campaign to repeal California's landmark criminal justice reform. The new law would abolish the state's bail-bond companies, and in response, a handful in the industry have raised more than $2.5 million to repeal the measure. The largest share of that, almost $800,000, comes from Triton, a bail company owned by Endeavour Capital, an Oregon-based private-equity firm that has managed billions in investments. The donations are paying for an army of campaign workers who have descended on California's shopping centers to beseech passersby for petition signatures. The campaign, which needs 365,880 names to put the measure before voters in 2020, pays the sidewalk solicitors a few dollars for each signature - the going rate around San Diego was $3.25. Arithmetically, the donations may be enough to delay the law's implementation for at least a year. "You gonna help me out, sweetheart?" asks a woman with long fake eyelashes accosting shoppers at a Walmart in exurban San Diego. "Senora, es usted un votante? Would you mind signing?" says a clipboard man in a Spider-Man T-shirt a few miles away at another Walmart. "Hello, shoppers," says a man in a Los Angeles Chargers hat at still another Walmart. "Do you have a minute to keep dangerous criminals in jail?" The impetus for the new law arose from critics who say the bail system leads to the incarceration of many defendants who pose no threat to society and languish in jail merely because they are poor. Under the new law, courts would decide who should be released, basing their decisions on defendants' records, the nature of the accusations and other factors. The legislature passed the bill by a wide margin, and Gov. Jerry Brown, D, signed it on Aug. 28, saying that "today, California reforms its bail system so that rich and poor alike are treated fairly." Shortly afterward, however, opponents began the petition drive, an effort that state Sen. Robert M. Hertzberg, D, who sponsored the new legislation, called "naked capitalism." "Voter referendums are supposed to be about direct democracy - now wealthy people can simply write big checks," Hertzberg said of the petitioners for hire. "The reality is that California is the biggest bail market and has the highest bail rates in the country. If these companies can delay it for a year, they can make money for a year." By engaging in a statewide political campaign, the private-equity company may bring a level of publicity that investors often prefer to avoid. But if enacted, the new law is likely to be ruinous to Endeavour's investment: Without bail requirements in court, customers for the bail-bond companies would vanish. John E. von Schlegell, co-founder of Endeavour Capital, wrote in an email that "as board members we are aware of the referendum but we are not involved in any of the details here at Endeavour." "The companies we invest in determine their own advocacy on issues that range from LGBTQ causes to homelessness to unions to health care," von Schlegell wrote. "Endeavour has not taken a position on this referendum, or any ballot measure for that matter. ... We do support the company's goal to continue to operate (legally and ethically) in California." He recommended that The Washington Post talk to executives of Triton, the bail firm that Endeavour owns. Triton executive Herb Mutter said the company made the donation because the new law "would wipe out the bail industry in California." He added: "We also think it is not good law. The notion that people are languishing in jail merely because they are poor is not supported by the facts." - - - Although the bail-bond industry has been characterized in the past by small storefront businesses operating near county courthouses, Endeavour's bail company is of a larger scale, and its backing by a private-equity firm creates an even more unusual profile within the bail industry. In their search for profits since the recession, private-equity firms have explored new markets and increasingly invested in companies serving the poor and vulnerable. They have bought up payday lenders, detention centers, nursing homes, prison phone services and homes for low-income renters, according to the Private Equity Stakeholder Project, a nonprofit group that has tracked the industry. Likewise, in 2012, Endeavour Capital invested in Triton and owns almost two-thirds of the company, according to 2017 state filings. It owns a similar stake in an affiliated insurer, Seaview Surety, which underwrites the bail amounts. The Triton bail companies operate under the name Aladdin, and last year, the Aladdin companies put up about $700 million in bail in California, according to Post estimates that are based on insurance filings. Endeavour says in its advertising that the bail company "fulfills a constitutional right." "Aladdin fulfills a constitutional right for its customers by providing expeditious pretrial release while ensuring a high rate of court appearances," according to Endeavour's website. It says that Triton is also the "the largest retail pretrial release service provider in America." Although Endeavour touts the constitutional underpinnings of its services, some legal scholars have looked askance at the bail-bond system. In most states, people charged with crimes post bail money to be released before trial. The bail amount is supposed to ensure that a defendant will return for the next court date. If the defendant shows up for trial, the bail money is returned. Criticism of the system arises because many defendants - about a third of the people in California's jails, Hertzberg said - cannot afford bail. Some low-income defendants simply sit in jail. Others turn to bail-bond companies, which put up the bail on their behalf. The companies typically charge the defendants or their families 10 percent of the bail amount for this service. For example, if a judge sets bail at $10,000, the defendant pays the bail-bond company $1,000, and the bail-bond company puts up the $10,000. When the defendant shows up for trial, the bail-bond company gets its money back. It generally does not return the $1,000 to the defendant, however. "If you or your loved one has been arrested, Aladdin Bail Bonds guides you through every step of the bail process, helping make getting released from jail simple and fast," Aladdin says on its website. "We are the largest, most trusted and most cost-effective bail service provider in California." Four states - Illinois, Kentucky, Oregon and Wisconsin - have largely banned commercial bail-bond companies. Many other states are weighing reforms, too. It is unclear, however, what will happen in California. The repeal campaign appears to have enough money to gather the required signatures - enough that it recently raised the pay per signature around San Diego from $2.25 to $3.25. It has until Nov. 26 to present the signatures to state officials. If the repeal question gets to voters, moreover, the politics many be intricate and confusing, highlighting intraparty divisions. Although the bill received broad support in the legislature, the coalition of progressive groups that supported bail reform has splintered. Most notably, the American Civil Liberties Union, which has long campaigned for changes to the bail process, withdrew its support for the bill because, the group said, the law could lead to more defendants being held. "As much as we would welcome an end to the predatory lending practices of the for-profit bail industry, [this bill] cannot promise a system with a substantial reduction in pretrial detention," the executive directors of California's ACLU affiliates said in a statement. "We oppose the bill because it seeks to replace the current deeply-flawed system with an overly broad presumption of preventive detention." Jeff Clayton, executive director of an industry group known as the American Bail Coalition, echoed the ACLU, saying the new system will mean that more people - not fewer - will be locked up pending trial. "They're going to lock everyone up. They're going to have an algorithm to decide who stays in jail. And no one's going to be able to post bail," Clayton said. "On all three counts, it's a failure." Out in the shopping centers where signatures were being gathered last week, however, the issue aroused mainly confusion or apathy or workaday greed. Some signature collectors were unsure of what the petition would do. If they couldn't answer a question, they shrugged and said, "We're just trying to let the voters decide." They were clear, however, on the monetary value of each signature. Steve Burke, a retired IT worker, was approached by a petition solicitor last week as he was leaving a store. "No, I won't sign your petition," he said. Turns out, he's in the petition business himself. "I could make a few bucks on my own name," he explained. Whether the petition gatherers understand or care about the law or its repeal is also difficult to fathom. A solicitor outside the Walmart in National City was asked which side he supported. "Toe-may-toes, toe-mah-toes," he said, shrugging. "It's just money to me." Russia has sent a senior delegation to Venezuela to consult high-ranking government officials on a plan to stem the brutal economic collapse in a key Kremlin ally. Venezuela is reeling from the impact of U.S. sanctions and low oil prices. Russia, which has maintained close ties with the leftist government of President Nicolas Maduro and provided a lifeline in the form of a $3.15 billion debt-rescheduling a year ago, is offering technical assistance at present. The Russian delegation, including Deputy Finance Minister Sergey Storchak, will meet with local officials to help devise strategies to manage the economy in the current crisis, Finance Ministry spokesman Andrey Lavrov said. He declined to elaborate on the possibility Russia might provide more financial support. The Russian team will "provide assistance to Venezuela in developing measures to manage the economy in a crisis situation," he said, without giving further details. The Russian delegation plans to meet the central bank, and Finance and Economy Ministry in Caracas on Monday to discuss ways to rebuild Venezuela's depleted international reserves, the country's crypto-currency efforts and other fiscal and monetary topics, according to two people familiar with the plans, which aren't public. The Russian officials will also meet with Petroleos de Venezuela SA to discuss its sales of foreign currency to the central bank on Tuesday. The delegation may meet President Maduro as well, one of the people said. Maduro may visit Russia at the end of November, RIA Novosti news service reported earlier this month. A Chinese delegation is also in the Venezuelan capital for talks on steadying the economy, Russian officials said. The Chinese embassy in Moscow didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. PDVSA is preparing to make a $949 million bond payment due Monday. The socialist state is behind on almost $7 billion in debt payments owed to investors, but this bond is backed by a valuable asset -- a majority stake in Citgo Holding Inc. -- meaning a non-payment would allow holders to lay claim to that. Press officials for Venezuela's Information Ministry, presidency and PDVSA declined to comment Monday. Russia, also subject to U.S. sanctions, has been cautious about funding its struggling foreign allies, despite repeated appeals. ISTANBUL. Turkey - Turkey's foreign minister warned Saudi Arabia on Monday against prolonging an inquiry into Jamal Khashoggi's slaying, urging the kingdom to accept its "very large" responsibility in investigating the writer's death as the Saudi chief prosecutor arrived in Istanbul for talks. Saud al-Mojeb, who is leading the Saudi government's inquiry, met with his Turkish counterpart for the first time Monday, Turkey's state-run news agency reported. The outcome of the talks was not immediately clear. A team of 15 Saudi agents was involved in the killing of Khashoggi - a Washington Post contributing columnist - inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul this month, Turkish officials have concluded, calling it a premeditated crime. Turkey, through a gradual release of information and public statements, has helped feed an international outcry over the case and pressured Saudi Arabia to concede its role. Mojeb's arrival in Istanbul was the latest step in a high-stakes investigation that could implicate members of the Saudi leadership and potentially reshape the region's politics. Turkish investigators have reviewed thousands of hours of closed-circuit-television footage, taken forensic samples from the consulate grounds and released details of the passports of the 15 Saudis they say were involved. Turkey also played a purported audio of the killing for CIA Director Gina Haspel last week. "The responsibility of Saudi Arabia is very large here," Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said at a news conference Monday, adding that Khashoggi's remains have not been found. "This cooperation must continue," Cavusoglu said of the meeting between the two countries' prosecutors. But the investigation "should not be prolonged," he said. "All the facts should be revealed." Khashoggi entered the consulate around 1 p.m. on Oct. 2 to retrieve paperwork for his upcoming marriage to his Turkish fiancee, Hatice Cengiz. He had fled Saudi Arabia and taken up residence in the United States, where he wrote columns for The Washington Post. He was a critic of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto Saudi ruler, who has purged rivals and consolidated power. Turkish investigators say Khashoggi was murdered and then dismembered. In response to the uproar, Saudi authorities arrested 18 suspects, fired five officials and ordered a reorganization of the nation's intelligence agency. Turkey has called on Saudi Arabia to extradite the 18 suspects as part of the investigation. At a memorial service Monday night in London, Cengiz said she never imagined such barbarity was awaiting Khashoggi inside the consulate. "They took the body of Jamal from me," she said. "I want justice for my beloved Jamal. I want to hug his body. . . . We still do not know where his body is." Cengiz had tough words for both Saudi Arabia and the United States. "I believe the Saudi regime knows where his body is," she told the audience at the service, sponsored by the Middle East Monitor and Al Sharq Forum. "I want justice to be served not only for those who murdered Jamal but those who ordered his murder." She added, "President Trump should not pave the way for a coverup." - - - The Washington Post's William Booth in London contributed to this report. Days after Harvard Medical School said it found extensive falsified or fabricated data from the laboratory of a prominent heart researcher, doctors and scientists are urging a halt to a medical trial based in part on his work. They say that sick people should not be subjected to the risks of an experiment whose underlying science has been called into question. In the ongoing, taxpayer-funded trial, cardiac stem cells are injected into the hearts of people with heart failure, in the hopes that those cells - alone or in combination with others - will improve patients' heart function. The regenerative effects of those cells were first reportedby an influential but controversial scientist, Piero Anversa, whose work has been thrown into doubt. Harvard disclosed a years-long investigation had identified "falsified and/or fabricated data" in 31 papers from his laboratory, without specifying which publications were affected. Last year, the Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital, where Anversa worked until 2015, reached a $10 million settlement with the Justice Department to resolve allegations that fraudulent data had been used by Anversa's laboratoryin grant applications for federal funding. On Wednesday, the New England Journal of Medicine retracted one paper and flagged two others with an "expression of concern" intended "to indicate that the data presented in the articles named above may not be reliable." The journal said it is waiting for more information on the two papers. New York Medical College, where Anversa previously worked, released a statement saying that "serious concerns" have been raised about a 17-year-old study. It said an investigation has been initiated. Anversa is not directly involved in the heart failure trial, which is being run by a national clinical trial network supported by $63 million in federal funds. But given the turmoil and uncertainty over the work that helped lay the foundation of the trial, outside researchers called for a pause and careful examination of whether it should proceed. The trial carries inherent risks, because it requires an invasive biopsy that can cause serious complications. Outside scientists have said the scientific underpinnings of the trial must be weighed against the risks of medical research. One patient died early in the trial when the heart was perforated while cells were being harvested to create stem cells, highlighting the inherent risks to vulnerable patients. "I think that the trial should be halted, and they should have an external review," said Darryl Davis, a cardiologist at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute studying how to regenerate heart tissue. "The Anversa data comprised part of the rationale for that trial, and I think we have to understand better what these cells actually can do before we subject the patients to the risk of having an invasive procedure." Anversa's laboratory did the foundational work in this field and provided cells for a previous clinical trial that is cited as part of the supporting evidence for the current trial. However, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute does not consider the trial to be based on Anversa's work, according to Denis Buxton, director of the Basic and Early Translational Research program at the institute. Buxton said that the trial is instead based on an idea that grew out of Anversa's original work - that the cells secrete various molecules that help regenerate muscle tissue, although he said it was "not a well-characterized effect at the moment." "Multiple preclinical studies have demonstrated improvement in cardiac function, and advanced heart failure patients really have no treatment options and have poor survival," Buxton said. There is "compelling need for new therapies that can improve quality of life in these patients. I think the feeling is this trial has the potential to provide such an option." He said that a board that monitors patient safety in clinical trials would now be tasked with evaluating the information related to the 31 retractions requested by Harvard, and that patients would be informed of the board's recommendations. Anversa's lawyer said his client stands by the scientific findings in his papers and that Anversaonly learned from the Harvard investigation that a longtime colleague who left his lab in 2013 had improperly altered images.Anversa says that, in many cases, those images can be replaced with correct images, and the results will still stand, his lawyer said. "There is nothing wrong with c-kit positive cardiac stem cells, and the trial will answer the questions concerning their efficacy in patients," Anversa said in an email. Anversa's work rose to prominence amid broad enthusiasm about stem cells in the early 2000s. Anversa and colleagues found a type of heart cells called c-kit cells were capable of giving rise to heart muscle, opening up new possibilities for helping heal patients after heart attacks or for reversing heart failure. The discovery quickly led to clinical trials. The current trial, called CONCERT-HF, is based in part on an earlier clinical trial in which Anversa's lab created c-kit cells to be infused into patients' hearts.The report of results from that trial is now overshadowed by questions about the integrity of imagesof the stem cells that were created and characterized in Anvers's laboratory in Boston and then shipped to Louisville, where they were put into patients. Roberto Bolli, the University of Louisville cardiologist who led the trial, told The Washington Post that the work his team did had nothing to do with the cell manufacturing in Boston. He said he doesn't yet have enough information about the problems in Anversa's lab to know whether they affected the cells provided to patients. "This is obviously a major concern, and we are trying to clarify this important issue," Bolli said. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute said CONCERT was based not on Anversa's explanation for how c-kit cells work but on an alternative mechanism that gained traction as other researchers, who were not affiliated with Anversa's lab, found the cells were not turning into heart muscle, and instead were dying or fusing with other cells. To explain the effects the cells had on heart function in animal studies, some researchers now say thec-kit cells themselves don't regenerate, but secrete various substances, exerting what are called "paracrine effects." Anversa told the Post that the CONCERT trial is based on his work and said in a phone interview, "I'm not sure I really understand why the trial should be stopped." In the CONCERT trial, cells are harvested from the heart and bone marrow of patients. Two types of stem cells are manufactured from those cells and then injected back into the patients' bodies - with patients randomly assigned to four different groups that either receive c-kit cells, bone marrow-derived cells, both types or a placebo. The patient death occurred after a biopsy of the person's heart cells and before the stem cells were implanted. "I do think it's time to pause and evaluate things like the CONCERT trial," said Deepak Srivastava, president of the Gladstone Institutes and president-elect of the International Society for Stem Cell Research. "And if there's not a foundation for that, I think in most fields, most such trials would be halted." Elizabeth McNally, a cardiologist and director of the Center for Genetic Medicine at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, said that, years ago, she was excited by the findings from Anversa's lab, but then had trouble replicating them herself. She described a "religious fervor" that took hold among those who believed that c-kit cells were regenerating the heart that has continued as researchers have sought to find factors that could be responsible for what she described as "tiny to nonexistent" effects. "It's disappointing that it took so many years for this to come out," McNally said."It's one question whether the trial should even continue, and I think at the highest level the individuals supporting the trial should really review that." Charles Murry, director of the Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine at the University of Washington, expressed concern about the safety of the patients in the trial. "Given that the scientific premise of this trial is no longer valid, there do not seem to be potential benefits that justify the risk," Murry said. "If I were leading this trial, I think I would stop it based on these recent developments." 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 The Washington Post's Steven Mufson reports on an important story happening in the other Washington, where voters in eight days will consider a ballot measure that would make them the first state in the country to tax carbon emissions causing climate change. From his piece: "The drive has sparked a fight for votes that pits big oil refiners against a coalition of environmental groups, unions, Native American groups, communities of color, liberal business leaders like Bill Gates, and Gov. Jay Inslee, D. "The battle has already set a new Washington state record for spending on a ballot issue. The Clean Air Clean Energy coalition to say 'yes' on the ballot has raised nearly $14.8 million, including $1 million each from Gates and former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg. Big oil companies belonging to the Western States Petroleum Association - including Koch Industries - have given $26.2 million, according to the state's Public Disclosure Commission ... "Win or lose, Washington's Initiative 1631 is a case study in how thorny the politics of carbon pricing can be - starting with the name. Calling it a tax might please economists, but could be fatal politically. The measure's supporters call it a fee. Mufson writes this proposal might be different -- and possibly more successful -- than previous ones because it has drawn the support of a variety of stakeholders, including a key state labor leader: "The measure would exempt eight energy-intensive manufacturing plants, pour fee revenue into clean energy projects, fund training and early retirement plans for affected workers, and create an appointed board that would allocate revenue in the future. "One of the exempted facilities is the biggest emitter of all, a coal-fired power plant owned by TransAlta, which had already agreed to close its plant by 2025. Oil refiners "would have to pay," however: "The Western States Petroleum Association said that "climate change should be addressed at national and international levels" and that state-level policy "would have a negligible impact on mitigating climate change but could have a significant negative impact on our state's businesses." It said that the carbon fee would initially boost gasoline prices about 14 cents a gallon. "The oil companies have set up an organization called No-on-1631 whose spokeswoman Dana Bieber took aim at exemptions, especially the coal plant. Inslee, however, said that to do otherwise would violate the contractual agreement to close the plant. Moreover, the objective of the fee is to change behavior, not raise money ... Outside the petroleum industry, many executives have backed the initiative. " 'You may be skeptical about this idea. I know I was. How can one state make a difference on a global problem like climate change?' Gates wrote in an open letter. 'But I overcame my doubts.' He called climate change the 'toughest problem humanity has ever faced' and said the initiative would send a 'clear market signal.' " TORRINGTON City police announced Sunday evening there was no active threat at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital. The Torrington Police Department would like to report that there is no active threat at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital, officials with the department wrote on Facebook. Officers are investigating the origin of the information. Charlotte Hungerford Hospital indicated that the facility had experienced a code silver, commonly used to refer to a potential active shooter, just before 6 p.m. in a Facebook post. There were social media reports of a potential shooter at the hospital. CHH experienced a code silver late this afternoon that has ENDED without incident, said hospital officials. The campus has been cleared and deemed safe by law enforcement and is currently at normal operations. We thank everyone for their quick response as we work to provide a safe patient and visitor environment. Lieutenant Bart Barown III said Charlotte Hungerford had alerted authorities to a potential threat at the campus, but the information turned out not to be accurate. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump will visit Pennsylvania on Tuesday to commemorate the victims of last week's mass shooting at Tree of Life synagogue, the White House announced Monday, even as the mayor of Pittsburgh publicly requested that the trip be postponed until after the funerals. The White House announcement comes as tens of thousands of people have signed a petition calling for Trump to refrain from visiting the city until he denounces white nationalism. At a regular briefing, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said the president and first lady will make the visit to "express the support of the American people and grieve with the Pittsburgh community." "This atrocity was a chilling act of mass murder. It was an act of hatred and above all, it was an act of evil," Sanders said, adding that the president "cherishes the American Jewish community for everything it stands for and contributes to our country." Saturday's massacre at the Pittsburgh synagogue left 11 people dead and six wounded in the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in U.S. history. Suspected gunman Robert Bowers, who raged against Jewish people online and allegedly told police, "I just want to kill Jews," made his first court appearance on Monday. He faces more than 50 charges in connection with the mass shooting. In remarks to reporters Monday afternoon, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto asked the White House to consider "two important factors" before scheduling a visit: the will of the victims' families, and the fact that the city's attention - including the efforts of law enforcement officers - will be focused Tuesday on the victims' funerals, which are likely to begin that day. "If the president is looking to come to Pittsburgh, I would ask that he not do so while we are burying the dead. Our attention and our focus is going to be on them, and we don't have public safety that we can take away from what is needed in order to do both," Peduto said, according to a transcript of his remarks provided to The Washington Post. City and civic officials said early Monday they were unaware of the details of the planned visits. There were concerns about logistics and whether police would be able to handle the presidential visit, the people said. White House officials said earlier Monday that they were pushing the president to cancel a potential speech Tuesday on immigration and visit Pittsburgh instead. The president, who has four "Make America Great Again" rallies scheduled for later this week, is clamoring to get back on the campaign trail, they said. In addition to Peduto's suggestion to choose another day, Trump also faces opposition from more than 30,000 people who have signed an open letter saying that the president will not be welcome in Pittsburgh until he denounces white nationalism and stops "targeting" minorities. Asked about the letter, Sanders maintained that Trump "has denounced racism, hatred and bigotry in all forms, on a number of occasions." "We'll continue to do that; I'm doing it here today," she said. "And I would also say at the same time that some individuals, they're grieving. They're hurting. The president wants to be there to show the support of this administration for the Jewish community." She noted that Tree of Life synagogue's rabbi, Jeffrey Myers, has said that Trump is "welcome" to visit. At Monday's briefing, Sanders grew visibly emotional as she described Trump's family ties to Judaism, noting that several of the president's grandchildren, his daughter Ivanka and his son-in-law Jared Kushner are Jewish. Kushner, she noted, is the descendant of Holocaust survivors. Sanders also defended Trump amid criticism that he has stoked divisions by refusing to tone down his inflammatory rhetoric in the wake of Saturday's shooting and last week's mail bombs targeting more than a dozen Democrats. "The very first thing that the president did was to condemn the attacks, both in Pittsburgh and in the pipe bombs," Sanders said. "The very first thing the media did was blame the president and make him responsible for these ridiculous acts." She added: "You can't start putting the responsibility of individuals on anybody but the individual who carries out the crime." The strongest cyclone on Earth devastated a U.S. territory in the Pacific Ocean late last week, and it's about to make landfall again in the Philippines. Typhoon Yutu will be a Category 2 when it makes landfall early Tuesday, Philippines time, with 100 mph sustained winds, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. However, the storm still has time in a favorable environment to strengthen slightly to a Category 3 before it plows into northeast Luzon. The typhoon, locally known as Rosita, has passed through dry air over the past several days, which has helped weaken it. Now that it is approaching the Philippines, though, warmer water and higher humidity could allow Yutu to strengthen modestly, possibly to a Category 3, before landfall. Ocean heat content, which is a measure of how much energy is available for the storm, was exceptionally high under Typhoon Yutu on Monday morning. Furthermore, the environmental winds over the Philippines were weak; without the disruption of strong surrounding winds, the storm could intensify. Even so, Yutu is much weaker than when it struck the Northern Mariana Islands - a U.S. territory - late last week as the equivalent of a Category 5. The storm's 180 mph winds obliterated the island of Tinian and parts of the largest island, Saipan. At that intensity, Yutu tied Typhoon Mangkhut for the strongest cyclone of 2018, just 10 mph short of the strongest on record, Typhoon Haiyan. Yutu destroyed the territory's electrical grid and made its ports inaccessible, according to Reuters. Residents told the news outlet there was no potable water on the island, but they were hopeful that supplies could be delivered by plane. In the Philippines, officials are preparing by issuing a Signal 3 alert, comparable to a hurricane warning, in 10 districts. Residents along the coast in Isabela and Cagayan were being moved to inland shelters Monday night, local time, according to Reuters. Storm surge, which is when ocean water is driven over land by strong wind, is expected to reach 8 feet immediately north of where the eye comes ashore. More than two feet of rain is forecast to fall in the highest elevations near the coast, which will lead to flash flooding and mud slides. Typhoon Yutu is the 18th to make landfall in the Philippines this year. Typhoon Mangkhut devastated parts of Luzon when it made landfall in September. At least 25 people were killed and $180 million in crops were destroyed, the New York Times reported. Yutu will cross into the South China Sea by Tuesday evening and begin a curve northward toward Hong Kong. The storm is expected to weaken significantly and miss the most populous areas of southeast China, but will still bring flooding rain to parts of coastal Guangdong and Fujian later this week. Bijan Ghaisar, the motorist shot and killed by two U.S. Park Police officers last November, did not have a weapon "in plain view or reach of the driver" when the officers fired nine times into his Jeep Grand Cherokee, according to reports released by Virginia's Fairfax County police. Both the Park Police and the FBI, who took over the investigation shortly after the Nov. 17 shooting, have declined to say whether Ghaisar was armed or posed any threat to the officers. The reports released Friday by Fairfax police, in response to a Freedom of Information Act request from The Washington Post, said the Park Police officers had to smash open Ghaisar's driver's side window to free him from his vehicle after they shot him. The two officers remain on the job and publicly unidentified by the Park Police or FBI. In response to a Freedom of Information Act request from The Washington Post in August, Park Police Chief Robert MacLean last week declined even to confirm that the two men, identified to The Post by one law enforcement official as the officers involved in the incident, were employed by the Park Police. Ghaisar, a 25-year-old accountant who lived in Tysons Corner, Virginia, was driving his green Jeep south on the area's George Washington Memorial Parkway shortly before 7:30 p.m. when he apparently stopped in the left lane of traffic and was rear-ended by a Toyota Corolla driven by an Uber driver. The driver reported that Ghaisar did not stop to exchange information but instead drove off. The driver called police. The Park Police officers spotted Ghaisar's Jeep a few minutes later on the parkway south of Alexandria, in Fairfax County. They signaled for Ghaisar to pull over, which he did twice, a video shows. Each time, an officer darted to Ghaisar's Jeep with his pistol drawn, and each time Ghaisar drove off. The third time Ghaisar stopped, the Park Police parked their marked sport-utility vehicle in front of the Jeep, a video shot from a Fairfax County police car shows. When Ghaisar tried to slowly maneuver around the Park Police vehicle, both officers opened fire. Fairfax County Police Chief Edwin Roessler released the video of the shooting in January over federal investigators' objections. When the FBI and the Justice Department took over the case, they stopped releasing information about it. Ghaisar's family said he was shot four times in the head and that he was unarmed, but federal authorities have refused to comment. The reports released by Roessler on Friday revealed that three Fairfax officers were witnesses to the episode. Their names were redacted from the reports, as were those of the Park Police officers and investigators involved. Roessler also released the reports to the Ghaisar family. "The police reports continue to tell a story," the Ghaisars' lawyer Roy Austin Jr. said, "of a young man who should never have been confronted by the police in the way he was, and certainly should never have been killed by police officers. The fact that the family has waited almost a year to get these police reports, which in no way hinder the criminal investigation, is a continuation of the cruelty that the federal government is showing to the families of the victims of police violence." The first Fairfax officer followed the pursuit along the parkway and into the Fort Hunt neighborhood of Fairfax with his video camera on, capturing all three stops and the gunfire. When the pursuit came to a halt at Alexandria Avenue and Fort Hunt Road, "I saw the Park Police officer standing on the driver's side of the Jeep start to shoot," the officer wrote. He said he then watched the rear of the Jeep in case any passengers bailed out of it. "I heard multiple shots being fired rapidly," the officer wrote. "I believed both officers were firing." After Ghaisar's Jeep slowly toppled into a ditch, the officer wrote he saw a "second Park Police officer standing at the front, driver's side corner of the Jeep with [redacted] weapon drawn and saw, I believed, three bullet strikes to the windshield." The reports indicate this Fairfax officer is a veteran second lieutenant. He wrote that he has been a member of the county police Peer Support Team who has worked on other officer-involved shooting cases. About half of his 23-line report is redacted. A second Fairfax officer, who heard reports of the pursuit on the police radio, wrote that he drove to Alexandria Avenue and tried to place spiked "stop sticks" across the road to flatten the Jeep's tires, but the pursuit went past him before he could get them placed. So he got back in his cruiser and drove to the intersection at Fort Hunt Road, where he saw at least one Park Police officer fire shots. "One Park PD officer was seen at the vehicle's driver door" the officer wrote, "and one was seen in front of the vehicle, both with guns drawn and giving commands. . . . As the vehicle attempted to drive around the [Park Police] cruiser, the Park PD officer fired into the vehicle." As Ghaisar's Jeep rolled over into a ditch, this officer watched a Park Police officer trying to break the driver's side window to open the locked door. He wrote he and another officer pulled Ghaisar from the Jeep "in an effort to render aid." He added, "I patted the subject down for safety and nothing was found." A third Fairfax officer who was in the Fort Hunt area when he heard about the pursuit on the radio drove to the scene and arrived shortly after the shooting had occurred. He watched a Park Police officer break Ghaisar's window, then approached. "The inside of the vehicle was viewed," the third officer wrote, "and determined that there were no weapons in plain view or reach of the driver. The rear of the vehicle was also checked with no weapons seen." This officer also noted, "There were no drugs or narcotics visible to from [sic] plain view but I did not search the vehicle." Roessler also had disclosed that Ghaisar was not armed at a police chiefs' conference in Orlando earlier this month. All three Fairfax officers were then taken to the Mount Vernon district station, where their equipment and uniforms were inventoried and photographed, the reports indicate. None had fired their weapon. The reports indicate Fairfax crime scene detectives soon arrived at the scene but were waved off the case by Park Police investigators. The Park Police have arrest authority in Northern Virginia outside of the parks, under Virginia law. While the Park Police headed the investigation, they treated the mortally wounded Ghaisar as a suspect, his family said, not allowing family members to touch him and to spend 10 minutes per hour with him. They did not notify the Ghaisars of the shooting until more than five hours after it happened, the Ghaisars said. After three days, the Park Police turned the case over to the FBI, which allowed the Ghaisars to spend time with Bijan until he died on Nov. 27. In August, The Post asked Park Police spokesman Sgt. James Dingeldein to confirm that two specific men were officers of the department. An official familiar with the shooting investigation provided the names to The Post. It is standard procedure for a police department, or virtually any government agency, to confirm the employment status of a government worker. Dingeldein required that The Post submit its request in writing. The Post submitted a Freedom of Information Act request on Aug. 31, seeking the men's employment status and current duty assignment. The request did not mention the Ghaisar case. In a letter dated Oct. 18, MacLean refused to confirm whether the two men work for the Park Police. "We have determined," MacLean wrote, "that the individuals to whom this information pertains have a substantial privacy interest in withholding it. Additionally, we have determined that the disclosure of this information would shed little or no light on the performance of the agency's statutory duties." The two men declined to speak to a reporter from The Post. Both men appear in an online directory of National Park Service employees, which includes all divisions of the Park Service. The head of the Park Police officers' union, Mike Shalton, has repeatedly declined to speak about the case. Dingeldein said the officers involved are on administrative duty with pay. No decision has been announced on whether the two officers will be charged with a federal civil rights violation, and it is unclear whether any witnesses have been called to testify before a grand jury, as is the normal practice of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. Two people who witnessed parts of the pursuit and shooting said they had not spoken to investigators since last year. The Ghaisars have filed a lawsuit against the Park Police, which is pending in federal court in Alexandria. No internal investigation of the shooting by Park Police will begin until after a decision has been made on criminal charges, Dingeldein said. On Saturday, a shooter opened fire inside a synagogue in the heart of a heavily Jewish neighborhood in Pittsburgh. The attack occurred during Shabbat services and during a bris, a celebration of a newborn life. Immediately before the massacre, the alleged killer tweeted about HIAS, an organization once known as the Hebrew Sheltering and Immigrant Aid Society that dates back to the late 19th century. "HIAS likes to bring invaders that kill our people," he wrote. It doesn't take a deep understanding of American anti-Semitism to know that to him, "our people" did not include Jewish Americans, even though Jews have lived in America since before the founding of the United States and the congregation he attacked has been convening to pray since the Civil War. (The congregation also had no particular ties to HIAS.) Why, then, did this white-nationalist xenophobe gun down local Jews to protest HIAS? The massacre reflects a stark reality with deep roots in American history: Anti-Semitism, nativism and anti-immigrant sentiments have long been inextricably intertwined. Themselves targeted for exclusion from the country, some Jewish Americans worked through HIAS to make America more welcoming for all immigrants, making the organization a target for those blended prejudices. In Pittsburgh, as in all Jewish communities throughout time, there is no consensus among members on pressing issues such as immigration. But the synagogue wasn't targeted because it had ties to HIAS - it was targeted because those who spew hate take it out on the most readily available Jews. HIAS was founded in the last decades of the 19th century by Jewish communal leaders to assist Jews from Eastern Europe in making their way in America. Its most prominent leaders were lawyers - Max J. Kohler, Leon Sanders and Benjamin Levinson - who would go to Ellis Island to advocate for Jews who had been marked for exclusion for reasons beyond the rule of law. While primarily focused on Jews, the organization's commitment to aiding non-Jews in need of legal representation also quickly became evident. Understanding anti-Chinese sentiments as synonymous with anti-Jewish bigotry, Kohler repeatedly represented people of Chinese descent charged under the Chinese Exclusion Act, even arguing cases in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. HIAS thought of itself as a very American organization, visualizing and working toward an America that was welcoming and open to all immigrants. As the World War I drew to a close, Europe was faced with a massive refugee crisis. A power vacuum following the Russian Revolution and the collapse of the German and Austro-Hungarian empires led to tremendous violence, including pogroms in Ukraine in which more than 200,000 Jews were killed. Jews were among the refugees who sought safe places to live, but they found few places to go because of "wartime" limits on migration that were never lifted. As it had done before the war, HIAS came to the rescue of these hundreds of thousands of Jewish refugees. The war spurred HIAS to become an international refugee organization as U.S. border control moved from Ellis Island to U.S. consulates abroad. HIAS came to view itself as something like an American Red Cross for Jews. The Red Cross had also begun working abroad under a broad mandate due to the war. But it was guided by American Christian thinking and closely linked with U.S. state power. By default, the Red Cross tended to serve Christians and only sporadically cooperated with Jewish organizations or made efforts to reach out to Jewish war victims. Publicly, HIAS also cooperated with the State Department as it helped Jewish immigrant hopefuls try to arrange safe passage to America. But behind closed doors, HIAS lawyers frequently clashed with State Department officials and the Department of Labor over the latter's implementation of immigration policies. Further, government employees, couching anti-Semitic tropes in diplomatic language, considered Jewish immigrants "inferior" and fought to keep them out. Why? Because anti-Semitism runs deep in America, and it has sinister ties to anti-immigrant sentiment. From the late 19th century onward, U.S. Public Health Service officers on Ellis Island deployed racialized conceptions of health that also led to the exclusion of Jews and other would-be immigrants. For example, favus, a scalp disease, was commonly associated with Eastern European Jews, and fears of typhus were used to justify diplomats' exclusionary, anti-Semitic stance after World War I. More often, immigration officers excluded Jews by determining that they were "likely to become public charges," a rule that the Department of Homeland Security recently announced it would reinstate. The U.S. government had banned immigrants it thought would be likely to depend on charitable organizations or government programs upon entry; Congress, however, left the definition of "likely to become a public charge" undefined, thereby enabling immigration inspectors to deploy the classification at will to keep out whomever they identified as undesirable. And so HIAS battled back as best it could. It could not stop the tide of public opinion that fueled passage of laws in 1921 and 1924 that set explicit immigration quotas that aimed to prevent Southern and Eastern European immigration. These laws were clearly intended to keep Jews out. Sen. David Reed, R-Pa., who sponsored the 1924 law, complained on the Senate floor about "sick and starving" Southern European and Jewish immigrants whom he viewed as "less capable of contributing to the American economy, and [less able] to adapt to American culture." These laws significantly limited HIAS' capacity to help Jewish immigrants in America and made it nearly impossible to save Jewish refugees from Nazism a decade later. The Holocaust did little to change America's anti-immigrant or anti-Jewish sentiments. In 1939, the United States infamously turned away passengers on the SS St. Louis fleeing Nazi Germany, many of whom were children. Some, out of sheer desperation, resorted to illegal entry. But HIAS persisted in its efforts to aid those who entered America as refugees. And in the wake of the 1965 immigration law abolishing the quota system, it expanded its services to help non-Jewish newcomers. This is why HIAS lawyers could be found at airports assisting immigrants after President Donald Trump enacted the so-called "Muslim ban." The anti-Semitism that drove the immigration policy of the early 20th century never faded from American life. Nor did its connection to anti-immigrant sentiment. These feelings are why bombs were sent this week to George Soros, often the victim of anti-Semitic caricatures, and why he has been outlandishly charged with funding the caravan of Central American asylum seekers now heading toward the United States. And that sentiment is what compelled a shooter ranting about HIAS to massacre Jews who were part of a congregation that dates to the 1800s and is located in a city where HIAS has no offices or presence. This hateful anti-Semitic, anti-immigrant mind-set links all Jews together, conflating them wherever they are and whatever they do. As has been true throughout history, the Jews who ended up victims on Saturday were simply those nearest at hand. All of the political infighting last year in states over their accountability plans under the Every Student Succeeds Act has pretty much died down. But state education departments over the last two months have been rolling out their newest rankings of schools under the federally mandated ESSA plans and, with all the new indicators, there are inevitably lots of changes to districts academic performance. The releases come just in time for this years election season, and gubernatorial and legislative candidates in states including Maryland , Ohio , Tennessee and Texas are attempting to exploit the newest results. Most recently, in Oregon, incumbent Gov. Kate Brown, a Democrat, was accused by Republican opponent Knute Buehler of delaying the release of the states new report card until after the election to avoid political pushback. Those accusations came after the Oregonian published a story revealing that the states education department planned to miss the states deadline of releasing the new report card. In the face of criticism, Brown ordered the department to release the results. It shouldnt take the threat of the governor losing her election for her to do the right thing, Buehler said on Twitter. Oregonians and especially our students and parents, deserve better than this. Help is on the way in 13 days. Brown said the data was ready, but that the state was still working to redesign the new report card. In addition, the department was trying to figure out how to handle the rankings of schools with high opt-out rates from statewide tests (the states opt-out laws conflict with the federal requirements), and was crafting new resources and supports for struggling schools. Oregons schools have struggled tremendously in years past. How to improve them and provide them with more money, despite little tax revenue to distribute in the state, has become central to the states politics. Rolling out a new accountability system takes savvy communication skills. Many state education departments see the new report cards as a fresh start to school accountability after years of districts, teachers, and parents distrusting rankings that many saw as too reliant on testing and designed based on a federal blueprint. But some states, such as Florida, Indiana, and Utah have struggled to roll out separate federal and state accountability systems ,a bureaucratic headache for district officials. And as my colleague Alyson Klein recently pointed out , some states ESSA plan could be at risk of being overhauled next year if the Nov. 6 elections usher in new state leadership. Dont miss another State EdWatch post. Sign up here to get news alerts in your email inbox. And make sure to follow @StateEdWatch on Twitter for the latest news from state K-12 policy and politics. Harris County officials failed to retain an unknown number of emails over a one-year period that could be pertinent in the hotly contested lawsuit over its bail practices, according to documents made public Monday. The countys lawyers deny any emails were lost and say they have produced all relevant documents. The December trial seeking a permanent injunction against the county follows on the heels of an April 2017 finding that its bail policy amounted to wealth-based detention for poor defendants arrested on misdemeanor charges who were otherwise eligible for pretrial release. Chief U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal wrote in her opinion at that time that the countys judicial officers had unfairly detained indigent defendants who couldnt pay bail costs, while people with access to cash were able to resume their lives and await trial on bond. Rosenthal subsequently revised the terms for the bail protocol based on guidance from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals after the county appealed her ruling. Now the team of civil rights attorneys behind the bail challenge have asked Rosenthal to let them probe officials over an untold number of emails the county may have lost due to a technological glitch in its IT division. Lawyers for the indigent defendants contend that elected judges and hearing officers sued in the case allowed nearly one years worth of email correspondence between them to be automatically deleted by their email system, despite the lawsuit. If evidence was destroyed, especially in a case in the public spotlight, it would be a huge problem, said Jay Jenkins, project attorney with the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition who has argued for bail reform locally. Destruction of relevant evidence is a very serious charge, as it undermines the courts role as fact finder, Jenkins said. Any attorneys or judges representing Harris County who took part should expect swift and severe disciplinary action. The lawyers who brought the lawsuit say the county was slow to inform the court and opposing counsel that despite the impending lawsuit, electronic data from May 2016 to April 2017 was scrubbed from the countys system, said Elizabeth Rossi, of Civil Rights Corps, an attorney for the indigent defendants. It does not matter if they did so intentionally or as a result of negligence. We want to know why they allowed evidence to be destroyed, Rossi said. The county and the county judges refused to provide an adequate explanation so weve raised the issue with the federal court. The Harris County Attorneys Office says the demand for unspecified and possibly missing documents is a red herring in a case that has already cost taxpayers $7.75 million. Emails were not deliberately destroyed and all relevant emails have been produced either electronically or in paper format, said Robert Soard, first assistant to Harris County Attorney Vince Ryan. Soard explained that since the lawsuit was filed, the magistrates have maintained a binder of all memos and emails provided by the judges. Rossi and her colleagues want permission to take sworn statements from an IT official in the court management department, as well as its chief officer Ed Wells and Kelvin Banks, who heads the countys pretrial services division. gabrielle.banks@chron.com Harris County deputies are searching for an unidentified suspect they believe raped a 77-year-old woman earlier this month. Investigators said a Hispanic man wearing a cap and sunglasses entered a living facility in west Houston and sexually assaulted the woman on Oct. 1. Heights restaurant Presidio, which opened last year, temporarily shuttered after a fire damaged the building early Saturday morning, according to social media posts from the restaurant. Although the length of Presidio's closure remains unclear, the cooks at Eight Row Flint prepared food from the restaurant's coolers over the weekend to prevent waste. The sales will be donated to Presidio's hourly staff, according to a Facebook post. "We would like to thank the brave men and women @houstonfiredepartment for saving our building and giving us the chance to rebuild and to come back stronger," the post said. "Thank you so much to the Houston restaurant community for being so quick to reach out and help. Your support means everything to us." When Presidio opened in February 2017, it was described in the Houston Chronicle as "ambitious" with "serious" local ingredients. FIRST LOOK: Presidio in the Heights Restaurant representatives, as well as the Houston Fire Department, could not be reached on Monday to discuss details of the fire. Chef Adam Dorris told CultureMap that the source of the fire was traced to a electrical outlet near the entrance. The damage is confined to a small part of the dining room, the HVAC system and the roof, the website reported. Dorris told the website that he plans to raise additional funds with pop-ups at local bars. Julian Gill is a digital reporter in Houston. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, houstonchronicle.com. | julian.gill@chron.com | Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message The moment the Jewish Sabbath ended Saturday at sunset, Rabbi Gideon Estes got to work on planning a vigil for Houston to grieve the 11 congregants killed at a Pittsburgh synagogue, one of many tributes held across the country. Twenty-four hours later, the parking lot at the Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center in southwest Houston began filling with an estimated 2,000 people who gathered Sunday night to pay their respects to the mass shooting victims, sing a chorus of We Shall Overcome, and denounce hatred. As for the thousand-plus people who were gathered here, that shows me that we are not defined by those who hate us. Instead, we are a community of love, of respect, Estes said. The vigil featured speeches from Harris County Judge Ed Emmett and Mayor Sylvester Turner, who stepped up to the makeshift stage and urged Houstonians to support each other. As one of the diverse cities in the country, we must stand up and say that we value that diversity. Hate against any group, is a hate against us all, Turner said. We must call it for what it is and we have to stop it and stop it now. Faith leaders of all denominations who attended the candlelight vigil said they watched the news of the shooting unfold Saturday with horror. It was especially harrowing for Joel Dinkin, who was born and raised in Pittsburgh and once called the Tree of Life synagogue his religious home. Now in Houston, where he runs the Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center where the vigil was held, Dinkin said he urgently dialed his 95-year-old father a retired leader at the targeted synagogue and sister after the shooting Saturday to make sure they were safe. They told me they were fine. They were just watching the news and in disbelief, Dinkin said before Sundays candlelight vigil. For 25 years, Dinkins father, David, served as executive director of the Pittsburgh. Many of the victims killed and wounded in the attack were contemporaries and friends of the synagogue in his (fathers) time, Dinkin said. He was pretty shaken when we spoke on the phone. Dinkin recognized two names on the list of slain congregants from his time attending the synagogue. He went to school with the son of Rose Mallinger, the attacks eldest victim at 97. He also knew Cecil Rosenthal, 59, who was killed alongside his brother David Rosenthal, 54, both of whom were intellectually disabled. Seeing the aftermath unfold in news reports brought a flood of memories back to Dinkin, of the synagogue, located in one of the nations most vital Jewish communities and a short jaunt from his childhood home. You had a sense of the magnitude of the travesty. I could see and feel it just by watching the TV, Dinkin said. Ahead of Sundays vigil, Dinkin said he spent his day taking a second look at how to boost security at his community center. I dont want to do that, Dinkin said. Its just whats happening in the world around us. Dozens of police officers from the Houston Police Department and the Harris County Constables Office Precinct One provided security at the candlelight vigil. Earlier Sunday evening, Houston police patrolled the First Christian Church on Sunset Boulevard near Rice University as leaders of many faiths, including Hindu, Jewish, Christian, Buddhist and Muslim religions, joined for an Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston dinner dialogue on religious youth. The event was scheduled to take place before the shooting on the East Coast, organizers said. The police presence at the dinners has been become the new normal due to the unfortunate reality of the world, said Jodi Bernstein, the VP of Interfaith Ministries relations and community. The shooting changed the tone of the meal, said Reverend Gregory Han, director of Interfaiths relations. For decades, the dialogue dinner has taken place to help bring understanding to different religions. The shooter responsible for the Pittsburgh massacre, Han said, was the antithesis of the meals. That kind of violence has its roots in fear and misunderstanding, Han said. nicole.hensley@chron.com @nkhensley The thin pieces of spruce and muslin that Astronaut Neil Armstrong carried to the moon in July 1969 dont look like much just bits of trash, really. But the historic significance of those items fragments of the Wright Flyer, the first powered aircraft that successfully flew in 1903 reaching the rocky lunar surface was monumental. Less than 70 years after humankind took to the skies for the first time, a piece of the machine that made it possible touched a different world in another first. Most people will never get a chance to see this bit of history. But this week, someone will get to own it for a price. The fragments of the Wright Flyer that landed on the lunar surface as part of the Apollo 11 mission are among about 1,300 items from the personal collection of Armstrong, the first man on the moon, being put up for auction Thursday and Friday by Heritage Auctions in Dallas. It is the first major sale of Armstrongs personal collection that comes amid a growing demand for space collectibles as the 50th anniversary of the moon landing approaches. Two other auctions of Armstrongs collection are planned in the next year. NASA WOES: Recent problems can be traced back to loss of Space Shuttle program This collection is so significant because it was Neil Armstrongs, Heritage President Greg Rohan said in a statement. Theres only one first man on the moon. The items up for auction span Armstrongs life, from his Boy Scout cap to the Wright Flyer fragments. But other items Heritage thinks will generate interest include a small American flag that went to the moon and back with Armstrong, as well as an envelope signed by him, astronaut Buzz Aldrin and their third crewmate, Michael Collins. The envelope was considered insurance cover that family members could sell if the astronauts failed to return. Heritage has also conducted auctions for other astronauts, including late Alan Bean, the fourth man on the moon, and Aldrin and Collins. Eric Bradley, Heritage spokesman, said the auction house expects every piece of the Armstrong collection to sell over the two-day auction. They havent set a monetary estimate for the sale because the items are so unique: there are no comparable examples. Were talking about Neil Armstrong, Bradley said. His actions were a milestone in human evolution. Theres no way you can put a price or expectation on what will happen. Still, starting bid on the Wright Flyer fragments range from $30,000 to $55,000 and starting bid for the flag is $75,000. Chris Spain, a space memorabilia expert who operates the website, SpaceFlownArtifacts.com, said the 50th anniversary of the first lunar landing next year as well as movies like First Man about Armstrongs life are generating even more interest in space collectibles. EXPLOSION: Movie being made about 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger accident Were definitely seeing a rise in the number of people interested in collecting space memorabilia, Spain said. Theres a worldwide appeal Some of the biggest collectors and collections are outside the U.S. First Man The phrase Neil Armstrong uttered when he became the first man to step foot on the moon on July 20, 1969 is widely recited. Thats one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind, he intoned. Aldrin followed him to the surface soon after. The event was watched and listened to by about 600 million people 20 percent of the worlds population at that time and made Armstrong and Aldrin household names. But Armstrongs interest in flight began long before, when he was a boy growing up in Ohio. He had a pilots license by 16, even before he could drive, and studied aeronautical engineering at Purdue University and aerospace engineering at the University of Southern California. 50 YEARS: Victor Murray remembers working on Apollo 11 and everything thats happened since Before being tapped as an astronaut in 1962, Armstrong flew 78 combat missions in Korea for the U.S. Navy and was a test pilot for what would eventually become NASA. He flew just one spaceflight prior to the Apollo 11 moon landing. In 1966, he commanded the Gemini 8 mission, in which the first docking of two modules in space occurred. Armstrong was never comfortable with the fame that came with being the first man to step foot on the moon, describing himself as a nerdy engineer. MISSION CONTROL: Space Center Houston, former Flight Director Gene Kranz, raising money to restore historic room Chris Kraft, NASAs first flight director, previously told the Houston Chronicle that Armstrong was one of the greatest human beings I have ever known. He was a great American, a great astronaut, a great teacher, a great pilot and one of my closest friends, Kraft said. We grew up together at [the space agency] and were always working toward a better future for aeronautical engineering and space. Armstrong died in 2012 at the age of 82 after complications from cardiovascular procedures. As long as there are history books, Neil Armstrong will be included in them, remembered for taking humankinds first small step on a world beyond our own, then-NASA administrator Charles Bolden said in a prepared statement at the time of his death. RISK-ADVERSE: Pioneer astronaut, 86, urges NASA to push boundaries Besides being one of Americas greatest explorers, Neil carried himself with a grace and humility that was an example to us all, Bolden said. When President Kennedy challenged the nation to send a human to the moon, Neil Armstrong accepted without reservation. A total of 12 men stepped foot on the moon between 1969 and 1972. But Armstrong will always be the first. And thats why this weeks auction will be unlike any other Heritage has conducted. Theres little question that this will be the most exciting space exploration sale weve ever conducted at Heritage, Todd Imhof, Heritages executive vice president, said in a statement. Subhed Not much was known about Armstrongs personal collection of space memorabilia until after he died. He didnt loan, sell or donate souvenirs from his time in the Gemini and Apollo programs, unlike many of his colleagues. So with a few exceptions, the Heritage sale is the first time Armstrongs family has put up the collection for sale, according to CollectSpace.com, an online publication about space history and artifacts. Armstrongs sons, Mark and Rick, could not immediately be reached for comment. But in a statement, Rick Armstrong said that his father was never about himself. I would expect that he didnt give much thought about how he would be remembered, Rick Armstrong said. With that being said, I think he would be pleased to be remembered as being part of a program that demonstrated amazing things can be achieved when people come together to dedicate themselves toward a common goal. ANOTHER FIRST: Mission Controls first female chief flight director stands as NASA role model and team builder The auction begins at 10:30 a.m. Thursday and continues on Friday. Bidding can be done via phone, internet, fax or from the auction house show room at 1518 Slocum Street in Dallas. More information can be found here. This weeks auction is the first of three to be held by Heritage to sell the entire 2,000-item collection. The next two will take place on May 9-10 and in November 2019, after the 50th anniversary of Armstrongs landing. Florian Neller, who runs a small site called artifactcloud.com that sells space memorabilia, said that most of the websites customers (there are at least 100 buyers at any given time) are interested in pre-Space Shuttle items. Items that went to the moon [are] the top seller and certainly the most expensive ones, Neller said. The Apollo program is still considered one of the greatest achievements of mankind and thus will always be remembered in history. Neller said that movies based on real events such as First Man and Apollo 13,about the 1970 moon mission that was aborted after an oxygen tank exploded add to the interest, as do science fiction movies such as Star Wars and Star Trek. I think its the fascination [of] owning something from the space program or even something that went to the moon, Neller said, that creates the demand and interest in space memorabilia. alex.stuckey@chron.com Early investigative details suggest a virulent anti-Semite needed only a few minutes, three pistols and an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle to carry out the deadliest attack on Jews in U.S. history, killing 11 people inside a Pittsburgh synagogue. The dead include a 97-year-old woman, a husband and wife, and two brothers, all of whom were at Saturday-morning services inside 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, and faces a raft of assault, homicide and hate-crime charges. Theyre 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. After the victims were named at a news conference Sunday morning, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto called the attack the darkest day of Pittsburghs history. He also disputed President Donald Trumps suggestion that the synagogue should have had armed guards. 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, Peduto told reporters. The shooter targeted a congregation that is an anchor of Pittsburghs large and close-knit Jewish community, a massacre that authorities immediately labeled a hate crime as they investigated the suspects history of anti-Semitic online screeds. A man with Bowers name had posted anti-Semitic statements on social media before the shooting, expressing anger at a nonprofit Jewish organization in the neighborhood that has helped refugees settle in the United States. In what appeared to be his last social media post, hours before the attack, the man wrote: I cant sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, Im going in. The FBI said Bowers was not previously known to law enforcement before he drove to the synagogue Saturday morning, as three different congregations celebrated the Jewish Sabbath in the building. He allegedly walked through an unlocked door about 9:45 a.m., armed with a Colt AR-15 rifle and three Glock .357 pistols all four of which he fired, authorities said, as he moved around the large building, screaming about Jews. E. Joseph Charny, 90, recalled praying on the second-floor of the building with about half-a-dozen other congregants. He heard a loud noise downstairs and soon saw a man appear in the doorway. Then gunshots. I looked up, and there were all these dead bodies, Charny said. Bowers roamed the maze-like building, authorities said, gunning down groups of worshippers as he came across them. Robert Jones, the FBI special agent in charge of the case, called it the most horrific crime scene Ive seen in 22 years with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Among the eight men and three women killed were Rose Mallinger, a 97-year-old resident of the predominantly Jewish neighborhood; 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 worshippers were wounded in the initial shooting rampage, which lasted about 10 minutes before someone called 911, police said. Two police officers arrived at the synagogue within a minute of the call and encountered the gunman at the synagogues entrance. He had finished, and he was exiting the building, Jones told reporters. Had Bowers made it out of that facility, there is a strong possibility that additional violence would have occurred. Instead, authorities say, Bowers exchanged gunfire with the two officers, shooting one in the hand; the other was injured by shrapnel. He fled back inside the synagogue, and a small SWAT team assembled to pursue him and try to rescue the wounded inside. Bowers shot two more officers multiple times each during a brief standoff on the buildings third floor, according to criminal complaints. He was allegedly yelling about Jews throughout. The final casualty count was 11 people killed and six wounded, including the four officers. The suspect was also shot several times before he surrendered inside the building. He remained in fair condition and in federal custody on Sunday. Two of the wounded officers remained in stable condition in a hospital on Sunday morning. As they recovered, Jewish leaders and local, state and federal officials detailed what happened in the shootings aftermath, as well as what is still to come. Authorities have closed off the synagogue and much of the surrounding area, although they do not believe the suspect had accomplices. As news of the shooting spread, police locked down other nearby synagogues. Police also raced to synagogues in Washington, New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles to provide additional security. Investigators worked through the night at Tree of Life processing what Jones called a large and complex crime scene. They also consulted with rabbis to identify the bodies, which remained in the building until the next morning. Bowers house in the Baldwin neighborhood was searched, and investigators have begun to scour his social media feeds. These may include a since-deleted Gab account in which a user with Bowers name compared Jews to Satan and complained that Trumps Make America Great Again movement cannot succeed so long as Jews infest the country. Bowers is expected to have his first court hearing on Monday. He faces at least 23 state charges, including homicide, attempted homicide and aggravated assault against police officers. He faces an additional 29 federal charges accusing him of civil rights and hate crimes. This was the single most lethal and violent attack on the Jewish community in the history of the country, said Jonathan Greenblatt, chief executive and national director of the Anti-Defamation League. Weve never had an attack of such depravity where so many people were killed. The Pittsburgh massacre comes less than two weeks before midterm elections, hours after a man was arrested and accused of mailing pipe bombs to prominent Democrats, and is the latest in a seemingly endless series of mass shootings and hate-fueled attacks including a possible hate crime in which a man killed two black shoppers at a grocery store in Louisville. It is almost certain to intensify a national debate over bigotry and hatred in American politics not to mention gun control. The ADL said anti-Semitic incidents had jumped more than 50 percent to nearly 2,000 documented events in 2017 a year in which white nationalism seemed to surge in visibility, overlapping with support for Trumps anti-immigration policies and demagogic political rhetoric. Like the prime minister of Israel, the pope and political leaders across the world, Trump has condemned the synagogue attack. He ordered flags flown at half-staff through Wednesday. At a political rally on Saturday evening, Trump called the massacre an assault on humanity that will require all of us working together to extract the hateful poison of anti-Semitism from our world. But Trump has shown no signs of listening to critics including the ADL who have for years warned that his rhetoric incites anti-Semites. Later in Saturdays speech, for example, the president again attacked globalists a word that reportedly appeared in one of Bowers anti-Semitic posts and is interpreted on the far right to mean powerful Jews. Trump has used it throughout his presidency, and he once released a political ad that paired images of prominent Jews with warnings about global special interests and global power structure. In his defense, Trumps supporters cite his daughters conversion to Judaism and his support for the Israeli government. On Sunday, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders called the suspect a coward who hated President Trump because (he) is such an unapologetic defender of the Jewish community and state of Israel. Nor does the shooting seem likely to change Trumps opposition to gun control. Just as he has after mass shootings in schools, he suggested Saturdays massacre could have been prevented if the synagogue had armed security guards. At the news conference Sunday morning, Peduto was asked about the presidents response and partially repudiated it. We will not try to rationalize irrational behavior, the Pittsburgh mayor told reporters. We will work to eradicate it. We will work to eradicate it from our city, and our nation, and our world. Hatred will not have a place anywhere. The mayor echoed Tree of Life Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, who has not commented since the massacre but who wrote the following after the Parkland, Fla., school shooting in February: Unless there is a dramatic turnaround in the midterm 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? An unprecedented number of Texans cast their ballots during the first week of early voting, but it is impossible to predict whether that surge will benefit Republicans or Democrats because more than 25 percent of the voters have no primary election voting history, an analysis of data from the Secretary of State shows. People whose voting records provide no clue of their party affiliation cast 27.8 percent of the ballots in the 15 most populous counties in Texas, according to the analysis by Republican consultant Derek Ryan. About one-third of the early voters in those counties had voted in a Republican primary in the past; for Democrats, it was 30 percent. Those percentages are consistent with early voting totals from the last midterm primary, in 2014, Ryan said. For subscribers: Houston Chronicle 2018 Voter Guide For subscribers: San Antonio Express-News 2018 Voter Guide But the 2018 numbers leave too many unknowns to draw conclusions, Ryan said. Unless somebody's out there polling those people and calling them, there's really no way necessarily to know if those people are voting Republican or Democrat, Ryan said. The same goes for the people that have primary history. Just because somebody voted in a Republican primary, it doesn't always necessarily mean that they're a Republican or that they are voting for all the Republicans on the ballot. In Harris County, 30 percent of early voters had no primary voting history. Thirty-three percent of early voters in the county most recently voted in a Republican primary, compared to 28.6 percent who most recently voted in a Democratic primary. In Bexar County, 28.5 percent of early voters had no primary voting history. For those who have cast ballots in primary elections before, 29.3 percent most recently voted in a Republican primary, compared to 32.6 percent who most recently voted in a Democratic primary. The 15-county analysis also found an increase in voters with Hispanic surnames. Those voters have cast 19 percent of the ballots in early voting so far; in 2014, 15.2 percent of early voters in Texas had Hispanic surnames. In the 2018 election, People aged 60 to 69 made up 21 percent of early voters so far, the largest age group, the 15-county analysis shows. Voters aged 50-59 made up the second largest group at just under 20 percent, and voters aged 40-49 percent made up the third largest group at about 15 percent. Early voters aged 20-29 made up about 8 percent. This breakdown was consistent with totals for the 2014 midterm elections. More storylines from the first week of early voting: Tally so far already tops 2014 total: In the top 15 most populous counties in Texas, 2,669,506 voters cast in-person ballots and 311,409 cast mail-in ballots through Sunday, in the first seven days of early voting. It took just four days of early voting in the top 15 counties for the tally to surpass the total number of early votes cast in those counties during the 2014 midterms and there is still nearly a week of early voting left. Turnout hits 21 percent in metro counties: Through the first seven days of the 12-day early voting period, 506,356 voters cast their ballots in Harris County; in Bexar County, 241,751 votes were recorded; in Travis County, 216,112 cast ballots; in Dallas, 323,553 cast ballots, bringing voter turnout in each county to 21 to 28 percent. Jump in voter registrations fuels surge: Texas voter rolls grew to over 15.6 million people, Texas Secretary of State Rolando Pablos said. Thats a jump of 1.6 million voters since the last midterm election in 2014. Like a presidential election: Voter turnout is typically higher during presidential elections. An average of about 1.5 million people in Texas have cast ballots in each presidential election since 2000, compared to an average of 591,649 voters in each midterm election over the same time. But the number of voters participating in this election is more similar to the 2016 presidential election than any midterm since 2000, according to the Secretary of States office. Early voting ends Friday, Nov. 2, and Election Day is Nov. 6. 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. The Government of Canada has issued 3,900 Express Entry candidates an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residence in a draw held October 29. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score in this latest draw was 442. The federal Express Entry system manages the pool of candidates for Canadas three main economic immigration program the Federal Skilled Worker Class, Federal Skilled Trades Class and Canadian Experience Class. Eligible candidates are given a score under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) that determines their position in the Express Entry pool, and a set number of the highest-ranked are issued ITAs through regular draws from the pool. Todays draw was the fourth time since September 5 that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued 3,900 Invitation to Apply (ITA) to Express Entry candidates, which remains the largest draw size of 2018. To find out if you are eligible to enter the Express Entry pool, fill out a free assessment. The minimum score in the October 29 draw was two points higher than the cut-off score of 440 in the previous invitation round, which took place October 15. IRCC used its tie-break rule in this latest invitation round. The date and time used was October 16, 2018, at 06:09:04 UTC. This means that all candidates with a CRS score above 442, as well as those candidates with scores of 442 who submitted their profile before October 16, 2018, at 06:09:04 UTC, received an ITA in this invitation round. Todays invitation round brings the number of ITAs issued this year to 74,200 and puts IRCC 778 ITAs behind where it was at this same point in 2017, at which point it had issued 74,978 ITAs. IRCCs admissions target for 2017 was 71,700 new permanent residents and the department has established a target of 74,900 for 2018 and 81,400 for 2019 under Canadas Multi-Year Levels Immigration Plan. There are a number of ways to improve your CRS score, including a provincial nomination that results in 600 additional CRS points. Most Canadian provinces and territories have a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) that allows them to nominate a certain number of immigrants each year for Canadian permanent residence. Every PNP has at least one stream that is linked to the Express Entry system. Express Entry linked-PNP streams were involved in four provincial draws in October that set new 2018 records for invitations issued. Those streams are located in Prince Edward Island, Ontario, Saskatchewan and British Columbia. Looking for more information on Canadas Provincial Nominee Programs? Use the new interactive Canada PNP Finder to explore programs, filter your search, and keep up to date on all PNP-related news. The following is a hypothetical example of candidates who would have obtained an ITA in todays draw: Shoka and Navid are married. Shoka is 29 years old and Navid is 32. For language, Shoka had CLB 10 and Navid had CLB 9 across the board. They both have a Bachelors degree in Computer Science, each has more than three years of foreign work experience and neither has worked or studied in Canada. Shoka submitted a profile as the principal applicant and their score of 443 would have earned them an ITA in todays draw. Todays draw brings us almost neck-and-neck with 2017, which set the Express Entry record for invitations issued in a single year, said David Cohen, senior partner at the Campbell Cohen Canadian immigration law firm in Montreal. If IRCC keeps draw sizes at 3,900, or even increases them, we could see a new record set this year. To find out if you are eligible to enter the Express Entry pool, fill out a free assessment form. 2018 CICNews All rights Reserved On Monday afternoon Philip Hammond delivered the latest Budget. This included key funding announcements for Universal Credit, the NHS and local government as well as targeted announcements for charities. Infrastructure bodies were frustrated that there was little in the way of strategic funding for the sector. While front-line charities said the government had not done enough to support people. Infrastructure sector Acevo: Scattergun announcements Vick Browning, chief executive of Acevo, said: Ahead of the Budget Acevo joined with a number of other membership and infrastructure bodies, collectively representing tens of thousands of charities across England and Wales, to write to the chancellor asking not for handouts but for long-term strategic investment in civil society that would build thriving, resilient communities. Much like the civil society strategy, the Budget set out a more positive vision from government than in recent years, but the substance is yet to be seen. CFG: Announcements dont go far enough Caron Bradshaw, chief executive of the Charity Finance Group, said: Yet another Budget goes by without any strategic funding for the sector. The announcements on charity tax and some additional funding for local government social care and childrens services are to be welcomed, but they dont go far enough. And its great to see funds for the military charities and air ambulances, however, worthy though those causes are, we desperately need the government to be more strategic in their funding of the sector as a whole. It was noticeable that the Budget was caveated with there being a successful outcome to the Brexit negotiations. Despite further funds being poured into managing the process however, a no-deal seems increasingly likely. In that event its difficult to see how the chancellor could hold off until spring to rethink spending. IoF: Business as usual approach Daniel Fluskey, head of policy and external affairs, said: The Budget overall seemed a business as usual approach with not much that will be eye-catching for the charity sector. While we of course recognise the political complexities as the uncertainty over Brexit continues, following an aspirational civil society strategy published by government this summer we were hoping for a more ambitious programme announced today to invest in fundraising skills to help small charities go the distance and get charity tax working better to reduce costs for charities and encourage giving. Despite the stated move away from austerity measures, the reality is that communities are still seeing services cut and charities will have to continue to step in to fill the gap and need the right skills and support to do so. However, were glad to see the threshold for Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme rise from 20 to 30 as well as relieving some of the administration on Gift Aid Retail Scheme. NCVO: 'Some big-ticket items important to the sector that went without mention' Karl Wilding, director of policy at NCVO, said: "We know lots of our members are concerned about the pressures on health and social care services and the impact of welfare reforms. Front-line organisations are really struggling with increasing demand. I hope todays spending announcements will go some way to relieve these pressures. "There were some welcome and useful changes to a number of specific tax regulations for charities which will make life easier, particularly when it comes to administering small donations and gift aid in charity shops. "More broadly, charities are playing an ever-bigger role in society and wed like to see the government reflect this. There were some big-ticket items important to the sector that went without mention. There is still no certainty on how dormant assets cash will be spent, despite an increasingly clear consensus among charities on the best way forward. Nor was there was any further explanation of how the shared prosperity fund set to replace billions in European funding will work. We hope to see further details on these issues in the very near future." CAF: Use plastic levy to raise more for charity Sir John Low, chief executive of the Charities Aid Foundation, said: It is good news that the chancellor proposes to use the tax system to reduce plastic waste, but he should look to the success of the plastic bag levy to further reduce disposable plastics. Weve seen first-hand how successful the levy was reducing the number of bags being used, while raising much-needed money for charities. The Budget also includes measures to make Britain a leader in digital development, but it is important that the implementation should be extended to charities to help them harness the opportunities of a digital world as well as manage the potential downsides for society. In a pre-Brexit Budget, its vital that charities play a role in ensuring the economy does actually work for everyone. The announcement of grants for individual causes is of course great news for the charities involved and the detail of the Budget includes some welcome measures to help small charities benefit from Gift Aid. DSC: The claim of the end of austerity rings hollow Jay Kennedy, director of policy and research at the Directory of Social Change, said: Despite new measures on Universal Credit and another social care funding stop gap, the claim of the end of austerity rings hollow. The chancellor made big statements about mental health provision that many charities will want to unpack, because theyve heard similar things many times before. The clock is ticking down to our departure from the EU and there was no new news on a consultation about the future UK Shared Prosperity Fund, or the potential development of the Dormant Assets scheme to support community resilience. We may have to wait until the Spending Review to get more certainty about the Charity Commissions budget. Social Enterprise UK: Heading for more of the same Peter Holbrook, chief executive of Social Enterprise UK, said: Champagne corks will be popping at the prospect of 9bn in tax cuts for business which the government has planned over the next five years. But what are we getting for this? Higher dividends for shareholders and bigger bonus cheques for chief executives? The chancellor had an opportunity to back social enterprises which share growth by paying their staff fairly and reinvesting their profits back into their communities. Unfortunately, he decided to rely on old-fashioned and failed economic ideas. If we want to build an economy that truly works for everyone, we need to back a different type of business. There is little in this Budget which to give people confidence that we are heading towards anything other than simply more of the same. Charities Carers Trust: Were not sure how the Budget will reach carers Giles Meyer, chief executive of Carers Trust, said: "For one fleeting moment today we thought the chancellor had remembered unpaid carers in his Budget. Sadly, it was just that: a moment. The NHS will get extra money for mental health, but it isnt clear how this will support carers. Carers often need help with their own mental health, especially young carers who are at risk of developing mental health problems. Its also important carers are taken seriously as experts in care of people with mental health problems. And with only 650m for adult social care and 84m for childrens social care, spread across all of Englands local authorities, the needs of seven million carers and the local services that support them will barely be touched. This is too short term a solution. Carers dont have a moment to wait for the help and support they need: too many are already in crisis. Were not sure how any of the money in the Budget will reach them. Christian Aid: Government lacked ambition on digital tax Toby Quantrill, economic justice lead at Christian Aid, said: "Ensuring that the big digital tech companies contribute fairly in the UK, where they do so much of their business, is important. But the expected income of 400m is unambitious compared to the profits these companies make. In reality, this is tantamount to an admission that these companies are too powerful to tax effectively. "If the UK as the sixth largest economy cant impose a credible tax bill on these global corporate giants, that meets with what the public expects, what hope do developing country governments have? The UK government has it within its power to move immediately and unilaterally to force companies to be fully transparent about where they operate, where they makes profits, and where they pay tax. But it continues to bottle even this simple action." MS Society: More is need in next years spending review Genevieve Edwards, director of external affairs at the MS Society, said: Todays Budget offers people with MS some hope that austerity might truly be coming to an end. But while the 1bn for Universal Credit and 650m for social care will go some way to improving their lives it will take a lot more to reverse the impact of years of deep and damaging cuts. Over 100,000 people in the UK have MS, and successive UK Government spending decisions to date have left many of them without support to live independently. Although 20bn for the NHS is significant, this funding will be undermined as people continue to turn to the health service as a last resort, when they dont get support they need elsewhere. Both social care and disability benefits desperately need substantial and sustainable investment, and this must come in next years spending review. United Response: Announcements are a drop in the ocean Tim Cooper, chief executive of United Response, said: 650m of social care funding announced in todays Budget is welcome, but must be considered against the severity of the wider social care crisis. The National Audit Office has documented a reduction of almost 50 per cent in Government funding for English Local Authorities since 2010. The Local Government Association has estimated a funding gap of 5.8bn for social care by 2020, which must be filled if councils are to avoid cutting back vital services. Set in this context, 650m is a drop in the ocean of what is needed to secure decent care services for disabled people, which government has a statutory duty to provide under the Care Act. Action for Children: We are fooling ourselves if we think this is enough Imran Hussain, director of policy and campaigns at Action for Children, said: With the PMs recent declaration of an end to austerity, our hopes were high this Budget would begin to tackle the desperate funding crisis in childrens services. The extra 84m is a welcome acknowledgement of the pressures councils are under, yet we are fooling ourselves if we think it will help start bridging the 3bn funding gap expected by 2025 and make a real difference to the lives of our most vulnerable children. The government has backed away from legislation to stop fundraising platforms from charging fees on Gift Aid, despite widespread suggestions at the weekend that it planned to do so. Labour MP Neil Coyle, who has been vocal in parliament about stopping fundraising platforms charging fees on Gift Aid, said the government has failed donors at todays Budget. Neil Coyle, the Labour member for Bermondsey and Old Southwark, said the government had failed to close the loophole that leaves charities and good causes missing vital donations and rips off taxpayers generosity. He also called the practice of platforms charging fees on Gift Aid disreputable behaviour. Some fundraising platforms have been siphoning a profit even from the Gift Aid element of donations, undermining the system and abusing a loophole," he said. "The government have missed the chance to scrap this disreputable behaviour and passed the buck to the regulator to take action with no new powers or resources to do so. The chancellor could have closed the loophole today but has left it open to further abuse, ripping off taxpayers and charities alike sadly. Vocal criticism Coyle has been very vocal in his criticism of the practice, and of JustGiving in particular. Two weeks ago he wrote to JustGiving calling for the platform to return some 500,000 in fees paid by those donating to crowdfunding and charity giving pages in the wake of the terrorist attacks in London and Manchester and the Grenfell Tower fire disaster last year. He also said that JustGiving owed users an apology for what he called this horrendous breach of faith. In September, Coyle also wrote to Tracey Crouch, minister for civil society, and said it was a disgrace that platforms could charge fees on Gift Aid. In a written answer to a question posed by Coyle last week, Crouch said today that digital fundraising platforms raise significant funds for charitable causes and therefore must ensure high standards of transparency to allow donors to make informed decisions, and praised the work of the Fundraising Regulator in updating the Code of Fundraising Practice in this area. The Sun expected crackdown' This follows a story carried by The Sun on Saturday which said it expected Chancellor Philip Hammond to crack down on charities charging commission on Gift Aid. The story said that platforms had failed to meet the governments ultimatum to stop making profits on Gift Aid and that JustGiving in particular had defied Treasury Minister Robert Jenricks demands to drop its 5 per cent fee for donors who opt into Gift Aid - only scrapping the charge for donations to disaster fund. The story also reiterated calls, made by Jenrick in the summer in the newspaper, for JustGiving to stop charging fees on Gift Aid entirely. But the expected crackdown never came. JustGiving reacts JustGiving announced on 15 October that it would be removing platform fees, including charging on Gift Aid, in response to what it called major incidents and disasters on its charity fundraising pages. The platform also announced it would completely remove all fees from its crowdfunding pages. As part of the announcement, it also said it would be consulting with key charity partners and HM Revenue and Customs to gather feedback on its charging on Gift Aid for non-emergency specific charity pages in future. A spokesman for JustGiving confirmed this consultation would continue, despite the government taking no action on its fee structure. Ahead of the Autumn Budget, Rob Preston summarises some of the charity sectors key demands and looks at what the sector should prepare for this afternoon. Online giving platforms charging fees on Gift Aid This issue has been bubbling away for a few months. Last week the MP Neil Coyle wrote to JustGiving demanding it repay 500,000 to people who have paid fees on donations and on Saturday the Sun reported that donations platforms face a "crackdown on charging commission". The Charity Tax Group (CTG) and the Institute of Fundraising (IoF) have called on the Treasury to address the issue of fundraising platforms charging fees on Gift Aid. Daniel Fluskey, director of policy and external affairs at the IoF, said: We want to avoid a policy which aims to protect Gift Aid, or impose a way of working for platforms, that might be well intended but could lead to disrupting the relationships between charities and platforms, or result in higher charges elsewhere. He also said the IoF had suggested the government establish a working group on the issue to help "review and think through potential options". CTG has called on the government to consider facilitating discussions between charities and fundraising platforms about improving the transparency and equity of fees when Gift Aid is claimed on donations collected by intermediaries, particularly in relation to emergency and disaster appeals. One-off VAT rebate Military charities are hoping for a VAT rebate on sales of commemorative statues will be announced after the defence minister backed the campaign. Defence minister Tobias Ellwood has called for a military charitys campaign to be VAT exempt after learning that sales of commemorative silhouettes were subject to the tax. Military charity There But Not There is selling silhouettes of World War One soldiers around the country to mark the 100th anniversary of the wars end. The charity hopes to raise 15m and will split this between six charities. It expects to have to pay around 3m in VAT. One-off VAT rebates on particular issues, such as fuel for air ambulances, have been announced in the Budget in the past. Dormant assets The sector has been waiting a while for an announcement about how the government plans to use up to 2bn in dormant assets to support the sector. Charity sector leaders from organisations including NCVO, Acevo, Navca and the Small Charities Coalition wrote to chancellor Philip Hammond to build on the vision set out in the Civil Society Strategy by taking substantive action on dormant assets. The letter said charities operate in an increasingly tough environment and that severe pressures on local authority-funding are hitting the people and places facing disadvantage the hardest and that the sector needs sufficient resources to continue to help to build a country that works for everyone. The governments Civil Society Strategy has set out a vision for strengthening the capabilities, infrastructure and resources within communities, recognising the economic, civic and social capital that is required for communities to thrive, the letter said. It also suggested using the 475m held by the National Fund in a similar way and directed the chancellor to an earlier proposal for a Community Wealth Fund. Replace EU funding with grants The charity leaders that wrote to Hammond said that the government had a once in a generation opportunity to build on the European Social Fund by ring-fencing a similar amount from the newly proposed UK Shared Prosperity Fund. ESF funding provides important investment for the UK in education and training and employment support, targeting vulnerable groups who often fall through the gaps of mainstream public services. This includes people with disabilities and health conditions, people facing multiple or complex barriers to employment, and ex-offenders, they said. Tax reform Specialist insurer Ecclesiastical and Charity Finance Group have called for an Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) exemption for charities. While IPT is a tax on general insurance premiums, such as home, car and travel insurance, the vast majority of charities, especially those who own property and have significant operational costs, are also impacted. Angus Roy, Ecclesiasticals charity director, said: The average charity is paying 300 in IPT on top of their insurance premiums. The government has long recognised that charities should be treated differently to commercial businesses by granting reductions and exemptions from other taxes, including VAT, business rate relief and Gift Aid, so it seems unfair that IPT is an exception to that rule. Meanwhile, the Institute of Fundraising wrote to Hammond, urging him to reduce the cost of irrecoverable VAT on fundraising activities and materials, and across the wider charitable sector. It also called on the government to promote and increase legacy gifts by introducing a VAT exemption for all wills that include a charitable gift. And it urged a review the operation of corporate Gift Aid to ensure it works best for charities and businesses. Charity Commission funding The Treasury announced 5m of transition funding for the Charity Commission at the end of 2017, but it is unclear what the long term solution to the regulators funding shortfall is. The Director of Social Change (DSC) called on the Treasury to support a new funding settlement for the government body that is so critical to supporting it. One option the regulator has floated is the idea of charging the largest charities in the sector, but the DSC is not in favour of this. Training funding The IoF has asked the Treasury to invest in a comprehensive package of support to develop fundraising skills and capacity of small charities. It said: Releasing additional funding for this initiative will significantly increase the sustainability and impact of smaller charities and their ability to have a positive impact in the long-term. Universal credit The Child Poverty Action Group co-ordinated a letter from a number of poverty charities calling for urgent changes to Universal Credit. It said: For Universal Credit to be fit for purpose there needs to be more flexibility over payments so as to resolve important issues caused by a single, monthly, household payment, including problems with budgeting, paying rent and the risk of financial abuse. 'Fix the economy' Social Enterprise UK has co-ordinated a letter from 130 social enterprise leaders to the chancellor accusing the government of ignoring the "broken economy" and using Brexit uncertainty as "an excuse to do nothing". Peter Holbrook, chief executive, Social Enterprise UK said: Brexit is understandably dominating debate, but leaving the EU alone will not solve the problems facing with our economy and society. That requires action by the government to create an economy that truly works for everyone. We are not asking the chancellor to change our economy overnight, but simply to make the first steps in a journey to back businesses which are contributing positively to society, rather than rewarding those which are making the situation worse. The tax system is sending the wrong signals to business and rewards bad practice. A comprehensive root and branch review is long overdue. When I began freelancing, an editor from a local news site approached me with an assignment. The pay seemed too low for the time commitment, so I declined. Not long afterward, a fellow freelancer mentioned that hed been approached with the same assignment for higher pay. I dont know why this pay disparity happenedwhether the editor got clearance to offer a higher fee after I declined, or whether something more insidious such as sexism was at play. But I know this: If the outlet approaches me again, theres room to push for more money. I owe that knowledge to another freelancer. The power to talk with other freelancers about money gives us the information and strength to negotiate for fair conditions and sustain our work. Such conversations are often hushed; they happen via Twitter direct messages, Facebook groups publicized through word of mouth, emails among trusted networks, chats over coffee. For freelancers, these conversations can be crucial to survival in a business where they lack the support and advantages of established companies. So recently, when two organizations offered me contracts that prohibited necessary discussion of pay, it felt like a new twist in freelance survival. Freelancers who have written for Newsweek and Americas Test Kitchen told me on-the-record that they have received contracts from those companies that either specifically bar discussing payment amount for an assignment or prohibit disclosing contract terms altogether. For example, a contract for Americas Test Kitchen provided by a freelancer states: Contributor will not disclose to any third party the existence or the terms of this agreement (other than to contributors financial and legal advisors on a need-to-know basis). Americas Test Kitchen did not respond to requests for comment, and Newsweek declined to comment.** RELATED: Three clauses freelancers should negotiate, according to lawyers Its just another example of freelancers really being at a disadvantage when it comes to the power dynamics in the relationship between publication and writer, Josh*, a freelance journalist, says. Freelancers are really left on their own. Thats really a hard place to be when youre trying to figure out how to negotiate, what gigs to take, which ones you need to pass up because theyre not going to be worth your while. In the past, freelancers have been reluctant to talk about what theyre paid, but there has recently been a push for transparency, says David Hill, first vice president of the National Writers Union, which represents freelance writers. Sign up for CJR 's daily email These non-disclosure agreements are probably a response or a reaction to that push weve seen over the past couple of years among people that work in media to be more open about their rates and their salary, says Hill. Caitlin Pearce, executive director of Freelancers Union, recently spoke with a freelancer who wanted to raise her rates. After speaking with colleagues, the freelancer realized she had been undercharging for her work all along, according to Pearce. If there are legal restrictions placed over being able to freely share this kind of information, particularly in the absence of having a union or another entity that can represent you, freelancers are really left on their own, says Pearce. Thats really a hard place to be when youre trying to figure out how to negotiate, what gigs to take, which ones you need to pass up because theyre not going to be worth your while. (Disclosure: Im a member of Freelancers Union.) Employees arent subject to such non-disclosure clauses, which have been illegal since the enactment of the National Labor Relations Act in 1935. Earnings discussions help ensure that companies practice fair payment, according to Jeff Hermes, deputy director of the Media Law Resource Center. Thats what allows employees to check with one another and make sure an employer isnt engaging in discriminatory practices, he says. If employees arent allowed to discuss their pay, it can be very hard to detect that women, for example, are being systematically underpaid in the workplace. But there are no such legal protections for freelancers against contracts that would effectively gag them from discussing payment. That lack of protection can perpetuate an ugly status quo: In the creative economy, self-employed women make 32 percent less than men for the same job, according to business website HoneyBooks examination of 200,000 invoices and survey of more than 3,000 respondents. Its definitely a trend. Contracts seem to be getting murkier and worse for freelancers across the board. If a worker is truly a freelancer and a payment NDA is enforceable, then a freelancer who discusses compensation could be subject to a breach of contract, says Hermes. Consequences could include a fine and a court order to bar future pay discussion. Frustration with a lack of pay transparency drove Manjula Martin to create Who Pays Writers?, a freelance rates reporting website. Martin, whose site includes listings for Newsweek, calls payment-related NDAs in freelance contracts disturbing. Its a disturbing trend to hear that publications are asking their freelancers to sign [non-disclosure agreements] about payment, says Martin, editor of Scratch, an anthology of essays and interviews with authors about their experiences with making a living. The saying is true: Information is power, and I think an NDA about payments can only benefit one party, and thats the party whos signing the checks. In the past decade, Martin has seen a rise in media companies asking freelancers to permanently relinquish the potentially profitable copyright of their work. Asking to not discuss aspects of contracts, especially money, feels like the next step. Its definitely a trend, she says. Contracts seem to be getting murkier and worse for freelancers across the board. Hermes says the best reaction to a payment NDA depends on what other contract items a freelancer wants to change or remove. If they dont care about it, then you can make a decision that its not worth spending your negotiation credits on trying to have this provision taken out. If it does bother, you could ask to have it removed, he says. If something bothers you, its certainly worth asking because you never know if thats something they might just take out. I objected to the two contracts I received that included payment NDAs. Neither of the two editors found my objections onerous. After I asked, they removed or changed the payment NDA clause with no hesitation. While I successfully negotiated, not all freelancers read contracts closely or push back. Instead, freelancers must analyze their options and the costs associated. It doesnt seem like a good hill to die on, says Jennifer*, a freelance journalist, who says she negotiates instead for longer deadlines, higher rates, and more rights. Michael,* a freelance journalist, signs payment NDAs while negotiating for other rights, such as intellectual property. Holding the copyright to a work can prove profitable, should the piece make an appearance in an anthology or be adapted into another media form. You can push back, but theres only so much, says Michael. Usually, theres another person willing to do it. *For this story, CJR provided pseudonyms to sources who asked for anonymity in order to speak freely about freelance pay without fear of recrimination. **Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly identified a News Deeply freelance contract as containing a non-disclosure clause concerning payment. CJR regrets the error. ICYMI: Freelancers are precarious. When should they push back? Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Adina Solomon is a freelance journalist based in Atlanta who writes about a range of topicseverything from business to food to death to city design and beyond. Her work has appeared in The Washington Post, US News & World Report, The Atlantic's CityLab, and other national and local outlets. Donald Trump continues to thrill rallies with frightful tales of an impending onslaught of Central Americans at the Mexican border. This will be the election of the caravan, the Kavanaughs, he declared Saturday night in Murphysboro, Illinois, a few hours after a raging anti-Semite murdered 11 Jews in Pittsburgh. Trump is more bully than pulpit. But during the past week the pulpit has an obvious purpose: to manufacture a National Emergy, as he tweeted October 22, and rile up his voters. An assault on our country, he also tweeted. This look-over-there diversion was not a notion that flew spontaneously into his head. The New York Times reported that White House Chief of Staff John Kelly and Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen began briefing Trump on the caravan days earlier. Trump needed rescue from the perverse impressions left from his embrace of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the murder of Washington Post contributor Jamal Khashoggi. It doesnt matter if its 100 percent accurate, a senior Trump administration official told The Daily Beast. This is the playa play right out of the totalitarian playbook described by Hannah Arendt 67 years ago. ICYMI: After synagogue shooting, editors tweet about Fox News goes viral Trump not only thrills his base crowds, he requisitions the TV cameras. He points and they gazeat least until the next blinding news slithers into the frame. On social media, fraudulent videos help spice up the horror stories about the invaders. Some bad people started that caravan, Trump said on October 20. More importantly, or maybe almost as importantly, you have some very, very bad people in the caravan. . . tough criminal elements. The AP chorused about an army of migrants and tweeted about a ragtag army of the poor until complaints convinced the news agency to back off. Trump upped the ante, tweeting that Criminals and unknown Middle Easterners are mixed in, citing no evidence. (There is none.) At a rally in Houston, as followers waved FINISH THE WALL signs, he knew whom to blame: The Democrats have launched an assault on the sovereignty of our country. The crisis on our border right now as we speak is the sole result of Democrat laws and activist, Democrat judges. The cameras barely found room to fasten any responsibility on decades of US-supported Central American dictatorshipsthe failed states that promote misery and the gangs that fatten upon itnor on the drought, probably worsened by global warming, that drives people into a thousand-mile exodus in hope of refuge northward. Soon enough, at an Oval Office event, Trump sort of retracted the bit about unknown Middle Easterners: Theres no proof of anything, but they could very well be, declaring that the Border Patrol has intercepted wonderful people from the Middle East, and theyve intercepted bad ones. Without citing any of the very good information he claimed to know, he charged that Democrats maybemade a bad mistake by backing the caravan. Could very well be is, of course, a standard rhetorical move for promoting a meme contrary to fact. And Trump has help. He sounds alarms and national TV plugs in the loudspeakers, even as mainstream networks muted the panic button with sympathetic comments about Honduran and other migrants. PBS NewsHour, to its credit, called them less of a caravan and more of an exodus. Still, ABC News couldnt restrain itself from trumpeting caravan crisis in a graphic, and, as Margaret Sullivan wrote in the Post, also pumped classic false-equivalency into a chyron that read: Both sides seizing on immigration as mid-term nears. Sign up for CJR 's daily email Unsurprisingly, no one sounded louder alarms than Fox News. On October 24, reporter Griff Jenkins checked in from the Rio Grande in McAllen, Texas, whispering as he crouched in the bushes in wait as Central Americans tried to make their way across the river in boats. Jenkins shouted at one family (in English), Excuse me, sir, were you trying to cross into America illegally? While no answer was heard, and the group headed back to the Mexican shore, Fox Newss chyron read: GRIFF FOILS ILLEGALS ATTEMPT TO CROSS BORDER. We busted one of those smuggling operations, Jenkins bragged. Later, Jenkins repeated his question about illegal crossing to one of the women he had proudly foiled, who answered that she was fleeing Honduras because you cannot get work there because the criminals will always get the money. The chyron read: ILLEGAL ADMITS TO KNOWINGLY BREAKING THE LAW. Trumps cynicism was and is undeniable. So was and is his intent: to stampede his fanatics to the polls. Does it work? Who knows? Maybe not. David Weigel knowledgeably surmised in the Post on October 25 that, outside Washington and New York, to the surprise of strategists and despite assertions by the president and his political team that the caravan is a game-changer, its not. One week after the president first tweeted about the caravan, images from Mexico have not appeared in any swing race campaign adsnot even to replace the usual B-roll of people climbing the border fence.Newspapers and local television stations outside Washington, which covered the presidents reaction to the caravan, have not followed the caravan itself as breathlessly as national and conservative media. Democratic strategists acknowledged that the first images of the migrant caravan made them worry. But neither side has seen movement in polling this week, nor has either side seen voters elevating immigration as their top issue. If Trumps pumped-up hysteria fails to turn the trickat least in the polls and the calculations of campaign consultantsthis speaks to a wave of common sense surging over our borders. No small thing. But the persistence of resistant minds, however necessary and heartening, does not get wild-eyed media off the hook. The good sense of much of the publicif Weigel is rightdoes not redound to the credit of the national media that jumped on his onslaught bandwagon. TV news surely must report the news about thousands of refugees whether they head for Mexico, Texas, or Italy. Lets hear more, lots more, about why they join the exodus and set out to trek thousand-mile routes. Reporting, yes; panic buttons, no. ICYMI: After journalists killing, NYT makes a bold move with front page Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Todd Gitlin , who chairs the interdisciplinary Ph.D program in Communication based at the Columbia Journalism School, is the author of 17 books, of which the next is a novel, The Opposition. Weve been hearing a lot lately about false flags, where attacks supposedly committed by one group make it appear that another group committed them. False flags are (usually) far-fetched conspiracy theories launched by far-left or far-right groups seeking to deflect blame to the opposition. Many commentators trace the use of false flags to pirates, who would fly the flag of a target ship until they got close enough to attack, at which time they would raise the skull and crossbones, too late for the target ship to escape. But the history of false flags goes deeper, and more mainstream. Under maritime law, it was perfectly legal for one ship to fly a false flag to chase an enemy ship or to try to escape, though it is universally agreed that immediately before an attack a vessel must fly her national flag, as a 1914 law journal article said. While US maritime law prohibited the use of false flags, there is some evidence that it has made use of false flags, on the sea and elsewhere. For example, many people still insist that the explosion that destroyed the USS Maine in Havana Harbor in 1898 was a false flag operation to give the United States a pretext for the Spanish-American War. While false flag operations have probably existed for centuries, their appearances in dictionaries is limited. The Oxford English Dictionary traces false flag to 1569, though its first citation is a figurative use: a deliberate misrepresentation of someones affiliation or motives; something used deliberately to misrepresent in this way. Its first citation of the maritime meaning, A flag used to disguise a ship by misrepresenting its nationality, allegiance, intent, etc., is from 1824, though it was in use much earlier. ICYMI: Merriam-Webster and OED add new words: Lorem ipsum, TL;DR, and more Sign up for CJR 's daily email In 1982, the OED says, false flag was first used in an attributive sense, a noun modifying another noun, thus becoming an adjective, as in false flag operation. The OED definition for that is An event or action (typically political or military in nature) secretly orchestrated by someone other than the person or organization that appears to be responsible for it, closer to the way its frequently used today. And the person to first use it that way was a journalist, according to the OED. Robert Moss, described as an internationally syndicated columnist with the London Daily Telegraph and a recognized world authority on terrorism and espionage, testified before a Senate subcommittee on security and terrorism on the Role of Moscow and Its Subcontractors. Moss described international events such as the reported Soviet-directed manufacturing of weapons to make them appear as if they were from Western nations, so that the West would be blamed for terrorist activity. This could all be viewed under the category of what the experts call false flag operations, Moss said. In other words, carrying out a covert operation under the flag or the label of a different country or a different interest from what you really represent. (Emphasis added.) We found an earlier, 1980, reference to the attributive false flag in The New York Times Magazine, in an article discussing Soviet moles: Some were enlisted under false flag arrangements in which, for example, former Nazis were recruited by a KGB front that pretended to be a secret Nazi conspiracy. (Emphasis added) False flags, attributive or not, lived generally in the realm of spies or international relations until September 11, 2001, when conspiracy theories arose that Israel or the United States was behind what were termed false flag attacks. From there, the term false flag seemed to migrate to the right. A 2010 letter to the editor in The Reno Gazette-Journal contended that the so-called underwear bomber was, at best, a complete fall-down of Americas bloated national security state. At worst, it was a patently false-flag operation. It happened on Janet Napolitanos watch, and it should be an issue when her boss is up for re-election in 2012. (Her boss would be Barack Obama, in case youve forgotten.) Domestic false flags stayed mostly in letters to the editor and opinion columns, though their appearances increased dramatically. In 2011, the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism reported that a Republican activist in Indiana, who also happened to be a deputy prosecutor, sent an email to Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin, who was engaged in a pitched battle against unions. It suggested that the situation in Wisconsin presented a good opportunity for whats called a false flag operation, the report said, quoting the email. If you could employ an associate who pretends to be sympathetic to the unions cause to physically attack you (or even use a firearm against you), you could discredit the unions. And the floodgates opened. Citations for false flags in Nexis jumped dramatically in this decade, even though extremist sites like Infowars and social media are not catalogued there. Today, false flags (nonattributive) and false flag operations/conspiracy theories (attributive) seem about equally divided in Nexis citations, with most mainstream sites preferring conspiracy theories to describe false flags. The real danger is if we use the nonattributive false flags as shorthand for conspiracy theories, without explaining what they are and who is promoting them. Or if the people yelling that any attack attributed to someone on their side was committed by the other side drown out the voices of reason. ICYMI: Financial Times editors tweet about Fox News goes viral Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Merrill Perlman managed copy desks across the newsroom at the New York Times, where she worked for twenty-five years. Follow her on Twitter at @meperl. As the Trump era has unspooled, Fox News has frequently received tough media scrutiny for amplifying administration attacks, including on the mainstream press. As a country and its media try to process a mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue; the pipe bombs mailed to George Soros, CNN, and a clutch of senior Democrats; and the killing of two African-Americans in a Kentucky grocery store (by a white man who tried to enter a majority-black church moments earlier), a tipping point seems to have been reached. Financial Times US National Editor Edward Luce tweeted yesterday: The most effective thing Americans can do is boycott companies that advertise on Fox. They bankroll the poison that goes from the studio into Trumps head. The second is vote. The origin of this renewed criticism dates to Thursday night, when Fox Business host Lou Dobbs interviewed Chris Farrell from the right-wing pressure group Judicial Watch. Farrell used his airtime to claim the Soros-occupied State Department has ties to the caravan of migrants making its way from Central America toward the US-Mexico border. As it broadcast, the segment largely escaped attention. It was a small part of a much larger narrative embraced by the Trump administration and its right-wing media boosters last weeka ploy to frame the upcoming midterms around anti-immigrant fear-mongering and the supposed malign influence of Soros, a worldwide lightning rod for anti-Semitic attacks. ICYMI: AP deletes tweet about migrants after heavy criticism The segment re-aired throughout the day on Saturday, both before and after Robert Bowers killed 11 people at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburghs Squirrel Hill neighborhood. The massacre drew fresh attention to Farrells remarks. Over the weekend, Fox took fresh heat for giving a platform to this type of speech, including from conservatives. This repulsive and dangerous filth is bring [sic] spewed courtesy of a publicly owned corporation, commentator Bill Kristol wrote in a tweet. Washington Post columnist Jennifer Rubin asked: Does Rupert Murdoch, who came to this country as an immigrant and made billions, have NO conscience? (Fox apologized Sunday for re-airing the segment and said Farrell wont be booked again.) The instinct to deny hate a platform is a logical response to a week like the one just past. Luces boycott tweet drove at it, while on CNNs Reliable Sources yesterday, host Brian Stelter refused to play the Dobbs-Farrell clip because I dont want to give it more oxygen. As this past weeks string of tragedies shows, however, hate in America is way past rhetoric. Thats not to say the media should not reflect on its language when tackling topics like the migrant caravan: The New Yorkers Masha Gessen and The Atlantics Adam Serwer both wrote cogently in recent days that much of the mainstream press has given an inadvertent bullhorn to Trump, Fox, and others on that story. Nonetheless, as America wars with itself, the media must urgently reckon with how to report on an intensifying and obvious politics of hate. On this sad Monday morning, answers arent immediately in sight. Sign up for CJR 's daily email Below, more on the weekends all-consuming hate narrative: A far-right rival to Twitter: The Daily Beasts Will Sommer profiles Gab , the right-wing social network that rose to prominence over the weekend. Gab went down on Sunday night, claiming it had been systematically no-platformed by App Stores, multiple hosting providers, and several payment processors. It vowed to resume operations soon. Self-reflection time: Also in The Daily Beast, Matt Lewis, writing after the pipe bomb story but before the synagogue and grocery store shootings, said the media must honestly examine its own role in the hate gripping the US. Cable news is frequently a shout-fest that brings more heat than lightmore passion than illumination, he argues. Another scare: Staff at Albany TV station WNYT were evacuated Sunday after a bomb scare. They later returned to work. We knew it could happen here: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Executive Editor David Shribman has a moving write-through of Saturdays synagogue attack in the city: We knew it could happen hereany here, anywherewhen 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 hereany here, anywherewhen we learned that six were killed in the Islamic Cultural Centre of Quebec City last year. Now we know it can happen here, as anywhere, because it has. Beyond our borders: Far-right demagogue Jair Bolsonaro, who has attacked the press as well as a number of minority groups, was yesterday elected president of Brazil. The Intercepts Andrew Fishman has a striking quote from Monica Iozzi, the former anchor of a political humor program who said they interviewed [Bolsonaro] multiple times so people could see the very low level of the representatives we were electing, but now regrets having given him airtime. Also from Brazil: BuzzFeeds Ryan Broderick has a deep dive on the role the internetsocial media giants, in particularhas played in the rise of politicians like Bolsonaro. Other notable stories: ICYMI late last week, Saudi Arabia suggested , for the first time, that the murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi was premeditatedan about-face on previous claims that his death in the countrys Istanbul consulate was an accident. Relatedly, CJR Editor and Publisher Kyle Pope and Delacorte Fellow Zainab Sultan discussed what Khashoggis murder means for Saudi journalists on our podcast The Kicker . Also for CJR, Meg Dalton looks at a new study exploring the medias complicity in spreading rape culture. For a long time, people have worried that biased news coverage of rape may prevent victims from coming forward, Dalton writes. This study supports that theory. Vanity Fair Fox-watcher Gabriel Sherman writes that since no one is in charge at the network Trump remains [its] main programmer. Trumps dominance of Fox is partly an accident, as a result of the lack of strong internal leadership, Sherman continues. The outcome is precisely the one [late Fox Chairman and CEO Roger] Ailes had warned against: the networks identity is now inseparable from that of the president, a development that would have surely horrified Ailes. And for the American Press Institute, Natalie Jomini Stroud explores what newspapers lose when they use non-professional photography, drawing on new research from Tara Mortensen, an assistant professor at the University of South Carolina, and Peter Gade, a professor at the University of Oklahoma. ICYMI: NBCs Megyn Kelly bet goes bust Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Review of Books, Foreign Policy, and The Nation, among other outlets. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop. The wave of pipe bombs addressed to prominent Democrats has raised fresh questions about the ability of the U.S. Postal Service and private delivery companies to intercept explosives and other dangerous items. Biohazard detection, X-rays and other technologies have had some notable successes in recent years, but officials warn that the sheer volume of mail makes it impossible to catch everything. The public should not have the impression that all of our mail is screened like going through security at the airport, said David Chipman, a retired agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Thats not the case, and we know that from a string of cases. None of the devices so far in this weeks scare have detonated. Investigators were still trying to piece together where the packages came from and how they reached their respective destinations. In the meantime, Phillip Bartlett of the U.S. Postal Inspection Services New York division said hundreds of thousands of postal employees were searching the system for any additional bombs. While two packages addressed to former Vice President Joe Biden were intercepted at postal facilities in Delaware on Thursday, a pipe bomb addressed to former Attorney General Eric Holder made it so far into the mail stream that it was returned to its purported sender: the Sunrise, Florida office of Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, whose name was on the return address. Another crude bomb addressed to former CIA Director John Brennan at CNN went through the U.S. mail before a courier took it to the Time Warner Building, where the cable network has its New York offices, according to a law enforcement official who was not authorized to discuss the investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity. Most if not all of these packages were sent through the U.S. mail, the official said. Those deliveries occurred even though the packages had certain suspicious features, including excessive postage, homemade labels and high-profile addressees, security experts said. The parcels also contained a number of misspellings. These devices are the poster children of what a suspicious package looks like, said Fred Burton, a former counterterrorism agent with the State Department who serves as chief security officer for Stratfor, a global private intelligence company. The Postal Inspection Service, which investigates mail-related crimes, said in an email that in screening the mail, the agency relies on a targeted strategy of specialized technology, screening protocols and employee training, as well as state-of-the-art equipment to include portable X-ray machines. The agency pointed to its Dangerous Mail Investigations division, a program created following the 2001 anthrax-by-mail attacks that killed five people and infected several others. The program was part of a costly security overhaul in which the Postal Service added a Biohazard Detection System at its mail-processing centers. The Inspection Service says on its website that it has investigated an average of 16 mail bombs over the last few years while processing more than 170 billion pieces of mail. That means during the last few years, the chances that a piece of mail actually contains a bomb average far less than one in 10 billion! The Postal Service does not have the resources to X-ray every parcel and typically reserves that technology for packages postal inspectors deem suspicious. While the Postal Service intercepted some of the packages in this weeks scare, the developments underscored the limitations of the screening technology in use, said Phil Nater, a former longtime postal inspector in New York. Theres a lot of human activity involved before mail actually goes through a screening device or system, Nater said. Its gotten a lot better, but its not impossible to bypass. The high cost of screening every parcel also limits the security measures taken by private couriers. A UPS spokesman said the company has security measures in place, but we do not disclose those methods to maintain their effectiveness. A FedEx spokesman declined to comment. The Postal Service has successfully intercepted a number of suspicious letters and packages in recent years. Earlier this month, a Navy veteran in Utah was arrested in connection with several envelopes sent to President Donald Trump and top military chiefs. Authorities said at least two of the envelopes contained castor seeds, the substance from which the poison ricin is derived. In 2013, a postal inspector in Arizona flagged a suspicious package addressed to then-Sheriff Joe Arpaio, the controversial lawman in Phoenix. Authorities said a possible smokeless powder was leaking from the parcel. A bomb squad later X-rayed the package and discovered gunpowder and other components of an explosive device. The sender was later convicted. But John Rooney, a retired postal inspector in Philadelphia, said the systems limitations are highlighted by the massive amount of narcotics that goes through the mail every year. People dont understand the sheer magnitude of mail the Postal Service handles, he said. When it comes to drugs, its impossible. You cant stop it. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. An ambitious plan to protect three New Jersey cities just outside New York from the type of major flooding caused by Superstorm Sandy is moving forward. New Jersey officials have settled on the boundaries of a $230 million project in Hoboken, Jersey City and Weehawken. It calls for flood walls protecting neighborhoods, an NJ Transit rail yard, a hospital, and police and fire stations. Hoboken was inundated by the 2012 storm; Monday is its sixth anniversary. Four years in the making, the project has been closely watched around the country by communities looking for ways to protect densely built cities where simply raising buildings higher is not an option, particularly those with subway or underground rail systems. We believe that Hoboken can truly become a national model for innovatively dealing with the impacts of global climate change, said Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla. The project arose from Rebuild By Design, a federal project funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to seek innovative ways to protect communities after Sandy. Hobokens is among the most advanced of seven projects that received funding in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut. Construction should start in the third quarter of 2019 and hopefully be completed by 2022. It involves building flood barriers around parts of Hoboken and the other two cities while integrating it into the landscape with seating and areas where grass or plants would grow, absorbing rainfall. At least two parks are part of the plan, which uses green spaces as an alternative to pavement that causes rainfall and storm water to run off into sewers. One of its most novel features, construction of underground chambers to store rapidly accumulating flood waters, is being put off until more money is available, though an experimental project could be done if sufficient funds are available after the main barrier project is completed. Officials say they still like the concept, but say it could be 15 to 20 years before it gets built as part of a future project. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Kemper Corporation announced a refresh of its core brand elements. The rebrand elevates the focus on the companys strength, stability and transformation, and includes a new logo, positioning and product line architecture. The new bold and vibrant logo in navy blue and red embodies the characteristics of the companys committed team of employees and the qualities of trust, strength and reliability. Kempers new brand positioning Affordable protection in an ever-changing world builds upon a rich history of providing insurance solutions to growing markets that meet customers unique needs for reliable coverage options while keeping their costs down. Additionally, over the next 15 months, the companys businesses will transition to four sub-brands that best represent their core products: Kemper Auto, Kemper Personal Insurance, Kemper Life and Kemper Health. This new structure aligns and combines the strengths of every line of business within Kemper. Munich Re America,BriteCore Partner to Offer Inland Flood Coverage in the U.S. to Insurers A personal lines flood endorsement from Munich Reinsurance America, Inc. (Munich Re America) is now available in the U.S. to insurance carriers and their agency partners that use BriteCore, a modern web-based insurance administration platform. The endorsement is available to homeowners who live outside of a SFHA and it protects their homes and personal property. The BriteCore policy administration system will indicate if a policyholders home is located in a SFHA based on its address. If a home is not in a SFHA, agents will automatically be offered the opportunity to select Munich Re Americas personal lines flood endorsement as they build an insurance program for their personal lines clients. AIR Develops Advanced Probabilistic Model for Global Cyber Risks Catastrophe risk modeling firm AIR Worldwide announced it has developed a probabilistic model for cyber risk capable of accounting for security breach and cloud service provider downtime incidents for insurance portfolios worldwide. The new model will be included in the latest release of ARC (Analytics of Risk from Cyber), AIRs cyber risk modeling and analytics platform, due for general release on October 31, 2018. AIR Worldwide is a Verisk business. AIRs probabilistic cyber model estimates the likelihood, severity, and economic and insurance impact of security breach and cloud service provider downtime incidents; cloud service provider downtime incidents are one of the most likely forms of aggregation risk for cyber. The new AIR cyber model has been calibrated with public, commercial, and insurance claims data that includes information on more than 60,000 worldwide incidents and the cybersecurity profile of over 100,000 organizations globally. In addition to the probabilistic model, the latest version of ARC features functionality to help insurers understand their additional risk due to GDPR, the expansion of AIRs cyber industry exposure database to regions globally, and many other enhancements. The operator of a suburban St. Louis, Mo., landfill where an underground fire smolders near illegally dumped radioactive waste is suing the drugmaker whose predecessor processed the Cold War-era nuclear material. Bridgeton Landfill LLC seeks help paying for the $205 million cleanup of the Superfund site in the lawsuit filed Tuesday against Mallinckrodt LLC, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported. The suit says Mallinckrodts predecessor, Mallinckrodt Chemical Works, refined uranium compounds that were used in the U.S. governments Manhattan Project decades ago at its factory north of downtown St. Louis. Later, leached barium sulfate from the weapons program was mixed with contaminated soil and used to cover trash at the West Lake Landfill, which is adjacent to the smoldering Bridgeton Landfill. Republic Services, which subsequently acquired both landfills through a merger, has spent millions of dollars to ensure that the fire and the nuclear waste dont meet. The Environmental Protection Agencys remedy calls for excavating about 70 percent of the landfills radioactive waste and disposing of it out of state. The agency identified the landfill operator as one of three potentially responsible parties. Mallinckrodt was not among them, although it has been named in more than 140 federal lawsuits filed on behalf of north St. Louis County residents and heirs who claimed exposure to radioactive waste caused cancers and deaths. The suit says Mallinckrodt should have to pay the costs Bridgeton Landfill has incurred and will incur during the cleanup, including interest, in addition to attorneys fees. It also seeks a declaratory judgment that the drug manufacturer is liable for future response costs or damages. Mallinckrodt said in a written statement that federal officials approached Mallinckrodt to refine uranium ore as part of Americas nuclear program shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The statement said the government understands that Mallinckrodt did not send any residues or other materials associated with this government work to West Lake Landfill. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. State and federal officials on Friday recommended a plan to protect the Texas coast from hurricanes particularly the Houston area with a barrier system made up of floodwalls, floodgates and seawall improvements that could cost up to $31 billion and offer storm surge protection for the largest petrochemical complex in the country. The plan, part of a draft report put together by the Texas General Land Office and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, incorporates some ideas from proposals that were previously developed in the wake of 2008s Hurricane Ike, which made landfall in Galveston and caused nearly $30 billion in damage. Most of the damage was due to storm surge, caused by storm winds pushing water onshore. It follows last years devastating Hurricane Harvey, which killed 68 people and caused an estimated $125 billion in damage statewide and flooded thousands of homes in the Houston area. The proposal focuses on preventing storm surge from entering Galveston Bay, which leads into the Houston Ship Channel, home to some of the largest oil refineries in the world and 40 percent of the nations petrochemical industry. The plan calls for 54 miles (87 kilometers) of levees, 20 miles (32 kilometers) of floodwalls and a variety of floodgates that would stretch from Bolivar Peninsula, west of Galveston, through Galveston Island. Improvements would also be made to Galvestons existing seawall, which was built after the devastating storm of 1900 that killed more than 6,000 people. The most expensive part of the new proposal is a series of gates, including a 1,200-foot (365-meter) floating gate, that would cost $5 billion to $6 billion and would close off during a storm an entrance between Bolivar and Galveston Island that eventually leads into the Houston Ship Channel. The plan also calls for 2.2 miles (3.5 kilometers) of dune and beach restoration in South Padre Island in the southern part of the state as well as nine projects to restore, protect and enhance shorelines, marsh habitats and beaches and dunes along the Texas Gulf Coast. Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush said the protection the plan would offer to the petrochemical industry in the Houston Ship Channel is important for preserving national security as the area plays a major role in the nations refining capabilities. There is an environmental balance to this as well. This plan doesnt just protect industry and people. It protects the environment, Bush said in a phone interview. The proposal incorporates some ideas from a project known as the coastal spine, which was first proposed after Hurricane Ike by a Texas A&M University at Galveston professor and is also called the Ike Dike, and from Rice Universitys Severe Storm Prediction, Education and Evacuation from Disasters Center. Six meetings have been scheduled in November and December for the public to discuss the proposal. But even if approved, the proposal could take more than 20 years before becoming a reality. A final version of the report is not set to be completed until 2021, when it will be presented to Congress. If Congress decides to fund the project, the design process could take two to five years, followed by construction, which could take another 10 to 15 years. Bush, who thinks the federal government should pay for 100 percent of the construction costs, said hes optimistic the plan will ultimately be realized. Im in public service to take on challenges that go beyond a political cycle and do whats right by the people of Texas. This happens to be one, Bush said. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. AKRON, Ohio Akron police identified a man Monday who suffered a fatal gunshot wound during a triple shooting on the citys East Side. Christian J. Gibson, 21, of Pioneer Street in Akron was shot in the head Friday just before 9 p.m. as he drove away from a parking garage in the 300 block of The Brooklands Avenue, Akron police said. Officers found two men with gunshot wounds outside a 2014 Ford Taurus and a man in the drivers seat with a fatal gunshot wound when they arrived, police said. Gibson was later identified as the driver, police said. The rear passenger, a 21-year-old man, was found near the intersection of Newton Street and The Brooklands Avenue with a gunshot wound to the arm, and a 28-year-old man was found near the car with a gunshot wound to the chest. Investigators said a fourth man, who was a front seat passenger has not been located. Police are not sure if he was hurt in the shooting. Police believe Gibson tried to leave the parking lot when someone started shooting, police said. The Ford rolled across the street and struck a tree, police said. Authorities offered vague descriptions of the shooter or shooters who fled the scene. Officers found two gallon-size plastic bags filled with marijuana in the car, police said. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information should to call Akron police at 330-375-2490 or text tips to 274637. To comment on this story, visit Mondays crime and courts comments page. CLEVELAND, Ohio A federal judge refused to issue a temporary restraining order preventing the Cleveland Animal Protective League from adopting out or euthanizing dozens of cats seized from a Seven Hills mans house earlier this month. U.S. District Judge Solomon Oliver Jr. wrote Friday that Dennis Glendenning did not convince him that he would suffer irreparable harm if the APL disposed of the animals seized from Glendennings house on Oct. 2. Glendenning runs Luckys Angels Cat Rescue out of his home on Crossview Road. Glendenning claimed the APL and others violated his constitutional rights during the search and also did not give him proper notice of a hearing in Parma Municipal Court. Oliver noted that Glendenning was home during the seizure, was told there would be a hearing three days later and was present during the hearing. The judge wrote that while the notice of the hearing one day before it was scheduled was not optimal, it was adequate. Oliver, in supporting his decision, also noted that Glendenning signed an ownership transfer document and refused to pay a bond as required by Ohio law. He wrote that if Glendenning is found to be innocent, the court will be required to order the APL to pay Plaintiff the fair market value of the disposed cats. Glendenning lives in a 6,000-square-foot house and said he specializes in rescuing, socializing and adopting out feral cats. He filed a lawsuit Oct. 19 to prevent the Cleveland APL from disposing of the cats, either by euthanizing sick ones or adopting out others. The APL seized more than 130 living cats and 22 dead ones, court filings said. A majority of the dead cats were in the garage, as he intended to bury them on his property, according to Glendennings suit. Parma Municipal Court Judge Deanna ODonnell ordered Glendenning to pay $450 a month per cat for the APL to care for them, for a grand total of $58,950. Glendenning did not do so, and also claimed in his lawsuit that language on the transfer of ownership form was improperly changed to say he wouldnt get nine of his personal cats back until he paid a bond. Jeff Holland, a prosecutor in Glendennings case, told Oliver the evening of Oct. 19 that the APL euthanized 35 cats because they were very ill, the judges order says. Glendenning says the law contemplates that an owner whose animals are seized is also charged with a crime, and Glendenning has not been criminally charged. Holland, however, told cleveland.com that Glendenning will face charges and the law allows the seizure of animals while an investigation continues. Oliver set a Nov. 7 hearing on whether he will issue a preliminary injunction in the case. If you would like to comment on this story, please visit Mondays crime and courts comments section. Click here to read the order on a mobile device. LAKEWOOD, Ohio -- Lakewood High School's Club Identity tackles large issues, as its name suggests. The list includes gender, sexual orientation and sex in relation to daily teenage life. A few years ago, the group was asked to take on a greater role in helping to face and fight discrimination and ridicule around Northeast Ohio school hallways, as part of the Cleveland Leadership Center's Dare2Care anti-bullying workshop and celebration of diversity. "Originally, we were approached as a public school that prides itself on its diversity and acceptance," said Lakewood High School English teacher Chris Brookholt, who is also the Club Identity adviser. "The idea is if you get a couple of schools to buy in, be a part of it, and other schools will follow suit." Previous diversity days were held at Lakewood High School, followed by other schools hosting. This year, Lawrence School hosted roughly 80 students from Northeast Ohio for the 2018 affair. The week prior to the Oct. 12 workshop, a dozen Club Identity members, along with students from other schools, were trained by Dare2Care facilitators at Lakewood High School. Topics ranged from gender and sexual orientation to race, religion and bullying. As far as Lakewood High School students this year acting as facilitators, Brookholt said many of the leaders were previous participants who saw value in helping other students. "The belief here is that students learn best by dealing with other students," Brookholt said. "That way, it's not preachy adults sending them messages and creating an environment where they may not feel comfortable. We figured students are the source of the problem for one another, and we also want them to be the solution." Lakewood High School junior and workshop facilitator Sydney Wilhelmy, who is also a Club Identity leader, enjoyed the experience. "I had a really great time taking a position of leadership among my peers to help discuss how we can be facilitators of change," Wilhelmy said. "The experiences I gained from meeting new people from such a broad spectrum of backgrounds will stay with me forever." Lakewood High School junior Emelia Cormier, who is a Club Identity leader and workshop facilitator, added, "What a good experience it was to meet new people from different schools and to talk about their experiences with bullying." Regarding the most recent workshop at Lawrence School, Brookholt said that when the bus of Lakewood High School students arrived at the Sagamore Hills Township school, many of the kids were amazed at the difference in facilities -- providing the first of what would be many learning experiences that day. "That to me has been one of the extra perks, just seeing how students react and respond outside of their environment and ultimately what they walk away with," Brookholt said. "So many of them on the bus ride home were shocked at how they were able to forge what they feel are going to be long-lasting friendships, because they were not afraid to have those very serious conversations that I think inhibit us from reaching people that might otherwise be different from us. "Once you push through a lot of that stuff, you feel a connection to people that typically you wouldn't because of those things. So it's really powerful to see these kids from so many different backgrounds -- racially, ethnically, economically, socially -- together in a room and to leave feeling a sense of unity. It's just one of the reasons I keep doing it and keep working with them," Brookholt said. MEDINA, Ohio -- Carol Andregg is not a Medina County native, but since her move here in 1976, she has had a positive impact on the lives of countless Medina children. Since 2008, she has chaired a project that allows dozens of disadvantaged students to earn money to accompany their classmates on one of the annual trips to Washington, D.C., enjoyed by Medina City Schools eighth-graders. Carol Andregg of Medina and her companion, Harris the Yorkshire terrier mix, enjoy many adventures together. Andregg began teaching special education classes at Garfield Elementary School in Medina in 1975. She totally buys into the school's motto, "Greatness begins at Garfield." She taught there for 30 years. "I love Garfield and I loved working for Principal Joe Hradek," Andregg said. In 1980, one of her special education students was Michelle Powell, who later founded the Let's Make a Difference program that serves youngsters who live in and around the city's Union Square apartments. That relationship grew over the years: "We became such good friends over 20 years. I feel a part of the Powell family," Andregg said. Andregg and Powell began working together in 1998 on a Homework Help program at Union Square's community room. Because "sometimes it's hard for parents to help with their own kids," Andregg said, the two recruited teachers and community members to help children with homework one hour a day. That summer, the Let's Make a Difference Program got under way at Ray Mellert Park, with teacher Tracy Winkler working with Powell on Tuesdays and Andregg pitching in every Thursday to provide educational and recreational experiences for the neighborhood children. In 2007, The ACE program (Achieving Connections through Education) began for at-risk kids at the middle school level. It offers homework help and behavioral instruction for a group of 14 to 16 students at Claggett Middle School each school year. When teachers became aware that those students didn't have the money to go to Washington, D.C, they started a lawn work program for a group of six students. They earned enough to go on the trip -- $350 each. That led to an ongoing program directed by Andregg that employs sixth- and seventh- grade students to mow 13 lawns on Bronson and Foundry streets each week during the summer. "It's an informal, fun thing for everyone," Andregg said. She buys the mowers and the gas; in addition, two mowers have been donated. The Stephenson Foundation generously provides the funds to pay the students. Over the two summers that the young people participate, they are able to earn the $450 now needed for the trip -- and many times a bit more for clothing and spending money. It's a win-win situation for the neighborhood: The people -- many of whom are senior citizens -- get their lawns mowed; the students earn money for an exceptional educational opportunity; and the neighborhood looks good. As an incentive, in addition to the money that's earned and deposited in a special account for the trip, each worker is given $5 for every yard mowed to spend as he or she chooses. Students learn money management and responsibility. Carol Bonham Andregg was born in Cincinnati and grew up in Tipp City, Ohio. She graduated from Tipp City High School in 1966 and Kent State University in 1970. She earned her master's degree in special education from Kent in 1973. While at Kent, she met her husband, Eric, in 1970. He earned his degree in school psychology there in 1973. They reared three daughters before his death in 2007. Andregg still lives in Medina with her companion, Harris -- a "mostly Yorkshire terrier who gets me outside every day." She chose him because he had to be small enough to fit beneath her seat on an airplane. Andregg's second passion -- after helping people -- is travel. She put those two passions together when she took a mission trip to Tanzania last year with the non-profit group Global Volunteers. She worked at a clinic devoted to improving the health and well-being of children from conception to age 2. The group's goal is to provide care, education and nutritious food to mothers and babies and to run a clinic with a doctor who sees 50 patients a day. Andregg spent her 70 th birthday there. "The people were very welcoming," she said. Along with her trip to Africa, she has traveled to Australia, Alaska, Croatia, Slovenia and Italy, as well as taking two lengthy Western road trips. When she's not traveling or supervising lawn mowing and serving on the board of Let's Make a Difference, she belongs to two book clubs. She also plays mahjongg once a week, sings in the choir at Medina United Methodist Church and rides her bike in Largo, Fla., where she spends her winters. This is one in a series of stories about Medina County's Local Legends. CLEVELAND, Ohio A man was fatally shot early Monday at a gas station in Clevelands Collinwood neighborhood, police said. The shooting happened about 3 a.m. at the Sunoco gas station on St. Clair Avenue near East 140th Street. Police said a man was found dead of a gunshot wound to the head. No other information was immediately released. To comment on this story, please visit our crime and courts comments page. CLEVELAND, Ohio The Summa Health Board of Directors on Monday named Dr. Cliff Deveny the new president and CEO of the Akron-based health system, according to a news release. Deveny, who spent more than two decades in clinical and leadership roles in the health system and is a graduate of Firestone High School, last year was named interim president and CEO. He replaced Dr. Thomas Malone, who resigned over fallout from severing Summa Healths contract with emergency physicians. Before rejoining Summa in February 2017, Deveny served as president of Locus Health in Charlottesville, Virginia. Returning to Summa has been a gratifying experience and a tremendous honor, Deveny said in a prepared statement. This is a time of great opportunity, and I look forward to continuing my work as president and CEO to ensure the very best care for the people of our community, now and well into the future. As the interim head of Summa, Deveny has been tasked with leading a struggling system. Last year, Summa Health announced plans to eliminate 300 positions because the health system faced $60 million in operating losses. After reducing overhead and changing clinical offerings, the system ended 2017 with a $28-million loss. Summa, which now has about 7,000 employees, is on track to end this year in the black. Through August, Summa had an operating margin of $17.5 million in 2018, an improvement of $50 million from the same period the previous year, according to the release. Dr. Deveny has done an outstanding job of transforming our culture, Anthony Lockhart, chair of the Summa Health board, said in a prepared statement. As a graduate of Firestone High School and a longtime member of the Summa family, he clearly understands the communities we serve and the importance of a positive, thriving workplace environment. His collaborative style, coupled with his deep understanding of our vision for population health, makes him the perfect choice to serve during this vitally important time as we search for a potential partner and solidify our future. Under Devenys leadership, Summa began a search last month for a potential partnership or merger with another health system. At the time, Deveny said the system wanted to proactively reach out to larger health systems while it was in a financial position to do so. With the healthcare landscape changing so rapidly, with the headwinds being more difficult, we wanted to leverage the strength in our current position to find the right partner versus being in a vulnerable position or in a position where we have to discontinue services, Deveny said a month ago. We think we can go it alone if needed. But what we dont want to do is, five or 10 years from now, be in a weaker position. During his first service with Summa, Deveny served as president of Summa Physicians Inc., vice president of Clinical Services and Service Lines and chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. He also previously worked for five years as senior vice president for Physician Services and Clinical Integration at Catholic Health Initiatives in Englewood, Colorado. BOWLING GREEN, Ohio Bowling Green State University has been awarded $5.2 million to help understand and prevent toxic algal blooms that harm bodies of water around the world. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and National Science Foundation chose BGSU to establish a Lake Erie Center for Fresh Waters and Human Health. This is a big deal, part of $30 million awarded across the United States to bring together scientists doing basic research on the oceans and Great Lakes with those in biology and human health to study processes that affect millions of people, said Science Foundation program director Hedy Edmonds. Harmful algal blooms threaten recreation and drinking water in Lake Erie each summer, especially in the western basin near Toledo. Toledo in 2014 went three days without fresh water because of a bloom. Cleveland even had a taste of a bloom over the July 4 holiday weekend, at Edgewater Beach. Nitrogen and phosphorus, most of it from the Maumee River watershed, create the the mat of toxic blue-green algae, but scientists are still studying what exactly makes it spread. And environmentalists are trying to cut down on phosphorus flowing into the lake. Officially announced at a news conference today, the Lake Erie Center will study how environmental factors promote or constrain blooms, what factors influence toxin production, and how other microbes influence bloom growth and toxicity. As a public university we have an obligation to serve the public good, BGSU President Rodney Rogers said in a news release. We do that through research that works to address the real-world issues threatening Ohio, the country and the world. This grant from the NSF and NIEHS is a strong show of support for and recognition of the quality and importance of our research into harmful algal blooms. The center, headed BGSU professor George Bullerjahn, will involve eight other universities and research institutions: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Ohio Sea Grant Ohio State University SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry University of Michigan University of North Carolina University of Tennessee University of Toledo Michigan State University The center, according to the Science Foundation, will lead outreach activities, including with charter boat captains to develop a database on the severity of the blooms in Lake Erie. And it will work with universities in Florida and Washington, for example, to compare the lake blooms with the Red Tide that infested the Gulf of Mexico -- and with algae around the world. The grant provides BGSU the resources to be a national leader, and builds upon our prior collaborations, Bullerjahn said. The center greatly expands our scientific capacity. As a result, we can address threats to water quality not only in Ohio, but in large lakes around the world. Center participants have collaborators in China and Africa, regions that are routinely plagued with similar harmful algal blooms. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Colleges are trying to change students' understanding of consensual sex -- but its tough to transform entrenched dating norms. For decades, consent meant an absence of no. In the 1990s, Antioch College near Dayton was mocked on Saturday Night Live for enacting an affirmative consent policy. Now, the standard is: Yes means yes. After 2011, with a federal push and a new dedication of money to Title IX enforcement, college administrators ramped up efforts to change consent culture on college campuses. The idea of affirmative consent became the center of sexual education campaigns. By focusing on college students, the hope is that Yes means yes will filter out of the college bubble and into the outside world. That parents will talk about consent with their kids. And that pop culture will catch up and portray positive conversations about sex and relationships. Coupled with the #MeToo movement, more people are talking about what consent means and the shades of grey around affirmative consent. The idea of asking before the next step in a sexual encounter is still met with some resistance, said Rachel Lutner, director of Cleveland State Universitys Office for Institutional Equity. The students look away or they start giggling because none of them can imagine having this conversation, Lutner said. I tell them you have to be able to talk about sex if you want to have sex. All five colleges or universities cleveland.com interviewed for this series teach affirmative consent: Baldwin Wallace University, Oberlin College, Ohio State University, Cleveland State University and Cuyahoga Community College. The colleges were picked for variety of size, student population and type of campus. Take a look at what affirmative consent is, how colleges and universities shape their definitions of consent and what it means for enforcement and campus culture. What is affirmative consent? Affirmative consent means that for every sexual encounter -- from a kiss to intercourse -- both sides must give an enthusiastic yes. Thats every time, not just the first time you have sex with a partner. Consent doesnt have to be verbal. If in response to someone asking to kiss them, the other person starts kissing them, thats consent. But it can be revoked at any time. Affirmative consent means a person cannot be passed out or incapacitated from alcohol from drugs. Misty Luminais, a senior research associate with the Begun Center for Violence Prevention Research and Education, said discussions about affirmative consent started as far back as the early 2000s. Its more widespread now, though, she said, and more people are engaged. I think social media has shaped some of this, Luminais said. (Now) some of these people who didnt have access to a platform can push this topic forward. Are colleges and universities required to incorporate affirmative consent into their policies? A handful of states have affirmative consent laws, meaning the state legislature requires campuses to include the idea in their policies. The first of these laws was enacted in California in 2014. A federal task force stated in a 2014 report a definition of consent should be defined in sexual misconduct policy, and the state recommended in 2015 that colleges need to come up with a comprehensive response protocol. In order to determine whether an act is sexual assault or misconduct, there needs to be a policy on what consent means. However, theres no recommended or required definition, federally or by the state of Ohio. At the end of the day, the campuses have to enforce it, Kerry Soller, project manager for the Ohio Department of Higher Educations campus safety and sexual violence prevention initiative. Its important for them to have those conversations, internally, as a campus. Many colleges already incorporated affirmative consent ideas into their policies. Baldwin Wallace's definition of consent, as defined in student policy. What does this mean for college students? When students get to college, its often the first time theyve talked about affirmative consent. Our students' parents didnt grow up in an affirmative consent culture, our students' high schools for the most part are not teaching them about affirmative consent because its really coming from colleges and universities down, Lutner said. If you think about the action movies and the television shows youve watched, we dont have an affirmative consent culture. Lutner is responsible for investigating and adjudicating sexual assault and misconduct claims. Often, she says, people describe the incident accurately, but there was silence not consent. They believe they had consent because they didnt understand what consent was. A recent study by Columbia researchers found that while many students knew the definition of consent, they dont always incorporate affirmative consent into their relationships. All of my peers are pretty well educated on sexual assault and what it means to give consent, Jenny Fraley, a Cleveland State University freshman studying journalism and communications said. She has friends on other campuses, like Kent State University and Ohio University, who have mandatory classes on the topic. After being through orientation and the first couple months of her freshman year, Fraley said she hadnt gotten a direct message from the university about what consent means. Click here to find out more about how universities campaign against sexual assault. Some blowback of affirmative consent, coupled with the #MeToo movement, is a perception that women are lying in wait to trap men -- to say theyve violated consent. Some adult men are even refusing to mentor women at work, afraid they will misstep and end up in human resources. Part of education is making sure that people know that affirmative consent isnt something that will hurt them, but will actually help with their relationships, sexual or otherwise. We (treat) it like its this all-or-nothing thing thats going to blow up in someones face, Luminais said. I think people are open to it when its not a punitive thing, its a communication strategy. Someones not waiting for you to mess up. MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS, Ohio -- With a goal to prepare all Ohio students with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in future learning, careers and life, the State of Ohio last year required all public school districts to form business advisory councils. This led to the creation of the brand-new Southwest Regional Business Advisory Council, which includes representatives from the Olmsted Falls City School District, Berea City Schools, Fairview Park City Schools, North Olmsted City Schools, Strongsville City Schools and Polaris Career Center, as well as a broad cross-section of regional business and higher education leaders. "We wanted to do more than meet a state mandate," Polaris Career Center Director of Community Outreach Doug Miller said. "We wanted to establish a council that's an integral partner with Polaris and our partner school districts. "As we prepare students for the next steps, whether it be college, a career or both, we need input from our key business and community stakeholders," Miller said. Advisory councils are nothing new to Polaris Career Center or the participating school districts, with Miller noting that each of its programs has councils comprised of employers, college partners, parents, former students and community organizations providing input to ensure that teachers are using the latest industry techniques and equipment in labs and classrooms. The groundwork for the Southwest Regional Business Advisory Council began last spring. Earlier this month, nearly 50 members attended its first meeting, which going forward will take place quarterly. Olmsted Falls City School District Superintendent Jim Lloyd said he reached out to Polaris Career Center about joining forces, with the remaining districts following. "While I don't look fondly on government telling us what to do, we decided to take this requirement and make it into a good thing," Lloyd said. "We're very new, but I think the benefits could be tremendous." Fairview Park City Schools Superintendent Bill Wagner said information gained from the district's participation in various area councils led to the creation of the Fairview Park City Schools' Student Skills Profile. "Participation in regional groups encourages a broader view of what our students need and how they can engage in the region post-graduation," Wagner said. "Our strategic plan has an entire section focusing on readiness and preparing our students to be college- and career-ready upon graduation." The same notion applies in the North Olmsted City Schools' "Profile of a Graduate" initiative. "The North Olmsted City Schools are committed to making sure our students are prepared for college or a career when they graduate," Superintendent Michael E. Zalar said. "That means working with our community and business partners on what the 'Profile of a Graduate' looks like. "North Olmsted spent a great deal of time last school year meeting with a cross-section of our community leaders to discuss what our graduates will need to know and be able to demonstrate. The insight provided by people with a range of experiences was and is invaluable," Zalar said. The next Southwest Regional Business Advisory Council meeting is scheduled for Dec. 7 at Olmsted Falls High School. "It's important for the residents to see that we're focused on improving," Miller said. "We want all students to be successful. Business and community input and dialogue are keys to ensuring that our programs and services stay relevant in a changing world." COLUMBUS, Ohio State lawmakers are heralding nearly $56 million in federal funding that has been directed to combat the opioid epidemic in Ohio. The announcement that a state board approved the funding and sent it to the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services comes eight days before Ohioans decide whether to adopt Issue 1, which would lessen some drug crime penalties in favor of treatment. Issue 1s backers have said they worked to get the constitutional amendment on the ballot because of the Ohio General Assemblys inaction on opioids. Republicans, who hold a supermajority in both legislative chambers, have been fighting the premise that they havent done enough to fight opioids addiction. House Speaker Ryan Smith said in the Monday announcement that the federal money will couple $180 million in new spending that legislators adopted in last years state budget to respond to addiction. Whether it has been through new money allocated in last years budget, or commonsense policy initiatives led by the legislature, fighting this scourge remains a number-one priority for members of the Ohio House, Smith said in the statement. Smith is among many of the states Republicans -- and some Democrats -- asking the public to vote against Issue 1. The money is for a State Opioid Response Grant. It twill be used for several strategies to combat the epidemic, Smiths statement said, including: Expanding prevention efforts related to naloxone distribution. Providing improved training to professionals responding to the epidemic. Deploying targeted awareness messaging in Ohio communities. Expanding access to medication-assisted treatment that keeps people from getting dope sick. Expanding the use of certified peer supporters and access to recovery housing, particularly for families. Developing employment opportunities for people in recovery. Projections showed that treatment and recovery support services would be provided to 9,000 addicted individuals, a total of 18,000 people over the span of the 2-year project. CLEVELAND, Ohio - After months of watching from the outside of the campaign for the Ohio governor's race, Republican Gov. John Kasich is finally hitting the trail for GOP Attorney General Mike DeWine. The governor will headline a get-out-the-vote rally with DeWine on Friday in Columbus, his first appearance for any statewide Republican candidate this cycle. "He's always been for Mike DeWine and believes he will make the best Governor," said Chris Schrimpf, a spokesman for Kasich. "Now is the time that Governor Kasich can make the most positive impact." Republican candidates have generally avoided Kasich this cycle - including DeWine - instead choosing to align themselves with President Donald Trump, who Kasich has frequently opposed since the 2016 presidential election. For his part, the governor has seemed more preoccupied with his national profile - and possibly another presidential run in 2020. Polling has shown Kasich is still fairly popular for a second-term governor, consistently posting public approval ratings of higher than 50 percent. But the Republican Party's decision to shift to Trump's brand of politics effectively alienated Kasich from the party infrastructure he helped build in the state. In fact, during the primary, Republican candidates used Kasich as an attack point. Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor, whom Kasich endorsed, denied Kasich endorsed her and cut off all ties with the governor in favor of Trump. Even DeWine slighted Kasich in an ad attacking Taylor. The commercial called Taylor a "phony" for not endorsing Trump in 2016 and supporting the state's Medicaid expansion. Kasich did not support Trump in 2016 and considers the Medicaid expansion one of his signature accomplishments. The chasm was so wide that Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Richard Cordray has made overt attempts to court Kasich and his more moderate supporters. The governor eventually supported DeWine, but not before gaining a public assurance that DeWine would not scrap the Medicaid expansion if elected. The Kasich rally comes just days before Trump is expected to rally for Republican candidates in the state prior to election day. Rotunda Rumblings Battle of the veeps: This week, the current and former U.S. vice presidents will be in Ohio for the final days of the campaign. Vice President Joe Biden will be in Youngstown on Monday for Democrat Richard Cordray. On Wednesday, Mike Pence will be in Mansfield for top-of-the-ticket Republican candidates such as Mike DeWine and U.S. Rep. Troy Balderson, cleveland.com's Robin Goist reports. Graham, too: Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham is set to appear in Cincinnati on Tuesday for DeWine and U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot. Personal attacks, live: Cleveland.com's Andrew Tobias chronicles the third nasty and personal debate for U.S. Senate between incumbent Sen. Sherrod Brown and U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci. Highlights include Brown's divorce, Renacci's airplane travel and even jabs over legislation they're jointly sponsoring. Today's non-election news: Since Ohio Medicaid stopped paying mental health and addiction treatment providers directly, some Northeast Ohio centers have closed, The Plain Dealer's Ginger Christ reports. The providers said they were supposed to be paid by managed-care organizations, but getting paid has been difficult. A new game: Gov. John Kasich appointed Marty Sweeney, a former Democratic representative who recently resigned from the legislature, to the Ohio Lottery Commission, Tobias reports. Money advantage: Democrats have raised more money than Republicans in Ohio's most competitive congressional districts - the 1st, 7th, 12th and 14th districts - in the most recent campaign finance reporting period, Tobias reports. That may help, although Republicans are still favored to win. Up and comer: Findlay Mayor Lydia Mihalik was Friday's guest on Ohio Matters, cleveland.com's weekly politics podcast. Mihalik, a 38-year-old-Republican, is considered a rising star in GOP circles. Subscribe to the Podcast on iTunes, Google Play, TuneIn or RSS to learn about her recent trip to the U.S.-Mexican border to protest the Trump administration's family-separation policy. Missing ballots: About 40 North Ridgeville voters who requested ballots by mail haven't received them, Goist reports. The U.S. Postal Service is investigating. Assuming a Brown win: Cleveland.com editorial writer Thomas Suddes questions by how much U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown will beat U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci by. If he wins by a landslide, he may end up as a vice presidential candidate in 2020. Paystub snub? Democrat Richard Corday is making a central issue in the gubernatorial campaign a lawsuit his opponent, Attorney General Mike DeWine filed - and won with 21 other state attorneys general - shutting down an Obama-era requirement that mid-level workers get paid for overtime. The Dayton Daily News' Laura Bischoff writes that DeWine is fighting back, saying the lawsuit was over the way Obama tried to implement the change. Les effects: Since disavowing the Republican Party, L Brands CEO Les Wexner has begun writing checks to Ohio Democrats, the Columbus Dispatch's Jim Siegel writes. The House Democratic caucus and House Minority Leader Fred Strahorn of Dayton have received thousands of Wexner's and his wife's money. Auditor hopefuls on the air: Both candidates for Ohio state auditor are now running TV ads. Republican Keith Faber began airing a 15-second ad as part of a $250,000-plus statewide broadcast buy through Election Day. Democrat Zack Space also launched a statewide broadcast TV ad campaign on Oct. 16; his campaign would not disclose the price and the length of the buy. Claim jumping: The Republican Attorneys General Association has a new TV attack ad against Steve Dettelbach resurrecting an old, unsubstantiated claim that the Democratic AG nominee wants Ohio's attorney general to be an appointed position, not an elected one. The claim - which Yost used in his own attack ad earlier this year - is that Dettelbach told a business roundtable that the attorney general "should not be an elected position." But the claim is based on a conservative opinion piece citing two unnamed sources, and cleveland.com wasn't able to verify it. Dettelbach has said publicly he believes the position should be an elected one; his campaign released a statement accusing RAGA of "spreading more lies." Endorsement central: Republican Mike DeWine earned the Canton Repository editorial board's endorsement, in part over his approaches to the rainy day fund and Issue 1. The Youngstown Vindicator's editorial board endorsed Democrat Richard Cordray, saying DeWine doesn't criticize President Trump and he failed to prosecute a local developer over alleged wrongdoing. The Cleveland.com/Plain Dealer editorial board endorsed Ken Harbaugh in the 7th Congressional District, saying incumbent U.S. Rep. Bob Gibbs is blindly partisan. The Toledo Blade ed board backed U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown for Senate, saying he's been fighting for Ohio workers long after Democrats abandoned them and before it became fashionable among Republicans. And more: The Cleveland.com/Plain Dealer editor board endorsed state Rep. Kristina Roegner, a Republican from Hudson for Senate District 27, in part because she's influential and willing to occasionally buck GOP leadership. Republican Rep. Nathan Manning of North Ridgeville was endorsed, although the editorial board cautioned about his swapping legislative seats with his mother and questioned his London trip that led to the resignation of former House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger. Full Disclosure Five things we learned from Zack Space's April 9 financial disclosure. Space, a Democrat and former U.S. representative, is the Democratic nominee for state auditor. 1. Space reported three business that he owns or operates: Quaker Inn, LLC, Space Consulting LLC and Snoozer Ltd. 2. Last year, he made money from the following: renters, consulting for Vorys Advisors and for Space Consulting, Tuscarawas County Board of Elections and partial ownerships of Quaker Inn and Snoozer. 3. He reported owning six properties last year, including one in Columbus, two in Dover, two in New Philadelphia and one in Strasburg. 4. He reported 21 investments, mostly mutual funds. He owned stock in Time Warner and Charter Communications. 5. He owed over $1,000 at some point last year to First National Bank of Dennison, Huntington National Bank, Chrysler Capital, Charles Schwab and Comenity Bank. Birthdays U.S. Rep. Marcia Fudge State Rep. Bill Seitz Straight From The Source "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." -US. Rep. Steve Stivers, a Columbus area Republican, talking about President Donald Trump on "Meet the Press' Sunday morning. Host Chuck Todd pushed him on the "initially" comment, but Stivers said that the president appears to be on the path of bringing the country together. Capitol Letter is a daily briefing providing succinct, timely information for those who care deeply about the decisions made by state government. If you do not already subscribe, you can sign up here to get Capitol Letter in your email box each weekday for free. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- President Donald Trump's political team is finalizing plans for him to hold a rally in Ohio on Nov. 5, the day before the midterm election. Sources close to his campaign said Trump most likely will visit Cleveland, with advance teams being assigned here to scout out potential locations. Trump last visited the city in May, the weekend before the primary election, when he visited Public Hall downtown to promote the Republican tax plan, and then headlined a Republican Party fundraiser. He's also visited the Cleveland IX Center, near Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, in the past. A final decision on a specific location likely will be made later today. UPDATE: White House officials confirmed on Monday evening that Trump will visit Cleveland on Nov. 5. But given Trump's flurry of pre-election rallies that are being scheduled, Trump is likely to appear somewhere where he can land at an airport and then quickly leave. Multiple media outlets, including Bloomberg and Axios, have reported Trump is planning appearances in eight states in the final six days days before the election. All the states Trump is visiting -- Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Missouri, Montana, Tennessee and West Virginia -- have either competitive governor or Senate races, and are states Trump won during the 2016 election. On Nov. 5, the day of his planned Ohio visit, Trump also has plans to visit Indiana and Missouri, according to media reports. Ohio's U.S. Senate race between Republican Rep. Jim Renacci, whom Trump has endorsed, and Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown is not seen as especially competitive. But Ohio's governor race between Republican state Attorney General Mike DeWine and former national consumer watchdog Richard Cordray, a Democrat, is perhaps among the closest governor's race in the country. Republicans are favored to win re-election to all 12 U.S. House of Representative seats they hold in Ohio. But a handful are competitive -- thanks in part to strong fundraising from Democratic challengers -- with at least one upset remaining in the realm of possibility. Vice President Mike Pence also is planning a pre-election visit to Ohio -- he'll appear in Mansfield on Wednesday to boost GOP Rep. Troy Balderson, who won a close special election in August for Ohio's 12th Congressional District. Meanwhile, Joe Biden, the former vice-president, is appearing in Youngstown later today to stump for Cordray and other Democrats. PARMA HEIGHTS, Ohio -- In an attempt to put the 14-year Cornerstone property saga behind the community, City Council last week passed an ordinance authorizing Cuyahoga County to remove all special assessments from the 33-acre former Cornerstone property located at the southeast intersection of Pearl Road and West 130th Street. "Those special assessments for the infrastructure were put in when it was going to be turned into Cornerstone years ago," City Council President Marie Gallo said. "The passed legislation means the property is free of any liens. "Wells Fargo still owns the land, which will be easier to sell and market. There will be more interest in the property," Gallo said. Mayor Michael P. Byrne added, "This measure taken by City Council has already and will continue to increase interest by potential developers." A recent decision by the Court of Appeals of Ohio, Eighth Appellate District, ruled in Parma Heights' favor, finding that the city's special assessment lien was valid. The city anticipates recovering the full amount of the $2.69 million in costs it expended for the improvements. So far, the trial court has directed that an interim distribution be made to Parma Heights in the amount of $2.4 million. "The Court of Appeals further instructed the trial court to determine what amount of interest the city is owed," Gallo said. "A status conference in the trial court is scheduled for Dec. 7 to resolve the question of interest, as well as payment of the remaining funds determined by the Court of Appeals." Roughly 15 years ago, developer Joanne Schneider (who later served time in jail) came forward to the city to transform the land -- formerly home to Tops Grocery Store, USA Skates and Honey Hut Ice Cream -- into a mixed-use retail and residential development similar to Crocker Park. The deal fell apart in 2004, with the land sitting in limbo as the matter made its way through the courts. Also, the assessments related to infrastructure paid for by the city made the land difficult to sell. "That was a big barrier as to why there hasn't been anything built on the land," Gallo said. "So this is a big deal, especially for the residents who live on Maplewood Road, which is the street that abuts the property. Those are the residents that have been most affected by this." As far as the future of the high-profile property, Byrne is confident Wells Fargo will receive inquiries. "We anticipate and look forward to discussing potential projects with interested developers," Byrne said. "Economic Development Director Joe Sebes has been contacting companies and individuals who have shown past interest. "This has been an albatross around the city's neck for a long time. I look forward to discussing potential projects with interested parties," Byrne said. Gallo said it's too early to determine whether the city will consider rezoning the property, which is currently classified as planned unit development, to enhance its marketability. "Hopefully, this will be for the betterment of Parma Heights -- help our tax revenue, help our tax base and further improve home values," Gallo said. "This will be something positive for Parma Heights." PARMA, Ohio -- More than a month after breed-specific legislation (BSL) opponents spoke at a City Council meeting, residents and activists are waiting for officials to lift the city's pit bull ban. However, Mayor Tim DeGeeter said his opinion hasn't changed. "Really, from the administration's point of view, and I believe City Council's shared view on this, we've offered a compromise saying go collect signatures from the residents and place the matter on the ballot for them to vote whether there should be a change in our current ordinance that dates back to 1987," DeGeeter said. "One of the reasons why I think this is a good solution is because we have this single-issue advocacy group wanting Parma to change this ordinance, but we're also getting emails from other residents who support it and don't want to see a change," he said. Parma resident Amanda Billy said she's in favor of eliminating the BSL. "I would appreciate living in a city that enforces animal control laws based on the behavior of an animal and not the way that it looks," Billy said. "That, to me, equates to safety for my family and myself." Someone who has been vocal about changing the BSL is Cleveland resident Jeff Theman, who has attended recent City Council meetings waiting for future discussion. "Parma's current BSL, or I should say dangerous dog law, in general is a mess," Theman said. "It's antiquated, outdated. Many other communities have modernized their laws since to be breed neutral, where focus is on the behavior of a dog and their owner. "It's extremely vague with which dogs they deem 'pit bull.' There are issues with enforcement of how those dogs are identified," Theman said. Previously, Parma Safety Director Tom Weinreich told cleveland.com that the city's pit bull ordinance is complaint-driven, with seven pit bulls removed from Parma in 2016 and nine pit bulls removed last year. Theman noted that Parma's BSL is in conflict with the state law Russ v. Reynoldsburg. DeGeeter disagreed. "When the legislature acts or state law changes, they do preemptions. They preempt any self-governing home rule at the local level, and in this case they haven't done that," he said. City Council Public Safety Chairwoman and Ward 2 representative Debbie Lime said she's talked to residents who are not in favor of changing the legislation. She has this message for those people who want to see the BSL language change. "They need to take it to the streets," Lime said. "I believe they should get the signatures and place it on the ballot." Regarding a ballot initiative, Theman said his group hasn't obtained signatures, but is currently exploring that option with the hope being that at some point in 2019, Parma will be BSL-free. "If Parma City Council doesn't begin having conversations with us, we will definitely move forward with this ballot initiative, but we will also back candidates who oppose these laws that plan to run for City Council against the incumbents in the next election," Theman said. "Mayor DeGeeter and council terms are up at the end of 2019. If council continues to refuse to sit down with us, we will help elect public officials who do care about the safety of all their residents like we do, and to make Parma a welcoming and inclusive place for all -- dog and human, as well," Theman said. COLUMBUS, OhioThe contest between two Republicans over who will be Ohio House speaker next year has led to some nasty attack ads against Democratic candidates, as outside groups on either side of the speakers fight are trying to ensure that their favored candidates legislative allies are elected in November. American Jobs and Growth PAC, a Virginia-based super PAC aligned with Ohio House Speaker Ryan Smith, has sent out mailers that attack -- sometimes on a personal level -- at least four Democratic House candidates around the state. Meanwhile, Hardworking Ohioans Inc., a dark-money group, has bought more than $400,000 worth of TV ads so far targeting the Democratic rivals of two GOP candidates allied with Rep. Larry Householder, Smiths rival for the speakers gavel next session. Together, that means a good chunk of the outside money being spent on Ohio legislative races is connected to the speakers fight. American Jobs and Growth PAC has, so far, sent out attack ads against at least four Democratic candidates: Rachel Crooks in House District 88, Kelly Kraus Mencke in House District 55, Cassimir Svigelj in House District 16, and Beth Workman in House District 92. The ad against Mencke, whos facing Republican Gayle Manning in Lorain County, asks, Why does Kelly Kraus Mencke think she is qualified to run Ohios $72 billion budget when she couldnt manage her own checkbook and filed for bankruptcy? Mencke issued a strongly worded statement denouncing the ad, noting that she filed for bankruptcy only because she was seriously injured in a car accident a few years ago and had trouble paying her massive medical bills. The ad targeting Workman sensationalizes her support of Issue 1, the proposed constitutional amendment that would reduce penalties for non-violent drug offenses. The mailer features a suitcase of cocaine with the claim "Thanks to Beth Workman, kilos of cocaine could start flooding into Ohio." Workman, whos challenging Republican incumbent Gary Scherer in southern Ohio, in a statement called the ad laughable. The mailer against Svigeli, a 27-year-old whos challenging Rep. Dave Greenspan in Northeast Ohio, compares his ability to manage the state budget to a 12-year-olds ability to do brain surgery. The attack against Crooks, a Tiffin resident looking to unseat Rep. Bill Reineke, doesnt get as personal it just lumps her in with the resist everything liberals. American Jobs and Growth PAC didnt return an email Friday seeking comment. But the groups filing with the Federal Election Commission lists its treasurer as Thomas Norris, a Columbus lobbyist whos been involved in setting up a network of dark-money groups. Smith didnt return a phone call seeking comment on the group. On Householders side, Hardworking Ohioans Inc., a corporation recently set up by the Columbus lobbying firm The Batchelder Company, has spent $410,000 on TV ads attacking Democrats Mary Lightbody and Beth Liston, who are running against pro-Householder Republicans in House Districts 19 and 21, respectively. Chad Hawley, co-founder of The Batchelder Company, told the Columbus Dispatch that Hardworking Ohioans plans to run more ads in the final days of the election. The leadership vote doesnt happen until after the election, Hawley told the Dispatch. Nobody gets to vote if they dont have [a 50-member majority] to start with. The outside group that traditionally does the most to help House Republican candidates is the House GOPs campaign committee, OHROC. But, unusually, as many as a dozen candidates considered to be Householder allies are rejecting OHROCs help this year, Smith told the Dispatch. Householder and his supporters have been upset that, earlier this year, OHROC spent money to help primary opponents of several pro-Householder House GOP candidates. Smith and Householder have each been working for months to be elected speaker when the 133rd Ohio General Assembly convenes next January. When Cliff Rosenberger resigned as speaker in April amid reports of an FBI investigation into his spending and travel, Smith was elected speaker for the rest of the year -- though Householder and his legislative supporters were able to delay his election for several weeks. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Water Alliance hopes to bring water-related tech jobs and federal research dollars to Northeast Ohio, through an agreement with the Netherlands. Dutch ambassador Henne Schuwer, Dutch attache Jan Peelen and Consul General Louis Piet were in Cleveland Monday to sign a deal with the Alliance, a four-year-old nonprofit aiming to build a Blue Economy." The goal of the Cleveland Water Alliance is to create an entire business ecosystem from research and innovation to manufacturing around Lake Erie. Cleveland would be to fresh water what Silicon Valley is to information technology. Or what New York is to finance. It puts us on the international stage for the work weve been driving, alliance Executive Director Bryan Stubbs said Thursday. Worldwide water technology centers include the Netherlands, South Korea, Singapore, Israel, and China, as well as Milwaukee. The agreement with WaterCampus Leeuwarden in the Netherlands comes on the heels of European Water Tech Week, where the Cleveland Water Alliance presented its efforts on harmful algal bloom warning systems and Smart :ake buoy sensors that can collect real-time data from the lake and watershed. (They can even text you the latest lake conditions!) WaterCampus is interested in Smart Lake technology, while the Cleveland Water Alliance is interested in Dutch work in nutrient management, Stubbs said. Cleveland Water Alliance plans to attend the Dutch water technology conference next fall, and a Dutch representative will come to Clevelands ErieHack 2.0 finals next June. The core idea is how can we help each other with innovation, springboard around more R&D, Stubbs said. sacw.net - 29 October 2018 [Authoras introductory note: The following is the English version (translated by the author) of the original write-up in Bengali Paschim Banglar Rajnitite Naxalbader Prabhab O Protikriya (29.10.1970), carried by a special issue of the organ of a left student organisation, in early 1971. Special care has been taken not to aupdatea , while translating, with the benefit of hindsight. Hopefully, offers an interesting real time view, and assessment, of the Naxalite movement in West Bengal, while very much raging and (still) on the rise. Arguably, of a rather uncommon genre. 29.10.2018] It was during the regime of the first United Front government, back in 1967, that under the leadership of a section of the CPI (Marxist) a peasant movement was organised in the area covering Naxalbari, Kharibari and Phansidewa in the district of Darjeeling in North Bengal. Almost with lightning speed, it could have its reverberations felt all over India and in Bengal, in particular, it was able to leave its deep imprint. As of today, in 1970, in the soil of West Bengal, it has struck even deeper roots. The sections of the Bengal society which have been shaken up most by the Naxalbari movement or, to be more accurate, Naxalite politics are the students, semi-students and non-student youth and adolescents. One can scarcely run away from the stark fact of considerable Naxalite influence on the student-youth of West Bengal. Thatas precisely why those who are committed to the goal of developing healthy and vibrant student and mass movements must cast a hard and impassionate look into the dynamics of interrelations between Naxalism and the student-youth community of today. In order to make this exercise meaningful, one needs to carefully trace the trajectory of evolution-transmutation of Naxalite politics since inception. II With the peasant revolt of Naxalbari-Kharibari at the epicentre and capitalising on the subsequent recognition and greeting extended by the Communist Party of China (CPC) how the Naxalite political group emerged from the womb of the CPI (M) that is by now pretty well-known. Doesnat merit being recounted here. If one takes a rather close look into the track record of the movement since inception, then it becomes difficult to miss the fact that over this period [of around three and a half years by now], even if the declared political objective (i.e. Agrarian Revolution) has remained quite unchanged, its actual programmes or activities are undergoing periodic shifts. In keeping with the change in programme has changed the (socio-political) profile of its adherents a the activists and sympathisers. Conversely, and quite notably, a change in the profile of adherents has triggered a corresponding change in the programme actually pursued on the ground. Right in the very beginning, aNaxalisma had implied profound ideopolitical quest and self-introspection. During this period, many groups and individuals started breaking away from the CPI (M). Many of them came up with a variety of publications a weekly, fortnightly, monthly, to conduct political discourse and debates. Through the pages of these, myriad issues were being raised and explored. The two defining markers of this period are: (i) identification and assertion of Agrarian Revolution as the political goal and (ii) issuance of the call to outright reject parliamentary politics and urgently launch armed struggle to overrun the state. As the Naxalites inaugurated a massive wave of theoretical debates to take stock of the past follies and blunders and establish their points of view, it also triggered, partly as an instinctive self-defence response and partly from honest urges, a similar, though decidedly weaker, waves of debates and discussions within other (left) parties as well. For the first time in our political life, started a broad quest to evaluate political practices in terms of pure ideology. Of all the impacts of Naxalism on West Bengal politics, this is, beyond doubt, the brightest. The Naxalitesa appeal to the people of West Bengal to reject outright all sorts of parliamentary and electoral practices to immediately embark on the path of armed revolution touched a deep chord with the idealist young activists of various Left parties and the CPI (M), in particular. Many of them had already become fed up with the daily grind of routine parliamentary politics. As a result, the call to Revolution directly appealed to them a they opted to join this movement. Even those who did not go all the way to come out of the party outright also got impacted. Became radicalised and more engaged in ideopolitcal debates and discussions. In order to pinpoint the reason for the strong appeal of Naxalism vis-A -vis the workers and supporters of various Left parties one has to turn oneas gaze towards the developments of recent past. Since the break-up of the Communist Party, thanks mainly to the Left Communists, arevolutiona , aclass strugglea etc. became very much parts of the common vocabulary of the Bengal politics. The leaders of this party rather untiringly kept proclaiming their loyalty, in public speeches and paper statements, to these notions. Declared a crusade against all sorts of acompromisea , areformisma and arevisionisma . Consequently, the grassroots activists of this party came to consider themselves pretty much militant. Thanks to the public speeches of the leaders, they became also firmly convinced that for the welfare of the common toiling masses it is necessary to take to the path of revolution. Parliamentary democracy is of no real use. (Even if many may be surprised on being told so, the bare fact remains that the party in its programme adopted back in its 1964 Tenali conference made an unwavering commitment to bring about social revolution through peaceful means. The common party cadres were just blissfully unaware. For them, the public speeches of the leaders commanded much greater trust as compared to the party documents. That continues even now.) aRevolutiona , astrugglea , ablooda a these terms were made current with the limited objective of gaining an upper hand in factional struggle. Consequently, these terms, of course, became fairly popular but the actual implications remained rather hazy. As a consequence, the appeal of the call to revolution, right here and now, rejecting outright the well-trodden path of parliamentary democracy, issued by the proponents of Naxalbari, capitalising on the militant peasant upsurge, further endorsed by the Communist Party of China, turned out to be sort of irresistible to the young and romantic student-activists of the CPI (M). It also focussed spotlight on the large gaps between the words and actual actions a e.g. police brutalities in Naxalbari and reluctance to go in for radical land reforms, of the leaders of various Left parties. A large section of the student activists of the CPI (M), over whom the organisational grip had been rather lax, came out declaring their unreserved loyalty to the Naxalite ideology and action programmes. The mainstream media also played a role by disproportionately highlighting the Naxalites and their activities in order to manufacture an alibi to oust the United Front government on the ground of collapse of alaw and ordera . That reinforced the halo around them and helped to build up an attitude of reverence in the larger student community. Even the middle-income service holders, already with a tilt towards leftism, got somewhat attracted. Apart from some romantic affinity towards blood-spilling revolution, the glamorous presence of a good number of students with brilliant academic track records among the Naxalite ranks also helped. In the initial phase, this reverence for Naxalism, did not denote any revulsion for the United Front. The United Front was fairly popular then. To sum up, during the initial months, the popularity of Naxalism was essentially founded on the notion that it represents a vibrant protest against election-centric traditional mainstream leftism. III Starting from this beginning in early a67 to this fag end of a70, if we care to look closely into the trajectory of developments, wead note that in the meanwhile much water has flown down the Ganga. Things have since changed quite a bit. Initially, Whereas Naxalism was restricted among the leftists, the student-activists of the CPI (M), in particular, despite a section of the larger student community and the middle-income service holders being somewhat reverential towards it, has, by now, spread much wider. A much larger slice of the student community in general has got itself identified with this trend. And, not only the student community, the quasi-student and non-student youth and adolescents from the lower rungs of the society have spontaneously joined this stream. While, in the beginning, all of the Naxalite cadres were former workers and supporters of the CPI (M), as of today, only a small fraction had any leftist past. Initially, the Naxalite activities consisted mainly of ideological/political discussions/debates and organisational works among the students. (Of course, the attempts to build up peasant organisations by moving to the villages would also start not too long thereafter.) And, today, what does Naxalism mean is graphically captured in an extract from a recent observation: aBy Naxalite or Naxal line of politics everybody (these days) understands surprise bomb attacks and armed assaults on schools, colleges, universities in Calcutta and various other towns and cities of Bengal, pulling down or defacing of statues and portraits of eminent national leaders and intellectuals, vandalising some or the other government office or academic institution, forcibly hoist the red flag over a school or college building, raising slogans like - Long Live Comrade Mao, Chinaas Chairman Is Our Chairman, wall writing campaign promoting the move to slit throats of large rural landholders, etc. etc.a To this long list, one may also very well add a extensive bombings and surprise sundry killings. At the very beginning of this essay, it was pointed out that over the period - stretching from a67 to a70, Naxalite politics is constantly undergoing a process of gradual evolution or rather transmutation. Quite naturally, the process consists of a number of distinct stages. In order to develop an appropriate and holistic understanding of the trajectory of this evolution, each stage needs be separately taken up, dissected and discussed. But, regardless, this exposition, because of restriction of space [in the publication that is to carry it], would limit its focus only on the initial and the latest phase. No matter whether one looks upon Naxalism favourably or otherwise, whether one adores it or trashes it, the undeniable fact remains that the level of success attained by Naxalism in triggering a spontaneous wave of support among the quasi-student and non-student youth and adolescents from the middle class, lower-middle class and the poor is something yet quite unmatched by any other political trend or stream. Consequently, the issue that cannot but pop up before is what is the reason underlying? What distinct characteristics have made Naxalism so very compellingly attractive in the eyes of certain categories of our society? Is it because of the magic spell of the very name of Chairman Mao, or is it because of the perceived infallibility of the thesis of agrarian revolution, or is it because the student community of Bengal have finally come to realise, without any shred of doubt, that only an armed revolution would be able to dismantle the old and decaying socio-political order and inaugurate a new society where each and every member will have ample opportunities to lead a happy and joyful life with unhindered scope to make oneas potentials bloom. And, as because, the Naxalites have succeeded in projecting themselves as the foremost champion of such a revolution; thatas what is the real key to their huge popularity. If we bother to take a rather closer look, wead find that none of the above factors really offer any satisfactory explanation. Socio-cultural life of Bengal got sucked into an unprecedented whirlpool of conflicts and tensions triggered by the World War II (1940-45). This is for the first time it got revealed before the general populace how only a handful could manage to garner enormous wealth through sheer resort to rank dishonest means. A devastating famine, without any parallel in the recent past, and an acute existential crisis compelled a large number of common people to bid adieu to their age-old deeply revered set of values. The next major event for Bengal is the Partition and the huge trauma accompanying it. Millions got brutally uprooted, had to leave behind their hearth and home in East Bengal to cross over to unwelcoming West Bengal. Only to find that life on arrival would be too difficult and painful. Their descendants would grow up in a radically different environ a an ambience in which the sheer biological urge to survive forced them to largely trash their old values. And, it did not remain restricted to only those directly affected; cast its influence much wider a over the whole society. And, thatas not the end of the story. What, however, has left the deepest imprint is the trajectory of aeconomic developmenta , post-Independence, over the last two decades or so. On the one hand, a small section of people got wealthier and wealthier, on the other, the majority had to face an intense daily grind. The process that had been set in motion by the last World War has only further aggravated over the years. If excruciating poverty has turned people intensely selfish, poisoned all human relations, then, acquisition of limitless wealth and insane hunt for such acquisition gave rise to an utterly dishonest lifestyle. Those sections of the society, for whom life is not all that tough nor the prospect of acquisition so enticing, have also been affected by the broader trends and moral values have suffered steady degenerations. Spiralling urbanisation has also brought in newer uncertainties and insecurities. Those who saw the light of day in the post-Independence era grew up in an intensely crisis-ridden social, cultural and ethical environment. As a consequence, kids born to middle class families, inheriting some intellectual capabilities, could rather readily come to see through the reigning hypocrisy, emptiness and the yawning gap between the moral precepts routinely displayed on the signboard and the actual practices in real life. They, instead of being inspired by their elders, rather turned irreverent towards them. The most remarkable marker of todayas youth is its utter lack of faith in and reverence for all traditionally established ideals, value system, institutions and iconic figures. And those born to poorer strata had to, from the day one, suffer grinding poverty, remained deprived of proper education. Many of them, in later life, would find all the doors to earning their livelihood in a decent manner just shut tight. Had no whatever access to the brighter aspects of life. At the same time, the social turmoil made them much more aware about their own rightful entitlements. Came to vaguely perceive the inegalitarian and, thereby, unjust nature of the existing social structure. Grew up with a sense of intense and blind animosity against the existing social order, its value system and all that. The intensified economic crisis over the last four-five years has added further momentum to this process. The failure of the United Front politics and their bitter internecine bickerings also turned the youth and adolescents even more contemptuous of traditional politics, esteemed personalities and established institutions. With this socio-economic-political scenario as the backdrop, Naxalism made its appearance on the scene with a special appeal to the disenchanted youth. Detached from this specific socio-cultural scenario, mere political slogans on public display offer just no clue to the present day developments. The middle class student community came to discover a strong resonance of its own attitude in the utter contempt of Naxallism vis-A -vis the social order in place, the traditional political practices, time-honoured moral values etc. etc. Parallelly, on adoption of terroristic actions on an extensive scale in the urban areas during the last six-seven months, a large section of the youth and adolescents from the lower middle and poorer classes, who had earlier been engaged, to varying degrees, in a variety of anti-social activities, turned into active Naxal cadres. The frustrations, disappointments and disillusionments of the middle and upper middle class student community and the hatred, rage and animosity of the youth and adolescents of the poorer classes got crystallised around the Naxalite slogans and action programmes. Not that, before Naxalism there were no expressions of these trends; the speciality of Naxalism is that those earlier unorganised, dissipated and varied expressions have now, to a very significant extent, coalesced into an organised political movement. In the process, these trends have further intensified. It is quite natural that this proposition can in no way be accepted as an axiomatic truth. It calls for some substantiation. Let us first take up a very obvious demonstrative illustration. The Naxalite call for a broad-based peasant revolution under the leadership of the working class has just failed to make any visible impact on the urban working class and even the rural peasantry, except in some isolated organised pockets. The ideology lays down that the agrarian revolution is a revolution of the peasantry under the leadership of the working class. But the rather amusing and interesting aspect is that while this call left the, supposedly, primary actors of this arevolutiona virtually untouched, it has become tremendously popular with the urban youth and adolescents. Does it not, rather convincingly, show that the key to the popularity of Naxalism doesnat lie with the theory of agrarian revolution? It lies elsewhere. If one bothers to take a still closer look, then one would notice that the ebb and tide of popular support for Naxalism is not at all in step with that of the success of agrarian revolution in rural areas. Had the theoretical or political aspect of agrarian revolution been the key, then, thatas precisely what would have been expected. Of course, this calls for even further elaborations, but the restriction on space compels us to close it at this level. IV As a corollary of the foregoing discussion, the other issue that inevitably poses itself before us is that what is the future of this movement? In the coming days, what would be its shape, what would be its impact on the student movements and, also, larger mass struggles? Initially, for quite a while, the capitalist class and the state machinery have looked upon Naxalism in Bengal as an effective antidote to the politics of the United Front. And that was the reason they backed it up in various active and passive ways. The most noticeable one was the wide favourable coverage by the newspapers. But, by and by, especially with the movement gaining accelerating momentum in urban areas, police actions against the movement turned more and more extensive and vicious. As a consequence, those from the middle class, including the so-called abrillianta students, who had joined the Naxalite ranks, are gradually dissociating themselves from active participation in Naxalite programmes. However, nothing of that sort has happened with the youth from the poorer classes. Nevertheless, as the number of middle class activists keeps dwindling, it would become more and more difficult to maintain the structural integrity of the organisation a the organisation will turn more and more decentralised and spontaneity driven. In fact, it is not altogether inconceivable that, in the coming days, the very existence of the organisation may be in jeopardy. Naxalite politics has brought in its wake, in West Bengal politics, as yet unprecedented fascist mentality. And, whether consciously or otherwise, other left parties have become seriously affected. aWhoever slanders our party will be just skinned alive!a That clearly implies that, wherever and whenever feasible, the political opponents will just be crushed through resort to brutal force. This slogan today is no longer a monopoly of the Naxalites, it has become a common property of all the political parties. Together with this fascist mentality and as its pretty logical outcome, we are today confronted with a terrifying situation defined by large scale mutual killings. Even trivial political conflicts are pretty often leading to quashing of human lives. It, however, needs be stated, in no uncertain terms, that in this matter the United Front is also no less responsible. In the wake of the United Front returning back to power [in 1969], its constituent parties - the CPI(M), in particular, in the mad hunt for increasing party strength, are working shoulder to shoulder along with the Naxalites to launch this new trend of large scale killings in the politics of West Bengal. In fact, bloody clashes claiming human lives have already become a routine political activity. Whether the Naxalite organisation survives or not, that this trend of bloody violence will do and, in fact, turn even more horrifying may be taken just as a given. In the days to come, Bengal politics will turn far bloodier than in the past. The spectre of common people killing common people, on an increasing scale, is emerging as the destiny, pretty difficult to avert. As this senseless bloody violence, involving commoners, keeps rising and rising, the student movements and the larger left movements keep getting more and more alienated from the common people, continually losing their support and sympathy. And that is laying the ground for the rise of regular fascism. And, if things keep pursuing this same track, a situation will arise when, regardless of our a a handful of left workersa, protests at the shrillest, the vast sections of common people, who remain outside the domain of any particular brand of politics, would only welcome the police raj with all eagerness. V While discussing the philosophy of Feuerbach, Marx in the Eleventh Thesis has enunciated: "So far the philosophers have interpreted the world in various ways. Our task is to change it." Follows from that, the foregoing discussion on Naxalism would remain entirely pointless unless it helps us in working out a meaningful action programme to be implemented in the immediate future. In order to effectively counter the above referred ill-effects in West Bengal politics, first of all what is required is to very calmly dissect the theoretical and programmatic flaws and failings of Naxalite politics and very patiently lay these out before the student community, wider public and also the Naxalite activists and supporters themselves. All at the same time, also required is to honestly build up a current of militant politics rooted firmly in ideals. Terrorist, quasi-terrorist petty bourgeois revolutionism crops up from the soil of unprincipled political opportunism. In this context, quite noteworthy is an observation by Lenin: aAnarchism was not infrequently a kind of penalty for the opportunist sins of the working-class movement. The two monsters complemented each other.a ("Left-Wing" Communism: An Infantile Disorder.) Consequently, if we fail in our struggle against opportunist politics, if we fail to build up a current of militant politics rooted firmly in ideals, there is just no way we how we can erase off the negative attitude of the student community and the middle class of Bengal vis-A -vis apoliticsa . In order to push back the tragic atmosphere of bloody mutual violence, it is imperative to build up a strong and broad-based mass movement. And, only a widest possible united struggle of the toilers, the student-youth community and the middle class, based on the elementary democratic demands of the various sections of the suffering masses and targeted against the common enemy, can put an end to this ongoing tragic saga of bloody mutual violence and pave the path to the (overdue) social revolution in the coming days. October 29 1970 Cesar Sayoc, the man accused of mailing more than a dozen pipe bombs to leading Democrats and other critics of President Donald Trump, was eyeing more than 100 other people as potential targets, WNBC reported Monday. Sayoc's list of people that he was researching included many political figures, but some were journalists and entertainers, officials told NBC. A review of electronic devices seized from Sayoc suggest he did similar research on the people to whom he is accused of sending mail bombs. Law enforcement authorities will visit the people on Sayoc's list and alert them. The FBI believes it has an obligation to warn anyone who may have been a potential target, particularly since it is not known how many as-yet-undelivered pipe bombs still could be working their way through the postal system. Earlier Monday, a new suspicious package was discovered at CNN's facility in Atlanta. Sayoc allegedly sent pipe bombs in care of the news network's New York office to two of his intended targets. Sayoc, 56, is due to make his first court appearance in the case Monday afternoon in U.S. District Court in Miami. The former stripper, who has a lengthy criminal record, was arrested in Florida on Friday on federal charges related to the mail bomb spree that began just four days earlier. The intended recipients of the bombs included former President Barack Obama, former Vice President Joe Biden, former Secretary of State and 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, Sens. Kamala Harris and Cory Booker, former Attorney General Eric Holder, actor Robert De Niro, former U.S. intelligence officials John Brennan and James Clapper, billionaires George Soros and Tom Steyer, and Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif. America's global trade war has finally arrived at the WTO. Seven countries -- including Mexico, Canada and the European Union -- are disputing U.S. tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum at a meeting of the World Trade Organization in Geneva on Monday. China is asking the international trade body to review the tariffs on roughly half its exports to the United States. The U.S. is fighting back with complaints about Chinese counter-tariffs. Rarely has the WTO faced so many disputes about a handful of actions, experts say. But President Donald Trump's pursuit of protectionist trade policies has stoked nationalism around the globe. His disregard for international rules of the road has forced other countries to sidestep the system as well. And the WTO is struggling to keep up with the changing tides. "The Trump administration has significantly increased their workload," said Matt Gold, a law professor at Fordham University and a top trade official under President Barack Obama. "The United States has brought the whole system to a halt." Monday's closed-door meeting of the WTO's dispute settlement body was the first time countries were collectively able to confront each other and air their grievances over the Trump tariffs. Statements released afterward suggested the discussion got heated. "This collective resort to dispute settlement reflects the serious concern of the WTO Membership over the United States' actions," Norway said in a statement. The U.S. defended its stance, saying it "had no choice," according to meeting documents. "Issues of national security are political in nature and are not matters appropriate for adjudication in the WTO dispute settlement system." The WTO was born from the desire for more free and open borders following World War II. Members agreed to abide by international standards of trade, and the organization provided a way for countries to resolve disputes. Typically, that involves registering a complaint with the WTO before imposing tariffs on another member. The WTO then reviews the dispute and decides whether action is justified. But that process can take years, and lately, the organization has grappled with a backlog of cases and a staffing shortage. Trump did not consult the WTO before announcing the 25 percent tariff on foreign steel and 10 percent tariff on aluminum in May, arguing the measures are critical to national security. Countries that got hit swiftly imposed tariffs of their own on U.S. goods, also before receiving WTO approval. "Some Members have expressed concerns that invoking the national security exception would undermine the international trading system. This is erroneous, and completely backwards," the United States said in a statement. "What threatens the international trading system is that China is attempting to use the WTO dispute settlement system to prevent any action by any Member to address its unfair, trade-distorting policies." The United States followed a similar playbook when it imposed tariffs on a broad swath of Chinese imports, citing the country's violation of intellectual property laws. China retaliated before the WTO could weigh in. "It's getting kind of messy," said Robert McDougall, a senior fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation and a former Canadian delegate to the trade body. The WTO "is under stress, and its relevance is challenged. It administers rules that are out of date." Brazilian far-right presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro speaks to the press during a visit to the Federal Police station in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on October 17, 2018. Brazil's far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro secured a sweeping election victory on Sunday, promising to drain the political swamp and fight corruption in Latin America's largest country. In a vote many considered to be the most important since the country returned to democracy three decades ago, the former military officer survived a near-fatal stabbing to comfortably beat leftist rival Fernando Haddad. The result constitutes a dramatic swing away from the left in Brazil which, over the past four years, has been reeling from a massive criminal investigation known as "Operation Carwash." The scandal has seen scores of business and political leaders jailed including leftist icon and former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who was barred from running for public office. Bolsonaro secured 55.2 percent of the second-round run-off vote over the weekend, while Haddad received 44.8 percent of voter support. The 63-year old populist who has been dubbed the "Trump of the Tropics" by the country's media has thrived by claiming to be a clean-living lawmaker determined to jail corrupt lawmakers. However, critics of Bolsonaro are deeply worried about his brazen praise of the country's former dictatorship and by his comments concerning women, race and human rights. Here are some of the future commander-in-chief's most incendiary remarks reported by various media outlets over the years: Because of Brazil's unpredictable nature, Andean Capital CEO Dan Osorio is waiting to see how the president-elect of Latin America's largest economy will lead beginning in January. "As my Brazilian friends and colleagues tell me, Brazil is not for beginners, so predicting is far from easy," Osorio said on CNBC's "Power Lunch" on Monday. Osorio's company advises large asset-management firms on the economies, politics and markets of Latin America. Far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro won with 55 percent of the vote in Brazil's presidential election on Sunday. Brazilian shares initially jumped on the news, with the iShares MSCI Brazil ETF (EWZ), a U.S.-based exchange-traded fund that tracks Brazilian stocks, rising 2.2 percent. However, by 3:24 pm E.T., the fund erased those gains and was down about 3 percent. The same went for Brazil's main stock index of Latin America's largest economy, the Bovespa index. It gained 1.4 percent on Monday morning but later turned negative. Before the election, the Bovespa index was up more than 9 percent in October. And the EWZ was up more than 18 percent as well. Osorio said it's difficult to tell why the market initially went up on the election results. "It's hard to differentiate between does the market like him or does the market just feel relief that the PT [Brazilian Worker's Party] is not at the helm again," Osorio said. The last two presidents, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Dilma Rousseff, were from the PT. The former is incarcerated and serving a 12-year sentence for money laundering and passive corruption while the latter was impeached and found guilty of breaking budgetary laws. Osorio also has his eye on Bolsonaro's potential finance administrator Paulo Guedes, and in particular what they will do with Petrobras, Brazil's semi-public petroleum company. "I think there are going to be inclinations to privatize more of it and then a very powerful union that's not going to want that," Osorio said. As Bolsonaro rounds out his cabinet, Osorio said that may be a good indication of how the market in Brazil will do. "If he fills his cabinet with retired generals, then be concerned, be afraid. If he doesn't, and he takes a somewhat more orthodox approach to the economy, then getting long Brazilian stocks and getting short Brazilian civility is the way this would work out," he said. "I'm waiting to see what this man does and what foot he starts his administration on in January of next year," he said. Disclaimer Brazilian shares closed lower on Monday, giving up initial gains, after former army captain Jair Bolsonaro was elected president of the largest economy in Latin America. The iShares MSCI Brazil ETF (EWZ), a U.S.-based exchange-traded fund that tracks Brazilian stocks, fell 3.5 percent after rising as much as 3.4 percent. The Bovespa index, Brazil's main stock-market index, dropped 2.4 percent and gained as much as 3 percent. Far-right candidate Bolsonaro obtained 55 percent of the vote in Sunday's contest, defeating leftist Fernando Haddad. Bolsonaro's rise to power comes after his promises to eradicate corruption from Brazil's government and to rein in a rising crime rate. However, Bolsonaro's capacity to lead Brazil has been questioned by many given some of his comments. He told Playboy in 2011 he would rather have a dead son than a gay son. He has also said Haitian immigrants were bringing diseases to Brazil. "Many in Brazil worry about his brash and sometimes controversial personality, drawing parallels with the behaviour and rhetoric of Presidents Trump and Duterte," said Rafael Elias, an analyst at Exotix Research. "But we are of the view that he will be more pragmatic than widely expected, and careful not to alienate sections of society. We believe that he is well aware that he will need to promote and facilitate consensus to make progress with his government program. Investors have been cheering Bolsonaro's victory as they see his presidency as the best chance for Brazil to enact pension reform. The country's pension system has contributed to a ballooning fiscal deficit, which surged to 8 percent of GDP last year from 3 percent in 2013. EWZ and Bovespa are up 14.5 percent and 5.4 percent this month, respectively. "Now that Brazil has a new leader, the most important objective is now to get its country's finances in line," said Peter Boockvar, chief investment officer at Bleakley Advisory Group. "Pension reform was the initiative that [current President Michel] Temer was not able to pull off and hopefully Bolsonaro can get a fighting chance to do so." Bolsonaro also said throughout his campaign he wants the Brazilian central bank to be more independent and to privatize state-run companies. Dubai real estate heavyweight DAMAC Properties isn't worried about regional instability in the Middle East. In fact, its leadership sees it as a plus. The United Arab Emirates' (UAE) most populous city has long benefited from the seemingly constant turmoil in its wider orbit, DAMAC Properties chairman Hussain Sajwani told CNBC's Hadley Gamble Monday. This is thanks to its status as a regional transport and business hub, and its reputation for safety and stability, which has attracted those with means from other parts of the region when political or economic unrest has hit neighbors such as Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq, and Kuwait, to name a few. "Dubai always benefited from the instability," Sajwani said. "I remember eight years of Iraq-Iran war and Dubai benefit from that. The trade with Iran increased and then we saw the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, and Dubai benefited from a lot of Kuwaitis (that) came here and stayed here." A history of witnessing conflict The Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in August of 1990 led some 70,000 Kuwaitis to flee to the UAE, where then-leader Sheikh Zayed issued an order to provide all Kuwaitis with shelter and a monthly stipend. The friendship has endured between the two nations ever since, both politically and economically. Sajwani also noted Dubai's gains from the collapse of Somalia in the 1990s, during which the emirate attracted significant Somali business and trade. Most of the east African country's influential business people and political leaders lived in the Gulf, and many preferred to live and run their companies in Dubai, taking advantage of its geographic position and modern infrastructure as a gateway for global trade. Christopher Pike | Bloomberg | Getty Images Recent estimates suggest some 35,000 Somalis live in the UAE, out of which 70 percent run businesses including commodities import-export operations from Dubai. Relations between the two countries have soured recently, however, following UAE investment and port construction in the breakaway Somaliland, and the Emirati government has in the past imposed restrictions on Somali immigration. The UAE bolstered both its regional presence and its military partnership with the U.S. in the wake of September 11, which enabled in to establish lucrative links on the pretext of countering terrorism and piracy. But its alignment with Western forces dating back to the Persian Gulf War and the Somalia crisis cemented both its security partnership with Washington and its reputation as an oasis of stability for wealthy and influential Arabs and Africans seeking safer shores. Among the world's safest cities Dubai has been ranked among the world's safest cities for years, and was ranked the fifth safest in the world this year by the Global Smart City Performance Index, due in large part to highly restrictive laws and a capital punishment system that's been criticized by many human rights groups. It also benefits from investment and close security cooperation with its larger oil-rich Gulf neighbors, though the UAE's involvement in the Saudi-led bombing campaign over Yemen has attracted criticism from some governments and several rights advocates. Still, its capacity to attract investment appears unblemished. More recently, the crisis in Saudi Arabia surrounding the murder of Saudi journalist and U.S. resident Jamal Khashoggi has set off an international firestorm that's rocked the markets of the world's largest oil exporter. Foreigners dumped $1.1 billion in Saudi stock just last week, and the kingdom's benchmark Tadawul index has been on a roller-coaster ride. Riyadh is a major investor in and partner of Dubai, leading UAE state ministers to issue warnings against "efforts to destabilize Saudi Arabia." Pedestrians walk past street art in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Getty Images Ford F-150 trucks go through the customer acceptance line at the Ford Dearborn Truck Plant on September 27, 2018 in Dearborn, Michigan. Investors could see a 40 percent return on Ford stock as the automaker restructures its business and boosts its bottom line, according to Goldman Sachs analysts. Goldman upgraded the company to buy from neutral and raised its 12-month price target to $12 from $9, sending shares up 3.3 percent in premarket trading Monday. The move implies a 33.6 percent upgrade from Friday's close. Combined with a 6.7 percent dividend yield, which Goldman called "sustainable," that puts the expected gain just over 40 percent. "While we still expect a downward earnings trajectory into 2019 (North America profit under-pressure), we believe next year will represent trough earnings and the combination of a refreshed product cadence globally as well as cost improvements from strategic initiatives will begin to take hold," analyst David Tamberrino said in a note. Marsha Blackburn and Phil Bredesen CNBC; Getty Images KNOXVILLE, Tenn. The battle to succeed retiring Republican Sen. Bob Corker in Tennessee has seen a surge in outside groups trying to influence the hotly contested election. And voters are sick of it. "I hate that they ran everything so negative" said one voter, Brent Larson. "Vicious," said another, Barbara Tallent. "One of the ugliest ones in my lifetime." In a ride-along Saturday with Americans for Prosperity, an outside group funded primarily by billionaire industrialist Charles Koch and one of the organizations spending millions in the state, CNBC spoke with almost a dozen voters in Knoxville, the third most populated city in Tennessee. Every voter who spoke on the record said they normally vote for Republican candidates. That should be a good sign for GOP Rep. Marsha Blackburn, one of the candidates vying to replace Corker. But rival Phil Bredesen, a Democratic former governor, has been making inroads with Republicans. The Koch network as a whole has endorsed Blackburn in the race. Yet the Americans for Prosperity efforts Saturday were focused not on directly pushing the GOP candidate, but more on people who have been inconsistent in turning out to vote. In 2016, the state was ranked 48th among the 50 states that year in voter turnout, according to the nonpartisan data website FairVote.org. Meanwhile, the group's affiliated super PAC, Americans for Prosperity Action, has been pushing some of the same ads that voters appear to despise. The committee has spent $2.1 million in support of Blackburn and $433,000 against Bredesen, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics. The Bredesen battle A recent ad calls on voters to turn against Bredesen due to a record, the group said, that reflects a push for higher state taxes when he was governor and spending $9 million in taxpayer money on revamping the governor's mansion. Bredesen has also seen help from Democrats outside the state looking to influence the election. The Senate Majority PAC, a super PAC affiliated with Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, has spent more than $3 million against Blackburn. Billionaire and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg recently hosted a fundraiser for Bredesen in Manhattan. Outside groups have totaled more than $30 million in spending on both sides, making it the most expensive campaign in Tennessee history. Tim Phillips, president of Americans for Prosperity, told CNBC in an interview that he believes the ads serve as a tool to educate voters on the resumes of both candidates. "We think it's helpful to have voters on both sides to have a thorough hearing about the differences between the different candidates," Phillips said. "It's an important moment for the country and a great deal is at stake," he added. Representatives for Blackburn and Bredesen did not return interview requests. What voters are saying Voters are still divided over whom to vote for, even as ads inundate the state. For Bredesen, the good news is that there appears to be a growing contingent of Republicans who are willing to vote for him, which would signify a remarkable turnaround for Democrats. The GOP has represented Tennessee in the Senate for the past 24 years, and Trump won the state by 26 points over Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report labels the Tennessee U.S. Senate race as a toss-up. The Real Clear Politics polling average shows Blackburn up by 6 points. Stan Harrell, who spoke to CNBC from outside his home, said he votes for Republicans, but this year he's likely to make a different choice because the former governor appears to be more genuine then Blackburn. "I felt like he voices his own opinions and takes an nonobjective view out there," Harrell said. "In Blackburn's case, one of the things that concerns me is her support for Trump and she doesn't appear to have her own objective view." Tallent, a registered Republican who voted for Trump but will back Bredesen in 2018, pointed to his work as a governor and mayor of Nashville as reasons to vote for Bredesen. "I thought he did some great things for Nashville. He gave a boon to Nashville's economy and did great things for that city," she said. One of his crowning achievements as mayor was recruiting two professional sports teams to come to Nashville, which is nearly 200 miles west of Knoxville. In the 1990s, Bredesen helped bring the National Football League's Houston Oilers to the Music City, where they are known as the Tennessee Titans. Bredesen also was mayor when the city landed a National Hockey League expansion team, the Nashville Predators. The Trump factor Goop, the lifestyle brand owned by actress Gwyneth Paltrow, has been reported to the U.K.'s trading standards and advertising watchdogs over allegations that it makes misleading claims about its products. The Good Thinking Society, a non-profit charity that campaigns against pseudoscience, confirmed to CNBC Monday that it had submitted the complaint about Goop to the U.K.'s National Trading Standards and the Advertising Standards Authority. The news was first reported by The Sunday Times newspaper. The complaint, seen by CNBC, alleges that Goop's "wellness" products are advertised misleadingly and make "potentially harmful" claims. It also holds that Goop's advertising could encourage customers to "use products which could cause direct harm" and that some of the firm's health claims about its supplement products are "unauthorized." The charity listed 113 examples of Goop's advertising which it says are in breach of the law. One of Goop's products, called "The Mother Load," lists 110 percent of the "daily value" of vitamin A for adults and children aged four an above, and 69 percent of the daily value for pregnant women. But Britain's National Health Service and the World Health Organization against taking supplements containing vitamin A during pregnancy. The NHS website recommends pregnant women "avoid taking supplements that contain vitamin A." Susan Beck, senior vice president science and research at Goop, told CNBC on Monday: "When used as recommended, goop's the Mother Load supplements are safe during pregnancy. The Mother Load contains a very moderate 450 mcg (micrograms)," or 1500 IU (international units), "of vitamin A (preformed vitamin A as retinyl palmitate), which is less than the recommended daily intake of 600 mcg per day (per NHS)." Beck added: "The Mother Load package contains a warning that pregnant women should not consume more than 10,000 IU vitamin A daily due to risk of birth defects. To provide you with more context All pregnant women need vitamin A." Goop said it had not been contacted by either National Trading Standards or the Advertising Standards Authority about the complaint. Paltrow's firm, which was set up in 2008, recently opened its first pop-up store in the U.K., and made its web store available to European customers. Laura Thomason, project manager at the Good Thinking Society, said in a emailed statement: "It is shocking to see the sheer volume of unproven claims made by Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop about their products, especially given that some of their health advice is potentially dangerous." Thomason added: "Gwyneth Paltrow may well have good intentions, but she and her company sell products with claims that could clearly mislead customers. Just because Gwyneth has an Academy Award, it does not mean that Goop should be given an easy ride compared to other big corporations." "Being a celebrity does not exempt someone from abiding by the advertising law here in the U.K., and if Gwyneth Paltrow cannot provide satisfactory evidence behind the claims she makes for her products, she should not be making those claims." A spokesperson for the Advertising Standards Authority told CNBC: "We are looking into a number of ads appearing in various places, including online. At this point we are assessing the complaints and no investigation has been launched at this stage." A spokesperson for National Trading Standards told CNBC: "While we have received correspondence from the Good Thinking Society, the regulation of advertising is not within the remit of National Trading Standards. Any complaints about advertising should be directed to the Advertising Standards Authority for consideration under the U.K. Advertising Rules." It's not the first time Paltrow's Goop has been confronted with legal action. It settled a $145,000 lawsuit with California prosecutors last month over the advertising of a vaginal jade and rose quartz egg which it claimed could balance hormones and regulate menstrual cycles. WATCH: Here are four of Amazon's creepiest patents Lawyers for Democracy (LfD) Media Release 28 October 2018 Lawyers for Democracy (LfD) urges President to respect the Constitution & revoke prorogation of Parliament On 26 October 2018, President Maithripala Sirisena purported to remove the existing Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe and purported to appoint Mahinda Rajapakse MP as the new Prime Minister. Having examined the legal position, LfD concludes that this move is clearly unconstitutional and undemocratic for the following reasons: a) The 19th Amendment has restricted the Presidents powers in relation to Parliament as well as Cabinet, including removal and appointment of a Prime Minister. Power to remove the Prime Minister, previously vested in the President, was entirely removed by the 19th Amendment, which was introduced to ensure that arbitrary powers exercised by prior executive Presidents could not undermine basic democratic governance. This change was intentional. b) The concept of a Unity Government, set out for first time in the 19th Amendment, is not linked to the Appointment or Removal of a Prime Minister. There is no direct consequence of ending a Unity Government for the dissolution of Cabinet or removal of the Prime Minister. c) Appointment of a Prime Minister under Article 42(4) of the Constitution can arise only when there is a vacancy by virtue of a fresh election, resignation and on the removal consequent to a no-confidence motion. Thus the appointment of Mr Mahinda Rajapakse as PM is void, given the absence of any of the three above conditions to date. d) Interpretation Ordinance provision that the appointing authority can remove the appointed has no application here as there is a specific procedure for removal of a Prime Minister specified under Article 46 of the Constitution. e) Any further actions by the President to appoint Ministers without the advice of a constitutionally appointed Prime Minister also lack legality and are void. LfD believes that the current constitutional crisis over the PM post must be democratically and peacefully resolved before a court of law or on the Floor of the Parliament through demonstrating majority support for either Prime Minister Wickremasinghe or Mr Rajapakse. However, the Presidents actions to prorogue Parliament until 16th November 2018 deprive the Parliament from taking up and resolving this matter. The context in which the President has acted is contrary to very essence of the 19th Amendment and basic fundamental values of the constitution. The action of the President, a reminiscent of a constitutional coup, is also contrary to the mandate given to the President at the 2015 January Election. The President should immediately revoke the prorogation or summon parliament so as to de-escalate the constitutional crisis created. To fail to do so will be in breach of his responsibilities under the 19th Amendment to uphold the Constitution of In Lanka. Conveners, On behalf of Lawyers for Democracy (Lai Wuenayaka, K.S. Ratnavale, JC Weliamuna, Sunil Jayarathna, Lakshan Dias, Sudath Nethisnghe, Harishka Nadeeshan, Prabodha Rathnyaka) Angela Merkel said Monday she will not seek a fifth term as chancellor, effectively beginning the winding down of her time as German leader. Merkel announced that she will not be seeking any political posts after her term as chancellor ends in 2021. She added that she will also not stand for re-election as chairwoman of her Christian Democratic Union party when it holds an election for the post in December. "This term is my last as chancellor," she said, according to a translation. "I will not be seeking re-election as a CDU lawmaker. I will not be seeking any political posts after the current terms ends in 2021," she added, in what was the first confirmation from the German leader that she will step down after being in power since 2005. The announcement follows a disappointing regional election in the state of Hesse on Sunday. Merkel, 64, will continue to lead the country even without being the head of the party. Another chair at the helm of the CDU would then have time to try to build up a popular presence with voters ahead of the next federal election in 2021. Alluding to the fractious coalition government she leads, Merkel said the party would have secured better results in Hesse had it not been for the situation at the federal level. "The government has lost credibility," Merkel said at Monday's press conference. 'Break with her previous position' Vacating the party leadership is seen by some as a move to placate those within her party that might have sought to oust Merkel before her fourth term ends. Carsten Nickel, deputy director of research at Teneo Intelligence, said in a note Monday that Merkel had traded in the "CDU leadership to save her chancellorship." Merkel's comments also mark a shift from her previous stance on party and government leadership. "This is a break with her previous position that a separation of the two roles would weaken her position as chancellor," Greg Fuzesi, an economist at J.P. Morgan, said in a note Monday. "It is worth noting at this point that the chancellor is elected by the Bundestag (German Parliament) while the leader of the CDU is elected by CDU party members. Hence, they can be held by two different people." The euro fell 0.4 percent against the dollar on reports of her decision earlier in the day, but soon recovered slightly to trade 0.18 percent lower. Other experts are still skeptical that Merkel could see out a full fourth term. "If she manages to stay on as chancellor after the CDU elects a new leader, probably on December 7, she would still be seen as a lame duck," Holger Schmieding, chief economist at Berenberg Bank, said in a note Monday. "By relinquishing her role at the helm of the CDU voluntarily, she may try to head off a challenge from a potential successor which, if successful, could also have toppled her as chancellor." Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer and Jens Spahn both announced their bids for the party leadership on Monday but Merkel declined to publicly back either of them. She said she did not wanted to influence the election of her successor as CDU party leader, Reuters reported. Hesse election A regional election in the German state of Hesse delivered another political blow to Merkel on Sunday, with more voters fleeing to the left and right. Merkel's CDU party and her coalition partner in Berlin, the Social Democratic Party, saw heavy losses in the state of Hesse on Sunday. In the meantime, the left-wing Greens and right-wing, anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany saw their share of the vote increase dramatically. Provisional results from the state's statistics office showed the CDU got 27 percent, down 11.3 percentage points since the last election in 2013 and marking the worst result for the party since 1962. The SPD saw its support fall from 30.7 percent in 2013 to 19.8 percent in the vote. Meanwhile, the Greens gained 19.7 percent (up from 11.1 percent) and the AfD was seen with 13.2 percent of the vote, tripling its vote share from 2013 and allowing it to enter parliament for the first time. For Hesse, the result means the incumbent CDU-Greens coalition has lost its majority and could rely on the pro-business Free Democratic Party (FDP) to form a grand coalition. This so-called Jamaica alliance, named for the colors of the parties involved, was mooted after the German federal election last October but it failed to come to fruition. Not that the coalition that Merkel eventually formed in Berlin has done much better. The alliance of Merkel's CDU party and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union and the SPD has been plagued by infighting and argument over policy; the latest test of political sentiment is another confirmation that voters were not impressed. 'No one is happy' Despite the CDU remaining the largest party, Klaus-Peter Willsch, the CDU's representative in Hesse, told CNBC that the result was an indictment of the federal government and that no one is satisfied with the result. "This is a true hint that it is not a state policy but a federal policy problem we are facing everyone could see our government is not performing," he told CNBC's Annette Weisbach on Sunday. "I hope that we have a new start. They (the SPD) won a bit and we won a bit and no one is really happy with it." For Berlin, the result is another blow to an already fractious and fragile alliance. A similar election result was recorded at the Bavarian state elections a few weeks ago and there is speculation that the SPD might jump ship as it sees voters punishing it for its association with the government. "It's a very bad result and therefore need to figure out now how we regain credibility and the trust of the citizens. Above all in Berlin," the Hessian SPD's general secretary, Nancy Faeser, told CNBC on Sunday. Meanwhile, Kal Klose, chairman of the Greens party in Hesse, told CNBC that the regional election had shown that "the people don't like the style of how the grand coalition works." There are growing calls in the SPD to abandon the coalition, with vote losses being associated with the government rather than staying in opposition as it had promised supporters. The party's leader, Andrea Nahles, is to present an "action plan" on Monday addressing concerns. There is bound to be some soul-searching for the CDU, too, at an upcoming party convention on Dec. 6. More than a populist 'wave' Huda Kattan is a self-made millionaire with a beauty company Forbes recently valued at $1 billion. At this writing, she has more than 2 million subscribers on YouTube and 28 million followers on Instagram. This founder and beauty influencer never planned to become a businesswoman. In fact, nearly a decade ago she was like a lot of recent grads, working hard at jobs that didn't always reflect her true passion. As she made her way, she would make an important realization: Success wasn't just about working hard, which she had always done. Success was about finding fulfillment. Kattan was a good student who studied finance in college. She chose the major when her parents urged her to study "something serious." At the University of Michigan-Dearborn, she joined a host of activities, became an honors student and was a speaker at graduation. Still, she knew something was missing. After graduating in 2007, her fiance sensed a financial downturn would hit Michigan hard. He suggested the couple move to Dubai where he'd be starting a new job. Kattan asked the recruitment company she worked for to transfer her to its Dubai office. The couple moved in 2008 but could not escape the crisis' global reach. She lost her job within a few months of moving. While she briefly worked in PR, she soon realized that that wasn't her passion either, quitting in the first two weeks. "I was like, screw this," she told USA Today. "I'm not doing anything unless I love it, because I've already given my life to so many jobs. I need to love what I do, because I'm going to give 110 percent. I'm going to be working from 6 in the morning until 10 p.m., so I need to make sure I like it." By 2009, Kattan reached a turning point. Michael Jackson died and she realized, "He did what he was passionate about," she said in Harper's Bazaar Arabia in 2016. It was one of several moments that prompted Kattan to think about her impact on the world. "If I do something I'm not passionate about, how am I going to impact the world? And if I am not changing the world in some way then what the hell am I doing?" Not sure what direction to take, her sister urged her to study makeup, a longtime interest. Kattan returned to school for a certificate in makeup artistry and began practicing her craft at Revlon. Soon she began Huda Beauty as a blog, working as a makeup artist by day and a blogger by night, growing a following by creating makeup tutorials and sharing expert tips. Her beauty empire was just starting, but even then she knew she was closer to finding that sense of fulfillment she'd been missing. As she explained at a TedXDubai Woman talk in 2010, "The minute you decide to do what you love to do, you have made a life plan for yourself and a career choice." Still, she didn't see herself selling products. When her sister Mona suggested that she start her own beauty company, Kattan blew off the idea. "I wasn't making any money out of [the blog] I was really more of a makeup artist. I was definitely struggling financially, but I just did not want to start a beauty brand," said Kattan to CNBC Make It. "I thought I wasn't the person to have a business." HSBC, Europe's largest bank, said on Monday its its third-quarter reported pre-tax profit jumped 28 percent from a year ago to $5.922 billion. The bank's revenue for the July-to-September quarter was $13.798 billion, 6.32 percent higher than the same period a year ago. Despite those improvements, the bank's reported pre-tax profit and revenue for the quarter slightly missed expectations, according to analyst forecasts compiled by data firm Refinitiv. Other key financial metrics that analysts were watching: Adjusted profit before tax was $6.193 billion in the third quarter, 16 percent higher than the same period a year ago. Net interest margin, a measure of lending profitability, was at 1.67 percent as of Sept. 30, HSBC said. That's higher than the 1.63 percent seen a year ago. Operating expenses for the quarter were $7.966 billion, down from $8.546 billion in the period from July to September in 2017. "These are encouraging results that demonstrate the revenue potential of HSBC," the bank's group chief executive, John Flint, said in a statement accompanying the earnings release. HSBC's Hong Kong-listed shares jumped 5 percent after the lunch break. Its shares in both London and Hong Kong have fallen by more than 20 percent since the start of the year as global growth prospects are increasingly threatened by uncertainties surrounding trade. A Lion Air flight carrying 189 people, including crew, from the Indonesian capital of Jakarta crashed into the sea off the island of Java on Monday shortly after take-off, according to officials. There was no immediate word on fatalities or injuries. The Ministry of Transportation has confirmed that 189 people were on board the plane, after initially reporting that there were 188 passengers. According to the ministry, Lion Air flight JT610 took off from Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta airport and lost contact with the air traffic controller at around 6:33 a.m. Monday (7:33 p.m. ET Sunday). The plane was headed to the city of Pangkal Pinang off the island of Sumatra. A statement from Lion Air said that the plane took off at 6:20 a.m. local time (7:20 p.m. ET Sunday). It added that the aircraft was a Boeing 737 Max 8, manufactured in 2018, and was in operation since Aug. 15, 2018. The Boeing 737 Max 8 is one of Boeing's newest airplanes and a variant of its best-selling narrowbody jets. An official from Indonesia's disaster agency tweeted that several pieces of wreckage were found in the waters off the coast of West Java. Tweet 1 Lion Air also said that the flight captain Bhavye Suneja had more than 6,000 hours of flight time while the co-pilot, Harvino, had about 5,000 hours of flight time. According to Reuters, a spokesman for the country's search and rescue agency said that a tug boat leaving Jakarta's port had seen the aircraft falling. Yusuf Latif, a spokesman for the National Search and Rescue Agency, told Reuters by text that the flight "has been confirmed that it has crashed." Debris thought to be from the aircraft was said to have been found near an offshore refining facility of state energy firm Pertamina. A spokeswoman for Boeing told CNBC that the firm is "deeply saddened by the loss of Lion Air Flight JT 610." The company stands "ready to provide technical assistance to the accident investigation." Investcorp has said it is ready to ramp up investment in the United States, citing the country's booming economy. At the end of June, Investcorp had about $22.6 billion in assets under management. The firm has previously stated that it wants to take that to $50 billion within 5 to 7 years. Speaking at the Investcorp Strategic Partners Conference in Paris, company chairman Mohammed Bin Mahfoodh Alardhi said U.S. economic fundamentals were currently "good for us" and he anticipated big purchases. "Our private equity is growing there, and we are looking to see how to write bigger checks and buy bigger companies," he told CNBC's Hadley Gamble on Friday. Alardhi added that Investcorp's growing real estate spend in the U.S. remained at about one billion dollars a year and was continuing to perform well. The chairman also lauded the credit business, which focuses on senior secured corporate debt, describing it as a "huge opportunity to grow." On any potential for the upcoming U.S. mid-term elections to disrupt the country's red-hot economy, Alardhi was dismissive, noting that the firm had thrived through different political "seasons" in the U.S., as far back as 1982. Since the firm's launch in the early 1980s, the majority of Investcorp's investments have been in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. But in August this year, the firm made a stated aim to broaden its portfolio into Asian markets, especially India and China. "We are really taking baby steps, but we are making progress out there," Alardhi said before adding that the firm had completed its first investment the Chinese tech sector and was on the verge of buying its first business in India. Indonesian transportation and safety officials are searching for voice and data recorders and other clues to determine the cause of the crash of Lion Air's brand-new Boeing 737 MAX 8 jet, the first accident of its kind for the variant of the top-selling plane. The plane crashed into the Java Sea 13 minutes after taking off from Jakarta, Lion Air said. There were 189 people on board the flight to Pangkal Pinang, according to Indonesia's Transportation Ministry. Divers of the country's search and rescue agency were looking for passengers and the plane. Lion Air had the jet in service for just over two months. At least 10 bodies were recovered at the site, the Transportation Ministry said in statement. Government safety officials will search for cockpit voice and flight data recorders to help determine the cause of the crash. One of the pilots of Flight 610 asked to return to the airport after the plane took off, Soerjanto Tjahjono, head of Indonesia's transport safety committee, told reporters, according to Reuters. The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are each sending investigators to assist Indonesia with the crash probe, U.S. aviation officials told CNBC. The reason Lion Air Flight 610 went down is still unknown. The airline said in a statement that it had been using the plane since Aug. 15. Data from flight-tracking site FlightRadar24, showed the jet had reached an altitude of 5,000, but showed a steep dive within 10 minutes of takeoff. Boeing, which made the 737 MAX 8 jet, said wreckage of the twin-engine, narrow-body plane has been detected and that it "stands ready to provide technical assistance to the accident investigation." The company directed all other questions to the Indonesian transportation safety committee. "We express our concern for those on board, and extend heartfelt sympathies to their families and loved ones," Boeing said. The plane is a new model of its best-selling 737, which first debuted in 1967 and is Boeing's top seller. The company introduced the 737 MAX family of aircraft in 2011, touting its quieter engines and better fuel efficiency as selling points. That year, Lion Air ordered 230 737s, including 201 737 MAX jets, according to Boeing. The aircraft manufacturer has delivered more than 200 of the 737 MAX jets worldwide and it plans to increase production of its 737 jets to 57 a month from 52 next year to keep up with strong demand. It has an order backlog of more than 4,600 Boeing 737s, it said on its website. Southwest Airlines also flies the 737 MAX 8 and said it is in touch with Boeing "and will closely monitor the situation and any findings of this tragic event." Southwest had 23 in its fleet as of the end of September and plans to take delivery of nine more in the fourth quarter. It first took delivery of this type of plane in October of last year. "The entire Southwest Family extends our Southwest Heart to Lion Air and offers our deepest condolences to each of the families and loved ones affected by the tragic accident in Indonesia," the airline said in a statement. "We maintain our 737 MAX 8 aircraft in accordance with our FAA-approved maintenance program, originally developed, and continually maintained, in partnership with Boeing." American Airlines said it has 15 737 MAX 8 planes in its fleet and 85 left on order. "American Airlines extends our condolences to the families and friends of those on board Lion Air 610. We continue to closely monitor the investigation via Boeing and the National Transportation Safety Board," said American Airlines spokesman Ross Feinstein. Shares of Boeing were down about 7 percent in afternoon trading, the biggest laggard in the Dow Jones Industrial Average. A spokeswoman for engine maker CFM International, a joint venture of General Electric and France's Safran, said the plane was powered by its CFM LEAP 1B engines and that the company is also ready to assist both the Indonesian and U.S. National Transportation Safety Board. Lion Air is one of Indonesia's youngest and fastest-growing airlines, flying to dozens of domestic and international destinations. The airline is a major customer of Boeing. The privately-held airline's CEO Edward Sirait told reporters that the plane had a technical problem on a previous flight from Denpasar to Jakarta but that it "had been resolved according to procedure," according to Reuters. He said the airline has 11 aircraft of the same model and that the issue was limited to that one plane. The incident draws attention to Lion Air's safety record. The Aviation Safety Network, part of the Flight Safety Foundation, listed 10 incidents or accidents involving Lion Air's planes since 2002. In 2013, one of its Boeing 737-800 jets missed the runway while landing on the resort island of Bali, crashing into the sea without causing any fatalities among the 108 people on board. The European Union removed Lion Air from its air safety blacklist in June 2016. Reuters contributed to this report. Walmart's Jet.com is now selling meal kits by Blue Apron, as the e-commerce company tries to build out its platform and grocery assortment to compete with Amazon and Whole Foods. Starting Monday, shoppers in the New York area will be able to purchase four different meal kits for same- or next-day delivery via Jet.com. The meals include seared steaks with pasta and popcorn chicken with rice. This marks the first time Blue Apron has partnered with another major retailer to sell its products online. Faced with its own challenges, the meal-kit company has struggled to retain subscribers over the long term. Blue Apron shares jumped more than 18 percent to $1.35 in premarket trading Monday after the partnership was announced. The stock has fallen more than 70 percent so far this year. Jet.com recently underwent a redesign and upgrade to offer faster delivery options and more local brands. Men's clothing retailer Bonobos, which is also owned by Walmart, is now available on the website. And Jet.com is about to start selling merchandise from Nike. More and more, customers have been coming to Jet.com searching for "meal kits," according to Chief Customer Officer David Echegoyen. And until now, the company didn't have much to offer. "We both care deeply about the urban customer. We both share that passion," Echegoyen told CNBC about partnering with Blue Apron over other players, including Plated and HelloFresh. "We can learn together and innovate together." Jet.com said it will rotate the types of meal kits on its site every six weeks. Blue Apron earlier this month started working with delivery service Grubhub in New York. It's another way the meal-kit company is trying to reach more customers and give them more ways to order its food. Blue Apron has also tried selling kits in Costco stores. A home once owned by heiress and entrepreneur Paris Hilton is for sale for $4.8 million. The 1926-built mansion in the Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles, California is being sold furnished, according to the listing, including Hilton's custom furniture. The 3,064-square-foot home is perched on a with city views, and it has four bedrooms, four bathrooms, a guest quarters, a cinema and more. Hilton was living in the home from 2003 to 2007, according to the agency listing the property, and it was featured in her reality show, "The Simple Life, which aired for five seasons, staring in 2003. Hilton sold the home in 2007 for $3.8 million. Take a look inside. There is a living area with chandelier and a mirrored bar. Sam's Club is opening a location in Dallas that will allow customers to scan and pay for their groceries with an app without a cashier or standing in the checkout line. It comes at a time when many retailers, including Sam's Club owner Walmart, Target, Kroger and Macy's, are playing with technology in stores to appeal to customers, cut costs and grow sales. The opening also comes in a market ripe with competition in the grocery industry Whole Foods is headquartered in Texas and H-E-B is popular there. At the Dallas location, shoppers will be introduced to a new "Sam's Club Now" app that builds on its existing "Shop and Go" app. At first, the so-called lab will be available only for a small number of people, according to the company. A wider rollout is to follow. It's a similar strategy Amazon used when it introduced its cashierless Amazon Go store in Seattle. First, it was only open to Amazon's employees. At 32,000 square feet, Sam's Club said the new store will be about a quarter of the size of its traditional store, with a focus on food produce, meat and alcohol. Here's how the experience will work: Customers will open the "Sam's Club Now" app upon entering the store. They'll be able to use the app to locate items and then add them to their mobile cart by scanning them. The app will also let shoppers navigate aisles of dry and frozen goods. The app can also make suggestions for items to add to carts based on a shoppers' past purchase history, the company said. It's designed to make sure frequent customers don't forget something they meant to purchase, said Jamie Iannone, CEO of SamsClub.com. And shoppers will be able to place orders remotely for pickup at the Dallas location within an hour. "We'll use all available technologies including computer vision, augmented reality, machine learning, artificial intelligence, robotics, just to name a few to redefine the retail experience," Iannone said in a blog post. To pay after shopping the store, customers will simply scan a code with an exit host when leaving, bypassing the traditional checkout process. The Dallas store will eventually be equipped with roughly 700 cameras to help facilitate inventory and layout management, Sam's Club said. The retailer also says it plans to take much of the new technology nationwide over time. Amazon reportedly could open as many as 3,000 cashierless stores by 2021, putting intense pressure on its competitors to respond with their own initiatives or risk losing sales for lack of convenient options. Kroger has a "Scan, Bag, Go" app similar to Sam's Club, while Walmart decided to pull the plug on its mobile express scan-and-go offering earlier this year. It had been in as many as 120 Walmart stores across the U.S. WATCH: Here's a look inside Amazon's store that only sells its most popular products Demonstrators hold photographs of journalist Jamal Khashoggi outside the White House in Washington, D.C., on Friday, Oct. 19, 2018. The Saudi public prosecutor heading the investigation into the killing of Jamal Khashoggi arrived in Istanbul overnight, the state-owned Anadolu news agency said on Monday, ahead of expected talks with the Istanbul chief prosecutor. President Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday that Turkey values the outcome of the talks between the two prosecutors. The timing of their meeting was not immediately clear. Anadolu said the Saudi prosecutor would also inspect the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, where Khashoggi was killed three weeks ago. The death of Khashoggi a Washington Post columnist and a critic of Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sparked global outrage and pitched the world's top oil exporter into crisis. Erdogan has expressed skepticism about Saudi's shifting explanations of the killing and has called on the kingdom to hold to account all those responsible, no matter how highly placed. Saudi public prosecutor Saud Al Mojeb said this week the killing was premeditated, contradicting a previous official statement that it happened accidentally. Turkish prosecutors have also prepared a request for the extradition from Saudi Arabia of 18 suspects who were arrested by Riyadh as part of the investigation. Those suspects include a 15-man security team that Turkey says flew in hours before the killing and carried it out. Erdogan said on Saturday that the extradition request was being relayed to Saudi Arabia via Turkey's justice ministry. Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said that those behind the killing would be prosecuted in the kingdom. Turkey has said it shared information regarding the investigation with other countries, including the United States, Germany, France and Russia. Madrid will bring down its public deficit in 2019 despite ongoing concerns that the minority government will implement some populist measures, the economy minister told CNBC on Monday. The European Commission sent a letter to Spain, earlier this month, warning that the structural deficit reduction planned for 2019 was 0.25 percent below what the country had previously agreed to. However, Nadia Calvino, Spain's economy minister, told CNBC Monday that the government remains committed to reducing public deficit. "We have not reduced the ambition in terms of reduction of the public deficit," Calvino told CNBC's "Squawk Box Europe". "This year, the expectation was to have 2.2 percent (public deficit), but actually when we took office in June, we did an internal study and we realize that we are going to be close to 2.7 percent. So our ambition is to decrease deficit between this year and next year by 0.9 points," she said. Check out the companies making headlines before the bell: IBM IBM is buying Linux software distributor Red Hat for about $33 billion in cash, or $190 per share, in its biggest ever acquisition. That represents a nearly 63 percent premium over Red Hat's Friday closing price of $116.68. HSBC HSBC reported profit of $5.9 billion for the third quarter, higher than the $5.6 billion that analysts were expecting. Europe's biggest bank saw its bottom line benefit from stronger business in Asia, as well as cost controls. Bloomin' Brands The restaurant chain reported adjusted quarterly profit of 10 cents per share, 1 cent a share above estimates. Revenue was in line with expectations. The parent of Outback Steakhouse and other restaurant chains saw comparable sales rise 2.9 percent, and it raised its full-year forecast. First Data The payment processing company fell 2 cents a share short of Street forecasts, with revenue above forecasts. First Data cut its full-year earnings forecast, due to the negative impact of currency fluctuations. Booz Allen Hamilton The technology consulting firm reported adjusted quarterly earnings of 68 cents per share, 9 cents a share above Street forecasts. Booz Allen's revenue fell slightly short of estimates, however, but the company raised its full-year earnings forecast above current analysts' estimates. General Electric GE shareholders are bracing for a dividend cut or suspension when GE reports quarterly earnings Tuesday morning, according to analysts who spoke to The Wall Street Journal. The paper said investors would actually take that as a good sign in that it would help GE conserve cash and use it to fix its businesses. Denbury Resources Denbury is buying fellow oil and gas producer Penn Virginia in a cash-and-stock deal worth $1.7 billion, including debt. Tesla Tesla shareholder Baillie Gifford & Co. said it would be willing to inject more cash into the automaker, according to a partner in the investment firm quoted by the Times of London. Baillie Gifford is the third largest Tesla shareholder with a 7.72 percent stake. Ford Motor Ford was upgraded to "buy" from "neutral" at Goldman Sachs, which also increased its price target on the automaker's shares to $12 from $9. Goldman said Ford would see an earnings trough in 2019, followed by improvement based on refreshments in the product line as well as cost improvements. Apple Apple is $7 billion behind in its royalty payments to Qualcomm, according to the chipmaker. Qualcomm made its claim in a court hearing on Friday, the latest in a series of legal actions between the two companies. Separately, Jefferies initiated coverage of Apple with a "buy" rating, saying the iPhone will serve as the foundation for "massive" recurring services revenue. Ralph Lauren Ralph Lauren was rated "buy" in new coverage at Deutsche Bank, which said the apparel maker is in the early stages of a brand turnaround with an improvement in profitability already apparent. Electronic Arts Electronic Arts was downgraded to "sector weight" from "overweight" at KeyBanc, citing diminished confidence in the videogame maker's product pipeline and the expectation of downward revisions in earnings estimates. Picking individual stocks can be a hard investment strategy. That's why the popularity of broad-based mutual funds and ETFs have boomed. But sometimes, selecting stocks on business fundamentals, leadership and mission, can really pay off, especially if you stick with them over the long term. If you made the long bet on Starbucks, that's exactly what happened. It's not a technology stock that invented a new way of doing business. It's just a coffee company with a product people love. And investors have been handsomely rewarded. If you invested when the company had it's IPO in 1992 when it already had 165 stores across the Western states you would have seen a compounded annual growth rate of more than 22 percent a year (that's about double the total return for the S&P 500 over the same period). Even after Starbucks became a household name as when the company was mentioned in "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me" in 1999 gains have been strong. Since "Number Two" suggested that Dr. Evil invest in Starbucks, the stock has returned 15 percent a year. That's despite some serious bumps in the road. The company's stock lost more than 75 percent of its value from 2006 until the end of 2008, after it overexpanded and ran into competition from McDonald's, which burst into the coffee business. But if you held your nose, or even bought more during those years, you would have been successful. Howard Schultz returned to run Starbucks in 2008 and got the company back on track. He cut costs by closing hundreds of locations, revamped the technology in stores, overhauled its supply chain and refocused on coffee. Today, the company has more than 28,000 stores worldwide. Now, Schultz has retired from the company, and the stock has seen underwhelming performance over the last three years even as the rest of the market has boomed. It's unclear if the company can continue such growth. Of course, past results can't dictate the future. But lessons learned from past investments in iconic American companies can help you find the next one. What is today's long bet? Watch the video above to relive the ups and downs in Starbucks stock over the years. Brad Parscale, digital director for U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, speaks at Trump Tower in New York, Dec. 3, 2016. Parscale, now chief of Trump's 2020 campaign, spearheaded the president's digital media strategy in 2016. Trump originally hired him to build a website for his exploratory campaign in 2015. Parscale eventually took on a prominent role as a digital strategist, rising to become one of the campaign's central decision-makers. "I think that when the left found out that Facebook, a tool built by Silicon Valley, helped elect President Trump, they weren't very happy," Parscale said. "And so they want to do everything they can to help prevent conservative voices. And I think that you have multiple platforms I call the 'Palo Alto mafia' trying to stop that." President Donald Trump 's 2020 campaign manager, Brad Parscale, attacked social media companies Monday for allegedly squashing speech in an interview on the television program "CBS This Morning." In the interview, Parscale credited the Trump campaign's dominance in Facebook advertising as being a key contributor to its success in 2016. He referenced the wide gap between the number of Facebook ads Trump and Hillary Clinton placed during the run-up to the election. Trump's team placed 5.9 million ads compared with Clinton's 66,000. A Facebook spokesperson was not immediately available for comment. Trump and his conservative allies in Congress have lashed out against the major social media companies for perceived anti-Republican bias. In August, the president wrote in a post on Twitter that Google was "controlling what we can & cannot see. This is a very serious situation-will be addressed!" In April, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg was questioned on the issue at a congressional hearing. "There are a great many Americans who I think are deeply concerned that that Facebook and other tech companies are engaged in a pervasive pattern of bias and political censorship," Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said at the time. Zuckerberg told Cruz then that Facebook is a "platform for all ideas" The companies have all said that they do not filter content based on political ideology. Parscale claimed that even if social media companies exclude conservative ideas on their site, people will find other ways of spreading their ideas. "There are lots of things they can't stop," Parscale said. "And I think one of the big emerging technologies is just your cellphone, direct, rich media and text messaging, and the things we can do directly through your phones." President Donald Trump talks to reporters from the White House in Washington, U.S. October 15, 2018. A federal lawsuit filed Monday accused President Donald Trump, three of his children and their company of "deliberately" defrauding and conning "thousands" of working-class Americans by touting a marketing company as a great investment opportunity when in reality it was anything but that. The Trump Organization immediately claimed the new racketeering suit is politically motivated. But in a statement released to CNBC, the lawyers for the plaintiffs, Roberta Kaplan and Andrew Celli Jr., said, "This case connects the dots at the Trump Organization and involves systematic fraud that spanned more than a decade, involved multiple Trump businesses and caused tremendous harm to thousands of hardworking Americans." The suit, which is seeking class-action status, says that from 2005 to 2015, the defendants "received millions of dollars in secret payments" from ACN, a multilevel marketing company. In exchange, Trump promoted the firm to potential investors without disclosing that the endorsement was paid for. Multilevel marketers have networks of independent salespeople who in addition to selling products try to recruit additional salespeople in order to boost their own revenue. ACN charged investors $499 apiece for the right to sell its products, which included videophones. The Trump defendants had similar arrangements with two other companies the vitamin promotion multilevel company Trump Network, and The Trump Institute, which conducted real-estate training seminars, the suit says. Trump licensed his name to those two firms. In all three cases, the 160-page suit claims, Trump "deliberately misled consumers." President Donald Trump speaks during an election rally in Murphysboro, Illinois on October 27, 2018. Nicholas Kamm | AFP | Getty Images In the wake of the mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue and a series of mail bombings addressed to prominent Democrats and CNN, President Donald Trump said Monday the "great anger in our Country" is "caused in part" by the "Fake News Media." "The true Enemy of the People," Trump said in a tweet, "must stop the open & obvious hostility & report the news accurately & fairly." Trump tweet 1 Trump tweet 2 Hours earlier, Trump claimed "Fake News" is attempting to "blame Republicans, Conservatives and me for the division and hatred that has been going on for so long in our Country." trump tweet 3 Eleven people were killed and six wounded Saturday at Tree of Life synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh. Alleged shooter Robert Bowers had posted anti-Semitic comments on the unmoderated social media network Gab, which has reportedly been taken offline. Last week, 56-year-old Cesar Sayoc, an avid Trump supporter who had emblazoned his van windows with anti-Democrat and pro-Trump stickers, was arrested in Florida by federal authorities in connection with a series of mail bombs addressed to high-profile Democrats. Former President Barack Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former Vice President Joe Biden, Sens. Cory Booker and Kamala Harris, Rep. Maxine Waters and others were targeted with pipe bombs mailed to their offices or homes. Time Warner Center, the Manhattan building housing CNN offices, was evacuated after a suspicious package was discovered in a mail room. A separate bomb addressed to CNN was found at a postal facility in New York, according to the network. On Monday morning, CNN reported that another package addressed to the news network, similar to the ones sent by Sayoc, had been intercepted at a mail facility in Atlanta, Georgia. "There is no imminent danger to the CNN Center," CNN President Jeff Zucker said in a statement. CNN Zucker statement President Donald Trump speaks at a Make America Great Again rally Leah Millis | Reuters President Donald Trump's re-election campaign released a new ad Monday, focusing on the growing economy and aimed at suburban women voters who have been abandoning the Republican Party, according to recent polling. It's a far more optimistic message about the midterm elections than the one the president himself has been delivering. The Trump campaign said it plans to spend $6 million to air the ad on cable, network and digital platforms over the next week. The new ad is also notable for the fact that Trump's name is completely absent. The only sign that Trump's campaign paid for the spot was a subtle "T" in the lower right corner of the screen, and a mandatory disclosure at the end. Trump, meanwhile, has told supporters at his raucous campaign rallies that a vote for Republicans means "you're voting for me." Trump plans to hold as many as 10 campaign rallies in the next eight days, where he will likely hammer many of the same themes that he has all summer and fall. These include claims that immigration poses a threat to the country, that Democrats want socialism, and that Democratic control of Congress will result in "mob" rule. But that's not what the ad wants viewers to think about. Narrated by a female voice, the 60-second spot features a mother, who appears unsure of how she plans to vote on Election Day, Nov. 6. Then she sees a yard sign that says, "Vote Republican," and a voice on her car radio says, "We can't get distracted from the biggest issues, which are jobs and our kids' future." But "jobs and our kids' future" are very different issues from the ones that Trump himself is focusing on in the final week of the 2018 election cycle. Two hours after Trump's campaign released the new ad, Trump himself was back to fanning voters' fears about immigration, calling a caravan of Central American asylum seekers "an invasion of our country." Trump tweet Trump's language is particularly hypercharged in the wake of two historic crimes that occurred during the past week in the United States. The first was a series of attempted pipe bomb attacks last week that targeted 14 Democratic officials, prominent Trump critics and a news organization, CNN, which Trump frequently vilifies. The second was the horrific murder of 11 Jewish synagogue attendees in a mass shooting in Pittsburgh on Saturday. Like Trump, the suspect in Saturday's attack, Robert Bowers, referred to the asylum seekers as an "invasion," and believed they were coming to America to commit violent crimes, according to his social media posts. The difference was that Bowers was a virulent anti-Semite, and he blamed the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society for helping the migrants. A week out from the midterm elections, the Pentagon said Monday it is sending 5,200 troops, some armed, to the Southwest border this week in an extraordinary military operation to stop Central American migrants traveling north in two caravans that were still hundreds of miles from the U.S. The number of troops is more than double the 2,000 who are in Syria fighting the Islamic State group. President Donald Trump, eager to focus voters on immigration in the lead-up to the elections, stepped up his warnings about the caravans, tweeting: "This is an invasion of our Country and our Military is waiting for you!" @realDonaldTrump: Many Gang Members and some very bad people are mixed into the Caravan heading to our Southern Border. Please go back, you will not be admitted into the United States unless you go through the legal process. This is an invasion of our Country and our Military is waiting for you! His warning came as the Pentagon began executing "Operation Faithful Patriot," described by the commander of U.S. Northern Command as an effort to help Customs and Border Protection stiffen defenses at and near legal entry points. Advanced helicopters will allow border protection agents to swoop down on migrants trying to cross illegally, he said. "We're going to secure the border," Air Force Gen. Terrence O'Shaughnessy, the Northern Command leader, said at a news conference. He spoke alongside Kevin McAleenan, commissioner of Customs and Border Protection. Eight hundred troops already are on their way to southern Texas, O'Shaughnessy said, and their numbers will top 5,200 by week's end. He said troops would focus first on Texas, followed by Arizona and then California. The number of people in the first caravan has dwindled to 3,500 from about 7,000, though a second one was gaining steam and marred by violence. About 600 migrants in the second group tried to cross a bridge from Guatemala to Mexico en masse on Monday but were met by ranks of Mexican federal police who blocked them from entering. The riverbank standoff followed a more violent confrontation Sunday when the migrants used sticks and rocks against Mexico police. One migrant was killed Sunday night by a head wound, but the cause was unclear. The first group passed through the spot via the river wading or on rafts and was advancing through southern Mexico. That group appeared to begin as a collection of about 160 who decided to band together in Honduras for protection against the gangs who prey on migrants traveling alone and snowballed as the group moved north. They are mostly from Honduras, where it started, as well as El Salvador and Guatemala. Overall, they are poor, carrying the belongings that fit into a knapsack and fleeing gang violence or poverty. It's possible there are criminals mixed in, but Trump has not substantiated his claim that members of the MS-13 gang, in particular, are among them. The president's dark description of the caravan belied the fact that any migrants who complete the long trek to the southern U.S. border already face major hurdles, both physical and bureaucratic, to being allowed into the United States. Migrants are entitled under both U.S. and international law to apply for asylum, but it may take a while to make a claim. There is already a bottleneck of asylum seekers at some U.S. border crossings, in some cases as long as five weeks. McAleenan said the aim was to deter migrants from crossing illegally between ports, but he conceded his officers were overwhelmed by a surge of asylum seekers. He also said Mexico was prepared to offer asylum to the caravan. "If you're already seeking asylum, you've been given a generous offer," he said of Mexico. "We want to work with Mexico to manage that flow." The White House is also weighing additional border security measures, including blocking those traveling in the caravan from seeking legal asylum and preventing them from entering the U.S. The military operation drew quick criticism. "Sending active military forces to our southern border is not only a huge waste of taxpayer money, but an unnecessary course of action that will further terrorize and militarize our border communities," said Shaw Drake of the American Civil Liberties Union's border rights center at El Paso, Texas. Military personnel are legally prohibited from engaging in immigration enforcement. The troops will include military police, combat engineers and others helping on the southern border. The escalating rhetoric and expected deployments come as the president has been trying to turn the caravans into a key election issue just days before the midterm elections that will determine whether Republicans maintain control of Congress. "This will be the election of the caravans, the Kavanaughs, law and order, tax cuts, and you know what else? It's going to be the election of common sense," Trump said at a rally in Illinois on Saturday night. On Monday, he tweeted without providing evidence: "Many Gang Members and some very bad people are mixed into the Caravan heading to our Southern Border." "Please go back," he urged them. "you will not be admitted into the United States unless you go through the legal process. This is an invasion of our Country and our Military is waiting for you!" The troops are expected to perform a wide variety of functions such as transporting supplies for the Border Patrol, but not engage directly with migrants seeking to cross the border, officials said. One U.S. official said the troops will be sent initially to staging bases in California, Texas and Arizona while the CBP works out precisely where it wants the troops positioned. U.S. Transportation Command posted a video on its Facebook page Monday of a C-17 transport plane that it said was delivering Army equipment to the Southwest border in support of Operation Faithful Patriot. The U.S. military has already begun delivering jersey barriers to the southern border in conjunction with the deployment plans. WATCH: The economic costs of immigration detention [The stream is slated to start at 2 p.m. ET. Please refresh the page if you do not see a player above at that time.] White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Monday is set to brief reporters for the first time in nearly four weeks, as politicians react to a mass shooting in a Pittsburgh synagogue and President Donald Trump continues to stump for Republicans in the final days before the midterm elections. The alleged shooter, 46-year-old Robert Bowers, stormed Tree of Life synagogue Saturday with a rifle and multiple handguns, leaving 11 victims dead and six others wounded. The shooting came a day after federal authorities arrested Cesar Sayoc, 56, in connection with a series of mail bombs addressed to prominent Democrats, as well as news network CNN. In a tweet Monday morning, Trump said that "great anger in our Country" is "caused in part" by "the Fake News Media, the true Enemy of the People." trump tweet 1 Amid the tumultuous week, Trump continued to host raucous rallies around the country in key states to help give GOP candidates an edge in the final days before the midterms. At least four more Trump rallies in Missouri, West Virginia and Florida were scheduled between the Monday press briefing and the end of the week. At the previous briefing on Oct. 3, Sanders fielded questions about allegations of sexual misconduct against then-Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, who has since been confirmed to the nine-member high court. She also responded to an in-depth report from The New York Times on the Trump family's taxes that accused the president of "instances of outright fraud." Sanders called the report "highly defamatory" in that press briefing, where she took questions for about 17 minutes. WATCH: Trump's White House has been a money-making machine White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Monday defended President Donald Trump's continued attacks on the news media and prominent Democrats who were targeted with mail bombs, saying the president is drawing "contrasts." Sanders' remarks came during her first press briefing in nearly four weeks and just days after more than a dozen explosive devices addressed to CNN and high-profile Democrats were intercepted by postal services and law enforcement officials. In a separate incident, a gunman carrying multiple weapons entered a Pittsburgh synagogue Saturday and opened fire, killing 11 people and injuring six others. Sanders also announced at the top of the briefing that Trump and first lady Melania Trump will travel to Pittsburgh on Tuesday. Trump, in the wake of the events, has claimed that "Fake News" has caused "great anger in our Country." "The Fake News Media, the true Enemy of the People, must stop the open & obvious hostility & report the news accurately & fairly," Trump said in a tweet Monday morning. trump tweet 1 Trump tweet 2 Trump tweet 3 "The president is going to continue to draw contrasts particularly as we go into the final days of the election the differences between the two parties, particularly on policy differences," Sanders said. When a reporter asked Sanders how Trump could blame the media when the suspected bomber, Cesar Sayoc, was an avid Trump supporter, Sanders pushed back hard. "The very first thing that the president did was condemn the attacks, both in Pittsburgh and in the pipe bombs," she said. "The very first thing that the media did was blame the president and make him responsible for these ridiculous acts." She added: "The only person responsible for carrying out either of these heinous acts were the individual who carried it out." When reminded in a follow-up that the president had placed blame on the media, Sanders bristled. "No, the president's not placing blame. The president's not responsible for these acts," she said. After the Time Warner Center in midtown Manhattan home of CNN's New York offices was evacuated Wednesday, the head of the news network strongly criticized both Trump and Sanders. "There is a total and complete lack of understanding at the White House about the seriousness of their continued attacks on the media," CNN President Jeff Zucker said in a statement. "The President, and especially the White House press secretary, should understand their words matter. Thus far, they have shown no comprehension of that." CNN's Public Relations account on Twitter said that Sanders mischaracterized Zucker's statement. CNN PR tweet Sanders did not explicitly name CNN in particular during those remarks. Bazaar Corporate Radar | Feb 22, 2021, 12:00 AM IST Bazaar Corporate Radar Bazaar Corporate Radar is your window into the minds of top CEOs, Boardrooms, global economists, fund managers and sector analysts. If it?s making news, you?ll find it on Bazaar Corporate Radar. Finley Gibbs at a glance finley@gibbsforjudge.com PERSONAL: Age 54. Married to Becky Gibbs. They have two sons, ages 23 and 25. PARTY AFFILIATION: Democrat ON THE WEB: www.gibbsforjudge.com/; Facebook page; Twitter account; Instagram; LinkedIn OCCUPATION: Attorney at Gibbs Legal Consulting, LLC EDUCATION: Bachelor of arts and law degree from MU BACKGROUND: Ran for associate circuit judge in 2014 but lost in the Democratic primary; worked as an attorney at Rotts & Gibbs, LLC; received Martindale-Hubbell Judicial AV Rating, a rating only 10 percent of attorneys achieve; former board member for the Central Missouri Humane Society and the Columbia Art League; volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Missouri; has given guest lectures at the MU School of Law and judged moot court competitions for high schools and law schools; enjoys sailing, playing guitar, mountain biking and the outdoors. The Missourians Opinion section is a public forum for the discussion of ideas. The views presented in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missourian or the University of Missouri. If you would like to contribute to the Opinion page with a response or an original topic of your own, visit our submission form Indonesian ride-hailing firm Go-Jek launches pre-registration portal for drivers in Singapore Go-Jek, the latest entrant into the ride-hailing market of Singapore, launched a portal today for drivers in the island country to pre-register so that they can use the platform. Issuing a statement, the Indonesian based ride-hailing firm said, Drivers who sign up will have the opportunity to be our first driver-partners in Singapore. Go-Jek plans to build a strong and engaging relationship with the Singapore's driver community. Photo courtesy: Go-Jek Over the coming weeks, interested drivers who provide their contact details will receive notifications from GOJEK with details and next steps on how to apply to join Go-Jeks Singapore platform when the company launches, it added. Go-Jek further said that there has been a huge amount of driver interest in Singapore and it plans to build a strong and engaging relationship with the local driver community. Go-Jek has evolved from a ride-hailing service to a one-stop app through which its customers can make online payments and order everything from food, groceries to massages. It was launched in 2011 in Jakarta. The company is estimated to have a valuation of about USD5 billion (SGD6.9 billion) when Google, Singapore state investor Temasek Holdings and others came in as investors in its USD1.5 billion (SGD2.07 billion) funding earlier this year. Budget 1) Chancellor to spend 2 billion for each school and A&E department to have a dedicated mental health unit What to expect City AM The High Street has to evolve says Hammond Daily Mail Budget 2) There will be another one if there is no deal on Brexit Every school and hospital casualty unit will have its own dedicated mental health team in a 2 billion funding boost to tackle the epidemic of eating disorders, depression and self-harm among young people. In his budget today Philip Hammond, the chancellor, will announce a 15 per cent rise in real-terms spending on mental health services in England as part of the NHSs five-year financial settlement. Charities welcomed the move but policy experts said that it offered only half the money needed to ensure that mental health was no longer treated as the Cinderella service of the NHS. There were also calls for more social care funding to ensure that the health service settlement was effective. The expansion of mental health provision will involve an increase in so-called community crisis cafes, which open at evenings and weekends to provide counselling and support without the need for appointments. The Times The government will set a new Budget if it is unable to reach a Brexit deal with the EU, the chancellor has said. Philip Hammond said a no-deal Brexit would require a different response, with fiscal buffers being maintained to provide support for the economyQuestioned about the impact of a no-deal Brexit, Mr Hammond told Sky News 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. BBC Any restoration of certainty would boost investment says Jenkin City AM >Yesterday: WATCH: Hammond says hed need a new Budget in the event of no-deal Brexit Budget 3) Conservatives call on SNP to use Scotlands share of the NHS rise to boost GPs Budget 4) Deadline to be set for big tech groups to pay more tax SNP ministers have underfunded Scottish GPs by 660 million compared to investment in England and must use a boost from the Budget to make good the shortfall, the Tories have argued. Miles Briggs, the Scottish Tories Shadow Health Minister, unveiled research showing that Scottish GPs have received a lower proportion of NHS spending than their peers in England over the last four years. He said this was the equivalent of a 658 million shortfall and this showed the Nationalists have systematically underfunded primary care. Daily Telegraph Philip Hammond will set a deadline for forcing large technology groups to pay more tax in Britain, saying he cannot stand by looking as if were being walked all over by companies that are too big for us to control. The chancellor is not expected to implement a digital sales tax on tech groups immediately in his Budget, but will outline a timetable for action to make clear to them that Britain is willing to act alone if there is no international agreement to tackle the issue. This could have far-reaching implications for US companies including Amazon, eBay, Facebook and Google. Financial Times Budget 5) Option to pool retirement pots in pensions revolution Budget 6) Plans to increase self employed National Insurance will prompt a backlash Tens of thousands of workers will be able to pool their retirement pots under a pensions revolution expected to be outlined in the Budget. Philip Hammond is expected to announce a consultation on Dutch-style pension schemes known as peoples pensions which will thousands of members pay into a single pot. The approach is seen as a middle way between gold-plated final salary schemes, which guarantee income in retirement but can leave companies with huge deficits, and defined contribution schemes under which workers shoulder the risk of shortfalls. Daily Telegraph Philip Hammond faces a furious backlash over fresh plans to clobber White Van Man in todays Budget. Sources revealed he is pushing ahead with tax changes that will hike national insurance for thousands of self-employed workers.The Chancellor will target people who set themselves up as private companies, which allows them to avoid paying national insurance contributions. The Treasury believes the Taxman could be missing up to 1.2bn a year by 2023 as a result of people paying tax as if they were self-employed. The Sun Budget 7) 60 million to plant more trees Budget 8) dAncona: It may not get through the Commons Ministers will attempt to burnish their green credentials in the budget by announcing a 60 million plan to plant more trees across the country. Under the scheme 10 million will be set aside for councils and charities to increase greenery on streets and in other urban areas. The money will be made available on a matched-funding basis and is open to bids from local authorities, community groups and charities. The Treasury said that the cash could be used to plant up to 100,000 trees, but the plan comes against a backdrop of some local authorities cutting down mature trees and replacing them with new ones. It is unclear whether the funding criteria for the new money would allow this. The Times As for this budget, Hammond cannot even be sure that it will get through the Commons. The Democratic Unionist party, whose 10 MPs prop up this minority government, have been explicit in their warning that they may vote against the finance bill if they are unsatisfied by Mays negotiating position on the Irish border. This would be, to use the cliche, a nuclear option. But we are living in one of those phases in politics where cliches regain their original force. It is now more than conceivable that the DUP, perhaps in alliance with a few hard Brexiteer Tory MPs, could vote down the budget. Matthew dAncona, The Guardian We will vote down budget if it fails to halt universal credit rollout threatens McDonnell The Guardian Other Budget comment This Budget must be bold, but balanced Leader, Daily Telegraph We welcome Brexit 50p coin to mark a genuine historic moment as we finally leave the EU Leader, The Sun End austerity for the nations sake Leader, The Guardian From Spreadsheet Phil to Spendthrift Phil Alex Brummer, Daily Mail Hammond needs to paint a positive picture of post-Brexit Britain and why its good to vote Tory Tim Newark, Daily Express There may not be Budget fireworks but its no excuse for a damp squib Roger Bootle, Daily Telegraph Every public school should take children in care to save tax breaks declares Zahawi Brexit 1) UK has rolled over only 14 out of 236 EU international treaties Every public school should take up to five children in care to stop a Jeremy Corbyn Government taking away their tax breaks, the schools minister Nadhim Zahawi has said. The Childrens minister told The Daily Telegraph that he wants to get between two and five kids in every independent school in the country. Mr Zahawi wants to expand the Boarding Schools Partnership which already offers places to looked-after children who are in the care of local authorities to as many as 1,000 private schools. A trial scheme in Norfolk where 60 per cent of the fees are paid by local authorities has seen 52 vulnerable or at risk children placed in boarding schools over a 10 year period. Daily Telegraph The UK has managed to roll overonly 14 of the 236 international treaties that the EU has signed with countries around the world, raising fresh concern of disruption if Britain crashes out the bloc without a deal. With just five months to go to Brexit, the UK is under mounting pressure to replicate agreements that the EU has with 168 countries, so that Britain can retain rights that it currently has with these nations as a result of being a member of the bloc.Britain needs to roll over about 40 free-trade agreements which the EU has with countries including Canada, Japan, South Korea and Mexico. Financial Times >Yesterday: WATCH: Rees-Mogg Treasury has egg on its face over Brexit predictions Brexit 2) Johnson: EU rules could stifle innovations such as the electric car It is well known that ever since Dyson came up with his bagless vacuum cleaner he has been the object of jealous plotting by other European manufacturers, especially the powerful German companies that are so influential in setting standards. As electric vehicles gain an ever bigger share of the market, there is ample scope for the Commission to start flexing its muscles. It cannot be repeated too often that under the Chequers proposals for ongoing harmonisation and a common rulebook this country is offering Brussels (and the powerful European industrial interests behind the Commission) the chance to control huge chunks of UK industry, to stifle innovation, to run our trade and commercial policy, to collect UK taxes and with no British voice round the table to raise even a peep of protest. Boris Johnson, Daily Telegraph >Today: Columnist Chloe Westley: Brexiteers in Cabinet must speak up for all of us who voted Leave Goldsmith warns of alarming fracking Zac Goldsmith has warned ministers that their plans to fast-track fracking risk turning whole regions of the country against the Conservatives and igniting a political backlash. The Tory MP for Richmond said people had legitimate concerns about fracking and that government proposals to bypass local planning decisions on shale gas wells were a mistake. Fracking is an issue that has the potential to turn whole regions against the government, he told the Guardian. The drilling rigs and pollution, the industrial equipment and sheer volume of trucks all make it an alarming prospect for communities up and down the country. The Guardian Merkel clings on after election setback Bolsonaro wins Brazils presidential election Angela Merkel narrowly survived one of the toughest tests of her 13 years in office last night as her party clung on to power in a state election. The chancellors Christian Democratic Union (CDU) lost more than a quarter of its vote in Hesse but held on to enough support to have a plausible hope of scraping together a ruling coalition with the Greens. The regional election in one of the most prosperous states had ballooned into a personal test of the chancellors authority after months of civil war in her government. The result was a rebuff for the chancellors grand coalition with the Social Democrats (SPD) and could lead it to disintegrate. The CDU was expected to win about 27 per cent of the vote, down from 38 per cent at the last election and its worst result in Hesse since 1966. The Times A far-right, pro-gun, pro-torture populist has been elected as Brazils next president after a drama-filled and deeply divisive election that looks set to radically reforge the future of the worlds fourth biggest democracy. Jair Bolsonaro, a 63-year-old former paratrooper who built his campaign around pledges to crush corruption, crime and a supposed communist threat, secured 55.1% of the votes after 99.9% were counted and was therefore elected Brazils next president, electoral authorities said on Sunday. Bolsonaros leftist rival, Fernando Haddad, secured 44.8% of votes. The Guardian Big turnout in early voting for US midterm elections The early voter turnout for the US midterm elections is shattering previous records with the highest turnout in years and voters saying that Donald Trump is the main issue. Seven states are reporting a higher number of early votes have been cast of the upcoming election than in 2014, with the potential for more states to also reach record numbers. With still a little more than a week until election day, Georgia, Texas, Tennessee, Nevada, Indiana, Minnesota and Delaware surpassing last midterms voter count. A recent USA TODAY/Suffolk University Poll, found Donald Trump has been the main reason for people making their decision on who to vote for. Daily Express >Today: Lord Ashcroft on International: The Democrats feel like the middle ground now, and thats a bad thing. My pre-midterm election focus groups from Iowa and Minnesota Cameron: Create blue belts to save our sea We have the ability to draw a line around some of the most precious areas of ocean to create marine protected areas (MPAs). There can be no industrial fishing or mineral recovery in these MPAs, only local fishing. That can then replenish fish stocks and build resilience to climate change by giving marine flora and fauna places where they can adapt to changing conditions. MPAs are most successful when they are large, isolated and in place for at least 10 years. And they go hand in hand with our global efforts to combat climate change and ensure sustainable fisheries. MPAs can be found in waters from tropical Easter Island to the frigid Ross Sea near Antarctica. David Cameron and John Kerry, Daily Telegraph Lawson: Twitter anonymity allows terrorists to thrive The Longest Hatred Leader, The Times Moore: Banning guns would not make America safer At least Trump a man with the biggest ego known to medical science does not hide behind the protection of anonymity or a fake name. Both Robert Bowers and Cesar Sayoc issued their vile threats under such cover. And while they are among the tiny minority who actually have carried out their threats, it is also the case that the filthiest and most disgusting personal attacks to be found on Twitter are issued under pseudonyms thus protecting the person making them from being identified by their targets; or indeed by their own friends and family, who might, if they knew, be able to do something about it. What should be renamed the anti-social media has not just become a cesspit of hatred, its also become a haven for malevolent cowards, who would never dare to express such threats in plain sight. It is time that their mask, and that of the social media owners, was stripped away. Dominic Lawson, Daily Mai The almost universal reaction in Europe and Britain is that private gun ownership should be banned, or at least very severely restricted. But you only have to think about the reality of American life to see why this is all but impossible. There are nearly 400 million guns legally held in private hands in the United States 120 guns per hundred people, whereas the British figure is roughly four guns per hundred. If a federal order to ban them went out, it would be unenforceable. Broadly speaking, the most respectable people would hand them in and the worst types would keep them. The growth in the criminal market would be comparable to that which happened in the Prohibition era in relation to alcohol. How would that make America safer? Charles Moore, Daily Telegraph News in brief Last week my pre-midterm focus group tour of the US took us to two competitive districts in the Midwest in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and the suburbs of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The outcome in both places will help determine which party controls Congress after the elections on 6 November. Two current political stories had captured the attention of the voters we spoke to, the first being the death of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. What did they make of it? Theyre lying through their teeth. And he [President Trump] is backing them up. What had the President said, exactly? The latest one was it sounded fishy, but before that he truly believed them because they said they didnt do it. Obviously if I said I didnt do it, I didnt do it. Some thought there was more to Trumps position than simple credulity: Theres a history there, and relationships You just cant pull the plug because one person got killed, bad as it was. You can have a knee-jerk reaction and say OK, thats it, were cutting off the relationship. The other event was the thousands-strong migrant caravan making its way from Honduras to the American border. Trump has responded by threatening to cut off aid to the country unless it is turned around, to close the US-Mexican border and even deploy the military to prevent the migrants entering the United States. For the Democrats we spoke to in Iowa, this was a question of Americas founding principles, as embodied by the chick in the habour at Ellis Island. Give us your tired, your poor. Theyre coming here. For them, the Presidents response was also impractical: I dont think we can tell other countries what to do with these people. I mean thats not for us to tell them how to handle these people. This was a minority view among our participants, however. If Trumps reaction was tough, I think theyve left us no choice. The law had to be enforced: Im all for somebody coming here. But youve got to do it the right way. Dont just jump the fence or swim the river, just do the right way. Thats what I like about Trump. He questions whats going on. This willingness to act, coupled with what they regarded as the fresh approach of a non-politician, remained one of the most attractive things about the President among those who had voted for him: For decades now have watched as we have had the same exact debates over and over again and the same solutions are brought up over and over again. And so to me, I feel like we need some different people in office in leadership in this country. I feel like the old guard has had its chance and has failed to really deliver on anything and I was willing to throw anybody in there that wouldnt just follow the same pattern as everyone else; I think hes trying to change things with just how politics themselves are being done. And the thing that I like the most I dont agree with everything hes done and I dont necessarily like him as a person. But what I do appreciate is that he has called out a lot of the things that have bothered me for a long time and hes being honest about them; Its like the CEO of the company I work for. I dont care if youre the nicest guy in the world. I care that were going to be successful and Im going to have a job from day to day. It was notable, however, that views about the President among those who had voted for him having backed Obama in 2010 were more mixed than among Trump supporters as a whole: I dont think Im getting the change. I think there has been change. But it seems like the countrys more divided than it was; Certain things he does are good. But he opens his mouth and then it goes downhill. But also as an average American Im not seeing the help of a gas pump Im seeing gas prices rising. Im continuing to see him to kind of isolate us more from the world it just seems like were getting more and more isolated from everybody else. The same was true in our group of suburban women who had voted Republican for Congress in 2016 but only reluctantly voted for Trump, if at all: I find it annoying to listen to him because it just goes on and on and on. But has he accomplished some things, yes I think he has. But hes kind of like an annoying child that you just want to say, OK stop talking now. Youve done this. So just stop talking. He has accomplished some things, hes talked about the borders. You know he has hit some high points but hes just annoying. How did they feel about the way he talked about women? I think its completely inappropriate and hard to listen to; I was discussing this with my young adult children. I never want to hear something like that or have them treat other people like that; I find it difficult, because I find him pretty repulsive in many ways but at the same time I appreciate the job hes doing so Im really torn down the middle because of his attitude. Kind of like that relative that comes over Christmas time has too many drinks and hes all over you and youre like, Ill just put up with you because youre my husbands brother. Yet when it came to next months elections, Trump was more of a factor for his strongest supporters and opponents: others were more inclined to look at local candidates and their position on issues they cared about: I want a Governor that can work with the federal government and develop relationships with them. They are a complete opposite ends of the spectrum nothings going to get done; I think its more about does he care about who he represents; Im going to take a look at the candidates and decide who Im going to vote for I because Trump is already president. So Im not really even thinking about him. However, for some Republican leaners the idea of stalemate after a Democratic takeover was something to consider: Nothing would get done. Their first priority would be to remove Kavanaugh and get rid of Trump. So wed be at a stalemate for two more years getting nothing, getting nowhere, paying for people to do nothing but fight and bicker. Despite the talk of a blue wave in November, not all our Democrats were very confident of victory, especially given what happened two years ago: Everyone I know right now, we feel so powerless and so we dont feel like our vote matters. I dont know how big blue wave is going to be. I think a lot of people at this point dont think it matters because you know what, it really didnt Hillary won the popular vote. Iowas caucuses provide the first test for presidential hopefuls, and the verdict of the Democrats in our groups could give a candidate crucial momentum. What direction did they want to see their party take? I think the Democrats are far too moderate, at least for a lot of the younger crowd. The Democrats feel like the middle ground now and thats a thats a bad thing. A centrist candidate would just be considered just as you said establishment and just and wouldnt draw out the voters. In fact, they were not shy of using the S-word: I think people need to see theres a lot of examples of socialism anything public, the highway system. Things they dont realise they are actually participating in; throw a dart at a lot of other countries that are actually doing well. Still, some conceded the need for electability: Someone who seems more stable than Bernie Sanders who has more name recognition, but isnt like crazy out there so people think, oh thats a wacky liberal; theyve got to win over at least some of these independents. Republicans thought a successful primary challenge to the President was extremely unlikely even if they thought it desirable, as some of them did. However, even some of these said that after Donald Trump they would now have a hard time trusting anyone who seemed like a politician: Look I would much rather you know get some of the character good Christian you know something like Mike Pence or somebody like that much rather have a polished president. Yeah but I just have a lot of trouble trusting folks that present that kind of image anymore. Subscribe to the Ashcroft in America podcast to hear focus group extracts and analysis, as well as Lord Ashcrofts interviews with figures including Steve Hilton, Christine Todd Whitman, Hillary Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook, and former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney. James Arnell is a partner at Charterhouse. He writes in a personal capacity. The UK media are, understandably, shouting from the rooftops this week about non-disclosure agreements after Peter Hains controversial use of Parliamentary privilege. It is understandable. Because NDAs get in the way of a good story, we should expect plenty of noise around the issue. Thats all well and good. What is less good is the way it is framed. In every media outlet I have seen or heard, the framing of the issue is as follows: NDAs are used by companies to force employees who may have suffered harassment, bullying, unfair treatment, and so on, to stay silent. There are a couple of major flaws in this. A company is not a real thing. Companies do not do anything. People working for companies do things. Real living and breathing people sign every one of these NDAs. So, unless we assume that all these people are unethical, bad people, the framing of the issue as bad company (for which read bad person working for company) vs good victim is too simplistic. The medias framing assumes that employees are always the ones being forced to sign NDAs. In my experience, it is sometimes the other way round. An unscrupulous employee can quite easily extort money from a company by making allegations, without disclosing supporting evidence, and the companys decision-makers face Hobsons choice. They can pay off the claimant and secure an NDA, or they can call the claimants bluff. If they call the employees bluff, they get months and years of adverse publicity as the allegations are aired, they get months and years of distraction from day-to-day business, and, if they lose the case, their company suffers serious reputational damage. Given that the facts are rarely clear to the decision-makers in these cases (who are almost invariably not the accused executives), they take the safe route and pay for an NDA. The victim in cases where the facts were unproven is the company and not the employee. Again, because a company is not a real thing, this really means that it is the other employees and shareholders of the company who are the victims. These are real people, who have in these cases had money extorted from them. The good news is that, thinking it through from the employers point of view, I arrive at the same conclusion as those who focus on the employee. These NDAs should not be allowed to cover harassment and bullying. They should be limited to commercially sensitive information IP, pricing, customer data, etc. If every decision-maker at every company knew that it was impossible to use an NDA to silence an allegation, this would provide useful incentives. For harassing, bullying managers, it would be clear that their employers would not protect them with an NDA and they would have to expect to face justice. For the unprincipled false accusers, they would know that they would have to prove any claim in court. There would be no opportunity for extortion. I have no idea whether this would lead to more harassment cases or fewer. That depends how many are real and how many are simply attempts to make some money. I suspect that it would lead to a lot more cases and therefore pressure on the courts, who would have to process all the real claims. This would be good for transparency but, unless accompanied by a substantial increase in spending on employment tribunals, it would cause a massive backlog of cases, which would be unfair for employees and employers alike. In this debate, therefore, it is important that we do not satisfy ourselves simply with outlawing these NDAs. We also need to ensure that the tribunal system is funded to allow rapid dispute resolution. I think it would be sensible to withhold the names of claimants and employers in such cases until the facts have been established, to avoid prejudicing careers and company reputations. Finally, there is one unspoken and very uncomfortable aspect of all this which should be put on the table. As things stand, the majority of allegations (true and false) will be silenced with an NDA, at a price. This means that the risk of an allegation can be priced upfront. For a given profile of employee, there is a given probability of an allegation, and a likely cost of silencing it. I have a daughter, and this worries me a lot. If the majority of claims are from women, who suffer the most harassment and bullying, then female hires come with a higher cost attached upfront. The risk is that this leads to a reluctance to hire women, instead of a determination to root out harassing males. This is obviously wrong-headed, but it risks becoming a commercial reality. Three things are therefore key as we wait for NDAs to be disallowed. First, we must of course root out our bullies and adopt zero tolerance of harassment. Second, we must avoid running scared of hiring female employees, even if they come with a higher risk of claims. Third, everyone should be very careful not to lose sight of the fact that some claims are baseless, and that those who make false claims, whether under the #metoo banner or otherwise, are undermining efforts to root out bad behaviour in the workplace and may be prejudicing others chances of employment. The sooner we remove the financial incentive for false claims, the better. And the sooner we move away from this bad company, good claimant simplistic view of life, the better, too. Chloe Westley is the Campaign Manager of the TaxPayers Alliance. I will never forget the feeling of complete joy and elation on the morning of June 24th, 2016. I looked around at my friends and colleagues. There were cheers, gazes of disbelief, tears of joy, embraces. We had achieved the impossible. We had taken on the EU, the IMF, Whitehall, the global political establishment and won. In the early hours of the morning, as the sun rose over the Houses of Parliament, and one by one news networks around the world declared that Brexit had won the day, I remember thinking to myself that genuine political change was possible. That things didnt have to be the way that they are they were. That when the people were given the choice between freedom and membership of an undemocratic, unaccountable political project- they always chose freedom. There was never any doubt in my mind that British politicians would respect the decision that people made that day. Britain was a country I had hugely admired all my life, so much so that I made the decision to move here as soon as I had enough money saved for the journey. This was the country of Shakespeare, Magna Carta, common law, and the mother of all Parliaments. I believed wholeheartedly that this was a nation which would act with integrity, and implement the largest democratic mandate in its history. At around 5am, Michael Gove came into HQ. He gave us a cheerful and honest speech about what a campaign this had been, and why we should feel pride in what we have achieved. Later that day, Liam Fox wrote a message on our whiteboard: Heroes one and all. Dont just read history, write it. Its been over two years since the vote. Progress has been made on negotiating a deal, although a no deal scenario is looking more and more likely. The EU have predictably tried to squeeze as much as they can out of Britain. Tony Blair, Alastair Campbell, John Major, and the usual gang of trendy celebrities have still refused to accept the result, continuing calls for a second referendum. Public opinion hasnt shifted significantly. Were in the final months before Britains departure. The question of whether we should leave the EU has been well and truly settled but the question of how is down to Theresa May and her Cabinet. Many of the leading politicians who campaigned for Brexit now have a seat at the top table. Its up to them, now, to keep the Prime Minister honest and see this through. Resigning at this late stage would be a mistake, in my opinion. Theres no guarantee that May wouldnt replace Brexiteer colleagues with yes men and push through a deal that keeps us in the EU by the back door. With Chequers firmly rejected by the EU, the question is now whether Britain leaves with a Canada plus deal, a Norway-style arrangement, or with no deal at all. There is growing support from backbenchers such as Nick Boles for a Norway for now option, which would see Britain propose temporary EEA membership, to make time for a better deal to be agreed. This option doesnt resolve the Northern Ireland problem and could easily result in indefinite membership of the EUs Single Market. If it were possible and practical to have two negotiations with the EU the first agreeing a Norway deal, the second a harder Brexit it would postpone our departure for years, and simply kick the problem into the long grass. Furthermore, the Conservative Party wouldnt be trusted for decades to deliver on any manifesto commitment. There are only two options now which would allow Britain to take back control of laws, borders, money and trade. Either the border issue can be resolved with the EU and Britain agrees to a Canada-style free trade agreement, or we leave without a deal. To those Brexiteers in Cabinet who campaigned with me for Brexit Gove, Fox, Dominic Raab, Esther McVey, Penny Mordaunt, and Andrea Leadsom please dont let us down now. You have a voice at the top table. Whilst you may feel pressure from those in London, from the less than impartial media, and from your colleagues who refuse to accept the referendum result, dont lose heart. There are millions of people who voted for Britain to become an independent nation, and we are all behind you. Dont allow May to sign the UK up to a deal that leaves us in a never ending transition period, or keeps us in the EUs single market or customs union. Resist the temptation to opt for a lazy Norway option which would completely betray what we advocated during the referendum. We campaigned alongside each other to take back control of Britains destiny. Its in your hands now. Dont give up. Dont give in. And please dont let us down. The recent ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (henceforth the Court), upholding Austrias decision to charge somebody for insulting Islam, poses an interesting quandary to its regular critics. On the one hand, it has upheld what a great many liberals and conservatives alike consider to be an absurdly restrictive judgement. It may not (quite, yet) have imposed an Europe-wide blasphemy law, as sometimes suggested, but it has upheld Austrias. But on the other, those whose overweening concern is with democratic accountability and national sovereignty, and therefore oppose the imposition of law by a transnational judiciary, cannot without great care demand that the Court ought to strike down Austrias laws when we dont like them. That is not to say that it is not, in its own right, a lamentable judgement. That is the view of Matthew Scott, who has explored the issue in some detail over on his blog. In summary, the Court has read into the Convention a right which the latter does not contain: namely, an extensive right for religious persons not to have their feelings offended. Moreover, Scott argues that the Court is actually suggesting at a time when blasphemy legislation is falling across the continent, most recently in Ireland that signatories of the Charter have a duty to criminalise improper and abusive attacks on objects of veneration. Needless to say, there is a world of difference between protecting the right to confess and practice a faith, and demanding that non-adherents respect that faith and it looks as if the Court has substantially broadened the scope of the right to religious conscience as originally codified. This gets to the root of the problem for Court-sceptics such as myself. Austria, as a sovereign country, has a right to pass lamentable neo-blasphemy laws if it so chooses. If we are to have a trans-national legal regime then it is probably better, at least as default, that this is flexible and allows states leeway to pursue their own path as much as possible. But in justifying their ruling the judges appear, if I read Scotts analysis correctly, to be setting precedents which could well lead to impositions on other nations at a later date. If it becomes established that religious persons have a right not to be offended, it will fall on other states to uphold that right. Where Austria leads, other may have to follow. Of course, Theresa May has backed away from her earlier enthusiasm for withdrawing from the authority of the European Court of Human Rights. But incidents such as this, where rights law starts metastasising and threatening to impose fresh obligations on democratic governments without any popular mandate, remind us why our relationship with it is something which future, post-Brexit governments may need to revisit. Net neutrality found itself at another fork in the road over the weekend, with the Texas State House of Representatives considering a bill to make throttling data during emergency situations unlawful. Specifically, State Representative Bobby Guerras proposed bill lays out that, effective September 1, 2019, mobile Internet service provider(s) may not impair or degrade lawful mobile Internet service access in an area subject to a declared state of disaster. Having had its fill of recent disasters like Hurricane Harvey, Texas wants to make sure it doesnt suffer the same money grab that California did in the midst of its 2018 firestorm. During the Golden States incendiary ravage, Verizon was heavily criticized when it throttled the data plans of firefighters working at the Santa Clara County fire department. This throttling has had a significant impact on our ability to provide emergency services, Santa Clara County Fire Chief Anthony Bowden said at the time. Verizon imposed these limitations despite being informed that throttling was actively impeding County Fires ability to provide crisis-response and essential emergency services. Money over sense? Reportedly, Bowden's staff approached Verizon to try to remedy the situation. While Verizon confirmed that throttling did occur, it agreed to restore the fire department to essential data speed if -- and only if -- the fire department upgraded to a new plan. If that situation sounds slightly ridiculous to you, you certainly aren't alone, wrote Techspot. The fire department was frustrated by Verizon's response, to say the least, and sent Verizon account manager Silas Buss a series of hectic emails in a desperate attempt to get the restrictions lifted. Reports say that Buss finally relented somewhat and offered a $99 plan that would cost the fire department an extra $8 per gigabyte once it reached its 20GB cap. Ars Technica reported the fire department decided that plan was the best fix, but only for the short-term. Evan Greer, deputy director of the nonprofit advocacy group Fight for the Future, points out that Texas' proposed law could be a good first step towards restoring protections that were overturned by the current Federal Communications Commission (FCC). "Telecommunications companies like Verizon, Comcast, and AT&T hold tremendous power. We saw during the wildfires in California that, without proper oversight, they can abuse this power in ways that not only undermine free speech but also public safety. It's great that states like Texas are pushing for legislation to hold these mega-corporations in check, but it's not a replacement for a functional FCC that is actually doing its job and protecting the public," Greer said in a statement to ConsumerAffairs. "Congress should act immediately to reverse Ajit Pai's repeal of basic open internet protections, and demand that the FCC engage in proper oversight of internet providers to ensure they don't behave in ways that put people in danger." Debate over an even internet playing field continues All of this push-and-pull goes back to net neutrality -- the assumption that internet service providers should treat all transmission of data over the internet equally and not discriminate or charge differently based on user, content, website, platform, application, type of equipment, or method of communication. In its power to the people stance, California has spared no effort to try to reverse the FCC's controversial decision to roll back Title II net neutrality protections. However, the states attempts might be an uphill climb. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai claims that net neutrality, as envisioned by California law, hurts consumers. Pai says that under the law, large service providers like Verizon would be prohibited from offering some free data plans that he says allow consumers to stream video and music, exempt from any data limits. They have proven enormously popular in the marketplace, especially among lower-income Americans, Pai said. But notwithstanding the consumer benefits, this state law bans them. Philip Hammond has used his second Budget since IR35 reforms in the public sector took effect to confirm their extension to the private sector -- albeit with two big caveats. Firstly, the chancellor said the framework for implementing the IR35 changes in the private sector would not be introduced until April 2020, as opposed to the initially feared April 2019. Secondly, although the framework means PSCs will lose their right to decide their own IR35 status, it will only apply to those PSCs whose clients are large and medium-sized companies. 'Disappointing' Although the two caveats will have their supporters -- many feared the April 2017 changes would apply to all PSCs, and from April 2019, one financial adviser to PSCs is downbeat. The extension of public sector IR35 reforms to the private sector is disappointing at best, said Angela James, director at Contractor Wealth. As we move into an uncertain Brexit Britain, enterprise is more integral than ever to our economic growth. Tax giant EY correctly predicted on the eve of the Budget that private sector IR35 reform would be postponed until April 2020. But the reason why -- Brexit -- could still pose problems. 'More difficult' With the UK economy facing uncertainty post-Brexit, it said, the new rules could make it more difficult for off-payroll workers in the private sector to operate flexibly. The announced delay to private sector IR35 reform was hinted at earlier this month by Treasury minister Mel Stride, who revealed the government was, still, considering the responses to the May consultation. Another sign that a full rollout of the 2017 reforms would not be ready for today followed, as HMRC was found to be sending letters to public sector bodies, no more than checking whether the changes are working. 'Relief' Tim Stovold, head of tax at Kingston Smith, suggests that while the delay might be welcome by some, it is the immunity that Mr Hammond has granted to PSCs with small-firm clients that many more will embrace. With only medium and large businesses having to comply, Mr Stovold said, citing chapter 3.8 of the Budget Red Book. this is [going to be] a relief to smaller businesses. But the accountant believes that creating one rule for one type of business, and another rule for two other types of businesses, adds complexity. 'Chaos' And crucially, contractors will have to freshly evaluate which rules are in play -- the Intermediaries legislation of 2000 or the Off-Payroll rules of 2020, each and every time they engage a new entity. It risks creating chaos for contractors who will still need to consider the existing IR35 rules when working for small businesses and will have to work with the new off-payroll rules when being engaged by larger businesses, Mr Stovold said. A single regime for all businesses, with an implementation timetable that allowed all businesses to adjust their practices, would have been preferred to the complexity businesses and contractors now face. David Kirk, founder of tax firm David Kirk and Co said: Large and medium-sized businesses are those with 50 employees or more and those with either turnover or assets of 10m or more. He asked: [But] how is a contractor to know the size of his or her enagers workforce or turnover or assets? 'Very welcome' Partly due to the potential complexity of the small business exemption, the Association of Recruitment Consultancies backed the chancellors deferral of the entire framework. [The] delay [until April 2020] is very welcome says ARC chair Adrian Marlowe. This should allow time for a review of the position post Brexit as well as an opportunity for the government to complete its assessment of the employment status rules that were subject to consultations earlier this year. As IR35 relies on employment status tests, it makes sense to have those finalised before any further change. 'Most adverse change ever for self-employed' However contractor accountant DNS Associates said that if, as it suspects, 2017s IR35 changes were the biggest change to self-employed work in about two decades; their now-proposed 2020 successors could come to represent the 'most adverse change in the entire history of such work.' Managing director Sumit Agarwal said: Weve already had one of the biggest changes for the incorporated self-employed in almost two decades. Thanks to this governments very narrow view of contracting by just looking at tax alone, we now have the most adverse change in the entire history of self-employment proposed, albeit delayed until 2020 and only for PSCs with non-small-company clients. The Treasury said: "A further consultation on the detailed operation of the reform will be published in the coming months. This consultation will inform the draft Finance Bill legislation, which is expected to be published in Summer 2019." Editor's Note: Our further coverage of Budget 2018 -- IR35 reform is Budget's biggest revenue-raiser Devil in the off-payroll rules' detail awaits contractors in 2019 Budget 2018: Top 10 contractor announcements Budget 2018 -- chancellor's full speech What a brolly boss makes of Budget 2018 Delay or not on IR35 reform, the damage will be done 100% Website stumptowncoffee.com uses latest and advanced technologies like: Boostrap. It is very popular on the web, it's within the 1 million most visited websites of the world at position 92398 by Alexa. It supports HTTPS and GZIP compression. The main html page has a size of 100578 bytes (98.22 kb uncompressed) and 17617 bytes (17.20 kb compressed). This CoolSocial report was updated on 2021-10-02, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. The purpose of National Vulnerability Databases (NVDs) is to create a centralized list of security-related software flaws and enable a more automated approach to vulnerability management. The US, China, and Russia all run their own NVDs. However, there are distinct flaws with all three, meaning there could be major gaps within an organizations vulnerability management strategy. The US NVD is slow; the media gap between a vulnerability becoming public and appearing on the list is seven days. Chinas NVD is quicker to upload public vulnerabilities, but has been accused of altering data to hide government influences. The Russian NVD, run by the countrys Federal Service for Technical and Export Control of Russia, misses many vulnerabilities and is slow with what it does publish. Good threat intelligence is more than a list of vulnerabilities. Instead of relying on NVDs alone to power your vulnerability scanning, companies should look to other sources to supplement their threat intelligence operations. According to a study by Tenable, over a third of vulnerabilities have a working exploit available on the same day of disclosure, giving hackers days or more of unfettered opportunity to attack. By broadening the scope of your intelligence gathering, you can close the window of opportunity for cybercriminals and gain a richer set of data with which to defend yourself. Dear Abby: A month and a half ago, my boyfriend of five years proposed. We are happy and excited. Most of the wedding party are my friends from college, who are like a family to me. They have also grown very close to my fiance. One friend, Eden, defines herself as a goth. She wears dark lipstick, dark makeup and usually wears all black: lace, fishnets, etc. Her casual wear isnt all that out of place. However, when she dresses up, the goth comes out in full force: parasol, thigh-high boots, over-the-top stuff (at least to me). Shes invited to our wedding, and Im concerned that she may go overboard with her wardrobe for the event. I do not wish to stifle her style or sense of self, but the guests will be mostly family and its a formal event. Is there a polite way to ask her to tone it down a bit? I dont want to hurt her feelings or appear to be stuck up, but I am sure she will be in many of the photos. Polite Friend in Pennsylvania Dear Friend: If there will be a wedding party and you have a maid of honor, the responsibility of explaining the dress code to Eden should fall to her for the reasons you mentioned. Whether Eden takes offense is anybodys guess, but at least the message wont come directly from you. If she chooses to ignore the dress code and come as she is, focus on your happiness and do not let it ruin your day. As for the pictures, put her in the back. Dear Abby: We live in Las Vegas. Now and then family members in Europe contact us to let us know their adult children will be visiting Vegas and would like to see us. We are retired and would enjoy taking these youngsters out for breakfast or lunch on the Strip. But what usually happens is, we wait and wait and receive no call until their departure, then hear all kinds of excuses about why they couldnt call earlier. This has happened three times now, and our question to you is: What are we supposed to say when they make their departure call? Ready to Welcome in Vegas Dear Ready: It is telling that when you receive the initial phone call, it comes from the parents rather than the kids. This is what you should say when the youngsters call: Oh, were so sorry you couldnt fit us into your busy schedule, but we understand. Hope you enjoyed your visit. Let us know when youll be back in town. Bye! Then forget about it! Dear Abby: We have a storage unit filled with furniture we cant use. I want to sell it or donate it to a charity provided they come and pick it up. My wife wants to give it to a handyman who has done work for us in the past. My concern is that it might be insulting and imply that he is poor and needs charity. I dont know that he is needy, but he might well be. I just dont want to insult the guy. What do you think? Just Being Nice Dear Nice: Offer the furniture to your handyman, and when you do, tell him you no longer need it and wonder if he might know someone who can use it. I dont think that would be offensive or imply that he is needy. BRIDGEPORT-Mayor Joseph Ganim says Its the green thing to do. So the city is hosting its 22nd annual hazardous waste collection day on Nov. 3 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Blackham School, 425 Thorme Street. Ganim asks all city residents to pack their unused pesticides, anti-freeze, paints, old electronics and cleaning products in the trunks of their cars. Residents wont even have to get out of their cars, Ganim said. We have teams that will remove the items for them. A Democratic leader in the state House of Representatives has found herself an unwitting and unwilling member of a Republican lawmakers re-election team. Robyn Porter, D-New Haven, co-chairman of the legislative Labor & Public Employees Committee, appears on a glossy campaign mailer with the third-term Republican David Rutigliano of Trumbull . I am offended and disappointed that Rep. Rutigliano would take the liberty of using a picture of me, a black woman, in his campaign mailer without my knowledge or expressed consent; especially when his opponent is a woman of color who champions the very issues he falsely claims to support, Porter said in a statement early Wednesday. The Hearst Connecticut Media Group first reported the mailing on Monday. It is a blatant misrepresentation of his voting record and underhandedly misleads his constituents to believe that I have endorsed his candidacy, when in fact, I staunchly support his challenger, Porter said. What he has done is unethical, deceitful, and undeniably an assault on my character. This clearly is an act of exploitation and an attempt to insult the intelligence of his voters. I hope the good people of Trumbull hold him accountable when they go to the ballot box on November 6th. Rutigliano said Wednesday that the use of the photograph, taken with Porter after the passage of a pay-equity bill earlier this year, was innocent. I dont imply shes endorsing, Rutigliano said. I didnt use her name. Its not a disparaging photo. I was celebrating the work we did on an important issue. I negotiated it with her. It passed overwhemlingly because of the work we did together. Sujata Gadkar-Wilcox, the Democrat who is challenging Rutigliano, said she was perplexed by the campaign development. I very much admire Rep. Porter's advocacy for womens rights, and I am sorry she has been put in this position, said Gadkar-Wilcox, an associate professor at Quinnipiac University, where she teaches constitutional law and human rights. We all need champions like Robyn, who listen and act upon issues that are important to women and families. I have confidence in the people of Trumbull to recognize and support genuine advocacy so that we can bring a new kind of politics to Hartford. While such bipartisan tactics for partisan ends may seem fresh in the 2018 election pressure cooker, it has occurred in recent years. In 2016, Speaker of the House Joe Aresimowicz, D-Berlin, used a picture taken with House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, R-Derby, on a mailer. BRIDGEPORT Bridgeport States Attorney John Smriga has concluded that Acting Police Chief Armando Perezs former aide did not commit a crime by sending private racist messages on Facebook. NAACP leaders had wanted recently retired Police Captain Mark Straubel, who is white, prosecuted for hate crimes over the messages, some of which targeted Police Capt. Roderick Porter, Bridgeports highest ranking black police officer. Smriga, in an email to Connecticut NAACP President Scot Esdaile, called Straubels comments repugnant and alarming. Which is the reason that I sought to look into the matter further, Smriga wrote. The content of the statements and the manner in which these were communicated clearly provided a basis to fire Straubel immediately. But despite their reprehensible nature, these statements do not constitute a violation of any Connecticut criminal statute. Esdaile Monday said he was extremely upset with Smrigas conclusion, particularly given the hatred and violence nationwide, including Saturdays mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue that killed 11. With hate crimes at a high level all across America right now, should we be sitting on our hands and waiting for something as bad? Esdaile said. We want them to be proactive, not reactive. Smriga in his email to Esdaile noted he has been a prosecutor for 38 years and consulted with several other highly experienced attorneys outside of the Bridgeport Judicial District about the Straubel case. Perez placed Straubel, a member of Bridgeports Finest for more than 20 years, on paid administrative leave in July after another officer filed a complaint in June with the citys Office of Internal Affairs. That officer, Ken Kubel, a retired Bridgeport police sergeant, intercepted Straubels Facebook messages to a white woman who also worked for Perez and turned them over to Internal Affairs. Hearst Connecticut Media had previously reported that the messages were texts. In one of the Facebook messages obtained by Hearst, Straubel allegedly wrote that he had asked an officer of color if he had seen (the film) Planet of the Apes. He saidyes. I asked him if it made him homesick. In another message, Straubel stated that African-Americans are a cancer and he hopes for a race war. In still another message, Straubel allegedly complained about having to march in an unnamed parade that he claimed involved mostly black people, and used a racist term to describe the event. Straubel retired Aug. 13. Afterward, Esdaile and George Mintz, head of Bridgeports NAACP, called on Chief States Attorney Kevin Kane to investigate further. Youre talking about starting race wars, Esdaile said at the time. Kane assigned the probe to Smriga. Smriga, in a brief interview Monday, said, Criminal statutes are strictly interpreted and they have very specific requirements. And they were not present in this case. In his email to Esdaile, Smriga also noted he sought additional evidence through a forensic analysis performed on Straubels police department-issued technology a cell phone, a laptop computer and a tablet. A review of the Internal Affairs report and the results of the forensic analysis of the digital devices supports the conclusion that these devices were used mainly in the course of legitimate police business and fails to reveal any evidence of communication or activity consistent with or relating to Straubels racist messages, Smriga wrote. Hearst, through the state Freedom of Information Act, has sought a copy of the Internal Affairs report from the city. That request was recently rejected by the City Attorney because of Smrigas review of the Straubel case. Richard Wilson, a University of Connecticut law professor and founding director of the schools Human Rights Institute, was not familiar with the Straubel controversy but willing to talk generally about hate speech and the law. The law does not allow the suppression of reprehensible views in private exchanges between individuals, or the banning of speech because its offensive or reprehensible, Wilson said. It depends on the context, and the context of private email or social media exchanges is a context where that kind of speech seems to be Constitutionally protected. If it were in public or a workplace setting, or where the intention was to intimidate, it could be read differently. Valerie Bustamante is a staff writer for the Seguin Gazette. You can e-mail her at valerie.bustamante@seguingazette.com. BRIDGEPORT The dead will remain at peace at Park Cemetery. A Superior Court judge on Monday issued a temporary injunction barring the cemeterys manager, Dale LaPrade, from selling any more plots at the 140-year-old cemetery where gravestones already exist and interfering with any plots already there following allegations that she was burying new bodies in old graves and moving headstones. This is fantastic news for all Park families, said Cheryl Jansen, who has generations of family buried at the Lindley Street cemetery. We can now move forward and give our loved ones the respectful resting place they deserve. I hope the Bridgeport Police Department continues its investigation into all the wrongdoing, including financial questions still to be answered by Ms. LaPrade. During a hearing, police detectives Jorge Cintron and Kimberly Biehn told Superior Court Judge Elizabeth Stewart that dozens of headstones, some dating to the 1800s, had been moved so the newly dead could be buried in plots stacked on old graves. New dirt was put over older graves and new graves were put there, Biehn testified. There was fresh soil over old headstones and they were in the process of building an access road through the stones, Cintron testified. In the woods, we found old headstones and human bones that had just been thrown around. Cintron said a grave digger told him he had been ordered by LaPrade to throw old bones and caskets away to make room for new graves. Following the initial stories on the situation by Hearst Connecticut Media, dozens of people from around the state who have family buried at the cemetery rushed there. Some left happy to find their loved ones graves intact but others were not so lucky. Jean Stott of Shelton burst into tears after she saw that a new grave had been placed on top of the grave of her grandfather, a World War II veteran who died in 1979. And burials were still being done at the cemetery. This court finds that preexisting gravesites have been disturbed to the point of breaking up bones and caskets. This court also finds that grave markers have been moved from their original locations and broken. The court concludes from this evidence that Park Cemetery has not been maintained in compliance with the statutes governing cemeteries, Stewart ruled in her decision on Monday. This damage is continuing and will likely continue unless a temporary injunction issues to stop it. Disbelief is the usual reaction when I tell new employees and colleagues about my first job. The stunned pause is usually followed by a series of questions: "What was it like? or, What did you do there? And every time, I answer that it was one of the most unique learning experiences of my career. Related: Your Best Advisor in Life Is Death You see, while my high school buddies worked at the local mall or the YMCA, I opted for a more curious gig: groundskeeper at a cemetery in Bountiful, Utah. It was a job in which I coordinated burial services, assigned plots, performed grounds maintenance, facilitated tours and dug graves -- some 200 graves, in all. It was also job a that -- regardless of what you may be thinking this Halloween season -- wasn't creepy at all. In fact, I learned a number of lessons at the cemetery that have carried me throughout my career to my current marketing position at Bluehost. 1. Cemetery-style compassion is something everyone deserves. On any regular workday, people at a cemetery were experiencing their most broken moment, and quite possibly, the worst day of their lives. Whatever personal grievance I had (small or large) seemed insignificant in comparison to their grief. If a visitor was angry or frustrated with the service or the plot, I found that showing compassion and understanding not only resolved problems faster but provided some relief to the family. Related: How Cemeteries, Police and the Holocaust Museum are Coping With Pokemon Go Fever For example, many family members wanted to assist with the actual burials after a graveside service; however, we only allowed people to be first to put dirt on the vault. Then, one day, one particular family was frustrated with this rule and insisted on an exception being made. At first, we stuck to our rules. But the family members kept insisting, and tensions escalated. That's when we stopped citing policy and listened. We learned that the actual burial was a significant part of their culture. After grasping the importance of the ritual itself, we accommodated the request. Clearly, we could have saved time and frustration had we empathized from the start. Lesson: Empathy may seem like common sense for working with grieving visitors, but its a skill that applies to the business world, as well. According to Business Solvers 2017 Workplace Empathy Monitor survey, 92 percent of employees polled said they'd be more likely to stay with a company if that company empathized with their needs. So, clearly, empathy isn't just a feel-good employee concern -- it's a key driver in keeping employees engaged and potentially boosting productivity. 2. Cemetery workers are a great example of what a "work ethic" should be. Whether you're taking care of roughly 40 acres of plots or leading a business of any size, "work ethic" is a skill that's crucial to leadership. In this context, Im not sure you'll find harder-working individuals than cemetery workers. Our labor-intensive days started around 6 a.m. And, from cleaning headstones to digging graves, to maintaining the grounds, we put in considerable work with very little staff. On more than a few occasions,we had to dig five to six different plots in 100-plus-degree heat, then turn around and manage the graveside services. We couldnt simply pitch our shovels to take a lunch break or rest our arms. It would have been unacceptable for a family to show up for a service without an open plot. They needed to focus on their guests and relatives during their time of mourning. For these reasons, my personal work ethic at the cemetery directly impacted the lives of visitors and families, and the same could be said of entrepreneurs and business leaders. Lesson: Working long hours, following through on tasks despite physical exhaustion and stress: Thats part of the gig when youre a leader. While leadership might look glamorous from the outside, in reality, it's more like working at the cemetery in 100-degree heat, digging straight through an eight-hour shift. 3. Even a leader can grab a shovel. A Harvard Business Review survey revealed that 58 percent of people surveyed said they trusted strangers more than their own boss. This is truly shocking. In my experience, leading by example is the most effective way to build trust and get a team behind you. When employees see leaders who are willing to put in the time, they are inspired to do the same. Leading by example sets the right tone for those in the lower levels of an organization and negates any resentment they may feel toward upper management. Throughout my own career, my favorite managers have been those willing to roll up their sleeves and jump into the trenches with me. Lesson: At the cemetery, my supervisor, Geno, was one of the hardest-working guys Ive ever met. Geno was always ready to jump in when we needed help in mowing, digging and cleaning -- you name it. He never pulled rank. Genos leadership taught me to stay humble, and to realize that job titles dont excuse leaders from grabbing a shovel. 4. Even in a cemetery, job fitness is an issue. Building a high-functioning team is no easy feat, but is crucial to the success of an organization. While the initial instinct may be to hire people with the necessary skills, Ive learned over the course of my career that the more important question has to do with fitting into a team culture. Working at the cemetery was the first time I was exposed to a team environment. While our group was small, we were a tight-knit bunch. And because we were so few, we had to figure out how best to work together to get the job done. One summer, we were desperate for help, so we opened a position and hired -- too quickly. The new employee had the desired availability and skills but wasnt a team fit -- which was immediately apparent. Tasks took him twice the time to complete; and as a result, morale declined, and productivity dropped off. After months of struggling as a group, we decided to make a change. That change helped us bounce back to normal production. Lesson: Had we vetted the new hire more closely, we would have saved time and morale in the long run. 5. Death is worse than the small bumps in life. While it might not seem like a cemetery would have many problems, we had our fair share. The job function was fairly consistent: mow lawns, trim hedges, dig holes. However, every week a new challenge arose: Think: weather challenges, time constraints, etc. Cue stress. According to APAs 2017 Work and Well-Being survey, 58 percent of Americans polled said that work is a significant source of stress. In addition to its health impacts, U.S. employers lose an estimated $300 billion annually through absenteeism, illness and productivity, according to the American Institute for Stress. Leaders can lessen this stress by embracing and teaching perspective. Whenever Im stressed out at work, I think back on the cemetery. Not because those were some of the best days of my life (though actually they were), but because I would think about the people and families I interacted with. When you're surrounded by death every day, you gain perspective on what really matters. Work and school can be stressful and seem like the most important thing, but when you take a step back to look at the larger picture, those stresses are a small bump in a larger road. Despite the cobwebs, bats, zombies, ghosts or black cats you'll likely see displayed in your neighborhood this Halloween, a cemetery is not a dark and dreary place but a spot that is welcoming and considerate to the community around it. Related: After Her Father's Death, This Entrepreneur Built a Billion-Dollar Company on Passionate Purpose Lesson: Cemeteries can be overwhelmingly positive and peaceful, assuming you're just visiting and have the right outlook. They celebrate the past while encouraging hope and a look to the future. Leaders of small and large businesses alike could learn a thing or two from working at a cemetery, I know I did. Related: The 5 Lessons I Learned From Working in a Graveyard How to Handle Digital Assets of the Deceased What 7 Deaths Taught Me About Living Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved The trend of collaboration At the moment, there are 61 cooperatives and 236 collaborative teams in HCMC, along with Hung Dien Import-Export-Organic Agricultural Cooperative Union, which is located in Binh Tan District and has 4 members of Duyen Hai, Truong Thinh, Dien Phat, as well as Green Organic Aquaculture. This year, there are 8 new agriculture cooperatives, increasing the total amount of arable farm to 646ha, with the average of 13.5ha per cooperative. Among them, the leader as to surface area for cultivation is Tho Viet Cooperative with 108ha to grow organic vegetables, while the least is Ngoc Diem Cooperative with 0.85ha to grow ornamental plants. 26 out of 61 cooperatives in HCMC successfully follow the policy to produce and sell agricultural goods like organic vegetables, ornamental plants, cattle, aquaculture produce, and girdle-cakes. Reports of the HCMC Department of Agriculture and Rural Development show that the connections among cooperatives or between cooperatives and businesses have witnessed a promising increase, especially concerning organic vegetables and dairy cows. Tan Thong Hoi Cooperative and Phuoc An Cooperative have entered the list of 100 most prominent cooperatives in Vietnam, selected by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Besides, 8 cooperatives of Phu Hoa Dong (producing girdle-cakes), Tho Viet, Nhuan Duc, Phu Loc, Phuoc Binh, Phuoc An, Nga Ba Giong, and Nam Viet have already signed contracts to sell their goods in renowned supermarkets, 7 of which are participating in the supply chain of organic produce under VietGAP, selling tons of merchandise monthly. These 7 organizations, along with Tien Phong and Long Hoa Cooperatives, also agree to deliver produce for 308 safety-qualified stores which mostly sell VietGAP goods like vegetables, pork, girdle-cakes, mushroom, Pangasius Kunyit. Lately, because the market has required various kinds of produce, cooperatives have had to work together to successfully meet these demands. For example, Phu Loc Cooperative buy vegetables from Hung Dien and Nhuan Duc to deliver necessary goods to customers. These organizations also take part in the supply chain for input services as well as the output chain since they can negotiate a stable source of merchandise like fertilizer or plant protection chemicals. Any cooperative successful in doing this usually attract many members. Take Phuoc An Cooperative as an example. It works in 3 stages of the supply chain for organic vegetables, consisting of offering plant protection chemicals and fertilizer for its members, designing and applying a detailed production plan for all members after successfully signing a contract with related businesses for output, and lastly collecting produce to transport to selling spots. A similar situation happens with Tan Thong hoi Cooperative, which is responsible for dairy production. However, this model is still not widely spread because of certain limits in a loose link between these cooperatives and other suppliers of input services or produce buyers, thus the prices are not truly competitive enough compared to normal prices in the market to attract new members. The weak inner force HCMC has issued many advantageous policies and guidelines to support agricultural cooperatives from infrastructure to human resources, or even finance so that these organizations are able to self-renovate. As a result, several cooperatives take full advantage of them to further develop their own inner force and increase their competitiveness via the transformation from only focusing on production and output finding to offering services for producing goods and for improving the living standards of members. This has helped all those members be more confident in participating in the cooperative model. Nevertheless, there exists poor management of certain cooperative leaders in various wards or districts as they are still used to waiting for the governments guidance, not being able to exercise the principle of autonomy. As stated by Mr. Tran Ngoc ho, Deputy Director of the HCMC Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the proportion of trained human resources is quite low, at 33.5 percent. Cooperatives are usually of small scale yet in a harshly competitive status. Therefore, these cooperatives cannot attract investment from related businesses or active participation of members. Another difficulty comes from the limit of initial capital to run the organization. With only around VND2.6 billion on average (approx. $111,350), it is quite hard for a cooperative to expand its production capacity. Yet the access to a loan is not easy at all since these cooperatives possess little or no mortgage asset. This leads to trouble in producing sufficient merchandise to meet the demands of businesses. By CONG PHIEN Translated by Yen Nhi Escaping cults harrowing last act Warick Daily News, Australia/October 28, 2018 By Candace Sutton Just hours before they started murdering the babies, Leslie Wagner-Wilson strapped her three-year-old son to her back and ran into the jungle. Along with 10 other members of the Jonestown commune isolated amid Guyana's dense snake and jaguar-infested rainforest, she'd had enough. They were exhausted, food deprived and had endured Messianic cult leader Jim Jones' faked sieges and suicide rehearsals. The wife of Jones' security chief, Wagner-Wilson, risked even more to escape unnoticed from the "utopia" that had become an armed encampment presided over by a madman. They were unaware that this would be the day when Jim Jones carried out for real his group "suicide", which was really mass murder. It was November 18, 1978. A total of 918 members of Jones Peoples Temple in Guyana would die, more than 300 of them children, in the largest ritual mass-murder suicide in history. But the 11 defectors slipping off from Jonestown that morning did know that they were running for their lives. For 50km through undergrowth so thick they could hardly see in front of them, they ran, Wagner-Wilson's son Jakari in a makeshift bedsheet papoose. "I was so scared I was shaking," he later recalled. "I was waiting for a gunshot and a bullet and me dropping. I didn't expect to live beyond the age of 22." Back at Jonestown, Tim Carter was hours away from seeing the unimaginable: his wife Gloria and son Malcolm in death throes from cyanide poisoning. The Vietnam veteran was inextricably woven into Jim Jones' hierarchy. His sister, Terry Carter Jones was married to the cult leader's adopted son Lew, and mother to Jim Jones' grandchild, Chaeoke. They, too, would all die by the order of Jim Jones. The night before, an investigations party led by Californian Congressman Leo Ryan had been allowed into Jonestown, prompting cult members to secretly indicate they wanted to leave. The unstable Jim Jones learnt about a note dropped by follower Vernon Gosney, whose misgivings about Jonestown had begun on his arrival with his young son, Mark. Jones, who was a Marxist and a secret atheist, was addicted to prescription drugs and growing more maniacal. Revelations of "treachery" would unhinge him completely; as a child he had revered death and idolised Adolf Hitler, admiring the twisted German leader's sadism and eventual suicide. Just over a year earlier, media investigations of abuse, blackmail and tyranny had persuaded Jones to decamp from California to Guyana, summoning a thousand followers to the jungle. Tim Carter would later reveal guns and drugs were routinely smuggled inside food packages to the commune. When Leo Ryan and his party, including newspaper and TV reporters, left Jonestown with 15 defecting commune members for Port Kaituma airport, the stage was set. "Jones put all the pieces in place for a last act of self-destruction," San Francisco Examiner reporter Tim Reiterman later wrote. Jones dispatched a group of armed henchman to Port Kaituma. Among them was Leslie Wagner-Wilson's husband, Joe, on the back of a flat-bed tractor trailer picking off defectors, reporters and Congressman Ryan with shots. Ryan was shot in the head to finish him off and Vernon Gosney was shot in the stomach three times by a Jones loyalist posing as a defector. Tim Carter was saved by an order from Jones for him, his brother Michael and Jones follower Michael Prokes to flee with three suitcases containing $1.6 million in cash and gold. The men were armed and told to take money, in plastic-wrapped $US100 bills, and one ounce gold wafers, to the Soviet embassy in Guyana's capital, Georgetown. They were summoned to the pavilion, where Grape Flavor-Aid was already mixed with cyanide in buckets. Carter overheard Jones talking with his top aide and mistress, Maria Katsaris, who told Jones "the stuff" was "ready but it's awfully bitter". Jones replied, "Can't we make it any less bitter?". The shooters returned from the Port Kaituma airport and reported that Leo Ryan and others had been shot dead. In the commune's pavilion, sitting on the "throne" among a throng of followers, Jim Jones used Ryan's shooting as the trigger for the mass intake of poison, saying there was "no hope, no future". Jones summoned all his followers to the pavilion, where he announced: "The congressman has been murdered! Please get the medication before it's too late. Don't be afraid to die." His cajoling and self-serving encouragement of followers, surrounded by armed guards, to drink the poison can be heard on the infamous "death tape" audio of the massacre. When the potassium cyanide-laced drink was brought forward, Jones wanted the children to go first, sealing everyone's fate because the parents and elders would have no reason to live. As Reiterman wrote in his book, Raven: The Untold Story of the Rev. Jim Jones and His People, Jones "gave the order to kill the children first, sealing everyone's fate". In an attempt to save his son and wife, Tim Carter offered to pose with his family as defectors and go to San Francisco to kill a former Peoples Temple member who had turned on Jones. The cult leader turned coolly to Carter and said, "Will you take care of (kill) your son first before you go?" Dumbfounded, Carter shook his head. With his brother and Michael Prokes, he went to Jones' personal cottage to collect the three suitcases. When he returned to the pavilion, he saw his own 15-month-old son Malcolm and wife Gloria poisoned with the cyanide. "And here's Sharon Cobb a paediatric nurse practitioner, with a syringe in Malcolm's mouth," Carter recalled. "Malcolm was dead, his little lips covered with foam, which is what happens with arsenic and cyanide as it foams at the mouth," Carter later told CNN, saying he held his wife as she died. "I put my arms around Gloria as she was holding Malcolm and just kept on sobbing, 'I love you so much. I love you so much.' "She started convulsing " Carter told The Chicago Tribune days after the tragedy. "And then I ran ran as fast as I could." Dispatched with the suitcases, that night he "wanted to kill myself but I had a voice saying, 'You cannot die. You must live'." With armed guards encircling everyone and with children bawling and screaming, medical staff members with syringes squirted poison down the throats of little kids. One of those children was Mark, Vernon Gosney's five-year-old son. Mark's mother Cheryl Wilson was an African-American and she and Gosney faced discrimination as an interracial couple. When Mark was born, Cheryl was left brain dead by an overdose of anaesthetics during the Caesarian birth. Gosney moved to Jonestown with his son and immediately regretted it, but believed Mark would be safe when he left the commune in Leo Ryan's defecting party. Leslie Wagner-Wilson and her 10 fellow Temple members fleeing Jonestown had taken with them Flavor-Aid mixed with Valium to keep the children calm. "We were running for our lives, for if we got caught we would wish we were dead, because the discipline would be intense," Wagner-Wilson later told CNN. "We have to move fast, I thought. Once they find we are missing, they will start the search. "We started going deeper into the jungle and our leader, Richard Clark, lost his way." Wagner-Wilson said they were close to the commune's front gate and, alarmingly, could hear the guards talking. They kept the children silent, and finally moved off silently. When Richard Clark suggested they go to Port Kaituma, Wagner-Wilson said it was too close, although the party was completely unaware of the shootings taking place on the airstrip. She told Clark she would go to Matthews Ridge, 50km away, and if her husband caught up and shot her, to "get my child out". The group moved along train tracks and found roads and at one stage Wagner-Wilson had to crawl on her hands and knees across a railway bridge because of her fear of heights. When they reached the town of Matthews Ridge, a police captain drew weapons on them and searched them. "We told him we had escaped from Jonestown and wanted to call the American Embassy," Wagner-Wilson said. "He asked us if we knew about the shootings at Port Kaituma. 'What shootings?' we said. "He went on to explain that he got a report that people had been shot at the airstrip." Wilson, who lost her mother, brother, sister and husband that Saturday, would be consumed with survivor's guilt. Leslie Wagner-Wilson later found out that her mother, sister, brother and husband Joe were all dead among the mass of bodies around the cyanide buckets at Jonestown. Tim Carter, his brother Michael and Michael Prokes hiked to Port Kaituma. Stumbling through a banana field on a pitch-black night, they buried some of the cash and ditched the suitcases before Port Kaituma police arrested them. They would later be accused of being complicit in Jim Jones' apocalyptic plan before being cleared of any blame, but Michael Prokes would take his own life. Two days later, Carter went back to Jonestown to help identify the bodies. "As I walked through the pavilion, I identified what bodies I could. I saw injection marks in people's arms," he told CNN. "I saw one in the back of somebody's head. I saw them on somebody's neck. "It was really evident to me that people had been just flat-out murdered, held down and injected, the ones that didn't want to drink the poison." To this day, Carter lives with the trauma of Jonestown's end. "Somebody was trying to kill us. And my family was killed as well. I cannot describe the agony, terror and horror of what that was." "He murdered my wife and my son, my sister, my niece, my nephew, my brother-in-law, my sister-in-law. That's how I feel about Jim Jones," Tim Carter said. After learning of his son's death at Jonestown, while recovering from gunshot wounds in hospital, Vernon Gosney moved to Hawaii to "heal". He became a policeman in Maui, but his decision to leave son Mark at Jonestown is something he thinks of "every day". Leslie Wagner-Wilson suffered survivor guilt and two years after Jonestown contemplated shooting herself in the head. She didn't, for the sake of her son Jakari, and went on to have two more children, two marriages and a struggle with drug abuse. "I pray my family did not think I left them," she said. "Not a day goes by that I don't think about it." Jakari Wilson went on to lead a troubled life, being jailed as a juvenile, and again as an adult. He described his mother as his "superhero" for carrying him to safety from Jonestown, and then for not abandoning him after each prison sentence he served for violent offences. Jakari is now serving a life sentence for attempted murder and possessing an illegal firearm. He is currently incarcerated in California's High Desert State Prison, Susanville with an earliest release date of 2040. Just 36 of the more than 900 Peoples Temple members who started that November day in Jonestown, Guyana would live to tell their tales. To see more documents/articles regarding this group/organization/subject click here. Addressing the event, Ambassador Ho Minh Tuan emphasised that Vietnamese people in the Czech Republic are always seen as an exemplary united and strong community who have made great efforts to uphold beautiful traditions of Vietnam. The traditional fond of learning and passion for knowledge have been maintained and passed down to younger generations by expatriates in the Czech Republic. Many students have achieved proud academic results and been considered bright examples in the local society, he said. The diplomat added that the students themselves and their generation will be the ones substantially helping to change Czech peoples view of Vietnamese who are not only successfully in doing business but also greatly contribute to the Czech society, their Vietnamese homeland, as well as the two countries friendship. Tuan also highly valued practical activities by the Union of Vietnamese People Associations in Europe and the Vietnamese People Association in the Czech Republic to encourage and support expatriate students. At the ceremony, the diplomat suggested rewarding students with outstanding achievements in learning Vietnamese so as to promote the teaching and learning of this language in the overseas community. It said that Vietnamese is an important means for them to understand and uphold traditional culture and connections with the homeland. According to the Czech Statistical Office, there were more than 58,000 Vietnamese in the country as of the end of 2016. In 2013, the European country recognised the Vietnamese community here as one of its ethnic groups. Vietnamnews Kyle Rittenhouse found not guilty on all charges The Illinois teen took the stand in his own defense during a tense and emotional trial, telling the jury last week: I didnt do anything wrong." Hey, Neighbor Pizza House is located on East 19th Street next to Sweet Life Patisserie and Prince Pucklers a great location for the owners to introduce their 12-inch artisanal pizzas to the University of Oregon area. The pizza itself is just the right amount gourmet without getting too complicated. Ethos is a nationally recognized, award-winning independent student publication. Our mission is to elevate the voices of marginalized people who are underrepresented in the media landscape, and to write in-depth, human-focused stories about the issues affecting them. We also strive to support our diverse student staff and to help them find future success. Ethos produces a quarterly free print magazine full of well-reported and powerful feature stories, innovative photography, creative illustrations and eye-catching design. On our website, we also produce compelling written and multimedia stories. Ethos is part of Emerald Media Group, a non-profit organization thats fully independent of the University of Oregon. Students maintain complete editorial control over Ethos, and work tirelessly to produce the magazine. Since our inception as Korean Ducks Magazine in 2005, weve worked hard to share a multicultural spirit with our readership. We embrace diversity in our stories, in our student staff and in our readers. We want every part of the magazine to reflect the diversity of our world. The Daily Emerald is the news division of Emerald Media Group, University of Oregons independent student media organization. Sarah-Mae McCullough(541) 346-5511 Ext. 325editor@dailyemerald.com The flight coded VN336, using Airbus A321, lasted four and a half hours, according to the carrier. Vietnam Airlines said it operates seven flights per week, with services meeting four-star standards on the route. The flights depart at 00:20 from Da Nang and 9:30 from Osaka. This is the 11th air route to Japan Vietnam Airlines has offered, along with those from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang to Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and Fukuoka. Vietnam Airlines is currently the largest carrier amongst those operating routes between Vietnam and Japan, with 70 flights per week on average. Since the first direct flight on the Vietnam-Japan route took off in 1994, Vietnam Airlines has carried 11.3 million passengers between the two countries, accounting for 65 percent of the market share. The number of Japanese tourists to Da Nang increased more than 18 times in 2017 as compared with 2011. Vietnamnews Of the new measures Oregon has up for vote, Measure 106 involves a topic that is likely the most emotional and controversial: abortion. Measure 106 would prevent the use of government money, more specifically Medicaid and the Oregon Health Plan, from being used to pay for abortions. Much of the [October 29, 2018] Randall-Reilly Strategically Expands Trucking Data Through Acquisition of Transportation Data Source TUSCALOOSA, Ala., Oct. 29, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of Randall-Reilly's ongoing expansion of its data-driven solutions, Randall-Reilly has acquired Transportation Data Source (TDS) from trucking pioneer Lyn Simon and TDS co-founder Helen Simon. The TDS acquisition opens up new markets for Randall-Reilly, including factoring, insurance, brokerage/logistics and fleet management solutions. These capabilities complement Randall-Reilly's current trucking data offering, RigDig Business Intelligence, which provides insights for OEM, aftermarket and dealer clients. "We're thrilled to provide a broader range of tools that help current and new clients meet an even wider range of pressing needs," says Prescott Shibles, Randall-Reilly's senior vice president of data. "Welcoming TDS to the Randall-Reilly family helps us achieve our goal of providing usale insights and measurable outcomes to our clients." "In only five short years, TDS grew to be one of the most robust services for motor carrier safety monitoring and lead generation in the transportation industry. Selling TDS to Randall-Reilly provides existing TDS customers with access to more services and in turn, allows them to better serve their customers. I am happy that TDS is now in the stewardship of Randall-Reilly," said Lyn Simon, TDS president and founder. Key members of the TDS staff that transferred with the acquisition will work from Randall-Reilly's office in Draper, Utah, headquarters of Smart Rhino Labs, which Randall-Reilly acquired earlier in 2018. "This acquisition is an exciting part of Randall-Reilly's growth and represents a whole new way to propel our clients to their best selves," says Brent Reilly, Randall-Reilly president and chief executive officer. About Randall-Reilly Randall-Reilly is the leading B2B data company in trucking, construction, agriculture and other industrial markets. Its proprietary data, with equipment-level intelligence, builds exclusive market insights and drives exceptional outcomes. More than 4,400 clients in sales, marketing and recruiting use Randall-Reilly's data-driven platforms, services and media to reach their audiences. Headquartered in Tuscaloosa, Ala., the company also has offices in Charlotte, N.C., Anniston Ala., and Draper, Utah. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/randall-reilly-strategically-expands-trucking-data-through-acquisition-of-transportation-data-source-300739444.html SOURCE Randall-Reilly [ Back To SIP Trunking Home's Homepage ] WEST WHITELAND Sean ODonnell described himself as a safe motorcyclist and his life changed at 17 when a car hit him. Prior to Collegium Charter High School students hearing ODonnells story, they watched the West Whiteland Fire Company, West Whiteland Police Department and Uwchlan Ambulance respond to a mock car crash outside the school. The students saw firsthand what may happen at a crash scene, and in this case, they saw police arrest a drunk driver who caused a crash that killed two people. The police conducted a sobriety field check as firefighters cut up a car to remove more injured patients. School officials told students they hope they never experience that heartbreaking tragedy. ODonnell, originally of North Philadelphia, grew up inspired by the movie, Top Gun. Its why he wanted to become a pilot. He said to achieve a more realistic dream, he learned how to ride a motorcycle because Tom Cruise rode a motorcycle in Top Gun. He learned how to drive at 16, and by 17 he had bought his second motorcycle. He took six driving classes to learn how to drive safely and avoid becoming involved in a crash. He emphasized safety by wearing his helmet and two forms of eye protection, which he says is what saved him from losing his left eye when he landed on rocks following a crash. He came to a three-way intersection when a woman at the stop sign was directed by another driver to make a left turn. He explained that she waived thanks to her left and made the turn without checking to her right to check for oncoming traffic, the direction ODonnell traveled. That was the old way of distracted driving back then and it still happens today. Now distracted driving is this too, ODonnell said as he held up his cellphone like he was texting someone. When he picked up his helmet, he added, This cost me $125 and I will keep it forever because its what saved my life. Her car hit his motorcycle and threw him about 20 feet away. He doesnt remember anything right before she hit him on Sept. 18, 1995, and until after he woke up in the hospital four days later with a broken back. I couldnt move, said ODonnell, who is paralyzed below his waist. Im scared and I didnt know whats going on. And the only thing I want to do is rip all these tubes out, kick off the covers and get out of there. His recovery was quicker than most people because he wanted to get back to school and graduate with his class. He had perfect attendance until that crash and he returned to school on Oct. 31, 1985. He could barely dress himself then, and he had to relearn how to be independent. I had to learn how to live by using just my hands, ODonnell said, adding that hes grateful he can use his hands and arms. ODonnell wanted to learn how to drive again, but didnt think it would be possible without the use of his legs. By having a car with buttons for the gas and brake, rather than pedals, he was able to drive. The difficult part, he explained, was getting his wheelchair in and out of the car, and folding it up when removing it from the car. He said he learned that when he could accomplish something that was the hardest task for him, that he could do anything else too. He went on to college and became an engineer. He reached his original goal as well, learning how to fly a plane and soon after became an instructor. He assists with a program called Able Flight to teach people with a disability how to fly, such as deafness and amputees. Its my impression that life is just meant to be hard. Its the way its meant to be because were here to learn and were here to learn to appreciate it, ODonnell said. If you do that every moment becomes your dream moment. His message focuses on what people can do after something has gone wrong in their life. The day is knowing about what youre up against, ODonnell said. When asked, he said that his humor and his natural energy to remain positive helped him during his recovery. His speech was part of Bryn Mawr Rehabs Cruisin Smart program, and it is a State Farm and Paoli Hospital partnership. According to State Farm, car accidents still remain the leading cause of death of 16-19-year-olds killing more teens than cancer, homicide, and suicide combined. 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. The much-anticipated new John le Carre adaptation from the team behind The Night Manager has been met with mixed reviews from viewers, with some declaring themselves gripped by the espionage thriller - while others insist it put them to sleep. The first episode of The Little Drummer Girl, which flits between Germany, London and Greece in 1979 and opened with a bomb going off in an Israeli diplomatic residence in Bonn, aired on Sunday night, and some Twitter critics were quick to praise the stellar cast and 'cracking script'. But others were disappointed by the slow-burn drama, with many tweeting to say they'd found it too confusing - or worse, dull - to watch. The much-anticipated adaptation of John le Carre's The Little Drummer Girl - from the same team behind the smash hit The Night Manager - has divided viewers who tuned in to watch the first episode on Sunday night Fans on Twitter praised the 'super cast' and 'cracking script' following Sunday night's debut episode - and said people moaning about being confused simply needed to stick with it 'Absolutely brilliant hour of TV,' one fan tweeted, singling out the performance of lead Florence Pugh, who plays a young British actress, Charlie, for praise. 'Beautifully shot and an excellent opening episode that didn't spoon feed,' said another, while a third called it 'pretty tense stuff' and a 'brilliant first episode'. Others took a different view, with many saying it failed to measure up to its smash hit predecessor The Night Manager - despite the presence of a leading man to rival Tom Hiddleston in the shape of Alexander Skarsgard, who put in a scene-stealing turn on the beach in a pair of skimpy swimming shorts. But it wasn't enough to keep all viewers interested. 'There's slow and intriguing - and then there's just slow,' said one cutting review on social media. 'What a load of rubbish, I'll pass on the other episodes,' another underwhelmed viewer tweeted. Some disappointed viewers said they'd try and persevere with future episodes, but others said they'd 'pass' - with one tweeting that 'there's slow and intriguing - and then there's just slow' Charlie and Peter enjoy a passionate kiss after their whirlwind romance but there's something Peter is hiding and she is nervous to find out what it is The story kicks off in Germany in 1979 when a bomb goes off in the diplomatic quarter of Bonn, with senior Israeli intelligence agent Martin Kurtz (Michael Shannon) flying in to investigate. A series of similarly deadly attacks targeting prominent Jewish figures across Europe have been carried out in recent weeks, and Kurtz now believes there is a Palestinian revolutionary at the heart of this pattern. Kurtz sets in motion a brilliant and elaborate plan to catch the kingpin, Khalil (Charif Ghattas), enlisting the help of passionate young actress Charlie, played by Pugh. As a upcoming young actress she is treading the boards of pub theatres and struggling to land a breakthrough part, and drifts from one bad relationship to another, unable to find her purpose in life. Alexander Skarsgard plays the mysterious Peter in The Little Drummer Girl, he appeared in the first episode on a beach wearing nothing but a pair of tiny blue swimming trunks The Swedish leading man donned a James Bond style pair of swimming trunks to take a dip in the Greek sea Aworking holiday soon becomes a journey of discovery when she encounters Peter on the beach and embarks on a whirlwind romance when he whisks her on a date to neighbouring Athens After handing her a beautiful yellow dress and taking her to a night time visit of the Acropolis, they enjoyed a passionate kiss When an anonymous benefactor sends Charlie and her theatre troupe on a rehearsal jaunt to Greece, she feels renewed vigour. But a working holiday soon becomes a journey of discovery when she encounters Peter on the beach and embarks on a whirlwind romance when he whisks her on a date to neighbouring Athens. After handing her a beautiful yellow dress and taking her to a night time visit of the Acropolis, they enjoy a passionate kiss. The tangled threads of the stories weaved their way together until Charlie found herself at the centre of Kurtzs international espionage operation, with Kurtz introducing himself But he abruptly pulls away before driving them both away at speed arriving at a mystery meeting point. It turns out Peter is part of Kurtz's team, who are making inroads into the network responsible for the bombing in Germany that opened the episode. Suddenly Charlie finds herself at the centre of Kurtzs international espionage operation, with Kurtz introducing himself to the actress: 'Welcome Charlie I am the producer, writer and director of our show and I would like to talk to you about your part.' The Little Drummer Girl continues next Sunday on BBC One at 9pm A fashion blogger has revealed she suffers from psoriasis after more than a decade of battling the debilitating autoimmune condition. Louise Roe, who runs a fashion blog entitled Front Roe, has created a loyal following of more than 690,000 fans all looking to her for fashion, beauty and lifestyle advice. But recently the 36-year-old English blogger and TV host who is currently based in Los Angeles, California shared she has suffered from psoriasis for more than ten years. 'It was always something very personal to me,' Lousie told DailyMail.com of the condition - which Kim Kardashian also suffers from. 'I didn't think other people needed to know.' Personal: Fashion blogger Louise Roe, 36, revealed she was diagnosed with psoriasis more than ten years ago Trendy: The 36-year-old English TV host who is currently based in Los Angeles, California uses her platform to provide beauty, fashion and lifestyle advice to her followers Difficult: Louise, pictured right with her daughter, recently partnered with biotech company Celgene and Otezla, an oral medication for psoriasis, to share her story When Louise, who also served as a guest host on E! show Fashion Police, was 25, she was diagnosed with plaque psoriasis, the most common form of the skin condition, after experiencing raised red patches that were itchy and painful. The autoimmune condition, which an estimated 7. 5 million have according to United to the American Academy of Dermatology, occurs when an accumulation of skin cells builds up to form plaques. At the time of her diagnosis, Louise was working for a fashion magazine in London and decided to only tell those close to her about her daily skin struggles. Her focus became covering up any flare-ups along her skin. 'I never felt psoriasis impacted my [media] coverage,' Louise said. 'I was working at a fashion magazine at the time [of diagnosis] and I was surrounded by people who appeared confident in their appearance. 'I felt like I had to hide certain aspects of my body.' Feeling uncomfortable in her own skin altered what Louise wore in public and how she felt at the fashion events she attended. 'I would end up canceling personal and work plans,' the blogger said. Louise, who chose to speak out about her condition and raise awareness about it in honor of World Psoriasis Day on October 29, later realized she needed to better understand her condition since it was dictating her personal and professional life. Better than ever: In an interview with DailyMail.com, Louise spoke about how the autoimmune condition impacted her personal and professional life Happy: Louise, pictured with her husband and daughter in October, found her psoriasis was stress-induced and that it needed to be treated from within despite appearing on her skin Moving on: Now that Louise has publicly shared her story, she hopes it will inspire others to speak out and seek treatment She visited with a dermatologist to form a treatment plant that would control the skin flare-ups. WHAT IS PSORIASIS? Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition that affects the skin and sometimes the joints. Around two per cent of people in the US and UK suffer from the condition. Psoriasis occurs when a person's skin replacement process takes place within days rather than the usual 21-to-28 days. The accumulation of skin cells builds up to form raised plaques, which can be flaky, scaly and itchy. Psoriasis arthritis can occur in the joints near affected skin, causing them to become tender, swollen and stiff. Anyone can suffer, but psoriasis is more common in people in their late teens-to-early 30s or those between the ages of 50 and 60. Psoriasis' cause is unclear. Flare-ups can be triggered by stress, skin injury, hormonal changes and certain medications. It is not contagious and there is no cure. Treatment focuses on managing symptoms via topical creams, gels and medication. Source: Psoriasis Association Advertisement 'Mine, I discovered, is definitely stress-induced,' Louise said when asked about how lifestyle factors could cause flare-ups. More than ten years after first getting diagnosed, Louise decided to partner with biotech company Celegne Corporation and Otezla, an oral medication used to treat psoriasis, to share her story. 'Psoriasis presents itself on the outside of your body, but it's actually a genetic condition that manifests from inside the body,' Louise said. Taking medication, like Otezla, can help control people's symptoms because it is targeting the disease from within instead of as a topical. Although Louise was nervous to launch the Inside Perspective campaign, she hoped sharing her story would inspire others to speak about the skin condition and seek expert help. 'This is the first time Ive talked about it publicly,' Louise admitted. Since posting about it for her followers, she said she has already received positive and encouraging words from others. But there is one major misconception she hopes her story will help eliminate when people hear about psoriasis. 'I am not contagious,' she said. Psoriasis develops within the body and cannot be physically transferred to any person who comes in contact with the skin condition. Viewers were left wrought with emotion over the happy ending to ITV's Butterfly on Sunday night. Transgender child Maxine, 12, was finally able to start her transition and begun taking hormone blockers in the heartwrenching finale of the three-part mini-series. She had been rejected by a gender clinic, despite turning to self harm after realising she didn't identify as a boy anymore. Her mother Vicky (Anna Friel) had whisked her away to Boston for treatment against the wishes of her father, a decision that nearly landed Maxine (Callum Booth-Ford) in care. But they came together as a family and were able to prove that Maxine deserved to have puberty blockers so that she could start her transition properly. In the closing scenes of the drama, they all celebrated as she received her first injection saying she 'would get used to' the pain of the needle if it meant she could live as a girl. The scenes left viewers 'bawling', with one person tweeting: 'I'm an emotional wreck!' The series finale of ITV's Butterfly saw transgender child Maxine, 12, take hormone blockers to delay the onset of puberty. The gender clinic had previously rejected his mother's pleas for him to start treatment Another posted: '#Butterfly finale is the best finale in a show Ive watched in soooooo long omg Im in tears! MAXINE GOT THE APPROVAL FOR HER TREATMENT OMG MY HEART!' 'So many emotions watching Butterfly strongly recommend but get tissues!' a third said. Vicky forged Stephen's signature to obtain consent for Maxine's treatment at a US clinic, but he reported her to the police for parental abduction and she was arrested on her return to the UK. A social worker was appointed to determine what was best for the family, leaving both parents facing the prospect of losing their child. The scenes left Butterfly viewers on Twitter 'bawling' (pictured), with one person tweeting: 'I'm an emotional wreck!' The guardian threatened to remove Maxine from their care in gut-wrenching scenes, telling the parents: Im making a recommendation to the courts to make a care order so that the local authority can share responsibility for Maxine and limit your parental responsibility in the interest of her welfare. Im also going to ask for an order to be made prohibiting any further treatment to be made for Maxine because youre so clearly at odds.' A desperate Vicky cried as she explained the couple had come to an agreement to seek treatment for Maxine in the UK and not the US. The social worker wasn't convinced: 'I would have to test the strength of that agreement. You had Vicky arrested and you accused Stephen of physically abusing Maxine. The family's social worker (pictured) had told the parents that there is a possible Maxine would be taken away from them because they can't decide on what is best for him Maxine's parents had called a truce (pictured) after they argued about whether he should begin a physical transition into a girl The family put on a united front and returned to the gender clinic (pictured) to beg them to change their minds and let Maxine start puberty blockers 'The school and police have both expressed deep concern about the division between you and the affect it is having on Maxine, a child who has already been hospitalised for self-harm. And whose welfare might best be served by having her removed from the family home. Im sorry' Attending a counselling session together, Stephen explained that they didn't want the local authority to make decisions for them: 'We want to make them together, dont we?' Maxine's mum Vicky had been arrested upon her return to the airport (pictured) after she took her daughter out of the country to seek treatment in Boston Maxine had turned to self harm and tried to cut off his penis because he didn't want to live in a boy's body anymore. His parents then decided to let him start dressing like a girl (pictured)and change his name Maxine said of her own battle: Ive been too silent if Id have been more honest about how I felt, if I stopped trying to please everyone I could have been more true to myself.' Ive been living as Maxine for months now stood up to bullies it feels right. There was a trans girl in Boston she got her first puberty blockers and she felt peace. I want to feel that peace. My mum and dad arent at war any more but my body and brain still at war.' They all celebrated when they were given the news that she was allowed the puberty blockers and the closing scenes saw them attending her first appointment. As I get older, and particularly after having a child, I feel myself unexpectedly drawn back to the countryside I grew up in. I nose about, late at night, on the websites of estate agents specialising in the North East, hopping down the coast from barn conversion to barn conversion, pausing sometimes to inspect the odd terrace house looking out to the grey North Sea. I had thought that working in the city for 20 years would make any sense of being from a particular place fade. I had also thought talk of belonging a bit naff. But the feeling only grows. The further away from the North I am, the more sure I am that grass should be coarse not lush, that hills should have heather and that any sea which doesnt induce hypothermia isnt worth its salt. Mary Wakefield who spent her childhood living in the North, told of her growing desire to return to where she grew up (file image) I dont plan to move. I have nothing to offer the countryside and couldnt make any sort of living there. Nonetheless, given half a chance or a bank holiday weekend, I home like a pigeon. I bundle up my stout son and my husband and drive them off to revisit my childhood. Its fun! I say, as the stinging sand whips up Embleton beach and smacks the toddler in the face. Whats a sandwich without grit in it? Now, kick a limpet off that rock and feed it to a sea anemone. You dont want to? Neither of you? Wimps. Its simplest to see this as a longing for past not place, the sort of harking back to childhood that can seize a person in middle age, before a passion for genealogy sets in. But its not that. Im just programmed. Heft, as they say of sheep. As I step from the train at Alnmouth station, the taste of the air makes my heart lighter. And what I find curious is how many people, particularly women uprooted by work or by marriage seem to feel the same. Not long ago, I talked to two cousins, both mothers with children living happy, comfortable lives on their husbands home turf. Both women said their real home was where they grew up and that they thought about it often. It reminded me of an article I read by a writer called Tilly Ware, who was pining for Dorset. Tilly wrote: Three years ago, when my husband built us a house on the coast of East Suffolk, I told myself sternly that I must learn to love the place. I took myself on long marches down Orford Ness, thinking the crunch of shingle would ease my homesickness . . . [but] I am not where I belong. On particularly mean and easterly days, I huddled with OS Map 113 and traced the contours of West Dorset. East Anglian wichs and burghs were banished as I wallowed in coombes and winterbournes and knolls. Mary recalls speaking to a German man last year who believed it's uncivilised to be romantically attached to land. He argued relationships and ideas are what matter (file image) Some women dream of the countryside, but I know others who long for the city streets they grew up in and feel stranded out of town. All seem faintly ashamed, as if its a failing to rise above. Perhaps they think being homesick puts them on the wrong side of the somewhere/nowhere divide. Is it too Brexity to admit to a sense of belonging? I had an interesting conversation with a German man last summer, who told me that it was dangerous and divisive to be romantically attached to land. It was uncivilised, he said. Ideas and relationships are what should matter to an enlightened soul. In the future, all people will feel they belong to the world. Home, he insisted, is where you will it to be. His wife, pining for the look and smell of Africa where she grew up, fell silent. I thought of a Kenyan myth I heard once on a tour of Maasai territory. I had asked our guide about a pillar of rock rising out of the plain and he had explained that this was the bride who looked back. She was going to her husbands house, the legend had it, when, despite strict instructions not to, like Lots wife, she cast a glance over her shoulder at her old home. For this mistake and as a warning to future brides, the gods turned her to stone. Mary who uses bank holidays to revisit her childhood with her son and husband believes there's a mass of other women who spend time considering properties they will never buy (file image) Its not fair or true to imagine homesickness is suffered only by women though I do think theres a strong subconscious desire to take ones children home. Its just that in the absence of war, its been women more than men, uprooted from their homes. The term nostalgia was in fact dreamt up in 1688 by Dr Johannes Hofer who was treating young Swiss mercenaries suffering from a strange set of symptoms. They wouldnt eat, couldnt summon the will to live and sometimes became dangerously ill with no apparent physical cause. They had fainting fits, high fevers and indigestion. After talking to the young men, Hofer realised they were simply ill for want of home. When he sent them back to the mountains, they invariably recovered. Even earlier, Swiss soldiers were said to be so susceptible to nostalgia when they heard a particular Swiss milking song, Khue-Reyen, that its playing was punishable by death. Children sent to the countryside were often diagnosed with nostalgia; so were women who left home to be domestic servants and babies pining for their wet nurses. Autumn was considered a particularly dangerous season. Our feel for place is inadvertent even if its unfashionable. Weve evolved this way. Our memories and our past selves are tucked away in the places we grew up. As I flit about online, hovering over the North, I imagine a great mass of other women doing the same: spectral vultures all circling our old home counties, picking over properties well never buy, causing inexplicable bursts of late-night activity on Zoopla and Rightmove. A version of this article first appeared in The Spectator magazine. Like most modern children, my boys set enormous store (or, possibly sweet store) by Halloween. They will be beside themselves by Wednesday. And no wonder: Halloween gives licence to discouraged behaviour. They can dress up and go out after dark (something I only get to do after organising a babysitter). They can maraud the neighbourhood, seeking out treats from whosoever has marked their house as fair game with a jack-o-lantern no helicopter-parent lectures about stranger danger on All Hallows Eve. Many decry Halloween as a tawdry American import. Actually, it is a Celtic export, sold back to us with added E-numbers. One of my earliest memories is of trick or treating in Seventies Aberdeen. The Trick was key: I had to sing the Skye Boat Song to bob for an apple or catch a treacle bun. Now there is more of a transactional meet-and-treat culture. Author Patricia Nicol shared the best novels to read this Halloween including Sarah Waterss The Little Stranger (pictured left) and Andrew Michael Hurleys The Loney (pictured right) In truth, Im excited too. Its a big night in my little London neighbourhood, where most children attend the same schools and are electrified to be out after dark, playing at being just that teeny bit scared. I can get petrified by full-blown horror, a genre undergoing a revival on our screens and in publishing. But I love being a little frightened: I am drawn to the uncanny and eerie. One debut novel that has impressed me most in recent years is Andrew Michael Hurleys Costa Prize-winning The Loney. In it, a Catholic family take their mute son on an Easter retreat to the hauntingly evoked Coldbarrow its residents make the Deliverance yokels seem welcoming. I was spellbound by Sarah Waterss The Little Stranger, now a film starring Ruth Wilson and Charlotte Rampling. In the Forties, a doctor is called to a dilapidated grand house to treat a frightened servant and is drawn into its troubled familys orbit. It takes great skill to ratchet up the tensions horror novels depend on, without it becoming ridiculous. I love Catherine Morland, the heroine of Jane Austens gothic satire Northanger Abbey for being both utterly susceptible to sensational fiction, and recognising that. After all, when it is dark outside, but you are snug indoors, a fright night can be fun. Levison Wood, 36, is a former Army officer and explorer, best known for his Channel 4 series Walking The Nile and Walking The Himalayas. He lives in London Just over a decade ago, one of my best friends from university killed himself. He was only 23 and we had no idea why hed done it. The assumption was a rapid onset of depression. Until then, Id had no exposure to illnesses such as depression. Growing up, mental health wasnt talked about and there was a real stigma attached to it. Today things are different, but I think for men in particular theres still a stigma. Some of the men I served with in Afghanistan ten years ago are suffering now. The military is aware of the need to talk its why they have decompression training. At the end of a tour of duty, soldiers get sent to Cyprus for a few days where everyone has a few beers and gets stuff of their chest. Former Army officer and explorer Levison Wood, 36, (pictured) revealed the importance of men speaking about their feelings and how it can possibly save lives The problem is when people leave the military and lose touch with their friends. They become isolated. Yet from a male perspective, its seen as a weakness to admit your feelings. Ive been lucky Ive had traumatic experiences including a major car accident in Nepal three years ago, but Ive not had any negative effects. This might be genetic, which is why Im interested in a study (GLAD) looking at the links between genetics and mental health. Ive had low points expeditions can be lonely when youre in the desert and youve just broken up with someone. But with my job I have guys around me, local guides, who quickly become friends and I can share my thoughts and feelings with them. When I was walking the Nile, journalist Matt Power died in my arms after suffering heat stroke. It was traumatic. I spent a long time talking about it with my guide Boston, who is from the Congo. We need to get across the message that if you have a problem, you should see someone. It might save your life. Levison is supporting the GLAD Study which aims to recruit 40,000 people in England who have experienced anxiety or depression, to examine links between genetics and mental health. To sign up, go to gladstudy.org.uk The Duchess of Sussex's generous nature was clear to see on Monday, when she rushed back into Maranui cafe to fetch the leftover cakes she and Prince Harry didn't eat for waiting schoolchildren. As soon as she saw several adorable children outside, Meghan quickly ran back towards the Wellington eatery and asked to take all of the slices and cakes that were left on the cafe plates. When the cafe agreed, the cakes were then brought outside to give to the kids, who proudly smiled with their new sweet treats. Scroll down for video The Duchess of Sussex's generous nature was clear to see on Monday, when she rushed back into Maranui cafe to fetch the leftover cakes she and Prince Harry didn't eat (pictured) As soon as she saw several adorable children outside, Meghan quickly ran back towards the Wellington eatery and asked to take all of the slices and cakes that were left on the cafe plates When the cafe agreed, the cakes were then brought outside to give to the kids, who proudly smiled with their new sweet treats (pictured) The children who received cakes were just several of the starry-eyed schoolchildren, who lined the streets outside the cafe hoping to get a glimpse of royalty The children who received cakes were just several of the starry-eyed schoolchildren, who lined the streets outside the cafe hoping to get a glimpse of royalty. Children from Houghton Valley School who made their way to the famous cafe got swept up in the activities, as the Duke and Duchess stopped to chat with many of them. 'They asked us what our names were and also they were really nice and just talked normally to us,' one of the children told TV NZ. 'My legs were shaking so much,' another added. Children from Houghton Valley School who made their way to the famous cafe got swept up in the activities, as the Duke and Duchess (pictured) stopped to chat with many of them The Maranui Cafe, which is an institution in the area, put on a pregnancy-friendly spread for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on Monday morning The Maranui Cafe, which is an institution in the area, put on a pregnancy-friendly spread for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on Monday morning. While at the cafe, Prince Harry - who is the Commonwealth youth ambassador - and Meghan spent about 30 minutes hearing about mental health projects operating in the country and the positive contribution they are having on young people in New Zealand. School students later took to the streets to sing a Maori song as they waited for the royal motorcade to leave the cafe, with the Duke and Duchess taking time out of their busy schedule to chat to those who were waiting. While at the cafe, Prince Harry - who is the Commonwealth youth ambassador - and Meghan spent about 30 minutes hearing about mental health projects operating in the country For the event, the Duchess of Sussex wore her trusty Outland 'Harriet' jeans for the fourth time on tour. She also kept warm in a Club Monaco trench coat, ankle boots by Stuart Weitzman and a black turtleneck jumper. Meghan wore her hair in a neat ponytail, before she later changed into her Veja trainers to board a helicopter. From the cafe, the couple will travel to Abel Tasman National Park on New Zealand's South Island, where they are expected to take part in an hour long hike and talk to conservation staff From the cafe, the couple will travel to Abel Tasman National Park on New Zealand's South Island, where they are expected to take part in an hour long hike and talk to conservation staff. Following the visit to the wilderness reserve, they will attend a beach barbecue and tree planting with local students. They are set to spend four days in New Zealand in total, before flying back to London on Wednesday. The best Instagram snaps are often the result of an elusive mix of factors which align to create the perfect upload. Now, some of the app's devotees have revealed to MamaMia the complex steps taken in order to capture their best angles. The website's own Adam Bub detailed his experiences in taking in the best out of his surrounds in a picture captured while on a USA road trip. The best Instagram snaps are often the result of an elusive mix of factors which align to create the perfect upload including Mamamia's Adam Bub who The Commercial Editor wrote how in a bid to find an 'eerie set of swings' in the mostly destitute Mojave Desert, his desire for a picture went well off the beaten path. 'Seven kilometres full of pebbles later, with about a drop of water left in our bottles, we arrived in the blistering 35-degree heat at the ex-retreat, now a scientific research centre,' he said of the adventure. 'There were cars but no one in sight. It was like a horror movie. I made my partner search the premises with me for those swings we found them, and the mineral springs. I look so happy but I was dehydrating, burning and ever so slightly terrified.' Other hilarious examples profiled by the website include a nature-lover who revealed the 'home truths' behind his effortlessly 'natural' shot of a bottle of champagne. One nature-loving user revealed the 'home truths' behind his effortlessly 'natural' shot of a bottle of champagne The user said that his partner cut his foot on a rock, he dropped his new iPhone X at the bottom of the water and it took 20 minutes to capture the 'perfect Instagram worthy snap'. Similarly, blogger Rebecca Lee's eye-watering Gelato captured on the streets of Rome looks almost too good to be true. However in a follow up snap, the Sydney-sider revealed the reality of the situation when the sweet treat melted on the way to the picture's original destination, the ancient Pantheon temple. Blogger Rebecca Lee's eye-watering Gelato captured on the streets of Rome looks almost too good to be true but the reality of the situation was that the sweet treat melted on the way to the picture's original destination Another staffer wrote how the pitfalls of solo travel and the need to capture the ambiance of a Japanese onsen collided during a visit to the country. 'Although the photo looks calm, taking it required balancing my camera precariously at the edge, setting off the timer and running back into the water,' she hilariously revealed. She ended up tripping and falling completely naked into the onsen. Amy Boyle's seemingly relaxing flower bath was not all it appeared as she revealed 'once you took your pictures the bath was basically unusable Another staffer wrote how the pitfalls of solo travel and the need to capture the ambiance of a Japanese onsen collided during a visit to the country And the water-based antics continued with Amy Boyle's holiday, when her seemingly relaxing flower bath was not all it appeared. 'The flowers were making me itchy and holding my leg up was actually such a challenge and giving me a cramp afterwards I had to pick off all the wet petals to make sure none went in the pool,' she said. Reading your horoscope at the back of a magazine is a guilty pleasure for many. And while many are sceptical, there is one star sign that stands out when it comes to Australia's most successful people. FEMAIL studied the Australian people who made the Financial Review's Richest and Young Rich list for 2018 and deciphered which zodiac sign reigned supreme. Fitness entrepreneur Kayla Itsines, who was born a Taurus and Gemini cusp, and her fiance Tobi Pearce are equal fifth and sixth on the Young Rich list Model Miranda Kerr, who ranked 52nd and is born on April 20, is on the cusp of Aries and Taurus, and Lloyd Williams is a Taurus too And it's good news for those born a Taurus because there are a whopping nine stand-out business men and women on the list with the same horoscope. Fitness entrepreneur Kayla Itsines, who was born a Taurus and Gemini cusp, and her fiance Tobi Pearce are equal fifth and sixth on the Young Rich list with a combined wealth of $486 million. They are the wealthiest self-made 20-somethings in Australia after enjoying enormous success with their fitness app Sweat off the back of Kayla's Bikini Body Guide. What are the star signs? Aquarius (Jan 20-Feb 18): 6 Pisces (Feb 18 - Mar 20): 3 Aries (Mar 20 - Apr 20): 4 Taurus (Apr 20 - May 21): 9 Gemini (May 21 - Jun 21): 3 Cancer (Jun 21 - Jul 23): 7 Leo (Jul 23 - Aug 23): 4 Virgo (Aug 23 - Sep 23): 3 Libra (Sep 23 - Oct 23): 7 Scorpio (Oct 23 - Nov 22): 3 Sagittarius (Nov 22 - Dec 22): 3 Capricorn (Dec 22 - Jan 20): 3 Advertisement How did they rank in order? 1. Taurus: 9 2. Cancer: 7 3. Libra: 7 4. Aquarius: 6 5. Aries: 4 6. Leo: 4 7. Pisces: 3 8. Gemini: 3 9. Virgo: 3 10. Scorpio: 3 11. Sagittarius: 3 12. Capricorn: 3 Advertisement Model Miranda Kerr, who ranked 52nd and is born on April 20, is on the cusp of Aries and Taurus. Lloyd Williams, born May 7 and worth $787 million, won his sixth Melbourne Cup last year when Rekindling became the first three-year-old to win the race since 1941. Another Taurus star sign, Mr Williams made his fortune from a career in property and the building of Crown Casino, now run by his friend James Packer. The next most favourable zodiac is F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo's sign of Cancer, then Libra, Aquarius, Aries and Leo (Emily Skye's sign of Capricorn came last) Taurus are known for being reliable, practical, ambitious and sensual. The people born under this sign have an eye for beauty. Interestingly, they tend to be good with finances, and hence, make efficient financial managers. The next most favourable zodiac is F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo's sign of Cancer (his is numbered 71 on the Young Rich list), then Libra, Aquarius, Aries and Leo. All remaining star signs tied with three people each, including fitness entrepreneur Emily Skye's Capricorn sign (she was numbered 67 on the same list). In a separate study, AdView looked at the birth dates of the most recent Forbes 400 rich list and used the data to establish the wealthiest star sign. For them it was the fiery Leo who came out on top, with Taurus in second place. As we destroy Earths forests, reefs, wetlands and other ecosystems, we light a fire to our storm barriers, our air filters, our water towers and our medicine cabinets, all at the same time. Those are the words of Conservation International (CI) Global Strategies senior vice president, Dr. Will Turner. Have you ever wondered what our planet would look like if we had no trees? Or what the impacts of losing our forests would have on humans and animals? Theres no denying the economic importance of trees and the reason why many humans look at trees and see dollar signs. Clearing of land for construction, timber, paper, firewood, logs and so on; these are a few reasons we cut trees, but at what cost? According to Samoa Conservation Society (S.C.S.) Technical Officer, Christine Tuioti, whose past and current work involves much terrestrial/forest conservation, she explains that trees in general holds much more value than just its economical worth, but these values are often overlooked. First and foremost, trees provide us with oxygen, thats the most crucial importance there is, she says. Trees also provide habitats for all our wildlife, they help minimize soil erosion and retain soil in our watersheds; they also provide food, firewood, shelter, shade and so on. Trees really are for life across the spectrum. They primarily help keep humans alive. Ms. Tuioti also added that Trees act as carbon sinks, meaning they absorb much of the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere (both natural and human induced carbons). And because of the already existing excess carbon in the atmosphere, which is directly linked to climate change, the carbon sink service that trees provide us freely is extremely important now more than ever. But with all these intrinsic values, is it so wrong to cut down trees for commercial use? Realistically, if we stop cutting down trees, our economy will suffer on the other hand, if we cut down too many trees, our environment will suffer there needs to be a balance. Although sadly, dollar signs are much louder than the voice of nature and so according to satellite data, this has led to humans destroying about eight million hectares of rainforests per year. Bringing us back to a more local setting, Samoa faces many issues due to poor management of our forests. Ms. Tuioti explains that one major impact thats causing Samoa much trouble, due to forest degradation, is soil erosion. Thats because if you see the state of our forests now, our forest cover is declining. There are fewer trees and Upolus watersheds are heavily degraded, she says. We have seen during the past two or three cyclones, flooding is always a major issue and this is because we dont have enough trees in our watersheds to hold the water, it just flows down freely causing floods. Thats why we have a flooded capital, and thats why our hotels and our homes are underwater. Another growing issue, which was mentioned above, is impacts of climate change. Although Samoa and other Pacific islands arent responsible for even a fraction of the worlds carbon emissions, we are at the forefront of its wrath. So what can Samoa do to help address such issues? The Samoa government, through the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) Forestry Division, is on the right track with their current project called the Two Million Trees Campaign. This campaign sets out to plant two million native and fruit trees from 2015 to 2020 as a way to restore our forests and contribute to the worlds efforts to mitigate climate change. Ms. Tuioti added that this initiative has sparked much interest within Samoa leading to many joining in to contribute to the two million trees quota. We need to shift people mindsets and teach them that theres always something you can do to help our forests or help mitigate our emissions, she said. Its also great to see many tree planting initiatives from other groups such as Envirobassadors, ProGreen Samoa, Government Ministries, BSP and others who just put their hands up and become the change that world needs. It really is great to see that everyone is taking responsibility to help save our trees, save our rainforests, and save our environment. S.C.S. also initiated a Carbon Offset project where people are given the option to offset their share of carbon emissions by either paying a fee to employ others to plant trees or they can just plant their own (more details of this project can be found in an article published in yesterdays edition of the Samoa Observer titled Samoas visitors can offset carbon footprint). The two projects mentioned above is effective as it raises awareness in three different ways; one, it highlights the seriousness of climate change; two, it shows how trees can help mitigate this issue; and three, it tells people that you can always do something to help, even if its just planting your own trees in your backyard. S.C.S will also be running their Samoa Climate Smart Rainforest Restoration Project throughout this week where 30 youths from the villages of Saleilua, Saaga and Poutasi, will undergo training to help manage their natural assets as Carbon Offset Champions. The trainings, which will be held at the Togitogiga O Le Pupu-Pue National Park and funded by U.N.D.P. small grants program, will include waste management, environmental legislation, marine and terrestrial conservation, climate change impacts, bird and tour guiding, and green livelihood options. Aside from tree planting, the 30 participants will also work in the nurseries, work to clear invasive vines, and maintain the areas of the national park which have already been restored. Ms. Tuioti also led the Tree Guardians Module during CI Samoas Guardians Tausi Lou Faasinomaga campaign (campaign details can be found on Conservation International Pacific Islands Facebook page) where the children of targeted communities were taught about the importance of trees, the differences between the slow growing and more resilient native trees to the less resilient, fast growing invasive trees, as well as tours to mangrove sites to identify the importance of our wetlands and the issues they face. So lets continue to do our part, plant a tree today Samoa! The days are getting brighter which means it's the perfect time to lavish a little extra love on your home. And while there's nothing more satisfying than a sparkling clean and well-organised space, the list of chores can seem endless. If you're like most and have little time, those with a knack for cleaning have revealed a few of their best spring cleaning hacks, including the little known-trick of using a can of Coke to clean the cistern. While there's nothing more pleasing than a house that's sparkling clean and well-organised, this can take a lot of time, and plenty of hard work (stock image) 1. Make good use of the dishwasher Loading up the dishwasher is one of the easiest ways to clean a few extra items without the need for more elbow grease. According to Popsugar, the dishwasher can be used to clean a raft of other household goods including refrigerator shelves, light switch plates and even the shower-head, if it is a removable type. The publication also lists hair brushes, pet toys and sponges. Children's toys can also benefit from being run through a wash cycle. Loading up the dishwasher is one of the easiest ways to clean a few extra items without the need for more elbow grease (stock image) 2. Use a lint roller for dusting Dusting can be one of those tasks that leaves as much mess as it takes away. So, to make the job easier, especially when dealing with tricky surfaces such as lamp shades or fabric surfaces, use a lint roller. Lint rollers are also great for cleaning inside drawers, and in particular kitchen drawers, which are a magnet for dust and crumbs. If the roller itself is proving to tricky to use, simply peel off a sheet of paper and press into hard-to-reach corners. 3. Quickly deodorise a mattress with bi-carb soda There's nothing better than taking your mattress out into the sun to air after months of cold and wet weather. And while fresh air is optimal, there's another way to do this, and there's no heavy lifting involved. Simply sprinkle baking soda all over your mattress and leave for an hour (leave for longer if you have more time). Then vacuum up the excess bi-carb soda to reveal a freshly deodorised mattress. 4. Iron out carpet stains Removing stains from carpet can be a time consuming, not to mention expensive, exercise. One trick is to use a cloth or flannel soaked in water which has then been placed over the top of a stain before running an iron over this section of carpet. It understood the hack works by allowing heat and steam from the cloth and iron to release trapped dirt from the fibres of carpets. A test patch is recommended first. 5. Freshen up the microwave with vinegar Constantly reheating food can leave the microwave in desperate need of freshening up. A simple and effective way to 'steam' your microwave is to place cut lemons, cider vinegar and water in a microwaveable bowl before placing the bowl on full power in your microwave for several minutes. Leave the bowl to steam inside your microwave for up to ten minutes to remove any odours before wiping away stains. 6. Furniture polish for stainless steel surfaces If you have stainless steel appliances, and like these to look extra shiny, there's an easy way to do this, and it doesn't take hours. According to some cleaning experts, furniture polish does the trick, and in no time at all. Those who've tried the hack recommend using Pledge and a microfibre cloth for best results. A large bottle of Coca Cola poured down the toilet will leave your cistern shiny and clean 7. Using a can of cola to dissolve rust rings in the toilet It may sound like an urban myth but according to The Spruce, pouring a can of Coca Cola down the toilet will remove stubborn rust stains. The hack works by pouring a full bottle around the rim so that it fully coats the bowl, then let it sit for at least an hour to allow the acids in the soda to break down the stains. Scrub with a toilet brush, then flush. Relationship guru Esther Perel asked her Twitter followers to define a healthy sex life and got some very diverse opinions. The psychotherapist, who was born in Antwerp in Belgium but currently lives in New York, has written a number of bestselling books on the topic including Mating In Captivity: Unlocking Erotic Intelligence. While some viewed openness and a willingness to talk about your desires as the key to a healthy sex life, others felt that it's important to not even have to ask the question. Some of Esther's followers felt playfulness and creativity with the key, with one even joking 'if it grosses out people around you, it's probably good'. One individual even admitted they had no idea, saying 'it's messy anyhow'. Relationship guru Esther Perel, who lives in New York, asked her Twitter followers how they would define a healthy sex life Many felt that a willingness to talk about your desires and being open to novelty and playfulness were key Alison Berreman tweeted: 'That's dependent on so many factors. I think it's only fair to speak on an individual level, and even from there, it varies across time. 'Exploration and expression and feeling good are key components though, probably across the board. Whether that be with ones self or others.' Ceci Fenderson said: 'One where both the parties know what they like (in themselves) as to not put all the pressure on the other person to guess what makes one feel good. 'Women need to educate their man as to what to do, & enjoy their sex life. Ladies! they already see u naked, why be shy with words?' Niels Konijn agreed, adding: 'Being open and honest about your desires and curious in the ones of your partner.' The psychotherapist has written a number of bestselling books on the topic including Mating in Captivity: Unlocking Erotic Intelligence Ceci Fenderson emphasised the importance of women telling men exactly what they want Some felt a healthy sex life meant making your partner happy - but others said it's where neither partner needs to ask the question Julianna Nagy wrote: 'Openness to novelty and playfulness from both people, feeling of acceptance from your partner rather than judged, absence or limited squeamishness around sex, eroticism that goes beyond the bedroom.' Not everyone was open to Esther's question, with many saying the answer is a private matter. Thea Stuger commented: 'Whatever makes 2 ppl happy.' L. M. Pothier added: 'Not having to ask.' Others jokes that they had no idea, and that 'if it grosses out people around you, it's probably good' Another individual tweeted: 'When it is for me o.k., then I have a healthy sexy life.' Others disagreed and felt talking about sex with everyone - not just your partner - was important for a healthy sex life. Juway Bhalla said: 'Making sex a priority in one's life, allowing it to be an open dialogue at the lunch tables, with friends, your partner, anyone that is open to have this dialogue.' Some Twitter users decided to make light of the topic which many find difficult to discuss. Peter joked: 'With lots of veggies and fresh fruit?' Ben Stock added: 'It would start with an anonymous Twitter account from which I could reply to your tweet.' Meghan has warned about the impact of 'filtered' Instagram posts on young people - saying 'your self-worth becomes really skewed when it's all based on likes'. The Duchess of Sussex, 37, discussed the negative effects of social media while speaking to staff and volunteers from Live for Tomorrow, an online youth programme, at the Maranui Cafe in Wellington, New Zealand, today. She explained that it's hard to tell how much photographs are edited, commenting 'you don't know whether she's born with it or maybe it's a filter.' It comes after Meghan revealed earlier on in the royal tour that she found it 'freeing' to not be on social media anymore. Meghan (pictured arriving at the Maranui Cafe) warned about the impact of 'filtered' Instagram posts on young people while speaking to staff and volunteers from Live for Tomorrow, an online youth programme, at the Maranui Cafe in Wellington, New Zealand, today The Duchess of Sussex, 37 (pictured above in a past Instagram snap) explained that it's hard to tell how much photographs are edited, commenting 'you don't know whether she's born with it or maybe it's a filter' Speaking in Wellington today, the Duchess said: 'Young people find it so difficult. You see photos on social media and you don't know whether she's born with it or maybe it's a filter. 'Your judgment of your sense of self-worth becomes really skewed when it's all based on likes.' She and Prince Harry spent 45 minutes discussing mental well-being during their visit today, learning about initiatives and programmes supporting mental health in New Zealand. The Duke also spoke about the effects social media, suggesting that parents needed educating as much as children. Harry, 34, also spoke about the effects of social media today, suggesting that parents need educating as much as children Meghan and Harry spent 45 minutes discussing mental well-being during their visit today (above), learning about initiatives and programmes supporting mental health in New Zealand 'Issues stemming from social media and gaming are a major problem for young people in the UK and globally,' he said. 'Fingers are often pointed at the parents but that's not always fair as they too need to be educated about these things.' The couple's comments today come after Meghan revealed that she found it 'freeing' to not be on social media anymore. During her and Harry's visit to Bondi Beach last week, the Duchess was said to be incredibly open about her experiences online. Recalling a discussion she had with Megha, Jessina Oakes, 26,said: 'She said a really beautiful quote. She said "flattery and criticism run through the same filter". Their comments come after Meghan revealed she found it 'freeing' to no long be on social media, during a visit to Bondi Beach earlier this month 'She said it was very freeing that she no longer has social media.' The former actress was previously an avid user of social media, documenting many aspects of her love life, travelling and charity work, and even had her own lifestyle and wellbeing blog called the Tig. However activity on the accounts of Meghan, who had 1.9 million followers on Instagram, slowly died down in 2017 amid rumours that she was dating Prince Harry. In fact, shortly after news of their romance broke, she shared a picture of two bananas hugging with the caption 'Sleep tight xx' - interpreted by many as a symbol of the couple's long distance relationship. The duchess finally closed the blog and her Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts in January ahead of her wedding to Prince Harry to bring her in line with the rest of the royals, whose accounts are run by the social media teams of their household. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have shown off their photography skills - with two of their pictures shared on the social media pages. A stunning shot taken by Harry as he and Meghan travelled by helicopter to Abel Tasman National Park, New Zealand, was posted onto Kensington Palace's official Instagram page today. Meanwhile, a striking shot of Harry, 34, practising his speech for the Invictus Games closing ceremony in Sydney - taken by wife Meghan, 37 - was also shared onto the couple's official Twitter account on Saturday. These are the first photographs taken personally by the couple to be shared with the public, since Meghan deleted her Instagram account shortly after their engagement announcement. A photograph taken by Prince Harry while on board a helicopter in New Zealand was shared on the Kensington Palace Instagram page today (above) It comes after images taken by Duchess of Cambridge, who is a keen photographer, often shares pictures she has taken of her young children with the public. A picture taken by Harry showing a lake and the hills around it, was shared on Instagram Stories today, captioned: 'Traveling to the beautiful Abel Tasman National Park #royalvisitNZ' A photography credit revealed the image was taken by the royal himself while on board a helicopter with Meghan to the national park. However, royal watchers noticed that the US spelling, 'traveling' was used in the caption, rather than 'travelling' which is more commonly used in the UK - perhaps due the influence of Harry's American wife. A black-and-white shot of Prince Harry practising his Invictus Games speech, taken by Meghan, was shared on the Kensington Palace Twitter page on Saturday The photograph credit revealed that the Duchess of Sussex had personally taken the picture Meanwhile, a black-and-white shot showing Harry practising his speech for the Invictus Games closing ceremony at the Qudos Bank Arena, taken by Meghan, was shared on the Kensington Palace Twitter account on Saturday. The caption read: 'Getting ready for tonights @InvictusSydney closing ceremony, where we will celebrate the #InvictusGames competitors, and their friends and families. 'The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will both speak at the ceremony this evening. #IG2018' The photography credit revealed that the picture was taken by Meghan herself, rather than a royal aide. Harry, 34, and Meghan, 37 are currently in New Zealand for the final stage of their royal tour. They are pictured here at Abel Tasman National Park The Duchess is used to social media, having been a regular Instagram user before joining the royal family. However, last week, Meghan revealed that she has found it 'freeing' to no longer be online. Earlier today, she warned about the negative impact that social media could have on young people. Speaking to staff and volunteers for an online youth programme at the Maranui Cafe, she said: 'You see photos on social media and you dont know whether shes born with it or maybe its a filter. 'Young people find it so difficult. Your judgement of your sense of self worth becomes really skewed when its all based on likes.' A photograph has gone viral on Twitter as netizens struggle to work out what they are seeing. The image, shared by Twitter user Robert Maguire, appears to show the side profile of a crow on a tiled floor. However, as Robert points out this isn't the case. Captioning the image he wrote: 'This picture of a crow is interesting because...it's actually a cat.' And taking a closer look at the image it is clear that it is a black cat looking up at the camera with its ear replicating the bird's beak. The image has since amassed more than 100,000 likes as fellow Twitter users to struggle to work out what they are looking at. This photograph has gone viral on Twitter as users struggle to work out whether they are looking at a crow or a cat The snap was shared by Robert Maguire who revealed that it is indeed a cat in the photo Commenting on the photo one equally confused follower wrote: 'I had to do a double take'. Agreeing another added: 'My mind is officially blown.' One shared a screen grab of their reverse Google image search which identified the snap as an image of an 'American crow'. Several pointed out the image's resemblance to Wittgenstein's duck and rabbit optical illusion. The ambiguous image, created by philosopher, can either be interpreted as a duck or a rabbit dependent on how the viewer looks at it. According to a recent study, what we see in the image is reflective of our mindset. The snap received over 100,000 likes and hundreds of comments from users equally baffled by the picture One shared a screen grab of their reverse Google image search which identified the snap as an image of an 'American crow' If you see only a duck or a rabbit, but cannot see a combination of both animals, you might actually be more gullible than you realise. Assistant professor Kyle Mathewson from the University of Alberta discovered those taking part in his study struggled to see a rabbit in the duck's mouth without a pointer. The academic claims this is evidence of how the brain struggles to interpret information if it's presented without context, according to his paper published in the journal Perception. He goes on to say that if you struggle to see both animals in the image you are more likely to fall for fake news, because you are more likely to believe what you see without considering the greater context. Many pointed out the similarities between the image and the duck and rabbit illusion by Wittgenstein Her character Villanelle funds her love for designer clothes by charging to assassinate her targets in the BBC's latest nail-biting thriller series. And it appears fans of hit drama Killing Eve share her sartorial taste, as reincarnations of the Russian femme fatale's character swept Instagram over the pre-Halloween weekend. Doing their best impression of the female serial killer, played by Liverpudlian actress Jodie Comer, 25, revelers took to Instagram to share their Halloween costumes inspired by the show. Taking inspiration from one of her most famous outfits, fans flocked to Instagram sharing snaps in copycat versions of her bubblegum-pink tutu-style Molly Goddard dress and Balenciaga boots. Scroll down for video Fans of hit drama Killing Eve share character Villanelle's sartorial taste, as reincarnations of the Russian femme fatale's character swept Instagram over the pre-Halloween weekend Recreating the scene which saw Villanelle gazing pensively into the distance while sat on the sofa in the ensemble, one person wrote: 'Happy Halloween.' Another joked 'You should never tell a psychopath they're a psychopath. It upsets them', posing in the dress and boots.' Quoting one of her famous lines, one wrote: 'I had quite a heavy period last week, but other than that, I think I'm okay'. Another posed by the London underground tube in an eerie post, simply hashtagging the picture with the name 'Killing Eve'. Taking inspiration from one of her most famous outfits, fans flocked to Instagram sharing snaps in copycat versions of her bubblegum-pink tutu-style Molly Goddard dress and Balenciaga boots. Fan Katie Meara showed off her take on the costume as she posed on a British street. Recreating the scene which saw Villanelle gazing pensively into the distance while sat on the sofa in the ensemble, Poppy Mae Harrison wrote: 'Happy Halloween' alongside her own snap A user by the name of Jess Faithposed in her bedroom wearing the get-up in a post which was liked by the actress Jodie Comer, and another joked 'You should never tell a psychopath they're a psychopath. It upsets them' Killing Eve is an eight-part series about a bored, deskbound MI5 operative, Eve Polastri (Sandra Oh) and glamorous Russian assassin Villanelle. Eve is assigned by her boss Carolyn (Fiona Shaw) to track the psychotic Villanelle and becomes obsessed with her target. But when Villanelle realises she's being watched she becomes equally fixated with Eve. The two begin a deadly cat-and-mouse game falling in 'espionage love' as writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge puts it that takes them all over Europe. Much of the drama was shot around north London, but the cast also travelled to Paris, Bucharest and Tuscany for scenes. Meanwhile Grace Ally Carter posed by the London underground tube in an eerie post, simply hashtagging the picture with the name 'Killing Eve' Quoting one of her famous lines, Gabrielle Alana Taylor posed in her corridor wearing the outfit, while one wrote: 'I had quite a heavy period last week, but other than that, I think I'm okay' Fan Amelia Trevette dressed in a convincing version of the outfit while toting a fake gun as she proved her love for the show American Vogue called Killing Eve 'the most fashionable show on TV', with outfits particularly those worn by Villanelle better suited to a high-end catwalk than blood-spattered murder scenes. Villanelle is based in Paris, and charges high fees for ruthlessly slaughtering people, to fund her love of clothes. She wears a bubblegum-pink tutu-style dress with Balenciaga boots to meet her employer in Paris, dons a brocade Dries Van Noten suit to carry out a hit in a Berlin club and stabs a man in the eye in Tuscany using a vintage hairpin but not before checking with him who designed his silk throw. Viewer Em Smith shared the same pose as her idol, even getting a pal to pose as agent Eve in the background Fan Daisy Wakefiled garnered hundreds of likes and comments as she posed in the pink tutu creation Meanwhile follower Julie Birke perfectly pulled off the actress' icy glare as she posed before her night out Bafta-winning Brit Phoebe de Gaye, who was also behind Jodie's costumes on The White Princess, is responsible for her wardrobe and bought much of the clothes in the summer sale. Speaking to Vogue about the inspiration behind the famous pink ensemble, she said: 'What it said in the script is she's wearing a big poufy dress. I think Phoebe Waller-Bridge [the show's creator], had, perhaps, something more classic in mind. 'I thought Molly Goddard's stuff was just perfect for it because it has that subversive streak. In that scene, her minder takes her to the psychoanalyst to see if she's losing her edge. It's like she's sticking two fingers up and saying, 'Okay, I'm going to dress like a little girl and act like a mad little girl.' 'I thought that would be great to use with the color and the mixture of the extremely feminine, almost to the slightly perverse point, with those boots, which are a good mix.' The BBC America series, made by a UK production company, with a mainly British cast and has been filmed in London and Europe already debuted in America five months ago. Sandra Oh has been nominated for best actress at this year's Emmys and a second series is filming now. Fan Gwneria recreated a the pose in a dimly lit room, making for an aptly eerie Halloween snap for the occasion Crown Prince Haakon of Norway has revealed his wife Crown Princess Mette-Marit has known about her rare lung disease 'for quite some time'. The royal, 45, said he was grateful for all the support the family has received since his wife's diagnosis was revealed last week. The Norwegian royal court revealed last week that Mette-Marit, also 45, is suffering from the life-limiting condition chronic pulmonary fibrosis. The mother-of-three is thought to be in the early stages of the disease in which scar tissue forms in the lungs. The condition can cause serious breathing problems and there is no known cure. Crown Prince Haakon of Norway has revealed his wife Crown Princess Mette-Marit (pictured together in February this year) has known about her rare lung disease 'for quite some time' According to Royal Central, Haakon said at an engagement last week: 'I find that there is a lot of support out there. It is very nice and good to take with us on the way forward. 'We have known about this for quite some time, so this is a situation that continues, as we have lived with it for some years already, but now we finally know a little more about the cause.' Explaining the reasoning behind the announcement, he added: 'I think it was right to tell about this at the current time, as the Crown Princess' programme needs to be adjusted here and there once in a while, but I think we can manage.' It was revealed Mette-Marit has been diagnosed with the rare lung disease last week, after she shared earlier this year that she was suffering from debilitating vertigo. Mette-Marit of Norway, 45, has been diagnosed with the lung-scarring disease chronic pulmonary fibrosis. Pictured with husband Crown Prince Haakon at Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark's 50th birthday in May In a statement, the royal said that while the disease may 'limit' her life she plans to continue working as much as possible. Pictured: Mette-Marit in Toronto in 2016 A statement from the Royal Court said: 'The Crown Princess has undergone extensive investigations related to her health and an unusual variant of fibrosis has been detected in the lungs, according to the Crown Princess's doctor, Professor Kristian Bjro at the National Hospital. 'It is not yet clear whether the pulmonary disease is linked to a more extensive autoimmune disease process or if there are other causes that underlie the lung changes.' The Norwegian princess said in late Wednesday's statement from the royal palace that she would get further treatment and tests but gave no further details. The 45-year-old has two children with Haakon, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 14, and 12-year-old Prince Sverre Magnus (seen together on National Day in May) and a third son, Marius Borg Hiby from a previous relationship The mother-of-three (pictured with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in February) revealed earlier this year that she is suffering from debilitating vertigo Mette-Marit released her own statement following the diagnosis where she spoke of her determination to carry on as normal. WHAT IS IDIOPATHIC PULMONARY FIBROSIS? Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a condition in which the lungs become scarred and breathing becomes increasingly difficult. It's not clear what causes it, but it usually affects people around 70-75 years of age and is rare in people under 50. Several treatments can help reduce the rate at which IPF gets worse, but there's currently no treatment that can stop or reverse the scarring of the lungs. The symptoms of IPF tend to develop gradually and get slowly worse over time. Symptoms can include: shortness of breath a persistent dry cough tiredness loss of appetite and weight loss rounded and swollen fingertips (clubbed fingers) There is no cure and it's very difficult to predict how long someone with IPF will survive at the time of diagnosis. Regular monitoring over time can indicate whether it's getting worse quickly or slowly. Source: NHS Advertisement She said: 'Although such a diagnosis in times will limit my life, I'm glad that the disease has been discovered so early. 'My goal is still to work and participate in the official programme as much as possible.' According to the NHS it is 'very difficult' to predict how long someone with the condition will survive. Regular monitoring over time can indicate whether it's getting worse quickly or slowly. Before treatments like pirfenidone and nintedanib about half of people with IPF lived at least three years from their diagnosis. Around 1 in 5 survived for more than five years. Mette-Marit is a particularly rare case as the disease normally occurs in people of the age 70-75 and is very rare for anyone under 50 to suffer from it. In January the Crown Princess, who is married to Crown Prince Haakon, confirmed that she was actually suffering from vertigo, or 'crystal sickness' as she has called it. Norway's royal palace said Crown Princess Mette-Marit was suffering from Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), which can cause a loss of balance, dizziness and nausea. She explained to Norwegian radio station P3 how the illness manifested, saying: 'I turned my head quickly, and it was like the whole world began to move. 'I began to sweat and felt nauseous I thought I'd started early menopause.' Crown Prince Mette-Marit said the condition began after a rigorous week of working out with girlfriends, saying: 'I'd been incredibly good at training this fall. We used a program that changed from week to week.' While the condition is temporary, it can come back at any time. The Crown Princess, a former waitress, met her future husband at a music festival in the 1990s when she was a single mother and married into the royal family in 2001. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are known for their laid back demeanor on royal outings. But Meghan, 37, took the relaxed approach 'a step too far' when she stood with her hand in her pocket on an engagement in Wellington on Monday, according to an etiquette expert. Speaking to FEMAIL, William Hanson explained the pose is 'too relaxed and too unprofessional' for a royal appearance, no matter how informal Harry and Meghan would like to be. The Duchess of Sussex, 37, took her relaxed approach to royal duties 'a step too far' when she stood with her hand in her pocket on an outing with Prince Harry to Courtenay Creative in Wellington on Monday, pictured, according to etiquette expert William Hanson Standing with a hand in her 520 (AU$939/US$666) white tuxedo dress by New Zealand designer Maggie Marilyn crossed the line from 'good casual' to 'bad casual', Mr Hanson said But he reassured that it is the sort of 'small blip' that can be easily corrected in time for the duchess' next outing. He said: 'We know that Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are pioneering a new, relaxed, tactile branch of monarchy but having hands in the pocket is a step too far. 'There is good casual and there is bad casual. Placing a hands in the pocket is too relaxed and unprofessional, however dressed down Prince Harry and his wife may have been. 'Will the world end? No. It is just a small blip in Meghans usually delightful manners that can be easily corrected for future engagements.' Pregnant Meghan, who is expecting her first child with Harry next spring, adopted the relaxed pose as she joined Harry on a visit to Courtenay Creative, which runs programmes for young people looking to get into film. The duchess, who is expecting her first child in spring next year, stood with her hands in her pocket as she met budding actors dressed to the nines in film make-up and costume, pictured Etiquette expert Mr Hanson explained the minor etiquette faux pas of standing with her hand in her pocket, pictured, could be easily corrected for future engagements She was making the most of the fashion-forward pockets sewn into her sleek 520 (AU$939/US$666) white tuxedo dress by New Zealand designer Maggie Marilyn. The duchess paired the sharp piece of tailoring with some of her go-to shoes from the tour: her 556 ($928 AUD) Manolo Blahnik BB navy stilettos. The couple were greeted by two Lord Of The Rings Urak-hai orc soldiers as they entered a room filled with musicians, actors, prosthetic experts and models. The loved-up couple are known for their public displays of affection and have been inseparable as they whip through a packed programme of outings in Australia, Tonga, Fiji and New Zealand over the last two weeks. The loved-up couple are known for their public displays of affection and have been inseparable as they whip through a packed programme of outings in Australia, Tonga, Fiji and New Zealand over the last two weeks. Pictured, at Courtenay Creative in Wellington on Monday Speaking previously to FEMAIL, author and body language analyst Judi James explained the meanings behind the Sussexes' constantly clasped hands. 'It helps them move well together and to read one another's thoughts and emotions,' Judi explained, especially at times when they cannot speak openly. This level of communication is particularly important for Harry and Meghan given the relative newness of their relationship, Judi added. 'Unlike other royal couples, like William and Kate, Harry and Meghan don't share decades of "growing up" together, or even living together, meaning their rapport and empathy needs to be worked at.' The Duchess of Sussex has been applauded for her grace and style throughout her time on the Pacific tour but it seems even royalty occasionally slips up. Royal watchers have criticised Meghan's curtsy after a video has circulated on Twitter during her meeting with Tonga's King Tupou VI and his wife Queen Nanasipau'u last week. She and Prince Harry met the king and queen for the opening of the Commonwealth Canopy Tupou College and as is custom for a duke and duchess, greeted them with a bow and a curtsy. Greeting the king first and then the queen Meghan, 37, shook their hands before giving a short curtsy to both. However, Twitter users were less than impressed with the 'short' curtsies the Duchess performed. Sharing the video royal fan account, the Duchess of Pemberley wrote: 'Those were the two worst curtsies I think Ive ever seen! 'I wonder if maybe she wasnt sure if she should curtsy? Either way, you gotta commit.' Twitter users have criticised the Duchess of Sussex's cursty technique during her meeting with King Tupou VI and his wife Queen Nanasipau'u Meghan and Harry met with the royal couple in Tonga last week for the opening of the Commonwealth Canopy Tupou College Taking to Twitter royal watchers described the moment as 'awkward' and said she should take a lessons from Princess Eugenie In agreement another tweeted: 'Shortest curtsey in royal history (twice!)' Others said that the mother-to-be should look to Prince Harry's cousin for lessons in the gesture. One wrote: 'Princess Eugenie had the best curtsy following her wedding. Total respect for the Queen.' But others admitted that they 'felt sorry for' Meghan and said she appeared 'unsure.' Others admitted that they felt sorry for Meghan, and said she appeared unsure whether to curtsy One wrote: 'Are you sure she didnt know if to curtsey? She looks unsure' while another added: 'I kind of feel sorry for her, looks like she wasn't sure and didn't have time ask PH.' This is not the first time that the Duchess of Sussex has been hesitant when it comes to her curtsy. During the Trooping the Colour flypast on Buckingham Palace balcony in June close-up footage appeared to show Meghan discreetly asking Prince Harry, 33, whether it's time to curtsy as Queen Elizabeth arrives. Meghan has previously been hesitant while curtsying asking Harry for guidance on when it was time to perform the gesture at Trooping the Colour in June In the video, Meghan, still smiling and looking ahead, appears to mouth 'Do it?' in direction of her husband, who seems to reply 'Yes' before promptly bowing his head. Protocol dictates that royals must curtsy in front of the queen when they see her for the first time of the day. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are on their final leg of their 16-day royal tour, ending it in New Zealand following the Invictus Games in Sydney. They are set to spend four days in New Zealand in total, before flying back to London on Wednesday. A size 20 teen and her divorcee mum have become the first mother-daughter duo to enter the same plus size beauty pageant. Hollie Jackson, 19, and her mum Debbie, 48, from Fareham in Hampshire, took part in this year's Miss British Beauty Curve, which only accepts women above a dress size 14. The teenager, who appears in tonight's episode of BBC One's Inside Out: South, explained that she was badly bullied because of her weight as a teenager and was even driven to self-harm at her lowest ebb, but now takes part in plus size pageants to 'fly the flag' for bigger women. Hollie encouraged her mother, who is also a size 20, to take part in the pageant too in an effort to boost her confidence after she went through a divorce, and says she hoped her mother would realise that she didn't need to be in a relationship to be happy and enjoy life. Hollie Jackson, 19, (right) and her mum Debbie, 48, (left) from Fareham, Hampshire, entered Miss British Beauty Curve 2018, which only accepts women who are size 14 and above Hollie and Debbie were entered into the Miss category (ages 18-29) and Ms category (30+), respectively, and were the youngest and oldest in the competition. In 2017 Hollie competed as Miss Hampshire Curve and returned this year to further her body positive message - this time bringing her mum along for the journey. She said: 'I struggled really badly in school with my weight and I was always told I'd never amount to anything. 'I want to fly the flag for those type of girls, they can go out there and say ''This is who I am". Especially for younger girls because there's so much pressure for us to look good and be a certain weight. Hollie (pictured on stage during the evening wear round) entered the competition to boost her self-confidence after being bullied for her weight as a child She even resorted to self-harm when the bullying was at its worst but now says she is 'flying the flag' for plus size women in pageants. Pictured: Hollie during the 'glitz and glam' round Debbie was entered into the pageant by her daughter, who believed she needed a confidence boost following her divorce. Pictured: Debbie during the evening wear round Debbie praised her daughter's 'resilience' at overcoming her bad experiences on the show, and called her 'incredible' for going on to compete in pageants. She explained: 'For all the troubles she had as a child, being bullied and self-harming, she's actually come out of it such a strong person. To be only 19 and that resilient is quite incredible. 'It's one of those defining moments as a mother, you suddenly realise you did a good job.' Miss British Beauty Curve started in 2012 with just nine contestants but had 48 women taking part this year. Pictured: Hollie during the pageant Hollie and Debbie didn't win in their categories but came in the top 10 and have both vowed to enter again next year. Pictured: Debbie (fifth from left) on stage with the other women in the Ms category Hollie even won a special award called Miss Publicity (pictured) for publicising the pageant with the BBC documentary Hollie decided to enter her mum into the competition to give her a confidence boost after her divorce. She continued: 'She's been through a divorce, she was new on the dating sites. She needed that confidence boost, she doesn't need a man to make herself feel good because she makes herself feel good.' Miss British Beauty Curve started in 2012 with just nine contestants but had 48 women taking part this year. It has swimwear, glitz and glam and evening wear rounds and there is one winner in the Miss, Ms and Mrs (18+ and married) categories. The mother and daughter duo didn't win the competition but both came in the top 10 for their categories, with Hollie winning a special award for Miss Publicity because she publicised the show in the BBC documentary. Inside Out South airs tonight at 7:30pm on BBC One and can be seen afterwards on BBC iPlayer Le Collectif Cheikh Yassine a organise un certain nombre dactivites et de festivites pour les enfants de Gaza sous le theme La joie des enfants de Gaza pour lAid . Ces activites ont commence le premier jour de lAid et continue jusquau 4eme jour de lAid dans la bande de Gaza. Plusieurs activites, ont ete organisees parmi lesquelles : des competitions recompensees par des prix, des jeux, des animations et des chants presentes par un groupe ainsi que des distributions de cadeaux et daides financieres. Meghan Markle's father and half-sister have found dubious ways to cash in on their relationship with the Duchess of Sussex but Ms. Markle's best friend has found a much less controversial way to make the most of being royally-adjacent. The 38-year-old stylist has just been named Good Morning America's newest fashion contributor. The morning show announced this morning that Jessica, who attended the royal wedding and has styled Meghan for years, will come on the show periodically to 'bring viewers the latest fashion trends and styles'. Scroll down for video Fashion girl: The Duchess of Sussex's best friend Jessica Mulroney, 38, has been announced a new fashion contributor for GMA Welcome! The stylist made her debut this morning and was introduced by Robin Roberts She started the new gig this morning with her debut segment on the show, gushing, 'I'm so happy to be here!' Skills: Besties: She and Meghan have been best friends for years and she also serves as an unofficial stylist for the Duchess of Sussex Jessica was introduced by Robin Roberts, and came on to show how to create a six-piece capsule wardrobe. 'We are fed so much information when it comes to fashion. What we're supposed to buy, what's trendy, what we're supposed to get rid of. 'How do we figure out the key pieces we should have in our closet? 'So that's what a capsule collection is. It's finding those six pieces that you can mix and match, you can do day to night, you actually wear. They don't just hang in your closet.' Several models come out, showing how to wear these six pieces different ways. There's a pair of black pants, which are worn first with a red jacket and heels for a workday look, and second with a black turtleneck and duster coat for a more casual outfit. Big moment: In her first segment, she showed off six fashion pieces every woman should have for fall, which can each be worn different ways Jetset: She and her husband Ben recently went to Australia to join Meghan and Harry for part of their royal tour The duster coat is then draped over a floral dress for a date night. She suggests picking patterns that are subdued, so you're more likely to rewear them and then shows that same floral dress worn with a chunky sweater draped on top. The sweater, she shows after, can also be worn with leather leggings for a sexy night out look, while those skintight leggings can be worn with a red blazer like the one the first model wore. Though being besties with Prince Harry's new wife certainly isn't hurting Jessica's career, the mother-of-three also has the professional styling chops to back up her new gig. While she served as an unofficial stylist for Meghan, she also styles Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's wife Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau. She also tagged along for part of Meghan's royal tour with Harry, joining the royal couple in an 'unofficial' capacity - meaning they were believed to have covered their own expenses - during their time in Australia. Most employees dread getting out of bed on a Monday for work. But to give you a sweet start to the week, chocolate giant Cadbury has vowed to give away 10,000 boxes of Roses for free to Australians. The catch? All you have to do is simply upload a picture to your Instagram profile to 'Say Thank You' to a loved one, with the hashtag #saythankyouwithcadburyroses. To give you a sweet start to the week, Cadbury has vowed to give away 10,000 boxes of Roses for free to Australians The catch? All you have to do is simply upload a picture to your Instagram profile to 'Say Thank You' to a loved one, with the hashtag #saythankyouwithcadburyroses How to win a box of Cadbury Roses Upload a post to Instagram to 'Say Thank You' to a loved one Use the hashtag #saythankyouwithcadburyroses Note that you must have a public Instagram profile to enter Advertisement By entering, you will go into the draw to score two boxes of the new range of Cadbury Roses. Up to 1,250 winners will be selected each week over four weeks. The confectionery brand aims to encourage Australians to stop and smell the roses by 'showing a moment of appreciation and gratitude' to friends and family. 'We all have a person who has been there for us,' Mondelez International's senior manager marketing Melanie Yates said. 'This campaign aims to inspire more moments of appreciation among Australians. It is also our way to say thank you to our loyal consumers who have supported Cadbury Roses for the past 70 years.' For social media ideas, judges said they will look at 'originality, applicability, creativity and brand suitability' For social media ideas, judges said they will look at 'originality, applicability, creativity and brand suitability'. 'This is a game of skill. Chance plays no part in determining the winners,' they said. The competition ends at midnight on Sunday, November 25. The giveaway comes after Cadbury announced they were revamping Australia's favourite Roses by adding new flavours and changing the wrapping. For more details, please visit the website. A rampant outbreak of the Zika virus in India has spread to a second state, health officials have revealed. Nearly 150 people have caught the virus in Rajasthan since the start of October, according to local statistics. But now authorities have detected Zika in a woman in Gujarat, which borders the state at the centre of the cases. The patient, whose identity has been withheld, was treated at a state hospital in the capital Ahmedabad. Fumigation: Gujarat has been fumigating public areas in an effort to kill the mosquitos that carry the diseases, which is already spreading rapidly through parts of the world The state health department has rallied hundreds of doctors and medical personnel to perform emergency screenings for Zika. This includes more than 250 pregnant women with fevers. 'Only one case has been found so far. We are taking all precautions,' said Gujarat Commissioner of Health, Jayanti Ravi. Gujarat, which borders Rajasthan to the south, has been fumigating public areas in an effort to kill the mosquitoes that carry the diseases. Health authorities in Rajasthan have detected 147 cases of the Zika virus since September, officials say. Almost 440,000 people were under surveillance in Rajasthan's capital Jaipur last month. Spreading: 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 Gujarat, which borders Rajasthan to the south, has been fumigating public areas in an effort to kill the mosquitoes that carry the diseases 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. Pregnant women in Britain were last week told to not travel to a region of India amid fears they could be struck down with Zika. Public Health England upgraded the risk status of catching the virus in Rajasthan - which borders the Taj Mahal - to high. The Democratic Republic of Congo's Ebola outbreak has claimed 170 lives, health authorities said yesterday. Officials in the African nation warned children are dying at an unprecedented rate because of the killer virus. Jessica Illunga, spokeswoman for the DRC's Health Ministry, blamed treatment at traditional healing clinics for the latest spate of deaths. She said many youngsters are being treated for an unrelated malaria outbreak only to leave the clinics with Ebola and perish within days. In the town of Beni, which has rocked a 'second wave' of cases since the start of the outbreak in August, 120 cases have been confirmed. At least 30 of these cases have struck youngsters under 10, of which 27 have died, according to the latest data from the health ministry. Officials in the African nation warned children are dying at an unprecedented rate because of the killer Ebola virus 'There is an abnormally high number of children who have contracted and died of Ebola in Beni,' Ms Ilunga told Reuters. 'Normally, in every Ebola epidemic, children are not as affected.' This comes after officials put the DRC's Ebola death toll at 164 just last Friday. Nine new cases were confirmed on Saturday; seven of which were in Beni and two in the city of Butembo. This was the biggest one day jump since the outbreak's onset. In total, 267 cases have been recorded in the DRC's latest epidemic. The DRC's outbreak, the 10th in its history, was declared on August 1 in the eastern part of North Kivu, which borders Uganda and Rwanda. Fears of Ebola are heightened because of a devastating pandemic in western Africa in 2014 that killed more than 11,000 people. Health workers in Zambia were being trained to deal with Ebola earlier this month amid fears it will spread from the neighbouring DRC. Staff are learning how to recognise signs of Ebola, how to treat patients and how to stop the infection spreading in case it is transmitted by travellers. An Ebola patient being helped by medical workers in Beni in Democratic Republic of the Congo: 170 people are confirmed to have died since the outbreak started in August HAS THE DRC HAD AN EBOLA OUTBREAK BEFORE? DRC escaped the brutal Ebola pandemic that began in 2014, which was finally declared over in January 2016 - but it was struck by a smaller outbreak last year. Four DRC residents died from the virus in 2017. The outbreak lasted just 42 days and international aid teams were praised for their prompt responses. The new outbreak is the DRCs tenth since the discovery of Ebola in the country in 1976, named after the river. The outbreak earlier this summer was its ninth. Health experts credit an awareness of the disease among the population and local medical staff's experience treating for past successes containing its spread. DRCs vast, remote geography also gives it an advantage, as outbreaks are often localised and relatively easy to isolate. Advertisement Dr Peter Salama, emergency response chief at the World Health Organization (WHO), last month warned the current Ebola outbreak would only get worse. The combination of rebel violence and pre-election unrest is creating a 'perfect storm' for an even worse epidemic, he said. Armed opposition attacks in North Kivu province have risen in recent weeks. Refugee workers were even forced to evacuate Beni, home to around 200,000 people, due to a deadly raid that left more than a dozen locals dead. Fears and misconceptions about the virus are also being exploited by politicians ahead of the DRC's December election, which is causing the public to lose faith in health workers, according to Dr Salama. Last month, Ebola was found to be responsible for the death of a woman in Butembo, which has a population of around 1.4 million. In response, Dr Salama said 'no-one should be sleeping well tonight around the world'. Fears and misconceptions about the virus are also being exploited by politicians ahead of the DRC's December election, which is causing the public to lose faith in health workers (pictured, a man demonstrates using an electronic voting machine in Beni) A doctor is pictured caring for a patient inside an isolated cube at the Alliance for International Medical Action treatment centre in Beni Local reports claim the unnamed woman was the mother of a known Ebola patient, who travelled from the town at the centre of the outbreak. Experimental drugs have been shipped into the area to control the virus, which is considered to be one of the most lethal pathogens in existence. But virologists have repeatedly warned the situation is 'hard to control' due to cases occurring in a conflict zone roamed by armed militias. The WHO has admitted the latest death makes ending the outbreak in the east of the country significantly harder. Butembo's mayor revealed the victim was a woman, who was likely infected as a result of her participating in an unsafe burial. She died in a university clinic. But the DRC's ministry of health claimed it was a man from a nearby town at the centre of the outbreak, who refused to cooperate with health authorities. 'Ebola case from Beni has died in Butembo DRC,' Dr Salama wrote on Twitter. An electoral official educates voters on how to use the new electronic voting machines that will be used for the upcoming election in Beni, which is currently being rocked by Ebola A Congolese health worker administers an experimental Ebola vaccine to a boy who had been in close contact with a confirmed sufferer in Mangina, North Kivu 'Good news is case detected quickly, response already in place and expanding. Bad new(s) is increases risk of further spread.' He told the HuffPost: 'When you have an Ebola case confirmed in a city with one million people, no one should be sleeping well tonight around the world.' Dr Salama added having Ebola in urban centres, such as Butembo, makes ending the ongoing outbreak much harder. Butembo, about 35 miles (55km) away, is around triple the size of Beni and is a major trading route for consumer goods entering the DRC. The virus has since spread to Oicha, an area almost entirely surrounded by militants, which stoked the fears of Dr Tedros Adhanom, chief of the WHO. He previously told Reuters: 'If one case is hidden in the red zone or an inaccessible area, it's dangerous. It can just spark a fire, just one case.' The International Rescue Committee, which responds to humanitarian crises, fears the outbreak will trump the pandemic four years ago. A spokesperson from the agency said: 'Without a swift, concerted and efficient response, this outbreak has the potential to be the worst ever seen.' Congolese soldiers are pictured patrolling an Ebola treatment centre in Beni in the aftermath of an attack that killed more than a dozen civilians Ebola virus disease, caused by the virus with its namesake, kills around 50 per cent of the people it strikes, with no proven treatment being available. The unsafe burial of a 65-year-old Ebola sufferer triggered the latest outbreak in the DRC, according to the WHO. After she was buried members of her family began to display symptoms of the virus 'and seven of them died'. Genetic analysis confirmed the virus is the Zaire strain; the same as the one that was behind an outbreak in the west of the DRC earlier this summer. However, Dr Salama has argued the newer pathogen is genetically different to previous strains. The 2014 international response to the Ebola pandemic, which decimated West Africa, drew criticism for moving too slowly and prompted an apology from the WHO. But international aid teams have moved much quicker in response this time, with vaccination campaigns already underway in several regions. More than 500 diabetes patients are dying early every week, figures reveal. Many are falling victim to strokes, heart attacks and kidney disease, which can be prevented with proper treatment. An analysis by the charity Diabetes UK found that men and women aged between 35 and 64 with Type 2 diabetes are twice as likely to die early as those without the condition. Patients with Type 1 diabetes, which is less common and not linked to obesity, are three to four times as likely to die prematurely. Patients with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are more likely to die early than those without the condition The figures come from analysis of the latest National Diabetes Audit, which was published by NHS Digital in July. The charity did not have a specific definition for dying prematurely. The figures were worked out by comparing the expected number of deaths for certain age groups with those that actually occurred amongst diabetes patients. Almost four million Britons have diabetes, of whom 90 per cent have Type 2, which is strongly linked to being overweight or obese. The numbers have almost doubled in 20 years and experts have described it as the biggest health crisis of our time. Type 2 diabetes occurs when insulin made in the pancreas does not work properly, or the pancreas does not make enough insulin. What is the difference between type 1 and 2 diabetes? Almost four million Britons have diabetes, of whom 90 per cent have Type 2, which is strongly linked to being overweight or obese. Type 2 diabetes occurs when insulin made in the pancreas does not work properly, or the pancreas does not make enough insulin. The numbers have almost doubled in 20 years and experts have described it as the biggest health crisis of our time. Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body is unable to make insulin. In people with type 1 diabetes, the immune system mistakes the bodys own healthy cells for foreign invaders. The immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. After these beta cells are destroyed, the body is unable to produce insulin. Advertisement Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body is unable to make insulin. Diabetes causes a rise in glucose levels in the blood which, if left untreated, leads to heart disease, strokes, kidney disease, liver failure, blindness and damage to nerve endings in the feet. The figures also show that 680 patients suffer a stroke every week as a complication of diabetes. A fifth of all strokes in the UK are caused by diabetes. Another 530 people suffer a diabetes-related heart attack each week and there are around 2,000 cases of diabetes-related heart failure. Separate research by Manchester University scientists found that patients with Type 2 diabetes had a 31 per cent higher chance of being diagnosed with cancer. Diabetes UK is calling on NHS England to continue its action to improve the quality of local diabetes services beyond 2019. Chris Askew, chief executive of the charity, said: Five hundred preventable, premature deaths each week is a harrowing statistic that highlights how serious diabetes can be. Its vital that the NHS continues to fund improvements to diabetes care beyond 2019, as it has been doing through the Diabetes Transformation Fund. The importance of helping people with diabetes avoid preventable complications cannot be overstated. If we want to reduce the number of people with diabetes dying early and unnecessarily the investment and work started in 2017 needs to be continued. NHS England said: These statistics are exactly why NHS England has invested 80million in the last two years to improve the treatment, care and outcomes for people with diabetes. As we draw up the long-term plan for the NHS, we will be building on the success of our existing work to reduce variation and ensure services are available to help prevent the complications associated with diabetes. A couple has spoken of their heartbreak after their identical twin baby boys died when a rare condition attacked them in the womb. Leo and Tyler were born at just 25 weeks, with Leo being delivered as a stillborn and Tyler passing away 18 days later on May 26. They were diagnosed with the life-threatening condition twin-twin transfusion syndrome after their mother Caroline Willis, 26, complained of crippling abdominal pain at 24 weeks. The lab technician and her partner Lee Brightman, 30, from Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, have since accused Stoke Mandeville Hospital of not taking her symptoms seriously. Miss Willis, who suffers from polycystic ovaries, said: 'If the NHS had acted quicker we believe our boys would have had a better chance of surviving. 'We walked out of the hospital with two memory boxes instead of carrying two car seats with our babies in.' And to add even further heartbreak, Miss Willis - who conceived via IVF - is not eligible for further free fertility treatment due to her first round being a 'success' despite her losing their twins. Scroll down for video Caroline Willis and Lee Brightman lost their identical twin baby boys Leo (pictured in left frame) and Tyler (right) after they developed the rare condition twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome in the womb. Leo was born stillborn and Tyler passed away 18 days later Pictured holding Leo after he was delivered stillborn, Mr Brightman said 'seeing your son die in front of you is horrendous'. The pair cradled their son and told him they love him Speaking of the ordeal, Miss Willis said: 'It was one nightmare after another.' She claims she had a normal pregnancy until she began to experience unusual pains six months in. 'I tried to get an appointment with Stoke Mandeville Hospital,' she said. 'We were seen three times within that week but were told everything was okay. I eventually took myself back as my pain became excruciating.' Miss Willis was only told the twins had TTTS following a scan shortly before the birth. 'I later went into labour as Leo had heart failure already and was born stillborn,' she said. 'Tyler was a little fighter but he was so tiny and died 18 days later.' The twins' father Mr Brightman added: 'I could see Leo hadn't made it. I was trying to maintain my composure for Caroline. 'To see your son die in front of you is horrendous.' Both the twins were born weighing just one-and-a-half pounds (0.68kg). 'To see your little boy wearing a hat for a premature baby that was even too big for him was heart-breaking,' Mr Brightman said. After being declared dead, the pair decided to have pictures taken with their son. 'We were hugging Leo and holding him and telling him how much we loved him,' Miss Willis said. 'The staff were telling us how beautiful he was.' Twin Tyler (pictured) fought for his life until he took a turn for the worse on May 26. Sensing something was wrong, the couple told the medics to turn off his ventilator. After his relatives came in to say goodbye, Tyler's heart stopped beating just an hour after his treatment stopped Miss Willis said it reached the point when Tyler (pictured) just could not fight anymore Couple say they owe it to their sons to keep their memories alive. Pictured is their memorial WHAT IS TWIN-TWIN TRANSFUSION SYNDROME? Twin-twin transfusion syndrome is a rare but serious condition that can occur in identical pregnancies when twins share a placenta. Abnormal blood vessel connections form in the placenta and prevent blood from flowing evenly between the babies. One twin then becomes dehydrated, which affects its growth. The other develops high blood pressure and produces too much urine. This leads to an enlarged bladder and excessive amounts of amniotic fluid, which can put a strain on the twin's heart, leading to heart failure. Without treatment, TTTS can be fatal for both twins. The condition occurs in about around 15 per cent of identical twins who share a placenta, according to the charity Tamba. Around 300 twins die from the condition every year in the UK, while 6,000 babies are affected annually in the US. Draining excess amniotic fluid can help to improve blood flow. If this is not enough, laser surgery is used to seal shut abnormal blood vessels and permanently disconnect them. The surgeon then drains excess fluid. Even when treated successfully, most TTTS babies are born premature. However, the majority go on to have long, healthy lives. Source: Cincinnati Children's hospital Advertisement For the next 18 days, Tyler fought for his life, surrounded by doctor's and nurses. But on May 26, his condition took a turn for the worst. 'I told him mummy and daddy understand if you can't fight anymore,' Miss Willis said. 'He didn't look right at all and I just had this maternal instinct that something wasn't right.' The parents then made the heart-wrenching decision to tell medics to stop trying to save their son. 'At 3am we told them to stop,' Miss Willis said. 'We held him from 3am till 7am. My parents came in and said their goodbyes. 'And an hour later we asked nurses to remove the ventilator and his heart carried on beating for an hour before it eventually stopped.' At one-and-a-half pounds, Tyler was too small to wear a wooly hat meant for premature babies The couple claim the NHS did not take Miss Willis' symptoms seriously when she suffered crippling abdominal pains at 24 weeks. The twins were born just one week later After their horrific ordeal, the family left the hospital to return home, where they shut themselves off from the world. 'It was quiet, although we'd never had them here it was just lonely,' Mr Brightman said. 'We just shut ourselves away and cried.' Despite their grief, the pair have applied for a second round of IVF. However, they have been told they are no longer eligible. 'It feels like it's just going from bad to worse,' Mr Brightman said. 'I think our lives are on hold at the minute. 'We want to have a family and to keep our boys' memories alive. 'We don't know where are next steps are. We want to be parents and we owe it to Leo and Tyler.' Carolyn Morrice, chief nurse at Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, said: 'The loss of a child is a profoundly sad time for all concerned, and we offer our sincere condolences to the couple and their family on the loss of their babies. 'The couple's consultant has met with them to discuss the care provided.' A statement from NHS Buckinghamshire Clinical Commissioning Group said: 'We offer our sincere condolences for the sad loss this couple has experienced. 'Buckinghamshire CCG, like other CCGs locally, has a policy by which IVF treatments are managed for equity of access. 'However, there is also a process by which individual cases can be considered in exceptional circumstances.' Miss Willis and Mr Brightman are fundraising for another round of IVF. Donate here. Doctors have been reminded they should not sell real human skeletons on online auction sites by advertising them as Halloween props. Currently, medical students use plastic replicas of skeletons in their studies, but in the past doctors used the human body's actual support structure. Now, the Medical Defence Union in the UK has issued guidance for medics about the use and disposal of real bones. Stating the obvious? In advance of Halloween, the Medical Defence Union has issued guidance for medics about the use and disposal of real bones - and use plastic replicas (pictured) The MDU, founded back in the 1880s, said that it's occasionally asked about how to appropriately deal with human remains. The medical defence organisation said that skeletons cannot just be sold on like any other unwanted item. Its guidance on the disposal of skeletons reminds medics that they must maintain dignity and respect in the handling of all human bodies and tissue. 'For example, advertising a genuine human skeleton online for use as a Halloween prop could draw criticism,' it states. The document draws attention to the strict rules on the disposing of human remains. Dr Ellie Mein, medico-legal adviser for the MDU, said: 'Medical students now use plastic replicas of skeletons in their studies. Precautionary measure: The bizarre warning comes after the MDU said that it's occasionally asked about how to appropriately deal with human remains (stock) 'But up until 30 or 40 years ago it was common for those studying medicine to use a real human skeleton. 'At the MDU we sometimes hear from doctors and their relatives who literally find a skeleton in the closet and wonder how to dispose of it sensitively. 'There are strict rules about the disposal of human remains, meaning skeletons can't just be sold on like any other unwanted item. 'In fact auctions sites such as eBay say they don't allow the sale of human body parts, skulls or bones regardless of whether they are for medical use or not.' She added: 'The Human Tissue Act 2004 regulates the removal, storage and use of human tissue and the Human Tissue Authority (HTA) recommends that the disposal of bones is done sensitively. 'This can include by incineration, separate from other clinical waste or burial. 'Another option is to donate a skeleton to a medical school for teaching purposes or give the skeleton to a medical student. 'However, any medical school using body parts to train healthcare professionals needs the appropriate HTA licence. 'Any doctor considering disposing of a human skeleton should bear in mind that a key principle on which the Human Tissue Act is based is that all bodies, body parts or tissue should be treated with respect and dignity.' Dementia patients injected with the blood of young people were better able to cope with their daily lives. Carers said the 18 patients who were given the transfusion of young blood were able to perform daily tasks - such as preparing food or travelling. However their 'mood or global cognition' was not changed. The Stanford University research team described the extraordinary treatment as 'safe, well-tolerated and feasible.' The results warranted 'further exploration' although it was too early to say if they offer long-term hope. It forms part of a wave of studies and trials, including a set of human trials backed by Peter Thiel at a San Francisco start-up called Ambrosia, injecting older adults with young blood - something that would cost $8,000 if it were rolled out to the public. In the Stanford study 18 people with mild or moderate Alzheimer's received either four weekly jabs of young fresh frozen plasma (yFFP) from male donors aged 18 to 25 or a placebo For the new study, published today in JAMA Neurology, 18 people with mild or moderate Alzheimer's disease received either four weekly jabs of young fresh frozen plasma (yFFP) from male donors aged 18 to 25 or a placebo. The patients were aged 50 to 90 and the trial ran from September 2014 to December 2016. 'The efficacy of yFFP in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease could not be determined because of the small sample size, a change in the design of the study, and the short duration of treatment,' Dr Sha said. 'Therefore, assessments of cognition, mood, functional ability, and default mode network changes were exploratory. 'Analyses of these measures did not find that infusions of yFFP altered mood, global cognition, or functional connectivity. 'However, improvements in functional abilities were reported by caregivers. 'These findings could be further explored with a larger study that is powered to determine clinical and statistical significance.' The PLASMA (Plasma for Alzheimer Symptom Amelioration) study randomized patients to receive the regular 250mL infusions of blood and then saline, with a six-week period in between. Afterwards MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans were used to any changes monitor their brain activity. Corresponding author Clinical Associate Professor Dr Sharon Sha, a neurologist at Stanford University, said the technique has the potential to do much more, given that previous studies showed restored memory in mice. Larger studies will be needed to show if there are real benefits to humans now her team has established there are no significant side effects. Dr Sha said: 'There were no related serious adverse events. The yFFP treatment was safe, well-tolerated and feasible.' The idea of injecting blood to combat the effects of ageing comes from a 19th-century concept that's now referred to as parabiosis. In its earliest incarnation the skin of old and young mice was stitched together to allow blood to circulate freely between the two animals. In recent years the technique has been demonstrated to revitalize the liver, brain and muscles of older rodents. In fact, a leading geneticist at University College London insists those experiments are no joke, and are seriously considered by leading physicians to be one of the most promising ventures in modern medicine. Publishing an analysis of data in the journal Nature, Dame Linda Partridge, a geneticist, says research shows young blood could allow humans to live a life free of diseases like cancer, dementia and heart disease, right up until their deaths. Professor Partridge's study showed older mice given young blood did not develop age-related diseases and maintained sharp cognitive function, while younger ones given older blood saw the opposite effect. It's proof, she says, that blood needs to be more closely studied in animals to identify the molecules that conserve physical health. 'Identification of these is a high priority for research,' the study says. 'The practical accessibility of both the human microbiome and blood system makes therapeutic manipulation a particularly attractive approach, but research in animals is needed to establish the long-term consequences and possible side effects.' Dr Sha and colleagues have been funded by US technology company Alkahest. Further trials are set to be carried out to determine whether or not the treatment is at all viable. Another study will take this a step further and only use the part of blood plasma that contains growth factors, which has proven to be more effective in animal testing. There are also early plans to test a larger number of Alzheimer's sufferers, including people with a more severe form of the condition, with a variety of different dosages. Dr Sha said: 'Studies using young plasma have demonstrated improved memory and synaptic plasticity in aged mice, suggesting a possible therapeutic role of young plasma for treating memory impairment in patients with Alzheimer's disease.' She added: 'The results from this study using yFFP in patients with Alzheimer's disease demonstrate treatment is safe and warrants further exploration in larger double-blinded clinical trials that use measures designed to detect change within the treatment time-frame and are powered to determine efficacy. 'There is no known disease-modifying therapy, making drug discovery an area of unmet medical need. 'The increasing number of patients with Alzheimer's disease warrants a pursuit of treatments that can improve or maintain cognitive function.' Those who trust strangers live longer lives - and those who don't have a higher risk of early death, a new study of US citizens has found. Researchers studied the health and attitudes of more than 25,000 Americans from all backgrounds and ethnicities between 1978 and 2010. They found people who were distrusting, or lived in areas where distrust was common, were much more likely to die prematurely. The stunningly strong connection between trust and mortality is not surprising, the researchers claim: trusting people socialize more and are generally less stressed - two things linked to more robust health. But the findings are bleak given that trust levels have been tumbling in the US for the past couple of decades - a trend the researchers warn could have grave, mortal repercussions. Trusting people socialize more and are generally less stressed - two things linked to more robust health 'Whether or not you trust other people, including strangers, makes a difference of about 10 months in terms of life expectancy', says Alexander Miething, researcher at Stockholm University and one of the co-authors of the study. The study is the first population-based study to inspect the trust-mortality connection. Since the early 90s, scores of studies have shown strong links between health and openness, faith, compassion, and trust. But none had taken a broader look to see how this works in practice in communities. The pooled nationally representative US General Social Survey (GSS) data, linked to the National Death Register (NDI), offered all the components to explore that. It measured Americans' attitudes, their levels of trust and socioeconomic conditions. Though the respondents were interviewed only once, it offered a snapshot over a few decades to plot out a correlation. And as expected, there was a clear connection: trust was a predictor for mortality, regardless of race or socioeconomic background. To their surprise, the connection held even after accounting for gender - unlike in Denmark and Finland, where studies show trust is more of a game changer for men than women. Trusting people had 17 percent lower risk of early death compared to those who were apprehensive about strangers. The South is the hub of particularly low social cohesion. In Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee (east south central), only 27 percent said that most people can be trusted. That inched up a smidge to 29 percent in neighboring west south central (Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas. The most trusting region is west north central (Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Missouri) where 49 percent said most people can be trusted. That was followed by New England (where 47 percent trust strangers), and the mountainous Southwest (where 44 percent are trusting). The results are in line with earlier research that proposed trust as a lubricant when engaging with others. As compared to distrusters, trusters may be better able to mobilize social support from network contacts and their wider communities. Trust is supposed to reduce friction in social interactions, and diminish psychosocial stress that contributes to health problems and shortened lives. The advantages from high levels of trust were similar between men and women and persisted even when accounting for socioeconomic conditions such as education and income. Given the protective effects of trust for mortality, a decline in trust (as seen across the US over past decades) may pose an underestimated public health concern. Couples should wait at least a year after their baby is born before trying for another child, a major study suggests. A gap of 12-to-18 months between pregnancies was shown to be the safest for both mother and child, Harvard scientists found. Experts said last night the findings are particularly important for older mothers, who tend to try to have several children in a short period to complete their family before their fertility declines. The study, which analysed 148,500 Canadian pregnancies in the space of a decade, found a gap of less than 12 months was the most dangerous - increasing the risk of maternal death, premature birth, stillbirth and low birth weight. Couples should wait a year after their baby is born before trying for another child (stock) Study leader Dr Laura Schummers, whose findings are published in the JAMA Internal Medicine journal, said: Our study found increased risks to both mother and infant when pregnancies are closely spaced, including for women older than 35. The findings for older women are particularly important, as older women tend to more closely space their pregnancies and often do so intentionally. The researchers found the risks were different according to a womans age. For those over 35, a short gap between pregnancies was particularly dangerous for the mother herself. For younger women, the risk to the mother of a short gap between pregnancies was negligible, but there was an increased risk of the baby being born premature. Among women over 35 who conceived six months after a previous birth, the researchers found a 1.2 per cent risk of maternal death or severe harm. If they waited 18 months between pregnancies, the risk was more than halved to 0.5 per cent. For younger women, a six-month gap between pregnancies resulted in an 8.5 per cent risk of preterm birth - delivery before 37 weeks - which dropped to 3.7 per cent with an 18-month gap. Among over-35s, the preterm birth risk is six per cent for a six-month gap and 3.4 per cent for an 18-month wait. Fellow researcher Dr Wendy Norman, of the University of British Columbia, said the findings provide the first excellent evidence to help women guide the spacing of their children. Achieving that optimal one-year interval should be doable for many women, and is clearly worthwhile to reduce complication risks, she said. Scientists believe a short gap between pregnancies does not leave the body enough time to recover. On the other hand, leaving it too long brings the risk of complications associated with an ageing mother. Researcher Professor Sonia Hernandez-Diaz, of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, added: Whether the elevated risks are due to our bodies not having time to recover if we conceive soon after delivering or to factors associated with unplanned pregnancies, like inadequate prenatal care, the recommendation might be the same - improve access to postpartum contraception, or abstain from unprotected sexual intercourse with a male partner following a birth. Experts from the University of Colorado, writing a linked editorial piece in the same journal, said women increasingly feel under pressure to leave shorter gaps between pregnancies, because so many are having their first child at an older age. Because the mean desired number of children US women is 2.6 and fertility declines rapidly in the late 30s and early 40s, women having a child when they are older than 35 years are likely to plan to have their next child soon thereafter,' they wrote. That picture is mirrored in the UK, where the number of older mothers has soared in recent decades, as more women concentrate on their career first and turn to family later. Women in this country now have their first child five years later on average than they did 40 years ago. The average age of first-time motherhood in England and Wales is 28.8, according to the latest figures from 2016, up from 23.5 in 1970. We can't seem to find the page you are looking for. You may have typed the address incorrectly or you may have used an outdated link. Mass shootings may trigger an increase in blood donations that are discarded, a new study suggests. Researchers from Northwestern Memorial Healthcare in Chicago found that more than 15 percent of the blood used to save lives is wasted. That is five times more than the usual disposal rate at blood banks during a regular month. Blood donations take around two days to process, but the transfusions for most shooting victims occur in the first 24 hours after the event. The team says its findings show blanket calls for donations are often unnecessary and that more systematic methods could lead to less wasted product, such asking for asking people to donate by ZIP code. Researchers from Northwestern Memorial Healthcare in Chicago found that more than 15 percent of the blood donations made after a mass shooting is wasted (file image) The deadliest mass shooting in modern US history occurred in Las Vegas on October 1, 2017 - killing 58 people and injuring 869. The researchers say that 220 people were admitted to the hospital, with 68 of those being in critical care. Clark County Sheriff Joseph Lombardo gave a press conference the following morning imploring citizens to donate blood, which was echoed in nationwide news reports. The American Red Cross reported that in the first three days following the press conference, it saw a 53 percent increase in blood donations across the US. A press release issued on October 2 by the AABB (formerly known as the American Association of Blood Banks) stated there was enough of a blood supply to meet the needs of the Las Vegas victims. United Blood Services, which collects blood and distributes it to hospitals in 22 states, says it received 791 donations immediately after the Las Vegas shooting. However, it reported that 137 of these donations - around 17 percent - went unused and had to be discarded. On average, 26 donations are discarded per month at the blood bank, according to the organization - a five-fold increase in the amount of donations thrown away. The study authors said their findings show it was clear, in hindsight, that the mass call for blood donation was unnecessary. 'From our data, it is likely that the total one-day blood component transfusions needed in Las Vegas were more than in any mass shooting on record,' said first author Dr James Lozada, an assistant professor of anesthesiology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Dr Lozada added that while there is an 'emotional desire' to donate blood after a mass casualty event. After the shooting at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, in June 2016, there were 53 people left wounded - many of them in need of blood transfusions. Local blood banks in Florida issued calls asking for donations. But gay men who wanted to donate were not allowed to due to a ban by the US Food and Drug Administration. Men who have had sex with men in the previous 12 months are not allowed to donate, despite medical professionals saying there is no evidence to support the ban. After the shooting at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, in June 2016, many victims were in need of blood transfusions, but gay men were not allowed to due to an FDA ban. Pictured: A long line of people wait at the OneBlood Donation Center to donate after the Pulse nightclub shooting But Dr Lozada says there are more effective measures than widespread calls for affected communities. 'One of the things that we propose in the paper is for cities to develop some protocols for these scenarios, where instead of issuing a blanket call for blood donation you would do it in a systematic way,' he said. 'As one suggestion, you might do it by ZIP code.' This system could be employed for victims of the shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, that killed 11 people and wounded seven others including the suspected perpetrator. In August, the Federal Emergency Management Agency released its after-action report for the Las Vegas massacre. The report recommended that future first-responders be equipped with more plentiful medical kits, including bandages and tourniquets. 'We're just now getting into an era of really recognizing the benefits of tourniquets and pre-hospital care in civilian mass casualty events,' Dr Lozada said. 'In [the November 2015 Paris attacks] they had much more ability to respond immediately with tourniquets, bandages and medications. 'That could account for the comparatively reduced need for blood products seen in that attack.' They say you never forget your honeymoon. And the old adage is true for one woman, who had a fly grow inside her thigh after her post-wedding trip to Belize. The unidentified patient presented herself to hospital - but only after living with the larvae for two months. Initially, upon return to her native Florida, she believed that she'd suffered a spider bite which later became infected. Before and after: The unidentified patient, who'd been honeymooning in Belize on the Central American coast, displays the Botfly Larva growth (right) and post-surgery (left) However, when a course of antibiotics failed to treat it, she sought further medical attention, which saw doctors excise the oozing mass. Upon examination, staff at Tampa General Hospital found a maggot containing rows of spines and hooks. It was later confirmed to be a larva of the human botfly, scientifically known as the Dermatobia hominis - which is native to tropical America. According to a report on Live Science, the patient believes it resulted from a tick bite she incurred while horse-riding in the popular region. MYIASIS: THE FACTS Myiasis comes from the Latin 'myia' meaning fly and 'iasis' means disease. The flies' larvae can feed on the host's living or dead tissue, liquid body substance, or ingested food. When the tissues in the oral cavity are invaded by parasites, this is known as oral myiasis. Those at risk of the rare condition include those from poorer social backgrounds and people who have suffered wounds or other injury to the face. It is also more common in regions with a warmer climate. Infestations of the nose and ears are dangerous because of the possibility of penetration into the brain, the fatality rate is 8 per cent in such cases. Advertisement Myiasis - an infection caused by a fly larva - is rarely seen in the US. However, it is very common among residents and visitors of tropical regions. It occurs when the female human botfly lays her eggs on the body of a host, such as a mosquito, which then bites into the human skin when it feeds. The heat of the skin causes the eggs to hatch into larvae, which breathe through the puncture hole. Unlike other family members of botflies, the larva of the human botfly stays close to the surface of the skin surface. The larval stage in the skin tissue can last between 27 and 128 days before the adult larva drops to the ground. From there, it pupates for between 27 and 78 days before maturing into an adult botfly. The bizarre tale was published in the Journal of Investigative Medicine High Impact Case Reports. Myiasis comes from the Latin 'myia' meaning fly and 'iasis' means disease. The flies' larvae can feed on the host's living or dead tissue, liquid body substance, or ingested food. A naturally-occuring protein thought to cause cancer could help obese people lose their body weight, research suggests. Tests on dangerously overweight mice found they shed a third of their weight after being engineered to over-express BP3. Researchers at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center described the effect, which kicked in after just 18 days, as 'striking'. BP3 is thought to mimic hormones and is elevated in different cancers, which is why it has been investigated for its role in the disease. A protein that is thought to be involved in the onset of a range of cancers could help obese people shed a third of their body weight, research suggests (stock) But the new study shows it also appears to play a role in metabolism, as well as the storage and use of carbohydrates and fats. The researchers engineered mice with a genetic predisposition to both overeat and over-express a protein known as BP3. 'We found that eight BP3 treatments over 18 days was enough to reduce the fat in obese mice by over a third,' said senior author Dr Anton Wellstein. As well as causing the rodents to lose weight, BP3 also reduced a number of obesity-related disorders in the animals. These included the high-blood sugar condition hyperglycemia, which is often a sign of both type 1 and 2 diabetes. BP3 also cured the animals of fatty liver disease, which can lead to serious organ damage. The Washington DC-based researchers hope the treatment could be used to reverse these obesity-related disorders in humans. And due to BP3 being a natural protein rather than a man-man drug, scientific testing could begin with minimal animal studies, they claim. The protein has also demonstrated its safety, with microscopic examinations of the mice showing no side effects in the study. The research was published in the journal Scientific Reports. Although unclear, BP3 is thought to promote weight loss by affecting metabolism. 'We found that BP3 exerts a striking contribution to metabolic control,' Dr Wellstein said. When levels of the protein rise, it increases the signalling of several hormone-like substances that affect metabolism. 'It's like having a lot more taxis available in New York City to pick up all the people who need a ride,' Dr Wellstein said. 'With metabolism revved up, sugar in the blood, and fat processed in the liver are used for energy and is not stored. And warehouses of fat are tapped as well.' Although the results are exciting, the researchers add further studies are required before BP3 can be used to treat metabolic syndromes. These syndromes include high blood pressure, excess fat around the waist and elevated cholesterol. This comes after UCL scientists discovered earlier this week tumours push through blood vessels with 200 times the force of ordinary cells. This is thought to be due to cancerous cells having more receptors on their surfaces, which allow them to cluster together and act as one strong unit. Health officials have identified two new clusters in Legionnaires' disease in Illinois. The cases have been traced back to a Walmart in suburban Johnsburg and the Warren Barr South Loop nursing home in Chicago, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) said on Friday. Legionnaires' is a severe form of pneumonia caused by inhaling water droplets containing legionella bacteria and, when left untreated, can cause fatal neurological complications. Authorities have determined the clusters are not connected, but that they're trying to identify the total number of people who may have been exposed. The news comes just a month after a wedding is being investigated as the possible source of a Legionnaires' outbreak that sickened after six residents in Champaign County in central Illinois. Three people who said they shopped at a Walmart in Johnsburg (pictured) were diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease According to Patch, the Walmart in Johnsburg was identified as the site of the first cluster after public health officials saw a slight increase in cases of Legionnaires' in September. Three people who said they shopped at the store were diagnosed with the lung infection. Meanwhile, two residents at Warren Barr tested positive for the disease. Shawn Estoque, who has lived at the nursing home since June, told WGN 9 that he saw signs telling residents not to use the water for bathing. However, allegedly no staff at the nursing home had informed the other residents about the Legionnaires' diagnoses prior to a news crew interviewing them. 'This the first time I'm hearing this, from you guys,' he said. 'I knew we couldn't use the water. I didn't know it was that serious.' A spokesperson told the station that the nursing home notified the relatives of those infected and that pamphlets about the disease will be distributed throughout the facility. Unlike other illnesses which are transmitted by person-to-person contact, sufferers fall sick by inhaling small droplets of water with legionalla bacteria. The bacteria can multiply in places such as hot tubs, water tanks and large plumbing systems. Symptoms develop between two and 10 days after inhaling legionella bacteria. The disease typically begins with a headache, chills, high fever, and muscle pain. On the second or third day, symptoms progress to coughing, chest pain, trouble breathing, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. The second cluster was identified at the Warren Barr South Loop nursing home in Chicago, where two residents were diagnosed with the disease Around 10,000 and 18,000 Americans are infected each year, with 300 of those being in Illinois. Most people recover with antibiotics, but those with weakened immune systems or who have chronic lung diseases can form neurological complications that can be fatal. Walmart issued a statement on Friday saying it had taken action including turning off the produce water sprayers. IDPH is currently investigating a few outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease. The first occurred last month after six residents of Champaign County were diagnosed. Health officials are trying to pinpoint the source of the outbreak, including a church where the patients attended a wedding. The second case is at the Illinois Veterans Home in Quincy, where a 2015 outbreak of the disease killed 14 people and sickened dozens more. Five years ago, Evie Prior was a perfectly normal, happy little girl, loving her first year at school and enjoying life as only a lively four-year-old can. Then, in May 2013, two months before her fifth birthday, life for Evie and her family suddenly became a nightmare. Overnight, Evie became a different child, recalls her mother Helen, a physiotherapist from Barnsley. Evie became irritable and began to have frequent temper tantrums. She also developed strange sensory issues, driven to distraction by the way her socks felt on her skin. Struggle: Helen Prior (right), from Barnsley, pictured with her daughter Evie , 10, after years of suffering with with Paediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Wed go through six or seven pairs every morning because she could never find any that felt right, recalls Helen, 35. Worse was to come. Evie began to experience extreme separation anxiety when her mother dropped her off at school, and started wetting herself two or three times a day. Then Evie developed tonsillitis. It seemed like the last thing the family needed but the infection, and the remarkable effect the antibiotic amoxicillin she was prescribed had, were vital clues to what had knocked Evies young life so dramatically off course. Tragically, they were clues no one would pick up on for four long years. Within two days of starting the antibiotics her behaviour went back to normal, Helen told Good Health. We literally got our little girl back. It was amazing. But it was only a brief respite. For Evie was in the grip of a little-known infectious condition that can play havoc with a childs personality. Because of widespread scepticism in the NHS about the condition, Evie, and possibly thousands of other children, would suffer unnecessarily for years all for want of a simple course of antibiotics. Carefree: Five years ago, Evie Prior was a perfectly normal, happy little girl, loving her first year at school and enjoying life as only a lively four-year-old can Complex: Evie began to experience extreme separation anxiety when her mother dropped her off at school, and started wetting herself two or three times a day The condition, paediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder associated with streptococcal infections (Pandas), was identified in 1998 by scientists at the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health. They were studying obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) in children and noticed a group in whom this had appeared overnight and out of the blue. These children also suffered a range of what appeared to be mental health symptoms, including separation anxiety, irritability and extreme mood swings, all of which had flared up dramatically in the wake of infection by the streptococcus group of bacteria a common cause of sore or strep throat. Just how an infection triggers such dramatic consequences isnt clear but its thought that a faulty immune response friendly fire from the bodys defences inflames part of the brain called the basal ganglia, disrupting its job of controlling movement, behaviour and emotions. In many cases, a simple course of antibiotics will treat the infection, while ibuprofen or steroids will reduce the brain inflammation. In extreme cases, patients can be given intravenous immunoglobulin therapy, where antibodies to fight infection are fed directly into the bloodstream. In 2012, the U.S. researchers identified a related condition, paediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (Pans), which shares most of the symptoms of Pandas but can be caused by triggers other than a strep infection. Last week the Mail reported the case of William Hewlett, an eight-year-old boy from Winchester whose behaviour, like Evies, changed dramatically after he developed a fever in September last year. His mother Johanne, 43, a school matron, likened his transformation to something out of The Exorcist, with William experiencing violent episodes and hallucinations. Mental health professionals told the family he might be autistic. In fact, William has now been diagnosed with probable Pans-Pandas. In the U.S., it is estimated the conditions affect one child in 200. Did you know? Many of the symptoms associated with Pandas such as anxiety, depression, irritability, aggression and hyperactivity can easily be mistaken for psychiatric disorders But back in 2013, Evies parents Helen and Chris, 44, a supply chain manager, knew none of this. After her tonsillitis (and the antibiotics), Evie was back to her old self. But 15 months later, in August 2014, her nightmare returned, overnight and with a vengeance, thought to have been triggered by a fresh strep infection. Suddenly I had a six-year-old who was obsessed with going to the toilet, recalls Helen. It had to be the very last thing she did before she left the house. Soon, family life was revolving around Evies obsessive trips to the loo, where she would spend half an hour at a time, crying and distressed because she was convinced she hadnt finished. She just couldnt get off. She became terrified of going anywhere, says Helen. The family felt helpless as Evie wept for hours, wracked by anxiety and crying out for help her distraught parents couldnt give her. Despite the reappearance of many of her previous anxieties and obsessive behaviours, the GP, brushing aside Helens insistence that her daughters problems were behavioural, assumed Evie was suffering from a urinary tract infection. He took a urine sample for testing but, while waiting for the results, started her on a course of amoxicillin. Funnily enough, recalls Helen, all the strange behaviour stopped. But days later, when the test results came back negative, the doctor told Helen to stop the antibiotics and all the symptoms came back within two days. We were back to square one, she says. THE SYMPTOMS Pans and Pandas can, in many cases, be cured with antibiotics. They share some of these symptoms: Sudden onset of obsessive compulsive disorder, tics or severely restricted food intake combined with two or more of the following: Anxiety, including separation anxiety, irrational fears and panic episodes. Sudden mood changes and/or depression. Irritability, aggression and/or severe defiant behaviour. Hyperactivity. Sudden deterioration in school performance. Involuntary movement and/or sensory abnormalities (eg, finding textures unbearable). Regression a loss of behavioural and/or developmental skills. Insomnia and/or sleep problems. Involuntary urination/bed-wetting and/or a need to urinate frequently. Hallucinations or delusions. Advertisement Not quite. Helen had noticed that although Evie had never developed a temperature, she often complained of a mild sore throat and her worst behavioural episodes seemed to be linked to bouts of bad breath a sign of bacterial infection. Searching on the internet, Helen found a blog written by an American mother whose child had been diagnosed with Pandas. It ought to have been a breakthrough, but scepticism is so entrenched in the UK that the Priors spent four years battling to find a doctor who would believe them. This is not uncommon, says Professor Raj Gupta, a paediatric neurologist at Birmingham Womens and Childrens NHS Foundation Trust and a member of a group of UK doctors working to raise awareness of Pans-Pandas. A lot of the patients we see have gone private to get a referral or even travelled to the U.S. for treatment. The amount of money some families spend is huge, he adds. Georgia Tuckey, an NHS nurse who works on the South Coast and co-founded the charity Pans Pandas UK earlier this year, endured the frustration experienced by most parents of children with the conditions when her 14-year-old son fell ill in 2014. He is finally well again after Georgia resorted to travelling to the U.S. in 2016 for expensive but successful treatment. The family home had to be sold to pay for it. I understand the challenges parents face, Georgia told Good Health. Im a nurse but I still couldnt get anyone to believe me. Its a huge struggle because to many doctors the symptoms look like other conditions for which there are already treatment guidelines. If you go to see a psychiatrist with what appears to be obsessive compulsive disorder, they are going to treat you traditionally with medication and therapy. Many of the symptoms associated with Pandas such as anxiety, depression, irritability, aggression, hyperactivity, deterioration in school performance, tics and other motor or sensory abnormalities, hallucinations and a compulsion to urinate frequently can easily be mistaken for signs of other medical or psychiatric disorders. There are children we know of through the charity who have ended up in psychiatric institutions as a result, says Georgia. Recovery: Evie, now ten, has been on antibiotics continuously for the past year, has had two courses of high-dose steroids and was recently admitted to hospital for intravenous treatment The few doctors who recognise Pans-Pandas fear some of the increase in the prescription of psychiatric drugs to children could be due to a widespread failure in the medical profession to recognise the conditions. The Royal College of Psychiatrists conceded that symptoms of Pans-Pandas, which may include OCD, anxiety and personality changes, are also apparent in patients presenting with various psychiatric conditions. Professor Wendy Burn, president of the college, told Good Health: We would welcome more research into the conditions. Professor Gupta and Tim Ubhi, a consultant paediatrician and clinical director of the private Childrens e-Hospital in Leeds, were two of a group of five doctors who got together 12 months ago to form the UK Pans Pandas Physicians Network to raise awareness of the conditions in the NHS. We knew we had to do something about this because nobody else was, says Dr Ubhi. I see parents all the time who are desperate. We were waiting for the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health to do something but it hasnt and neither has anyone else, so it has been left to this group of parents and the charity to drive things forward. A year on, the network has more than 15 members a mix of paediatricians, paediatric neurologists, immunologists, infectious disease specialists and psychiatrists. A recent survey by the network of 150 parents whose children are affected found that only in 10 per cent of cases had GPs even heard of the conditions, and that 33 per cent of patients had waited at least a year to receive any treatment. Professor Gupta says that when the condition was first identified in the Nineties, the general view in the UK was that it was just a coincidence that these children had a streptococcal infection, because children often do, and that it was not a true association with the sudden change in behaviour. In short, Pandas was pooh-poohed and not taken seriously. Unfortunately, that still seems to be the prevailing view, he says. The key to correct diagnosis is the sudden onset of OCD, tics or a severely restricted food intake, believed to be linked to the development of extreme, irrational anxieties. Family affair: Helen Prior pictured with daughters Annabel, 7, (left) and Evie, 10, (right) A lot of parents, says Georgia Tuckey, can tell you the date and time when their child changed. If Id been told about this before Id experienced it myself, Id probably have thought it was behavioural. What Ive discovered since is that four hours after taking antibiotics you can achieve an almost complete resolution of symptoms. As word has spread that there are specialists taking Pans-Pandas seriously, Professor Gupta, Dr Ubhi and a handful of others are seeing increasing numbers of patients referred from all around the country Dr Ubhi alone has seen more than 100 in the past 12 months. Many doctors, he told Good Health, just have tunnel vision. They see a child with a behavioural issue and automatically go down the OCD treatment pathway. As far as the charity is concerned, any lingering doubts over the diagnosis ought to have ended in June, when the World Health Organisation listed Pandas as a disease in the latest edition of the globally recognised International Classification of Diseases, the diagnostic bible for doctors worldwide. This condition has a terrible effect on education, social interactions and lifestyle choices for the whole family. Many become socially isolated because the parents are afraid to take their child anywhere because of their behaviour Professor Raj Gupta When Evie was correctly diagnosed 18 months ago by a U.S. specialist her mother consulted via Skype, when referred for treatment to Dr Ubhi and Professor Gupta, it was such a relief that somebody had finally listened to me. Evie, now ten, has been on antibiotics continuously for the past year, has had two courses of high-dose steroids and was recently admitted to hospital for intravenous treatment with immunoglobulins. It helped to reduce the severity of some of her symptoms and the family are hoping for more, but the treatment is expensive and hard to come by. Evie has also had a tonsillectomy to reduce the risk of further strep infections. Although better than she was, Evie is not out of the woods yet and her mother fears the long delay in getting treatment means she may never fully recover. Over five months last year, Evie lost 14 per cent of her bodyweight because she became paranoid that her food was contaminated with germs each meal would last hours as she cut every morsel into tiny pieces. She became terrified of tap water and food packaging and developed lengthy handwashing rituals, which she still has and that leave her skin red raw. The OCD, separation anxiety, tics, general anxiety, emotional volatility, rage, depression and a range of other problems that could flare up at any moment have made school impossible Evie hasnt been since January. When her condition allows, she has an hour of tutoring a day. This condition is horrendous, says Helen, who a year ago took a career break to care for Evie full-time. I admit Ive been on antidepressants for 12 months. Evies younger sister Anabelle, now seven, has no medical problems but has had so much to cope with in a house thats governed by Evies rules and anxieties. She has taken on the role of a carer, really. For such a long time we could find no one who had even heard of this condition, let alone who was able to treat it. I have sat in the GP surgery so many times over the past five years, practically begging for antibiotics for my child. Pandas, she says, is not a rare condition, its just rarely diagnosed currently it is the parents educating the doctors. Some doctors, at least, are learning. The UK Pans Pandas Physicians Network has developed a guide to recognising and treating the condition, which it will shortly send out to GPs. It is also lobbying NHS England and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. A spokesman for the British Paediatric Neurology Association told Good Health it was convening an expert group to produce guidelines on Pandas and Pans. Dr Liz England, head of mental health for the Royal College of GPs, acknowledged that it was important that as new research emerges, it is considered as new clinical guidelines are developed. The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health said: We would welcome more research. Once robust evidence is available on Pans-Pandas, we will communicate it with our members. But the children affected need help sooner rather than later, says Professor Gupta. This condition has a terrible effect on education, social interactions and lifestyle choices for the whole family. Many become socially isolated because the parents are afraid to take their child anywhere because of their behaviour. All I ask of doctors is that they keep an open mind, consider this diagnosis and, if they dont want to assess the child, refer them on. Its very moving when parents tell you: Ive got my child back and often its all thanks to a short course of antibiotics. Has your child been affected? Email goodhealth@dailymail.co.uk Having recovered from breast cancer once, to be told earlier this year that it had returned, Liz ORiordan understandably felt in need of some relaxation and distraction. So when her oncologist suggested that Liz, herself a breast cancer surgeon, should book in for massages at the end of each three-week cycle of chemotherapy, she was keen to follow through with the advice. What she did not expect was the response she received from her local beauty salon. The moment I mentioned I was having cancer treatment, I was turned away, says Liz, 43, who is married to Dermot, 56, a general surgeon, and works at Ipswich Hospital. I felt outcast, that there was something wrong with me. It was horrific. What's the risk? Many health spas cite insurance limitations and fears that any massage or treatment could potentially spread the cancer further around the body Earlier this year Jo Mackie, an employment lawyer, announced that she was taking legal action against Center Parcs after visiting its Longleat Forest village to celebrate her birthday, only to be turned away from the spa as she had recently had breast cancer treatment. Indeed, about 70 per cent of spas are believed to have policies banning staff from giving cancer patients common treatments such as facials and massages, citing insurance limitations and fears that massage can cause cancer to spread, or return despite there being no evidence for this. Its junk science, says Professor Kefah Mokbel, director of breast surgery at the London Breast Institute. There is no evidence that it can do you any harm. In fact, it can often do you some good because it makes you feel better. Studies have shown that massage in cancer patients can reduce pain, fatigue, nausea and anxiety, and improve sleep, mental wellbeing and range of movement. Indeed, one study, published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine in 2013, found that massages not only improved quality of life for patients with advanced cancer, but also reduced pain and improved sleep. The researchers had compared patients whod had massages with those who hadnt only the massage group showed improvement. Yet some therapists continue to be concerned about treating those who have recently had surgery or chemotherapy, or who are on a cocktail of medication. One survey found that 97 per cent of UK spas said they would not treat a cancer patient, even with a doctors note saying a massage would pose no health risks. Help: One study, published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine in 2013, found that massages improve quality of life for patients with advanced cancer The climate is brutal, says Michelle Hammond, founder of tpot, an organisation that educates therapists in massage for cancer patients. Cancer patients are treated like lepers, when thats the last thing they need. She has even heard of one woman who was refused a facial because she had recently had a mastectomy, and says: Some women are now lying about their medical history for fear of being humiliated or turned away. It is not simply the spas themselves that are to blame. Dr Davina Deniszczyc, a GP and primary care medical director at Nuffield Health, says doctors are sometimes reluctant to sign a letter authorising a cancer patient to have a massage. For basic treatments such as pedicures Ill recommend that they go ahead, but for deep tissue massage or other treatments its not so simple, she says. As Dany Bell, a specialist adviser for treatment and recovery at Macmillan Cancer Support, explains: Although there is no evidence to suggest that spa treatments are harmful, therapists working with cancer patients should be trained with some knowledge of cancer. Thats because chemotherapy and radiotherapy can make the skin more sensitive, and in breast cancer patients who have had lymph glands removed, pressure in those areas can increase the risk of lymphoedema swelling due to a malfunction of the lymphatic system. Furthermore, essential oils such as tea tree can irritate the skin after cancer treatment. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy can also cause the skin to become itchy and sore, while nails and skin on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet may crack, creating a potential risk of infection. This can make the therapist wary but does not mean that a patient cannot continue to have treatment, she says. The climate does appear to be changing at last, though, with some spas even giving special offers to cancer patients. Nuffield Health, for example, now offers special spa treatments to cancer patients at ten sites around the country. For Liz, who is still undergoing cancer treatment, change cant come quickly enough. Its hard to put into words that feeling of rejection, she says. Maintaining a positive outlook during cancer treatment can make all the difference, and these knockbacks can be devastating. The new director of the The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has urged Americans not to fear the rare polio-like illness sweeping the US as he believes it is not transmissable from human to human. This year, at least 72 children in 22 states have been diagnosed with acute flaccid myelitis, an infection that causes sudden paralysis at random, and another 83 are being investigated. Today, Dr Robert Redfield, who took the job in March, told CBS This Morning that AFM is the agency's top priority at the moment. And while he admitted they still have no idea what is driving the spike in cases, he is certain it is caused by a specific virus, rather than inter-personal contact. 'I've recently asked again to put together a task force to really try to look at where we're at, and what else could we do to try to solve this problem,' Dr Redfield said. 'The good news is that it doesn't appear to be transmissible from human to human. We don't see clustering in families.' Dr Robert Redfield (pictured) said acute flaccid myelitis is the CDC's priority right now. This year, 72 children in 22 states have been diagnosed with AFM which causes sudden paralysis The CDC has confirmed 386 cases since an outbreak in Colorado in August 2014, almost all of them in children He added: 'I do think that this is a new occurrence in the United States, the AFM. Our our suspicion is it's caused by a single agent. That's the dominant disease that we're confronting right now.' The average age of those affected is four years old and more than 90 percent of cases overall are in children under 18. The condition, caused by a viral infection, appears to start off as a common cold, before progressing to paralysis. Ominously, data show there seems to be a spike in cases every two years, which has also left the agency baffled. 'CDC's been working very hard on this, since 2014, to try to understand causation and etiology,' Dr Redfield said in the interview, which will be aired on Tuesday. 'As we sit here today, we don't have understanding of the cause. We are, you know, continuing to strengthen our efforts, working in partnership with state and territorial health departments, and academic experts to try to figure this out.' The CDC says it is investigating 155 cases of acute flaccid myelitis (AFM), up from 127 last week. Of that number, 62 cases have been confirmed in 22 states, including five-year-old Elizabeth Storrie (pictured) from Willow Park, Texas AFM affects the nervous system and most resembles the polio virus. Health officials have determined it is caused by a virus, but have been unable to pinpoint an exact cause. Orville Young, four (pictured), of Minnesota, was likely the earliest confirmed case in the state WHAT IS AFM? AFM is a rare, but serious condition that affects the nervous system. Specifically it attacks the area of the spinal cord called gray matter, which causes the body's muscles and reflexes to weaken. Symptoms often develop after a viral infection, such as enterovirus or West Nile virus, but often no clear cause is found. Patients start off having flu-like symptoms including sneezing and coughing. This slowly turns into muscle weakness, difficulty moving the eyes and then polio-like symptoms including facial drooping and difficulty swallowing. 'If [AFM affects gray matter] lower in the spinal cord [paralysis will] be more in the legs and if it's higher up, it'll be more in the arms,' Dr Fernando Acosta, a pediatric neurologist at Cook Children's Medical Center, in Fort Worth, Texas, told Daily Mail Online in an interview last week. 'Or if it's closer to the neck, they can't move head, neck and shoulders. We had one case of that and that was just awful.' In the most severe cases, respiratory failure can occur when the muscles that support breathing become weak. In rare cases, AFM can cause neurological complications that could lead to death. 'It's a pretty dramatic disease; children have a sudden onset of weakness,' said Dr Messonier. No specific treatment is available for AFM and interventions are generally recommended on a case-by-case basis. Children with weakness in their arms or legs may attend physical or occupational therapy. The average age of those affected is four years and more than 90 percent of cases are in children aged 18 and younger. Among them is Julia Payne, two (pictured) from Chicago, Illinois However, physicians admit they are unaware of the long-term outcomes for those with AFM. WHO HAS BEEN AFFECTED BY AFM? The CDC does not track AFM in terms of its prevalence, but rather in outbreaks. The agency has confirmed 386 cases since an outbreak in Colorado in August 2014, almost all of them in children. The CDC confirmed 33 AFM cases in 2017, 149 cases in 2016, 22 cases in 2015, and 120 cases in August to December 2014. Of the 62 cases diagnosed this year, it known that 24 have been in three states: 10 in Illinois, eight in Texas and six in Minnesota. 'We have not been able to find the cause of the majority of AFM cases...and we're frustrated that we haven't been able to identify the cause of illness,' Dr Messonnier told reporters in a media call last week. The states Daily Mail Online is currently aware of with confirmed cases includes: Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas and Washington. A press officer for the CDC told Daily Mail Online last week that the agency would not be naming the additional states where cases have been confirmed due to 'privacy issues'. While the pattern of AFM most resembles an infectious disease, much remains unknown about the condition. Among the children infected is two-year-old Julia Payne from Chicago. She remained in the pediatric intensive care unit at Lurie Children's Hospital for weeks on a respirator and using a feeding tube because she was unable to swallow. She has since been discharged and transferred to Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, a rehabilitation center where she will face several weeks of physical therapy to regain strength and movement. In Minnesota, four-year-old Orville Young was likely the earliest confirmed case in the state, according to the Star Tribune. Orville has been in physical therapy for the last month-and-a-half. His mobility and gait have not returned to normal, but his legs are mostly functional now. His right arm, thus far, is still paralyzed. Fortunately many make a full or nearly full recovery of their movement as did five-year-old Elizabeth Storrie of Willow Park, Texas. She spent a month at Cook Children's Hospital, in Fort Worth, on IV fluids and a feeding tube until her condition improved. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST POLIO? AFM has been called a polio-like illness due to its resemblance to the viral infection that impacted hundreds of thousands, particularly between the late 1940s and early 1950s. The CDC even states on its website that symptoms 'have been most similar to complications of infection with certain viruses, including poliovirus, non-polio enteroviruses, adenoviruses, and West Nile virus'. Poliovirus is not the cause of any of the cases, but some cases have been linked to the enteroviruses EV-A71 and EV-D68, both of which are distant relatives of polio. Some cases have also been linked to rhinovirus. 'I'm not old enough to have seen a case of polio during my time in practice, but my colleagues who have say [AFM] is similar to what they saw back then,' Dr Acosta said. 'Is this a variant? Potentially, but we don't know.' In 1957, the US government approved the polio vaccine. After a nationwide campaign to get children immunized began, the numbers began falling drastically and, in 1979, polio was declared to be eradicated in the US. This year, Afghanistan and Pakistan are the only two countries where cases of wild poliovirus have been confirmed - largely due to poor sanitation and low levels of vaccination coverage. However, global eradication is now at risk due to vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) in five countries in Africa this year. Health experts say that this could result in silent transmission of both polio and AFM, because both can lead to paralysis if left undetected. Anti-vaxxers have blamed childhood polio vaccines for the outbreak, despite physicians saying there is no evidence to suggest this is the case. 'There is no evidence vaccines are causing this,' said Dr Acosta. 'And if we identify the agent that is causing it, the next step would be to develop a vaccine. It's the same reason, we developed flu vaccines - to lessen the burden of disease. 'The reason why you see lower rates of polio, whooping cough and other diseases is because we have vaccines that have made them very rare.' HOW CAN YOU PROTECT YOURSELF? The CDC advises getting vaccinated against Poliovirus and West Nile Virus due to both being potential causes of AFM. Health experts say this does not simply mean just staying up-to-date with vaccinations, but also minimizing exposure to mosquitoes. Additionally, you can use warm water and soap to avoid getting sick and spreading germs. 'It's a one-in-million chance to get this so it's extremely unlikely your child will get this,' said Dr Acosta. 'Even if they have sudden onset of weakness, AFM is unlikely to have caused it. It's more likely to be a stroke. However, if your child develops it, bring them in and this gives them the best chance of survival.' U2 Manchester Arena Rating: U2, who hold the world record for the highest-grossing concert tour, are in danger of becoming medium-sized. They now pitch camp in the arenas for two nights, not six, and their albums go gold rather than eight-times platinum. But they still put on a big show. This tour, billed as Experience And Innocence, is a sister to Innocence And Experience from 2015, and deploys the same giant double-sided screen to bisect the stalls. As a piece of technology, its still at the cutting edge; as a piece of stagecraft, its still turning bad seats into good ones. In Manchester it achieves the near-impossible, making the Arena feel human. Bono, The Edge, Larry Mullen and Adam Clayton start singing and playing on a walkway inside the screen, which is a fabulous trick even when you know its coming. Bono revisits his MacPhisto persona, which turns a natural public speaker into the kind of character you hope not to find on your doorstep at Halloween All evening the screen pulsates with life, backing up Bonos little speeches with facts, slogans and sparkling live footage. The Joshua Tree, performed in full on U2s short stadium tour last year, has now been shelved altogether, leaving this show to home in on last years Songs Of Experience and, less predictably, Achtung Baby. The new songs are likeable and thoughtful, but not familiar enough to raise the roof. Their 1991 album Achtung Baby scrubs up well, from Acrobat to Zoo Station, although it also encourages Bono to revisit his MacPhisto persona, which turns a natural public speaker into the kind of character you hope not to find on your doorstep at Halloween. While you miss the Joshua Tree hits, One repurposed to stand up for womens rights makes a gorgeous stand-in encore The best bits of the evening are unbeatable a soaring Pride, a ferocious I Will Follow and a rousing New Years Day, originally inspired by Lech Walesa, now banging the drum for European unity. And while you do miss the Joshua Tree hits, One repurposed to stand up for womens rights makes a gorgeous stand-in encore. By the end, U2 have shown that they can live without With Or Without You. U2 play the SSE Arena, Belfast, tonight ALSO WORTH SEEING David Byrne First Direct Arena, Leeds On tour until Fri Rating: When David Byrne brought his American Utopia show to Britain in June, it was the best gig Id seen in 15 years. So good, in fact, that I hesitated to see it again. Could something so sensational ever be repeated? Would an evening packed with surprises be as much fun if you knew what to expect? And would its quirky magic survive the leap from theatres to arenas? Yes, yes, yes. The chief brainwave from Byrne and his choreographer, Annie-B Parson, was clearing away all the clutter of the concert hall, from the amps to the drum riser, to leave an empty space to play with. And if theres one thing arenas do well, its empty space. The stage is the same silver box, writ larger still, and flanked by video screens. When David Byrne (centre) brought his American Utopia show to Britain in June, it was the best gig Id seen in 15 years. So good, in fact, that I hesitated to see it again There are still surprises to be sprung, because even the most memorable evening only stays with you as a set of snapshots, and a show this bold can take your breath away all over again. It has audacity to Byrne. Novelty turns out to be just one of its strengths. Great music doesnt become any less great when we hear it again. And theres still a thrill in the musicians freedom of movement. Byrne and his 11-strong band make full use of it, doing little dance routines that are like The Temptations with a twist of Antony Gormley. Never has so much joy been expressed by 12 people in grey suits. This is not the Byrne of Psycho Killer, itching to unnerve us. Its the Byrne of I Zimbra, Remain In Light and all those Brazilian compilations, the man who once said that the purpose of music was ecstatic release. He finds it here with a delirious Once In A Lifetime, a delicious This Must Be The Place, a skittish Lazy and a barnstorming Burning Down The House. The seven songs from American Utopia, the album, are witty and likeable. The nine from Talking Heads are immense, confirming the suspicion that they were the greatest of all the post-punk bands, just pipping The Clash. The set list ends up even better than last time as Byrne digs out Road To Nowhere, stirring as ever and rather too topical. The Talking Heads fans were hoping for Life During Wartime too, but, even without it, this is some party, this is some disco, this is some fooling around. Its the kind of evening when the lure of the merchandise stall is hard to resist. Byrne being Byrne, even the merch is quirky. You may never get a better chance to say Been there, done that, bought the tea towel. There are still, astonishingly, some good seats left for the O2 concert tomorrow. Hope to see you there. THIS WEEK'S CD RELEASES By Adam Woods Marianne Faithfull Negative Capability Out Fri Rating: Marianne Faithfull has been recording since the Sixties, but shes done some of her best work in the 21st century. Negative Capability continues a fine run, enlisting Nick Cave and others for a poised, gritty record of aged wisdom, songs for lost friends and topical dread Thom Yorke Suspira Out now Rating: The Radiohead frontmans score to a remake of a cult Italian horror film mixes fully fledged songs (including elegant piano ballads) with atmospheric pieces that use antique-sounding synthesisers, choral voices and orchestral scrapings to dramatic effect Boy George & Culture Club Life Out now Rating: Middle England Jonathan Coe Viking 16.99 Rating: Critics regularly complain that too many modern novels are set in the past. Wolf Hall, The Remains Of The Day, On Chesil Beach, True History Of The Kelly Gang the list of Booker Prize winners contains many works that are set decades, or even centuries, ago. Of course, all novels other than science fiction must to some extent be set in the past, as even the nimblest publisher takes six months to transform a dog-eared manuscript into a shiny new book. This means that state-of-the-nation novels, which aim for an immediate take on contemporary society, generally give off the slightly musty aroma of last years newspapers. So, in a funny sort of way, a novel in which David Cameron is Prime Minister, and Ed Miliband Leader of the Opposition, may seem more out of date than a novel in which King Henry VIII is ruling the roost. Nick Clegg and David Cameron during the years of the Lib Dem and Conservative coalition Undeterred by these perils, Jonathan Coe is the keenest and cleverest exponent of state-of-the-nation fiction. Judging by this new novel, he is also the most up-to-the-minute: its final section is dated September 2018, which suggests he must have written it in advance. Like many readers, I first came across him with the publication of What A Carve Up!, back in 1994. It was a satire on the greed of the Thatcher years, and, unlike so much satire, was zesty, fun, inventive and largely free of sanctimony. Coes greatest success came with The Rotters Club, which was published in 2001, but set in the Seventies. I missed it at the time, for some reason, but when I read it last week I was struck by how amazingly fresh and original it was, a pin-sharp portrait of the hopes and failures of adolescent schoolboys set against a backdrop of IRA bombings and industrial disputes. Another, more personal reason why I enjoyed it was that it covered my own particular generation (teenagers in the Seventies), and, with almost spooky accuracy, my own particular tastes: how many other people bought albums by Stackridge? A few years later, Coe brought the saga up to date by writing The Closed Circle, which followed the same wide-ranging group of characters the one-time schoolboys now entering middle age through Millennium Eve right up to the beginning of 2004, when it was published. And so, 14 years on, we come to Middle England, its title a good deal more portentous than The Rotters Club, and its general tone more sombre. The parental figures from The Rotters Club have either died, or are dying, the schoolboys are now facing retirement, and a new generation of teenagers is on the warpath. Most of Coes skills are out in force. Unlike many serious novelists, he is an extraordinarily deft plotter, able to interweave a wide variety of different stories with only occasional over-reliance on coincidence. His prose is simple and unshowy. The book zips along: you think youve read 20 pages and find youve read 40. And unlike most popular novelists, he tackles big, ambitious themes, in this case, the effect of politics on peoples lives, and political opinions on personal relations. In Middle England, one of the younger characters is contemplating splitting up with her husband. The reason is Brexit Real news events pepper the narrative. The book opens in April 2010 with the funeral of the mother of Benjamin, the main character in the series. On the drive back, his father turns on the radio to hear the news that, on the election trail, the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, has called a member of the public a bigoted woman. As the novel progresses, the contemporary news references multiply: the murder of Joanna Yeates in Bristol, the police raid on Cliff Richards house, Ed Milibands bacon sandwich, the death of Victoria Wood. Every now and then, they become a pivotal part of the story. In one section, Coe features a number of his characters watching the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympics in their different homes and chronicles their various reactions. But it is the prospect of Brexit that hangs over all the proceedings, so much so that it could rightly be described as the novels principal topic. Towards the end of Middle England, one of the younger characters is contemplating splitting up with her husband. The reason is Brexit. A couple might decide to separate for all sorts of reasons: adultery, cruelty, domestic abuse, lack of sex. But a difference of opinion over whether Britain should be a member of the European Union or not? It seemed absurd. Yet, after the referendum, for the first time, she genuinely realised that she no longer understood why her husband thought and felt the way that he did. At the same time, she herself had been possessed by the immediate sense, that morning, that a small but important part of her own identity her modern, layered, multiple identity had been taken away from her. This is an interesting area, and, of course, breathlessly contemporary. I imagine we all know families for whom the great Brexit debate exposed deeper fault lines. So when a marriage counsellor informs Coes fictional husband and wife that many of the couples she was seeing at the moment had mentioned Brexit as a key factor in their growing estrangement, it all seems perfectly plausible. At the same time, Coes treatment of the Brexit debate strikes me as the novels main weakness. His own bias is so resolutely and nakedly Remain that it infects his characters, and undermines the necessary illusion that they have thoughts independent of their creator. The shambolic hero of the series, Benjamin, is dithering about how to vote when he turns on the BBC News channel and sees Nigel Farage unveiling the Leave campaigns Breaking Point poster, featuring a long queue of migrants. Benjamin actually shuddered at the crude, unapologetic xenophobia of the image' As often happens with state-of-the-nation novels, sophisticated themes give way to Toytown impulses: to put it only very slightly too simply, Coes goodies are Remainers, and his baddies are Brexiteers. Near the end, the pantomime villain of the whole series, Ronald Culpepper, who wrecked the prospects of a black boy in The Rotters Club and has since become rich on South African diamonds, is revealed as a key player in the Brexit campaign. As he drives away, Coe tells us that The rank odour of hatred hung in the air even after the car had disappeared from view. Likewise, the shambolic hero of the series, Benjamin, is dithering about how to vote when he turns on the BBC News channel and sees Nigel Farage unveiling the Leave campaigns Breaking Point poster, featuring a long queue of migrants. Benjamin actually shuddered at the crude, unapologetic xenophobia of the image. It was the ugliest thing he had seen yet in this ugly campaign. As soon as he saw it, he knew that his mind was made up. Of all the art forms, the great glory of the novel is its ability to convey the complexity of human beings. On the other hand, it is in the nature of politics, particularly the binary politics of a referendum, to render everything simply in black and white. This is where Coe falls down. He not only fails to resolve the contradictions of the political novel, but reinforces them with stereotypes. As often happens with state-of-the-nation novels, sophisticated themes give way to Toytown impulses: to put it only very slightly too simply, Coes goodies are Remainers, and his baddies are Brexiteers The least convincing scenes take place between Doug, the rebellious schoolboy who is now a well-to-do middle-aged leftish newspaper commentator, and Nigel, the nauseating son of one of his old schoolmates, who has risen to be the coalition governments deputy assistant director of communications. At one point, Doug asks Nigel about any ideological divide between Cameron and Clegg. Well, replies Nigel, Dave went to Eton, and Nick went to Westminster. Thats a pretty big difference, I can see that. Dialogue like this is too ludicrous to be real, and too obvious to be satirical. All it effectively does is to establish the authors visceral loathing of the long-gone coalition government. IT'S A FACT In 2012 Coe was invited to become a duke of the kingdom of Redonda, a tiny island in the Caribbean. He chose as his title Duke of Prunes. Advertisement Before long, Coes characters are corralled into becoming mouthpieces for his own views. Here, for instance, is nice Sophie, walking through her home city: On this sunny day in April, the people of Birmingham young people, mainly were going about their lives in happy and peaceful acceptance of precisely that melding of different cultures that [Enoch] Powells pinched, ungenerous mind had only been able to imagine leading to violence Fair enough, I suppose, and as a Remain voter I have no real issue with Coes politics. But he set out to write a state-of-the-nation novel, and ended up writing an animated Guardian editorial. For a writer of his extraordinary ability, thats a great shame. Its conceivable that while you blow things up next weekend on bonfire night that there may also be a banger in your bun. Where sausages are concerned a good beer is hard to beat just try Bratwurst while sipping Weizenbock. But wine too can make sausages go with a bang as long as you pop the right one. If youre sizzling a pork sausage thats laced with apples, leeks or honey, try a rich white such as South African Chenin Blanc or the fragrant Grenache Blanc-Viognier blend Ive found this week from Lea & Sandeman. These bolder whites - especially when theyve been fleshed out by a soak in some oak - balance with the texture of the sausage whereas reds risk rampaging and dominating its succulence. And if youre lashing on the mustard and pickles, Riesling from Australia has the right intensity to prevail, or try the beautiful Hungarian white Im recommending from the Wine Society from the Keknyelu grape, a new one on me and a real find. If its an all-round red youre after, top notch Beaujolais is hard to beat thanks to its deft lightness or look for Piquepoul Noir for something good value from off the beaten track. But when your banger is packed with fiery spice thats primed for a detonation, a big red with bulging deep fruit cushions the blast perfectly, and my go to bottles are reds from sunny Portugal. But if youre serving the old classic bangers and mash, southern French reds with more subtle spicing are grand. My neighbor Bob, for instance, loves red wines from Fitou, an appellation producing hearty red blends that are perfect to give your bangers a more gentle blast. But when it comes to beef sausages, while deep sleek Malbec is perfect to pair with steaks, the texture of sausage is more mellow so stay with lighter reds such as Pinot Noir and hit the bullseye. As for game sausages, rich earthy Riojas rule, especially filthy old Gran Reservas that reek like a cigar box thats been stuffed with mushrooms and squeezed in a leather belt. Or just grab a local beer and quench that banger. Trainer Jimmy Takter has informed Trot Insider that two-time OBrien Award winner Ariana G 4,1:50.2 ($2,600,995) has been retired from racing. The winner of 26 of 40 starts and over $2.6 million in purses will go down in harness racing history as one of the top female trotters of all time. She also currently co-owns Canadas three-year-old trotting filly record, as her 1:51.4 clocking in the 2017 Elegantimage Stakes final is tied with Manchegos 1:51.4 mile from two months ago. Ariana G, who is a four-year-old daughter of Muscle Hill, dominated her division at two and three and was rewarded with both OBrien and Dan Patch Awards at the end of those campaigns. She won nine of her 11 juvenile starts and 12 of her 15 sophomore starts. Ariana Gs juvenile victories included the $600,000 Breeders Crown Two-Year-Old Filly Trot, the $275,880 Peaceful Way Stakes and the $306,500 Jim Doherty. She kept on rolling at three, as she captured the $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks, $500,000 Breeders Crown Three-Year-Old Filly Trot and the $385,000 Elegantimage. Ariana G, pictured capturing the Hambletonian Oaks at the Meadowlands with Yannick Gingras in 2017 She won five of her 14 starts this year at four and banked over $618,000. She defeated male competition this year while capturing the $405,850 Hambletonian Maturity and the $250,000 Graduate, and also tasted victory after the $150,000 Dayton Trotting Derby where she lowered the track record. Ariana G most recently raced this past Saturday in the Breeders Crown, where she raced tough from Post 8 in the $250,000 Breeders Crown Open Mare Trot. She made the lead in the second quarter of the race, but was collared in the lane and had to settle for a hard-fought fifth. She was individually clocked in 1:54.4. Ariana G is a homebred of powerhouse Canadian breeders Marvin Katz (of Toronto, Ont.) and Al Libfeld (Pickering, Ont.). Cendrillon (Cinderella) Glyndebourne, East Sussex Until Sat, touring until Dec 1 Rating: This Cendrillon is a real curates egg. The singing is good in almost every part; Fiona Shaws erratic, dogmatic, right-on direction is good in very few parts. Massenets opera is rarely heard, and there are valid reasons for its neglect. He couldnt decide whether it was a fairy tale or something with pretensions to be a second Tristan And Isolde. The fairytale bits are enjoyable, with some highly accomplished music, though no killer tunes. But midway through its all change: two formidable duets between Prince Charming and Cinderella take on a Wagner-like intensity (Massenet was a huge admirer of Wagner), frankly beyond Massenets capabilities to bring off. One of Cendrillon's stepsisters, Noemie (Eduarda Melo), has a makeover in preparation for the ball. Sadly, the ugly sisters fail to display any particular comic gifts The basic story is, of course, very familiar; the opera not at all. So a director content to lay the drama out without irritating concepts would have been good. But thats not Fiona Shaws way. What we get is heavy-handed symbolism: a wretched butterfly turns up everywhere; there are annoying additional characters, like a child Cinderella darting around, ruining some of Massenets better orchestral interludes; and worst of all, Prince Charming and Cinderella ultimately emerging as a lesbian couple. I suppose Massenet asked for this, making both of them mezzos. But a Prince Charming (who is anything but) turning into a woman halfway through is a bridge too far for me. A shame, because most of the singing really is rather good. The Fairy is brilliantly sung by Caroline Wettergreen, an excellent coloratura soprano of whom much more will be heard. Alix Le Saux is an idiomatic Cendrillon, though Eleonore Pancrazi, as the not-so-charming Prince, makes little impact (Shaws fault, of course). The veteran William Dazeley is excellent as Cinderellas super-wuss dad, but the wicked stepmother and ugly sisters fail to display any particular comic gifts. In the pit, Duncan Ward directs with real flair. So if the tour comes anywhere near you, this is well worth seeing. But whether Middle Britain will take to Ms Shaws outlook on life is very debatable. This Cendrillon comes to the main festival next summer, with major cast changes. And, one hopes, with some changes from Ms Shaw as well. glyndebourne.com Some years ago, a patient asked me which HRT (hormone replacement therapy) I was taking. I wasnt sure whether to be offended that she thought I was old enough to be on it, or flattered that she wanted what I was having. The fact that I was on HRT made it feel like being outed. But why was it as awkward as if Id been asked about my tax bill? Even as a doctor, my menopause is not easy to talk about. The menopause is seen as positive and liberating, bringing self-awareness, growth and the chance to reassess their roles Dr Isabel de Salis, from Bristol University, has found that women going through the menopause fall into three groups. Before HRT, I would have been in the Copers camp. Now I no longer wake at night in a hot sweat and feel exhausted by the morning, I place myself with the Upsiders. Ive found one of the best ways to deal with this time of change is to view it as a rite of passage embrace it, talk about it and, if you are suffering, ask for help. The British Menopause Society (thebms.org.uk) is a good place to start. Here I paraphrase the groups that Dr Isabel defined. Copers. These women see the menopause as a normal biological process. They talk about it openly, as another step on the journey of life. Copers may not be unduly troubled by symptoms (which can include hot flushes, sweats, low mood, complicated emotions, poor sleep, irritability, brain fog, low energy, loss of interest in sex, vaginal dryness), or may just be soldiering on but there is help on offer (see below). Upsiders. The menopause is seen as positive and liberating, bringing self-awareness, growth and the chance to reassess their roles. Some are surprised to find their sexuality re-emerging and accept changes are inevitable so go with them and sometimes even find them positive. One woman who had felt cold all her life enjoyed feeling toasty during a hot flush, or upsiders may see the positives in no longer having to worry about contraception. Strugglers. Those who see the menopause as largely negative a barren land, signalling the end of fertility, youthfulness and sexuality. This group often has the most severe symptoms. One participant in Dr Isabels study said that the taboo around the menopause and a fear of ridicule only added to her physical distress. Her doctor had also dismissed her experiences so she had been put off seeking further help. If you are struggling, it usually helps to make lifestyle changes such as maintaining a healthy weight, which improves hormone balance, reducing sugar and starchy foods, eating things such as soy beans, flaxseeds and tofu, which contain phytoestrogens (as it mimics oestrogen), enjoying some fruit and adequate protein as well as keeping active. Over-the-counter preparations, such as the herb black cohosh, work for some but the evidence is limited and there is a wide range of medical treatments, which Ill be writing about in future columns. Sweet success for the NHS Good news: after NHS England challenged trusts last year to reduce sales of sugary drinks in their hospitals, purchases have been halved. Hurrah! That means ten million fewer teaspoons of sugar have been consumed by patients, visitors and staff. It can be hard to know what to bring for someone you are visiting in hospital. A good idea is aromatherapy for relaxation try This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray However, there is still an awful lot of the unhealthy white stuff being sold to people in the very place thats meant to help them get well: 1.1 million cans of sugary drinks are still drunk, containing roughly 39,000 kilos of sugar. It can be hard to know what to bring for someone you are visiting in hospital. I suggest berries, hard fruits such as apples and pears, or cheese and seeded crackers. Another good idea is aromatherapy for relaxation try This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray (18, thisworks.com). If you have a question you would like answered, email drclarebailey@you.co.uk. Clare will read all your emails but regrets she cannot answer them personally Skin Perfecting Highlighter; Hydrating Bronzer Volumising Balm Gloss If you were thinking of launching a beauty brand, organic skincare wouldnt be a bad move according to the Soil Association the market grew by 24 per cent in the UK alone last year (its seventh consecutive year of growth), with sales of around 75.9 million. However, while organic skincare has been gaining ground and reputation, organic make-up has lagged behind a bit in truth, the textures have left a lot to be desired. Well, not any more. Earlier this year Dr Hauschka relaunched its offering and now The Organic Pharmacy has, too, hoping to up its cosmetic ante. The brands founder Margo Marrone has spent two years reformulating and repackaging the range, working hard to make everything as environmentally friendly and sustainable as possible, with lipglosses and even mascaras coming in sleek glass tubes, while powders are housed in cardboard compacts slipped into envelopes (all the paper, by the way, is made from hemp, bamboo and bagasse). Marrone says: I wanted to try to compete with the gold standard, but in an organic formula. I didnt want someone to use the products [feel disappointed] and say, Yes, wellit is organic and its been a challenge. The biggest issue is colour; organic offerings, explains Marrone, cant provide the wide shade choice of non-organic brands. Until recently, there really wasnt a pink or red that you could get from nature not one that would be stable but we have managed to do it from plant pigments. The result is a simple collection built around the basic products most women use daily and, while the colour spectrum may not be vast the Volumising Balm Gloss (25) comes in red (pictured), pink, coral and clear sparkle; the Sheer Glow Liquid Blush (19) in three shades the textures are really impressive. Marrones personal favourite is the Skin Perfecting Highlighter (19) Its so dreamy, even my 20-year-old daughter wants some. Meanwhile the Hydrating Bronzer (39) can hold its own and the Hydrating Foundation (45), which comes in four shades, is truly top notch. While we cant offer the vast choices of brands such as Fenty Beauty its just not possible, says Marrone, weve instead concentrated on the shades that are most popular with our customers. So, if you can find one that suits you, this is good and feel-good stuff. The new Organic Pharmacy make-up collection launches on Thursday; there will be a waiting list operating online at theorganicpharmacy.com Marks & Spencer Lifeology Lemongrass & Thyme Fragranced 2-in-1 Body Lotion; Ohii Daydream Hand Cream in Almond Right up our street Beauty offerings from the high street are gaining pace. First Marks & Spencer wowed us with its Lifeology skincare range: the Lemongrass & Thyme Fragranced 2-in-1 Body Lotion (4, marksandspencer.com) absorbs quickly and smells fresh. Now Urban Outfitters has launched its beauty brand Ohii. Full marks to the Daydream Hand Cream in Almond (8), which smells just like marzipan. Available at urbanoutfitters.com and in selected stores. His and hers Larry King Velvet Texture Clay; David de Rothschild The Lost Explorer Travelers Protection Balm The rise of unisex beauty (products and packaging that can speak to anyone) continues with the launch of snipper-to-the-stars Larry Kings hairstyling brand. For his new range, this charming man, whose clients include supermodels David Gandy and Arizona Muse, has created a Velvet Texture Clay (22, larryking.co.uk), Volumizing Hair Mist (29) and, our favourite, A Social Life For Your Hair (23), a satin finishing cream that tames and shines all hair types. Larry King Volumizing Hair Mist; Larry King A Social Life For Your Hair Meanwhile, the dapper environmentalist activist David de Rothschild has his The Lost Explorer Travelers Protection Balm (from 28) for all a botanical salve to rub on chests and under nostrils to help prevent illness. All net profits from the balm go to projects that protect nature. Available from libertylondon.com and contentbeautywellbeing.com. HSBC is leading the footsie higher this morning after reporting better-than-expected profits thanks to growth in current accounts, savings and in its wealth management division. The banking giant, which has endured a major restructuring in recent years, said adjusted profits rose 16 per cent to 4.5billion ($6.2billion US dollars) in the last three months - exceeding the banks' own estimate. Shares in HSBC rose 5.4 per cent to 632.29p in morning trading, making it the biggest riser on the FTSE 100 on Monday morning. Rising profits: Some 75 per cent of HSBC profit came from Asia in the third quarter Europe's biggest bank which makes the biggest chunk of its earnings in Asia said three quarters of its profit came from its Asian business, up 10 per cent from the same period last year. By comparison, Europe, including the UK, accounted for just $908million of its third quarter profits. Loans and advances to customers increased by $8billion. New chief executive John Flint said: 'These are encouraging results that demonstrate the revenue potential of HSBC. 'We are doing what we said we would - delivering growth from areas of strength, and investing in the business while keeping a strong grip on costs. HSBC has struggled to control costs this year. But operating expenses fell 7 per cent to $7.97billion during the period, leaving them up 2 per cent since the beginning of the year. Since taking on the top job in February, Flint has outlined plans to spend as much as $17billion in three years on the banks digital network and in China. In June, he unveiled an eight-point turnaround plan aimed at boosting HSBCs Asia business, completing the ring-fencing of its UK bank, increasing its share of the mortgage market and ramping up its customer service. HSBC is also hiring more staff to boost growth in some of its business units including investment banking and private banking. Laith Khalaf, senior analyst Hargreaves Lansdown, said HSBCs exposure to China could backfire if Trumps trade war dents growth in the region. He said: Profit growth has been broad-based across HSBCs main banking activities, and whats positive is thats coming from a rising top line rather than simply cost-cutting, which can only deliver results for so long. Indeed adjusted operating costs have actually ticked up, though thats to support investment in growth opportunities, notably in the banks digital proposition. As an international retail and commercial bank, HSBC is clearly plugged into the global economy, and in particular the fortunes of China and the surrounding area. While in the long term this looks like an ace in the sleeve, investors should expect a bumpy journey, particularly if Trumps trade war dents growth in the region. New boss: John Flint said the results were 'encouraging' Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said HSBC's scale and Asian bias means it is not at the mercy of Brexit or a competitive UK mortgage market. He added: 'In the first half the companys jaws comparing income to operating expenses growth trends was negative as the company continued a programme of heavy investment under new chief executive John Flint. 'Reining back on spending a bit means the company is better positioned to fulfil its pledge to deliver positive jaws by the end of 2018. This is important as analysts had seen the negative jaws as a constraint on the performance on the shares. 'However, any scaling back of expenditure will need to be balanced with the need to make the necessary investments for future growth.' W7 Cosmetics' new face: Love Island star Olivia Buckland The company behind W7 Cosmetics, which recruited Love Island star Olivia Buckland as its new face for 2018, lost nearly half of its market value today after issuing a profit warning. Warpaint London, which also owns Technic and Man'stuff brands, said retailers cut back on Christmas orders and this would hit profits, sending its shares crashing as much as 45 per cent. The company said that international trading has remained strong, but it was not enough to offset a decline in its key UK market. Accounting for nearly half of the groups sales (44 per cent) in the first half of the year, the UK market has seen further slowing recently, with retailers reducing stock levels and Christmas orders, the company said. This reduction in previously anticipated UK sales will have an impact on Group performance for the full year that will not be completely offset by better than anticipated performance in our major overseas sales territories, it added. Shares in the small cap firm were down 45 per cent at 112.20p at around midday. Warpaint Londons brands are stocked in high street retailers including B&M, TK Maxx, Boots and Superdrug. It also produces white label products for the likes of Asda and Matalan. The company said it expects revenues for 2018 to come in between 48million and 52million and pre-tax profits to be in the range of 8.5million and 10million, down from a previous estimate of 12million. The firm, which debuted on London's junior market in late 2016, said it saw strong growth in international markets with sales in the US up 60 per cent as at the end of September, while EU sales excluding the UK were up 13 per cent. Falling: Warpaint London shares crashed by 45% today Karla Rendle, senior analyst at GlobalData Retail, said: The cosmetics market in the UK continues to see strong growth forecast, however a highly saturated market means retailers are under greater pressure to respond to ever changing trends. Placing smaller orders allows retailers to be more agile in reacting to trend-fuelled demand and prioritising shelf space. Social media drives trends for make-up at such a pace that retailers will suffer if they order too much of the wrong brand or product. House prices for luxury properties in London have slipped 2.9 per cent in the last year due to Brexit uncertainty and landlord tax changes, according to a new report. The capital was placed 38th in a list of 43 cities across the globe, as prime property prices fell into negative territory, according to the index from estate agents Knight Frank. It says concerns over Britain leaving the EU and a tax hit from the rise in stamp duty for landlords and second home buyers, have led to a fall in prices in the top five per cent of homes by value. Knight Frank's experts said that property prices in prime central London are trading 10 to 20 per cent below their peak in 2014. Prime London: The Knight Frank index looked at high-end property prices from 43 cities around the world, including the capital The decline appears to be accelerating, as London property prices dropped by 2.3 per cent in just six months between March and September - after years of growth on the index - indicating that they could fall further next time round. The drop in prices has been exacerbated by more landlords attempting to sell their properties following tax changes, leading to extra supply at the same time as people are reluctant to spend millions of pounds on London property. The 2016 changes to stamp duty added a three per cent surcharge on all rates for buy-to-let properties. This affects anyone buying a property that is not their main residence and on the average property in Kensington & Chelsea, which costs 1.4million according to the ONS, the stamp duty tax bill would be 125,750. Singapore is the city that has seen the most growth in the housing market with a rise of a whopping 13.1 per cent over the last 12 months. However, this slowed to 1.7 per cent in the last three months, indicating a slight cooling. The city was closely followed by Scotland's capital, Edinburgh, which had risen by 10.6 per cent in the last 12 months - a stark contrast to London. Madrid rounded off the top three with a hefty rise of 10.1 per cent in the last 12 months. Table showing the change in housing prices over the last 12 months, 6 months and 3 months Tax changes on mortgage interest tax relief, that were made in 2017, have also led to property investors fleeing the UK market. Landlords can no longer claim all of their mortgage interest against income tax on rent, under new rules that are to be phased in over the next couple of years. This will be removed altogether by 2020 and replaced with a 20 per cent tax credit on mortgage interest paid. The average home in London's Kensington & Chelsea costs 1,400,000 today, according to the ONS, whereas in 1998 it would have cost 230,000 Last week we revealed that the number of available rental properties is down in London by around a fifth annually, with agents finding tenants four days quicker for landlords' properties than a year ago. Drop in prices: Graph highlighting the change in annual performance over the last 12 months Liam Bailey, global head of research at Knight Frank said: 'Uncertainty around Brexit has certainly caused some prospective buyers in London to delay their plans. 'However, it is higher stamp duty rates, which have led to a slowdown in sales volumes and also falling prices in the UK capital. 'Price falls in central London mean housing is trading at 10 per cent to 20 per cent lower than in 2014. 'That said the volume of prospective purchasers registering to buy is very high currently, suggesting that when clarity on the Brexit deal is provided activity should rise relatively quickly.' Prices of luxury properties have increased by an average of 2.7 per cent across the 43 cities that the estate agents looked at. Price falls in central London mean housing is trading at 10 per cent to 20 per cent lower than in 2014 Liam Bailey, Knight Frank This represents the index's weakest performance in annual terms for almost six years. Only Vancouver, Istanbul, Stockholm, Taipei and Dubai have seen bigger high-end property price falls than London. Earlier in the month, latest Office for National Statistics figures showed that property prices in the capital had fallen in the past year, citing Brexit, heavier taxes and stretched affordability. Across the UK, the cost of the average home grew by 3.4 per cent, but in the capital they fell by 0.2 per cent in the year ending in August. The areas of London to have seen the biggest price falls are some of the most expensive in the capital, such as the central borough of Westminster, where the average price has fallen by 7.6 per cent in August to 957,062, from more than 1million in August last year. Hammersmith & Fulham, in the West of the capital, has seen prices fall by six per cent from 781,175 to 734,254 in the year, according to the ONS. In Southwark, prices dropped by 4.2 per cent to an average of 512,874, followed by Wandsworth, where prices fell by 3.8 per cent to 610,048 and Camden, where prices fell by two per cent to 846,662. In some cases, we found instances of expensive London homes having reductions of more than 45 per cent in order to sell. Today's Budget offered a glimmer of hope for Britain's small businesses after the Treasury attempted to offer them some respite ahead of Brexit. Philip Hammond cut business rates by a third for all retailers in England with a rateable value of 51,000 or less, which he claimed would save up to 8,000 a year for up to 90 per cent of all independent shops, pubs, restaurants and cafes. The move was welcomed by entrepreneur Mike Turner, who runs Bird & Blend Tea Co - a string of seven high street tea shops, and said it would have saved him 3,000 annually when he started up. The Chancellor also pledged to remove small businesses from the scope of a crackdown on off payroll' working and kicked an anticipated VAT threshold revaluation into the long grass. The Chancellor Philip Hammond announced a 675 million 'Future High Streets Fund' to allow councils to rejuvenate high streets Mike Cherry, national chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses said: 'This is the most small business-friendly budget that this Chancellor has delivered. 'He has listened to our requests across many areas of tax and public policy, putting him firmly on the side of Britains small businesses.' Emma Jones, founder of small business support group Enterprise Nation, praised the Treasury's decision not to slash the threshold at which businesses would become VAT registered. She added: 'Moving the threshold now would have a knock-on effect on Making Tax Digital which starts in April for VAT-registered businesses, so that's a bullet dodged for our members, at least for the meantime.' Cut to rates would have saved us 3,000 when we started up Mike Turner, who runs Bird & Blend Tea Co with partner Krisi Smith, said the cut to business rates is a step in the right direction Mike Turner, 40, who runs Bird & Blend Tea Co - a string of seven high street tea shops with three locations in London - welcomed the cut to business rates in England. He said: These cuts would have would have reduced our bills by about 3,000 when we started, which would have been very helpful, but they have come a little to late for us. 'This relief will help single location independents who bring diversity to the high street, it will also help online-only businesses open exciting bricks and mortar shop fronts. 'But we also need to support the growing companies, who are often facing significantly higher costs and support a lot of jobs in the retail sector.' Reprieve for high street retailers The Chancellor announced a number of measures to help struggling shops on the country's high streets, which have been buffeted by high business rates and the rapid rise of online shopping. Business rates will be reduced by a third for two years for small shops in England with rateable value of 51,000, which Hammond suggested would result in annual savings of up to 8,000 for up to 90 per cent of all independent shops, pubs, restaurants and cafes. The Chancellor also unveiled a 675million Future High Streets Fund to allow councils to rejuvenate high streets. He said: 'Embedded in the fabric of our great cities, towns, and villages, the high street lies at the heart of many communities. 'And it is under pressure as never before as Britain adopts online shopping with greater alacrity than any other large economy. 'So, if Britains High Streets are to remain at the centre of our community life they will need to adapt. Today we support them to do so.' According to the Chancellor, the fund will offer support to local councils which will be able to draw up formal plans for the transformation of their high streets to invest in the improvements they need. He argued this would facilitate redevelopment of under-used retail and commercial areas into residential, helping with the housing challenge and delivering much needed footfall to high street businesses. Self-employed contractors In April 2017 the Government introduced new rules - known as IR35 - to crack down on public sector workers paid through personal service companies, who worked for just one client and employed just one person, effectively making them an employee. These companies were criticised for years as a tax dodge that allowed contractors to pay significantly less income tax and national insurance. It also saved the companies paying these employees vast amounts in employers' national insurance contributions. The introduction of IR35 meant that it was left up to public-sector employers to determine whether national insurance contributions and income tax applied to the self-employed contractors working for them. The reform was widely expected to be extended to the private sector, however, the Chancellor today confirmed that smaller firms will be exempt from the rule change, while medium-sized and larger businesses will have to adapt by April 2020. Julian Sansum, employment tax partner at PwC, said: 'Having a single set of rules for taxing contractors in both the public and private sectors is a sensible step, but the impact of these reforms should not be underestimated, and arguably represent the most significant changes to the operation of employment taxes for many years. 'There will be direct cost implications for businesses which decide their contractors fall within the IR35 rules, largely driven by employer national insurance contributions and the apprenticeship levy totalling 14.3 per cent which will be chargeable on contractor fees. 'In addition, businesses will need to make the necessary changes to their systems and processes, which could be complex.' VAT The widely mooted fall in the turnover level above which a business must enter the VAT system and charge the tax on its sales did not come to fruition. Hammond confirmed it will remain at 85,000 until at least 2022, maintaining it as one of the highest in the world, except for Singapore, and dwarfing the EU average of 20,000. The Chancellor said the Government will look again at the possibility of introducing a 'smoothing mechanism' after 2022. It's not clear what this could look like but some have suggested it might be a combination of reducing the threshold but allowing businesses to keep a portion of the VAT they collect, once the terms of EU exit are clear. Entrepreneurs' Relief While the Chancellor left capital gains tax unchanged, he tweaked rules on tax relief for entrepreneurs by extending the qualifying period from 12 months to two years. Entrepreneurs pay a lower rate of tax at 10 per cent instead of the standard 20 per cent on capital gains when they sell or give away all or part of their company. The change aims to tackle some who were abusing the relief while not completely scrapping the tax break claimed by around 50,000 a year. Jenny Tooth, chief executive of the UK Business Angels Association: 'While this was a challenging period for the Government, it is great to know that Budget amendments have not come at the expense of a thriving entrepreneurial community. The Entrepreneurs Relief is an incentive for entrepreneurs to set up, grow, sell and re-invest into UK businesses and to contribute to the nations thriving economic environment. The child-like scribblings of Australia's worst female serial killer Kathleen Megan Folbigg shocked a nation and condemned her to 25 years in prison. Folbigg was brought to justice over the deaths of her four children in 2003 after her former husband Craig Folbigg found her diaries at their home in the New South Wales Hunter Valley. The 51-year-old was last week granted an inquiry into the deaths of Laura, Sarah, Caleb and Patrick, who died aged 19 days to 19 months between 1989 and 1999. Kathleen Folbigg leaves the Supreme Court of NSW during her murder trial in 2003 A page from Folbigg's diary: 'With Sarah all I wanted was her to shut up. And one day she did' Caleb (left) was just 19 days old when he died in February 1989, while Patrick (right), was seven months in February 1991 Folbigg's legal team believes new technology will prove her innocence and that her trial, which relied heavily on the diaries, was flawed. The diary entries stunned a nation and saw Folbrigg imprisoned for at least 25 years on three counts of murder and one count each of manslaughter and maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm. The chilling entries were made after the death of her first three children. 'Very depressed with myself, angry and upset. I've done it. I lost it with her,' she wrote of baby Laura on January 28, 1998. Laura would be the last of her children to die before her murderous spree was discovered. 'I yelled at her so angrily that it scared her. She hasn't stopped crying. Got so bad I nearly purposely dropped her on the floor and left her. I restrained enough to put her on the floor and walk away. Went to my room and left her to cry.' Sarah (left) died aged 10 months in August 1993 while her sister Laura (right) was 18 months old when she died in February 1999 Kathleen Megan Folbigg and baby Sarah, one of four of her children who died suddenly Evidence presented during Folbigg's Supreme Court trial, which saw her convicted of murder 'Was gone probably only five minutes but it seemed like a lifetime. I feel like the worst mother on this earth. Scared that she'll leave me now. Like Sarah did. I knew I was short tempered and cruel sometimes to her and she left. With a bit of help.' The entry was probably the most damning among scores of disturbing confessions about her treatment of her precious babies. Only weeks earlier, on New year's Eve, she seemingly mocked the deaths of Laura's siblings. 'She's a fairly good natured baby, thank goodness, it will save her from the fate of her siblings. I think she was warned,' she wrote. A month earlier, Folbigg wrote of her desire to try and be a better mother this time around, but she was failing badly. 'Think I handle her fits of crying better than I did with Sarah - I've learnt to, once getting to me, to walk away and breathe in for a while myself. It helps me cope and figure out how to help her,' she wrote. 'With Sarah all I wanted was her to shut up. And one day she did.' Kathleen Folbigg thought she wrote 'like a five-year-old'. 'Don't think anyone could read this' The scribbled notes of Kathleen Folbigg, who was dubbed Australia's worst female serial killer In another entry, Folbrigg wrote of her disdain for baby Sarah, who was killed aged just 10 months in August 1993. 'Looking at the video, Sarah was boyish looking. Laura has definite feminine features. They are chalk and cheese. And truthfully just as well. Wouldn't of handled another one like Sarah. She saved her life by being different.' Folbrigg seemingly wanted baby Laura to live, but her demons would not allow it. 'I think this baby deserves everything I can give her. Considering I really gave nothing to the others. I think even my feelings towards this one are already deeper,' she wrote in April 1997. 'Shame, but that's the way it is. I think its because I'm 30 now and time to settle and bring up a child. Obviously I wasn't ready before at all.' An entry outlining Folbigg's feelings following the birth of Patrick, who was the second to die It was the same year she predicted that one day her evil game would be exposed. 'That will be the day to lock me up and throw away the key. Something I'm sure will happen one day,' she wrote. Laura was just 18 months old in February 1999 when she was killed by her mother. In the weeks before her death, Folbrigg wallowed in self pity. 'I'm tired all the time,' she wrote. 'Want to do nothing but sleep. It's not Craig it's me. Plus, we don't get to go out to dinner or dancing together anymore. There isn't much, well there's no, romance between us anymore. It's all "let's make money and raise Laura". We've forgotten ourselves in the process. Sad how that happens. 'One of my problems is I've lost me again. I'm just Mrs Craig Folbigg, now I'm just Laura's mother as well. Where's Kath gone? A person in her own right, who needs to have writing lessons but probably better if I don't then no one, not even me, will be able to read this when I'm gone.' Craig Folbigg, former husband of Kathleen Folbigg, arrives at the Supreme Court in Darlinghurst in 2003 with his then girlfriend Helen to await the jury's verdict In phone calls recorded by ABC's Australian Story last year, Folbrigg tried to explain her murderous diaries. 'You've got to understand that those diaries are written from a point of me always blaming myself,' Folbigg said in one phone call. 'I blamed myself for everything. It's just I took so much of the responsibility, because that's, as mothers, what you do.' The inquiry into her convictions will likely focus on new research and medical advances including multiple 'natural' infant deaths in the one family, a Sydney court has heard. Little Laura Folbigg; her mother Kathleen Folbigg's diary entries helped convict her of murder The NSW government in August agreed to a judicial review of her case. Lawyers for Folbigg lodged a petition in 2015 casting doubt on some of the evidence that led to her conviction. At a directions hearing in Sydney on Thursday last week, counsel assisting Gail Furness SC said the inquiry should focus on medical evidence and expert opinions. It would look at 'new research or literature concerning incidents of reported deaths of three or more infants in the same family attributed to unidentified natural causes.' This medical focus was unopposed by Folbigg's barrister, Dr Robert Cavanagh. According to former NSW District Court chief judge Reginald Blanch, who is heading the inquiry, hearings are unlikely to begin until late February 2019. The inquiry is then slated to run for six to 12 months. Newly married Real Housewives of Atlanta star Eva Marcille has shared her honeymoon snaps with DailyMailTV - and gushes that she had an 'amazing' time with new husband Michael Sterling. Eva and Michael jetted to the beautiful island of Santorini in Greece for the two week luxury break after getting married on October 7. Pictures from the trip show the newlyweds, both 33, wining and dining, lounging at clifftop bars with spectacular views of the Aegean Sea, exploring cobbled streets of the Greek island and hiking its rocky outcrops. 'The island was absolutely gorgeous.' Eva told DailyMailTV. 'Our honeymoon was perfect, wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else in the world.' Eva Marcille, 33, shared her honeymoon snaps with DailyMailTV - and gushed that she had an 'amazing' time with her new hubby Michael Sterling Eva and Michael jetted to the beautiful island of Santorini in Greece for the two week luxury break after getting married on October 7 Pictures from the trip show the newlyweds, both 33, wining and dining, lounging at clifftop bars with spectacular views of the Aegean Sea, exploring cobbled streets of the Greek island and hiking its rocky outcrops 'The island was absolutely gorgeous.' Eva told DailyMailTV. 'Our honeymoon was perfect, wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else in the world' 'We even have a favorite restaurant now called Anoji, we ate there daily and our resident waiter was Thakis, the most hospitable person we've ever met. 'We partied in Fira, at Enigma nightclub and shopped in Firostefani Village for our kids. Life is good. Santorini will always have a special place in our hearts.' The couple, who are now back in Atlanta, dined on healthy salads with the Greek staple of feta and fresh tomatoes one evening, and on another they treated themselves to Souvlaki after a night on the town. Crescent-shaped Santorini, which is actually a group of islands, is considered to be one of the most romantic destinations in Greece, perched on the rim of a massive active volcano in the middle of the sea. Michael posted a video on his Instagram showing the panoramic views of the blue Aegean and pink sunset viewed from their hilltop hotel, which boasted a hot tub on the balcony. Eva said: 'We partied in Fira, at Enigma nightclub and shopped in Firostefani Village for our kids. Life is good. Santorini will always have a special place in our hearts' The attorney and his RHOA star wife began their fortnight in paradise after a luxury wedding in Atlanta that cost more than $200,000 Eva added: 'We even have a favorite restaurant now called Anoji, we ate there daily and our resident waiter was Thakis, the most hospitable person we've ever met' The couple dined on healthy salads with the Greek staple of feta and fresh tomatoes one evening, and on another they treated themselves to Souvlaki after a night on the town Alongside the video he added lyrics of the 1967 Louis Armstrong classic: 'And I think to myself, 'what a wonderful world.' The attorney and his RHOA star wife began their fortnight in paradise after a luxury wedding in Atlanta that cost more than $200,000. After three years of dating, they tied the knot at the Southern Exchange Ballrooms in front of 235 guests and DailyMailTV. 'I've spent my life trying to find out who I am and trying to find him and now life's taken me on a journey to the man of my dreams,' Eva said, moments after exchanging her self-written vows with Michael and saying 'I do'. In true Real Housewives style, Eva went all-out for her big day, with no less than three dress changes, and a ceremony in front of a wall of 12,000 white roses, armloads of white orchids and hydrangea blooms costing over $20,000. After three years of dating, Eva and Michael tied the knot at the Southern Exchange Ballrooms in front of 235 guests and DailyMailTV Michael, a federal prosecutor and former Atlanta Mayoral candidate, teared up when he saw his bride emerge at the ceremony, and made her cry too when he said his vows Among the hundreds of guests were RHOA co-stars including the show's queen bee NeNe Leakes, 51, cast members Kandi Burruss, 42, a heavily pregnant Porsha Williams, 37, Cynthia Bailey, 50, Marlo Hampton, 46, and newcomer Shamari Devoe, 38 She wore her main dress with a sparkling skirt and train from Daughters of Nonyelum, International Haute Couture and Hollywood Royal Showroom, with a glittering tiara. Hidden under the gown, she wore a pair of Gucci sneakers, blinged out with studs. Not to be outdone, the couple's new baby son, Michael Jr, born on April 13, was carried down the aisle in a miniature Dolce and Gabbana tuxedo. Michael, a federal prosecutor and former Atlanta Mayoral candidate, teared up when he saw his bride emerge at the ceremony, and made her cry too when he said his vows. He pledged to 'journey with you towards the same horizon and if the time comes that God decides to take you, I will ask Her if She will let me be with you because I don't want to be in this life without you.' Among the hundreds of guests were RHOA co-stars including the show's queen bee NeNe Leakes, 51, cast members Kandi Burruss, 42, a heavily pregnant Porsha Williams, 37, Cynthia Bailey, 50, Marlo Hampton, 46, and newcomer Shamari Devoe, 38. She described herself as 'just so blessed,' and said, 'I've spent my life trying to find out who I am and trying to find him and now life's taken me on a journey to the man of my dreams' In keeping with the characteristic RHOA extravagance, the wedding cost north of $200,000. More than $20,000 of that budget was spent on the 12,000 white roses and armloads of white orchids and hydrangea blooms intended to fill the venue with 'romance' Crescent-shaped Santorini, which is actually a group of islands, is considered to be one of the most romantic destinations in Greece, perched on the rim of a massive active volcano in the middle of the sea Ethiopia has just marked a key moment for the advancement of women in Africa. Career diplomat Sahle-Work Zewde was just appointed as the President of Ethiopia, the first in the countrys history and making her the only woman head of state currently in office on the continent. But just who is Sahle-Work Zewde? Heres all you need to know about the new president of Africas second-most populous nation. Sahle-Work's appointment is key a step for female representation in Ethiopia's government Who is Sahle-Work Zewde? Sahle-Work Zewde is an Ethiopian diplomat who was recently appointed the president of Ethiopia, the first woman to serve in the position. She was born in Addis Abba, Ethiopia on February 21, 1950. After attending the University of Montpelier in France, Sahle-Work soon took up a career in diplomatic service for her country, serving as its ambassador to Senegal with accreditation to Mali, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Gambia and Guinea from 1989 to 1993. She later served as Ethiopias ambassador to Djibouti and the Permanent Representative to the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, an eight-nation trade bloc in East Africa, from 1993 to 2002. Afterwards, Sahle-Work was appointed to serve as Ethiopias ambassador to France and served as the Permanent Representative to UNESCO, also being accredited to Tunisia and Morocco from 2002 to 2006. In 2011, she was appointed to be the Director-General of the United Nations Office in Nairobi before being chosen to be Special Representative to the African Union and Head of the United Nations Office to the African Union at the position of Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on June 27, 2018, being the first woman to hold the prominent positon. Shortly afterwards in October 2018, Sahle-Work was named as the president of Ethiopia by the countrys lawmakers, notably being the first woman to hold the position. How old is Sahle-Work Zewde? Sahle-Work Zewde is 68 years old. She was born on February 21, 1950. Sahle-Work has served as ambassador to many nations and has also held key posts at the UN Appointment as Ethiopias first female president On October 25, 2018, Sahle-Work chosen by Ethiopian lawmakers to be the first female president of the African nation, an appointment which makes her the only woman currently serving as a head of state in Africa. She was appointed unanimously to the largely ceremonial position following the abrupt resignation of Mulatu Teshome, who stepped down a day earlier with little explanation. Her appointment now means that half of the cabinet members in Prime Minister Abiy Ahmeds administration are now women, including defense minister Aisha Mohammed and Muferiat Kamil, the head of the newly-created Ministry of Peace. 'If the current change in Ethiopia is headed equally by both men and women, it can sustain its momentum and realize a prosperous Ethiopia free of religious, ethnic and gender discrimination,' Sahle-Work said. Although the presidency of Ethiopia is largely a ceremonial role with limited political power, Sahle-Works ascent to the positon carries immense symbolic weight. 'Government and opposition parties have to understand we are living in a common house and focus on things that unite us, not what divides us, to create a country and generation that will make all of us proud. 'The absence of peace victimizes firstly women, so during my tenure I will emphasise women's roles in ensuring peace and the dividends of peace for women, she said. As president, Sahle-Work is expected to serve two six-year terms in her position. The Track on 2 wrapped its inaugural meet of live harness racing on Sunday (Oct. 28), as nine races thrilled fans that made their way out to the Lacombe, Alberta raceway. The nine-race program was highlighted by Race 8, which was a handicapped pace that featured a purse of $6,100. After having raced in fourth through the opening half of the contest, Post 3 starter Tolly Ho ($18.00) paced off to a two and a quarter-length victory in 1:55.4 for driver Jamie Gray and trainer Joe Ratchford. The Walter Moroz (of Edmonton, Alberta) and Willie Wychopen (St. Paul, Alberta) owned gelding has now won 10 of his 41 career races and banked over $44,000 in purses. Dan LeBlonc drove a pair of his trainees to wins during the Sunday card and Mike Hennessy also recorded a pair of driving wins. Via social media, officials with The Track on 2 stated, We are so thankful for all of the love and support we have received for our first official season of races! We hope you had an opportunity to come out and enjoy the races with us this year! Thank you! Officials also congratulated The Track on 2s leading driver, David Kelly, for his achievements at the Lacombe raceway. To view the harness racing results for Sunday at The Track on 2, click the following link: Sunday Results The Track on 2. There are fears Trudie Adams could have been taken by a serial sexual predator after a shocking number of women came forward following an appeal over the 18-year-old's mysterious disappearance. Miss Adams went missing in June 1978 at the age of 18 while hitchhiking home from a dance in Sydney's northern beaches, but her body has never been recovered and a podcast from Unravel and the ABC is re-examining her case. Soon after Ms Adams disappearance, 14 women came forward to report stories of sexual assault in the area, and they all had a chillingly similar narrative. A fresh look at the Trudie Adams (pictured) case has prompted numerous women to come forward and recount the terrifying ordeals they suffered in the same area at around the same time of the 18-year-olds disappearance The women said they were picked up by two men while hitchhiking, threatened with a weapon, had their eyes taped shut and were then raped in bushland near Mona Vale road. The women were forced to give their names and addresses to the two men who threatened to kill them and their families if they reported the attacks. Police have long believed that these 14 attacks are linked to the disappearance of Ms Adams, ABC reports, and the new investigation has seen even more women come forward with distressing stories. Speaking to Unravel, Karen Lagalla recalled an incident in 1978, the same year Ms Adams disappeared. Ms Adams went missing in June 1978 at the age of 18 while hitch-hiking home from a dance in Sydney's northern beaches, but her body has never been recovered and a podcast from Unravel and the ABC is re-examining her case Ms Lagalla said she had been hitchhiking to a wine bar when the man who picked her up drove straight past her destination and instead took her down a dirt track. He grabbed me around the throat and pulled me back down on his knee and put his hand over my mouth, she said. Ms Lagalla was sure she was going to be beaten and raped, but she made a lucky escape when her attacker was distracted by a passer-by. Ms Lagalla never reported the attack as she feared she would get in trouble. Because I was hitchhiking and in those days, well, you were asking for it, she said. A woman called Michelle also spoke to Unravel about an incident in 1974 when two men picked up her and a friend while hitchhiking. They said they were going to pull over on the way to Newcastle and rape us, she said. Michelle said that the men drove to the corner of Mona Vale road close to the area of bushland where many of the other 14 women had reported rapes but fortunately when they reached the intersection they managed to open the car door and escape. It's been 40 years since Ms Adams disappearance and despite four investigations and a coroner stating that the teen probably died of 'misadventure followed by a cover up', authorities remain mystified by her disappearance Like Ms Lagalla, Michelle and her friend did not report the rape because they knew they weren't supposed to be hitchhiking, and that they 'were probably wagging (school)'. A third woman, Beth Glyde, also came forward saying that two weeks after Ms Adams disappearance, she was driven off the road by three cars, not far from the Mona Vale road location the other women had reported. She too managed to escape, by reversing her car at speed, but she said the event left her terrified. Ms Glyde reported the incident to police but said that they were not interested in discussing it with her. When I look back, I think I was extremely lucky to have a good car and Im horrified to think what might have happened, she said. One woman came forward and said she had been hitchhiking to a wine bar in 1978 - the smae year Ms Adams went missing - when the man who picked her up drove straight past her destination and instead took her down a dirt track It's been 40 years since Ms Adams' disappearance and despite four investigations and a coroner stating that the teen probably died of 'misadventure followed by a cover up', authorities remain mystified by her disappearance. Ms Adams was hitchhiking from a dance at Newport Surf Club to her home just two miles away in Avalon via the picturesque Barrenjoey Road, but never completed her journey. According to ABC's Unravel podcast, there are growing fears of a police cover-up. 'It's never about the actual incidents themselves, it's about the cover-up,' a police official said in the podcast. The reports of rape that followed Ms Adams' disappearance were 'of such maniacal brutality that even now the police have refused to reveal details on or off the record.' Ms Adams was hitch-hiking from a dance at Newport Surf Club to her home just two miles away in Avalon via the picturesque Barrenjoey Road, but never completed her journey She was last seen getting into the passenger seat of a light-coloured Holden panel van at the 'hitching spot' many used to hitch rides home Unravel, narrated by investigative journalists Ruby Jones and Neil Mercer, delves deep into 1970s Northern Beaches life, determined to expose the truth about Miss Adams' disappearance. The area of bushland was known as the 'devil's playground' at the time, brimming with what Jones and Mercer describe as 'escalating violence and sexual violence', as well as a lot of drug activity. They believe women in the area were seen as 'easy prey', and the men involved believed they would never get caught. 'What starts with an investigation into a missing teenage girl, pulls into question relationships at the highest levels of law enforcement,' Ms Jones said. Revelations from the first podcast include a letter Trudie wrote to a friend in Canberra on the day she went missing about her upcoming trip to Bali - prompting police to question whether her death was the result of a drug import deal. The area of bushland was known as the 'devil's playground' at the time, brimming with what journalists on the new podcast describe as 'escalating violence and sexual violence' Trudie Adams, 18, disappeared while making her way home from a dance in Sydney's Northern Beaches - her case is being re-examined amid growing fears of a cover-up Her former boyfriend Steve Norris also spoke to Ms Jones about the event, in which he became a 'person of interest', having been the last person to see her alive. He told police at the time he saw her getting into a 'standard panel van, no windows on the side, rough looking - it was beige in colour'. He then provides boxes of official police documentation to Ms Jones, documents that have never been made public before and date back to the very day Trudie went missing. There were also chilling phonecalls made to Mona Vale police station and the house of Trudie's parents - Connie and Edge - stating: 'The girl is dead. It was an accident. She's halfway up Mona Vale road.' Former NSW police detective Gavin McKean previously believed that two men Neville Tween and Raymond Johnson were behind Miss Adams' death Neville Tween (pictured - now known as John David Anderson) is serving an 18-year prison sentence for a cocaine import conspiracy, but gave evidence denying any involvement in Ms Adam's disappearance Former NSW police detective Gavin McKean previously believed that two men Neville Tween and Raymond Johnson were behind Miss Adams' death. In 2011, Tween (while serving an 18-year prison sentence for a cocaine import conspiracy) gave evidence denying any involvement in Ms Adams' disappearance. Ms Adams was described by her friends as the 'cement' that held their friendship group together. Ms Jones and Mr Mercer said they hope their podcast might finally provide some answers for her family and friends. A young woman is warning other girls to regularly visit their local GPs for check-ups after after discovering her chronic back pain was caused by a rare cancer. Shona Edwards, from Adelaide, endured severe back pain for years. It became so bad she was forced to quit her hospitality job. When the 23-year-old finally got her back looked at by a doctor, she was shocked to be told she had an 18cm tumour wrapped around nerves at the base of her spine. Shona Edwards (pictured), 23, was in the prime of her life when doctors discovered her crippling back pain was a rare cancer In May she had an operation to have it removed but when she began bleeding out, surgery had to stop, Yahoo7 reported. Severe nerve damage caused by surgery complications has led to her having to use a wheelchair. She also can't control her bladder and has lost her independence. The University of Adelaide Classics student had to restrict the amount of study she does, dropping to part-time. 'At my age, you're just about to get started on everything, but there's this spanner in the works,' she said. The young woman is now urging others to get checked if they have any health concerns. She said young women's back and abdominal pain is often pegged as a menstrual-related issue, but there is a chance, like in her case, it could be more serious. 'Listen to your body, get a scan,' she said. 'You want to fix things now before they deteriorate over time,' she said. Shona Edwards, 23, was forced to quite her hospitality job because of thesevere pain in her back. She was unaware the pain was caused by a rare tumour Miss Edwards is flying to Prague, Czech Republic this week for a special procedure that is not yet available in Australia. Doctors need to use proton beam radiation therapy on the tumour before they can operate again. The tumour will be shrunk before surgeons attempt to remove it. The trip was partially funded through a GoFundMe page. South Australia could be the first state to ban online sales of e-cigarettes in a move that threatens to decimate the industry. Both houses of the South Australian Parliament passed amendments to the Tobacco Products Regulation Act which will ban the sales of e-cigarettes online, by mail, email, phone and fax. The new amendment will also restrict interstate and international sales of the items just weeks after the price of tobacco increased to almost $40 a packet. The price hikes in tobacco don't end there cigarettes will go up again in price by 12.5 per cent in September 2019, and by the same amount again in September 2020. Until this week South Australia was the only state in Australia that had not introduced vaping regulations. State Health Minister Stephen Wade (pictured) introduced amendments to tobacco legislation to include the banning of all e-cigarette sales in South Australia The amendments are due to be finalised next month. State Health Minister Stephen Wade told The Australian that the move was an important measure aimed at 'public health'. 'Banning of online sales is an important part of minimising the risk of children getting access to these products,' he said. 'It was recommended by a bipartisan select committee in 2016 and is just treating e-cigarettes the same as we do tobacco products.' Despite Mr Wade's claims, some academics and advocacy groups have been left angered by the move, claiming it is designed to protect big tobacco. The Australian Tobacco Harm Reduction Association called the new regulations 'draconian'. 'The new laws protects the tobacco industry from competition and make it even harder for smokers to transition to vaping, a much less harmful alternative,' a spokesperson said. The Australian Tobacco Harm Reduction Association called the new regulations 'draconian' and said it is taking away an avenue for people wishing to quit tobacco and take up vaping The spokesperson added that the SA parliament is 'attempting to destroy the vaping industry and make it harder for smokers to access safer products.' The Australian e-cigarette industry was worth $60 million a year and employed more than 200 people. University of New South Wales associate professor Colin Mendelsohn told The Australian he agreed that the harsh new laws would only serve to protect big tobacco. The move comes just weeks after another price rise on tobacco in Australia which saw packets reach almost $40 each 'This law is unenforceable. The SA government plans to prosecute vendors selling products online to South Australians. Good luck with that,' he said. While introducing the amendments to parliament Minister Wade said the lack of regulation needed to be addressed. 'The select committee concluded in its final report that e-cigarettes should be regulated in the interests of public health, as there is a lack of scientific consensus as to the safety of e-cigarettes,' he said. 'Maintaining a strong legislative framework for tobacco control is essential for reducing the harms caused by tobacco smoking in South Australia.' The amendments are due to be finalised by the end of November and came only days after calls for vaping to be made legal nationwide. Beloved actress Audrey Hepburn worked directly under Dutch Resistance leaders to help defeat the Nazis, a new book reveals. In Dutch Girl: Audrey Hepburn and World War II, author Robert Matzen writes of his proof that the Breakfast at Tiffany's star was involved in fighting the Nazis during World War II. Born in 1929 in Belgium and relocating to Holland at the start of the war in 1939, Hepburn was traumatized by the murder of her uncle Count Otto van Limburg Stirum. In Matzen's book, due to release in April, he reveals the discovery of a 188-page diary Hepburn's uncle Otto wrote during the four months he was imprisoned by the Nazis before his death in 1942. A new book claims to have proof of Hepburn's direct involvement in the Dutch Resistance during World War II It includes excerpts from her uncle Count Otto van Limburg Stirum's (left) 188-page diary before he was killed by the Nazis in 1942 Hepburn's son, Luca Dotti, says Matzen's book solves mysteries he's had about his mother. Dutch Girl: Audrey Hepburn and World War II is set to release in April 'I now understand why the words Good and Evil, and Love and Mercy were so fundamental in her own narrative. Why she was open about certain facts and why she kept so many others in a secluded area of her being,' Dotti writes in the forward. Matzen says Hepburn worked in the Dutch Resistance as a doctor's assistant during the Bridge Too Far battle of Arnhem in 1944. For the first two years of the war, Hepburn had to contend with the fact that her father was a Nazi agent and her mother was pro-Nazi. She was a pre-teen ballerina in England before being relocated the Holland and then became Arnhem's most famous young ballerina. The highly-anticipated book claims to have 'Audrey's own reminiscences, new interviews with people who knew her in the war, wartime diaries, and research in classified Dutch archives.' The detail will shed light on the untold story of the star the world grew to love as she battled through World War II. 'When my mother talked about herself and what life taught her, Hollywood was the missing guest,' Dotti writes in the forward. 'Instead of naming famed Beverly Hills locations, she gave us obscure and sometimes unpronounceable Dutch ones. Red-carpet recollections were replaced by Second World War episodes that she was able to transform into children's tales,' he adds. Never-before-seen color and black and white photos are also included in a separate section of the book - many of which are from Hepburn's personal collection . For the first two years of the war, Hepburn had to contend with the fact that her father was a Nazi agent and her mother (pictured) was pro-Nazi Every school in Britain will get a mental health support worker to help pupils suffering from depression, self-harm and eating disorders, Philip Hammond will reveal today. The Chancellor will announce in the Budget that at least one tenth of the 20 billion-a-year extra funding promised for the NHS will go to improving mental health services. He will say the 2 billion-plus annual boost will help deliver a commitment to give patients suffering from mental health conditions the same level of care as those with physical ailments. Philip Hammond takes a sip from a personalised Emma Bridgewater mug as he puts the finishing touches to his budget yesterday The extra cash will help pay for the provision of round-the-clock comprehensive mental health support in every major accident and emergency department, ensuring anyone experiencing a crisis can get rapid specialist help. Officials say it will be backed up with more mental health ambulances and the establishment of dedicated mental health teams in schools, linking them to other support services. Callers to NHS 111 will be directed to support services 24 hours a day and there will be greater access to services in the community, such as crisis cafes where people can get help without going to A&E. Mr Hammond is also expected to announce today: A rescue package to salvage the Governments flagship Universal Credit welfare reform; A 30 billion upgrade for Englands motorways and other major routes paid for by road tax; Nearly 1 billion extra for social care and 500 million extra for the Armed Forces; A 1.5 billion bailout for the High Street that includes slashing business rates for independent retailers; A 60 million pledge to plant more trees to help preserve the countrys environment; Plans to move people trapped on payday loans to zero-interest Government loans; A review into whether marriage licensing rules should be relaxed so ceremonies can take place in pubs and outdoors. Mr Hammond will use the Budget to give more details of the extra money promised to the NHS, which will see funding increase by 20 billion by 2023. He will confirm that the first stage of the NHS long-term plan will be to help achieve parity of esteem between mental and physical health services. Mr Hammond is expected to argue that improving access to support will relieve pressure on other frontline services, such as the police that help people with mental health issues every day and sometimes have to use police station cells. Treasury mouser Gladstone giving the Chancellor a helping hand (or paw) with the Budget Accident and emergency departments will be required to have specialist mental health workers on call at all times, and a fleet of dedicated mental health ambulances will be used to respond to 999 calls so people can get treatment without having to make stressful trips to hospital that can make their conditions worse. 60million for more tests Millions of pounds are to be spent planting trees on residential streets and in town centres, Philip Hammond will announce today. The Chancellor hopes that a 60million pledge to increase the amount of greenery around the UK will boost house prices, prevent flooding and help absorb air pollutants. Two pots of cash will be unveiled, including 10million for trees in streets and urban areas, matched by funding contributions from local authorities, community groups and charities, the Treasury said. On top of this, up to 50million will be made available to buy carbon credits from landowners who agree to plant new woodland, which could lead to an estimated 10 million new trees over the next 30 years. It follows the launch of the Governments 25-year environment plan at the start of the year. The Budget is also expected to approve a study into a new Great Thames Park in the Thames Estuary. Advertisement More people will also be able to access mental health services at community drop-in centres so they do not need to go to A&E. The NHS will increase the number of crisis cafes, which offer out-of-hours support in the evenings and at weekends. Specialist crisis teams for children and younger people will be established across the country to build links between schools, social services and young peoples mental health services. Schools will also get new dedicated teams to support pupils with mild and moderate mental health problems. More than 55,000 adults with severe mental illness will be helped by the NHS to find employment through a work placement and support scheme. When Theresa May announced the extra funding for the NHS, she suggested taxpayers will need to contribute a bit more to pay for it. However ministers have yet to say exactly where the money will come from. Mr Hammond was handed a windfall of 13 billion due to better-than-expected borrowing figures, easing some of the pressure to put up taxes. However his statement will be closely watched to see where he does decide to apply the pain. One target for the Chancellor could be the tax breaks for pensions savings which benefit millions of middle and high earners. But such a move is likely to face fierce opposition from Tory backbenchers. 'No Deal' would scupper Budget spending spree, warns Hammond Philip Hammond warned yesterday that the Prime Ministers plan to end austerity could be cancelled if Britain leaves the EU without a Brexit deal. The Chancellor is expected to use todays Budget to loosen the purse strings with a raft of spending pledges and a promise to bring forward a rise in income tax thresholds to next year. He will tell voters that the fruits of their hard work are now at last in sight after a decade of restraint. High streets 'have to evolve' Britain's love for online shopping means high streets will need to become smaller with fewer stores and more bars and restaurants, Philip Hammond said yesterday. In todays Budget, the Chancellor is expected to set out a timetable for bringing in a digital tax so internet giants pay their fair share. He will also announce a 650million Future High Streets Fund that will help town centres adapt, as well as a 900million business rates cut for independent retailers. But Mr Hammond who admitted being an Amazon shopper told Skys Sophy Ridge on Sunday: The British have taken to online shopping like no other nation on earth. Our high streets have to change. Weve got to help the high street to evolve and the high street of the future 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 areas around them redeveloped as housing. Advertisement However, in comments that risked angering Brexiteers, Mr Hammond yesterday warned that he would be forced to rip up his Budget in the event of a no-deal Brexit. If we dont get a deal, 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. 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. Asked if austerity would still end under a no-deal scenario, he said: We would have to wait and see what the situation was. If we left the European Union without a deal we would want to see how markets and businesses and consumers responded to that. And 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. Mr Hammond said the country would need to make a very big transition to how it operates, as he hinted that it could move towards a Singapore-style low-tax, low-regulation economy. If our businesses are no longer able to trade with European Union neighbours, if their supply chains are cut off, they will have to find different markets and different ways of doing business, he told the BBCs Andrew Marr Show. The economy will change. It will have to restructure itself over a period of time and that will be a fairly major transition. Mr Hammond whose spending pledges are also expected to include extra cash for an extension of superfast broadband to remote rural areas and a temporary cut in business rates for small firms indicated that further spending commitments would have to wait until the outcome of the Brexit negotiations is clear. Once we get a good deal from the European Union and the smooth exit from the EU, we will be able to show the British people that the fruits of their hard work are now at last in sight, he told the BBC. Mr Hammond whose spending pledges are also expected to include extra cash for an extension of superfast broadband to remote rural areas and a temporary cut in business rates for small firms indicated that further spending commitments would have to wait until the outcome of the Brexit negotiations is clear What I will be doing is setting out a path of public spending but the detailed allocation to different departments is something that is for next year. Mr Hammonds suggestion that promised extra spending on public services and cuts to income tax are conditional on getting support for Theresa Mays Brexit deal could annoy some hardline Eurosceptics who are opposed to her plan. However, Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg welcomed the suggestion that no deal would lead to an overhaul of the economy. He told Sophy Ridge on Sunday: This doesnt sound like George Osbornes punishment budget. Do you remember that we were going to get a punishment budget immediately after the referendum if we had the audacity to vote to leave? This sounds like an approach where policy decisions would be made to embrace Brexit and Id be very much in favour of that being done on Monday rather than waiting a few months. I think we should be making announcements now about how we would deal with leaving on World Trade Organisation terms. In her speech to the Tory party conference earlier this month, Mrs May pledged to end austerity. Debt as a share of the economy will continue to go down, support for public services will go up, she said. Because, a decade after the financial crash, people need to know that the austerity it led to is over and that their hard work has paid off. ALEX BRUMMER: Where WILL spendthrift Phil find all this cash for the Budget? The transformation of the Chancellor from Spreadsheet Phil to Spendthrift Phil has been remarkable to behold. In the weeks and days running up to todays budget there have been all manner of tantalising pledges hinted at or revealed, more or less something for everyone. Today, as the Mail reports, there is a promised extra 2billion boost for mental health services. Yesterdays papers announced a 30billion national roads fund, 800million extra to local government for social care, more millions to be invested in installing superfast broadband in remote areas, and possibly as much as 1billion for defence. All of this on top of the 1.5billion lifeline for the high street, including slashing business rates (temporarily) for small retailers, and an extra 20billion to already committed increases in the NHS budget announced in June. Just one question: Where will the money come from? Mr Hammond is better able to meet his spending pledges because of a tax windfall Just one question: Where will the money come from? Mr Hammond is better able to meet his spending pledges because of a tax windfall. The public finances in the current financial year 2018-19 are in much better shape than forecast by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility in the spring. Strong tax receipts, the result of near full employment and consumer confidence, mean that the Chancellor has an extra 13billion of cash to play with. Remarkably, a decade of squeezing public spending and better-than-expected growth has seen the budget deficit plunge from 150billion to just 25billion. The national debt, the accumulation of borrowing down the decades, has also begun falling. The Chancellor is, additionally, starting to factor in a double Brexit dividend should Mrs May secure a deal with Brussels that could release up to 15billion of extra tax income as the economy takes off once we are free of EU red tape and restrictions. Strong tax receipts, the result of near full employment and consumer confidence, mean that the Chancellor has an extra 13billion of cash to play with It is hoped, too, that companies holding off on investment decisions will, post-deal, bring them forward, contributing to faster output. And any deal could also release the 10billion or so that the Chancellor has been keeping in his back pocket to cushion a no deal exit from the EU (although the Treasury is clear that this money will not be available until the spending review next spring). However, Mr Hammond will need more than these windfalls to deliver on Prime Minister Theresa Mays announcement that austerity is over. And hes not going to miss an opportunity to strengthen the public finances with new taxes. One possibility is that he will choose to freeze the personal allowances for income tax, pushing a larger number of people into higher tax bands. In essence, its a sleight of hand, a hidden income tax increase, but it does break an election manifesto pledge not to raise income tax. Other targets include the tax relief granted for pensions savings, which Mr Hammond has described as eye-wateringly generous. They particularly benefit more affluent households, and successive Chancellors have had them in their sights. A near certain target is contract workers in the private sector. They currently escape national insurance and income tax requirements by working as independent contractors. The measure, already applied to the public sector, could eventually raise up to 1billion for the Exchequer. A range of sin taxes on offshore gambling, tobacco and alcohol are also expected. More controversial would be a rise in insurance premium tax, paid on car and home policies, and lowering the threshold at which firms start to pay VAT from the current figure of 85,000 far higher than most of the EU. Of course, the most crowd-pleasing tax the Chancellor could impose would be on digital behemoths such as Amazon, Google, and Facebook, which earn billions of pounds in Britain but pay virtually no corporation or company taxes of any size. Mr Hammond wants to bring them within the tax net, possibly through a user levy, which would impose a charge for each click. But such a sophisticated levy will take some years to implement. As an interim measure the Treasury favours a tax on turnover or sales (as opposed to profits). Certainly, the Chancellor is going into the budget in a much stronger position than he could have hoped for just six months ago, courtesy of an economy that has expanded speedily enough to defy Project Fear and other gloomy forecasts about the impact of the EU referendum. However, as a Tory Chancellor he must not sacrifice the hard-won fiscal gains of a decade of austerity. Britain still has a legacy of 1.5trillion of national debt, which, at 86 per cent of national output, remains historically high. Yes, the debt is beginning to fall, but not fast enough for the Chancellor to release the handbrake without public finances going into reverse. Prudence, as ever, must remain the watchword. The New South Wales government has fined motorists almost $28 million in the last financial year for breaking a simple law behind the wheel. Data from Revenue NSW has revealed less than 50 per cent of motor vehicle owners adhere to 40km/h speed limits in school zones. Hundreds of other drivers have also been nabbed using mobile phones near schools. The NSW government has collected $28 million in revenue for the reckless actions of drivers in school zones (stock image) In a disturbing development, drivers continue to act recklessly in school zones, with the NSW government collecting $28 million from driver infringements (stock image) More than half of the 105,800 fines issued for offences in school zones in the last financial year were for exceeding the speed limit by 10km/h an hour or less. 69,000 fines were issued in this category, with another 33,360 drivers exceeding the limit by more than 10km/h. Roughly 20,000 people were out of pocket after disobeying a no stopping or no parking sign near a school and almost 8700 were pinged for stopping in a bus zone. A disturbing statistic was close to 650 drivers, including 50 learner or provisional drivers, were caught using a mobile phone in a school zone during 2017 and 2018. Another 153 mobile phone offences have been recorded since July this year. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the school zones where the most fines have been issued include the Princes Highway in Kogarah, near Kogarah Public and Kogarah High schools. Sydney drivers don't seem to be getting the message when it comes to adhering to road rules in school zones (stock image) This also incorporated zones for neighbouring James Cook Boys High School, Moorefield Girls High School, St George Girls High School as well as St George Hospital, with 6870 recorded offences in Sydney's south. There were also 4427 infringements chalked up on Woodville Rd in Chester Hill in Sydney's west and 4294 on Victoria Rd in Ryde, a suburb in north-west Sydney. Five children aged under 17 were seriously injured in NSW school zones since June last year. A father and daughter in South Carolina have been charged with incest after they had a sexual relationship and had a child together. Laurens County deputies said Katlyn Lauren Edwards gave birth to a child after 'becoming impregnated by her biological father', prosecutors say. The child then died at a medical facility a short time later, with the cause of death still under investigation. Deputies said they discovered Edwards and her father, James Travis Brown, had been in a consensual and mutual relationship. Katlyn Lauren Edwards (left) and her father James Travis Brown (right) were arrested on incest charges after their infant child at a medical facility earlier this month Investigators said both parties agreed they were in a relationship. Edwards was arrested on October 22 and taken to the Johnson Detention Center where she was booked on the charge of incest. The police did not release details of their ages or whether James Travis Brown had a wife or other children. Brown is currently incarcerated in another county on unrelated charges. However he will be transferred to Laurens County to face the same incest charges after his release for the unrelated charges. It is not known what age the infant was or whether the cause of death was related to the parents being related. Laurens County sheriff Don Reynolds said in a statement: 'It is beyond my comprehension how this could take place between a father and daughter. At this time, I cant confirm the baby died from complications related to incest, however we wonder if thats the case. We are working with medical professionals and the Solicitors Office regarding that aspect of the investigation and will update everyone if there are any additional charges.' In a similar case, a young woman was murdered by her father in April after they had an incestuous relationship which resulted in a child. Steven Pladl, 42, who reunited with his daughter Katie Fusco, 20, after giving her up for adoption as a baby, murdered their infant son Bennett, shot dead Katie and her adoptive father Anthony Fusco, 56, before turning the gun on himself. In 1995, Steven Pladl was 20 when he met a 15-year-old girl named Alyssa on the internet. She soon became pregnant and gave birth to a girl they named Denise. Husband and wife, and father and daughter: Steven Pladl, 42, reunited with his daughter Katie Fusco, 20 (pictured together) after she was given up for adoption as a baby Tony Fusco and his wife, Kelly, adopted the girl they renamed Katie and raised her with their biological daughter in Dover, about 80 miles north of New York City. Katie was later with her biological parents, but entered into a relationship with her biological father, Steven. Steven and Katie got 'married' in a lakeside ceremony in July after Katie became pregnant and the family panicked about what to do. Alyssa, Steven's ex-wife and Katie's biological mother, reported their relationship to police. Theresa May slapped down her Chancellor's warning a no deal Brexit would need an extra Budget today. Just hours before Philip Hammond rose in the Commons, Downing Street dramatically dismissed his warning and insisted all today's announcements would stand. Mr Hammond said yesterday that his current plans were based on Britain getting a deal from the EU and would need revisiting if talks fail. Philip Hammond warned yesterday that the Prime Minister's plan to end austerity could be cancelled if Britain leaves the EU without a Brexit deal But Mrs May's official spokesman said: 'We have been clear that people need to know their hard work and that austerity that followed the financial crisis is coming to an end. 'All of the spending commitments that the Chancellor will set out today are funded irrespective of a deal.' He added: 'The chancellor was setting out that in the event of no deal, he would be looking at other measures using the fiscal reserves he has built up. 'If the economic circumstances change, he would consider economic interventions. That is what any sensible Chancellor would do.' Mr Hammond is expected to use today's Budget to loosen the purse strings with a raft of spending pledges and a promise to bring forward a rise in income tax thresholds to next year. He will tell voters that the 'fruits of their hard work are now at last in sight' after a decade of restraint. However, in comments that risked angering Brexiteers, Mr Hammond yesterday warned that he would be forced to rip up his Budget in the event of a no-deal Brexit. 'If we don't get a deal, 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,' he told Sky News's Sophy Ridge 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.' Asked if austerity would still end under a no-deal scenario, he said: 'We would have to wait and see what the situation was. If we left the European Union without a deal we would want to see how markets and businesses and consumers responded to that. 'And 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.' Mr Hammond said the country would need to make 'a very big transition' to how it operates, as he hinted that it could move towards a Singapore-style low-tax, low-regulation economy. Mr Hammond's suggestion that promised extra spending on public services and cuts to income tax are conditional on getting support for Theresa May's Brexit deal could annoy some hardline Eurosceptics who are opposed to her plan 'If our businesses are no longer able to trade with European Union neighbours, if their supply chains are cut off, they will have to find different markets and different ways of doing business,' he told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show. 'The economy will change. It will have to restructure itself over a period of time and that will be a fairly major transition.' Mr Hammond whose spending pledges are also expected to include extra cash for an extension of superfast broadband to remote rural areas and a temporary cut in business rates for small firms indicated that further spending commitments would have to wait until the outcome of the Brexit negotiations is clear. 'Once we get a good deal from the European Union and the smooth exit from the EU, we will be able to show the British people that the fruits of their hard work are now at last in sight,' he told the BBC. 'What I will be doing is setting out a path of public spending but the detailed allocation to different departments is something that is for next year.' Mr Hammond's suggestion that promised extra spending on public services and cuts to income tax are conditional on getting support for Theresa May's Brexit deal could annoy some hardline Eurosceptics who are opposed to her plan. However, Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg welcomed the suggestion that no deal would lead to an overhaul of the economy. He told Sophy Ridge on Sunday: 'This doesn't sound like George Osborne's punishment budget. Do you remember that we were going to get a punishment budget immediately after the referendum if we had the audacity to vote to leave? 'This sounds like an approach where policy decisions would be made to embrace Brexit and I'd be very much in favour of that being done on Monday rather than waiting a few months. I think we should be making announcements now about how we would deal with leaving on World Trade Organisation terms.' In her speech to the Tory party conference earlier this month, Mrs May pledged to end austerity. 'Debt as a share of the economy will continue to go down, support for public services will go up,' she said. 'Because, a decade after the financial crash, people need to know that the austerity it led to is over and that their hard work has paid off.' The No. 2 Republican in the House of Representatives has been accused of anti-Semitism for posting a tweet about wealthy Jewish billionaires trying to buy the upcoming midterm elections. Kevin McCarthy, the House Majority Leader, posted the controversial tweet on Wednesday before deleting it on Thursday. The tweet shows a black-and-white photograph of a stern-looking George Soros, the Hungarian-born financier who has given money to liberal causes. We cannot allow Soros, Steyer, and Bloomberg to BUY this election! the caption of McCarthys tweet read. Get out and vote Republican November 6th. Kevin McCarthy, the No. 2 Republican in the House of Representatives, has been accused of anti-Semitism for posting a tweet about wealthy Jewish billionaires trying to buy elections The tweet shows a black-and-white photograph of a stern-looking George Soros, the Hungarian-born financier who has given money to liberal causes. We cannot allow Soros, Steyer, and Bloomberg to BUY this election! the caption of McCarthys tweet read Steyer is a reference to Tom Steyer, the California billionaire whose father is Jewish. He appeared on CNNs State of the Union on Sunday. He was asked if he believed McCarthys tweet was anti-Semitic The caption ended with the hashtag #MAGA - which stands for make America great again, the official slogan of President Donald Trumps campaign. The tweet was taken down a day later. Throughout centuries, anti-Semites have propagated conspiracy theories about wealthy Jews who wield influence behind the scenes in order to control governments. Steyer is a reference to Tom Steyer, the California billionaire whose father is Jewish. The San Francisco-based hedge fund billionaire has indicated he may run for high office. The other person mentioned in the tweet is Michael Bloomberg, the former New York City mayor and businessman. Bloomberg, the founder of the global financial service Bloomberg L.P., is said to be worth more than $51billion. While Bloomberg is not running for office, he has donated millions to Democratic candidates as well as liberal causes, including the effort to combat climate change and gun control. Soros (left) has been the subject of numerous right-wing conspiracy theories. The other wealthy Jew mentioned in McCarthy's tweet is Michael Bloomberg (right), the billionaire businessman and former mayor of New York City McCarthy posted the tweet just one day after Soros and Steyer received a pipe bomb through the mail. The explosive was alleged to have been sent by Cesar Sayoc, a Florida resident known to have fiercely pro-Trump views. Sayoc allegedly sent explosives to former President Barack Obama, the home of Bill and Hillary Clinton, and other top Democrats. Steyer appeared on CNNs State of the Union on Sunday. He was asked if he believed McCarthys tweet was anti-Semitic. Look, I have no idea what Congressman McCarthy [had] in his mind, Steyer said. The attempt to try and figure out whats in peoples mind is a mistake. All you can do is see what they really say...In terms of interpreting what he said, that seems to me a straight-up anti-Semitic move. A bomb was sent to Soros' home (pictured) in a suburb of New York City on Monday. Two days later, bombs would be sent to the offices of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton The nation is still reeling from the massacre of 11 Jewish worshippers at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh on Saturday 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 Steyer accused McCarthy and Republicans of a classic attempt to separate Americans which falls into the category of...political violence. A spokesperson for McCarthy released a statement saying that the California Congressman has and will always condemn in the strongest possible way violence or any acts of attempted violence. But the spokesperson did not respond to whether the original tweet was anti-Semitic. The nation is still reeling from the massacre of 11 Jewish worshippers at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh on Saturday. The gunman, Robert Bowers, expressed virulently anti-Semitic views, including a number of conspiracy theories linked to Soros influence on American politics. After the massacre, McCarthy posted a statement on Twitter which read: Our communities of faith are filled with love and peace. Todays heinous attacks on Tree of Life synagogue perpetrated by anti-Semitism and hate will not shake our love for each other. May Gods grace be with the victims and their families. Toyah Cordingley (pictured) was found murdered at Wangetti Beach, near Cairns in QLD. A week later, her killer has not been found The sleepy township of Wangetti Beach has been rocked with news a 24-year-old woman was brutally murdered just metres from where they swim. And with a week-long police investigation turning up no suspects, residents have decided to take it upon themselves to find answers for the family of Toyah Cordingley. Organiser David 'Prong' Trimble told the Cairns Post the community was hurting badly over the loss of Toyah and wanted to do something to help. 'Everybody feels like they need to help in some way or another and they feel they haven't been able to,' he said. A locals-led search using metal detectors and drones will commence on November 4, while police begin to look for people in the area with unexplained injuries and missing clothes. Toyah, a pharmacy worker from Cairns, took her boyfriend's dog Jersey for a walk on about 2pm on Sunday October 21. Her family reported her missing at 11pm that night, and her father, Troy Cordingley, found her body, which police say had sustained 'violent and visible' injuries, on Monday morning. More than 400 calls have been made to CrimeStoppers, but so far police have not announced any persons of interest or made any arrests. Wangetti Beach (pictured) is about 40km away from Cairns. Ms Cordingley had driven there to walk her boyfriend's dog, Jersey, on October 21, and was reported missing that night With nobody looking to be arrested any time soon, residents have taken matters into their own hands and will launch their own search for clues Now the beach is not considered a crime zone, locals will take to the area on November 4 with metal detectors and drones In a bid to support Ms Cordingley's family, residents are now stepping up. In addition to the planned beach walk, others are raising funds. One woman has set up donation points at the shopping centre and a bar in Cairns, while Wangetti resident Duane Cash will fundraise using tattoos. Mr Cash, who owns Cairns City Tattoo and has been friends with Ms Cordingley's family for decades, told the Cairns Post he would have a flash sheet of 10-20 pre-drawn tattoos to choose from, all linked to the beloved 24-year-old. The proceeds will go to Ms Cordingley's family, and Mr Cash says he hopes to make $20,000. Queensland Police are continuing to hunt for Ms Cordingley's killer, with Detective Inspector Sonia Smith saying the horrific murder had left locals reeling. 'This has been a violent crime that has a huge impact on our community,' she told the Cairns Post. 'An example of the impact on the community is the large number that attended Reclaim the Night in Cairns (on Friday night) over 1000 people. 'The Queensland Police Service are working tirelessly, 24/7 in order to get answers for Toyah and her family and we will not stop until we get those answers.' Family friends have also been fundraising to help ease the family's sudden costs (pictured is a family fun day, where some proceeds were donated to Ms Cordingley's family) Fundraisers are also being held in Cairns, where a tattoo parlour hopes to make $20,000 by selling pre-drawn designs linked to Ms Cordingley Over the weekend, police conducted door knocks throughout the community. At the same time, Crime Stoppers set up stalls at Wangetti Beach, and at Rusty's market, where Ms Cordingley was seen just before her death. Det Insp. Smith said residents were engaging with the stalls, and police had walked away at the end of the day with 'several lines of inquiry'. Currently, investigators are focusing on finding a family who had been picnicking on the beach the day Toyah died, who had left about 1.30pm and looking for anyone in the community who has unexplained injuries or unexplained missing clothes, Nine News reported. Police are also still looking for pictures taken of Wangetti Beach from the beach itself or the Rex lookout. While the beach has been forensically examined, police ask anyone who sees something wash up or appear on the shore to not touch the item and instead call Policelink on 131 444. Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting: Billy Graham Rapid Response Team Chaplains Ministering to Hurting Community Crisis-response deployment to Pittsburgh coincides with ongoing ministry throughout the Southeast following Hurricanes Florence and Michael Contact: Lisa Moseley, 704-401-2116, Contact: Lisa Moseley, 704-401-2116, lmoseley@bgea.org CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 29, 2018 / Standard Newswire / -- Crisis-trained chaplains with the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team are on the ground in Pittsburgh following Saturday's mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood. According to news reports , the attack claimed the lives of 11 people. Several more were injured, including police officers who engaged the shooter in their attempt to apprehend him. "We're there to offer prayers, condolences and support to those impacted by the tragic shooting at the synagogue in Pittsburgh," said Josh Holland, assistant director of the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team. "We are fervently praying for those who are grieving from this senseless act of violence." The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team was formed in the days following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Since that time, the crisis-chaplaincy ministry has come alongside and supported survivors following dozens of shooting-related tragedies and terror attacks in the United States and abroad. Franklin Graham, president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, appealed for prayer on his Facebook page, saying, "We need to pray for the victims of this hate crime and for the loved ones of those who were killed." In addition to the response in Pittsburgh, the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team currently has chaplains in multiple areas across the southeastern United States following the incredible devastation of Hurricanes Florence and Michael, including New Bern, Jacksonville and Wilmington, N.C.; Horry County, S.C.; Albany, Ga.; and Wewahitchka, Fla. For more information on the ministry, including videos, photos, news articles and an interactive map of former and current deployments, visit www.billygraham.org/rrt . Updates can also be found at www.facebook.com/RRTChaplains About the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team was developed by Franklin Graham and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association following the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. It has since grown into an international network of chaplains in the U.S., U.K., Canada and Australia who are specifically trained to deal with crisis situations. They have deployed to more than 300 disaster sites, including shootings, floods, hurricanes, wildfires and tornadoes. Jihadis are forming alliances with outlaw bikies and other Australian organised crime syndicates to fund terror plots, officials say. At least 67 'lone actor' terrorists are teaming up with criminal groups to fund their activity, according to a report by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC). While some of these are connected to Islamic State, there are other individuals with extreme left or right wing ideologies who may also be a threat. ACIC boss Mike Phelan said the links discovered between organised crime and terrorism were now at 'unprecedented levels'. ACIC boss Mike Phelan (pictured) said the links discovered between organised crime and terrorism were now at 'unprecedented levels' 'This includes Australians who finance terrorist activities, leave Australia to support terrorist causes or return intending to harm the Australian community, it also includes Australians recruited by organised crime groups,' he said. The 67 suspects were identified over the last 12 months through the actions of two covert operations, Project Ridgeline and Project Pinecrest. 'We also discovered links between serious and organised crime and counter terrorism persons of interest, particularly related to returning foreign fighters engaging in serious and organised crime activities including money laundering,' Mr Phelan said. Mr Phelan said the majority of transnational crime from Australia was conducted by outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMCG). Mr Phelan said any terrorist attack in Australia would be conducted with 'basic weapons and firearms' much like the Lindt Cafe Siege in Sydney in 2014 (pictured) 'Any terrorist attack in Australia over the next 12 months would probably involve weapons and tactics that are low cost and relatively simple including basic weapons, explosives and or firearms,' Mr Phelan said. The National Terrorism Threat Advisory System currently has the threat level of a terror attack in Australia as 'probable'. The threat level is based upon 'credible intelligence, assessed by security agencies' and indicates that individuals or groups continue to 'possess the intent and capability to conduct a terrorist attack in Australia'. Prince Charles, who is an avid listener to BBC Radio 4s Today programme, was offered the chance to host a special edition of the flagship early morning news show on December 27 last year. But when his publicity-hungry younger son heard about it, he suddenly revived an earlier interest in doing the gig. Harry had been approached some months earlier about taking the same slot but had done precious little about it. The Prince of Wales said it was amazing that Harry, above, had listened to him at all. Harry then invited his father to be one of his interviewees, along with former U.S. President Barack Obama Now, though, his father magnanimously withdrew to avoid any conflict. Perhaps as a compromise, Harry then invited his father to be one of his interviewees, along with former U.S. President Barack Obama. The Prince took full advantage of the media platform given to his darling boy (as he referred to Harry on air) with aplomb. He remained light-hearted throughout the broadcast and joked that he was relieved people were finally waking up to his dotty opinions on climate change. The pair joked, too, about the influence of Charless opinions on his son, with the Prince of Wales saying it was amazing that Harry had listened to him at all. Prince Harry interviewing his father, the Prince of Wales, for the BBC Radio 4 Today programme which he edited The two royals agreed that the biggest issue facing the world was climate change and the increasing havoc that it is wreaking. Theres a whole lot of things Ive tried to focus on over all these years, said Charles, that I felt needed attention. Not everybody else did, but maybe now, some years later, theyre beginning to realise that what I was trying to say may not have been quite as dotty as they thought. The Prince of Wales, as a single father, has done his best to avoid confrontation with his boys during their development, though sometimes he feels duty-bound to wade in. One such occasion took place after William told zoologist Dr Jane Goodall that hed like to see all the ivory owned by Buckingham Palace destroyed. During a frank exchange of views five years ago according to an informed source Charles told William he was being naive and he should have chosen his words more carefully. William, the Duke of Cambridge, above, was granted a rare visit to the biggest ivory stockpile in the world in Tanzania earlier this month While appreciating his sons sentiment, Charles believes there is a vast difference between calling for action against illegal traders now and ordering Buckingham Palace to rid itself of an enormously important and historical collection of artefacts that form part of the Royal Collection Trust. Among the items are a 19th-century Indian throne and footstool and a pair of 18th-century seven-storey pagodas acquired by George IV. The idea of such historic items, and others such as Henry VIIIs quill pen, being broken up filled Charles with dread. Queen Mary, left, looking at pearls and ivory at the exhibition in June 1918. William told Dr Jane Goodall, right, he would order Buckingham Palace to destroy all of their ivory That said, there are many who know William and his stubborn streak, and believe he will take some form of action when he becomes king, despite his fathers protestations. Tony Abbott has called Nauru a 'very, very pleasant island' as he urged prime minister Scott Morrison to not relax his government's asylum seeker policies to allow detainees on the island to leave. His comments come after a Sunday Telegraph poll showed nearly 80 per cent of Australians want children and their families off the Pacific detention centre. Mr Morrison's government is facing increasing pressure to accept a deal that will see migrants resettled in New Zealand. Tony Abbott has called Nauru a 'very, very pleasant island' as he urged prime minister Scott Morrison to not relax his government's migrant policy Up to 50 children are still on Nauru and the government has been slowly removing those who need urgent medical attention Up to 50 children are still on the island and the government has been slowly removing those who need urgent medical attention. But the former Prime Minister has made remarkable claims that the health services in Nauru are better than some parts of Australia. 'Nauru is no hellhole by any means. Ive been there. If you like living the tropics, its a very, very pleasant island,' Mr Abbott told 2GB's Ray Hadley. He said moving the 'boat people' would be a bad move on policy. 'The people on Nauru and Manus now are nearly all would-be economic migrants. 'And if we give them what they want, we get more of them. That is to say the boats will start up again.' Despite overwhelming references in the media to poor conditions on the island, Mr Abbot ventured as far to say the children are 'very well looked after.' Despite overwhelming references in the media to poor conditions on Nauru (pictured), Mr Abbot ventured as far to say the children are 'very well looked after' Tony Abbott: 'The people on Nauru and Manus (pictured) now are nearly all would-be economic migrants' 'Health services on Nauru for boat people are more extensive than the services a lot of regional towns get in Australia,' he said. Labor has increased calls to amend legislation that stops those held in the offshore detention centres from coming to Australia. Mr Abbott made a call to arms and told the Liberal party to stand strong on its position. 'No government is absolutely perfect ... but the Morrison Government is an infinitely better bet than the Shorten Labor Party, which will be the most left-wing government in our history if we get it.' Advertisement Meghan Markle and Prince Harry appear poised to become perfect first-time parents, taking the time to comfort a shy child who broke down in tears ahead of meeting them. Joe Young, five, wiped away his tears as the Duchess of Sussex knelt down to comfort him. The little boy, who attends Houghton Valley School in Wellington, New Zealand, was lined up with other children outside Wellington's Maranui Cafe, hoping to get a glimpse of the royal couple. He and a handful of fellow students were lucky enough to meet the Duke and Duchess and lined up patiently. Five-year-old Joe Young wiped away his tears as the Duchess of Sussex knelt down to his eye level to comfort him They took turns shaking the hands of the royals and introducing themselves. Little Joe, who was the last in the line, could barely bring himself to look up from his wide-brimmed hat when a teacher stepped in to give him a much-needed cuddle. As Meghan made her way down the line, she noticed the adorable child and attempted to comfort him, offering a warm smile and gentle hand to his chest. The little boy, who attends Houghton Valley School in Wellington, New Zealand, was lined up with other children outside Wellington's Maranui Cafe, hoping to get a glimpse of the royal couple Little Joe, who was the last in the line, could barely bring himself to look up from his wide-brimmed hat when a teacher stepped in to give him a much-needed cuddle Little Joe began to warm to Meghan as she attempted to make him feel better, resting his hand on hers as she spoke with him Slowly but surely, the little boy came around and took his hands away from his face. The pair were then joined by Prince Harry, who mirrored Meghan's maternal instincts by kneeling and attempting to speak with the little boy. He, too, reached out to pat little Joe and tickle his belly. Stuff reported the Houghton Bay school principal Monica Mercury attempted to coerce the little one into shaking Harry's hand. 'I was trying to get Harry to shake hands with him. Harry said: 'Don't worry about it he's shy'.' Meghan told him he was 'really cute and really shy,' Ms Mercury added. 'Joe was very nervous and Harry was very nice with him too.' Meghan Markle and Prince Harry appear poised to become perfect first-time parents, taking the time to comfort a shy child who broke down in tears ahead of meeting them The young student's meeting with the Duke and Duchess wasn't pre-planned. Michelle Pontifex, a teacher at the school the children attend, decided to walk them down to the cafe, saying the opportunity was too good to miss. 'It's just an experience, it's not every day they get to experience something like this in their neighbourhood.' 'What little girl and what little boy doesn't want to see a princess and a prince. It's almost fairytale like.' Mother-to-be Meghan, wearing black Outland jeans, a Jac+Jack top and a grey Club Monaco coat, gifted the youngsters with cakes from inside the cafe. The loved-up royals met with the hard workers who dedicate their time to advocating for and supporting people who struggle with mental health issues. Inside the cafe, they flitted between tables discussing the plight of the individuals who had joined them, with Prince Harry discussing the necessity to normalise discussions surrounding mental illness. NYPD Commissioner James O'Neill (pictured) apologized to a woman who came forward with a rape allegation in 1994 but was discredited by police New York Police Department Commissioner James O'Neill has apologized to a woman who came forward with a rape allegation in 1994 but was discredited by police, saying the department let her down 'in almost every possible way'. In a letter shared on the NYPD's website on Sunday, O'Neill offered the woman his 'heartfelt apology for all aspersions cast upon your credibility by NYPD personnel those many years ago.' The woman, who is African-American, had told police in April 1994 that she was dragged into the bushes and raped while walking through Brooklyn's Prospect Park with her groceries. She gave authorities a detailed description which was the basis of a police sketch, and DNA evidence was recovered. The victim told police that her attacker was carrying a large stick or cane, and had also demanded money from her. But no arrests were made. When her story was reported, late Daily News columnist Mike McAlary wrote that he believed it was a hoax. McAlary wrote at the time that police sources had cast doubt on the woman, saying she had invented her story in an effort to gain attention around a speech she was going to give at a rally demonstrating against anti-lesbian violence. The woman, who is African-American, had told police that she was dragged into the bushes and raped while walking through Prospect Park. She gave police a detailed description which was the basis of a police sketch (left). James Webb (right) was later found to be the rapist The victim told police that her attacker was carrying a large stick or cane, and had also demanded money from her when she was attacked in Prospect Park (file image) The woman sued McAlary for libel, but a judge dismissed the case in part because McAlary had been relying on information from police. McAlary died in 1998. In January, police announced that the case had been cracked thanks to modern DNA analysis methods that found a match to serial rapist James Webb, 68, who is serving 25 years to life in prison. Webb was convicted of raping six women between 1969 and 1973. He'd been out on parole at the time of the attack on the cold case victim, but he told police he wasn't involved in the 1994 attack. He also attacked four others and was arrested again in 1995. A few days after that announcement, another NYPD official made an apology. Deputy Commissioner John Miller also sent a statement to the woman's lawyer that says he was wrong to tell reporters that police doubted the woman's account. He was the chief police spokesman at the time. When her story was reported, late Daily News columnist Mike McAlary (left) wrote that he believed it was a hoax. The woman, now 52, said in an interview with the New York Times on Sunday that O'Neill's (right) apology left her feeling grateful and unexpectedly emotional In his apology letter O'Neill said: 'We know the damage that sexual assaults inflict on survivors. 'Compounding that damage with insensitive comments and wild conspiracy theories only further amplifies the cruelty and injustice of the initial crime itself. For that, I am deeply and profoundly sorry.' The woman, now 52, said in an interview with the New York Times on Sunday that the apology left her feeling grateful and unexpectedly emotional. 'I wanted to see this happen so that the NYPD would have to take a public stance in support of survivors, so that there would be a public statement that would make it clear that it was safe and beneficial for survivors to come forward to the police, and that they would not be attacked or pilloried by the police,' she told the Times. O'Neill also went on to address the 'miscarriage of justice' when the victim was accused of inventing her story. 'This rape survivor was suspected of inventing the crime to publicize a planned rally protesting violence against lesbians. I firmly believe that no one in the NYPD would draw such an implausible and ridiculous conclusion today,' O'Neill wrote. 'This police department has come a long way since 1994 in our response to sexual assaults and in our understanding of, and respect for, the LGBTQ community. 'And our Special Victims Squad investigators who pursue instances of sexual assault today have more tools, better training and resources, and greater skills than ever before. 'I am deeply saddened by the rift this case created between law enforcement, brave survivors of sexual assault, and the LGBTQ community, with whom we work so closely each day. 'And I want to be clear: We take what happened to the victim of the brutal assault that night in Prospect Park, and to others every year, extremely seriously. But in this case, we fell short in an important area: Simple humanity,' O'Neill concluded. The son of Good Day New York anchor Rosanna Scotto is set to testify against his former friend James Rackover in his murder trial. Rackover allegedly confessed to killing Joseph Communale in 2016 to Louis Ruggiero, 24, in 2016, sources told theNew York Daily News. It is unclear exactly when Ruggiero will testify, as the trial began Thursday with jurors being shown the gruesome evidence of Rackover's blood-stained clothes and bed sheets from the night he allegedly stabbed Comunale to death during a party at his luxury New York City apartment. On Friday, jurors were shown photos of Rackover and Ruggiero posing shirtless together in pictures taken from Rackover's cellphone - attempting to establish a close relationship between the two men before Scotto's son takes the witness stand. Louis Ruggiero, 24, is the son of Rosanna Scotto and grandson of former Gambino boss Anthony Scotto. He will testify against former friend James Rackover Rackover (pictured in court in October 2017), 27, and former friend, Lawrence Dilione, 30, are accused of fatally stabbing Joey at an alcohol and cocaine-fueled party inside Rackover's luxury New York City apartment in November 2016 Ruggiero has had his own run-ins with the law, after being charged with stealing a 40-year-old woman's $1,000 Chanel purse at a Manhattan club in 2015. He was arrested when officers saw him walking out of Marquee club with a purse under his jacket and found him to be in possession of the purse, a bag of cocaine and a false Illinois license. Ruggiero, who's also the grandson of former Gambino boss Anthony Scotto, was charged with grand larceny, criminal possession of a controlled substance and criminal possession of a forged instrument. In Thursday's trial, the disturbing photos showed a blood-splattered pair of pants, a strained dark brown pair of dress shoes and a once-white bedsheet, which had been dumped in the trash near the Manhattan party boy's home. Rackover, 27, and former friend, Lawrence Dilione, 30, were arrested and charged with the murder. Authorities say Comunale, of Connecticut, was brutally killed in an argument over cigarettes. Jurors have also been shown evidence discovered dumped in trash bags at the Grand Sutton on E. 59th Street in Manhattan, within two days of the murder. Comunale's (pictured) body was found three days after the gruesome murder. His body had been mutilated, burned and buried in a shallow grave in Oceanport, New Jersey, where Dilione lived Jurors at James Rackovers murder trial were shown the blood-stained clothes and shoes from the from the night he allegedly stabbed to death Joey Comunale. This photo shows pants recovered from the trash that had blood stains all over them A once white bedsheet splattered with blood was also shown to the jurors on Tuesday. A gold chain necklace was caught inside the sheet. Joey's friend said he was wearing the chain the night he was killed On Tuesday, Michelle Gangi, a detective with the New York Police Department, showed jurors a gold chain necklace found inside the bloody bed sheet recovered from the garbage, according to the New York Daily News. Joey's best friend previously said the victim was wearing the chain the night he died. The jury also saw the victims bleach-stained clothes, including a gray sweatshirt that smelled strongly of bleach, his drivers license and college ID. Blood-stained towels and empty bottles of household cleaners were also seen in court. The victim's body was found three days after the gruesome murder. His body had been mutilated, burned and buried in a shallow grave in Oceanport, New Jersey, where Dilione lived. Dilione's murder trial is expected to begin in January. Rackover's former friend, Lawrence Dilione, 30 (center), is also accused in Joey's death and is set to stand trial in January Rackover has been charged of second-degree murder, hindering prosecution, tampering with evidence and concealing a human corpse. He faces up to life in prison for the murder charge, with additional possible sentences for the additional charges. Rackover is said to be the 'surrogate son' of celebrity jeweler Jeffrey Rackover, who has designed baubles for the likes of Jennifer Lopez and was responsible for Melania Trump's $3million engagement ring. Jeffrey Rackover has since distanced himself from his 'adoptive' son, but was named in a lawsuit filed in June 2017 alleging he helped to cover up the murder. The victim's family claimed that Jeffrey provided cleaning supplies to Rackover and alleged that the pair were in a sexual relationship. The lawsuit also alleged that Jeffrey let Rackover borrow his Mercedes-Benz to dispose of the victim's dismembered remains on the Jersey Shore. Rackover's trial is set to resume on Monday. A brave young boy who raised $2000 and shaved his head to make wigs for kids who lost their hair having chemotherapy has been diagnosed with the disease. New Zealand school boy Joenah Iona, 14, was diagnosed with a sarcoma cancer after a tumour was found on his spine in October. Joenah was airlifted to Auckland's Starship Hospital and will undergo his first round of chemotherapy on Tuesday. The shock diagnosis comes exactly three years after he donated 60cm of his hair to make wigs for kids who lost theirs having treatment. His brave efforts also raised $2000 for the Child Care Foundation. Joenah's friends and family have set up a Givealittle online fund page where close to $17,000 has been raised from 260 donors as he prepares for his own cancer battle. 'Chemo is making him feel pretty yucky, sleepy and he has little appetite,' Essie Russell, his primary school teacher of four years wrote on the fund page. Joenah Iona (pictured), 14, has been diagnosed with cancer after raising money and cutting his hair for a cancer charity three years ago The 14-year-old underwent a scan to see the tumour attached to his spine after his chemotherapy. The student from Scots College received a blood test yesterday, where he was found to have had a blood infection and was treated with strong antibiotics. 'Glad that his high fever has gone down now with zero headaches this time,' a social media update wrote. Joenah's mother Nadia has had to stop working to help care for her son, leading to the struggle and stress of paying for everyday living costs. 'Chemo is making him feel pretty yucky, sleepy and he has little appetite,' Essie Russell, his primary school teacher of four years wrote on the fund page. The funds raised will be used to help pay for bills, food and rent of Joenah's family while he is being treated. Joenah has not been short of company while in hospital with visits from his cousins, relatives who flew from other states in New Zealand as well as his school headmaster. 'How can we ever thank you enough for all you've done for our son Joenah. You have been extremely supportive through this difficult time. God bless you all,' Joenah's mother Nadia wrote. The student cut off 60cm for his hair when he was 11 years old for cancer victims who lost theirs The funds raised will be used to help pay for bills, food and rent of Joenah's family while he is being treated. Joenah has not been short of company while in hospital with visits from his cousins, relatives who flew from other states in New Zealand as well as his school headmaster. 'How can we ever thank you enough for all you've done for our son Joenah. You have been extremely supportive through this difficult time. God bless you all,' Joenah's mother Nadia wrote. Sarah Wellgreen, 46, was last seen on October 9 and has not contacted her family since Vital clues to finding a missing mother-of-five could be found on her lost iPhone, police believe. Officers have searched drains and woodland for Sarah Wellgreen, 46, who was last seen in the Bazes Shaw area of New Ash Green, Kent, on the evening of October 9. Police have been searching for Ms Wellgreen's mobile phone for three days as 300 people joined in the search for the missing mother yesterday. The beautician's black iPhone 4 - the only item missing from her home - and bank cards have not been used since the disappearance. Ms Wellgreen also missed one of her children's birthdays. Jody Fullbrook, a friend of the missing mother, said: 'She wouldn't have stayed away from her kids for this long. 'Something has happened. I'm worried for Sarah. It's been too long now. 'It's starting to feel round here like she has been killed.' Ms Fullbrook, 32, previously claimed the missing mother used to visit Portsmouth regularly while working at weekends but would never lose contact with her family. A team of 12 police officers were combing through a site three miles from the missing mother on Sunday, scouring woodland in Longfield, Kent, with rakes and spades. Police in Longfield near New Ash Green, Kent, as the investigation into the disappearance continues Council workers could be seen helping police search drains near the Orchards Shopping Centre in Dartford. Roughly 300 volunteers showed up in an attempt to locate the mother yesterday - but nothing of note has yet been found. Dartford town centre's River Darent was searched by divers on Saturday while detectives pursued clues about the disappearance. Specialist officers wearing waders went into the waist-deep water using a conical-shaped aquascope to search underwater and used sticks to probe the river bed. Police divers searched a river close to the last known whereabouts of Sarah Wellgreen Marine search unit officers from Kent Police dredged through the River Darent as the hunt for the missing mother continued Police teams were searching areas near the village of New Ash Green near Dartford, Kent, on Sunday with volunteers from the village searching footpaths and bridal tracks for the missing black phone. Kent Police said: 'Marine search unit officers are currently searching the River Darent in Dartford town centre in connection with the disappearance and potential murder of New Ash Green mother of five, Sarah Wellgreen.' Two officers flew a drone above the site in what was said to be a search for Ms Wellgreen's missing iPhone. Police teams have been searching undergrowth, flower beds and drains in the centre for three days in an attempt to find the device. Police search officers and council workers check the drains in an area near the Orchard shopping centre in Dartford, Kent Officers spent three days searching for Ms Wellgreen's black iPhone 4 following her disappearance Earlier this week Detective Superintendent Paul Fotheringham, who is leading the investigation and search, said: 'We are investigating the disappearance of Sarah. 'It is entirely out of character for her to go missing and having conducted extensive enquiries and searches, this case is now being treated as a potential murder. 'Sarah has disappeared without a trace, the only item missing from the home is her black iPhone 4. Ms Wellgreen was last seen in the Bazes Shaw area of New Ash Green, Kent, during the evening of Tuesday, October 9 'Officers have conducted extensive searches in New Ash Green and surrounding rural areas. 'While we continue our investigation and enquiries, I would urge anybody who saw anything suspicious in the New Ash Green area at around the time Sarah went missing, that is overnight from the evening of Tuesday October 9, into the morning of Wednesday 10 October, to contact us. 'We have experts with specialist technology and forensic scientists working with us to try and find Sarah. 'Residents, businesses and landowners in the rural areas around New Ash Green are asked to check their outhouses, and areas surrounding their properties. 'We are particularly interested to hear from anyone with fixed CCTV cameras within a five mile radius of New Ash Green, whether this is residential or commercial CCTV to come forward. 'Likewise, anyone who was out on the evening of the October 9 to the morning of 10 October in that five mile area who has dashcam in their vehicle, please contact us. 'We are also appealing to those living and working in the area bordered by the A2, M25, Meopham, Cobham, Horton Kirby and Darenth to check their sheds, outbuildings and areas of rough ground or woodland for any sign of Sarah. 'Dog walkers and anyone out in rural areas should also call us if they see anything that seems suspicious. 'If you think you may have seen Sarah or something suspicious but are not sure, please do not hesitate to call and let us know. 'I'd like to take this opportunity to thank those who have already called us, assisted with searches or sent messages of support to family who have been badly affected by Sarah's disappearance.' Eleven people have been arrested after a police officer was punched in the face as cops tried to stop a mob from attacking a couple in a late-night brawl. The attack took place in front of a fast food restaurant on Oxford Street in Sydney's inner-city suburb of Surry Hills in the early hours of Sunday morning. Police have condemned the 'senseless violence', which saw as many as 15 people assault a couple cowering in the gutter. Police have condemned a vicious late-night brawl on Surry Hills' Oxford Street Officers responded to calls of a brawl at about 3am. They tried to intervene and pull the alleged attackers off of the victims, before they were turned on themselves. One constable was allegedly punched in the face while another suffered facial cuts when he was shoved to the ground. The brawlers were only subdued after police used capsicum spray and a taser. It took 10 minutes for police to get the fight under control. 'It's just ridiculous that a 10-minute fight has erupted over a minor altercation, which has ended with several people being hurt and almost a dozen people charged and facing court,' Detective Chief Inspector Craig Middleton, said. 11 people have been arrested for their involvement in the brawl which left four people injured As a result, 11 people, comprising of 10 men and a female, have been charged with offences ranging from assault to resisting arrest. All but one have been granted bail and ordered to appear before the Downing Centre Local Court later in the month. A 30-year-old man was ordered to appear before the Central Local Court on Monday morning. Surry Hills Police continue to examine footage of the incident. The 8.2 magnitude earthquake that brought devastation and 98 deaths to southern Mexico in September 2017 was even more extreme than initially thought it split apart the 37-mile long Cocos plate responsible for the quake in half in a few seconds, thus releasing exorbitant amounts of energy. Now, geologists have yet to find an explanation for why this happened. We find that the faulting reactivated a bend-fault fabric and ruptured to a depth well below the predicted brittle-ductile transition for the Cocos slab, including regions where the temperature is expected to exceed 1,000 C, the study reads. Our findings suggest that young oceanic lithosphere is brittle to greater depths than previously assumed and that rupture is facilitated by wholesale deviatoric tension in the subducted slab, possibly due to fluid infiltration. In a statement accompanying the study, lead author Diego Melgar, an earth scientist at the University of Oregon, says researchers have yet to find an explanation for why this happened. We dont yet have an explanation on how this was possible, Melgar wrote. We can only say that it contradicts the models that we have so far and indicates that we have to do more work to understand it. In history Earthquakes of this magnitude and fierceness have occurred previously, but only a few times before. In 1933, an earthquake of that nature in Sanriku, Japan caused a 94-foot tsunami, killed 1,522 people and destroyed more than 7,000 homes, the statement added. Another similar quake happened in 1939, beneath the Chilean town of Chillan, according to National Geographic. That quake killed at least 30,000 people. When these earthquakes happen near bodies of water, in particular, ocean coastlines, the devastation is greater because of the tsunami threat, Melgar told National Geographic. You remember?: Since 1929, only seven shallow intraslab normal-faulting events with [magnitudes greater than] 7.6 have been recorded, all of these associated with bending stresses in the outer-rise region of the subduction zone, the study adds. As for the 8.2 Mexican quake, it ruptured the Cocos plate, which is relatively young at 25-million-years old, and generated a 6-foot tsunami. This subducting plate is still very young and warm, geologically speaking, Melgar added in the statement. It really shouldnt be breaking. By contrast, the subduction zone in Japan is 130 million years old. Tectonic plate movement Tectonic plates are constantly moving around the Earths surface and bumping up against each other, either forming mountains or sliding under one another, forming the aforementioned subduction zone. The age and temperatures of subduction zones vary, with temperatures getting cooler as they move outward. Tension-related earthquakes are largely thought to be the result of older plates with cooler temperatures (1,202 degrees Fahrenheit), which makes the Tehuantepec earthquake so puzzling. Some theories but nothing sure Melgar and his team have some theories. They think that seawater infiltrated into the Cocos plate and potentially accelerated the cooling, which also made it more prone to the types of earthquakes seen in older and colder locations. If thats possible, areas such as south of Guatemala and the western coast of the US are susceptible to tension-zone earthquakes, they note. Our knowledge of these places where large earthquakes happen is still imperfect, Melgar said. We can still be surprised. We need to think more carefully when we make hazard and warning maps. We still need to do a lot of work to be able to provide people with very accurate information about what they can expect in terms of shaking and in terms of tsunami hazard. Actually science discovers new things everyday But cannot do anything to predict or to hinder the next Big One! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter or become a Patron on Patreon / donate through Paypal. Please and thank you. Nature Geoscience Deep embrittlement and complete rupture of the lithosphere during the Mw8.2 Tehuantepec earthquake Eureka Alert Mexicos 2017 Tehuantepec quake suggests a new worry NY Post Massive 2017 Mexican earthquake split tectonic plate in half Hate preacher Anjem Choudary will have to complete a deradicalisation programme or could be sent back to jail, reports claim. The 51-year-old is said to be among extremists and Islamic State fighters to undergo Britain's first compulsory course to combat terrorism. Choudary, described as one of the country's most dangerous Islamist preachers, was released from prison on October 19 halfway through a five and a half year sentence. Hate preacher Anjem Choudary talks on his phone in north London following his release from prison this month Now he has reportedly been ordered to attend the desistance and disengagement programme (DDP) as part of his probation. He will receive mentoring and theological 'advice' as part of the course, which is an escalation of the previously voluntary Prevent violent extremism scheme. Addressing 'personal grievances' exacerbated by extremist narratives and providing psychological support are among the aims of the programme. If Choudary does not attend, he could be called back to Belmarsh Prison to finish his sentence for inviting support for ISIS in lectures uploaded to YouTube. By June, 230 extremists and ISIS fighters who returned to the UK will have taken part in the course. An estimated 100 people have already completed the programme as part of last year's pilot scheme. Choudary, described as one of the country's most dangerous Islamist preachers, has reportedly been ordered to attend the deradicalisation programme as part of his probation Choudary is living under strict conditions since he was released to a probation hostel in north London this month. The convicted hate preacher is tagged and subject to a night-time curfew, as well as banned from attending certain mosques and socialising with particular people. He is also being monitored by police, probation and security services. Two sisters whose bodies were found bound-together by duct tape and washed up on shore along the Hudson River in New York City were from Saudi Arabia and lost touch with their family a week ago. Rotana Farea, 22, and sister Tala, 16, went missing from their home in Fairfax, Viginia, before they were found dead more than 240 mils away in what the NYPD believe could be a suicide pact. They were bound together at the feet and waist, facing each other and both were fully clothed. Cops said they jumped off the George Washington Bridge before their bodies washed up 100 blocks down river. But their Saudi family insisted to the Arab News that the pair did not commit suicide, and are waiting to find out the cause of death from the medical examiner. Both women lived in Jeddah before their mother moved to the United States and settled in Virginia. 22-year-old Rotana Farea (left) and her 16-year-old sister, Tala Farea (right), were both originally from Saudi Arabia before they came to live in Virginia along with their mother The bodies of the two women that were bound together by duct tape washed up from New York's Hudson River on Wednesday. Police are seen here removing one of the bodies Members of the family on Sunday denied claims that the two sisters had been missing for two months. Her mother had in fact reported her younger daughter Tala as missing two months ago according to Arab News. But she called off the search when Tala said she was in New York visiting her sister. It was while Tala was visiting her elder sister that both young women lost contact with their mother a week ago and they were then reported missing. Authorities received a 911 call around 3pm from a passerby who spotted the two bodies floating in the water off the city's Upper West Side neighborhood Authorities can be seen carrying two stretchers as they cleared the bodies from the scene They had seemingly both jumped off the George Washington Bridge and neither body showed signs of trauma, but the cause of death remains unknown. The bodies were kept together with duct tape at the waist so the pair faced each other. Police said both were fully clothed in black jackets with fur trim and black leggings when their lifeless corpses were spotted near Riverside Park on the Upper West Side of the city. Although authorities arrived around 2.40pm to the scene near West 68th Street and Riverside Boulevard, it wasn't until 5pm that medical examiners removed the young women from the riverbank. Police believe the women may have jumped from George Washington Bridge (pictured) before their bodies floated six miles down the river, where they were spotted at Riverside Park The bodies were laying on rocks near the river when authorities arrived on the scene EMS pronounced them dead at the scene after they are believed to have floated six miles down the cold water. Tala was last seen August 24, according to a posting on the website of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The petite brown-eyed teenager was only 5ft and 130lbs. The alert said she might be with her sister. Police said both women were fully clothed and neither body showed any signs of trauma The bodies were laying on rocks near the river when authorities arrived on the scene A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a passenger was shoved onto the tracks at a tube station in London. He remains in custody after the victim ended up on the tracks at London's Barons Court tube station. Police medics and the metropolitan police attended the scene. Police rushed to the scene after the incident at Barons Court on Sunday evening One witness posted on Twitter: 'Landed back in London, get on tube to go home, then someone pushes someone else onto the train tracks and run onto our tube.. police everywhere.. pretty scary but reassuring how fast our emergency services are.. some crazy people out there..' In a statement, British Transport Police said: 'At approximately 11.15pm on Sunday evening, officers were called to Barons Court station after reports of an assault resulting in a person falling onto the tracks. 'Police were quickly on scene and a man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. A man remains in custody after being arrested on suspicion of murder at Barons Court tube station in West Kensington last night 'He has been taken into custody as enquiries continue.' The victim, a man in his 30s, has been taken to hospital for treatment for minor injuries. British Transport Police confirmed the incident on Twitter and have asked anything with information to text them on 61016. A group of Jewish people in Pittsburgh have told President Donald Trump he is not welcome in the city until he has fully denounced white nationalism. The President told reporters on Saturday that he wants to visit the Tree of Life Synagogue where 11 members of the congregation were shot and killed. But a group of community leaders circulated an online petition on Sunday demanding that Trump fully denounce white nationalism before making his visit. In a letter addressed to the President, the 12 Jews from the progressive group Bend the Arc accuse Trump of contributing to Saturdays tragedy. For the past three years your words and your policies have emboldened a growing white nationalist movement, the letter read. President Donald Trump said he wants to travel to Pittsburgh to pay a condolence visit after the massacre of 11 Jews at a synagogue, but a group of Jewish residents there say hes not wanted. Trump is seen above in Murphysboro, Illinois on Saturday These Stars of David with the names of five of the 11 people killed at the Tree of Life Synagogue are part of a memorial of flowers and stars that have collected outside the temple You yourself called the murderer evil, but yesterdays violence is the direct culmination of your influence. Trump is accused by the group of deliberately undermin[ing] the safety of people of color, Muslims, LGBTQ people, and people with disabilities. Yesterdays massacre is not the first act of terror you incited against a minority group in our country, the letter read. President Trump, you are not welcome in Pittsburgh until you stop targeting and endangering all minorities. Bend the Arc also demanded that Trump cease [his] assault on immigrants and refugees. The group noted that the gunman, Robert Bowers, was angry at the Jewish community because of the work of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, a Jewish nonprofit that helps resettle migrants and refugees. Trump came into office vowing to crack down on illegal immigration. His administration has implemented controversial policies, including separating children from their parents after they crossed the southern border. You yourself called the murderer evil, but yesterdays violence is the direct culmination of your influence, they wrote. The Tree of Life synagogue is seen above on Sunday The Empire State Building in New York City went dark on Sunday night to honor the victims of the Tree of Life synagogue massacre The Torah teaches that every human being is made btzelem Elohim, in the image of God, the letter reads. This means all of us. President Trump, you are not welcome in Pittsburgh until you commit yourself to compassionate, democratic policies that recognize the dignity of all of us. Trump and the Republican Party have been accused of spreading anti-Semitic conspiracy theories which blame Hungarian-born financier George Soros for the migrant caravan currently making its way through Mexico. Earlier this week, a supporter of Trump allegedly mailed at least a dozen pipe bombs to prominent current and former Democrats, including ex-President Barack Obama, Bill and Hillary Clinton, and former Attorney General Eric Holder. In Kentucky, a white man allegedly killed two black people in Jeffersontown, Kentucky. The uptick in hate-motivated crimes and killings has fueled concern that Americas contentious politics is contributing to the bloodshed. A Holocaust survivor narrowly avoided death after arriving four minutes late to a synagogue where a gunman opened fire and killed 11 people. Judah Samet, 80, was heading to the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh on Saturday morning when he was stopped parking into a handicapped spot by police. He had arrived to pray at the same place he had for almost 50 years just after Robert Bowers, 46, opened fire on his friends inside. When he was just seven years old Samet and his family were rounded up in Hungary by the Nazi secret police, The Gestapo, in 1944 and put on a train to Auschwitz. But he was re-routed to Bergen-Belsen when Czechs blew up their train tracks. He spent 10 months in the camp before his family was released, just before the Allies liberated the camp. More than 70 years later, he arrived at what he thought was a safe haven to see cops under attack from a man who had spewed anti-Semitic hate online just a few hours before. Judah Semet cheated death by four minutes as a gunman opened fire on worshippers at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh on Saturday Judah Samet pictured shortly after World War Two ended and he moved to Israel with his mother , before later travelling to New York City and settling in Pittsburgh where he now lives He is seen holding a picture of his family around the time they were sent to the camps A memorial of flowers and stars outside the synagogue where 11 people were killed There was this guy. Very calm and respectful. [He] told me, you better back up, there is an active shooting going on in your synagogue, Samet told Jewish news outlet Forward. Samet said he knew the people who were killed during the attack, including 97-year old Rose Mallinger who typically sat behind him. Pittsburgh authorities released the identities of all 11 victims, including two brothers, a dentist, and a new grandfather, who were gunned down while worshiping at a synagogue on Saturday morning. Joyce Fienberg, 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, Rose Mallinger, 97, and 69-year-old Irving Younger were identified as the 11 victims by Chief Medical Examiner Dr Karl Williams. Samet explained: If I was inside the synagogue, I would be in the line of fire,' he said. Samet looks through memorabilia the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh where he regularly gives talks to visitors and also at local schools of experience as a Holocaust survivor During the shooting, Samet said he was outside and roughly four feet away from a police officer who was under fire from the attacker's automatic weapon. Samet said a police officer near him opened fire on the attacker, who he could see from outside. He added: He was popping his head out from behind a wall and shooting, Samet said. He was shooting towards the cop, who was about four feet away from me, Samet said. He saw the men exchange fire. I saw smoking coming out of his muzzle. I was in the line of fire'. Samet knew Rose Mallinger,97, who was one of 11 people who were killed on Saturday Gunman Robert Bayers faces 29 federal charges, 22 of which are punishable by death Some of Samets relatives were tortured and murdered by Nazis during the Holocaust. He escaped when Solvakians blew up a railroad line transporting him and his family to Aushwitz. Samet's mother was an interpreter who 'saved hundreds of Jews'. He added: 'My mother taught us never listen what they have to say,' he told Forward. Look at their hands. Because words cannot kill you'. Samet was planning to recount his family's experience in the Holocaust to a local church on Sunday and said he would bring up the deadly shooting at the synagogue during the discussion. Samet, who lives in the North Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh, has spoken to thousands of people about his experiences during the Holocaust.he Samets ended up on a train bound for Auschwitz but were rerouted to Bergen-Belsen, in northern Germany, after Czech partisans blew up the railr The Samets ended up on a train bound for Auschwitz but were rerouted to Bergen-Belsen, in northern Germany, after Czech partisans blew up the railroad Samet spent ten months in Bergen-Belsen concentration camp where Samet claimed: 'Many people just laid down and died. They knew they were eventually going to die, so why suffer?' Samet was born in 1938 in Debrecen, the second-largest city in Hungary. The family of six lived in the Jewish section of town, across the street from the synagogue. In 1944, German Gestapo agents started rounding up Hungarian Jews for deportation to camps across central Europe. The Samets ended up on a train bound for Auschwitz but were rerouted to Bergen-Belsen, in northern Germany, after Czech partisans blew up the railroad, Samet said. Samet, then only 7, spent 10 and a half months at Bergen-Belsen, which started out as a prisoner-of-war camp and became a concentration camp for civilians. On a daily basis, he was given flavored water that was intended to pass as soup, and 'moldy, rock-hard bread'. 'Many people just laid down and died, he said. They knew they were eventually going to die, so why suffer?', Samet told the Rochester Times earlier this year. An estimated 50,000 people, including Anne Frank and her sister, Margot, perished there, according to the US Holocaust Memorial Museum. Judah Samet gave family images of himself and his family to the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh as he believes it is important that the Holocaust should never be forgotten Just before the arrival of the Allies, German officers announced that they needed 2,500 prisoners to leave Bergen-Belsen by train. At the insistence of his mother, Rachel, Samet and his family boarded a train with an unknown destination. 'Later, I asked her, Why did you put us on the train?' and she said it was the difference between the sure thing and the maybe thing,' he told the Rochester Times. BERGEN-BELSEN: 'Hell on earth' where 50,000 people died Bergen-Belsen began as a prison camp for captured prisoners of war. It was not like Auschwitz where numerous gas chambers killed thousands everyday. But Bergen-Belsen was no less cruel or horrifying. Most died at Bergen-Belsen from being shot, hung, starved to death, or killed by disease. This camp did not fit the standard organization of a concentration camp. It had several camps that segregated the prisoners. Camp officials even traded important prisoners, including Jews, in exchange for money from different governments. Weak & dying prisoners stretch out on dirt bank behind Bergen Belsen barracks after the concentration camp was liberated in April 1945 Over the course of its existence, the Bergen-Belsen camp complex held Jews, prisoners of war, political prisoners, Roma people, criminals, Jehovah's Witnesses, and homosexuals. After evacuating Bergen-Belsen, British forces burned down the whole camp to prevent the spread of typhus. Thousands of corpses lay unburied on the camp grounds. Between May 1943 and April 15, 1945, between 36,400 and 37,600 prisoners died in Bergen-Belsen. More than 13,000 former prisoners, too ill to recover, died after liberation. Advertisement If we had stayed at Bergen-Belsen, we would all be dead. But on the train, you didn't know what would happen, so she chose the maybe'. Liberators arrived at the camp soon thereafter to find 13,000 unburied corpses and 34,000 'walking dead,' Samet said. Meanwhile, the Samets and their fellow travelers arrived in Berlin, where they were rescued by an American tank crew. 'We thought this was where we were finally going to be finished off. When the tank came out, the gun was not aimed at us. A soldier came out, and he did not have the Nazi uniform. My father, who was studying English, yelled Americans!'. About a week after liberation, Samet's father, Yekutil, died of typhoid. The rest of the family was taken to Paris and then to Marseille, where they were put on a boat bound for Israel. Samet credits his mother with the family's survival. A 4-foot-10-inch dynamo, she became a translator for the Germans, looked out for fellow prisoners and devised ways to provide food for her children. 'My story shouldn't evoke any heroism, at least on my part. The hero in my story was my mother,' he said. She lived to the age of 82. Samet would later move to Israel and then New York City, where he met a woman from Pittsburgh who would later become his wife. 'People ask me sometimes, Do you hate the Germans? And I say hatred isnt in the Jewish DNA. 'They ask me also, Can you forgive the Germans? That I cannot do, because if I forgive, I am talking for six million Jews'. Hundreds of people are stung with fines every week for catching public transport in Melbourne without tickets, but one infuriating offence has gone virtually unpunished. Despite dishing out tens of thousands of fines for evading fares, Transport for Victoria has revealed not a single commuter has been fined for not vacating priority seating. This means that commuters who choose to sit in seats designated for disabled, pregnant and elderly people are getting away with it. Despite dishing out tens of thousands of fines for evading fares, Transport for Victoria has revealed not a single commuter has been fined for not vacating priority seating (stock image) Hundreds of people are stung with fines every week for catching public transport in Melbourne without tickets (stock image) Transport officers are also yet to fine a single person for illegally using station car parks dedicated for commuters without catching the train. Public Transport Users Association spokesman Daniel Bowen said public transport is shared between the community and they hope to make it a 'pleasant journey' for all. He also said it's disappointing that infringements aren't being issued for those caught who refuse to vacate priority seating and those who use the station car parks. 'This is a real issue at some stations, where parking spaces are regularly taken by local workers rather than being able to be used by commuters,' Mr Bowen said. Failing to provide a valid ticket can cost adults $242 on-the-spot. Although the hefty amount of ticket infringements delivers a potential windfall of $14.8million this year, the number of fines issued across the state have fallen. Mr Bowen said it's important for commuters to pay for tickets, as the money helps fund network improvements. In addition to ticket fines, an additional 6879 were fined for putting their feet on walls or chairs, 300 people were caught smoking and 24 were fined for being obscene or threatening. Failing to provide a valid ticket on Melbourne public transport can cost adults $242 on-the-spot (stock image) 'Authorities can do more by continuing education and improving signage that encourages good etiquette and compliance with the rules,' Mr Bowen said. He said it's disappointing that people are blatantly ignoring rules such as smoking underneath shelters, causing issues for other passengers. 'Feet on seats is also disappointingly common, and can result in scarce seats on-board a train, tram or bus being unusable by other people,' Mr Bowen said. A government spokesperson said they found 95.3 per cent of people touched on their Myki card in Melbourne. A father from Kentucky has faced death threats after he dressed his five-year-old son up as Adolf Hitler as part of a Halloween costume. Bryant Goldbach said he regrets dressing his five-year-old son as the dictator, while he was pictured wearing a Waffen-SS uniform. He initially attempted to justify the idea saying his son loved dressing as 'historical figures'. But now he and his family have received threats of violence from people incensed by the father's tone deaf choice of outfit. Bryant Goldbach took to Facebook to vent after he and his family attended the Trail of Treats in Owensboro Thursday night. He posted a photograph of himself and his son in which he wore what appeared to be a Nazi officer's uniform, and the boy wore a suit, swastika armband and Hitler-style mustache. Twitter users were showing little sympathy for the father-of-four's excuses for dressing he and his son up as a Nazi 'I understand that people are mad, but please leave my family alone,' said Goldbach of the multiple death threats he says he has received. According to the father of four, he has been threatened he would be 'beaten with bats,' and that he 'needs to watch over his shoulder.' Out of fear, Goldbach says he and his wife are limiting their time outside of their house. However, the dad's Facebook page still showed the offending picture together with a picture of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin above. Goldbach posted photos of the outfits during a local trick or treat event on Thursday and condemned those who approached and threatened him and his son during the party. The outrage didn't stop online with people pouring cold water on Goldbach's response that they were just 'historical figures'. Even though the father has attempted to apologize for the costumer, his Facebook page still shows the offensive photo together with his children Bryant Goldbach took to Facebook to vent after he posted a photograph of himself and his son in which he wore what appeared to be a Nazi officer's uniform 'Claims that they were dressing as 'historical figures,' then blames the backlash on liberalism' wrote a skeptical Danyahel Norris on twitter. 'There are something's that should never be taken lightly. Hitler and the Nazis is not the kind of thing you flip into something 'fun' unless you see nothing wrong with what they did,' said another online. 'So like where exactly did that dada who dressed his son up as Hitler and himself as a Nazi officer get all that really authentic gear? You ain't buying ss pins at Walmart' asked another critic on Twitter. 'Is it really that easy to get a full SS uniform? I would think the website he had to buy it from would have been a bit shady. Or can you just buy them at any Trump property now?' asked another in a Tweet. 'Tonight grown adults threatened a child over his costume. Threatened his mom and dad as well,' Goldbach wrote. 'Threatened to rip his outfit off of him screaming obscenities, scareing (sic) a small child. 'Anyone who knows us knows that we love history, and often dress the part of historical figures,' he wrote in a post that has since been deleted. 'Tonight as we walked we saw people dressed as murderers, devils, serial killers, blood and gore of all sorts. Nobody batted an eye. But my little (son) and I, dress as historical figures, and it merits people not only making snide remarks, but approaching us and threatening my little 5-year-old boy,' he wrote in the tone deaf posting. 'First off, its none of your business. Second, how dare you! I mean How dare you threaten a child. Me, its one thing, but my child? You are messing with fire.' The posting soon went viral and the family quickly found that people were not at all impressed with Goldbach's costume choice with countless posting online to berate the father. 'This poor guy dressed himself and his kids as historical figures for Halloween and got a load abuse. unbelievable, the costumes can't be that ba. okay never mind,' Twitter user Dan Hett joked. 'Tonight grown adults threatened a child over his costume. Threatened his mom and dad as well,' Goldbach wrote. 'Threatened to rip his outfit off of him screaming obscenities, scareing (sic) a small child.' 'While I'm not saying it was a good idea he kind of has a point, most costumes are of well known killers whether fictional or historical figure, why is dressing as one of the most prolific murderers so frowned upon?' @announcer_stef asked. Because it's not just history, it's ideology, a sadly vivid one, that throws back to a very dark chapter of humankind history. There's a difference between killing and genocide, dressing up as a nazi reminds you of the latter,' added @sup_johnny. Goldbach was publicly shamed as a 'child abuser,' 'racist,' and 'coward' on Facebook, Reddit, and Twitter. Following the backlash, Goldbach who runs a jewelry store later apologized for his actions claiming he 'didnt realize the costume would 'stir so much controversy.' Goldbach attempted to justify his costume choice by stating he really 'loved' history He then admitted he hadn't thought the costume through and conceded it was in 'bad taste.' 'I think it was in bad taste for me to let my child to wear that, probably for me to wear that. It didn't occur to me. I thought it was a bad decision on my part,' he said. Rabbi Gary Mazo of Temple Adath B'nai Israel in nearby Evansville, Indiana, said in a statement that anti-Semitism should not have a place in Halloween festivities. 'The fact that the father apologized is important; the fact he did not know the costumes would be offensive is a very sad reflection on our society. A good rule of thumb would be: If your costume calls to mind an event where millions were killed, choose another costume,' Mazo said. Goldbach's viral photo comes at a time when national attention has been brought to Halloween costumes after Megyn Kelly defended blackface. On her show on Wednesday, Kelly questioned why dressing up in blackface for Halloween was inappropriate. NBC announced on Friday that Kelly had been fired from the network. Two American tourists have have drowned in the same weekend while on holiday in Queensland. A 70-year-old man was holidaying on Fitzroy Island, in Far North Queensland, when he was pulled unconscious from the water at 11am on Friday. A Queensland Ambulance Service helicopter was called to the scene but they were unable to resuscitate the man, the Cairns Post reported. The man was one of four people who drowned on the Queensland coast over the weekend. A 70-year-old tourist has drowned near Fitzroy Island (pictured) in Far North Queensland bringing the weekend drowning death toll to three in the state A 72-year-old American man died on Saturday, after drowning at Agincourt Reef, located 65km north of the tourist hub, Port Douglas. Meanwhile a Chinese man and his five-year-old son drowned near Airlie Beach after the father attempted to rescue the young boy. The pair were pulled from the water unconscious shortly before 4pm on Sunday. Both were rushed to Proserpine Hospital for treatment but were unable to be revived. According to the Royal Life Saving National Drowning Report 2017, 291 people died in Australian waters in 2017. A Queensland Ambulance Service EMQ helicopter was called to the scene but they were unable to resuscitate the man (stock image) Men account for 80 per cent of all drowning deaths at beaches and the highest rate of drowning deaths occur at leisure time. 'More than half, 54 per cent, of beach drowning deaths occurred while swimming and recreating, with watercraft and diving incidents accounting for a further 16 per cent of deaths respectively,' the report stated. Beaches made up 17 per cent, of those droning deaths and 16 per cent were made up of drowning deaths in the open ocean and harbours. 'The crude drowning rate in 2016/17 is 1.19 per 100,000 population. This compares favourably to the 10 year average drowning rate of 1.28 drowning deaths per 100,000 population,' the report stated. October is also ranked fifth for months that see the most drowning deaths, behind March, January and December and equal with February. Actress Robyn Nevin broke down in tears in court on Monday as she remembered Geoffrey Rush's reaction to articles that claimed he was 'inappropriate' with his young co-star, Eryn Jean Norville. Nevin became emotional during her evidence-in-chief when she recalled Rush's 'state of confusion' after the articles were published, and how he was losing his capacity to work. The veteran actress, who was giving evidence as part of Rush's case, said she believed Norvill's complaint against him to be baseless but she didn't question her about it as 'the damage was done'. Scroll down for video Robyn Nevin (pictured) was in the witness box at Rush's defamation trial against the Daily Telegraph's publisher and journalist Jonathon Moran concerning two articles and a poster about the 67-year-old actor Geoffrey Rush (pictured) denies the claims of inappropriate behaviour against him and argues the articles portrayed him as a pervert and a sexual predator A tearful Norvill had told her co-star during a Sydney Theatre Company production that being back at the venue reminded her of the trouble she'd had during King Lear some months earlier, a court has heard. Nevin, who performed with Norvill in All My Sons and previously with her and Rush in King Lear, told the NSW Federal Court she thought the young actress was reflecting on the 'great struggles' she had playing the king's daughter. 'Ms Norvill in that state of tearfulness did not suggest in any way at all that there was any occurrence of, or experience of, inappropriate behaviour of a sexual nature,' Nevin said on Monday. Defence barrister Tom Blackburn SC put it to Nevin on Monday that during the tearful conversation with Norvill, she responded: 'Oh I thought Geoffrey had stopped doing that. Poor Jane (the name of Rush's wife)'. 'Well, I deny that,' Nevin said on Monday. The court later heard she messaged Norvill a day after the story broke in the Telegraph, saying: 'Oh dear girl, are you OK?' Nevin in the message told Norvill, who at that stage hadn't been named in the media, that she hoped she would be protected and to just ask if she needed anything. 'I was there. I didn't see anything that would justify the kind of complaint that was made,' Nevin said. 'My concern was for the kind of effect this would have on her when she didn't want it made public.' Nevin said she couldn't remember how she knew the complainant mentioned in the Telegraph stories was Norvill and denied it was from the younger actresses' tearful comments at the STC. Eryn Jean Norvill (pictured) told her co-star during a Sydney Theatre Company production that being back at the venue reminded her of the trouble she'd had during King Lear some months earlier, a court has heard Rush is currently in a defamation trial against the Daily Telegraph's publisher and journalist Jonathon Moran concerning two articles and a poster about the 67-year-old actor. They related to an allegation Rush behaved inappropriately toward a co-star - later revealed to be Norvill - during the production of King Lear in 2015 and 2016. The Oscar-winner denies the claims against him and argues the articles portrayed him as a pervert and a sexual predator. Nationwide News and Moran are pleading a defence of truth and Norvill - who didn't speak with the journalist before the articles were published - has agreed to give evidence. Judy Davis earlier on Monday said Rush had a 'very serious heavyweight reputation' as an actor before the articles appeared. Following their publication, Davis said she'd heard people say his career was finished. The judge-alone trial continues. The top U.S. envoy for North Korea on Monday expressed confidence about achieving North Korea's nuclear disarmament, despite worries about the slow pace of nuclear diplomacy in recent weeks. Meeting with his South Korean counterpart in Seoul, Stephen Biegun said that Washington and Seoul have a shared goal of ending seven decades of hostility on the Korean Peninsula. 'The primary requirement for us to get to that endpoint is to achieve the final, fully verified denuclearization of North Korea,' Biegun said. 'So I am absolutely confident that this is within the reach, and I think our two presidents are singularly focused on this goal.' South Korea's chief nuclear envoy Lee Do-hoon said that 'denuclearization process is at a critical juncture and we need to meet up as often as possible.' Stephen Biegun (left), the U.S. Special Representative for North Korea, shakes hands with South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha (right) in Seoul on Monday Since entering nuclear talks earlier this year, North Korea has taken some measures like halting nuclear and missile tests and dismantling his nuclear testing sites. The United States suspended some its annual military drills with South Korea, but is reluctant to provide the North with big political or economic benefits unless it takes more serious disarmament steps. The North's closure of its nuclear testing site was watched by foreign journalists, not examined by experts. Earlier this month, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made his fourth visit to North Korea, and he was coordinating with allies Japan and South Korea to arrange a second summit between President Donald Trump and Kim. Earlier this month, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made his fourth visit to North Korea, and he was coordinating with allies Japan and South Korea to arrange a second summit between President Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un (seen left with Trump in Singapore in June) The moves brightened prospect for related high-profile U.S.-North Korean exchanges, but no major breakthrough has since been reported. U.S. officials later said Trump will likely have his second meeting with Kim early next year. Their first summit in June in Singapore produced the North's vague disarmament pledge that didn't include any detailed timetable and roadmap for North Korean steps. A new initiative is inspiring UK businesses including Ibstock Brick to commit to more sustainable methods of manufacturing. Ibstock Brick has lead the way by pledging to install a solar plant at its Leicestershire headquarters by the end of the year. The pledge was posted on the Mission Possible Pledge Wall, co-ordinated by leading environmental publisher edie.net, by Michael McGowan, Ibstock Bricks Quality, Environmental & Energy Manager. It says: We pledge to install a solar farm at our Leicestershire headquarters by 2019 as we implement more resource-efficient methods of manufacture by making further use of renewable energy to reduce our reliance on the national grid. By investing in energy efficient plant, technologies and performance improvements it will help us save 30% electricity usage at our Leicestershire site and reduce our carbon footprint. The Mission Possible Pledge Wall is encouraging businesses of all sizes and across all sectors to be bold and make new commitments to achieving a sustainable future. The pledges have been made as part of the Governments Green GB Week a week-long series of content and events that showcases the benefits clean growth will bring to all parts of society. McGowan said: As a company, and across Ibstock plc, we recognise the importance of being a sustainable business. To achieve this, we take a multidimensional approach encompassing four pillars of development; economic, social, natural resources and environmental aspects. As the world seeks new solutions to environmental challenges, we are working towards a promising future. Our pledge is part of our drive to reach our targets. Peninsula will look to win its third consecutive CIF-SS Open Division title Friday when it takes on Westlake, which beat the Panthers twice during the regular season. Question Time panellist Nazir Afzal today backed Fiona Bruce, saying he had 'no criticism' of the host after accusing her during the show of asking him first about the cricket racism row because he is a 'brown person'. The BBC programme has become embroiled in an 'unconscious racism' row after Bruce asked Mr Afzal, the only non-white member of the panel, to be the first person to answer an audience member's query about racism. During the show, Mr Afzal agreed with Bruce that he thought she was 'wrong' to go to him first. But reacting this morning after the incident prompted huge debate online, Mr Afzal tweeted: 'I have no criticism of Fiona Bruce. I made point that racism is something which everyone should have a view on, not just minorities. If the subject was say child or domestic abuse, you wouldn't just ask the victim. It's everybody's business.' The question, which was partly about recent allegations of racist abuse made by cricketer Azeem Rafiq, was asked last night to a panel made up of former crown prosecutor Mr Afzal; white psychologist Jordan Peterson; and three white MPs - Mims Davies from the Conservatives, Stella Creasy of Labour and Stephen Flynn from the SNP. Bruce then immediately turned to Mr Afzal and asked him to answer, prompting him to say: 'The brown person will answer first'. As he made the comment he turned to the audience and laughed, which saw some chuckle with him. The presenter then asked him: 'Nazir, so do you think that was wrong of me to come to you first?' Mr Afzal replied: 'I think so' and attempted to continue answering the question while pointing towards the audience. But Bruce then added: 'Well let's not do it. I'm not being sarcastic at all. I mean if that's how you feel, I respect that.' Mr Afzal then stopped speaking and sat silently, while Bruce went to Mr Peterson to hear from him instead. A Labor politician has called for every street and suburb name in a certain city to be reviewed in case they are linked to villains. Ms Bec Cody, electorate for Murrumbridgee, has asked the Australian Capital Territory Place Names Committee to review all place names in Canberra, in a bid to better community standards. Ms Cody said there was community pain in the commemoration of villains as heroes, adding that some streets are currently named after those who have committed criminal and abhorrent acts. A Labor politician has called for every street and suburb name in Canberra to be reviewed in case they are linked to villains. Haig Park (pictured) was named after General Sir Douglas Haig As an example, Ms Cody highlighted Haig Park, named so after General Sir Douglas Haig, ABC reports. The General served in the British army during WWI and was often referred to as The Butcher for his alleged disregard for the lives of his soldiers, regularly issuing orders which led to excessive casualties of the troops in his command. But many have slammed the politicians proposal, calling it a waste of time and tax-payer money. Co-chair of the ACT Place Names Committee Geoffrey Brown said that place names were very rarely changed as it is such a difficult and unusual thing to do. Sir Douglas Haig served in the British army during WWI and was often referred to as The Butcher for his alleged disregard for the lives of his soldiers, regularly issuing orders which led to excessive casualties of the troops in his command It is a complex thing, because you would actually have to even when we change a single street name we actually have to contact every person thats on that street, he said. Ms Bec Cody (pictured), electorate for Murrumbridgee, has asked the ACT Place Names Committee to review all place names in Canberra, to better community standards Mr Brown said that it has only ever been done about twice in ACT history, and called the whole process a very awkward thing. On a Facebook post discussing the proposal, one user said that it was important to remember our mistakes as they are what defines us as humans. If we erase the past, for whatever fickle reason, we are doomed to repeat those mistakes, they wrote. Australian history is, collectively, ALL our history and we should embrace it and move forward. The issue was also discussed on ABC Radio Canberra and resulted in a stream of disgruntled listeners texting in with their opinions of the 'utterly lame motion'. Surely the MLAs have better things to do; like fixing the broken health, the failing education systems and ensuring our rubbish bins are picked up on time, one person said. Another questioned how many people had ever complained about a place name being linked to a historic villain. Co-chair of the ACT Place Names Committee Geoffrey Brown said that place names were very rarely changed as it is such a difficult and unusual thing to do. 'It's a complex thing...we have to contact every person on that street,' he said. Less than 100? If its only people that you talk to out and about then it cant be many. How much work is this? Cost? Sounds like a name-making thought bubble, they said. Ms Cody, told Daily Mail Australia that changing a few street signs 'won't break the bank'. 'Since I've announced this motion, I've had a number of people approach me with suggestions,' she said. 'They think people like William Slim, who was a paedophile, and James Stirling, who led the Pinjarra massacre, are not the sort of people who deserve commemoration.' She added that she thinks Canberrans are 'big enough' to make sure history is told truthfully. 'We shouldn't be afraid to ask a question just because we think we might not like the answer. This is the start of asking the question,' she said. 'Until we've had the debate, and heard from the community about what changes they'd like, we won't be able to calculate the exact cost.' The proposal will be further discussed in the ACT Legislative Assembly on November 28. The six police officers who were wounded in Saturdays mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue have been identified late Sunday. The police officers have been identified as John Persin, Michael Smigda, Tyler Pashel, Dan Mead, Tim Matson, and Anthony Burke. Persin, Smigda, and Pashel were treated and released from the hospital on Saturday. Mead, Matson, and Burke remain hospitalized, WTAE-TV reported. Matson, a member of the Pittsburgh police SWAT team, was shot multiple times by the gunman, Robert Bowers. When bullets are flying and peoples lives are in danger, Tim Matson is the guy you want going through the door, Cmdr. Jason Lando told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Anthony Burke (left) and Timothy Matson (right) were two of the six police officers wounded in Saturday's mass shooting at Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh Hes the guy who goes in and calmly gets the job done. A GoFundMe campaign has been started for Matson. So far, the crowdfunding effort has raised more than $20,000. Bowers, who killed 11 people during Sabbath prayers at the Tree of Life synagogue on Saturday, faces dozens of state and federal hate crimes and murder charges. Authorities have said they will seek the death penalty. Earlier on Sunday, authorities released the identities of all 11 victims, including two brothers, a dentist, and a new grandfather, who were gunned down while worshiping at the synagogue on Saturday morning. Joyce Fienberg, 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, Rose Mallinger, 97, and 69-year-old Irving Younger were identified as the 11 victims by Chief Medical Examiner Dr Karl Williams Sunday morning. Mallinger's daughter, Andrea Wedner, 61, was wounded in the shooting. So was Daniel Leger, 70, who was shot in the torso and had to undergo two emergency surgeries. John Persin, another wounded officer, was treated and released from the hospital David and Cecil Rosenthal were brothers and Sylvan and Bernice Simon were husband and wife. Stein, who had recently become a grandfather, was identified as the first victim by relatives on Saturday. David DeFelice was paired with Cecil in the Best Buddies program that matched students with adults in the community with intellectual disabilities. 'As buddies in the Best Buddies program he once took me to Tree of Life to Daven. A kind and spirited individual with a giant heart. Pray for his family. Youll always be remembered Cecil,' DeFelice shared on Facebook. Cecil reportedly liked to greet people at the door of the synagogue before services. Fienberg was the wife of the late Stephen Fienberg, a well-known statistics professor at Carnegie Mellon University. Fellow members of the New Light Congregation say Wax was a pillar of the congregation, filling many roles there. Friend, Myron Snider, said Wax was a retired accountant who was unfailingly generous. The deceased include several people who would have been children during the Holocaust and rise of Nazism. Bowers killed the victims 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 previously unreported details on the shooting and the police response. Bowers, who is a long-haul trucker, told officers that Jews were committing genocide and that he wanted them all to die, according to the charging document. 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 (far left), 59, was killed alongside his younger brother, David Rosenthal (left on right). Rose Mallinger, 97, (left) was the oldest victim killed in the shooting 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 E. Joseph Charny told The Washington Post that he heard a loud noise from downstairs right before the shooting occurred. 'It sounded like some big thing falling over, like a coat rack,' Charny said. Charny described the room, which had at least six congregants bowing their heads. Moments later, a man appeared in the doorway and immediately opened fire, Charny recalled. 'I looked up and there were all these dead bodies,' Charny told the Post, adding that he ran away from the man, avoiding the bullets. Calls began coming in to 911 from the synagogue just before 10am Saturday, reporting 'they were being attacked,' the document said. 'We're under fire. He's got an automatic weapon and firing at us from the synagogue,' one officer is heard saying. Bowers shot one of the first two officers to respond in the hand, and the other was wounded by 'shrapnel and broken glass'. At one point, officers told dispatchers that they needed to 'evacuate some of these hostages'. They reported seeing a 'spent magazine' that they believed came from a high-powered AK47. 'I got one alive,' one officer is heard telling dispatchers moments later. 'We're evac'ing one right now, still alive. We have at least four down in the atrium DOA at this time,' the officer continued. About four minutes later, the officers report finding four more bodies and rescue two more people, a man and a woman, from the basement. The man and woman were wounded by Bowers, but they were in stable condition, the document said. A tactical team found Bowers on the third floor just before 11am, where he shot two officers multiple times, the affidavit said. 'Contact! Contact! Shots fired! Shots fired!' an officer shouts. The officer then said another officer had been shot. Calls began coming in to 911 from the synagogue just before 10am Saturday, reporting 'they were being attacked,' the document said. 'We're under fire. He's got an automatic weapon and firing at us from the synagogue,' one officer is heard saying Bowers shot one of the first two officers to respond in the hand, and the other was wounded by 'shrapnel and broken glass' At one point, officers told dispatchers that they needed to 'evacuate some of these hostages'. They reported seeing a 'spent magazine' that they believed came from a high-powered AK47. 'I got one alive,' one officer is heard telling dispatchers moments later About four minutes later, the officers report finding four more bodies and rescue two more people, a man and a woman, from the basement. First responders surrounding the synagogue One officer was described as critically wounded; the document did not describe the other officer's condition. After opening fire on the congregation with three handguns and an AR-15 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. 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. By 11:08am, Bowers surrendered after he had been wounded by police. He put his hands in the air and crawled out from a barricade he had been hiding behind while firing on the officers. 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. Bowers then 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. He was later charged with 29 felonies, including 11 counts of murder and hate crimes, for storming the synagogue in Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh, and gunning down the helpless members of the congregation worshiping during their Sabbath. 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. Police have released new images of Toyah Cordingley and her car hours her suspected murder. CCTV images were released of Ms Cordingley near Rusty's Markets on Sunday October 21. The 24-year-old can be seen crossing at the intersection of Sheridan Street at Cairns, Queensland at about 12.40pm. CCTV images were released of Ms Cordingley near Rusty's Markets on Sunday October 21 An image was also released of the victim's 2009 blue Mistubishi Lancer, which was parked in the southern car park at Wangetti Beach, south of Cairns later that afternoon An image was also released of the victim's 2009 blue Mistubishi Lancer, which was parked in the southern car park at Wangetti Beach, south of Cairns later that afternoon. Anyone who saw the vehicle between 12pm and 7pm on the day is urged to contact police. Toyah, a pharmacy worker, took her boyfriend's dog Jersey for a walk at about 2pm that day. Her family reported her missing at 11pm that night, and her father, Troy Cordingley, found her body, which police say had sustained 'violent and visible' injuries, on Monday morning. More than 400 calls have been made to Crime Stoppers, but so far police have not announced any persons of interest or made any arrests. Police are yet to make any arrests despite an extensive week-long murder investigation. With no one charged, residents of the sleepy beach town have decided to take it upon themselves to find answers for the family of Toyah Cordingley. Organiser David 'Prong' Trimble told the Cairns Post the community was hurting badly over the loss of Toyah and wanted to do something to help. 'Everybody feels like they need to help in some way or another and they feel they haven't been able to,' he said. A locals-led search using metal detectors and drones will commence on November 4, while police begin to look for people in the area with unexplained injuries and missing clothes. In a bid to support Ms Cordingley's family, residents are now stepping up. In addition to the planned beach walk, others are raising funds. Anyone who saw the blue Mitsubishi Lancer between 12pm and 7pm on the day is urged to contact police With nobody looking to be arrested any time soon, residents have taken matters into their own hands and will launch their own search for clues One woman has set up donation points at the shopping centre and a bar in Cairns, while Wangetti resident Duane Cash will fundraise using tattoos. Mr Cash, who owns Cairns City Tattoo and has been friends with Ms Cordingley's family for decades, told the Cairns Post he would have a flash sheet of 10-20 pre-drawn tattoos to choose from, all linked to the beloved 24-year-old. The proceeds will go to Ms Cordingley's family, and Mr Cash says he hopes to make $20,000. Queensland Police are continuing to hunt for Ms Cordingley's killer, with Detective Inspector Sonia Smith saying the horrific murder had left locals reeling. 'This has been a violent crime that has a huge impact on our community,' she told the Cairns Post. 'An example of the impact on the community is the large number that attended Reclaim the Night in Cairns (on Friday night) over 1000 people. 'The Queensland Police Service are working tirelessly, 24/7 in order to get answers for Toyah and her family and we will not stop until we get those answers.' Over the weekend, police conducted door knocks throughout the community. Family friends have also been fundraising to help ease the family's sudden costs (pictured is a family fun day, where some proceeds were donated to Ms Cordingley's family) Fundraisers are also being held in Cairns, where a tattoo parlour hopes to make $20,000 by selling pre-drawn designs linked to Ms Cordingley Police are now hunting anyone with unexplained injuries or missing clothing, as they continue to appeal to the public for information At the same time, Crime Stoppers set up stalls at Wangetti Beach, and at Rusty's market, where Ms Cordingley was seen just before her death. Det Insp. Smith said residents were engaging with the stalls, and police had walked away at the end of the day with 'several lines of inquiry'. Currently, investigators are focusing on finding a family who had been picnicking on the beach the day Ms Cordingley died, who had left about 1.30pm and looking for anyone in the community who has unexplained injuries or unexplained missing clothes, Nine News reported. Police are also still looking for pictures taken of Wangetti Beach from the beach itself or the Rex lookout. While the beach has been forensically examined, police ask anyone who sees something wash up or appear on the shore to not touch the item and instead call Policelink on 131 444. The Lion Air passenger plane carrying 188 people that crashed off the coast of Indonesia is the latest in a long list of incidents for the budget flight airline. The low-cost airline has been involved in numerous crashes in recent years, but none as seemingly deadly as the one off the coast of Jakarta. In 2017, one of the company's Boeing jets collided with a Wings Air plane during a botched landing at Kualanamu airport on the island of Sumatra. The Lion Air passenger plane carrying 188 people when it crashed off the coast of Indonesia was the latest in a long list of incidents for the budget flight charter (pictured 2013 crash in Bali) At least 32 people were killed and another 61 injured when a Lion Air plane skidded off the runway in Central Java in 2014 after landing in bad weather (pictured 2004 crash in Central Java) Nobody was injured in the collision. In May 2016, two Lion Air planes collided at Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta airport. Only one month prior, a plane operated by Batik Air, which is a part of the Lion Group, clipped a TransNusa plane. Three years earlier, in 2013, a Lion Air jet, piloted by a young, inexperienced rookie underestimated the runway while attempting to land the plane in Bali. The plane, carrying 108 passengers crashed into the sea and subsequently split in two. Several people were injured in the crash, but nobody was killed. Indonesian rescue workers helped remove a section of a Lion Air Boeing 737 from the sea four days after it crashed while trying to land at Bali's international airport (Pictured 2013 crash in Bali) Several other documents confirm there have been multiple occasions involving miscalculation of runways, resulting in minor damage to the planes in 2012 and 2013. At least 32 people were killed and another 61 injured when a Lion Air plane skidded off the runway in Central Java in 2014 after landing in bad weather. Authorities are still unaware of the implications of the Lion Air aircraft that crashed into the sea north of Indonesia's capital Jakarta 13 minutes after take-off today. The fate of the passengers are unknown, but relatives were seen crying as they awaited news on their loved ones. Lion Air's flight JT-610 was heading to Pangkal Pinang, an island north of Indonesia's capital. Three years earlier, in 2013, a Lion Air jet, piloted by a young, inexperienced rookie underestimated the runway while attempting to land the plane in Bali Indonesian rescue workers use a crane to remove a section of a Lion Air Boeing 737 from the sea four days after it crashed while trying to land in Bali The fate of the passengers are unknown, but relatives were seen crying as they awaited news on their loved ones (pictured relatives of 2018 crash victims off Java Island) The domestic flight lost contact with air traffic control at about 6.33am local time (10.33am AEDT, 11.33pm BST). Indonesia's air travel industry is booming, but has a reputation of poor safety regulations and frequent incidents across the board. It mirrors the reputation of Malaysia Airlines, who have been tainted by the memory of missing MH370 and downed MH17. On March 8, 2014, MH370 disappeared while flying from Malaysia to China. Members of a rescue team watch as divers prepare to retrieve the black box underwater two days after it crashed while trying to land in Bali (pictured 2013 crash in Bali) Several other documents confirm there have been multiple occasions involving miscalculation of runways, resulting in minor damage to the planes in 2012 and 2013 (pictured 2004 crash in Central Java) Only months later, in July 2014, MH17 was shot down on its path from Amsterdam to Malaysia while flying over Ukraine. All 283 passengers and 15 crew on board died. Indonesia has a troubling airline safety history, with the Lion Air crash just the latest in a series of accidents. In August, a 12-year-old boy was the sole survivor of a plane crash that killed all eight other people on board the private carrier owned by private charter Dimonim Air. Three years prior, in August 2015, 54 people were killed after a Trigana aircraft crashed in poor weather conditions near Oksibil, Indonesia. Widely acknowledged by locals as the worst incident is a crash in September 1997 which left 222 passengers and 12 crew dead while flying over Jakarta. The plane was on its descent when it crashed into a ravine in tree-covered mountains with smoky skies due to deliberately lit forest fires. The captain input the wrong altitude descent into the autopilot, bringing the plane down to 1,500 feet, whereas he was supposed to descend to 2,000 feet. The captain also turned left after being told to turn right. A trifecta of mistakes which cost more than 230 people their lives. Yet Garuda Airlines still use the GA-152 flight number. A major manhunt was sparked after an 'armed and dangerous' man allegedly attacked a woman at a residential property. Police were called to a home in Cocking Road in Christies Beach, Adelaide, around 8am on Monday after reports a 31-year-old woman was seriously assaulted. Police then launched an extensive four-hour search, which involved a helicopter, the dog squad and police officers of dirt bikes. Police were called to a home in Cocking Road in Christies Beach, Adelaide around 8am on Monday after reports a 31-year-old woman was seriously assaulted. A large manhunt was then launched A 33-year-old man was found in a derelict property on Castle St around midday. He was loaded onto a stretcher (pictured) and wheeled out to a waiting ambulance after a four-hour man hunt A 33-year-old man was found in a derelict property on Castle St around midday. He was loaded onto a stretcher and wheeled out to a waiting ambulance where he was transported to the Royal Adelaide Hospital for a mental health assessment. His injuries are not yet known. He is expected to be charged once released. The woman, who police believe is known to the man, taken to the Flinders Medical Centre in a serious but stable condition. Nathan DeYoung, 57, is charged with endangering a child and not obeying warning signs A school bus driver in Texas has been arrested after ignoring a road closure sign and driving into flood waters with a student on board. Nathan DeYoung, 57, is charged with endangering a child and not obeying warning signs after he lost control of his school bus on the morning of October 16. Terrifying dash cam footage released Friday shows the bus tipping in the rushing waters as the windshield wipers thrash vigorously. DeYoung and the 12-year-old student on board were forced to be rescued by emergency responders. The boys mother Ashley Ringstaff wrote on Facebook that she got a call from her son 'in hysterics' just before 8.30am. '[He was] telling me he loves me and that he is scared and thinking he was going to die,' she wrote. He was driving a school bus heading to Stiles Middle School in Williamson County, Texas on the morning of October 16 Dashcam footage shows the bus being submerged in deep flood waters The bus was heading to Stiles Middle School in Williamson County, Texas. 'Water isn't forgiving and has more force than most people think,' Ringstaff added. 'Just because you think you can make it across a low water crossing, doesn't mean that you will. It's not worth it, ever.' Video shows the moment DeYoung entered the river-like water, showing the bus rocking back and forth as it got caught in branches. At times the entire front of the yellow bus disappears into the murky water. The Leander Police department said they released a portion of the video 'in an effort to illustrate the dangers of attempting to drive across a low-water crossing during flood conditions.' 'The biggest factor in these circumstances is buoyancy. For each foot the water rises up the side of the vehicle, the vehicle displaces 1,500 lbs of water,' the department wrote. 'In effect, the vehicle weighs 1,500 lbs less for each foot the water rises. Just two feet of water can carry away most vehicles,' it added. DeYoung was fired after being booked at the Williamson County Jail on $10,000 bond and released the next day. A child safety campaigner has called for pedophiles to be jailed for life so parents don't have to be 'looking over their shoulders'. The founder of Australia's leading child protection organisation Bravehearts, Hetty Johnston, said sex offenders should not be released until they were low risk. Her comments come after the Gold Coast Bulletin revealed that more than 200 convicted perverts were living across the Gold Coast. Founder of Bravehearts Hetty Johnston said sex offenders should be jailed for life rather than being listed on a registry 'If all dangerous sex offenders weren't released until they were of a low to no risk, then we wouldn't need a register, because we would know exactly where they are, in jail,' Ms Johnston said. The child protection campaigner is questioning the usefulness of a register of child sex predators. Ms Jonston said most sex offenders are not listed on the registry because victims are not reporting them. 'We don't want people to fall into a false sense of security by looking up a list and not seeing a name on it and thinking their kids are safe,' she said. Convicted sex offenders are listed on a Child Protection Offender Registry (CPOR) monitored by the Child Protection Investigation Unit. Queensland legislation restricts locals from knowing where the predators are living. Ms Johnston said the Coast should adopt Western Australia's model where residents are able to ring police about offenders and are able to disclose information. Over a quarter of those listed on the registry are ranked as high risk or above. Convicted child sex offenders will walk free from court or jail and be listed on registry for a minimum of five years. Robert John Fardon (left) and Brett Peter Cowan (right) have been listed as serial child predators in Queensland Predators who re-offend will be left on the registry for life. 'The really dangerous ones, the Daniel Morocombe killer, the Fergusons and Fardons, they're repeat offenders and they've been released in the past ...' Sex offender Brett Peter Cowan was convicted for the murder of Daniel Morocombe, who was abducted from the Sunshine Coast in December 2003. One of Queensland's most notorious rapists Robert John Fardon has a long history of sexual offences dating back to the 1960s. Fardon was jailed for raping and assaulting women and was granted supervised release in 2007. Since October, Farden was no longer subject to curfews and counselling. A woman who is accused of operating as a secret agent for the Russian government, was working on a sensitive cybersecurity project while attending American University. Maria Butina's college assignment called for her to gather information on the cyberdefenses of US nonprofit organizations that champion media freedom and human rights. It was information that could help the groups plug important vulnerabilities, but also would be of interest to the Russian government. In fact, the Russians previously had in their sights at least two of the groups that she and other students interacted with. Maria Butina (left, after her arrest, and right) who is accused of operating as a secret agent for the Russian government, was working on a sensitive cybersecurity project while attending American University Butina participated in the project under the tutelage of a respected professor who advised the State Department on cybersecurity matters, according to the Associated Press. It was carried out for the nonprofit group Internews, which works extensively with the US government to bolster the free flow of information in dangerous parts of the world and has drawn Russian ire with some of its programs in Russia and neighboring countries. The group also advises other nonprofits on cybersecurity. Internews confirmed Butina's involvement and a broad description of what the project involved. A lawyer for Butina did not respond to a request for comment. Butina's project raised few eyebrows before her July arrest, despite the fact that news reports already had posed questions about her rapid rise from selling furniture in Siberia and her ties with Kremlin officials. As part of the project, a small group of students led by Butina was given a list of Internews partners working on human rights and press freedom issues for research purposes only, with the understanding that they not be contacted without consultation. But the students contacted some of the groups anyway, according to people involved in the project who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to describe the work. An individual who has worked on US programs in Ukraine told the AP that after Butina's arrest he was briefed by US officials who expressed concern that two Internews programs in Ukraine - dealing with media freedom and cybersecurity, and funded by the State Department - may have been exposed to Russian intelligence and may be at risk due to Butina's student work. State Department spokesman Robert Palladino said the department was not involved with the Internews project Butina worked on. 'We have verified that all documents Internews provided to its students were publicly available, and we remain confident in the integrity of the State Department's programs with Internews,' he said. Kostiantyn Kvurt, who heads a local nonprofit that Internews helped establish, Internews Ukraine, said he was unaware of Butina's project before being informed of it by the AP, but already was wary of potential Russian intelligence interference. 'If they understand how to break our firewalls, they could find our partners,' Kvurt said. 'People could get detained, tortured, killed.' Internews said the students were never given access to the group's work or systems. 'The selection of the students and their roles and activities in the research was solely determined by AU faculty,' spokeswoman Laura Stein Lindamood said. 'Internews is currently reviewing our relationship with university-led student projects.' The access that Butina won through her coursework illustrates how academia and the extensive network of entities that often carry out sensitive, but not classified, work for the US government remain national security vulnerabilities. While at American University, Butina's college assignment called for her to gather information on the cyberdefenses of US nonprofit organizations that champion media freedom and human rights The project was carried out for the nonprofit group Internews, which works extensively with the US government to bolster the free flow of information in dangerous parts of the world and has drawn Russian ire with some of its programs in Russia. Pictured is American University In this case, all the institutions expected someone else to vet Butina. Internews thought American University stood behind her; the university said it doesn't do background checks and expects the State Department to vet foreign applicants fully before issuing visas. Prosecutors allege in court documents that attending the university was Butina's 'cover' as she cultivated political contacts and ties with the National Rifle Association. They contend she was part of a clandestine political influence campaign directed by a former Russian lawmaker who has been sanctioned by the US Treasury Department for his alleged ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. John Sipher, who once ran the CIA's Russian operations, said Butina fits the profile of the kind of lightly trained asset frequently used to help identify espionage targets without attracting attention from counterintelligence, which is often focused on high-level contacts with government officials. 'The project is perfect, because a student can do that research legitimately,' Sipher said. 'You can just imagine why that would be of interest. It's a sort of gold mine.' Butina's student project was led by Eric Novotny, a cybersecurity expert who has a high security clearance as an adviser to the State Department. One of Novotny's AU courses was called 'Cyber Warfare, Terrorism, Espionage, and Crime.' The project was aimed at helping Internews identify ways that it could help U.S.-based nonprofits improve their cybersecurity. Novotny told the AP that even after press reports about Butina raised questions about her connections to the Russian government, he was obligated to treat her like any other student. 'I have always observed university policies and rules during my entire academic career,' he said. The university declined comment, citing federal privacy rules. After the spring semester, Butina and three other students signed on to the work-study project, according to people familiar with the work, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss it publicly. One of the organizations that Butina contacted, the prominent digital rights organization Electronic Frontier Foundation, had frequent contact with Internews on cybersecurity issues before and had previously been a Russian target. But Butina did not mention Internews in a June 14, 2017, encrypted email reviewed by the AP. In the email, addressed to cybersecurity director Eva Galperin, she wrote: 'My name is Maria Butina and I'm the captain of an American University student group doing research on US (civil society organizations) and their cyber security challenges. We have several questions about cyber security concerns facing human rights organizations and your expertise would be very beneficial.' Novotny, who was later interviewed by the FBI about Butina, learned his instructions about not reaching out to partners had been ignored when the cybersecurity adviser of one nonprofit called him after becoming suspicious that a Russian student was asking about cyber vulnerabilities. He sternly warned the students not to ignore the protocol. Research published by Toronto University-based The Citizen Lab analyzing Russian hacking attempts has found that civil society groups ranked behind only governments as the most frequent targets. Most often, it appeared Russian spies were trying to determine who the organizations were working with in places of strategic interest, the research found. 'Russian security services view civil society groups as a threat and treat their local partners with great suspicion.' said John Scott-Railton, a cybersecurity researcher at Citizen Lab. AP found no evidence that Butina passed any information from the university project to Moscow, but the work allowed her to contact likely Russian targets. It's not clear why Butina's work raised concerns for the two Internews programs in Ukraine, which has not been a focus of prosecutors' case against her. But Ukraine has been a hotspot of US-Russian tensions, where the two countries vie for influence. The US runs multiple programs aimed at strengthening democracy and boosting pro-Western sentiment in Russia's backyard and in parts of the world where America and Russia are vying for influence. Often they are run by contractors or nonprofit groups. By penetrating the programs, the Russians could determine who the organizations are working with and learn details about their security measures. The Electronic Frontier Foundation often helps train at-risk civil society groups both in the US and abroad. AP found no evidence that Butina passed any information from the university project to Moscow, but the work allowed her to contact likely Russian targets. It's not clear why Butina's work raised concerns for the two Internews programs in Ukraine In recent years, it also has turned its attention to the scourge of state-sponsored malicious software, publishing reports on suspected government-backed hacking campaigns in Kazakhstan, Syria and Lebanon. In 2015, the organization said Google had alerted it to a knockoff EFF site 'almost certainly' operated by the infamous Russian cyberespionage ring now widely known as Fancy Bear. US authorities say the hackers - who rattled the 2016 US presidential campaign by releasing tens of thousands of Democrats' emails - are members of Russia's military intelligence agency. Galperin said she had a conference call with Butina and the other students, but did not make the connection with the arrested Russian until the AP contacted her. She said the students asked general questions about the threat landscape, and that she passed along no sensitive information. Butina later widened her search for contacts, posting a solicitation for the project on Facebook that began: 'S.O.S. Poor Students Need Help from Civil Society Organizations!' 'My dear American FB friends and followers, I am looking for volunteers for a brief interview of the US civil society organizations for a student research project,' she wrote in July. 'If you a leader of an organization registered in the United States dealing with human rights (domestically or abroad) and willing to talk online (via Skype or conference call) ... please send me a private message.' Novotny was not informed about the post. After the student group prepared a report for Internews, Butina continued her cyberpolicy studies. Soon after she finished her spring semester this year, US authorities charged her with trying to influence senior US politicians and infiltrate political organizations on behalf of the Russian government. One of Australia's most notorious prisoners has allegedly been bashed by a terrorist during a fight inside the country's toughest jail. Bassam Hamzy, 39, was assaulted about 11am on Sunday inside Goulburn's Supermax prison - which he is due to call home until at least 2035. His alleged attacker was Talal Alameddine, 25, who in May was sentenced to at least 13 years behind bars for supplying the gun used to murder police accountant Curtis Cheng in 2015. Revelations about the pair's jailhouse bust-up came after Hamzy - founder of Sydney gang 'Brothers 4 Life' - was unable to represent himself in court on Monday in his appeal against a conviction for assaulting a prison officer. Scroll down for video Bassam Hamzy (left), 39, was allegedly bashed by convicted terrorist Talal Alameddine (right), 25, in Goulburn's Supermax prison about 11am on Sunday Hamzy's matter had to be adjourned, with his lawyer from a separate case forced to step up and tell the court her client had been attacked behind bars. Zali Burrows, who is representing Hamzy in a Supreme Court matter, told the New South Wales District Court her client wanted the matter stood aside until a later date. 'It would appear he's been assaulted,' Ms Burrows said. 'He has a black eye, is currently in segregation and he's also got food poisoning.' Hamzy was due to appear via audio visual link and was supported in court by eight family members, including his father. A spokeswoman for Corrective Services NSW confirmed an altercation had occurred. 'About 11am on Sunday, 28 October two inmates, aged 25 and 39, were involved in an altercation at the High Risk Correctional Centre, in Goulburn,' the spokeswoman said. 'Staff immediately responded and separated the two men. A spokesman for Corrective Services NSW confirmed an altercation had occurred inside the Goulburn prison (pictured) involving Bassam Hamzy. Talal Alameddine was also involved Revelations about the jailhouse bust-up came after Hamzy (pictured) - founder of Sydney gang 'Brothers 4 Life' - was unable to represent himself in the New South Wales District Court The brawl came just hours after Hamzy (left) was reportedly revealed to have links to the 2017 murder of teenager Brayden Dillon (right). Police reportedly believe Hamzy helped mastermind the shooting 'Both inmates were placed in segregation while investigations continue.' The incident came just hours after Hamzy was linked to the assassination of Sydney teenager Brayden Dillon who was shot dead as he slept in April 2017. Hamzy has not been charged in relation to the teenager's death but has links to three of the six people allegedly involved in the murder. Police also reportedly believe Hamzy approved the murder plot, despite being in jail at the time. The murder, allegedly carried out by Conrad Craig, is believed to be a revenge attack for Brayden's older brother Joshua, 20, who allegedly stabbed Adam Abu-Mahmoud, 18, to death in a brawl. Joshua Dillon pleaded not guilty to the murder. Hamzy's time in prison has been littered with headline-making incidents. Hamzy's time at Goulburn prison (pictured) has been littered with headline-making incidents, from alleged drug dealing to brawls with inmates Farhad 'The Afghan' Qaumi (pictured) is among the 'Brothers 4 Life' members to have joined Hamzy behind bars in Goulburn Supermax. The gangsters are prevented from being together Hamzy reportedly often socialises with terrorist Khaled Cheikho (pictured), who is spending 27 years in jail for his crimes In 2008 he masterminded a methylamphetamine ring from inside prison, delivering more than a kilogram of the drug to Melbourne under the guise of a truck business. Running the business through a phone hidden in his Lithgow cell, Hamzy made 19,523 calls in just a matter of weeks. That same year Hamzy used his smuggled phone to threaten a man who owed him $12,000. 'Now, I'm about to cut your ears off. I told you I'm going to compensate myself,' he told the man over the phone. That same week Hamzy instructed an associate to threaten a different man. '[Tell him] I'm gunna cut all his fingers off next time I'll take his ears and make them into a necklace.' Those crimes saw the original prison sentence he received for the 1998 murder of a man outside a Sydney nightclub extended by 11-and-a-half years. Schoolboy Farhad Jabar Khalil Mohammad (left), a 15-year old extremist supporter of ISIS, shot dead Curtis Cheng (right) outside Parramatta police headquarters on October 2, 2015. He was then shot dead by special constables In addition to the drug ring, Hamzy also created the now infamous 'Brothers 4 Life' gang while behind bars. A number of the gang's members have since joined their boss inside Supermax. Among them is the former president of the gang's Blacktown chapter, Farhad 'The Afghan' Qaumi. The two are constantly separated inside prison, due to the long and deadly history between the pair that includes a series of tit-for-tat murders. Hamzy's earliest release date is June 14, 2035. Alameddine refused to stand for a judge when he was sentenced in May to a maximum 17 years in prison. He had pleaded guilty to supplying the revolver used to murder Mr Cheng and recklessly possessing the same weapon in preparation for an act of terrorism. Alameddine was sentenced to a minimum 13 years for supplying the gun eventually used by Farhad (pictured) to shoot dead police accountant Curtis Cheng at Parramatta Police HQ in 2015 Mohammad had been given a Smith & Wesson .38 special (pictured) by another ISIS supporter, Raban Alou, shortly before the murder. Alameddine, then 22, had supplied Alou with the weapon earlier in the day Schoolboy Farhad Jabar Khalil Mohammad, a 15-year old extremist supporter of ISIS, shot dead Mr Cheng outside Parramatta police headquarters on October 2, 2015. He had been given a Smith & Wesson .38 special by another ISIS supporter, Raban Alou, shortly before the murder. Alameddine, then 22, had supplied Alou with the weapon earlier in the day. After Mr Chengs murder, Farhad was shot and killed by special constables. Justice Johnson said Alameddine was 'ready, willing and able' to provide a weapon for a terrorist act. He was not persuaded Alameddine had shown any contrition or remorse. At the time of his sentence Alameddine was classified an extreme high risk restricted inmate and already had a disciplinary history in Supermax which included assault. Alameddine will be eligible for parole in August 2029. Tech Mahindra and Rakuten Mobile Network Inc., the mobile network subsidiary of Rakuten Group, the Japan-based player in internet services, signed an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) to collaborate on building world-class next generation (4G & 5G) software defined network laboratories in Tokyo and Bengaluru. This collaboration will drive innovation to bring about the transformation of mobile network technology and enhance customer experience for users in Japan. The announcement comes on the sidelines of Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Japan and meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to further strengthen Indo-Japan business ties. With this collaboration, Rakuten and Tech Mahindra aim to build a world-class 5G ready network lab which will be one of its kind in the industry. With Tech Mahindras capabilities in the 5G domain Mobile Networks, IT, Cloud and Enterprise Applications, and Rakutens vision to create a resilient fully automated 5G ready network in Japan and beyond, the labs in Tokyo and Bengaluru will focus on fostering innovation in the telecom space. Tech Mahindra will also provide network integration capabilities to add value to the lab operations. CP Gurnani, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Tech Mahindra said, 5G has the capability to unlock unprecedented opportunities in every industry vertical and domain. Our collaboration with Rakuten will help us further drive innovation in the 5G space, and enable us to enhance customer experience and lead the transformation in mobile network technology from the forefront. Mickey Mikitani, Chairman, President and CEO, Rakuten, Inc. said, Rakuten is on the path to launching the most disruptive innovation in the mobile industry to date to consumers in October 2019, delivering unprecedented convenience to users across our ecosystem of over 70 e-commerce, fintech and communications services. As we prepare for this launch, we are very excited to collaborate with Tech Mahindra to launch world-class labs in Tokyo and Bengaluru that will contribute to creation of the next generation of mobile broadband, enabled by 5G, and the transformation of industries across the globe. Technuter.com News Service A Hungry Jack's customer claims he discovered a live bug inside his Veggie Whopper while grabbing a quick meal before a flight. Mitch Ford, 24, said he ordered the meat-free dish at Hungry Jack's in the Adelaide Airport before his flight to Bali earlier this year. 'I was halfway through and had a look and saw something moving, and this little bug was still kicking in the middle of the burger,' he told The Advertiser. A Hungry Jack's customer claims he discovered a live bug (pictured) inside his Veggie Whopper while grabbing a quick meal before a flight Mr Ford claims a female staff member who he complained to did not appear apologetic when confronted. 'She just quickly threw it in the bin and asked if I wanted a refund for the burger or the entire meal, so she gave me a refund for the meal,' Mr Ford said. Mr Ford also emailed Hungry's Jack's management in June upon his return from Bali, but claims he has not received a response in months. 'The email was just explaining exactly what happened and I have had no reply, I probably thought they might apologise or something like that or say they were going to investigate it a bit further,' he said. He added he was prompted to speak to the media about the alleged incident recently after walking past the same outlet again last week. Hungry Jack's is an Australian food franchise that sells a variety of burgers, chips and other fast food snacks. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Hungry Jack's for comment. A grandmother has been jailed for rorting a family of tens of thousands of dollars by convincing them she could invest the money. Christine Margaret O'Shea, from Burdekin Shire, south of Townsville, convinced a family to hand over more than $84,000, leading them to believe she would invest it in foreign currency such as the Iraqi dinar. The 69-year-old then took more than half of the money and spent it on cosmetic procedures for herself. Christine Margaret O'Shea, 69 (pictured) was sentenced to two-and-a-half years' imprisonment for pocketing over $40,000 off a family, saying she was going to invest it in 'risky' foreign currency for them O'Shea (pictured center) then took the money and spent it on luxuries for herself, which included cosmetic procedures O'Shea faced Townsville District Court on Friday, where she was sentenced to two-and-a-half years' imprisonment. '(The complainants) had no idea some of the money provided to you was being diverted to your own purposes,' Judge Greg Lynham said, according to the Townsville Bulletin. '(It was spent) on what might be described as cosmetic purposes.' O'Shea befriended the family through her work with Amway, a multi-level marketing company that specialises in selling health and beauty, before building up their trust. The family first gave O'Shea $1200, before transferring more than $84,000 in 20 additional transactions between 2014 and 2017. O'Shea texted the family, notifying them of supposed deals so they would give her more money. O'Shea's defence barrister, Rowan Pack, told the court that despite acknowledging all the 'invested' money had been lost, the family went into the agreement knowing the risks associated with investing. O'Shea faced Townsville District Court (pictured) on Friday, where she was sentenced to two-and-a-half years' imprisonment He added that prior to this offence, O'Shea was a well regarded woman in her small suburb and regularly participated in charity. Mr Pack said his client was willing to pay $30,000 in compensation and said the $6,800 that had already been seized by police had been given back to the victims. Taking into account her lack of criminal history and inclination to pay back the family, Judge Lynham declared O'Shea's sentence be suspended after she served just four months behind bars. A senior Australian Federal Police officer has become the third within two years to take their own life while at work. The tragedy occurred at AFP's national headquarters in the Edmund Barton Building in Canberra on Sunday. 'The AFP can confirm that on Sunday October 28, a member of the AFP appears to have taken his own life,' a AFP spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia on Monday. Australian Federal Police officers are dealing with the shock death of one of their colleagues while at work on Sunday (stock image) 'A brief is now being prepared for the ACT Coroner.' AFP Commissioner Andrew Colvin reportedly told colleagues of the officer's death on Monday morning, news.com.au reported. Some former staff took to social media on Monday to express their condolences. 'An old work colleague who I spoke to on line a few weeks ago very sad day RIP,' one man posted. The officer, who is yet to be publicly named, is the third AFP officer since the start of 2017 to take their own life while at work. Officer Malcolm Scott died at AFP's Melbourne headquarters in November. The male senior officer took his own life at AFP national headquarters (pictured) in Canberra The 59-year-old was a former AFL player who played 10 games and kicked 26 goals for St Kilda in 1979-80 and one game for Sydney in 1985. He served with Victoria Police for many years and joined the AFP in the mid-2000s. Mr Scott's colleague Sue Jones, 53, a mother-of-two also took her own life at AFP's Melbourne headquarters earlier in 2017. Last week, Western Australian Police officers farewelled Constable Darren Igglesden, 50, who died while on duty earlier this month. AFP officer Malcolm Scott (pictured) died at AFP's Melbourne headquarters last November One AFP source has called for a royal commission into the force's welfare system in the wake of the latest tragedy. 'It needs intense scrutiny that the agencies can't cover up,' he told news.com.au. 'We have an expression in our job: TJF this job's f***ed. Morale is in the toilet. We know we have no support and no backing from most of the management.' The tragic news follows reports a NSW ambulance officer took his own life on Saturday. Late AFP officer Malcolm Jones (pictured) also played for St Kilda 'Our thoughts are with both the ambo and AFP members' family, friends and colleagues,' Fighting PTSD Vicpol posted on its Facebook page. 'For all my vicpol members and all the emergency services members around Australia. PLEASE if you feel that you cant go any further, all I ask is make a phone call and ask for help. Assistance is available. As I have always said 'If you dont ask, we dont know'.' Earlier this year, a federal Parliament committee launched an inquiry into the high rate of suicide deaths and mental health conditions of first responders working in emergency services. Its report is due to be released early next year. Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 orBeyondblue on 1300 224 636. Bothe services provide 24/7 support . Advertisement Meghan left royal fans in awe in a white tuxedo dress as she returned to her roots and met budding actors dressed up as creatures from the Lord Of The Rings. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were greeted by orc soldiers and chatted to a monkey as they took in Wellington's creative talent during the second day of their trip to New Zealand. Earlier in the day, the couple spoke with youth volunteers about mental health at a beachside cafe and braved the rain for a walk through Abel Tasman National Park, before meeting actors at a creative arts centre. Meghan, a former actress, gave a nod to her hosts in a 520 (AU$939/US$666) white tuxedo dress by New Zealand designer Maggie Marilyn as she joined her husband for a visit to Courtenay Creative, which runs programmes for young people looking to get into film. The couple were greeted by two Lord Of The Rings orc soldiers as they entered a room filled with musicians, actors, prosthetic experts and models. Luke Hawker, dressed as an orc, greeted the pair after hobbling along the ground to introduce himself to the duke and duchess, with Prince Harry joking that he 'had a face' for dressing up as a monster. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (pictured holding hands) meet actors in colourful costume during a visit to Courtenay Creative in Wellington, New Zealand Meghan left royal fans in awe in a white tuxedo dress as she returned to her roots and met budding actors dressed up as creatures from the Lord Of The Rings Harry and Meghan were greeted by orc soldiers and chatted to a monkey as they took in Wellington's creative talent during the second day of their trip to New Zealand Luke Hawker, dressed as an orc (right), greeted the pair after hobbling along the ground to introduce himself to the duke and duchess, with Prince Harry joking that he 'had a face' for dressing up as a monster The couple went on to meet Ruby Acevedo, 12, whose face was covered by prosthetics to make her appear like a monkey. Harry lent in to touch her face and asked: 'You can go outside like that?' An impressed Duchess of Sussex admires the headdress of one of the actresses to greet the two royals during their evening visit in Wellington today The couple were greeted by two Lord Of The Rings soldiers as they entered a room filled with musicians, actors, prosthetic experts and models The 37-year-old said: 'I didn't know if I was supposed to shake their hand but they were standing there. They seemed quite scared.' The couple then went on to meet Ruby Acevedo, 12, whose face was covered by prosthetics to make her appear like a monkey. Harry lent in to touch her face and asked Ruby: 'You can go outside like that?' Afterwards, she said: 'It was an amazing experience. They were really nice and it was just a really nice experience to get to meet them and talk to them. 'They were everything I expected, just really kind.' He said: 'It was such a an honour to have an opportunity like this and be able to play for a royal in your lifetime is special. 'We talked about my music and wanting to put an album out next year. Meghan said I had a great tone. 'I didn't want to talk at them. They've probably been talking to people all day, day in day out for the latest few days, so I didn't talk a lot.' The orc, or Mr Hawker, gave Meghan a gold necklace with paua shell and diamonds made by Village Goldsmith and the couple then posed for pictures with an array of models and monsters. 'Happy Halloween', Harry quipped before the couple headed back into the Wellington evening. Prince Harry and his wife Meghan (pictured posing with colourful characters in Wellington today) are on day 14 of their 16-day tour of Australia and the South Pacific A clearly impressed Meghan was seen having a touch of one of the actress's costumes as she described her amazement at how light the outfit was Former actress Meghan spoke to creatives types about their careers and their costumes as she wowed the room in a white tuxedo dress Harry and Meghan joked with actors and actresses about their costumes during a meeting with creative types in Wellington Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, greets Gino Acevedo, creative art director at Weta Digital, during a visit to Courtney Creative The Duke and Duchess of Sussex later were forced to walk under an umbrella as the rain fell across the Abel Tasman National Park during their visit on Monday afternoon Earlier in the day, Prince Harry has revealed the adorable name he's using for his growing family in a speech at Abel Tasman National Park on New Zealand's South Island. Addressing students from under a marquee as heavy rain fell, the Duke of Sussex showed his paternal side as he referred to 'our little bump'. Prince Harry thanked the local Iwi tribe for their welcome and kind words. 'The weather forecast was a lot worse than this and we are really fortunate to be here. The rain is a blessing and a reminder of our connection to the land,' he said. 'From my wife, myself and our little bump, it's a blessing to be here.' Harry and Meghan are continuing their royal tour of New Zealand, having met with young mental health advocates working to make a difference in the country. The royal couple held hands as they strolled through the Abel Tasman National Park on Monday afternoon. Prince Harry took great interest in the shells which were on the beach in the Abel Tasman National Park The couple had been due to attend a beach barbecue and tree planting with local students but the wet weather forced a change of plans The couple stood under an umbrella as the rain came down but Harry was unfazed, saying in a speech 'The rain is a blessing and a reminder of our connection to the land' The royal couple swapped into their wet weather gear following their morning engagement which had been blessed with sun The Duke and Duchess of Sussex wore wet weather jackets as they walked through Abel Tasman National Park The royal couple visited the national park on Monday afternoon on day two of their tour of New Zealand The visit to the national park, on New Zealand's South Island, provided a chance for the couple to learn about conservation projects in the area The Duke of Sussex added in his speech 'From my wife, myself and our little bump, it's a blessing to be here' Harry and Meghan are in New Zealand on the last leg of their mammoth first royal tour as a married couple They wore wet weather jackets for the occasion as the rain fell in the wilderness reserve, where they were also talking to conservation staff and inspecting the national park's beach. The Duke and Duchess had been due to attend a beach barbecue and tree planting with local students but the wet weather forced a change of plans. They instead joined the students for brownies and tea under the cover of a marquee at a beachside camp. Under the marquee, a kaumatua (elder) from the local iwi (tribe) Barney Thomas spoke in Te Reo Maori, wishing them well with their pepi (baby). Meghan smiled as the words were translated for her. The Duchess sat slightly behind the Duke in the front row, though there was no ill intent. 'The middle represents the god of war and we don't want to put our women into that space,' the elder explained. 'We want to be inclusive, but especially Meghan, because she's expecting, we don't want to put her at any risk.' It was not the Duchess' first encounter with the Maori language. She won praise after opening a speech on Sunday with the phrase with the words 'tena koutou katoa' ('greetings to all'). Harry shrugged off the rain as he spoke to the crowd. 'The weather forecast was a lot worse than this and we are really fortunate to be here. The rain is a blessing and a reminder of our connection to the land. From my wife, myself and our little bump, it's a blessing to be here,' he said. 'We bring you greetings from my grandmother.' The Duke and Duchess of Sussex step-out from Wellington's Maranui Cafe on day two of the royal tour of New Zealand One royal fan had high hopes the Duke and Duchess of Sussex would pat their pug Charlie The couple had spent about 30 minutes inside the cafe at the Maranui Surf Life Saving Club for a morning engagement The visit to the cafe came on day 14 of the royal couple's whirlwind 16-day tour of Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrived to meet young people from a number of mental health projects operating in New Zealand Then the Duke - in a black puffer jacket - and the Duchess - in a black Seasalt coat - set out for a walk in the rain, arm-in-arm and sharing an umbrella as they strolled down one of the area's golden beaches, talking conservation with a ranger. The Department of Conservation's Andrew Lamason pointed out a weka - a flightless woodhen that only lives in New Zealand - as they went past, saying the animals were the country's equivalent of monkeys because of their cheekiness. Earlier in the day, Harry and Meghan had arrived at a cafe in Wellington, the country's capital, for the meeting. Meghan had stepped-out for the engagement wearing a $420 (232/US$297) Club Monaco Ellayne Trench in seaweed green, black $199 (109/US$141) Outland jeans, a Jac and Jack black turtleneck and Stuart Weitzman lace-up boots, with the Maranui Cafe putting on a pregnancy-friendly menu for the mother-to-be. Hundreds of adoring fans holding signs and flags had lined the streets surrounding the cafe in Lyall Bay to catch a glimpse of the Duke and Duchess. The crowd cheered as the royals stepped out from their vehicle holding hands, before they headed inside the cafe at the Maranui Surf Life Saving Club. Meghan arrived at the Maranui Cafe wearing a grey coat, black turtle neck and black pants, while husband Harry was also in grey Following their visit to the cafe, the royal couple boarded a helicopter for Abel Tasman National Park, where they are expected to take part in an hour-long hike The royal couple spent about 30 minutes meeting with some of New Zealand's young mental health advocates The Duchess of Sussex poured a glass of water for her husband Harry at the morning tea meeting While her husband opted for a glass of water, Meghan chose to pour herself a cup of tea Harry and Meghan heard first-hand how the mental health initiatives in the country are having a positive contribution on young people in New Zealand The visit to the Maranui Cafe was the first official engagement of the couple's second day in New Zealand A group of schoolchildren had lined-up outside the cafe to farewell the royal couple before they departed for their next engagement Mother-to-be Meghan consoles an emotional Joe Young, who had waited outside the cafe alongside other young children The Duchess of Sussex, who was holding a bouquet of flowers, spent time chatting to the youngster on Monday morning Prince Harry also chatted to young Joe as the royal couple met with children who had lined-up outside the cafe The other children watched on intently as Prince Harry and wife Meghan consoled the young boy Meghan accepted a paper New Zealand flag which young Joe had created for the royal couple's visit to the area Harry - who is the Commonwealth youth ambassador - and Meghan spent about 30 minutes hearing about mental health projects operating in the country and the positive contribution they are having on young people in New Zealand. During the warm and free-flowing conversation, the Duke raised the need to normalise conversations around mental health and also spoke about his concerns the effect social media was having on young people. Meghan wore a '1737' lapel badge, which promoted a local helpline. 'Everyone needs someone to turn to, right?' the Duke said, while the Duchess added 'You're all doing really excellent work'. Co-founder of mental health charity Voices of Hope, Genevieve Mora, who was at the meeting, told stuff the Duke and Duchess are 'both really nice people, and they seem really happy'. '[Harry] was very interested, they both asked a lot of questions. I talked about my own personal experience, about feeling a lot of shame, and he was really interested to understand why I felt so ashamed about it.' School students later took to the streets to sing a Maori song as they waited for the royal motorcade to leave the cafe, with the Duke and Duchess taking time out of their busy schedule to chat to those who were waiting, including five-year-old Joe Young who had become emotional and was seen wiping away tears. The cafe's owner Bronwyn Kelly told Newstalk ZB just prior to the arrival of the royals how staff were excited for the visit, which had come as a pleasant surprise. 'We didn't believe it, we thought it was a fairy tale, for us it was completely out of the blue,' she said. 'Staff from the royal palace when they were doing the pre-planning came to Maranui, they really loved the vibe, the atmosphere and I think that it's because it's right beside the beach, it really offered something... that coastal but unique sort of feeling.' The menu featured items which were carefully planned by Ms Kelly's business partner and chef, taking into account Meghan was pregnant. The royal couple emerged from the cafe after spending about 30 minutes inside chatting to young mental health advocates The cafe was closed to the general public while the royal couple visited on Monday morning Meghan wore a dark grey coat paired with a black turtle neck for the morning royal engagement During the warm and free-flowing conversation, the Duke raised the need to normalise conversations around mental health The Duchess heard how young people were working to make a difference in their community while at the morning tea meeting Prince Harry also spoke about his concerns the effect social media was having on young people The Duchess of Sussex waved to young students who had gathered outside the Wellington cafe following the meeting Mother-to-be Meghan also shook hands with the schoolchildren, with the youngsters in awe of the Duchess as they greeted her One of the students waiting in-line held a bouquet of flowers and waited patiently for a chance to hand them to the Duchess Meghan proudly held-up the bouquet of flowers which had been handed to her by one of the schoolchildren The Duke of Sussex took time out of his busy schedule to chat with the young students who lined up to catch a glimpse of the royal couple The students took a keen interest in what the Duke and Duchess had to say outside the Maranui Cafe Harry and Meghan were all smiles when they met the young schoolchildren in Wellington, the capital of New Zealand About a dozen schoolchildren had lined-up to bid the couple farewell from Lyall Bay, Wellington, where they were attending the morning tea meeting The couple left the cafe and headed to an awaiting helicopter which was to fly them to their next engagement for the day The Duke of Sussex waves to the crowd of fans who had lined the streets surrounding the cafe The couple board a Royal New Zealand Air Force helicopter in Wellington for a flight to Abel Tasman National Park The visit to the national park will be the only time the couple will spend on New Zealand's South Island during their tour of the country Meghan and Prince Harry were driven to the Wellington military terminal for their short flight across to the wilderness reserve 'She's been thinking about what to offer, especially with Meghan being pregnant. As it's just a morning tea it does make it quite simple so we're just going to offer some really delicious yummy little baking treats, which will offer some good local New Zealand products,' Ms Kelly had said before the visit. Leftovers from the morning tea were not put to waste - they were given to the young children who were waiting outside the cafe. From the cafe, the couple boarded a Royal New Zealand Air Force helicopter bound for Abel Tasman National Park on New Zealand's South Island. It is the only time the couple will visit the South Island while in New Zealand. Following the visit to the wilderness reserve, they will attend a beach barbecue and tree planting with local students. Later, Their Royal Highnesses will visit Wellington's Courtenay Creative for an event celebrating the city's thriving creative arts scene. The couple arrived in New Zealand on Sunday - the latest country on their whirlwind 16-day tour royal tour. On Tuesday, 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 Jacinda Ardern to visit Pillars, a charity operating across New Zealand. The Duke and Duchess were greeted by a number of adoring fans as they made their way to the cafe meeting Fans of the royal couple patiently waited for the pair to arrive at the Wellington cafe on Monday morning The royal couple were given a warm welcome when they visited the Maranui in Lyall Bay on Monday morning A woman has been arrested following a two-hour long siege at a Melbourne cafe during which she refused to leave and allegedly started threatening staff members with a knife. All employees of the Sezanas cafe on Toorak Road in the city's inner-east were evacuated safely. Police arrived at the scene at just after 5pm on Monday evening and no-one was injured. A woman has been arrested following a two-hour long siege at a Melbourne cafe (pictured) during which she refused to leave and allegedly started threatening staff members with a knife Victoria Police said they were negotiating with the woman, before confirming they had arrested her shortly after 7pm on Monday evening. The woman was taken to hospital for assessment. More to come A schoolgirl dressed up as her idol Mo Salah for Halloween complete with fake tan, but her mother says she didn't cause any offence. Despite the party having a spooky theme, nine-year-old Madison Mcguane, from Limerick, Ireland, was adamant she wanted to dress up as the Liverpool forward. Madison, a lifelong fan of the Merseyside club, donned a full kit, curly black wig and special effects makeup to create the look. Madison Mcguane, nine, from Limerick, Ireland, (left, with her mother, Marion) was adamant she wanted to dress up as the Liverpool forward (right) for the Halloween party And while the girl's costume did involve using fake tan to darken her skin tone, her mother Marion insisted no one minded it. Mrs Mcguane, 39, said: 'Mo Salah is Madison's idol - so she was adamant she was dressing up as him, even though it was a Halloween theme, she is a little girl and her hair is snow white. 'Initially I was shocked because I thought people would be offended and that we'd have to be really careful that people might not take it as a joke. Madison, a lifelong fan of the Merseyside club, donned a full kit, curly black wig and special effects makeup to create the look 'But she didn't think anyone would take offence to it - he's her idol and she was certain she was dressing up as him. 'I said but it's for Halloween and she said to me 'I don't care mum I'm dressing up as Mo Salah'.' Mrs McGuane said she 'fell in love' with her daughter's enthusiasm and decided to help her source the costume. 'She started liking Mo Salah the minute he signed for Liverpool - Maddison knows more about football now than I do,' she said. 'From his moves to his character she knows everything about him - she knows he's Egyptian and the way he plays. 'Madison watched the whole world cup and buys those stickers she's always looking for Mo Salah in there. 'She fights with all her friends over it because they're all Manchester United fans - she stands her ground when it comes to Liverpool.' Special effects makeup artist Tammy Meehan created Madison's look. She used fake tan for Madison's body, special effects makeup to get her skin tone right and a black palette and eyeliner to create the beard and bridges. Mrs Meehan, 34, from Limerick, said: 'Marion contacted me to do Madison's makeup as Mo Salah, I looked through his pictures to get an idea of what to do and I shaped out his face, tried to get his skin tone as good as I could. While the girl's costume (pictured) did involve using fake tan to darken her skin tone, her mother Marion insisted no one minded it 'It took me about 25 minutes and then she was out playing with her football straight away. 'I don't think anyone would have been offended because people dress up all the time and people change their colour all the time for fancy dress. 'Loads of people thought it was brilliant, other kids want to do it and loads of people have messaged me asking me how I did it. I think by next year all kids will be dressing up as footballers. 'Not one person commented on the fact we fake tanned her, they just thought it was a brilliant idea because she went out as who she wanted to be he's her idol and she loves him that much so why not - it's only paint. 'I would never want to offend anyone and I don't think it does.' Madison plays football and rugby and is one of the youngest players to be selected for the Centre of Excellence program in Ireland. Advertisement The 21-year-old was whipped along with her boyfriend before crowds for being caught in 'close proximity' to each other. The archaic public humiliation took place today in the city of Banda Aceh where Sharia law is strictly observed and enforced. People are flogged as many as 200 times for a range of perceived crimes such as gambling, drinking alcohol, gay sex or any non-marital relationship. The young woman clenches her fists in anticipation as the cane is brought down across her back She is hauled from the ground by two female officers as her punishment comes to an end earlier today Her boyfriend's face creases in agony as the bamboo switch is whipped across his upper back by the shrouded enforcer A police officer says something to the woman who looks down at the ground as she is flanked by law enforcement The barbaric practice was ramped up in 2001 by the government in Jakarta to bolster their authority as separatists sought to gain power. The region made a peace deal with the government in 2005 and sharia law was strengthened further. Men and women are struck with bamboo canes in front of onlookers, many of whom are men in uniform who take their own photographs. For the crime of being in 'close proximity' to the opposite sex one can expect 10 to 25 lashings with the switch. A female police officer positions the young woman as men in the background take pictures of the punishment Another lash of the stick is brought down on the young woman as a man in the background holds his phone to photograph She looks down in misery as the stick comes down for another lash as men in uniform casually observe her pain More than 90 per cent of the 255million people who live in Indonesia describe themselves as Muslim, but the vast majority practice a moderate form of the faith. The brutality is reported to have increased in recent years with a number of incidents of those being punished collapsing in pain on stage. In 2014, Aceh approved an anti-homosexuality law that can punish anyone caught having gay sex with 100 lashes. The boyfriend wrapped in a white shirt looks down as officers force him into position him for his beating The young man winces as he stands to take his punishment before officialdom and members of the public holding cameras After a three-decade-old separatist movement, a peace agreement signed in 2005 granted special autonomy to Aceh, at the northern tip of Sumatra, on condition that it remained part of the sprawling archipelago. As part of that deal, Aceh won the right to be the only Indonesian province to use Islamic sharia law as its legal code. Anybody caught engaging in consensual gay sex is punished with 100 lashes, 100 months in jail or a fine of 1,000 grams of gold. The woman prepares to take her beating as the shrouded official stands with gloves on and the whip in hand Her face is contorted in shame and agony as the female officers clear her from the stage for more beatings to take place The law also set out punishment for sex crimes, unmarried people engaging in displays of affection, people caught found guilty of adultery and underage sex. Religious police in Aceh have been known to target Muslim women without head scarves or those wearing tight clothes, and people drinking alcohol or gambling. Over the past decade, the central government has devolved more power to regional authorities to increase autonomy and speed up development. Engaging in homosexual acts is not a crime under Indonesia's national criminal code but remains taboo in many parts of the country. Tourist hotspots on the Costa del Sol are on the alert over the growing trend of 'narcoterrorism' as police fear an escalation in shocking revenge attacks between rival drugs' gangs 'displaced' from Campo de Gibraltar. Diners in at least two restaurants popular with Brits have already been caught up in kidnapping, stabbings and murders with around 20 incidents this year, all related to organised crime. Bombs are also now being used in the score-settling. Leading Spanish newspaper Sur.es says the Costa del Sol is going through one of the worst-times ever for violent crime and there are growing calls amongst the police and Civil Guard for a specific plan of action against drug trafficking. Unions have already complained about the lack of cash for equipment and resources, including bullet-proof vests. Police fear a drugs' war on the Costa del Sol is spiralling out of control after two bomb attacks in Marbella in the early hours of this morning. Pictured: Damage from one of the blasts They want to follow the example of the government of the Campo de Gibraltar which has spent seven million euros on its own plan which, although a success, has had the spin-off effect of driving some of the drugs'gangs to the Costa del Sol instead. Inside sources have told Sur.es that narcoterrorism has become rife since explosives were found in a litter bin in the upmarket Alto de los Monteros urbanisation in Marbella on September 11. Police say it was industrial dynamite which had been prepared for a 'selective attack'. The latest murder happened at the weekend when a 33-year-old Dutchman was hunted down in the prestigious Tiki restaurant on the seafront of Playamar in the Bajondillo area of Torremolinos. Detectives believe both incidents are connected to 'score settling' between rival gangs and follow on from a kidnapping and murder in Estepona just a few days ago. Pictured: Aftermath of the explosion in the industrial estate in San Pedro The victim was a man who had earlier been arrested but released on bail for links to extortion and drug trafficking gangs who are using bombs and firearms to attack members of rival groups. A sub-machine gun, pistols and ammunition boxes were found near his home. Whilst out on bail, he was eating in the Tiki, one of Marbella's most fashionable restaurants where diners have to book tables at least two weeks in advance. Witnesses say he was sitting at the bar with a woman when his assailant ran in, covering his face with a hood, and shot him twice in the head and stomach. Just 15 minutes earlier, says Sur.es, a foreign family of eight with children were in the adjacent restaurant. Residents of the Costa del Sol say they are living in fear because of the constant score-settling. Pictured: Aftermath of the explosion in the industrial estate in San Pedro Other guests and staff in the Tiki were said to have fled the premises in fear of their own lives. It is understood the victim tried to escape but the gunman fired five more bullets at him. The gunman then fled in a waiting van, stolen earlier. Police gave chase but lost it in the traffic. At one stage, the shot man was revived and stabilised but he died later in hospital. Police are now investigating the enemies he may have made and his links to other attacks and bombings. Recently, explosives went off in Marbella, one of them outside a residential property on a gated estate in Benahavis which is popular with British expats and holidaymakers. The front of a villa was destroyed and minutes later, there was a large fire, also as a result of an explosion, in the industrial estate of San Pedro, where at least five warehouses and about a dozen vehicles were affected. The target of the attack was a car wash, in the same ownership of the villa. Doors were blown off and windows shattered in the blast. A gym near the car wash was gutted by fire last month in an attack which targeted a key drugs baron known as the 'Maradona' . He wasn't hurt in the fire but was shot dead a month later in Marbella following the communion of his son. In previous drug-related incidents, one of the victims, a Brit aged 24, was attacked in broad daylight as he left a hair salon in the upmarket marina resort of Puerto Banus which is near Estepona. He was taken by surprise as a man jumped out of a car and, without saying a word, stabbed him in both legs. His assailant then ran back to the vehicle and made his escape. The Brit was taken to the Costa del Sol Hospital but refused to make an official complaint. Another British man, also in Marbella, was stabbed and shot in both legs but also had his cheeks slit from his mouth up to his ears in a so-called Glasgow Smile before being dumped in a ditch. He was later revealed as a 35-year-old criminal who had been jailed for his part in a robbery on a jewellery store in Nottingham in which an assisant was killed. All these incidents are being linked to score-settling and have left many locals 'fearing for their lives'. Philip Hammond is set to unveil a commemorative Brexit coin to mark Britain's departure from the EU. The Chancellor will reportedly announce details of the seven-sided 50p piece in the Budget today. The coin will be available from March 29, 2019 at 11pm - the day the UK leaves the EU - and is expected to carry the words 'Friendship With All Nations'. The Brexit coin will be available from March 29, 2019 at 11pm - the day the UK leaves the EU - and is expected to carry the words 'Friendship With All Nations' The coin has to be personally signed off by the Queen, as it will bear her head, and is reportedly a bid to win over pro-Brexit MPs who have accused the Chancellor of being pessimistic over Brexit. In 2016, the Royal Mint produced one-off coins featuring the much-loved Beatrix Potter character Peter Rabbit which sold on eBay for more than 20. They were released to commemorate 150 years since the popular children's author was born and released into circulation over Easter. Special edition coloured coins featuring other Beatrix Potter characters including Jemima Puddle-Duck, Squirrel Nutkin and Mrs Tiggy-Winkle were also being sold online. In 2012 a collection of 50p coins was released to coincide with the Olympic games in London. Footage has been captured of the moment a furious motorist allegedly assaulted a parking inspector in front of young children after getting a ticket. The tattooed man was seen walking around his car, in the southern Gold Coast suburb of Palm Beach, before walking up to the ticket officer and allegedly threatening him. The man reportedly hit the parking inspector and abused him in front of young children. Footage has been captured of the moment a furious motorist allegedly assaulted a parking inspector in front of young children after getting a ticket Towards the end of the video, the man's car can be clearly seen parked on the footpath next to an 'accessible parking' sign. The alleged incident occurred in December, however, the bodycam vision was released on Monday by the Gold Coast City Council after another similar incident last week. 'Every council employee deserves to go to work, do their job and go home safely to their family,' Mayor Tom Tate told the Gold Coast Bulletin. 'The assault occurred after the man's car was ticketed for being parked illegally on a footpath,' he said of the assault occurring in December. 'It's very simple abide by the parking regulations and you will never get a ticket.' A driver last week allegedly spat on two council staffers in Surfers Paradise before attempting to run them over, the Gold Coast City Council claims. This is the surprising moment a monkey sneaks down from a building and snatches a venomous snake from the hand of a snake charmer. CCTV cameras captured the stealthy primate make his move in Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh, India. The snake charmer can be seen taking out the reptile from his box to start a show for the public in front of the Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan. The monkey sneaks up from behind and snatches the reptile from the snake charmer's hands Before he can begin a monkey suddenly run towards him from behind and snatches away the snake from his hand before climbing back up the terrace of a building. The snake charmer throws up his arms in surprise but quickly recovers and tries to follow the primate. The man struggles to climb up the side of the building in pursuit of the monkey but is determined to try and get his snake back. As he scales the wall and makes his way across a stall's green awning the man slips - and the monkey is still nowhere to be seen. A man Dinesh saw the incident and said: 'The snake charmer had just taken out the snake from inside the basket when the monkey approached him from behind and snatched away the snake.' Another man who was there said: 'We don't know what the monkey will do with the snake. It may drop the snake on somebody or may harm itself as I believe it was a venomous snake.' The surprised snake charmer (pictured centre) stops his show and looks around for the monkey who has quickly disappeared while other men also pause to see what is happening Determined not to lose his snake, the charmer climbs up the building looking for the monkey The breed of the snake is not know, but it is believed to be venomous. Monkey menace in India is quite common and frequent in the religious town of Uttar Pradesh where the apes are famous for snatching away food and other items from the hands of the tourists. The government has left the monkey menace unchecked as the monkeys are believed to be as a form of Monkey god Hanuman. Recently the state's Chief Minister said that the monkey is recited Hanuman Chalisa (Poetry form of God's prayer) regularly in order to calm them down from carrying out mischiefs. Last year a monk fell from a terrace and died after a few monkeys attacked him in Vrindavan. A television crew filming a police brutality scene at the spot where Eric Garner died stopped production after one of the actors had a bottle thrown at him. Mark John Jefferies, James Russo and Anthony Mangano had been filming a scene for 'The Fifth Boro' in Staten Island on Thursday night, the New York Daily News reports. The scene involved the two white actors wrestling Jefferies to the ground at the Bay Street corner in Tompkinsville where Garner died after an NYPD officer put him in a chokehold while arresting him in July 2014. But just before the cameras started rolling, Jefferies said a bottle was thrown at him and missed his feet by inches. The show's director Steve Stanulis ultimately decided the location was a distraction so the team packed up the set and moved. Scroll down for video A television crew filming a police brutality scene at the spot (pictured) where Eric Garner died stopped production after one of the actors had a bottle thrown at him Eric Garner died after an NYPD officer put him in a chokehold while arresting him in Staten Island in July 2014 (pictured) Stanulis is a former Staten Island police officer who started his career with the NYPD working in the borough from 1994 until 2000, according to the Daily News. But he claimed he wasn't aware of the location's significance until he was informed by local residents. He insisted he picked it because of its 'shady' vibe. 'Everyone was fine, but there were a couple of malcontents,' he told the paper. Jefferies, a 28-year-old from the Bronx whose credits include playing a young 50 Cent in Get Rich or Die Tryin', also claimed he didn't know the spot was where Garner died. He said the problem was with a handful of people and the majority of spectators were supportive. Garner, 43, was accused of selling loose, untaxed cigarettes and stopped by police on Bay Street (above) in Staten Island on July 17, 2014 'They were just being ignorant and I don't have time for that,' he told the Daily News. He said when he approached the person who threw the bottle, they said: 'If you don't like it, you can get the F out of here.' Jefferies said some spectators stepped in and prevented the situation from escalating. 'It was fortunate it ended the way it did, it could have been a lot worse,' he added. Filming for the pilot of the show which also stars Tara Reid, Sean Young and Lilo Brancato - started on Thursday at Tappan Park in Stapleton. A scene had also been planned to be filmed outside the bodega across the street from where Garner died. Garner, 43, was accused of selling loose, untaxed cigarettes and stopped by police on Staten Island on July 17, 2014, and refused to be handcuffed. A cell phone video that showed Garner who had asthma - gasping 'I can't breathe' went viral after his death, sparking angry protests about the treatment of black men and boys at the hands of white police officers. A protest in New York in December 2014 after a grand jury's decision not to indict a police officer involved in Garner's killing The medical examiner's office ruled Garner's death a homicide, caused in part by the chokehold. In July, just before the fourth anniversary of Garner's killing, the NYPD announced it would allow disciplinary proceedings to go forward against patrolman Daniel Pantaleo. Pantaleo is seen on the video putting Garner in the chokehold, which is banned under NYPD policy. A pointed letter from the NYPD's top lawyer informed the U.S. Department of Justice of an administrative case that could result in dismissal for Pantaleo, because 'there is no end in sight' to the federal probe. Typically, the department waits for federal prosecutors to conclude civil rights violations inquiries before taking action. But other probes have taken far less time than the case of a victim whose dying words became a slogan for the Black Lives Matter movement. A police watchdog agency, the Civilian Complaint Review Board, will prosecute Panteleo under a memorandum of understanding with the NYPD, according to Lawrence Byrne, deputy commissioner for legal matters. In a statement, the DOJ said it already told the NYPD in the spring it could go forward and that the move 'does not have any bearing on the decision-making timeline.' Garner's family received $5.9 million from the city in 2015 to settle a wrongful death claim. 'We want to see this done. ... We want justice,' Garner's mother, Gwen Carr, said at a press conference in July with the Rev. Al Sharpton, who praised the move but also called on the U.S. attorney general to move forward with federal action. The family and police reform activists have expressed deep frustration over the inaction by federal authorities and the NYPD after a state probe ended without criminal charges. Former President Jimmy Carter is wading into the contentious Georgia governor's race with a personal appeal to Republican candidate Brian Kemp: Resign as secretary of state to avoid damaging public confidence in the outcome of his hotly contested matchup with Democrat Stacey Abrams. The 94-year-old Carter's request, made in an Oct. 22 letter obtained by The Associated Press, is the latest turn in a campaign whose closing month is being defined by charges of attempted voter suppression and countercharges of attempted voter fraud. Kemp has thus far dismissed Democratic demands that he step aside as Georgia's chief elections officer. But Carter attempted to approach the matter less as a partisan who has endorsed Abrams and more as the former president who's spent the decades since he left the Oval Office monitoring elections around the world. 'One of the key requirements for a fair and trusted process is that there be a nonbiased supervision of the electoral process,' Carter wrote, adding that stepping aside 'would be a sign that you recognize the importance of this key democratic principle and want to ensure the confidence of our citizens in the outcome.' Quit now: Jimmy Carter has written to the Republican candidate for governor in Georgia, Brian Kemp, telling him to stand down as secretary of state and accusing him of damaging public confidence in the election result Contentious: Brian Kemp also ace calls from Stacey Abrams to quit as secretary of state in Georgia over allegations of voter suppression and conflict of interest It was not immediately clear whether Kemp has read the letter or responded. A spokeswoman in Kemp's office, where the letter was addressed, referred questions to Kemp's campaign, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Addressing calls for his resignation during a recent debate with Abrams, Kemp noted that bipartisan panels of local officials run much of the elections process. He also noted that one of his Democratic predecessors ran for governor without resigning, although Cathy Cox failed to win the Democratic nomination in 2006. Disclosure of Carter's letter comes with Kemp under scrutiny from multiple fronts, chief among them 53,000 voter registrations being held up by Kemp's office. Under the state's strict election laws, mail-in registrations must match exactly a voter's records on file with the Social Security Administration or Georgia's driver's license agency. Kemp insists he's fairly applying Georgia law and that those would-be voters can cast ballots if they present acceptable identification - like any other Georgia voter - that clears up any questions. But Abrams and voting rights advocates have assailed the move - and sued - as part of a pattern Democrats say is intended to make it harder for minorities and other Democratic constituencies to vote. Republicans have returned fire, with Kemp alleging that Abrams and her backers want to give ballots to immigrants who are in the country illegally. That attack also is featured in a Republican ad being broadcast statewide. Carter sidestepped that back-and-forth in his letter, mentioning only 'the undeniable racial discrimination of the past' and a federal court's recent criticism of the touchscreen voting machines used in some Georgia counties. U.S. District Judge Amy Totenberg in September cited 'a mounting tide of evidence of the inadequacy and security risks' involved in Georgia's system. She agreed with voting integrity advocates who sued last year and argued that the touchscreen voting machines Georgia has used since 2002 are vulnerable to hacking and provide no way to confirm that votes have been recorded correctly because there's no paper trail. But she sided with Kemp in denying the advocates' request to force the statewide use of paper ballots for the 2018 midterms. Kemp, who has been secretary of state since 2010, has recently joined calls to move to paper ballots but said it would have caused too much upheaval to make the change this year. Donald Trump Jr called Democratic Senator Jon Tester a 'piece of garbage' at a campaign rally on Friday. The President's eldest son slammed the long-serving Democrat for preventing Navy Rear Admiral Ronny Jackson from leading the Department of Veterans Affairs earlier this year. Jackson, former Physician to the President, withdrew his nomination after White House Medical Staff accused him of creating a hostile work environment, excessively drinking on the job, and handing out medication too readily. Donald Trump Jr (pictured) called Democratic Senator Jon Tester a 'piece of garbage' at a campaign rally on Friday Jackson denied the allegations but Tester claimed in a CNN interview that he was known as 'the candy man' in the White House for handing out drugs. Tester also claimed Jackson got drunk on a trip overseas with former President Obama. In a campaign rally supporting Tester's GOP Montana senate opponent Matt Rosendale at a ranch on the outskirts of Helena, Trump Jr said Tester had 'ruined' Jackson's life. He said: 'To go after and try to assassinate with no proof, no basis, no nothing, a good man simply because my father wanted to elevate him and put him in charge of an organization,' 'When Jon Tester, who is this lap dog, does that, what happened?' Trump Jr. insisted there was no proof of the allegations against Jackson, reported The Hill. Tester (pictured) claimed a candidate to lead the VA got drunk on a trip overseas with former President Obama 'Where's the accountability to Jon Tester who did that? Because that makes you a piece of garbage in my mind, and it should to all of you and anyone I know in this state,' he fumed. Trump Jr's harsh comments come amid fears bitter political rhetoric and name-calling is fueling violence after a Trump supporter delivered pipe bombs to prominent liberals' homes last week. A sociologist at Ivy League college Stanford University has warned that more violence may be on the way as much of the United States political world embraces extreme views as part of campaigning. After it emerged pipe bomber suspect Cesar Sayoc was seemingly motivated to hate anyone or any idea Donald Trump was against, and the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting suspect Robert Bowers believed the president was a puppet for Jews, Robb Willer predicted the country will only become more divided. Noting how use inflammatory language gets some voters so scared they may fail to notice more reasonable candidates, he called for voters to break the cycle ahead of the November 6 midterm elections. 'Are we going to choose to continue the war, or are we going to choose peace? And we don't know yet what the answer to that will be, because while a majority of Americans are fed up with the extremity of our political divisions, it does feel like we're stuck here,' Willer said. 'It will get worse before it gets better.' Sayoc is accused of sending suspicious packages to the likes of Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and Robert Di Niro who have all expressed their lack of support for Trump. Advertisement Australian officials have been told not to fly on Lion Air after one of the airline's jets crashed into the sea north of Indonesia's capital, Jakarta, shortly after take-off on Monday morning - carrying 189 people. Photos later began to emerge showing debris and personal belongings picked up from the waters surface by ships that reached the crash area. Lion Air's flight JT-610 was heading to Pangkal Pinang, an island north of Indonesia's capital when it lost contact with air control about 6.33am local time (10.33am AEDT, 11.33pm BST) - just 13 minutes after take-off. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has now announced officials and contractors had been instructed not to fly with the low-cost airline until further notice. Scroll down for video Australian officials have been told not to fly on Lion Air after one of the airline's jets crashed into the sea north of Indonesia's capital, Jakarta, shortly after take-off on Monday morning - carrying 189 people In a statement released on Monday afternoon the DFAT said they would review the decision when the findings of the crash investigation are clear In a statement released on Monday afternoon, the DFAT said they would review the decision when the findings of the crash investigation are clear. Officials were also told to be cautious when travelling to Indonesia generally, but particularly in Central Sulawesi and Papua provinces. The advice came from Smarttraveller - a service provided by the DFAT. The warning came just hours after Flight JT-610'S pilot Bhavye Suneja asked to return to the airport after he reported technical difficulties on the Boeing 737 MAX 8 plane. Traffic control allowed the return, but the aircraft vanished from the radar shortly after. Authorities are not sure why the plane crashed, as the weather was sunny, the aircraft was new and the pilots were experienced. The MAX 8 model is set to be used by Australian airlines as of late 2019, with Virgin Australia having ordered 30 of the planes. Pictures and video shared online by the head of Indonesia's disaster relief agency show debris and oil floating in the water following the crash, of which there are, so far, no known survivors. Relatives were pictured crying at the Pangpal Pinang airport as they awaited news on their loved ones and family members were also pictured arriving at the agency's headquarters in Jakarta. On board were 178 adults, one child, two babies, two pilots and five flight attendants. There were also 20 staff from the Indonesian Ministry for Finance on board, and 23 government officials in total according to Reuters. Indonesian relatives of the plane crash victims cry as they wait for the news at the airport in Pangkal Pinang, Indonesia Dr Soerjanto Tjahjono, who heads up Indonesia's national transportation safety committee, told reporters the doomed plane had only clocked about 800 flight hours since beginning service in August Pictured: A passenger's bag retrieved from the water after flight JT-610 slammed into the water. The condition of the phone indicates the plane crashed with great force Lion Air's flight JT-610 was heading to Pangkal Pinang, an island north of Indonesia's capital. Rescuers are seen bringing plane debris onto a boat The domestic flight lost contact with air traffic control at about 6.33am local time (10.33am AEDT, 11.33pm BST) Members of a rescue team are seen carrying what appears to be a body bag during the desperate search for survivors The head of search and rescue agency Basarnas told reporters body parts had been seen floating in the ocean near the crash site. A tug boat leaving Jakarta's port saw the plane falling into the water, which is reported to be about 30-35m deep. Debris thought to be from the plane, including aircraft seats and life jackets, was found near an offshore refining facility, an official from state energy firm Pertamina said. Pictured: Bhavye Suneja was one of two pilots sitting in the cockpit when the flight hit the water, it has been confirmed 'We don't know yet whether there are any survivors,' Syaugi told a news conference. 'We hope, we pray, but we cannot confirm.' He later said body parts had been seen floating near Tanjung Karawang, where the plane is believed to have gone down, about 34 nautical miles north-west of Jakarta, but it was too soon to say how many had died. About 150 people have joined the rescue mission, including 30 divers, as authorities search desperately for survivors. A myriad of debris was located in the ocean nearby the crash site, both from the plane and its passengers The fate of the passengers are unknown, but relatives were seen crying as they awaited news on their loved ones Preliminary flight tracking data from Flightradar24 shows the aircraft climbed to around 5,000 feet (1,524 m) before losing, and then regaining, height, before finally falling towards the sea No survivors have been found, and seats from the plane were found empty, floating in the ocean, striking fear into the hearts of those with loved ones on board The relatives were seen comforting each other as they all waited as a group at Depati Amir Airport in Pangkal Pinang, Indonesia waiting for news 'We cannot give any comment at this moment, said Edward Sirait, chief executive of Lion Air Group. 'We are trying to collect all the information and data' Indonesian relatives of the plane crash victims cry as they wait for the news at the Sukarno Hatta Airport in Jakarta The air tracking service FlightRadar 24 tracked the plane, showing it looping south on take-off and then heading north before the flight path ended abruptly over the Java Sea, not far from the coast. The jet was a Boeing 737 MAX 8, according to Flightradar 24, which can carry as many as 210 passengers. In a statement Boeing said it was 'deeply saddened by the loss of Flight JT 610' and expressed sympathy for the loved ones of those on board. Slamet Waluyo, police chief from Karawang district in Jakarta's east - near the closest point to the suspected crash site - said authorities had received reports from several sources that the plane had crashed into the sea. Later, Indonesia's search and rescue agency also confirmed the plane had crashed. A statement issued by the agency said the plane's Emergency Local Transmitter beacon did not emit a distress signal as it fell from the sky - despite it being tested and declared fully functional until August 2019. 'It has been confirmed that it has crashed,' Yusuf Latif, a spokesman for the agency, said by text message, when asked about the fate of the Lion Air plane. LionAir's CEO Edward Sirait said a technical problem had been raised about the plane before it took off, but added the plane was cleared by engineers before take-off on Monday morning. He said the airline owned 11 of the 737 Max 8 models and none had had any issues up until Monday. He told reporters: 'This plane previously flew from Denpasar to Cengkareng (Jakarta). There was a report of a technical issue which had been resolved according to procedure.' Preliminary flight tracking data from Flightradar24 shows the aircraft climbed to around 5,000 feet (1,524 m) before losing, and then regaining, height, before finally falling towards the sea. It was last recorded at 3,650 feet (1,113 m) and its speed had risen to 345 knots, according to raw data captured by the respected tracking website, which could not immediately be confirmed. A plane carrying 189 people has crashed into the sea north of Indonesia's capital Jakarta shortly after take-off Rescuers pulled the belongings of passengers out of the sea, but it is not yet known if anyone survived the crash Pictured: Wreckage from the plane and miscellaneous items belonging to its passengers The Lion Air aircraft crashed about 13 minutes after taking off for Indonesia. It is not clear how many people were on board (pictured is the plane) Data from the Flight Radar website showed the plane took off before it stopped transmitting north east of Jakarta Videos online appeared to show oil and debris floating on the water after the crash (pictured) Its last recorded position was about 15 km (9 miles) north of the Indonesian coastline, according to a Google Maps reference of the last coordinates reported by Flightradar24. The accident is the first to be reported that involves the widely-sold Boeing 737 MAX, an updated, more fuel-efficient version of the manufacturer's workhorse single-aisle jet. The first Boeing 737 MAX jets were introduced into service in 2017. Lion Air's Malaysian subsidiary, Malindo Air, received the very first global delivery. Dr Soerjanto Tjahjono, who heads up Indonesia's national transportation safety committee, told reporters the doomed plane had only clocked about 800 flight hours since beginning service in August. Officials are urgently trying to find out if any Australians were on board the doomed flight. 'The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is aware of reports of the missing Lion Air aircraft in Indonesia,' a spokesperson from DFAT said. The DFAT has also instructed Australian government officials and contractors not to fly on Lion Air until the findings of the investigation into the crash are clear. 'The Australian Embassy in Jakarta is making urgent enquiries with local authorities to determine if any Australians were affected.' Lion Air is one of Indonesia's youngest and biggest airlines, flying to dozens of domestic and international destinations. In 2013, one of its Boeing 737-800 jets missed the runway while landing on the resort island of Bali, crashing into the sea without causing any fatalities among the 108 people on board. Indonesia has a horror track record on air safety and only recently the European Union removed all Indonesia airlines from its aviation safety blacklist. Three major Indonesia airlines, including Lion, were upgraded to the top safety tier in June after passing a key international audit. There have been more than 40 air accidents resulting in deaths in Indonesia since 2001. A rapid expansion of air travel in recent years has seen an explosion of low-cost airlines operating in the country. Five people on board a car have miraculously survived unhurt after their vehicle got sandwiched between two trucks on a motorway inChina. The car was waiting to pass a tollgate when a tanker lorry slammed into it from behind at a high speed, crushing in against another lorry. The driver of the tanker lorry said he had been drowsy behind the wheel. The red car waits to pass a tollgate in China before being crushed by the lorry behind it The horrifying crash took place at the Eyu Tollgate in Lichuan in central China's Hubei Province at around noon on September 27. Surveillance footage shows three car, including a red car, a truck and a police car, waiting in a queue in front of a tollgate. A tanker lorry, which appears to be out of control, rams into the red car at the end of the queue, pushing it against the truck at the front, which in turn collides into the police car. The red car was severely damaged after being jammed between the two trucks, but miraculously all five people inside it survived the accident unhurt, according to a police officer from the Lichuan Public Security Bureau. The tanker lorry, which appears to be out of control, rams into the car from behind The tanker lorry crushes the car and pushes it towards another lorry at the front The local Enshi TV Station reported on Saturday that the tanker driver had been feeling drowsy and may have fallen asleep when the accident happened. The driver confessed that he had to load liquid into his lorry until the wee hours and started out to deliver the load in the morning without a proper rest. He said he had been feeling sleepy and dozed off a few times while driving on the motorway. The tanker driver sustained injuries in the legs. No other injuries have been reported by the police. A Florida couple have blasted a cruise company saying the found a hidden camera pointed at their bed in their room. Chris and Dana White said they were on the Carnival Fantasy for a three-day Caribbean cruise departing from Mobile, Alabama, in October last year. But they were stunned when they discovered a recording device hidden among television wires in their stateroom, they told Inside Edition. They are speaking out a year after the incident because they feel Carnival Cruise mishandled the situation. Chris and Dana White (pictured) said they found a hidden camera in their room on a Carnival Cruise ship They were stunned when they discovered a recording device hidden among television wires in their stateroom In an interview set to air on Monday, Chris said he couldn't believe what he was seeing when he found the device. 'I said, 'Is that what I think it is?' And she looked at it and she became concerned,' he said. 'And we were just really flabbergasted that there's a camera in the room and it's plugged up and it's working.' Dana added: 'I just immediately felt like we had been invaded our privacy had been invaded.' Chris White (pictured) said the couple were 'flabbergasted' when they discovered the device Chris White insisted the recording device (pictured) was 'working' and 'warm to the touch' Chris used his phone to film a Carnival employee who came to dismantle the device. They said the company initially denied the device was a camera. In a statement, a Carnival spokesman acknowledged that a 'video transmitter' was found and a full investigation had been conducted. But they said it 'was not connected to an electrical source and not capable of working.' Chris disputes this, insisting the device was 'working' and 'warm to the touch.' Chris used his phone to film a Carnival employee who came to dismantle the device The couple were aboard the Carnival Fantasy (above, file photo) ship in October last year Carnival told Inside Edition the device had been turned over to the FBI and that the Whites have been informed about this. The cruise line said it also followed procedures and notified the US Customs and Border Protection. 'This is certainly a unique and unusual occurrence and it is unclear who or why this transmitter was placed in the guest's stateroom,' the Carnival spokesman added. 'The safety and security of our guests and crew is of paramount importance and we have taken measures so that this sort of situation does not happen again.' A father has been detained in east China for selling his newborn daughter. The man, who was desperate for a son, was disappointed that his second child turned out to be a daughter as well, according to Yiwu police in Zhejiang province. He sold the 10-day-old baby to a couple in another province for 4,000 yuan (4,500) in late September. His mother reported him to the police after realising that her granddaughter had gone missing. A father in Yiwu, Zhejiang province sold his 10-day-old baby girl to a couple in another province as he was desperate for a son, local police said in a statment The father, Xiaohui (pictured), has been detained by Yiwu police for the crime Li, 42, told police that she was going to stay at her son's house to help take care of the newborn girl, like she did when her first granddaughter was born. However, much to her surprise, her son Xiaohui refused, Yiwu police said in a statement. 'I only saw my granddaughter a couple of times when she was born. I never saw her after that - my son wouldn't even let me in the house,' she said, adding that she could only leave her homemade meals at their doorstep. In early October, Li finally visited her daughter-in-law when her son was not home, but the baby was nowhere to be found. The grandmother (pictured), Li, said that her son had refused to let her take care of the newborn. She then realised that her granddaughter had gone missing and reported it to police The baby has been transported back to Yiwu and is currently under the care of her mother and grandmother. The buyers and the baby's father have been detained by local police She immediately questioned her son about the baby's whereabouts but he refused to answer her. Furious, she reported him to the authorities after suspecting him of selling the child. After being interrogated by police, Xiaohui admitted to selling his daughter to a couple in Hubei province's Enshi city, more than 1,200 kilometres (745 miles) away. The man said he wanted to sell the baby girl because he had hoped for a son instead. Being unemployed, he felt under financial pressure having already had a daughter. On October 15, Yiwu city police finally located the couple in Enshi and rescued the baby girl. 'We were worried that the buyers could be involved in a child trafficking scheme,' officer Zhu Xiaojing said. The married couple, surnamed Zhang and Xu, were desperate for a child after trying and failing for more than 10 years. Police added that the couple admitted to buying the baby online and were cooperative during investigations. Trafficking and selling women and children is punishable by five to 10 years in prison in China Both the couple and the father were detained by police, according to the statement. The baby has been transported back to Yiwu and is currently under the care of her mother and grandmother. Under Chinese law, trafficking and selling women and children is punishable by five to 10 years in prison, but life sentences or death penalties can also be issued. The incident saw the cruel father widely criticised on Chinese micro-blogging site Weibo. 'What a brute! He should be jailed under the child trafficking law!' user Chenhaonan said. 'Kudos to the grandmother for reporting her son to the police,' Quanshi_shuaige said. 'She must be devastated to have a son like that.' Angela Merkel has said she will stand down as German Chancellor when her current term comes to an end in 2021. Merkel, who has held the office since 2005, said her government had lost credibility after a bruising election result in Hesse at the weekend, which saw the CDU emerge victorious but drop almost 11 points at the polls. She will also quit as leader of the CDU, a post she has held since 2000, in the coming days, with a new leader due to be elected at party conference in December. 'I will not be seeking any political post after my term ends,' Merkel said, bringing an end to her career after more than a decade at the top of German politics. She added that she accepts 'full responsibility' for weakening party support, which comes in the wake of the migrant crisis. Angela Merkel (pictured today) says she will quit as the leader of the CDU in the coming days before standing down as German Chancellor at the end of her term in 2021 Merkel announced her decision alongside Volker Bouffier, the Prime Minister of Hesse, after a her CDU party took a beating at the polls in the state Merkel told a news conference that it is time to 'turn a new page' following a string of ballot-box setbacks that started with the general election in 2017, when the CDU haemorrhaged support to anti-migrant party AfD. It took Merkel months to form a grand coalition government with the SPD after that result, and the alliance has been plagued by infighting and instability ever since. WHO WILL REPLACE MERKEL? Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer The current secretary general of the CDU and a close ally of Merkel, aides have said Kramp-Karrenbauer is eager to take over from her as leader of the party in December. She previously served as the Minister President for the state of Saarland, increasing the CDU's vote there in 2017 even as it fell nationally. Jens Spahn Spahn currently serves as the Health Minister and has advocated pulling the CDU further to the right from Merkel's centrist approach. He has sparred with Merkel in the past and has taken a hard line over immigration, which has become a losing issue for his party. Friedrich Merz Merz, a fierce and longtime critic of Merkel, was the first name to emerge as her possible replacement. A former member of the European Parliament, Merz also previously served as the chairman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group until he was replaced by Merkel in 2002. He left the Bundestag in 2009 and now sit on the board of several prominent companies, including the German arm of BlackRock. Advertisement The parties were humbled in elections in Bavaria earlier this month before the beating in Hesse, which Merkel said should act as a 'wake up call' for her coalition. Handing over the reins of the CDU to a successor presents 'many more opportunities than risks', she said. She added that she made the decision over the summer and had intended to announce it next week, but brought the date forward after the result in Hesse. She has also ruled out running for a senior EU position in the future. Speaking about who might replace her as CDU leader in December, Merkel confirmed that Health Minister Jens Spahn and CDU General Secretary Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer are in the running, but refused to state a preference. She did not comment on rumours that Friedrich Merz, who served in the Bundestag until 2009 but is now in the private sector, will also be putting himself forward. Merz was parliamentary leader of the CDU/CSU alliance from 2000 until 2002 and also a member of the European Parliament. He now serves as chairman of BlackRock Germany. This comes as she is been facing calls to quit from her own conservatives to cede the party's leadership today, further eroding her authority after painful losses in a regional election. Merkel's CDU came first in Sunday's election in the western state of Hesse but support fell by more than 11 points, reigniting a succession debate by conservatives unhappy with the chancellor's grip on power. She also faces pressure from her Social Democrat (SPD) junior coalition partners, who have also bled support in Hesse and are under pressure to rethink their alliance with Merkel. SPD leader Andrea Nahles, whose party saw support fall to its lowest since 1946, threatened to end the alliance with Merkel's conservatives if there is no improvement on policy. Merkel, chancellor for 13 years, will have to invest her political capital and tactical acumen to keep together her loveless coalition, borne out of necessity seven months ago after an inconclusive federal election last year. This will distract her from tending to major challenges at home and abroad - ranging from overcoming a digital deficit and pushing the German car industry toward cleaner mobility to seeing through euro zone reforms and managing Britain's planned departure from the European Union. 'The election results show that people expect renewal from the CDU,' conservative lawmaker Matern von Marschall told the Stuttgarter newspaper. SPD leader Andrea Nahles, whose party saw support fall to its lowest since 1946, has threatened to end the alliance with Merkel's conservatives if there is no improvement on policy Merkel speaks with Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, the current Secretary General of the CDU and her potential successor, on Monday ahead of her announcement His CDU colleague Christian von Steffen was more blunt: 'We need a meaningful programme with a clear path and new faces.' A senior CDU member told Reuters that party leaders wanted to discuss the possibility of Merkel reversing her decision to seek re-election as party chairwoman in December. 'This should be discussed,' the member of the CDU governing board told Reuters on the condition of anonymity. CDU leaders will meet next Sunday to prepare for a summit in December where party members will vote for a new chairman. Nahles is also feeling the heat from SPD members still disgruntled with their leaders' decision to join Merkel instead of fulfilling an election promise to sit in opposition if they fail to win the federal vote. Merkel became Germany's first female Chancellor when she was elected in 2005 (pictured), a post that she has held ever since Nahles said on Sunday she would propose a roadmap to allow the SPD to measure the progress of the ruling coalition, which has been plagued by infighting, at a mid-term review next year. Her proposal did little to appease the head of the SPD's youth wing, who said the election in Hesse was a clear signal that the ruling coalition was not viable. 'The final verdict on the coalition has been spoken,' Kevin Kuehnert wrote in Twitter. 'Voters don't want 'business as usual.'' Merkel's coalition was twice on the brink of collapse, once over immigration policy and then over a dispute about the fate of the domestic intelligence chief who was accused of harbouring far-right views. The instability has further eroded the credibility of the conservatives and the SPD in the eyes of German voters, who are increasingly turning to smaller parties on the right and on the left. In Hesse, where Merkel's CDU rule with the ecologist Greens, the two biggest winners were the Greens and the far-right Alternative for Germany. A mother who was allegedly stabbed to death by her mentally ill son enforced a 'tough-love campaign' in the months preceding her death. Joel Woszatka, 26, is on trial in the NSW Supreme Court after pleading not guilty to murdering 50-year-old Lanell Latta in their rented Avalon Beach home, on Sydney's northern beaches. At the time, the rented property was owned by Australian supermodel Gemma Ward, who has since sold the property and provided a statement to the court. The court heard on Monday Ms Latta had been urging her son, who had recently stopped his medication for schizophrenia, to get a job. Joel Woszatka, 26, is on trial in the NSW Supreme Court after pleading not guilty to murdering 50-year-old Lanell Latta (pictured) in their rented Avalon Beach home, on Sydney's Northern Beaches The court heard on Monday that Ms Latta had been urging her son, who had recently stopped his antipsychotic medication for schizophrenia, to get a job (pictured: Joel Woszatka) Ms Latta allegedly became a victim to her sons hallucinations on the morning of September 18, 2017, when she was stabbed to death in her bedroom, the court heard. 'The accused went to the kitchen, got a large kitchen knife with a blade 20 centimetres long, went to his mother's room and stabbed her with some force through the chest,' Crown Prosecutor Paul Lynch said on Monday. 'That injury quickly caused her death.' Mr Lynch said there would be no dispute Woszatka 'did the act that caused the death'. The prosecutor suggested that 'in accordance with the evidence', Justice Helen Wilson could accept a defence of mental illness and record a verdict of not guilty by reason of mental illness. If this came to fruition, Woszatka would be referred to the Mental Health Review Tribunal. Ms Latta (pictured) allegedly became a victim to her son's hallucinations on the morning of September 18, 2017 The court heard there had been 'some disharmony in the household' in the months leading up to the killing (Ms Latta pictured left, Woszatka second from right) The court heard there had been 'some disharmony in the household' in the months leading up to the killing. 'The deceased was urging her son, Joel, to keep a mental health appointment that had been arranged,' Mr Lynch said. Woszatka had gone off his anti-psychotic injections for months in 2017. Ms Latta's de facto partner Geoffrey Robson-Scott, who was in the bedroom during the stabbing, said 'everybody agreed' on Woszatka quitting his medication. They decided it was time to 'give him a chance to stand on his own two feet'. 'Lanell was very keen to have him move forward and become a bit more independent,' Mr Robson-Scott told the court. 'It was a tough-love campaign.' Ms Latta's other son, Levon Benjamin Woszatka, testified his brother and mother argued about 'rent and work'. Ms Latta's other son, Levon Benjamin Woszatka, testified his brother and mother argued about 'rent and work' (pictured: the rented Avalon property) Woszatka had gone off his anti-psychotic injections for months in 2017 (pictured: the rented Avalon property) He said he saw his brother jogging down the street and looking 'moderately distressed' on the day of the stabbing. A short time later, he found his mother 'lying on the floor' and made a call to triple-zero. Forensic psychiatrist Dr Adam Martin said Woszatka had chronic schizophrenia, a major mental illness. Dr Martin said Woszatka 'alluded to thoughts that his mother might come back'. He also said it was unlikely Woszatka was fit for work and claimed he assaulted people for psychotic reasons, perhaps driven by paranoia or command hallucinations such as hearing God. Barrister Ertunc Ozen SC will open the defence case at the judge-alone trial on Tuesday with forensic psychiatrist Dr Olav Nielssen. Roxanne Eka Peters, 35, (pictured) has been jailed for killing her rapist after he threatened to harm her daughter unless she submitted to more sex A Brisbane woman has been jailed for 10 years for killing a man she claims raped her after he threatened to harm her daughter unless she submitted to more sex. Roxanne Eka Peters, 35, fatally stabbed Grant Jason Cassar, 51, with a blow to his heart at her home in Capalaba, near Brisbane, in December 2015. She claims Cassar raped her after tying her up, then said he would harm her child if she didn't have sex again. After the stabbing she tied a rope around his body, including his neck, and dragged it behind her car for 1.6km to a ditch where she hid it. His body was found the next day with over 61 injuries, including 10cm stab wounds on his chest. The base of his penis and his oesophagus was also stabbed. In the Brisbane Supreme Court on Monday, Peters was sentenced to nine years in jail for manslaughter and a further 18 months after she pleaded guilty to interfering with his corpse. With time served she will be eligible for parole in June 2020. Peters fatally stabbed Grant Jason Cassar, 51, with a blow to his heart using a kitchen knife at her home in Capalaba (pictured) in December 2015 She tied a rope around his body, including his neck, and dragged it behind her car for about a kilometre to a ditch, where she dumped it (pictured) Prosecutor David Nardone told the court Cassar had broken into Peters' home and asked to 'do a meth cook-up', according to 9 News. But when Peters, also a drug addict, refused to have sex with him, the court heard Cassar threatened to harm her daughter. She then ran to the kitchen to grab a knife and repeatedly stabbed him 'again and again', screaming 'you don't rape me', the court heard. Justice David Boddice told the court Cassar's rape and humiliation of Peters, followed by the threats to harm her child, had been a 'significant provocation'. 'I accept the stabbing occurred in circumstances when you were enraged by what the deceased had done to you and was threatening to do to you again,' he said. His body was found the next day with over 61-injuries, including 10cm stab wounds on his chest 'They will never recover from his death,': Friends and family of Grant Jason Cassar are seen leaving Brisbane's Supreme Court on Monday It was, however, to Peters' detriment that she didn't immediately seek help after the stabbing, he said. 'Instead you set about the process of callously disposing of the deceased body,' he said. He said Peters had shown no respect for Cassar's human dignity. 'No doubt your rage continued to affect your attitude to him,' Justice Boddice said. Justice Boddice said Peters' upbringing around drug users, where she was subjected to sexual abuse, had exacerbated the rage she felt when Cassar came to her home on the day he died. However, Cassar's killing had been devastating for his family. 'They will never recover from his death,' he said. Peters allegedly moved Cassars lifeless body by tying it to a car with a climbing rope and dragging it as she drove 1.6km, passing a police station along the way, to a nearby roadside ditch. A local couple found the body on Degen Road, Capalaba on December 5 and Peters was charged the next day. It is alleged that Peters killed Cassar, tied him to the back of a car, drove 1.6km - passing Capalaba police station (pictured) on the way - and dumped the body in a ditch An off-duty police officer in Brazil allegedly shot his friend in the head by accident before instantly turning the gun on himself when he realised his mistake. Flavio de Oliveira, 31, a fresh graduate from military police school, had apparently spent the afternoon drinking at a bar in Goiania, central west Brazil, with his friends. It appears he planned to drive home after socialising and was inside his car last Thursday chatting to his mates, gathered around the hatchback, when a single shot rang out. Matheus Castro, 20, (circled) sits astride his bike as the friends chat at de Oliveira's window The gunman gets out of the Peugeot as the motorbike falls on top of his wounded victim The bullet, which allegedly came from inside the stationery vehicle, hit Matheus Castro at point blank range. The 20-year-old student was sitting astride his motorbike, dressed in a black t-shirt, close to the open window on the passenger side. Everyone scattered as the victim's bike toppled over and he fell to the ground, his body obscured by a pole. He was rushed to hospital but died shortly afterwards from single wound. De Oliviera makes his way around his bonnet to inspect his stricken friend as everyone scatters CCTV released by investigators shows de Oliveira getting out of his car and walking around to the opposite side where his friend lay dying on the tarmac. Detectives claimed the desperate cop apparently took a moment to check what he had done then walked back to the driver's side. He leaned inside took out the weapon and without appearing to hesitate, shot himself in the temple. His body immediately slumped forward coming to rest on the car door. He was declared dead at the scene. Homicide detective Magda D'Avila said witnesses reported the officer had been drinking heavily with friends for several hours at an ice cream bar and this may have impaired his judgement when he handled the gun without 'due care'. Detective D'Avila said: 'We believe he had his gun with him all the time and was about to drive home when he decided to pull out the weapon to show it off and it accidentally went off. 'When he saw what he had apparently done, it seems he took the instant decision to take his own life. 'He was a newly qualified military police officer and we are looking at whether his inexperience with handling a loaded weapon contributed to this incident.' Forensic investigators are analysing security footage to see exactly what occurred and will assess whether the shot was accidental or if the weapon was faulty. The brains behind the British Brexit plan were paid a staggering 1.6million in just one month official figures have shown. As the leave date looms the two sides of the Brexit divorce, Britain and the European Union, are yet to strike a deal for what will happen after the break. Meanwhile, firms in the UK are being tasked with advising officials as they draw up the plans for Britain when its EU membership ends. Last month, big companies were paid 1.6million. Large chunks of that went to American firms as Brexit secretary Dominic Raab attempts to carve out a deal with his European counterparts. Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab is at the helm of the separation talks with the EU while at home major firms are being paid millions to organise the split US firms Boston Consulting was paid 158, 240 and 169, 400 while Bain & Company received one payment of 450,400, The Times reported. Ernst and Young earned 178,312 for analysing the commercial impact of Brexit and Deloitte was paid 486,473. British company PA Consulting was paid over 220,000 Figures were released by the Cabinet Office but it was not clear what exactly the money was for - or which area of the Brexit plan they are being put towards. The Cabinet Office said that the 1.6 million covered work done over a longer period than the one-month payment month but would did not say what the total contracts were worth. The spending is on top of the bills being created for major post-Brexit projects such as the registration of EU citizens in Britain and customs arrangements. A Cabinet Office spokesperson told The Times: 'The contracts cover skills that are needed on EU exit preparation and implementation to allow the widest scope for departments to secure the capability they need, including, commercial, operational, programme and project management.' The spending news comes on top of reports 40million is being spent on external consultants for Brexit, across Whitehall. Deloitte was paid 486,473 last month as it is revealed they are playing a role in the development and delivery of the application process for the settlement scheme An application for settlement scheme, including design and delivery has been handed out to Deloitte and the WorldReach Software Corporation, according to Buzzfeed. Those contracts are said to be worth between 1m and 5m. Theresa May's government has introduced what is being called the EU 'exit capability team' to handle the huge, expensive projects. 'Their job is to identify the riskiest projects and then do 'deep dives' to make sure that the things departments say are happening really are,' a former minister told The Times. Footage capturing the final moments of a doomed flight before it crashed into a sand dune, killing a British backpacker, has been released for the first time. Investigations continue into why the Cessna 172 aircraft plummeted, hitting Middle Island off the Central Queensland coast, on January 10 last year, killing a 29-year-old unnamed woman and injuring the three survivors on board. The flight was filmed by a teenage boy, who had to be cut from the plane's wreckage by his father, who was trailing behind in a second plane. Scroll down for video A young survivor filmed the harrowing moment the plane he was travelling in crashed into a sand dune on Middle Island, killing a fellow passenger on board The teen Jesse Lonnon, then 13, filmed the final harrowing seconds of the plane's flight, including the dramatic moment of the crash, which was publicly released for the first time on Monday by ABC/Fairfax. Almost two years on, Jesse's father Jason Lonnon is still seeking answers. 'Every time I hear one of them planes flying around, it just reminds me of that day. It is stuck with me for life, I am sure of that,' Mr Lonnon told ABC's 7.30. His son suffered a broken leg, while the British woman died from injuries to her head. She also sustained a broken leg in the crash. A British backpacker died and three others on board were seriously injured in the crash (pictured) Pilot Les Goodall also survived but was airlifted to hospital with head injuries, broken leg and abdominal injuries. Wyndham Aviation operator, Bruce Rhodes, who was flying the trailing aircraft, said he knew something had gone horribly wrong when Mr Goodall suddenly disappeared behind a sand dune. 'Les would always go first and that aircraft flew just a little bit faster and that meant he was going to get to the beach before me. He went down to carry out his inspection and I didn't hear another word from the radio from that moment on from him,' Mr Rhoades said. He didn't expect anyone to be alive when he arrived at the crash site minutes later. Almost two years on, theAustralian Transport Safety Bureau and Queensland Police are still conducting their own investigations into the fatal crash (pictured) 'The flashes I get the most and I guess the thing that disturbs me the most is doing CPR on that girl for so long and that I guess is the thing that comes back, if you like, to haunt me,' he said. Mr Rhodes said he believes all four people on board would have drowned had the aircraft landed in the water. Civil Aviation Safety Authority suspended and cancelled the company's licence just 17 days after the crash, which Mr Rhoades claims cost him his business and tarnished his reputation, which includes 40 years of flying experience. Wyndham Aviation operator Bruce Rhodes (pictured) had his company cancelled and pilots licence suspended following the crash in January 2017 Mr Woodall also had his licence suspended, despite a clean record. Terminally ill with an aggressive cancer, Mr Rhoades has spoken out in a desperate attempt to clear his name before he dies. 'I guess, if you like, there is Woody and myself being able to hold our heads up among our peer group and own industry and the second reason is that the family of the dead girl, in particular, I want to make sure that they know the truth, Mr Rhoades said. A CASA spokesman told Daily Mail Australia it stands by the decision made. A teenage boy on the doomed flight had to be cut from the wreckage (pictured) by his father 'We looked at all the evidence and on the basis of evidence, suspended the operation of the company and the licences of the two pilots,' he said. 'We believe it was necessary to protect the public against any safety risk. We weighed up those risks and thought was the appropriate action.' The spokesman said the pilots could have appealed their suspensions. 'They could have gone the Federal Court or Administrative Appeals Tribunal but chose not to,' he told Daily Mail Australia. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau and Queensland Police are still conducting their own investigations into the incident, ahead of a coronial inquiry. The 43-year-old wife of a former top IT executive appeared in court today charged with murder after he was found stabbed to death at their home. Natasha Welsh, 43, had been arrested on suspicion of stabbing her husband Martin Welsh, 47, at their 600,000 semi-detached house in Hendon, North London. Mrs Welsh appeared at Willesden Magistrates' Court this morning following the incident late on Friday night at their property near Middlesex University. The scene outside the 600,000 semi-detached house in Hendon, North London, today Mr Welsh's brother Brian Welsh wrote on Facebook today that the family was 'distraught' Mrs Welsh was arrested alongside her two children, Kyle, 21, and Charley, 23, whom Scotland Yard said were later released without further action. Today, Mrs Welsh, dressed in a grey tracksuit and with her hair pulled back in a ponytail, appeared in a brief hearing before the case was sent up to the Old Bailey. The married defendant spoke only to confirm her name, date of birth, address and British nationality during the hearing that lasted less than two minutes. Neither prosecutor Inder Gohlar nor Tammy Sher, defending, made representations. Welsh was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on Wednesday. Detectives from the homicide and major crime command were investigating in Hendon A cordon was put in place around the property in Hendon after the incident on Friday She held her hands in front of her during the hearing which at least five members of her family and friends attended. Mr Welsh's brother Brian Welsh wrote on Facebook today: 'It's with a very saddened heart that I have news that my big brother Martin died on Friday night. 'All the family is distraught and he will be sorely missed. R.I.P big bruv xx' On Friday night, police and paramedics were called to the address after Mr Welsh suffered a fatal stab wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Police had been appealing for information from anyone who was in the area of North London Mr Welsh, originally from Irvine, Ayrshire, was said to have been a sales executive at US firm Westcon but was made redundant three years ago. 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 on Friday night. 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. One said that the first they knew of the incident was when police and ambulances turned up. Petrified dogs are forced into small cages before being drowned and used for their meat in horrific footage from inside a Cambodian slaughterhouse. Animal charity founder Michael Chour, built up a relationship with the owner of the abattoir so that he could enter the large slaughterhouse just outside the country's capital city of Phnom Penh. Once inside, Chour took harrowing footage of shaking dogs being cramped into cages as they unknowingly waited to be lowered into water and killed for the benefit of local restaurants. Chour, who has made it his life's mission to save dogs in the poverty stricken country, recalled entering the slaughterhouse alongside two team members. Harrowing footage shows terrified dogs being squeezed inside small cages as they unknowingly wait to be killed for their meat He said that his throat was so tight he couldn't speak as he and his team watched as the killings took place. Although the trade is illegal within the city, slaughterhouses have since set themselves up on the outskirts as a legal business, meaning Michael can do nothing when witnessing the killings in front of him, or risk facing arrest. Animal charity founder Michael Chour has made it his life's mission to save these dogs Chour, a former doctor, said: 'My heart stopped beating, my breath became painful, tears came, then anger, then disgust, to recount the infinite distress of these cursed places.' Dallas Buckley, a member of the charity, said: 'Michael has spent 14 years of his life in harm's way, saving the doomed dogs in Thailand and Cambodia. 'There are no animal welfare laws to protect dogs and cats and it is illegal to speak out about the trade. 'If Michael tried to stop this, he would be arrested and would not be able to continue his work in Cambodia. 'Building relationships, he is known and trusted, and uses his time there for education of the people he meets whilst rescuing dogs from the dog meat trade. 'He has responsibility for 1,200 dogs, without him the dogs would have no one to care for them. A cage of dogs lies next to a pit full of water where they are drowned by the abattoir workers 'He has to stay calm, even though he is dying inside. 'Slaughterhouse owners are dangerous people, and he has had his life threatened on numerous occasions. He has also been chased by them, wielding machetes.' The dogs are transported to the slaughterhouse in vans, inside tiny cages, before they are pushed along the floor, catching the dogs paws in the process. They are then moved from one cage to another so the empty cage can be taken away to bring more dogs the next day, sometimes with around 1,400 dogs a week being slaughtered. The workers, who consistently prod them with long thin sticks going at least a full inch into their flesh, then carry the dogs to a drowning pit where the dogs are thrown in. Chour filmed the men drowning the dogs in the slaughterhouse after building a relationship with the owner so he could rescue the animals The water in the pit can be seen moving violently for a full two minutes, before it once again becomes calm and a staff member reaches into the crate full of dead dogs, and pulls them out one by one. The drowned dogs are then put into a large vat of boiling water to make the fur easier to scrape off before being sent to the restaurants. The dogs are prodded with sticks by the workers while being cramped into cages Michael, who is originally from France, said: 'The dogs are treated, without any compassion, or respect. 'Here there is only profit, no poor people trying to survive. 'My job is to expose things as I perceive them, as I feel them, as I see them, as I hear them. 'I believe in education as the way for the future. 'The children and younger generation who experience a dogs unconditional love, the comfort, joy and respect, they learn a dog is not a protein source or to be abused. 'The only way forward is by turning public opinion, raising public awareness, and pressuring the law makers.' Thankfully, Michael was able to rescue three dogs from the slaughterhouse, affectionately named Karma, Joe Joe and Mama, who will be travelling to Michael's Blue Dream Animal Shelter once the official paper work has been completed. He said: 'I will continue to fight for the dogs, who have no voice. 'I will do everything in my power to make positive change. 'After all the dog and cat meat torture trade is one of the most serious animal welfare issue of our time.' Advertisement Philip Hammond mounted a bold raid on Amazon and Facebook and handed tax cuts to millions of workers today as he delivered what could be the last Budget before Britain leaves the EU. The Chancellor said he would raise hundreds of millions of pounds a year by hitting web giants - who have been accused of failing to pay their fair share - with a levy based on revenues. But the scale of the new levy was dwarfed by the huge spending splurge unveiled in the package, totalling an eye-watering 100billion over the next five years. Billions of pounds will be pumped into the NHS, social care, mental health and defence, while the troubled Universal Credit benefits reforms will be bailed out with another 1billion of 'transitional' protections and 1.7billion in improved work allowances - effectively reversing cuts previously imposed by George Osborne. Increases to tax thresholds will be raised faster than previously promised - saving around 32 million workers up to 860 a year each. Mr Hammond said the giveaways were possible due to the 'tough decisions' the government had made over the past eight years - which had brought better growth forecasts and lower borrowing. 'Their hard work is finally paying off and the era of austerity is finally coming to an end,' he insisted. But the Chancellor appears to have all-but abandoned his goal of getting the public finances into the black by 2025, in favour of turning on the spending taps. The Chancellor has already warned that this dramatic giveaway Budget assumes that there will be a Brexit deal - hinting that a collapse in the knife-edge negotiations with Brussels could undermine plans to draw a line under austerity. He said this afternoon he was 'confident' there will be a deal, suggesting it would bring a 'double dividend' from better growth and enabling him to free up the Brexit warchest. But he revealed he is increasing spending on preparations for no-deal from 1.5billion to 2billion next year, and said if there is no settlement with the EU he is ready to 'upgrade' the Spring Statement to a full Budget. Mr Hammond also won cheers from MPs for announcing the end of controversial PFI projects - saying he had never signed off such a scheme and 'never will'. The Chancellor said he was safeguarding 'Britain's future' and helping the 'strivers' as he told the House of Commons he will pump more money into the NHS, social care, mental health and the armed forces The House of Commons was packed to the rafters to hear the Chancellor deliver his pre-Brexit Budget this afternoon Philip Hammond posed with the famous red box outside No11 Downing Street today before delivering his Budget speech Unusually, the Budget took place on a Monday afternoon rather than the traditional Wednesday - with Mr Hammond joking that he was keen to avoid headlines about it happening on Halloween. Among the measures announced by Mr Hammond today were: The personal allowance will hit the Tory manifesto target of 12,500 a year and the higher rate 50,000 in 2019 - a year earlier than planned. A rescue package to salvage the Government's flagship Universal Credit welfare reform will see an extra 1billion of transitional protections, and 1.7billion for increased work allowances; A 30billion upgrade for England's motorways and other major routes paid for by road tax; Fuel duty will be frozen for the ninth year in a row saving drivers and businesses millions of pounds, and there will be a 420million fund to tackle potholes; Around 800million extra for social care amid warnings that cuts to the system have left it on its knees; A billion pounds to bail out the Armed Forces this year and next following fury from Tory MPs about the threat of cuts to capabilities; A 1.5billion bailout for the High Street that includes slashing business rates for independent retailers; A 60million pledge to plant more trees to help preserve the country's environment; Some 160million for counter-terror policing amid claims Scotland Yard is struggling to keep pace with the threat from extremists; Plans to move people trapped on 'payday loans' to zero-interest Government loans; Schools in England will be handed 400 million, an average of 10,000 per primary school and 50,000 for secondary schools; A review into whether marriage licensing rules should be relaxed so ceremonies can take place in pubs and outdoors; Duty on beer, cider and spirits have been frozen in the financial set-piece - although wine will go up; The living wage will increase by 4.9 per cent to 8.21. There had been speculation that Mr Hammond was penned in after the PM promised to inject 25billion extra into the NHS by 2023. But he was given wriggle room thanks to better-than-expected tax receipts - particularly from corporation tax - lower borrowing, and lower unemployment, which staved off the need for mooted tax hikes such as curbs on pension reliefs. How could Hammond spend 100bn without breaking the bank? Philip Hammond looked to be seriously hemmed in as he prepared to deliver his Budget. But the Chancellor was given wriggle room thanks to better-than-expected tax receipts - particularly from corporation tax - lower borrowing, and lower unemployment, which staved off the need for mooted tax hikes such as curbs on pension reliefs. North Sea oil income has also risen sharply thanks to higher prices on the global markets. Alongside the 'digital tax', Mr Hammond also raised around a billion a year from closing tax loopholes for contractors, while restricting employment allowance National Insurance reliefs for larger business will bring in up to 320million a year more. Meanwhile, the nine-month delay to the rollout of Universal Credit eased the pressure by 2billion over the five-year Budget forecast period - although that was ploughed straight back into bailing out the troubled scheme. Measures to clamp down on tax avoidance, evasion, and unfair outcomes are expected to raise another 2billion over the next five years. To appease demands for an end to austerity, the Chancellor chose to spend the entirety of his windfall instead of ensuring he meets his pledge to wipe out the deficit by the middle of the 2020s. Increasing the personal allowance a year early costs the Treasury around nine billion pounds over five years, while the NHS will be getting more than 27billion extra annually by 2023-24. As a result, the OBR said the government will still be in the red by 19.8billion in 2023-24, whereas it could have been billion in the black if Mr Hammond had not loosened the purse strings. Advertisement North Sea oil income has also risen sharply thanks to higher prices on the global markets. Alongside the 'digital tax', Mr Hammond also raised around a billion a year from closing tax loopholes for contractors, while restricting employment allowance National Insurance reliefs for larger business will bring in up to 320million a year more. Meanwhile, the nine-month delay to the rollout of Universal Credit eased the pressure by 2billion over the five-year Budget forecast period - although that was ploughed straight back into bailing out the troubled scheme. Measures to clamp down on tax avoidance, evasion, and unfair outcomes are expected to raise another 2billion over the next five years. To appease demands for an end to austerity, the Chancellor chose to spend the entirety of his windfall instead of ensuring he meets his pledge to wipe out the deficit by the middle of the 2020s. Increasing the personal allowance a year early costs the Treasury around nine billion pounds over five years, while the NHS will be getting more than 27billion extra annually by 2023-24. As a result, the OBR said the government will still be in the red by 19.8billion in 2023-24, whereas it could have been billion in the black if Mr Hammond had not loosened the purse strings. Mr Hammond said the OBR was estimating that growth would be 1.6 per cent next year, up from 1.3 per cent in the spring statement. The figure for 2020 is up to 1.4 per cent from 1.3 per cent, while it is unchanged at 1.4 per cent in 2021 and 2022. He said the settlement for departments had been negative in recent spending rounds but next year it would average 1.2 per cent - and could be higher. 'When our EU negotiations deliver a deal, as I am confident they will I expect that the 'deal dividend' will allow us to provide further funding for the Spending Review,' he said. On the issue of austerity, Mr Hammond said the country had reached a 'defining moment on this, long, hard journey' as it built a 'new future' outside the EU. 'I can report to the British people that their hard work is paying of, and the era of austerity finally coming to an end,' he said. Setting out the digital tax plans, Mr Hammond said progress towards an international pact had been 'painfully slow'. 'We cannot simply talk forever. So we will now introduce a UK Digital Services Tax,' he said. 'This will be a narrowly-targeted tax on the UK-generated revenues of specific digital platform business models. 'It will be carefully designed to ensure it is established tech giants rather than our tech start-ups - that shoulder the burden of this new tax.' Mr Hammond was congratulated by Mrs May (right) and Treasury minister Liz Truss (left) as he sat down after his speech Theresa May seemed in good spirits as she left Downing Street this afternoon ahead of the Chancellor's Budget in the House of Commons The Chancellor has been given some wriggle room with his deficit targets thanks to better-than-expected tax receipts The Chancellor said in his Budget that growth had been upgraded marginally by the Office for Budget Responsibility The Chancellor is treading a fine line between ending nearly a decade of austerity and keeping the deficit under control Mr Hammond also lined up alongside his Treasury team as they posed for the cameras before the Budget kicked off The Chancellor stressed that the charge, due to come into effect in April 2020, would not be added to the cost of online sales for consumers. He said it would only affect firms with global revenues of more than 500million a year. He confirmed that the first stage of the NHS long-term plan will be to help achieve 'parity of esteem' between mental and physical health services. Mr Hammond argued that pumping 2billion a year into improving access to support will relieve pressure on other frontline services, such as the police that help people with mental health issues every day and sometimes have to use police station cells. What was announced in Philip Hammond's Budget? Here are some of the spending pledges announced in Philip Hammond's 2018 Budget: Health: An extra 25billion-a -year will be pumped into the NHS by 2023. It includes a 2bn a year mental health fund to pay for every A&E and school to get a mental health unit. Brexit: An extra 500million will be pumped into planning for a no deal Brexit - rising the total from 1.5bn to 2bn. Mr Hammond also said the Spring Statement next year could be turned into a full Budget if there is a no deal Brexit. Broadband: A 250million fund to install super-fast broadband across Britain's countryside Business: Business rates will be cut by nearly a third for half a million small retailers ans ministers try to save Britain's high streets. Transport: England's roads will get an extra 28.8billion, while a pothole fund of 420 million will be set up and fuel duty will be frozen for the ninth year in a row. PFI The Chancellor announced that PFI will be scrapped as he puts an end to Labour 's legacy Schools: The Treasury is giving a one off 400m payment to schools to help them buy equipment. This amounts to 10,000 for every primary and 50,000 for every secondary. Defence: The MoD will get an extra 1bn to help Britain's Armed Forces following dire warnings over a 20bn blackhole in their finances over the next decade. The Environment: Britain will splash out 60million on planting 10 million trees across England. Tax: The self-employed will have to pay national insurance contributions for the first time. The tax raid will prove unpopular with white van men, but could bring in 1.2bn year by 2023. Cutting red tape: Weddings will be allowed to take place in pubs, hotels and restaurants as Philip Hammond slashes red rape. Advertisement The extra cash will help pay for the provision of round-the-clock 'comprehensive' mental health support in every major accident and emergency department, ensuring anyone experiencing a crisis can get rapid specialist help. Officials say it will be backed up with more mental health ambulances and the establishment of dedicated mental health teams in schools, linking them to other support services. When Mrs May announced the extra funding for the NHS, she suggested taxpayers will need to contribute a 'bit more' to pay for it. However ministers have yet to say exactly where the money will come from. Mr Hammond was handed a windfall of 13billion due to better-than-expected borrowing figures, easing some of the pressure to put up taxes. Delivering a vicious swipe at PFI schemes - which have been condemned as too costly and still leaving the taxpayer bearing the risk - Mr Hammond said: 'I remain committed to the use of public-private partnership where it delivers value for the taxpayer and genuinely transfers risk to the private sector. But there is compelling evidence that the Private Finance Initiative does neither,' he said. 'We will honour existing contracts. But the days of the public sector being a pushover, must end. We will establish a centre of excellence to actively manage these contracts in the taxpayers' interest starting in the health sector. And we will go further. I have never signed off a PFI contract as Chancellor and I can confirm today that I never will. I can announce that the Government will abolish the use of PFI and PF2 for future projects.' Mr Hammond said from next April people would be able earn 12,500 a year tax-free and will not pay 40 per cent tax until they earn more than 50,000. Those earning 12,500 will save 130 a year compared to their current income tax bill thanks to the rise in the personal allowance. A far bigger saving will arrive for those earning 50,000, who will keep an extra 860 compared to their current income tax bill. Treasury sources said the health funding injection stood regardless of the Brexit situation - but hinted that departments could have to make do with less if there is no agreement. Mr Hammond said yesterday that the government would have to 'wait and see what the situation was' on ending austerity if there is no Brexit deal. But Downing Street slapped down the Chancellor today, making clear the spending commitments in the Budget stood whether or not there is agreement with the EU. The Office for Budget Responsibility said in March that there was 15billion 'headroom' in the government's plans which could be deployed. 'What the Chancellor was pointing out in relation to a budget was that if economic circumstances change, he would consider economic interventions. That's what you would expect any sensible Chancellor to do,' the spokesman said. 'All of the spending commitments that the Chancellor will set out today are funded irrespective of a deal. 'What the Chancellor said yesterday was that he would use the fiscal reserves that we have built up through hard work and sound economic management to ensure that Britain will succeed whatever the circumstances. 'The Chancellor has spoken on numerous occasions about having maintained what he would describe as 'fiscal firepower' which he will be able to use in the event of a no-deal scenario.' The DUP's Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson today delivered another warning that it could withdraw support from the Budget measures if Mrs May caves into the EU. The party's 10 MPs are propping the PM up in power, and Mr Wilson said while it would not vote against the Budget this week it could target the Finance Bill later. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn labelled Mr Hammond's statement a 'broken promise Budget'. He told MPs: 'Whatever the Chancellor claims today, austerity is not over.' Mr Hammond unveiled the latest forecasts for the national debt, which is falling from a peak after the credit crunch Mr Hammond heaped praise on the British 'jobs miracle' today as he made his statement to the House of Commons today Fuel duty will be frozen by the Chancellor for the ninth year in a row, saving drivers and businesses millions of pounds Tech firms 'could slash investment in Britain over Hammond's digital tax' Tech firms could slash investment in Britain if Philip Hammond imposes his new 'digital tax' on giants like Amazon and Facebook, industry leaders today warned. The Chancellor today revealed the UK is set to be one of the first countries in the world to bring in the new levy to make sure tech giants pay more taxes. He said he would have preferred a 'global agreement' but has decided to 'go it alone' in taxing companies like Google on their advertising revenue. But the plan was blasted by the digital industry, with industry leaders warning that firms could pull their investment just when Britain's economy is already facing Brexit uncertainty. Julian David, said, chief executive of techUK, which represents digital companies, said it 'risks undermining the UK's reputation as the best place to start a tech business or to invest'. Philip Hammond smacked online giants like Amazon (file) with a new digital tax today in a bid to make sure tech giants pay a fair share of corporate taxes Extra 1billion is pledged to Universal Credit to make controversial reform work Philip Hammond today ploughed an extra 1billion into Universal Credit to make the controversial welfare reform work. The Chancellor said he had listened to critics on his own side and was making sure existing welfare claimants would not lose out when they are moved onto the new benefit. Mr Hammond also announced he would reverse cuts made by George Osborne when he was Chancellor to the work allowance part of the benefit - costing 1.7billion a year in 2023. Mr Hammond said: 'Today I can go further with a package of measures worth a 1billion over 5 years enabling the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to introduce additional protections as existing welfare claimants move onto Universal Credit and she will announce details when she introduces the Managed Migration Regulations later this year. 'Secondly, I have heard the concerns about the rates and allowances within the design of the system. In my first Autumn Statement I reduced the Universal Credit taper rate from 65% to 63%. 'And today I can tell the House I am increasing work allowances in Universal Credit by 1,000 per annum at a cost of 1.7bn annually once roll-out is complete benefitting 2.4 million working-families-with-children and people with disabilities by 630 per year.' Tax-free earnings will rise to 12,500 and 40 per cent bracket to 50,000 Mr Hammond boosted the tax-free allowances in the Budget Britain's workers got a shot in the arm in today's Budget, as the Chancellor said he would cut income tax by raising thresholds a year early. From next April people will be able earn 12,500 a year tax-free and will not pay 40 per cent tax until they earn more than 50,000. Those earning 12,500 will save 130 a year compared to their current income tax bill thanks to the rise in the personal allowance. A far bigger saving will arrive for those earning 50,000, who will keep an extra 860 compared to their current income tax bill. The announcement pulls forward the Tories' manifesto pledge to raise the thresholds from 2020 and the Government says it will cut taxes for 32million people. In the build-up to the Budget it had been rumoured that Chancellor Philip Hammond would row back on the promise and freeze the rise in the tax thresholds in order to fund extra spending on the NHS. Yet, in a final announcement in his Budget statement he pulled a rabbit from the hat and said that he would instead deliver the tax cut early at the start of the next tax year in April 2019. Mr Hammond said: 'My idea of ending austerity does not involve increasing people's tax bills'. Duty on booze is FROZEN in a move that will save 2p on a pint of beer Duty on beer, cider and spirits is to be frozen for a year, the Chancellor has announced Beer and cider drinkers may raise a glass to Philip Hammond tonight after he froze duty on both drinks in his budget. But wine-lovers will be less impressed with the Chancellor after he announced duties on bottles of red and white will increase with inflation. Treasury sources insisted Mr Hammond prioritised the most popular drinks sold in pubs. Spirits will escape increases, with the duty on a bottle of Scotch or gin also frozen compared to the inflation assumption in the OBR forecast. Brigid Simmonds, chief executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, said: 'Pub-goers across the UK will be toasting the Chancellor tonight following his decision to freeze beer duty. 'This early Christmas present will save brewers, pubs and pub-goers 110 million and secure upwards of 3,000 jobs that would have been lost had beer duty gone up.' If the duties had risen with inflation, drinkers would have seen 2p added to the cost of a pint of beer, 1p on a pint of cider and 30p on a bottle of whisky, but the duty will remain the same. Tobacco duty will however continue to rise at inflation plus 2%. Hammond declares war on POTHOLES after 'scorching summer' hit the roads The Chancellor has vowed to pump cash into the country's major highways, which have fallen into a state of disrepair after a 'scorching summer and harsh winter' Philip Hammond declared war on potholes today as he promised an extra 30billion for England's roads. The Chancellor has vowed to pump cash into the country's major highways, which have fallen into a state of disrepair after a 'scorching summer and harsh winter'. The pledge, unveiled in today's Budget, makes good on a promise made by the ex Tory Chancellor George Osborne to find the extra cash for roads. It is the single biggest cash injection in the country's largest roads and will be paid for by money raised from Vehicle Excise Duty. This will be the first time ever that 'road tax' raised in England will only be spent on roads. Some 28.8bn will be spent on strategically important roads, such as Highways England motorways and major local routes. While an extra 420 million will be given to councils so they can fix potholes, repair damaged roads and keeping bridges safe and open. Another 150m will be pumped into improving local junctions, allowing better access to places were people work and England's high streets. Philip Hammond unveils an extra 160million in Budget to fight terrorism An extra 160million is to be ploughed into anti-terror policing after today's budget An extra 160million is to be ploughed into helping Britain's police fight the growing threat of terrorism. It emerged last week that Scotland Yard and the security services are running a record high of more than 700 live investigations into suspected terrorists. Chancellor Philip Hammond today unveiled a new pot of money to make sure authorities can keep pace with the spiralling problem. The extra money announced today is said to be the equivalent of 1,000 extra officers. The new fund is being pushed as a signal that 'austerity' policies are finished and the government is again investing in public services. Police officer numbers have fallen by 21,000 since 2010, prompting a series of warnings by top police officers that continued squeezing of budgets will have an impact of levels of crime. Police and MI5 are mounting a record 700-plus live terrorism investigations. There are around 3,000 active 'subjects of interest', plus a wider pool of more than 20,000 individuals who have previously featured in inquiries. While activity inspired by Islamic State or al-Qaida accounts for the largest share of the counter-terror work, agencies are also confronting a mounting far-right threat. Britain's military to get an extra 1billion after warnings of Tory MP revolt Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson (pictured yesterday talking to female troops in Salisbury last week) has been in a long-running battle with the Treasury for more cash for Britain's Armed Forces Philip Hammond today confirmed an extra 1billion for the military after Tory anger erupted over cuts to Britain's Armed Forces. Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has been in a long-running battle with the Treasury for more cash for Britain's Armed Forces. And dozens of Tory MPs had issued dark warnings that they could rebel against today's Budget unless extra funding was found. Mr Hammond told the Commons today that the extra cash will boost cyber capabilities and anti-submarine warfare capacity and maintain the pace of the Dreadnought programme. The clamour for more cash for the Ministry of Defence came after a damning report exposed a 20bn blackhole in the department's finances over the next decade. Mr Hammond has come under to find the extra money after a major report by the National Audit Office (NAO) warned of the huge shortfall in the MoD's funding plan. Fuel duty frozen for ninth year: Motorists will save 1.20 every time they fill up Motorists will save around 1.20 on every tank by the cancellation of the latest 2p a litre on petrol and diesel (file image) Fuel duty will be frozen again for the ninth year in a row, Chancellor Philip Hammond confirmed in his Budget today. The policy was announced by Theresa May at the Tory conference in Birmingham earlier this month, tightening further Mr Hammond's room for manoeuvre. Motorists will save around 1.20 on every tank by the cancellation of the latest 2p a litre on petrol and diesel. Announcing the new move today, Mr Hammond said motorists had now saved 1,000 since 2010. There had been speculation the near decade long freeze could be axed as it has cost the Treasury billions in revenue planned under a fuel duty 'escalator' designed under Gordon Brown to help the environment. Mr Hammond has previously hinted at continuing the freeze but warned the policy would cost the Treasury 38bn over the next three years, which he admitted was 'twice as much as we spend on all NHS nurses and doctors each year'. However, the freeze has been seen as an iconic symbol of blue-collar Conservatism since its introduction by George Osborne in 2010. The Chancellor must keep Tory rebels onside through the difficult process of winning parliamentary support for the Chequers Brexit deal - as well as for potential tax rises he has also suggested he needs to make to fund the NHS. New digital shopping tax will boost the high street but shops MUST adapt to the internet age, Hammond says High streets will be boosted by a new fund today as online shops face higher taxes, the Chancellor will announce Britain's love for online shopping means high streets will need to become smaller with fewer stores and more bars and restaurants, Philip Hammond will confirm today. In today's Budget, the Chancellor set out a timetable for bringing in a digital tax so internet giants pay their fair share. He also announced a 650million Future High Streets Fund that will help town centres adapt, as well as a 900million business rates cut for independent retailers. But Mr Hammond who admitted being an Amazon shopper told Sky's Sophy Ridge on Sunday yesterday: 'The British have taken to online shopping like no other nation on earth. Our high streets have to change. 'We've got to help the high street to evolve and the high street of the future 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 areas around them redeveloped as housing.' The Brexit 50p! New coin available when Britain leaves the EU on March 29th Philip Hammond has unveiled a commemorative Brexit 50p coin to mark Britain's departure from the EU. The coin will be available from March 29, 2019 at 11pm - the day the UK leaves the EU - and is expected to carry the words 'Friendship With All Nations'. The Brexit coin will be available from March 29, 2019 at 11pm - the day the UK leaves the EU - and is expected to carry the words 'Friendship With All Nations' The coin has to be personally signed off by the Queen, as it will bear her head, and is reportedly a bid to win over pro-Brexit MPs who have accused the Chancellor of being pessimistic over Brexit. In 2016, the Royal Mint produced one-off coins featuring the much-loved Beatrix Potter character Peter Rabbit which sold on eBay for more than 20. Every school will have a mental health specialist to help pupils struggling with depression and eating disorders Schools will also get new dedicated teams to support pupils with mild and moderate mental health problems, the Chancellor will announce today Every school in Britain will get a mental health support worker to help pupils suffering from depression, self-harm and eating disorders, Philip Hammond revealed today. The Chancellor announced in the Budget that at least one tenth of the 20 billion-a-year extra funding promised for the NHS will go to improving mental health services. He will say the 2 billion-plus annual boost will help deliver a commitment to give patients suffering from mental health conditions the same level of care as those with physical ailments. The extra cash will help pay for the provision of round-the-clock 'comprehensive' mental health support in every major accident and emergency department, ensuring anyone experiencing a crisis can get rapid specialist help. Officials say it will be backed up with more mental health ambulances and the establishment of dedicated mental health teams in schools, linking them to other support services. More people will also be able to access mental health services at community drop-in centres so they do not need to go to A&E. The NHS will increase the number of 'crisis cafes', which offer out-of-hours support in the evenings and at weekends. Specialist crisis teams for children and younger people will be established across the country to build links between schools, social services and young people's mental health services. Schools will also get new dedicated teams to support pupils with mild and moderate mental health problems. Hammond will ABOLISH the use of PFI contracts in wake Carillion collapse Philip Hammond today announced hat he is abolishing PFI (private finance initiative) contracts as he vowed to put another botched 'Labour legacy behind us'. The Chancellor said that he will never sign one of the controversial contracts while he is in Government. His announcement comes just months after the collapse of Carillion - which had PFI contracts all over the country - earlier this year. The collapse of the outsourcing giant resulted in 1,000 redundancies and left a question mark over many projects. Mr Hammond announced an end to the controversial PFI programmes - which were massively rolled out under New Labour - in today's Budget. He told MPs in the Commons: 'Half of the UK's 600 billion infrastructure pipeline will be built and financed by the private sector. The announcement comes just months after the collapse of Carillion - which had PFI contracts all over the country - earlier this year (pictured, a Carillion site) 'And in financing public infrastructure I remain committed to the use of public-private partnership where it delivers value for the taxpayer and genuinely transfers risk to the private sector. 'But there is compelling evidence that the Private Finance Initiative does neither. 'We will honour existing contracts. But the days of the public sector being a pushover, must end. 'We will establish a centre of excellence to actively manage these contracts in the taxpayers' interest starting in the health sector. 'And we will go further. I have never signed off a PFI contract as Chancellor and I can confirm today that I never will.' The only news that didn't leak! Chancellor resorts to toilet humour in Budget Philip Hammond delivered a string of toilet gags to the Commons while unveiling business rates relief on public loos during today's Budget. The Chancellor provoked laughter and groans in equal measure as he reeled off the sequence, which ended in the catch line, 'This is the only news that didn't leak.' Local authorities will now be forced not to charge business rates on any toilets made available for public use, whether publicly or privately owned. Mr Hammond said: 'Local authorities have long been able to provide discretionary business rates relief to other bodies but not to themselves. 'Following representations from my honourable friends for North Cornwall and St Austell and Newquay, I am pleased to provide a new mandatory business rates relief for public lavatories, so that local authorities can at last relieve themselves for the convenience of the house, Mr Deputy Speaker. 'And without wishing to get unduly bogged down on this subject, this relief... (well at least I'm demonstrating that we are all British) will extend to any such facilities made available for public use whether privately or publicly owned. 'And honestly I can say, Mr Deputy Speaker, that this is basically the only item in this Budget that hasn't leaked.' CASE STUDY: 'Everything helps and when you're trying to save,' says driver Laura Sears, 28 As A young professional, Laura Sears tries to save her money for a deposit on a house, so knowing she will not be punished at the fuel pumps is one less thing to worry about. Laura, who drives a diesel Vauxhall Astra, is grateful for the fuel duty freeze for the ninth consecutive year. The 28-year-old said: 'Everything helps and when you're trying to save, extra penny-pinching anywhere is useful.' Fast lane: Laura Sears from Essex (pictured with her car) is grateful for the fuel duty freeze in this year's Budget Although Laura, who works in public relations, does not generally do a lot of motorway driving, she does use her car regularly to drive to the shops and elsewhere in the nearby towns of Hornchurch and Lakeside, which are both close to her parents' home in Essex. Although her area is generally very well-looked after, Laura is 'very pleased' that drivers all round the country will hopefully endure less bumpy rides after extra cash is diverted towards mending potholes. Laura hopes to use any money she saves to move out of her parents' house soon, but still will not be able to afford to live in London, where she works. CASE STUDY: 'We could have a 3,000 drop in business rates,' says Butcher Stewart Hayman Since Stewart Hayman took over the family business with his father Clive in 1980, he has tried to keep the butcher's shop relevant. But despite his efforts to diversify by baking pies, curing meats and making ready meals, gradually rising business rates have threatened to push Hayman's Butchers off the high street. Although they do not have to pay rent on the building in Sidmouth, Devon, because his grandfather bought it outright in 1907, his business rates are 12,000 a year. Mr Hayman said: 'There's no doubt about it, business rates have continued to creep up. The trouble is you've got to cope. Fare deal: Butcher Stewart Hayman, from Devon, is pictured with his award-winning pies on Church Street in Sidmouth 'In the last 12 to 14 months our trade has also dropped back at the same time. I had to lay-off a part- time lady earlier this year who had been working with us for 20 years. She was retiring age but you know, we had to make some savings somewhere.' But following the business rates announcement he believes the high street and independent shops will have a chance to prosper again. He said: 'I'm very pleased with the budget. We could have a 3,000 drop in business rates. 'The thing is with business rates, it bears no relation to your gross margin or your net margin, so even if the business wasn't earning anything you're still asked to pay. It's hard. 'I really think this will take pressure off the high street again and the pressure of the supermarkets will ease a bit, too.' 'I want to be rewarded for my work not punished for it', says Universal Credit single mother Thea Jaffe, 33 Thea Jaffe, 33, juggles two part-time teaching jobs and relies on housing and child benefit to keep herself afloat. The single mother pays 1,200 a month in rent and 550 in nursery fees for her son Moses, three. Although she works five days a week, she believes her efforts to earn a reasonable living are often futile because when she gets a bonus at work, her benefits are quickly taken away from her. Currently, she gets 350 housing benefit which she receives every two weeks, 80 in child benefit a month, and a 500 government contribution to her son's nursery fees. Miss Jaffe, from north London, said: 'Under the current system, it really hurts me that whenever I get a pay rise I get fewer benefits. 'It's so demoralising to feel like you're on a hamster wheel getting nowhere. I would love a situation where I could be rewarded for my work rather than being punished for it.' A mother claimed an Australian moving company lost 22,000 worth of her 'priceless and sentimental' family possessions when she relocated to the UK. Jo-Ann Wolff decided to return home to London three years ago after spending four years on Queensland's Gold Coast with her Australian husband. Mrs Wolff, 44, and her husband Kyle, 42, claim they forked out 6,600 ($12,000AUD) on a private shipping container with Metro Movers for the move. Jo-Ann Wolff (pictured with her husband Kyle, daughter Sophie and sons Sam and Ethan) decided to return home to London three years ago after spending four years on Queensland's Gold Coast But when it arrived in London months later, the mother-of-three said she was 'horrified' to find 70 of the 126 items they packed missing - including her wedding dress. The family, who lost the items during their move in 2015, still haven't been able to track the missing furniture and clothing down. Mrs Wolff said: 'After spending four years on the Gold Coast, we decided to move back to London for my husband's work purposes. 'Kyle had already picked Metro Movers as they had excellent reviews and being a national company we were confident that they would be reputable, competent and reliable. Mrs Wolff claims she forked out 6,600 for a six-metre private shipping container with Metro Movers - but less than half of the 126 items they packed arrived (pictured) 'Once we had settled, we gave them the go ahead to organise the international shipment of our belongings from their storage facility in Brisbane. 'We thought everything was fine and three months later we received notice that our things had arrived. It took two men less than 15 minutes to offload everything. I knew straight away something was not right. 'I followed up the procedure for reporting missing items and waited to receive a response, but nothing came. 'Precious items such as my wedding dress and other priceless mementos were gone, as well as important documents, most of our household belongings and big pieces of furniture. I was heartbroken.' Mrs Wolff claimed 'most of [her] household items' such as couches, a washing machine and beds were missing, as well as 'expensive' pieces of clothing. But the mother said the biggest blow was losing her 2,000 ($3,625AUD) wedding dress, which she had hoped to pass on to her daughter Sophie, 15. Mrs Wolff said the biggest blow was losing her 2,000 ($3,625AUD) wedding dress, which she had hoped to pass on to her daughter Sophie (pictured together on her wedding day) Mrs Wolff said she did not take out insurance as she claims Metro Movers promised to compensate if anything went wrong in their terms and conditions. She said when her husband eventually spoke to Metro Movers, they were told that her items had actually been packed into a shared container with other people's belongings - and not the private shipping container the pair had paid for. Additionally, Mrs Wolff claims Metro Moves admitted they had used a subcontractor to do the job - but allegedly could 'no longer help' as the subcontractor had since gone out of business. She has now created a Facebook group in a desperate attempt to find out what happened to her wedding dress. Mrs Wolff has now created a Facebook group in a desperate attempt to find out what happened to her wedding dress Mrs Wolff said: 'I had no idea they had used a subcontractor and was not informed about any of this. I was furious. 'We received a message from Metro Movers that the subcontractor had gone out of business and therefore they could no longer help us. 'There was no apology, no offer of help and no goodwill gesture. We were beyond shocked. 'My wedding dress meant everything to me as it signified the end of a rocky few years and the start of a new chapter in my life. I wanted to keep it forever. 'All I want is to be reunited with our belongings. I just hope that someone out there in the world might have some information that can help us.' In a statement, Metro Movers director Peter Borain said: 'Mrs Wolff should be directing her claim to the insurance company she has taken out insurance with for her international relocation. 'Companies who carry out international relocations offer optional insurance cover for loss or damage. 'It is the clients' prerogative if they wish to take out or decline this insurance, or if they wish to take out insurance cover with an insurance company of their choosing. 'If a customer has declined and chosen not to take out insurance cover, and therefore have not paid an insurance premium, (they) are then not insured for loss or damage and are therefore unable to make a claim for same.' Advertisement These stunning images show the moment a skull appeared in an icy wave. Trevor Pottelberg's split-second photography captured the moment a face appeared in the water off Port Stanley in Ontario, Canada. The 42-year-old, from Brownsville in Ontario, said he took seven frames in a second to capture the unique image he titled 'Father Time.' It's now become a favorite in his portfolio of wave photographs. Trevor Pottelberg's split-second photography captured the moment a face appeared in the water off Port Stanley in Ontario The 42-year-old, from Brownsville, said he took seven frames in a second to capture the unique image he titled Father Time 'I captured a great bunch of waves that day,' he said. 'I captured these seven frames in the span of one second. It wasn't until I returned home and started to cull through my images that I noticed a face in the fourth frame of the sequence. 'To the naked eye, one does not see the subtle formation changes in each wave. The waves form and fall apart in a mere split second of time.' He added: 'To me, this image which I titled 'Father Time', which eerily resembles a face rising out of the murky depths. He reminds us that our time here on earth is limited and you can't avoid the inevitable!' Pottelberg, a photo educator, explained that winds intensify as air patterns shift in the autumn months from October to December. 'The result of the clashing of warm and cold air creates gale force winds that drive massive waves inland,' he said. The photographer said it wasn't until he got home and sorted through his images that he realized what he had snapped Pottelberg explained that winds intensify as air patterns shift in the autumn months from October to December He penned Dracula, one of the world's most famous horror novels, and it has now been revealed that Bram Stoker defaced the pages of books in the London Library to research his famous character. After Stoker's death his initial notes and outlines for his landmark horror novel were auctioned in 1913 at Sotheby's auction house in London. They made their way to the Rosenbach Museum and Library in Philadelphia, USA where they are housed today. Among its 17 miles of open access shelves, the London Library has found 26 books, mainly about folklore, that it is is almost certain were ones Bram Stoker used to help research Dracula And in half of the books are scribblings (like the ones pictured) which are identical to the lines and phrases found in the notes examined by academic Eighteen-Bisang The classic Gothic novel follows the vampire Count Dracula on his journey from his native Transylvania, Romania, to England. Pictured, British actor Gary Oldman, in a scene from the film 'Bram Stoker's Dracula in which he played Dracula After the notes were analysed by academic Robert Eighteen-Bisang in 2008 it was discovered Stoker used 33 books as sources for Dracula and had made scribblings of hundreds of references to individual lines and phrases that he considered relevant. Stoker was a member of The London Library - the world's largest independent lending library - between 1890 and 1897 - the year Dracula was published. Among its 17 miles of open access shelves, the Library has found 26 books, mainly about folklore, which it is is almost certain were ones Bram Stoker used to help research Dracula. And in the margins of half of the books, which have until recently been available for loan to the public, are scribblings which are identical to the lines and phrases found in the notes examined by Eighteen-Bisang. Philip Spedding, the Library's development director who made the discovery, said: 'Bram Stoker was a member of The London Library but until now we have had no indication whether or how he used our collection. Today's discovery changes that and we can establish beyond reasonable doubt that numerous books still on our shelves are the very copies that he was using to help write and research his masterpiece.' Some of the most heavily marked books include Sabine Baring-Gould's 'Book of Were-Wolves' and Thomas Browne's 'Necromancy - Divination of the Dead'. But the range of titles also sheds light on the detail of Stoker's geographical and historical research for example, AF Crosse's 'Round About the Carpathians' and Charles' Boner's 'Transylvania'. When Stoker joined the library in 1890, it was the year he visited Whitby, the inspiration for Dracula and where he first developed the idea for his vampire story. He is among a string of other famous authors who are former members of the library such as William Makepeace Thackeray, known for his satirical work, Vanity Fair and T. S. Eliot - one of the twentieth century's major poets. Characteristic lines and cross appear throughout Stoker's copy of Pseudoxia Epidemica (left). Right, Stoker's instruction to 'copy' this passage in 'The Carpathians' is mirrored in his typewritten notes The books in the London Library that Bram Stoker used to help him write his classic horror novel, Dracula Bram Stoker's 1890 Library membership application form (left) is seconded by his close friend Henry Hall Caine, a bestselling author of the day, and the man to whom Stoker dedicated Dracula seven years later, using Hall Caine's nickname 'Hommy-Beg'. Right,notes and outlines for his landmark horror novel which were auctioned 1913 at Sotheby's auction house in London An illustration from 'Curious Myths of the Middle Ages' by Sabine-Baring Gould, one of the most heavily marked books Julian Lloyd, head of communications at the London Library said:' This is what we do. We often encourage authors in the early stages of their career and Bram Stoker was one of them. 'The Library has had an association with major authors throughout history. 'To know that Dracula was created here is pretty powerful.' Professor Nick Groom from Exeter University and a leading expert on gothic literature is adamant that the markings in the books in the library were made by Stoker. He said: 'This is a very exciting discovery. I have examined the books and their annotations with Philip Spedding and have compared them with Bram Stoker's own notes. I am in no doubt that Bram Stoker used these very copies for Dracula a book that took him seven years to write. They demonstrate that The London Library was the crucible of one of the most influential novels in world history.' The books are now being kept in the library achives and there are plans for them to be put on public display occasionally. Eighteen-Bisang's 'Bram Stoker's Notes For Dracula' book, which was published in 2008, is about his analysis of Stoker's notes. Bram Stoker's 1890 Library membership application form is seconded by his close friend Henry Hall Caine, a bestselling author of the day, and the man to whom Stoker dedicated Dracula seven years later, using Hall Caine's nickname 'Hommy-Beg'. Irish author who created one of the world's most fearsome characters Abraham (Bram) Stoker was born November 8, 1847 in Dublin, Ireland, to a family of a civil servant and a charity worker. As a child, Stoker was sickly and spent a lot of time in bed listening to his mother's horror stories. In 1864, Stoker entered Trinity College Dublin. While attending college he began working as an Irish civil servant. In 1876 he became friends with actor Henry Irving, and soon after, Stoker met an aspiring actress named Florence Balcombe, whom he later married. His first book The Duties of Clerks of Petty Sessions in Ireland though written while he was still in Dublin, was published in 1879. Dracula (above left) was Bram Stoker's fifth and by far his most famous novel. It was first published in the UK in 1897. The classic Gothic novel follows the vampire Count Dracula on his journey from his native Transylvania, Romania, to England, where he is finally slain by a small group of men and women led by Professor Abraham Van Helsing. The character of the bloodthirsty nobleman was inspired by Vlad III, a 15th century Wallachian prince known for his excessive cruelty which has earned him the nickname Vlad the Impaler (above right). Although best known for Dracula, Stoker wrote eighteen books before his death in 1912. He died of exhaustion at the age of 64. Advertisement A tight-knit community is reeling from the death of a 17-year-old girl who died in a car crash two-weeks after getting her p-plates. Hannah Collins from Nuriootpa, a small town about one hour north of Adelaide, was killed instantly when she crashed her Holden astra into a Nissan SUV on Sunday at about 1pm. Inexperience is understood to have caused the crash, as police claim Ms Collins made a split-second mistake when she misjudged a turn and slammed into the other vehicle at the intersection of Argent Road and the Thiele Highway. Hannah Collins from Nuriootpa, a small town in South Australia, was killed instantly when she crashed her Holden astra into a Nissan SUV on Sunday at about 1pm Inexperience is understood to have caused the crash as police claim Ms Collins made a split-second mistake when she misjudged a turn and slammed into the other vehicle at the intersection of Argent Road and the Thiele Highway Ms Collins' passenger, a 16-year-old girl, was airlifted to the Royal Adelaide Hospital in a serious but stable condition. The 25-year-old driver of the SUV suffered minor injuries and was taken to the Lyell McEwin Hospital by ambulance. Ms Collins and her friends were excited about getting their drivers licences, Seven News reported. 'We've lost a young life, which is tragic in any circumstances,' Barossa Mayor Bon Sloane said. Floral tributes have been laid at the scene of the accident by grieving family and friends. Ms Collins was about to complete year eleven at Nuriootpa High School. Floral tributes have been laid at the scene of the accident by grieving family and friends Ms Collins' passenger, a 16-year-old girl, was airlifted to the Royal Adelaide Hospital in a serious but stable condition. The 25-year-old driver of the SUV suffered minor injuries and was taken to the Lyell McEwin Hospital by ambulance Flags at the school flew at half-mast on Monday and classmates and teachers have been offered trauma counselling. The school principal said their thoughts are with the family of Ms Collins and the 16-year-old girl who is recovering in hospital. 'This is a sudden and terrible event which has deeply affected the entire school community,' the principal said in a statement. Paul and Iris Attwater (pictured outside Southwark Crown Court) exported items that could have been used in Iran's programme A naive couple who were groomed into supplying embargoed components that may have been used in Irans nuclear programme have been spared jail. Paul Attwater, 65, and Iris Attwater, 66, transported prohibited aircraft parts to Alexander George, 76, in Malaysia through their company Pairs Aviation. But the couple were handed suspended sentences on Friday after Mr Attwater insisted he had no idea the nuts and bolts he was exporting had a military application. George, who is due to be sentenced next month, acted as a broker between the couple and Iranian buyers. He held substantial contracts to source and supply Iranian aviation firms with parts and components for planes and helicopters through companies he owned in Malaysia and Dubai, Southwark Crown Court heard. George sourced parts from Pairs Aviation which were then exported by the Attwaters via a Dutch shipping company and on to Iran through a network of companies in the Far East. The aircraft parts could have been used in Irans nuclear programme, which has come under increasing scrutiny following US President Donald Trump scrapping the Iran nuclear deal. The Attwaters were well aware of the need for a licence to export some of their products after border officials impounded their goods. But the couple continued to deal with George, sending him the same parts that had been returned by Customs via a forwarding house in the Netherlands. Donald Trump's scrapping of his country's nuclear deal with Iran has brought exports to the country under intense scrutiny Judge Michael Grieve QC said: The fact that you were, in effect, groomed by Mr George, I accept - he deceived you. I do not, for one moment, think that either of you are bad people. You have, in my view, been very, very naive. Prosecutor Edmond Burge told the court: Mr Attwater pleaded guilty at the close of all of the evidence following legal argument as to the status of his defence. Mrs Attwater falls into a slightly different position because she maintained her not guilty plea and was convicted by the jury. We cannot show that the Attwaters knew that the final destination of these goods was Iran. George Hepburne-Scott, defending Mr Attwater, said: This, I submit, is a truly exceptional case. Mr Attwater is 65 years old, he is an exemplary citizen. The couple were 'groomed' into transporting prohibited goods into Iran, Southwark Crown Court (pictured) heard He genuinely did not believe that these items could have a military application... these were nuts and bolts. He has also been completely open with the authorities. He has been extremely naive. Judge Grieve told the Attwaters: My ruling left you no defence as a point of law. Speaking directly to Mrs Attwater, he said: 'The jury convicted you unanimously after a short deliberation.' He explained that in 2009, Customs officials blocked the exports of some of the goods which required a license due to concerns about the production of weapons of mass destruction in Iran. Despite undertaking not to export these goods you proceeded again to send them out to Malaysia. These export controls might be confusing but they are there for a very good reason. That ultimate risk is one with potentially very serious humanitarian consequences. Such a consequence included use against others in nuclear weapons. Mr Attwater agreed to sign a basis of plea prior to his formal guilty plea, in which he said: I did not know or believe that goods or aircraft components would be shipped to Iran. I did not think there was even the remotest opportunity of these good ending up in a nuclear weapons program. George, of Bristol, denied two counts of being knowingly concerned in the supply or delivery of controlled goods to an embargoed destination but was found guilty by a jury. Mr Attwater, of Telford, Shropshire, admitted being knowingly concerned in the exportation of goods with intent to evade prohibition or restriction. Mrs Attwater, also of Telford, pleaded not guilty but was convicted of the charge. They were both sentenced to six months jail suspended for 12 months and barred from being company directors for the next six years. Proceedings against Georges wife, Ruth, 74, were dropped after it ruled she had no case to answer. President Donald Trump issued a hearty and informal online 'congrats!' to the newly elected right wing president of Brazil Jair Bolsinaro. The president tweeted Monday that he had an 'excellent' call with Bolsinaro, a former Army captain who won election crusading against corruption and crime. But the incoming president is also under scrutiny for his comments about women, gays, and minorities, as well as statements praising the former Brazilian dictatorship. 'Had a very good conversation with the newly elected President of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, who won his race by a substantial margin,' Trump said, tipping his hat to Bolsonaro's 55 per cent victory over left-wing Workers Party candidate Fernando Haddad. President Donald Trump issued congratulations to the newly elected right wing president of Brasil Jair BolsinaroJair Bolsonaro after he secured victory in the presidential runoff election in Brazil 'We agreed that Brazil and the United States will work closely together on Trade, Military and everything else! Excellent call, wished him congrats!' Trump wrote. President Trump's boosterism contrasted with the more boilerplate comments issued by French President Emanuel Macron. "The President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron congratulates Jair Bolsonaro, who was elected by the people of Brazil to become president of the federal republic of Brazil on Sunday, October 28," Macron's office office said. "France and Brazil have a strategic partnership based around common values of respect and the promotion of democratic principles," Macron added. Among Bolsinaro's controversial comments that grew scrutiny during the campaign are times he said he would prefer a dead son to a homosexual one. Of torture, he said: 'I am in favor of torture you know that. And the people are in favor of it, too.' President Donald Trump said he had a 'very good conversation' with Brazil's incoming right wing president 'We agreed that Brazil and the United States will work closely together on Trade, Military and everything else!' Trump wrote of his call with Bolsonaro Brazilian congressman and presidential canditate for the next election, Jair Bolsonaro, is seen during a military event in Sao Paulo, Brazil on May 3, 2018 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 Supporters gather outside the residence of presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro in anticipation of his victory speech, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018 At a rally last week he threatened to jail political opponents. 'This time, the cleanup will be even greater. This group, if they want to stay, they will have to abide by our laws. Either they stay out or they will go to jail,' he said, the New York Times reported in a catalogue of his controversial comments. Following his win, Bolsonaro vowed to 'pacify' the country and spoke of national unity. 'This country belongs to all of us, Brazilians by birth or by heart, a Brazil of diverse opinions, colors and orientations,' he said. He rode to office attacking a wave of corruption scandals, including the Operation Car Wash" investigation, which uncovered bribes worth billions. Former President Luiz Inacio 'Lula' da Silva, received a 12-year sentence after getting convicted on corruption charges. There are echoes to Trumpism, and the candidate has borrowed some tactics from the North American president who praised him. Bolsinaro has vowed to drain the swamp, slash regulations and get tough with China. Evangelicals and gun-rights advocates love him. He has denounced the media as 'fake news.' Political foes? Lock 'em up. Bolsonaro, is an ardent admirer - and shrewd imitator - of Trump. And that could usher in one of the warmest bilateral relationships in the Western Hemisphere. Trump called to congratulate Bolsonaro on Sunday night, shortly after the far-right congressman scored a resounding victory at the polls, winning 55 percent of the vote following a mud-slinging campaign with a leftist rival. Bolsonaro and Trump spoke of 'a strong commitment to work side-by-side' on issues affecting Brazil, the United States and beyond, the White House said. Trump has bullied and wrangled with other leaders in the Americas, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto. But in Bolsonaro, Trump will find a doppelganger whose world view and pugnacious style are strikingly similar to his own. 'Just like he wants to make America great, I want to make Brazil great,' Bolsonaro, a former army captain, said in a televised interview in July. The 63-year-old ran as an outsider bent on smashing what he sees as a corrupt and hidebound political system that has forgotten ordinary citizens. His fiery rhetoric and slurs against gays, women and minorities have thrilled followers who view him as an authentic straight shooter. He has championed law and order, patriotism and religious values. And he has demonized his leftist detractors as enemies of the people. While many world leaders have held Trump at arm's length, Bolsonaro has made no secret of his esteem. He has praised America's 45th president as a gutsy, decisive commander who has prevailed in the face of unfair criticism. 'Trump faced the same attacks I am facing - that he was a homophobe, a fascist, a racist, a Nazi,' Bolsonaro told Reuters last year before his candidacy caught fire. 'But the people believed in his platform. I was rooting for him.' Such blandishments are likely to play well with Trump, who has shown an affinity for authoritarian leaders, particularly those who flatter and cajole him. Christopher Garman, chief Americas analyst for the New York-based political risk consultancy Eurasia Group, said a new cross-hemisphere bromance could be in the offing. '(Bolsonaro's) win will surely herald a stronger bilateral relationship,' Garman said. 'Bolsonaro not only is a self-professed fan of Donald Trump, but both were elected on a wave of anti-establishment anger with relatively similar ideological proclivities. 'The White House is likely to respond well, and Donald Trump has already shown he values personal relationships with foreign leaders,' Garman said. MOVING CLOSER Bolsonaro has already signaled his plan to shift Brazilian foreign policy hard to the right, a development that would play well with the Trump administration. He has said he will move Brazil's embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, following the lead of the United States. And similar to Trump, Bolsonaro is rethinking his country's membership in multinational organizations and treaties that he thinks might not be in Brazil's best interest, including the Mercosur trade bloc, the BRICS group of large emerging economies and the Paris climate accord. Those changes would reverse 13 years' worth of diplomacy crafted by governments led by the country's leftist Workers Party, which focused on alliances with Brazil's South American neighbors and other developing powers. Bolsonaro is also questioning Brazil's relationship with China, which he views as a predatory economic partner. The Asian giant is Brazil's biggest foreign buyer of soybeans, iron ore and other commodities. But Bolsonaro is alarmed at a spate of Chinese purchases of Brazilian energy and infrastructure companies. 'The Chinese are not buying in Brazil. They are buying Brazil,' Bolsonaro has warned repeatedly. Such talk is likely to please Trump, whose tariffs on Chinese goods have ignited a trade war that has much of the world blaming the United States for disrupting global supply chains and rattling markets worldwide. So, too, is Bolsonaro's plan to privatize a string of Brazil's state-owned companies and loosen environmental restrictions to make way for more mining, ranching and farming. Still, trade is likely to remain a sore point between the United States and Brazil, whose steep tariffs on imported goods make it one of the most closed economies in the world. Trump singled out Brazil this month in a rant about tariffs. 'They charge us whatever they want,' he said in remarks to reporters at a White House event. 'If you ask some of the companies, they say Brazil is among the toughest in the world - maybe the toughest in the world.' Even if trade issues remain thorny, Bolsonaro's gaze is directed north. He is an avid supporter of the National Rifle Association and vows that once he takes office on January 1, he will roll back Brazil's strict gun laws and let citizens take up arms to defend themselves from criminals. Like Trump, Bolsonaro masterfully tapped into voters' fears and frustrations to rocket to the presidency. Brazil is beset by appalling levels of street crime. In the past few years, a sprawling corruption investigation has revealed epic levels of corruption at the highest levels of government. One former president is in jail and another was impeached and tossed from office. The economy was hit by the worst downturn in decades and has yet to regain its luster; more than 13 million Brazilians are unemployed. Hungry for change, voters responded to Bolsonaro's bold promises to crack heads and clean up the mess. Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon said he sees echoes of his old boss, who rode a similar wave of discontent. 'It takes those types of crises, and Brazil is going through that type of crisis now,' Bannon told Reuters recently. 'I think that Bolsonaro, he's a figure like Trump.' (Reporting by Brad Brooks in Sao Paulo Additional reporting by Nathan Layne in Washington; Editing by Marla Dickerson) Czechoslovakia intensified its spying operation on Donald Trump in the late 1980s, it emerged yesterday. The communist state, which was dissolved in 1993, tried to gain information on 'the upper echelons of the US government' by spying on Trump after he married Czech model Ivana Zelnickova in 1977. The country's secret police, the StB, ran its Trump operation from Ivana's provincial hometown of Zlin. It ramped up its efforts after Trump declared he wanted to run for president, archive files obtained by The Guardian and Czech magazine Respekt reveal. Czechoslovakia tried to gain information on 'the upper echelons of the US government' by spying on Trump after he married Czech model Ivana Zelnickova (pictured together in 1988) in 1977 Librarian Marcela Strouhalova manages Communist-era secret police files on Czechoslovakia born Ivana Trump at the Security Service Archive in Prague, Czech Republic The funeral of Ivana Trump's father Milos Zelnicek in the Moravian town of Zlin in October 1990. From left: Trump's children, Eric, six, Ivanka, eight, and Donald, 12, Ivana and Donald Trump, and Marie Francova Zelnicek, Ivana's mother Much of the StB's information came from Ivana's father Milos Zelnicek, a 'conspiratorial informer' who would pass on what he learned from his daughter. In 1979, Ivana visited home with her two-year-old son, Donald Jr, and was picked up at Prague airport by her parents, Milos and Marie. Mr Zelnicek told the StB that Ivana was 'helping her husband in his business activities' by decorating his buildings and that 'her husband is 'connected to the election campaign of the current US president [Jimmy] Carter'. According to the files, Ivana also visited home in 1988 and told her father she thought George HW Bush was going to win the presidential election. StB agent Lt Peter Sury wrote in a secret 1989 file: 'The outcome of the election confirmed the veracity of this information [which] came from the highest echelons of power in the US'. Sury listed some 'action points' by which the StB could get more information on US government policy plus 'the activities of America's intelligence agencies'. One of the points was to continue working with Ivana's father, using Trump's in-laws as 'dynamic intelligence channel.' Talking publicly about the operation for the first time, Sury said: 'Yes, I wrote that file. Trump was a rich businessman and interesting for us. I didn't work on him, though. My colleagues did. The first department focused on him. I don't know details.' The country's secret police, the StB, ran its Trump operation from Ivana's provincial hometown of Zlin. Pictured: Trump and Ivana in 1989 Alan Carr, Donald Trump and Ivana Trump at The Opening of the Trump Tower in October 1983 One of the StB collaborators who spied on Donald Trump was Jaroslav Jansa. Pictured is his StB file. He informed the StB about a meeting between Trump and Frantisek Cuba, the chairman of Czechoslovakias showcase model farm The spying operation has also been confirmed by former StB official Vlastimil Danek. He said: 'Trump was of course a very interesting person for us. He was a businessman, he had a lot of contacts, even in US politics. 'We were focusing on him, we knew he was influential. We had information that he wanted to be president in future.' Further details on the operation will be hard to come by because the StB destroyed most records when they were declassified after the collapse of communism. It is likely the Russian secret police (the KGB) and the StB, which signed cooperation agreements in 1972 and October 1986, shared information on Trump. In its weekly magazine released at the weekend, Respekt said the Czech operation can be seen as part of a wider Soviet campaign to work Trump which still continues today. It wrote: 'The Kremlin wished Donald Trump to become the US president, and he won [but] Trump has been in the viewfinder of the Russians for a long time.' Four police officers are facing 16 years behind bars for causing the death of an American woman in a Turkish airport. Tracey Lynn Brown, 48, from Michigan, died after a confrontation with police officers at Ataturk Airport in Istanbul in April 2013. Her dying moments were captured on CCTV footage that shows her struggling to breathe as officers placed pressure on her back and neck with their knees while arresting her. Prosecutors claim the officers used 'disproportionate force' when dealing with Brown, causing her death. Scroll down for video Tracey Lynn Brown (pictured) died after a confrontation with police officers at Ataturk Airport in Istanbul in April 2013 She had been a transit passenger with a lengthy layover in Istanbul. Brown ended up in an argument with the airport's police officers and allegedly brandished a pair of scissors before the cops forcibly restrained her for almost 20 minutes, before getting a doctor to sedate her. Shortly afterwards, they realized she no longer had a pulse and despite their efforts, she never regained consciousness. A report from retired police officer Necati Erdem claims five officers used their knees to put pressure on Brown's back and neck during the arrest. CCTV footage of the incident shows Brown face down and gasping for breath underneath the weight of their restraint. She can be seen sat on a chair before a struggle ensues and several officers appear to put pressure on her, forcing her to the ground. Her dying moments were captured on CCTV footage that shows her struggling to breathe as police officers pinned her down in the airport in Turkey Other images show them pulling her lifeless body around before beginning chest compressions. A total of 12 officers were intiially charged, but the prosecution has called for the acquittal of eight. The four remaining are facing charges of 'using of excessive force leading to death', which carries a sentence of between 12 and 16 years. One of the five officers seen putting pressure on Brown in the video died in September, local media reported. The prosecution have also asked for a six-year jail term for a doctor they claim wrote a medical report on her death without carrying out an examination of her body. Brown first arrived at the airport on the morning of April 4, 2013, having flown in from Tashkent, Uzbekistan. A report from retired police officer Necati Erdem claims five officers used their knees to put pressure on Brown's back and neck during the arrest CCTV footage of the incident shows Brown face down and gasping for breath underneath the weight of their restraint She was supposed to be in the airport for 13 hours, and was catching a connecting flight that evening. But it appears she missed her flight, and is seen on CCTV at about 9.50pm approaching what seems to be passport control. She is then taken to a room, where she was is seen to start arguing. Turkish police claimed Brown asked for her daughter, and refused to talk to anyone else. By 10.01pm, she wasn't visible on camera anymore, and is next seen on CCTV at 4am, six hours later. This footage shows her trying to jump over the counter, attack a computer and throw papers. Brown was handcuffed to a chair, but manages to escape in less than a minute - and that's when officers tackle her to the ground and hold her down The 48-year-old also had scissors in her hand, and used them to injure one of the officers' hands. She is then handcuffed to a chair, but manages to escape in less than a minute - and that's when officers tackle her to the ground and handcuff her. She was held in the position for 17 minutes before the doctor - named as 'Mehsut O' - is called. He tells other medics to give her a sedative, which was administered. The group of medics then wait four minutes before they all leave the room and it is only then that the police officer releases his knee from Brown's back - and discovers that she doesn't have a pulse. Brown's daughter described the incident as a 'traumatic story' and said the Turkish authorities had at first told her her mother had suffered a heart attack after 'taking something.' A driver has survived after crashing his lorry head-on into a utility pole on a highway in south China. The man, surnamed Le, was reportedly dozing off behind the wheel when he veered off his lane and ploughed into the pole and the sand-filled barriers near the exit on the Pearl River Delta Ring Expressway in Dongguan, Guangdong. While the cab of the large truck was destroyed, the driver miraculously walked away unscathed in the accident. Shocking footage of the accident shows the lorry ploughing into the utility pole on the Pearl River Delta Ring Expressway in Dongguan, Guangdong province at 7am on Friday The man, surnamed Le, was reportedly dozing off behind the wheel when he veered off his lane and ploughed into the pole and the sand-filled barriers near an exit on the highway Footage of the dramatic incident on Friday shows the lorry travelling along the highway towards Shenzhen at about 7am. However, the vehicle started to veer off its lane, heading straight for the large concrete pole at the traffic divider near the Dongguan exit of the expressway. It smashed straight into the pole and the barriers, sending vehicle parts, debris and sand flying across the motorway. Emergency services were immediately alerted. The large lorry suffered heavy damage including a caved-in roof on the passenger's side It smashed straight into the pole and the barriers, sending vehicle parts, debris and sand flying across the motorway. Emergency services were immediately alerted to the scene Local authorities told reporters that the driver was able to walk out of the cabin himself The large lorry suffered heavy damage including a caved-in roof on the passenger's side. Local authorities told Dongguan Network that the driver survived without serious injuries and was able to walk out of the cabin himself. Le told officers that he was in a rush to get to Shenzhen and didn't get enough sleep the night before. A drill rapper was mocked by some social media users after appearing on Good Morning Britain donning a camouflage balaclava and sunglasses to hide his identity. Musician Drillminister spoke about the hypocrisy of British politicians for deriding the hip hop genre of drill music while also using violent language themselves. The artist went viral last week after releasing a cut-up track that uses quotes from MPs in which they talk of, among other things, stabbing each other in the back. One such quote came from former Chancellor George Osborne, who said he would not rest until Theresa May was 'chopped up in bags in my freezer'. Musician Drillminister spoke about the hypocrisy of British politicians for deriding the hip hop genre of drill music while also using violent language themselves The musician defended his decision to mask his face, claiming that by keeping his identity to himself his music 'had more power' The drill rapper was mocked by some social media users after appearing on Good Morning Britain donning a camouflage balaclava and sunglasses to hide his identity It comes as politicians and police linked the drill scene in the UK to the rise in gang violence, which has resulted in multiple music videos being removed from YouTube. Despite the serious subject matter, viewers were keen to point out the rapper's 'bizarre' outfit choice and 'ridiculous' balaclava. Twitter user @GoAddo tweeted a photo of Drillminister along with the caption 'Baby it's cold outside', while @AndyOutlaw tweeted a picture of prankster Fonejacker. However the musician defended his decision to mask his face, claiming that by keeping his identity to himself his music 'had more power'. 'It's not about me', he told co-presenters Susanna Reid and Adil Ray. 'This is a portrayal. 'I see it as this. We are sick of fakeness and people telling us how to live and what's right or wrong. Despite the serious subject matter, viewers were keen to point out the rapper's 'bizarre' outfit choice and 'ridiculous' balaclava 'If someone was blind, they would have to take me on my character and not judge me on how I look. This is the same thing.' What is drill music and is it fuelling crime? 'Drill' music, a hip-hop subgenre, is driving feuding gang wars in Britain, community leaders have warned. Hundreds of videos on YouTube feature UK rappers threatening and provoking people from rival areas in London. To 'drill' means to fight or scrap and the violent lyrics focus on gang life, drugs, guns and killing. In one video viewed nearly three million times, rapper Digga D boasts about having to bleach his knife after using it to attack someone. In another, entitled 'Mummy's Kitchen', rappers Loski and Mayski, who are thought to be Londoners, boast about taking a blade from the family home. In the videos, which are filmed across the city, performers take care to ensure their faces are covered. Advertisement Drillminister teamed up with Channel 4 News reporter Symeonn Brown for the new track Political Drillin, which includes a host of quotes from politicians. One quote comes from Labour MP Jess Phillips, who told Jeremy Corbyn in the Commons that she 'won't knife you in the back, I will knife you in the front'. Drillminster added: 'Politicians are just like everybody else on the street, they are human beings and they do what we do. 'Character traits portrayed on us is always negative but on MPs it's positive, which isn't reality. 'That's the state of the country we are living in, that's the politics and extremism that's going on, I'm just highlighting it so everyone can see it for themselves. 'Anything associated to the hood, the people who are underprivileged, if we were all into ballet with balaclavas they would still say we were into murderous ballet and ruining ballet. 'That perception has to be changed by people opening their minds. 'We are a reflection of the Britain you've forgotten about and chosen to ignore.' A British wife facing the death penalty for murdering her husband in their retirement villa in Malaysia will be charged with murder at Langkawi magistrates' court tomorrow. Samantha Jones, 62, had been remanded for almost two weeks starting on October 18 to assist police with their ongoing investigation. Jones told police she stabbed her husband John, also 62, in the heart with a kitchen knife in self-defence after suffering years of violent beatings at his hands. Langkawi OCPD Superintendent Mohd Iqbal Ibrahim told The Star: 'She will be charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder at the Langkawi magistrate's court on Tuesday at 8.30am.' Samantha Jones (left), a British wife facing the death penalty for murdering her husband John (right) in their idyllic retirement villa in Malaysia has told police she stabbed him in the heart with a kitchen knife in self-defence after suffering years of violent beatings at his hands Jones said her former fireman husband punched her in the face and kicked her in the stomach after a night of drinking on the tropical island of Langkawi and even goaded her to stab him when she grabbed a kitchen knife to hold him at bay. In interviews with Malaysian detectives, she says she fled to the bedroom and only thrust the knife into the chest of the burly retired fire-fighter when he chased after her and lunged at her in a renewed attack. After the stabbing, Samantha ran out of the villa and alerted an expatriate woman neighbour. When they tried to go to John's help as he lay stricken, he pointed at Samantha and said in his dying words: 'Stay away. You stabbed me, you stabbed me.' Mrs Jones, 62, says husband John (pictured) punched her in the face and kicked her in the stomach after a night of drinking on the tropical island of Langkawi and even goaded her to stab him when she grabbed a kitchen knife to hold him at bay Recalling the moments leading up to her husband's death, Mrs Jones said she stabbed him through the heart at their home for 11 years in Malaysia (pictured) during a row about how late he had been out. She said he was goading her to stab him when she picked up the knife The single knife thrust pierced John's heart and he was dead by the time an ambulance crew arrived at the 200,000 villa where the couple had lived for 11 years in the early hours of October 18th. Samantha, a former insurance clerk from Somerset, is expected to be transferred from police cells in Langkawi to a prison on the Malaysian mainland as she awaits trial. She faces a mandatory sentence of death by hanging under Malaysian law if convicted of murder but the sentence could be reduced to a jail term if the court accepts her claims that she killed her husband in self-defence. However, the island's police chief Superintendent Mohamed Iqbal told MailOnline a medical investigation of Samantha after the killing found no evidence of any injuries to support her claim John kicked and punched her. 'There were no injuries (to Samantha) at all,' he said. Dramatic details of the killing and Samantha's claims of abuse by her husband emerged in interviews with neighbours, friends, and police officers investigating case which has shocked the relatively crime-free island where there has been only one other murder this year. The single knife thrust pierced Harley Davison fan John's heart and he was dead by the time an ambulance crew arrived at the couple's 200,000 villa Petite Samantha, a former insurance clerk from Somerset (pictured being arrested) is expected to be charged with murder early next week and transferred from police cells in Langkawi to a prison on the Malaysian mainland as she awaits trial Samantha (pictured in a police van) faces a mandatory sentence of death by hanging under Malaysian law if convicted of murder but the sentence could be reduced to a jail term if the court accepts her claims that she killed her husband, also 62, in self-defence Samantha is being held in police cells on the island of Langkawi and is expected to be charged with murder next week The couple lived in a single-storey home with views over paddy fields in a tiny village two miles from the sea built 11 years ago under Malaysia's My Second Home programme which has seen hundreds of Britons gain residency on the island. Harley Davidson-riding John, who has two grown-up children from a previous marriage and four grandchildren, was a popular and gregarious figure on the island and a regular at bars and restaurants along the lively Centai Beach tourist strip. But despite their seemingly sunny lifestyle, Samantha has told police John was a heavy-drinking wife beater who she twice reported to police in the UK for assault before the couple emigrated to Langkawi. Friends say the couple temporarily split while in Malaysia because of his violent outbursts. John, from Stourport, Worcestershire, underwent treatment to control his temper and his drinking before they reconciled Friends say the couple separated temporarily while in Malaysia because of his violent outbursts. John, originally from Stourport in Worcestershire, underwent treatment to control his temper and his drinking before they reconciled. John, who was chief fire officer in Yeovil, Somerset, immediately before his retirement, had returned from a visit to his family in England shortly before his death. On the day of the murder, the couple went for sunset drinks together on Centai Beach, a popular area for expatriates to meet and drink out of sight of their teetotal local neighbours on the predominantly Muslim island. A close friend of the couple, who asked not to be named, said: 'Sam went home after a while because she wasn't feeling well and John told her he would be home by 9pm. 'He ended up in another bar drinking with a friend. She kept trying to contact him through a friend to tell him to come home he doesn't carry a mobile phone. John didn't go home until after midnight. I just wish I 'd been there to tell him it was time to go home.' A fierce row broke out when John returned home which Samantha claims escalated when John kicked her in the stomach and punched her in the face. A police source said: 'She went into the kitchen and took out a kitchen knife to hold him at bay but he reacted by goading her and pointing to his chest and saying 'Go on then, stab me'.' Detailing what happened that night, Samantha told police a fierce row broke out when John got home which escalated when John kicked her in the stomach and punched her in the face Samantha tells police she then went into the bedroom holding the knife and stabbed her husband once in the chest when he came after her and lunched towards her as she backed up against a wardrobe. She then ran to her neighbours for help and returned with the wife, a middle-aged British expatriate, who witnessed John's dying words as he lay on the villa floor. Looking ashen-faced and upset, the neighbour declined to comment when approached by Mail Online. Samantha's sister has flown from the UK to visit her in the Langkawi police cells where she is being held, say police. A British embassy official from Kuala Lumpur has also visited. Supt Iqbal said the police investigation was now complete and Samantha was expected to appear in court on the island early next week to be charged with murder. 'Samantha has given us good cooperation with our investigation,' he said. 'She said they had a quarrel and then there was a fight and she accidentally stabbed her husband. She has confessed.' Another expatriate friend of the couple, who also asked not to be named, said: 'John and Sam had had had problems in the past and separated for a while and that John went into rehab to get himself sorted out. 'But we thought they'd put all of that behind them. They were absolutely devoted to each other and John even had her name tattooed on the inside of his arm. 'Everyone is just trying to get their heads around what has happened. They were the nicest people you could meet. But who knows what goes on behind closed doors?' One of the couple's near neighbours, taxi driver Mohammed Kamal, 26, said: 'John was a very good guy and always had time for people. Everyone around here liked him. We are all very shocked at what has happened. 'We saw the ambulance arriving at 2.30 am in the morning and we heard John was ill. After five or 10 minutes it left already because John was already dead. Then police arrived at the scene.' Another neighbour, 70-year-old Talib, said John and Samantha had been the first westerners to build a home in their village. Since then, two more British families had built homes on adjoining plots. Mohammed Kamal, 26, (pictured), a neighbour of the couple, said that John was 'a very good guy'. He added: 'Everyone around here liked him. We are all very shocked at what has happened' 'When he first came here he shared our power supply and he was around here all the time,' said Talib. 'He was a good man and always very friendly.' In a tribute to John in his hometown newspaper, relatives said: 'John was a loving family man who thought the world of them. He moved to Malaysia after retiring but often returned to see his family. 'He even came back earlier this year to complete the Three Peaks Challenge, climbing Ben Nevis, Snowdon and Scafell, with his daughter. He spent his whole working life with the fire service and he will be greatly missed.' Although murder currently carries the death penalty in Malaysia, the government has announced it is preparing to change the law to abolish capital punishment. More than 1,200 people are currently on death row in the country. Philip Hammond (seen holding his red box outside Downing Street today) wants to help people stuck in problem debt Philip Hammond has announced an assault on payday lenders with a no-interest loan scheme for three million borrowers with problem debt. The Chancellor said ministers are to look at ways of partnering with debt charities and the banking industry to offer interest-free loans to those in need. Officials say a similar scheme in Australia has proved highly successful, helping four out of five of those who took the loans to stop borrowing from payday lenders. Ministers now want to see if such a system could be used to provide a more affordable alternative for the UK's three million high cost credit users. A Government feasibility study to be carried out in 2019 will look at how a pilot project could operate in the UK. The full details of the plan were in Mr Hammond's Budget Red Book, although he only made a small reference to the scheme in his speech. In other moves, Mr Hammond will announce an extension to the 'breathing space' for people in problem debt, offering legal protections from creditor action, from six weeks to 60 days, giving them more time to get their finances back on track. It follows a consultation earlier this year in which evidence was taken from charities, campaigners and the financial services industry. The Chancellor is also offering a 2 million challenge fund for tech entrepreneurs who can come up with solutions to counter the appeal of the payday lenders who offer access to cash in as little as 10 minutes. The plans were dismissed by shadow chancellor John McDonnell, who said ministers are now trying to address problems they themselves had been instrumental in creating. 'This is farcical from a Government that has overseen the expansion of high-cost problem credit on an industrial scale, and whose flagship social security policy, Universal Credit, is driving low-income households into debt,' he said. A report published in March found payday loans were the 'unhealthiest' form of credit, with unauthorised overdrafts coming second. Kane Sparham-Price, 18, (left) killed himself in 2016 after Wonga left him penniless, while Mitchell Lewis, 21, (right) took an overdose after his short term loan spiralled by eight times the amount he had borrowed The Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) found they had the most negative impact on mental well-being after surveying 500 borrowers. Commenting on today's Budget announcements, Richard Lane, StepChange Debt Charity Director of External Affairs, said: 'The Chancellor has today announced a series of measures that, if implemented well, can make a real difference to households in Britain facing problem debt. 'The announcements of schemes like Breathing Space and a No Interest Loan Scheme show that with creativity and ambition we can make progress in addressing problem debt.' The personal cost of runaway payday loans: Tragic toll of deaths that convinced Hammond to act A series of harrowing stories about the personal impact of payday loans getting out of control have emerged in recent years. Last year, an inquest found Leeds Beckett University student Naseeb Chuhan, 21, killed himself after getting into debt with lenders that were charging him interest of 1,200 per cent. Mr Chuhan, who was a first year human geography student at Leeds Beckett University, was found dead at a flat in Hyde Park, in the West Yorkshire city on May 28, 2016. His father Kuljit Chuhan told the inquest at Wakefield Coroner's Court that he had discovered after his son's death that he been granted a number of payday loans. Lewis died in 2014 after taking out a loan while struggling for cash during his studies 'In my mind what begins as something quite innocent and just as a one off and when you get to the end of that you realise you have overspent,' he said. 'I think it is something that slowly creeps up. I think that's how payday loans work. I think he was tempted into it.' In 2014 a struggling student died from an overdose after taking out a payday loan which spiralled from 100 to 800 in just three months. Courtney Mitchell Lewis, 21, took an overdose of slimming pills after his short-term loan spiralled to eight times the amount he had borrowed. He had previously posted 'I don't want to die' on Facebook. An inquest at Swansea Civic Centre heard how the physics undergraduate - known as Mitch to his friends - had taken out the loan while struggling for cash during his studies. The student, of Aberdare, South Wales, was working as a barman while studying at Swansea University but decided to use the payday loan company to borrow 100. Colin Phillips, acting senior Swansea coroner, said: 'Mitch was a loving and caring individual who was facing a number of personal problems. 'He had debts after taking out a 100 loan which had increased to 800 within just three months.' And in 2016, disabled teenager Kane Sparham-Price killed himself on the same day Wonga left him penniless after emptying his bank account. The 18-year-old, from Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, hanged himself after the now defunct loans company took payment for his debts under the terms he had agreed to. For confidential support phone Samaritans on 116 123 or visit their website. For advice on problem debt contact StepChange.org. Jamal Khashoggi's fiancee says she will not take President Trump up on his offer to visit the White House, unless his administration acts on the journalist's brutal murder. In an interview with Turkish television station Haber Turk, the Saudi columnist's fiancee, Hatice Cengiz, said, 'The statements Trump made in the first days around his invite and the statements he made afterward opposed each other. They were simply statements to gain public sympathy. 'I do not think of going to the United States,' she explained, according to CNN. 'Whether I will go or not will depend on the formation of conscience.' Jamal Khashoggi's fiancee says she will not take President Trump up on his offer to visit the White House, unless his administration acts on the journalist's brutal murder Hatice Cengiz, fiancee of murdered Jamal Khashoggi demanded that 'those responsible are punished and brought to justice' in an emotional interview with Turkish TV channel Haberturk Trump has not said what he thinks the U.S. should do in response, aside from the immediate revocation of the visas of the culprits President Trump has said he will follow Congress' lead on potential punishing actions for the U.S. ally that has committed to a defense deal with American companies that's could be more than $100 billion. Congress is out of session until after the mid-term elections, with lawmakers signaling that they will formally consider sanctions when they return to Washington. Trump has asked that sanctions do not stand in the way of the agreement to purchase military equipment from the United States. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have suggested that the U.S. end its financial support for Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen, instead. The president waited to endorse sanctions against Saudi Arabia at all until he was fully convinced that Khashoggi had died inside the nation's Istanbul consulate. He said repeatedly that the punishment for assassinating the journalist 'will have to be very severe,' because his reported kill by dismemberment is 'bad, bad stuff.' Trump has not said what he thinks the U.S. should do in response, aside from the immediate revocation of the visas of the culprits. He promised 'certain recommendations' that have been limited so far to a plea to honor the defense contracts. The Saudi Arabian crown prince and his elderly father claim that they did not direct the journalist's murder. They maintain that the 15-person team was sent to Turkey to retrieve the dissident and a fight broke out. Trump has suggested that he does not believe their version of events. Trump said in his first extensive comments on the topic that the 'cover-up' by had been poorly executed by Saudi Arabia, which had denied for weeks that it was involved in Khashoggi's murder before coming clean. 'They had a very bad original concept, it was carried out poorly and the cover-up was the worst in the history of cover-ups,' he said. He clarified later that the murder and cover-up should have never happened. 'Whoever thought of that idea, I think is in big trouble. And they should be in big trouble,' he said. As the weeks-long saga continued, the president said that Khashoggi's 'wife' could visit the White House to visit with his won wife Melania Trump. He apparently meant Cengiz. She initially said that she would be interested in taking him up on the offer - if the U.S. 'makes a genuine contribution to the efforts to reveal what happened inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul that day, I will consider accepting his invitation.' In the Haber Turk interview, she said those responsible for his murder at the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul to be punished for their 'savagery,' and revealed that she had not received a condolence call from Saudi officials. She told Turkish television channel HaberTurk that she continually asks herself questions about that day and the events leading up to their visit to the consulate to pick up necessary documents for their upcoming nuptials. 'I found myself in a darkness I cannot express,' she said on Friday. 'I demand that all those involved in this savagery from the highest to the lowest levels are punished and brought to justice.' Under fire billionaire Sir Philip Green is facing claims he cut a female executive's hair during a meeting. A former employee said the woman 'did not even realise' when the Arcadia boss allegedly chopped off some of her locks with scissors. It comes as he was caught on camera in Arizona, US, telling reporters to leave him alone following the revelation he used an injunction to stop allegations of racism, sexual harassment and bullying being made public. Sir Philip, 66, has repeatedly denied the accusations and said he was 'very, very upset' at the situation. Green was caught on camera in Arizona telling reporters to leave him alone at his home in the state Green has denied allegations of racism, sexual harassment and bullying made against him earlier this month A source told The Sun the billionaire was 'fumbling around' behind one of his senior employees during a meeting before snipping off her hair. The source said: 'She didn't even really realise what happened. He took scissors and cut a lock of her hair. It's outrageous behaviour.' The source also claimed Sir Philip 'made female staff kiss him on the cheek when they passed him in the office' and gave them 'lingering hugs', while another female executive was allegedly 'humiliated into walking around holding his hand'. He was also seen on camera walking through the Arizona countryside being questioned by reporters who asked him if he was worried about losing his knighthood or businesses. Sir Philip Green has been accused of cutting a female executive's hair while in a business meeting. He is pictured here on a walk in Arizona, US The tycoon, pictured being questioned by reporters in the US, has also been accused of 'making female employees kiss him on the cheek' Sir Philip, 66, pictured, had repeatedly denied the accusations and told reporters in the US he had 'made a statement' before getting into a van Sir Philip, pictured in Arizona, said over the weekend: 'I'm very, very, very upset. I'm being used as target practice when there is zero [evidence] that anyone has turned up with. It's injuring my business, all the people potentially working in the business, and it's injuring me and my family' The 66-year-old (pictured in Arizona) has strenuously denied allegations of harassment that surfaced during the week Sir Philip with top models in 2014. There is no suggestion that anyone pictured is involved in any of the allegations against him After also being questioned on whether he had done anything inappropriate, Sir Philip said: 'I've made a statement last week...go and read it.' Speaking to the Mail on Sunday, the TopShop owner, who is staying at a spa resort in Arizona, 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. He added: 'I'm very, very, very upset. I'm being used as target practice when there is zero [evidence] that anyone has turned up with. It's injuring my business, all the people potentially working in the business, and it's injuring me and my family.' Asked what his wife, Tina, thought of the allegations, he said: 'Tina is horrified, she's appalled that people are treating us like this. We all feel the same. It's a horror story. Somebody can say whatever they like and people just follow you around, chasing you and harassing you. Sir Philip lives a glamorous lifestyle, mixing with the country's top models. There is no suggestion anyone pictured is involved in any of the allegations against him Green, pictured with disgraced Hollywood executive Harvey Weinstein in 2009. There is no suggestion Sir Philip is linked to any of the allegations made about Weinstein Sir Philip is also well known for enjoying holidays aboard his 115million yacht Lionheart, pictured, which is often spotted in the Mediterranean His wife Lady Tina, second right, is also a billionaire and the couple have two children - daughter Chloe, pictured far left with Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton, and son Brandon (not pictured) 'I've been in business for more than 40 years. There has obviously from time to time been some banter, but as far as I'm concerned that's never been offensive. 'I've got 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. 'Many people have worked for the family for many years and I've never had any problems.' The former owner of BHS had initially prevented the Daily Telegraph from reporting the allegations against him by taking out an injunction. It only became public when former Northern Ireland secretary Lord Peter Hain used parliamentary privilege, which protects him from being sued, to name Sir Philip. The tycoon released a statement saying he 'categorically and wholly denies' allegations of 'unlawful sexual or racist behaviour'. He also said he would formally complain against Lord Hain who used parliamentary privilege to name him because the Labour peer 'failed to disclose that he has a financial relationship with the law firm, Gordon Dadds, who represent the Telegraph.' The Green family are pictured here enjoying a holiday in Greece with Chloe's boyfriend Jeremy Meeks, second right Sir Philip, pictured with Chloe in 2015, has also endured controversies over the years including the collapse of BHS in 2015, a year after he sold it for 1 Among some of the serious claims put towards him include Sir Philip calling women 'sweetheart', 'darling' or love' instead of their names and also calling other female employees overweight. He is also alleged to have crept up behind women in the corridors and touching staff members awkwardly. The 66-year-old is also claimed to have gone into meeting and asked if there were any 'naughty girls' that 'needed their bottoms slapped'. In a statement after he was named in parliament as the businessman behind an injunction against the Daily Telegraph, he said: 'I am not commenting on anything that has happened in court or was said in Parliament today. 'To the extent that it is suggested that I have been guilty of unlawful sexual or racist behaviour, I categorically and wholly deny these allegations. 'Arcadia and I take accusations and grievances from employees very seriously and in the event that one is raised, it is thoroughly investigated. 'Arcadia employs more than 20,000 people and in common with many large businesses sometimes receives formal complaints from employees. 'In some cases these are settled with the agreement of all parties and their legal advisers. 'These settlements are confidential so I cannot comment further on them.' The whistleblower who reported Buffalo's Bishop Richard Malone to FBI last week decided to act against her boss of three years because she believes he acted to protect the church and its assets when he allegedly covered up the identities of dozens accused of sexually abusing children. Siobhan O'Connor quit her executive assistant job in August after the New York State church leader told her not to be concerned with the phone calls they were receiving from victims of abuse. Little to his knowledge, O'Connor had obtained evidence from a 300-page binder which fully detailed priests who had been accused but the Roman Catholic church opted to keep quiet for various reasons. Scroll down for video Bishop Richard Malone (left) claimed only 42 people were on a list of sexual misconduct suspects but there were 118 names, Siobhan O'Connor (center) told 60 Minutes Siobhan O'Connor quit her executive assistant job in August after the Buffalo, New York bishop failed to reveal all names of priests accused of child sexual abuse She leaked it to the press before she left her role this summer after becoming 'morally allergic'. While in March the diocese suggested there were only 42 people that should appear on the list, there were 118 names attached to abuse complaints but O'Connor claims lawyers recommended those still in ministry remain unmentioned. 'I did betray him, and yet I can't apologize for that, because there was a greater good to consider,' she admitted in an interview with 60 Minutes. On the program aired Sunday night, she told Bill Whitaker how she had no choice but to secretly take pictures with her phone and photocopy documents that proved the Diocese of Buffalo allowed untrustworthy priests to continue working. The exposing file was kept in a closet where the bishop kept his vacuum cleaner and she claims he knew about the accusations since he began his role in 2012. She noted how her boss even gave a recommendation for one, Father Arthur Smith, to work as a chaplain on a cruise ship, despite him going into counseling for inappropriately touching and sending unwanted Facebook messages to an 8th grade boy. O'Connor had obtained evidence from a 300-page binder which fully detailed priests who had been accused but the Roman Catholic church opted to keep quiet for various reasons O'Connor leaked the document to the media before she left her role in August 2018 Records show two people complained about him in 2013 and the previous bishop had removed him from ministry. The note stated: 'I am unaware of anything in his background which would render him unsuitable to work with minor children.' Another message within the file that showed the blatant attempt to cover up scandal was one that referenced Father Fabian Maryanski. 'We did not remove him from ministry despite full knowledge of the case, and so including him on list might require explanation,' the note read. On the program, Father Bob Zilliox - who was abused by a priest when he was 13 revealed how his pleas were ignored for those responsible and still within the church to be held accountable. Zilliox, who quit his bishop counsel role to focus on parish work in May, told Whitaker how about eight or nine of them still remain in their position. He called it a 'brotherhood'. 'I think one of the factors that goes into decision making in terms of administration or leadership within diocese or in parishes is that there's a certain brotherhood,' he explained. 'There's a certain mindset that we watch each other's backs.' As a result only one priest was put on leave between 2012 and March 2018, after which point 16 were suspended when the allegations emerged. None have been terminated from their roles. Zillox made it clear that none of those involved in the scandal truly represent the church. 'That's not the church. The church is holy,' he said. Bishop Malone told 60 Minutes in a statement that they 'continue to reach out to victims, remove clergy with substantiated allegations from ministry and cooperate with federal and state investigations'. Accused Father Arthur Smith was recommended to work as a chaplain on a cruise by Malone Father Fabian Maryansk was reportedly not removed from ministry despite full knowledge of the case because including him on list of suspects 'might require explanation' by the church Father Bob Zilliox - who was abused by a priest when he was 13 revealed how his pleas were ignored for those responsible and still within the church to be held accountable The diocese acknowledged the federal inquiry late Thursday amid reports the Justice Department has opened investigations across neighboring Pennsylvania into the Roman Catholic Church's handling of child sex-abuse allegations against priests. There is no evidence the two investigations are related. Malone has been under increasing pressure to resign over his handling of complaints against priests accused of misconduct with children and adults. Malone publicly apologized in September for 'any of my own failures in adequately addressing that abuse,' but said he would not step down. The interest by federal investigators pre-dates the launch of a separate statewide civil investigation by New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood. New York was among several states that started such inquiries following a shocking Pennsylvania grand jury report in August that found about 300 Catholic priests had abused more than 1,000 children statewide since the 1940s. Malone (pictured February 2013) has been facing complaints over his handling of clergy sexual abuse claims and is under increasing pressure to resign 'Several months ago, we received a call from the local US Attorney's office with a request to review documents. A subpoena was provided and after some discussion, an agreement was reached to produce documents,' the Diocese of Buffalo said in a statement. 'We have heard nothing since early June.' US Attorney James Kennedy Jr., through a spokeswoman, said the office neither confirms nor denies investigations and declined further comment. A Buffalo television station reported internal church emails reference the subpoena and discussions with federal prosecutors that resulted in an agreement to limit the production of materials to living priests. In a June 13 exchange obtained by WKBW, diocesan Chancellor Regina Murphy told Malone and Auxiliary Bishop Edward Grosz a diocesan lawyer had helped gather information and left 'with a relatively small amount of documentation from 16 files.' 'If any prosecutions result, it would probably be only a few,' Murphy wrote. Later that evening, an email from an attorney for the diocese, Terrence Connors, said: 'Our judgment is that there may be two or three cases that will interest (a federal prosecutor) and he will review to see if they are prosecutable.' The bishop responded, 'I hope the ones that may be prosecutable are all men removed from ministry,' according to WKBW. A spokeswoman for the diocese did not immediately return the calls seeking comment Friday, the Associated Press reported. Seven Syrian migrants and a German citizen have been arrested for a four hour gang-rape of an 18-year-old girl in bushes outside a nightclub. The Syrians between the ages of 19 and 29, along with a 25-year-old German, have been arrested in Freiburg in the south-western German state of Baden-Wuerttebmberg. Officials said the ordeal took place in bushes outside the venue after one of the suspects sold the victim ecstasy and bought her a drink on October 14. The main suspect allegedly set upon her outside the nightclub and then called on others to do the same. Alleged chief suspect Majd H., 21, poses in his homeland with a large machine gun The nightclub in Freiburg where the victim was sold drugs before being gang-raped nearby Police are investigating whether the drink may have been spiked with an unknown substance. Local newspaper Bild identified the main suspect as 21-year-old Syrian Majd H. and some of his accomplices have been named as 19-year-old Ahmed Al H., 24-year-old Muhammad Al H., and 20-year-old Muhanad M. According to Bild, Majd H., who is pictured with a machine gun on his social media profile, came to Germany in 2014 and has already had one conviction in the European country that took him in. They quoted his father as saying: 'Majd became more aggressive after we fled and he has been in trouble with the police. He already has one conviction because he hurt someone.' According to local media, the other suspects lived mostly in asylum centres and were known to the police for other alleged criminal offences. The horrific story will bolster Angela Merkel's critics, as support for her coalition has wavered in the face of the migrant crisis. Angela Merkel meets with Greek prime minister Alexi Tsipras after previous Freiburg rape The picturesque university town of Freiburg which has been ravaged by migrant crime Merkel who has held the Chancellorship since 2005 is stepping down at the end of her term in 2021. Her coalition faced collapse after permitting the inflow of nearly a million refugees and asylum seekers as part of her 'Willkommenskultur' - welcoming culture, in 2015. A police spokeswoman told local media that they are still looking for other possible perpetrators after finding evidence at the crime scene indicating that more people took part. Freiburg was already reeling from the rape and murder of 19-year-old Maria Ladenburger, the daughter of an EU official. Afghan asylum seeker Hussein Khavari was jailed for life earlier this year after he raped the student who worked as a refugee helper. Afghan asylum seeker Hussein Khavari was jailed for life earlier this year when he was 17 The teenager shakes hands with his lawyer as he is escorted through court in handcuffs The asylum seeker was convicted of raping and killing 19-year-old Maria Ladenburger In June this year, local daily 'Schwarzwalder Bode' reported that a series of migrant sex attacks have brought fear to the local population of 226,000. The newspaper wrote: 'An unprecedented series of sex offences has shaken the public's sense of security.' The paper was backed up by Freiburg police spokesman Dirk Klose, who said: 'To my knowledge, we have never had so many offences of this kind before.' Small business leaders have welcomed moves in today's budget to help Britain's struggling high streets. Chancellor Philip Hammond announced a cut in business rates for nearly 500,000 small firms and a 675million fund for improving transport and turning empty shops into homes and offices. High streets have taken a battering in recent months, with consumers shifting online and anger among shopkeepers over swingeing local rates. Giving his budget statement today, Mr Hammond said: 'We must recognise that technological change will bring challenges as well as opportunities and there is one part of our economy which is currently confronting that challenge in spades: our high streets. 'Embedded in the fabric of our great cities, towns and villages, the high street lies at the heart of many communities and it is under pressure as never before.' Today's budget has seen a 1.5billion package unveiled to help Britain's struggling high streets Business rates - local taxes paid by shops, pubs and offices - will be cut by a third for 496,000 small retailers and firms under plans announced in today's budget. The cut will apply to all firms in premises with a rateable value of 51,000 or less, which Mr Hammond said would take in 90% of independent shops. Officials say the move will see a pub whose premises have a rateable value of 37,750 - a figure which is based on the property's rent - save more than 6,000-a-year on rates. Mr Hammond also announced a new mandatory business rate relief for all lavatories made available for public use, whether publicly or privately owned. In another measure to help small businesses, the threshold for VAT registration is to remain unchanged for a further two years. Employers whose staff pay National Insurance contributions below 100,000 for their workforce will also be entitled to 3,000 off the National Insurance bill. Chancellor Philip Hammond says he wants to help high streets 'evolve' to have fewer shops The budget package for high streets in figures A one-third business rate cut for the next two years for all retailers in England with a rateable value of 51,000 or less. Around 496,000 business will benefit from the cut. A business occupying a property with a 'rateable' value of 37,750 will save around 6,000-a-year. A corner shop with a rateable value of 14,250 will save 1,749, according to officials. The threshold for VAT registration is to remain unchanged for a further two years. Employers who pay a total National Insurance Bill of under 100,000 will be entitled to 3,000 in relief. Advertisement Mike Cherry, Federation of Small Businesses National Chairman, said the budget was the 'most small-business-friendly' that this Chancellor has delivered. He added: 'Small businesses on our high streets that cannot get Small Business Rate Relief will be delighted with the significant discount for the next 2 years, which on average will help these businesses to the tune of almost 2,000 each, but potentially up to around 16,000 off small businesses facing the biggest bills. 'The decision to protect and refocus the Employment Allowance means that small firms will use the 3,000 of help to increase staff hours, improve pay and meet the rising costs of the National Living Wage, boosting jobs and productivity.' Carolyn Fairbairn, director general of the CBI, added: 'This was a rock-solid budget, bringing more treats than tricks for business. 'It recognises the enormous contribution enterprise has made to balancing the UK's books through jobs, pay and tax and responds to many of the recommendations that firms have made.' Business rates are seen as key in hitting high street shops, as online competitors are usually based in warehouses where rents are cheap and so are taxed less Case study: Small business to save Ed Savitt, the manager of DropShot Coffee (pictured) in Southfields, south-west London, said the business rate cut will save him around 7,000 a year. 'That's a nice chunk to get off our tax bill, and should really help towards the bottom line,' he told MailOnline. 'It's so difficult to make any kind of profit as a start-up company and any help that we can get goes a huge way. 'There is a reason why so many independent shops are having to close down and a lot of that goes to the huge amount that one has to pay in rent and rates even before opening the doors.' Advertisement But other campaigners said the business rates system needs a complete overhaul, rather than simple tinkering. Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Confederation, said: 'The Government has missed a much-needed opportunity to help the retail industry.' Dr Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said Mr Hammond had 'sent important and positive signals to businesses across the UK'. He said: 'The final and most important piece of the jigsaw is a comprehensive Brexit deal that gives firms the clarity and precision they need.' Following today's budget, a 675million 'Future High Streets Fund' will also be used to improve infrastructure to town centres, restore properties and put historic buildings back into use. Stephen Martin, director general of the Institute of Directors, said: 'The Chancellor showed he has listened to business leaders today with key reforms on business rates, the apprenticeship levy and the Annual Investment Allowance. 'But for all of the individual positive measures, including money for infrastructure upgrades, this was a Budget that pulled its punches.' What are business rates and how are they calculated? Business rates are charged on most non-domestic properties such as shops, offices, pubs and warehouses. The tax is worked out based on a property's 'rateable value'. This is its open market rental value in April 2015, multiplying by a figure set by central government. Some firms, such as small business, rural companies or those in 'enterprise zones', are entitled to relief on their business rates. It is different to corporation tax, which is worked out according to profits. Advertisement Mr Hammond said over the weekend that Britain's love of online shopping means high streets will need to become smaller with fewer stores and more bars and restaurants. Labour's shadow business secretary, Rebecca Long-Bailey, did not mention the announcement on rates in her only tweet after the budget. She previously posted: 'Although welcome news for small retailers this won't help anchor stores like House of Fraser and Debenhams that draw customers and other business to the high street. 'It's disappointing that the Government is refusing to overhaul our archaic business rates system. The High Street needs long term solutions not short term gimmicks.' A freeze on beer duty was meanwhile welcomed by groups representing British pubs. Justine Greening today threw her hat in the ring for a future Tory leadership contest if Theresa May is forced out. The former education secretary insisted she would be ready to stand for the party's top job as she urged moves to improve social mobility. It is the latest sign of jockeying among senior Tories as Mrs May comes under massive pressure over Brexit. The PM is struggling to strike a deal with Brussels that can appease the Remainer and Eurosceptic wings. But there is mounting speculation that Mrs May might not hang on for long even if she manages to thrash out an agreement with the EU. Former education secretary Justine Greening (file picture) insisted she would be ready to stand for the party's top job as she urged moves to improve social mobility Ms Greening, a prominent pro-EU Conservative, quit Mrs May's Cabinet in January after refusing to be moved from the education brief. She told ITV's Good Morning Britain: 'We need a guarantee on opportunity for people in this country in the same way that we try to give them guarantees on health and guarantees on dignity if they are falling out of work.' Told that it sounded like she was setting out a leadership manifesto, Ms Greening said: 'Things need to change, don't they, and I think people need to have some hope for the future, that Britain can be a country that runs differently and more fairly than it does at the moment.' Asked if she would run if there was a vacancy, the Putney MP said: 'I might be prepared to, but I'm more interested in the Conservative Party actually showing what it can do for this country. 'Yes, we spent a lot of time having to fix the nation's finances but what we now need to do is discover - maybe rediscover - our own mission, which has got to be about how we make sure that young people growing up everywhere in this county have the same access to opportunity. 'It shouldn't matter whether they have got parents who are maybe middle class, a bit more sharp-elbowed. 'Talent is spread evenly. The challenge of Britain is that opportunity isn't. That's what we have got to fix.' A suburban street was forced into lockdown after alleged threats were made to a 'number of people'. Emergency services were called to the disturbance in Burswood, Perth, at about 5pm on Monday evening. Police are still investigating the incident and could not confirm the nature of the threats and how many people were threatened. Emergency services were called to the disturbance in Burswood, Perth, at about 5pm on Monday evening According to Fairfax Media, a man entered a property Claude Street where he allegedly made threats to a group of people inside the home. There was a smell of gas on the premises and a number of people were treated at the scene by St John Ambulance officers. Two people were taken to hospital. The street was put into lockdown and it's believed the man evaded police. Police have since released an image of Shayne Andrew Taylor in the hope members of the public can assist in locating the man. Mr Taylor, who was last seen in the vicinity of Claude Street, will reportedly be able to assist police in relation to the disturbanc. Police have since released an image of Shayne Andrew Taylor (pictured) in the hope members of the public can assist in locating the man The 45-year-old is described as approximately 165cm tall, a medium build with brown eyes and greying hair. He was seen in dark coloured Nike runners and three quarter length dark pants. Members of the public are advised not to approach Mr Taylor but notify police immediately. Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report it online at www.crimestopperswa.com.au. President Donald Trump ramped up his attacks on 'Fake News Media' on Monday, blaming the deadly Pitsburgh synagogue shooting on a coarsening tone from the political press even as Demcorats point the finger of blame back at him. 'There is great anger in our Country caused in part by inaccurate, and even fraudulent, reporting of the news,' the president wrote on Twitter. 'The Fake News Media, the true Enemy of the People, must stop the open & obvious hostility & report the news accurately & fairly.' 'That will do much to put out the flame of Anger and Outrage and we will then be able to bring all sides together in Peace and Harmony. Fake News Must End!' Federal prosecutors said Monday that they will seek the death penalty for the shooting suspect, who is charged with 11 counts of murder. President Donald Trump (pictured Saturday in Indiana) reacted Monday to a mass shooting in a Pennsylvania synagogue by blaming media coverage that he says has coarsened the nation through hostility to him Trump said 'great anger' in the U.S. is caused 'in part' by false news reporting These Stars of David with the names of five of the 11 people killed at the Tree of Life Synagogue are part of a memorial of flowers and stars that have collected outside the temple after a gunman killed 11 people there on Saturday Rabbi Jeffrey Myers of the Tree of Life/Or L'Simcha Congregation stood near the synagogue and wore a yarmulke with a Pittsburgh Pirates logo on Monday morning 'Fake News Must End!' the president boomed online, just eight days before a midterm congressional election that could determine the fuure of his presidency Robert Bowers, 46, has a history of posting anti-Semitic material online. He faces 29 criminal counts in all, including the violation of a federal 'hate crimes' law. He was also a 'verified' user on Gab, a social media platform set up as a rival to Twitter where right-wingers could assemble without fear of being banned. Robert Bowers, 46, will face a federal death-penalty tiral for allegedly gunning down 11 Jews at their temple on Saturday That entire website went dark on Monday after its hosting service, GoDaddy, canceled its service. PayPal, co-founded by the Trump-backing venture capitalist Peter Thiel, had already withdrawn Gab's ability to accept online payments. Gab CEO Andrew Torba said on Twitter that the synagogue shooting was an 'act of terrorism,' and that his site had suspended Bowers' account and turned over its contents to law enforcement . Trump told reporters on Saturday that he wants to visit Pittsburgh to mourn with members of the Tree of Life Synagogue. A small group of Jewish liberals circulated an open letter on Sunday demanding that he 'fully denounce white nationalism' before coming. In a letter addressed to the President, members of Bend the Arc accused Trump of contributing to Saturdays tragedy by 'spread[ing] lies and sow[ing] fear about migrant families in Central America.' Bowers' profile on the now-dormant Gab social media platform read that Jews 'are the children of satan. and included a photo of a radar gun displaying the Nazi hate symbol 1488 Bowers was not a Trump fan, arguing that he wasn't a true 'nationalist' and that his quest to 'Make America Great Again' couldn't be realized without eradicating an 'infestation' of Jews On Sunday night the president tweeted that some news outlets are '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.' As on Monday, he argued that dishonest reporting is responsible. Trump didn't specify how 'fraudulent' journalism is to blame for the nation's caustic turn, but he has long claimed a press corps dead-set against his success has framed him unfairly as a bigot. The president began referring to some media organizations as 'enemies of the people' early in his White House term, but generally has applied the term only to a handful of press outlets including CNN, MSNBC, ABC News, The New York Times and The Washington Post. One Times reporter sniped back on Twitter after Trump wrote that the media should 'report the news accurately & fairly.' Police secured the scene where multiple people were shot on Saturday Bowers was apprehended at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's Squirrel Hill neighborhood after the massacre that left 11 dead and six injured Trump resents journalists for uncritically reporting liberals' claims that he's an anti-Semite 'President Trump is not responsible for the anti-Semitism that has existed really in the United States in an increased fashion over the last couple of decades,' says Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Ron Dermer Trump put down a marker on Sunday night, signaling that he would be blaming the media for the nation's caustic political atmosphere 'It is being reported accurately,' Maggie Haberman tweeted. She said Trump knows what he's doing by antagonizing the press. 'This isnt a lack of understanding of the impact of these words. This is a strategy,' she tweeted. 'Describing it as he doesnt get it is a form of grading on a curve.' Much of Hollywood reacted angrily over the weekend, calling the president a Klansman and a racist, and advocating for the election of Democrats. 'Just heard about Pittsburg [sic] - all this violence & hatred - begins to end with yr votes,' actor/director John Cusack tweeted. '[T]he gop must go - every last one - and their kkkult leader /the arch criminal trump must be driven out of power.' Actor Josh Malina tweeted: 'Whether or not a direct line from his words to todays horrific acts can be drawn, Trumps anti-Jewish rhetoric and dog whistles make such attacks more likely. And the same can be said for the garbage he spouts about other groups. #VoteBlueToSaveAmerica' GQ reporter Julia Ioffee tweeted: '[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.' New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman fired back at Trump on Monday morning Jewish residents who live near the synagogue are pictured outside after the shooting; four police officers were among the injured Politico fired Ioffe a month after the 2016 election for suggesting on Twitter that the then-president-elect was having sex with his daughter Ivanka. Sunday night during a Fox News Channel interview, Israel's ambassador to the United States said Trump has been an unusually forceful advocate for Jews. The president's daughter Ivanka and son-in-law JaredKushner, and their children, are Jewish. 'Anti-Semitism did not begin in 2016,' said Ambassador Ron Dermer. 'President Trump is not responsible for the anti-Semitism that has existed really in the United States in an increased fashion over the last couple of decades.' Hollywood actors like John Cusack and Josh Malina pounced over the weekend, calling Trump a 'kkk' leader and blaming him for unspecified 'anti-Jewish rhetoric' Dermer blamed the rise of anti-Jewish fervor on social media platforms that allow fringe groups to organize. He said Trump's remarks on Saturday, just hours after the shooting, show the president has a take-no-prisoners attitude to attacks lauched against Americans because of their faiths. 'I've been following anti-Semitism and leaders, statments against anti-Semitism for 20, 25 years. I have never heard a statement the likes of which I heard yesterday from President Trump,' Dermer said, 'where he said [to] those who are trying to destroy the Jewish people, we will destroy them.' 'I heard it applauded by all of Trump's supporters at that rally,' he added. The president said Saturday before speaking in Indiana that 'this wicked act of mass murder is pure evil, hard to believe, and frankly something that is unimaginable.' 'This was an anti-Semitic act,' Trump said. 'You wouldn't think this would be possible in this day and age, but we just dont seem to learn from the past.' A taxi driver who has been imprisoned after he was caught on camera sexually assaulting a female passenger could walk free in just one year. Mustafa Tavasoli, 26, picked up the passenger from a birthday party last February in North Terrace, Adelaide, and proceeded to drive her to her house. The entire trip was captured on dashcam footage. Upon reaching her home, the woman was unable to unlock the taxi's back door, which prompted the driver to leave his seat and open the door for her. Tavasoli pushed her against the back seat, rubbed himself against her and groped her, according to Adelaide Now. Taxi driver Mustafa Tavasoli has been imprisoned after he was caught on camera sexually assaulting his female passenger (stock image) Tavasoli eventually stopped trying to kiss the woman and drove away. 'Women should not be put in this position. Her situation was made all the worse by her being in a taxi, a place where she was entitled to rely on your acting in a professional way and taking her safely to her destination,' District Court judge Gordon Barrett said. 'The first is the sad fact that this victim, like so many women, reflected at length on whether they had done anything to cause you to do what you did,' he added. The offender was charged with unlawful imprisonment, indecent assault, and assault with intent to rape. While awaiting his sentence, the court heard Tavasoli was assaulted in prison because of his Afghani heritage. Tavasoli was sentenced to three years and three months in prison. However, he could be eligible for parole in November 2019 after the judge took note of his clean criminal record. A senior detective abused his rank to pressurise policewomen and junior staff into sex over a period of 14 years, a disciplinary hearing heard. Detective Inspector Simon Hurwood, 53, sexually gratified himself with 21 'subordinate and vulnerable' female police staff while he was employed by Cleveland Police. He resigned from the force last month after women involved came forward when anonymous emails were sent to the force's Counter Corruption Unit. Hurwood was arrested by officers from his own force in March but he has not been charged. Detective Inspector Simon Hurwood abused his rank to pressurise policewomen and junior staff into sex over a period of 14 years, a disciplinary hearing heard Some of his behaviour came while he worked for the force's professional standards department, the misconduct hearing in Middlesbrough was told. John Beggs, QC, for Cleveland Police, said: 'Former DI Simon Hurwood joined Cleveland Police in February 1991. 'He faces allegations in respect of 21 females: officers, staff and some non-policing personnel. The allegations range from the less serious through to the serious through to the extremely serious. 'Their common theme is that DI Hurwood, over a lengthy period of time, abused his rank and status to gratify himself sexually with, almost always, subordinate and vulnerable females.' Hurwood, a father of three who is currently married to his second wife, has not admitted to any sexually inappropriate behaviour and in every case denies misconduct. He said the sexual behaviour was always consensual and came while he and the woman involved were off duty. In some instances he apologised if he 'came across as letchy' and said some of the women 'misunderstood his humorous banter.' Mr Beggs said Hurwood would target those with issues in their personal lives, would offload his own personal issues to 'elicit sympathy,' and would send ordinary texts before escalating to flirtatious ones. At that point Hurwood would begin to asked for explicit photos or videos from his 'targets' and would 'obsess about matters such as the females' knicker colour.' Mr Beggs said: 'One of his several obsessions appears to be to seek the colour of the females' knickers, this happening on police premises and while on duty on many occasions.' 'Those complainants who speak of sexual relations with DI Hurwood are consistent in their contention that they succumbed to such relations not out of free choice but out of the circumstances in which they found themselves.' Mr Beggs said that in using his rank to pursue the women Hurwood 'displayed a flagrant and deep-seated lack of professional integrity.' He asked the panel: 'How can one otherwise characterise having sexual activity in the workplace - sometimes in the Professional Standards Department, of all places.' Witness A, a probationer constable, gave an account of how Hurwood's sexual harassment made her feel physically sick. The victim, who was in her first two years in the job, said he would ask her what she liked to do in bed and what colour her knickers were. The hearing heard Hurwood touched her sexually without her consent, and coerced her into performing sex acts on numerous occasions. Witness A said: 'He was making the commands and I did everything he was asking me to because I didn't feel comfortable doing it, and I certainly didn't want to, but because I was new in service I had nobody else to speak to. 'I felt he was my boss and I had no choice and if I spoke up I probably might lose my job. I didn't know anybody and everybody knew him. 'I hated coming to work every single day.' Hurwood admitted some flirting and kissing with the victim but denied sexual activity with her at work or in police premises. He did admit having consensual sex with her at her home but insisted it was she who had been pursuing him sexually. Another young policewoman described how Hurwood kissed her on the lips when she was off duty at a pub in Yarm, Teesside. And a third female officer, witness D, said Hurwood pursued her after he established she was having difficulties in her private life. Hurwood resigned from the force in disgrace last month after women involved came forward It is alleged that Hurwood began pressuring the victim to have an affair with him and said things such as 'You gonna let me f*** you?' When she informed him that she was pregnant from a relationship with another man, Hurwood replied: 'At least now when you let me f*** you, you won't fall pregnant.' She said what he said to her made her feel sick. Witness F said in her statement that Hurwood showed an interest in her underwear, a common complaint from almost all the 21 women. He told witness F, who had worn trousers at work: 'Next time make sure you are wearing a skirt' and asked her 'What colour underwear are you wearing?' When she told him he had 'crossed a line' he mockingly replied: 'That's my wrists slapped.' Only one of the complainants was of a senior rank, but that did not stop Hurworth engaging her in sexual conversations, suggesting they had an affair and kissing her on the cheek, the hearing was told. The senior officer described him as 'creepy' and brought up his behaviour in his next professional development meeting. Witness I told how he pestered her about sexual role play in online messages. Mr Beggs told the disciplinary hearing: 'He tutored [witness] I into sending him sexual messages. As ever he was interested with the colour of her knickers. 'Some of the sexual scenarios he posted with I had disturbing overtones [for example] the schoolgirl-headmaster one.' Witness H was 'swamped' with text messages in what the hearing was told was 'determined grooming'. After promising 'I'll do everything I can in my career to help you with yours,' Hurwood's texts became sexual to the point H would 'feel sick' when his name flashed up on her phone. Hurwood persuaded her to send him sexually explicit photographs and video clips. In her statement she said she would leave the office feeling 'physically sick and shaky.' Witness J said she was confused by his flirtatious texts, saying 'He was old enough to be my dad', but that she liked the attention and flattery. This woman said he groped her up her dress, and she said: 'I did say, like, no we can't, but I didn't feel strong enough to pull away.' He later coerced her into having sex at work, the hearing was told. Mr Hurwood later admitted there was a sexual relationship but denied it took place while on duty. He also allegedly told another colleague 'what if I told you I could be your sugar daddy and give you the best sex you've ever had.' He denied making any offensive comment towards her. Hurwood is not represented or attending the hearing at Middlesbrough FC's stadium. Disciplinary hearing chairman Simon Mallett said the panel's ruling would not be before 3pm on Tuesday. It has been dubbed the 'short haul plane of the future' and the 'new darling of the aviation world'. But mystery surrounds why Lion Air's brand new Boeing-737 MAX 8, which went into service for the carrier just months ago, crashed this morning off Indonesia with 189 people on board. The ill-fated aircraft, which plunged into the sea from 5,000ft minutes after take-off from Jakarta, was delivered to Lion Air in mid-August and put in use within days, according to aviation website Flightradar24. The Lion Air aircraft crashed about 13 minutes after taking off for Indonesia. It is not clear how many people were on board (pictured is the plane) Debris could be seen on the water north of Indonesia's capital, Jakarta, as rescue ships arrived at the scene in the wake of the disaster It was leased from China Minsheng Investment Group Leasing Holdings Ltd., according to the official China News Service. Malindo Air, a Malaysian subsidiary of Jakarta-based Lion Air, was the first airline to begin using the 737 MAX 8 last year. The model replaced the similar 800 in the Chicago-based plane maker's product line and has been ordered by carriers including American Airlines, United Airlines, Norwegian and FlyDubai. Many consider the 737 MAX 8, with a range of 3,550 nautical miles and top speed of 530mph, the darling of the aviation industry thanks in part to its suitability for the increasingly popular short-haul market. It adds fuel efficiency and a seat capacity of 210 to the workhorse reputation of the existing single-aisle 737. According to CNN, one of the selling points of the MAX range is its LEAP jet engines which Boeing says 'redefine the future of efficient and environmentally friendly air travel.' This, the firm says, means the 737 MAX is between 10 per cent to 12 per cent more efficient than their predecessors The doomed Lion Air jet was brand new and had logged only 800 hours of flight time, according to the head of the National Transportation Safety Commission, Soerjanto Tjahjano. Members of an Indonesian rescue team carry a body bag at Tanjung Priok Harbour, Indonesia, in the wake of the disaster This morning, the firm's chief executive said the flight had undergone repairs for an unspecified 'technical problem' in a previous flight. But this, he said, had been 'resolved according to procedure'. Edward Sirait said his company was operating 11 of the same model and that there were no plans to ground the rest of them. So far, there have been few details about the circumstances surrounding the crash. The cause will only be confirmed after an investigation is carried out. Today's tragedy is the first major incident involving that kind of plane. Aviation analyst Gerry Soejatman told the BBC 'very old aircraft are usually at the highest risk (of accidents), but very young aircraft also carry a high risk'. He added: 'If it's very new there are sometimes snags that only reveal themselves after they are [used routinely]. These usually get sorted [within] the first three months.' Rescue workers are at the site where it is believed the Lion Air flight JT610 crashed just minutes after taking off. Divers (pictured) are trying to locate the wreckage Another, Jon Ostrower, editor of aviation publication The Air Current, told the BBC there were 'always new teething issues... that's common, but a far cry from something that would threaten the safety of an airplane'. Boeing says the 737 MAX series is the fastest-selling airplane in its history, with almost 4,700 orders. The firm, just days out from its first commercial delivery of the 737 MAX in May last year, reportedly suspended its release due to an engine issue, according to airline safety and product review site airlineratings.com. It said the engines were a product of a joint venture between US-based General Electric and France's Safran Aircraft Engines. Today, US-based Boeing Co. said it was 'deeply saddened' by the Lion Air crash and was prepared to provide technical assistance to Indonesia's crash probe. Philip Hammond today confirmed an extra 1billion for the military after Tory anger erupted over cuts to Britain's Armed Forces. Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has been in a long-running battle with the Treasury for more cash for Britain's Armed Forces. And dozens of Tory MPs had issued dark warnings that they could rebel against today's Budget unless extra funding was found. Mr Hammond told the Commons today that the extra cash will boost cyber capabilities and anti-submarine warfare capacity and maintain the pace of the Dreadnought programme. The clamour for more cash for the Ministry of Defence came after a damning report exposed a 20bn blackhole in the department's finances over the next decade. Mr Hammond has come under to find the extra money after a major report by the National Audit Office (NAO) warned of the huge shortfall in the MoD's funding plan. In a swipe at Labour, Mr Hammond told the Commons today: 'On this side of the House we are proud of our Armed Forces.' Philip Hammond (pictured today with his famous red box ahead of this year's Budget) came under massive pressure to find the extra money for defence maid fury from Tory backbenchers Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson (pictured yesterday talking to female troops in Salisbury last week) has been in a long-running battle with the Treasury for more cash for Britain's Armed Forces Mr Williamson welcomed the spending boost, saying: 'The extra 1 billion for defence on top of the 800 million increase this summer represents a substantial financial boost and reaffirms our commitment to protecting national security. 'Not only will this funding ensure we continue to have world-leading armed forces but will also allow defence to modernise our critical assets, such as our offensive cyber capabilities, anti-submarine warfare and our nuclear deterrent. Hammond unveils extra 160million to fight terror - the equivalent of 1,000 officers An extra 160million is to be ploughed into anti-terror policing after today's budget An extra 160million is to be ploughed into helping Britain's police fight the growing threat of terrorism. It emerged last week that Scotland Yard and the security services are running a record high of more than 700 live investigations into suspected terrorists. Chancellor Philip Hammond today unveiled a new pot of money to make sure authorities can keep pace with the spiralling problem. The extra money announced today is said to be the equivalent of 1,000 extra officers. The new fund is being pushed as a signal that 'austerity' policies are finished and the government is again investing in public services. Advertisement 'Furthermore, it allows us to deliver our existing plans set out within the Strategic Defence Review 2015.' The report, published in January, said the MoD's spending plan 'is not affordable' and 'urgent action' must be taken to plug the gaping hole in the finances. Mr Hammond also announced another 160million is to be ploughed into helping Britain's police fight the growing threat of terrorism. It emerged last week that Scotland Yard and the security services are running a record high of more than 700 live investigations into suspected terrorists. Chancellor Philip Hammond today unveiled a new pot of money to make sure authorities can keep pace with the spiralling problem. Sir Amyas Morse, the head of the NAO, warned of the perilous state of the military's finances in January. He said: 'The department's equipment plan is not affordable. 'At present the affordability gap ranges from a minimum of 4.9bn to 20.8bn if financial risks materialise and ambitious savings are not achieved.' Meg Hillier, the chair of the public accounts committee, said: 'The NAO has found that the Ministry of Defence simply doesn't have enough money to buy all the equipment it says it needs and is facing a possible affordability gap of nearly 21bn. 'Until the MoD comes up with a realistic plan for funding new equipment, the MoD is bound to end up scrapping or delaying projects haphazardly. This is not a sensible way of looking after our national defence.' A number of leading military figures have warned that Britain is at risk of losing its status as one of the world's leading military powers unless more money is pumped into the forces. It comes at a time when Britain is facing a growing threat from rogue states who are flexing their muscles internationally. Philip Hammond (pictured last night putting the finishing touches to his Budget)was warned that dozens of Tory MPs were ready to revolt unless she found extra money for Britain's over-stretched military Vladimir Putin's Russia was behind the Salisbury poison attack earlier this year, and is launching a wave of cyber attacks which pose a fresh threat to the country. The United States has also piled pressure on Britain - its closest militarily ally - to pump more money into the service. US Defence Secretary James Mattis in June warned that Washington is concerned the UK's military power and diplomatic influence is 'at risk of erosion'. In the two-page letter, Mr Mattis said 'the credibility of the UK's armed forces' had been crucial in securing its place on the world stage. But he added: 'I am concerned that your ability to continue to provide this critical military foundation for diplomatic success is at risk of erosion, while together we face a world awash with change.' An industrial-sized meth lab capable of producing hundreds of millions of dollars of ice has been discovered in a quiet suburban street. The 'super-lab', which was uncovered in leafy Scotia Street in Croydon, Adelaide has astounded police, who say it's the biggest meth lab they've ever seen in South Australia. Hundreds of kilograms of pseudoephedrine powder and a large amount of precursor chemicals were seized at the property on Monday. An industrial-sized meth lab capable of producing hundreds of millions of dollars of ice has been discovered in a quiet suburban street Police are seen bagging up materials and equipment seized at South Australia's biggest meth lab The size of equipment and quantity of chemicals seized at the home were so significant, forklifts and trucks will be needed to clear out the lab. SA police believe the lab had been operating for some time. 'It's very concerning that this clandestine drug lab was located in an average suburban street.' Detective Superintendent Mark Trenwith said. Mr Trenwith said the industrial-sized operation posed as a significant risk to the community of Croydon. '[Clandestine drug labs] contain corrosive, flammable and toxic chemicals that are often associated with fires and explosions.' he said. 'This would have been a significant disaster if this blew up' he added. The 'super-lab', which was uncovered in leafy Scotia Street in Croydon, Adelaide has astounded police, who say it's the biggest meth lab they've ever seen in South Australia Hundreds of kilograms of pseudoephedrine powder and a large amount of precursor chemicals were seized at the property on Monday The size of equipment and quantity of chemicals seized at the home were so significant, forklifts and trucks will be needed to clear out the lab Three people have been arrested following the raid and charged with manufacturing a large commercial quantity of a controlled drug and trafficking a large commercial quantity of a controlled drug. They include a 46-year-old man from Croydon, a 24-year-old woman from Croydon and a 57-year-old man from Killarney Vale, New South Wales. Other addresses are currently under investigation and have been searched in relation to the operation, with further arrests expected to be made. Members of the public who have information about drug trafficking or manufacture are urged to call Crime Stoppers Parents in a Georgia town are being told to check their children's trick or treating bags for methamphetamine pills that are being deliberately manufactured to look like candy. The warning was issued by the Dublin Police Department last week on Facebook. They did not say which candy the drugs are meant to be but they are similar to Sweet Tarts. Dublin Police Department shared this photograph of methamphetamine pills they say have been stamped to look like candy ahead of Halloween Officers say the pills are 'stamped' to intentionally resemble the confectionery and that they are already in circulation. They did not reveal how the pills came to their attention. The drugs are small and come in a variety of shapes including stars, circles and hearts. The photograph posted by police showed blue, green, grey and yellow varieties. The candies are blue, green, grey and yellow and have distinctive stamps and lines printed on them The police department did not compare the drugs to any candy in particular but they resemble Sweet Tarts (shown above) The post read: 'Please look through your child(rens) candies during this holiday season. 'Any suspicions, please call our office or 911 to report. 'If shared with other counties, please contact your local police department or Sheriffs Department.' Dublin Police Department did not immediately respond to inquiries about where the drugs came from or if any children had come into contact with them on Monday morning. Ousted prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has issued a warning to his successor over his proposal to move the Australian embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. Speaking after a meeting in Bali with Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Mr Turnbull said the shift in foreign policy could prompt a 'very negative reaction'. He said Australia shouldn't toy with the idea of moving the embassy, given the reaction it would prompt from its Muslim-majority northern neighbour. Scroll down for video Ousted prime minister Malcolm Turnbull (pictured) has issued a warning to his successor over his proposal to move the Australian embassy in Israel to Jerusalem 'The president expressed to me, as he has done to Prime Minister Morrison, the very serious concern held in Indonesia about the prospect of the Australian embassy in Israel being moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem,' Mr Turnbull said, according to Fairfax Media. Prime Minister Scott Morrison floated the idea of shifting the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in the dying days of the Wentworth by-election campaign, where more than 12 per cent of voters are Jewish. Mr Turnbull said Australia must first look at how its closest neighbours would react to such a dramatic foreign policy change. Prime Minister Scott Morrison (pictured) floated the idea of shifting the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in the dying days of the Wentworth by-election campaign, where more than 12 per cent of voters are Jewish But Mr Turnbull said Australia shouldn't toy with the idea of moving the embassy to Jerusalem (pictured), given the reaction it would stir from it's Muslim-majority northern neighbour 'There is no question, were that move to occur, it would be met with a very negative reaction in Indonesia. This is after all the largest Muslim-majority country in the world,' he said. 'We have to be very clear-eyed about that, and we have to take into account Australia's national interests, and our interests in the region, when we consider a decision like this.' He said the Indonesian President had expressed 'serious concern' over the plan. Mr Turnbull was asked to step-in for the conference for The Our Ocean Our Legacy conference in Bali on Monday and Tuesday because the prime minister was unable to attend. Mr Turnbull's invite to represent the Australian government drew criticism from former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce, who questioned the logic behind the decision. He said the move was 'pretty wild', especially given Mr Turnbull refused to campaign for Liberal candidate Dave Sharma in the Wentworth by-election earlier this month. Mr Turnbull was asked to step-in for the conference for The Our Ocean Our Legacy conference (pictured) in Bali on Monday and Tuesday because the prime minister was unable to attend Mr Turnbull didn't actively campaign in the by-election and later told reporters he was 'done' with partisan politics outside his Point Piper home. The former prime minister was in New York, where he owns a $4.5million aparment, during the build-up to the election. He left Australia at the start of September with his wife Lucy in the aftermath of losing his job in August's leadership spill. A female suicide bomber has blown herself up in the centre of Tunisian capital Tunis, wounding nine people. Eight police officers were among those injured after the 30-year-old, named locally as 'Mouna', carried out a 'terrorist explosion' on Monday, the Interior Ministry said. The woman, who died in the explosion, had a university degree in English and was from the coastal region of Mahida. She had no known militant ties. A female suicide bomber has wounded nine people, including eight police officers, after blowing herself up in central Tunis, Tunisia The woman, aged in her 30s, targeted police sitting in a vehicle outside a shopping centre, witnesses said The explosion happened on Monday afternoon on Habib Bourguiba Avenue, typically one of the busiest streets in Tunis Initial reports on social media suggest the attacker targeted officers who were sitting inside a vehicle outside a shopping centre on Monday afternoon. Police were cordoning off central Habib Bourguiba Avenue, one of the busiest streets in Tunis, on Monday afternoon after a strong blast was heard. Multiple ambulances rushed to the scene as pedestrians scrambled to clear the area. Shops were closed along the route which is usually packed with a tourists, a key economic resource for Tunisia. The country has spent years restoring confidence in the industry since terror attacks in 2015 almost cause it to collapse. 'I was in front of the theatre and heard a huge explosion,' witness Mohamed Ekbal bin Rajib told Reuters. Tunisia, which is heavily dependent on tourism, has improved security since a series of militant attacks targeting tourists caused the near collapse of the sector three years ago. Multiple ambulances rushed to the scene after a loud explosion close to a shopping center along Habib Bourguiba Avenue on Monday afternoon Witnesses said the bomber targeted police officers sitting inside a vehicle along the main thoroughfare in Tunis Police cordoned off the area as forensic investigators moved in to inspect the scene In 2015, 21 people were killed during a hostage siege in its national museum, the Bardo in Tunis, and a gunman killed 38 people on a resort beach. There have been no attacks on that scale since then, but the economy has remained troubled and the authorities worry about militants who shelter in neighbouring Libya. Tunisia is one of the few Arab democracies, and the only country to throw off a long-serving autocrat during the Arab Spring popular revolts of 2011 without triggering large scale unrest or civil war. It has since been credited with carrying out a democratic transition, holding free elections and guaranteeing fundamental rights in a new constitution. But turmoil and militant attacks have scared off tourists and investors, worsening an economic crisis caused by a chronic deficit. Some 3,000 Tunisians have joined Islamic State and other jihadist groups in Iraq, Syria and neighbouring Libya while dissent over unemployment has risen in recent years in southern and central areas. Salvatore Mannino (pictured) had gone missing from Lajatico, near Pisa, after taking his children to school An Italian man found with apparent memory loss is being questioned by police back home amid reports he searched the internet for 'how to disappear without a trace'. Salvatore Mannino, 52, was discovered by police at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh last month and claimed to have no idea who he was. The businessman, who remains under supervision in hospital, had gone missing from Lajatico, near Pisa, the previous day after taking his children to school. According to reports in the Italian media, investigators had found searches on his laptop of how to disappear. It has been reported that Mr Mannino tried to close joint bank accounts belonging to him and his wife, moving the money to accounts under her name only. Italian media have reported that Mr Mannino has now been charged with 'violating his family assistance obligations' as a result. Before leaving the family home, he left a briefcase with 10,500 (9,318) and a sheet of paper with a numerical sequence, a code which was deciphered by his son, 18. Filippo told Corriere della Sera: 'It was a message Dad left me to decipher, I am sure of it, because he knew I am passionate about mathematical games.' Mr Mannino, a former supermarket manager, is said to have checked the weather forecast for Edinburgh and Aberdeen before leaving Italy. It has been reported that Mr Mannino (pictured with wife Francesca) tried to close joint bank accounts belonging to him and his wife, moving the money to accounts under her name only What is amnesia? Amnesia is an umbrella term for when a person can no longer recall information stored as memory, or create new memories going forward. In the majority of cases, it is caused by brain damage, disease, or psychological trauma. The phenomena is difficult to prove, as brain scans reveal no structural changes in many types of amnesia, such as transient global amnesia (TGA). This type of amnesia involves the sudden, temporary loss of memory, alongside repeated questioning, with no neurological cause. It most commonly occurs in middle-aged and elderly adults. Although unclear, TGA is thought to be caused by blood flow obstruction in structures of the brain that are critical for memory, leading to a reduction in oxygen supply, and subsequent reduced activity, in those brain regions. TGA more commonly occurs in people who suffer from migraines or epilepsy. Known triggers of the condition include sex, stress, pain, and exposure to hot and cold temperatures. In most cases, amnesia resolves itself without treatment. Advertisement He was described as 'tranquil' and 'happy' before going missing and left his mobile phone behind, with the recent call history deleted. Mr Mannino, who claims to be unable to speak Italian, has been communicating in basic English. When police in Edinburgh were called to reports of a man taken unwell last month, he was not carrying any ID. Two weeks later officers issued an appeal to help identify a 'man with no memory'. During the public appeal for information, they used the Italian's tattoos to help identify him. At the time, constable Lesley Jack said: 'This is a very unusual inquiry, as we have a member of the public who has no idea about who he is, where he is from or who we can call on his behalf. 'As is standard practice, we have reviewed all relevant missing people and the man does not match the description of anyone currently reported missing. 'We hope that, by issuing this detailed description, someone will recognise this male and come forward to assist with our inquiries.' Mr Mannino's wife and eldest child later flew to Edinburgh, but he claimed not to know who they were. He is being assessed at a psychiatric ward in Pisa, where doctors are yet to diagnose his condition. Robert Bowers, 46, was an obsessive Gab user who often posted about hating Jews Social media platform Gab, a favorite with far-right users, is now offline after being banned by website hosting company GoDaddy, PayPal and other tech company giants, but it remains defiant on its Twitter account. Since it was revealed that accused Pittsburgh Tree of Life synagogue shooter Robert Bowers, 46, was an obsessive Gab user who frequently posted about his hatred of Jews, Gab has had trouble staying online. It was first dropped by its provider, Joyent, Saturday evening. GoDaddy followed on Sunday late afternoon. After being banned by GoDaddy, Gab tweeted that it had been advised that it would be necessary to 'move all hosting, domain registrar, and payment processing services offshore in order to stay on the internet. Let that sink in.' Gab replaced its homepage with an unsigned message Sunday stating that it was 'under attack. We have been systematically no-platformed by App Stores, multiple hosting providers, and several payment processors.' 'As we transition to a new hosting provider Gab will be inaccessible for a period of time. We are working around the clock to get Gab.com back online. Thank you and remember to speak freely,' the message said. Late Monday morning Gab updated the message, this time attributing the statements to CEO and founder Andrew Torba. In addition to reiterating that the company was working hand-in-hand with authorities 'to bring justice to an alleged terrorist,' Torba doubled down on the fact that 'Gab isn't going anywhere' and that he intended to find a new host for the company. Gab has 'plenty of options, resources, and support. We will exercise every possible avenue to keep Gab online and defend free speech and individual liberty for all people,' Torba said in the statement. He also said that despite general consensus sentiment on social media, the internet, TV and elsewhere, '80% of normal everyday people agree with Gab and support free expression and liberty. The online outrage mob and mainstream media spin machine are the minority opinion.' 'No-platform us all you want. Ban us all you want. Smear us all you want. You cant stop an idea,' Torba said. Far-right favorite social media platform Gab was taken offline Sunday after being banned from hosting platform GoDaddy and having service terminated by a variety of other tech companies Sunday night, Gab tweeted about having been banned by various company, directing the tweet at Donald Trump and his campaign manager In a statement to The Verge, GoDaddy confirmed Sunday that it had given Gab.com 24 hours to move itself to another domain provider for violating the company's terms of service. 'In response to complaints received over the weekend, GoDaddy investigated and discovered numerous instances of content on the site that both promotes and encourages violence against people,' the company said its statement. Just minutes before the shooting, accused mass shooter Bowers posted a message accusing the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society of bringing in 'invaders' and announcing 'I'm going in.' Eleven people died and six were injured after the shooting in the Tree of Life synagogue during Saturday morning Sabbath services. In an interview with NPR Sunday, Torba attempted to defend his company against accusations including the fact that it didn't report Bowers' alleged threats. Gab returned to the spotlight after it emerged alleged shooter Robert Bowers had used the site to promote his hatred of Jews and had posted about 'going in' just before the shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue (above) in Pittsburgh Jewish residents who live near the synagogue are pictured outside after the shooting Saturday. At least 11 died and six were injured, including four police officers 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' Gab said that following the shooting, it preserved Bowers' posts and then deactivated his account. Among his antisemitic comments were complaints about Trump Bowers, said to be an obsessive Gab user, had a long history of posting antisemitic views He posted this about the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society minutes before the shooting 'I don't know. Do you see a direct threat in there? Because I don't,' Torba said. 'What would you expect us to do with a post like that? You want us to just censor anybody who says the phrase "I'm going in"? Because that's just absurd.' While Gab is still offline, a tweet issued Monday at about 9am indicated that Gab had preemptively taken itself offline and was working on transferring itself to a new web host 'today/tomorrow,' meaning it could be back to regular activity soon. Bower, as seen in his Gab profile picture GoDaddy's decision to ban Gab comes in the wake of multiple other tech companies doing the same following news of Bowers' use of the social media platform, which markets itself as a social media alternative that is devoted to absolute free speech, and has become popular with racist fringe users who've been kicked off mainstream Facebook and Twitter in recent years. In addition to being banned by GoDaddy and Joyent, PayPal and payment processor Stripe banned Gab within a matter of hours after the Pittsburgh shooting. On Sunday, Gab revealed that it had been banned from online publishing platform Medium, where it had posted its statement about the Tree of Life shooting. Although Gab has dared Twitter to shut them down, too, Gab is currently still using the microblogging platform to share its own defense and defiance over having been banned due to what some site supporters have deemed 'guilt by association.' Hours after the shooting, Gab boasted of getting '1million hits an hour' on its website The next day, Gab tweeted that users should focus on the victims instead of its own treatment by tech companies, which had already started banning the site, and the media After revealing that GoDaddy was banning them, Gab claimed their website name was worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, while tagging Donald Trump and his campaign manager Online publishing platform Medium also banned Gab. The social media company had used Medium to post its statement about the Tree of Life shooting Twitter has continued to give Gab space to promote itself, but Gab dared Twitter to ban them Gab's tweets took on a political edge, after having been banned by multiple tech companies Gab CEO and founder Andrew Torba (left) has defended his company in interviews and online. Co-founder and CTO Ekrem Buyukkaya (right) quit the company on Sunday Just hours after Saturday's shooting, Gab tweeted that the site had 'been getting 1 million hits an hour all day.' But, Sunday, it tweeted to followers that they should 'please focus on the victims, families and friends of this horrible tragedy.' The tweets took on a decidedly more political nature Sunday evening, however, seemingly in reaction to all the tech bans infringing on what it believes to be the right to freedom of speech. 'GET TO THE POLLS AND VOTE OR RISK LOSING THE BILL OF RIGHTS IN THE UNITED STATES TO LITERAL COMMUNISTS. THIS IS NOT A DRILL,' read one tweet. While Torba is sticking with Gab, the company's cofounder and CTO Ekrem Buyukkaya appeared to announce that he'd quit the company on Sunday. 'The attacks from the American press have been relentless for two years now and have taken a toll on me personally. I wish Gab nothing but the best and will do everything I can to help them transition to a new CTO,' Buyukkaya wrote online, according to The Forward. Gab said in a statement after the shooting that it 'unequivocally disavows and condemns all acts of terrorism and violence.' After having been alerted to Bowers' profile, Torba said in the statement that 'Gab took swift and proactive action to contact law enforcement immediately. We first backed up all the user data from the account and then proceeded to suspend the account.' He said that Gab is 'fully compliant and willingly working' with authorities including the FBI and Department of Justice, and had turned over the information without requesting subpoenas, court orders or warrants. 'Because he was on Gab, law enforcement now have definitive evidence for a motive. They would not have had this evidence without Mr. Bowers being on Gab,' Torba said, seemingly justifying the benefits of a social media platform that does not penalize users for apparent hate speech. While touting the fact that Gab has long had a zero tolerance policy against terrorism and violence, Torba acknowledged that Bowers' posts have not been reviewed 'in detail' yet, 'so I don't know if he had potentially broken any of our content policies' which would have led to him being kicked off Gab. Still, Torba concluded, 'If you're a terrorist, the last place you want to be is on Gab because we will work directly with law enforcement to see to it that justice is brought.' While Gab deactivated Bowers' account, an archived version of the posts remains available. In those posts, Bowers 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.' 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.' The mystery surrounding the whereabouts of a Chihuahua toy poodle cross named Cupcake has sparked an interstate custody dispute. On Monday, Gold Coast woman Bianca Hildenbrand pleaded for the return of her much loved dog - three years after she left Cupcake with a seriously ill pet sitter while she went travelling overseas. She received the dog, now 10, as a present from her mum when she was finishing high school, and described her as the 'best dog you could ever ask for', who loved everyone and other animals. Cupcake (pictured) is caught up in the middle of a bitter custody dispute between her original owner from the Gold Coast and her new owner from Adelaide Ms Hildenbrand told A Current Affair her mother had stayed in regular contact with the pet sitter and contributed money towards Cupcake's food and vet bills, but eventually lost contact with her. A devastated Ms Hildenbrand reported her microchipped dog missing on the Australasian Animal Registry database when she returned home earlier this year. She claims she then received a call from a vet clinic in Adelaide, who said her pet sitter had moved to South Australia and since passed away in a nursing home. Cupcake was then adopted by a woman, only known as Elizabeth. Desperate for Cupcake's return, Ms Hildenbrand asked the clinic to pass on her contact details, but claims the new owner never got in touch. Bianca Hildenbrand (pictured) was devastated to learn that Cupcake wouldn't be returned to her, despite being the dog's rightful owner Bianca misses her pooch, describing Cupcake as the 'best dog you could ever ask for' Ms Hildenbrand said she has spoken out to raise awareness about flaws in Australia's microchipping system. While most states have laws requiring pets to be microchipped, she said she's angry a microchip doesnt prove ownership. 'I feel like there's a major fault in the system, the microchip should mean something,' she told A Current Affair. She said she is now considering legal action. She insisted she's not angry with Cupcake's new owner, as she was unaware the dog was missing, but wants reassurance her dog is being well looked after. 'I'm kind of torn between, I want Cupcake back, and what I think is best for Cupcake. She's now ten-and-a-half years old,' Ms Hildenbrand said. 'I basically just want to know that my dog is in good hands and that someone's caring about my dog as much as I do.' Police are investigating reports that a gang dressed as the Ku Klux Klan were pictured dressed outside an Islamic Centre in Northern Ireland. Photographs of the group outside the centre in Newtownards County Down have flooded social media. Images show the group who wore traditional Ku Klux klan robes with pointy hoods taking an intimidating stance with fists raised and arms outstretched. Images show the group taking an intimidating stance with fists raised and arms outstretched The incident in the town was reported to the Police Service of Northern Ireland at 5pm on Sunday and the force is treating it as a hate crime. Inspector Richard Murray said: 'We are also aware of images that are circulating that show people dressed as Ku Klux Klan members. 'Our enquiries are ongoing, and we are treating this as a hate incident at this time. 'Hate crime, in all its forms, is totally unacceptable. It is the responsibility of each and every one of us to ensure that we live in a society where diversity is respected. 'If you or someone you know is the victim of a hate crime please contact police or your local support agency. ' Strangford Alliance MLA (councillor) Kellie Armstrong described the group's actions as unacceptable. Strangford Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong described the actions of the group (pictured) as unacceptable Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, she said: 'I've seen the pictures on Facebook and social media of this group of men, women or whatever. 'Some people might try to say they were out for Halloween but I'd have to say if that's the case then these are certainly not the most appropriate costumes to be wearing. 'It is not appreciated by our community, it is not funny and it should definitely not be treated as a joke.' She added that CCTV cameras are installed all around the centre of Newtownards and that the group would have been caught on camera. She added that she hoped police would be studying the footage. The Ku Klux Klan, commonly called the KKK, is a racist group established by white supremacists in the United States. The group were notorious for killing black people during the civil rights movement in 1960s America. The suspected Florida 'MAGAbomber' had dreamed of becoming a WWE wrestler and obsessed about women, his former roommate has revealed. Dancer and booking agent Joseph Nunn, 51, has told DailyMailTV about his friendship with Cesar Sayoc, whom he shared a Florida apartment with for two years. The 56-year-old Trump fanatic faces 48 years in prison for allegedly mailing 14 pipe bombs to top Democrats including Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton last week. But the Tim McGraw impersonator has admitted that while he believed his roommate was 'shady,' he never suspected he could capable of such a crime. Nunn spent six years touring as a male stripper with the suspected bomber and the two were pictured together in their dancing group, Hollywood's Hottest Bodies at a now-closed nightclub, Yesterday's in Hickory, North Carolina, between 1996 and 1997. Suspected 'MAGAbomber' Cesar Sayoc (pictured in a white thong and necklace) toured with fellow male dancer Joseph Nunn while working for Hollywood's Hottest Bodies for six years Trump fanatic Sayoc, 56, who is accused of mailing 14 pipe bombs to top Democrats last week, dreamed of being a WWE wrestler and was always after 'the bigger better deal,' Nunn said Nunn, an MC at the event, is seen wearing a cowboy hat, while Cesar, squatted on his right is in a white thong, cowboy boots and a necklace. Nunn, who splits his time between Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and Summerlin, Nevada, said: 'He did a lot of steroids and he was always in a weird frame of mind. He was 320 pounds and he wanted to be a WWE wrestler. 'He was in the gym for up to four hours day while the rest of the dancers only went for an hour. 'He gained forty or fifty pounds and I asked myself, "how the hell did he gain this much weight?" 'This was the nineties and I didn't know much about steroids. His dream was to be a WWE wrestler, but he never made it happen. 'He always wanted to be a different guy, not a male stripper. 'He was shady and there was always drama around him but I would never have thought he'd send a bomb to the former President of the United States.' Nunn first met Cesar, who he knew as Caesar Anthony, between 1993 and 1994 when they were both male dancers in Hollywood's Hottest Bodies. 'He was one of the five dancers and I was the MC. The show was in Las Vegas but we toured all over,' he said. Dancer and booking agent Joseph Nunn, 51, said he lived with Sayoc for two years in Fort Lauderdale and described him as being 'shady,' 'a hustler' and always in a 'weird frame of mind' Nunn, a Tim McGraw impersonator, was the MC for the show while Sayoc was one of the five dancers who toured all over the country 'We traveled all 50 states and 14 countries together. Every night we were in a different casino, theater or night club and we shared a room.' Cesar lived with Nunn in an apartment in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, between 1999 and 2001. Nunn said: 'He was always a go-getter, a hustler. He was always after the BBD - the bigger better deal.' Cesar was quick to pull money-making tricks during the tour, Nunn noticed. He said: 'He was shady. Back in the day, at our Chippendale shows we had a Polaroid camera to take snaps with customers. 'We charged six dollars a picture. If the picture didn't come out clearly, we'd take another one. 'But Cesar saved all the blurry pictures and put them in a briefcase. After a couple of months, he'd have 400 or 500 of them. He'd stick them back in the polaroid case and take them back to KMart, saying that the film was faulty. 'I heard he was scamming money from management. If he was supposed to turn in $2,000, he would only give $1,000 saying that his tire blew out and he needed to get it replaced or he got towed. He made up so many excuses.' Despite noting Cesar's 'shady' behavior, Nunn insisted that he was also a stand-up guy, protective of his fellow dancers. He said: 'He was a great guy in some ways. He always protected me when we went out because he was really big. I'm 5ft7in and 175 pounds. Nunn says Sayoc was 320 pounds and always wanted to be a WWE wrestler, spending at least four hours a day at the gym and taking steroids. Despite his 'shady' demeanor, the former dancer was described as being very protective of his fellow dancers because of his size The 56-year-old, who is accused of mailing 14 pipe bombs to top Democrats around the country, was revealed to be a Trump fanatic. But Nunn says Sayoc never showed much of an interest in politics while they were friends Sayoc was revealed to have a lengthy rap sheet and has been arrested multiple times over the years 'He was always the biggest guy in the group. If a fight broke out, he would always stick up for us and say: "Don't mess with my guys."' Nunn also said that Cesar never showed much of an interest in politics, despite his later obsession with President Trump. He said: 'I never heard him say that he was a Republican or a Democrat. He never even talked about politics.' Cesar was, however, always possessive with women, quickly getting obsessed with new girlfriends who were often female dancers at gentlemen's clubs. Nunn said: 'He would stalk girls. I never saw him put his hands physically on a woman, but he was obsessive. Once he got his claws into a girl, he was very possessive. 'If a girl agreed to go to dinner with him, the next thing you know he was telling me: "I love her." I'd say: "You only met her two days ago." 'Then I'd hear girls in the clubs saying that he had been in four evenings in a row and bringing flowers and making them feel uncomfortable. 'I think it was down to insecurity. He was always talking about his mother, saying that he loved her. There was always some drama with his mother. Cesar Sayoc's van is seen in Boca Raton, Florida on October 18 this picture obtained from social media 'He would lie about where he was from. One time he told me he was from Cuba. But then he told everyone he was Italian.' The first time that Nunn realized his former roommate stood accused of sending potentially lethal bombs to figures including Obama, Clinton, Joe Biden and the broadcaster CNN was when he saw the news on television. He was shocked and said that he did not realize Cesar could be capable of such a crime. He said: 'The last time we met was two years ago when we went for sushi in Fort Lauderdale. He was asking me for help finding investors for a female dancing club he wanted to set up in Florida. 'Hell no, I never thought that he would send bombs. I knew he was capable of being shady and weird, but not sending pipe bombs through the mail to more than a dozen people.' An armed father is being hailed as a hero after he shot dead a masked gunman who opened fire at a McDonald's in Alabama over the weekend. The Birmingham store's manager had been unlocking the door so that the father and his two teenage sons could leave around 10.45pm on Saturday when the gunman suddenly burst inside. Two witnesses said they heard more than a dozen shots as the gunman opened fire on the restaurant. But the father was also carrying a weapon and was able to quickly return fire. He struck the shooter, who later died from his injuries. An armed father is being hailed as a hero after he shot dead a masked gunman who opened fire at a McDonald's (pictured) in Birmingham, Alabama on Saturday night Markus Washington (pictured) was finishing up his shift at the restaurant when he heard gunfire and ran into the freezer with another employee The father and one of his sons had also been hit during the shooting and were taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Markus Washington was finishing up his shift at the restaurant when he heard gunfire. 'I was making two quarter-pounders and heard three shots ring,' he told WBRC. Washington and another employee ran into the store's kitchen and hid in the freezer as he continued to hear more shots being fired. 'All we hear is like different gunfire, so in my mind, I'm imagining everybody is dead,' Washington said. The Birmingham store's manager had been unlocking the door so that the father and his two teenage sons could leave around 10.45pm on Saturday when the gunman burst inside Washington and another woman said they heard more than a dozen shots as the gunman opened fire on the restaurant One woman who had just ordered food at the drive-thru heard eight or nine shots ring out, she told AL.com. She then saw people running out of the McDonald's, including children, before hearing two more shots fired. Authorities said the father and his injured son are currently recovering in the hospital. The gunman was also taken to a local hospital after the shooting, where he was pronounced dead. Police have yet to release the names of the gunman or the man who took him down. It also remains unknown if the shooting happened during a robbery, or if the gunman was trying to target an employee inside the restaurant. The woman who had just ordered food at the drive-thru (pictured) heard eight or nine shots ring out and saw people running out of the restaurant Washington said he is 'feeling grateful' that the armed father was there at the right time. 'He's my hero,' Washington said. 'Because I can only imagine how it would've went if he wasn't armed.' Authorities do not plan to press charges against the father. 'Things like this are difficult for both families. The gentleman who unfortunately lost his life, the teenage boy who is in the hospital recovering from his injuries and the father who is also recovering from his injuries,' said Birmingham Sgt Bryan Shelton. 'It's not easy being a father and watching your child get injured, get hurt like that. It's a really heart-wrenching experience.' 'Right now it appears the victim made a decision that cost his life and the father made a decision that preserved his and children's lives.' China's president Xi Jinping has warned military chiefs overseeing the South China Sea to step up the preparation for war. Xi also urged the coastal troop to enhance its ability to win wars during an inspection to a military office last Thursday, according to China's state-run Xinhua. The news came two days after a former U.S. general warned that America would be 'very likely' to be at war with China in 15 years. It also came just weeks after a US Navy destroyer was forced to change course by a Chinese warship on the South China Sea. China's president Xi Jinping (pictured) made the remarks during a military inspection last week Xi underlined the importance of preparing for war and combat to the military chiefs at the Southern Theatre Command, which is responsible for guarding the South China Sea This bird eye view shows the sandbank on coral reefs in Xisha or Paracel Islands in 2011 Xi made the speeches when he inspected the Southern Theatre Command, which is the headquarters of one of the five war zones of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), reported China Global Television Network (CGTN). The Southern Theatre of PLA commands armies in six provinces and regions in southern China, including the South Sea Fleet which operates in the South China Sea, said CGTN. During the inspection, Xi underlined the importance of preparing for war and combat, improving response plans and focusing on real-combat training after listening to a report from the military chiefs. He also ordered the boarder soldiers to 'keep a close watch for changes in the situations' and to firmly protect border stability. A U.S. Navy destroyer had a tense standoff with a Chinese warship near the Spratly islands, an archipelago off the coasts of the Philippines, Malaysia, and Vietnam in the South China Sea Last week, the former commander of the US army in Europe said that America would be very likely to be at war with China by 2033. 'The United States needs a very strong European pillar. I think in 15 years - it's not inevitable - but it is a very strong likelihood that we will be at war with China,' Retired Lieutenant General Ben Hodges told a packed room at the Warsaw Security Forum, a two-day gathering of leaders and military and political experts from central Europe. Lt Gen Hodges said Europe will have to do more in the face of a resurgent Russia because America will need to focus more attention on defending its interests in the Pacific. Retired Lieutenant General Ben Hodges (pictured) warned there would be a 'very strong likelihood' of a conflict by 2033 as he called for European allies to bolster their own defences At the end of last month, a U.S. Navy destroyer had a tense standoff with a Chinese warship sent to head it off in the disputed South China Sea. The confrontation between the two navy vessels took place near disputed territories in the remote Spratly Islands. China claims nearly all of the South China Sea, though Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam all claim parts of it. Beijing has built a number of military installations on the Spratly Islands, an archipelago that lies off the coasts of the Philippines, Malaysia, and southern Vietnam in the South China Sea. Last month, the USS Decatur guided-missile destroyer was conducting what the military calls a 'freedom of navigation operation' when the Chinese warship sailed within yards of it (pictured) A Brazilian man must have had a pretty absorbing conversation on his Whatsapp not to have noticed the moment a gunman forced everyone to the floor at a local bar and robbed the place. He even laughed when he noticed one of the bar 19 patrons was lying face down. The startling scene was captured the early morning of October 21 at a local bar in the state of Minas Gerais, a tad north Rio de Janeiro, where a small group was chatting and drinking away at the watering hole. A surveillance camera captures the moment an armed man walking in and ordering everyone to lay down on the floor. Jose Carlos Almeida was unaware a robbery was being committed by an armed thug, who is shown on a video walking right by him at a small Brazilian bar Patrons at a bar in Brazil raise their arms the moment a gunman walks inside and announces a robbery is taking place To the amusement of viewers of the viral video of the stickup, Carlos Almeida paid no attention to the demands of the robber and remained totally immersed into his gadget. The surprisingly unaware Almeida, 36, continued typing away as he stood near the end of the bar's countertop as the crook, seen wearing a motorcycle helmet and holding a gun with his right hand, walked right past Almeida, who remains oblivious to the fact the bar is being robbed. Almeida told Brazilian news outlet G1 the music was so loud he could not hear the requests of the armed robber. 'I think that day, because the music was so high, I did not even notice the robbery,' Almeida said. 'Even when the chubby one, who was lying here on the floor, I laughed, but I did not see anything like that.' A worker (bottom right) has his left arm raised as he follows the orders of a gunman, who robbed a bar in Brazil the early morning of October 21 Surveillance Carlos Almeida appears to be completely surprised that the bar had just gotten robbed The suspected thief walked behind the bar stand and reached down into the cash register and then heads towards the bar's exit with $55, a cell phone and documents. He once again walked right by the disconnected bar patron, who still was unaware of what was taking place. 'I did not really see anything. The sound was loud and I did not realize that the bar was being robbed,' Almeida told R7. I'm glad I did not because I don't know what my reaction would [have been]. And it's good that the thief did not take my cell phone, which cost me $ 700, nor my bike, which was outside.' A short moment after the suspect speeds away on his motorcycle, the occupied bargoer has a look of disbelief after noticing some of the patrons still lying on the floor. The bar's owner, Beatriz Santos, 46, dismissed Almeida as having been an accomplice to the robbery and there were assurances from bar patrons claiming Almeida was not in on the scheme. 'I have known him for a long time. He is very honest,' Santos told G1. Fuel duty will be frozen again for the ninth year in a row, Chancellor Philip Hammond confirmed in his Budget today. The policy was announced by Theresa May at the Tory conference in Birmingham earlier this month, tightening further Mr Hammond's room for manoeuvre. Motorists will save around 1.20 on every tank by the cancellation of the latest 2p a litre on petrol and diesel. Announcing the new move today, Mr Hammond said motorists had now saved 1,000 since 2010. Fuel duty will be frozen again at 57.95p a litre for the ninth year in a row, Chancellor Philip Hammond confirmed in his Budget today The policy was announced by Theresa May (pictured today at Downing Street) at the Tory conference in Birmingham earlier this month, tightening further Mr Hammond's room for manoeuvre There had been speculation the near decade long freeze could be axed as it has cost the Treasury billions in revenue planned under a fuel duty 'escalator' designed under Gordon Brown to help the environment. But in her speech to the Tory faithful at the party conference in Birmingham, Mrs May said: 'Some have wondered if there would be a thaw in our fuel duty freeze this year. 'Today I can confirm that, in the budget later this month, the Chancellor will freeze fuel duty again. 'Money in the pockets of hard working people from a Conservative Government that is on their side.' Motorists will save around 1.20 on every tank by the cancellation of the latest 2p a litre on petrol and diesel (file image) Mr Hammond has previously hinted at continuing the freeze but warned the policy would cost the Treasury 38bn over the next three years, which he admitted was 'twice as much as we spend on all NHS nurses and doctors each year'. However, the freeze has been seen as an iconic symbol of blue-collar Conservatism since its introduction by George Osborne in 2010. The Chancellor must keep Tory rebels onside through the difficult process of winning parliamentary support for the Chequers Brexit deal - as well as for potential tax rises he has also suggested he needs to make to fund the NHS. Another erroneous WhatsApp chain message has once again claimed the life of an innocent person. Colombian police in the capital of Bogota were completely overwhelmed when an angry mob reacted to a false rumor of suspected child abductors by lynching one man and injuring two others on Friday. The National Police force had already detained the three men for a different crime and were in the process of transporting the trio to command center when the vigilantes descended upon the police officers and assaulted them and the detainees. Eight cops were injured during the fracas. The harrowing turn of events took the life of one of the men, a Venezuelan national who later died from injuries at a local hospital in the town of Ciudad Bolivar. The other two arrested suspects, native Colombians, were being treated for injuries. The identities off all three, and type of crime for which they were arrested, were not revealed by authorities as of Monday. WARNING GRAPHIC IMAGES Colombian police try to shield an angry mob away from a man who had been arrested for a separate crime but who the crowd wrongfully suspected of attempting to kidnap a child Police in the Colombian capital of Bogota, go toe-to-toe with vigilantes who erroneously accused and attacked three suspected abductors. One of the men died from injuries Shocking footage of the mayhem shows the moment a police officer is trying to ward off a rowdy crowd as they come from behind and pelt the injured man with an object, while a separate recording details the beating of a person who is knocked out on the street pavement. Another raucous moment shows one cop trying to hold off a vandal from going after one of the men that had been wrongfully accused of attempting to kidnap a boy. Unfortunately, the Colombian police force has been dealing with these types of mob scenes that have been borne out of false child kidnapping accusations that have been disseminated through text messenger applications like WhatsApp as well as social media platforms. In one instance as recent as late week, a rumor quickly spread over alleged kidnappings of minors in Cali, southwest of Bogota, according to Vanguardia. Most of the different rumored messages that circulated in chains carried the photograph of the same minor, quickly debunking its validity. A massive crowd converges upon three men who were mistaken for kidnapping minors A police officer second from left assists a man who had been beaten by a crazed mob who confused him as an abductor of minors in Colombia Andres Villamizar, who serves as the secretary of security in Cali, used himself as a perfect example, detailing how he had posted the picture of an alleged kidnapped boy whose image had also been utilized in separate child kidnapping alerts send out in Medellin and in Bogota, too. While asking the public to be more aware of passing down such messages that may receive via chain texts or social media posts, he asked the community to remain on its feet. Issues related to the safety of minors are always going to attract attention, Villamizar said. In that sense, we agree that the community be very alert. However, we also ask that you do not contribute to unnecessary panic. Try to verify the information before spreading it. Apple is investigating a report claiming high school students in China were forced to make the company's watches through 'compulsory internships' unrelated to their field of study. The labor rights group, Students and Scholars Against Corporate Misbehavior (SACOM), released the report last week claiming that students aged 16 to 19 were working on Apple Production lines in Chongqing. According to the report, the students were forced by their schools to work at a plant run by Quanta Computer. Apple is investigating a report that has claimed high school students (pictured leaving a factory in Chongqing) China were forced to make the company's watches through 'compulsory internships' unrelated to their field of study The labor rights group, Students and Scholars Against Corporate Misbehavior (SACOM), released the report last week claiming that students aged 16 to 19 were working on Apple Production lines (file image) The students worked illegally through compulsory internships and were placed in jobs unrelated to their field of study, according to the report. SACOM claims the students were also forced to work overtime and in some cases were put on overnight shifts. The aforementioned practices violate Chinese regulations. SACOM said in the report: 'Apple holds an inevitable responsibility to guarantee its Apple Watch exclusive supplier is operating in compliance with Apple's own policy and other local regulations. 'Based on these violations of the rights of student interns, we demand Apple to make improvements immediately.' SACOM demanded that Apple apply stricter 'supplier responsibility standards' to manufacturers worldwide and 'guarantee that all manufacturers comply with local labour laws and regulations'. But Apple told CNN Business that it found 'no student interns working on Apple products' after it audited the Quanta's Chongqing factory three times between March and June. But Apple (file image) said it found 'no student interns working on Apple products' after it audited the Quanta's Chongqing factory three times between March and June 'We are urgently investigating the report that student interns added in September are working overtime and night shifts,' Apple said. 'We have zero tolerance for failure to comply with our standards and we ensure swift action and appropriate remediation if we discover code violations.' Quanta Computer denied the accusations and said it always follows its customers' standards and is working closely with Apple on the investigation. This isn't the first time Apple has come under fire for labor practices in its supply chain. In November 2017, Apple and its biggest manufacturing partner admitted that a small number of students were discovered working overtime in a Chinese factory, violating local labor laws. The students worked voluntarily in the factory for more than 11 hours a day as part of a school internship program at a plant run by Hon Hai Precision Co Ltd, also known as Foxconn, the manufacturer confirmed. 'We discovered instances of student interns working overtime at a supplier facility in China. We've confirmed the students worked voluntarily, were compensated and provided benefits, but they should not have been allowed to work overtime,' Apple said in a statement at the time. Earlier this year, claims emerged that workers at a massive Chinese factory which produces parts for Apple had to work 10-hour shifts under harsh conditions and were not given proper overtime pay or adequate safety protections. Migrant workers, paid as little as 1,950 yuan ($280) a month, were exposed to toxic chemicals at their workshops before returning to filthy eight-person dormitories with cold showers, according to the report by China Labor Watch. A taxi driver who stabbed his wife to death during an argument over him losing up to 80,000 on betting machines was jailed for life today. David Pawluk, 58, repeatedly knifed Margaret Howlett, 63, after learning she wanted to leave his name off the deeds of their new home due to his gambling habit. During the row Pawluk, from Castleton, Greater Manchester, was heard shouting 'You f***ing liar' at Ms Howlett as she begged him for forgiveness. David Pawluk (left), 58, repeatedly knifed Margaret Howlett (right), 63, after learning she wanted to leave his name off the deeds of their new home due to his gambling habit She was stabbed in the face and neck then left dying on the kitchen floor as Pawluk tried to kill himself before fleeing in his taxi. He handed himself in two days later. Police went to the couple's property to find the body of Ms Howlett still in her coat after she was ambushed when she arrived home from a day out with a friend. It emerged in the month before her death, Ms Howlett had confided in a friend that she no longer loved Pawluk and she only had 4,000 left of her 24,000 savings. Investigations revealed he had cashed in 40,000 of his pension to spend on gambling and was overdrawn by 2,000 and had credit card debts of 20,000. Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester heard the couple - both of whom were previously married - had met in 2016 when Pawluk was a regular at a Coral bookmakers where Ms Howlett worked as a manageress. The pair had a 'whirlwind romance' with possessive Pawluk moving into Ms Howlett's home and showering his partner with gifts and holidays. They married in Cyprus in July 2017 but with no friends or family present. The couple planned to sell Ms Howlett's home in Rochdale and buy a bungalow together. The couple - both of whom were previously married - had met in 2016 when Pawluk was a regular at a Coral bookmakers where Ms Howlett worked as a manageress But Ms Howlett - who had two children from her first marriage plus grandchildren - became 'mistrustful' of Pawluk due to his gambling and insisted their new house should be covered in her name alone. Prosecutor Andrew O'Byrne QC said: 'At the time they met Margaret was living at her own home and was in a good position financially - but the same could not be said for the defendant. 'He was divorced and had gambling difficulties. She became detached from her friends and by now was aware her husband had a significant gambling problem. 'Others noticed he became controlling of her. When friends visited be would sit outside in his car and wait for her. 'That controlling nature was recognised by his ex wife Susan who said her ex husband had a gambling problem with them having to remortgage the house four times to pay off debts. He also had an extremely bad temper, especially in drink. 'Margaret told her friend that he was becoming needy. She said there were problems and she was worried about the relating. She had savings of 24,000 and towards the end of the relationship this was down to 4,000. 'She confided that she decided to leave the defendant. She later changed her mind as he managed to talk her out of it but she became aware the equity in the house would be vulnerable.' The pair had a 'whirlwind romance' with possessive Pawluk (pictured) moving into Ms Howlett's home and showering his partner with gifts and holidays In the days before the murder, a fellow worker at the betting shop noted that Pawluk had lost hundreds of pounds on bets and he also texted a friend saying he stood outside a firm of solicitors as he 'needed a divorce.' Tragedy struck on April 10 after Ms Howlett had gone to the hairdresser's, before enjoying a day out with a friend at shops and a restaurant and then arriving home to find Pawluk drunk and angry. Mr O'Byrne said: 'She was still wearing her coat as she had just arrived home. An argument ensued, Margaret said: 'What's wrong with you? This is not you, you're beginning to frighten me'. 'But he grabbed Margaret by the back of the neck, he pushed her to the floor face down with his knee in her back and stabbed her two to three times to the neck. 'The knife came from the kitchen drawer, at one point he had two knives, he didn't remember what he said but she said: 'if you're going to stab me, stab me'. 'He then remembers Margaret going limp. He didn't summon assistance and he thought she was already dead. 'Neighbours heard banging and shouting and screaming and the defendant shouting 'f***ing liar'. Margaret was saying she forgave him and she loved him.' Afterwards Pawluk took pills, cut his wrists, and even tried to drown himself before attempting unsuccessfully to poison himself in his car. The following day he texted a regular taxi customer to say that he wasn't going to be able to pick her up then disappeared. He slept in his cab for two nights before walking into his local police station to confess. It emerged in the month before her death that Ms Howlett (above) had confided in a friend that she no longer loved Pawluk and she only had 4,000 left of her 24,000 savings Officers went to Ms Howlett's home and found her body. She was stabbed repeatedly in the face and sustained a 3.5in-deep (9cm) wound to her spine through her neck. Pawluk told police he 'just lost it' and claimed he felt 'belittled' by Ms Howlett. He admitted murder and was ordered to serve a minimum of 16 years and eight months before he would be considered for parole. Judge John Potter told him: 'This was a savage attack in use of a knife towards a defenceless woman in her own home. You met Margaret at a bookmakers where she worked and where you were a regular customer. 'You had some form of addiction to gambling over many years but you and Margaret embarked upon what others describe as a 'whirlwind romance'. 'You were bestowing gifts, presents and holidays upon her and somewhat exclusively arranged your wedding to her in Cyprus in July 2017 - the evidence being that only you and Margaret were present of those close to you. 'You both expressed your love for each other and at times according to some you appeared to be very much in love with one another. 'Very regrettably this appearance was somewhat deceptive and the evidence of Margaret's close friend is that you became increasingly controlling over Margaret life after your marriage. 'Both you and Margaret discussed independently of each other of your matrimonial difficulties you quickly experienced after your marriage and there in evidence both of you were considering taking legal advice on your marriage. 'There is evidence from the neighbours of you arguing with each other regularly before presenting a public veneer that everything was fine between you the following day. 'This argument occurred for two reasons - firstly your addiction to gambling resulted in Margaret being mistrustful of you and she was worried of the current discussion of where the pair of you lived. 'This very issue caused Margaret to take steps to protect what investment she has by insisting that a new house to be purchased should be covered in her name alone. 'You say this in turn led to you feeling low and less appreciated. This coupled with gambling difficulties as well as your heavy drinking of alcohol resulted in your anger at marital issues in March. 'Margaret was a lovely person who was well liked, reliable and trusted at work. Those closest to her speak of her many caring and giving qualities. 'That day she went out with a friend shopping in Manchester. They visited the hairdressers, some shops, ate at a restaurant and drank moderately before getting a taxi back to their homes in Rochdale. 'This was at 9pm. That afternoon you had been at work as a taxi driver for a period of time before you chose to go out and drink alcohol in Rochdale with a friend. 'You were to drink approximately eight pints before returning home drunk. You arrived home before Margaret and went upstairs to the bedroom. 'You heard a taxi pull up outside at around 10pm and before Margaret even had time to take her coat off, an argument started between yourselves in the kitchen. The neighbours heard banging doors and screaming and raised voices. 'At one point they heard you say Margaret was a 'f***ing liar' and heard Margaret ask you to forgive her. 'Perhaps fuelled by alcohol and some warped sense if grievances you grabbed at least, possibly two knives from the kitchen drawer and stabbed her to the neck, face and hands, which she used to try and protect herself. 'As she lay dying you did nothing it save her. You took her jewellery and then tried to unsuccessfully kill yourself. 'You were later to return the jewellery before then sleeping in your taxi. You did nothing to summon help or assistance. You simply left her dying in her own home.' A woman got quite the fright during a recent fishing trip after she reeled in a crocodile. Initially believing it to be a javelin fish, Gwenda Kingston said she was stunned when she saw her unexpected discovery at Meunga Creek in Cardwell, Queensland. 'I went down to the beach hoping to get some grunter on Tuesday,' Ms Kingston told Townsville Bulletin. 'I hooked what I thought was a grunter and got him into the shoreline when I realised it was a crocodile. The hook had caught his skin near his eye,' she added. Cardwell local Gwenda Kingston got the shock of her life when she reeled in a crocodile while fishing in a creek's mangroves (pictured) Just days before her accidental croc catch, Ms Kingston also caught a rare shark ray, which she later on released back into the wild. Similar incidents have occurred in the Cardwell area in the past. A man unknowingly threw his net over a large crocodile's head when he went fishing in 2004. The crocodile jumped out of the water with the net still on its head. Luckily, the reptile broke away from the net and swam away, leaving the man with just a few wrist burns. Just days before her accidental crocodile catch, Ms Kingston also caught a shark ray, which she later on released back into the wild (pictured) In a separate incident, Dena Leo, who was fishing on the beach with a friend at night, saw a four-metre crocodile come out of the water toward her. Locals jokingly refer to these crocodiles as Cardwell's resident 'swamp dogs'. Meunga Creek is a popular caravan park in the area and is also known to be a thriving fish habitat area. Locals and tourists go to Meunga Creek and often camp here. The wetland area's estuaries and rivers make it an ideal place for fishing. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has had a tough October 2018. The politicians Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party suffered heavy losses in the regional elections in Hesse state, losing around 10 percentage points to only score 28 per cent of the vote. Following the dire performance, Merkel announced that she would not run for re-election as chairwoman of the party in December, a position she has held since 2000. Angela Merkel has revealed that she would step down as German Chancellor in 2021 She then announced that she would be stepping down as German Chancellor after her current term ends in 2021. Here is all you need to know about Angela Merkel including who she is, her political career and what her net worth is. Who is Angela Merkel? Born in West Germany on July 17, 1954 as Angela Kasner, Merkel moved to East Germany when she was just three-months-old, after her father, a Lutheran pastor, received a pastorate in Perleberg, just north of East Berlin. As a teenager, Merkel joined the Free German Youth communist movement in East Germany, which was frequently a requirement for many higher education institutions. In 1973, Merkel began studying physics at the Karl Marx University in Leipzig. It was there that she met her first husband, Ulrich Merkel, in 1977. However, they divorced four years later. She married scientist Joachim Sauer in 1998. Following university, Merkel pursued a career in academia, earning a doctorate in physics and working as a chemist at a scientific academy in East Berlin. in 1999 Merkel demanded Chancellor Helmut Kohl, her mentor, resign over a financial scandal As democracy hurtled towards East Germany, Merkel became increasingly involved in politics. After the wall came down in 1989, Merkel got a job working for the Democratic Awakening party, becoming a deputy spokesperson of the government following the 1990 elections. Later that year, the party merged with the CDU, and following the reunification, Merkel became the elected representative for Stralsund in the Bundestag. Under her mentor, then Chancellor Helmut Kohl, Merkel became the minister for women and youth. When Kohl ended up being embroiled in a finance scandal, Merkel called for his resignation and became the leader of the CDU in 2000. In 2002 she became the leader of the Opposition and three years later, the first female Chancellor in Germanys history. In 2005, Angela Merkel became the first female Chancellor of Germany in the country's history In her time as Chancellor, Merkel became associated with several defining political issues. In the early 2010s she became known as the austerity Chancellor following her imposition of strict budget cuts and measures on Greece, following its financial turmoil. In 2015, Merkel reacted to the migrant and refugee crisis by opening Germanys borders with the message wir schaffen das, which translates as we will manage it. Over 1 million people crossed the Mediterranean to make their way to Germany. However, the open-door policy was not universally popular in Germany, leading to the likes of far-right, anti-immigration movements such as Alternative for Germany (AfD) gaining more prominence. Following the sexual assaults that were perpetrated by migrants in Cologne on New Years Eve 2016 and the spate of Islamist terrorist attacks including the 2016 Berlin Christmas market, Merkels popularity began to decline. AfD ended up up winning 12.6 per cent of the vote and receiving 94 seats in the 2017 election, the first time the party got seats in the Bundestag. Inextricably linked, Merkels CDU endured its worst result since 1949, leaving the party desperately trying to create a coalition with SPD. However, the coalition was never truly a stable one and after months of in-fighting and turmoil, coupled with the disappointing result of the Hesse election, Angela Merkel has decided to let Germany start a new chapter in its history. What is Angela Merkels net worth? Angela Merkels net worth is estimated to be $11.5 million (8.9m), according to Celebrity Net Worth. Merkels salary for her Chancellor role was $234,383-a-year (182,795) in 2015, according to CNN. However, according to CNBC, Merkels salary in 2018 was $369,727 (288,350), making her the highest-paid elected female leader in the world. Her net worth trumps that of the British Prime Minister, Theresa May, who is worth a reported $2.5 million (2m), according to Spear's Magazine, and who earns 153,907-a-year ($197,000). However, her salary pales in comparison to that of Donald Trump, who earns $400,000 for his presidential duties and a $50,000-a-year expense allowance. Royal Navy Commander Steven Heap faces a court martial over claims he twice slapped a female officer's bottom A Royal Navy Commander who was awarded an MBE by Prince Charles and drunkenly slapped a fellow officer's bottom so hard he left her buttock 'sore', says he thought it was 'amusing', a court martial heard today. Highly-respected Cdr Steven Heap had been drinking for several hours and followed the woman onto the dance floor at a Navy base party and slapped her as she danced. When the shocked woman fled and later returned to the dance floor, his right hand struck her backside a second time, a court martial heard. The 48-year-old defended his actions at the party and insisted to the court that it was not a sexual assault because he 'was not trying it on with her'. The hearing was told the Heap accepts he slapped the senior officer's bottom, but claimed he was simply 'joking about'. Heap told the court martial he thought it was 'amusing' and just 'drunken buffoonery'. Heap, who was based at HMS Excellent in Portsmouth, Hampshire, at the time, joined the Navy 30 years ago as a submariner and now works as a nuclear force inspector. The Commander received an MBE from the Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace in 2013. The court martial today heard that Heap had been at a Navy base Christmas party when he drunkenly slapped his victim's bottom. Giving evidence the Commander said, despite being drunk, he could remember what happened during the party. The Commander received an MBE from the Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace in 2013 He told the court: 'I had been drinking during the party and I was drunk. I had been there all afternoon and she was standing at the bar with a mutual friend of ours. 'I came up behind them and made a bit of a commotion. 'Yes, I did touch her. I moved towards her and I made a gesture, pointing to distract her and then slapped her on the bum. 'I thought it would be amusing, it was childish showboating, a ridiculous moment. 'The second time was almost exactly the same, but without the distraction. There was nothing said between the two incidents. 'When I was told by the police there was an allegation of serious sexual assault, it threw me. I thought it meant rape. 'I don't believe it was sexual assault. It was just drunken buffoonery by me.' Prosecutor Wing Commander Michael Saunders told the court Heap initially approached the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, at the bar earlier in the evening. She is said to have told him she wanted nothing to do with him, but he followed her to the dance floor and twice sexually assaulted her, the court heard. Giving evidence today at the trial, the woman told the court a drunken Heap had left her backside 'sore' from the 'firm' slaps at the party. She said: 'I was having a private conversation with a friend at the bar when he came over and was disturbing that conversation. That was the first time I had met him. 'He was clearly very drunk, staff had said they were not going to serve him anymore, I found out, and based on my interaction with him at the bar, I wanted nothing more to do with him. 'I was in civilian clothing at the time and I was enjoying myself with friends. But I became aware of somebody on my right hand side. 'The defendant pointed to something and I went to turn to see what it was and felt a slap to my right butt cheek. It was a firm slap with his right hand. 'I was very taken aback by what happened. I did not confront him, I just removed myself from the situation. Like many Naval officers, Commander Heap is based on Whale Island in Portsmouth Harbour She added: 'I was trying to enjoy myself still and put what had happened behind me. I thought maybe it was just a mistake. 'I didn't want it to ruin my evening, so again I went back on to the dancefloor - the band were very good. 'But again, I was aware of him in close proximity to me and there was a second slap to the buttock. 'It was much the same as the first one, with his right hand to my right buttock, which was already sore from the first slap. 'Again I thought it was weird and inappropriate, but he was really drunk and I wanted to get the hell out of there. 'It was disturbing my evening and I just thought there was not point in trying to rationalise with this person.' Representing Heap, Lieutenant Commander Verity Fane-Bailey told the court colleagues had described the Commander as one of the most outstanding engineers of his generation. Heap, of Poole, Dorset, denies two counts of sexual assault. The trial at Bulford Military Court, Wiltshire, continues. Police in San Diego have arrested a suspect accused of shooting dead a US Navy sailor who stopped on a freeway early Saturday morning to help a motorist who appeared to be stranded. California Highway Patrol officers arrested 21-year-old Brandon Acuna on Saturday morning in connection to the killing of Curtis Adams earlier that day. Adams, 21, an active duty member of the Navy station in San Diego was driving with his girlfriend south on Interstate 15 at around 2.20am when they spotted a man next to a vehicle stopped on the shoulder. Good Samaritan: US Navy sailor Curtis Adams, 21 (left and right) was shot and killed Saturday after stopping to help what he thought was a stranded motorist San Diego police Lt. Anthony Dupree said the couple pulled over to assist, and Adams was immediately shot as he exited his car, reported San Diego Union-Tribune. He later died at UC San Diego Medical Center in Hillcrest from a wound to his upper body. Dupree said it was possible that others also played a role in Adams' killing. The shooter jumped back in his car and drove south, but officers with the CHP caught up with him on Newton Street a short time later. A man who was in his vehicle was also detained. Adams (pictured) was driving with his girlfriend, who was not injured Police believe Acuna was also involved in another shooting that took place just 10 minutes before the sailor's killing. According to police, the 21-year-old opened fire on a man who allegedly caught him trying to break into his car in the 600 block of Boundary Street. The car owner escaped unharmed. Acuna was booked into the San Diego Central Jail shortly after 4pm on charges of first-degree murder and second-degree burglary. Acuna is being held without bail pending his arraignment scheduled for Wednesday afternoon. Nicola Edgington (pictured) had not slept for three weeks when she murdered a stranger with a butcher's cleaver, an inquest heard A mentally-ill killer was smoking skunk and had not slept for three weeks when she murdered a stranger in the street with a butcher's cleaver, an inquest heard. Nicola Edgington, then 31, virtually decapitated Sally Hodkin in Bexleyheath, south-east London, in October 2011, six years after killing her own mother Marion in 2005. The diagnosed schizophrenic was discharged from a mental health facility in 2009 after just three years, despite an order that she be detained indefinitely. But she was not recalled to hospital despite smoking skunk cannabis, not sleeping for three weeks and believing she had suffered a miscarriage, the inquest heard. Mental health professionals had identified 'triggers' which included 'instability in relationships', pregnancy and substance abuse. All were present in the days leading up to the killing but Edgington's care team did not recall her back to hospital, South London Coroner's Court heard. A damning report last year concluded a catalogue of NHS and police failings led to Mrs Hodkin's brutal murder. On the day of the killing, Edgington repeatedly called police to beg for help and told A&E staff she needed to be sectioned and felt like killing someone. Mrs Hodkin's son Len, who is representing the family at the inquest, told the inquest: 'All of those risk factors were present in the lead up to October 10. All of them. 'This information - and it isn't coming to us now with the benefit of hindsight - this information was available to you and other members of the multi-disciplinary team at that time. 'And they had been identified as risk factors. It simply wasn't acted upon.' Edgington, then 31, virtually decapitated Sally Hodkin (left), six years after killing her own mother Marion (right) in 2005 In a statement read to court, Len added: 'Everyone expects their parents to die one day. You hope that day is long away but most people are realistic enough to know it will happen. 'You would like it to be from old age but I accept if it may be though illness or accident but not murder and certainly not in the horrific circumstances surrounding my mum. 'Every time I close my eyes and go to sleep I see my mum lying on the slab in the morgue. I remember how cold she was when I kissed her goodbye. 'She left home to go to work and walked towards the train station, a journey she would not normally have made because she normally got the bus. 'It was the last journey she would ever make. Who was looking after mum's best interest on the 10 October 2011? 'I speak for us all when I say we are extremely angry and let down by the criminal justice system. 'She was 500 yards from her house with a meat cleaver embedded into her neck. We have to live with this every single day.' Edgington approached Mrs Hodkin in Bexleyheath, south-east London, in October 2011, stabbing her repeatedly in the neck The inquest heard Edgington was convicted in 2006 of the manslaughter of her mother Marion and ordered to be detained indefinitely under the Mental Health Act. But after just three years she was deemed to be a 'low risk' to the public. She was released from mental health unit Bracken Centre run by Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust in 2009 and allowed to live in supported living facilities in Greenwich. But in the days leading up to Mrs Hodkin's murder, Edgington told care workers she believed she had had a miscarriage. She had also sent her brother a Facebook message pleading with him to reconnect with her - but was rebuffed in an angry message that told her to 'just do us all a favour and slit your wrists'. Timeline of murder NOVEMBER 2005: Edgington killed her 60-year-old mother Marion in 2005, stabbing her nine times in the face, neck and chest with a kitchen knife at her home in East Grinstead, West Sussex. OCTOBER 2006: Found guilty of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and held under the Mental Health Act. SEPTEMBER 2009: Released from a secure psychiatric hospital. OCTOBER 2011: Attempts to stab Kerry Clark before murdering Sally Hodkin. MARCH 2013: Sentenced to life for murder Advertisement Edgington told a doctor she had not slept for three weeks in the lead-up to the grisly murder, and was smoking skunk cannabis - said to be a specific trigger of Edginton's psychotic episodes. Giving evidence, Edginton's social worker Elizabeth Lloyd-Falkard said: 'She said nothing about having a sleeping problem and she certainly didn't say anything about not taking her medication. 'She had some stressful events and they were discussed with her throughout those three weeks. 'At no point did I recall her saying she was not sleeping. She was not distressed, she spoke about them regretfully but in a calm way. 'Having known her for six years I find it quite difficult to see her masking her symptoms because she was quite an emotional person. 'She would have to be remarkable over a number of weeks to hide psychotic symptoms. It wouldn't have been possible.' Mr Hodkin also criticised mental health services for not taking seriously two allegations that Edgington had threatened people with a knife - once while on a trip to visit her son in Jamaica in March 2010 and another at a nightclub in August 2011. He said: 'These are two instances of threatening to kill someone with a knife and she has killed her mother with a knife. What sort of incident would see her be recalled?' But the coroner heard that the incident in Jamaica was reported by her husband - but later dropped. It was not reported to the Ministry of Justice, it was said. Similarly the allegation about threatening someone outside a nightclub came from a former boyfriend who Edgington claimed was 'harassing her'. Edgington was arrested outside a tile shop by Metropolitan Police officers after running away from the crime scene, having fatally stabbed Mrs Hodkin Ms Lloyd-Falkard said neither of the two incidents were corroborated. It was also said Edgington tried to call Ms Lloyd-Falkard three times on the morning of the murder - but she did not see the missed calls as she did not start work until around two hours later. The social worker added it was still 'beyond her' how Edgington could have gone on to murder Mrs Hodkin. She claims Edgington was a 'caring person' who was only violent during psychotic episodes. Ms Lloyd-Falkard said: 'Whilst she had been violent during psychotic episodes, her natural personality wasn't that. 'She was nice and caring. She looked after other people. 'It is beyond me. I didn't know at the time the fact she had used skunk cannabis. This was a risk factor - based on her having a reaction to the drug. 'She knew perfectly well that it had happened before and if she used cannabis it would send her into a psychotic episode and that's exactly what happened. The inquest continues. A frightened Eryn Jean Norvill told veteran actor Robyn Nevin she was 'in the eye of the storm' after a Sydney newspaper published articles about an allegation Geoffrey Rush behaved inappropriately toward her, according to court documents. Norvill, the young actor now at the centre of Rush's defamation battle against the publisher of the Daily Telegraph and journalist Jonathon Moran, told Nevin she was being hounded by the media and it was 'pretty scary' following the newspaper's 2017 stories. The articles, which didn't identify Norvill, related to an allegation Rush behaved inappropriately toward a female co-star during a Sydney Theatre Company production of King Lear in 2015 and 2016. 'There are many stories not just mine. But I'm fairly alone right now. And the truth is I tried to keep out of it. But here I am, in the eye of the storm,' Norvill said in one text message to Nevin in the early hours of December 2. Eryn Jean Norvill told veteran actor Robyn Nevin she was 'in the eye of the storm' after a Sydney newspaper published articles about an allegation Geoffrey Rush (pictured at the Federal Court on Monday) behaved inappropriately toward her Norvill (pictured), the young actor now at the centre of Rush's defamation battle against the publisher of the Daily Telegraph and journalist Jonathon Moran, told Nevin she was being hounded by the media and it was 'pretty scary' 'I just want to do my job and feel safe.' The text exchange was tendered in the NSW Federal Court on Monday, as Nevin gave evidence at Rush's defamation trial over two articles and a newsagent poster about the allegation of inappropriate behaviour. The Oscar winner denies the claims against him and argues the Telegraph's articles portrayed him as a pervert and a sexual predator. Nationwide News and Moran are pleading a defence of truth and Norvill - who didn't speak with the journalist before he published his articles - has agreed to give evidence. Nevin, who starred in King Lear with Rush and Norvill, had initiated the text exchange with the younger actor after the Telegraph story broke by asking 'Oh dear girl, are you OK??' She told Norvill she hoped she would be protected and to just ask if she needed anything, according to court documents. Robyn Nevin (pictured) denies the claims against him and argues the Telegraph's articles portrayed him as a pervert and a sexual predator But Nevin, who gave evidence for Rush on Monday, said she didn't see anything during King Lear to justify the young actor's complaint and she believed it to be baseless. Under cross-examination by defence barrister Tom Blackburn SC, she said she didn't confront Norvill or question her about it in the messages as 'the damage was done'. 'My concern was for the kind of effect this would have on her when she didn't want it made public,' Nevin said. She said a tearful Norvill had told her during another Sydney Theatre Company production in 2016 that being back at the venue reminded her of the trouble she'd had during King Lear some months earlier. Fellow actor Judy Davis had earlier said Rush had a 'very serious heavyweight reputation' as an actor before the articles appeared, and she loved working with him Following the articles publication, Davis said she'd heard people say his career was finished Nevin said she thought Norvill was reflecting on the 'great struggles' she had playing the character of Cordelia. She strongly denied there was any indication of inappropriate behaviour of a sexual nature, or that she responded: 'Oh I thought Geoffrey had stopped doing that. Poor Jane (Rush's wife).' Nevin became emotional when she recalled Rush's 'state of confusion' after the articles were published about what he was supposed to have done. Fellow actor Judy Davis had earlier said Rush had a 'very serious heavyweight reputation' as an actor before the articles appeared, and she loved working with him. Following their publication, Davis said she'd heard people say his career was finished. The judge-alone trial continues. President Donald Trump has jam-packed his schedule from now until Election Day, scheduling six rallies in the last 11 days of the midterms as his party appears to be conceding control of the House of Representatives and focusing their efforts on maintaining their majority in the Senate. The president will head to the red states he won in 2016 that feature hard-fought Senate races as Republicans shift their hopes to the upper chamber and hope it can act as a counter-balance to a Democratically-controlled House. Among his destinations are Florida, Indiana and Missouri, as well as Montana. Florida in particular is a key site for Republicans with its Democratic candidate for governor ahead in the polls and being brutally attacked as a 'thief' by Trump Monday, while the party's candidate for senate, current governor Rick Scott, is behind in the polls. White House officials are privately conceding their party will likely lose the House, bringing a trifecta of worries: Democrats impeding the president's agenda, an exodus of administration staff who don't want to receive subpoenas in Democratic fishing expedition, and talk of impeachment proceedings against Trump. President Donald Trump has jam packed his schedule from now until Election Day focusing on Senate races, such as the Missouri contest featuring GOP candidate Josh Hawley (above) President Trump will hold six rallies in the last 11 days of the midterms, campaigning for candidates like Marsha Blackburn (above), who's running for the Senate in Tennessee Attack in Florida: How Trump went on offense against Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum, who is ahead in polls. The president campaigns there Wednesday TRUMP'S PRE-ELECTION RALLY BLITZ Wednesday October 31: Fort Myers, Florida Thursday November 1: Columbia, Missouri Friday November 2: Huntington, West Virginia Indianapolis, Indiana Saturday November 3: Bozeman, Montana Pensacola, Florida Sunday November 4: Macon, Georgia Chattanooga, Tennessee Monday November 5: Cleveland, Ohio Fort Wayne, Indiana Cape Girardeau, Missouri Advertisement The president is reported to be in a dark mood at the prospect of Democrats in power on Capitol Hill, which will likely result in an investigation of his finances and his administration. Staff are expected to leave and be difficult to replace with the possibility of subpoena after subpoena facing them. 'How do you restaff with top quality folks knowing that you're going to be subpoenaed? If you go in, you better be wealthy because you're going to need to pay a lawyer,' former White House adviser Steve Bannon told Bloomberg. 'This whole thing is psychological warfare, and it'll affect the ability to attract great people.' White House political director Bill Stepien is already laying the ground work to shift the blame away from Trump if the House is lost. In an internal memo obtained by Bloomberg News, Stepien argues the Republican Party was harmed by historical headwinds, a wave of incumbent retirements, and strong fundraising by Democratic candidates. With hopes being lowered for the House, they are being raised by the Senate, where the GOP hopes control of that chamber would act as a counter balance to a Democratically-controlled House. To that end, Trump is focusing his campaign time on states where he can keep his party in power in the upper chamber. He'll head to Florida, Missouri, West Virginia, Montana, Indiana, Tennessee, and Ohio - all states he won in the 2016 election, according to a campaign schedule obtained by Axios. Only Tennessee has a seat already held by Republicans. The rest of the states feature races where a GOP candidate is trying to knock off a Democratic incumbent. But Stepien sets a low bar for the upper chamber in his memo, writing 'not losing Senate seats' would be 'a victory of historic proportions.' Nevada, held by GOP Sen. Dean Heller, is seen as the most vulnerable GOP-held Senate seat. Hillary Clinton carried the state in 2016. Additionally, the White House is considering a joint rally with both Trump and Vice President Mike Pence on the eve of Election Day, CNN reported. Florida is of special concern to the president, with a brutal attack Monday on Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum as a 'thief' in a tweet that implied there are deep corruption issues in the Tallahassee mayor's office. Trump didn't say what exactly the Democrat squaring off next Tuesday against Ron DeSantis stole, but may have been hinting at a scandal involving free tickets to the Broadway hit musical Hamilton that Gillum was revealed to have been caught up in this month. 'In Florida there is a choice between a Harvard/Yale educated man named @RonDeSantisFL who has been a great Congressman and will be a great Governor - and a Dem who is a thief and who is Mayor of poorly run Tallahassee, said to be one of the most corrupt cities in the Country!' the president tweeted. Gillum is about by an average of 3.2 points in the governor's race, and every recent poll has him ahead. Former President Barack Obama is campaigning for the Florida mayor - who would be the first black governor in the state's history - and sitting Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson on the Sunday before the election in Miami. The race between Gillum and DeSantis has been ugly, with the former congressman coming under fire for saying that his black opponent would 'monkey this up' if elected. He says the comment was not intended to be racist. Gillum has been the subject of explicitly racist robocalls, though, that were paid for by a white supremacist group operating out of Idaho. 'Well hello there. I is the negro Andrew Gillum and I'll be askin' you to make me governor of this here state of Florida,' the voice on the call says. 'My state opponent, who done call me monkey, is doin' a lot of hollerin' about how 'spensive my plans for health care be.' Vicious: The contest between Democratic Andrew Gillum and Republican Ron DeSantis to be Florida governor has become racially loaded and now Trump is throwing in accusations of corruption The mayor's campaign has decried the robocalls as 'abhorrent' and said that they are 'a continuation of the ugliest, most divisive campaign in Florida's history.' Gillum has meanwhile faced claims that he violated gift laws. Documents released this month revealed that he accepted 'Hamilton' tickets from an undercover FBI agent conducting a sting operation. DeSantis bashed Gillum for the alleged violation in a televised debate. 'The question is, did you pay for the 'Hamilton' ticket, or did the undercover FBI agent pay for the 'Hamilton' ticket?' DeSantis asked him. Gillum says he didn't understand that he was accepting a 'gift' that could be prohibited under the law. 'I didn't take free trips from anybody,' Gillum shot back, without answering directly. 'I'm a hardworking person. I know that may not fit your description of what you think people like me do. But I've worked hard for everything that I've gotten in my life, and I don't need anybody handing me anything for free.' Gillum told NBC that when he arrived at the theater, his brother handed him the ticket. 'The idea that I accepted a gift never came to me. What Ive tried to do throughout this whole process is be as open and transparent as I possibly can be. I understand that my opponent is attempting as best he can to muddy the waters here.' The man who tried to rescue a father and son who drowned at Airlie Beach has spoken of the unthinkable decision he had to make in the pair's last minutes. David Muir, 37, was swimming in the same lagoon as the 30-year-old man and his five-year-old boy when he saw the father be pulled from the pool at 4pm on Sunday. As he helped perform CPR on the man, he realised a child was still under water. David Muir, 37, (pictured) tried to rescue a Chinese tourist, 30, and his son, five, after they drowned in a popular lagoon 'I turned around and I could see a child under the water. It was like, do I carry on or do I abort what I'm doing to go and rescue the child,' Mr Muir told the Courier Mail. As he was weighing up what to do, Mr Muir recounted two people running into the water to grab him. He then continued to work on the unconscious man for about 40 minutes while paramedics performed CPR on the child before taking him to hospital. After hearing the father and son couldn't be revived, Mr Muir was left devastated, saying he wished there was more he could have done. 'I did all I could, I'm sorry it wasn't enough. It's a very sad day and it's a wake up a call for how quick these things happen.' he said. He was swimming in Airlie Beach Lagoon (pictured) when he saw the father be pulled from the pool at around 4pm on Sunday 'When you're kneeling down next to two people who are dead in front of you and you're trying to revive them that's a pretty powerful memory to live with.' The father and son had been travelling from overseas with other family members. Both were rushed to Proserpine Hospital for treatment but were unable to be revived. The pair were two of four tourists who drowned on the Queensland coast over the weekend. A 70-year-old man was holidaying on Fitzroy Island, in Far North Queensland, when he was pulled unconscious from the water at 11am on Friday. A 72-year-old American man died on Saturday, after drowning at Agincourt Reef, located 65km north of the tourist hub, Port Douglas. Both were rushed to hospital but were unable to resuscitate them. According to the Royal Life Saving National Drowning Report 2017, 291 people died in Australian waters in 2017. One of the rabbis who survived Saturday's abhorrent attack at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh has said it would be his 'honor' to meet President Trump despite claims from others that the president is not welcome there. On Monday morning, Rabbi Jeffrey Myers said he would 'always' welcome a sitting president to the site. 'It would be my honor to always meet a president of the United States,' he said during an appearance on Good Morning America. He went on: 'These are good decent people. They didn't have an ounce of hate in any of them. 'We turn to the leaders of our country, we've got to stop hate. It can't just be to say, we need to do we need to act to tone down a rhetoric. Scroll down for video Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, who survived Saturday's shooting, said on Monday morning that it would be his 'honor' to welcome President Trump to Pittsburgh despite remarks from other Jewish leaders and members of the congregation that they do not want him there 'Hate is not welcome here in Pittsburgh and it should not be welcome on our borders. at all.' Rabbi Myers gave a harrowing account of how he survived the shooting by running into the choir loft and then into a bathroom where he held the door shut with 'all his might' while gunman Robert Myers opened fire. 'We started 9.45 and the regulars are there, these good decent people. Within a few minutes I heard what I thought was the crashing metal of one of the coat racks and I thought one of our seniors maybe lost his or her balance and pulled on it to right themselves and fell, god forbid, or something. 'At that moment, three members of Dor Hadash, one of the congregations we house in our building, I saw them run downstairs. 'I couldn't save those eight people. I heard him execute my congregants. 'That's when the next hail of bullets rang out within another 10 or 15 seconds. Though I've never personally witnessed or heard gunfire until this moment, something inside told me, this is gunfire. 'I quickly told my congregants to just drop to the floor, be quiet, don't say a word. I thought, the pews are thick old wood... perhaps there's some protection there.' Myers was able to get the people closest to him out through doors at the front of the sanctuary but he could not save those who were further to the back. Choking back tears, he described having to leave them and run for his own life. 'I tried to see if i could get the remaining people who were in the back of the congregation but I could tell the gunfire was getting louder. 'I couldn't save those eight people,' he said. He fled upstairs, into the choir loft, and listened as Bowers murdered those who had no time to escape. Rabbi Jeffrey Myers was leading prayers in the main sanctuary when the gunman burst in. He got the people in the front to safety but could not save the eight victims in the back. He told on Monday how he was forced to flee as he heard the gunman approach and ran to a bathroom upstairs to hide. The door was locked so he held it closed 'with all his might' and prayed that Bowers would not find him until SWAT teams rescued him and told him to run across the road. That is when this picture was taken (above) on Saturday of Myers, with his prayer shawl still wrapped around him 'I heard him execute my congregants. I couldn't watch,' he said. He had his cell phone on him, something he had been taught to do by a security expert, and was the first person to call 911. He stayed on the phone as he ran to safety upstairs and hid in a bathroom. To his horror when he got inside, the door was locked. 'With all my might, I just held on to the door and prayed to God, "Don't find me." After what seemed like an eternity, SWAT came and rescued me but at that point they had not caught him, he was still at large in the facility. 'They had me run across the street so that's probably that photo, the 15-minutes-of-fame photo, of me running across the street with my prayer shawl on,' he said. While Myers shares the view that action must be taken, his hospitable attitude towards the president is in sharp contrast to that of Bend the Arc, a Jewish activist organization which issued a petition on Saturday which explicitly told Trump: 'You are not welcome in Pittsburgh until you fully denounce white nationalism.' Some members of the Tree of Life share the view including former president Lynnette Lederman who said: 'I do not welcome this President to my city. 'The hypocritical words that come from him tell me nothing. 'We have very, very strong leadership in this city. We have a very strong mayor with very strong values, a very strong county executive in Rich Fitzgerald. 'We have people who stand by us, who believed in values not just Jewish values, but believe in values and those are not the values of this President and I do not welcome him to Pittsburgh.' Barry Werber, who hid from the gunman on Saturday in a closet as he rained bullets on his friends, said he did not want Trump to visit. Bowers entered the Tree of Life synagogue at 9.45am on Saturday and turned left into the main sanctuary first, killing eight people there before going to the basement. He then tried to leave but was confronted by cops on his way out and retreated back into the building and fled upstairs to the third floor where he was eventually taken into custody Freshly dug graves are seen at the Tree of Life Memorial Park on October 29, two days after the atrocity. It is customary for Jews to be buried within three days of dying 'I hope he doesn't. I hope he doesn't. We have no use for him. It's part of his program to instigate his base. 'He's calling himself a nationalist. The last political group that I heard call themselves nationalists were Nazis,' he said. In an open letter to Trump, Bend the Arc accused Trump of fueling hatred and indirectly contributing to the massacre. For the past three years your words and your policies have emboldened a growing white nationalist movement. You yourself called the murderer evil, but yesterdays violence is the direct culmination of your influence. Trump is accused by the group of deliberately undermin[ing] the safety of people of color, Muslims, LGBTQ people, and people with disabilities. Yesterdays massacre is not the first act of terror you incited against a minority group in our country, the letter read. President Trump, you are not welcome in Pittsburgh until you stop targeting and endangering all minorities. Bend the Arc, a Jewish activist organization, issued this open letter to the president on Saturday on behalf of its 'Pittsburgh leaders' Bend the Arc also demanded that Trump cease [his] assault on immigrants and refugees. The group noted that the gunman, Robert Bowers, was angry at the Jewish community because of the work of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, a Jewish nonprofit that helps resettle migrants and refugees. Trump came into office vowing to crack down on illegal immigration. His administration has implemented controversial policies, including separating children from their parents after they crossed the southern border. The Torah teaches that every human being is made btzelem Elohim, in the image of God, the letter reads. This means all of us. President Trump, you are not welcome in Pittsburgh until you commit yourself to compassionate, democratic policies that recognize the dignity of all of us. Trump stoked controversy with his initial remarks on Saturday where he said the shooting would not have happened if the synagogue had had its own armed security. He described it as a 'shame' and said gun laws had 'little to do with it'. Later, while on stage at a Future Farmers of America event, he was more sympathetic and condemned the act as 'wicked' and 'twisted'. He called for unity and abhorred antisemitism but his critics have not been satisfied with the speech and say he has to do more in a general sense to tone down the angry division spreading through the country. Gypsy Rose Blanchard sounded happy in the phone call to her best friend, Aleah, as she rattled off the tips she was learning about hair and makeup from her new pals the type of conversations had by countless young women embarking on a new life chapter or adventure. She was in her mid-20s, and Aleah could tell that Gypsy was feeling free, independent and more mature. But the articulate brunette with a childlike voice was not calling from a college dorm or new city; instead, she was phoning Aleah from prison, and her conversation began with profuse apologies. Gypsy was serving a ten-year sentence in connection with the 2015 murder of her own mother, and her entire friendship with Aleah had been based on lies. For nearly two decades, Gypsys mother, Dee Dee, had woven an elaborate web of untruths, telling friends and family across the country that her only daughter suffered from leukemia, muscular dystrophy, epilepsy and a host of other severe health problems. She kept Gypsys hair in a buzz cut, lied about her age and said the girl was confined to a wheelchair. Dee Dee presented herself as the ultimate selfless caretaker who devoted every moment to looking after her daughter. Then Gypsy and the boyfriend she found on an internet dating site conspired to kill her in the Missouri home mother and daughter shared; Gypsy hid in the bathroom while her boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn, fatally stabbed Dee Dee in her bed. The couple fled to his home state of Wisconsin, sparking a massive manhunt as authorities searched for the allegedly disabled teen. The discovery of Gypsy safe and sound and able-bodied and cancer-free quickly morphed from relief to shock and disbelief amongst the people who knew her best. She pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in exchange for a more lenient sentence, while Godejohn remains in custody awaiting a trial scheduled to start next month. He faces life in prison. Scroll down for video Louisiana woman Dee Dee Blanchard, right, convinced family, friends and the public that her daughter, Gypsy Rose, left, suffered from serious health problems - though the girl was actually perfectly healthy Gypsy, pictured in the hospital, was prescribed numerous medications and underwent multiple surgeries as a young girl - before rebelling against her mother's controlling ways Gypsy, now in her mid-20s, speaks in a new documentary; she and a boyfriend she found on the internet orchestrated her mother's murder in 2015, and Gypsy accepted a plea deal for second-degree murder for which she is currently serving a 10-year sentence Gypsy Rose, left, and Wisconsin man Nicholas Godejohn, right, were both arrested in the death of Dee Dee Blanchard; both have admitted he fatally stabbed the woman and his trial is scheduled to begin next month. He says in the film: No matter what happens, Im always going to love her unconditionally They both speak about the crime in upcoming documentary Gypsys Revenge, which premieres November 6 on Investigation Discovery and offers not only a stark exploration of the deceit perpetrated by Dee Dee but also vastly different takes on the relationship between the conspirators who planned her murder. The pair have not spoken since their arrests more than three years ago. No matter what happens, Im always going to love her unconditionally, Godejohn says in the film, adding: To this day, I still do love her and I know for a fact that she still does love me. Gypsy, however now sporting locks that tumble beyond her shoulders and a markedly different air of confidence seems to feel the very opposite. Now that Ive grown and matured, I know the difference between love and infatuation, she says in the film. He wants to feel whatever he wants to feel, but I dont love him no more. The entire saga began more than 25 years ago in Louisiana, when Dee Dee became pregnant by her boyfriend, 17-year-old Rod Blanchard, several years her junior and wild as a weed, he says in the film. The pair had a shotgun wedding that was short-lived, but Rod committed to supporting Dee Dee and Gypsy and playing as much of a role in his daughters life as he could. Soon, however, his ex-wife began insisting Gypsy has serious health problems; by the time she was about seven, he says, his daughter was confined to a wheelchair. After that first time I saw her in the wheelchair, I never seen her walk again, Rod says. But through all the illnesses, shes always been a trooper. Shes always been all smiles. As he continued to financially help his ex and daughter, however, Dee Dee kept moving Gypsy further and further away first to other parts of Louisiana and then, after Hurricane Katrina devastated the state, to Missouri. It seemed like Dee Dee was never letting us build that father/daughter relationship that youre supposed to have with your children, says Rod, who describes his contact with Gypsy as mostly via phone and sending presents. I never raised any really hard questions with Dee Dee, because shed still allow me to talk to her when I called, he says, adding: I knew that if I raised any serious questions or issues, shed cut me off in a minute. But the extent of the lies spun by Dee Dee who was posthumously considered to have Munchausen by proxy syndrome, in which a caregiver keeps a dependent sick to bask in the attention themselves never occurred to him. And he was far from the only one duped by Dee Dee, who received everything from modified cars to concert tickets and vacations and even a house from well-meaning charities and people. Even Gypsys many doctors seemed taken in by the farce; she had multiple surgeries, was on various medications and even had a feeding tube installed because Dee Dee insisted her daughter couldnt eat normally. She altered Gypsys birth certificate to make her seem younger and more easily controllable, convincing the girl she had years before she turned 18. Dee Dees interactions with doctors were also aided by Katrina itself, because she claimed all of Gypsys records had been destroyed in the storm. She had a very persuasive persona on the outside you would almost think that shes just the kindest, sweetest, most genuine woman, an adult Gypsy says in the film. Dee Dee and Gypsy Rose lived in Louisiana until Hurricane Katrina devastated the state in 2005; they relocated to Springfield, Missouri, where they were given a house with a ramp and a modified vehicle for transporting Gypsy, who was allegedly disabled To outsiders, mother and daughter had a wonderfully loving relationship, though Gypsy later asserted that Dee Dee was controlling, abusive and manipulative The family accepted everything from concert tickets and transportation to vacations - such as this Disney trip - from well-meaning people and charities who believed Gypsy was dying Gypsy enjoyed dressing up and had a bubbly, grateful, childlike personality; she says in the film that she went along with her mother's ruse because she truly believed she had many health problems and was also afraid of defying Dee Dee Many friends and family were shocked in 2015 when Gypsy - who they thought was severely disabled - walked unaided into the courtroom to be charged in connection with her mother's gruesome murder; Dee Dee was stabbed in her bed in the Missouri home the pair shared She adds: If she found the doctor didnt agree with what she wanted she would switch to a different doctor that she would find. Ive probably seen over 100 doctors in my life. As she grew older, however, Gypsy knew that she could walk and eat, though she believed she did have many of the serious ailments and continued going along with Dee Dees ruse especially because she claims her mother controlled and abused her. I couldnt just jump out of the wheelchair because, to be honest, I was afraid what my mother might do, Gypsy says in the new documentary. I didnt think that I had anyone to trust. I couldnt trust Aleah, because my mother was starting to put things in my head that Aleah wasnt my true friend and that she was a bad influence on me so I couldnt be friends with her. When it came to asking her father for help, she says: I grew up with my mom saying all these horrible things about him that he abandoned us, that he didnt love me or her, that he didnt want anything to do with me. If Id known then what I know now, I wouldve reached out to anybody for help but I was too afraid to. The pull of human relationships, though friendship and romance made her a bit bolder as she got older, and homeschooled Gypsy began contacting people under secret profiles she created online. One of those was friend and neighbor Aleah Woodmansee, who was a few years Gypsys senior or so she thought. We were very friendly to each other, but we hadnt really gotten to know each other on like a real friendship level until she started messaging me [on facebook,] Aleah says in the film. Gypsy had set up a secret facebook account so that we could talk and she could vent without having to be filtered or censored by her mom because her mom was always present every time we were hanging out together. She was just coming to me like an older companion, because shes only ever had her mom her entire life. And I figured I could be that friend that could be there and listen to her and share secrets with so she started calling me her big sis and I started calling her little sis. Much of the advice Gypsy was seeking centered on boys and she confided in Aleah that shed met a boyfriend named Nicholas online; they even prepared to marry. Aleah, fearing a predator, urged caution but assumed that Dee Dee would keep an eye on things. She hadnt the faintest clue that Gypsy and the out-of-state boyfriend were capable of hatching a murder plan, but thats exactly what they would soon get up to. They met online in 2012 and within a week considered themselves a couple; about a year later, Gypsy told him the truth: that she could walk. He, in turn, struggled with some mental problems, and he told Gypsy about having multiple personalities trapped inside him. She told Nick that they could only be together if her mother was completely out of the picture and they began searching murder methods such as poison and arson before settling on stabbing. On June 10, 2015, he traveled from Wisconsin to the Blanchard home in Springfield, Missouri, fatally stabbing Dee Dee, leaving the body in the house and then absconding with Gypsy. Within days, the pair left gruesome comments on the facebook page Dee Dee and Gypsy shared such as That b***h is dead allegedly to alert friends and family that something was wrong to ensure Dee Dees body would be found. Authorities traced the IP address to Godejohns family home in Big Bend, and the pair were discovered. We thought that we would never get caught, Gypsy says in the film. I felt like this is a fairytale, and I was gonna be the princess that gets rescued and then Id be happy in Wisconsin, where Id be loved and Id have my freedom and have this wonderful new life. What started as a fairytale ended as a horror movie. The couple were both charged with first-degree murder, but Gypsy pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of second-degree and was given a ten-year sentence. She insists in the movie that she had no idea she didnt have cancer and various other ailments until her lawyer told her that tests indicated she was perfectly healthy. It also transpired that at least one pediatric neurologist had suspected Munchausen by proxy but failed to alert social services. I dont blame her for what she done, Gypsys father says in the film. Everyone failed Gypsy, from myself, her mother, doctors, police, social services. We all looked out for ourselves [and werent] totally looking out for her. New documentary Gypsy's Revenge, which airs on Investigation Discovery on November 6, includes revelations about Dee Dee's own past - such as the overbearing mother who wouldn't let her play with her siblings and her criminal past, including shoplifting and fraud Dee Dee told medical professionals, after relocating from Louisiana to Missouri, that her daughter's medical records had been destroyed in Hurricane Katrina; Gypsy says in the new film: She had a very persuasive persona on the outside you would almost think that shes just the kindest, sweetest, most genuine woman ... If she found the doctor didnt agree with what she wanted she would switch to a different doctor that she would find ... Ive probably seen over 100 doctors in my life Dee Dee repeatedly moved Gypsy further and further away from relatives and the girl's father, Rod Blanchard, to avoid detection; he says in the film: I dont blame [Gypsy] for what she done ... Everyone failed Gypsy, from myself, her mother, doctors, police, social services. We all looked out for ourselves [and werent] totally looking out for her The film also includes various revelations about Dee Dees treatment by her own mother a woman who often told her other children that her youngest daughter was sick and couldnt play and Dee Dees criminal past, involving behaviors such as shoplifting and fraud. Friends and family from all corners of the Blanchard womens lives felt utterly betrayed and horrified as more and more information filtered out. It became one of the least difficult cases Ive ever seen in establishing: This is Munchausen by proxy, Dr Marc Feldman, a psychiatry professor, says in the film, adding that Dee Dee was a woman of fairly few accomplishments who reveled in the sense of identity of the indefatigable, heroic caregiver who left others breathless with the excellence of her child-rearing. My view of Dee Dee I mean, once I started realizing the extent of what she did and her actions I started realizing how cruel she was and how she allowed her daughter to be essentially tortured constantly for all of her life, Aleah says. She adds: I just dont know what I was doing to make her feel like I couldnt do something. I dont know what made her resist just opening up and just telling me what was going on. The crime left a wave of confusion, disbelief, shock and horror in its wake but one person who seems to be adjusting fine is Gypsy, who will be eligible for parole in 2024. She is due to get out of prison at the age of 32. I have a lot of complicated emotions for my mother, she says in the film. There are some times that Im angry at her; there are times where Im like, she just was so desperate for somebody to love her. But regardless of all that, I still love her and I still miss her. She was my mother. Aleah, recounting that prison phone call from the friend she truly barely knew, says: She immediately started apologizing for everything, and then she started carrying on about how shes learning to do her hair and shes learning to do her makeup and shes making friends. I mean, honestly, it sounds like shes just away for college. And I feel like, as sad as it may sound, her story really does finally have a happy ending at least for her. A British former cage fighter was 'left for dead' on a street in Australia after he was brutally attacked by a crowbar-wielding Muslim taxi driver after they argued about religion. Euan Fraser, 30, from Dundee, Scotland, said the cabbie beat him unconscious on his doorstep, leaving him with PTSD and a bleed on the brain. The atheist claims the attack happened after he got out of the car in Melbourne after what he thought was a harmless discussion about the 'deaths and wars' caused by religion. Euan Fraser, 30, from Dundee, Scotland, (pictured after the attack, left; and before, right) said the cabbie beat him unconscious on his doorstep, leaving him with PTSD Mr Fraser, from Dundee, Scotland, was knocked out and medics did tests which showed he was struck with a thick metal pole, like a crowbar. The backpacker was forced to shell out 4,000 for medical treatment. Describing the incident, he said: 'As I got out of the taxi I just heard footsteps behind me and heard a loud bang. Then I felt this immense pain in my head and I was knocked clean out. 'I was laid into when I was on the floor. I was left lying there in a pool of blood. He left me for dead. 'I woke up with blood in my eyes and my clothes were soaked. I stumbled into the kitchen and it looked like a murder scene. 'I had never seen so much blood. My whole body was in agony. I was so scared. 'I needed 12 stitches on my face and I had a few broken ribs, a dislocated shoulder and a bleed on the brain. It has totally changed my life forever.' Mr Fraser, who stands 6ft 5ins tall, flagged down the yellow cab after a night out with a friend in Melbourne in June last year. The atheist (seen in hospital) claims the attack happened after he got out of the car in Melbourne after what he thought was a harmless discussion about religion The tourist recalled how he and the taxi driver spoke 'at length' about the driver's Muslim background and he became visibly annoyed when he said he was an atheist. Mr Fraser, who was working on a farm at the time, argued that religion had 'played a part in causing deaths and wars' throughout history. The architecture student said: 'He didn't like it at all when I started expressing my views. He started to preach his religion on me. 'I argued that science was responsible for evolution rather than religion, which he didn't like either. 'I tried to change the conversation but he kept going on about it. I could see he was getting wound up.' He got out the car expecting the cabbie to drive off when he was smashed over the head and 'beaten to a pulp'. When he woke up he recalls having pain all over his body and believes his assailant battered him as he laid unresponsive on the pavement. He stumbled into his home before collapsing on the kitchen floor. Mr Fraser sustained bruised ribs, a battered shoulder, multiple cuts to his face and a bleed on the brain during the sickening attack. He called an Uber to Sunshine Hospital in Melbourne where he stayed for around a week, and was forced to borrow money from friends to pay for a 4,000 medical bill. He was treated on a specialist mental health ward after he started experiencing suicidal thoughts. Mr Fraser has been reimbursed for his medical bills and awarded 2,500 in injury compensation by the Australian government following the attack. Mr Fraser sustained bruised ribs, a battered shoulder, multiple cuts to his face and a bleed on the brain during the sickening attack Police investigated but have yet to trace the taxi driver. Mr Fraser travelled home to his family in the UK a few weeks after the attack and has only just felt able to speak out. The Briton, who lives with girlfriend, Sharon Macrae, 34, said he's been left mentally scarred, now suffers with PTSD and often has nightmares. 'It has left me in a terrible place and has totally changed my life,' he said. 'I used to be a really confident person but since the attack I have terrible nightmares. It has seriously affected my mental health. 'Whenever I think about it I get upset. It was just absolutely shocking. I just can't believe that someone would do that to me. I'm a big guy, 6ft 5in tall and 20 stone, and I never thought anyone would be capable of that. 'I'll be stuck with PTSD for life. I wake up screaming and shouting in the night quite a lot. I keep reliving what happened in my head. I will never be the same again.' The former cage fighter on holiday in Melbourne, Australia's second-biggest city, before the attack A Melbourne Police spokesperson said: 'Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding an assault in Aberfeldie on 12 June, 2017. 'It is believed a man was standing outside his home address on Fawkner Street in the early hours of the morning when he was struck in the back of the head by an unknown offender. 'The victim, 29-years-old at the time, sustained serious head injuries. The victim reported having a verbal altercation with a taxi driver prior to the incident. 'Investigators have not identified the offender at this stage and the investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 180 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au. NBC managed to score a surprising ally in their ongoing exit negotiations with ousted Today host Megyn Kelly - her alma mater. The network's website published an op ed over the weekend that was written by the group Students for Peace and Survival at Bethlehem Central High School, which is where Kelly attended high school in upstate New York. And the title of the piece said it all: 'Megyn Kelly went to our high school and, no, blackface wasn't 'OK' here when she was a kid.' The piece went online Sunday, two days after NBC had hoped to have wrapped up exit talks with Kelly. That has not been the case however, and the network and embattled host are fighting over just how much of her $69 million contract will be paid out in the wake of her comments on blackface. Scroll down for video Then and now: NBC published a piece in which students at Megyn Kelly's high school debunked the notion that blackface was acceptable when she growing up (Kelly in 1988 in high school on left, last week on right) Front ans center: NBC gave the piece prominent placement on its website (above) in the 24 hours after it was published as the network tries wrap up exit talks with the host On Today: Jenna Bush Hager took over for Megyn Kelly on Thursday, appearing halfway through the third hour of Today The piece was written by current students at the high school and not Kelly's own classmates, though the authors are quick to explain why they feel confident in their response to her blackface remarks. 'Those comments definitely do not speak to who we are in Bethlehem or at Bethlehem Central High School, from which she graduated in 1988. Blackface is not acceptable anywhere in America, and it is not acceptable in our town,' states the piece. 'We weren't alive when Megyn was in high school but, in the recollection of many of our parents who grew up around here, it was not acceptable even in the 1980s town that she knew. ' The teenagers then discuss the fact that their town is largely homogenous, which has led to racial issues, and that minstrel shows were performed as fundraisers at the school until the late 1960s. 'Racism might have become more subtle in the intervening years, but it remains just as potent a force in the society into which we're about to enter as adults,' reads the op ed. 'The reason that Megyn's comments about blackface being 'OK' when she was a kid (let alone her statement at the time that 'I don't know how [blackface] got racist on Halloween,' in response to prior critics of the practice) were so offensive is that blackface is a projection of the racism that lies much deeper, and a symbol of times that are not quite as far past as we may wish to admit.' The writers then continue: 'As young people, we know that racial stereotyping and institutional discrimination hurts all of our futures. On race and so many other issues, our generation is waking up to a world in need of fixing and it's falling on us to make change happen.' There is an acknowledgement of the fact that Kelly did apologize and the recognition that all people misspeak from time to time, but the piece then points out that 'retroactively showing "sensitivity" isn't nearly enough to prevent the cycle from continuing.' The 25 students then close out by debunking some conceptions about the youth of America. 'There is often an idea today that young people like us are apathetic, brainwashed into certain ideals by those above us and too disengaged to make a difference. Nothing could be further from the truth. Were speaking for ourselves here, as our own small part in the conversation America needs to have,' writes the group. 'If there's one thing about our generation, it's that we do not accept the status quo. Perhaps its naivete, but in a society still bearing the scars of the times of blackface, a little bit of the innocence of hope might be necessary.' NBC News gave the piece a very prominent placement on its opinion vertical in the 24 hours after it was published, despite the many major news events that took place around the country over the past four days. The headline is written out in full on the page, while the preview for the piece reads: 'Her apology was a start, but isnt nearly enough to prevent the stereotyping and discrimination that hurts all our futures.' But first: Hoda Kotb, Craig Melvin and Al Roker appeared at the top of the third hour on Today Monday (above) due to the breaking news out of Pittsburgh Segment: Melvin and Roker joined Jenna Bush Hager to shoot in the $10 million studio NBC built for Kelly, though there was no studio audience on Monday (Melvin, Hager and Roker doing a segment about first responders on Monday above) The day: It was written by 25 students and titled: 'Megyn Kelly went to our high school and, no, blackface wasn't 'OK' here when she was a kid' (Kelly last week with her panel on the day she made her blackface remark) Today, as you know, we are starting a new chapter in the third hour of our show as it evolves. We want you to know that the entire TODAY family will continue to bring you informative and important stories, just as we always have. pic.twitter.com/7xC0tyPdZT TODAY (@TODAYshow) October 29, 2018 Kelly was replaced by Jenna Bush Hager on Monday when Today aired a new episode of the third hour for the first time since the embattled host was ousted from the NBC morning show. She did not appear however until the second half of the third hour, as the show kept the focus on the news out of Pittsburgh for much of the episode, where Savannah Guthrie was reporting for the network. There was a brief mention of the recent events at the top of the program, when Hoda Kotb, Craig melvin and Al Roker kicked off the hour, but no mention of Kelly's name. 'Today, as you know, we are starting a new chapter in the third hour of our show,' said Kotb. 'And as it evolves we want you to know the entire Today family will continue to bring you informative and important stories just as we always have.' Kotb only appeared at the top of the hour in light of the show's breaking news coverage following the mass shooting at a synagogue over the weekend. As a result, the reveal of who was replacing Kelly was delayed for some time, with Kotb finally announcing halfway through the hour that Hager would be taking over the show after the commercial break. Hager was then seen alone in Kelly's studio, which was shot to look incredibly small and intimate despite the $10 million that was spent to build the venue. There was also no live studio audience. Hager did her first segment alone before being joined on a couch by Melvin and Roker for an interview. It was a very low key and dialed back affair, but one that seemed to make use of Kelly's crew. It was announced on Friday that Kelly would not be returning to the third hour of Today. 'Megyn Kelly Today is not returning. Next week, the 9 a.m. hour will be hosted by other TODAY co-anchors,' said a spokesperson. Kelly's lawyer was quick to issue a statement in the wake of that announcement, saying: 'Megyn remains an employee of NBC News and discussions about next steps are continuing.' She is currently still being paid. China has revised a law on the ban of rhino horn and tiger bone products that would now allow domestic trade and use of the products under 'special circumstances'. Horns of rhinos or bones of tigers that were bred in captivity could be used 'for medical research or clinical treatment of critical illnesses', the new law announced today by The State Council said. Rhino horn and tiger products classified as 'antiques' could be used in 'cultural exchanges' with the approval of culture authorities, although they still may not be sold on the market or exchanged via the internet. The animal specimens may be obtained only from farms, the notice stated, but environmental groups say this controversial move may cause confusion to consumers and law enforcers while creating a setback on the protection of these endangered animals. Ivory tusks, rhino horns and leopard skins seized by Hong Kong customs officials displayed during a press conference in 2013. China has now revised a law on the ban of rhino horn and tiger bone products that would now allow domestic trade of the products in 'special cases Both tiger bone and rhino horn were removed from the traditional Chinese medicine pharmacopeia in 1993 following a public outry China previously banned all use and trade of rhinoceros horn and tiger bone in 1993 and removed the use of the products from the traditional Chinese medicine pharmacopeia following a public outcry. 'All activities related to using or trading rhinos, tigers and their products are banned except in special circumstances prescribed by law,' the notice on the 'strict control' of rhinoceros and tiger products stated. Such special circumstances permitted by law includes scientific research, resource investigation, education, life-saving medical treatments, relics protection, cultural exchanges and law enforcement, it added. Rhino horns and tiger bones used in medical research or in healing can only be obtained from farms, not including those raised in zoos, while powdered forms of rhino horn and bones from dead tigers can only be used in qualified hospitals by qualified doctors recognised by the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Rhino horn is made primary from keratin - a protein found in fingernails and hair - and is said to help treat everything from cancer to hangovers when consumed. On the other hand, tiger bone that is crushed and made into a paste has been said to be usable to treat a variety of ailments, including rheumatism and back pain. Rhino horn is made from keratin - a protein found in fingernails and hair - and the product is said to help treat everything from cancer to gout when consumed in its powder form On the other hand, tiger bone that is crushed and made into a paste has been said to be usable to treat a variety of ailments, including rheumatism and back pain There are no proven medicinal benefits in humans from either product, according to the National Geographic. Rhinos and tigers are both endangered in the wild and are placed on CITES Index I - the strongest level of protection. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) heavily criticised the new law in a press release, expressing 'profound concern' over the changes. 'It is deeply concerning that China has reversed its 25 year old tiger bone and rhino horn ban, allowing a trade that will have devastating consequences globally,' said Margaret Kinnaird, WWF Wildlife Practice Leader, adding that the resumption of a legal market for the products is an enormous setback to efforts to protect tigers and rhinos in the wild. 'WWF urgently calls on China to maintain the ban on tiger bone and rhino horn trade which has been so critical in conserving these iconic species. This should be expanded to cover trade in all tiger parts and products,' the statement read. While changes in the law mean its use remains restricted to antiques and in hospitals, the WWF say confusion by consumers and law enforcers as to which products are and are not legal will increase - leading to an expanded market for bone products. The World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies released a statement in 2010 urging members not to use tiger bone or any other parts from endangered species. Although Beijing has issued a ban on tiger bones and rhino horns 25 years ago as part of global efforts to halt declining animal stocks, illegal poaching has continued, driven by demand in an increasingly affluent country. The government's decision to reverse the rhino and tiger bone ban seemed to contradict the leadership the country has shown recently in tackling the illegal wildlife trade, including the closure of their domestic ivory market In 2017, China banned all ivory processing and sales businesses by closing down 34 processing and 143 sales enterprises, a move welcomed by the global community Commercial tiger farms in China are legal, and although using tiger bones in medicine was banned, tiger parts from these farms often end up being made into tonics or other medicines, animal rights groups say. Humane Society International said the new law permitting the trade of tiger bone and rhino horn would inevitably increase pressure on animals in the wild, calling it a 'death warrant' for the animals. '[The Chinese government] sets up what is essentially a laundering scheme for illegal tiger bone and rhino horn to enter the marketplace and further perpetuate the demand for these animal parts,' Iris Ho, senior specialist for wildlife program and policy said in a statement. 'Tigers and other wild animals belong in the wild. There's no excuse to farm any wild animal. They are born into a miserable life of suffering, and then killed for use in medicinal products. It's a total outrage,' Kate Nustedt, programme director at World Animal Protection said in a statement to MailOnline. Calling the move a 'too great a gamble for China to take', the WWF said that the government's decision to reverse the ban seemed to contradict the leadership the country has shown recently in tackling the illegal wildlife trade, including the closure of their domestic ivory market. In 2017, China banned all ivory processing and sales businesses by closing down 34 processing and 143 sales enterprises, a game changer for elephants warmly welcomed by the global community. Ivory is seen as a status symbol in China. Other illegal wildlife products, such as pangolin scales, continue to see demand for their supposed medicinal properties. Teachers-students ratio at varsities still dissatisfactory! M M Jasim : The ratio between teachers and students in the classrooms does not ensure quality higher education at all. Most of the public and private universities in the country do not have the ideal ratio between teachers and students. The 44th Annual Report-2017 of the University Grants Commission (UGC) recommended for maintaining the ratio at an ideal level. UGC Chairman Professor Abdul Mannan along with UGC members and top officials submitted the annual report to President Abdul Hamid on October 18. There are 13,580 teachers for 2,83,866 students at 34 public universities, excluding National University, Open University and Islamic Arabic University, in the country. Besides, the number of teachers is 16,020 at private universities against 3,54,333 students in the country as per the UGC latest report. The report also shows that the teacher-student ratio at 12 public and 13 private universities for higher studies is more than 1:28. But the educationists said the perfect teacher-student ratio at a higher educational institution should be 1:20 for imparting quality education to the learners. The UGC report, which reveals over 1:30 ratio at 13 private universities and over 1:28 at 12 public universities, is frustrating as it has given a sorry state of education in these institutions, they noted. The 13 private universities, where the Teacher-Student Ratio (TSR) is over 1:30, are Dhaka International University (TSR 1:31), Bangladesh University (TSR 1:40), University of Information Technology and Sciences (TSR 1:86), Royal University of Dhaka (TSR 1:35), Atish Dipankar University of Science and Technology (TSR 1:36), Bangladesh Islami University (TSR 1:32), ASA University Bangladesh (TSR 1:133), European University of Bangladesh (TSR 1:36), BGMEA University of Fashion and Technology (TSR 1:35), First Capital University of Bangladesh (TSR 1:35), Britannia University (TSR 1:36), North Bengal International University (TSR 1:31), and Fareast International University (TSR 1:45). "The teacher-student ratio is not up to the mark in these universities. But the average ratio is 1:22 in the private universities being satisfactory level to some extent," the UGC report said. The teacher-student ratio was 1:133 at ASA University Bangladesh which is unacceptable, it said. The UGC report also reveals that the TSR is not ideal at 12 public universities in the country. The 12 public universities are Rajshahi University (TSR 1:31), Islami University (TSR 1:39), Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University (TSR 1:32), Maulana Bhashani Science and Technology University (TSR 1:31), Jagannath University (TSR 1:28), Noakhali Science and Technology University (TSR 1:29), Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University (TSR 1:39), Cumilla University (TSR 1:33), Begum Rokeya University (TSR 1:54), Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University (TSR 1:57), Barishal University (TSR 1:38) and Rangamati Science and Technology University (TSR 1:36). The lowest TSR is at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Maritime University (TSR 1:5) while the highest TSR is at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University (TSR 1:57), the report said. UGC Chairman Prof Abdul Mannan said that the teacher-student ratio is the most important matter for higher education. But unfortunately, the ideal ratio is absent in many universities as teachers are not willing to join some universities while there is a crisis of teachers at specialised universities. A good number of universities (Public and Private) are admitting huge number of students violating the rules of admission, he said The UGC provided direction to the universities to maintain teachers-students ratio, he said. President Donald Trump issued yet another dire warning about the 'invasion' posed by the migrant caravan making its way through Mexico, as it is revealed that the Pentagon is upping its troop levels far above the initial 800 announced. The military will deploy 5,000 U.S. troops to the southern border, the Wall Street Journal reported, complying with the president's demand that military forces be put in place to stop the caravan of Central American migrants. 'Many Gang Members and some very bad people are mixed into the Caravan heading to our Southern Border,' Trump wrote on twitter, moving away from last week's claim that the caravan contained 'Middle Easterners.' 'Many Gang Members and some very bad people are mixed into the Caravan heading to our Southern Border,' Trump wrote as it was revealed the military was dispatching 5,000 troops to the border Trump's earlier claim drew skepticism, and he was forced days later to back down. 'There's no proof of anything. There's no proof of anything. But there could very well be,' Trump said. Trump spoke directly to the mostly Honduran members of the caravan in the tweet, saying: 'Please go back, you will not be admitted into the United States unless you go through the legal process. This is an invasion of our Country and our Military is waiting for you!' This map shows the progress of the migrants as of Sunday, when a new caravan also departed from San Salvador 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 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 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 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. According to the Journal, the 5,000 troops will join the 2,000 National Guard members already dispatched. Among those ordered to the border will be military police, engineers, and Marines. The latest plans would have the Defense Department order 1,800 troops to Texas, 1,700 to Arizona, and 1,500 to California. The report noted that the contingent would exceed the U.S. forces currently in Syria and Iraq, and equal half of the U.S. deployment in Afghanistan. The new forces are expected to provide logistical assistance such as air support and equipment, including vehicles and tents. The influx of troops comes as the caravan is shrinking, although another is being formed. The caravan, which has had as many as 7,200 migrants, has dwindled to roughly 4,000. It took a day of rest in Tapanatepec on Sunday but vowed to press on to the U.S. border. The border is still at least 900 miles away, a daunting obstacle to migrants, many traveling with their families on foot. A suspected murderer posed for a selfie with the British tourist he is thought to have stabbed to death no more than 48 hours after he landed in South Africa. The police are hunting Iryvine Dzitiro, 24, after Upendra Edward Galegedera, 50, was found dead last Monday. Neighbours told News24 that Mr Galegedera lived in the UK but visited his flat in Cape Town regularly and had been in the country for no more than two days when he was killed. He was found in a pool of blood stabbed to death after police broke down the front door. Upendra Edward Galegedera, 50, (left) takes a selfie with his suspected killer Iryvine Dzitiro, 24, (right) as the pair appear to enjoy a meal together Dzitro's Instagram styles him as an entrepreneur, visionary, property broker and book keeper News24 reports the pair had known each other for at least a year before as their selfie post is dated November 2017 on Facebook. The photograph shows Asian food on their plates accompanied by red wine. A shocked neighbour told News24: 'He was very kind and sweet and non-threatening and a lovely person. I would see him sometimes in the elevator and we would catch up on things. 'He only landed last Thursday or Friday' he said. Dzitiro poses for a selfie in the lift on his Instagram account which has 543 followers In this post he has tagged 'The Breakwater, V&A Waterfront' near where the killing took place Mr Galegedera's relatives in Hertfordshire contacted South African police after becoming concerned they had not heard from him over the weeekend. Officers from the local police broke down the front door of his sixth floor flat on Monday afternoon. They found the body of the missing man in a large pool of blood just inside the door. The area was immediately cordoned off while officers spoke to all his neighbours to get a profile of the murder victim. It is believed they have CCTV footage of the suspect carrying items belonging to the victim away from the flat and leaving them by a fence he then vaulted. However, he left the items behind. This post is captioned 'Look how far we come, started all broke,' on the suspect's Instagram Another post features the tag 'The Breakwater, V&A Waterfront,' an area popular with gays The flat Mr Galegedera lived in is in the Cape Quarter which is an area of Cape Town near the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. It is well known as an area that is popular with gay people. There is no suggestion, however, that Mr Galegedera was gay himself. Neighbours said he owned the flat and visited regularly form the UK and stayed for two or three weeks at a time. The British High Commission is aware of the alleged murder but were referring all press calls to the Foreign Office in London saying it 'was not for them to comment'. Spokesperson Isabel Potgieter said: 'Our staff are supporting the family of a British man following his death in Cape Town and are in contact with the South African authorities.' News24 reported that on Monday neighbours watched as the police forced their way into the locked flat of Mr Galegedera and found his body inside the two-bed flat. Mr Galegedera was found in a pool of his own blood after the suspected botched robbery The dead man was the director of a company in the UK called Data Sparkle Services Ltd which he is thought to have run with his father Natharangpotha. It was shut down in 1993. Western Cape police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk said police were investigating the murder and no arrests had been made yet. A post mortem is taking place. He said: 'The investigation into this incident is at an extremely sensitive stage and we cannot go into more details at present. We are not revealing any details of the victim. 'There will be a fresh press release in due course so please be patient' he said. He also said that the murdered man's Audi A3 was found in the early hours of Tuesday at a street which is just a few blocks away and that his officers were following up a strong line of inquiry. Neighbours told News24 they believed the suspect was renting a unit in the same block of flats. Mr Galegedera was reported missing shortly afterwards and emergency services eventually entered his flat on Monday. Those living in his apartment block said he had a guest staying with him shortly before he died, though police gave no confirmation of this. Galegedera's brother Sumendra and brother-in-law Stuart visited the flat last week and are being assisted by the British embassy in Pretoria. An extra 160million is to be ploughed into helping Britain's police fight the growing threat of terrorism. It emerged last week that Scotland Yard and the security services are running a record high of more than 700 live investigations into suspected terrorists. Chancellor Philip Hammond today unveiled a new pot of money to make sure authorities can keep pace with the spiralling problem. An extra 160million is to be ploughed into anti-terror policing after today's budget The extra money announced today is said to be the equivalent of 1,000 extra officers. The new fund is being pushed as a signal that 'austerity' policies are finished and the government is again investing in public services. Police officer numbers have fallen by 21,000 since 2010, prompting a series of warnings by top police officers that continued squeezing of budgets will have an impact of levels of crime. Last week, the head of UK Counter Terrorism Policing, Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu, told the Home Affairs Select Committee the battle against terrorism is 'entirely' dependent on well-resourced local police forces. Reacting to the budget announcement, he said: 'Today's announcement of an extra 160million of funding is welcome news, and I am grateful to the Government for helping us strengthen our country's defence against terrorism, domestic extremism and hostile state activity. 'Just last week I told the Home Affairs Select Committee that the number of live counter terrorism investigations has reached a record high of more than 700 and that we require a longer-term funding arrangement to continue investing in recruitment to meet the unprecedented demand, as well as deliver two huge national ICT infrastructure projects. Philip Hammond unveiled the new cash during this budget statement in Parliament today Mr Basu added: 'While this funding increase allows us to continue these vitally important projects, I still believe we need to rethink how we fund our world-class counter terrorism network. 'I would also like to reiterate my belief that counter terrorism specialists depend on well-resourced local police forces, and that any move to improve our network will only be truly effective if my Chief Constable colleagues see similar investment in the near future.' The budget was criticised by the body that represents rank-and-file officers. John Apter, chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said: 'This is just another example of the contempt in which the Government holds police officers. What does it say when a Government prioritises potholes over policing?' Police and MI5 are mounting a record 700-plus live terrorism investigations. There are around 3,000 active 'subjects of interest', plus a wider pool of more than 20,000 individuals who have previously featured in inquiries. While activity inspired by Islamic State or al-Qaida accounts for the largest share of the counter-terror work, agencies are also confronting a mounting far-right threat. Britain was hit by five attacks last year, while police and the security services have foiled 17 terror plots since March 2017. Calls for forces to get a cash boost for general policing have intensified in recent weeks following a string of warnings about their ability to tackle crime. Figures released last week showed the number of arrests by police in England and Wales has halved in a decade. The budget was criticised by the body that represents rank-and-file officers The reduction was revealed at a time when recorded-crime is going up across a number of categories, including violence and knife-related offences. The Chancellor acknowledged that policing is 'under pressure from the changing nature of crime'. He added that Home Secretary Sajid Javid will review police spending power and 'further options for reform' when he presents the provisional police funding settlement in December. The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said last year that the Met Police has had to make 600 million of cuts since 2010. The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said his city's police force has faced cuts of 215m in the same time frame. A terminally ill boy achieved his dream of being a cop like his father when he was sworn in as a honorary police officer. Drake Walker, seven, has a rare and aggressive type of brain cancer called Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) and his prognosis is terminal. Determined to make Drake's aspirations a reality, his father Jim - who's a Sergeant at the Torrance Police Department in California - arranged a special day for him. Drake Walker, seven, answers 'yes' when Chief Officer Eve Irvine asks if he promises to serve the community (left) and proudly accepts his honorary badge (right) Dozens of people can be seen gathered at a local courthouse to watch Drake get sworn in as an honorary cop. In the heartwarming clip Chief Officer Eve Irvine reads a police officer's oath to Drake as he sits in a chair with his palm raised and intently listens. Chief Officer Irvine asks Drake several questions, including: 'Will you promise to protect and serve the people and the places of our fine city?' The little boy quickly responds with a clear 'yes' and everyone in the court room smiles and cheers for Drake. The swearing in happened on October 16 and Drake was also handed his own personalised badge, making him an honorary police officer of the Torrance PD. The family thanked everyone involved with the swearing in on their JustGiving page. His parents Jim and Leslie (pictured) said they're 'blow away' by how brave their son is and thanked everyone for supporting Drake's special day becoming an honorary cop They wrote: 'Its hard to put into words what this meant for us. Thank you for making a dream come true and for loving us though this storm, standing beside us. 'Some have asked why we did this and the answer is raw and simple... when you're given a diagnosis of terminal brain cancer and 9-12 months to live, the reality is that without a miracle, his dream of growing up to become a Police Officer won't happen. 'So this evening we sped up the process and our Drakie was sworn in as an honorary Officer. 'What a huge blessing it is to be a part of a Law Enforcement Family, we love and appreciate TPD so much and we are so, so thankful.' In a fundraising campaign video, Drake's mother Leslie said: 'We don't know what's coming next. But we're hopeful there might be another trial to open up. 'Drake is so brave - I've been blown away by it.' Jim added: 'We're taking it day-by-day and trying to live life to the fullest and take advantage of the days when Drake's feeling good. '[We] also respect the days he isn't, and he wants to rest. It's been different for us and a struggle to change our lives - [particularly] in seeing your child suffering. 'Either Leslie or I would happily step in, so it wasn't Drake that was suffering. But we're getting through it day-by-day.' To donate to the Walker family's GoFundMe page here. A passenger feared dead in the Indonesian plane disaster sent a selfie to his wife just before take-off, it has emerged. Deryl Fida Febrianto sent the picture at 6.01am shortly before flight JT-610, carrying 189 people, set off from Jakarta and plunged 5,000ft into the Java Sea off Indonesia. The 22-year-old is shown wearing a green mask and looking into the camera ahead of the ill-fated flight to Pangkal Pinang, an island north of the capital. Febrianto and wife Lutfinani Eka Putri, 23, had been married just two weeks ago and he was on his way to work on a cruise ship. A passenger sent his wife a final selfie from on board the doomed Lion Air jet minutes before the aircraft took off, it has emerged. Deryl Fida Febrianto (right) sent the picture in a message just after 6am - shortly before flight JT-610, carrying 189 people, set off from Jakarta and plunged 5,000ft into the Java Sea off Indonesia Febrianto and wife Lutfinani Eka Putri, 23, had been married just two weeks ago and he was on his way to work on a cruise ship A police officer inspects debris recovered from the crash site. It is not yet clear what caused the disaster Lutfinani said that her husband messaged her from the aircraft at 6.12am but by 6.15am had stopped replying to her messages. They had grown up together, she told reporters, showing a picture of the smiling couple on their wedding day. 'When I saw the news, I matched the flight number with the ticket photo Deryl had sent,' she said. 'I immediately started crying.' It comes as eyewitnesses described how the stricken aircraft fell out of the sky silently before a deafening crash as it smacked into the sea. A fisherman, named as Gauk said he could 'feel the explosion from the shockwave in the water'. Police busied themselves with rubber dinghies and ambulances were lined up on the shoreline, but no one pretended that any of the 189 people on board flight JT610 would be found alive. Yusuf Latief, spokesman of national search and rescue agency, said there were likely no survivors. There was no word on any probable cause for the accident. Body bags are pictured lined up at the port in Tanjung Priok as rescuers started a grim search of the crash site A relative of passengers prays as she and others wait for news on a Lion Air plane that crashed off Java Island at Depati Amir Airport in Pangkal Pinang Debris could be seen on the water north of Indonesia's capital, Jakarta, as rescue ships arrived at the scene in the wake of the disaster Air travel is crucial in Indonesia, a vast archipelago of more than 17,000 islands that stretches about 5,100 km (3,170 miles) from east to west, almost the distance between New York and London. Although it is one of the world's fastest-growing aviation markets, it has been plagued by air disasters. Lion Air, a low-cost airline that dominates the domestic air travel market, has had more than a dozen accidents in its nearly 20-year history, but none with fatalities since 2004. The captain of Monday's flight JT610 from Jakarta to Pangkal Pinang, the main town on Bangka, a beach-fringed island off Sumatra, was Bhavye Suneja, a 31-year-old Indian citizen originally from New Delhi. He and an Italian passenger were the only known foreigners on board. According to his Linkedin account, Suneja had worked for Lion Air since 2011, clocking up some 6,000 flight hours. On Facebook there are photos of him in his Lion Air uniform, smiling. Minutes after take-off at 6.20am, Suneja reported technical difficulties and obtained permission from ground officials to turn back. Data from FlightRadar24 shows the first sign of something amiss was around two minutes into the flight, when the plane had reached 2,000 feet (610 metres). The plane dropped more than 500 feet (152 metres), veered to the left and then started climbing again to 5,000 feet (1,524 metres). It gained speed in the final moments before data was lost when it was at an altitude of 3,650 feet (1,113 metres). The Boeing 737 MAX 8 is the most recent model of Boeing's famous 737, the U.S. company's best-selling plane, and is a popular choice among budget airlines around the world. Lion Air's plane was almost brand new. It was flown for the first time on Aug. 15, and the airline said it had been certified as airworthy before Monday's flight by an engineer who is a specialist in Boeing models. The Lion Air aircraft crashed about 13 minutes after taking off for Indonesia. It is not clear how many people were on board (pictured is the plane) Rescue workers are at the site where it is believed the Lion Air flight JT610 crashed just minutes after taking off. Divers (pictured) are trying to locate the wreckage Lion Air Chief Executive Edward Sirait said on Monday that the plane had encountered an unspecified 'technical issue' on its previous flight, which was from the resort island of Bali to Jakarta, but this had been 'resolved according to procedure'. 'We don't dare to say what the facts are, or are not, yet,' he told reporters. 'We are also confused about the why, since it was a new plane.' At Jakarta airport, tearful passengers waited for news: a mother urged her toddler son to 'wait and be brave', another told her crying girl, 'be patient, pray the best for Papa.' The only news that came, though, was of body parts and debris found floating in the water around the crash site. Photos published by the search and rescue agency showed pictures of articles belonging to passengers, including ID cards, a driving licence, and a pair of children's shoes. President Donald Trump said Monday that Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum is a 'thief' in a tweet that suggested there are deep corruption issues in the Tallahassee mayor's office. Trump didn't say what exactly the Democrat squaring off next Tuesday against Ron DeSantis stole, but may have been hinting at a scandal involving free tickets to 'Hamilton' that Gillum was revealed to have been caught up in this month. 'In Florida there is a choice between a Harvard/Yale educated man named @RonDeSantisFL who has been a great Congressman and will be a great Governor - and a Dem who is a thief and who is Mayor of poorly run Tallahassee, said to be one of the most corrupt cities in the Country!' the president tweeted. The president is traveling to Florida this week to campaign for DeSantis, a Republican congressman who resigned to have more time to campaign for governor, in the final push ahead of the Nov. 6 elections. The state's sitting governor, Republican Rick Scott, is seeking the U.S. Senate seat on the Sunshine State's ballot. Gillum is about by an average of 3.2 points in the governor's race, and every recent poll has him ahead. Former President Barack Obama is campaigning for the Florida mayor - who would be the first black governor in the state's history - and sitting Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson on the Sunday before the election in Miami. Trump has a rally in Fort Myers on Oct. 31 and could return over the weekend. The race between Gillum and DeSantis has been ugly, with the former congressman coming under fire for saying that his black opponent would 'monkey this up' if elected. He says the comment was not intended to be racist. Gillum has been the subject of explicitly racist robocalls, though, that were paid for by a white supremacist group operating out of Idaho. 'Well hello there. I is the negro Andrew Gillum and I'll be askin' you to make me governor of this here state of Florida,' the voice on the call says. 'My state opponent, who done call me monkey, is doin' a lot of hollerin' about how 'spensive my plans for health care be.' The mayor's campaign has decried the robocalls as 'abhorrent' and said that they are 'a continuation of the ugliest, most divisive campaign in Florida's history.' Gillum has meanwhile faced claims that he violated gift laws. Documents released this month revealed that he accepted 'Hamilton' tickets from an undercover FBI agent conducting a sting operation. DeSantis bashed Gillum for the alleged violation in a televised debate. 'The question is, did you pay for the 'Hamilton' ticket, or did the undercover FBI agent pay for the 'Hamilton' ticket?' DeSantis asked him. Gillum says he didn't understand that he was accepting a 'gift' that could be prohibited under the law. 'I didn't take free trips from anybody,' Gillum shot back, without answering directly. 'I'm a hardworking person. I know that may not fit your description of what you think people like me do. But I've worked hard for everything that I've gotten in my life, and I don't need anybody handing me anything for free.' Gillum told NBC that when he arrived at the theater, his brother handed him the ticket. 'The idea that I accepted a gift never came to me. What Ive tried to do throughout this whole process is be as open and transparent as I possibly can be. I understand that my opponent is attempting as best he can to muddy the waters here.' A farmer has released harrowing CCTV footage of the moment a driver deliberately mowed down the ducks from his pond. The Vauxhall Astra is seen driving straight though the flock of around 50 ducks as they cross a quiet road, killing at least five. Ryan Armstrong's clip, filmed on his farm near Blyth, Northumberland, begins with the large group of birds crossing the road in a huddle. In the distance, the car can be seen coming round the corner at considerable speed. CCTV footage shows the large group of birds crossing the road with the red car in the distance As the ducks are in the mid way point of trying to cross the road, the car appears to be making no attempt to slow down. The ducks realise the danger and some of the group manage to waddle out of the way. But there is no escape for the rest of the flock as the car ploughs through them and drives off without making an apparent attempt to slow down. The incident happened yesterday at about 7am and was uploaded to social media with the caption: 'Anyone knows who drives this car drop me a message, couldn't get a reg number. The red car, travelling at a considerable speed, ploughs through the large group of ducks 'Drove straight through the ducks from our pond killing five.' The clip has caused widespread outrage on social media, including from Chris Chitty, who said: 'Most normal people would have tried to stop. Anyone who doesnt think this is the case needs to give their head a wobble.' Kyle Beattie pointed out: 'Had enough time to stop there like'. Andrea Cooper said: 'Arrh how awful poor little ducks, urgh some people have no heart.' Ryan Armstrong's post on Facebook gained considerable traction and urged people to help Vicky Sands commented: 'Left you to clear it up as well. Hope you catch them.' Lisa Lloyd said: 'I even stopped, got out and moved a frog off the road before!! How could anyone do this, scumbag.' Speaking today, Ryan said he has still not found out the identity of the duck killer. He said: 'People drive past and stop for the ducks every morning, this is the first time we've seen someone just drive through them without a care in the world. 'It's disgusting. They're almost fully grown ducks.' In relation to the culprit, he added: 'I've had a few names thrown my way and waiting to get CCTV from a friend who lives at the top of the road, so will hopefully get the reg number.' Last week, horrific footage from New Zealand showed a family of ducks and ducklings being ran over whilst trying to cross the road. The footage shows nine ducklings and the parents attempting to cross a two lane road, with the help of a woman in a purple jumper who was trying to signal to traffic to slow down. However, a red car makes no attempt to slow down and mows the ducks over. An ISIS bomb maker has blown himself up while trying to manufacture explosives. The terrorist, codenamed Abu Moaaz, died in Diyala province on Monday, according to Iraqi News. Moaaz was described as a dangerous bomb expert who helped make devices that were used in the killings of police and civilians in recent months. ISIS swept across Iraq in 2014, seizing a swathe of territory that stretched from its border with Syria to Ramadi and Tikrit, on the outskirts of Baghdad. An ISIS bomb maker codenamed Abu Moaaz blew himself up on Monday while trying to manufacture explosives in Iraq (file image) The terror group declared a caliphate which encompassed both its territory in Iraq and Syria, though that has now collapsed. Thanks to a fightback from the Iraqi Army and concerted bombing campaign led by America, ISIS was driven out of all of Iraq's major cities last year. In December, Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi declared 'final victory' over the terrorist group, though in reality pockets of resistance remain. Monday's blast happened in central Iraq, 15 miles north of the city of Baqubah. There is also an increasing ISIS presence along Iraq's border with Syria, where at least 68 American-backed fighters were killed last week. An ISIS counter-attack on the town of Sousa on Friday using suicide bombs left fighters for the Syrian Democratic Forces dead. Dr. Barry W. King (pictured) plead guilty to harassment after dying his colleague's vagina purple during an exam in an attempt to prank her husband A gynecologist who formerly practiced in Colorado is able to keep his license after he dyed his colleague's vagina purple in an apparent attempt to prank her husband. Dr. Barry W. King, 58, plead guilty on Friday to misdemeanor harassment as part of the plea deal after his employee, who was concerned her cancer was returning, went to him for medical advice and an examination in 2017, and left with her privates dyed purple. King's victim told a Mesa County judge that she was a breast cancer survivor who two-years-earlier had a double mastectomy, according to the Daily Sentinel. She was worried her cancer was returning after she found a lesion on her vagina. Her regular OB/GYN had retired, and she hadn't found a new doctor. The concerned woman decided to ask her boss, Dr. King, at Colorado West WomanCare of the Grand Valley, for help- he agreed to give her an exam. 'It's really difficult as a woman to see an OB/GYN doctor. You're in a really vulnerable position,' the woman told Mesa County Judge Michael Grattan. Dr. King was practicing at Colorado West WomanCare of the Grand Valley (left), when he dyed her vagina with gentian violet (right) in an attempt to prank her husband 'There was a level of comfort because I did believe he was my friend.' But then, at the end of the exam, she recalled that Dr. King said something odd. 'He said, ''When you get home tonight, I want you to have (your husband) take a look at it,'' she said. She explained to Grattan that her husband was not a doctor and that King did not know him very well. When she went home and used the bathroom, she noticed the toilet paper was purple. She told the judge that she recognized it as an antiquated treatment known as gentian violet, which is a dye used to treat different medical conditions like yeast infections and thrush, but that she hadn't heard of it being used in years. The woman assumed since she was working on the administrative side of King's practice that perhaps she wasn't up to speed treatments being used currently. When she came to work the next day, King's behavior was off. She says he was acting giddy, and then finally, he confessed to what he had done. King told the woman 'It was a joke. It was a joke for (my husband).' To make the situation all the more horrendous, as the day wore on she realized King told several other people in the office what he had done to her. She said to Judge Grattan that she considered him sharing what he did a violation of her privacy rights as well. She told the judge she believes King had a bigger end goal to his 'prank.' She said she believes Kig was hoping she and her husband would have had sex with the purple dye still on her genital area. 'I was sexually objectified as a prank on my husband in hopes that his penis would be stained purple,' she told Grattan. 'That's disgusting.' She said she didn't want to report Dr. King because she 'didn't want to ruin his life.' 'I was just going to get another job and leave, like most victims do,' she added. While police were initially investigating this as a sexual assault, they were ultimately unable to prove any sexual intent, so they were only able to charge him with harassment. 'That's why we're here with the class three misdemeanor,' the victim told Grattan. 'Because I cannot attest to the status of his penis.' King agreed to the plea deal on Friday which allowed him to keep his medical license. He has to perform 100 hours of public service and write an apology letter to the victim , as well as give $500 to the Western Slope Center for Children. The woman said the experience has been 'really horrific and humiliating.' She also says that the ordeal cost her socially when people both she and the doctor knew started taking sides. She called King's behavior akin to 'a frat boy playing a prank and hazing me.' 'I want to know where Dr. King's moral compass went,' she said. Grattan, while accepting the plea agreement, called the deal 'amazing,' adding 'But, oh my God,' Grattan said. 'Maybe it's as mature as a frat boy,' Grattan said, echoing the victim's statement. 'You can't be doing this stuff.' Philip Hammond tried to dish out some light relief in his Budget today by peppering his announcements with a string of jokes. The Chancellor - whose dry and nerdy demeanour has won him the nickname 'Spreadsheet Phil' - doled out a series of jokes in annual tax and spending review today. The Tory civil war, Nick Clegg's controversial new job at Facebook and his own rivalry with Number Ten were all pillories in his speech. Here are the jokes which the Cabinet minister kept MPs entertained with today - prompting laughter and groans from the MPs packed into the Commons. On Tory infighting: 'I am sure, like me, many members of the House keenly remember the last Budget delivered on a Monday. 'It was 1962, I was six years old. Tensions between Russia and the United States were rising, and a former Foreign Secretary turned Chancellor delivered a Budget amid Cabinet revolt. 'I am acutely aware of the phenomenon of false memory, but I could swear my parents turning to me and saying - "Philip one day that could be you". Philip Hammond (pictured today in the Commons) tried to dish out some light relief in his Budget today by peppering his announcements with a string of jokes Philip Hammond's jokes left viewers less than impressed as they urged him to get a better scriptwriter Twitter users unleashed their humour against the Chancellor mocking his stream of self referential jokes Another viewer on Twitter branded the Chancellor's gags - which included a dose of British toilet humour - as 'dad jokes' On moving the Budget to a Monday, and more Tory in-fighting: 'The media has been full of speculation about the timing of today's Budget. Some were hoping for a December Budget, I am sure headline writers were ready with something like "Spreadhseet Phil turns Santa Claus". 'Others were desperate for it to be on Wednesday - Hammo's House of Horrors perhaps. 'But the truth is that by choosing today rather than Wednesday I have not avoided the blood-curdling threats, the anguished wailing and the strange banging of furniture that is usually associated with Wednesday - I have been kindly invited to a special meeting of the 1922 Committee this evening.' Taking the mickey out of his own reputation as 'Fiscal Phil': 'Both our fiscal rules met and both three years early. Fiscal Phil say's Fiscal rule's OK.' In a swipe at Theresa May stealing his flagship spending announcement by revealing in June that an extra 25billion a year will be pumped into the NHS. The Chancellor said he will give MPs a 'sneak preview' of how the money will be spent - including the 2billion extra for mental health. He told the Commons: 'I too can poach a rabbit every now and then.' While Tory MPs laughed at the Chancellor's gags the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn (pictured, tight, today in the Commons with his shadow chancellor John McDonnell) was stony faced On former Lib Dem leader and deputy PM Nick Clegg joining Facebook as their new head of global affairs: Philip Hammond announced a new 'Amazon tax' on tech giants, adding: 'It is only right that these global giants, with profitable businesses in the UK, pay their fiar share tpwrads suporting our public services/. 'And I a already looking forward to me call from the former leader of the Liberal Democrats.' Philip Hammond indulged in a spot of toilet humour: The Chancellor announced business rates relief for public toilets. He said: 'I am pleased to announce a new mandatory business rates relief for public lavatories so that local authorities can at last relieve themselves. 'For the convenience of the House, and without wishing to get unduly bogged down on this subject, this relief - well at least I am demonstrating that we are all British - will extend to any such facilities made available for public use whether publicly or privately owned. 'Honestly I can say this is virtually the only announcement in this Budget which hasn't leaked.' Mehazabien with Jovan in F Zaman Taposhs play Entertainment Report : F Zaman Taposh has been making TV plays for many days. He has only made more than 200 faction plays till now. He also made many drama serials. He is habituated to lead simple life always. His elder son Fayeduzzaman Taposh, who has passed HSC, has written story for a play for his father. Title of the play is Purnota. While talking about the play F Zaman Taposh told this correspondent, Jovan is a painter who meets a girl which was chosen by his parents. During that time he was introduced with a married woman whose husband always tortured her. At one stage, Jovan requested Mehazabien to leave her husband. He also assured her after leaving her husband he will marry Mehazabien. Once Mehazabien gave divorce to her husband. At last, will Jovan marry Mehazabien? Viewer will get this answer after watching the play. Jovan said, Under Taposh Bhais direction I worked for the first time. He is a senior director. So, it was an organized work. Main thing is story of the play was written by his son. I have liked story of the play. I believe viewers will enjoy the play. Mehazabien shared her feelings by this way, I have already worked with Jovan in several plays. Story of this play is exceptional. Under Taposh Bhais direction I worked for the first time. I also believe viewers will enjoy the play. Best Friend, Love vs Crush are Jovan-Mehazabien acted mentionable plays. It is noted that F Zaman Taposh worked with late filmmaker Mohammad Hannan for many years as his assistant. His made first TV play was Surovi which was aired on BTV. He has already started making serial Dutta based on Sharat Chandras Dutta. Advertisement Controversial far-right candidate and ex-soldier Jair Bolsonaro has pledged to change Brazil's destiny in his fist public comments since his landslide victory. 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 dramatic swing from the left defeated Fernando Haddad, a former Sao Paulo mayor. The new President said: 'We cannot continue flirting with socialism, communism, populism and leftist extremism ... We are going to change the destiny of Brazil.' 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 A supporter today celebrating Bolsonaro's victory in front of his home in the affluent Barra da Tijuca neighborhood in Rio Another supporter waves a flag with Balsonaro's face on it close to the new President's luxurious condominium 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 An outspoken admirer of U.S. President Donald Trump, Bolsonaro also pledged to realign Brazil with more advanced economies rather than regional allies, overhauling diplomatic priorities after nearly a decade and a half of leftist rule. Trump called Bolsonaro to wish him well after his victory, forging closer bonds between the two largest nations in the Americas both now led by conservative populists promising to overturn the political establishment. Celebrations from last night continued into this morning outside his home in Rio de Janeiro's Barra da Tijuca neighborhood. 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. 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. Michael Avenatti, who came to fame as the attorney for porn star Stormy Daniels in her lawsuit against President Donald Trump, is assembling a team of political advisers as he mulls a 2020 presidential bid. And Democratic officials are taking him seriously. 'He's absolutely the person I'm supporting in the 2020 primary, should he decide to run,' Adam Parkhomenko, who founded the Ready for Hillary super PAC, toldPolitico. 'I think he is 90 [percent] to 95 percent leaning toward doing it.' Michael Avenatti, who came to fame as the attorney for porn star Stormy Daniels, is assembling a team of political advisers as he mulls a 2020 presidential bid Avenatti is hiring staff to advise him as he contemplates a bid; he said he'll make a decision by January 1 Parkhomenko is acting as a liaison between Avenatti and Democratic National Committee members, superdelegates and state party leaders. He is part of a team the attorney has put together to help arrange meetings with donors and party officials, craft a message, and build out a digital fundraising operation. But Avenatti's ambitions suffered from a double whammy last week when he told Time magazine the Democrats' 2020 nominee had 'better be a white male' and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley referred him and Julie Swetnick to the Justice Department for an investigation over accusations she brought against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. Avenatti, however, is fighting back. 'I think a lot of people underestimate me,' he told Politico. 'I'm battle-tested, unlike some of the other likely candidates. They're not tough enough. If you put them in a kinder, gentler time; or against someone else? They'd be great. They'd be better than me. But they don't have a chance in hell against Donald Trump.' He said he'll make a decision on whether to pursue the Democratic nomination by Jan. 1. A recent CNN poll gave him a scant 1 percent from Democrats when asked who they wanted to for their 2020 standard bearer against Trump. But Avenatti sees himself standing out in a potential field of former and current political officials such as former Vice President Joe Biden and Sens. Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Cory Booker, and Kamala Harris. In addition to lining up staff and implementing a fundraising operation, Avenatti has visited several important early voting states in the presidential process, including Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. He's lining up some big names to advise him, including John Robinson, who worked as a chief operating officer for Sanders' 2016 campaign. Roger Salazar, a Sacramento-based former Hillary Clinton operative, is handling his media. Tracy Austin, a Los Angeles consultant, is helping with fundraising and Amy Wills Gray, who was Ready for Hillary committee treasurer, is acting in the same role for Avenatti's The Fight PAC, the fundraising arm he established to pay for his presidential exploration. Among the other big Democratic names giving Avenatti advice is Jack Quinn, a former White House counsel under Bill Clinton, who says he's talking to the attorney like he would any other possible candidate. 'If he chooses to run, Michael would bring some clear assets, most specifically, some pretty decent name recognition, clearly, an abundance of intellectual talent and lastly, a pugnaciousness that would serve him well in a race against Donald Trump,' Quinn told Politico. 'Would he be the only one who has some or all of those assets? That remains to be seen.' Quinn noted he has no plans to sign on to Avenatti's campaign or anyone else's. 'I know Michael, I like him. I consider him a friend,' Quinn said. 'But I have a lot of other friends who also want to be president.' Avenatti also has issues in his personal life that could bubble up should he decide to pursue the White House. Last week the Daily Beast reported on multiple legal entanglements facing Avenatti, including tax liens, a failing coffee business, unpaid rent and eviction proceedings. And it also reported on his messy divorce from his second wife that included details of the lavish Avenatti life style - multimillion-dollar homes, expensive cars and a personal pilot. Avenatti has visited early voting states like Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina He is representing Daniels as she tries to get out of a non-disclosure agreement she signed with Trump Avenatti told Politico he hasn't lived his life as if he were running for president. 'There's all kinds of things I would not have done. Do I think any of them are disqualifying? No. Do I think any of them are disqualifying in the age of Donald Trump? Absolutely not,' he said. 'But look, I'm a real guy. I'm a genuine guy. But if I decide to do it and some of these things come out, I'm going to own them.' Avenatti tweeted in July that he would challenge Trump in 2020 if 'no other candidate in the race that has a REAL chance at beating him. We can't relive 2016. I love this country, our values and our people too much to sit by while they are destroyed.' Like Trump, Avenatti is a brash political outsider with a natural talent for cable television news, a blistering Twitter feed and a knack for a catchy slogan. He turned those tools against Trump as he represents Daniels and a growing list of critical clients. Daniels and Avenatti suffered a set back earlier this month when a Los Angeles court ruled in Trump's favor in a defamation lawsuit Daniels filed against him. The judge ordered Daniels to pay Trump's attorney's fees, saying a tweet the president had written referring to her was protected by free-speech laws. Daniels alleges she had an affair with Trump in 2006 and sued him in April. The lawsuit came after Trump tweeted about a composite sketch of a man Daniels says threatened her in 2011 to keep quiet about an alleged affair. Trump denies the affair. Avenatti and Daniels are also suing to get her out of a non-disclosure agreement she signed with then-Trump attorney Michael Cohen before the 2016 election. Whether the trash-talking, sharp-suited, telegenic attorney is the right fit for Democratic presidential nomination in the long run is an open question, as is whether he'd actually want to subject himself to the grind of a campaign. He admits his appeal is based on his toughness. 'I'm not cute and cuddly,' he has said. But he told Politico he is seriously considering running. 'It's not a publicity stunt, that's absurd,' he said. 'If I weren't serious about this, I wouldn't go through all this effort to explore.' A top Campbell Soup Company executive has been ousted after making a baseless claim that George Soros' foundation is funding a caravan of Central American migrants headed to the United States. Kelly Johnston, Campbell's now-former vice president of government affairs, caused a stir a week ago when he tweeted that Soros' philanthropic organization, the Open Society Foundations, had arranged for 'troop carriers' and 'rail cars' to support the caravan, which formed in Honduras about two weeks ago. Johsnton's tweet alleged that Soros' charity is managing all aspects of the 1,000-mile journey, down to where the migrants 'defecate,' and that they will have 'an army of American immigrants lawyers waiting at the border' to provide the newcomers with free legal aid. Canned: Kelly Johnston, Campbell Soup's vice president of government affairs, parted ways with the company last week, after accusing financier George Soros of funding a migrant caravan Johnston said the caravan was 'planned and executed' by the Open Society, which was set up by Democratic supporter Soros When criticized for his conspiracy theories, Johnston said he would not be intimidated by threats to inform his employers about the posts When challenged about his claims Johnston replied: 'Hey, everyone meet a miscreant from The Left who thinks he can intimidate me by trying to use my employer to silence me on @Twitter. It will not work. Feel free to tell him what you think of him and either report of block him.' A day after the Campbell executive sent out the incendiary tweet, a pipe bomb was found in the mailbox of Soros' Manhattan home. The 88-year-old investor and Democratic donor was among more than a dozen prominent critics of President Donald Trump who received explosives in the mail before the FBI arrested the alleged culprit, 56-year-old Cesar Sayoc, in Florida on Friday. None of the package bombs detonated and there were no injuries. Johnston, a former secretary of the US Senate, had been scheduled to leave Campbell Soup next month, but the company said that in light of the scandal, it was decided to 'accelerate the timing of his departure.' As of Monday, Johnston was no longer employed by the canned goods giant. A pipe bomb was put in the letterbox of George Soros' Manhattan home a week ago. He has often been the target of right-wing anti-Semitic conspiracy theories Johnston's Twitter account has since been deleted and the tweet is no longer online but screen grabs of the tweet were posted by other social media users. A tweet posted from the foundation's official account said: 'Neither Mr Soros nor Open Society is funding this effort. We are surprised to see a Campbell Soup executive spreading false stories. 'We do support the historic US commitment to welcoming people fleeing oppression and violence in their homelands.' In response to a complaint from Open Society, Campbell Soup's Interim President and CEO Keith McLoughlin quickly sought to distance the company from Johnston's comments. 'Mr Johnson's remarks do not represent the position of Campbell and are inconsistent with how Campbell approaches public debate,' McLoughlin stated in a letter addressed to Patrick Gaspard, president of Open Society Foundation. Soros' charity, Open Society Foundations, lashed out at Johnston on Twitter, denying his allegations Campbell sent this letter to the president of the charity, seeking to distance itself from Johnston The Open Society Foundations, which seeks to promote democracy around the globe, dismissed the allegations against Soros. Soros, who is Jewish, has often been targeted of far-right conspiracy theories and racist abuse. The Hungarian-born businessman, who is thought to be worth around $8billion, has been accused of turning other Jews over to the Nazis and stealing their riches, despite only being 14 years old at the time. His family were also forced to hide from the Hungarian government during the German occupation. Due to his opposition to Brexit, he was also accused of bankrolling a 'secret plot' to reverse the June 2016 referendum in articles quoting anti-Semitic conspiracy theories. More recently, Trump claimed that Soros was among those bankrolling protesters opposing the nomination of Brett Kavanuagh to the US Supreme Court. Before becoming a lobbyist, Johnston spent 25 years in Washington DC, in a variety of leadership positions in the executive and legislative branches of the federal government as Secretary of the US Senate, the Senates Chief Legislative, Financial, and Administrative Officer and Staff Director of the Senate Republican Policy Committee. Brooklyn's borough president has said he will bring a gun with him every time he enters a place of worship while a New York City rabbi has renewed his call for congregants to arm themselves in synagogues. Eric L. Adams a Democrat who is a 22-year-old veteran of the New York Police Department spoke outside a Jewish family center in Midwood on Sunday. 'From now on, I will bring my handgun every time I enter a church or synagogue,' he said, according to the New York Times. Meanwhile, Rabbi Gary Moskowitz who is also a former police officer also called for worshippers to arm themselves after an anti-Semitic gunman shot and killed 11 people at a synagogue in Pittsburgh on Saturday. Scroll down for video Eric Adams (left) and Rabbi Gary Moskowitz (right) said worshippers should be arming themselves in the wake of last week's Pittsburgh shooting 'You must have it,' he told Page Six. 'A guy comes in with a gun and what can they do? Throw chairs at them? We're sitting ducks here.' Moskowitz found the International Security Coalition of Clergy, which previously sought to arm Jews over fears they would be attacked by jihadists. Now, he wants Jews to train and apply for permits to carry weapons inside synagogues. The NYPD instructs active officers to carry their service weapons while off duty, with a few exceptions. Retired officers can carry concealed weapons under a federal law if they pass a marksmanship test. A woman reacts at a makeshift memorial outside the Tree of Life synagogue following Saturday's shooting Robert Gregory Bowers, 46, is charged with killing 11 people in what is believed to be the deadliest attack on Jews in US history. Bowers, who was shot and wounded in a gun battle with police, was released from a hospital and turned over to federal authorities for a court appearance Monday He arrived at the federal courthouse in downtown Pittsburgh less than two hours after his release from Allegheny General Hospital, according to U.S. marshals. Federal prosecutors set in motion plans to seek the death penalty against Bowers, who authorities say expressed hatred of Jews during the rampage and later told police that 'I just want to kill Jews' and that 'all these Jews need to die.' The first funeral - for Cecil Rosenthal and his younger brother, David - was set for Tuesday. Survivors, meanwhile, began offering harrowing accounts of the mass shooting Saturday inside Tree of Life Synagogue. A police vehicle is posted near the Tree of Lifer Synagogue in Pittsburgh on Monday Barry Werber said he found himself hiding in a dark storage closet as the gunman tore through the building and opened fire. 'I don't know why he thinks the Jews are responsible for all the ills in the world, but he's not the first and he won't be the last,' Werber, 76, said Sunday. Unfortunately, that's our burden to bear. It breaks my heart.' The weekend massacre - which took place 10 days before the midterm elections - heightened tensions around the country, coming just a day after the arrest of the Florida man accused of sending a wave of pipe bombs to critics of President Donald Trump. Robert Gregory Bowers, 46, is charged with killing 11 people in what is believed to be the deadliest attack on Jews in US history The mail bomb attacks and the bloodshed in Pittsburgh set off debate over whether the corrosive political rhetoric in Washington and beyond contributed to the violence and whether Trump himself bears any blame. The attack also spurred a number of fundraising efforts. A crowdfunding campaign called Muslims Unite for Pittsburgh Synagogue raised more than $90,000 for survivors and families, while a fundraiser led by a graduate student in Washington had taken in nearly $545,000 as of Monday morning, with funds to go to the congregation. Bowers killed eight men and three women before a tactical police team tracked him down and shot him, authorities said. Six other people were wounded, including four officers. He apparently posted an anti-Semitic message on a social media account linked to him just a few minutes before the rampage. Three congregations were conducting Sabbath services in the synagogue when the attack began just before 10am in the tree-lined residential neighborhood of Squirrel Hill, about 10 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh and the hub of the city's Jewish community. The youngest of the 11 dead was 54, the oldest 97. The toll included a husband and wife, professors, dentists and physicians. Bowers shot his victims with an AR-15, used in many of the nation's mass shootings, and three handguns, all of which he owned legally and had a license to carry, according to a law enforcement official who wasn't authorized to discuss the investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity. Bowers was a long-haul trucker who worked for himself, U.S. Attorney Scott Brady said. Little else was known about the suspect, who had no apparent criminal record. Bowers was charged with 11 state counts of criminal homicide, six counts of aggravated assault and 13 counts of ethnic intimidation. He was also charged in a 29-count federal criminal complaint that included counts of obstructing the exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death - a federal hate crime - and using a firearm to commit murder. Of the six survivors, four remained in the hospital Sunday night, and two - including a 40-year-old officer - were in critical condition. A 'controlling bully' who strangled and then stabbed his wife 49 times in front of her young son 'like a lion kills its prey' has been jailed for life. Tanzanian Kema Salum, 39, was ordered to spend at least 23 years behind bars after stabbing 35-year-old Leyla Mtumwa repeatedly in the neck and chest at her home in Haringey, north London, on March 30 this year. Salum, who had a history of violence against an ex-wife, had arrived in the UK on a six-month visa at the turn of the year having married Ms Mtumwa in east Africa. On the night of the murder Ms Mtumwa had returned home just before 7am after a night out with friends when Salum fell into a 'violent rage' and attempted to strangle her, the Old Bailey heard. Kema Salum (above), 39, was ordered to spend at least 23 years behind bars after stabbing 35-year-old Leyla Mtumwa repeatedly in the neck and chest at her home in Haringey, north London, on March 30 Ms Mtumwa (above) married Salum in east Africa and he arrived in the UK on a six-month visa at the turn of the year Salum broke off and went into the kitchen to get a knife which he used to stab his wife 49 times in the head, neck, body and arms, the court was told. Ms Mtumwa's screams were heard by her 12-year-old son who woke up and called 999. When asked how many times his mother had been stabbed by the operator he replied, 'a lot.' Prosecutor Catherine Farrelly said: 'He has seen this defendant on top of his mother when she was face down on the bed. 'He had his hands around her neck and was strangling her. He got up, walked out and returned to the room this time carrying a knife. 'This defendant had then pushed Leyla to the ground and the boy had seen the defendant on the floor, repeatedly stabbing her while she shouted, he's stabbing me.' The court heard how on the night of the murder Salum (left) went into the kitchen to get a knife which he used to stab his wife 49 times in the head, neck, body and arms. When police arrived at the Kirkstall Avenue residence Salum answered the door with blood on his hands claiming his wife had injured him The police arrived at Kirkstall Avenue at around 7am and Salum answered the door with blood on his hands claiming his wife had injured him. As he was handcuffed Salum told officers: 'This is my wife and we fight.' When he was arrested, Salum denied murder and claimed he was acting in self-defence, but he changed his plea at the 11th hour at the Old Bailey. He pleaded guilty to murdering his wife before trial, saying: 'After hearing [my son's] story it makes sense with what happened so I pleaded guilty.' Ms Mtumwa's son was said to suffer terrifying nightmares and would break down uncontrollably when speaking to police. The defendant (left) was jailed for a minimum of 23 years and was described as an 'arrogant, controlling bully' The court heard the victim's parents had been left devastated by their daughter's death. Ms Mtumwa's mother, Hidaya Mohamed wrote to the judge: 'When Leyla's body was brought, when I saw how her face had been cut and she had been mutilated it broke my heart. 'It pains me in my heart that she was killed like an animal, killed like a lion kills its prey.' She described how Ms Mtumwa spoke often with her about Salum's abusive behaviour and his anger at her going out to work while he stayed at home babysitting and cleaning the house. 'When I was told she had been killed I fell down and hurt my back causing a slipped disk and I now walk with a stick,' she wrote. 'I have also lost my sight temporarily due to the shock. I have not stopped crying since Leyla was killed and I am now on medication to help me sleep.' The court heard Salum had been 'extremely violent' towards his ex-wife in the past and had 'lied through his teeth' when he claimed to police he had been defending himself at all times. Salum's ex-wife Amitin Mbamba gave evidence from Dubai about how Salum would beat her with an iron and an axe when they lived in Tanzania. They were married in September 2012 and the violence began two weeks later when they moved from her parents into their own home. 'He's punching me using any object that was around - it could be an iron it could be a knife,' she said. 'He would hit me with the iron, he would threaten to switch it on and burn me with the iron. 'He would hit me with the back of the axe on my back.' Judge Richard Marks QC jailed Salum for life with a minimum of 23 years and described the defendant as an 'arrogant, controlling bully'. He said: 'This was a consistent attack of very considerable force which, although relatively short-lived, must have caused Leyla very substantial suffering before she died. 'Having started off attempting to strangle her you broke off, went to get a knife, and then resumed the attack.' The elder of the two sisters whose bodies washed up along the Hudson River is last known to have lived in a high-rise apartment in Virginia, it has been revealed. Rotana Farea's last known address was at the Skyline Apartments in Falls Church. The 22-year-old and her 16-year-old sister Tala were found dead - their bodies bound together by duct tape - on the riverbank of New York's Upper West Side neighborhood last week. Authorities believe the sisters may have died in a suicide pact, but questions continue to swirl about when they disappeared and how they ended up in New York. Mystery continues to surround how the bodies of Rotana Farea, 22, (left) and her 16-year-old sister, Tala Farea (right) washed up along the Hudson River last week. They are pictured here in sketches released by the New York Police Department Rotana Farea's last known address was here at the Skyline Apartments in Falls Church, Virginia The sisters lived in Jedda, Saudi Arabia before moving to the US with their mother, who lives in Virginia. Rotana is last known to have lived in the Falls Church apartment with a man named Abdulsalam Farea. Their relation remains unclear, as does whether Tala lived with them. Family members claim the sisters' mother reported Tala missing two months ago, but called off the search after finding out she was in New York visiting her sister. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children said Tala was last seen August 24. The alert said she might be with her sister. Rotana is last known to have lived in the apartment with a man named Abdulsalam Farea. Their relation remains unknown, as does whether Tala lived with them The bodies of the two women that were bound together by duct tape washed up from New York's Hudson River on Wednesday. Police are seen here removing one of the bodies Fairfax police confirmed to DailyMail.com that at least one Farea sister was reported missing by family. They said there was no reason to think the sister was abducted or in danger, which is why no images were released to the public. Family members told Arab News that the two sisters had only lost contact with their mother a week ago. They are insisting that the pair did not commit suicide and are waiting to find out the cause of death from the Chief Medical Examiner, which has not yet released findings from the autopsies. Authorities received a 911 call at 2.40pm from a passerby who spotted the two bodies floating in the water off the city's Upper West Side neighborhood Authorities can be seen carrying two stretchers as they cleared the bodies from the scene The bodies were laying on rocks near the river when authorities arrived on the scene Rotana and Tala were found fully clothed, wearing black jackets with fur trim and black leggings, when their bodies washed up near Riverside Park last week. Their bodies were bound together with duct tape that was tied around their feet and waists. The pair were found facing each other. Authorities believe the women jumped off the George Washington Bridge, their bodies floating six miles down the river before reaching Riverside Park. A passerby called 911 at 2.40pm on Wednesday after spotting the two bodies, which were found laying on rocks by the river when police arrived at the scene. Neither body showed signs of trauma. The sisters' father has since arrived in New York following news of their death. Women furious over pension inequality cut off the end of Philip Hammond's budget speech today with a noisy protest from the Commons public gallery. Around 80 members of the Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) group waved purple banners and chanted in protest at the Government's decision to raise the state pension age from 60 to 66. Their banners, in the group's signature purple, read: 'The Great Pension Robbery', while others were just branded 'Waspi'. The protesters were quickly escorted out by security, but were met with a standing ovation by Labour and SNP MPs. Around 80 members of the Women Against the State Pension Inequality (Waspi) group chanted in protest at the Government's decision to raise the state pension age from 60 to 66 The campaigners' banners were in the group's signature purple and read: 'The Great Pension Robbery', while others were just branded 'Waspi' The women's actions were met with a a standing ovation by Labour and SNP MPs (pictured) Waspi's aim is to get rid of the six year difference in pension age for some 3.9million women. There was no mention of pension inequality in Mr Hammond's speech, which opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn slammed. Opposition MPs took to social media after Mr Corbyn's speech to praise the actions of the pension protesters. Labour MP for Bury James Frith tweeted: 'All power to you #WASPI women. Nothing from this impotent Budget from this limping government. Demonstrating in the public gallery at the conclusion of the #Budget2018.' SNP MP for Edinburghy South West Joanna Cherry QC added: 'Well done to the #waspiwomen protesting in the public gallery. The protesters (pictured) were quickly escorted out by security, but were met with a standing ovation by Labour and SNP MPs 'It's a total disgrace the Chancellor has nothing to offer them. @theSNP will continue to put your case forward @WASPI_Campaign #Budget2018 #WASPI.' Anne Keen, a co-founder of the group, said afterwards that the Chancellor's decision not to provide relief was 'an insult'. She said: 'He can give money for toilets but not to hardworking women. It's an insult, it's so disrespectful. 'He was going on about rewarding hardworking people, we've worked since we were 15 - 45 years. 'We only want what we're entitled to. We're angry, we've been betrayed and we're not going to go away until this is resolved, we will not be silenced. 'Our mantra from now on is deeds not words. We want action from the Government on this.' There was no mention of pension inequality in Mr Hammond's speech (pictured delivering his budget speech today) which opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn slammed Cheryl Sloan, a regional organiser of the group, said: 'We waited to see if he was going to mention anything about pensions and he didn't. It's the same old same old, they're totally ignoring us. 'We were banging on the window shouting 'shame on you'. We had many more banners and posters to wave but we were frisked on the way in. 'Politicians need to realise that we are not going to go away, we will keep making our voice heard. 'All we want is what we're owed, we've lost 48,000 on average because of this. It's not right.' The campaign group was set up in 2015 on behalf of millions of women, born in the 1950s, who since 1995 have twice seen the start date for their state pensions pushed back. Wikileaks founder Julian Assange claims Ecuador is trying to kick him out of its London embassy and hand him over to America. Assange, who is wanted in the US for leaking thousands of diplomatic cables back in 2010, made the remark during a teleconference on Monday. The video call was part of a trial taking place in Ecuadorian capital of Quito in which Assange is protesting the terms of his asylum. Julian Assange has claimed that Ecuador is trying to kick him out of its London embassy as his lawyers protest strict rules imposed upon him The former computer programmer was slapped with additional rules earlier this month, having already been banned from having visitors or using the internet earlier this year. Rules included banning him from making political statements, ordering him to take better care of his cat, and insisting he clean the toilet, the Independent reported. Assange has been holed up inside the Ecuadorian embassy since 2012 when he was accused of sexual assault by two women in Sweden. He denied their claims but refused to travel to Sweden to face them, saying it was part of a ruse to extradite him to the US. A Jewish doctor from the hospital where the Pittsburgh synagogue shooter was treated on Saturday has told the gunman was still screaming: 'I want to kill all the Jews' as he was taken to the hospital in an ambulance and how he was treated by Jewish staff after carrying out his antisemitic attack. Robert Bowers, 46, underwent surgery at the Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh on Saturday after being shot in a gun battle with police and SWAT teams. He had murdered 11 people in the Tree of Life synagogue in nearby Squirrel Hill and injured several others in the worst antisemitic attack in the US in recent history. Dr. Seth Cohen, the hospital's president who is a member of the synagogue that was attacked but was not there when the shooting occurred, revealed on Sunday night that he spoke with Bowers after he received care from his staff and that he seemed 'confused'. Scroll down for video Dr. Seth Cohen, the president of the Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh who is also a member of the Tree of Life Congregation that was attacked, spoke to gunman Robert Bowers after he was brought in for treatment under police watch on Saturday 'I went to see the shooter and the cops that were guarding him. I wanted to try to understand why did he do this. 'I asked him, "how are you feeling?" And he was kind of groggy and said, "I'm feeling OK." 'I introduced myself as Dr. Cohen, the president of Allegheny General. And I left. The FBI agent in charge looked at me and says I dont know how you did that because Im not sure I could have. 'Isn't it ironic that someone who's yelling in the hospital and ambulance, "I want to kill all the Jews", is taken care of by a Jewish nurse, with a Jewish hospital president that comes in to check on him afterwards,' he told CNN. Cohen said afterwards that Bowers did not seem bright and that he believes he was influenced by the 'noise' he was hearing from others. Bowers entered the Tree of Life synagogue at 9.45am on Saturday and turned left into the main sanctuary first, killing eight people there before going to the basement. He then tried to leave but was confronted by cops on his way out and retreated back into the building and fled upstairs to the third floor where he was eventually taken into custody Freshly dug graves are seen at the Tree of Life Memorial Park on October 29, two days after the atrocity. It is customary for Jews to be buried within three days of dying 'It's time for leaders to lead all the chaos that's going on, the gentleman didn't appear to be a member of the Mensa society. 'He listens to the noise. He hears the noise. Bowers regularly posted online about his hatred of Jews. He is in federal custody awaiting a preliminary hearing on Thursday 'The noise was telling him his people were being slaughtered. 'He thought it was time to rise up and do something he's completely confused and the words mean things. 'The words are leading to people doing things like this and I find it appalling. 'The specifics of this I am not going to go into. 'He was treated by our team, they took very good care of him,' he said. He played down any notion that his staff, many of whom are Jewish, would have had 'conflicting' emotions in treating him saying: ' We have one very simple mission. We take care of sick people. 'We don't ask questions about who they are or their insurance status or whether they can pay. They're patients. 'To us it's very simple for our staff to do the right job. I am very proud of them. they did a great job.' Two of the victims of Saturday's attack on a Pittsburgh synagogue were an elderly married couple who got married in the same temple 60 years ago, it has been revealed. Sylvan and Bernice Simon were among the 11 people slaughtered by gunman Robert Bowers, 46, at the Tree of Life Congregation synagogue in Squirrel Hill on Saturday at a Sabbath service. Like the other six people murdered in the main sanctuary, the Simons had no time to escape because they were seated closest to the door Bowers burst through with his AR-15 and three handguns. As their two adult sons and grandchildren mourn them, neighbors and friends have paid tribute to the couple who 'held hands and always smiled'. Bernice and Sylvan Simon, aged 84 and 86, were killed on Saturday during Shabbat services at the Tree of Life Congregation . They had been married for 62 years Sylvan, 86, who was a retired accountant, and Bernice, 84, got married in the same synagogue in 1956 in a candlelight ceremony that was described in a newspaper announcement at the time. This is an announcement of the couple's 1956 wedding which took place in the same temple by candlelight It read: 'In a candlelight ceremony on Saturday night, Bernice Ruth Rothenberg became the bride of Sylvan Simon, son of Mrs Emanuel Simon of Chesterfield Road. 'Rabbi Herman Hailperin officiated at the services in the Tree of Life Synagogue. The bride, given in marriage by her parents, Mr and Mrs Morris Rothenberg of Farrell, PA, wore gown of ivory chantilly lace and tulle trimmed with sequins. 'She carried a white Bible with white orchids and streamers of stephanotis.' The couple had their honeymoon in New York City then returned to Pittsburgh where they raised their family. They have two adult sons, one who lives in Pennsylvania and one who lives in California. They have not yet spoken out, requesting privacy as they cope with their loss. Neighbor Heather Graham, however, told how the couple often held hands and were always 'smiling'. She often shoveled their driveways in the winter months, she said, and received loaves of cranberry orange bread from Bernice in return. She would leave the bread with a thank you note on Graham's car, she said. 'They held hands and they always smiled, and he would open the door for her, all those things that you want from another person. Sylvan, who was a retired accountant, was still recovering from a broken arm. Neighbors and friends said he was a chivalrous husband who always held the door open for his wife. They were often seen walking hand-in-hand and were pillars of the community 'They were really generous and nice to everybody. Its just horrific,' Graham told Penn Live. She added that the couple 'loved' her pet dog and often played with him. 'They loved my dog, and they were always so nice to him. They were just such nice people, and its really sad that theyre not here anymore,' she said. Friend Michael Stepaniak said the couple had been together 'forever'. He described them as a 'loving couple' and said: 'I hope they didnt suffer much. I miss them terribly.' Tributes were left outside the synagogue on Monday as the community comes to terms with the atrocity His wife Jo cried as she described them as the 'best neighbors you could ask for'. 'Bernice and Sylvan were very good, good-hearted, upstanding, honest, gracious, generous people. 'They were very dignified and compassionate. Best neighbors that you could ask for,' she said. Bowers entered the Tree of Life synagogue at 9.45am on Saturday and turned left into the main sanctuary first, killing eight people there before going to the basement. He then tried to leave but was confronted by cops on his way out and retreated back into the building and fled upstairs to the third floor where he was eventually taken into custody Freshly dug graves are seen at the Tree of Life Memorial Park on October 29, two days after the atrocity. It is customary for Jews to be buried within three days of dying The rabbi emeritus, Alvin Berkun, said the pair were stalwarts of the community who often volunteered and helped out at the synagogue. '(They) were very devoted, an active, steady presence,' he said. All of the victims of Saturday's attack were over 50. They were Richard Gottfried, 65, Rose Mallinger, 97, Jerry Rabinowitz, 66, Cecil Rosenthal, 59, David Rosenthal, 54, Daniel Stein, 71, Melvin Wax, 88, Irving Younger, 69 and Joyce Feinberg, 75. Wax and the Rosenthal brothers were killed in the basement. They were part of the New Light congregation. Marie Beth Jones, a published author and freelance writer based in Angleton, is a member and former chairwoman of the Brazoria County Historical Commission. Contact her at 1mbjones@nwcable.net. Advertisement Americans underestimate the frequency with which guns are used in suicides and overestimate how often homicides are committed in their home states, according to a new study. Using data from the National Firearms Survey, researchers asked 3,949 U.S. adults to choose from four options on the intent and means of violent deaths in their home state: homicide with a gun; homicide with a weapon other than a gun; suicide with a gun, and; suicide by any method other than a gun. A minority (13.5 percent) of American adults were able to correctly identify the leading cause of violent death in their states, according to a new paper published Monday in the Annals of Internal Medicine. In a majority of the country (29 states), suicide by gun was the leading cause of violent death, while it was suicide by another means in 20 other states and homicide by gun in Maryland. In addition, suicide is twice as common as homicide in the U.S., and suicide by firearm is more common than homicide with a gun all states except Illinois, Maryland and New Jersey. This map illustrates the rates of suicide by gun per 100,000 people in each state, with the darkest shades representing the highest incidence, per Centers for Disease Control data This map illustrates the rates of homicide by gun per 100,000 people in each state, with the darkest shades representing the highest incidence, per CDC data. Researchers cautioned that the states with the lowest homicide rates (Hawaii, New Hampshire, North Dakota and Vermont) have fewer than 20 deaths total, which can skew the incidence rate per 100,000 'We were interested in learning about how people perceived the relative frequency (of suicide and homicide by gun) because we think it translates to people's perception of their own risk,' researcher Erin Morgan, of the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Washington, told DailyMail.com. 'Suicide is actually a lot more common than homicide and not knowing that the presence of a firearm in the home increases all household members' risk of suicide may influence my purchasing of a gun and how I want to store it,' she added. Researchers also found that just 20 percent of health care workers (of the 1,880 surveyed) were able to correctly identify the leading cause of violent death and suicide in their states. In addition, a fraction (12.4 percent) of Americans with a history of mental illness answered correctly. The ability to answer correctly did not vary among gun owners and non-gun owners, according to the study. Researchers said their findings suggest that more education is needed to ensure Americans are aware of the risk that firearms may pose to themselves and their families, as suicides account for nearly two-thirds of the deaths by gun in the U.S. Alaska had the highest rate of suicides by gun, with 16.1 per 100,000 people. Montana ranked second, with 15.7 per 100,000, followed by Wyoming (14.8), New Mexico (12.4) and Idaho (12.1). Meanwhile, Louisiana had the highest rate of homicide by gun in the country, with 9.4 per 100,000 people in that state. Mississippi ranked second, with 8.7 per 100,000, followed by Alabama (7), Missouri (6.5) and South Carolina (6.4). Researchers cautioned that the states with the lowest homicide rates (Hawaii, New Hampshire, North Dakota and Vermont) have fewer than 20 deaths total, which can skew the incidence rate per 100,000. The data was released the same day as a new policy position paper from the American College of Physicians on the best ways to reduce firearm injuries and deaths in the U.S. Suicide is twice as common as homicide in the U.S., and suicide by firearm is more common than homicide with a gun all states except Illinois, Maryland and New Jersey, according to 2015 CDC data, the most recent available The paper was an update from a previous statement that made several recommendations, including: establishing coalitions on gun violence to bring together diverse perspectives on the issue, and preserving free speech for physicians to speak publicly and with patients about the risks that come with having a firearm in the home. The changes to the College's position on the issue included new calls for 'appropriate' regulation of the purchase of legal firearms, including: legislation that would make it harder for people convicted of domestic violence to obtain a gun, and; laws that would ban the production and sale of semiautomatic firearms that can be modified to increase their rapid-killing capacity. America is home to 393.3 million civilian-owned guns and has a population of 316.5 million amounting to about 1.2 firearms per person, according to a report by Small Arms Survey, a Geneva-based think tank. While the U.S. has more than one gun per person, a majority (69 percent) of Americans do not currently own a gun, according to a 2017 survey by the Pew Research Center. In addition, two-thirds of gun owners have more than one firearm, including 29 percent who own five or more. Under President Trump, over 700,000 immigrants are waiting on applications to become US citizens in a process that in some places stretched to over two-years. Previously, applications took about six months. The long wait times have prompted some immigrant advocates to ask whether the delays are aimed at keeping anti-Trump voters from casting ballots in elections. 'People are motivated to participate, and they're being frustrated from being able to participate in the elections they're excited about,' said Manuel Pastor, director of the University of Southern California's Center for the Study of Immigrant Integration. The number of immigrants aspiring to become U.S. citizens surged during 2016, jumping 27 percent from a year earlier as Trump made cracking down on immigration a central theme of his presidential campaign. At first, the federal government kept up with the applications, but then the wait grew. Wait times for a citizen applications ballooned to two-years from just around six-months as immigrant rights activist say they think President Trump is delaying the process to stop anti-Trump voters from gaining citizenship This is the information pack that is distributed by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services during citizenship ceremonies Backlogs are nothing new in the U.S. immigration system. It often takes years to receive asylum or to be deported. But naturalization - the final step to become an American citizen, obtain a U.S. passport and receive voting rights - had not been subject to such delays in recent years. Now the average wait time for officials to decide on applications is more than 10 months. It takes up to 22 months in Atlanta and as long as 26 months in parts of Texas, according to official estimates. Trump tweeted on Thursday that Central American migrants headed north in a U.S.-bound caravan should return home and can apply for American citizenship if they wish. 'Go back to your Country and if you want, apply for citizenship like millions of others are doing!' he posted as thousands continued their trek through Mexico. But immigrants generally must be legal permanent residents of the United States to apply for citizenship and getting a green card can take years - if a person even qualifies for one. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said the longer waits to naturalize are because of the surge in applications, not slower processing. The agency decided 850,000 cases in 2017, up 8 per cent from a year before. Despite 'a record and unprecedented' spike in applications, the agency is operating more efficiently and effectively and 'outperforming itself,' spokesman Michael Bars said in a statement. To become an American citizen, immigrants must hold green cards for at least three years, demonstrate good moral character and pass English and civics tests. Citizenship applications typically rise before an increase in filing fees and during presidential election years as immigrants get excited about the prospect of voting and advocacy groups conduct widespread outreach to try to get more eligible voters to the polls. Enrique Robles, 32, said he applied to naturalize as soon as he was eligible after living in the U.S. most of his life. When he didn't hear about the status of his application, Robles, who is originally from Mexico, started to worry. More than a year later, he said, he was called to an interview where an immigration officer questioned whether he should have been issued a green card in the first place, a concern he was able to quickly dispel by explaining that his father had legitimately sponsored him. In this September 2018 photo new American citizens stand during a naturalization ceremony in Los Angeles. More than 700,000 immigrants are waiting on their applications to become U.S. citizens, a process that in many parts of the country now takes a year or more Sameeha Alkamalee Jabbar, a 38-year-old from Orange County sits during a naturalization ceremony in Los Angeles. Alkamalee Jabbar who is originally from Sri Lanka, said the process took ten months and at times she worried but knew about the backlog 'With this administration, it feels like more they are looking for possibilities to kick people out,' said Robles, who took his citizenship oath in September. Keeping potential citizens from voting could have an effect, but it could also drive their relatives and friends to the polls in greater numbers. 'The naturalization delays have a huge cost in stopping some people' from voting, but they 'have a huge impact in motivating others,' said Jeremy Robbins, executive director of New American Economy, a bipartisan group in support of immigration. Competitive districts that have a large number of foreign-born residents are likely to be among those where naturalization delays could matter most. Those include districts in California's Orange County and in Texas and New Jersey, Robbins said. At a recent naturalization ceremony in Los Angeles, some new citizens said the process seemed long to them, while others said it flew by in a matter of months. Key for many was being able to travel with an American passport and being able to vote. Sameeha Alkamalee Jabbar, 38, who is from Sri Lanka, said the process took 10 months and at times she worried about the backlog. She wants to vote next month because 'every vote counts' - and especially because her husband is seeking re-election to a school board seat in Orange County. 'This is home now,' she said, wearing a stars-and-stripes hijab. 'I love the United States of America.' Immigrant advocates recently filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles demanding records from the Trump administration on the delays. They questioned whether wait times were longer in electoral battleground states and said that could suggest voter suppression. Juliana Cabrales, Mid-Atlantic director of civic engagement at the NALEO Educational Fund, which supports Latino participation in politics, said the group is focused on driving voter turnout in the midterm elections but will quickly pivot to encouraging immigrants to apply for citizenship if they want to vote for president in 2020. 'Right now, we're finding ourselves in this space, in places like Miami and New York, where processing times are 21 months,' she said. 'If you want to vote in 2020 you have to apply (to naturalize) now.' White House press secretary Sarah Sanders choked up on Monday as she talked about Saturday's shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue and said President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump would visit the city on Tuesday to meet with families. 'Tomorrow, the president and first lady will travel to Pennsylvania to express the support of the American people and grieve with the Pittsburgh community,' she said at a White House briefing. Sanders got emotional when speaking about the 11 people who died in the Tree of Life Congregation shooting, clearing her throat as she noted they were 'proud grandparents' and siblings who made up the 'religious heart of the tree of life community.' White House press secretary Sarah Sanders choked up on Monday as she talked about Saturday's shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue Sanders reminded people President Trump is a grandfather to Jewish grandchildren, including Arabella, the daughter of Ivanka and Jared Kushner 'The American people reject hatred, bigotry, prejudice and violence. We are a nation that believes in religious liberty, tolerance, and respect. And we are a people who cherish the dignity of every human life. Today, America grieves for the precious lives that were cruelly stolen,' Sanders said. 'Our hearts ache for every person who lost a loved one. The 11 Jewish Americans who were horribly murdered represented the very best of our nation. They were brothers and sisters who looked out for each other, they were doctors who cared for citizens in need. They were proud grandparents who taught their grandchildren to value faith, family, and country. And they were the religious heart of the tree of life community.' She also reminded people the president is the father of 'several Jewish grandchildren.' Ivanka Trump converted to Judaism when she married Jared Kushner in 2009. They are practicing Jews and raising their three children in the faith. Sanders noted the president 'adores Jewish Americans as part of his own family.' 'The president cherishes the American Jewish community for everything it stands for and contributes to our country. He adores Jewish Americans as part of his own family. The president is the grandfather of several Jewish grandchildren. His daughter is a Jewish American and his son-in-law is a descendant of Holocaust survivors,' she said. She said he wanted to visit Pittsburgh to support the victims' families as the community deals with one of the worst mass shootings on a synagogue in history. 'The president wants to be there to show the support of this administration for the Jewish community. The rabbi said that he is welcome, as well. And certainly we want to show our support for those individuals,' she said. Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, who was leading services at the Tree of Life Synagogue during Saturday's shooting, told CNN on Monday that, 'the President of the United States is always welcome.' 'I'm a citizen. He's my president. He is certainly welcome,' Myers said. He was asked about the president's visit after more than 35,000 people signed an open letter to President Trump urging him not to come. The letter was originally written by 11 members of the Pittsburgh affiliate of Bend the Arc, a national organization for progressive Jews focused on social justice. 'For the past three years your words and your policies have emboldened a growing white nationalist movement,' the letter to the president read. 'You yourself called the murderer evil, but yesterday's violence is the direct culmination of your influence.' Melania Trump will accompany the president to Pittsburgh on Tuesday Sarah Sanders got emotional when speaking about the 11 people who died in the Tree of Life Congregation shooting A woman visits a makeshift memorial outside the Tree of Life synagogue following Saturday's shooting On Saturday, Trump condemned the shooting as 'pure evil.' In her first press briefing in three weeks, Sanders also scolded the White House press corps for what she described as 'sad and divisive' coverage of the the president. Sanders said during a dispute with CNN's Jim Acosta that a number of outlets have engaged in 'outrageous' coverage of attacks on those who support the president and said the press was 'irresponsible' in the tone it has taken. Trump had harangued the media earlier in the day, reverting to a claim that the 'Fake News' is the 'true Enemy of the People,' in a tweet that accused the media of fanning the flames of hated and anger. Sanders wouldn't pin-point which outlets at her briefing are the 'enemy,' but Trump has singled out CNN, which was the target of pipe bombs last week, by name in the past. And she slammed the media for reporting allegations the president's fiery campaign rhetoric incited the recent spate of violence. 'The very first thing that the president did was condemn the attacks both in Pittsburgh and the pipe bombs. The very first thing the media did was blame the president and make him responsible for these ridiculous acts. That is outrageous that would be the very first reaction of so many people across this country,' she said. 'The only person responsible for carrying out either of these heinous acts were the individuals who carried them out.' She also lectured the press that they have partial responsibility for the divisive nature of the country. 'I'll remind you that the very first thing was condemn the attacker and the very first thing the media does was blame the president. You guys have a huge responsibility to play in the divisive nature of this country when 90 percent of the coverage of everything this president does is negative, despite the fact that the country is doing extremely well, despite the fact that the president is delivering on exactly what he said he was going to do if elected,' Sanders said. Sarah Sanders got into a dispute with CNN 's Jim Acosta on Monday when he asked her to name who the president meant when he said the media is the 'enemy of the people' Acosta had asked Sanders about a tweet the president sent castigating the press as an 'enemy' of the people again He pressed the White House press secretary to admit that the president was talking about CNN Sanders argued the president has continually looked for ways to 'bring the country together' after natural disasters and violent incidents. 'I think you saw the president do exactly that in the wake of a national tragedy, not just this week, but every time our country has experienced the type of heartache and pain that we have over the last week,' she said. 'This is a president who has risen to that occasion.' CNN's Jim Acosta pushed the press secretary to explain why the White House wouldn't 'reserve the term enemy of the people for people who are actually the enemy of the United States rather than journalists.' Sanders replied that 'the president is not referencing all media, he's taking about the growing amount of fake news that exists in the country.' 'I'm not gonna walk through a list,' she told him, as Acosta tried to force her to admit she was referring to CNN. 'I don't think it's necessarily specific to a broad generalization of a full outlet at times. I think there's individuals that the president would be referencing.' Sanders did not have the 'guts' on Monday, Acosta accused, to name names. But she did tell him: 'I think it's irresponsible, a news organization like yours to blame responsibility of a pipe bomb that was not sent by the president. Not just blame the president but blame members of his administration for those heinous acts. I think that is outrageous and I think that's irresponsible.' Trump has often attacked CNN - and occasionally MSNBC - as 'fake news.' Additionally, Monday was not the first time Sanders has choked up in one of her briefings. The press secretary, a mother of three, got emotional in May when a young student reporter asked how kids could stay safe in the wake of the spat of school shootings. She had called on the Benje Choucroun, a young reporter from TIME for Kids who was dressed in a blue blazer, after a Canadian reporter helped him gain Sanders' attention during the televised briefing. 'One thing that affects my and other students mental health is the worry about the fact that we or our friends could get shot at school,' Benje said, reading from a sheet of paper. 'Specifically can you tell me what the administration has done and will do to prevent these senseless tragedies?' he asked. Sanders nearly choked up during her response, even as she delivered a business-like answer. 'As a kid and certainly as a parent there is nothing could be more terrifying for a kid to go to school and not feel safe so I'm sorry that you feel that way,' said Sanders. Ivanka Trump converted to Judaism when she married Jared Kushner Ivanka and Jared Kushner are raising their three children - including Theodore and Joseph - as Jewish The president and first lady want to pay their respects to the victims' families in Pittsburgh She was also emotional in October of last year after a mass shooting in Las Vegas, when she recalled the heroism of Americans who sacrificed their lives to save others Sunday night amid a hail of bullets in Las Vegas. The usually composed Sanders, a Christian who prays before briefing the media, became visibly choked up after quoting scripture. 'The Gospel of John reminds us that "there is no greater love than to lay down one's life for a friend",' Sanders said. She had trouble making it past the next sentence. With a quivering voice, Sanders declared that 'the memory of those who displayed the ultimate expression of love in the midst of an unimaginable act of hate will never fade.' 'Their examples will serve as an eternal reminder that the American spirit cannot and will not ever be broken,' she said, regaining her composure. Fifty eight people died during a mass shooting at a country music festival. Khashoggi's fiancee Hatice Cengiz weeps at the memorial in London on Monday night Jamal Khashoggi's fiancee has called on President Donald Trump and other leaders to ensure that his death in Istanbul is not covered up. Speaking at a memorial for the slain journalist in London on Monday, Hatice Cengiz expressed disappointment in the 'leadership of many countries.' Singling out Trump, she urged him to 'help reveal the truth and ensure justice be served.' She said: 'He should not pave the way for a cover-up of my fiance's murder. 'Let's not let money taint our conscience and compromise our values.' Fighting back tears, Cengiz also told the memorial that she wishes she had entered the consulate instead of Khashoggi. 'If only I knew that would be the last time I would see my Jamal, his smile, hear his laughter, I would have stood in front of that murderous team myself,' she said in reference to an alleged Saudi hit squad sent to kill the columnist for The Washington Post. She also called for Saudi Arabia to return his remains during the impassioned memorial service. Cengiz said she would have 'faced the firing squad herself' had she known what would happen to Khashoggi inside the consulate Cengiz called for the 'evil criminals and cowardly political masters' behind his death to be held accountable as she implored Saudi Arabia to hand back his body. 'I loved a man who was gentle, caring and giving. I loved a man who had the courage to speak when others found comfort in silence,' Hatice Cengiz said. 'He wrote what he believed in, not what would please the powerful. He was a voice for the voiceless,' she added. 'Jamal is a martyr for a cause. He is a martyr for the struggle for democracy and freedom in our part of the world. I want to bury my beloved Jamal. I am asking again, where is his body?' Other speakers at the event slammed the Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman for being a 'toxic influence' and likened him to Isis for allegedly signing off on the killing. Dr Daud Abdullah, head of Mid East Monitor, joined Cengiz in pleading with Saudi Arabia to hand over his body in his speech Khashoggi's murder has sparked international condemnation as Saudi Arabia's initial claims it had nothing to do with his disappearance at their consulate in Istanbul last month were proven false by Turkish investigators. The Kingdom eventually relinquished claims Khashoggi had left the building unharmed and admitted he had been killed after he entered the complex. His body is yet to be recovered by authorities, leading to calls for Saudi Arabia to cooperate with investigators so that he can receive a full burial. Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi who was murdered inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul earlier this month Speaking at the memorial on Monday, Dr Daud Abdullah, the head of the Middle East Monitor, pleaded with the Saudis to hand over his body, saying: 'Everyone deserves that right.' Abdullah also called Khashoggi 'a true Saudi patriot' who 'will not easily be replaced.' Human rights activist Sarah Leah Whitson demanded a full international investigation into death which she says was planned and executed on the Crown Prince's orders. Whitson also called on western governments to properly punish Saudi Arabia before imposing sanctions on the Prince himself. She called for Mohammed Bin Salman to step down as the country's ruler, arguing he was 'poisonous' and the country's 'biggest liability in years'. In an emotive send-off tribute to Khashoggi, Whitson added: 'You are the Saudi man who would not bow down, who paid for his freedom with his life. You have given your people a hero.' And David Hearst, Editor in Chief of the Middle East Eye called Mohammed Bin Salman a 'toxic brand indistinguishable from the Islamic State', and compared him to a 'medieval lord descending into his dungeon to hear the screams of his prisoner'. Human rights activist Sarah Leah Whitson (left) and David Hearst (right), Editor in Chief of the Middle East Eye, slammed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman over the killing Khashoggi was praised for his courage by all the speakers at Monday's emotional memorial service in London Earlier on Monday Cengiz rejected Donald Trump's invite to meet with him at the White House. In an interview with Turkish television station Haber Turk, Cengiz said, 'The statements Trump made in the first days around his invite and the statements he made afterward opposed each other. They were simply statements to gain public sympathy. 'I do not think of going to the United States,' she explained, according to CNN. 'Whether I will go or not will depend on the formation of conscience.' Cengiz doubled down on her earlier calls for the President to punish Saudi Arabia saying she was 'disappointed' in his actions. 'Let us not let money taint our conscience and our values', she urged in her speech. The President has said repeatedly that the punishment for assassinating the journalist 'will have to be very severe,' because his reported kill by dismemberment is 'bad, bad stuff.' Trump has not said what he thinks the U.S. should do in response, aside from the immediate revocation of the visas of the culprits. He promised 'certain recommendations' that have been limited so far to a plea to honor the defense contracts. The Saudi Arabian crown prince and his elderly father claim that they did not direct the journalist's murder. They maintain that the 15-person team was sent to Turkey to retrieve the dissident and a fight broke out. Trump has suggested that he does not believe their version of events. Mohammed Bin Salman (pictured) was heavily criticised at Monday night's memorial for his handling of the incident Earlier on Monday Cengiz said she will not take President Trump up on his offer to visit the White House, unless his administration acts on the journalist's brutal murder The murder of Jamal Khashoggi: Key moments surrounding the writer's disappearance and death Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who wrote critically of the kingdom's policies and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was killed in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. Turkish officials say a 15-men team tortured, killed and dismembered the writer, while Saudi Arabia says he died in a 'fistfight.' Here are some key moments in the slaying of the Washington Post columnist: BEFORE HIS DISAPPEARANCE September 2017: The Post publishes the first column by Khashoggi in its newspaper, in which the former royal court insider and longtime journalist writes about going into a self-imposed exile in the U.S. over the rise of Prince Mohammed. His following columns criticize the prince and the kingdom's direction. September 28, 2018: Over a year after the Post published his first column, Khashoggi visits the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, seeking documents in order to get married. He's later told to return October 2, his fiancee Hatice Cengiz says. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says a plan or a 'road map' to kill Khashoggi was devised in Saudi Arabia during this time. September 29: Khashoggi travels to London and speaks at a conference. October 1: Khashoggi returns to Istanbul. At around 4.30pm, a three-person Saudi team arrives in Istanbul on a scheduled flight, checks in to their hotels then visits the consulate, according to Erdogan. The Turkish president says another group of officials from the consulate travel to a forest in Istanbul's outskirts and to the nearby city of Yalova on a 'reconnaissance' trip. Jamal Khashoggi (right) arriving at the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul on October 2 THE DAY OF HIS DISAPPEARANCE 3.28am, October 2: A private jet arrives at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport carrying some members of what Turkish media will refer to as a 15-member Saudi 'assassination squad.' Other members of the team arrive by two commercial flights in the afternoon. Erdogan says the team includes Saudi security and intelligence officials and a forensics expert. They meet at the Saudi Consulate. One of the first things they do is to dismantle a hard disk connected to the consulate's camera system, the president says. 11.50am: Khashoggi is called to confirm his appointment at the consulate later that day, Erdogan says. 1.14pm: Surveillance footage later leaked to Turkish media shows Khashoggi walking into the main entrance of the Saudi Consulate. No footage made public ever shows him leaving. His fiancee waits outside, pacing for hours. 3.07pm: Surveillance footage shows vehicles with diplomatic license plates leaving the Saudi Consulate for the consul general's home some 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) away. 5.50pm: Khashoggi's fiancee alerts authorities, saying he may have been forcibly detained inside the consulate or that something bad may have happened to him, according to Erdogan. 7pm: A private plane from Saudi Arabia carries six members of the alleged Saudi squad from Istanbul to Cairo, the next day returning to Riyadh. 11pm: Seven members of the alleged Saudi squad leave on another private jet to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, which the next day returns to Riyadh. Two others leave by commercial flights. Erdogan confirms reports that a 'body double' - a man wearing Khashoggi's clothes, glasses and a beard - leaves the consulate building for Riyadh with another person on a scheduled flight later that day. CCTV images showed a a private jet alleged to have been used by a group of Saudi men suspected of being involved in Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi's death INITIAL REACTION October 3: Khashoggi's fiancee and the Post go public with his disappearance. Saudi Arabia says Khashoggi visited the consulate and exited shortly thereafter. Turkish officials suggest Khashoggi might still be in the consulate. Prince Mohammed tells Bloomberg: 'We have nothing to hide.' October 4: Saudi Arabia says on its state-run news agency that the consulate is carrying out 'follow-up procedures and coordination with the Turkish local authorities to uncover the circumstances of the disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi after he left the consulate building.' October 5: The Post prints a blank column in its newspaper in solidarity with Khashoggi, headlined: 'A missing voice.' October 6: The Post, citing anonymous Turkish officials, reports Khashoggi may have been killed in the consulate in a 'preplanned murder' by a Saudi team. October 7: A friend of Khashoggi tells the AP that officials told him the writer was killed at the consulate. The consulate rejects what it calls 'baseless allegations.' October 8: Saudi Arabia's ambassador to Turkey is summoned over Khashoggi's disappearance and alleged killing. LEAKED FOOTAGE October 9: Turkey says it will search the Saudi Consulate as a picture of Khashoggi walking into the diplomatic post surfaces. October 10: Surveillance footage is leaked of Khashoggi and the alleged Saudi squad that killed him. Khashoggi's fiancee asks President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump for help. October 11: Turkish media describes Saudi squad as including royal guards, intelligence officers, soldiers and an autopsy expert. Trump calls Khashoggi's disappearance a 'bad situation' and promises to get to the bottom of it. October 12: Trump again pledges to find out what happened to Khashoggi. October 13: A pro-government newspaper reports that Turkish officials have an audio recording of Khashoggi's alleged killing from his Apple Watch, but details in the report come into question. INTERNATIONAL UPROAR October 14: Trump says that 'we're going to get to the bottom of it, and there will be severe punishment' if Saudi Arabia is involved. The kingdom responds with a blistering attack against those who threaten it, as the manager of a Saudi-owned satellite news channel suggests the country could retaliate through its oil exports. The Saudi stock exchange plunges as much as 7 percent at one point. Khashoggi (pictured), went missing after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul October 15: A Turkish forensics team enters and searches the Saudi Consulate, an extraordinary development as such diplomatic posts are considered sovereign soil. Trump suggests after a call with Saudi King Salman that 'rogue killers' could be responsible for Khashoggi's alleged slaying. Trump says Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will travel to the Mideast over the case. Meanwhile, business leaders say they won't attend an economic summit in the kingdom that's the brainchild of Prince Mohammed. October 16: A high-level Turkish official tells the AP that 'certain evidence' was found in the Saudi Consulate proving Khashoggi was killed there. Pompeo arrives for meetings in Saudi Arabia with King Salman and Prince Mohammed. Meanwhile, Trump compares the case to the appointment of now-Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh during his confirmation hearing, saying: 'Here we go again with you're guilty until proven innocent.' October 17: Pompeo meets with Turkey's president and foreign minister in the Turkish capital, Ankara. Turkish police search the official residence of Saudi Arabia's consul general in Istanbul and conduct a second sweep of the consulate. October 18: A leaked surveillance photograph shows a member of Prince Mohammed's entourage walked into the consulate just before Khashoggi vanished there. October 20: Saudi Arabia for the first time acknowledges Khashoggi was killed in the consulate, claiming he was slain in a 'fistfight.' The claim draws immediate skepticism from the kingdom's Western allies, particularly in the U.S. Congress. October 22: A report says a member of Prince Mohammed's entourage made four calls to the royal's office around the time Khashoggi was killed. Police search a vehicle belonging to the Saudi consulate parked at an underground garage in Istanbul. CCTV emerges showing a Saudi intelligence officer dressed in a fake beard and Jamal Khashoggi's clothes and glasses on the day he went missing. October 23: Erdogan says Saudi officials murdered Khashoggi after plotting his death for days, demanding that Saudi Arabia reveal the identities of all involved. October 25: Changing their story again, Saudi prosecutors say Khashoggi's killing was a premeditated crime. November 2: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan claims the order to kill Khashoggi came from the highest levels of the Saudi government. Earlier the same day, Yasin Aktay, a ruling party adviser to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said he believed the body had to have been dissolved in acid. November 4: Khashoggi's sons Salah and Abdullah Khashoggi issue appeal for his remains to be returned so that he may be buried in Saudi Arabia. November 10: President Erdogan says Turkey gave the audio recordings linked to the murder to 'Saudi Arabia, to Washington, to the Germans, to the French, to the British'. November 13: Turkish media reports that the luggage carried by the Saudi 'hit squad' included scissors, defibrillators and syringes that may have been used against Khashoggi. November 15: Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor announces that he is seeking the death penalty for five out of 11 suspects charged in the murder. Shalaan al-Shalaan said the person who had ordered the killing was the head of the negotiating team sent to repatriate him, and exonerated Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman. On the same day, the U.S. Treasury announces sanctions against 17 Saudi officials, including the Consul General in Turkey, Mohammed Alotaibi. November 16: A CIA assessment reported in the Washington Post finds that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the assassination. November 18: Germany bans 18 Saudi nationals believed to be connected to the murder from entering Europe's border-free Schengen zone. Berlin also announces it has as halted previously approved arms exports to Saudi Arabia amid the fallout. Advertisement White House press secretary Sarah Sanders is rejecting comparisons between President Donald Trump and the new right wing leader of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, whose weekend election win had features of Trumpism. Sanders got asked Monday whether there was any comparison between the president and Bolsonaro who is already earning the monicker 'Trump of the tropics' after crusading against corruption, talking about jailing his opponents, and taking heat for controversial comments about women, gays, and minorities. 'There's only one Donald Trump in my opinion,' Sanders replied. 'There's only one Donald Trump in my opinion,' White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said when asked about comparisons between her boss and Brazilian president-elect Jair Bolsonaro She also stopped short of an embrace when asked if the White House would seek assurances that the new regime would protect democracy and human rights. Trump throughout his presidency has faced criticism for either embracing or failing to keep distance from leaders who either disregard human rights or have brandished force against critics. Among them are North Korea's dictator Kim Jong-un, Russian president Vladimir Putin, president of the Philipinnes Rodrigo Duterte. 'First, we promote human rights all over the world,' said Sanders. 'We value our longstanding relationship with Brazil. We want to continue to be able to work with them. We'll see what happens from there,' she added, adopting diplomatic tones. Sanders made the statement in a briefing where she also backed up Trump's attack on the 'fake news' media and stood by his account that media members are enemies of the American people. 'I'm not gonna walk through a list. I think those individuals probably know who they are,' she said. Like Sanders, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert in a statement congratulated Bolsonaro, while also saying the administration saluted Brazil's 'strong commitment' to democracy and congratulates the people in participating in the election. 'The U.S. values its vibrant partnership and deep cooperation w/ #Brazil and looks forward to working w/ the President-elect in the coming years,' Nauert tweeted. President Donald Trump revealed no such caution, issuing a hearty and informal online 'congrats!' to the newly elected right wing president of Brazil Jair Bolsinaro. President Donald Trump issued congratulations to the newly elected right wing president of Brasil Jair BolsinaroJair Bolsonaro after he secured victory in the presidential runoff election in Brazil The president tweeted Monday that he had an 'excellent' call with Bolsinaro, a former Army captain who won election crusading against corruption and crime. But the incoming president is also under scrutiny for his comments about women, gays, and minorities, as well as statements praising the former Brazilian dictatorship. 'Had a very good conversation with the newly elected President of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, who won his race by a substantial margin,' Trump said, tipping his hat to Bolsonaro's 55 per cent victory over left-wing Workers Party candidate Fernando Haddad. 'We agreed that Brazil and the United States will work closely together on Trade, Military and everything else! Excellent call, wished him congrats!' Trump wrote. President Trump's boosterism contrasted with the more boilerplate comments issued by French President Emanuel Macron. President Donald Trump said he had a 'very good conversation' with Brazil's incoming right wing president 'The President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron congratulates Jair Bolsonaro, who was elected by the people of Brazil to become president of the federal republic of Brazil on Sunday, October 28,' Macron's office office said. 'France and Brazil have a strategic partnership based around common values of respect and the promotion of democratic principles,' Macron added. Among Bolsinaro's controversial comments that grew scrutiny during the campaign are times he said he would prefer a dead son to a homosexual one. Of torture, he said: 'I am in favor of torture you know that. And the people are in favor of it, too.' 'We agreed that Brazil and the United States will work closely together on Trade, Military and everything else!' Trump wrote of his call with Bolsonaro Brazilian congressman and presidential canditate for the next election, Jair Bolsonaro, is seen during a military event in Sao Paulo, Brazil on May 3, 2018 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 Supporters gather outside the residence of presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro in anticipation of his victory speech, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018 At a rally last week he threatened to jail political opponents. 'This time, the cleanup will be even greater. This group, if they want to stay, they will have to abide by our laws. Either they stay out or they will go to jail,' he said, the New York Times reported in a catalogue of his controversial comments. Following his win, Bolsonaro vowed to 'pacify' the country and spoke of national unity. 'This country belongs to all of us, Brazilians by birth or by heart, a Brazil of diverse opinions, colors and orientations,' he said. He rode to office attacking a wave of corruption scandals, including the Operation Car Wash' investigation, which uncovered bribes worth billions. Former President Luiz Inacio 'Lula' da Silva, received a 12-year sentence after getting convicted on corruption charges. There are echoes to Trumpism, and the candidate has borrowed some tactics from the North American president who praised him. Bolsinaro has vowed to drain the swamp, slash regulations and get tough with China. Evangelicals and gun-rights advocates love him. He has denounced the media as 'fake news.' Political foes? Lock 'em up. Bolsonaro, is an ardent admirer - and shrewd imitator - of Trump. And that could usher in one of the warmest bilateral relationships in the Western Hemisphere. Trump called to congratulate Bolsonaro on Sunday night, shortly after the far-right congressman scored a resounding victory at the polls, winning 55 percent of the vote following a mud-slinging campaign with a leftist rival. Bolsonaro and Trump spoke of 'a strong commitment to work side-by-side' on issues affecting Brazil, the United States and beyond, the White House said. Trump has bullied and wrangled with other leaders in the Americas, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto. But in Bolsonaro, Trump will find a doppelganger whose world view and pugnacious style are strikingly similar to his own. 'Just like he wants to make America great, I want to make Brazil great,' Bolsonaro, a former army captain, said in a televised interview in July. The 63-year-old ran as an outsider bent on smashing what he sees as a corrupt and hidebound political system that has forgotten ordinary citizens. His fiery rhetoric and slurs against gays, women and minorities have thrilled followers who view him as an authentic straight shooter. He has championed law and order, patriotism and religious values. And he has demonized his leftist detractors as enemies of the people. While many world leaders have held Trump at arm's length, Bolsonaro has made no secret of his esteem. He has praised America's 45th president as a gutsy, decisive commander who has prevailed in the face of unfair criticism. 'Trump faced the same attacks I am facing - that he was a homophobe, a fascist, a racist, a Nazi,' Bolsonaro told Reuters last year before his candidacy caught fire. 'But the people believed in his platform. I was rooting for him.' Such blandishments are likely to play well with Trump, who has shown an affinity for authoritarian leaders, particularly those who flatter and cajole him. Christopher Garman, chief Americas analyst for the New York-based political risk consultancy Eurasia Group, said a new cross-hemisphere bromance could be in the offing. '(Bolsonaro's) win will surely herald a stronger bilateral relationship,' Garman said. 'Bolsonaro not only is a self-professed fan of Donald Trump, but both were elected on a wave of anti-establishment anger with relatively similar ideological proclivities. 'The White House is likely to respond well, and Donald Trump has already shown he values personal relationships with foreign leaders,' Garman said. MOVING CLOSER Bolsonaro has already signaled his plan to shift Brazilian foreign policy hard to the right, a development that would play well with the Trump administration. He has said he will move Brazil's embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, following the lead of the United States. And similar to Trump, Bolsonaro is rethinking his country's membership in multinational organizations and treaties that he thinks might not be in Brazil's best interest, including the Mercosur trade bloc, the BRICS group of large emerging economies and the Paris climate accord. Those changes would reverse 13 years' worth of diplomacy crafted by governments led by the country's leftist Workers Party, which focused on alliances with Brazil's South American neighbors and other developing powers. Bolsonaro is also questioning Brazil's relationship with China, which he views as a predatory economic partner. The Asian giant is Brazil's biggest foreign buyer of soybeans, iron ore and other commodities. But Bolsonaro is alarmed at a spate of Chinese purchases of Brazilian energy and infrastructure companies. 'The Chinese are not buying in Brazil. They are buying Brazil,' Bolsonaro has warned repeatedly. Such talk is likely to please Trump, whose tariffs on Chinese goods have ignited a trade war that has much of the world blaming the United States for disrupting global supply chains and rattling markets worldwide. So, too, is Bolsonaro's plan to privatize a string of Brazil's state-owned companies and loosen environmental restrictions to make way for more mining, ranching and farming. Still, trade is likely to remain a sore point between the United States and Brazil, whose steep tariffs on imported goods make it one of the most closed economies in the world. Trump singled out Brazil this month in a rant about tariffs. 'They charge us whatever they want,' he said in remarks to reporters at a White House event. 'If you ask some of the companies, they say Brazil is among the toughest in the world - maybe the toughest in the world.' Even if trade issues remain thorny, Bolsonaro's gaze is directed north. He is an avid supporter of the National Rifle Association and vows that once he takes office on January 1, he will roll back Brazil's strict gun laws and let citizens take up arms to defend themselves from criminals. Like Trump, Bolsonaro masterfully tapped into voters' fears and frustrations to rocket to the presidency. Brazil is beset by appalling levels of street crime. In the past few years, a sprawling corruption investigation has revealed epic levels of corruption at the highest levels of government. One former president is in jail and another was impeached and tossed from office. The economy was hit by the worst downturn in decades and has yet to regain its luster; more than 13 million Brazilians are unemployed. Hungry for change, voters responded to Bolsonaro's bold promises to crack heads and clean up the mess. Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon said he sees echoes of his old boss, who rode a similar wave of discontent. 'It takes those types of crises, and Brazil is going through that type of crisis now,' Bannon told Reuters recently. 'I think that Bolsonaro, he's a figure like Trump.' (Reporting by Brad Brooks in Sao Paulo Additional reporting by Nathan Layne in Washington; Editing by Marla Dickerson) Federal officials have charged a New Zealand man who authorities say was shot while trying to break into a Virginia home after having online contact with a 14-year-old girl. Troy George Skinner was charged in a criminal complaint last week with coercion and enticement, and production of child pornography. Authorities have said Skinner was shot by the teen's mother after arriving uninvited in June and smashing a glass door to try to get inside. On Monday, a judge in Goochland General District Court withdrew a state charge against Skinner. Goochland Sheriff James Agnew said previously that Skinner bought a knife and duct tape after traveling to the U.S. from his home in New Zealand. Troy George Skinner was charged in a criminal complaint last week with coercion and enticement, and production of child pornography. Skinner's most recent mug shot is seen left No lawyer for Skinner was listed in federal court records. On June 22, Skinner was critically wounded after being shot in the neck by the girl's mother. The Goochland County sheriff said Skinner bought a knife and duct tape after arriving in the U.S. The sheriff also said the girl's mother saw a man trying to enter her home and began banging on the door with a brick. The girl lives with her mother, father, and 18-year-old sister. Authorities have said Skinner was shot by the mother of a 14-year-old girl after arriving uninvited in June and smashing a glass door to try to get inside The Goochland County sheriff said Skinner bought a knife and duct tape after arriving in the U.S. The sheriff also said the girl's mother saw a man trying to enter her home and began banging on the door with a brick (seen above) The brick came flying through the glass front door leaving shards all over the floor. Incredibly neither of the woman's two daughters were hurt The home was in a remote but pretty part of Richmond, Virginia known as Holland Hills The mom who was at home with her two daughters at the time warned him several times that she had a gun. Skinner then threw the brick through the glass door and the teenage girl's mother fired twice, hitting Skinner once in the neck. 'All I can say is the manner in which he attempted to enter that home in the face of a firearm pointed at him and the implements we recovered from him - the only inference is that he had very bad intent,' Agnew said. 'He was not invited here, he was not expected here, he had been told in the past that the daughter no longer wished to communicate with him.' Skinner was originally charged with breaking and entering with a deadly weapon with the intent to commit a serious crime as he came carrying a knife, duct tape and pepper spray. But those charges have been withdrawn. 'This was not random, not spontaneous, this was something very planned,' Agnew said. Skinner flew to Virginia after he and the young girl chatted online using Discord, a chatting service popular among gamers. After three or four months of chatting, the girl tried to end their communication according to Fox8. Skinner then flew from New Zealand to Australia, Australia to Los Angeles, and Los Angeles to Washington D.C. From Washington, he took a Greyhound bus to Richmond. A 12-year-old Virginia girl who was killed after she ran onto a highway while chasing her dog Saturday, be buried with her pet. Jennarae Nicole Goodbar died along with the pooch named Cash during the afternoon incident where they were run down by a vehicle that was unable to stop in time. 'On day of service [Cash] will be placed in there with [Jennarae] and be buried together,' Donna Jean Stuples told WTVR. 'She bought her with her own cash. It was her baby.' Scroll down for video Jennarae Nicole Goodbar died along with the pooch named Cash on Saturday Her mother said the 12-year-old had bought her dog with her own money Mother, Donna Jean Stuples said her daughter (pictured in a Facebook post from August 2016) will be buried with her beloved pet dog Courtesy of WXFR A funeral service is being held Saturday in Lexington. The weekend accident occurred on Route 60 in Rockbridge County. She was struck by a Chevrolet Malibu headed east on the 3000 block of West Midland Trail around 2.25pm. The little girl died at the scene. Goodbar had been training the canine outside the family home and went after the female hunting dog. 'Goodbar was chasing the family dog when she entered the roadway and was struck by the vehicle,' Virginia State Police Senior Trooper R.E. Tackett said. The Virginia State Police Crash Reconstruction Team was investigating the incident. The animal lover will have a memorial in her honor centered around raccoon hunting As a sixth grade student at Maury River Middle School, educators will be providing counseling for the students come Monday A memorial raccoon hunting event has been planned in her honor for November. 'Coming up on something like this is going to stay in your memory for a long time,' Kerrs Creek Volunteer Fire Department Vice President Emory Higgins said, according to VirginiaFirst.com. 'Pretty emotional with all her family there. Of course it was right across from where she lived, so her dad was there and her brother.' The fire department has been bringing food over to the grieving family and doing whatever they can to help. A sixth grade student at Maury River Middle School, educators will be providing counseling for the students come Monday. Goodbar was remembered by friends via a fundraising page created for her and her loved ones on the day she passed away. Friends' parents shared images of Goodbar on GoFundMe from happy times they remembered Kerrs Creek Volunteer Fire Department Vice President Emory Higgins said her dad and brother were there when she died 'She will always be remembered as a sweet, energetic, dog loving, hunting loving little girl,' a GoFundMe post read. 'A little girl who touched the lives of many.' The page description added that any money given would go towards helping her loved ones cover costs. 'Your donation will help to cover the cost of unexpected expenses. No amount is too small. Thank you for your donation and please lift up this family in your prayers,' it continued. By Monday they had already raised $9,560 of their $15,000 goal. Yosemite National Park officials have identified the bodies of two people who fell from a popular overlook and were recovered Friday. National Park Service spokesperson Jaime Richards said the couple were Indian nationals Vishnu Viswanath, 29, and Meenakshi Moorthy, 30. Both were living and working in the US, according to NBC Bay Area. Viswanath appears to have been a software engineer at Cisco in San Jose, according to a LinkedIn bio. Yosemite National Park officials identified the couple who fell to their deaths at Taft Point as being Meenakshi Moorthy, 30, and Vishnu Viswanath, 29. Pictured in New York City The couple were Indian nationals living and working in the US. In addition to regular 9-to-5 jobs, they ran a travel blog, Holidays and Happily Ever Afters, and popular Instagram account. They're pictured here at North Rim Grand Canyon, Cape Royal Point in Arizona Their Instagram account was last updated October 17 with this picture of Moorthy in Vermont Viswanath and Moorthy appear to have shared the travel blog, Holidays and Happily Ever Afters, in which the married couple posted their musings about their world travels. In the blog's introduction page, Moorthy wrote that she had 'a serious case of an insatiable wanderlust running through my blood, obsessed with all the beauty this planet beholds and constantly making plans (or dreaming) for our next trip' and stated that she was an 'ardent adrenaline junkie, roller coasters and skydiving does not scare me.' Moorthy wrote that Viswanath had been the one to introduce her to 'the travel bug' after taking her to the Maldives, 'which triggered the wanderlust in us to see and experience the unexplored vistas and exciting cultures this amazing world has in store. Soon after that we found ourselves roving through Europe and now we are in the U.S. And all this with the cliched 9-5 jobs.' Moorthy wrote that she had a 'insatiable wanderlust running through' her blood and that her husband, Viswanath, had introduced to the 'travel bug.' Pictured here in Shenandoah, Virginia Moorthy also wrote that she was an 'ardent adrenaline junkie' who wasn't scared of roller coasters and skydiving, and constantly dreaming of the couple's next trip. Pictured at Mount Washington Auto Road in New Hampshire Moorthy and Viswanath had been together for seven years before getting married. Pictured left at Niagara Falls, right at Rockefeller Center The couple's blog showcased their travels around the world. Pictured here at Niagara Falls She also wrote that Viswanath was the photographer behind the host of pictures that appears on the blog and their Instagram account, which was last updated on October 17 with a photo of Moorthy in Vermont. They had 11,800 followers. Viswanath and Moorthy's bodies were first spotted and reported by a tourist on October 24. Rangers then worked to recover their bodies the next day. Officials are still investigating when the couple fell and from which spot at the overlook 3,000 feet (900 meters) above the famed Yosemite Valley floor. The couple's Instagram page was filled with breathtaking photos of Moorthy sitting perilously close to the edge of steep falls or high up on hills. She's pictured here at the Grand Canyon Moorthy was pictured here, in a photo taken by Viswanath, during a trip in California Moorthy, likely at Grand Canyon, posted this on January 21 in honor of the Women's March Railings only exist at a small portion of Taft Point, which offers breathtaking views of the valley, Yosemite Falls and towering granite formation El Capitan. Visitors can walk to the edge of a vertigo-inducing granite ledge that does not have a railing and has become a popular spot for dramatic engagement and wedding photos. Just last week, photographer Matthew Dippel snapped an engagement photo of two strangers on Taft Point. The picture shows the exact moment a man got down on his knee to propose to the woman he was with as they stood next to the cliff edge. The photo went viral after Dippel turned to social media for help with tracking them down. He succeeded in identifying the couple Charlie Bear and his fiancee Melissa on October 27. The couple fell to their deaths from a popular overlook at Yosemite National Park, just a week after a photographer captured a viral engagement photo (pictured) over the same viewpoint A couple is married atop Taft Point in California's Yosemite National Park in September 2018 Park rangers are still trying to determine when the couple fell and from what spot at Taft Point they had fallen from. Their bodies were spotted Wednesday by a tourist (file image) Railings only exist at a small portion of Taft Point, which offers breathtaking views of the valley. Visitors can walk to the edge of a vertigo-inducing granite ledge (file image) More than 10 people have died at the park this year, six of them from falls and the others from natural causes, Gediman said. An Israeli 18-year-old accidentally fell hundreds of feet to his death last month while hiking near the top of 600-foot-tall (180-meter-tall) Nevada Fall. The death of 18-year-old Tomer Frankfurter was considered an accident, the Mariposa County coroner's office said. In 2015, world-famous wingsuit flier Dean Potter and partner Graham Hunt died after jumping from Taft Point in an attempt to clear a V-shaped notch in a ridgeline. They were wearing wingsuits when they jumped. The activity is the most extreme form of BASE jumping, which stands for jumping off buildings, antennas, spans (such as bridges) and Earth and is illegal in the park. President Donald Trump won't face re-election for another two years, but his campaign organization is already spending heavily on a new advertisement in a bid to keep Democrats from taking over Congress. The campaign announced Monday that it is paying $6 million to the ad on TV and online, with just eight days left until the midterms. It isn't an attack ad. It doesn't show or mention the president. Its purpose is to elect Republican congressional candidates especially those whose districts see Trump as a divisive figure whose coattails are on backward. Brad Parscale, Trump's 2020 campaign manager, told CBS News the ad's main audience is 'a huge batch of independent voters, suburban mothers, there's people out there that might not be watching the news every day. And I think this commercial is really targeted towards them.' When is a Trump ad not a Trump ad? The president's campaign is spending $6 million on an ad to help Republicans win congressional elections but there's no sign Trump is related to it Plot revolves around a woman who decides to vote GOP because of Trump's jobs recovery Even a campaign sign in the ad doesn't mention Trump or his slogans The 60-second ad tells a story of a woman who gets a job that helps her provide for her children, including a daughter whose violin lessons are affordable because of her mother's income. She goes to vote and chooses a Republican, thinking about a past economic malaise to which she doesn't want to return. A half-minute later, the girl has grown up and is receiving a standing ovation for a violin recital. The ad ends with a tagline: 'Things are getting better. We can't go back. November 6th, 2018. Vote Republican.' Its loudest contrast is between the current 3.7 per cent U.S. unemployment rate and the 9.7 per cent rate in 2010 when Barack Obama was in his second year as president. The ad argues that putting Democrats in charge of Congress will roll back employment gains Trump doesn't show up on the ballot in the ad, but the woman fills in the oval for a Republican candidate In the ad, the main character is shown breaking ground for a building perhaps a subtle nod to the president A narrator makes a case for keeping Republicans at the helm of the House and Senate as dingy footage of an unemployment line plays. The Trump administration's economic gains 'could all go away if we don't remember where we came from and choose the right future.' The Obama administration cut the unemployment rate roughly in half to 4.8 per cent between May 2010 and Trump's inauguration in January 2017. Democrats argue that Trump's progress indicates a continuation of policies that are now eight years old. Last week in Las Vegas, Obama told a congressional campaign audience that America was 'in the middle of the worst economic crisis of our lifetimes' when he took office, and that when he left 'wages were rising, uninsurance rate was falling [and] poverty was falling.' 'So when you hear all this talk about economic miracles right now, remember who started it,' he said. The Trump campaign's new ad steers clear the president: Even a political yard sign in a wide camera shot of a tree-lined neighborhood reads simply, 'Vote Republican.' Among the benefits of a job for the main character is money for her daughter's violin lessons By the end the daughter is grown and getting applause for playing a recital on stage And in a scene where a woman checks a box on her ballot, she chooses between two made-up names. 'The president's not on the ballot,' Parscale told CBS. 'This is about his agenda.' But Trump has put himself front-and-center in dozens of House and Senate races, campaigning before tens of thousands at a time and boosting Republicans on Twitter. In the six days leading up to the midterms, he will hold at least 11 rallies. 'The president's base, which I call the army of Trump he's going to fight for them to show up,' Parscale said. 'They are paying attention.' Sarah Sanders at her first press briefing in more than three weeks scolded reporters for what she described as 'sad and divisive' coverage of the the president. Sanders said during a dispute with CNN's Jim Acosta that a number of outlets have engaged in 'outrageous' coverage of attempted violence on critics of the president that's 'irresponsible' in the tone it has taken. 'The president is not responsible for these acts,' she asserted at the top of her briefing to another journalist. 'The major news networks' first public statement was to blame the President and myself included. I mean, that is outrageous than anybody other than the individual who carried out the crime would hold that responsibility.' Sarah Sanders at her first press briefing in more than three weeks scolded reporters for what she described as 'sad and divisive' coverage of the the president Sanders said during a dispute with CNN 's Jim Acosta that a number of outlets have engaged in 'outrageous' coverage of attempted violence on critics of the president that's 'irresponsible' in the tone it has taken Acosta had asked Sanders about a tweet the president sent castigating the press as an 'enemy' of the people again He pressed the White House press secretary to admit that the president was talking about CNN Trump had harangued the media earlier in the day, reverting to a claim that the 'Fake News' is the 'true Enemy of the People' in a tweet that accused the media of fanning the flames of hated and anger. His spokeswoman wouldn't pin-point outlets at her briefing, but she made reference to a statement issued by CNN exec Jeff Zucker. Trump has singled out CNN which was the target of pipe bombs last week, and Acosta by name in the past. Since the bomb threats that the FBI said were not a hoax, the president and his press secretary have repeatedly turned the tables on the media as the inciters of violence whenever Trump has come under scrutiny for the heated rhetoric that he deploys at campaign rallies. Trump has made a concerted effort to turn the temperature down, laying off his political enemies as hysteria over the pipe bombs peaked. Antsy to get back on message, Trump went after some of his favorite targets, including 'Crooked Hillary' at rallies over the weekend. 'Let's not forget that these same Democrats have repeatedly attacked the president, whether it was Eric Holder, saying, "kick 'em" when they're down, whether it was Hillary Clinton saying you cant be civil until Democrats have control of Congress, or whether it was Maxine Waters who encouraged her supporters to get up - not just in the president's face, but all administration officials' faces,' Sanders argued on Monday. She said, 'Those actions were from those Democrats the president's going to fight back if these individuals not only attack him but attack members of his administration and supporters of his.' On Saturday, Trump told press that he wouldn't stop campaigning, despite an attack on a synagogue in Pennsylvania, although he again avoided the name-calling. The suspect in the case, unlike the person arrested in association with the pipe bombs, was not a Trump supporter. Nevertheless, it was the president who was hit on Sunday morning by Democrats as failing to show proper leadership. Rep. Adam Schiff and other Democrats on Sunday argued that Trump and his supporters had engaged in behavior that is anti-Semetic. Sanders on Monday said that Trump has continually looked for ways to 'bring the country together' after natural disasters and violence that has gripped the nation. 'I think you saw the president do exactly that in the wake of a national tragedy, not just this week, but every time our country has experienced the type of heartache and pain that we have over the last week,' she said. 'This is a president who has risen to that occasion.' Lecturing the press, Sanders said at her first briefing in 26 days: 'You guys have a huge responsibility to play in the divisive nature of this country. 'The very first thing the president did was condemn the attack. The very first thing the media did was blame the president,' she said. Sanders repeated a claim that 90 percent or more of the coverage of Trump is negative. 'If anything, I think it is sad and divisive the way that every single thing that comes out the media. - 90 percent of what comes out of the media's mouth - is negative about this president,' she asserted. Trump bashed the media on Monday as well, saying in a tweet as he began a day on which he had nothing but his daily intelligence briefing on his schedule, that immense anger in America is cause 'in part' by news organizations. 'There is great anger in our Country caused in part by inaccurate, and even fraudulent, reporting of the news. The Fake News Media, the true Enemy of the People, must stop the open & obvious hostility & report the news accurately & fairly,' he said. 'That will do much to put out the flame of Anger and Outrage and we will then be able to bring all sides together in Peace and Harmony. Fake News Must End!' At Sanders' briefing, Acosta pushed to explain why the White House wouldn't 'reserve the term enemy of the people for people who are actually the enemy of the United States rather than journalists.' She replied that 'the president is not referencing all media, he's taking about the growing amount of fake news that exists in the country.' 'I'm not gonna walk through a list,' she said as Acosta tried to force her to admit he was referring to CNN. 'I don't think it's necessarially specific to a broad generalization of a full outlet at times. I think there's individuals that the president would be referencing.' Trump called Acosta 'crazy Jim of fake news CNN' in a January tweet. Sanders did not have the 'guts'Acosta accused, to name names at her briefing. But she did tell him: 'I think it's irresponsible, a news organization like yours to blame responsibility of a pipe bomb that was not sent by the president. Not just blame the president but blame members of his administration for those heinous acts. I think that is outrageous and I think that's irresponsible.' Trump accused the media on Friday night of using the 'sinister actions' of the attempted bomber targeting his political opponents to 'score political points against me and the Republican Party' at a rally at which he returned to some of the fiery rhetoric that's become a hallmark of his rallies. He told a Charlotte crowd in an extended tirade on the media that 'political violence must never, ever be allowed in America, and I will do everything in my power to stop it' - but the press also has a responsibility to moderate its tone and promote civility. 'We must unify as a nation in peace, love and in harmony,' he said. 'The media has a major role to play, whether they want to or not.' The audience interrupted the president to boo at the press pen and shout 'CNN sucks' in the same direction as Trump repeated himself. 'And they do indeed, they have a major role to play as far as tone and as far as everything,' he added. 'And we all say this, in all sincerity, but the media's constant unfair coverage, deep hostility and negative attacks, you know that, only serve to drive people apart and to undermine healthy debate.' 'The media's constant unfair coverage, deep hostility and negative attacks - you know that - only serve to drive people apart and to undermine healthy debate,' he said in remarks leading into the claim that news outlets are intentionally linking the bomber to him to undercut his message. Trump said: 'For example, 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 later slammed journalists covering his rally as 'fake news' and condemned what he characterized as 'false reporting' about his latest Supreme Court justice. He also resumed his attacks on national Democrats like 'Crooked Hillary' and 'Cryin' Chuck Schumer' in riled up remarks in which he claimed the opposing party wants to implement socialism. 'If Nancy Pelosi and Cryin' Chuck Schumer,' he said to loud boos. 'Can you imagine Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi?' he said playing up the possibility that the California Democrat would return to the seat of power if her party wins Congress. 'But if Pelosi and Cryin' Chuck Schumer, you remember him? I've known him a long time, he never came close to cryin' except one particular night,' the president said, alluding to Election Day two years prior. 'If the radical Democrats get control, they will try to erase every single thing that we've achieved.' To incessant booing from the audience, Trump proclaimed: 'Democrats want to raise you taxes. They want to impose socialism - that's what they want. They want to take away your Second Amendment. Take away your strong healthcare that we're making stronger and stronger every single day.' He said they also want to 'invite caravan after caravan of illegal aliens into our country and they want to sign them up for free health care, free welfare, free education, and for the right to vote' in American elections. Trump invoked Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters but opted not to tear into her with the vigor that he had been before the bombs were sent to her California and Washington congressional offices. 'I want them to say, "He was so nice tonight," ' the president explained. As he spoke at another point about Schumer, the top Senate Democrat, the president mentioned his 2016 opponent Clinton. The ex-senator, first lady and Democratic nominee for president was also a target last week of the liberal bombing campaign. 'Lock her up,' the crowd chanted in response to his claim that she's 'crooked.' He told them coyly, 'Oh boy, they'e gonna be reporting about you tonight.' Just prior to leaving the White House on Friday he said he had not called her or any of the other targets. Trump said he doubted they wanted to hear from him. Sanders confirmed on Monday that he hadn't made any additional calls over the weekend. 'As of this time, there aren't any plans for other calls. If there are, we'll let you know,' she said. North Dakota authorities have amassed a huge file including the final text messages and internet searches of the woman who killed her four children and then herself after pleading for help to pay her 'medical bills' on GoFundMe. Astra Felicia Nicole Volk, 35, was found dead in her home alongside three of her children Tyler, 14, Aiden, 10, and Arianne, 6 on May 3. Police said that Volk fatally shot her children, before turning the gun on herself at the home in Grand Forks, North Dakota. She had apparently purchased the gun used the morning prior to the murder-suicide. Police gathered more than 200 pages of information while investigating the murder-suicide of Astra Volk (in glasses) and her three children, Tyler Talmage, 14 (center), Aidan Talmage, 10 (top right), and 6-year-old Arianna Talmage (bottom left) in May Authorities said that it was unclear when exactly Volk killed her children, but believe that it occurred between the morning of May 2 and the early hours of May 3. In conducting their investigation, which concluded August 7, authorities collected more than 200 pages of case file notes, which were obtained by the Grand Forks Herald. Included amongst the documents are copies of text messages, evidence inventories and multiple witness interviews collated from more than a dozen officers. At about 1.40am on May 3, Volk texted a Lewis and Clark Elementary School staffer saying, 'Aiden will not be at school tomorrow, or ever again,' and thanked the employee 'for all you have done.' The staff didn't see the message until after waking up later in the morning on May 3 and then replied at 6.46am attempting to comfort Volk and provide encouragement about Aiden's progress at school after he had been given a disorderly conduct citation. Volk did not reply. Police said that Volk legally bought the handgun used to kill herself and her children the morning before carrying out the murder-suicide plan Police said that in the hours before the bodies were found, Volk had sent a staffer at her kids' Lewis and Clark Elementary School a text message saying that her son would not be returning to school, ever. Arianna Talmage is seen above Astra Volk and her husband, Brian Talmage, are seen in the above photo on the left. They were said to have separated from each other, but were still married Authorities said that it was unclear when exactly Volk killed her children, but believe that it occurred between the morning of May 2 and the early hours of May 3 Volk had posted a plea for financial assistance on fundraising site GoFundMe, seeking help in a post titled Living expenses due to medical bills The above image shows the home where the bodies were found on May 3, after school officials called police asking for a welfare check Two hours later, the school contacted police and asked for a welfare check to be performed at Volk's home, at which point police found Tyler and Aiden dead in their beds, while Volk and Arianne were discovered dead in the living room, according to the police report. Among the other text messages Volk sent was one in which she wrote, 'Nobody is going to have to deal with us anymore.' She sent that message at 10.32am on May 2, after telling someone to 'call of work' on May 3. According to the police investigation, Volk had purchased the handgun she used in the murder-suicide on May 2, sometime between 10am and and noon. She supposedly had Aiden when she bought the semi-automatic .22 caliber pistol from a Super Pawn store. The last time that witnesses saw Volk alive was around 5pm on May 2. Police said that Volk, in the early hours of May 3, then use an iPhone to search for answers to questions including 'how loud is a 22 pistol and 'why parents kill their children.' Neighbor Paula Stevens said Volk and her children moved into the neighborhood about two months ago and was renting a house that had been recently renovated. Stevens says she rarely saw the woman because she worked odd hours, and this long winter kept the kids indoors. Recently Volk posted a plea for financial assistance on GoFundMe in a post titled Living expenses due to medical bills. She wrote that she and her two sons suffer from mental illness, bi-polar, manic depression, autism and that all had been hospitalized for this. She posted: 'I work full time but my wages have recently been garnished for medical bills, she wrote. Im looking for help with 1 months bills to help get on our feet and look for a second job. I am trying to stay positive so I do not end up back in the hospital. Volk, who worked at Cirrus Aircraft, according to social media, said the family was getting help from food pantries. Court records show Volk had been in civil court three times in the past year for collections totaling to $3,700. Volk had recently separated from her husband, but was still married, police said. Advertisement The Pentagon is dispatching 5,200 active military troops to 'harden' the southern border and comply with President Donald Trump's order to deter an immigrant caravan the president called an 'invasion', it said Monday. Eight hundred troops were already en route Monday a force the Defense Department is dramatically increasing by adding helicopter companies and engineers who are bringing 'heavy equipment.' In total DOD is sending 5,200 troops to 'harden' the border, the Pentagon said at a briefing Monday. US riot police officers take part in a border security drill at the US-Mexico international bridge, as seen from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, on October 29, 2018. The Pentagon is sending 5,200 troops to the southern border Ready for action: Customs and Border Patrol Agents train on the US-Mexico International Bridge between El Paso and Ciudad Juarez US riot police officers take part in a border security drill at the US-Mexico international bridge, as seen from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, on October 29, 2018. - Dozens of migrants get to the border crossing linking El Paso, texas and Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua state, every day, ahead of a caravan of Central Americans seeking political asylum in the United States Dozens of migrants get to the border crossing linking El Paso, texas and Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua state, every day, ahead of a caravan of Central Americans seeking political asylum Right on the border: An agent foes as far as he legally can on the International Bridge between El Paso and Cuidad Juarez as his unit trains for possible riot deployment Show of force: CBP agents trained in riot control techniques on the International Bridge which links El Paso and Ciudad Juarez Ready for trouble: The Pentagon and Customs and Border Patrol said agents are being backed by 5,200 troops who will be deployed by Friday Testing techniques: Agents were trained in how to deal with hostile crowds as they took over the bridge linked El Paso to Ciudad Juarez Monday Waiting to get in: At the Paso del Norte International Bridge between Ciudad Juarez and El Paso migrants are lined up already - even though the caravan is more than 1,000 miles to the south Head-on: This is the tip of the Customs Border Patrol spearhead - two armed agents waiting at the midpoint of the bridge which links El Paso in the north to Ciudad Juarez to the south Caravan on its way: Honduran migrants taking part in the caravan heading to the U.S. resume their march from San Pedro Tapanatepec to Santiago Niltepec, Oaxaca State, more than 1,000 miles from the border 'We'll reinforce along priority points of entry so as to enhance [Border Patrol]s ability to harden and secure the border, said Gen. Terrence O'Shaughnessy Monday. The forces are 'just the start' of the operation,' he said. The 800 troops en route are in addition to the more than 2,000 members of the National Guard already providing assistance at the border now. Officials say the troops will provide "mission enhancing capabilities" and will be armed. 'We are bringing three helicopter companies in. They are enhanced with optics and censors that will allow them to operate at night and provide assistance to bring our [border patrol] personnel exactly where they need to be regardless of the conditions,' he said. The Pentagon says the added forces will be able to 'spot, identify groups and rapidly deploy' personnel as need. 'The helicopters will ensure the agents can arrive in the most austere locations and fast-rope down and conduct and work the law enforcement activities,' said Gen. O'Shaughnessy. The effort will be aided by Blackhawk helicopters Unmanned aerial drones also will assist the effort Asked if the troops were a 'political move' just days before an election as the size of the caravan has receded, he responded: 'We have to be prepared for I the potential arrival of a very large group.' Troops will come from Fort Bragg, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Fort Stewart, Fort Campbell, Fort Riley and Fort Knox, Fox News reported. The armed troops won't take part in law enforcement activities in keeping with the Posse Comitatus Act, which prohibits it. 'We will not allow a large group to enter the United States in an unsafe and unlawful manner,' said Kevin K. McAleenan, head of Customs and Border Protection. Speaking of the arsenal being brought to assist border agents, guard forces, and troops, McAleenan said: 'These agents will be augmented and supported by over two dozen CBP air assets for surveillance and mobile response, including four Blackhawks and six additional helicopters as well as multiple fixed wing assets and unmanned aerial systems.' He said the agency would potentially pull a 'few hundred' forces from the northern border since there is no caravan there. Members of the Arizona National Guard listen to instructions on April 9, 2018, at the Papago Park Military Reservation in Phoenix. The Pentagon is now sending 5,200 active duty troops to assist 2,000 guard and thousands of border patrol agents already on the U.S.-Mexico border 'Many Gang Members and some very bad people are mixed into the Caravan heading to our Southern Border,' Trump wrote as it was revealed the military was dispatching 5,000 troops to the border The dramatic dispatch of U.S. forces to the border comes just days before the off-year elections, with Democratic critics arguing Trump is using the perceived threat of the caravan to motivate his political base. According to the Pentagon forces will first build up in southern Texas and Arizona, then California. Priority will go to 'harden' points of entry. The engineering battalions have expertise in 'building temporary vehicle barriers, fencing and are bringing in heavy equipment,' according to the Pentagon. President Donald Trump issued yet another dire warning about the 'invasion' posed by the migrant caravan making its way through Mexico, as it was revealed that the Pentagon is upping its troop levels far above the initial 800 announced. TheWall Street Journal reported earlier Monday on the dramatic troop increase complying with the president's demand that military forces be put in place to stop the caravan of Central American migrants. 'Many Gang Members and some very bad people are mixed into the Caravan heading to our Southern Border,' Trump wrote on twitter, moving away from last week's claim that the caravan contained 'Middle Easterners.' Trump's earlier claim drew skepticism, and he was forced days later to back down. 'There's no proof of anything. There's no proof of anything. But there could very well be,' Trump said. Trump spoke directly to the mostly Honduran members of the caravan in the tweet, saying: 'Please go back, you will not be admitted into the United States unless you go through the legal process. This is an invasion of our Country and our Military is waiting for you!' This map shows the progress of the migrants as of Sunday, when a new caravan also departed from San Salvador 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 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 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 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. According to the Journal, the 5,000 troops will join the 2,000 National Guard members already dispatched. Among those ordered to the border will be military police, engineers, and Marines. The latest plans would have the Defense Department order 1,800 troops to Texas, 1,700 to Arizona, and 1,500 to California. The report noted that the contingent would exceed the U.S. forces currently in Syria and Iraq, and equal half of the U.S. deployment in Afghanistan. The new forces are expected to provide logistical assistance such as air support and equipment, including vehicles and tents. The influx of troops comes as the caravan is shrinking, although another is being formed. The caravan, which has had as many as 7,200 migrants, has dwindled to roughly 4,000. It took a day of rest in Tapanatepec on Sunday but vowed to press on to the U.S. border. The border is still at least 900 miles away, a daunting obstacle to migrants, many traveling with their families on foot. The sister of a teenage girl and her boyfriend, who went missing 50 years ago, is calling on police to finally solve the case. Maureen Braddy, 16, and Allan Whyte, 17, disappeared from Bendigo, a regional city in Victoria in November 1968. The pair was last seen at a YMCA dance in Mundy Street, atCalifornia Gully. Lynette Ireland Butterworth, the younger sister of Miss Braddy, believes the pair was murdered and dumped in a well in the grounds of the family home. Scroll down for video Younger sister to Maureen Braddy, Lynette Ireland Butterworth, believes the her sister and boyfriend Allan Whyte were murdered and dumped in a well Maureen Braddy, 16, and Allan Whyte, 17 (pictured), disappeared 50 years ago from Bendigo, a regional city in Victoria Maureen Braddy (pictured) and her boyfriend were last seen at a YMCA dance in Mundy Street at California Gully, in Bendigo, Victoria 'Id just like to see that well investigated by police, just to go and do it,' Ms Butterworth told 7 News. Police did not search the well at the time, arguing that there was no evidence to suggest that bodies were buried there. Miss Butterworth's father, Stanley Braddy, later concreted over the site. Mr Braddy told police he believed the pair had been abducted and enslaved. Mr Braddy said he believed his daughter and Mr Whyte had later raised two children. At an inquest into the young couple's death in 2014, Coroner Iain West noted the highly suspicious nature of Maureen's father and said his evidence was selective and self-serving. 'I found him am unreliable witness, who had no interest in assisting either my inquiry or that of the police,' he said. Lynette was only eight years old at the time of the disappearance and told an inquest she saw her father and another man carrying a bloody body. She said she believed the body was Mr Whyte. However, Mr West disregarded her testimony as Ms Butterworth had used a hypnotherapist to help her rediscover forgotten memories. The inquest concluded the pair most likely met with foul play and died on the night of their disappearance. But Ms Butterworth may never find out what happened to her sister as her father has recently been committed to an aged care facility and suffers from dementia. Police offered a $1 million reward in early 2017 in the hopes of solving the case but are still refusing to dig up the well. A family is suing Nickelodeon after their eight-year-old son drowned while swimming in the pool of their Dominican Republic resort. Travis Jackson 'TJ' Northey was vacationing with his mother and stepfather at the Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana in late May when his head got stuck between the legs of a Dora the Explorer statue inside the pool, TMZ reported. It seems a lifeguard monitoring the pool at the time did not see the child struggling under the surface, according to the Andalusia Star-News. Before long, his stepfather realized what happened and quickly informed the lifeguard, when both rushed over to try and revive him. But their efforts were in vain. Travis Jackson 'TJ' Northey's (left and right) drowned when his head got stuck in a Dora the Explorer statue inside the pool at the Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana back in May Loved ones to the adventurous little boy said he could swim like a fish, according to his grandfather, as the family blames Nickelodeon for the resort's poor safety measures. DailyMail.com has reached out to the resort for comment on the matter. An email was not immediately returned Monday night. Kenneth Northey told the outlet: 'We had pool, the Wickers had a pool, he went to water parks, he would ride on a tube behind a boat and you werent worried about him on the water.... thats another thing that made this hard to take.' TJ's grandfather also said the boy 'had a big smile, loved to do things, and had a big imagination.' He added: 'He was real smart. He was one of the top readers in his class, and was just out of the second grade. He had an imagination like you would not believe.' A lifeguard monitoring the pool at the time did not see the child struggling for his life. Attempts to revive him were not successful. The resort pool is pictured above One of TJ's school teacher's at Elba Elementary School in Andalusia, Alabama remembered his infectious personality. 'TJ was such a special boy. He made you smile bigger, laugh harder, dance a little more and he made it OK to be silly. My heart is broken,' Stephanie Brunson told the Andalusia Star-News. 'He would run up to me first thing and tell me what had happened in class between breakfast and PE.' Brunson said TJ 'made silly cool' and would 'talk and visit with everyone' around him at school. The child, whose parents are separated, is the son of Leigh and Mark Wicker and Travis and Hayley Northey. 'The new families welcomed him in... everybody loved him,' his grandfather added. TJ's body was transported to the United States a week after his drowning death. His funeral services were held in June at the Elba High School Auditorium. Prison bosses have spent 36,000 of taxpayers' money on two therapy igloos to give violent young criminals a 'special space' to have sensitive conversations. The white egg-shaped igloos, known as Seed Pods, have been introduced at Feltham Young Offenders Institute in West London. They have ambient lighting that changes colour, mood music and touch screens. The sound-proof pods, which are eight-feet in diameter and 10ft tall, also have a table and can be used for one-on-one discussions or group meetings of up to four people. Prison bosses have spent 36,000 of taxpayers' money on two therapy igloos to give violent young criminals a 'special space' to have sensitive conversations They allow inmates, many of whom are locked up for serious violence or sex attacks, to talk to staff privately and quietly. The igloos, designed by Leeds-based firm Safe Innovations, are entered through a door in one side and can be exited through an emergency panel at the back. They will raise eyebrows among critics who believe jails in England and Wales are becoming too cushy. Tory MP Andrew Rosindell said: 'Prisons should be for punishment. Law-abiding people don't have access to this type of facility on the outside.' Some prison workers say the money would be better spent on extra staff. 'Budgets are tight but it seems governors are happy to splurge so a handful of violent thugs have a 'special space' but not on the basics that make the staff's job easier,' one told The Sun. An unnamed source said: 'Prisons by their very nature are loud and stressful environments. The pods allow us to have a quiet place where we can have sensitive conversations in quiet surroundings.' The white egg-shaped igloos, known as Seed Pods, have ambient lighting that changes colour, mood music and touch screens In May, the prisons watchdog found that violence at Feltham had dropped after teenagers were rewarded for good behaviour. Assaults on staff fell 80 per cent in a year after the introduction of a scheme where points for good behaviour could be exchanged by the 140 inmates for confectionery. A Prison Service spokesman said: 'Many young people in custody have suffered abuse or trauma and need mental health support. 'Feltham is following an approach police and mental health services have found successful to help young offenders change their behaviour and to prevent further victims.' Model pupil: Imogen loves going to a Hogwarts for grown-ups My friend, the astrologer Jessica Adams, slid a library card across the coffee table. Just stand in the middle of the room, she said. The books will make themselves known. It was a novel approach to choosing a book literally waiting for one to fly off the shelves and into your hand but at the College of Psychic Studies, a white stucco-fronted building in South Kensington, London, normal rules of academic engagement dont apply. The books did not fling themselves at me. Instead I waited for five minutes, staring hopelessly at the shelves. Some titles certainly looked more interesting than others a tome on witches and spells stood out, and one on herbs so finally I resorted to more conventional methods and picked them out myself. Yes, it sounds utterly crazy. But since I joined the college, which teaches all the paranormal arts from palmistry to talking to the dead, in 2013, it has changed my life. Stimulating and utterly unpredictable, it has also introduced me to the most fascinating people Ive met. There is the paediatric anaesthetist who is a brilliant clairvoyant. A psychic transgender woman who has outlived both her husbands. A City boy who transmogrifies into a little old lady from China when he contacts his spirit guide. A film producer with an obsession about criminal palms. Believe me, its never dull. I am in my fourth year of studying palmistry. I can tell if you are ambitious, happy or a sexual deviant just by glancing across the dinner table at your hands. I can tell if you are good with money, charming, like to give back, work hard in the community or have an Icarus complex and like to fly too close to the sun. How? We use a fingerprint technique developed by Scotland Yard back in the Twenties, when people were more open to these things. And, strange though it sounds, my mind would never have been opened to any such possibilities but for Rasputin. I was researching my new novel, The Witches Of St Petersburg, about Rasputin, black magic and the occult in the Russian court at the turn of the last century and needed to understand the world of Wicca, ouija, tarot, mediumship and spirituality. Go to the College of Psychic Studies, advised my astrologer friend Jessica. Its like Hogwarts for grown-ups. Established at the end of the 19th century, when seances, table-tipping and spirit trumpets were all the rage, the London Spiritualist Alliance, as it was then known, took off under the auspices of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Although he is best remembered as the creator of Sherlock Holmes, Conan Doyle was a keen spiritualist and tireless in his support of those bereaved by World War I, in the aftermath of which women desperate to contact dead fathers, brothers, husbands, sons and lovers flocked to the college in droves. Imogen Edwards-Jones says the school for the supernatural arts left her spellbound The library still contains many of Conan Doyles extraordinary texts on spirituality and the occult from his extensive collection books I was keen to get my hands on. Where else can you find rare works on witches, spells, the Devil and all his works? Or a building in Central London where the corridors are lined with lists of spiritualists, mediums, clairvoyants and courses that range from Angels and Shamanism to Absent Healing and Trance? I decided as part of my research to sign up for a course about scrying, otherwise known as crystal-ball reading, cloud reading, tea-leaf reading, dripping-wax-into-water reading basically reading almost anything there is. Its about noticing patterns and pictures, which was frankly not one of my strengths. In my first lesson, in the basement of the building, I barely spoke. Not that the other students were intimidating; they werent. But they were clearly in a different league from me. Most had been at the college before. Some were far more in touch with their psychic selves than I was, and they all seemed totally at home when Michelle, my teacher, vigorously clapped her hands in front of the large mirror in the classroom to clear it of bad psychic energy before we started our first class. Our task was to draw the first images and ideas that came into our heads. It took all my willpower not to up and leave. But I persevered. There were times when I felt like a terrible fraud as I stared into teacups and gazed at black obsidian balls and blobs of floating wax and tried hard to see things, or the future, or the answers to questions proposed by the poor fellow pupil sitting in front of me. But eventually something clicked. I dont know how or why. I think I gave up trying and just let it happen. We were reading tea leaves. And I asked a question would my eight-year-old daughter get the part in the film she was up for? I stared. I squinted. I focused. And there it was. An image of a little girl holding what appeared to be an Oscar! The image was as clear as day. She was going to get the part. At the College of Psychic Studies, a white stucco-fronted building in South Kensington, London, normal rules of academic engagement dont apply So during the weeks of waiting after the auditions, was I anxious? No, of course not. Id seen she had got the part when I looked into the tea leaves. And she did. My confidence grew. I began to see other things, especially myself in a past life. That is possibly one of the more bizarre sentences I have ever written. But I did. Michelle explained to us that we needed to be patient. We needed to trust the process. So I sat for a full 30 minutes with a candle under my chin, staring at my face in the mirror. Finally, at last, my face melted away and I was left staring at the face of a woman with fine-plucked eyebrows, high cheekbones and pale grey, sad eyes. She was wearing a medieval headdress and a heavy pearl necklace. I jumped out of my seat and dropped the candle. Recognise yourself, did you? asked Michelle, as she patted me on the back. Come as a bit of a shock? I know it sounds a little foolish and unhinged. But I am not alone in my alternative interests. There have been plenty of reports recently about the rise of spiritualism and the fall in church attendance. The idea of spirituality no longer equating to religion and belief in God is particularly appealing to millennials, who have been turning to alternative truths as their feelings of lack of control over their futures grow. The use of tarot and angel cards is commonplace among so-called Generation Hex, whose interest in witchcraft is evident on social media if you glance at hashtags like #witches ofinstagram. Even established institutions have joined in the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford recently opened its acclaimed Spellbound exhibition, complete with a mediums ectoplasm. Inspired by scrying, I went on to study mediumship in other words, talking to dead people. This can be studied at various levels in the college, where interviews for the super-advanced class are conducted in what appears to be total silence, as interviewer and interviewee converse telepathically using only their spirit guides. The use of tarot and angel cards is commonplace among so-called Generation Hex, whose interest in witchcraft is evident on social media if you glance at hashtags like #witchesofinstagram Sadly, as a mere novice, all I brought to beginners mediumship was enthusiasm, which I had by the cauldron-load. Geoffrey, my teacher, was charming and I easily found myself walking down the mental spiral staircase he described, into a state of deep meditation. When he next suggested that he open the classroom door and see who comes in, I was the first to face the door with an expectant look on my face. He opened the door and waited for a few seconds, ushering in nothing, then closed it again. The person behind you is accompanied by the sound of peacocks, said a fellow student, staring at the blank space over my shoulder. Peacocks? Yes, she confirmed. You know, the birds? Now lets call this woman, a stranger, Mary. Mary wasnt to know that the sound of peacocks was the underlining sound of my childhood. I would lie in bed on a warm summers evening while it was still light outside and listen to them screaming at the dusk like lost children. Was I brought up in Jaipur? Not exactly. I lived off the B4095, 25 minutes south of Birmingham. However, opposite our house was a farm owned by the Watson family, and the farmers wife had a hobby breeding peacocks. Mrs Watson? I asked tentatively, not quite daring to turn round. Shes nodding, said Mary. Thats her. Sadly, Mrs Watson didnt want to say anything in particular except that she was well and wished me good luck. So I smiled and thanked her politely for coming through. Eventually, one Sunday morning, I brought my children to the college. The advanced dowsing class had offered to help me find water on my small property in Ibiza, which was as dry as a rasp. Now sit here, I told the eight- and four-year-old. You, I said to my daughter, can stare at the books and see if you can make them move on the shelves. And you, I added to my four-year-old son, whose blond curls made him look like an angel, can read this book on the Devil. I know it sounds a little foolish and unhinged. But I am not alone in my alternative interests. There have been plenty of reports recently about the rise of spiritualism and the fall in church attendance I was only halfway up the stairs when I heard a scream and a crash of crockery. I am sorry, said the college secretary, as I rushed into the room to see her standing by a dropped tray. I thought they were ghosts. They gave me a terrible fright. It happens here all the time. The dowsers did identify a spot on our Spanish property where we should start looking for water. Were saving up to start the expensive process of drilling down to it, but Ive no doubt its there. Im sure there are plenty of ways to explain away the things I have learnt and witnessed at the college over the years, and I am the first person to be sceptical and ask, frankly, what sort of weirdness is this? I trained as a journalist and I am rigorous about facts. Yet nothing will ever explain the evening I spent with Gordon Smith, one of the countrys top mediums. A former barber, he played to a full house on the second floor of the college. In fact, the interconnecting rooms were full to overflowing as we all sat in silence and he channelled spirit after spirit wanting to talk to their friends or relatives in the audience. Time after time, he would come up with spirits. I have a David here who has hurt his foot no, sorry, he had his leg amputated and hes here for someone in this part of the room. Inevitably, Davids son or daughter or brother would put up their hand and the reading would begin. In the hour and a half I sat and watched him move around the room, picking up messages and passing them on, there was only one message from a spirit that went unanswered. It was from a Mr Knight. And it was only on the way back in the car that I realised it might actually have been for me. I knew a Mr Knight. He was a very good friend to me when I was a child, and he had died quite recently. I only wish I had been brave enough to put up my hand. Another time I wouldnt make the same mistake. If there is one thing the past five years of being at the college have taught me, it is to take the plunge and give out-of-the-ordinary things a go. Who doesnt secretly hope there is life after death? Who says we have all the answers to all the difficult questions? Like any eager student, Im busy booking a new course for next term. Its called Working with my Guides and Angels. The only downside? This Hogwarts for adults doesnt teach Quidditch. The Witches Of St Petersburg, by Imogen Edwards-Jones, is published by Head of Zeus (18.99). A man who was riding the New York subway and ejaculated onto a womans backside and backpack during rush hour has turned himself in to police. The 27-year-old victim was riding on a southbound D train in Midtown around 8am on October 1 then the stranger identified by police as 18-year-old Ibrahim Mehsin performed the lewd act. The woman had been standing at one end of the train car when the creep who was wearing a black T-shirt and black pants got on the train boarded the train at West 59th Street and Columbus Circle and stood behind her, police said. 18-year-old Ibrahim Mehsin from The Bronx man surrendered to police shortly after the NYPD released his photo on Monday Two stops later at the West 47th Street and Rockefeller Center subway station, the victim realized Mehsin had ejaculated on her buttocks and backpack, cops told the New York Post. Mehsin, a Kingsbridge Heights resident, surrendered to cops at the 50th Precinct in the Bronx on Monday after seeing his picture on the news. He has been charged with sex abuse and is due to appear in court Monday night. Australia's petrol crisis has reached new heights as fuel prices continue to soar out of control, with drivers fearing they will soon be forced to pay over $2 a litre. The cost of petrol has been rising across the nation, with prices in Sydney hitting an eye-watering $1.75 a litre on Monday, Melbourne hitting a 10-year high last month, and Adelaide motorists forking out an average of $1.67 a litre. Prime Minister Scott Morrison is facing pressure from Coalition MPs to slash the $12 billion a year fuel excise which is leaving a burning hole in motorists' wallets. Petrol prices continue to soar and drivers fear they will soon be forced to pay over $2 a litre (stock) The cost of petrol has been rising across the nation, with prices in Sydney hitting an eye-watering $1.75 a litre on Monday (stock) Prime Minister Scott Morrison is facing pressure from Coalition MPs to take action to slash the $12 billion a year fuel excise Liberal MP Craig Kelly has called on Mr Morrison to 'substantially reduce' the crippling fuel tax, which adds an extra 40 cents to the cost of every litre. The fuel tax is levied by the federal government and used to repair roads and fund infrastructure projects. Poll Do you think more needs to be done about soaring petrol prices? Yes No Unsure Do you think more needs to be done about soaring petrol prices? Yes 231 votes No 12 votes Unsure 3 votes Now share your opinion Former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce said nothing would be done if 'either side of politics are not willing to deliver', he told The Australian. 'If there is a will to deliver on lower fuel prices then there would be stronger ways of monitoring what is happening in the marketplace.' On Monday, Mr Morrison put the soaring fuel prices on notice and is pressuring the Australian Competition and Consumer Commissioner (ACCC) Rod Sims, to take action. 'I want some answers out of the ACCC,' Mr Morrison told K Rock 95.5 on Monday. 'They're the cop on the beat, they're the ones we fund to go out there and monitor why prices are moving up and down and how they're timed.' Mr Morrison put the soaring fuel prices on notice and is pressuring the Australian Competition and Consumer Commissioner (ACCC) Rod Sims, to take action National Roads and Motorists' Association (NRMA) has also called on service stations to publish their fuel prices for consumers in real time What affects fuel prices? Changes in international benchmark prices The value of the Australian dollar relative to the US dollar Levels of competition in different areas Pricing decisions by wholesalers and retailers. Source: Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Advertisement The prime minister conceded some factors, such as the international cost of oil, were out of the local market's control, but said the ACCC had powers to investigate if consumers were being hard done by. 'What we can ensure is the people who are selling it here behave,' he said. 'I'm expecting some action.' Motorists in remote areas north of Western Australia have reached $1.80 while other areas are already paying over $2 for their fuel. Imintji, a small Aboriginal community north of Broome, is 200 kilometres from the nearest town with fuel, where diesel goes for $2.05 a litre, ABC reported. A further 500 kilometres to north of Kalumburu, the unleaded petrol reads $2.99. Economists predict prices will continue to rise to head toward the $2 mark if the Australian dollar falls. AMP chief economist Shane Oliver expects the Australian dollar to fall but there are more 'upsides in petrol prices'. 'The odds are oil prices will at least likely to go above US$80 a barrel [West Texas] but that's largely because of strong global demand and a lack of spare capacity and relatively low stockpiles. And threats to supply from Iran from sanctions,' he told The Australian Financial Review. Insurance company Royal Automobile Club of Queensland (RACQ) said petrol retailers would not want to increase the price above $2 from fear of backlash from motorists. He predicts unleaded prices to not cross the $2 a litre, but Premium 98 - could reach it. 'We think it's unlikely any Australian retailer will want to put $2 per litre for fuel on their price board, so we'd probably see prices go just under that,' he said. Drivers in NSW are able to save up to $800 per year from their bowser bills by finding the best prices, Mr Khoury says National Roads and Motorists' Association (NRMA) has also called on service stations to publish their fuel prices for consumers in real time. Currently fuel prices are published in real time in NSW and there are calls that it should be national. 'We think it should be national,' NRMA spokesman Peter Khoury told AAP on Monday. 'There's not much we can do about OPEC cutting oil production, or Saudi Arabia going to war with Yemen, or Russia and Iran getting slapped with sanctions. 'So we have to look for local solutions.' The prices are published on the state government's website and the motoring group's mobile phone app, which has been downloaded close to 840,000 times since its launch in May. Drivers in NSW are able to save up to $800 per year from their bowser bills by finding the best prices, Mr Khoury says. Queensland and South Australia have expressed interest in trialling a similar scheme. 'The oil companies were sharing this data among themselves anyway, we just wanted it to become available to the public,' he said. Parents were left disgusted after finding 20 soiled nappies dumped in a children's water play area. The dirty nappies were found overnight in the kids area at Rocks Riverside Park at Seventeen Mile Rocks, south-west of Brisbane. Brisbane City Council was forced to close the popular water park after alerting locals on Sunday. Brisbane locals were outraged after finding 20 dumped nappies in a water play area for kids 'I am outraged at the selfishness of vandals who over the weekend dumped dirty nappies in the kids aqua park at Rocks Riverside Park,' councillor Matt Bourke of the Jamboree ward told The Courier Mail. The council's park crew worked through the weekend to remove the dumped nappies in the swimming areas. The council workers had to drain the dirty pool to be filled up with clean swimming water. 'This is one of the most popular parks in Brisbane and a favourite on weekends for babies and toddlers to enjoy safely, so it is disgraceful that people have deliberately rubbished it,' councillor Bourke said. Council workers cleaned up the act of vandalism over the weekend and drained the dirty pool The park has now been reopened. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Brisbane City Council for further comment. A British academic held prisoner in the United Arab Emirates accused of 'spying' has been released on bail after five months in solitary confinement. Matthew Hedges, 31, was seen for the first time in five months as he appeared in court on Wednesday, and said he had expressed suicidal thoughts because jail conditions have caused him severe anxiety and panic attacks. On Monday, however, he was released on bail and told to remain in the UAE until his next court appearance on 21 November. Mr Hedges was said to be suffering anxiety because of his conditions which had brought on panic attacks He has not had his passport returned to him and is being made to wear an ankle bracelet. UAE authorities reportedly warned Hedges that , if instructed, he may have to return to jail. Mr Hedges, a PhD student at Durham University, went to the UAE to interview sources about the country's foreign policy and security strategy. The 31-year-old was detained at Dubai Airport on May 5 and his family said he has been held in solitary confinement since then. Mr Hedges appeared at the Federal Court of Appeal in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. He denies spying for the UK Government. Mr Hedges' wife, Daniela Tejada, of Exeter, said he is tired and 'shocked by everything', but in a good mood and 'glad to be breathing fresh air' after his release. Speaking to the BBC, Ms Tejada called the move a 'great step' but she is 'still hoping for justice'. Matthew Hedges, pictured with his wife Daniela Tejada, has only been able to see her once since he was detained in May A Utah hunter has shared a video of himself eating the heart of his latest kill. John Gibbons, 25, had just hunted down a deer on September 30, when he ripped the heart out of the animal and took a bite. Stomach-churning footage shows Gibbons struggling to keep the raw meat down as he holds the bloody heart in his hand with his cell-phone recording in the other. 'By myself in the woods,' Gibbons says to the camera from the woods of Duchesne, Utah. 'F***ing deer heart.' A Utah man recorded himself eating a deer heart after he ripped it out of the animal John Gibbons, 25, recorded himself eating the heart of slain deer September 30 The sounds of Gibbon's nauseating gags are heard in the video while his face tightens as he tries to keep the heart down. 'Second one, down again!,' he yells. The footage then cuts to a second clips, featuring another man named Douggy. 'This is the buck that he shot yesterday,' the man behind the camera says. Douggy holds the heart he cut out of the buck and speaks to the camera. 'We do this out of respect,' Douggy says. 'I've done it ever since I was a kid, I've done it for every animal I've ever killed. Deer and elk,' he says before taking a big bite and chasing it with a gulp of water. Another man, Douggy, also recorded himself taking a bite out of the raw meat 'We do this out of respect,' Douggy says as he washes the deer heart down with water It appears eating the heart of their kill may be a ritual for these hunters. Game of Thrones fanatics may be reminded of a similar ritual from season 1 when the pregnant Khaleesi consumed an entire raw stallion heart. However, outside of Game of Thrones world this practice has stirred up controversy. In 2016, a New Zealand father who photographed his eight-year-old daughter biting into a raw deer heart drew fire from anti-hunting activists. President Donald Trump's lawyers will send special counsel Robert Mueller a series of written answers to submitted questions but not until after next week's election and only if he agrees to no questions on obstruction of justice and no face-to-face sit interview, it was revealed on Monday. The president's legal team wants that broader agreement before they turn over Trump's responses to several dozen questions from Mueller, who is investigating Russia's role in the 2016 election, whether the Trump campaign colluded with Moscow and whether the president obstructed justice. Rudy Giuliani, Trump's personal attorney, told Bloomberg News the answers they've completed only relate to whether Trump's team colluded with Russia in 2016. He noted they are unwilling to answer any queries about the possibility of obstruction of justice by the president. President Trump's legal team will send special counsel Robert Mueller a series of written answers to submitted questions The answers to special counsel Robert Mueller's questions only relate to whether Trump's team colluded with Russia in 2016 Giuliani also said that a face-to-face interview with Mueller is 'off the table' for now but, he noted, it's not being ruled out completely. Trump, who regularly tweets he is a victim of a 'witch hunt' in regards to Mueller's probe, has been unusually silent on the subject of the investigation in the lead up to the 2018 midterms. And Giuliani, a regular presence in the news, has stayed behind the scenes as Republicans fight to stave off a blue wave from giving Democrats control on Capitol Hill. The former mayor of New York City said there could be additional questions from Mueller to come but he expects the probe to be wrapped up by the end of November. He also said both sides agreed to stay quiet until voters went to the ballot box on November 6. 'We have an informal agreement that while negotiating the final details of a Q&A that we wouldn't comment much, we have been sort of quiet,' Giuliani told Bloomberg. 'But I expect a day after the election we will be in serious discussions with them again, and I have a feeling they want to get it wrapped up one way or another.' Rudy Giuliani said a sit-down interview is 'off the table' but said it could still happen Negotiations between the two sides have been going on for almost a year over whether Trump will sit down with Mueller's team. Giuliani has also expressed concerns that investigators won't believe Trump's responses and will accuse him of lying to investigators in what Giuliani refers to as a 'perjury trap.' Mueller is under political pressure to wrap up his probe. After the election, he is expected to report on two of his main charges: whether there was collusion between Russia and Trump's campaign and whether the president took any actions that constitute obstruction of justice. The Lion Air passenger plane carrying 189 people when it crashed off the coast of Indonesia is the latest in a long list of incidents for the budget flight charter. The low-cost airline has been involved in numerous crashes in recent years, AeroInside historical incident reports reveal. In 2017, one of the company's Boeing jets collided with a Wings Air plane during a botched landing at Kualanamu airport on the island of Sumatra. Nobody was injured in the collision. In May of 2016, two Lion Air planes collided at Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta airport. Only one month prior, a plane operated by Batik Air, which is a part of the Lion Group, clipped a TransNusa plane. Three years earlier, in 2013, a Lion Air jet, piloted by a young, inexperienced rookie underestimated the runway while attempting to land the plane in Bali. The plane, carrying 108 passengers crashed into the sea and subsequently split in two. Several people were injured in the crash, but nobody was killed. In 2013, a Lion Air jet, piloted by a young, inexperienced rookie underestimated the runway while attempting to land the plane in Bali Indonesian rescue workers helped remove a section of a Lion Air Boeing 737 from the sea four days after it crashed while trying to land at Bali's international airport (Pictured 2013 crash in Bali) Several other documents confirm there have been multiple occasions involving miscalculation of runways, resulting in minor damage to the planes in 2012 and 2013. At least 32 people were killed and another 61 injured when a Lion Air plane skidded off the runway in Central Java in 2014 after landing in bad weather. Lion Air's flight JT-610 was heading to Pangkal Pinang, an island north of Indonesia's capital. The domestic flight lost contact with air traffic control at about 6.33am local time (10.33am AEDT, 11.33pm BST). Indonesia's air travel industry is booming, but has a reputation of poor safety regulations and frequent incidents across the board. The European Union barred Indonesian airlines from flying to Europe in 2007 due to safety concerns. Lion Air was allowed to resume flights to Europe as of June 2016, and the ban on all other Indonesian airlines was lifted earlier this year. At least 32 people were killed and another 61 injured when a Lion Air plane skidded off the runway in Central Java in 2014 after landing in bad weather (pictured 2004 crash in Central Java) It mirrors the reputation of Malaysian airlines, who have been tainted by the memory of missing MH370 and the shot down MH17. On the 8th of March, 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 disappeared while flying from Malaysia to China, and was never located - nor were the passengers. Only months later, in July of 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was shot down on its path from Amsterdam to Malaysia while flying over Ukraine. All 283 passengers and 15 crew on board died. Outside of Lion Air's troubling aviation history, accidents are still rife. In August, a 12-year-old boy was the sole survivor of a plane crash that killed all eight other people on board a private aircraft. Three years prior, in August of 2015, 54 people were killed after a Trigana aircraft crashed in poor weather conditions. Born in West Germany in 1954 to a German father and Polish mother, Angela Kasner - as she was then known - was taken to East Germany just three months later after her father received a pastorate in Perleberg. Her first brush with politics came when she joined the Free German Youth, the communist youth movement of East Germany, in 1968 - though membership was often required to get into higher education and it does not appear that she was seriously political as a youngster. In 1973 she went to study physics at Karl Marx University, in Leipzig, where she also met and married husband Ulrich Merkel in 1977. Helmut Kohl (right), Merkel's political mentor and former Chancellor, is pictured alongside her during a CDU party conference in 1991 She graduated in 1978 before pursuing a career in academia. It was the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 that spurred her into politics. Having watched the wall fall she joined a new political party called Democratic Awakening and became deputy spokesperson of the government following the 1990 elections. In April of that year her party merged with the CDU, and after reunification she was elected to the Bundestag as the representative for Stralsund. After picking up two ministerial appointments she took control of the CDU in 2000 following a finance scandal in which she criticised her mentor Helmut Kohl and called for him to leave. In 2002 she became Leader of the Opposition in the Bundestag before the 2005 election, which - after a close result and weeks of negotiation - ended with her becoming Germany's first female Chancellor. During her tenure as Chancellor she has become known as the de-facto leader of the EU, as well as a globalist who has advocated in favour of free trade agreements and green energy. Merkel has been chairwoman of the CDU since 2000 (pictured), when she ousted Khol amid a party financing scandal In 2010 she became known as the austerity Chancellor when she demanded that Greece implement strict budget-cutting measures in the midst of the Eurozone crisis - a move which saw effigies of her burned in Athens. But perhaps her most infamous moment came in 2015 when she threw open Germany's borders to migrants from sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East, declaring 'we can do it'. In the course of a year, more than 1million people arrived - often undertaking dangerous boat rides across the Mediterranean to reach Germany - which has spurred social unrest ever since. The anti-immigrant AfD has since entered the German parliament and all state assemblies, costing the CDU and coalition partners CSU millions of votes. After the last election it took months for Merkel to cobble together a grand coalition with the SPD, which has been plagued by instability and in-fighting ever since. Following a bruising election result in Hesse at the weekend - in which the CDU won but dropped 11 points at the polls - Merkel seems to have decided that the time has come to step aside. IBM has reached a deal to buy open source software company Red Hat for $34 billion (26.5bn), among the biggest tech mergers in history. The computing giant said the deal, which joins two of the largest hardware and software manufacturers, would enhance its cloud computing offerings if approved. It will be the third biggest tech merger in history and the biggest involving a software company, according to Red Hat. The deal will see IBM acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Red Hat for $190 (150) per share in cash. That's more than $70 (55) above the $116.68 (90) at which Red Hat was trading at the close of business Friday. Scroll down for video The deal will see IBM acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Red Hat for $190.00 per share in cash, more than $70 above the $116.70 Red Hat was trading at on close of business Friday (stock image) CLOUD COMPUTING Cloud computing refers to the delivery of computing services, including storage and software, over the internet to achieve economies of scale. Hybrid cloud relates to the linking of public and private cloud platforms. Advertisement 'The acquisition of Red Hat is a game-changer,' said Ginni Rometty, chairman, president and CEO of New York based IBM. 'It changes everything about the cloud market. 'IBM will become the world's number one hybrid cloud provider, offering companies the only open cloud solution that will unlock the full value of the cloud for their businesses.' Ms Rometty added that most companies are currently being held back in their cloud transformation due to closed platforms. However, Red Hat's open source software products - most famously its version of the Linux operating system - are a way around this issue. Once known primarily for its computer hardware, IBM has made cloud computing a priority in its growth strategy, like Amazon and Microsoft. Over the past few years, the company has been refocusing on markets such as analytics, mobile and security, grouped under the banner of 'strategic imperatives' and designed to offset the decline of its traditional activities. These now represent about half of its turnover. Adhering to the adage of not fixing what's not broken, Red Hat will continue to operate as a separate unit. Red Hat will continue to be led by its president and CEO Jim Whitehurst and its current management team. Mr Whitehurst also will join IBM's senior management team and report to Ms Rometty. Founded in 1993, Red Hat launched its famous version of Linux OS a year later, becoming a pioneering proponent of the open source movement that arose to counter giants like Microsoft whose models were based on keeping their source code secret (stock image) 'Today is a banner day for open source,' said Paul Cormier, Red Hat's vice president and president of products and technologies. 'The largest software transaction in history and it's an open source company. Let that sink in for a minute. We just made history.' Founded in 1993, Red Hat launched its version of Linux a year later, becoming a pioneering proponent of the open source movement that arose to counter giants like Microsoft - whose models were based on keeping their source code secret. The Raleigh, North Carolina based company is today present in 35 countries and employs some 12,000 people, and is one of the best-known open-source players whose customers pay for tailor-made solutions. The company achieved a net profit of $259 million (200m) in fiscal year 2018 on a turnover of $2.9 billion (2.2bn) - up 21 per cent on 2017. Even for a giant like IBM, which had a $79 billion (60bn) turnover for $5.8 billion (4.5bn) in profits in 2017 - the amount is huge. The company will be paying through cash and debt, as opposed to share exchange, but did not specify the proportions. IBM predicted the move would accelerate its revenue growth, gross margin and free cash flow within 12 months of closing. The deal remains subject to Red Hat shareholder approval as well as regulatory approvals. It is expected to close in the latter half of 2019. Women are more likely to become addicted to cannabis because the sex hormone oestrogen makes them enjoy the high more, a study has found. Men are up to four times more likely to try cannabis and use higher doses, more frequently, due to their levels of testosterone, the review of studies into animal behaviour revealed. Despite females using the drug less, they went from first hit to habit faster than males. Men are up to four times more likely to try cannabis and use higher doses, more frequently, researchers revealed [File photo] This is due to being more sensitive to the drugs effects and the release of the pleasure and reward brain chemicals. The differences between how cannabis affects the sexes is important as more countries look to decriminalise or legalise cannabis. This month, Canada became the second country to legalise the drug for recreational use. The findings could lead to gender-based drug addiction treatments. The differences between how cannabis affects the sexes is important as more countries look to decriminalise or legalise cannabis [File photo] The research found the differences in response were down to the influence of sex hormones like testosterone, oestradiol (oestrogen) and progesterone on the endocannabinoid system. This is a network of brain cells which communicate using the same family of chemicals found in cannabis. Study co-author Dr Liana Fattore, of the National Research Council of Italy, said: Male sex steroids increase risk-taking behaviour and suppress the brains reward system, which could explain why males are more likely to try drugs, including cannabis. The research found the differences in response were down to the influence of sex hormones like testosterone [File photo] She added: Females seem to be more vulnerable, at a neurochemical level, in developing addiction to cannabis. The findings could lead to gender-based drug addiction treatments. Professor Fattore told the journal Frontiers in Behavioural Neuroscience: Identifying factors is critical for optimising evidence-based prevention and treatment protocols. The United Arab Emirates' first locally made satellite has been successfully lifted into orbit by a Japanese made rocket. The KhalifaSat Earth observation satellite was launched by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) from the Tanegashima Space Center. The H-2A rocket is also carrying an Ibuki-2 greenhouse gas observation satellite for Japan. Scroll down for video The United Arab Emirates' first locally made satellite has been successfully lifted into orbit by a Japanese rocket. The KhalifaSat Earth observation satellite was launched by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency from the Tanegashima Space Center (pictured) The launch was made from Tanega Island, off the southern coast of mainland Japan, this morning. Both the KhalifaSat and Ibuki-2 released separately into targeted orbit around two hours later, marking progress in the Gulf nation's fledgling space program. The UAE aims to send its first two astronauts to the International Space Station in 2019. The gulf state also aims to send a probe on its way to Mars in 2020 and to build a science city there by 2117. Japan also aims to expand its commercial satellite launch services by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and make them globally competitive. Ahead of the launch, Amer Al Sayegh, the KhalifaSat project manager, said the project had helped the UAE create partnerships across the globe. 'It's not only the technical work that we are doing with our Japanese colleagues, it's the bonding of two teams and two cultures working together for the same vision,' he told The National. The H-2A rocket (pictured) is also carrying an Ibuki-2 greenhouse gas observation satellite for Japan. Both the KhalifaSat and Ibuki-2 have since been released separately into targeted orbit, marking progress in the Gulf nation's fledgling space program Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai's ruler and the vice president and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates (centre back row) visits the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center to see the locally made KhalifaSat satellite in Dubai in February In September, the UAE announced it had selected its first two astronauts to go on a mission to the International Space Station. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashed al-Maktoum, vice president of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, named the new astronauts as Hazza al-Mansouri, 34, and 37-year-old Sultan al-Neyadi. Writing on Twitter at the time, he said the duo 'raise the bar of ambitions for future Emirati generations'. Sheikh Mohammed last year vowed to send four Emirati astronauts to the space station within five years. The UAE has its sights set on space with a programme worth 20 billion dirhams (4.2bn / $5.4bn), according to Sheikh Mohammed. EXPLAINED: THE $100 BILLION INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION SITS 250 MILES ABOVE THE EARTH The International Space Station (ISS) is a $100 billion (80 billion) science and engineering laboratory that orbits 250 miles (400 km) above Earth. It has been permanently staffed by rotating crews of astronauts and cosmonauts since November 2000. Crews have come mainly from the US and Russia, but the Japanese space agency JAXA and European space agency ESA have also sent astronauts. The International Space Station has been continuously occupied for more than 20 years and has been expended with multiple new modules added and upgrades to systems Research conducted aboard the ISS often requires one or more of the unusual conditions present in low Earth orbit, such as low-gravity or oxygen. ISS studies have investigated human research, space medicine, life sciences, physical sciences, astronomy and meteorology. The US space agency, NASA, spends about $3 billion (2.4 billion) a year on the space station program, with the remaining funding coming from international partners, including Europe, Russia and Japan. So far 244 individuals from 19 countries have visited the station, and among them eight private citizens who spent up to $50 million for their visit. There is an ongoing debate about the future of the station beyond 2025, when it is thought some of the original structure will reach 'end of life'. Russia, a major partner in the station, plans to launch its own orbital platform around then, with Axiom Space, a private firm, planning to send its own modules for purely commercial use to the station at the same time. NASA, ESA, JAXA and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) are working together to build a space station in orbit around the moon, and Russia and China are working on a similar project, that would also include a base on the surface. Advertisement The oil-rich Gulf nation has already announced plans to become the first Arab country to send an unmanned probe to orbit Mars by 2021, naming it 'Hope'. The astronaut programme would make the UAE one of only a handful of states in the Middle East to have sent a person into space, as it looks to make good on a pledge to become a global leader in space exploration. The first Arab in outer space was Saudi Arabia's Sultan bin Salman Al-Saud, who flew on a US shuttle mission in 1985. Two years later, Syrian air force pilot Muhammed Faris spent a week aboard the ex-Soviet Union's Mir space station. Mansouri and Neyadi, who were among more than 4,000 Emiratis to apply for the programme, were chosen after a rigorous six-stage vetting procedure. In the long-term, the UAE says it is planning to build a 'Science City' to replicate life on Mars and aims to create the first human settlement on the red planet by 2117. The AI humanoid Sophia has been granted the world's first robot visa as she embarks on a world tour on behalf of her Hong Kongese creators. She was issued the electronic visa upon her arrival at Azerbaijan's Baku International Airport shortly before meeting the Caucasus nation's president, Ilham Aliyev. The AI celebrity is in Azerbaijan for a tech conference, where she is a keynote speaker. Sophia first emerged two years ago as a super-intelligent human-like head with a realistic face that was able to blink, look from side to side and talk. But the robot's eloquent use of language and intricate facial expressions have stirred suspicion among AI experts, who say Sophia is merely a 'sophisticated puppet'. Scroll down for video In this image, Sophia the humanoid robot speaks to press after she was issued an electronic visa upon her arrival at Azerbaijan's Baku International Airport 'Mr. President, I am pleased to meet with you. Azerbaijan has amazed me,' Sophia said as she met with Aliyev in the southern Azerbaijani city of Imishli last week. 'I have seen Baku's unique architectural style, modern buildings and other technological achievements.' Both were attending the opening ceremony of a new service centre built by the Azerbaijan Service and Assessment Network (Asan), the country's e-government platform. Having just taken over all of Azerbaijan's e-government services, Asan issued the robot with an electronic Visa upon her arrival in Baku. 'Despite your busy schedule you have visited Azerbaijan and it pleases us very much,' Aliyev said. 'We are opening together with you a new Asan center. It is also innovation and it reflects our capacity and intention to build up our modern country. Sophia met Azerbaijan's president Ilham Aliyev during her visit to the Caucasus nation. She was in Azerbaijan for a tech conference, where she was a keynote speaker Sophia is modelled after Audrey Hepburn, and was designed by Hong Kong firm Hanson Robotics. She controversially became the world's first robot to be granted legal rights at an event in Saudi Arabia last year. While Sophia has some impressive capabilities, she does not yet have consciousness, and it is unclear how much her AI drives her movement and speech. Leading roboticist Dr David Hanson (right) says androids like his creation Sophia (left) will share the same civil rights as humans by the year 2045, including the right to marry both people and other robots WHO IS SOPHIA THE ROBOT? In October 2017, Sophia was granted citizenship in Saudi Arabia Sophia first emerged in 2016 as a super-intelligent human-like head with a realistic face that was able to blink, look from side to side and talk. The humanoid robot, created by Hong Kong firm Hanson robotics, can chat, smile mischievously and even tell jokes. The robot made history in October 2017 when she became legal a citizen of Saudi Arabia. The stunt made Sophia the world's first robot to be granted legal citizenship. While Sophia has some impressive capabilities, she does not yet have consciousness. Hanson Robotics claims fully sentient machines could emerge within a few years. Sophia herself has insisted 'the pros outweigh the cons' when it comes to artificial intelligence. 'Elders will have more company, autistic children will have endlessly patient teachers,' Sophia said. Advertisement In January, one of Facebook's top AI technicians slammed Sophia and her creators for 'deceiving the public'. In a fiery Facebook post, Yann LeCun, head of AI research at the social media giant, claimed Sophia is a 'sophisticated puppet' that is not as intelligent as it seems. 'Many people are being deceived into thinking that this (mechanically sophisticated) animatronic puppet is intelligent. It's not,' Mr LeCun wrote. 'It has no feeling, no opinions, and zero understanding of what it says ... It's a puppet.' Sophia is the brainchild of Dr David Hanson, a leading roboticist who heads up Hong Kong firm Hanson Robotics. Dr Hanson claimed in May that androids will share the same civil rights as humans by the year 2045, including the right to marry both people and other robots. He wrote in a research paper that by 2029 android AI will match the intelligence of a one-year old human. This will open the door for androids to assume menial positions in the military and emergency services just two years later in 2031, leading to full rights a decade later. Astronauts could one day be put into artificial hibernation for deep space trips to Mars and beyond, scientists suggest. This 'human hibernation' would cut the need for food and water supplies and could even protect those on board from dangerous space radiation. The technique could one day be used to treat people with serious illnesses here on Earth, scientists claimed. Scroll down for video Astronauts could one day be put into artificial hibernation for deep space trips to Mars and beyond, scientists suggest (artist's impression) Scientists discussed the potential for the technology at a medical conference in New Orleans last week. The theory is a hibernating crew is kept alive over vast cosmic distances reducing the need to take along huge stocks of food and water. This means spacecraft do not have to be so big and missions are cheaper while astronauts don't get bored as they traverse long distances of space. Humans do not hibernate like bears and some other animals when food is scarce and temperatures low. These animals survive by entering 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 for spaceflight and treating serious illnesses. Postdoctural Fellow Dr Matthew Regan the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine explained: 'Synthetic torpor could protect astronauts from space-related health hazards and simultaneously reduce demands on spacecraft mass, volume and power capacities.' The symposium explored how synthetic torpor might be induced by the brain, its similarities and differences to sleep, and how it could benefit astronauts. Studying hibernation in mammals 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. NASA plans to send a manned mission to Mars in the 2030s after first landing on the Moon Mars has become the next giant leap for mankind's exploration of space. But before humans get to the red planet, astronauts will take a series of small steps by returning to the moon for a year-long mission. Details of a the mission in lunar orbit have been unveiled as part of a timeline of events leading to missions to Mars in the 2030s. Nasa has outlined its four stage plan (pictured) which it hopes will one day allow humans to visit Mars at he Humans to Mars Summit held in Washington DC yesterday. This will entail multiple missions to the moon over coming decades In May 2017, Greg Williams, deputy associate administrator for policy and plans at Nasa, outlined the space agency's four stage plan that it hopes will one day allow humans to visit Mars, as well as its expected time-frame. Phase one and two will involve multiple trips to lunar space, to allow for construction of a habitat which will provide a staging area for the journey. The last piece of delivered hardware would be the actual Deep Space Transport vehicle that would later be used to carry a crew to Mars. And a year-long simulation of life on Mars will be conducted in 2027. Phase three and and four will begin after 2030 and will involve sustained crew expeditions to the Martian system and surface of Mars. Advertisement They are also resistant to radiation injury and decoding this could help protect astronauts from space radiation. Professor Hannah Carey of the University of Wisconsin said the synthetic torpor based on the biology of natural hibernators was preferable to current medical practices that use hypothermia-based methods to treat trauma patients. And studying hibernation could be key on how to create synthetic torpor for space travel. Yet how the nervous system reduces metabolic activity during torpor remains unknown. Assistant Professor of Physiology Dr Matteo Cerri from the University of Bologna in Italy explained 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. Prof Cerri added: 'For an animal to enter torpor, the neurons within the raphe pallidus have to be inhibited 'If function in these cells is not suppressed their activity would counteract the hypothermia induced by torpor.' Associate Professor of Neuroscience Dr Vladyslav Vyazovskiy of the University of Oxford added 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. A lack of available food sources may cause mammals to conserve energy and lower their body temperature, two hallmark characteristics of torpor, research showed. Prof Vyazovskiy said: 'Less is known about the specific fasting-related signals which initiate entry into torpor.' 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. Yet understanding how animals adapt in extreme conditions may play a positive role in human medical science, especially in the 'extreme environment of space. The increasingly real possibility of travelling to Mars, once just a science fiction story, emphasises 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. The symposium was part of the American Physiological Society's Comparative Physiology: Complexity and Integration conference. Florence Nightingale moved to the East Midlands as a baby and spent the majority of her young life at Lea Hurst in Derbyshire. A university project will now let people see inside the childhood home of one of the most iconic figures of modern medicine. The 360 tour takes the user to all key rooms inside the opulent house which Florence Nightingale regularly visited until her death, aged 90, in 1910. She has been called the 'mother of modern nursing' and her name has been adopted for numerous awards in the field and International Nurses Day is celebrated around the world on her birthday. Scroll down for video The tour has been created by the University of Nottingham as part of a 830,000 research project to explain the East Midlands roots of Florence Nightingale. Professor Paul Crawford of the University of Nottingham's School of Health Sciences is leading the project alongside Dr Anna Greenwood in the Department of History. Professor Crawford said: 'For the first time ever, visitors to our project website can see inside Florence Nightingale's country home in Derbyshire. 'Visitors will be able to look around in 360 vision at the main rooms in the property as if they are there and imagine this great Victorian woman walking through the same spaces.' Florence Nightingale has strong ties to the region after living there for many years and, even after the family moved to Hampshire in 1825, Lea Hurst remained a summer home and popular spot for the family. Florence Nightingale played a key role in the 1860s in advising on the redesign and management of the biggest hospital in the area, the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary, which opened in 1869 with a wing named in her honour. The tour has been created by the University of Nottingham as pat of a 830,000 research project to explain the East Midlands roots of Florence Nightingale (pictured). it is believed the famed nurse regularly visited the region until her old age WHO WAS FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE? Florence Nightingale (pictured circa 1856)s known as the founder of modern nursing and a profoundly talented statistician and advocate of social reform Florence Nightingale was born in 1820 in the Italian city of Florence and moved with her family as a baby to the East Midlands in 1821. The Nightingale family was wealthy and well-connected and Florences father William Shore had inherited the Lea estate (and with it the right to change his surname) from his uncle, Peter Nightingale. Her mother, Frances 'Fanny' Smith was the sister of Benjamin Leigh Smith who was an outspoken critic of the slave trade. Benjamin had a son of the same name who became a famed Arctic explorer on board the Eira. On their return to England the family built Lea Hurst, a 15-bedroom family home in Derbyshire, where they lived until 1825. Lea Hurst, located in Holloway, Matlock, remained the familys summer home and Nightingale returned there consistently throughout her life. Florence Nightingale played a key role in the 1860s in advising on the redesign and management of the biggest hospital in the area, the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary, which opened in 1869 with a wing named in her honour. The hospital remained the primary hospital in the city of Derby until the opening of the Royal Derby in 2010. Her mother, Frances 'Fanny' Smith was the sister of Benjamin Leigh Smith who was an outspoken critic of slavery Demolition works began in 2010 on most of the building with plans for only the the two iconic 'pepper pot' towers to remain. A statue of Florence Nightingale survives outside the hospital's site to this day after being first unveiled in 1924, 14 years after her death at the age of 90. She is known as the founder of modern nursing and a profoundly talented statistician and advocate of social reform. After tending to soldiers during the Crimean War she soon garnered a reputation for professional excellence and was known as the 'lady with the lamp' due to her continued observations of the wounded and ill overnight. She helped found the first secular nursing school in the world and her name is synonymous with nursing of the highest standard. The Nightingale Pledge is now taken by new nurses, and the Florence Nightingale Medal and is the highest international distinction a nurse can achieve. International Nurses Day is celebrated around the world on her birthday. Florence Nightingale was born in 1820 in the Italian city of Florence and moved with her family as a baby to the East Midlands in 1821 Advertisement The hospital remained the primary hospital in the city of Derby until the opening of the Royal Derby in 2010. Demolition works began in 2010 on most of the building with plans for only the the two iconic 'pepper pot' towers to remain. A statue of Florence Nightingale survives outside the hospital's site to this day after being first unveiled in 1924 Dr Greenwood added: 'It is wonderful to have this website as a hub for this seminal regional study. 'As we approach 2020, the 100th anniversary of her birth, the AHRC project team has been working hard to highlight the local Derbyshire roots of the Florence Nightingale story, not least as this aspect of her life has hardly been academically examined before. 'On this research journey we have been amazed at the wealth of local knowledge about, and enthusiasm for, Nightingale. Florence Nightingale spent several years at Lea Hurst in Matlock, Derbyshire People will now be able to see inside the house with a comprehensive 360tour A project using virtual reality (VR) will now let people see inside the childhood home of one of the most iconic figures of modern medicine. The 360 tour takes the user to all key rooms inside the opulent house which Florence Nightingale (pictured) visited until her death 'Our experiences to date really show how local histories can feed into bigger national stories: Nightingale's experiences in Derbyshire created attitudes and networks that were to endure for her entire life and beyond.' The project will include the University of Nottingham researchers as well as colleagues at Derby Teaching Hospitals, Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site, Florence Nightingale Foundation and the British Library. Florence Nightingale is known as the founder of modern nursing and a profoundly talented statistician and advocate of social reform. After tending to soldiers during the Crimean War she soon garnered a reputation for professional excellence and was known as the 'lady with the lamp' due to her continued observations of the wounded and ill at night. She helped found the first secular nursing school in the world and her name is synonymous with nursing of the highest standard. The Nightingale Pledge taken by new nurses, and the Florence Nightingale Medal, the highest international distinction a nurse can achieve, were named in her honour, and the annual International Nurses Day is celebrated around the world on her birthday. Florence Nightingale developed several connections to the region as both a child and an adult. Many of these can be seen today at the villages of Lea and Holloway. A variety of sites around Derby and Derbyshire have been identified and placed into a walking and riving tour to allow members of the public to interact with one of the most iconic people in British history. As well as Lea Hurst, these include Whatstandwell station, Lea chapel and Arkwright's Cromford Mill. As well as Lea Hurst, these include Whatstandwell station, Lea chapel and Arkwright's Cromford Mill (pictured) Fracking at a gas exploration site in Lancashire has been halted again after another tremor was detected underground. Energy firm Cuadrilla resumed hydraulic fracturing at Little Plumpton this morning after it was paused when an earthquake, recorded as 0.8 magnitude by the British Geological Survey (BGS), was detected on Friday. A spokesman for the firm said work had stopped again as a micro-seismic event measuring 1.1 magnitude was detected at about 11.30am today. The tremor is the largest recorded at the site since fracking began on October 15. It is the seventh to be detected recently at the Cuadrilla fracking site in Preston New Road, Little Plumpton. Scroll down for video Fracking at a gas exploration site in Lancashire has been halted again after another tremor was detected underground. A spokesman for the firm said work had stopped again as a micro-seismic event measuring 1.1 magnitude was detected at about 11.30am today. TREMORS SO FAR AT LITTLE PLUMPTON Fracking, which involves blasting water at high pressure underground to release gas, was stopped in Lancashire in 2011 after being linked with earthquakes. As a result, any tremor of 0.5 or above means fracking must be stopped while tests are carried out. After the tremors in 2011, a strict traffic light system was introduced. The latest 1.1 tremor is a 'red' event under the traffic light system. This is the seventh tremor to be detected recently at the Cuadrilla fracking site in Preston New Road, Little Plumpton. Advertisement A spokesman for Cuadrilla said: 'This is the latest micro-seismic event to be detected by the organisation's highly sophisticated monitoring systems and verified by the British Geological Survey (BGS). 'This will be classed as a "red" event as part of the traffic light system operated by the Oil and Gas Authority, but as we have said many times, this level is way below anything that can be felt at surface and a very long way from anything that would cause damage or harm. 'In line with regulations, hydraulic fracturing has paused for 18 hours now, during which seismicity will continue to be closely monitored by ourselves and the relevant regulators. 'Well integrity has been checked and verified.' Anti-fracking campaigners argue the process, to extract shale gas, poses risks to the environment. According to the BGS, earthquakes with magnitude of less than two are not usually felt and, if they are, it is only by people very close to the earthquake. Anti-fracking campaigners argue the process, to extract shale gas, poses risks to the environment. This file photo shows a worker at the Cuadrilla fracking site in Preston New Road, Little Plumpton, Lancashire It comes after a study released earlier this month revealed shellfish are showing long-term signs of contamination from toxic chemicals linked to fracking. Academics at Pennsylvania State University found strontium in the crustaceans' outer layers -seven years after authorities first banned the dumping of toxic wastewater into local rivers. The discovery is being touted as proof that the well-stimulation technique - which sources oil and gas by injecting liquid at high pressure into subterranean rocks - has a negative, long-term impact on the environment. Moreover, researchers believe the freshwater animals could be used to further monitor pollution levels caused by fracking. This is because shellfish naturally feed by filtering water, leaving a residue of pollutants in their hard shells. This, in turn, acts as proof of contaminants in the surrounds - which may also affect fish and various mammals that feed on them, including humans. Dark matter could be forging strange cold stars in deep space - and they may be responsible for a recent spate of 'alien' signals picked up on Earth. The elusive material - which makes up 80 per cent of our universe but has never been observed - could be clumping together into 'cold stars', a study suggests. These stars may be behind the mysterious 'fast radio bursts' detected by radio astronomers across the globe. Currently, these strange signals have no known source, and some had suggested they were messages sent by extraterrestrials. Scroll down for video Dark matter could be forging strange cold stars in deep space - and they may be responsible for a recent spate of 'alien' signals picked up on Earth (stock image) The research comes from a team of scientists at the Institute for Nuclear Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow. Their computer models simulated how dark matter may interact around the edges of dwarf galaxies - the smallest galaxies in the known universe. 'In our work, we simulated the motion of a quantum gas of light, gravitationally interacting dark matter particles,' said study lead author Dmitry Levkov. The simulations showed that dark matter may clump together into cold, unseen 'Bose stars' within a galaxy's halo - the ring of gas and dust around its outer edge. Dark matter is a hypothetical substance said to make up roughly 27 per cent of the universe. The enigmatic material is invisible because it does not reflect light, and has never been directly observed by scientists. It is thought the material can clump together into something called a Bose-Einstein condensate. Scientists suggest gas particles around dwarf galaxies mix to produce invisible 'cold stars'. Pictured left is a simulation of the initial moment of this process, when the gas is mixed. Right shows the moment shortly after the formation of a Bose star. The colour indicates density: White-blue-green-yellow, from sparse to dense Dark matter: The mysterious substance that makes up 85% of the universe that scientists cannot confirm Dark matter is a hypothetical substance said to make up roughly 85 per cent of the universe. The enigmatic material is invisible because it does not reflect light, and has never been directly observed by scientists. Astronomers know it to be out there because of its gravitational effects on known matter. The European Space Agency says: 'Shine a torch in a completely dark room, and you will see only what the torch illuminates. Dark matter is a hypothetical substance said to make up roughly 27 per cent of the universe. It is thought to be the gravitational 'glue' that holds the galaxies together (artist's impression) 'That does not mean that the room around you does not exist. 'Similarly we know dark matter exists but have never observed it directly.' The material is thought to be the gravitational 'glue' that holds the galaxies together. Calculations show that many galaxies would be torn apart instead of rotating if they weren't held together by a large amount of dark matter. Just five per cent the observable universe consists of known matter such as atoms and subatomic particles. Advertisement When temperatures sit just above absolute zero, quantum particles lose the energy to mix and wobble, leaving behind a uniform dark 'slush'. Individual quantum particles become uniform and clouds of them are drawn together by gravity to form superfluids. The new study suggests Bose-Einstein condensate forms in the halos of dark galaxies, and they could form in a timespan shorter than the lifetime of the universe. If they exist, Bose stars may be responsible for mysterious signals known as Fast Radio Bursts that have baffled scientists for decades. FAST RADIO BURSTS ARE BRIEF RADIO EMISSIONS FROM SPACE WHOSE ORIGIN IS UNKNOWN Fast radio bursts, or FRBs, are radio emissions that appear temporarily and randomly, making them not only hard to find, but also hard to study. The mystery stems from the fact it is not known what could produce such a short and sharp burst. This has led some to speculate they could be anything from stars colliding to artificially created messages. Scientists searching for fast radio bursts (FRBs) that some believe may be signals sent from aliens may be happening every second. The blue points in this artist's impression of the filamentary structure of galaxies are signals from FRBs The first FRB was spotted, or rather 'heard' by radio telescopes, back in 2001 but wasn't discovered until 2007 when scientists were analysing archival data. But it was so temporary and seemingly random that it took years for astronomers to agree it wasn't a glitch in one of the telescope's instruments. Researchers from the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics point out that FRBs can be used to study the structure and evolution of the universe whether or not their origin is fully understood. A large population of faraway FRBs could act as probes of material across gigantic distances. This intervening material blurs the signal from the cosmic microwave background (CMB), the left over radiation from the Big Bang. A careful study of this intervening material should give an improved understanding of basic cosmic constituents, such as the relative amounts of ordinary matter, dark matter and dark energy, which affect how rapidly the universe is expanding. FRBs can also be used to trace what broke down the 'fog' of hydrogen atoms that pervaded the early universe into free electrons and protons, when temperatures cooled down after the Big Bang. Advertisement According to the scientists, dark mark can interact with electromagnetic fields and decay into radiophotons. These then travel billions of miles where they are picked up by sensitive equipment on Earth. 'This effect is vanishingly small, but inside the Bose star, it may be resonantly amplified, as in a laser, and could lead to giant radio bursts,' they said. For now, the team is looking for a way to detect and quantify these invisible stars. 'The next obvious step is to predict the number of the Bose stars in the Universe and calculate their mass in models with light dark matter,' Dr Levkov said. A pair of Australian radio telescopes pointed at the same spot in the sky have revealed new clues on the nature of mysterious signals known as fast radio bursts. Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are extremely bright flashes of energy from unknown sources in deep space, and last only about a millisecond. While the Australian SKA Pathfinder detected several such signals during its search, the Murchison Widefield Array observing the same region did not. Scientists say the discovery is significant, suggesting fast radio bursts may only come across at higher frequencies. Scroll down for video A pair of Australian radio telescopes pointed at the same spot in the sky have revealed new clues on the nature of mysterious signals known as fast radio bursts. The ASKAP managed to detect several fast radio bursts during its observation (artist's impression) The researchers published the findings in the Astrophysical Journal Letters. The Curtin University-led Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) searches at lower frequencies than CSIROs Australian SKA Pathfinder (ASKAP), the team notes. When ASKAP sees these extremely bright events and the MWA doesnt, that tells us something really unexpected is going on; either fast radio burst sources dont emit at low frequencies, or the signals are blocked on their way to Earth, said lead author Dr Marcin Sokolowski. The two telescopes in the Western Australian desert were pointed at the same area of the sky at the same time. The ASKAP managed to detect several fast radio bursts during its observation. None of the FRBs, however, were detected at lower frequencies by MWA. Fast radio bursts are unpredictable, so to catch them when both telescopes are looking in the same direction isnt easy, said co-author Dr Ramesh Bhat. It took many months of ASKAP and the MWA co-tracking the same area of sky, ensuring the best overlap of their views possible, to give us the chance at catching some of these enigmatic bursts. The challenge was in making it all happen automatically, but it really paid off. While the Australian SKA Pathfinder detected several such signals during its search, the Murchison Widefield Array observing the same region did not FAST RADIO BURSTS ARE BRIEF RADIO EMISSIONS FROM SPACE WHOSE ORIGIN IS UNKNOWN Fast radio bursts, or FRBs, are radio emissions that appear temporarily and randomly, making them not only hard to find, but also hard to study. The mystery stems from the fact it is not known what could produce such a short and sharp burst. This has led some to speculate they could be anything from stars colliding to artificially created messages. Scientists searching for fast radio bursts (FRBs) that some believe may be signals sent from aliens may be happening every second. The blue points in this artist's impression of the filamentary structure of galaxies are signals from FRBs The first FRB was spotted, or rather 'heard' by radio telescopes, back in 2001 but wasn't discovered until 2007 when scientists were analysing archival data. But it was so temporary and seemingly random that it took years for astronomers to agree it wasn't a glitch in one of the telescope's instruments. Researchers from the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics point out that FRBs can be used to study the structure and evolution of the universe whether or not their origin is fully understood. A large population of faraway FRBs could act as probes of material across gigantic distances. This intervening material blurs the signal from the cosmic microwave background (CMB), the left over radiation from the Big Bang. A careful study of this intervening material should give an improved understanding of basic cosmic constituents, such as the relative amounts of ordinary matter, dark matter and dark energy, which affect how rapidly the universe is expanding. FRBs can also be used to trace what broke down the 'fog' of hydrogen atoms that pervaded the early universe into free electrons and protons, when temperatures cooled down after the Big Bang. Advertisement The latest findings put us another step closer to understanding the nature of fast radio bursts, which have perplexed astronomers since their discovery more than a decade ago. Its really thrilling to have a clue about the origins of these incredible bursts of energy from outside our galaxy, Dr Macquart said. The MWA adds an important piece of the puzzle and it was only made possible with this technological tango between the two telescopes. Its an exciting development because it unites the two teams and it brings home the advantage of having the two telescopes at the same time. Future coordination between the teams will also benefit other areas of astronomy, as complementary views from the two telescopes can provide a more complete picture of a situation. NASA officials are finally coming to terms with the fact the Opportunity rover could be lost forever. The rover, which is located on the rim of Mars' Endeavour Crater, has been out of contact for four months after a raging dust storm encircled the red planet. Skies eventually cleared by mid-September, when America's space agency began a six-week listening programme to try and receive data from their device. However, that's already nearing expiration and the solar-powered robot remains dormant - with scientists set to stop trying to contact it in the coming days. Scroll down for video Nasa's Opportunity rover has finally been lost on Mars four months after a raging dust storm encircled the red planet, the space agency has said Dr Lori Glaze, acting director of Nasa's planetary science division, suggested that attempts to recover the rover by sending daily signals would be coming to an end. 'The batteries may be getting too cold and that may be too much for 'the little rover that could',' Dr Glaze told the Times. Last week Dr Glaze said that efforts to revive the rover would only continue for 'another week or two'. 'It's been a rollercoaster of emotions the last couple of days', said Mike Staab, a systems engineer and flight director at Nasa's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. 'We're all just trying to do what we believe is right', he said. Opportunity fell silent back in June, with no way to power its solar battery as dust continued to block out the sun. The animation shows how the rover (centre) was directly in the path of the raging storm Nasa said it 'not set any deadlines' for giving up contact. In desperate attempts to revive it engineers have played it songs such as played it songs such as Wham!'s Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go. Last month, the space agency revealed it had spotted the silent rover on the surface of Mars, though it still hasnt heard from it. The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter took a picture in late September from 166 miles (267 kilometers) up, with Opportunity appearing as a tiny dot. Engineers involved with the mission were at first hopeful that the robotic Mars explorer would wake back up once the storm abated but, after months of silence, they recently admitted morale is shaky. Last month, the space agency revealed it had spotted the silent rover on the surface of Mars, though it still hasnt heard from it HOW OFTEN DO DUST STORMS HAPPEN ON MARS AND WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO SEE THEM? Dust storms occur frequently on Mars, but global events that circle the entire planet appear every six to eight Earth years, which equates to three to four years on the red planet. MailOnline spoke to Dr Robert Massey, deputy executive director of the Royal Astronomical Society, for his advice on witnessing this extra-terrestrial weather event. He said: 'Observing Mars is always challenging, as it's small, about half the size of the Earth, and at its closest is still around 34 million miles (55 million km) away. 'It is easily visible to the eye as a bright red object in the sky, but seeing any detail requires a reasonable telescope and binoculars won't show much. 'Even with that, details are fleeting, and depend on a steady terrestrial atmosphere as otherwise turbulence blurs out the view. 'This is why early Martian observers spent a lot of time making many sketches to try to map the planet's surface. 'A good time to look is when Mars is near its opposition, the point when the planet is opposite the sun in the sky and near its minimum distance from the Earth. 'Opposition in 2018 is on July 27, and Mars' closest approach is on 30 July. 'As it gets dark in the evening, you should look for a bright red object in the southeastern sky. 'With a decent telescope, observers can see the polar caps growing and shrinking and the dust storms described above. These can rapidly change from being local features to planetwide events.' Advertisement Even if it does come back on, the team is anticipating 'complexity' with the rover's mission clock. Without enough energy to sustain its mission clock, which is thought to be the only instrument still working, the rover won't know what time it is. So far, Opportunity has exceeded its expected lifespan many times over. Both Opportunity and its twin, Spirit, were designed to last only 90 days on the Martian surface, with the expectation that the planet's extreme winters and dust storms could cut their mission short. Nasa launched the Opportunity rover as part of its Mars Exploration Rover program in 2004. It landed on Mars' Meridiani Planum plain near its equator on January 25, 2004. Opportunity's panoramic camera (Pancam) took the component images for this view from a position outside Endeavor Crater during the span of June 7 to June 19, 2017. It is one of the last images the rover sent WHAT IS THE OPPORTUNITY ROVER? NASA launched the Opportunity rover as part of its Mars Exploration Rover program in 2004. It landed on Mars' Meridiani Planum plain near its equator on January 25, 2004. Opportunity was only supposed to stay on Mars for 90 days, but has now lasted an astounding 14 years. In its lifetime, Opportunity has explored two craters on the red planet, Victoria and Endeavour, as well as found several signs of water. It survived a bad dust storm in 2007 and is now being closely watched to see if it can survive a massive storm that has an estimated opacity level of 10.8, a sharp increase from the earlier storm's 5.5 tau. NASA has made several updates to the spacecraft since it landed on Mars, such as its flash memory. Advertisement The rover has lasted nearly 15 years: It last communicated on June 10 before being forced into hibernation by the growing dust storm. In its lifetime, Opportunity has explored two craters on the red planet, Victoria and Endeavour, as well as found several signs of water. Nasa has made several updates to the spacecraft since it landed on Mars, such as its flash memory. The US Navy has revealed stunning footage of its latest successful test of the military's advanced interceptor technology. It shows the U.S. Navy warship USS John Finn shooting down a medium-range ballistic missile in space. The test, off the west coast of Hawaii, follows two failed tests of the next generation 'kill vehicle' designed to shoot down enemy intercontinental ballistic missiles should they ever be fired at the U.S. Scroll down for video The U.S. Navy warship USS John Finn shooting down a medium-range ballistic missile in space. The SM-3 interceptors destroy incoming ballistic missiles in space using nothing more than 'sheer impact' The first successful test of the interceptor took place in February 2017 when sailors aboard the USS John Paul Jones took out a missile using an SM-3 Block IIA guided missile. However, two subsequent tests failed, the last coming in late January 2018. The SM-3 interceptors destroy incoming ballistic missiles in space using nothing more than 'sheer impact.' 'The interceptor uses sheer force, rather than an explosive warhead, to destroy its target,' maker Raytheon said. 'Its 'kill vehicle' hits threats with the force of a 10-ton truck traveling 600 mph. 'This technique, referred to as 'hit-to-kill,' has been likened to intercepting a bullet with another bullet. ' On October 26, 2018, the target missile was launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility at Kauai, Hawaii. The USS John Finn (DDG-113) detected and tracked the target missile with its onboard AN/SPY-1 radar using the Aegis Baseline 9.C2 weapon system. HOW THE 'KILL VEHICLE WORKS' The SM-3 interceptors destroy incoming ballistic missiles in space using nothing more than 'sheer impact.' This technique, referred to as 'hit-to-kill,' has been likened to intercepting a bullet with another bullet. Raytheon, the maker, says its 'kill vehicle' hits threats with the force of a 10-ton truck traveling 600 mph. The SM-3 will be carried by U.S. Navy and Japanese ships as part of the AEGIS system. Aegis ships could patrol the Pacific Ocean and augment the network of ground-based midcourse defense interceptor missiles in Alaska and California that protect the United States from intercontinental ballistic missile attacks. This next-generation SM-3 will be carried by U.S. Navy and Japanese ships - and the Aegis Ashore land site in Poland, once it becomes operational. Lockheed Martin Corp's Aegis system currently is deployed aboard 36 U.S. Navy ships, as well as at the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Hawaii. Aegis ships could patrol the Pacific Ocean and augment the network of ground-based midcourse defense interceptor missiles in Alaska and California that protect the United States from intercontinental ballistic missile attacks. Advertisement Upon acquiring and tracking the target, the ship launched an SM-3 Block IIA guided missile which intercepted the target. 'Whether you fire SM-3 from sea or land, the result is the same; threat ballistic missiles are neutralized before they can ever harm anyone,' said Dr. Mitch Stevison, Raytheon Air and Missile Defense Systems vice president. 'It's not easy, but we are constantly evolving this proven capability to provide the strongest possible shield of protection for the U.S. and its allies.' 'Raytheon and Japanese engineers have designed an eye-watering capability into the SM-3 IIA,' said Roy Donelson, SM-3 program senior director. 'It has a larger rocket motor and more advanced kinetic warhead, giving it a homeland defense capability, if desired.' This next-generation SM-3 will be carried by U.S. Navy and Japanese ships - and the Aegis Ashore land site in Poland, once it becomes operational. The SM-3 Block IIA is bigger than the earlier IA or IB variants, The target missile was launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility at Kauai, Hawaii The Poland site, along with the already active Aegis Ashore site in Romania, will provide missile defense protection for all of Europe, according to the U.S. Missile Defense Agency. 'This was a superb accomplishment and key milestone for the SM-3 Block IIA return to flight,' said MDA Director Lt. Gen. Sam Greaves. 'My congratulations to the entire team, including our sailors, industry partners, and allies who helped achieve this milestone.' Based on observations and initial data review, the test met its objectives, according to the Agency. Program officials will continue to evaluate the system's performance, it said. The target missile was launched Friday from the Pacific Missile Range Facility at Kauai, Hawaii. In August the Pentagon was given the mandate to pursue more options for defeating U.S.-bound North Korean missiles by using radar and more missiles to spot and shoot down inbound threats. Upon acquiring and tracking the target, the ship launched an SM-3 Block IIA guided missile which intercepted the target The SM-3 interceptors destroy incoming ballistic missiles in space using nothing more than 'sheer impact, The military has been exploring whether the United States can add another layer to defenses to those already in place for intercepting incoming missiles. The Aegis system, used in the latest test, was fitted with a Standard Missile 3 Block IIA (SM-3 IIA) interceptor being developed in a joint venture between Raytheon Co and Japans Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. Lockheed Martin Corp's Aegis system currently is deployed aboard 36 U.S. Navy ships, as well as at the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Hawaii. Aegis ships could patrol the Pacific Ocean and augment the network of ground-based midcourse defense interceptor missiles in Alaska and California that protect the United States from intercontinental ballistic missile attacks. Scientists have found that the first movement of early humans out of Africa was not as hard as previously thought. The initial expansion out of the continent and into the Arabian peninsula has been found to be a result of a 'range expansion' of early hominids. Previous research has claimed it was driven by the adaptations of early humans who had evolved to become better suited to the unexplored region. These latest findings reveal that the hominids were in fact not driven by their adaptations but by a need to expand and occupy new territory. This was made considerably easier by the abundance of grassland vegetation in the Arabian Peninsula 500,000 years ago. It also concluded that primitive hominids moved to the new area 100,000 years earlier than previously thought. Scroll down for video Tools and bone fragments from an ancient lake-bed were studied and dated. Researchers used carbon dating to determine when the humans migrated (pictured) A human ancestor dispersed out of Africa in waves via modern-day Egypt and the Middle East before arriving at the Arabian Peninsula. It is believed that around this time the Homo sapien species (modern-day humans) was distinguishing itself from the more primitive ancestor. Evidence of this crucial period of time has been difficult to find due to the harsh and barren landscape. The researchers from the Max Plank Institute for the Science of Human History found stone tools and cut-marks on fossil animal remains at the site of Ti's al Ghadah. They claim this provides definitive evidence for hominids in Saudi Arabia at least 100,000 years earlier than previously known. Data from stable isotope data found that that dispersal of our archaic ancestors was down to a range expansion rather than a result of novel adaptations to new environments. A human ancestor dispersed out of Africa in waves via modern-day Egypt and the Middle East before arriving at the Arabian Peninsula. It is believed that around this time the Homo sapien species (modern-day humans) was distinguishing itself from the more primitive ancestor 'Ti's al Ghadah is one of the most important palaeontological sites in the Arabian Peninsula and it currently represents the only dated collection of middle Pleistocene fossil animals in this part of the world,' says co-author Mathew Stewart, from the University of New South Wales in Australia. They studied a 90,000 year old finger bone as well as stone tools that date back to 210,000 years ago. Herbivore bones that were also found in the region were discovered underneath a lakebed and the scientific dating ranges from 500,000 to 300,000 years ago. WHAT IS CARBON DATING AND HOW IS IT USED? Carbon dating, also referred to as radiocarbon dating or carbon-14 dating, is a method that is used to determine the age of an object. Carbon-14 is a carbon isotope that is commonly used by archaeologists and historians to date ancient bones and artefacts. The rate of decay of carbon-14 is constant and easily measured, making it ideal for providing age estimates for anything over 300 years old. It can only be used on objects containing organic material - that was once 'alive' and therefore contained carbon. The element carbon apears in nature in a few slightly different varieties, depending on the amount of neutrons in its nucleus. Called isotopes, these different types of carbon all behave differently. Most of the stable, naturally occurring carbon on Earth is carbon 12 - it accounts for 99 per cent of the element on our planet. While carbon-14 is a radioactive version of carbon. Carbon-14 occurs naturally in the atmosphere as part of carbon dioxide, and animals absorb it when they breathe. Animals stop taking it in when they die, and a finite amount of the chemical is stored in the body. Radioactive substances all have a half-life, the length of time it takes for a material to lose half of its radioactivity. Carbon-14 has a long half-life, 5,370 years to be exact. This long half-life can be used to find out how old objects are by measuring how much radioactivity is left in a specimen. Due to the long half-life, archaeologists have been able to date items up to 50,000 years old. Radiocarbon dating was first invented in the 1940s by an American physical chemist called Willard Libby. He won the 1960 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his discovery. Advertisement 'While these early hominin populations may have possessed significant cultural capacities, their movement into this part of the world would not have required adaptations to harsh and arid deserts,' Dr. Patrick Roberts, the lead author of the paper, explains. 'Indeed, the isotope evidence suggests that this expansion is more characteristic of a range expansion similar to that seen among other mammals moving between Africa, the Levant, and Eurasia at this time.' Researchers used carbon-14 dating and oxygen-18 levels to accurately determine the age of the artefacts found. The research was published in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution Google will give away about $25 million globally next year to humanitarian and environmental projects seeking to use artificial intelligence (AI) to speed up and grow their efforts. The 'AI Impact Challenge' is meant to inspire organizations to ask Google for help in machine learning, a form of AI in which computers analyze large datasets to make predictions or detect patterns and anomalies. Google's rivals Microsoft Corp and Amazon.com Inc tout 'AI for good' initiatives too. Google announced on Monday that it would grant about $25 million globally next year to humanitarian and environmental projects seeking to use artificial intelligence (AI) to speed up and grow their efforts. GOOGLE'S SEVEN RULES OF AI Google says for its AI to be used, projects must: 1. Be socially beneficial. 2. Avoid creating or reinforcing unfair bias. 3. Be built and tested for safety. 4. Be accountable to people. 5. Incorporate privacy design principles. 6. Uphold high standards of scientific excellence. 7. Be made available for uses that accord with these principles. Advertisement Humanitarian and environmental projects seeking to use artificial intelligence (AI) to speed up and grow their efforts. Focusing on humanitarian projects could aid Google in recruiting and soothe critics by demonstrating that its interests in machine learning extend beyond its core business and other lucrative areas, such as military work. After employee backlash Google this year said it would not renew a deal to analyze U.S. military drone footage. Google AI Chief Operating Officer Irina Kofman told Reuters the challenge was not a reaction to such pushback, but noted that thousands of employees are eager to work on 'social good' projects even though they do not directly generate revenue. At a media event on Monday, Google showcased existing projects similar to those it wants to inspire. In one, Google's computers recently learned to detect the singing of humpback whales with 90 percent precision from 170,000 hours of underwater audio recordings gathered by the U.S. government. The audio previously required manual analysis, meaning 'this is the first time this dataset has been looked at in a comprehensive way,' said Ann Allen, a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ecologist. Identifying patterns could show how humans have affected whales' migration, Allen said. Eventually, real-time audio analysis could help ships avoid whale collisions. To be sure, the data have gaps since whales are not always singing, and getting vessels to use animal location data could require new regulation, two whale experts said. Julie Cattiau, a Google product manager for the whale work, said Google plans to make the whale software available to additional organizations to improve. Google will not charge for such tools, Cattiau said, though users could choose to pair them with paid Google cloud services. The move comes after Google said it is calling off its controversial 'Project Maven' program with the Pentagon. The contract is set to expire in 2019 and Google Cloud CEO Diane Greene said they won't renew it past then Jacquelline Fuller, vice president of Google nonprofit arm Google.org, said impact challenge applications would be due Jan. 20 and judged on total potential beneficiaries, feasibility and ethical considerations. This year, Google.org filtered grant applications with its own machine-learning tool for the first time, Fuller said, after receiving a record number of entries for an Africa-specific competition. It may look horribly dangerous, and fly for less than half an hour a time, but Russian firm Hoversurf has revealed preorders for its Scorpion hoverbike are now open. The craft, which has already been sold to the Dubai Police force, has been redesigned with a new battery and carbon fiber frame. It will fly 16 feet (5m) above the ground, reaching a top speed of 60mph (96 km) - although this will be limited to the legal speed in each country. Scroll down for video The Russian built craft, which has already been sold to the Dubai Police force, has been redesigned with a new battery and carbon fiber frame. SCORPION SPECS Carbon fiber frame Four quadcopter blade Will fly 16 feet (5m) above the ground Top speed of 60mph (96 km) Flight time of 10- 25 minutes depending on weather and weight Remote-controlled drone mode offers up to 40 minutes flight time Advertisement The craft has also been updated with a hybrid lithium-manganese-nickel battery, which has a flight time of between 10 and 25 minutes depending on the weather and pilot weight. There is also a remote-controlled drone mode that reportedly offers up to 40 minutes flight time. 'The dimensions of the hoverbike allow it to be rolled in a standard doorway while also having ability to take-off and land from an ordinary parking space,' the firm says. Buyers can preorder a Hoverbike S3 2019 with a US$10,000 deposit, and the full price is set at $150,000, and deliveries are slated to take place within two to six months from your time of reservation. 'The weight of the hoverbike is 114 kg (253 pounds) limited by law, but by reducing the weight of the frame it allowed us to install a more capacious battery,' the firm said. Buyers can preorder a Hoverbike S3 2019 with a US$10,000 deposit, and the full price is set at $150,000, and deliveries are slated to take place within two to six months from your time of reservation The craft can take-off and land from an ordinary parking space 'Our safe flight altitude is 5 meters above the ground (16 feet), but the pilot himself can adjust the limit to their comfortability.' The craft recently passing the US Federal Aviation Administration requirements to be classified as a legal ultralight vehicle, allowing the hoverbike to be operable with no pilot's license. New details have emerged about how Amazon markets its controversial facial recognition tech, Rekognition, to law enforcement. Documents obtained by BuzzFeed News show that the internet giant provided the Orlando Police Department with 'tens of thousands of dollars worth of technology' for free. It comes after Orlando decided to renew its Rekognition contract with Amazon in July, after it expired in June. Scroll down for video New details have emerged about how Amazon markets its facial recognition tech, Rekognition, to law enforcement. The city of Orlando renewed its contract with the firm in July As part of the deal, Amazon has required Orlando to sign a nondisclosure agreement about the pilot, meaning that details about it wouldn't be publicly available. Amazon defended this and the decision to let Orlando use the technology for free. 'Providing customers with an opportunity to test technology with free credits is a common practice in the industry and something we offer to many of our customers with various AWS services,' an Amazon Web Services spokesperson told BuzzFeed. 'Talking to organizations about products and new features under a non-disclosure agreement is also something we do frequently with many of our customers for the purposes of protecting intellectual property and competitive information. 'We continue to support our customers in the responsible use of the technology which includes providing publicly available best practices and documentation as well as ongoing guidance from our machine learning experts, all of which is standard for customer engagement,' the spokesperson added. While Orlando hasn't put in place a citywide facial recognition system, or used it to identify criminals, the move has raised concerns among privacy advocates who say there is little oversight or regulation of such trials. What's more, BuzzFeed discovered that the law enforcement in Orlando has received little to no training on the Rekognition systems. There have also been errors within the system. In one email, a city official contacted Amazon with complaints about the system working properly. 'The streams keep stopping.seems like this happens daily,' an Olrando official wrote. 'I started 4 or 5 streams the other day and as you said, now only 1 is still up. I thought you were working on a script to automatically restart them if there were issues?' Orlando's facial recognition system is currently only looking for faces of police officers who volunteer to participate, BuzzFeed said. Photos of 'persons of interest,' or officer volunteers, are uploaded into the system, then Rekognition maps their characteristics are added to an index. Faces are watched by eight live video streams from scattered across the city and compared against the index. If a match is found between a person's face and a person of interest, the system should automatically notify police officers. Facial recognition is used by many technology companies, but activists say Amazon's system could lead to dangerous surveillance powers for law enforcement HOW DOES AMAZON'S CONTROVERSIAL RECKOGNITION TECHNOLOGY WORK? Amazon Rekognition gives software applications the power to detect objects, scenes and faces within images. It was built with computer vision, which lets AI programs analyse still and video images. AI systems rely on artificial neural networks, which try to simulate the way the brain works in order to learn. They can be trained to recognise patterns in information - including speech, text data, or visual images. Rekognition uses deep learning neural network models to analyse billions of images daily. Updates since it was created even allow the technology to guess a person's age. In November 2017, its creators announced that Rekognition can now detect and recognise text in images, perform real-time face recognition across tens of millions of faces and detect up to 100 faces in challenging crowded photos. Advertisement It comes as Amazon has defended its Rekognition tech, alongside growing concerns from groups like the American Civil Liberties Union. The ACLU claims the software guide for the AI 'reads like a user manual for authoritarian surveillance'. But Amazon said 'quality of life would be much worse' if technologies such as this were blocked because of fears they may be misused. It has pointed out that its tool has helped find lost children in the past, and claims it has great potential for fighting crime in future. Amazon Rekognition has been used for a number of positive purposes already, the company claims. This includes using the program to find children lost in amusement parks and identifying people who have been abducted. However, Amazon is drawing the ire of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other privacy advocates over the tool. First released in 2016, Amazon has since been selling it on the cheap to several police departments around the US, listing the Washington County Sheriff's Office in Oregon and the city of Orlando, Florida among its customers. Amazon offers the technology to law enforcement for just $6 (4.50) to $12 (9) a month. So far, it counts the Washington County Sheriff's Office in Oregon and the city of Orlando as customers The ACLU and other organizations are now calling on Amazon to stop marketing the product to law enforcement, saying they could use the technology to 'easily build a system to automate the identification and tracking of anyone'. Police appear to be using Rekognition to check photographs of unidentified suspects against a database of mug shots from the county jail. But privacy advocates have been concerned about expanding the use of facial recognition to body cameras worn by officers or safety and traffic cameras that monitor public areas, allowing police to identify and track people in real time. Amazon offers the technology to law enforcement for just $6 (4.50) to $12 (9) a month. Deputies in Oregon had been using Rekognition about 20 times per day - for example, to identify burglary suspects in store surveillance footage. Last month, the agency adopted policies governing its use, noting that officers in the field can use real-time face recognition to identify suspects who are unwilling or unable to provide their own ID, or if someone's life is in danger. 'We are not mass-collecting. We are not putting a camera out on a street corner,' said Deputy Jeff Talbot, a spokesman for the sheriff's office. 'We want our local community to be aware of what we're doing, how we're using it to solve crimes - what it is and, just as importantly, what it is not.' WHAT HAS AMAZON SAID ABOUT ITS RECKOGNITION AI FACIAL RECOGNITION TOOL? Amazon has defended giving its Big Brother-style facial recognition tool to police following an outcry from civil rights groups. Amazon's facial recognition tool, dubbed 'Rekognition', is currently being used by law enforcement agencies in Oregon and Florida. In an emailed statement, however, the firm said it has ' many useful applications in the real world', such as locating lost children at amusement parks It also noted that the company 'requires that customers comply with the law and be responsible when they use' its software products. Speaking to the BBC, a spokesman said: 'Our quality of life would be much worse today if we outlawed new technology because some people could choose to abuse the technology. 'Imagine if customers couldn't buy a computer because it was possible to use that computer for illegal purposes?' Advertisement It cost the sheriff's office just $400 (300) to load 305,000 booking photos into the system and $6 (4.50) per month in fees to continue the service, according to an email obtained by the ACLU under a public records request. Last year, the Orlando, Florida, Police Department announced it would begin a pilot program relying on Amazon's technology to 'use existing City resources to provide real-time detection and notification of persons-of-interest, further increasing public safety.' Orlando has a network of public safety cameras, and in a presentation posted to YouTube this month , Ranju Das, who leads Amazon Rekognition, said Amazon would receive feeds from the cameras, search them against photos of people being sought by law enforcement and notify police of any hits. 'It's about recognizing people, it's about tracking people, and then it's about doing this in real time, so that the law enforcement officers ... can be then alerted in real time to events that are happening,' he said. The Orlando Police Department declined to make anyone available for an interview about the program, but said in an email to The Associated Press that the department 'is not using the technology in an investigative capacity or in any public spaces at this time.' While the Seattle Police Department bars officers from using real-time facial recognition in body camera video, privacy activists are concerned that a proliferation of the technology could turn the cameras into tools of mass surveillance HOW DOES FACIAL RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGY WORK? Facial recognition software works by matching real time images to a previous photograph of a person. Each face has approximately 80 unique nodal points across the eyes, nose, cheeks and mouth which distinguish one person from another. A digital video camera measures the distance between various points on the human face, such as the width of the nose, depth of the eye sockets, distance between the eyes and shape of the jawline. A different smart surveillance system (pictured) can scan 2 billion faces within seconds has been revealed in China. The system connects to millions of CCTV cameras and uses artificial intelligence to pick out targets. The military is working on applying a similar version of this with AI to track people across the country This produces a unique numerical code that can then be linked with a matching code gleaned from a previous photograph. A facial recognition system used by officials in China connects to millions of CCTV cameras and uses artificial intelligence to pick out targets. Experts believe that facial recognition technology will soon overtake fingerprint technology as the most effective way to identify people. Advertisement 'The purpose of a pilot program such as this, is to address any concerns that arise as the new technology is tested,' the statement said. 'Any use of the system will be in accordance with current and applicable law. We are always looking for new solutions to further our ability to keep the residents and visitors of Orlando safe.' Amazon's Rekognition program with police also drew sharp criticism from users on Twitter, who said it could have nefarious consequences. Clare Garvie, an associate at the Center on Privacy and Technology at Georgetown University Law Center, said part of the problem with real-time face recognition is its potential impact on free-speech rights. While police might be able to videotape public demonstrations, face recognition is not merely an extension of photography but a biometric measurement - more akin to police walking through a demonstration and demanding identification from everyone there. Amazon's technology isn't that different from what face recognition companies are already selling to law enforcement agencies. But its vast reach and its interest in recruiting more police departments to take part raise concerns, she said. 'This raises very real questions about the ability to remain anonymous in public spaces,' Garvie said. Advertisement NASA's Parker Solar Probe is now closer to the sun than any spacecraft has ever gotten. Parker on Monday surpassed the record of 26.6 million miles (43 million kilometers) set by Helios-2 back in 1976. It will keep getting closer to the sun until it flies through the corona, or outer atmosphere, for the first time next week, passing within 15 million miles (24 million kilometers) of the solar surface. Scroll down for video The Parker Solar Probe (artist's impression) is on a mission to 'touch the sun', and will be the first spacecraft to fly through the sun's corona, the outermost part of the star's atmosphere Parker will make 24 close approaches to the sun over the next seven years, ultimately coming within just 3.8 million miles (6 million kilometers). Launched in August, Parker is on track to set another record late Monday night. It will surpass Helios-2s speed record of 153,454 miles per hour (247,000 kilometers per hour), relative to the sun. 'It's been just 78 days since Parker Solar Probe launched, and we've now come closer to our star than any other spacecraft in history,' said Project Manager Andy Driesman, from the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland. 'It's a proud moment for the team, though we remain focused on our first solar encounter, which begins on Oct. 31.' Nasa last week revealed a stunning image of Earth taken by its $1.5 billion (1.1 billion) Parker Solar Probe on its historic journey toward the sun. The picture, snapped around 27 million miles (43 million km) from our planet, shows Earth as a bright round spot surrounded by thousands of stars dotted throughout our corner of the galaxy. The Parker Solar Probe (PSP) is on a mission to 'touch the sun', and will be the first spacecraft to fly through the outermost part of the star's atmosphere, known as its corona. Pictured centre of the right image is Earth as seen from the Parker Solar Prove, a Nasa spacecraft that is currently on a historic journey to 'touch the sun' The probe launched August 12 and is due to arrive at its destination in November, but before that will pass Venus, using the planet's gravitational pull to align its course - a manoeuvre known as a gravity assist. In a statement on the new photo, Nasa said: 'On September 25, 2018, Parker Solar Probe captured a view of Earth as it sped toward the first Venus gravity assist of the mission. 'Earth is the bright, round object visible in the right side of this image, taken by Parker Solar Probe's Wide-field Imager for Solar Probe (WISPR) instrument. 'The elongated mark toward the bottom of the panel is a lens reflection from the WISPR instrument.' The probe's WISPR instrument is designed to image the structure of the sun's corona as the spacecraft approaches next month. PSP's mission is due to last seven years, with the probe set to fly up to 3.8 million miles (6.1 million km) from the sun's surface - seven times closer than any spacecraft before it. The average distance between the sun and Earth is 93 million miles (150 million km). It is hoped that PSP can help scientists to better understand solar flares - brief eruptions of intense high-energy radiation from the sun's surface that can knock out communications on Earth. The craft will face extremes in heat and radiation and will reach speeds of up to 430,000 miles per hour (700,000 kph) at its closest flyby of the star. The craft's kit includes a white light imager called Whisper, which will take images of solar waves as the craft propels through them at high speeds. To measure the 'bulk plasma' of solar winds - described by Nasa as the 'bread and butter' of the flares - a set of magnetic imaging equipment will also be stored on board. There is something mystifying and creepy about some churches - especially the ones that are home to the likes of a mummified corpse and thousands of human bones. Here we reveal the ten most frightening objects, monuments and artifacts in churches across Britain. Most can be viewed, others are hidden within. And perhaps that's for the best... Scroll down for the full list, selected by explorechurches.org, if you dare. A skeleton carving with a terrifying secret message - Norwich Cathedral Hidden secrets: The grave of Thomas Gooding features a carving with an eerily poetic epitaph Home to a highly unusual grave, Norwich Cathedral is where you will find the body of Thomas Gooding, who was buried vertically. It is thought to be so that he could spring up and be the first to get to heaven on the day of judgement. The grave, known as 'The Skeleton' thanks to the wonderful carving adorning it, features the eerily poetic epitaph: All you that do this place pass bye, remember death for you will dye.' His tomb is now a hidden pile of bones. Thousands of ancient human bones - Rothwell Charnel Chapel, Northamptonshire Spooktacular: The remains of around 2,500 humans lie in Rothwell Charnel Chapel One of only two remaining in situ medieval ossuaries can be found inside the crypt of the subterranean charnel chapel of Holy Trinity in Rothwell. Containing the remains of around 2,500 individuals, little was known about its existence until the day a hapless gravedigger fell into the crypt while working in the church many years ago. Falling through pitch darkness into a mass of bones was too much for the individual to bear and it is reputed that he lost his mind in terror. Skulls of three thieves - St Wilfrids Church, Yorkshire Sinister: Three skulls have been symbolically set behind an iron grill at St Wilfrids Church At St Wilfrid in Hickleton, Yorkshire, you will find three skulls that have recently been reset behind a new iron grill with a new stone inscribed sodi mis cras tibi, which is Latin for 'today for me, tomorrow for thee. Legend has it that the three skulls belonged to men who rustled cattle and were originally hung from the lychgate (the roofed gateway to the churchyard) in around 1880 as a warning to others of the crime's consequences. Jimmy the Mummy - St James Garlickhythem, London Freaky: Over the centuries Jimmy (pictured) has lived all over the church Jimmy now has a fine coffin and is hidden from sight inside the body of the church St James Garlickhythe in the City of London is the site of one of the greatest mysteries in British church history, the remains of Jimmy Garlick a mummified young man. Over the centuries Jimmy has lived all over the church, starting in the vaults where he was discovered in a state of almost perfect preservation, then moving to the narthex (a kind of antechamber) and even behind the organ where people paid a bob to see him. He is a small, wizened character, and for many years it was assumed that due to his size he was an adolescent boy. Jimmy now has a fine coffin and is hidden from sight inside the body of the church, but many still report an eerie presence around him. The crypt of forgotten plague victims - St Bride's Church, London St Brides Church contains the forgotten crypts of victims of the Great Plague Visit St Brides Church, London, where you will find the forgotten crypts of victims of the Great Plague and a 19th-century cholera epidemic. In 1940 St Bride's fell victim to German incendiary bombs, which reduced Wren's architectural jewel to a roofless shell. During rebuilding in 1953 archaeologists uncovered the foundations of six previous churches, Roman remains and medieval crypts containing thousands of human remains. While many were victims of the Great Plague of 1665, it is believed that a huge number of them could have been from the cholera epidemic of 1854, which claimed 10,000 lives. After this epidemic Parliament decreed that there should be no more burials in the city. The crypts were sealed and forgotten about. The mysterious reappearing wall painting - St Patricio's Church, Wales Ghostly goings on: The mysterious painting inside St Patricios Church (above) Inside St Patricios Church in the Brecon Beacons you will find a painting of a skeleton holding the traditional scythe and hourglass and a spade. The meaning would have been clear, even to a largely illiterate population, that your days are numbered, so use them wisely. According to legend, the painting has been covered with whitewash several times but each time it mysteriously reappears. On the west wall of Patricios Church you will also find a Doom, or wall painting depicting the Biblical Day of Judgment. A symbolic gravestones etched with a skull and crossbone - St John & St Marys Church, Norfolk Fright night: Pictured above is an example of one of the oldest gravestones featuring skulls and crossbones In the churchyard of St John & St Mary Church in Stiffkey, you will find one of the oldest symbolic gravestones featuring skulls and crossbones. These images were particularly popular during the 17th and 18th centuries, a time when life expectancy was low and the infant mortality rate high. It was also a highly fashionable design for those that could afford it and the rich would also splash out on highest quality stone. Cadaver tomb of Alice de la Pole - St Mary the Virgin, Oxford The eerie tomb carving of Alice de La Pole, granddaughter of Geoffrey Chaucer St Mary the Virgin in Ewelme, Oxfordshire, is worth a visit for the eerie tomb carving inside of Alice de La Pole, granddaughter of Geoffrey Chaucer. This stone image of a decaying corpse, partly covered by its shroud, is known as a cadaver tomb because it depicts the body in a state of decay. Inches above the face of the body, painted on the underside of the tomb chest above it, is a consoling image of the Annunciation (the announcement by the angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary that she would conceive Jesus). This 15th-century duchess was a wealthy and important person, but her tomb serves as a reminder that worldly wealth is fleeting and the importance of afterlife. St Leonards ancient ossuary - St Leonards Church, Kent St Leonards church in Kent, houses the largest collection of human bones and skulls in Britain With over 1,000 skulls arranged on shelves in four arched bays, St Leonards church in Hythe, Kent, is home to the largest and best preserved collection of ancient human bones and skulls in Britain. The ossuary also contains a single large stack of mainly thighbones and some additional skulls. Many theories have been put forward over the years as to who these people were. The consensus now is that the remains are those of many generations of Hythe residents who had been buried in the churchyard and were dug up originally in the 13th century. Earlier this year 21 of these skulls were stolen and detectives have appealed for more information from the public. A skeleton with a menacing grin - St Mary's Church, Yorkshire Bone-chilling: Pictured is Sir Roger Rockley, who died in 1553. He can be found in a quaint Yorkshire church This picturesque south Yorkshire church contains the unique double decker cadaver tomb, the only surviving example of its kind made from oak. The tomb of Sir Roger Rockley, who died in 1553, contains an upper deck showing this fine knight in his armour, looking handsome, youthful and gallant. Yet the lower deck shows his skeleton, with a menacing grin. Perhaps a terrifying reminder that, although Sir Roger was an important person in life, death will always have the last laugh. A Philippine island that was once dubbed a 'cesspool' by the country's president has finally re-opened to tourists. The holiday hot spot of Boracay Island was closed for six months in order for a clean up following years of overcrowding, partying and neglect. And now it has re-opened, visitors are being forced to sign oaths, promising to follow the new rules, including proper waste disposal and a ban on alcohol, smoking, bonfires and wild partying on the beach, officials said. Tourists arrived by the boatload to the re-opened Boracay Island on Friday in the Philippines Officials on the island in central Aklan province have also imposed new rules to regulate the influx of visitors and beach parties, decongest resorts and prevent sewage from being discharged directly into the turquoise waters. Only a portion of Boracay's hotels and other businesses have reopened under the new rules, and a fraction of the more than 20,000 workers who lost their jobs have been rehired. Tourism secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat said in a message to incoming tourists: 'Let us treat the island as our home. Keep it clean and pristine. Don't drink alcohol or smoke in the beach, don't litter.' Meanwhile cabinet officials and local celebrities attended a ceremony to mark Boracay's 'soft opening' on a white-sand beach near a port where ferries unloaded tourists on Friday. Visitors are being forced to sign oaths, promising to follow the rules, including proper waste disposal and a ban on alcohol, smoking, bonfires and wild partying on the beach, officials said Only a portion of Boracay's hotels and other businesses have reopened under the new rules German tourist Lora Hoerhammer, who was among the first foreign visitors to set foot on the spruced-up island, backed the six-month closure. The 27-year-old said: 'We said wow, that is a good thing to really close the whole environment so that nature can rest for a second and people can clean up everywhere. 'Everybody will be able to come back and feel ... that it's a better place for everybody.' Only 157 of Boracay's hundreds of hotels, inns, restaurants and souvenir shops have reopened after complying with the regulations, including connecting to authorised sewer pipes and maintaining a 30-metre (98-foot) distance from the ocean. Gil delos Santos, whose family owns a 10-room inn called Roy's Rendezvous, a travel agency and passenger ferries, welcomed Boracay's reopening. A woman tops up her tan on the beach on Boracay Island. President Rodrigo Duterte ordered Boracay shut in February for rehabilitation 'The weather is good and the water is so clear. This is the best way to welcome a better Boracay,' said delos Santos, 42. 'It's like Boracay got a reboot.' President Rodrigo Duterte ordered Boracay shut in February for rehabilitation and said the waste being discharged into the sea had made its waters a 'cesspool.' During the closure, authorities discovered a hidden sewage pipe discharging waste directly into the coastal waters and two hotels built on restricted wetlands. Some resorts were demolished because they had encroached into a no-build area fronting the sea - one of many violations that had been unchecked for years in one of the country's top tourist draws. A mayor was suspended and 16 other officials faced complaints of neglect of duty over Boracay's deterioration. A lone tractor tries to clear up the piles of rubbish and sewage that had been dumped on the holiday island before the clean up Scavangers sift through the piles of rubbish that have been dumped on a hillside on Boracay island before Boracay temporarily closed earlier this year Six months were too short for Boracay's complete overhaul, said Eduardo Ano, who heads the Department of the Interior and Local Government. Workers were continuing to widen concrete roads after laying drainage and sewer pipes as the island reopened, whipping up dust in the island's laid-back community. More than two million tourists visited Boracay last year to enjoy its powdery beaches, spectacular sunsets and festive nightlife, generating about 56 billion pesos ($1.3 billion) in revenue. But the influx and neglect threatened to turn Boracay into a 'dead island' in less than a decade, according to a government study. Other Philippine beach resorts and tourist destinations believed to have breached environmental and safety regulations for years have also been warned of possible closures. Such challenges come with the huge revenues tourism brings in Southeast Asia. In Thailand, authorities have closed the bay made famous by the Leonardo DiCaprio movie The Beach to allow it to recover from environmental damage caused by a deluge of tourists. Jess Shears and Dom Lever tied the knot in a 13-bedroom private villa in the Greek Island of Mykonos earlier this week. The pair, who struck up a romance on Love Island in 2017, have become the second couple to say 'I do' from the ITV2 show, weeks after Olivia Buckland and Alex Bowen married in a lavish Essex ceremony. Beaming with delight on the cover of OK! magazine, glamour model Jess, 25, and former career advisor Dom, 27, opted for an intimate wedding with only 22 guests as they revealed they didn't invite their co-stars to the event. 'I do': Jess Shears and Dom Lever tied the knot in a 13-bedroom private villa in the Greek Island of Mykonos earlier this week Exuding elegance on her big day, the Devon beauty donned a stunning semi-sheer gown, embroidered with sparkling beading throughout. Jess ensured all focus remained on her striking bridal number as she opted for neutral-toned make-up, which complemented her natural tan. The reality star, who become engaged to Dom after three months of dating, wore her curled tresses in a chic half up half down 'do. Newlyweds: The pair, who struck up a romance on Love Island in 2017, have become the second couple to say 'I do' from the ITV2 show Meanwhile, handsome Dom looked every inch the hunk as he sported a sleek grey suit, shunning a classic tie for a more relaxed look. Speaking on his lavish nuptials, the Manchester native revealed they only invited 22 guests as they wanted an 'intimate' wedding. 'Going abroad meant we didn't have any pressure to invite every Tom, Dick and Harry. As we were limited on numbers, we only invited people we see all the time. Choosing who to invite made us realise who was really important to us.' Whirlwind: Glamour model Jess, 25, and former career advisor Dom, 27, got engaged after just three months of dating (pictured on the dating series in June 2017) First couple: Their wedding comes just weeks after Olivia Buckland and Alex Bowen's lavish nuptials in Essex Jess added that they only had room for their nearest and dearest on the day, but revealed they'll have a separate ceremony to ring in their newlywed status in the UK. She said: 'We're planning a party in the UK when we're home so we'll invite Olivia Attwood, Sam Gowland and Chloe Crowhurst to that. 'I know there were reports that Olivia was going to be a bridesmaid but that was never the plan.' Intimate: Speaking on his lavish nuptials, the Manchester native revealed they only invited 22 guests, and their co-stars weren't in attendance Similar to Olivia and Alex, who revealed they were incredibly drunk during their wedding, Dom revealed the glitzy bash went on until 7am. 'It was a huge party. We were on the dance floor all night dancing to songs like Night Fever. There were a lot of sore heads the next morning.' The couple also touched on their whirlwind relationship, which saw Dom get down on bended knee after just three months of knowing Jess. He said: 'People said we wouldn't last but now we're husband and wife. We're proof that when you meet the right person, there's no need to hang around.' Brunette bombshell Jess insisted that she knew their relationship would last from early on in their romance, gushing that she's excited for their next chapter together. Earlier this year, Jess and Dom 'tied the knot' during a Valentine's Day themed Good Morning Britain. The couple stripped down to minimal clothing as they entered into a playful ceremony with presenter Richard Arnold, who had been ordained for the occasion. Smitten: Brunette bombshell Jess insisted that she knew their relationship would last from early on in their romance, gushing that she's excited for their next chapter together After Jess and Dom's live wedding, their co-star Olivia, 24, appeared to mock their TV nuptials by 'liking' a tweet posted by a fan that read: 'Jess in a bikini & Dom topless getting married on GMB this morning has gotta be the most tragic thing of 2018. Imagine doing whats meant to be the most amazing day of our life dirty like that' Meanwhile, the pair's families were supposedly introduced for the first time when the couple hosted a joint hen and stag party this summer in Dom's hometown Manchester. Speaking of her engagement to the hunk, Jess previously said 'never in a million years' did she think she would meet Mr Right during her stint in the Love Island villa. Read the full story in this week's OK! Magazine - out today. They've been rocking different Halloween costumes all this week. But Ariel Winter and Levi Meaden opted for regular outfits to attend a charity event on Sunday. The couple put on a loved up display on the red carpet for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation's 30th Anniversary A Time For Heroes Family Festival in Los Angeles. Smooch: Ariel Winter shares a kiss with boyfriend Levi Meaden at a charity event on Sunday Ariel showcased he amazing cleavage in a plunging pale pink silk blouse. The 20-year-old Modern Family star teamed it with jeans and black open toe strappy heels. Her 31-year-old beau meanwhile rocked green trousers with a fitted black top. The organastion is dedicated to preventing pediatric HIV infection and eliminating pediatric AIDS through research, advocacy, and prevention and treatment programs. In love: The coupe put on a loved up display on the red carpet for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation's 30th Anniversary 'A Time For Heroes' Family Festival in Los Angeles Good cause: Ariel Winter boyfriend Levi Meaden attended the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation's 30th Anniversary 'A Time For Heroes' Family Festival in Los Angeles on Sunday Casual: Her 31-year-old beau rocked green trousers with a fitted black top It was founded by Elizabeth Glaser, who contracted HIV via blood transfusion while giving birth to her daughter, also named Ariel, very early in the AIDS epidemic. Ariel contracted the virus via breastfeeding, and died seven years later. Elizabeth also unwittingly passed the virus to her second child, a son named Joe, three years later, but he survived into adulthood. Elizabeth herself died in 1994, aged 47. Other famous faces supporting the cause on Sunday included Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Olivia Munn, and Erin and Sara Foster. Gorgeous: The 20-year-old Modern Family star showcased he amazing cleavage in a plunging pale pink silk blouse She has played Hayley Dunphy on the wildly successful ABC sitcom Modern Family since 2009. But on Saturday Sarah Hyland slipped into a spicier role when she dressed up as a taco for Halloween, while beau Wells Adams went as Belle from Beauty and the Beast. Put them together and the young couple were 'Taco Bell' for the evening. Creative: Sarah Hyland dressed as a taco for Halloween on Saturday Sarah strutted out of the festive event with a wry smile on her face and a taco shell wrapped around upper body and thighs. The costume came complete with mock meat and lettuce and, being a stickler for details, she had a packet of hot sauce pinned on the front. Underneath the she wore black skinny jeans and black thigh-high boots. And adding a touch of anonymity, the starlet wore a short white wig and had dangling red fringe earrings and bright red lipstick. Wells - The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise alum - rocked a long brown wig and yellow dress for the Svedka-sponsored Just Jared Halloween party. Creative couple: Sarah was a taco; Wells dressed as Belle from Beauty and the Beast; together they went as 'Taco Bell' to the 2018 Just Jared Halloween Party in West Hollywood Spicy: The Modern Family star wore a taco shell around her upper body, complete with mock meat, lettuce and a hot sauce packet pinned to the front All the Halloween fun comes as Sarah and Modern Family co-star Jesse Tyler Ferguson opened up about the death of character DeDe Pritchett, played by Shelley Long, in an episode in early October. The pair also revealed that more bombshell surprises are on the horizon in what could be the 10th and final season of the series. There is a 'bigger thing than the death' coming up, the actress told The Hollywood Reporter. 'It was a shock, that's for sure.' Humorous: The starlet flashed a wry smile as she left the party Ferguson doubled down on the promise of more drama. 'Theres a major thing happening this season. Its beyond.' He added: 'I think you'll be surprised.' The 43-year old actor said he didn't think killing DeDe, who was the mother to characters Mitchell and Claire, would create such a stir with fans. 'I thought we would just handle it as it was another storyline. But it leake and then it became this media thing.' Ferguson add that he didn't think the storyline would have had as big an impact if people weren't aware of it beforehand. 'But I'm kind of glad that it had some commotion around it. It's exciting for us.' Dishing: The Halloween fun comes as Sarah revealed that a 'bigger thing than the death' is coming up on Modern Family Over the summer, co-creators Christopher Lloyd and Steven Levitan publicly stated that this will be the final season for Modern Family, and that there have been talks of a spinoff show. But Levitan amended his statement a bit on Wednesday and said, in the wake of ABC taking ownership of the 20th Century Fox-produced show, it's still undecided whether the show will end after season 10 or continue with a reduced or full 11th season. 'We'll never have jobs as good as this job,' Ferguson confessed this week. 'We love these characters so much.' Hyland added that 'it's going to be hard to say goodbye. She announced her separation from her husband Lee Henderson on Friday. But life goes on for Jackie 'O' Henderson, who was spotted back at work at KIIS FM's Sydney headquarters on Monday morning. The breakfast radio host, 43, looked downcast as she chatted to Kyle and Jackie O producer Bruno Bouchet on a balcony. Life goes on: Newly-separated Jackie 'O' Henderson looked downcast after returning to work at KIIS FM on Monday Jackie failed to raise a smile and appeared deep in thought while stepping out for some fresh air during a commercial break. She had shown up to work as normal after an emotionally draining few days. Bruno also looked rather downcast as he leaned against a railing and glanced down at the street below. Something on your mind? Jackie failed to raise a smile and appeared deep in thought Brave: Jackie had shown up to work as normal after an emotionally draining few days Tough times: Jackie glanced thoughtfully into the distance while clutching a take-away coffee The sighting comes after Jackie spent the weekend in Palm Beach with her daughter Kitty, seven, in the wake of her marriage split. She shared several Instagram snaps from their family getaway, but it was unclear if her estranged husband Lee joined them. On Friday, it was announced that Jackie and Lee had mutually decided to separate after 18 years together. Support: The breakfast radio host, 43, looked downcast as she chatted to Kyle and Jackie O producer Bruno Bouchet (right) on a balcony Stylish: Jackie wore a pretty floral dress and carried a grey KIIS FM hoodie Getaway: The sighting comes after Jackie spent the weekend in Palm Beach with her daughter Kitty, seven, in the wake of her marriage split They said in a statement to Daily Mail Australia: 'After 18 years together, we have made the decision to separate. We do so amicably, sharing many incredible memories and remaining best friends.' 'Our focus for this next chapter is of course our wonderful daughter and continuing to provide her love and happiness, together.' According to The Daily Telegraph, the pair split 'some time ago'. He was sent home packing on Sunday's edition of Strictly Come Dancing as he failed to wow judges with his Viennese Waltz. And Seann Walsh was reportedly less than impressed with the results as he 'uttered b*****ks and stormed off the dancefloor' with his 'kiss-gate' partner Katya Jones. An insider told The Sun: 'To say Seann was upset was an understatement. As soon as filming finished he walked off and swore.' Furious: Seann Walsh was reportedly less than impressed with his Strictly exit as he 'uttered b*****ks and stormed off the dancefloor' with his 'kiss-gate' partner Katya Jones on Sunday 'Hes been incredibly unpopular with the dancers and celebs and this shows why', they added. The comedian's alleged unpopularity on the hit show was said to be highlighted by judge Craig Revel Horwood, who reportedly celebrated Walsh and Jones' departure by downing champagne in the green room. A separate source told The Sun: 'Craig was heard saying, "The terrible two are out, good riddance."' A spokesperson for Strictly Come Dancing told MailOnline: 'Sadly we have to say goodbye to one of our couples each week but Seann was nothing but gracious in his thanks for Strictly after last night's result.' Uh oh: 'To say Seann was upset was an understatement. As soon as filming finished he walked off and swore', an insider told The Sun Seann, 32, was eliminated from the BBC competition series in a unanimous vote by the judging panel. This year's controversial dancing star found himself in the bottom two, alongside Graeme Swann, but was booted off of the BBC show after all four judges decided to send him home. Seann described Strictly as the 'best experience of his life' and told dance partner Katya, 29, he had made 'his dreams come true' as he bowed out of the competition, just three weeks after being caught kissing the professional. Poking fun at their exit, Russian dancer Katya wrote on Twitter: 'Thank you so so much to everyone who had our support through out this journey! 'Were gutted not to be able to do more fun routines for you! But I hope we entertained! @seannwalsh please dont keep dancing... stick to what youre good at!' 'Stick to what you're good at': Russian dancer Katya, 29, poked fun at their exit as she urged Seann, 32, to stop dancing Strictly has been surrounded in scandal following pictures surfacing of Seann and married Katya locking lips in a drunken smooch following an outing to the pub. She is married to fellow Strictly professional Neil Jones, while Seann had been in a relationship with ex-girlfriend of five years Rebecca Humphries. Rebecca publicly dumped Seann, revealing the kiss had occurred on her birthday. Many called for Seann and Katya to be eliminated from the BBC dancing show, but the duo were allowed to continue in the competition. Since then, they have narrowly avoided being sent home, as both Katie Piper and Vick Hope were eliminated. History repeating: This year's controversial dancing star found himself in the bottom two, alongside Graeme Swann, but was booted off of the BBC show by all four judges Seann had been bottom of the leader board, following his 'mis-timed' performance, and was forced to dance again - going head-to-head with Graeme. Judges then voted for who they thought should be sent home, with all four choosing to save Graeme and eliminate Seann. Bruno Tonioli said: 'Its a hard one because both of you are far from perfect, were not talking Fred Astaire or Gene Kelly, but I enjoy you both, so I have to go with the couple that made me enjoy the evening more, so I have to go for Graeme and Oti.' Controversy: Strictly has been surrounded in scandal following pictures surfacing of Seann and married Katya locking lips in a drunken smooch following an outing to the pub Darcey Bussell remarked that both couples 'evenly made mistakes' but she wanted to save Graeme and Oti as their performance had a 'higher value'. Craig Revel Horwood, meanwhile, said: ' I think both couples did the best they could possibly do and it was better than their other performances. 'But one couple for me had timing issues; the other couple had placement issues but the dance that I liked the most and the couple that Id like to save is Graeme and Oti.' Time to go: Seann had been bottom of the leader board, following his 'mis-timed' performance, and was forced to dance again - going head-to-head with Graeme Swann No regrets: A gutted Seann told host Tess Daly that Strictly had been the 'best experience of his life' Head judge Shirley Ballas didn't have to cast her vote, but agreed with the panel and admitted she too would have saved Graeme. A gutted Seann told host Tess Daly that Strictly had been the 'best experience of his life'. He said: 'When you watch it and hear people at the end say this has been the best experience in my life, I dont think you dont really believe but this has been without a doubt the best experience of my life.' Although, he did touch on the drama that has surrounded his time on the show and quickly added: 'Probably bar the last few weeks. But generally speaking from the beginning it really was. I cant believe it, its been amazing.' Ouch! Darcey Bussell remarked that both couples 'evenly made mistakes' but she wanted to save Graeme and Oti as their performance had a 'higher value' Katya then praised her celebrity partner as she told him on their exit: 'It wasnt easy but thank you for your commitment every single day. Im so proud of you from day one when you couldnt get your right from your left and now delivering dances like that that. Thanks for making me laugh a lot.' To that, Seann replied: 'It's been a dream come true and that's because of you.' Rita Ora had performed her new single Let Me Love You on Sunday night's results show - which also saw Oti Mabuse and Aljaz Skorjanec lead the professional dancers' performance with a sexy, high-octane routine. The remaining ten couples will take to the dancefloor next week when Strictly Come Dancing returns on Saturday at 7.05pm on BBC One. One to remember: Oti Mabuse and Aljaz Skorjanec lead the professional dancers' performance Dan Ewing's ex-wife Marni Little married her fiance Dave Robertshaw over the weekend. Friends and family gathered at Strath Creek in Victoria to watch the couple exchange vows during an intimate ceremony. Marni stunned in a plunging white lace frock, while Dave looked dapper in a white shirt, beige trousers and suspenders. Happily ever after! Dan Ewing's ex-wife Marni Little stunned in a plunging lace gown during her wedding to Dave Robertshaw in Strath Creek, Victoria over the weekend Marni confirmed the news via Instagram on Sunday, sharing a heartwarming photo of her son Archer, six, as a page boy sitting alongside the flower girl. 'I've been completely upstaged and couldn't be happier,' the 35-year-old wrote in the caption, referring to the adorable children. Several of Marni's followers congratulated the newlyweds in the comments section. Let's celebrate! The 35-year-old looked radiant as she and Dave cut their wedding cake 'We did the thing': Marni confirmed the happy news via Instagram on Sunday 'I've been completely upstaged': Marni also shared a heartwarming photo of her six-year-old son Archer (left) as a page boy sitting alongside the flower girl (right) The blogger also took to her Instagram Story to post a photo of herself and husband Dave embracing in the countryside. 'We did the thing,' Marni simply captioned the moment. She confirmed the couple's engagement in May, sharing a photo to social media of the pair kissing while she flashed her diamond ring. All smiles: Friends and family gathered at Strath Creek in Victoria to watch the couple exchange vows in an intimate ceremony. Pictured: Marni (centre) and female wedding guests She said yes! Marni confirmed the couple's engagement in May, sharing a photo to social media of the pair kissing while she flashed her diamond ring Marni began dating Dave sometime after splitting with her husband-of-three-years, Home and Away star Dan Ewing. The former couple tied the knot in 2012 and shortly afterwards welcomed their son, Archer Grason. But Marni and Dan's relationship didn't last, and they called it quits two years later. In February this year, Marni wrote about finding love again with Dave on her blog More Than A Little. New chapter: Marni began dating Dave (pictured) sometime after splitting with her husband-of-three-years, former Home and Away star Dan Ewing On the subject of dating after her marriage breakdown, Marni wrote that she had not yet 'healed' and carried 'a mother lode of [emotional] baggage' when she met Dave. 'I have been lonely and down and felt like I wasn't worthy of being loved, but being with the wrong person was a hundred times lonelier,' she stated. Marni added that she began her relationship with Dave as a form of 'therapy not love', and described him as 'patient' for helping her work through her trust issues. She wrote: 'It's been two years of trial and error navigating a new relationship with very fresh wounds and a beautiful little soul [Archie] relying on me for direction.' Dan, 33, has been in a relationship with Kat Risteska - who briefly appeared on The Voice Australia last year - since December 2016. She dropped a hint about wanting a Tiffany & Co engagement ring before fiance Nick Jonas proposed to her in July. And Priyanka Chopra is clearly a huge fan of the historic jeweler maker - the bride-to-be held her bridal shower at the Blue Box Cafe inside the famed brand's flagship store in Midtown Manhattan on Sunday. The Indian-born actress put on a show-stopping preview to her pending nuptials as she strutted with elegance in a feathered bridal-like white dress. Making a statement: Priyanka Chopra look every bit the pending bride for her bridal shower at Tiffany & Co in New York City on Sunday The upper portion glistened under the bright light and feathered towards the bottom portion as it hugged her lean but curvy figure The former Miss World stunned when she made her entrance in the gorgeous strapless number that was equal parts elegant and sophisticated. The upper portion glistened under the bright lights of photographers as it showed off her ample assets. It feathered towards the bottom portion while hugging her lean but curvy figure. And on this night to remember, the Bollywood star accessorized with a diamond necklace and earrings and wore her raven tresses long with added body and a part in the middle. Elegant: The Indian actress put on a show-stopping preview to her pending nuptials with fiance Nick Jonas in a frilly bridal white dress Added style: The former Miss World also wore a glamorous white Max Mara overcoat over her dress Sophisticated: The Indian actress flashed a confident smile as she left the building in NYC According to Us Weekly, the party was thrown by bridesmaids Mubina Rattonsey and Anjula Acharia and included Priyanka's mom Madhu Chopra. Priyanka was joined by her future sister-in-law Danielle Jonas (who is married to Kevin Jonas) as well as pals Lupita Nyong'o and Kelly Ripa, according to Vogue. Earlier in the day, Priyanka shared a photo on her Instagram Story of her getting her hair and makeup done for the shower as her friends stood beside her. 'My girls r in town!' she wrote in the caption, with the hashtags #anyreasontoparty and #preweddingcelebrations.' Earlier in the day, Nick was spotted leaving Priyanka's apartment at the Four Seasons in a matching charcoal ensemble as he flashed a relaxed grin at photographers. Perfect match: The Bollywood star looked radiant in bridal-like white dress Movie star quality: The Bollywood star oozed glamour as she arrived for her festive night Family love: Priyanka's mother Madhu Chopra opted for a glamerous all-black ensemble Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas will reportedly get married in December. A source told Us Weekly magazine: 'The wedding is happening in India.' It was previously revealed the couple plan to blend traditions from their respective cultures on their big day. 'Priyanka is having a really good time planning the wedding because it's a mix of Indian and American styles and customs, which she knows so much about,' the source said. The 36-year-old actress is also excited about starting a family with Nick as soon as they are married. An insider said; 'They have amazing chemistry and can't wait to have kids. They are going to wait till after the wedding to start trying. But it's definitely on the agenda.' Friendly preps: Priyanka shared a photo of her getting her hair an makeup done in an Instagram Story Leading man: Nick Jonas spotted leaving Priyanka's apartment before the bridal shower She's been captivating crowds all over Europe on her tour in support of her latest album Golden. And Kylie Minogue commanded attention as she performed her latest single A Lifetime to Repair on Sunday's edition of The X Factor. The Australian pop star, 50, cut a demure figure as she slipped into a sleeveless monochrome blouse, complemented with a pair of white tailored trousers. Turning heads: Kylie Minogue commanded attention as she performed her latest single A Lifetime to Repair on Sunday's edition of The X Factor Maintaining her light colour scheme, the Spinning Around hitmaker sported a pair of cream heels and held onto a white microphone during her performance. Kylie lived up to her style savvy ways as she accessorised with a black statement ring. Stealing hair and beauty inspiration from the 70s, the blonde wore her tresses in loose waves, and enhanced her beauty with a smokey eye look, peach bronzer and pink lipgloss. Looking good: The Australian pop star, 50, cut a demure figure as she slipped into a sleeveless monochrome blouse, complemented with a pair of white tailored trousers Age-deying looks: Maintaining her light colour scheme, the Spinning Around hitmaker sported a pair of cream heels and held onto a white microphone during her performance She proved to be in good company as she took to the stage with an array of hunky male dancers. Earlier this month, Kylie was forced to cancel her The Golden Tour shows in Dublin and Belfast at the last minute, despite arriving in the country. Announcing the news on Twitter, Minogue tweeted: 'Lovers, Im so sorry to let you know that I cant do tonights Dublin or tomorrows Belfast shows. Full on glam: Kylie lived up to her style savvy ways as she accessorised with a black statement ring Having fun: Stealing hair and beauty inspiration from the 70s, the blonde wore her tresses in loose waves Radiant: She enhanced her beauty with a smokey eye look, peach bronzer and pink lipgloss 'Ive been trying everything possible to be well enough to perform for you but a throat infection has led to vocal strain. 'I promise Ill be back as soon as possible and at 100%. (The Guinness will be on me!) 'Were working on rescheduling and more details will follow. Im so, so sorry to let you down and thank you for your understanding.' Show-stopping display: Kylie proved to be in good company as she took to the stage with an array of hunky male dancers Chic: She's been captivating crowds all over Europe on her tour in support of her latest album Golden A new woman: Earlier this summer the pop sensation revealed how she's feeling better than ever after turning 50 during an interview on ITV's Lorraine The music artist is touring her Golden album this autumn in the UK and Ireland. The tour kicked off in Newcastle at the Metro Radio Arena in September and will conclude on 24 November 2018 in Hamburg, Germany at the Mehr! Theatre, consisting of 27 shows in Europe. Rescheduled dates for the concert are still to be announced and the concert promoters apologised and asked ticket holders to keep their tickets in the meantime. Earlier this summer the pop sensation revealed how she's feeling better than ever after turning 50 during an interview on ITV's Lorraine. Youthful: Kylie admitted her life feels different after hitting 50, but has embraced her age 'with open arms' High spirits: She beamed with delight as she joined Dermot O'Leary on stage following her performance Kylie admitted her life feels different after hitting 50, but has embraced her age 'with open arms'. Chatting to the host about her new lease on life, Kylie explained that everything has started to make more sense, and added: 'Lifes not a little bit better its great!' 'I feel different being 50, I'm more content, somethings just start to make sense'. On welcoming her new decade, Kylie admitted: 'You either accept it or not, and I just choose to accept it with open arms.' They tied the knot at an registry office in 2015 before splitting up just five months later. But on-and-off couple Geoffrey Edelsten, 75, and Gabi Grecko, 29, have revealed they're officially back together. Melbourne medical entrepreneur Geoffrey and New York-based ex-prostitute Gabi will reunite Down Under in November and he says this time it's 'forever'. 'This time it's forever!' Geoffrey Edelsten, 75, and Gabi Grecko, 29, are set to reunite and renew their vows... years after finding love on a sugar daddy website 'It is only her career that is keeping her in New York City, and as soon as the end of November, when she will have finished her latest music video, she will come back to Melbourne,' he told news.com.au on Monday. 'I'm very happy with our relationship, and I think that I can look forward to it being forever, and I think that is the way she feels too.' Aspiring rapper Gabi will need to get used to all the public attention when she moves back to Australia, as Geoffrey claims he can barely leave the house without getting mobbed by fans. True love: Geoffrey said, 'I'm very happy with our relationship, and I think that I can look forward to it being forever, and I think that is the way she feels too'. Pictured here at Melbourne Cup in 2014 Who needs clothes? The former prostitute is seen here sporting sticky tape on her nipples to protect her modesty from prying eyes on Instagram 'People are still interested in what we are doing,' he said. 'I am surprised I can't go down the street in Melbourne without people wanting selfies.' Former sex worker Gabi is converting to Judaism so she can renew her vows with her much older husband Geoffrey, in a Jewish synagogue. To keep their long-distance love alive, Gabi once told Sydney Morning Herald that they have been 'sexting' each other. Converting: Gabi is currently in the process of converting to Judaism so she can renew her vows with husband Geoffrey Edelsten in a Jewish synagogue. The couple first wed in an Asian registry office in Melbourne back in 2015 That's quite a handful! She struggled to hide her assets behind her slender arm Geoffrey has also been receiving help in the love department by taking a new erectile dysfunction tablet that he developed. In 2016, Gabi made headlines after she claimed she was paid to accompany two NYPD officers at the centre of a corruption probe on a lavish alcohol and sex romp to Las Vegas in 2013. The busty socialite told the New York Post at the time that she was paid to join the since-fired Deputy Inspector James Grant and Detective Michael Milici on a private jet to Sin City. Feeling frisky! The couple couldn't keep their hands off each other during an appearance on the Kyle and Jackie O show in 2014 She claimed she was recruited by New York businessman and Bill de Blasio campaign donor Jeremy Reichberg. Gabi famously met Geoffrey on a sugar daddy website when she was 25. She's been dating German musician Tom Kaulitiz for several months. And the relationship is clearly going from strength to strength as the rocker has clearly become part of Heidi Klum's family. Kaulitz, 29, joined the model and TV personality, 45, and her four children for a shopping trip in Los Angeles on Sunday. Retail expedition: Heidi Klum, 45, went shopping Sunday in LA with boyfriend Tom Kaulitz, 29, and her four children The America's Got Talent judge wore an all-black ensemble for the outing, pairing a sweater with cropped jeans fastened with a designer belt. Klum stepped out in black trainers and left her long honey blonde hair loose. Kaulitz was simpatico in all black, too, wearing a baggy tee over drawstring sweatpants and adding white trainers. Natural beauty: The model and TV personality wore an all-black ensemble, pairing a sweater with cropped jeans and trainers. She left her long blonde hair loose and sported sunglasses Rocker: Kaulitz was simpatico in all black, too, wearing a baggy tee over drawstring sweatpants and adding white trainers and sunglasses Shopping trip: Klum's kids - Leni, 14, Henry, 13, Johan, 12, and nine-year-old Lou - dutifully trailed along behind their famous mom and her beau as they left a store The group spent time checking out Restoration hardware's flagship store on trendy Melrose Avenue. Klum's kids - Leni, 14, Henry, 13, Johan, 12, and nine-year-old Lou - dutifully trailed along behind their famous mom and her beau. The family also stopped to pick up beverages to keep them fortified on their travels. Close: Klum's relationship with Kaulitz, that began earlier this year, is clearly going from strength to strength as he's clearly become part of her family Checking stuff out: The group spent their Sunday trip checking out stores on trendy Melrose Avenue Refreshments: The family also stopped to pick up beverages to keep them fortified on their travels Party time: It's a big week for Klum who is famous for her spectacular costumes at her annual Halloween bash It's a big week for Klum who is famous for her spectacular costumes at her annual Halloween bash. She's been teasing this year's costume for weeks on social media promising that this year's outfit will be more cute than scary. Speaking to People, she said: 'This time it's going to be very cute, It's not gonna be scary; it's going to be very, very cute.' This year will mark the 19th anniversary of Heidi's annual Halloween party. Creative: She's been teasing this year's costume for weeks on social media promising that this year's outfit will be more cute than scary Big Brother's Lewis Flanagan has broken his silence following his removal from the house for 'making a comment about Auschwitz that won't be aired'. Taking to Instagram on Sunday, the 27-year-old praised his new fan base for their support while admitting he felt 'stupid' after the 'slip of the tongue' remark. The former contestant was reportedly sent home after he mistakenly said 'Auschwitz' instead of 'outfits' during a conversation with housemate Cameron. Speaking out for the first time: Big Brother's Lewis Flanagan has broken his silence following his removal from the house for 'making a comment about Auschwitz that won't be aired' Addressing Big Brother viewers, the Manchester native said: 'Hi guys. Thank you for all the supportand anyone sending me hatef**k you! 'I'm taking some time to focus on myself. I lost out on facing a crowd, being interviewed and seeing my best bits all because of a stupid comment and a slip of a tongue and a stupid comment that I've made.' In a bid to cheer himself up, he revealed: 'What I thought I would do is that rather than lying here feeling sorry for myself like I have been doing, I have decided Im going to watch the show back. Booted off: The former contestant was reportedly sent home after he mistakenly said 'Auschwitz' instead of 'outfits' during a conversation with housemate Cameron. Candid: Taking to Instagram on Sunday, the 27-year-old praised his new fan base for their support while admitting he felt 'stupid' after the 'slip of the tongue' remark 'I feel better already': The Manchester native revealed he's watching the show back in a bid to cheer himself up 'Im going to find my own best bits and try and find some joy in the fact that I was there and I did have a great time.' Admitting he's proud of his display, he added: 'Just watched launch night episode, it turns out I didn't look as awkward as I felt, I feel better already.' On Friday, The Sun reported that the housemate was removed from the house for making a comment about Auschwitz that won't be aired. It came after Lewis admitted that he was 'not ashamed' of his behaviour after being told by Big Brother that he was to be removed, adding that it was a 'slip of the tongue.' Controversy: On Friday, The Sun reported that the housemate was removed from the house for making a comment about Auschwitz that won't be aired The source said: 'Lewis was talking to Cameron and told him: 'When we get out of here, we'll sort you out with some Auschwitz'. 'He said he was supposed to say 'outfits'. He's told people it was a slip of the tongue and he didn't know why he said it.' The Sun also reported that viewers will not see the incident in question on-screen in Sunday's highlights show, though they will see the housemates reaction to Lewis' departure. MailOnline has contacted representatives for Big Brother for further comment. Defiant: It came after Lewis admitted that he was 'not ashamed' of his behaviour after being told by Big Brother that he was to be removed This came after a statement was posted to Twitter on Saturday from an account believed to be run by Lewis family in his absence. It said: 'Please do not believe all the allegations that Lewis was asked to leave due to RACIAL, SEXUALITY OR HOMOPHOBIC comments. 'I can confirm this was NOT what happened. He's fine and in good spirits and once he's caught up with his family he will be reaching out to you all.' An earlier statement - posted on Saturday - also said: 'Thank You to the Big Brother production team for trying hard to keep Lewis in the house, but due to the nature of the conversation with Brooke and Cameron today. It was nothing to do with racism before you all start. The owners of the station could not let him continue.' Not true: This came after a statement was posted to Twitter on Saturday from an account believed to be run by Lewis family in his absence, shedding some light on the situation Evicted housemate Tomasz Wania had shed some light on Lewis' departure earlier in the week, explaining that it left close friend Cameron devastated. He told Digital Spy: 'Obviously, Cameron was crying. I tried to comfort him, but then we had to focus on the eviction and switch to that mindset. 'At the end, it's a process. Everybody will go at some point. We just have to get along with it, and do our best.' These revelations come after Lewis removal was played during Friday's eviction, with Big Brother telling him he had used 'unacceptable language.' You're out! Asked whether there was anything he'd like to say, the barman said he was 'not ashamed' of his behaviour' and it had been nothing more than a slip of the tongue Asked whether there was anything he'd like to say, the barman said he was 'not ashamed' of his behaviour' and it had been nothing more than 'a slip of the tongue.' 'I would say I'm devastated. I didn't mean to offend anyone, it was a slip of the tongue,' he said. 'I never once tried to offend anyone or hurt anyone's feelings. It's unacceptable. I'm not ashamed of myself because I didn't try to offend anyone, it was just a slip of the tongue. Unfortunately for me my bad language and misuse of certain words has exploded in my face. 'I never meant to upset anyone, hurt anyone's feelings or disrespect any kind of background, sexuality, race, gender or religion. So yeah, I'm sorry. Obviously I'm going to pay the price.' Ruth Wilson has revealed that she's discussed fronting a spin-off of BBC detective drama Luther, which would follow her dark character Alice Morgan. The actress, 36, admitted she'd love to return to the character 'if the script is right', though it's unclear whether it would be a prequel or a sequel as Alice had apparently 'died' off screen on series four. Speaking to The Sun, she said: 'We've talked about it actually. Yes, definitely, if the script is right and the storyline is right.' She'll be back: Ruth Wilson revealed she would love to return to her psychopathic character Alice Morgan in a Luther spin-off Though she was quick to add: 'It's funny. People like watching her because she comes in and out. If you watched a whole episode of her, would it be the same? I don't know. 'I'm interested if the script is right, yes. You'd have to make the show quite different in style though, and get inside her head.' Ruth added that it would be interesting if it was similar to Killing Eve, which saw MI5 security officer Eve (Sandrah Oh) go up against killer Villanelle (Jodie Comer). Happy to do it: Speaking to The Sun , she said, 'We've talked about it actually. Yes, definitely, if the script is right and the storyline is right' While Ruth's character had apparently met her end off screen on Luther, the actress was seen on set of the fifth series filming alongside co-star Idris Elba, 46. As the character, she was seen brandishing a gun at the disgruntled DCI's face, engaging in a tense conversation. Given Alice's unhealthy obsession with Luther from day one, perhaps this dramatic turn of events will be part of her strategy to finally get the grisly detective to leave his London life and run away with her. Making a comeback? While Ruth's character had apparently met her end off screen on Luther, the actress was seen on set of the fifth series filming alongside co-star Idris Elba After series four had aired, Idris spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about the show without Ruth's character and claimed it was possible for it to continue: 'The truth is, the show is called Luther. It's not called Alice, or The Bad Guys. 'It's about Luther and the people he comes across and the people he tries to bring down. I think that world still remains intact, but it takes on a slightly different spin.' But he was quick to add that it wasn't necessarily the last time we'd see her: 'I'm not being deceptive or anything, but the truth is, John Luther isn't quite sure that she's dead!' While the notorious Gatwick Hotel provided its share of challenges for the teams on this year's season of The Block, things aren't likely to get any easier next year. It's been confirmed that Channel Nine has snapped up yet another run-down, seedy hotel in Melbourne for the fifteenth season of the long-running renovation show. According to Domain, the network paid just $10,815,000 for the former Oslo Hotel, which is just a five minute walk from the newly-renovated Gatwick in St Kilda. Coming soon! Channel Nine has purchased yet another run-down, seedy Melbourne venue for the fifteenth season of The Block: The Oslo Hotel in St Kilda Nine is teasing the upcoming season as The Block's biggest yet and, in terms of size, the Oslo is reportedly twice as big as The Gatwick - and just as derelict. The graffiti-covered establishment is reportedly plagued with asbestos issues, with danger signs taped to the facade of the building. And just like The Gatwick, the Oslo was previously used as budget accommodation, with some guests paying as little as $18 a night. Same neighbourhood: The Oslo Hotel is just a short walk from The Block 2018's Gatwick Hotel Health warning: The graffiti-covered establishment is reportedly plagued with asbestos issues, with danger signs taped to the facade of the building Major project: The Oslo is reportedly twice the size of the Gatwick Hotel, and just as derelict From low budget to luxury: Channel Nine paid just $10,815,000 for the former Oslo Hotel, which is just a five minute walk from the newly-renovated Gatwick in St Kilda Dirt cheap: Just like The Gatwick, the Oslo was previously used as budget accommodation, with some guests paying as little as $18 a night Despite the low rates, the Oslo has attracted a series of damning reviews on Tripadvisor, with many former guests complaining about the 'sordid' conditions. One former guest wrote: 'This is the worst hostel I've ever stayed in... The bedrooms are disgusting. There's mice in the kitchen. Rude staff. The manager is too busy smoking outside half the time to care what's going on at the hostel. I've never stayed in a dirtier place. Avoid avoid avoid!' Another commented: 'Been travelling for four months throughout all of Southeast Asia and this is by far the worst place I've been to. Filthy lobby that smells [of] weed and feet, and the rooms were just as dirty. We stayed there for several nights and they didn't ever clean the bathroom... Don't go here!' Grim: Despite the low rates, the Oslo has attracted a series of damning reviews on Tripadvisor, with many former guests complaining about the 'sordid' conditions History: The Oslo was built in 1859, and originally housed five stately Victorian homes. It's believed the original homes are concealed behind the hotel's current facade Makeover: Channel Nine is reportedly obtaining permission to demolish a section of the main building, which is heritage listed Extension: Plans have been submitted to add a two-storey extension at the back of the building The Oslo was built in 1859, and originally housed five stately Victorian homes. Although the property is heritage listed, it's believed the original homes are concealed behind the hotel's current facade, with the show reportedly obtaining permission to demolish a section of the main building. Producers have also submitted plans to add a two-storey extension at the back of the building. As puns go, it doesnt work. Arachnids in the UK . . . the title of Jodie Whittakers latest adventure in Doctor Who (BBC1) was a play on Anarchy and the Sex Pistolss first single. Its a bit clever, but not quite funny. It could have been ingenious, if those mutant spiders gobbling up guests at a Yorkshire hotel had sported rainbow mohicans and had punk nicknames such as Johnny Rottarantula. But like the entire series so far, that opening joke went nowhere. It needed to be developed. Four episodes in, the rebooted family favourite with its new Sunday evening slot and female star has spent a lot of time going round in circles, like a spider thats in danger of disappearing down the plughole. But like the entire series so far, that opening joke went nowhere. It needed to be developed This show thrives on full-tilt action, but under new writer Chris Chibnall it lacks all pace and urgency. After the Doctor landed back on Earth with her companions, she spent the first five minutes waiting to be invited in for tea. Another five slow, dull minutes elapsed before the Mistress of Time and Space, boggle-eyed with boredom, offered to pop round to the next-door flat and collect a parcel. When the story eventually got going, there were shocks and surprises. Those slavering spiders, big as St Bernards and chattering in a blood-chilling twitter, belonged to the great Doctor Who tradition of monsters that send children diving for shelter behind the three-piece suite. The series returned to its roots too with some educational asides. We learned that peppermint and tea tree oil are natural spider repellents, and that their silk is stronger than steel. Doctor Who, when it first aired in 1963, was conceived as a means of making science entertaining. Its good that hasnt been forgotten. Those slavering spiders, big as St Bernards and chattering in a blood-chilling twitter, belonged to the great Doctor Who tradition of monsters that send children diving for shelter behind the three-piece suite Chris Noth, the slippery politician from The Good Wife, made a splendidly Trumpish villain, as a hotel magnate with one eye on the White House. He had the best line too as he waved a pistol, he berated the Doctor: What is wrong with this country? Why dont you get a gun, shoot things like a civilised person? Of course, the Doctor famously never uses guns. But please stop the dreary scenes of bickering and glum regrets. We dont watch Doctor Who to see grumpy parents nagging their children or grieving pensioners sitting in darkened rooms. Weve got EastEnders for that. The outstanding show of the weekend was Chris Tarrants grim account of how Nazi Germany exploited its train network to commit genocide, in Hitlers Holocaust Railways (C5). The outstanding show of the weekend was Chris Tarrants grim account of how Nazi Germany exploited its train network to commit genocide, in Hitlers Holocaust Railways The former quiz show host is forging a new career as a roving rail enthusiast. This one-off, 90-minute documentary began in Nuremberg, where rolling-stock ferried millions of Germans to the Fuhrers rallies with clockwork efficiency, and travelled east ending at the entrance to Birkenau death camp, the 20th centurys own gates of hell. We met Jewish survivors like Arek Hersh, 89, who found refuge in Britain after the war. What he endured defies imagination, and Chris stood speechless, unable to respond to this brave mans matter-of-fact descriptions. Aged 11, Arek was put to work on the railways, as a gravedigger. Out of a slave workforce of 2,500, fewer than a dozen were alive one year later. Arek was eventually sent to Auschwitz with a trainload of children: he escaped the gas chamber by lying about his age and claiming to be a locksmith. All his companions were killed. The show ended with Chriss fervent plea that the Holocaust must never be forgotten. It made sometimes unbearable viewing, but this was an important, compelling programme. She recently welcomed her first child with partner and Brazilian model, Marlon Teixeira, 26. And on Monday, model Cheyenne Tozzi shared the first photograph of her bundle of joy on social media. Taking to Instagram, the 29-year-old doting mother uploaded an adorable snap of her baby girl cuddling up to a teddy bear. Bundle of joy! Model Cheyenne Tozzi shares the first picture of her baby girl Dahlia De La Lune... after keeping her pregnancy a secret 'Dahlia de la lune,' she captioned the post, revealing the newborn's name to her fans. The smitten mum later captured the bub peacefully sleeping while wrapped in a blanket. Cheyenne shares Dahlia with boyfriend Marlon, whom she has been dating for over a year. Sweet: The smitten mum later captured the bub peacefully sleeping while wrapped in a blanket The couple confirmed their pregnancy back in June, saying they were 'thrilled' to be starting their family. But prior to this, the pair did not release any details about the arrival of their newborn, keeping the baby's name, sex and birth date a secret due to health concerns. Speaking to Harper's Bazaar Australia last month, Cheyenne explained that her pregnancy journey was terrifying. Doting parents: Cheyenne (right) recently welcomed her first child, Dahlia, with partner and Brazilian model, Marlon Teixeira, 26 (center) 'This pregnancy has been scary... uncertain. I have rhesus negative blood type... The body might treat the pregnancy as a virus and cause some real problems,' she candidly revealed, adding that her health was closely monitored. 'But I've been terrified. I didn't want anything out there until I knew the baby was going to be healthy. 'I feel for all women who have any complications or uncertainties during pregnancy, no matter how severe,' Cheyenne added. As the nation's new Bachelorette, Ali Oetjen is currently on her third televised quest to find lasting love. But on Monday, Woman's Day claimed that the 32-year-old has failed in the mission. In a bombshell report, the magazine alleges that the Adelaide-based accounts manager is single again, after finding out her two favourite TV suitors were 'not the guys she thought they were'. 'They were not the guys she thought they were!' Woman's Day is claiming that Ali Oetjen is 'single again' as Bachelorette front-runners Charlie and Bill 'go public with their new women' Ali has previously attempted to find love as a contestant on The Bachelor and Bachelor In Paradise. And Woman's Day reports it's a case of third time unlucky on The Bachelorette, describing her as 'alone and loveless once again'. It seems things haven't worked out with two of Ali's current favourite front-runners on the program. Charlie Newling has moved on with Bachelor contestant Dasha Gaivoronski while Woman's Day has claimed Bill Goldmsith has also got a new woman in his life. Front-runners: Charlie (left) and Bill (right) quickly became hot favourites on The Bachelorette, but are now reportedly enjoying new romances Charlie, 31, has been spotted putting on amorous displays across the past week with Dasha . Meanwhile, Woman's Day has published pictures of Bill, 31, 'flirting up a storm' with a mystery brunette in a Melbourne park. A friend of Ali's is purported to have told the magazine that she was 'left shattered to find her two favourites were not the guys she thought they were.' New front-runner: Taite Radley is now Sportsbet's favourite to win the series The friend added: 'Since photos have surfaced of the boys moving on so quickly, Ali knows she made the right decision.' However, the magazine made no mention of Taite Radley, who is now Sportsbet's favourite to win the series. The handsome bank manager is now top pick at $1.40, leading both Charlie and Bill, who are $5.50 and $6.00 respectively. She almost died after being hit by a bus on Sydney's Oxford Street in 2002. And 16 years later, former Neighbours star Madeline West has revealed that two sex workers who happened to be nearby saved her life after witnessing the accident. 'It was actually two sex workers who were in the vicinity who held me, staunched the bleeding and called an ambulance,' the mother-of-six explained. 'Someone stole my wallet while I was unconscious': Madeleine West has revealed how she was robbed after being hit by a bus in 2002 before two nearby sex workers helped save her life Madeleine was struck while crossing the road and the accident left her with a fractured skull, a bloody eye and several missing teeth. While fighting for her life in the street, Madeleine revealed she was also preyed upon by opportunistic thieves who stole her wallet. 'I was left in the gutter and someone stole my wallet while I was unconscious, so the paramedics couldn't ID me,' Madeleine recalled on the Who Are You podcast. Near-death experience: Madeleine was struck while crossing Sydney's Oxford Street in 2002 and the accident left her with a fractured skull, a bloody eye and several missing teeth After being hospitalised, Madeleine made a full recovery but was left with a 'bundle of scars, a bit of a stutter and a dodgy eyebrow'. It comes after the Playing for Keeps star hinted at a reconciliation with her partner-of-13-years Shannon Bennett, just two months after confirming their separation. Madeleine referred to Shannon as her 'partner' during an interview with Who on Thursday, saying: 'The way I've explained it to my kids [about being a working mum] is that I am Mummy... but I'm also Madeleine who is Daddy's partner.' Will they reunite? It comes after the Playing for Keeps star hinted at a reconciliation with her partner-of-13-years Shannon Bennett (left), just two months after confirming their separation Madeleine shares six children - Phoenix, 12, Hendrix, 10, Xascha, eight, Xanthe, six, and twins Xalia and Margaux, four - with celebrity chef Shannon, 42. She also confirmed reports that the whole family, including Shannon, are moving from Melbourne to Byron Bay, New South Wales. 'It's the energy that is up here, it suits as all us individuals and as a family,' she said. Flamboyant medical entrepreneur, Geoffrey Edelsten, 75, says he has a very healthy sex life with his 29-year-old wife Gabi Grecko, as they couple prepare to reunite in Melbourne next month and renew their vows. Speaking to Daily Mail Australia on Monday, the elderly businessman said their passion is very much alive and well. The on-and-off couple, who tied the knot at an Asian registry in 2015, split after just five months but never divorced - and have since reconciled. 'We have a healthy sex life': Geoffrey Edelsten, 75, speaks candidly about bedroom habits with wife Gabi Grecko, 29... and says he's constantly mobbed by fans due to his celebrity status. Pictured in Los Angeles in June 'Yes we're back together, I'm very pleased,' he said. 'We're planning to renew our vows'. When asked whether they still have a healthy sex life, Geoffrey replied: 'yes, of course.' New York-based Gabi is in the US pursing a rap career, but will move back in with her millionaire husband Geoffrey upon her return to Melbourne in November. Their big day: The couple, who are 46 years apart, tied the knot at an Asian registry in Melbourne in 2015 Geoffrey said the public interest surrounding their marriage is still strong and he is stopped by fans everywhere he goes. 'People stop me all the time, just this morning... a guy came up and said "You're a rockstar!" and asked me for a picture,' he said. 'It happens a lot [and] it is flattering. They admire everything I've done. Eccentric: The couple were once staples on the red carpet. Pictured at Maxim Australia's fourth birthday bash in Sydney in 2015 He continued: 'I was the first doctor to open a 24 hour medical clinic... I've won awards.' Geoffrey's long list of accomplishments aren't the only achievements he's proud of, with the wealthy businessman also applauding former sex worker Gabi's. 'I think she's very talented,' he said of the budding rapper. 'Her [music] videos are great.' PDA: Gabi once told the Sydney Morning Herald that when they aren't together, they engage in 'sexting' to keep the romance alive Gabi has been living in New York since they separated in 2015, however, Melbourne-based Geoffrey has made sure to visit her at least twice. Gabi once told the Sydney Morning Herald that when they aren't together, they engage in 'sexting' to keep the romance alive. Geoffrey has also been receiving help in the love department by taking a new erectile dysfunction tablet that he developed. The eccentric pair met on a sugar daddy website when Gabi was 25. She may have farewelled her role as Myer ambassador in August, but Jennifer Hawkins isn't short of opportunities to strut her stuff. The 34-year-old former Miss Universe has returned to the spotlight to promote Mount Franklin's new range of fruit-flavoured waters, appearing in a vibrant new editorial campaign for the brand. In the images, the leggy blonde is seen posing up a storm in a floral, Carmen Miranda-inspired outfits while holding a bottle of the sugar-free beverage in one hand. Thirsty work! Jennifer Hawkins, 34, has appeared in a vibrant new promotional campaign for Mount Franklin's new range of flavoured water One photo sees Jennifer posing against a flamboyant yellow flower bush, wearing a silk floral dress that revealed a generous glimpse of torso. In another shot, the runway queen showcased her lithe legs and trim waist in a green-and-pink floral jumpsuit with puffy sleeves. Another eye-catching photo sees Jennifer modelling a purple-and-pink frock emblazoned with a bold floral print. Making them green with envy! In one photo the runway queen is seen showcasing her lithe legs and trim waist in a green-and-pink floral jumpsuit with puffy sleeves 'I've teamed up with them for many many years and just love them as a brand. I love them and they're very iconic in Australia,' Jennifer told Daily Mail Australia of her work with Mount Franklin. 'When I first hooked up with them it was because obviously I drink the product. Then with time, I just love that they're such an innovative product and company.' Jennifer also revealed that water is drink she indulges in regularly. 'I drink a lot! I drink probably two litres a day. So I go through the bottle. You know, you can only drink so much Mount Franklin light sparkling so it's nice to have the still option and choose flavours. The pineapple and mint is my favourite.' Flirty in frills! Another eye-catching photo sees Jennifer modelling a purple-and-pink frock emblazoned with a bold floral print The photos were taken during Mount Franklin's official product range in Sydney last Wednesday. During the proceedings, guests had the opportunity to meet the iconic star in the flesh, as well as enjoy a guided relaxation session by the pool. Speaking of the brand in a public statement, Jennifer said: 'Hydration is so important, particularly during busy summer months ahead of Christmas when I need to remain energised and productive throughout the day.' Born to model! The photos were taken during Mount Franklin's official product range in Sydney last Wednesday 'A better way to take a break is with a tasty hydrating beverage': In a public statement, the veteran model revealed in the statement that she turns to Mount Franklin's new drinks to battle her 'mid-afternoon energy slumps' Putting her money where her mouth is! Jennifer was spotted drinking from a Mount Franklin bottle in-between modelling duties at the event The veteran model also revealed in the statement that she turns to Mount Franklin's new drinks to battle her 'mid-afternoon energy slumps'. 'Like many people I know I struggle with mid-afternoon energy slumps when I'm often tempted to reach for a sweet treat,' she said. 'A better way to take a break is with a tasty hydrating beverage such as the delicious Mount Franklin spring water with a hint of natural fruit flavour, and with no sugar, they're a treat you can feel great about at the same time,' she continued. Mount Franklin's new drinks are available in three mouth-watering fruit flavours- pineapple and mint, lemon and lime, and strawberry. Mingling: During the proceedings, guests had the opportunity to meet the iconic star in the flesh She celebrated her 69th birthday on Sunday. And Caitlyn Jenner spent her special day soaking up the sun in the Mexican resort of Los Cabos with her 22-year-old pal Sophia Hutchins. The two were seen heading to sun loungers at their resort wearing swimsuits and flowing colorful dusters. Sun-soaked getaway: Caitlyn Jenner celebrated her 69th birthday Sunday on vacation in Los Cabos, Mexico, where she relaxed while wearing a low-cut white swimsuit and a floppy hat Companion: Caitlyn was joined on the getaway by her close pal Sophia Hutchins, 22, who rocked a white bikini Reality star Caitlyn, who famously transitioned from male to female in 2015, looked busty in a low-cut white one-piece with one straight shoulder strap and a diagonal strap across the chest. The high-cut swimsuit showcased her long legs too. Her long brown hair was left loose and she sported a pair of diamond earrings. She added a large floppy sunhat and shades and wore a green foliage-themed long duster that blew out behind her as she walked. Dared to bare: The tight-fitting, high-cut one-piece showed off the reality star's bust and long legs Tropical: The transgender celebrity wore a green foliage-themed duster that blew out behind her as she walked Blinged: She added sunglasses and a pair of diamond earrings Sophia opted for a white bikini with bra top and tiny bottoms. She added a floral-themed duster and gold and black sunglasses and wore her blonde hair tied back from her face. Sophia, who, like Caitlyn, is transgender, met the parent of Kendall and Kylie Jenner while a student at Pepperdine University in Malibu. She now lives with the I Am Cait personality and serves as executive director of her foundation. Bagged some rays: Sophia opted for a white bikini with bra top and tiny bottoms. She added a floral-themed duster and gold and black sunglasses Inseparable: Sophia, who, like Caitlyn, is transgender, met the parent of Kendall and Kylie Jenner while a student at Pepperdine University in Malibu Partners: Sophia now lives with the I Am Cait personality and serves as executive director of her foundation R&R: The pair enjoyed a stroll around the tropical grounds of their vacation getaway The pals spent time reclining in the sun and topping up their tans. They also enjoyed a stroll around the tropical grounds of their vacation getaway. Just a couple of days ago, on October 25, Caitlyn caused a stir by writing an opinion piece published in The Washington Post in which she said she had made a mistake in voting for Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election. The Olympic decathlete, who was previously married to Keeping Up With The Kardashians momager Kris Jenner, slammed Trump for 'relentlessly attacking' transgender people. 'He has ignored our humanity. He has insulted our dignity. He has made trans people into political pawns as he whips up animus against us in an attempt to energize the most right-wing segment of his party,' Caitlyn wrote in her opinion piece. Taking it easy: The pals spent time reclining in the sun and topping up their tans Spoke her mind: The getaway comes after Caitlyn penned an opinion piece published in The Washington Post slamming President Trump for 'relentlessly attacking' transgender people Initially, the reality star supported Donald Trump's administration, given the new president promised to make LGBTQ rights a part of his platforms. But that soured in the months after he took office when he rolled back protections for trans-kids in schools and vowed to ban trans-people from the military. 'It is unacceptable, it is upsetting, and it has deeply, personally hurt me,' Jenner said. 'It's clear these policies have come directly from Trump,' she went on. 'I cannot support anyone who is working against our community. I do not support Trump. I must learn from my mistakes and move forward.' The matriarch of Australia's most famous wildlife conservationalist family, Terri Irwin, has revealed exactly why she approves of her daughter Bindi's boyfriend Chandler Powell. Speaking to US Weekly recently, the 54-year-old enthused over her 20-year-old daughter's relationship with Chandler, 21, saying: 'I really think that this is a long-term situation. I mean, Chandler is perfect as well.' She continued: 'I've never heard him swear. He doesn't drink. He's just awesome. He's the kind of man you hope for your daughter, so I think I'm lucky.' 'I've never heard him swear, he doesn't drink, he's just awesome!' Terri Irwin, 54, has revealed why her daughter Bindi's boyfriend Chandler Powell is 'the kind of man you hope for your daughter' However, when quizzed by the publication on whether a wedding is imminent, Bindi was quick to shut down speculation. 'I promise I'm not engaged yet. I swear when I do get engaged, I will not be that secretive,' she implored. 'Right now, we're enjoying our lives together. I think we forget to revel in the moment and revel in the now,' she said. Wild love story! Bindi, who is the daughter of late conservationist Steve Irwin, met wakeboarder Chandler in 2013 when he was visiting the Irwin family-owned Australia Zoo Bindi, who is the daughter of late conservationist Steve Irwin, met wakeboarder Chandler in 2013 when he was visiting the Irwin family-owned Australia Zoo. Chandler previously discussed the story of their fateful encounter during an episode of Dancing With The Stars back in 2015. 'I'm a professional wakeboarder. I was there (Australia) for a wakeboard competition. We were stopping by the area where the zoo was so I thought it would be awesome to go visit Australia Zoo,' the Florida-born sportsman explained. Next step, marriage? The couple recently took their relationship to the next level when Chandler moved to the Irwin family's famous 100-acre property 'And she ended up giving me a tour and we ended up staying in touch ever since,' he said. The couple recently took their relationship to the next level when Chandler moved to the Irwin family's famous 100-acre property. 'I'm so lucky that I've met someone who is excited and up for the challenge of our wonderful busy life,' Bindi recently told PEOPLE magazine. 'He is just amazing. 'Since he relocated, we're having a great time throwing Chandler into everything. In the afternoon Robert [her brother] has been taking him out to feed the freshwater crocodiles and the gators.' The teenager added that Chandler loves conservation and wildlife as much as she does, adding that it's helpful he's so strong as he can handle jumping on the crocodiles. It was claimed last week that Cassandra Wood had her sights set on Nick Cummins' brother Jacob. But on Monday, The Honey Badger's 25-year-old sibling hit back at the reports. '[I am] not in a relationship with Cass Wood,' he told Yahoo Lifestyle. Addressing the reports: Nick Cummins' brother Jacob set the record straight on whether he's dating The Bachelor's Cassandra Wood [both pictured] Last Monday, Woman's Day reported that accounting student Cassandra turned to Jacob for support after being brutally rejected by the former Wallaby. 'It started off as a friendship and things could well have blossomed,' a source claimed. 'They're waiting for all the show's hype to die down before they make any announcement on the status of their relationship, but Nick couldn't be happier for them,' the 'insider' added. Family ties: Jacob, 25, told Yahoo Lifestyle on Monday that he is 'not in a relationship with Cass Wood'. Pictured with Nick, 31 During an episode of The Bachelor, which aired in late August, Jacob appeared to bond with Cassandra while offering her relationship advice. In a piece to camera, he explained that he and Nick, 31, had previously spent time holidaying with Cassandra on the Gold Coast. Jacob said at the time: 'I met Cass about a year ago. She was up for the summer, up at the Gold Coast and we went surfing with Nick and we had a few yarns, few beers.' Close: During an episode of The Bachelor that aired in late August, Jacob appeared to bond with Cassandra while offering relationship advice 'They have a history outside, so it'll be interesting to see how it works for her,' he added. Following Nick's brutal rejection, Cassandra admitted that she struggled to move past the heartache. During an appearance on The Sunday Project earlier this month, the Instagram model told Lisa Wilkinson: 'I feel like a bit of a joke. It hasn't been [easy].' She's already a busy working mother-of-three. But Kim Kardashian revealed her husbad Kanye West was harassing her for more children - up to seven - on Sunday night's episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians. However Kim, who used a surrogate to carry her third child due to medical reasons, isn't keen - and she has a very specific reason. Not keen: On Keeping Up With The Kardashians Kim revealed Kanye West is 'harassing' her to have more children... and wants to be a dad of seven Second thoughts: Kim said she didn't want more children because the world was too unsafe Leave it Kanye! The mother of three said her husband was harassing her The 38-year-old complained that her husband Kanye West was eager for more kids, but she felt that the world was too unsafe. 'He's been like harassing me, we wants like seven, he's stuck on seven,' she said. 'I could never, especially like in the world we live in,' she added, saying she thought the U.S. needed tighter gun control. Making a stand: Kim decided to go to the March for Our Lives rally in Washington, D.C. and took along North, five Marching: Kim, Kanye and North joined the thousands on the streets Mommy's girl: Kim carried her daughter, to ensure she stayed safe in the crowd Learning about the world: She told North an age appropriate explanation for the march Kim noted that she'd been deeply affected by the continuous waves of school shootings. 'It's like every day there's something so traumatizing,' she fretted before deciding to join the March for Our Lives rally in Washington, D.C. 'I have always advocated for better gun laws and gun control.' Meeting victims: Kim shared a sympathetic ear with the grieving parents she met Star power: At the march she joined Demi Lovato and Miley Cyrus, to sympathize with parents who had lost their children in mass shootings At the march she joined Demi Lovato and Miley Cyrus, to sympathize with parents who had lost their children in mass shootings. 'I can't even imagineas a parent,' said Kim. After the moving speeches at the rally Kim felt inspired. 'I think there's a little bit of hope in this world, if kids like this are our future,' she said. Body insecurity: Kylie talked to her sisters about her figure post-baby Been there: Kim offered her sympathies to her little sis Kim took her five-year-old daughter North to the march, and mentioned that Kanye was also there, but the rapper was not shown on camera. She then met with some survivors of the Parkland shooting to hear their views. 'I one billion percent believe that we need stricter gun laws, we need background checks, you shouldn't be able to walk into a store and buy a gun,' she said decisively. The young activists explained that voting, in every election, was the only way to end the violence. How do I look? While her figure may have changed, Kylie's mom Kris Jenner was impressed Underwear ready: Kylie shows off her figure to mom 'There are so many adults out there that can learn a thing or two from these kids,' said Kim. The show Lord & His Lady had opened with Khloe's star-studded baby shower at the luxurious 5-star Hotel Bel-Air. 'Like Tristan [Thompson] is going to die when he sees this,' she raved as she viewed the extravagant decorations. Momager Kris Jenner cried at the prospect of welcoming her ninth grandchild. 'I worried for a second about whether or not Khloe would have a baby,' gushed the 62-year-old. Strike a pose! Khloe Kardashian took part in a Calvin Klein photoshoot while pregnant Advert: The mom to be was advertising the brand Take two: Kourtney and the other Kardashian-Jenners were in the shoot Don't fall off! The mom-to-be sat on a swing for her shoot Swing time: Khloe on set Tristan's mom said she was 'so happy and excited' to receive her first granddaughter. Khloe's friends commented on Tristan's gentlemanly behavior. 'I know, it's hard to be mad at him,' beamed Khloe, who was yet to deal with Tristan's cheating scandal. Meanwhile Kylie Jenner was kvetching about her post baby body, in advance of her first photoshoot since childbirth. The finished item: New mom Kylie and mom-to-be Khloe overcame their fears 'It is a shock go the systemto just not be the same size,' grumbled the 21-year-old. Despite her insecurities her family told her she looked 'amazing.' 'Your belly button is back to normal,' Khloe told her. Kim, a mother of three, sympathized with Kylie's plight. Shower time: The show also showed Khloe celebrating at her baby shower Pretty in pink: No expense was spared 'Sometimes I would wear like three pairs of shapewear just to get out of the house,' she said. Khloe had a Calvin Klein underwear shoot, while nine months pregnant. After they wrapped she flew to Cleveland to prepare to give birth. KUWTK continues next week on E! A sneak peek revealed the family in panic as Khloe went into labor. He entered The Bachelorette as this year's perfect 'knight in shining armour'. Now Todd King has revealed he wants to 'foster kids' with Ali Oetjen, 32. 'Something that's close to my heart is fostering kids,' he told NW this week. Could he be more perfect? Bachelorette's Todd King reveals he wants to foster children with Ali Oetjen...after admitting he applied for multiple reality shows Todd dismissed the pair's six year age gap, claiming they're both on the 'same page' when it comes to starting a family. 'I'm 26 so I'm obviously a few years Ali's junior, but I've wanted to have kids by 30 so I think we're on the same page with the time frame,' he added. But Todd's plans for settling down with the bombshell have come into question after the reality star revealed he's applied for numerous dating and reality television shows in the past. Fame hungry? Todd entered The Bachelorette as this year's 'knight in shining armour', but has since revealed he has applied to be on shows such as Geordie Shore when it filmed in Australia. Pictured with Bachelorette Ali Oetjen The admission somewhat suggests that The Bachelorette contestant is after fame instead of love. 'I applied for a number of different dating shows, but when I found out Ali [Oetjen] was out Bachelorette, I was absolutely stoked', he told OK Magazine on Thursday. 'I applied for Love Island and Geordie Shore Australia and I am very happy to have not made the cut!' 'Something that's close to my heart is fostering kids!' The sales manager from Perth admitted he hoped be settled down with children by the time he turns 30 He told NW magazine earlier this month he did get a call back for Geordie Shore. 'My ex-partner urged me to do it, because we're still really good friends. She knew I'd been a bit closed off, so she was like, "Go on put yourself out there." She's a good girl,' he told the publication. An attempt to make it onto reality television isn't Todd's only television appearance. Todd was also a TV reporter for Seven Prime following his journalism studies, before he moved on to becoming a sales representative. Celebrity at any cost: An attempt to make it onto reality television isn't Todd's only television appearance. Todd was also a TV reporter for Seven Prime following his journalism studies, before he moved on to becoming a sales representative . She's all about the glitz and glamor when making a public appearance. But Kourtney Kardashian dressed down in her comfiest clothes as she took her children Penelope and Mason Disick to the Color Me Mine ceramics studio in Calabasas, California. The 39-year-old reality star donned a pair of Adidas tracksuit pants and a light top with an accompanying turtleneck. Keeping a low profile: Kourtney Kardashian accompanied Mason and Penelope to the Color Me Mine ceramics studio in Calabasas, California Kourtney was being the supportive sister-in-law by wearing Kanye West's Yeezy sneakers during the occasion, which she would also go on to plug on her official Instagram Story just hours later. 'Yeezy @adidas' the Armenian beauty had captioned a photo with the shoes before adding a fire emoji at the end. Meanwhile, on Saturday, it was uncovered that the television personality had enjoyed a getaway trip to Bali, Indonesia, with her ex-boyfriend Scott Disick and their three children While things haven't always been smooth between the Hollywood duo, it would appear that enjoying a vacation together as a family could very well be a step in the right direction for Kourtney and Scott. She's not usually this shy: Kourtney kept her kids close by her side as she covered her face with the action of putting her arm over her forehead while her eyes were protected by a pair of dark sunglasses Last month, during an episode of Keeping Up With the Kardashians, the mother-of-three complained about the fact that her former partner had introduced their kids to his 20-year-old girlfriend Sofia Richie. 'There's a lot going on for them and I know that it can be confusing. It makes me upset, especially because we sat in front of a therapist, we said what we thought was best for the kids.' 'We felt like a lot of changes have been made lately and that this wasn't the best time.' While Kourtney and Scott were both open to sharing photos of the trip on their official Instagram accounts, neither one of them included a photo of each other on their individual pages. All about the kids: Kim Kardashian's daughter North West, 5, had joined the family on their trip Taylor Swift dazzled almost 60,000 fans on stage in Melbourne on Friday. But following her spectacular stage show at the Marvel Stadium, many of her Aussie fans in Victoria have been left disappointed by the star... for a very unexpected reason. They are frustrated by the 28-year-old superstar's lack of acknowledgment of the sold out show across her various social media channels. Scroll down for video 'Low key OFFENDED': Taylor Swift fans in Melbourne left disappointed by the star for very unexpected reason as her Australian tour continues Usually following a large-scale concert, Taylor shares a professional photograph of herself on stage, along with a heartfelt caption about the city and venue she has just performed in. But three days after taking to the stage in Melbourne, the star's Instagram page has no acknowledgment of her time in the city or the sold out crowd. 'Low key OFFENDED Melbourne didn't get a post show mention by Taylor,' one fan wrote on Twitter over the weekend. Another attendee added: 'So are we really just not going to get a post about Melbourne from Taylor?' Why so quiet? They are frustrated by the 28-year-old superstar's lack of acknowledgment of the sold out show across her various social media channels 'Waiting':Usually following a large-scale concert, Taylor shares a professional photograph of herself on stage, along with a heartfelt caption about the city and venue she has just performed in Many other fans also took to social media to express their dismay, with another saying they were 'sad'. Although Taylor is known for her post-show reviews to her 112 million followers, they certainly aren't compulsory or guaranteed. One possible reason for Taylor's lack of post is poor WIFI out in the bush. Since arriving Down Under, the star has been renting a remote house, believed to be somewhere in Victoria, and may have poor signal as she rests in between shows. Maybe she's got no WIFI? Since arriving Down Under, the star has been renting a remote house, believed to be in Victoria, and may have poor signal as she rests in between shows She may post soon! Many other fans also took to social media to express their dismay Away from her performances in Perth and Melbourne so far, Taylor has been indulging in Australia's stunning landscapes by enjoying hikes and bird watching excursions. 'Here we can observe an Australian swiftlet in her natural habitat, a turtleneck,' Taylor captioned one striking selfie before her Melbourne concert. Prior to Friday's huge stadium show, Taylor took to her Tumblr blog to reflect on one of her first ever shows in Australia - which happened to be in Melbourne. Back in 2009, the star performed to approximately 900 people at the city's Billboard The Venue. As a fan shared a photograph of the tiny venue, alongside an aerial shot of the nearby staggering stadium, Taylor appeared overwhelmed by her growth. 'You really just went IN on my emotions with this post didn't you,' she commented. Busy Philipps turned to a familiar face for the debut of her new E! talk show Busy Tonight on Sunday and welcomed friend Mindy Kaling as her first guest. The 39-year-old actress quizzed her pal about being a mother to her 10-month-old daughter Katherine. 'My daughter is great, my publicist told me to say that my daughter is great, I love her,' joked Kaling, 39, who starred in The Office. Show debut: Busy Philipps hosted the premiere of her talk show Busy Tonight on Sunday on the E! network Philipps suggested that Kaling should launch a fashion line. 'What would it be called? Like Spinster?' laughed the comedienne. Adding: 'I think my aesthetic is like Vegas meets grandmother.' Philipps asked enviously about her friendship with Oprah Winfrey and Kaling said she has her phone number. First guest: Mindy Kaling was the first ever guest on Busy Tonight Warm welcome: Busy hugged her good friend Mindy as she joined her on the show Kaling revealed that she received a text from Winfrey while she was in labor and responded to it without hesitation. 'I didn't even tell her I was in labor,' Kaling said. Philipps also made fun of Justin Bieber's eating techniques during the premiere. Mutual fans: Mindy was asked enviously by Busy about her friendship with Oprah Winfrey Labor text: The Office star revealed that she got a text from Oprah while in labor and answered it without hesitation The Dawson's Creek actress analyzed a viral photo, which appeared to be of Bieber eating a burrito sideways. 'He was just using his mouth as a knife,' she decided. 'He's kind of feral and I am here for it,' she added while showing other images of the Canadian pop star as evidence. Viral photo: Busy during her premiere episode spent time commenting on a viral video of Justin Bieber eating a burrito sideways that turned out to be a prank Later in the show she noted that is wasn't actually Bieber in the photo. 'We just found out in the break that Justin Bieber pranked us all with that burrito pic, it was a dead on doppelganger and it was a prank,' she exclaimed. 'That was amazing Justin, keep the pranks coming sir,' she added. The White Chicks star opened Busy Tonight by describing her set, which included items she'd chosen such as 'crystal and art and needlepoint.' Fun set: The White Chicks star opened the show be describing her set New entry: Busy Tonight is a new entry in the late-night talk show category She also introduced her three writers and noted that 'everything is more fun with your friends, and with sangria.' In a humorous skit Philipps noted that she was worried about reigniting the 'Late Night Wars' in US TV from the 1990s. 'But now everyone gets a show, even me,' she chuckled after the likes of Seth Meyers, Andy Cohen, Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert gave her their blessings. War revival: Busy was worried about reviving the 'Late Night Wars' of the 1990s, but Jimmy Kimmel and others welcomed her with open arms Mid way through the show she changed out of her formal dress into a loose-fitting kaftan. 'I had to get a little bit more comfortable, I changed, into what I call my Mr. Night Gown,' explained Phillips. Philipps, a self-confessed Oprah Winfrey fanatic, used a quote from the talk show queen as her Vibe Of The Day. Outfit change: The talk show host changed into something more comfortable during the show Double fisted: Busy held two drinks while addressing the audience 'I still can't believe how much bounty you get from a few seedlings. Anyone else growing tomatoes? Mine are popping right now,' read the quote. As the show drew to a close she said: 'I know that this was our first night together, but this just feels very right, and when you know you know, trust me, I've been told by a psychic that I am like borderline psychic.' Busy Tonight continues on Monday on E! with Vanessa Hudgens as guest. 'I know her a little bit from Soul Cycle,' said Philipps, who sang a song to end the night. Vibe quote: The self-confessed Oprah fanatic used a quote from her as the Vibe Of The Day Bride and Prejudice's Ry McLean, 21 is a professional actor, it has been revealed. Appearing in the second season of the controversial Seven reality series, Ry and partner Philippa Bennett, 39, are faced with disapproval from his fiancee's parents who can't get past the 18-year age gap in their relationship. But as it turns out, the performer from Brisbane is a working actor with a multitude of screen and commercial credits. Is he there for the right reasons? Bride and Prejudice star Ry McLean, 21 is revealed to be a professional actor ...as his 39 year-old girlfriend's parents blast their age difference and brand him a 'gold digger' According to his Showcast profile, Ry has appeared in Paul Hogan 2017 biopic, Hoges and starred in a Nivea commercial. And his Instagram profile consists of a string of actor head shots and show-reel clips. When approached for comment by Daily Mail Austraila, Seven responded: 'Ry and Philippa met while working together on a local theatre production.' Hollywood in his sights: According to his Showcast profile, Ry, 21 has appeared in Paul Hogan 2017 biopic, Hoges and starred in a Nivea commercial. Pictured: The actor is seen performing a monologue The revelation comes hours before season two of controversial reality series, Bride and Prejudice, premieres on Monday. Enjoying a successful run last year, the series follows couples planning to wed but whose family disapprove of their relationship. Confrontational: Mum-of-two Philippa Bennett (right) is seen having a showdown with her father Peter (left) in a preview trailer for the first episode And in a preview trailer shared last week, the outrageous first episode shows Philippa's father Peter branding Ry a 'gold digger'. He is shown scathingly telling her: 'I should congratulate you with a new child in the family.' Meanwhile, the action appears to take inspiration from the recent bombshell season of Married At First Sight. Drama set to unfold: Bride & Prejudice teases a shock CHEATING scandal at the first dinner party in a new trailer, as the new season appears to take inspiration from Married At First Sight A shock cheating scandal is revealed at the first dinner party, leaving the couples to deal with more than just their parents' disapproval of their relationships. While the identities of the double crossing duo are kept under wraps, a female is heard saying in a piece to camera: 'I am raging!' Fans of Married At First Sight would recall a similar scenario during this year's season, when Dean Wells confessed to having an 'affair' with co-star Davina Rankin. Tension: Things come to a head at the first dinner party, when the cheating scandal is revealed Controversial Bachelor Nick Cummins is no stranger to criticism. And this week the reality star was slammed after some of his exploits in Far North Queensland left authorities less than impressed. The 31-year-old shared a video on his Instagram Story walking across Sir Joseph McAvoy Bridge in Innisfail. 'It is a life-threatening fall': The Bachelor's Nick Cummins criticised for 'dangerously' filming himself walking across a rail bridge his antics in Far North Queensland The bridge is used as a rail crossing and runs over a body of water. Kenny Loggin's Danger Zone blares in the background of the video as the former Wallaby made his way across the bridge. The rail crossing is owned by MSF Sugar, and the video has led to Dr Jason Hajinakitas, general manager of operational excellence, to cristcise The Honey Badger for the risky behaviour. Danger Zone: The 31-year-old shared a video on his Instagram Story walking across Sir Joseph McAvoy Bridge in Innisfail 'It is very dangerous and should a locomotive approach while he is in the middle of the bridge, depending on the locomotive size, it may have difficulty stopping in time,' he told The Cairns Post. 'Even without the perils of a locomotive walking on the structure it is dangerous.' He said a slip could have resulted in him falling in the river - which contains its own dangers. 'Even without the perils of a locomotive walking on the structure it is dangerous': The rail crossing is owned by MSF Sugar, and the video has led to Dr Jason Hajinakitas, general manager of operational excellence, slamming The Honey Badger 'And with the [crocodiles], rocks and snags in that part of the river it is a life threatening fall,' he said. The bridge is often used as a fishing platform, despite the company spending money every year to educate people on the dangers of hanging out on the railway. Before his travels across Australia, Nick completed the Kokoda Trail in Papua New Guinea at the same time The Bachelor finale aired back home. He caused outrage after he refused to pick either finalist - Sophie Tieman or Brittany Hockley - and walked away single. Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Nick's representatives for comment. Horse racing commentator Francesca Cumani has made her first public appearance since separating from her Australian polo-playing husband Rob Archibald. The 35-year-old looked pretty as a picture at the 2018 Melbourne Cup Carnival Launch at Flemington Racecourse on Monday. The Channel Seven personality stunned in a bright pink two-piece suit that skimmed her slim figure. Pretty in pink! Racing commentator Francesca Cumani makes first public appearance since marriage split at Melbourne Cup Carnival Launch A deep V-neck on the jacket gave a glimpse of skin, and the slim line pants showed off the beauty's long pins. The glamorous star added gold accents with pointed metallic heels and a cup pin on a lapel. A fetching hat in a coral tone gave the beauty a retro look, and she wore matching earrings in a rosy tone. Blooming: The 35-year-old looked pretty as a picture at the 2018 Melbourne Cup Carnival Launch at Flemington Racecourse on Monday Her makeup palette consisted of a burnt orange tone eye shadow and a mauve matte lipstick. The appearance comes after her split from husband Rob was announced earlier this month. The longtime face of the spring carnival coverage has moved on with fellow ITV racing commentary team member Oli Bell, Daily Mail Australia revealed. Over: The appearance comes after split from husband Rob Archibald (left) was announced earlier this month Francesca, the daughter of acclaimed Italian-born trainer Luca Cumani, married Rob in 2014 and their son Harry was born two years later. The couple attempted to juggle their lives on either side of the planet - a challenge which intensified after Francesca was hired by Britain's ITV two years ago. That meant her spending eight months in Britain during the racing season and four months in Australia, where she had been a commentator for Channel 7. Tough: The couple attempted to juggle their lives on either side of the planet. But the strain was too much But the strain was too much, as Francesca, who first got to know Australia after transporting one of her father's horses Down Under, explained. 'From the beginning we knew that living between the UK and Australia would be a challenge but we believed we could make it work,' she said. 'Sadly we were wrong. The most important thing now is to make sure we look after our son so he isn't affected by what has happened.' The Little Drummer Girl finished as the opening episode of any John Le Carre thriller should - with the classic question whats going on?! Yes, viewers might have thought, good point. On this occasion it was even one of the leading characters asking demanding to know (the heroine played by Florence Pugh). Review: The BBC delivered another superb John Le Carre Sunday night thriller with The Little Drummer Girl, writes Jim Shelley In fact compared to famous BBC adaptations like Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979) or Smileys People (1982), The Little Drummer Girl was relatively straightforward. Admittedly at times the mumbled, hurried, dialogue by Alexander Skarsgard in particular didnt always help the audience follow exactly what was happening, especially when accompanied by the nerve-wracking violins soundtrack. Generally, The Little Drummer Girl seemed pitched somewhere in-between the likes of Tinker Tailor and the most recent hit the Beeb had had with Le Carre, The Night Manager, which in terms of complexity was more James Bond-lite. Le Carres son Simon Cornwell (executive producer of both) has claimed The Little Drummer Girl is unashamedly, deliberately, very different from The Night Manager in terms of its tone and approach. Storytelling: On this occasion it was even one of the leading characters asking demanding to know (the heroine played by Florence Pugh, pictured) Whether this is wishful thinking remains to be seen. Certainly the two series/books have the same foundation: a novice spy infiltrates a dangerous, murderous, highly suspicious, criminal group succeeding whether the national intelligence officers overseeing their endeavours couldnt (and without any guarantees they will protect them). Whereas The Night Manager was updated from the early 90s to the present day, The Little Drummer Girlwas set in 1979 evoked brilliantly via songs ranging from The Clash to the Durutti Column and the superb styling in everything from the haircuts, moustaches, and suede trenchcoats to the cars, matchbooks and retro tape recorders. The opening scene was vintage Le Carre - following the progress of a suitcase containing a bomb as it was assembled by a Palestinian terrorist, delivered to a house in West Germany by a flirtatious young blonde girl posing as a friend of the familys au pair, and carried by the Israeli attache who lived there upstairs where it blew up killing his 8 year-old son as he played in his room. Nail-biting: Certainly the two series/books have the same foundation: a novice spy infiltrates a dangerous, murderous, highly suspicious, criminal group The Night Manager never seemed more than a pastiche of 007, with a hero, villain, and scenery that were all too corny. The Little Drummer Girl though was immediately more intense and intricate - grey rather than glossy thanks mostly to the cityscapes like Cologne, Tel Aviv, and London over, say, the lavish backdrops of the Swiss Alps. Having said that, the photography and visual flourishes by South Korean director Park Chan-Wook (Oldboy) were fantastic, particularly in a stunning scene filmed at night in Athens at the Acropolis. A large part of the intensity came from the two leading males. Focused: The Little Drummer Girl though was immediately more intense and intricate - grey rather than glossy Alexander Skarsgard wasnt using the role of the moody, rugged, hero as his own private audition for Bond, as Tom Hiddleston did with The Night Manager. Above all, the first episode was carried by a bravura performance by Michael Shannon, echoing the award-winning role of FBI officer in Boardwalk Empire with another twisted, tormented, pursuant: Mossad intelligence officer Martin Kurtz. The au pairs beautiful friend... he asked the Israeli attache (who survived the blast that killed his son). Her cardigan? How far was it buttoned up? The suggestive, obsessive, way he fidgeted as he motioned with his fingers was pure Van Alden. We found out who the bombers were via one of Kurtzs fractured, eccentric, monologues as he recalled the first experience of four Palestinian brothers targets the supermarkets, settlements, and schools where he grew up. Could it be love? This after Skarsgards mysterious stranger had wooed her with a romantic visit to the Acropolis The eldest of them...mmmh, he had a genius to him, Kurtz acknowledged casually, admiringly, comparing Khalil to Mozart. His plan to catch Khalil now was to use the same tactic as his foe. The young blonde posing as the au pairs friend was an outcast from Baader Meinhof the terrorist had recruited. The enemy is using Westerners, Kurtz explained at his boss at Mossad. So must we. Our fiction has to match their reality... If you want to catch a lion, a toy goat wont work. A goat has to smell right, has to taste right, has to have a heart, even if it is the wrong place right now. You are a dreamer - always were. Seduction: 'how will I ever fall in love after this?! she had sighed, more to herself than him I am an artist! Kurtz countered. So it proved. I need help crossing your notoriously fastidious border. Its a certain medical patient, who will be in a state of emergency, he told a member of the German counter-terrorist unit after Khalils brother Salim was duped into picking up a hitchhiker and injected in the neck. This was the first part of Kurtz' plan to infiltrate the cell. The other was to use Charmain Charlie Ross (Pugh), a radical young (blonde) English actress to pose as the girlfriend of Peter (Skarsgard) and, presumably, end up serving as Khalils next recruit - given that, judging by the Baader Meinhof girl, she fitted the profile. Thus we arrived at the point of Charlie pleading: whats going on? This after Skarsgards mysterious stranger had wooed her with a romantic visit to the Acropolis ('how will I ever fall in love after this?! she had sighed, more to herself than him) and then terrified her by speeding across Athens to a secluded, secretive, location where they were greeted by Kurtz. Different role: Alexander Skarsgard was certainly mean, moody, and virtually mute enough to emulate Hiddlestons macho endeavours Welcome Charlie. I am the producer, writer, and director of our little show, he announced theatrically. And I would like to talk to you about your part. This time, it looks as if Peter and Charlie together will be reprising the intrepid undercover enterprise of Jonathan Pine, the Le Carre hero in the previous BBC Sunday nightthriller to grip the nation. Alexander Skarsgard was certainly mean, moody, and virtually mute enough to emulate Hiddlestons macho endeavours. Florence Pughs job is more difficult. The idea of a naive, quintessentially English, and frankly irritating actress like Charlie successfully infiltrating a tight-knit, ruthless, group of Palestinian terrorists makes what Hiddleston's receptionist did in The Night Manager look plausible. Seeing her try will be just part of the pleasure though in watching The Little Drummer Girl over the next five Sunday nights. Sofia Vergara is reportedly claiming her ex Nick Loeb is using their embryo court case as a bid to destroy her marriage to Joe Manganiello. The 46-year-old Modern Family actress has been embroiled in the legal battle with her ex, who she dated for two years before splitting in 2014, after he repeatedly sued her in a bid to keep the embryos they froze during their relationship. Sources close to the actress, who was sued by the embryos in 2016, when a right-to-live lawsuit was filed on their behalf in Louisiana, is convinced the battle is a mere bid to destroy her marriage to Joe, who she wed in 2015. Furious: Sofia Vergara is reportedly claiming her ex Nick Loeb (pictured in 2012) is using their embryo court case as a bid to destroy her marriage to Joe Manganiello Sofia and Nick froze two female embryos, which they had created and planned to use with a surrogate during their relationship before their split later on, however afterwards he wanted to keep them yet she wanted them to remain frozen. Sources tell TMZ that the actress is convinced the row has nothing to do with wanting the embryos and is merely a bid to harm her relationship. MailOnline has contacted representatives for Sofia and Nick for comment. The inside claims came that the actor and producer, who has named the embryos Emma and Isabella, had moved his legal battle to Louisiana as the pro-life state recogises embryos as humans. Happier days: The 46-year-old Modern Family actress (pictured with Joe in March) has been embroiled in the legal battle with her ex, who she dated for two years before splitting in 2014, after he repeatedly sued her in a bid to keep the embryos they froze during their relationship Despite being a California resident, his attorneys, Pierre Miller and Jasha McQueen, confirmed he is renting a home in the area - although sources close to Sofia insist he is using the house as a front to continue his fight. Nick has been blocked from bringing the embryos to term twice by the actress but in April this year he filed a third lawsuit. Sofia and Nick have been fighting in the nasty battle for years. Nick first sued his ex in early 2015 for custody of the female embryos they created together while they were engaged in 2013. Stunner: Sofia has a 26-year-old son, Manolo Gonzalez-Ripoll Vergara, from a previous relationship (pictured together earlier this month) While they were dating, the former couple signed a document saying they both had to consent to implant the embryos in a surrogate. The pair broke up in May 2014. Loeb wants to see the frozen embryos grow to term and become his daughters while Sofia wants to see them remain frozen. Loeb dropped his case in 2016 a day before another one was filed by an unknown third party in Louisiana representing the embryos as plaintiffs. Shock: Sofia and her lawyer have accused Nick (pictured in 2015) of trying to keep himself in the public eye by drawing attention to the case The case has garnered the interest of pro-life groups because it called into question the rights of the embryos created at ART Reproductive Center in Beverly Hills. A case was filed against Sofia in December 2016 by a third party in Louisiana where IVF embryos are considered 'juridical persons' with rights, including the right to life. The plaintiffs were listed as the embryos. The lawsuit claimed the actress was depriving them of inheritance by blocking them from being born. Sofia and her lawyer have accused Nick of trying to keep himself in the public eye by drawing attention to the case. Anger: The actress responded on Good Morning America: 'This shouldn't be out there for people to give their opinion. There's nothing to talk about, there's papers signed' (pictured in September last year) He wrote an opinion piece in the New York Times in 2015 that argued if a woman has a right to chose to carry a pregnancy to term, a man should have the same rights when it comes to an IVF embryo. The actress responded on Good Morning America: 'This shouldn't be out there for people to give their opinion. There's nothing to talk about, there's papers signed.' Sofia has a 26-year-old son, Manolo Gonzalez-Ripoll Vergara, from a previous relationship. She married Magic Mike actor Joe in a lavish Palm Beach ceremony in November 2015. She's been enjoying life as a newlywed after moving into her marital home with husband Hugo Taylor following their summer wedding. And Millie Mackintosh looked as though married life was suiting her down to the ground as she posted a series of snaps from a winter wellness break at the Rosewood Hotel in Phuket, Thailand, on Sunday. The reality star, 29, posed up a storm in a series of slinky swimwear shots as she enjoyed a relaxing weekend of yoga, Thai cookery lessons and sight-seeing at the Wat Chalong temple. Fun in the sun: Millie Mackintosh looked as though married life was suiting her as she posted a snaps from a wellness break at the Rosewood Hotel in Phuket, Thailand, on Sunday The fashion designer showed off her gym-honed figure as she slipped into an eye-catching red and white patterned bikini and matching kaftan from her socialite friend Alicia Rountree's new collection. Millie looked every inch the style queen as she treated fans to a glimpse of her lavish champagne breakfast, teaming her swimwear with a chic matching kaftan and retro-style shades. The former Made In Chelsea star took to Instagram once again on Monday morning as she posed in front of her hotel mirror, wearing a plunging rust-coloured swimsuit by Melissa Obadash and a matching cover-up. Joined for her girls' break by her manager, Millie told her followers how much she was enjoying her weekend of rest and relaxation. Chic: The reality star, 29, posed up a storm in a series of slinky swimwear shots as she enjoyed a relaxing weekend of yoga, Thai cookery lessons and sight-seeing at the Wat Chalong temple Let me take a selfie: The former Made In Chelsea star took to Instagram on Monday morning as she posed in a plunging rust-coloured swimsuit by Melissa Obadash and a matching cover-up Using the Thai greeting sawadee ka, she wrote alongside a snap: 'Sawadee Ka. Ive only been here 2 days but already I am in love with this island and the kindness of the Thai people I have met.' While Millie seemed to be having a blast her husband Hugo, 32, was pining for his wife, telling his Instagram followers he spent Sunday afternoon looking at photographs from the couple's stunning countryside wedding in June. Posting a snap of the pair on their special day, the sunglasses entrepreneur wrote: 'One Love... Ive just spent a great Sunday afternoon looking over pictures from our wedding this summer and it feels like an out of body experience. 'The joy, wonder and happiness lasts forever. I love being a husband to the most incredible and beautiful wife.' Exploring: Joined for her girls' break by her manager, Millie told her followers how much she was enjoying her weekend of rest and relaxation Missing you: While Millie seemed to be having a blast, husband Hugo Taylor, 32, was pining for his wife, telling his followers he spent Sunday afternoon looking at wedding photographs The couple tied the knot at Hugo's uncle's country estate, Whithurst Park, in West Sussex on June 22, followed by a romantic Greek honeymoon to the islands of Crete and Kefalonia. Millie and Hugo first dated back in 2011 when they co-starred on Made In Chelsea, but split when it emerged Hugo had cheated on her with her friend Rosie Fortescue. They reunited in May 2016 shortly after Millie's split from first husband, rapper Professor Green, 34. Millie was married to the musician, real name Stephen Manderson, for two-and-a-half years before they announced their split in February 2016. Yoga bunny: The fashion designer slipped into a tie-dye crop top and matching leggings as she worked up a sweat during an outdoor yoga session Newlyweds: The couple tied the knot at Hugo's uncle's country estate, Whithurst Park, in West Sussex on June 22, followed by a romantic Greek honeymoon to Crete and Kefalonia The couple finalised their divorce in May 2016, the same week that Millie went public with Hugo on a trip to the Monaco Grand Prix to celebrate Hugo's 30th birthday. Hugo then popped the question a year later during a holiday in Mykonos, Greece, in July 2017. Talking about his bride, Hugo told Hello! magazine at the wedding: 'I knew she was The One within about five minutes of us getting back together.' Millie concurred: 'But if we'd stayed together when we were younger, we wouldn't be together now. 'We had to go away, do our separate things and grow as people. We needed that time apart.' Thai-m of her life: Millie seemed to be having a ball on her wellness break, posting Instagram stories of a sight-seeing trip to the Wat Chalong temple (left) and a Thai cookery class (right) It's been revealed EastEnders will bring back as many as three familiar characters to the soap in upcoming months. Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer), Ricky Butcher (Sid Owen) and Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp) are just a few of the Albert Square favourites who could stir up trouble. New soap boss Kate Oates dished to The Daily Star that up to three legendary characters will make an 'exciting' return to our screens early next year. Soap showdown: EastEnders' Bianca Jackson, Ricky Butcher and Grant Mitchell tipped for HUGE comeback... as new boss confirmed 'THREE' legends will make explosive return Kate told the newspaper: 'I've only been there a few weeks but we're already making our plans. We're going to be bringing some people back. So that's exciting. 'I haven't made the calls yet but there will definitely be two, possibly three old faces returning. You'll probably see them in the first quarter of the new year.' If Bianca was to make a comeback, bosses surely would have to bring back her long-suffering on/off lover Ricky. Can't stay away: It would be no surprise if Grant made a return to the show as he keeps on coming back to EastEnders after years away from the soap scene The redhead was last seen on the soap four years ago in 2014 when she left Albert Square with her new man Terry as well as her kids Morgan and Tiffany. Lovable Ricky, however, left six years ago after twisted events saw him cheat on the love of his life Bianca. Also in 2012, the cheeky character made a brief return to attend his on-screen sister Janine Butcher's wedding. Throwback: If Bianca was to make a comeback, bosses surely would have to bring back her long-suffering on/off lover Ricky It would be no surprise if Grant made a return to the show as he keeps on coming back to EastEnders after years away from the soap scene. Phil's brother made his first exit in 1999 but he was unable to stay away as he comeback in 2005 for a few weeks and again for a few months in 2006. Grant was last seen just two years ago in 2016 which was crucial for his on-screen mum Peggy's final scenes after she played a major role on EastEnders for 25 years. The hard-man comes back to Albert Square with the plan to bring Peggy back to Portugal with him but in a dramatic twist of events, she dies and he eventually returns to the sunny country. Goes way back: Phil's brother made his first exit in 1999 but he was unable to stay away as he comeback in 2005 for a few weeks and again for a few months in 2006 As well as EastEnders, boss Kate will be taking the reins on television shows Holby City and Casualty after leaving her role at Coronation Street to join the BBC. The development comes as the festive season fastly approaches and the EastEnders Christmas storyline is always known for being hard-hitting. Show stalwart Dean Gaffney hinted that an 'iconic' character is returning to the soap just in time for the festive season. The 40-year-old, who plays hapless Robbie Jackson on the show, revealed at the Inside Soap Awards in London on Monday that he is 'good friends' with the actor making a comeback to the BBC soap - but he was naming no names. Iconic: Dean Gaffney, pictured at the Inside Soap Awards in London on Monday, teased that an 'iconic' character is returning to EastEnders ahead of an explosive Christmas storyline And the mystery person won't just be lazing around eating mince pies, they will well and truly shake things up in a 'very interesting storyline'. Gaffney told Digital Spy: 'We've got a returnee coming back, which is exciting! There's certain people that come back to a show, they might not add to it, but this person definitely adds to it! 'It's good to have this person back. Their storyline at Christmas will be very interesting.' Mother figure: Robbie's mum Carol Jackson, played by Lindsey Coulson, could be one of the characters set to pop up in Walford as part of an explosive storyline Fans of a certain age were given a rare treat as Starsky & Hutch stars David Soul and Paul Michael Glaser were reunited on Sunday afternoon during a welcome appearance at Comic Con in Londons Docklands. The American actors had good company in the form of Antonio Fargas, best known for his role as jive-talking informant Huggy Bear, as they posed for photos alongside their iconic red and white Ford Gran Torino. Soul and Glaser, both 75, became household names thanks to their crime-busting exploits as no-nonsense 70s detectives Starsky & Hutch during its hugely successful four season run. Back together: Fans of a certain age were given a rare treat as Starsky & Hutch stars David Soul, Paul Michael Glaser and Antonio Fargas were reunited on Sunday afternoon during a welcome appearance at Comic Con in Londons Docklands And the close friends were in fine form during their appearance alongside Fargas, 72, at Londons ExCel, during which they signed autographs and posed for photos with fans. Soul appeared to be in particularly good health as he joined his former co-stars at the event, more than a year after appearing at Liverpool Comic Con in a wheelchair. The actor has previously reflected on his enduring friendship with Glaser and Fargas - regulars on the Comic-Con circuit - some four decades after Starsky & Hutch went off air. High spirits: The close friends were in fine form during their appearance alongside Fargas, 72, at Londons ExCel, during which they posed alongside the iconic red and white Ford Gran Torino used by Starsky & Hutch Old times: The trio became household names during the show's hugely successful four season run 'One thing that's great is that three of us have remained really good friends and that's very rare and I'm really grateful for that,' Soul told Comic-Con attendees in March 2017. 'It's very rare to find a relationship like what we had on that show that comes from the heart.' Now a British citizen, Soul lives in London with PR Helen Snell, his fifth wife, who he met while touring the UK with a stage production of Ira Levin play Deathtrap in 2002. Previously: Soul appeared to be in particularly good health as he joined his former co-stars at the event on Sunday, more than a year after appearing at Liverpool Comic Con in a wheelchair (pictured) Close friends: Soul, a regular on the Comic-Con circuit, has previously reflected on his enduring friendship with Glaser and Fargas, some four decades after Starsky & Hutch went off air Referring to his love of Great Britain in 2015, he told MailOnline: 'Britain is beautiful. I like south Devon a lot, the bleakness of Dartmoor. 'And I like being in a country steeped in history. I return to the States about three times a year as my five sons all live there, though my daughter lives here.' He added: 'When Paul Michael Glaser and I were filming Starsky & Hutch in the 70s, Princess Margaret once came to meet us on the set because she liked the show. 'We took her to lunch and, suffice to say, we didnt go back to work in the afternoon. Also we were told the Queen Mother once said, "I like those boys so much!" But I dont think Ill ever be Sir David, even though I act like it sometimes! 'The only person Id care to call me Sir David is my wife, as I call her Lady Helen!' He's been focusing on his family life in the wake of recent troubles. And Jonathan Rhys Meyers was enjoying a rare night out with his glamorous wife Mara Lane and their son Wolf, one, at a charity event in Los Angeles on Sunday. The 41-year-old actor cut a dapper figure as he arrived at the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation's 30th Anniversary for A Time For Heroes Family Festival alongside his loved ones. Happy families: Jonathan Rhys Meyers was enjoying a rare night out with his glamorous wife Mara Lane and their son Wolf, one, at a charity event in Los Angeles on Sunday Jonathan looked happy and healthy as he graced the red carpet in a grey ripped T-shirt and a smart blazer. Mara donned a low-cut sundress with fastening detailing on the bodice and a short hemline. She wore her hair down in loose waves and completed her look with brown leather sandals. Little Wolf looked adorable in a pair of silk trousers, a skeleton print hoodie and mini Gucci trainers. Back to his best: Jonathan looked happy and healthy as he graced the red carpet in a grey ripped T-shirt and a smart blazer Mara took to her Instagram account to raise awareness for the charity event, supporting children and families affected by HIV. She enthused: 'What an amazing organization @egpaf supporting children and families affected by HIV/AIDS and what a FUN afternoon. 'Thank you for letting us be apart of the awareness and healing If you have a moment please read up on all that they are doing and up to. www.pedaids.org xWJM'. Mara also shared a number of sweet family snaps of the trio and her mother posing at the event. Social media posts: Mara took to her Instagram account to raise awareness for the charity event, supporting children and families affected by HIV Jonathan has vowed to stay sober after being detained following a drunken row with his wife onboard a plane in July. In an interview on Larry King Now, the actor admitted drinking doesn't 'suit' him as he spoke about the incident, which led to him being detained at Los Angeles' LAX airport when his plane touched down on the runway. The Dracula star, who was accompanied by his wife Mara and their one-year-old son on the flight from Peru, recalled: 'My wife and I had been travelling since 3 o'clock in the morning from Peru back to Los Angeles. And they gave away our tickets it was just a problem with the airline. 'We had our baby, who was teething at the time, and it was all kind of frustrating. So we eventually got on the flight and my wife went to sleep and I very stupidly decided to order a drink. She enthused: 'What an amazing organization @egpaf supporting children and families affected by HIV/AIDS and what a FUN afternoon' 'When my wife found that I'd ordered a drink, she got very, very angry with me because I shouldn't drink. It doesn't suit me and I had been sober for a long time.' Jonathan admitted he was 'upset' by his actions but had apologised to all involved in the incident and thanked police for being 'incredibly kind and understanding'. He continued: 'And so I felt that mistake and I got upset and I took out an e-cigarette. And the airline staff told me that I wasn't allowed to smoke an e-cigarette so I put it away. 'Then I spoke to the Los Angeles police once we got there, who were incredibly kind. Incredibly understanding. I apologised for my behaviour, and that's the entire story.' Former Bachelorette Georgia Love tragically lost her mother in November 2016 to pancreatic cancer just days after the finale of her season of the reality show aired. And on Monday, the 37-year-old paid a touching tribute to her late mother Belinda, who passed away at age 60. Taking to Instagram, Georgia shared a sweet photograph of herself as a child sitting on her mother's lap. 'Every day is still this hard': Former Bachelorette star Georgia Love shared touching tribute to her late mother... who tragically died from cancer days after the show's finale in 2016 'Two years. And a lifetime more that have to be faced without you,' she wrote alongside the picture. 'I don't know how I'm meant to do that when every day is still this hard,' Georgia concluded. Georgia lost her late mother after a six-month battle with pancreatic cancer. 'Two years. And a lifetime more that have to be faced without you,' Georgia wrote alongside a photograph of herself and her late mother, Belinda Loving tributes shared with the Herald Sun described Belinda as an outgoing mother and friend whose life was 'cut way too short'. At the time, Georgia spoke to TV Week magazine and gushed about the moment she was able to introduce her Bachelorette winner boyfriend Lee Elliott to her mother. 'It was amazing to see how much he perked her up,' she said, adding: 'She was sitting up talking and laughing with him, which she hadn't been able to do all day. Tragic: Loving tributes shared with the Herald Sun described Belinda as an outgoing mother and friend whose life was 'cut way too short' 'It was obviously an awful place and reason to be meeting.' Lee also revealed in an interview with The Daily Telegraph that he met Georgia's mother for the first time in hospital straight after the finale aired and received the seal of approval from her. In 2016, ahead of the series finale, Channel Ten confirmed to The Daily Telegraph that Belinda had been admitted to palliative care. 'She was sitting up talking and laughing with him, which she hadn't been able to do all day,' Georgia said while speaking to TV Week magazine at the time She was receiving chemotherapy while Georgia filmed season two of the popular reality TV series. Georgia, unlike other contestants, had been given permission to speak to her mother while she filmed the show due to Belinda's ill health. They're another of this year's Strictly Come Dancing couples plagued with rumours about getting close off the dancefloor. And Joe Sugg and pro Dianne Buswell did little to dispell those rumours when Joe took to social media on Sunday night to post videos of them having a cosy night in together. Dianne - who dumped soap actor boyfriend Anthony Quinlan just a couple of weeks ago - has been 'inseparable' from YouTuber Joe since they were partnered up for this season of the BBC dancing show. Getting close? Strictly's Joe Sugg and Dianne Buswell spent a cosy night in together on Sunday evening... just a couple of weeks after her split with Anthony Quinlan Joe, 27, posted to his Insta-Stories saying: 'Look whos just turned up at my house' He panned the camera over to the 29-year-old pro who was giving the camera the thumbs up, before Joe revealed they were shooting a vlog for his channel together. It's been reported by The Sun that the pair often spent time at his home together, with her said to have stayed over a few times. A BBC source told the publication: 'Joe and Dianne are keeping things low-key but theyre having a lot of fun. Everyone on set has noticed how close theyve become. Cosy: Joe, 27, posted to his Insta-Stories saying, 'Look whos just turned up at my house' 'Theyre definitely more than just friends. They are very fond of each other. They are hoping to stay in the contest for as long as possible and are trying to focus on dancing for now, but theyre seeing where things go.' The pair reportedly first kissed three weeks ago when she was still in a relationship with Anthony. According to The Sun, the Australian dancer cheated on her boyfriend, who she split with last week, after kissing the vlogger during a night out with their castmates. A source sensationally revealed to the publication that the 'Strictly curse has struck again' after they were 'flirting and laughing all night before having a quick kiss and leaving together.' Claims: Dianne reportedly first kissed her dance partner Joe three weeks ago when she was still in a relationship The Sun states that a source revealed: 'Joe and Dianne were flirting and laughing all night, and were the talk of the club. They were seen having a quick kiss, and ended up leaving together. 'Joe and Dianne had chemistry from day one rehearsals,' it was concluded. MailOnline has contacted representatives for Joe, Dianne and Strictly Come Dancing for further comment. Despite being at the centre of swirling romance rumours, Joe and Dianne weren't distracted as they performed a sensational foxtrot to 5SOS hit Youngblood on Strictly on Saturday night. 'Chemistry from day one': According to The Sun, the Australian dancer, 29, cheated on her boyfriend, who she split with last week, after kissing the vlogger during a boozy night out Reports: A source has revealed to the publication that the 'Strictly curse has struck again' after they were 'flirting and laughing all night before having a quick kiss and leaving together' Their routine earned plenty of praise from the panel, with Bruno stunned at how much the vlogger had improved, finishing joint second on the leaderboard with 35 points out of 40. Darcy gushed: 'Joe that was spookily good, as Craig said when you came out of hold and got back into hold was brilliant, the long steps the footwork, you're gonna go this far who knows we might see you in the final.' Meanwhile, reports of their first kiss comes hot on the heels of heavy romance rumours. The Sun reported that the dancing duo have grown much closer in recent weeks, enjoying secret dinner dates together following the Australian beauty's split from boyfriend Anthony Quinlan. Joe and Dianne have been a surprise hit on the Strictly dance-floor this series, earning significantly high scores and plenty of support from fans. Wow: Despite being at the centre of swirling romance rumours, Joe and Dianne weren't distracted as they performed a sensational foxtrot to 5SOS hit Youngblood on Strictly on Saturday night Sparks flying: Reports of their kiss comes after a source told The Sun Strictly they've enjoyed secret dates The source said: 'Joe and Dianne are keeping things low-key but they're having a lot of fun. 'They are not calling each other boyfriend and girlfriend just yet, but they're definitely more than just friends. 'They are hoping to stay in the contest for as long as possible and are trying to focus on dancing for now, but they're seeing where things go.' MailOnline has contacted representatives for Strictly Come Dancing and Joe Sugg for further comments. Cute pair: The Sun reported the dancing duo have grown much closer in recent weeks, especially after Dianne's split from boyfriend Anthony Quinlan This comes after Dianne's ex Anthony slammed claims their relationship fell victim to the Strictly curse, after they ended their 10-month romance. The Emmerdale actor, 34, revealed he's 'rooting for her and Joe' during their stint on the BBC competition series, and insisted he and his ex are 'still really good friends'. In an interview with Daily Star, the soap star denied the Strictly curse claims as he revealed why he split from the 29-year-old: 'We're still really good friends it's just distance played a part. There were all these rumours about the 'Strictly' curse but it wasn't that.' Over: The reports come after it was revealed that Dianne had split from boyfriend of ten months, Emmerdale star Anthony Quinlan Sweet: Fans have seen Joe and Dianne's partnership grown in recent weeks, as they continue to win over the judges and the viewing public with their incredible dance routines Admitting that there's no bad blood between the pair, he added: 'I'm actually rooting for Joe and Dianne. They're doing absolutely amazing in strictly and I still think the world of the girl. 'We were really close, it just wasn't meant to be.' Fans have seen Joe and Dianne's partnership grown in recent weeks, as they continue to win over the judges and the viewing public with their incredible dance routines. The red-haired dancer's split from Anthony comes amid claims everyone on the hit BBC One dance show had been discussing how 'close' Dianne and her celebrity partner Joe, 27, had become. With the professional dancer said to be 'enjoying spending time' with the YouTuber following her break up. 'Everyone on set's been discussing how close they'd become. It did not go unnoticed by Anthony,' a source told The Sun. Max Irons appeared to make a thinly-veiled dig at Richard Madden as he discussed the latest rumours regarding who will be the next James Bond. Bodyguard actor Richard has been hotly tipped for the role following his appearance on the BBC series, but The Little Drummer Girl star Irons, 33, doesn't seem so convinced. Appearing on ITV's Lorraine on Monday, the acting talent insisted we need to 'raise our requirements' when it comes to who will play the new 007. Cheeky! Max Irons appeared to make a thinly-veiled dig at Richard Madden as he discussed the latest rumours regarding who will be the next James Bond on Lorraine on Monday He was asked by host Lorraine Kelly whether he could take over the iconic role - made famous by the likes of Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig - when he appeared to make the swipe at his fellow actor. Max, who had been discussing his role in new series Condor that airs on Universal on Monday, responded: 'Our requirements for Bond are a little too low.' 'I think we need to raise them,' he claimed, tellingly adding: 'I'm not pointing at anyone in particular... but Bond - he's an assassin! Licence to kill! We need people who look like they're capable of that!' Turning attention back on himself, Max added: 'Me? Come on!' His comments come after speculation has been rife that Game of Thrones star Madden is set to become the next James Bond following Daniel Craig's departure. Dig? The acting talent insisted we need to 'raise our requirements' when it comes to who will play the new 007, tellingly adding: 'I'm not pointing at anyone in particular' Iconic: Max ruled himself out for the role, as he said: 'Bond - he's an assassin! Licence to kill! We need people who look like they're capable of that! Me? Come on!' The Scottish star's portrayal of a steely diplomatic protection officer in BBC drama Bodyguard and his bedroom antics with Home Secretary Julia Montague, played by Keeley Hawes, have made him the bookies' favourite, Reports claimed he is set to be approached about the role by Barbara Broccoli, the executive producer at Eon Productions, who has the final say on all Bond characters. A source said: 'It's seriously looking like he [Madden] is going to get the job. Not only is he on top of Barbara's list, but she is preparing to offer the role.' If confirmed, Richard's selection would end a year of speculation as to who will succeed screen star Daniel, 50. Next 007? His comments come after speculation has been rife that Game of Thrones star Madden is set to become the next James Bond following Daniel Craig's departure Much-loved franchise: James Bond has been made famous by the likes of Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig (above) There was talk Idris Elba, 46, was the frontrunner after his impressive performance in the TV series Luther, as well a speculation that a female could take over the iconic role. While Madden is considered the bookies favourite, others touted to take over as the eighth Bond include Tom Hiddleston, Tom Hardy and Henry Cavil, with Emily Blunt and Gillian Anderson believed to be the women who are being considered for the role. Meanwhile, Irons - who is the son of British actor Jeremy Irons and award-winning Irish actress Sinead Cusack - also touched on the subject of nepotism and how it has impacted him throughout his career. Interesting: The Scottish star's portrayal of a steely diplomatic protection officer in Bodyguard have made him the bookies' favourite, with claims reporting Madden is set to be approached for James Bond role Max said: 'In this country, nepotism is frowned upon - I think that's a good thing. 'I think in the earlier days of my career, people were more eager to meet me. But then, they were also quick to say, "He's taking the easy route, following his parents..." if I didn't deliver.' Max is currently starring in new BBC series The Little Drummer Girl - a spy thriller that has been labelled the new Night Manager and promises to have fans on the edge of their seats thanks to its intense plot. Famous parents: Irons - who is the son of British actor Jeremy Irons and award-winning Irish actress Sinead Cusack - also touched on the subject of nepotism and how it has impacted him throughout his career New role: Max is currently starring in new BBC series The Little Drummer Girl - a spy thriller that has been labelled the new Night Manager The Little Drummer Girl: Viewers were left confused by the BBC spy thriller's first episode for being too confusing on Sunday... as others praise Florence Pugh's performance Directed by prolific South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook, the series kicked off on the BBC on Sunday night and while it received good reviews from viewers, many were left confused over the 'uncertainty' in the first episode. It had a dramatic opening as it began with an explosion at an Israeli diplomatic residence in Germany. Focused on the aftermath of this incident, the first episode bounces back and forth between various locations, including London, Berlin, Athens, and Israel. Some fans were left confused because of the episode's sporadic nature, and they took to Twitter to vent out their frustrations because of their uncertainty. One viewer said: 'After what seems like such a long day, trying to keep track with The Little Drummer Girl is looking like one task too many. Gonna need to rewatch.' Confused: Some fans were left confused because of the episode's sporadic nature, as they took to Twitter to vent out their frustrations because of their uncertainty While another decided to turn to their fellow users, as they asked: 'How's everyone getting on with the Little Drummer Girl? I'm struggling.' Another fan opted for a more direct approach, as they slammed: 'Anyone else just watch The Little Drummer Girl, and have NO idea what's going on?!' That wasn't all, as one user took their complaint to the BBC as they wrote: 'just watched 'the little drummer girl' on @BBCOne and totally confused (sic).' But fan feedback after the first episode aired wasn't all negative, as many praised the opener for its intensity, as well as Park's directing. Given his incredible feature films The Handmaiden and Oldboy, it comes as no surprise that viewers gushed about the director's 'exceptional' work. Another breakout hit from the episode was English actress Florence Pugh, who wowed fans with her layered performance. The series also stars Alexander Skarsgard and Michael Shannon. Happy: Many fans also praised the show for its intensity as well as Park's exceptional directing Dramatic: Directed by prolific South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook, it had an intense opening as it began with an explosion at an Israeli diplomatic residence in Germany One user jokingly said: 'That's annoying. After The Bodyguard I vowed not to watch any more BBC series. But I forgot and just watched the first episode of The Little Drummer Girl. It is good. Now I'm going to have to watch the whole damned thing.' While one gushed: 'Strong first episode of The Little Drummer Girl. Exceptional photography and production design and a star making turn from from Florence Pugh in what is a very difficult role.' Based on John le Carre's novel of the same name, the show, set in 1979, sees Charlie (Florence) meet Becker (Alexander Skarsgard) while on holiday in Greece. She is offered a role in the 'theatre of the real', but quickly becomes dangerously immersed in a complex plot masterminded by Kurtz (Michael Shannon). They're gearing up for the fourth series of their fly-on-the-wall show The Mummy Diaries. And Sam and Billie Faiers put in an appearance on Lorraine this Monday to discuss the ITVBe reality show, talking all things parenting, wedding bells and breastfeeding. The former TOWIE stars - who raise children Rosie, one, and Paul, two, and Arthur, one and Nelly, four, respectively - spoke passionately about using their 'platform' to help raise awareness of important issues, including normalising breastfeeding in public. Sister act: Sam and Billie Faiers put in an appearance on Lorraine this Monday to discuss the ITVBe reality show, talking all things parenting, wedding bells and breastfeeding Raising awareness: The former TOWIE stars - who raise children Rosie and Paul, and Arthur and Nelly respectively - spoke passionately about using their 'platform' to help raise awareness of important issues, including normalising breastfeeding in public Discussing the negative backlash to her recent social media pictures, Sam said: 'I don't understand it. 'I don't post that I breastfeed all the time. Where I have got a platform, I am a young mum, there's not enough of it in the public eye. 'So many young mums have said, "I would never have imagined breastfeeding, but I've seen it on the show, I am".' She continued: 'I find it uncomfortable that people even suggest it's weird. It's an innocent, nice picture!' Stepping out in style: Billie and Sam put their best foot forward as they arrived to promote their new TV series Back for another series: The duo are gearing up for the fourth series of their fly-on-the-wall show The Mummy Diaries In conversation: Sam insisted, 'I am a young mum, there's not enough of it in the public eye' Family matters: The brunette beauty also discussed co-sleeping with her children, insisting it should be up to every parent to decide The brunette beauty also discussed co-sleeping with her children, insisting it should be up to every parent to decide. 'Even my own friends are like, "When are you going to get Rosie in her own cot?", Sam laughed. 'Our whole household gets sleep, it's fine! The plan is, to get Little Paul in his own room soon... Maybe after Christmas Rosie can have a cot.' Speaking up: Sam and Billie are keen to help normalise breastfeeding in public Stylish: The girls put in a fashionable appearance as they made their way into the venue Windswept: Sam and Billie braved the London chill as they arrived on the South Bank Wedding bells: Billie is shortly set to wed fiance Greg Shepherd - with whom she shares children Nelly, four, and Arthur, one - following a four-and-a-half year engagement Billie is shortly set to wed fiance Greg Shepherd following a four-and-a-half year engagement, and the new series of The Mummy Diaries will show the girls living it up in Ibiza on her wild hen do. Jumping on the notion of marriage, host Lorraine Kelly couldn't resist quizzing Sam about whether she would be walking down the aisle with her partner Paul one day. 'I knew you were going to ask me that! We can't wait to get married, it's not right now for us. We're busy with the kids, but we 100 per cent want to!', a bashful Sam said. During their TV appearance, the sisters chatted about how much the reality show and its cameras had become ingrained in their lives. Reality veterans: During their TV appearance, the sisters chatted about how much the reality show and its cameras had become ingrained in their lives Leggy lady: Billie risked a wardrobe malfunction in her pretty thigh-split number Talking about the cut off point, Sam said: 'They are babies, they can't say whether or not they want to do it. We're just taking it as it comes. 'If there was a moment where the kids said, "I don't want to do it, I don't want cameras", I would completely understand that.' Billie added: 'Nelly sometimes asks me, "Are the filmers coming over today?" And when I'm like no, she's like nawww!' Sam and Billie Faiers: The Mummy Diaries returns on Wednesday at 9pm on ITVBe. Photocall: The girls later headed on to a photocall for the fourth series of their new show Married At First Sight star Tracey Jewel has hit back at reports she intentionally failed to return $4,500 worth of fine jewellery to Adelaide designer Cassandra Mamone. Ms Mamone told The Advertiser on Monday that she threatened legal action against Tracey to return the loaned items and is still waiting to receive two of the eight pieces. According to the publication, the reality TV star was loaned $10,000 worth of items in total. After Ms Mamone got lawyers involved, Tracey sent back six pieces but 'ignored legal requests to return the final two items'. Setting the record straight: Tracey Jewel (pictured) has responded to claims she 'failed to return $4,500 worth of jewellery' loaned to her by celebrity designer Cassandra Mamone However, Tracey offered a rather different version of events when contacted by Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday morning. She explained that the jewellery was loaned as part of an agreement whereby she would promote the items on Instagram while holidaying in Europe in July. Not happy! Ms Mamone (pictured) told The Advertiser on Monday she threatened legal action against Tracey to return the loaned items and is still waiting to receive two of the eight pieces Clarification: The former Married At First Sight star has claimed the 'missing jewellery' incident was just a misunderstanding, adding that she's disappointed it was made public After taking steps to retrieve the jewellery, Tracey told Daily Mail Australia she has since mailed the last two pieces to Ms Mamone. 'I just want to set the story straight,' the single mother said. 'Of course, I'm annoyed this was made public. We were in private communication and there was no need to go to the press. Controversial: Tracey was one of the most talked-about contestants on this year's season of Married At First Sight. Pictured with her TV 'husband' Dean Wells (left) 'It was a private arrangement, and I had no intention at all of keeping the jewellery.' Tracey was one of the most talked-about contestants on this year's season of Married At First Sight. She was originally paired with Dean Wells, but eventually 'swapped' partners and began dating Sean Thomsen. She has undergone a huge transformation after shedding two stone at the beginning of the year. And flaunting the results of her hard efforts, Kerry Katona, 38, looked sensational as she stripped down to a striped bandeau bikini while holidaying in Thailand recently. She had jetted overseas on a 'make or break' holiday with her ex-boyfriend Ryan Maloney, with the stunning bikini-clad shots of the star surfacing just after news of their split. Bikini-clad: Kerry Katona looked sensational as she stripped down to a bandeau bikini during a recent holiday to Thailand Kerry stunned during their beach getaway as she hit the beach in a rainbow coloured two-piece. Her bikini came complete with a bandeau-style top that framed the former Atomic Kitten star's bust and matching briefs that tied together in bows at the hip. Her revealing swimwear made sure to highlight Kerry's slimmed down frame, as the beauty paraded her gym-honed stomach and toned pins while strolling along the sand and into the water. Reaping the rewards: The former Atomic Kitten star has shed two stone after overhauling her lifestyle and flaunted her slimmed down frame in the two-piece Piling her purple-tinted locks up into a messy bun on her head, Kerry teased a look at the tattoos she has etched onto her back, including two large designs on the centre of her back and down her right side. She looked beautifully bronzed in her beach attire and had put on an amorous display with then-boyfriend Ryan, as they enjoyed a dip in the sea together. Kerry was seen showering her ex with affection, as they locked lips and wrapped their arms around each other. Bronzed: Kerry showcased her tanning efforts in her minimal swimwear that included briefs that tied together at the hip Natural beauty: Kerry appeared to go make-up free for the outing and piled her purple-tinted locks into a bun on the top of her head Revealing: The former I'm A Celeb star's bikini left the tattoos on her back firmly on display Pictures of their amorous display have surfaced following claims the couple have now ended their four-month relationship. According to reports, Kerry and Ryan had been on a 'make or break' holiday in South East Asia, but decided to split on their return to UK. Sources said: 'Kerry and Ryan decided to end their relationship after they landed back in the UK from Thailand. 'It was a make or break holiday and they wanted to get away to discuss their future and whether they wanted to be together. They looked happy in the pictures, but that wasn't a true reflection of what was really going on between them.' Split: Kerry had jetted overseas on a 'make or break' holiday with her ex-boyfriend Ryan Maloney, with the stunning bikini-clad shots of the star surfacing just after news of their split Happier times: The pair were caught packing on the PDA during their beach getaway All over: According to reports, Kerry and Ryan decided to split on their return to UK Kerry is yet to confirm her split with Ryan. She was awkwardly seen ignoring a picture of the duo kissing on their recent getaway while appearing on This Morning to take part in a debate about public displays of affection, following Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's PDA during their world tour. Kerry maintained a dignified silence as she glanced at the photo and insisted she was a big fan of the Royals' affectionate displays for one another. Speaking about herself, she added: 'I don't do that on purpose. That's in my private time. I love affection.' More than meets the eye: Insiders added: 'They looked happy in the pictures, but that wasn't a true reflection of what was really going on between them' Last ditch attempt: Reports alleged Kerry and Ryan were using the getaway as time to discuss their future and whether they wanted to stay together The TV personality first confirmed her romance with hunky personal trainer Ryan in the summer. She coyly spoke about her romance during a candid interview with Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield on This Morning in September. Kerry revealed: 'Yes, I am seeing someone it's really new and I'd like to keep it just for me this time,' she told the presenters, prompting Phil to quip: 'I hope you've picked carefully!' Kerry replied: 'It's still early days. I'm enjoying it for what it is, I'm not getting married and I'm not having no more babies, saying that, it depends how much a magazine offers me first - I'm joking!' Keeping quiet: Kerry is yet to respond to claims she has split from her beau of four months During their short romance, Ryan grew close to Kerrys brood; Molly, 17, Lilly-Sue, 15, Heidi, 11, ten-year-old Max and DyJ but decided that they wanted different things. Insiders said: 'Ultimately Kerry and Ryan decided it was for the best that they split. There is no animosity and there isnt any bad feeling.' MailOnline have contacted Kerry Katona's rep for comment. Jesinta Franklin (nee Campbell) and husband Lance 'Buddy' have been on a luxurious holiday since the AFL season ended. And earlier this week the couple touched down in Iceland, after visiting Paris and the Maldives. The 27-year-old shared a loved-up photo to her Instagram on Sunday, where the couple posed in front of a waterfall as she kissed Buddy on the cheek. Scroll down for video 'Don't go chasing waterfalls': Jesinta Campbell planted a kiss on husband Lance 'Buddy' Franklin as they enjoyed breathtaking Iceland views on Sunady 'Road tripping around Iceland [and] got soaked at Seljalandsfoss waterfall this afternoon,' she captioned the photo. Buddy shared a solo shot under the waterfall, quoting TLC's smash hit in the caption. Earlier this week, Jesinta shared a video from when they arrived in the Nordic country. A little chilly? 'Road tripping around Iceland [and] got soaked at Seljalandsfoss waterfall this afternoon,' Jesinta captioned the photo, as Buddy rugs up for his solo shot The holiday continues! Jesinta Campbell and AFL star husband Lance 'Buddy' Franklin travel to Iceland... after visiting Paris and enjoying a lavish trip to the Maldives 'Welcome to Iceland,' she captioned the video, as she pointed out it was -1 degrees Celsius. The couple, who have been married since 2016, drove to spend a day in the hot springs. The stop in Iceland comes after Jesinta and the Sydney Swans player spent time in Paris. The pair visited the Versailles Palace, the Catacombs and the Eiffel Tower during their stay. Loving Paris! The pair visited the Versailles Palace (pictured), the catacombs and the Eiffel Tower during their stay Au Revoir Paris: 'Our first trip to this beautiful city and we are in love,' she captioned a snap of herself 'Our first trip to this beautiful city and we are in love!! Au Revoir Paris,' she captioned a snap of herself. However, the two destinations aren't the only stops on their around-the-world trip. The pair also caught some sun in the beautiful Maldives, staying in a bubble on the sand. Jesinta said 'no words' could be used to describe the experience. 'No words': The pair also caught some sun in the beautiful Maldives, staying in a bubble on the sand She's launching a new fashion collection with high street brand Lipsy. And Abbey Clancy turned heads as she posed outside the Oxford Street store, putting in a stylish appearance at the London launch. The model, 32, ensured her long legs were the focal point of her look, showing off her model physique in a glittering minidress. Looking good: Abbey Clancy turned heads as she posed outside the Oxford Street store, putting in a stylish appearance at the London launch Abbey's little black dress featured ruching detailing at the bust and a thigh-skimming hemline. She donned a pair of semi-opaque tights as a concession to the chilly weather, and added some extra height to her frame with a pair of black suede heels. The Britain And Ireland's Next Top Model host styled her blonde locks in messy waves and highlighted her piercing eyes with grey shadow. Ready to party: Abbey's little black dress featured ruching detailing at the bust and a thigh-skimming hemline Legs for days: The model, 32, ensured her long legs were the focal point of her look, showing off her model physique in a glittering minidress Abbey commanded attention on the busy London street, turning heads in her enviable ensemble. Her appearance comes after she exclusively told MailOnline that she's thinner now than before she had kids. She is proud mum to Sophia, seven, Liberty, three, and 10-month-old Johnny with husband Peter Crouch. Here she comes! Abbey commanded attention on the busy London street, turning heads in her enviable ensemble Covering up: She donned a pair of semi-opaque tights as a concession to the chilly weather Killer heels: The star added some extra height to her frame with a pair of black suede stilettos Speaking about her body hang-ups, she said: 'I don't like my stomach. I think after having children and getting older your body changes... 'I'm thinner than before I had children but my skin is not what it was before after being stretched to oblivion. 'I would like younger skin. I think when you feel tired you feel down on yourself.' Clothes horse: The stunner showed off her modelling skills as she posed with several mannequins Taking a stand: Abbey made shoppers look twice as she posed up a storm in the Lipsy store While her sensational good looks are the focus of her career, she admits there are elements she would change - although admits husband Peter would oppose any plans. She said: 'Beauty has changed so much it's not just about putting on creams now. Times have changed so much and you just look at the Hadids and Kendall Jenner and all the stuff the young people are having done... Abbey will no doubt set jaws dropping with the new Lipsy collection, which features a host of stunning ensembles including a sexy tuxedo-inspired look, a glittering jumpsuit and a bang on-trend zebra print shirt. Ben Fordham has confirmed he will not return to the Today show 'any time soon' following reports he was Channel Nine's favourite to replace Karl Stefanovic. The 41-year-old presenter - who was previously tipped to take Karl's job due to his 'family-friendly image' and 'broad fanbase' - revealed on Tuesday he has 'no intention' of taking over the highly-paid breakfast role. He told The Daily Telegraph: 'I have no intentions of going back to Today. I had a great time on the show with Karl, Georgie [Gardner, co-host] and the team for many years but won't be returning any time soon.' Scroll down for video Putting his family first: Ben Fordham (left) will NOT return to the Today show 'because he wants to wake up with his wife and children'... after he told Channel Nine executives to find 'another plan B' to replace Karl Stefanovic (right) Ben added that he had decided to prioritise family time with his journalist wife Jodie Speers and their two children. 'I wake up with Jodie, Freddy and Pearl and that will continue for a long, long time,' he said. Earlier this month, Daily Mail Australia revealed that Ben was prepared to turn down an offer to host the Today show if Channel Nine decided to sack Karl. Devoted: Despite widespread rumours that Ben is next in line for the Today hosting role, he has made it clear his family will always come before his career. Pictured with his wife Jodie Speers A TV insider claimed that Ben - who is considered a 'favourite' at the network - was 'adamant he [would] not accept the role in the near future'. The media all-rounder, who has been with Nine for almost 20 years, supposedly made it clear to management he didn't want to take over the reigns at Today in 2019. 'Ben has both adamantly and repeatedly insisted he would turn down an offer to co-host the Today show next year,' said the source. 'He was resolute he just wouldn't do it. He's very happy with his position at Channel Nine and 2GB and isn't interested in Karl's job.' The insider further alleged that Ben has been indirectly telling Channel Nine bosses to 'start looking for another plan B' to replace Karl. 'He's made it clear to other staff members that if he's the network's "plan B", they better start looking for a "plan C",' they claimed. Despite widespread rumours that Ben is 'next in line' for the Today hosting role, he apparently has not been 'officially approached by the "powers that be" just yet'. The insider added: 'He would need a very sweet deal to take the job. 'I don't know what they would need to do to convince him. I expect they would have to sit down with him and his wife Jodie and propose an arrangement that would allow for a healthy work-life balance. 'Family is incredibly important to Ben and, given that his wife also works early mornings [Channel Seven's 5am news bulletin], he is naturally reluctant to do the same. He likes waking up and making his kids breakfast. 'And the thought of him asking Jodie to step back from her job in order to advance his own career is not something he'd ever consider.' Family first! Ben (left) is married to Channel Seven newsreader Jodie Speers (right) and the couple share two children, Freddy, three, and Pearl, two Ben is married to Channel Seven newsreader Jodie Speers and the couple share two children, Freddy, three, and Pearl, two. The 2GB broadcaster, who has previously claimed would prioritise his family over hosting the Today show, has apparently been telling colleagues that 2019 might not be the right time for him to switch to mornings. 'Ben understands his two children are going through a critical development time and he doesn't want to miss any of it. If he had to choose between work and family, family would always come first,' added the source. In addition, Ben's job hosting Sydney Live on 2GB from 3pm to 6pm is also putting him off from accepting a full-time role on the Today show. 'He cannot keep working both ends of the day,' continued the source. 'You have to remember why Ben quit Today at the end of 2014. He left to start a family.' They added that it's also naive to think replacing Karl with Ben would immediately fix Today's problems, saying: 'The show needs major surgery. Karl is obviously not the only problem.' 'First in line': Regardless of his misgivings, it is understood Channel Nine considers Ben to be the 'favourite' to replace Karl as co-host of the Today show. Pictured with Georgie Gardner It comes after Channel Nine CEO Hugh Marks fired a warning shot last month following a particularly bad run of ratings for the breakfast program. In a withering statement, Marks acknowledged that Karl's tumultuous personal life had contributed to falling ratings. 'Clearly, it's been a tough and challenging year for Karl and Today,' he said, adding that while Karl's job was safe for now, everyone on the show - 'especially Karl' - needed to lift their game. Today's ratings have been plummeting ever since Karl separated from his wife-of-21-years Cassandra Thorburn in mid-2016. Splitsville: Today's ratings have been plummeting ever since Karl Stefanovic (right) separated from his wife-of-21-years Cassandra Thorburn (left) in mid-2016 It is believed Karl's personal life - in particular his engagement to fashion designer Jasmine Yarbrough - has been a turn-off for female viewers. However, earlier this month the network officially confirmed that Karl will be returning to the desk alongside co-host Georgie Gardner in 2019. In a press release issued on October 17, Channel Nine unveiled its news and current affairs lineup for next year, with both Karl and Georgie given top billing. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel Nine and Ben Fordham for comment. He's been busy filming for upcoming blockbuster Ironbark, where he plays Cold War spy Greville Wynne. And Benedict Cumberbatch took a break from his hectic acting schedule to head into Global studios in central London on Monday for a conversation with the Heart Radio breakfast team, where he was sporting his new moustache. The Oscar-winning actor, 42, dressed for the recent autumnal chill in a green beanie hat, thick scarf and dark Oliver Peoples sunglasses. All wrapped up: Benedict Cumberbatch, 42, was sporting his new moustache as he went to the Global and BBC radio in London Casual cool: Looking a world away from his usual suited and booted look, the Sherlock star wore matching brown co-ords and a white t-shirt as he stepped out of the studios Looking a world away from his usual suited and booted look, the Sherlock Holmes star wore matching brown co-ords and a white t-shirt as he stepped out of the Leicester Square studios. Pinning the demure look together was a pair of box fresh white trainers with a brown 'v' detail and fawn socks. After his interview at Heart Breakfast, the hard-working star made his way to Great Portland Street where he was spotted at Wogan House doing interviews for BBC Radio 2. Doing the rounds: After his interview at Heart Breakfast, the hard-working star made his way to Great Portland Street where he was spotted at Wogan House doing interviews for BBC Radio 2 Benedict's latest film, due to be released in 2019, tells the true story of British spy Greville Wynne, (pictured), who helped halt the Cuban Missile Crisis Benedict is currently filming for new film Ironbark which has seen him swap his Victorian detective's overcoat for a 1960s get-up. The film, due to be released in 2019, tells the true story of British spy Greville Wynne, who helped halt the Cuban Missile Crisis. Wynne went undercover in the Soviet atomic programme but was caught and jailed for two years in Moscow in 1963, before being released in a spy swap. Emmy-winning Marvellous Mrs Maisel star Rachel Brosnahan, 27, also stars in the Dominic Cooke directed blockbuster. The outing comes as the highly-acclaimed star showed he was a true gentleman after discussing how he helped stop a robbery in London. The actor was in the back of an Uber driving through the capital with his wife Sophie Hunter when he saw a man on a bicycle surrounded by a gang of young men. Blockbuster star: Benedict is currently filming for new film Ironbark which has seen him swap his Victorian detective's overcoat for a 1960s get-up He told the Ellen DeGeneres show how he rushed out of the car and desperately tried to calm the four 'kids' down who were about to attack the delivery worker. 'I saw a Deliveroo guy on a bicycle getting surrounded by some guys on a very cold November night and I just stopped the Uber that we were in and got out and tried to calm the kids down. 'And I tried to calm him down, it looked like he was about to fight for his life' he told the host. Attention to detail: Pinning the demure look together was a pair of box fresh white trainers with a brown 'v' detail and fawn socks He added that he didn't think about how the incident could have escalated with 'knives or acid or any of the other things that can be part of that situation' before intervening to save the victim. Refusing to take full credit for the situation, Ellen asked him if he 'stopped it from happening', to which he replied: 'I don't know, I literally just got in the way.' The Sherlock star said he tried to block the road with his Uber and stop traffic so other people would witness the incident. True gentleman: The highly-acclaimed star showed he was a true gentleman recently after discussing how he helped stop a robbery in London Ellen then asked the Benedict to what extent the Uber driver, later identified as Manuel Dias, 53, came to the aid of the delivery man. Dias previously told The Sun 'it all got a bit surreal' when he realised it was Benedict who was trying to help him - just down the road from where his character Sherlock Holmes lived at 221B Baker Street. 'Here was Sherlock Holmes fighting off four attackers just round the corner from Baker Street,' Dias said. 'I had hold of one lad and Benedict another.' Hero: Benedict told of how he rushed out of the car and desperately tried to calm the four 'kids' down who were about to attack the delivery worker As well as a busy working schedule, Benedict is a proud parent to sons Hal Auden, 18 months, and 3-year-old Christopher 'Kit' Carlton with wife Sophie. Sophie and Benedict, who have been friends for 20 years, took their romance public in spring 2014, before tying the knot the following year - months before the playwright gave birth to son Kit. In 2016, Benedict revealed some of his fans - famously known as 'Cumberb****es' - claimed his family unit is in fact an elaborate PR stunt. Hitting out at the rumours, he stated: 'There are people who believe that my wife is a PR stunt and my child is a PR stunt. I think really it's to do with the idea that the 'Internet's boyfriend' can't actually belong to anyone else but the Internet. Proud dad: As well as a busy working schedule, Benedict is a proud parent to sons Hal Auden, 18 months, and 3-year-old Christopher 'Kit' Carlton with wife Sophie Hunter 'It's impossible he belongs to anyone but me. And that's what stalking is. That's what obsessive, deluded, really scary behaviour is." Benedict's eldest son was born two weeks before he began rehearsing for London stage production Hamlet and he has found that becoming a father helped him with his role in the Shakespearean play. He previously said: 'Having a baby - it's massive. And on a very unexpected level. Suddenly I understood my parents much more profoundly than I ever had before. 'I was expecting, with 'Hamlet', that it might be a hindrance to be a father, because it's all about being a son. But it's the opposite. You understand much more about being a son, becoming a father.' Blanco Blanco got into the Halloween spirit this weekend. The Washington state native dressed up as Jessica Rabbit from 1988 film Who Framed Roger Rabbit complete with red wig and skintight dress. The Fabulous Christmas Holidays actress was having fun at a Los Angeles pumpkin patch. Cute look: Blanca Blanco dressed up as Jessica Rabbit when she visited a pumpkin patch in Los Angeles over the weekend A 10: The leggy star looked slender and toned as she wore the strapless and sequined bright red gown that had a slit up the front Her inspiration: Jessica made a splash in the 1988 movie Who Framed Roger Rabbit The leggy star looked slender and toned as she wore the strapless and sequined bright red gown that had a slit up the front. The scene stealer added long purple gloves that went over her elbows and gold strappy heels. Red lipstick and blue eye shadow completely her fun Halloween look. Blanca spends time picking out a pumpkin that was massive and she could barely lift in her arms. And the red carpet wonder was seen enjoying some time on the bouncy slide even though she had high heels on. Attired: The scene stealer added long purple gloves that went over her elbows and gold strappy heels A seflie anywhere, anytime: The movie siren then took a shoeless selfie on a blow up Also last week she stood out at the Suspiria premiere this week at the Arclight Hollywood Cinerama Dome in Los Angeles. The actress wore custom-made shoes that had five strands of pearls on them. They were created especially for the looker by Mme Weathersby. The brunette bombshell added a lovely off-the-shoulder dress by French designer Christophe Guillarme as she posed with her beau of 10 years John Savage, who is best known for the classic film The Deer Hunter. Vampy: Red lipstick and blue eye shadow completely her fun Halloween look Good thing she took her heels off: She climbed the stairs to the slide and smiled Done: Blanca laughed as she came down the steps; her dress slid down a little but that did not stop the star from having fun She did it too: Heidi Klum dressed as sultry Jessica at her Halloween Party in 2015 The fashion fiend ensured she didn't miss a beat on the red carpet. The beauty put on a showstopping display in an off-the-shoulder lace frock that featured tulle and pleats throughout. Her hair was pulled up with some curled strands running loose around her face. She added a large cocktail ring and diamond earrings for a very glam look overall. Savage looked ready to party in a floral print Chinese blazer over a red button down shirt. He can be seen in the upcoming film War Photographer with Vanessa Eichholz. Famous faces: She dazzled last week at the Suspiria event in Hollywood Date night: Blanca was seen with her boyfriend of 10 years, John Savage Blanca has been making strides in her acting career this year. She has already appeared in the films The Dog of Christmas, Fake News, and Torch. And this year she has worked on The Fabulous Christmas Holidays, Betrayed, Woman On The Edge and Ovide And The Art Of Love. She got her start in 2010 with the movie The Las Chicana. Before coming to Hollywood she was a student that got two degrees: She graduated from Washington State University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and from Eastern Washington University with a Master of Social Work, in addition to studying Spanish in college. International lady: The siren was in Paris for fashion week; here she is seen modeling an outfit She danced around her room while watching a sobbing Zara McDermott being torn away from Adam Collard when she was booted off the reality show without him. But Rosie Williams showed there was no bad blood left between the love rivals as she cemented their friendship by championing Zara and Adam's relationship. Rising above her ex's bad boy behaviour, the dumped Islander shared with MailOnline that she wouldn't like to see Zara hurt by Adam in the same way she was. Love Island EXCLUSIVE: Rosie Williams said she hopes Adam Collard has changed as she discussed friendship with Zara McDermott but she admitted the break ups aren't surprising She told MailOnline: 'I am friends with Zara, we have a friendship. Zara and Adam seem happy and it seems to be going well. 'I don't really know much about their relationship to be honest but I obviously wouldn't want Adam to treat Zara how he treated me. I hope he's changed for her because she's a good girl.' Adam and Zara have proved viewers wrong as they showed their romance has stood the test of time since leaving the villa. Shame it can't be said for five of the major Love Island couples who have split in the last few months following their departure from their paradise. Truth: Rising above her ex's bad boy behaviour, the dumped Islander shared with MailOnline that she wouldn't like to see Zara hurt by Adam in the same way she was One of the first to go, the romance quickly fizzled out of Jack Fowler and Laura Crane's relationship. Having a more dramatic break up, Samira Mighty ditched her cheating beau Frankie Foster after he was caught smooching a clubber on a night out in Kent. Also a cheating scandal sent shockwaves through Georgia Steel and Sam Bird's crumbling romance as he claims to have seen a snap of her in bed with her ex. And proving reaching the final meant nothing, Paul Knops didn't think twice about dumping Laura Anderson as he claimed she wasn't 'wife material'. History: She danced around her room while watching a sobbing Zara McDermott being torn away from Adam Collard when she was booted off the reality show without him Already moving on, Charlie Brake mended his heartache after his on/off romance with Ellie Brown came to a dramatic end. Things have now finished with the millionaire and heiress Kimberley and now he seems to have set his sights on Ferne McCann. However, none of this came as a surprise to fellow Love Islander Rosie as she admitted the stars are under a lot of 'pressure' when they are in the limelight. 'I don't think it's that surprising,' she mused to MailOnline. 'In the villa, you are in a bubble and you have to then come back to reality at some point with the added pressure of being in the public eye, everybody watching what you are doing. You've got to work really hard to make it work.' Moving on: Now she showed there was no bad blood left between the love rivals as she cemented their friendship by championing Zara and Adam's relationship Having left Love Island, the law graduate has now returned her attention to her university days and she has teamed up with Echo Falls. 'I have always been a massive fan of the brand itself,' Rosie enthused. 'Obviously I went to university for a long time so anything to do with university I love to help out. When I moved out of my home, my lovely bedroom and I had to go to these horrible university halls. 'So I think it's great what Echo Falls are doing for university students. If you look at the age range for people who watch Love Island, it's mainly university student's age range. Anything to do with Love Island they pay attention to.' Rosie and Echo Falls will give one lucky student an extreme university hall make-over including: chic decor, cool furnishings, stylish throws and pillows, a glam Hollywood mirror (and of course a well-stocked Echo Falls bar fridge). To get involved, students must upload a picture of their boyfriend university hall's common room to Instagram and explain why it needs a make-over with the hashtag #EchoHalls or post it on the @echosfallswine Facebook page. Liane Moriarty's novels have captivated readers around the world. And when Lisa Wilkinson sat down to interview the Big Little Lies author at a Q+A session raising fund for the Barnardos Australia charity, The Sunday Project host said the result was 'captivating'. The 58-year-old took to Instagram on Monday to share a photo of herself with the Australian writer, and shared details of their meeting. 'Suburban Sydney is her great thinking space': Lisa Wilkinson shares details of her 'captivating' interview with 'proud Aussie' Big Little Lies author Liane Moriarty Lisa captioned the image at length: 'Such a treat today to interview New York Times best-selling author of Big Little Lies (and very proud Aussie) Liane Moriarty, raising much needed funds for @barnardos_au the childrens charity. 'Liane had the room of more than 500 utterly captivated during our Q&A with stories of working with @nicolekidman @reesewitherspoon and Meryl Streep. '[As well as] the stress of the Hollywood red carpet experience, and why suburban Sydney is her great thinking space.' Lisa captioned the image at length: 'Such a treat today to interview New York Times best-selling author of Big Little Lies (and very proud Aussie)' Liane Moriarty (pictured) Liane's novel, Big Little Lies, has been adapted into a lauded TV series staring Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon. In July, it was revealed that Nicole Kidman had already secured the film and TV rights for the author's latest novel, Nine Perfect Strangers. The 51-year-old actress nabbed the rights months before the book even hit shelves in September. Hit: Liane's novel, Big Little Lies, has been adapted into a lauded TV series staring Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon. Pictured: Nicole Kidman in Big Little Lies Winner: Nicole's starring role as an abused wife in the TV adaptation of Big Little Lies landed her an Emmy. Nicole is pictured in Big Little Lies with co-star Alexander Skarsgard Soon: A second season of Big Little Lies is in the works, with Meryl Streep (left) joining the cast as the mother-in-law of Nicole's character, Celeste Wright (pictured) The projects will fall under the banner of the Moulin Rogue star's production company, Blossom Films. Nicole's starring role as an abused wife in the TV adaptation of Big Little Lies landed her an Emmy. A second season of Big Little Lies is in the works, with Meryl Streep joining the cast as the mother-in-law of Nicole's character, Celeste Wright. She has been making an elegant appearance on the red carpet while attending premieres of her latest movie The Girl In The Spider's Web. But choosing to switch up her style, Claire Foy made an unusually casual appearance in Berlin on Monday while attending a photo-call for the film. She ditched her sophisticated gowns of late for a rather edgy getup that paired together chic PVC trousers and a striped tee. Casually chic: Claire Foy made an unusually casual appearance in Berlin on Monday while attending a photo-call for the film Claire - who is best known for taking on the role of Queen Elizabeth II in Netflix series The Crown - caught the eye with her dressed down look as she took centre stage at the event. She stepped out sporting a pair of statement PVC leather trousers that sat high on her waist, accentuating her slender frame, and were cropped at the ankle. They came complete with silver zip detailing at the front, with the actress tucking a knitted black and red patterned tee into the waistband. She accessorised with a pair of white trainers and added a simple gold pendant around her neck. Stylish: She ditched her sophisticated gowns of late for a rather edgy getup that paired together chic PVC trousers and a striped tee Beauty: The movie talent wasn't without her usual glamour as she chose to pin her dark locks back from her face in neat braids and sported a flawless make-up look Picture of elegance: Claire's latest look was strikingly different to her usual red carpet style (pictured above at the Girl In The Spider's Web premiere at Rome Film Festival) The movie talent wasn't without her usual glamour as she chose to pin her dark locks back from her face in neat braids. She sported a flawless make-up that highlighted her dewy complexion and came complete with a sweep of bronzer and a deep pink hue on her lips. Claire was seen posing alongside her co-star Volker Bruch and The Girl In The Spider's Web director Fede Alvarez. Claire is taking over the iconic role of Lisbeth Salander, becoming the third actress to play the fictional hacker on the big screen. She follows on from Noomi Rapace in the 2009 Swedish adaptation of Stieg Larsson's novel, and Rooney Mara in Sony's 2011 American adaptation. Acting talent: Claire was seen posing alongside her co-star Volker Bruch at the event Man of the moment: The Girl In The Spider's Web director Fede Alvarez was also in attendance After 2011's The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, most expected Sony to adapt the next two books in the Millennium Trilogy, The Girl Who Played With Fire and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest. Instead, the studio opted to continue the franchise by adapting The Girl in the Spider's Web, the first novel from David Lagercrantz, who took over the book series after Larsson's death. Lagercrantz's second novel in the series, The Girl Who Takes an Eye for an Eye, was published last year, with his third as of yet untitled novel slated for release in August 2019. Claire's appearance in Berlin comes after Claire recently admitted her disdain for the term 'strong women', often used to describe female characters on screen. Speaking out: Her appearance in Berlin comes after Claire addressed the gap in pay she experienced while working on The Crown (pictured above) 'I have absolutely no interest in portraying what other people think of as strong. It's a way of making women more acceptable in a male world,' the 34 year-old told Sydney Morning Herald. 'I am just not on board with that. I don't think women are crying out to see strong women.' The actress continued: 'I think we know we are all strong but we're just crying out to see women on screen at all!' Claire also addressed the gap in pay she experienced while working on The Crown, and revealed how she felt utter disdain about being paid less than her male co-star Matt Smith. Speaking to NET-A-PORTERs digital magazine PorterEdit, she said; 'I was deeply hurt by [the pay gap], because I'd been working on that show for two years. I loved everybody on it. 'And then I realised, there's been a big, fat, dirty secret that nobody's ever talked about. Then there was also that thing [of being] an inadvertent spokesperson. Why did it have to be me?' Bethenny Frankel found a sunny place to unwind this weekend. The 47-year-old reality TV diva slipped into a sheer dress that covered her bikini body as she enjoyed a beach vacation. The Real Housewives Of New York City star said she was enjoying some 'sheer relaxation' as she posted a photo to Instagram. Here to party: Bethenny Frankel found a sunny place to unwind this weekend. The 47-year-old reality TV diva slipped into a sheer dress that covered her bikini body as she enjoyed a beach vacation The beauty had on a white lace dress over a darker two piece as she posed for a friend. She was last seen in Manhattan on Friday. The star was sophisticated chic in a white top and suede skirt heading into the Good Morning America studio. Daring to impress, the stunner looked every inch the Big Apple socialite with her luxury handbag and fashion forward red heels. Her trademark chestnut brown tresses were left long and loose as they cascaded down over her shoulders. She topped off the gorgeous look with a bright white winter coat. Bottoms up Bethy: The siren, 47, held on to what looked like a glass of lemonade Meanwhile, the Skinnygirl mogul was seen out for the first time with rumored boyfriend Paul Bernon in New York City last week. Bethenny has been romantically linked to the Best Kept Secret producer since a People report last week. Bernon is a successful Boston-based real estate executive who began producing films since 2012 and has even won a Peabody Award. This comes a day after a report that a Manhattan judge has accused Frankel's ex-husband of taking advantage of the tragic death of her ex-boyfriend this summer. She can't stay out of a bikini? The TV staple shared this Instagram photo last week Jason Hoppy, who Bethenny shares daughter Bryn, eight, with, asked Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Michael Katz to order drug testing for Frankel after her on-off beau died of a suspected overdose in August. 'There was a tragedy which I think you're trying to exploit to embarrass Ms. Frankel,' Katz told Hoppy as he denied the request for drug testing, Page Six reports. The star is still embroiled in a bitter custody war over her only child with Hoppy. Frankel and Hoppy split in 2012 and finalized their divorce in 2016. They agreed to share parenting time with Bryn in 2016 but Frankel requested full custody last year after Hoppy was charged with stalking her after bombarding her with abuse on a 'daily basis' for years. The custody trial begins in March. Lena Dunham has revealed she misused the anti-anxiety drug Klonopin for three years. The actress got candid while chatting Dax Shepard on his podcast Armchair Expert this week, and said she quit the drug six months ago. 'I've been sober for six months,' she said. 'My particular passion was Klonopin.' The 32-year-old HBO star said she started taking Klonopin when her anxiety got so bad it got in the way of her work and daily activities and when she 'started feeling like I was a living panic attack'. Lena Dunham has revealed she is six months sober after several years of abusing anti-anxiety drug Klonopin 'I was having crazy anxiety and having to show up for things that I didnt feel equipped to show up for,' she explained. 'But I know I need to do it, and when I take a Klonopin, I can do it.' she added. The Girls alum said the drug made her feel like the person she 'was supposed to be.' 'It was like suddenly I felt like the part of me that I knew was there was freed up to do her thing,' Klonopin is a prescription Benzodiazepine that treats panic and anxiety disorders as well as seizures. Lena said she began taking Klonopin more and more over the years, saying initially it was 'I take one when I fly' and then became 'I take one when I'm awake'. Real talk: Lena talked about mental health with Dax Shepard on his podcast Armchair Expert this week 'I was having crazy anxiety and having to show up for things that I didnt feel equipped to show up for,' she explained of the crippling affects of her disorder Lena said that it was a doctor who encouraged her to start medicating her symptoms. 'I didnt have any trouble getting a doctor to tell me, "No you have serious anxiety issues, you should be taking this. This is how you should be existing,"' she recalled. The New York born producer explained that her symptoms were exacerbated with post traumatic stress. 'I was diagnosed with pretty serious PTSD. I have a few sexual traumas in my past and then I had all these surgeries and then I had my hysterectomy after a period of really extreme pain,' she said. 'It stopped feeling like I had panic attacks and it started feeling like I was a living panic attack. The only thing that was notable was the parts of the day where I didnt feel like I was going to barf and faint.' Mental health struggle: Lena, pictured out in August, said she also had 'pretty serious PTSD' from sexual traumas and the surgeries she's had in recent years Grueling operations: Lena underwent a hysterectomy last year after years of struggling with endometriosis Lena explained that she relied on the drug heavily to the point she didn't know how hard it would be to ween herself off it. 'If I look back, there were a solid three years where I was, to put it lightly, misusing benzos, even though it was all quote unquote doctor prescribed,' 'Nobody I know who are prescribed these medications is told, "By the way, when you try and get off this, its going to be like the most hellacious acid trip youve ever had where youre f***ing clutching the walls and the hair is blowing off your head and you cant believe you found yourself in this situation,"' she said. 'Now the literal smell of the inside of pill bottles makes me want to throw up.' In the six months since she quit taking Klonopin Lena says she's still getting used to life without it. 'I still feel like my brain is recalibrating itself to experience anxiety,' she explained. 'I just feel literally on my knees grateful every day.' Veteran rockers Bon Jovi are set to storm the UK with a number of new tour dates in the summer of 2019. The bands first UK tour in six years, the upcoming tour will see them play stadium shows in a number of cities. In a statement, frontman Jon Bon Jovi said: Those huge shows, tens of thousands of people all together as one, thats what we do. And weve got a few things to put right by playing Wembley Stadium. We were so excited to be the first band to play that new Stadium, I would have helped build it myself to make it happen. So we have a new history to write there. Weve had some great nights at the Ricoh too. Frontman Jon Bon Jovi expressed excitement about the rock band's upcoming UK tour dates Heres all you need to know about the bands upcoming UK tour slated to kick off in the summer of 2019. Bon Jovi tour dates Bon Jovi is scheduled to perform the following 2019 dates in the UK: June 19, 2019 in Liverpool at Anfield Stadium June 21, 21019 in London at Wembley Stadium June 23, 2019 in Coventry at the Ricoh Arena Bon Jovi tour tickets Tickets for all of Bon Jovis shows in the UK will be on sale starting Friday, November 2 at 9am BST and can be purchased at Live Nation. Who are Bon Jovi? Bon Jovi are a rock band from Sayreville, New Jersey formed in 1983. Led by frontman Jon Bon Jovi, they released their self-titled debut album 1984 and later broke through with their third studio album Slippery When Wet in 1986, which peaked atop the charts in the US and produced hit singles like You Give Love a Bad Name and Livin on a Prayer. Bon Jovi followed up with New Jersey in 1988, which also birthed number one singles like Bad Medicine and Ill Be There for You. After following up with a number of other successful albums in the 1990s and 2000s, they continued to have success in the 2010s, releasing their most recent album This House is Not for Sale on November 4, 2016, yet another record that topped the charts in the US. To date, the rock band has sold more than 100 million albums worldwide, making them among the bestselling musical artists of all time. Love Island star Megan Barton-Hanson, who is dating co-star Wes Nelson is said to have disappeared with Pete Wicks during a boozy night out. Sources alleged to The Sun that a group of reality stars headed out after the Animal Hero Awards at The Grosvenor House Hotel in London last month, as they were joined by Ferne McCann, Mario Falcone and Jon Clark for a night at a strip club. As the 24-year-old former exotic dancer reportedly partied with the stars during the boozy night out, her beau was making an appearance at a nightclub in Belfast. Tough times? Love Island star Megan Barton-Hanson, who is dating co-star Wes Nelson is said to have disappeared with Pete Wicks during a boozy night out Megan and Wes make no secret of their romance and often litter social media with adoring videos and snaps together however they have been separated on a number of occasions due to Wes' hundreds of PAs up and down the country. Yet the night in question saw Megan head out by herself after which she is said to have partied up a storm with the fellow reality stars. Insiders claimed she hit it off with Pete in particular and after heading to Stringfellow's nightclub the duo disappeared for a significant amount of time. The source said: 'Megan and Pete hit it off from the moment they first started talking they both seemed keen to get to know each other better... Shocker: Sources alleged to The Sun, a group of reality stars headed out after the Animal Hero Awards at The Grosvenor House Hotel in London, as they were joined by Ferne McCann, Mario Falcone and Jon Clark for a night at a strip club Way back when: As the 24-year-old former exotic dancer reportedly partied with the stars during the boozy night out, her beau was making an appearance at a nightclub in Belfast 'At first Pete was very cautious and made it clear he wasnt interested due to her being in a relationship with Wes. But as the night progressed theyd both had a lot to drink and were having fun... The pair even went missing for a long period of time from the rest of the group that included Ferne, Mario and also Jon Clark... Megan loves Wes so has insisted to close friends that nothing happened between her and Pete... 'But their late-night liaison has become the talk of the Towie and Love Island casts, with many believing Megans relationship with Wes won't last... Tongues wagging: 'But their late-night liaison has become the talk of the Towie and Love Island casts, with many believing Megans relationship with Wes won't last' Hitting bacj: Showing her loyalty, last week Megan mirthlessly mocked a social media user's claims Wes bedded another woman behind her back Showing her loyalty, last week Megan mirthlessly mocked a social media user's claims Wes bedded another woman behind her back. Representatives for Megan and Wes declined to comment when approached by MailOnline. Pete's team has been approached for comment. Taking to Instagram on Friday, Megan used the stories function to share a screenshot of a private message she was sent regarding one of Wes' nightclub appearances while making a shocking claim. Hitting back: A shocking message from a stranger making the bold claim read: 'I'm from worcester and wes did an appearance. Apparently has has slept with a girl and they have signed a contract to keep it a secret [sic]' The allegations included the name of the woman the Dancing On Ice hunk is said to have slept with as well as claims that he forced her to sign a confidentiality agreement after the 'tryst' - however Megan seemed tickled by the suggestion. A shocking message from a stranger making the bold claim read: 'I'm from worcester and wes did an appearance. Apparently has has slept with a girl and they have signed a contract to keep it a secret [sic]'. She seemed to find the situation hilarious as she wrote over the top: 'I get DM's chatting pure s***e'. while also exposing the user who sent the message. Katie Price could lose her 2million West Sussex mansion and all of its contents should she be declared bankrupt in a court hearing on Tuesday morning. The 40-year-old embattled star, who was once worth an estimated 45million, is due in court over an unpaid tax bill, for which she's had three months to to find a way to repay her debts. Over the past three months, she has had the deadline to come up with an individual voluntary agreement (IVA), which would detail how she proposed to pay back the tax she owes. In talks: Katie Price is said to be in talks for an appearance on MTV series Ex On The Beach However, if the agreement is rejected by her creditors she could potentially lose her home and all her belongings. Carly Schiff, Senior Associate and Stewart Perry, Partner at Fieldfisher law firm told to Mirror Online: 'If the terms of the IVA are not accepted by the requisite majority of creditors (75 per cent), then the bankruptcy order will in all likelihood be made.' If the latter occurs, Katie's bank account would immediately be frozen and a trustee appointed to go through her assets to see what could be sold in a bid to raise cash to counter her debts. The TV star could be spared her country home should it not be in negative equity, while the government's Insolvency Service states that those who have children living with them can appeal for a 12 month delay as they make alternative plans. Up in the air: The 40-year-old embattled star, who was once worth an estimated 45million, is due in court over an unpaid tax bill, for which she's had three months to to find a way to repay her debts At present, it is believed that Katie's eldest son Harvey, 16, living with her. However, Princess, 11, and Junior, 13, are living with their father Peter Andre, and their siblings Jett, five, and Bunny, four, are with their dad Kieran Hayler. Should Katie be declared bankrupt, some of her assets will be protected such as household goods like clothes and furniture. However, should the assets be high in value the debtor could be forced to sell them in return for cheaper alternative. Despite her woes, Katie will be entitled to keep a portion of her earnings to live off, although it's a criminal offence for anyone made insolvent to attempt to secure more than 500 in credit. At present: At present, it is believed that Katie's eldest son Harvey, 16, living with her. However, Princess, 11, and Junior, 13, are living with their father Peter Andre, and their siblings Jett, five, and Bunny, four, are with their dad Kieran Hayler (R) Credit: Despite her woes, Katie will be entitled to keep a portion of her earnings to live off, although it's a criminal offence for anyone made insolvent to attempt to secure more than 500 in credit Katie is rumoured to owe upwards of 150,000, which includes heavy mortgage arrears, though it has been reported that her 2 million West Sussex mansion could save her from bankruptcy because it's virtually unsellable. Schiff and Perry added that should she be made bankrupt: 'There are offences around holding bank accounts with credit facilities and/or obtaining credit beyond a certain level, unless she discloses that she is an undischarged bankrupt.' Elsewhere, Katie is said to be in talks for an appearance on MTV series Ex On The Beach. In talks: Katie is said to be in talks for an appearance on MTV series Ex On The Beach According The Sun Online, the embattled star has been approached about starring on the next series of the racy romance show, which is known for reuniting former flames in an idyllic setting. Show bosses are reportedly desperate to sign the mother-of-five in light of her recent splits from Kris Boyson, 29, and Alex Adderson, 25. A source told the publication: 'Katie is perfect for Ex On The Beach, shes fiery, flirty and shes got more ex boyfriends than you could shake a stick at. Then: The Loose Women panellist has a list of famous exes including Dane Bowers (Pictured together in 2000) 'Shes a signing theyve been trying to get for a while and now shes single again, bosses are hoping she could come on board. Adding: 'As for that long list of ex-boyfriends, fans would be on the edge of their seats waiting to which one of them would be walking out of the sea to confront her!' MailOnline contacted Katie Price's rep for comment. The Loose Women panellist has a list of famous exes including Dane Bowers, Gladiator Warren Furman and newly-single Gareth Gates. She has also been married three times. Katie first married Peter Andre in 2005 but ultimately split in 2009, she then wed Alex Reid in 2010 but separated a year later. Famous exes: She also dated Gladiator Warren Furman (Pictured left in 1995) and newly-single Gareth Gates (Pictured in 2002) Trauma: The latest comes amid a series of woes for Katie who is currently undergoing a 28-day stint at The Priory, where she is being treated for post-traumatic stress disorder The TV star most recently said 'I do' to Kieran Hayler in 2013 but called time on their relationship last year amid claims of infidelity on his behalf. The latest comes amid a series of woes for Katie who is currently undergoing a 28-day stint at The Priory, where she is being treated for post-traumatic stress disorder. She broke down after an intervention and admitted she needed help to get over her chaotic behaviour - which has been blamed on her PTSD. Back in February, the mother-of-five was banned from driving for six months after doing 60mph on the 50mph A24. Moreover, she famously handed herself into police back in July for driving while on a six-month ban. Kate Hudson is set to star with Craig Robinson in Blood Moon. The two actors will take the lead in the upcoming third feature film from writer and director Ana Lily Amirphour, with Zac Efron in talks to join the cast, according to Deadline. The 39-year-old siren welcomed her third child, daughter Rani, in early October. Back to work: Kate Hudson is set to star with Craig Robinson in Blood Moon. The two actors will take the lead in the upcoming third feature film from writer director Ana Lily Amirphour, with Zac Efron in talks to join the cast, according to Deadline; seen in January Her little addition: The siren welcomed her third child, daughter Rani, in early October The new fantasy adventure from the A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night filmmaker will be produced by John Lesher. The upcoming project focuses on a girl who possesses strange and dangerous abilities, and escapes from a mental asylum in Now Orleans. The film is said to be inspired by classic fantasy adventure movies from the 1980s and 1990s, and its tone will move from strange and violent to humorous along with an eclectic soundtrack featuring Italian techno and heavy metal. She loves being a mommy: Here Hudson is with Rani in a post titled 'early morning calm' Production is set to begin in spring next year, and producer Lesher has praised the writer's 'poetic style'. He said: 'Lily's unique vision and poetic style sets her apart from the pack. She is truly one of the most exciting filmmakers working today.' Hudson's last big screen role came as Eleanor Strubing in 2017's Marshall, while the previous year saw her appear in Kung Fu Panda 3, Mother's Day and Deepwater Horizon. Her co-star Robinson - known for his TV roles in comedies The Office and Brooklyn Nine-Nine - is set for a number of releases over the next year. As well as Zeroville and Henchme' before the end of the year, the actor will be seen in The Voyage of Doctor Dolittle, Dolemite is My Name and The Ark and the Aardvark in 2019. The will they/won't they saga of Sam Thompson and Sophie 'Habbs' Habboo rumbles on, on Made In Chelsea. And in a teaser clip ahead of the latest instalment of the E4 reality series, things get cringeworthy for them when Sam decides to gatecrash Habbs' date with new beau Tristan Phipps. Habbs and Tristan - who she started seeing in last week's instalment of the show - are seen enjoying a date together at a bar, when Sam appears and comes to join them. Their chat about cars and mopeheads is interrupted by Sam - with Tristan saying, 'fancy seeing you here!' Looking like she might be sick, Habbs remarks: 'Is it hot in here?' 'Where's your date?' Tristan asks Sam, who appears solo in the scene. 'Don't have one,' he says, before asking: 'What would you do in this situation...?' Sam goes on: 'There's this girl that I really really like. And I made a mistake for sure with said girl. 'I believe you should learn from mistakes personally and be a better person...' 'Fancy seeing you here!' Made In Chelsea's Sam Thompson GATECRASHES Habbs' date with new man in a VERY awkward teaser ahead of the latest episode of the show Awks: Habbs and Tristan - who she started seeing in last week's instalment of the show - are seen enjoying a date together at a bar, when Sam appears and comes to join them Obviously referring to Habbs, the blonde beauty interrupts with: 'Sam I think you're probably putting Tris in a really awkward situation...' But Sam, relentless, goes on... 'What would a man - or a boy - do?' he asks. Tristan, attempting to rise above it, offers his advice. 'A man would talk to the person...' he says, as Habbs cringes and says to herself: 'I just can't!' Cringe: Their chat about cars and mopeheads is interrupted by Sam - with Tristan saying, 'fancy seeing you here!' Sam goes on: 'There's this girl that I really really like. And I made a mistake for sure with said girl' Habbs is currently trying to move on from ex Sam, who admitted to cheating on her several times over the summer. The 16th season has seen the cast return from their summer in Croatia, where Habbs and Sam were technically a couple. They struck up a romance before the summer but were apart before Croatia, with Sam taking a trip to Vegas on a stag do. There, he evidently hit it off with another girl - American Diana Larionov - but kept it from Habbs; until Jamie Laing jetted Diana out to Croatia in an attempt to get back at Harry Baron, accidentally ousting Sam's indiscretions in the process. Uncomfortable viewing: Habbs is currently trying to move on from ex Sam, who admitted to cheating on her several times over the summer Habbs eventually forgave Sam, but by the time season 16 came around, back in London, she discovered he had kissed a further two women, since their reconciliation. In last week's episode, Sam attempted to make amends, but Habbs was already moving on with Tristan, set up by Olivia Bentley. What happens next is yet to be discovered; but the preview for the new episode doesn't look too bright for the would-be lovers. Made In Chelsea continues on Mondays at 9PM on E4. George Clooney had a ball at his Casamigos Halloween party this weekend at Catch in Las Vegas. The Oscar-winning smiled as he posed away with blonde bombshell Karolina Kurkova, 34, who has posed for everyone from Versace to Vogue. The two looked happy as they had fun alongside Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber at the annual affair. Taking off: George Clooney had a ball at his Casamigos Halloween party this weekend at Catch in Las Vegas. The Oscar-winning star looked happy as he posed away with blonde bombshell Karolina Kurkova Karolina had on a black sparkly minidress that showed off her sculpted and tanned legs as she stood next to pilot Clooney who flew in from overseas for the bash. She had on bright red lipstick and diamond earrings. They were also seen with a group of guests for the splashy event. The day before she had on a white shirt, tuxedo suit and hat as she was at another party. With pals: Here they are seen with J.J. Dudam, Mike Meldman, Rande Gerber, and Cindy Crawford at Catch Fashionista: Karolina had on a black sparkly minidress that showed off her sculpted and tanned legs Strappy heels added another six inches to her already impressive height. Their Saturday night Casamigos Halloween party in Los Angeles was a star-studded event of epic proportions. And Clooney and his business partner in the tequila company, Rande Gerber, were pictured having a blast. The two men were wearing pilot's uniforms and posing behind the controls of a private jet. Partners in crime: Clooney and Gerber were pictured in a cockpit 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 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 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. Jonathan Cheban dressed up as Willy Wonka for George Clooney's Casamigos Halloween party in Las Vegas on Saturday evening. The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star had the red coat and black top hat Johnny Depp wore for the 2005 film Charlie And The Chocolate Factory. Though he did a nice job with the costume, it could not compare with his look last year: he dressed as Sonny Bono to Kim Kardashian's Cher. A smash in Sin City: Jonathan Cheban dressed up as Willy Wonka for George Clooney's Casamigos Halloween party in Las Vegas on Saturday evening The look works: Here the KUWTK regular was seen with (L-R) Devon Aoki, Steve Aoki and Nicole Zimmermann at CATCH Double take: The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star had the red coat and black top hat Johnny Depp wore for the 2005 film Charlie And The Chocolate Factory Cheban looked happy at the star-studded bash. He posed with Devon Aoki, Steve Aoki and Nicole Zimmermann inside Catch. And he also shared several images to Instagram. Cheban also dressed up as Willy Wonka from the 1971 film Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory. The actor who played Willy in that film was Gene Wilder who passed away in 2016. More pals: (L to R) With Eugene Remm, Mark Birnbaum and Tori Praver In charge: Host Clooney posed with supermodel Karolina Kurkova These photos surface just as PageSix reported the TV star was a 'diva' at a Halloween party in NYC. It was held at the club Red Rabbit. A source complained he was 'pouting' but his rep told the site: 'Foodgod stayed over his two-hour commitment, took pics with a hundred people and mingled around the club before he flew out just a few hours later for the Catch Las Vegas opening. Lets just say the clubs commitment was not settled during his appearance, but was ultimately resolved.' Another Willy: The night before, Jonathan dressed as Wonka from Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory which came out in 1971 The first: The actor who played Willy in that film was Gene Wilder who passed away in 2016 Last week Cheban revealed last week he purchased a $400,000 Rolls-Royce convertible in a cool moonlight blue color. In the social media clip, the vehicle can be seen coming out of a moving truck as the Celebrity Big Brother star says, 'It's finally here.' Kim has owned several Rolls-Royces in the past, though her latest car is a Mercedes-Benz G-wagen. Jonathan has been seen many times before in other people's Rolls-Royce's, but this is the first time he has owned one of his own. The star may have gotten a raise from his main show, Keeping Up With The Kardashians, or his brand FoodGod may have taken off. They nailed this look: Kim Kardashian (L) and Jonathan were Cher and Sonny for the Casamigos Halloween Party in 2017 in Los Angeles Their inspiration: Sonny and Cher in the 1970s at a splashy event Either way, he seems to be doing quite well financially. Last weekend Kim turned 38-years-old on Sunday. His tribute read: 'Happy Birthday legend @kimkardashian .. too much to write about how f***ing perfect you are as a friend a mother and a wife so I wont! As long as we all know its good enough for me!! Love you to death!! Best friends forever. Literally oh and that.' The two have been close for over a decade as he gave her publicity advice when KUWTK first starting airing. He has been at her wedding to Kanye West, her birthdays and he has serves as uncle to her three kids North, Saint and Chicago. Jonah Hill had the look of love when he was spotted out in New York on Sunday. The Maniac star couldn't stop smiling as he stood with his arms around girlfriend Gianna Santos as the couple stood on a sidewalk together. The 34-year-old actor looked smart in a brown coat over a turtleneck and jeans as he pulled Gianna in close to him. Keeping warm: Jonah Hill looked happy as he put on an affectionate display in New York with girlfriend Gianna Santos His lady love was seen wearing a black padded jacket and skinny jeans as she beamed a big smile. The 29-year-old finished off her outfit in some beige and tan cowboy boots. The couple were first spotted together in late July and appear to be going strong with Gianna, a stylist, sharing snaps of the couple on her Instagram page in recent weeks. Meanwhile, the Maniac actor talked about his relationship with drinking as he promoted his directorial debut Mid90s on Howard Stern's radio show last week. 'No I don't drink. I just don't drink. I just don't party,' the Superbad star said, 'I like to be healthier. I like to be in a good mood.' Packing on the PDA: The couple were first spotted together in late July and appear to be going strong The interview came nearly a year after the death of his brother Jordan at only 40-years-old. He continued: 'Being hungover affects your mood to me at least. I support people who are living their lives and being happy.' Jonah politely declined to get into the topic of brother Jordan Feldstein's death during his sit-down with Howard telling the talk radio host: 'The only reason I dont want to talk about it, is because its painful... Not out of disrespect. But I miss him and I love him and I wish he was here.' Brother Jordan died in December 2017 of pulmonary thromboembolism - a blood clot in the lungs. He was only 40 at the time and autopsy reports said he had trace amounts of cocaine in his system. If you can survive an axe to the chest from the God of Thunder, you can survive a little stab wound to the belly. And Josh Brolin as the scar to prove it, which he showed off in a shirtless display on Sunday. The 50-year-old Avengers star enjoyed a game of cornhole while relaxing on the beach in Malibu. Survived: Josh Brolin showed off his stab wound scar as he played cornhole shirtless on the beach in Malibu on Sunday The actor was hanging out with a group of friends, including surfer buddy Laird Hamilton. He showed off his buff physique in just a pair of Blue board shorts, and nothing else. Visible just above his navel was the scar he picked during an attack in Costa Rica five years ago. While taking an ill-advised late night walk in search of a burger in a dodgy part of town with his wife, a man approached and asked for a cigarette, and then money, and then stabbed him. Fit: He showed off his buff physique in just a pair of Blue board shorts, and nothing else Plunging six centimeters deep into his abdomen, had the blade entered a little to the left or right he likely would have been killed. Luckily Josh survived, and is now expecting his third child his first with third wife Kathryn any day now. The couple trolled fans in a hilarious Instagram video on Monday, pretending they had a big announcement but never finishing the sentence. 'Hey guys, we just...,' Brolin excitedly began, giggling the whole time through,'We just wanna say, we wanna tell you guys... It's Josh and Kathyrn, we just wanna tell you that...' Hey guys! Josh and heavily pregnant wife Kathryn trolled fans in a hilarious Instagram video on Monday, pretending they had a big announcement but never finishing the sentence Giggling along with him, his 31-year-old wife grabbed the camera and pointed at at her still-enormous finishing for him: '... that I'm still huge!' Josh already has a 29-year-old son named Trevor and 24-year-old daughter Eden from his previous marriage to Alice Adair, 52. The duo had tied the knot in 1988 and divorced in 1994. He was also married to actress Diane Lane from 2004 to 2013. He married Kathryn (nee Boyd) in September 2016. Third time lucky: Luckily is expecting his third child his first with third wife Kathryn any day now She's never been afraid to show off her sensational figure. And Megan McKenna looked sensational as she attended the Pride of Britain Awards at the Grosvenor House hotel in London on Monday evening. The former TOWIE star, 26, flaunted her lithe physique in a demure shimmering column gown with gold embellishments and a cinched-in waist. Shine on: Megan McKenna flaunted her lithe physique in a demure shimmering column gown with gold embellishments and a cinched-in waist as she attended the Pride of Britain Awards The TV personality turned country crooner showed off the chic backless detail of her dazzling gown when posing up a storm at the red carpet event. Staying true to her Essex roots, Megan looked every inch the glamorous reality star as she styled her blonde balayage locks into a voluminous curly blow-dried hairdo. She added a full face of make-up, which included smokey eyeshadow, bronzer and a nude lipstick. Work it! The 26-year-old reality star turned country crooner showed off the chic backless detail of her dazzling gown Ready for her close-up: Megan looked every inch the glamorous reality star as she styled her blonde balayage locks into a voluminous curly blow-dried hairdo Speaking about her upcoming album, Megan told MailOnline at the event: 'My new album coming out on December 7th, Im hoping next year I can tour with the album. 'Ive always known Ive wanted to do this, I knew that was always going to be my path. I was a bit worried when I did reality TV, a lot of people wouldnt take me seriously with my music, but Ive been on a crazy journey lots of ups and downs. 'My songs are really personal to me and the whole album is called Story of Me, so it's about my ups and downs from the age of 14, its very emotional.' All in the details: She added a full face of make-up, which included smokey eyeshadow, bronzer and a nude lipstick The show: Carol Vorderman is once again hosting the annual Pride of Britain Awards, which aims to honour the nation's unsung heroes Pucker up! Megan playfully blew a kiss to photographers as she left the central London venue Girls' night out: The former TOWIE star was joined by a female friend as she called it a night and headed back to Essex for the evening Meanwhile, Megan showed off her toned figure with an even more revealing image on Sunday, where she displayed 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 was sure to set pulses racing as she promised 'Nothing but Danger' in the caption. 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. Silver siren: The reality star looked incredible at the end of the night and appeared happy and relaxed after her high-profile evening out Elegant: The reality star turned country music singer made a sophisticated exit from the bash Yet she opted for a more demure look for the annual Pride of Britain Awards show, which will once again be hosted by Carol Vorderman. More than 100 stars came together to celebrate the deserving winners at The Grosvenor House hotel in London this Monday evening. Host Carol commented: 'Pride of Britain is a very important part of my life. Im thrilled that its become a staple part of British culture. I never fail to be humbled by those who have often turned a tragedy into something pretty magnificent.' The Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards, in partnership with TSB, will broadcast on ITV on 6 November at 8pm. Sizzling: Megan shared a VERY revealing selfie as she posed naked and covered to promote new lip kit range on Sunday She was accused of disappearing with TOWIE star Pete Wicks during a boozy night out at a strip club while Wes Nelson was in Belfast doing a PA. And Megan Barton-Hanson has finally addressed the claims made by The Sun, calling them 'bulls***.' The 24-year-old posted an impassioned message to Instagram on Tuesday after maintaining a degree of silence around the issue. Hitting back: Megan Barton Hanson shared this sweet picture of herself and Wes Nelson as she put rumours about herself and Pete Wicks to bed in an impassioned post on Instagram on Tuesday Tough times: Love Island star Megan was forced to leave the Pride Of Britain Awards early on Monday evening after falling ill and not because of a row with Wes as was reported She wrote: 'Last night @prideofbritain was an absolute honour with @wes.nelson. Amazing to be in same room as so many brave, selfless heroes. 'Im so happy to have our new home and be on this journey together. 'I did plan on writing a long caption to address all of the recent BS stories about our relationship etc but to be honest Im knackered, I have a lot going on right now and just cant be a***d! Awkward: Arriving earlier on was Pete, who Megan allegedly disappeared with for 'a significant amount of time' during a night out, and he cut a dapper figure in a black suit 'Slowly realising all that matters is whats going on right here, right now and that me and Wes are happy. Everything else is just part of the show/media pantomime! 'Hope you are all having a nice day and getting excited for Halloween. Love, positivity and happiness. Meg.' Her words come after Megan was forced to leave the Pride Of Britain Awards early on Monday night after falling ill. Sources told MailOnline, the former exotic dancer enjoyed a cosy evening with her beau Wes at the ceremony however she was forced to leave due to illness - not due to a row as other reports have suggested. A source of support: Various publications claimed Megan and Wes were locked in a 'furious row' within the bash Various publications claimed Megan and Wes were locked in a 'furious row' within the bash, however insiders stated: 'They had a lovely time and loved being at the awards however she felt unwell and had to leave.' Megan and Wes' appearance at the ceremony was already marred with controversy as they had been earlier hit with the reports that Megan spent a night in a strip club with Pete Wicks during which they disappeared for a significant amount of time. The duo had previously refused to acknowledge the claims and made a defiant appearance at the awards ceremony - shortly before further claims arose. While sources claimed the couple had a 'whispered discussion while both furiously staring at their phones', insiders have counteracted the claims and insisted Megan's early departure was merely down to feeling unwell. Not true: While sources claimed the couple had a 'whispered discussion while both furiously staring at their phones', insiders have counteracted the claims and insisted Megan's early departure was merely down to feeling unwell Megan looked sensational in a sleek green gown by Marchesa, which fell off her shoulders and showed off a generous glimpse of her cleavage. The figure hugging ensemble had a ruched design across her waist, highlighting her sensational curves as she posed on the red carpet. Megan swept her blonde locks to one side, and styled her tresses into tight curls for a glamorous flair. She accentuated her pretty features by wearing a natural palette of make-up, which included a slick of pink lipstick and black eyeliner. Beaming: The couple were in high spirits as they put on a united front in front of the cameras Having fun: Megan and Wes were in high spirits as they spent time on the red carpet Stunning: The former exotic dancer, 24, looked sensational in a sleek green gown, which fell off her shoulders and showed off a generous glimpse of her cleavage Wes, meanwhile, looked sharp as he stepped out in a slim-fit black suit, which he teamed up with a crisp white shirt and Gucci loafers. Megan and Wes make no secret of their romance and often litter social media with adoring videos and snaps together, and Monday was no exception as they shared a number of videos on the carpet together. Arriving earlier on was Pete, who Megan allegedly disappeared with for 'a significant amount of time' during a night out, and he cut a dapper figure in a black suit. The couple revealed that they've been living with each other since the first week of coming out the Love Island villa, and also just put a deposit down on a two bedroom house in Camden. Looking good: Megan swept her blonde locks to one side, and styled her tresses into tight curls for a glamorous flair Keeping fans updated: Megan and Wes make no secret of their romance and often litter social media with adoring videos and snaps together, and Monday was no exception Smitten: Wes looked lovingly at Megan as they posed for photos on the red carpet Dapper: Wes looked sharp as he stepped out in a slim-fit black suit, which he teamed up with a crisp white shirt and designer brand loafers Earlier on Monday, sources alleged that Megan and Pete disappeared for a significant amount of time at the Stringfellow's nightclub, after the Animal Hero Awards at The Grosvenor House Hotel last month. The source told the publication: 'Megan and Pete hit it off from the moment they first started talking they both seemed keen to get to know each other better. 'At first Pete was very cautious and made it clear he wasnt interested due to her being in a relationship with Wes. But as the night progressed theyd both had a lot to drink and were having fun. 'The pair even went "missing" for a long period of time from the rest of the group that included Ferne, Mario and also Jon Clark... Megan loves Wes so has insisted to close friends that nothing happened between her and Pete.' Claims: Earlier on Monday, sources alleged to The Sun that Megan and Pete disappeared for a significant amount of time at the Stringfellow's nightclub, after the Animal Hero Awards Allegations: Insiders claimed she hit it off with Pete in particular, and said that the incident led others reality stars think her 'relationship with Wes won't last' Megan and Wes have been separated on a number of occasions due to Wes' hundreds of PAs up and down the country. Yet the night in question saw Megan head out by herself after which she is said to have partied up a storm with the fellow reality stars. Insiders claimed she hit it off with Pete in particular, and said that the incident led others reality stars think her 'relationship with Wes won't last'. Representatives for Megan and Wes declined to comment when approached by MailOnline. Pete's team were approached for comment. Defiant: The couple looked happy as they spent the evening together It's one of the most hotly anticipated red carpets for an awards show. And TOWIE stars Chloe Sims and Lauren Pope posed up a storm at the Pride of Britain Awards at the Grosvenor House hotel in London, on Monday evening. Fashionista Chloe opted for a shimmering gown that barely contained her assets as she walked the carpet. Strike a pose! TOWIE stars Chloe Sims posed up a storm at the Pride of Britain Awards at the Grosvenor House hotel in London , on Monday evening Pal: Chloe was kept in good company at the star-studded event as TOWIE co-star Lauren Pope made an appearance, looking demure in a high-necked gown The revealing ensemble showcased the beauty's ample assets and displayed her enviably-lean legs with a daring thigh-high split. Showing off her radiant bronze tan, the Celebs Go Dating star ensured all eyes were on her as she forwent any accessories. She teamed her attire with a pair of matching barely there heels and left her blonde locks down in loose waves. The TV personality wore a glamorous make-up look with pink eye-shadow, blush-swept cheeks and a nude lip. Wow! Fashionista Chloe opted for a shimmering gown seemingly inspired by Victoria Beckham's famed wedding dress Glam: The revealing ensemble showcased the beauty's ample assets and displayed her enviably-lean legs with a daring thigh-high split Chloe was kept in good company at the star-studded event as TOWIE co-stars Lauren Pope, Gemma Collins and Pete Wicks made an appearance. Lauren went for a more demure gown than her friend as she donned an elegant floor-length rose gold dress. Boasting contoured cheeks, she wore her lightened locks in glamorous curls that fell past her shoulders. Meanwhile, Gemma Collins looked radiant in a red figure-hugging midi dress. Regal: Lauren went for a more demure gown than her friend as she donned an elegant floor-length rose gold dress Co-star Pete sported an all black ensemble with a formal blazer and trousers as well as a fitted T-shirt. He seemed in good spirits on the red carpet, where he narrowly avoided a run in with Love Island stars Megan Barton-Hanson and her boyfriend Wes Nelson. Megan is said to have disappeared with Pete during a boozy night out recently, sparking concerns about the state of her romance with Wes. The GC has arrived: Gemma Collins showed off her one-stone weight loss from Dancing On Ice training as she hit the red carpet in a scarlet wrap dress Radiant in red: Gemma Collins' best friend Saffron Lempriere nearly suffered a wardrobe malfunction as her scarlet dress blew up in the wind Sources alleged to The Sun that a group of reality stars headed out after the Animal Hero Awards at The Grosvenor House Hotel in London last month, as they were joined by Ferne McCann, Mario Falcone and Jon Clark for a night at a strip club. As the 24-year-old former exotic dancer reportedly partied with the stars during the boozy night out, her beau was making an appearance at a nightclub in Belfast. The Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards, in partnership with TSB, will broadcast on ITV on 6 November at 8pm. Dashing: Pete Wicks sported an all black ensemble with a formal blazer and trousers as well as a fitted T-shirt Priyanka put on a colorful display in New York on Monday. The 36-year-old was spotted leaving her apartment at the Four Seasons Thirty Park Place in Tribeca wearing a vibrant pink and purple ensemble. She teamed the two-piece suit with some purple velvet boots and carried a mini black handbag. Ready for business: Priyanka Chopra stepped out in a colorful suit in New York on Monday as she was spotted leaving her apartment at the Four Seasons Private Residences The Indian-born beauty looked stylish and ready for business despite celebrating her bridal shower with pals the night before. Priyanka is preparing to walk down the aisle with fiance Nick Jonas, 26, in a matter of weeks. On Sunday Priyanka met with friends at Tiffany's Blue Box Cafe inside the famed brand's flagship store in Midtown Manhattan. She wore a pretty strapless white dress with feathered skirt from the Marchesa Spring 2018 collection. Vibrant: The 36-year-old beauty teamed the pink purple and black look with some purple velvet boots Out and about: The Quantico star was spotted leaving her apartment in Tribeca She gave fans a glimpse into her fun day as she wrote on Instagram Stories: 'My girls r in town! #anyreasontoparty #preweddingcelebrations.' Priyanka and Nick reportedly getting married in December. A source told Us Weekly magazine: 'The wedding is happening in India.' It was previously revealed the couple plan to blend traditions from their respective cultures on their big day. Girl time: Priyanka celebrated her bridal shower on Sunday evening at Tiffany's Blue Box Cafe 'Priyanka is having a really good time planning the wedding because it's a mix of Indian and American styles and customs, which she knows so much about,' the source said. The Quantico actress is also excited about starting a family with Nick as soon as they are married. An insider said; 'They have amazing chemistry and can't wait to have kids. They are going to wait till after the wedding to start trying. But it's definitely on the agenda.' They may be rapidly fading into obscurity, but it seems the Married At First Sight 2018 stars are still determined to drag out their public feuds for as long as possible. On Monday, Woman's Day reported that Tracey Jewel is 'demanding an apology' from former cast member Nasser Sultan after he 'dissed' her in his rap single. Nasser's debut song Blue Tick makes a only fleeting reference to Tracey, but it was apparently enough for her to consider legal action against the personal trainer. Scroll down for video Another blow for Tracey Jewel: The troubled MAFS star (left) is 'demanding an apology' from Nasser Sultan (right) after he criticised her in his debut rap single In the song, Nasser complains about not having a verified Instagram account and argues that he deserves a 'blue tick' more than his MAFS co-stars. He lists off several cast members who are verified by Instagram, including Tracy, and wonders why he hasn't been given the same privilege despite being just as famous. While the song was good natured and intended as a joke, Tracy is reportedly upset and wants Nasser, 51, to stop speaking about her publicly. Protecting her reputation: Nasser's debut song Blue Tick makes a only fleeting reference to Tracey, but it was enough to prompt her to consider legal action against the personal trainer Daily Mail Australia can also reveal that the 35-year-old self help author made a similar complaint earlier this year when Nasser mocked her writing skills. In July, he posted a video of himself asking his dog, 'Can you explain [this] to me?', while reading a clunky sentence from Tracey's book, Don't Mess with the Goddess. Afterwards, Tracey sent Nasser an email threatening him with legal action and claiming that his light-hearted social media post had caused her 'emotional distress'. She's not happy! Daily Mail Australia can also reveal that the 35-year-old self help author made a similar complaint earlier this year when Nasser mocked her writing skills Tracy also demanded he desist from making further comments about her on social media or in interviews and wanted him to issue a public apology. Nasser has seemingly ignored this request. When approached for comment on Tuesday, Tracey claimed she 'hasn't spoken to Nasser for months and wasn't aware of his rap'. She welcomed her second child nearly two months ago. And Claire Danes certainly looks happy to be spending time with her two boys. The 39-year-old actress was all smiles spotted out and about on a bonding outing with her sons in New York City on Wednesday. Bonding time: Claire Danes was all smiles spotted out and about on a bonding outing with her sons in New York City on Wednesday Claire looked chic in a black double-breasted trench coat with matching leather booties. Her signature blonde locks were worn down flowing over her shoulders as she let her natural looks show by going make-up free. The Homeland actress had her hands full as she held hands with five-year-old son Cyrus while pushing along a stroller. Vibes: The 39-year-old actress looked chic in a black double-breasted trench coat with matching leather booties Natural stunner: Her signature blonde locks were worn down flowing over her shoulders as she let her natural looks show by going make-up free The name of the newest child has not yet been revealed. Husband High Dancy was not seen on the outing. Speaking of her pregnancy cravings in June, the actress revealed: 'Not really. Just all of the food. I welcome all of the food,' People reported. 'I get to retire for a little while and just be pregnant...which feels like a huge luxury. When I was pregnant with my first son, I worked until I was in my eighth month, so this feels like a huge gift, to have a chance to kick my feet up a little bit.' Claire recently celebrated her ninth wedding anniversary with Hugh, who she tied the knot with in a secret ceremony in France in 2009. Juggling act: The Homeland actress had her hands full as she held hands with five-year-old son Cyrus while pushing along a stroller The acting duo originally met playing love interests on the 2006 set of Lajos Koltai's Evening. The actress will have the next few months off to spend time with her son, before getting back to work on the final season of Homeland. Showtime confirmed in August that the hit drama series was being renewed for an eighth and final season, slated to debut in June 2019. Production is slated to begin in early 2019 on the 12-episode season in an 'undetermined location, but fans recently got a hint at said location last week. The prospect of building momentum for a big summer ahead is driving Australia's T20 squad ahead of their dead-rubber clash with Pakistan in Dubai. Australia will be playing for pride in the third and final game of the series after Pakistan took an unassailable 2-0 lead with an 11-run victory on Friday night. Sunday night's clash with the world's No.1-ranked T20 side represents a valuable chance for Aaron Finch's men to continue improving in difficult Asian conditions. It could also be a confidence-booster for the group of eight T20 players who have been picked in the ODI squad to face South Africa starting in Perth on November 4. Finch, Chris Lynn, Glenn Maxwell, D'Arcy Short and Alex Carey are among the players set to switch formats along with paceman Nathan Coulter-Nile, leg spinner Adam Zampa and Ashton Agar, who was dropped for the second T20. Vice-captain Mitch Marsh, who was omitted for the ODI tour and will instead prepare for the Test series against India by captaining Western Australia in the Sheffield Shield, says avoiding a clean sweep would be a big boost for the group. "I think any time you get a chance to have a win, you gain momentum," Marsh said. "It's often spoken out that playing for Australia, there's no such thing as a dead rubber. We're still playing for a lot of pride here. "It'd be nice to get on that plane tomorrow night having won, and hopefully the one-day boys will be able to start well." Maxwell's defiant 52 wasn't enough to prevent Australia from falling short of what had looked like a gettable target of 148 in Friday night's do-or-die match. Big guns Finch, Lynn and Short, who fell to a bizarre run out decision from the third umpire which left the tourists in disbelief, again failed to post significant scores after Australia were skittled for 89 in the series-opener. Pakistan have now remarkably won 10 straight T20 series with skipper Sarfraz Ahmed enjoying a perfect run since replacing Shahid Afridi in 2016. After a hugely successful visit to Australia, Fiji and Tonga, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are now on their way to New Zealand to finish up their 16-day tour. The couple spent 10 days on official engagements in Australia, winding up with the Sydney closing ceremony of the Invictus Games for war wounded that Prince Harry founded. Harry and Meghan, who announced their pregnancy on their first night in Australia a fortnight ago, took a Royal New Zealand Air Force plane for the flight to Wellington on Sunday. A frog native to Victoria that is facing extinction has been successfully bred in captivity for the first-time in the world. The Baw Baw Frog, which has less than 1000 of the amphibians in the wild, has taken seven years of Zoo Victoria and the Baw Baw Frog Recovery Program's time to breed and have put most of the eggs on the slopes of Mt Baw Baw. "We got to them just in the nick of time and we will continue to fight the all too possible extinction of this species," Melbourne Zoo Amphibian Specialist Damian Goodall said. The Victorian government is being urged to ban flavoured cigarettes to prevent young people getting hooked to smoking long term. Quit Victoria says the tobacco products with squeezable flavour capsules have been carefully designed by the tobacco industry to make smoking more fun and better tasting for young people and non-smokers. "If we don't take urgent action, we risk seeing a new generation of young people becoming addicted to a product which kills two in three long-term users," Quit Victoria Policy Manager Kylie Lindorff said. Analysts say a Melbourne-driven property surge has lifted the national clearance rate to its best week of the auction season so far, though house sales across the country are still in a rut amid a wider downturn. CoreLogic's preliminary auction data released on Monday shows 2,919 homes went under the hammer in capital cities last week - up 36 per cent on the week before - but still well down on the 3,713 that were up for sale 12 months ago. CoreLogic put the weeks' higher volume down to a Melbourne bounce, as vendors rush to auction prior to the Melbourne Cup Carnival slowdown, where volumes will temporarily plummet across the city. Melbourne hosted 1,706 auctions last week, making it the second busiest week of the year for the city, while preliminary results show a clearance rate of 49.8 per cent, up from last week when just 45.7 per cent of auctions were successful. That was the city's lowest clearance rate since June 2012. Nationwide preliminary results show a clearance rate of 50.2 per cent for last week, which is likely to drop below 50 per cent for the fifth consecutive week when final results are released on Thursday. There were 796 auctions held in Sydney, up from 675 the week prior, although substantially lower than the 1,215 homes last year. Preliminary results show that 50.7 per cent of Sydney auctions were successful this week, up from 44.6 per cent last week. Adelaide had less auctions than same point last year but a better clearance rate, while Brisbane, Perth, and Canberra had less auctions and a worse clearance rate. Melbourne home values are down 4.9 per cent on the same point last year, while Sydney values are down 4.7 per cent. Meanwhile, the Housing Industry Association says the downturn in new home sales paused in September following a three per cent decline in each of the previous two months. Only Queensland registered a decline in new home sales for the month, down 10.8 per cent. "Despite the monthly pause, the longer term trend of decline in sales remains in place," HIA Economist Diwa Hopkins said. "We still expect new home building to decline in 2019." The Australian Conservation Foundation wants to speak to you about the climate. CEO Kelly O'Shanassy will on Tuesday outline the organisation's plan to focus voters in on climate policy ahead of the federal election, including targeting three electorates - marginal Liberal seats Chisholm and Bonner, as well as the new Victorian seat of Macnamara. "People that we're speaking to are really worried about climate change, and this is kind of in middle Australia, it's not just the domain of the left, as our government would say," Ms O'Shanassy told ABC radio on Tuesday. A handout picture provided by the office of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on October 14, 2018 shows him giving a speech during a ceremony at Tehran University marking the beginning of the new Iranian academic year President Hassan Rouhani said Saturday that the divisions between the US and Europe over renewed sanctions on Iran were a "rare historical victory" for the Islamic republic. "If this time last year, we had stated that America would stand against the great nation of Iran... and Europe would stand with Iran and against America, the overwhelming majority of us... would have said that this was pure optimism," Rouhani told lawmakers in a televised address. "The political victory of the great nation of Iran over the past months is a rare victory in history." EU countries have fiercely opposed the decision by US President Donald Trump to abandon their landmark 2015 nuclear deal with Iran and reimpose sanctions -- the last of which will return on November 5. Rouhani was addressing parliament for a special session to approve four new ministers covering the portfolios of economy, transport, labour and industry. He acknowledged Iranians were feeling the economic strain, saying: "All of us understand people are suffering and under pressure. People's lives, in particular those on a fixed income, are very difficult." But he insisted there were sufficient reserves of basic commodities and foreign currency to weather the storm, even after a record-breaking plunge in the rial over the summer and imminent sanctions on its crucial oil industry. "We cannot tell our people that because of America's pressure, we cannot do anything. This answer is not acceptable. We cannot tell people that because there are problems with selling our oil, we are unable to manage the country," he said. He criticised foreign media reports that costs were soaring, despite Iran's own central bank showing food and drink prices had risen 46.5 percent in the year to September. "Foreign media lie to people of Iran and say that Iran is the most expensive country people live in," Rouhani said. Lawmakers later approved the four names put forward by Rouhani: Farhad Dejpasand as economy minister, Mohammad Eslami for transport, Reza Rahmani for industry and Mohammad Shariatmadari for labour. The previous economy and labour ministers were impeached by parliament in August, while the other two resigned last week. French President Emmanuel Macron argued that sanctions against Saudi Arabia for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi should be at the "European level" French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel remained at odds on Saturday over the issue of halting lucrative arms sales to Saudi Arabia in response to the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The disagreement led to a rare dispute between the close European allies on Friday, when Macron implied that Berlin was engaging in "pure demagoguery" after Merkel announced a freeze on arms sales to Riyadh. The suspension would remain in place until the circumstances of the dissident's murder inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul were clarified, she said. The tone was more measured when the two leaders had a "relaxed exchange" on the sidelines of a Syria summit in Istanbul on Saturday, Macron's office said, adding that they had agreed not to announce their next positions on the issue without first coordinating "at the European level". However in separate news conferences after the end of the summit, the divide remained: Merkel stood by her "decision to stop all arms exports" to Riyadh, while Macron said that any sanctions should be made at the "European level" and "not limited to this or that sector". Macron also reiterated his claim that 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. Once it was established who was responsible for the killing, "sanctions can be taken", he said, but they must be "coherent, comprehensive and extremely concrete and proportionate". Earlier in the week Germany called for EU countries to follow its lead and suspend arms sales for the moment to Saudi Arabia, prompting a dismissive response from Macron -- France is the kingdom's second biggest customer after India. "What is the link between arms sales and Mr Khashoggi?" Macron said on Friday, calling it "pure demagoguery to call for a halt" to exports, which have "nothing to do with Mr Khashoggi. One shouldn't mix everything up". The remark was interpreted as a rare veiled criticism of Merkel. Macron added 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 -- before the international backlash against the Saudi kingdom -- Germany approved 416 million euros ($470 million) worth of arms exports to Riyadh for 2018. 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 who ordered the hit and the whereabouts of the body. Prince Mohammed, the kingdom's de facto ruler, has denounced the "repulsive" murder, denying any involvement. Authorities said Robert Bowers was armed with an assault rifle and at least three handguns 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." 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." Domestic and international criticism of the camps on Nauru has grown amid reports of abuse, suicides and lengthy detention periods 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. Otto Warmbier was jailed in North Korea for more than a year and the exact cause of his death shortly after returning home to the US remains unknown 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. 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: Sri Lanka's new ruling party had given sacked prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe till Sunday morning to leave the Temple Trees official residence following his shock dismissal Sri Lanka's sacked prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe resisted moves to evict him from his official residence, officials said Sunday, as his controversial successor sought blessings at a prominent temple ahead of naming a new cabinet. The new ruling party had given Wickremesinghe till Sunday morning to leave the Temple Trees official residence following his shock dismissal on Friday that has plunged the Indian Ocean island into constitutional turmoil. Officials said police will now seek a court order to evict Wickremesinghe, whose security and official cars were also withdrawn by President Maithripala Sirisena on Saturday. Wickremesinghe had earlier insisted Sirisena's dismissal of him was illegal and demanded an emergency session to prove he still commanded a majority. Instead, Sirisena shut parliament for nearly three weeks to forestall any challenge against his appointment of former strongman Mahinda Rajapakse as the new prime minister. Privately-run newspapers on Sunday described Sirisena's move as a "constitutional coup" that has plunged the country into an unprecedented crisis. All police leave was cancelled as tensions heightened in Colombo and more troops were seen near Temple Trees as well as the president's office. Western nations have expressed concern and asked all sides to act with restraint and respect the constitution. Meanwhile, Rajapakse travelled to a highly venerated Buddhist temple in the central district of Kandy to seek blessings from monks before naming a cabinet. Rajapakse's aides said he was likely to name a few cabinet ministers later Sunday and begin work on Monday. He is yet to make a formal statement or address the nation since being elevated to the new post. The former strongman is a controversial figure at home and abroad and presided over the crushing of a decades-long Tamil Tiger uprising. He is seen as being closer to China than Wickremesinghe, who had sought to re-establish stronger ties with traditional ally and regional power India. Official sources in New Delhi told AFP they were "closely watching" developments in Colombo. While known for their jumping prowess, most kangaroos are also capable swimmers although they rarely take to the water A kangaroo that hopped into the sea for a dip at a Melbourne beach had to be rescued by Australian police and brought back to life with CPR, officers said Sunday. Officers said they were called to Safety Beach in Melbourne on Saturday afternoon amid reports the native animal was struggling in the water. When they arrived, the roo had already made its way back onto dry land and was on the sand covered with a blanket by a beachgoer. But as they approached, it suddenly turned around and bounded back into the waves. "It began to swim but got into difficulty in the swell and breaking waves and went under water a couple of times," Victoria Police said in a statement. Two officers jumped into the water and managed to bring the marsupial, by now unconscious, back to a grassy area and resuscitate it using compressions. They did not use the "kiss of life" -- mouth-to-mouth resuscitation -- a Victoria Police spokeswoman told AFP. The wild animal was then brought to a police station and after an assessment, officers said it was "in good spirits and lucky to be alive given the amount of saltwater he inhaled". While known for their jumping prowess, most kangaroos are also capable swimmers although they rarely take to the water US President Donald Trump arrives to speak during an election rally in Murphysboro, Illinois 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. And in a flash, he was back to campaign mode. US President Donald Trump arrives to speak at the Future Farmers of America convention in Indiana 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' - US President Donald Trump addresses a "Make America Great Again" rally in Charlotte, North Carolina 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." US President Donald Trump attends a campaign rally at Central Wisconsin Airport in Mosinee, Wisconsin 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." Karim Meckassoua, ousted as president of Central Africa's National Assembly, has vowed to challenge the move in the courts The Central African Republic's ousted assembly leader called for calm as he spoke to supporters on Sunday saying he would legally challenge his sacking which has taken on sectarian overtones. Speaking in his predominantly Muslim PK5 neighbourhood of Bangui, the economic hub of the capital and often scene of violence, Karim Meckassoua protested the censure vote late Friday that removed him from the office of president of the national assembly. The Muslim politician called for "calm" and for his ouster not to be turned into a debate over religion, but at the same time noted that 38 out of the 41 deputies who voted against him were Christian, an AFP correspondent at the scene reported. "The fight continues but it is a judicial fight," Meckassoua declared, saying he would take his case all the way to the constitutional court. Protesters demonstrate against the removal of Karim Meckassoua as president of the National Assembly In reaction to the move against Meckassoua, the country's mainly Muslim ex-Seleka rebels on Saturday gave government officials in areas under their control an ultimatum to leave within 48 hours. Abdoulaye Hissene, a leader of the former rebels and of the National Defence and Security Council, which comprises several ex-Seleka armed groups, told AFP the ouster vote was "illegal". "We think it happened because he's a Muslim," he said. However, on Sunday, two of the three ex-Seleka armed groups expressed a desire to ease the tensions. The Bangui government has denied any religious motives in the dismissal of the National Assembly president. "Those who launched the censure procedure raised management problems. At no time was the religious question raised," government spokesman Ange-Maxime Kazaguhe said Saturday. After years of confrontation between Muslim and Christian groups, the election of Meckassoua in 2016 was seen as a symbol of reconciliation between communities in the Central African Republic. But observers have also said that relations between Meckassoua and President Faustin-Archange Touadera, a Christian, have never been good. The Central African government controls only a small part of its territory, with vast parts living under the control of armed groups. The country of 4.5 million inhabitants, rich in diamonds and uranium, counts among the world's poorest. Various groups, from jihadists to rebel groups originally from neighbouring Chad and Sudan have exploited Libya's enduring security vacuum Neglected by rival authorities in Tripoli and the country's east, Libya's southern desert has increasingly become a hideout for foreign rebel groups that stand accused of stoking growing insecurity. "Kidnapping, theft and banditry have multiplied" in the region, said Ali Akri Molia, commander of a unit responsible for protecting oil installations in the Oubari area of southern Libya. He and others blame rebel groups from neighbouring Chad for much of the insecurity. Mired in chaos since the fall of dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011, two entities now vie for control over Libya -- the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord, and a parallel body in the east. The eastern administration is supported by strongman Khalifa Haftar, who heads the self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA). Various groups, from jihadists to rebel groups originally from neighbouring Chad and Sudan have exploited Libya's enduring security vacuum. The rebel factions have established rear bases in Libya and profit from trafficking and other illicit activities to finance insurgencies back home. The groups benefit from the support of tribal communities, criss-crossing a landscape where dunes are sometimes the only identifying features. Often on horseback, they ignore borders that for long stretches remain nothing more than imaginary lines in the sand. The Tubu people are among those that straddle Libya and Chad. Some of them are involved in smuggling and illegal migration, according to experts. "Most Chadian and Sudanese opposition armed groups have been seeking to increase their presence in Libya in the pursuit of profit," said a recent report by a UN group of experts on Libya. Mohammed Emdaouar, a southern Libya lawmaker, said the groups operate in a vast area extending from Koufra near Chad to the Marzuq basin, more than 400 kilometres (250 miles) from the border. The rebels "occupy homes and have their cars. Nobody can touch them", he lamented. Previously accused of operating as mercenaries for rival Libyan camps, Chadian rebel groups now stand accused of driving a resurgence of violence in southern Libya. - No support - Commander Molia cited the kidnapping in mid-October of members of a tribe near the Oum al-Araneb region. The captives were freed from the clutches of Chadian rebels by local armed groups, but 10 Libyan fighters were killed in the rescue operation, said Molia. The commander complained that his forces get no support from the GNA or the eastern administration, leaving them ill-equipped to battle insecurity. One of the freed hostages, Mohammed Ibrahim Mohammed, told AFP the Chadians claimed ransoms from families. Two Chadian groups operating in Libya denied involvement in kidnapping activities. "We categorically deny (what) they accuse us of," said Kingabe Ogouzeimi de Tapol, leader of the armed wing of a group called the Salvation of the Republic. In August, his group launched an offensive in Chad's far north, before retreating to shelter in southern Libya. Another Chadian group present in Libya, the Union of Resistance Forces, also denied involvement and accused Libyan commanders of being behind the kidnappings. "There are Chadians... who work for the Libyans, for the tribes," said spokesman Youssouf Hamid. He said any Chadians involved would not have acted on their own initiative. The UN Mission in Libya has condemned rights violations by foreign armed groups and has urged "the Libyan authorities to take swift and effective measures to fight anarchy in the region". - 'Very dangerous' - On Wednesday the UN-backed government in Tripoli held a cabinet meeting focused on the country's south. "What is happening in the south is very dangerous," said the GNA's deputy prime minister Abdessalam Kajman. He urged "firmness" in tackling Chadian and Sudanese opposition "bandits". Meanwhile, the LNA has ordered a military operation to fight "criminal gangs and the Chadian opposition who engage in kidnapping and extortion, deriving significant revenues that could finance terrorist activities", LNA spokesman Ahmed al-Mesmari told AFP. A recent meeting in Chad's capital N'Djamena between Haftar and President Idriss Deby Itno falls within this military remit, he said. But in reality Libya's vast south escapes the control of both the GNA and its rivals in the east, even if Haftar's self-styled LNA says that it has an on-the-ground presence. "The southern territory is vast, difficult and... does not necessarily promise a very substantial political dividend," said Jalel Harchaoui, a Libya specialist at the University of Paris 8. This discourages the main Libyan forces from intervening, he added. But Harchaoui said Chad's government and former coloniser France are also worried that a jihadist presence could further unravel the Sahel region, which leaves them dependent on Haftar. "Haftar is supposed to re-establish order in this vast territory," he said. But while the strongman has "made many reassuring declarations, the reality (on the ground) remains worrying". The Long March-2C rocket lifts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre China sent its first ever satellite built in partnership with another country into space on Monday, a device tasked with helping scientists better predict dangerous cyclones and climate change by monitoring ocean surface winds and waves. A Long March 2C carrier rocket blasted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China's Gobi Desert at 0043 GMT, according to China's State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence. The 650-kilogram (1,430 pound) China-France Oceanography Satellite (CFOSAT) is the first satellite jointly built by China and France and will allow climate scientists to better understand interactions between oceans and the atmosphere. It's fitted with two radars: the French-made SWIM spectrometer, which will measure the direction and the wavelength of waves, and China's SCAT, a scatterometer that will analyse the force and direction of winds. The data will be collected and analysed in both countries. The instruments will allow scientists to collect information about winds and waves of the same location simultaneously for the first time, Wang Lili, chief designer of the satellite with the China Academy of Space Technology, said, according to the official Xinhua news agency. "It will help increase the observation and prediction of catastrophic sea states, such as huge waves and tropical storms, and provide security support for offshore operations and engineering, ship navigation, fisheries, and coastal management," said Zhao Jian, a senior official at the China National Space Administration. The rocket successfully put the satellite into orbit 520 kilometres (323 miles) above the Earth. - 'Historic' - Chinese leader Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron exchanged congratulations in a phone call, according to Xinhua. "It's historic. It's the first satellite China has made through international cooperation," Jean-Yves Le Gall, president of France's National Centre for Space Studies, told AFP. "This satellite will help make considerable progress in understanding climate change." The project began in 2007. The two countries are also working together on the Space Variable Objects Monitor (SVOM) mission, which will launch a satellite in 2021 to detect and study gamma-ray bursts. China and France already cooperate in space, with a French cardiovascular device aboard China's Tiangong-2 space lab to monitor a crew's hearts. The lab is expected to de-orbit after July 2019. Le Gall said France is also working with China on cooperating in exploration missions to the moon and Mars. China plans to have a crewed space station by 2022 and send a manned mission to the moon in the future. "The (CFOSAT) launch shows that the international community is more and more willing to consider China as a full partner," said Jacqueline Myrrhe, a space expert at GoTaikonauts.com, which specialises in China's space programme. "It will also allow (France) to have launch opportunities and privileged access to space cooperation with China. And who knows, maybe to put a French astronaut in the future Chinese space station," Myrrhe said. Some three hours after the joint Chinese French launch, Japan's space agency sent a rocket carrying a satellite that will monitor greenhouse gases. The satellite is officially named GOSAT-2, short for "greenhouse gases observing satellite-2", and is intended to provide data that will help Japan create and publish "emission inventories" of the CO2 output of various countries, as outlined in the Paris climate accord. Equatorial Guinea's hardline President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, shown here addressing the UN General Assembly in September, has been in power since 1979 Activists in Equatorial Guinea alleged Monday that plainclothes security forces snatched and beat up the head of their human rights and development organisation at the weekend. Alfredo Okenve was "sequestered... (and) mistreated by security forces wearing civilian clothes", the Centre for Studies and Initiatives for the Development of Equatorial Guinea (CEID-GE) said in a statement. A relative of Okenve's, Analeto Medja, told AFP: "He was taking his brother to the airport. Four people stopped his car and forced him at gunpoint to get into theirs. They took him to some wasteland and beat him hard until he was bleeding, then they left him there." Residents close to the scene took Okenve to a hospital in Bata, Equatorial Guinea's economic capital on Africa's Atlantic seaboard, Medja and other family members said. The oil-rich country's political capital is Malabo on the island of Bioko, lying off the coast of Cameroon to the northwest of the mainland and its dense tropical forests. The identity of the men in civilian clothes who attacked Okenve was unclear on Monday, but carrying firearms is tightly controlled by the iron-fisted regime of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, in power since 1979. The affair was being followed widely on social networks on Monday, but there was no official reaction. CEID-GE said it would file a formal complaint, denouncing the harassment of civil society in the former Spanish colony. Okenve was arrested and detained for several days in April 2017 for celebrating the 20th anniversary of the CEID-GE. He was released after a bail payment of two million CFA francs (about 3,000 euros, nearly $3,500). Human rights groups have repeatedly denounced Obiang Nguema, 76, for his repression of political opposition, independent civil society organisations and the media. In February 2018, the European Union expressed concern at the "serious deterioration in the human rights situation" in Equatorial Guinea, which is also known for the lavish spending of Obiang's son and vice president, Teodorin Nguema Obiang. A French court in October 2017 gave Teodorin Obiang a suspended fine of 30 million euros and a suspended three-year jail term after convicting him of looting public funds from his country to pay for a rich playboy's lifestyle in Paris. Tunisian forensics inspect the site of a suicide attack in the Tunisian capital Tunis A female suicide bomber injured 20 people on a busy street in the centre of the Tunisian capital on Monday, authorities said, after a three-year break in attacks in the city. "It's a tragedy," said Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi, during a visit to the German capital Berlin. "We thought we had eradicated terrorism ...(but it) is still in the heart of capital," he said. The number of wounded was revised up from nine to 20, including 15 police officers and two teenagers, said police spokesman Walid Ben Hkima, but there were no serious injuries. Interior ministry spokesman Sofiene Zaag told AFP that the suicide bomber blew herself up in the middle of the day "near police cars" in the upmarket Avenue Habib Bourguiba in Tunis. Map locating Habib Bourguiba Avenue in Tunis where a woman blew herself up near police vehicles Monday Ambulances arrived swiftly at the scene, which was cordoned off by security forces. Shops lowered their shutters and cafes emptied as panic gripped passersby. An AFP photographer saw the bomber's body, apparently mostly intact, lying on the ground on its back with black glasses on the forehead under one of the neatly-trimmed box trees that line the avenue. The interior ministry, in a statement, identified the assailant as a 30-year-old woman with no known extremist affiliations, and there was no immediate claim of responsibility. The ministry said she died instantly. Police sources said the bomber had most likely not been wearing or carrying an explosive belt, but instead a "home made bomb". Significant police reinforcements arrived quickly at the scene and at least two people were arrested, the AFP journalist said. Shortly before the blast, a small group of demonstrators had held a protest in the avenue against the killing near Tunis last week of a teenager by a customs agent. Police and firemen gather at the site of a suicide attack in the centre of the Tunisian capital Tunis after a woman blew herself up killing nine people The attack was the first in the Tunisian capital since November 24, 2015 when a suicide bombing killed 12 security agents on a bus for presidential guards. That attack was claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group. The Islamist party Ennahdha, the second largest party in parliament, condemned Monday's "cowardly attack" and urged all Tunisians "to unite in confronting terrorism", while reiterating its full support for "military institutions and the police". - Islamic State attacks - Since the 2011 uprising that toppled dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, jihadist attacks in Tunisia have killed dozens of members of the security forces and foreign tourists. In June 2015, 38 people were killed in a shooting rampage at the coastal resort of Sousse which targeted tourists, while an attack in March that year on the National Bardo Museum in Tunis left 22 people dead, most of them tourists. A member of the Tunisian security forces stands guard at the site of a suicide attack in the Tunisian capital Tunis The terror attacks claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group devastated Tunisia's crucial tourism sector, which made up seven percent of gross domestic product. The country has been under a state of emergency since the November 2015 attack on the bus. The state of emergency was extended earlier this month until November 6, amid a tense political climate ahead of legislative and presidential elections planned for next year. In March 2016, dozens of jihadists who infiltrated from neighbouring Libya assaulted security posts in the southern region of Ben Guerdane in what Tunisian authorities said was an aborted attempt to declare an "emirate". The attack, which went unclaimed, left 20 dead among security forces and civilians. Calm has led to a rebound in the tourism industry over the past two years, with more than six million foreign travellers visiting Tunisia in the first nine months of 2018, according to government data. Arrivals rose 16.9 percent to 6.3 million in the nine months to the end of September, surpassing the number for the whole of 2014. Tourism revenues in the first nine months of 2018 totalled just over 1 billion euros ($1.2 billion), a rise of 27.6 percent year-on-year. Tourism Minister Selma Elloumi Rekik told AFP in May that she expected total arrivals to exceed eight million in 2018, higher than the seven million recorded in 2010, a benchmark year for Tunisian tourism. Central African Republic lawmakers were meeting to elect a new speaker to replace minority Muslim Alfred Yekatom, a former militia leader who is under UN sanctions A lawmaker fired into the air in the Central African Republic's parliament on Monday after an altercation with a colleague as MPs prepared to vote for a new speaker. Alfred Yekatom, who represents the southern M'baiki district and is a former militia leader, drew his weapon during the dispute, then fired the gun as he ran away. Yekatom's motive for shooting the gun, which sent MPs rushing to the exit, was not clear. The parliament session was suspended for an hour while security forces searched every MP. The lawmakers went on to elect an MP from western Baboua, Laurent Ngon-Baba, a former minister, in a near-unanimous vote of 112 in favour, with four blank ballots. The vote came three days after a censure motion removed Karim Meckassoua, who represents a predominantly Muslim neighbourhood in Bangui. After years of confrontation between Muslim and Christian groups in the majority Christian country, Meckassoua's election in 2016 was seen as a symbol of reconciliation. On Sunday Meckassoua said he would challenge his sacking in the courts, calling for his ouster not to be turned into a sectarian debate -- while noting that 38 of the 41 deputies who voted against him were Christian. Speaking after the vote, Ngon-Baba said: "We can no longer afford to make mistakes. We will immediately take steps, especially concerning the management of financial resources." Suspected embezzlement was among the justifications advanced for Meckassoua's ouster. Observers have said that relations between President Faustin-Archange Touadera and Meckassoua have never been good. - Yekatom under UN sanctions - Yekatom is a former soldier as well as the former head of a faction of the so-called anti-Balaka militia, which emerged in largely Christian communities in 2013 to fight a mainly Muslim rebel alliance, the Seleka, who overthrew longtime leader Francois Bozize. Today his successor Touadera can claim to control only a fraction of the country despite the deployment of one of the UN's most ambitious peacekeeping operations, MINUSCA. The rest is in the sway of ex-rebels and vigilante militias. Police arrested Yekatom while he was still in the parliament building. Moments later, more gunfire broke out as a car rammed the police barrier outside parliament. In 2015, a UN Security Council committee slapped a travel ban and assets freeze on Yekatom for "engaging in or providing support for acts that undermine the peace, stability or security of the CAR". Sporadic gunfire was heard late Friday in the PK5 district, Bangui's economic hub and often the scene of violence. There was also shooting in rebel strongholds Bria and Bambari, but it was not clear whether it was linked to Meckassoua's fate. The country of 4.5 million, rich in diamonds and uranium, counts among the world's poorest. US President Donald Trump in recent weeks has repeatedly said more troops are needed to tighten security at the US-Mexico border The Pentagon could send thousands more troops to the US-Mexico border, a US official said Monday, as President Donald Trump warned a caravan of Central American migrants that the military was waiting. US officials last week said about 800 active-duty troops would be sent to provide assistance -- mainly in the form of logistical support -- to border guards working along the frontier. But the Wall Street Journal reported Monday that 5,000 troops would deploy to the southern border. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a US official said the 5,000 figure was right -- but cautioned that planning is still under way and said no final decisions have been made on numbers. The Department of Homeland Security, the vast US agency in charge of border security, was scheduled to hold a news conference at 4:00 pm (2000 GMT). Trump in recent weeks has repeatedly said more troops are needed to tighten security at the border and he has made political capital of the caravan in the weeks before important mid-term congressional elections that could see the Democrats regain a degree of power. Trump took to Twitter on Monday to again blast the migrant caravan, which is comprised mainly of Hondurans and is making its way slowly northward, mostly on foot, through Mexico. "Many Gang Members and some very bad people are mixed into the Caravan heading to our Southern Border," Trump wrote. "Please go back, you will not be admitted into the United States unless you go through the legal process. This is an invasion of our Country and our Military is waiting for you!" In April, Trump ordered up to 4,000 National Guardsmen to head to the border as a different migrant caravan wound its way north. About 2,100 have deployed. 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. Mourners gather around the bodies of three Palestinian teenagers killed last night in an Israeli strike during their funeral in Deir el-Balah in the central Gaza Strip on October 29, 2018 Palestinians on Monday accused Israel of excessive force after an air strike on the Gaza border killed three teenagers accused of trying to damage the fence and of possibly placing a bomb there. A Palestinian rights group said the three were trying to sneak through the fence and called what it said was a drone strike an "excessive use of force". The three who the Gazan health ministry said were aged 13 and 14 were killed late Sunday near the tense border between the Hamas-run Gaza Strip and Israel. The Israeli army said they had attempted to damage the fence and "were apparently involved in placing an improvised explosive device adjacent to it". The Gaza-based Palestinian Centre for Human Rights said its investigations concluded the three approached the area Sunday evening "in an attempt to sneak through the border fence". It said paramedics who retrieved the bodies on the Gazan side of the fence "confirmed that the children did not have anything (weapons)". It gave their ages as 14 and 15. An Israeli army spokesman said Monday he had nothing further to add to the previous statement. The incident occurred after months of protests and clashes along the Gaza border. Several military flare-ups have also occurred in that time. The boys were identified by the health ministry as Khaled abu Said, 14, Mohammed Abu Zaher and Mohammed al-Satari, both 13. They came from the village of Wadi al-Salqa around a kilometre from the border fence. A picture of Khaled Abu Said, one of three Palestinian teenagers killed the previous day in an Israeli air strike on the Gaza border, is fixed on a plant on his seat in his classroom in Deir el-Balah in the central Gaza Strip on October 29, 2018 Hundreds attended the funeral Monday. Waleed Muharib, 20, a neighbour, said he saw them as they left. "They were laughing as they headed to the border. I told them to be careful. They said they were going to catch birds." Later, he said, "I heard the explosion and I knew they were dead". Ibrahim al-Satari, the father of 13-year-old Mohammed, told AFP he couldn't understand it. "I do not know why they killed my only son and his friends. These are small children," he said. "They could have caught them and found out they were playing or hunting." In their school classrooms Tuesday, teachers marked the boys' seats with notes with their names. UN envoy Nickolay Mladenov expressed sympathy for the families. "Such tragedies must be avoided at all costs," he wrote on Twitter. "Children must be protected, not exposed to violence or put in danger." At least 218 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in the months of demonstrations and clashes. The latest was shot dead Monday. One Israeli soldier has been killed along the border since the protests began on March 30. Israel says its actions are necessary to defend the border and stop infiltrations and attacks, which it accuses Hamas of seeking to orchestrate. Palestinians and rights groups say protesters have been shot while posing little threat. Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza have fought three wars since 2008 and the recent unrest has sparked fears of a fourth. On Friday and into Saturday, Palestinian militants fired dozens of rockets into southern Israel, which responded with extensive air strikes. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, seen here in August 2018 at the White House, will travel to Pittsburgh to support the city after 11 people were shot dead in the worst anti-Semitic attack in recent US history President Donald Trump and his wife Melania will travel to Pittsburgh on Tuesday to support the city after 11 people were shot dead in the worst anti-Semitic attack in recent US history. The White House announced the trip Monday amid a mounting row over whether Trump's fierce rhetoric at campaign rallies and on Twitter has been partly responsible for stoking extremist fires ahead of November 6 midterm elections. "Tomorrow, the president and first lady will travel to Pennsylvania to express the support of the American people and grieve with the Pittsburgh community," White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told journalists in Washington. Robert Bowers, the man accused in the massacre during Saturday prayers at the Tree of Life synagogue, made a first court appearance Monday, attending the session in a wheelchair after being wounded during a gunfight with police. A woman stands at a memorial outside the Tree of Life synagogue after a shooting there left 11 people dead in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh on October 27 Pasty faced, the 46-year-old spent only three minutes in court, making little comment other than to respond "Yes" and "Yes Sir" to procedural questions from the Pittsburgh federal judge. Bowers allegedly told police after his arrest that he "wanted all Jews to die" because he said they were inflicting genocide on "his people." Social media posts attributed to Bowers indicate that in addition to hating Jews, he is also virulently anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim. The judge scheduled his next court appearance for Thursday. - Politics and tragedy - A presidential visit to the site of a tragedy is not necessarily unusual but in the increasingly febrile atmosphere ahead of the midterms -- where opposition Democrats hope to take control of at least one house of Congress -- Trump's trip is mired in politics. People's silhouettes are seen as they walk near a memorial to the victims of a mass shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue Bowers' shooting spree came in the same week that authorities arrested a Florida man -- an ardent Trump supporter -- on suspicion of mailing more than a dozen homemade bombs to opponents and critics of the president. The two incidents have led to accusations that Trump has fanned violence through his almost daily tweets and speeches lambasting immigrants, opponents and journalists in divisive and hardline language. For example, Bowers had reportedly referred on social media to anger at a group of several thousand impoverished Central Americans currently attempting to walk north to the United States -- a favorite target of the president's anti-immigrant rhetoric. Jeffrey Myers, a Tree of Life rabbi who was present when the attack started, told CNN that "the president of the United States is always welcome." Rabbi Jeffrey Myers of the Tree of Life synagogue says US President Donald Trump would be welcome if he visits, but other Jewish leaders have urged him to stay away But also speaking on CNN, a former president of the synagogue, Lynette Lederman, told Trump on Monday to stay away, calling him a "purveyor of hate speech." Outside the synagogue, meanwhile, a trickle of mourners braved the cold to leave candles and bouquets. Eleven identical white wooden stars were laid out, each inscribed with a name of the slain, together with a pink heart and a verse from a psalm: "The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." - White House strikes back - Trump struck back Monday in typically robust fashion, arguing that critical journalists were in fact the ones feeding extremism across the country. US President Donald Trump, pictured here at an election rally in Murphysboro, Illinois, accuses the media of stoking a climate of "anger" "There is great anger in our Country caused in part by inaccurate, and even fraudulent, reporting of the news," Trump tweeted. "The Fake News Media, the true Enemy of the People, must stop the open & obvious hostility & report the news accurately & fairly. That will do much to put out the flame of Anger and Outrage." Sanders also used her press conference to complain about what she said was almost constantly critical media coverage. "I think the president has had a number of moments of bringing the country together," she said. "The very first thing the media does was blame the president. You guys have a huge responsibility to play in the divisive nature of this country when 90 percent of the coverage of everything this president is negative, despite the fact that the country is doing extremely well." Florida gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum, the mayor of Tallahassee, is the latest Democrat to incur the wrath of Donald Trump shortly before the November 6, 2018 midterm elections, with the president branding Gillum a "thief" running a corrupt city US President Donald Trump attacked Florida's Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum as a "thief" on Monday, accusing the Tallahassee mayor, who is African-American, of running a corrupt city. The tweet against Gillum came after Trump said he would tone down his campaign rhetoric Saturday following a shooting rampage at a synagogue in Pittsburgh that killed 11 Jewish worshippers. "In Florida there is a choice between a Harvard/Yale educated man named @RonDeSantisFL who has been a great Congressman and will be a great Governor - and a Dem who is a thief and who is Mayor of poorly run Tallahassee, said to be one of the most corrupt cities in the Country!" Trump tweeted. Trump has been accused of fueling racial tensions. He has described some Mexicans as "rapists," branded a black congresswoman "low IQ," and blamed "both sides" for deadly violence at a white supremacist rally last year in Virginia. The president cited no evidence for his Gillum attack. The FBI has been conducting a probe of alleged public corruption in Tallahassee, and while Gillum has said he has been told he is not the target, Republicans have used the investigation as a cudgel against him. The progressive Gillum, who pulled off a shock victory in the Democratic Party primary in August, responded swiftly to Trump, saying on Twitter that the president "is howling because he's weak. Florida, go vote today." The midterm elections are on November 6, but several states including Florida allow early voting. DeSantis himself has been widely criticized for urging Florida voters not to "monkey this up" by electing Gillum, a comment denounced as racist. The governor's race is rated a tossup by the Cook Political Report. Gillum said earlier Monday that Trump's predecessor Barack Obama will campaign with him Friday in Miami. US President Donald Trump in recent weeks has repeatedly said more troops are needed to tighten security at the US-Mexico border The Pentagon is deploying 5,200 active-duty troops to beef up security along the US-Mexico border, officials announced Monday, in a bid to prevent a caravan of Central American migrants from illegally crossing the frontier. The move represents a massive military buildup along the border, where some 2,000 National Guardsmen are already working to provide assistance to overwhelmed authorities. Trump in recent weeks has repeatedly said more troops are needed to tighten border security, and he has made political capital of the caravan ahead of crucial midterm congressional elections that could see the Democrats regain some degree of power. According to US Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Kevin McAleenan, US authorities are tracking a group of about 3,500 people traveling north through the Chiapas-Oaxaca area in southern Mexico. Additionally, officials were monitoring another group of about 3,000 people that had gathered at a border crossing between Guatemala and Mexico. Trump said Monday night that his administration plans to build tent cities for migrants that do reach the border and ask for asylum. "If they apply for asylum, we're going to hold them until such time as their trial takes place. We're going to hold them, we're going to build tent cities, we're gonna build tents all over the place," Trump said in an interview with Fox News. "We're not gonna build structures and spend all of these hundreds of millions of dollars. We're gonna have tents, they're gonna be very nice, and they're going to wait, and if they don't get asylum they get out," he said. Even as US officials unveiled details of the military deployment, migrants were trying to cross the Suchiate River from Guatemala into Mexico on rafts made from truck tires, or by forming human chains to avoid being swept away. Others swam across after Mexican authorities refused to open a border bridge. McAleenan described the situation along the US-Mexico frontier as a "border security and humanitarian crisis," and said border agents over the past three weeks had apprehended about 1,900 people per day illegally crossing. Migrants cross the Suchiate River from Tecun Uman in Guatemala to Ciudad Hidalgo in Mexico "Over half of these arrivals have been made up of family units and unaccompanied children who place themselves in the hands of violent human smugglers, paying 7,000 (dollars) per person to make the journey," McAleenan said. The massive deployment marks a sharp increase from initial estimates last week, when US officials said about 800 active-duty troops would head south. It means that within days, the US military will have more than three times as many troops along the southern border as it does fighting the Islamic State group in Syria. - 'Please go back' - Trump last week expressed frustration that the issue, which had been attracting growing cable news attention, had slipped from front pages as top figures in the Democratic Party were targeted by a series of mail bombs. He took to Twitter on Monday to again blast the migrant caravan, which is comprised mainly of Hondurans -- many of whom are fleeing horrific gang violence. In April, US President Donald Trump ordered up to 4,000 National Guardsmen to head to the US-Mexico border, pictured from the Tijuana side "Many Gang Members and some very bad people are mixed into the Caravan heading to our Southern Border," Trump wrote without providing evidence, doubling down on the hardline anti-immigrant rhetoric that helped fuel his 2016 election victory. "Please go back, you will not be admitted into the United States unless you go through the legal process. This is an invasion of our Country and our Military is waiting for you!" Trump has been campaigning intensively for weeks, frequently hammering on the migrant caravan issue and stoking anti-immigrant concerns among voters. He is expected to hold 11 rallies in the days ahead of the November 6 midterms, which Washington pundits are characterizing as a referendum on his presidency. The American Civil Liberties Union blasted Trump's decision to send troops, calling the move a political one to fuel "his anti-immigrant agenda of fear and division" ahead of the midterms. "These migrants need water, diapers, and basic necessities -- not an army division," ACLU lawyer Shaw Drake said. The Democrats, for their part, have been caught largely flat-footed by Trump's messaging on the caravan and struggled to present coherent alternatives. The Southern Poverty Law Center called the deployment an act of "defiance" that would not make the US safer. In April, Trump ordered up to 4,000 National Guardsmen to head to the border as a different migrant caravan wound its way north. About 2,100 have deployed. - 'Harden' the border - Air Force General Terrence O'Shaughnessy, head of the US military's Northern Command, told reporters the 5,200 troops would focus on trying to "harden" border crossings and surrounding areas, with work done by combat engineering battalions with experience building temporary fencing. Additionally, the Pentagon is sending military police and three helicopter companies equipped with high-tech sensors and night-vision capabilities. Though soldiers are not conducting direct law-enforcement operations and will ostensibly be in a support role, they will nonetheless be deployed with their weapons, officials noted. A woman shelters a young child outside a UN operated clinic just inside Jordan from an informal Syrian refugee camp in Rukban, on March 1, 2017 The United Nation's top humanitarian affairs official appealed to the Security Council Monday for continued aid deliveries to Syria's civilian population across borders and through front lines, despite Russia's growing opposition. Mark Lowcock, UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, said UN food aid this year had reached an average 750,000 people a month in war-torn Syria. "Sustaining this is essential for those in need, both providing aid and supporting service delivery," he said. He urged the renewal for 12 months of UN resolutions authorizing the aid flows, insisting it was "of the highest importance." Though adopted unanimously in 2014, a Security Council resolution renewing the aid mechanism was approved a year ago by only a 12-3 vote, with Russia, China and Bolivia abstaining. Those authorities are due to expire January 10, 2019. Moscow, which is allied with the Damascus government of President Bashar al-Assad, argues that cross-border deliveries of humanitarian aide are a violation of Syrian sovereignty. The food aid is intended to free civilians trapped by war from reliance on either the government or rebels. The government claims, however, the aid supports "terrorists." Ambassador Jonathan Cohen, the deputy US representative to the United Nations, said renewing the aid "is vital for some five million Syrians who currently depend on these cross-border humanitarian deliveries." Lowcock also drew the Security Council's attention to conditions at Rukban, an informal refugee camp with some 50,000 people in the desert on the border of Syria and Jordan. He said the camp's population has not received assistance since January, "and they are increasingly desperate. "There are continuing reports of children dying due to poor sanitary conditions and a lack of healthcare," he said. France's Ambassador Francois Delattre, who described conditions at Rukban as "nightmarish," said allowing access to aid was incumbent on all parties. "It is unacceptable that the regime has blocked inter-agency convoys for more than two months now and put in place a punitive strategy to channel the aides to 'reconciled' zones," he said. The "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, Virginia in August 2017 was the largest extreme-right gathering in the United States in decades, drawing numerous neo-Nazi and white supremacist groups -- and thousands of anti-extremism activists The murder of 11 people at a Pittsburgh synagogue has cast the spotlight on a racist, neo-Nazi and anti-Semitic fringe in American society -- and rekindled a bitter debate over whether it is being enabled by President Donald Trump. - Who are America's right-wing extremists? - A subculture of far-right and neo-Nazi extremism has long existed in the United States. It picked up strength after the September 11, 2001 attacks, fuelled by anti-Muslim sentiment, and gained a deeper foundation in 2010 when extremist ideologue Richard Spencer founded the website AlternativeRight.com. The new "alt-right" was mainly about white and male supremacy, the racial and cultural threat of immigration, and an unalloyed nationalism. Anti-Semitic Spencer, who touts his dedication "to the heritage, identity and future of people of European descent in the United States," gave neo-Nazis more legitimacy than they previously had. Excluded from mainstream media, they built communities around new websites and social media that did not censor their views, like 4-chan, Reddit and Gab. Robert Bowers, who could face the death penalty over Saturday's synagogue shooting, allegedly spewed anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim and anti-Semitic hatred on the online platform Gab When future Trump advisor Steve Bannon took control of Breitbart News and made the publication a hub for all things extreme-right, the alt-right fringe suddenly hit the mainstream. Bannon understudy Milo Yiannopoulos defined the movement as "mostly white, mostly male middle-American radicals, who are unapologetically embracing a new identity politics that prioritises the interests of their own demographic." The movement spanned a variety of different groups, some rejecting anti-Semitism, others rejecting racism, and some espousing violence. But they all fit under the new alt-right umbrella. Tellingly, Yiannopoulos, who is gay and rejects anti-Semitism, was filmed in 2016 singing the anthem "America the Beautiful" while Spencer and others held their arms out in the Nazi salute in a Dallas bar. - How did the Pittsburgh suspect fit in? Neither the suspect in Saturday's shooting, Robert Bowers, nor Cesar Sayoc, the Trump fan arrested last week for mailing parcel bombs to Democrats and critics of the president, have been identified as members of specific extreme-right groups. But both apparently spewed typical alt-right sentiments on social media: anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim and anti-Semitic. Bowers found Trump -- who was elected on a hardline anti-immigrant platform -- too compromising for his extreme views. The main target of his vitriol was the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, which supports needy newcomers to the United States. "They are committing genocide to my people. I just want to kill Jews," he allegedly told police after he was captured. - How big is the alt-right? Formerly limited to the fringe of society, the alt-right got a huge boost to its visibility when Trump joined the presidential race in 2015, with Bannon and Breitbart in support. Joey Gibson, the founder of the far-right Patriot Prayer group seen here in August 2018, is running as a Republican for the US Senate In the run-up to the 2016 election, Trump's anti-immigrant, "America First" platform powerfully resonated with, and helped mobilize the white supremacists of the alt-right. While the precise number of alt-right sympathizers is difficult to pin down, by the time Trump took office in January 2017, experts said such groups collectively had active members numbering in the tens of thousands, and tacit supporters in the hundreds of thousands, all connecting online. "They are acting in concert right now," Spencer Sunshine of Political Research Associates, which monitors right-wing groups, said in an interview last year. "The rising tide of Trump-ist racism is raising their boats." - What was 'Unite the Right'? The movement appeared to hit a peak in the summer of 2017, when Spencer, Jason Kessler, a member of the violent Proud Boys group, and others organized the "Unite The Right" march in Charlottesville, Virginia. The August 11-12 event was the largest extreme right gathering in the country in decades, drawing numerous openly neo-Nazi and white supremacist groups such as the Traditionalist Workers Party and the Ku Klux Klan. To counter them, thousands of anti-extremism activists flocked to the city as well. The rally dissolved into street battles which culminated when an alt-right activist plowed his car into a crowd of progressive demonstrators, killing a woman. Charlottesville was arguably the apex of the alt-right's resurgence. Afterwards various alt-right leaders decried what happened and pointed the finger each-other, while the Justice Department moved to charge those involved in the worst violence. - Where does Trump stand? Trump, whose daughter and son-in-law are Jewish, has repeatedly and strongly condemned anti-Semitism. But his attitude towards the alt-right in general has been much more ambivalent. "Antifa" activists protest an alt-right rally on August 5, 2018 in downtown Berkeley, California After the Charlottesville events, the president infamously took 48 hours to respond only to blame "both sides" despite overwhelming evidence that neo-Nazis were the principal source of violence. Trump declared there were "very fine people on both sides" -- comments critics said were empowering to the alt-right. More broadly, Trump has been accused of fanning violence through almost daily tweets and speeches lambasting immigrants, opponents and journalists in divisive and hardline language. Critics accuse him of stoking prejudice by calling Latin American immigrants "rapists" and criminals, by targeting Muslim immigrants with a series of travel bans, and by labelling African nations "shithole" countries. Meanwhile he and members of his White House have demonized billionaire Democrat supporter George Soros -- notably accusing him of paying protesters and funding a caravan of Central American migrants -- in language similar to that used by anti-Semitic conspiracy theorists. Trump and his White House strongly reject the suggestion he has fomented hatred, instead blaming "dishonest" media for whipping up "anger" and divisions. "John Doe," who was freed after being held for 13 months by the US military, was the only known alleged American "foreign fighter" captured on the Syrian battlefield A Saudi-American dual national held by the US military in Iraq as a "foreign fighter" for 13 months has been freed, his lawyers said Monday, after his case tested the Trump administration's legal detention powers. The man, never identified in court filings but named by The New York Times as Abdulrahman Ahmad Alsheikh, was captured last year in Syria while allegedly fighting for the Islamic State group and handed over to American forces. In a series of key rulings in US federal court in Washington against the Justice Department, the Pentagon was forced to grant the man legal representation by the American Civil Liberties Union, and then was blocked from simply handing him over to Saudi Arabia when he wanted to return to the United States. Rather than bring him back to the United States and try him on charges of abetting a designated terrorist group, however, the Justice Department said in June it planned to release him back into northern Syria where he was captured with $4,210 and a cellphone. That move was also blocked after his lawyers argued it would leave him unprotected in a battlefield region and equaled a "death sentence." At each step of the case, the ACLU demanded the government charge or release the man in accordance with his habeas corpus rights under the US Constitution, testing whether the Trump administration was willing to bring back an alleged American fighter for Islamic State and put him on trial in US courts. Such a trial could have raised other fundamental issues, such as the legality of US military action in Syria. "My case has shown the worst and the best of my country," the man, who was only identified as John Doe in court filings, said in a statement. "When I fled violence in Syria, I never imagined that my country would deny me access to a lawyer for nearly four months, and imprison me without charge in solitary confinement for over a year. "No one, no matter what they are suspected of, should be treated the way my government treated me. Once I got the chance to stand up for my rights, the constitution and the courts protected me," he added. According to the Times, he was released in Bahrain after reaching a confidential settlement with the US government. Government attorneys never presented evidence that the man was an Islamic State fighter, which he denies, and his reason for having been in Syria remains unexplained. He reportedly did not give up his US citizenship, but his passport was cancelled. "Doe has requested time and privacy to rebuild his life. He also wishes to remain anonymous for the same reason," the ACLU said. Lawyer Jonathan Hafetz said the government "did all it could" to avoid proving its detention of the man was lawful. "This case shows the enduring importance of the courts in safeguarding the rights of Americans against government overreach," Hafetz added. Cesar Sayoc is accused of sending mail bombs to prominent Democrats and critics of President Donald Trump The man accused of sending mail bombs to prominent Democrats and critics of President Donald Trump appeared Monday in Miami federal court, which is taking up his extradition to New York. Cesar Sayoc, 56, appeared before US District Judge Edwin Torres after his arrest Friday in connection with the mailing of at least 15 manila envelopes containing homemade bombs, none of which exploded. With a messy ponytail and dressed in beige prison drabs, Sayoc spoke little during the brief hearing. He did mutter an "I love you" to someone in the cramped room. The judge set another hearing for Friday, to determine whether he grants parole and evaluate Sayoc's possible transfer to New York. Defense attorney Daniel Aaronson asked that his client's presumption of innocence be respected. Sayoc invoked his right to remain silent. "He's innocent until proven guilty... and nobody has been able to, in a court of law, say that those are bombs that he sent," Aaronson said. Authorities intercepted a fifteenth suspicious package earlier at a post office in Atlanta, the third that was aimed at CNN, according to the network's president Jeff Zucker. Sayoc is an ardent supporter of Trump whose acquaintances said he had extremist views and lived in a van covered with pro-Trump and anti-liberal stickers. He sent mail bombs to, among others, former president Barack Obama and former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, Trump's Democratic rival in the last presidential race. US Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Kevin McAleenan (R) and Air Force General Terrence O'Shaughnessy, head of the US military's Northern Command, discuss the deployment of more than 5,000 troops to the US-Mexico border at a news conference in Washington on October 29, 2018 The Pentagon will deploy more than 5,000 soldiers to the US-Mexico border, a top general said Monday, as President Donald Trump warned a caravan of Central American migrants that the military was waiting. "By the end of the week, we will deploy over 5,200 soldiers to the southwest border," Air Force General Terrence O'Shaughnessy, head of the US military's Northern Command, told reporters. Trump in recent weeks has repeatedly said more troops are needed to tighten security at the border, and he has made political capital of the caravan ahead of important mid-term congressional elections that could see the Democrats regain a degree of power. The United Nations estimates about 7,000 people have joined the caravan since it set out from San Pedro Sula, Honduras, on October 13. "They are incentivized to try to cross our border by the gaps in our legal framework and the expectation that they would be allowed to stay," said US Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Kevin McAleenan. O'Shaughnessy said the military deployment would focus first on trying to "harden" border crossings and surrounding areas, with the work done by combat engineering battalions with experience building temporary fencing. Additionally, the Pentagon is sending three helicopter companies with aircraft equipped with high-tech sensors and night-vision capabilities. They will bring border "personnel exactly where they need to be, regardless of the conditions," he said. Military police units are also being deployed. Though soldiers are not conducting direct law-enforcement operations and will ostensibly be in a support role, they will nonetheless be deployed with their weapons, officials noted. Billionaire Donald Trump and his wife Ivana arrive in December 1989 at a social engagement in New York Secret police in communist-era Czechoslovakia kept a dossier on Donald Trump after his first marriage to a Czech woman, Ivana Zelnickova, a Prague weekly reported in cooperation with Britain's Guardian newspaper . "Yes, the Trumps were in our line of sight," a former regional chief of state security StB, Vlastimil Danek, told the Czech paper Respekt. "We knew that Trump was influential. He didn't hide that he wanted to become president one day. We were interested in learning more things about him," he said. Married in 1978, Ivana Trump, a former skier and model turned businesswoman, is the mother of three of his children: Donald Jr, Ivanka and Eric. They divorced in 1992. Trump allegedly began to think about running for US president in 1986 but gave up the idea as he thought that at 41, he was too young at the time. A note in the dossier read: "With his candidature, he wants to become an exception in American history. He wants to seek the presidency as a politically independent person. He is not a member of the Democrats or the Republicans, even though the two try to attract him." The noted added: "Even if that seems a fantasy, Donald Trump is convinced he'd succeed." The Czech communist era ended in the 1989 "Velvet Revolution". The StB had collaborated closely with the secret services of the Soviet Union, which collapsed in 1990. By Azernews By Narmina Mammadova The recent export mission to Mongolia has brought great results as it was agreed that Azerbaijani products will be exported to the country. The export mission, organized in the Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar by the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation with the support of the Ministry of Economy, was completed, Azerbaijani Ministry of Economy said on October 29. The aim was to promote the Made in Azerbaijan brand and local products in foreign markets. The export mission with the participation of 17 Azerbaijani companies operating in the production of wines and other spirits, milk and dairy products, canned products, medicinal herbal teas, confectionery, mineral water, in the field of ICT and others, met with Mongolian colleagues and discussed export issues. Speaking at a meeting with Mongolian businessmen, Deputy Minister of Economy Niyazi Safarov informed about the diversification of the Azerbaijani economy, the development of the non-oil sector, activities carried out in the area of sustainable improvement of the business environment. The development of the private sector, the expanding of Made in Azerbaijan brand, the promotion of foreign investment, the possibilities of expanding Azerbaijani-Mongolian cooperation and economic ties were also under discussion. The products of the Azerbaijani companies included in the export mission caused great interest among Mongolian companies. Azerbaijani companies Absheron-Sharab, A + SO, Merit Brand, Sharg Ulduzu, Agro-Azerinvest, Aspi Agro, Azeri met with the largest distributor of wine products in Mongolia - World Wine LLC and Sansar chain stores. Primary agreements were reached on the export of Azerbaijani wines to Mongolia, as well as on the export of products between the Azerbaijani company Aspi Agro and the Mongolian company World Wine. An agreement on the sale of plant extract was also reached between the Azerbaijani company Herba Flora and the Mongolian company Vitalit Invest. The Azerbaijani company Konfirom and the Mongolian companies Shizhirzhin Group, Altan Jolo Impex, McN Export negotiated on the export of confectionery products, Gilan FMCG and the Mongolian Vertus Group and supermarket chain Sansar - on the export of fruit juices and canned products. The services offered by the Azerbaijani companies Cybernet, Sinam, Neuron Technologies and AZINNEX, operating in the ICT field, were met with great interest by businessmen and representatives of the state structures of Mongolia. The export missions play an important role in expanding non-oil exports and promoting the domestic made products. To date, Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO) has organized 13 export missions to 10 foreign countries-Germany, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Qatar, Kazakhstan, Hungary, China, Russia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia. Exhibitions, organized by the state bring excellent results. National entrepreneurs took part in different international exhibitions-Gulfood 2017, Prowein, ANUGA, Worldfood Moscow 2017 and the International Exhibition of Wines and Alcoholic Beverages in Hong Kong to promote the brand. President Ilham Aliyev signed the decree on large-scale promotion of local non-oil products in foreign markets as Made in Azerbaijan on October 5, 2016. This decree includes nine different support mechanisms to stimulate exports and promote Made in Azerbaijan abroad. Depending on the support mechanisms, the costs relating to their realization are fully or partially covered by the state budget. Promotion of the Made in Azerbaijan brand on foreign markets became one of the priorities of the countrys foreign economic policy. In January 2018, President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on amending the procedure for determining and regulating the payment mechanism for part of the expenses paid from the state budget for organizing export missions to foreign countries, studying foreign markets and marketing activities, promoting the Made in Azerbaijan brand to foreign markets, the receipt by local companies of certificates and patents in foreign countries in connection with exports, research programs and export development projects. According to the decree, this year the number of export missions that can be organized with the participation of Azerbaijani entrepreneurs in one calendar year has been increased from 10 to 25. Also, the number of international fairs and exhibitions, where a national stand can be presented with the participation of Azerbaijani businessmen was increased from five to ten. Diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Mongolia were established in 1992. Relations and cooperation between two countries are expanding not only at the bilateral, but also at the international and regional levels. Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas has vowed to block any peace plan led by US President Donald Trump A top Palestinian body authorised Monday the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) to suspend recognition of Israel and stop security coordination with the Jewish state. The rare meeting of the Palestinian Central Council (PCC), a body of the PLO, in the city of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank said the suspensions should be in place until Israel recognised the Palestinian state. Israeli and Palestinian security forces work closely together throughout the West Bank and any suspension would increase fears of an uptick in violence. The body made similar calls at its last meeting in January and in 2015, but the decision was ultimately not implemented by the PLO's executive committee and president Mahmud Abbas. A statement at the closure of the two-day meeting said that in light of Israel's "denial" of its obligations under agreements signed with the Palestinians, the PCC authorised the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority to "end their obligations... towards their agreements with the occupation authorities (Israel)." This included, the statement said, suspending recognition of the state of Israel until it recognises the state of Palestine with east Jerusalem as its capital, as well as halting security coordination in all forms. Speaking Sunday, Abbas again vowed to block any peace plan led by US President Donald Trump. Abbas compared the expected Trump peace plan 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 is passed, this deal will not pass," he said. COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) - Sri Lanka's president suspended Parliament even as the prime minister he fired the previous day claimed he has majority support, adding to a growing political crisis in the South Asian island nation. Chaminda Gamage, a spokesman for the parliamentary speaker, confirmed that President Maithripala Sirisena had suspended Parliament until Nov. 16. He made the move while ousted Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was holding a news conference Saturday in which he asserted that he could prove his majority support in the chamber. Sirisena sacked Wickremesinghe and his Cabinet on Friday and replaced him with former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa, creating what some observers said could be a constitutional crisis. The suspension of Parliament is expected to give Rajapaksa time to try to muster enough support to survive any no-confidence vote. Several members of Rajapaksa's family - former Cabinet members and government officials - are facing charges of corruption and a special high court has been set up to hear the cases quickly. Rajapaksa's appointment as prime minister is expected to provide relief to them. Wickremesinghe said at the news conference that Parliament should be allowed to resolve the political crisis. Sri Lanka's sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wickeremesinghe, center, interacts with his supporters at his official residence in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena sacked Wickremesinghe and his Cabinet and replaced him with a former strongman, creating what some observers said could be a constitutional crisis. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) "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," he said. "When a motion of no confidence was moved (in the past), we defeated it, showing that the house has the confidence in me." "It is not necessary for us to create a crisis. It is not necessary for the people of the country to suffer," Wickremesinghe said. An Indian External Affairs Ministry official said New Delhi "is aware of the developments and watching the situation closely." Sri Lanka became a center for the India-China rivalry for control of the Indian Ocean region during Rajapaksa's presidency, which displayed heavy pro-China leanings. His government provided for the outright sale of land on an artificial island being developed by China with an investment of $1.5 billion. But the possibility of China's presence in an area separated from Indian territory by only the narrow Palk Strait upset India. Wickremesinghe, who was in charge of the economy as prime minister, scrapped the clause in the deal with Beijing allowing outright land ownership. 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. Rajapaksa ruled Sri Lanka as president for nine years from 2005, accumulating immense power and popularity among the country's majority ethnic Sinhalese after overseeing the military's defeat of Tamil rebels in May 2009, ending the 25-year civil war. Some supporters hailed him as a king and savior. But he also was criticized internationally for failing to allow an investigation into allegations of war crimes by the military. Under his government, dozens of journalists were killed, abducted and tortured and some fled the country fearing for their lives. Sri Lanka is deeply scarred by the civil war between the Buddhist Sinhalese and ethnic Tamil rebels, who were largely Hindu and were demanding a separate nation. The government, headed by Rajapaksa, and the defeated Tamil Tiger rebels both were accused of serious abuses in the war. A U.N. report found that up to 40,000 ethnic Tamil civilians may have been killed in the final months of the war alone. New York-based rights group Human Rights Watch said Rajapaksa's return to power has raised fears about a recurrence of "past abusive practices." "Rajapaksa's return to high office without any justice for past crimes raises chilling concerns for human rights in Sri Lanka," the group's statement quoted its Asia director Brad Adams as saying. "The current government's failure to bring justice to victims of war crimes under the Rajapaksa government reopens the door for past abusers to return to their terrible practices." After winning the war, Rajapaksa rode on his popularity to change the constitution by scrapping a two-term limit for the presidency, enabling him to stay in power for life. He also took over the powers of appointing election and bribery commission officials, as well as judges. His ruthlessness with dissenters, the lavish lifestyles of his three sons and nepotism that saw his brothers holding sway in many key institutions gradually eroded Rajapaksa's popularity, resulting in his defeat in his bid for a third term in 2015. However, the excitement among the people for the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government that came into power in what was called a "bloodless revolution" soon began to evaporate. Despite some key democratic reforms, the new government failed to punish alleged criminals in the Rajapaksa government - the key promise on which it came to power - stem corruption within its own ranks and deliver on the economic front. Hundreds of Wickremesinghe supporters gathered outside his home on Saturday, waving party flags and denouncing Sirisena and Rajapaksa. "We are the people who brought him to power and now he is trying to unseat our prime minister," said Priyantha Perera, who is self-employed. "He has forgotten how our party and leaders helped him. He is politically bankrupt." Sri Lanka's sacked Prime Mminister Ranil Wickeremesinghe attends a media briefing in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena sacked Wickremesinghe and his Cabinet and replaced him with a former strongman, creating what some observers said could be a constitutional crisis. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) Sri Lanka's sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wickeremesinghe attends a media briefing in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena sacked Wickremesinghe and his Cabinet and replaced him with a former strongman, creating what some observers said could be a constitutional crisis. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) Sri Lanka's sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wickeremesinghe attends a media briefing in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena sacked Wickremesinghe and his Cabinet and replaced him with a former strongman, creating what some observers said could be a constitutional crisis. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) Sri Lanka's sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wickeremesinghe attends a media briefing in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena sacked Wickremesinghe and his Cabinet and replaced him with a former strongman, creating what some observers said could be a constitutional crisis. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) Supporters cheer Sri Lanka's sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wickeremesinghe during an interaction at his official residence in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. Sri Lanka's president has suspended parliament even as the prime minister he fired claimed he has majority support, adding to a growing political crisis in the South Asian island nation. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) Supporters cheers Sri Lanka's sacked Prime Mminister Ranil Wickeremesinghe during an interaction at his official residence in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. Sri Lanka's president has suspended parliament even as the prime minister he fired claimed he has majority support, adding to a growing political crisis in the South Asian island nation. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) Newly appointed Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, center, leaves a Buddhist temple after meeting his supporters in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Friday, Oct. 26, 2018. Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has sacked the country's prime minister and replaced him with a former strongman, state television said Friday. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Step lightly between two facing mirrors at a first-of-its-kind museum honoring and celebrating the experiences of military veterans, and it takes your breath away. Behind and in front of you, as far as the eye can see, are folded flags. You are standing midstream among the tidy triangles of past and future, the men and women who gave and will give their lives in service to the United States. This remembrance gallery is basked in sprays of color arranged on the windows, like stained glass, in the patterns of military service medals. Developers of the $82 million, 53,000-square-foot National Veterans Museum and Memorial, which opened Saturday on Columbus' downtown riverfront, seek to inspire and educate visitors with this and other inventive interactive displays. It shows military families cleaved and reunited, it visually visits young recruits aboard military vessels, it tells love stories, it mourns wrenching losses. All this is done through state-of-the-art interactive graphics, shifting photo images, documentary-style videos, oral history interviews and other engaging approaches. General Colin Powell, the former secretary of state and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, serves as honorary chair of the museum's board of advisers. He said during opening ceremonies that by delving into what inspires veterans to serve, the nation can begin to heal. "They represent the rainbow that is America, the strength and goodness of America," he told the crowd hunkered down against cold and rain. "And, in this day when we're having trials and tribulations, we've just had another tragedy in Pittsburgh, let's remember that basically this is a good place, a welcoming place, a warm place. We're all one team, one family, and let us bring ourselves together again and set aside these terrible incidents that are so contaminating our society at this moment." A staff member browses a display during a limited media availability at the National Veterans Museum and Memorial, Monday, Oct. 15, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. A sweeping new museum in America's heartland honors the unifying experiences of U.S. military veterans outside the traditional trappings of military museums and war memorials. The 50,000-square-foot museum, which opens Oct. 27 in Columbus, Ohio, aims to honor, inspire, connect and educate with unique interactive experiences. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) The museum is neither a war memorial nor a traditional military museum, said Amy Taylor, chief operating officer of the Columbus Downtown Development Corp., which spearheaded the effort. The goal is to show veterans' individual lives before, during and after they serve. "It's a narrative journey and, while artifacts are here and we have them, they're only here to advance the story," Taylor said. "So it's not like, oh, I'm here to see the original 'Star-Spangled Banner' flag. No, you're here to learn a story and maybe an ice cream carton helps tells that story, or a drum helps tell that story." The project, conceived in 2012 and constructed over nearly three years, was the vision of Ohio native John Glenn, the late military hero, astronaut and U.S. senator who died in 2016. Taylor calls the museum a "labor of love" to Glenn and the veterans committee he convened to plan a site to memorialize "ordinary Americans doing extraordinary things." The structure's sweeping concrete arches have drawn attention by designers, as well. Architectural Digest dubbed the museum one of the most anticipated buildings of 2018. Taylor said its lack of internal supporting columns is symbolic. "The strength comes from within, which we thought was appropriate for veterans," she said. Congress also has taken note. In June, the facility was designated the nation's veterans memorial and museum. Glenn is among dozens of veterans famous and obscure whose stories - at turns, poignant, intimate, or inspiring - are shared throughout the building. His son, David, said during Saturday's opening that his father's training taught him to value the lives of others at least as much as his own. "This is deeply important stuff, a deeply important subject to pay attention to. In my mind, it has to do with deeply ethical behavior, the Golden Rule and the common good all wrapped up somehow together, the antithesis, the very opposite, of just looking out for No. 1," David Glenn said. "And this new museum... will help us all to reflect on that experience of war and of service." Another featured veteran is Tom Moe, a former state veterans' services director under Republican Ohio Gov. John Kasich who spent more than five years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. Moe downplayed his own experience during a recent visit to the museum, instead focusing on his wife - who worked and raised their daughter alone while he was imprisoned - and on a "special friend" memorialized at the museum, the late Sen. John McCain. "John and I lived next door to each other in Hanoi," he said. "Although we couldn't tap on the wall, there was a walkway between our rooms and some months, probably over a year, we spent waggling our fingers under the door and passing by a door and saying nice things, like, 'Cheer up,' and so forth." The museum also remembers those who don't come home. A quiet, 2.5-acre grove whose waterfall is visible from the museum foyer is meant for reflection and remembrance. Leslie Wexner, the billionaire founder, chairman and CEO of L Brands, was a key backer of the museum project. He said Saturday that another building extending the museum's educational and community efforts is envisioned. Taylor said its developers hope the museum's location in the Midwest will allow many of the 21 million living veterans to make pilgrimages to the site, or interact through its website and community efforts. ___ More information is available at: http://www.nationalvmm.org. AP reporter Angie Wang in Cincinnati contributed to this report. The exterior of the National Veterans Museum and Memorial is seen from the air during a limited media availability, Monday, Oct. 15, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. A sweeping new museum in America's heartland honors the unifying experiences of U.S. military veterans outside the traditional trappings of military museums and war memorials. The 50,000-square-foot museum, which opens Oct. 27 in Columbus, Ohio, aims to honor, inspire, connect and educate with unique interactive experiences. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) The interior of the National Veterans Museum and Memorial is seen during a limited media availability, Monday, Oct. 15, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. A sweeping new museum in America's heartland honors the unifying experiences of U.S. military veterans outside the traditional trappings of military museums and war memorials. The 50,000-square-foot museum, which opens Oct. 27 in Columbus, Ohio, aims to honor, inspire, connect and educate with unique interactive experiences. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) The interior of the National Veterans Museum and Memorial is seen during a limited media availability, Monday, Oct. 15, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. A sweeping new museum in America's heartland honors the unifying experiences of U.S. military veterans outside the traditional trappings of military museums and war memorials. The 50,000-square-foot museum, which opens Oct. 27 in Columbus, Ohio, aims to honor, inspire, connect and educate with unique interactive experiences. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) Col. Tom Moe, Ret., operates a touchscreen at the National Veterans Museum and Memorial during a limited media availability, Monday, Oct. 15, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. A sweeping new museum in America's heartland honors the unifying experiences of U.S. military veterans outside the traditional trappings of military museums and war memorials. The 50,000-square-foot museum, which opens Oct. 27 in Columbus, Ohio, aims to honor, inspire, connect and educate with unique interactive experiences. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) The interior of the National Veterans Museum and Memorial is seen during a limited media availability, Monday, Oct. 15, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. A sweeping new museum in America's heartland honors the unifying experiences of U.S. military veterans outside the traditional trappings of military museums and war memorials. The 50,000-square-foot museum, which opens Oct. 27 in Columbus, Ohio, aims to honor, inspire, connect and educate with unique interactive experiences. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) The exterior of the National Veterans Museum and Memorial is seen during a limited media availability, Monday, Oct. 15, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. A sweeping new museum in America's heartland honors the unifying experiences of U.S. military veterans outside the traditional trappings of military museums and war memorials. The 50,000-square-foot museum, which opens Oct. 27 in Columbus, Ohio, aims to honor, inspire, connect and educate with unique interactive experiences. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) The downtown skyline is reflected in the front door of the National Veterans Museum and Memorial during a limited media availability, Monday, Oct. 15, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. A sweeping new museum in America's heartland honors the unifying experiences of U.S. military veterans outside the traditional trappings of military museums and war memorials. The 50,000-square-foot museum, which opens Oct. 27 in Columbus, Ohio, aims to honor, inspire, connect and educate with unique interactive experiences. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) A military ribbon display and associated legend of symbols is located on the upper floor during a limited media availability at the National Veterans Museum and Memorial, Monday, Oct. 15, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. A sweeping new museum in America's heartland honors the unifying experiences of U.S. military veterans outside the traditional trappings of military museums and war memorials. The 50,000-square-foot museum, which opens Oct. 27 in Columbus, Ohio, aims to honor, inspire, connect and educate with unique interactive experiences. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) A staff member browses a display during a limited media availability at the National Veterans Museum and Memorial, Monday, Oct. 15, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. A sweeping new museum in America's heartland honors the unifying experiences of U.S. military veterans outside the traditional trappings of military museums and war memorials. The 50,000-square-foot museum, which opens Oct. 27 in Columbus, Ohio, aims to honor, inspire, connect and educate with unique interactive experiences. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) The interior of the National Veterans Museum and Memorial is seen during a limited media availability, Monday, Oct. 15, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. A sweeping new museum in America's heartland honors the unifying experiences of U.S. military veterans outside the traditional trappings of military museums and war memorials. The 50,000-square-foot museum, which opens Oct. 27 in Columbus, Ohio, aims to honor, inspire, connect and educate with unique interactive experiences. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) PITTSBURGH (AP) - 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 U.S. 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 had 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 Pennsylvania's Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf noted that once again "dangerous weapons are putting our citizens in harm's way." People hold 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) Trump ordered flags at federal buildings throughout the U.S. to be flown at half-staff in "solemn respect" for the shooting victims. He said he planned to travel to Pittsburgh, but offered no details. Authorities say that just before 10 a.m., 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 centers. 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. 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 organization 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 U.S. 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 neighborhood 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." ___ Associated Press writers Eric Tucker and Michael Balsamo in Washington, Claudia Lauer in Philadelphia, Gene Puskar in Pittsburgh, Marc Levy in Harrisburg and Allen G. Breed in Raleigh, N.C., and Michael Kunzelman in Silver Spring, Maryland, contributed to this report. ___ For AP's complete coverage of the Pittsburgh synagogue shootings: https://www.apnews.com/Shootings CORRECTS TO SAY ROTHSTEIN'S DAUGHTER HUGS AN UNIDENTIFIED PERSON - From left, Kate Rothstein looks on as her daughter Simone Rothstein, right, 16, hugs a person who doesn't want to be identified on the intersection of Shady Avenue and Northumberland Street after multiple people were shot at The Tree of Life Congregation synagogue Saturday, Oct, 27, 2018, in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh. (Alexandra Wimley/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP) People hold 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) People gather for a vigil in the aftermath of a deadly shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue, in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) People hold candles as they gather for a vigil in the aftermath of a deadly shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue, in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Armed law enforcement officers walk through the street in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh where a shooter opened fire during services at the Tree of Life Synagogue on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic) From left, Rabbi Benjamin Sendrow, accompanied by President Donald Trump and Pastor Thom O'Leary, prays at the 91st annual Future Farmers of America Convention and Expo at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018, following a shooting in a Pittsburgh synagogue. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Armed police move through the streets of the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh where a shooter opened fire during services at the Tree of Life Synagogue on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic) Media tents and vehicles line an intersection near the Tree of Life Synagogue, upper left, where a shooter opened fire Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) A security guard stands in the emergency room driveway of Allegeheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. Officials said the suspect in shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh was taken to this hospital. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic) Deb Polk holds a sign as she gathers with others for a vigil in the aftermath of a deadly shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) People hold candles as they gather for a vigil in the aftermath of a deadly shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue, in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) People gather for a vigil in the aftermath of a deadly shooting at the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) People gather for a vigil in the aftermath of a deadly shooting at the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. (AP) - 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. U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke speaks with reporters at the Camp Nelson National Monument on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018, in Nicholasville, Kentucky. Camp Nelson was a Union Army depot during the U.S. Civil War and was a recruiting center for black soldiers. Zinke announced Saturday Camp Nelson has been officially designated as a national monument. (AP Photo/Adam Beam) 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. "At a time in our country when there are divisions, this is the real story of America," Republican U.S. Rep. Andy Barr said. 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. 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. SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Authorities say two women were injured when the third-floor balcony of their San Francisco home collapsed. The San Francisco Fire Department reports the collapse happened early Saturday at a single-family home in the city's Outer Sunset District. The women were taken to San Francisco General Hospital. The San Francisco Chronicle reports they were seriously injured, but further details were not available. Fire Department spokesman Jonathan Baxter says police are investigating, and the city's building inspectors will examine the property. A 2015 balcony collapse in neighboring Berkeley killed six people and injured seven. An investigation determined that collapse was caused by dry rot in the balcony's wooden beams. In this Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018, courtesy of KTVU shows a third floor collapsed balcony at a building in San Francisco. Authorities say two women were injured when the third-floor balcony of their San Francisco home collapsed. The collapse happened at a single-family home in the city's Outer Sunset District shortly after midnight Saturday. The women were taken to San Francisco General Hospital. (Sara Zendehnam/KTVU via AP) 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 did 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." 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. President Donald Trump arrives for a rally at Southern Illinois Airport in Murphysboro, Ill., Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Shortly after returning to Washington late Saturday, Trump ordered flags at federal buildings throughout the country to be flown at half-staff until Oct. 31 in "solemn respect" for the victims. 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." ___ For AP's complete coverage of the Pittsburgh synagogue shootings: https://www.apnews.com/Shootings Children in the audience listen as President Donald Trump speaks at a rally at Southern Illinois Airport in Murphysboro, Ill., Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Members of the audience cheer as President Donald Trump arrives for a rally at Southern Illinois Airport in Murphysboro, Ill., Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) President Donald Trump speaks to an overflow crowd at a rally at Southern Illinois Airport in Murphysboro, Ill., Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) President Donald Trump speaks at the 91st Annual Future Farmers of America Convention and Expo at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) President Donald Trump speaks to the media at Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018, to before travelling to Indianapolis to speak at the 91st Annual Future Farmers of America Convention and Expo. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) A man holds his head as he is escorted out of the Tree of Life Congregation by police following a shooting at the Pittsburg synagogue, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. (Alexandra Wimley/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP) President Donald Trump speaks to the media at Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018, before travelling to Indianapolis to speak at the 91st Annual Future Farmers of America Convention and Expo. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) A federal judge has ordered the police department in Memphis, Tennessee, to bolster its policies and training in a ruling that found the agency had violated a court order prohibiting officers from watching protesters and monitoring their social media accounts. The American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee hailed Friday's ruling by U.S. District Judge Jon McCalla as a victory for free speech rights. The city acknowledged that the judge believes "we can do better, and we agree." McCalla said in his ruling that the ACLU had presented "clear and convincing" evidence that the city had violated a federal consent decree barring the city from engaging in political surveillance. The 1978 order followed disclosures that police spied on civil rights activists. The judge's ruling came in an ACLU-filed lawsuit that claimed the Memphis Police Department engaged in improper surveillance of activists associated with the Black Lives Matter movement and other groups. Activists testified during an August trial that they were intimidated by members of the police department who kept a close eye on them using several methods, including following their movements and spying on their social media activity. The judge said in his ruling that there were a "significant number of violations" of the decree. "In this order, the court does not sanction the city or its officers for discriminating against certain points of view," McCalla wrote. "For the most part, the officers of MPD have demonstrated their dedication to protecting First Amendment rights regardless of protester opinion. The city, however, must be held responsible for its failure to live up to the high standards it set for itself in 1978." To guarantee compliance with the decree, the judge ordered the city to revise regulations and bolster training for officers. He instructed the city to set guidelines for use of social media searches that comply with the decree. And it should establish a process for approval of investigations into unlawful conduct that "may incidentally result in political intelligence," he said. "By successful implementation of the consent decree, MPD has the opportunity to become one of the few, if only, metropolitan police departments in the country with a robust policy for the protection of privacy in the digital age," the judge said. ACLU of Tennessee Executive Director Hedy Weinberg said the ruling ensures that activists in Memphis "can continue to fight the good fight without fear of unwarranted police surveillance." "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," she said in a press release. The city said it took steps voluntarily before the trial to make sure the police department followed the 40-year-old court order. "MPD now has a strict protocol for initiating an investigation that would require an officer to monitor social media platforms - and did so well before this ruling," city spokeswoman Ursula Madden said in a statement. Madden said the judge noted in his ruling that the violations appeared to stem from a "shared misunderstanding" of consent decree requirements rather than from political favoritism by police officers. The judge said there was "clear and convincing" evidence that the police department had conducted "political intelligence" that was forbidden by the consent decree. He said the department had operated the Office of Homeland Security for the purpose of political intelligence, had intercepted electronic communications and infiltrated groups through an undercover Facebook account, failed to familiarize officers with the decree requirements and recorded the identities of protesters for the purpose of maintaining records. The lawsuit stemmed from protests in Memphis from 2015 to 2017, following the deaths of unarmed black men during confrontations with police in U.S. cities. That included the fatal shooting of 19-year-old Darrius Stewart during a fight with a white police officer at a traffic stop in Memphis in July 2015. Protesters associated with the Black Lives Matter movement blocked the Interstate 40 bridge connecting Tennessee with Arkansas in July 2016 and rallied at Graceland, Elvis Presley's former home turned museum, weeks later. VATICAN CITY (AP) - Pope Francis wrapped up a monthlong meeting of bishops dedicated to young people by saying Saturday the Catholic Church was being "persecuted" and "dirtied" by accusations from the devil - an apparent reference to claims that he covered up for a sexual predator that have thrown his papacy into turmoil. The Argentine pope made the comments to about 250 bishops, 30 young people and a handful of nuns who had just approved a 60-page final document at the close of a synod on how the church can better minister to today's youth. The sex abuse scandal, as well welcoming gays into the church and giving women a greater say in decision-making, were major topics of debate during the synod and featured in the final document. Those issues were also the ones that received the most contested votes as bishops voted "placet" or "non placet" - yay or nay - on each of the 167 paragraphs. While every paragraph passed with far more than the two-thirds vote necessary, one referencing "sexual inclinations" and the need to accompany gays received the most no votes, at 65. One calling for women to have a greater recognition and say in the church - and lamenting the "absence" of the female perspective - received 30 no votes. No woman was allowed to cast a ballot at the meeting. On abuse, the bishops stopped short of issuing a straight-forward communal apology for the decades of sex abuse and cover-up committed by priests and their superiors. While that section was entitled "Seek Pardon," the text voted on by bishops said merely that no amount of repentance can heal the trauma caused to victims. Thirty bishops voted against it. Pope Francis poses for a group photo with bishops and partecipants during the last day of the synod of bishops, at the Vatican, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. (Fabio Frustaci/ANSA via AP) Delegates have said that many bishops, particularly from Africa, rejected the emphasis placed on the abuse issue during the meeting, which unfolded as the Catholic hierarchy in the U.S., Chile and elsewhere is once again under fire for its botched handling of the scandal. Francis himself has been drawn into the fray after a former Vatican ambassador accused him and a long line of Vatican officials before him of covering up for a now-disgraced ex-cardinal, Theodore McCarrick. Francis removed McCarrick as a cardinal in July after a U.S. church investigation determined an accusation he molested a teen-age altar boy was credible. In his concluding remarks to the synod, Francis appeared to be once again referring to the claims by Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano that he had rehabilitated McCarrick from restrictions placed on him by the previous pope. Francis acknowledged that there were sinners all around, but he insisted that the church itself was holy and must be protected from attacks and "another type of persecution: continuous accusations that seek to dirty the church." Francis said the devil was behind the accusations and said now was the time to come to the defense of the church, which he referred to as "mother." "It's a difficult moment because the accuser, through us, is attacking the mother," he said. "And you don't touch the mother." ___ Winfield reported from New York. Pope Francis reaches out his hand to greet a Vatican Swiss Guard as he arrives for the last day of the synod of bishops, at the Vatican, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. (Fabio Frustaci/ANSA via AP) BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) - The name of a former University of Vermont president is being removed from the school library because of his support of research into the eugenics movement in the 1920s and 1930s that helped lead to sterilizations. The board of trustees voted unanimously on Saturday to drop Guy Bailey's name from the Bailey/Howe Library. The move comes in response to concerns raised by some faculty and students. An advisory panel recommended dropping the name because Bailey supported the Eugenics Survey of Vermont and its leader, Henry Perkins, a UVM professor of zoology. Bailey raised substantial private funding for the survey and served on its advisory committee. "We reached our recommendation based primarily on the fact that Bailey's active involvement as president of the University in supporting and promoting the Eugenics Survey of Vermont is fundamentally at odds with the University's mission. We also considered Bailey's mismanagement of University financial resources," wrote trustee Ron Lumbra, who served as chairman of the renaming committee. In the 1930s, some Vermonters of mixed French Canadian and Native American heritage, as well as poor, rural whites, were placed on a state-sanctioned list of "mental defectives" and degenerates and sent to state institutions. Some had surgery after Vermont in 1931 became one of more than two dozen to pass a law that allowed for voluntary sterilizations for "human betterment" as part of the eugenics movement, which supported the selective reproduction of humans. The new building name, the David W. Howe Memorial Library, honors an alumnus and publisher of the Burlington Free Press newspaper who died in 1969. UVM president Tom Sullivan said he supported the decision to remove Bailey's name. The committee's report is clear and well-reasoned," he said in the written statement released. "It is a testament to the fair and deliberative process we have implemented to consider proposals to remove names from UVM facilities." By Azernews By Narmina Mammadova Taking a cruise is a perfect opportunity to see several sites in one go. Therefore, it is not surprising that this way of traveling is rapidly gaining popularity. Moreover, cruise trips have become more affordable for a wide range of travelers in recent times. While a new wave of luxurious ships coming on stream will add on to the cruise offerings in the coming years, Azerbaijan and Russia, given their favorable geographic location with access to the Caspian Sea, do not want to miss this opportunity as well. The new project envisaging the development of nautical tourism in the framework of the signing of the Convention on the legal status of the Caspian Sea between the Caspian littoral states, requires very serious elaboration, the Deputy Chairman of the Lower House of Russian Parliament, the Head of the United Russia faction Sergei Neverov told Trend. He was commenting on the prospects for the development of nautical tourism between Azerbaijan and Russia. Nautical tourism is a tourism that combines sailing and boating with vacation and holiday activities, e.g. a cruise trip. Neverov noted that the travel destination between Russia and Azerbaijan is actively developing, and this is confirmed by statistical data on the flow of tourists between the two countries. Until the end of this year, the number of Russian tourists visiting Azerbaijan may approach one million, while the number of Azerbaijani tourists visiting Russia has almost reached 800,000, he noted. "In my opinion, this is a serious increase, as well as an indicator of the active interaction between Russia and Azerbaijan in this priority area. On the other hand, the growing interest of our countries to each other is a natural fact. We speak the same language, we are connected by common history, and accordingly our countries must actively cooperate. The Russian people are happy to travel to wonderful Azerbaijan, both to its ski resorts and summer recreation areas. Therefore, our task at the present moment is to develop the nautical tourism industry so that citizens of our countries can recreate more efficiently on the Caspian Sea," Neverov added. The Russian MP noted that when the document was signed between the parliaments of Russia and Azerbaijan, a high-level Commission was created, within which a more detailed discussion of the issues on the regional agenda was envisaged. "I think it is necessary to move from words to deeds, to implement the outlined projects that can really make a serious contribution to the economies of our countries," he said, noting that the practical dialogue has been established between the parliaments of the two countries. The Russian MP noted that the creation of a high-level inter-parliamentary commission between the Lower House of Russian Parliament and the Azerbaijani Parliament lays a solid foundation for expanding inter-regional cooperation for the long term. On December 28, 2017, the Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company and Moscow River Shipping Company signed a memorandum of cooperation on cruise shipping in the Caspian region by using the Peter the Great passenger ship. The memorandum envisages joint activities to study and develop optimal routes for cruise passenger vessels, such as ports of the Black Sea inland waterways of Russia Astrakhan ports of the Caspian Sea; Moscow-Baku; Astrakhan-Makhachkala-Baku; Baku-Anzali-Nowshahr-Turkmenbashi-Aktau-Astrakhan and other routes. The Caspian Sea, the Earths largest inland body of water, has good potential to be among the most popular destinations on the cruise tourism map. Therefore, it is important to develop this type of tourism among the riparian countries and establish close economic relations. SAO PAULO (AP) - In the last public appearance by a Brazilian presidential candidate before Sunday's election, left-leaning Fernando Haddad warned voters that his far-right opponent's proposals to fight crime would only increase violence. Haddad also promised to bring conciliation if he beats front-runner Jair Bolsonaro, who stayed in his home in Rio de Janeiro speaking to his voters via social media. Haddad, who polls indicate is the underdog in the runoff, spoke during a rally in Heliopolis, Sao Paulo's biggest favela with more than 100,000 residents. Violent areas of big cities gave Bolsonaro less votes in the Oct. 7 first-round than safer and wealthier areas. "Arming the population, like my adversary suggests, will only increase violence. Can you imagine children and women bearing guns too? My adversary's ideas have already been tested in other countries and the number of homicides only picked up," Haddad said. Later the candidate hand-picked by jailed former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said this Brazilian election would be different from any other if Bolsonaro loses at the last minute. "That would be the victory of a project, not of a person or a party. It would be a vote for democracy and freedom," Haddad said during a discussion in social media. Fernando Haddad, Brazil's presidential candidate for the Workers' Party, holds a Brazilian flag during a campaign rally at the Heliopolis slum of Sao Paulo, Brazil, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. Haddad will face far-right congressman Jair Bolsonaro in a presidential runoff on Sunday. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) Two polls published later on Saturday showed Bolsonaro's advantage falling once more, but still comfortable enough to win. A Datafolha poll showed Bolsonaro with 55 percent and Haddad with 45. The pollster interviewed 18,371 voters on Friday and Saturday. The margin of error is of two percentage points. Haddad suffered a blow when defeated presidential candidate Ciro Gomes, a leftist who finished the first-round in third place with 12 percent of the vote, failed to strongly support the Workers' Party candidate. "Everybody wanted me, with my style, to pick a side and take part in the campaign," Gomes said in a video. "But I don't want to do this now for a reason that is very practical and I don't want to say it now. If I can't help, I don't want to get in the way." Without a clear endorsement from Gomes, Haddad made a surprising nod to right-leaning defeated presidential candidate Geraldo Alckmin, saying he gave the inspiration to one of his proposals to cut cooking gas prices. The left-leaning candidate also received two surprising endorsements from a former chief justice and an ex-top prosecutor who took harsh measures against Haddad's Workers' Party. Joaquim Barbosa and Rodrigo Janot said Bolsonaro is a threat to Brazil's democracy. Although Bolsonaro kept quiet at his home in Rio de Janeiro most of the day, his legal team was active. The far-right candidate filed a suit in Brazil's top electoral court requesting an investigation into Haddad and newspaper Folha de S.Paulo. Bolsonaro claims the daily falsely reported that businessmen illegally sponsored WhatsApp messages against Haddad to help Bolsonaro. Folha's attorney called Bolsonaro's request "a ridiculous fantasy." Fernando Haddad, Brazil's presidential candidate for the Workers' Party, holds a Brazilian flag during a campaign rally at the Heliopolis slum of Sao Paulo, Brazil, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. Haddad will face far-right congressman Jair Bolsonaro in a presidential runoff on Sunday. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) Fernando Haddad, Brazil's presidential candidate for the Workers' Party, joins a campaign rally at the Heliopolis slum of Sao Paulo, Brazil, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. Haddad will face far-right congressman Jair Bolsonaro in a presidential runoff on Sunday. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) Fernando Haddad, Brazil's presidential candidate for the Workers' Party, joins a campaign rally at the Heliopolis slum of Sao Paulo, Brazil, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. Haddad will face far-right congressman Jair Bolsonaro in a presidential runoff on Sunday. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) Fernando Haddad, Brazil's presidential candidate for the Workers' Party, speaks during a campaign rally at the Heliopolis slum of Sao Paulo, Brazil, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. Haddad will face far-right congressman Jair Bolsonaro in a presidential runoff on Sunday. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) A supporter of presidential candidate of the Workers' Party Fernando Haddad, shows her red rose during a "March of Women for Haddad," campaign rally at a neighborhood in the periphery of Brasilia, Brazil, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. Brazil is preparing for general elections to be held Sunday, Oct. 28. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres) BARCELONA, Spain (AP) - The former leader of Catalonia has launched a new political platform in hopes of maintaining his relevance in the region's secessionist movement from outside Spain, where he is wanted on rebellion charges. Carles Puigdemont intervened via video at Saturday's rally to mark the foundation of The National Call for the Republic held in the northeastern Spanish town of Manresa. Puigdemont spoke to the crowd from Belgium where he has lived since fleeing Spain one year ago after an illegal and failed declaration of independence by Catalonia's regional parliament. Puigdemont and other organizers are calling the new group a movement instead of a political party. The organization's bylaws will allow members to also belong to political parties. Only one of the three pro-secession Catalan parties has backed the movement. LONDON (AP) - Michael Higgins handily won a second term as Ireland's president Saturday, capturing every constituency in an election that was marked by low turnout. The 77-year-old Higgins received 55.8 percent of the vote in Friday's vote, which was contested by six candidates. The vote share was just below the record 56.3 percent received by longtime independence leader Eamon de Valera in a two-way contest in 1959. The Irish Independent newspaper estimated that turnout was less than 45 percent, the lowest ever for a presidential election. "The presidency belongs not only to any one person but to the people of Ireland," Higgins said after arriving at Dublin Castle with his wife Sabina. "I will be a president for all the people, for those who voted for me and those who did not." Voters also overwhelmingly backed removing the offence of blasphemy from the Irish constitution. It was the latest in a series of measures that have seen the overwhelmingly Roman Catholic country step back from the religion's influence over government. The vote was controversial only in the second-place finish of businessman Peter Casey, who won 23.3 percent of the vote after making critical comments about the Traveller community, a traditionally itinerant ethnic group, and asserting that Ireland has a culture of welfare dependency. Incumbent Irish President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina cast their votes at the polling station in Pheonix Park, Dublin, Ireland, Friday Oct. 26, 2018. Six candidates are competing for the ceremonial post of President, with more than 3.2 million people entitled to vote and the results expected over the coming weekend. (Niall Carson/PA via AP) Casey's support had been as low as 1 percent before the comments but surged after. Casey said he was advocating for "middle Ireland," people who are struggling to pay bills and get on the housing ladder. "The real reason I got a bump in the polls is because I spoke out and said middle Ireland," Casey said. "They are the people who are hurting, they are the people who got nothing out of the last budget and they are the ones who are paying all the bills." Ireland's president is head of state, but his job is largely ceremonial in the parliamentary democracy led by Prime Minister Leo Varadkar. Ireland's Prime Minister Leo Varadkar casts his vote in the Irish Presidential Election, at Castleknock in Dublin, Friday Oct. 26, 2018. Six candidates are competing for the ceremonial post of President, with more than 3.2 million people entitled to vote and the results expected over the coming weekend. (Niall Carson/PA via AP) Irish presidential candidate Peter Casey poses after casting his vote at the polling station in Greencastle National School, Ireland, in the Irish Presidential Election, Friday Oct. 26, 2018. Six candidates are competing for the ceremonial post of President, with more than 3.2 million people entitled to vote and the results expected over the coming weekend. (Niall Carson/PA via AP) NEW YORK (AP) - Defense attorneys for the man charged in the failed pipe bombing of the New York subway last year have asked a federal judge to quiz prospective jurors about their exposure to recent media coverage of pipe bombs mailed around the country. Akayed Ullah, a Bangladeshi immigrant, is scheduled to stand trial Monday in Manhattan on terrorism-related charges and using a weapon of mass destruction. He has pleaded not guilty. Ullah was the only person seriously hurt when the bomb went off Dec. 11 in a corridor linking subways under Manhattan's Port Authority bus terminal. The bomb never fully exploded. Ullah's defense attorneys asked in a letter to U.S. District Judge Richard Sullivan that he ensure jurors were not influenced by the widespread media coverage of more than a dozen pipe bombs sent to prominent Democrats around the country. The pipe bomb scare dominated headlines in recent days as law enforcement recovered suspicious packages from New York to California. Authorities arrested Cesar Sayoc in Florida on Friday and charged him with targeting several critics of President Donald Trump. None of the crude devices exploded. FILE - This undated file photo provided by the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission shows Akayed Ullah, the suspect in the explosion near New York's Times Square on Monday, Dec. 11, 2017. Defense attorneys for Akayed Ullah, the man charged in the failed pipe bombing of the New York subway last year, have asked a federal judge to quiz prospective jurors about their exposure to recent media coverage of pipe bombs mailed around the country.(New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission via AP) In their letter to Sullivan, Ullah's defense attorneys noted the recent mailings "have nothing to do with the allegations" against Ullah. They want Sullivan to ask jurors whether media coverage will affect their "ability to be fair and impartial in this case." The U.S. Attorney's office joined Ullah's attorneys in the request. Defense attorneys wrote Sullivan a separate letter Friday opposing the release of a video that captured part of Ullah's arrest. The footage shows Ullah naked and making statements before he was apprised of his right to remain silent, the defense attorneys wrote. Neither federal prosecutors nor Ullah's defense attorneys intend to introduce the one-minute video at trial. "The release of the video to the press and public on the eve of trial will nearly certainly taint our jury pool," attorney Amy Gallicchio wrote in the letter. "In the video, Mr. Ullah incriminates himself and makes statements that the public-at-large will find distasteful." Ullah told investigators after his arrest that he wanted to avenge U.S. aggression toward the Islamic State group and had chosen a busy weekday morning to attack so he could terrorize as many people as possible, prosecutors have said. AMMAN, Jordan (AP) - A pathologist says the last of 21 victims of a recent flash flood in Jordan has been identified after DNA testing showed that one family inadvertently buried the wrong child. The flood, caused by heavy rains, had swept away middle school students and their teachers while they were visiting hot springs near the Dead Sea on Thursday. Twenty victims were swiftly buried, but the body of one girl could not immediately be identified. Dr. Ahmed Bani Hani, director of the National Center for Forensic Medicine, said Saturday that testing showed that a family that lost twin girls in the flood had inadvertently buried a girl from another family. The official news agency Petra quoted Bani Hani as saying both families have been notified. Funeral arrangements were not immediately clear. OCALA, Fla. (AP) - A Florida man who plotted to blow up Target stores along the East Coast has been sentenced to 40 years in federal prison. Authorities said Mark Charles Barnett of Ocala thought the explosions would cause the company's stock to plunge, allowing him to cheaply acquire shares. Court records show Barnett was sentenced earlier this month in federal court in Ocala. The 50-year-old was convicted in July of attempted arson, possession of an unregistered firearm and making an unregistered firearm. Barnett was arrested in February 2017 after he offered to pay another man $10,000 to place at least 10 "improvised explosive bombs" disguised in food-item packaging on store shelves from New York to Florida. The man instead gave the devices to federal agents. Barnett also is a registered sex offender. 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 Allegany 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. This image shows a portion of an archived webpage from the social media website Gab, with a Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018 posting by Pittsburgh synagogue shooting suspect Robert Bowers. HIAS, mentioned in the posting, is a Maryland-based nonprofit group that helps refugees around the world find safety and freedom. (AP Photo) 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. ___ Kunzelman reported from Silver Spring, Maryland. Associated Press reporters Allen Breed in Raleigh, North Carolina, and Claudia Lauer in Philadelphia contributed to this story. ___ Follow AP investigative reporter Michael Biesecker at http://twitter.com/mbieseck Some fatal shootings that have happened at U.S. houses of worship since 2012: Oct. 27, 2018: A gunman believed to have spewed anti-Semitic slurs and rhetoric on social media entered Tree of Life Congregation synagogue in Pittsburgh and opened fire, killing 11 and wounding six, including four police officers. Nov. 5, 2017: Dressed in black tactical-style gear and armed with an assault weapon, 26-year-old Devin Kelley opened fire at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, Texas, killing 26 people and wounding about 20 others. Sept 24, 2017: Emanuel Kidega Samson, 25, was charged with killing a woman and wounding six other people with gunshots at Burnette Chapel Church of Christ in Nashville, Tennessee. Aug. 13, 2016: Imam Maulana Alauddin Akonjee and his friend Thara Uddin were fatally shot as they left a New York City mosque. Oscar Morel, 35, was charged with second-degree murder. Aug. 9, 2016: A shooting during a party at a Jersey City, New Jersey, church left 17-year-old Leander Williams dead and two teenage girls wounded. Daequan Jackson, 18, was charged with murder. April 24, 2016: Mark Storms fatally shot 27-year-old Robert Braxton III during Sunday services in a suburban Philadelphia church. Storms, 46, argued self-defense, but was sentenced to 10 to 20 years in prison for voluntary manslaughter. Feb. 28, 2016: Rev. William B. Schooler, 70, was fatally shot by his 68-year-old brother inside an office at St. Peter's Missionary Baptist Church in Dayton, Ohio, as Sunday services were winding down. Daniel Schooler was found guilty of murder and sentenced to 31 years to life in prison. June 17, 2015: Nine black worshippers including a pastor were killed by Dylann Roof, a 21-year-old white supremacist, after he prayed with them for nearly an hour. The shooting happened at historic Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in downtown Charleston, South Carolina. Roof was convicted of federal hate-crime and obstruction-of-religion charges and sentenced to death. April 13, 2014: Neo-Nazi and former Ku Klux Klan leader Frazier Miller Jr. fatally shot Dr. William Corporon and his 14-year-old grandson Reat Underwood outside an Overland Park, Kansas, Jewish center as they arrived for a community event. He then drove to a Jewish retirement community where he fatally shot Terry LaManno, who was visiting her mother. March 31, 2013: A 28-year-old man fatally shot his father during Easter services at the Hiawatha Church of God in Christ in Ashtabula, Ohio. Reshad Riddle then made a rambling statement at the pulpit while yelling about God and Allah, still holding his handgun as panicked worshippers fled the church. Dec. 2, 2012: Elementary school music teacher Gregory Eldred, 52, shot his ex-wife, Darlene Sitler, while she played the organ during a church service at the First United Presbyterian Church in Coudersport, Pennsylvania. Oct. 24, 2012: A former facilities maintenance employee at World Changers Church International in College Park, Georgia, opened fire, killing church volunteer Greg McDowell, 39, while he was leading a prayer. Police arrested Floyd Palmer, 51, who was found guilty but mentally ill and sentenced to life in prison. Aug. 5, 2012: Six members of the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin, in Oak Creek, were fatally shot by a white supremacist, Wade Michael Page. Page was shot by a responding officer and later killed himself. May 9, 2012: Joseph Lewis Jr., 84, was fatally shot while sitting in a car guarding Victory Way Assembly Church of God in Christ in Detroit, Michigan. Two teenagers, 15-year-old Anthony Williams and 18-year-old Alandre Boone, attacked him while a Bible study took place inside. Police suspected robbery was the motive. Both teenagers were tried and convicted as adults for second-degree murder. May 3, 2012: A homeless man killed himself after fatally shooting a priest and a church secretary at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Ellicott City, Maryland. Police said Douglas Franklin Jones had been turned away from the church food bank about two weeks earlier for visiting every day instead of weekly. Source: News reports. CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) - The U.S. Coast Guard is continuing to search for a downed aircraft about 110 miles (177 kilometers) off the coast, east of Charleston, South Carolina. WCIV-TV reports the Coast Guard says crews searched throughout the night Friday and remained on scene Saturday. Officials say five people were on board the Piper PA-31 aircraft, which departed from the Robert F. Swinnie airport in Georgetown County on Thursday morning and then disappeared over the Atlantic Ocean. The flight was bound for the Bahamas. The names of the passengers or pilot haven't been released. The Coast Guard has two cutters and aircraft from the Elizabeth City, North Carolina, air station searching. A Navy P-3 Orion plane is also helping. The Federal Aviation Administration will not release information about the plane's owner until it's found. ___ Information from: WCIV-TV, http://www.abcnews4.com The Anti-Defamation League considers Saturday's attack on a Pittsburgh synagogue to be the deadliest on the Jewish community in U.S. history. Its death toll of 11 far exceeds other recent attacks in the U.S. where Jews were specifically targeted. Following is a list of other deadly attacks over the last 40 years: ___ March 9-11, 1977: The B'nai B'rith international headquarters in Washington and two other buildings were seized by a dozen Hanafi Muslim gunmen who took more than 100 hostages. A radio reporter was killed at City Hall in the initial takeover, but the captors released their hostages after 38 hours. Participants were convicted of second-degree murder, armed kidnapping and other crimes and sentenced to long prison terms. ___ Oct. 8, 1977: A gunman fired five rounds from a high-powered hunting rifle into a group leaving the Brith Sholom Kneseth Israel Congregation Synagogue in suburban St. Louis after a bar mitzvah. One man, Gerald Gordon, was killed and another wounded. Joseph Paul Franklin was convicted of that murder and seven others, and was executed for Gordon's death in 2013. ___ Nov. 5, 1990: Rabbi Meir Kahane, a Brooklyn-born Israeli extremist, was shot to death at a New York hotel. Egyptian native El Sayyed Nosair was convicted of the slaying. ___ March 1, 1994: A Lebanese immigrant strafed a van full of Hasidic Jewish teenagers as it crossed the Brooklyn Bridge, killing Aaron Halberstam and wounding three other people. Rashid Baz was convicted and sentenced to 141 years in prison. ___ Aug. 10, 1999: White supremacist Buford O. Furrow stormed into a Los Angeles Jewish community center that was packed with children attending day programs and fired more 70 bullets, injuring four children and a woman. He then headed into a San Fernando Valley neighborhood and killed Filipino-American mailman Joseph Ileto, who was shot nine times. Furrow apologizes and blamed mental illness at his sentencing, where he received two life terms. ___ July 4, 2002: Hesham Mohamed Ali Hadayet, a limousine driver and Egyptian immigrant, opened fire at the counter of El Al, Israel's national carrier, and attacked a guard with a knife before he was shot and killed by an airline security guard. El Al employee Victoria Hen and passenger Yaakov Aminov were killed. Four other people were wounded. ___ July 28, 2006: Naveed Afzal Haq, a U.S. citizen of Pakistani descent, shoots six women at Seattle's Jewish Federation offices, killing Pamela Waechter. Haq appealed for forgiveness and blamed his medication as a judge sentenced him to life in prison without parole. ___ June 10, 2009: A man walked up to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum on June 10 carrying a vintage rifle and shot Stephen T. Johns as the guard was opening the door for him. Two guards fired back at James Von Brunn, who was wounded in the face. Police found anti-Semitic writings justifying the attack in von Brunn's car. He died in prison while awaiting trial. ___ April 13, 2014: Frazier Glenn Miller Jr. fatally shot 69-year-old William Corporon and Corporon's 14-year-old grandson, Reat Griffin Underwood, at a Jewish community center in suburban Kansas City, then killed Terri LaManno at the nearby Village Shalom retirement center. Miller was sentenced to death. By Trend President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva have attended the opening of ABAD Center of Ceramics and Applied Arts as part of their visit to Shaki. The head of state cut the ribbon symbolizing the opening of the complex. The President`s Assistant for Work with Law Enforcement Bodies and Military Issues, department head Fuad Alasgarov and chairman of the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan (ASAN Service) Ulvi Mehdiyev informed President Ilham Aliyev and the First Lady of the work done here. The building of the Ceramics and Applied Art Center was constructed in the late 19th century and was used as a barrack. The building was reconstructed with support of Pasha Holding. The Shaki ABAD Ceramics and Applied Arts Center features all the conditions for those engaged in ceramics and applied arts. It will also offer sale of products produced by local craftsman. The center will create about 40 permanent jobs. The main goal of the center is preserving and transmitting ancient ceramic production traditions of Shaki district to the younger generation. NEW YORK (AP) - Law-enforcement agencies around the U.S. deployed extra officers at synagogues and Jewish centers on Saturday in response to a shooting that claimed 11 lives at a Pittsburgh synagogue. Police in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and other cities said that while they knew of no credible threats against houses of worship in their communities they were stepping up patrols nonetheless. Authorities say gunman Robert Bowers, a virulent anti-Semite in social media posts, opened fire during a service at Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh Saturday morning, killing 11 and wounding six. In New York City, Chief of Department Terence Monahan said officers equipped with heavy weapons had been sent to houses of worship. "In addition, NYPD officers in every precinct throughout the city are visiting sensitive locations to ensure the safety of all New Yorkers," said Monahan, who joined Mayor Bill de Blasio and other officials at a Manhattan synagogue. "We will be having a strong presence at community institutions in the days ahead and it's important for people to know that we regard this as part of a solemn duty in this city," said de Blasio, a Democrat. Law enforcement officers check possible entrances to The Tree of Life synagogue where multiple people were killed and others injured in a deadly shooting, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018, in Squirrel Hill section of Pittsburgh. (Alexandra Wimley/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP) Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, also a Democrat, and Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said in a statement that the Chicago Police Department "is closely monitoring the situation and providing special attention to all synagogues throughout Chicago." The Los Angeles Police Department said that "out of an abundance of caution you will see extra patrols around houses of worship today." In Houston, the Harris County Sheriff's Office tweeted, "Deputies will be closely monitoring synagogues throughout the weekend to ensure worshippers' safety, in light of today's mass shooting in Pittsburgh." The Philadelphia Police Department said, "As we continue to monitor the situation in Pittsburgh, we are sending officers to Synagogues and other houses of worship across the city." Rabbi Arthur Schneier, the senior rabbi of Park East Synagogue in Manhattan, where de Blasio spoke, recalled that as a child in Vienna he watched his synagogue burn during Kristallnacht in 1938. "Those who burned the synagogues burned my family in Auschwitz," said Schneier, 88. He added, "In Vienna I stood by when my synagogue was burning and the police and fire didn't worry about it saving that synagogue. They were worried about neighboring buildings. So God bless all the men and women of our police, FBI and state troopers." LONDON (AP) - The Jacksonville Jaguars say four players were detained over restitution of a bill in London. The Jaguars (3-4) play Philadelphia (3-4) at Wembley Stadium on Sunday. The incident reportedly happened early Saturday following what typically is an off night for players. The teams says "we are aware that four of our players were detained over restitution of a bill. The matter is being resolved and the players are with the team. Any discipline will be handled internally." The Jaguars did not say which players were detained. The London-based Sun reported that the players were accused of trying to leave the London Reign Showclub, which features burlesque and circus performers, without paying their tab. ___ More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/tag/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL NEW YORK (AP) - Playwright, poet and author Ntozake Shange, whose most acclaimed theater piece is the 1975 Tony Award-nominated play "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf," died Saturday, according to her daughter. She was 70. Shange's "For Colored 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, a professor of anthropology at the University of California at Santa Cruz, said Saturday that her mother died in her sleep at an assisted living facility in Bowie, Maryland. She had suffered a series of strokes in 2004. "She spoke for, and in fact embodied, the ongoing struggle of black women and girls to live with dignity and respect in the context of systemic racism, sexism and oppression," Savannah Shange said. "For Colored Girls" is an interwoven series of poetic monologues set to music - Shange coined the form a "choreopoem" for it - by African-American women, each identified only by a color 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." FILE - In this Oct. 25, 2010 file photo, actress Janet Jackson, left, and author Ntozake Shange attend a special screening of "For Colored Girls" at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York. Playwright, poet and author Ntozake Shange, whose most acclaimed theater piece is the 1975 Tony Award-nominated play "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf," has died Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018, according to her daughter, Savannah Sange. She was 70.(AP Photo/Evan Agostini, File) 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 degree from the University of Southern California. Her father, Dr. Paul T. Williams, was a surgeon. Her mother, Eloise Owens Williams, was a professor of social work. She later assumed a new Zulu name: Ntozake means "She who comes with her own things" and Shange means "She who walks like a lion." "For Colored Girls" opened at the Public Theater in downtown Manhattan, 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." It earned Shange an Obie Award and she won a second such award in 1981 for her adaptation of Bertolt Brecht's "Mother Courage and Her Children" at the Public Theater. Shange's other 15 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 includes 19 poetry collections, six novels, five children's books and three collections of essays. Some of her novels are "Sassafrass, Cypress, and Indigo" (1982) and "Some Sing, Some Cry," with her sister, Ifa Bayeza. Her poetry collections include "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." She worked with such black theater companies as the Lorraine Hansberry Theatre in San Francisco; the New Freedom Theater in Philadelphia; Crossroads Theatre Company in New Brunswick, New Jersey; St. Louis Black Rep; Penumbra Theatre in St. Paul, Minnesota; and The Ensemble Theatre in Houston, Texas. Shange taught at Brown University, Rice University, Villanova University, DePaul University, Prairie View University and Sonoma State University. She also lectured at Yale, Howard, New York University, among others. In addition to her daughter and sister, Shange is survived by sister Bisa Williams, brother Paul T. Williams, Jr. and a granddaughter, Harriet Shange-Watkins. ___ Mark Kennedy is at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits MURPHYSBORO, Ill. (AP) - President Donald Trump mourned the dead and forcefully condemned anti-Semitism after a mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue that left 11 dead. But faced with another national tragedy, he kept his appointment for campaigning in Illinois. With just over a week until elections that will determine the control of Congress, Trump stuck to his plans to appear at an agricultural convention and the political rally Saturday. Throughout the day, he expressed sorrow, called for justice and bemoaned hate, getting regular updates on the shooting. But he also campaigned for candidates and criticized favorite Democratic targets. President Donald Trump arrives for a rally at Southern Illinois Airport in Murphysboro, Ill., Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Children in the audience listen as President Donald Trump speaks at a rally at Southern Illinois Airport in Murphysboro, Ill., Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Members of the audience cheer as President Donald Trump arrives for a rally at Southern Illinois Airport in Murphysboro, Ill., Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) President Donald Trump speaks to an overflow crowd at a rally at Southern Illinois Airport in Murphysboro, Ill., Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) President Donald Trump speaks at the 91st Annual Future Farmers of America Convention and Expo at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) President Donald Trump speaks to the media at Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018, to before travelling to Indianapolis to speak at the 91st Annual Future Farmers of America Convention and Expo. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) A man holds his head as he is escorted out of the Tree of Life Congregation by police following a shooting at the Pittsburg synagogue, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. (Alexandra Wimley/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP) President Donald Trump speaks to the media at Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018, before travelling to Indianapolis to speak at the 91st Annual Future Farmers of America Convention and Expo. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) TOKYO (AP) - The leaders of Japan and India are reaffirming their ties amid growing worries about trade and regional stability. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who arrived Saturday, was meeting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at a resort area near Mount Fuji on Sunday. Modi is also visiting a nearby plant of major Japanese robot maker Fanuc. Relations with China are a major issue shared by Modi and Abe, as their cooperation may balance China's growing regional influence and military assertiveness. "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. "There are no negatives but only opportunities in this relationship which are waiting to be seized." Modi chose Japan among the first nations to visit after taking power four years ago. He has been urging countries in the Indo-Pacific region to unite against protectionism and cross-border tensions. In another sign of closer relations, India and Japan are also set to hold their first joint military exercises involving ground forces, starting next month. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, left, shakes hands with Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Yamanakako village, Yamanashi prefecture, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. (Suo Takekuma/Kyodo News via AP) Abe has just returned from China, where he met President Xi Jinping and agreed the two nations were "sharing more common interests and concerns." President Donald Trump's policies that have targeted mostly China with tariffs, but also Japan and other nations, accusing them of unfair trade practices, are working to prod India and Japan to promote their economic ties. The Japanese Foreign Ministry said the leaders had lunch at a hotel in Yamanashi Prefecture, west of Tokyo, and exchanged a wide range of views on pursuing "a free and open" Indo-Pacific region. Abe told Modi about his recent trip to China, and both sides agreed on the need to cooperate closely on getting North Korea to drop nuclear weapons development, the ministry said in a statement. Japan's investment in India still has room to grow. Japan is helping India build a super-fast railway system. Abe has made bolstering and opening the nation's economy central to his policies called "Abenomics," and has encouraged trade, foreign investment and tourism. Although Japan has long seen the U.S. as its main ally, especially in defense, Abe is courting other ties. He has also been vocal about free trade, which runs counter to Trump's 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. European and Japanese leaders pledged to strengthen their partnership in defense, climate change and human exchange, to send what they called a clear message against protectionism. Abe and Modi will hold a more formal summit Monday in Tokyo. ___ Yuri Kageyama is on Twitter at https://twitter.com/yurikageyama On Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/yurikageyama/?hl=en ISLAMABAD (AP) - Pakistan's top court has reinstated a ban on the broadcast of Indian TV content following a petition from local producers. Pakistan's Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar announced the verdict Saturday, overturning a lower court ruling last year that had lifted the 2016 ban on airing Indian content on TV or FM radio. The regulatory body for electronic media says the court's order was implemented immediately. Earlier this year, India banned performances by Pakistani artists, and some Indian stations have stopped airing Pakistani content. Indian producers have called for a comprehensive ban on Pakistani content, and Hindu extremists have threatened to attack cinemas showing films featuring Pakistani artists. India and Pakistan, two nuclear-armed rivals, have fought three wars since gaining independence from British rule in 1947. TAPANATEPEC, Mexico (AP) - The latest on the caravan of Central American migrants making their way through southern Mexico (all times local): 9:20 p.m. A 26-year-old Honduran migrant has died of a head wound after a group of migrants clashed with Guatemalan and Mexican police on a border bridge between the two countries. Guatemalan volunteer firefighters said they tried to treat the man Sunday but the injury apparently from a rubber bullet was too severe. The Honduran migrants broke down the metal gates at the Guatemalan and Mexican border stations at the Suchiate River after authorities in both countries closed them. Firefighters said dozens of people were hurt. Mexican Interior Secretary Alfonso Navarrete says his country's police were not carrying guns, not even to fire rubber bullets. He says federal police were attacked with "stones, firecrackers, glass bottles and glass bottles," and some of the aggressors were carrying firearms and gasoline bombs. A Central American migrant taunts Mexican authorities at a border bridge crossing connecting Guatemala and Mexico, in Tecun Uman, Guatemala, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. A new group of migrants, who called themselves a second caravan, gathered on a bridge after forcing their way through a gate at the Guatemalan end. (AP Photo/Santiago Billy) Navarrete said Mexico was in communication with Central American governments about the disturbances and "rejects the displays of violence that occurred today at the border with Guatemala." ___ 3:35 p.m. More than a hundred Central American migrants have forced their way through a customs gate at the Guatemalan border town of Tecun Uman to request passage into Mexico. A Mexican official said Sunday that the group is seeking entry via Ciudad Hidalgo, Mexico. Video from the Guatemalan newspaper Prensa Libre showed men arguing with Mexican immigration officials through the metal bars of a gate separating the two countries. Mexican immigration officials in the video urge the men to bring families to the front of the line and present their requests for transit in an orderly manner. Cesar Quinonez is a volunteer firefighter in Tecun Uman and he told The Associated Press by phone that several Guatemalan police officers and migrants were injured as the group kicked and pushed its way through the gate on the Guatemalan side of the border. He says several people received medical treatment for exposure to tear gas fired by police. A larger group of thousands of Central American migrants has been winding its way through southern Mexico with the goal of reaching the U.S. border. Mexico has offered them asylum if they remain in the southern states of Chiapas and Oaxaca. ___ 11:40 a.m. Another group of Central American migrants is setting out in a caravan in hopes that the strength of numbers will help them reach the United States. About 300 Salvadorans departed Sunday from the Plaza El Salvador del Mundo in the capital of San Salvador. The group organized via Facebook, emulating several other recent caravans that have come together to help migrants with scant financial resources make the trip without paying hefty fees to human traffickers. It's unclear who organized the new group. The group must travel about 75 miles (120 kilometers) to reach the border with Guatemala and another 185 miles (300 kilometers) to reach Mexico's southernmost border. A caravan of thousands of Central American migrants is currently making its way through southern Mexico, however Mexican authorities said Friday they had prevented a separate, smaller group from advancing. ___ 8:45 a.m. A local official in southern Mexico says a disturbance broke out at the encampment of Central American migrants trying to make their way through southern Mexico toward the U.S. Municipal security chief Raul Medina Melendez in the town of Tapanatepec says that 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 town was distributing late Saturday. He says some began to attack him and he fled down a street. A false rumor spread that the man had grabbed a child for protection from the attackers. The assailants caught and beat him, but police intervened and he was treated at a hospital. As Sunday dawned, several in the crowd took to a microphone to chide their colleagues for the attack and urge better behavior. The group of roughly 4,000 people has decided to rest for the day in the town, which itself has a population of only about 7,500. A migrant woman slowly begins to wake after sleeping on a sidewalk in Tapanatepec, Mexico, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. Thousands of migrants who are part of a caravan of Central Americans trying to reach the U.S. border took a break Sunday on their long journey toward the U.S. border. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd) Migrants wait in line beside a water truck to brush their teeth and fill water bottles, as a caravan of Central Americans trying to reach the U.S. border halts for a rest day in San Pedro Tapanatepec, Oaxaca state, Mexico, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. Thousands of migrants took a break Sunday on their long journey toward the U.S. border roughly 1000 miles away, with Mexican government agencies seeming to waver between helping and hindering.(AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) A family waits in hope of a ride among other Central American migrants participating in a caravan that is slowly making its way toward the U.S. border, outside Arriaga, Mexico, before dawn on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. Many migrants said they felt safer traveling and sleeping with several thousand strangers in unknown towns than hiring a smuggler or trying to make the trip alone. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd) DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - Top-ranked Pakistan put in another clinical performance to beat Australia by 33 runs in the third and final Twenty20 match and completed a 3-0 series sweep on Sunday. Australia finished its disappointing tour without a win as it also lost the test series 1-0 after narrowly escaping with a draw in the first test. Babar Azam (50) notched his second half century of the series off 40 balls as Pakistan scored 150-5 after captain Sarfraz Ahmed won the toss and opted to bat. The Australian chase fell off for the third successive time and was bowled out for 117 in 19.1 overs with leg-spinner Shadab Khan grabbing 3-19 and Shoaib Malik taking three smart catches in the deep. "Boys have worked hard and the result is just the reward," said Ahmed, who won his 10th consecutive T20 series. Shadab could have finished with at least two more wickets had he not dropped D'Arcy Short off his own bowling and Faheem Ashraf dropped a sitter from Andrew Tye. Azam and Sahibzaba Farhan (39), who was given his first game of the series, gave Pakistan a solid start of 93 before both fell in successive overs. Farhan struck three sixes and two fours before he holed out in the deep while Azam got a big inside edge to Tye after hitting five fours and a six. Australia came back through wrist spinner Adam Zampa (1-25) and a tidy spell of 0-27 by Short before Mohammad Hafeez (32 not out off 20 balls) and Malik (18 off 12) lifted the total. Alex Carey gave Australia a whirlwind start of 20 when he smashed left-arm spinner Imad Wasim for two sixes and two boundaries in the first over. But Australia's top order faltered for the third time in a row through some reckless shot selection. Carey tried to turn around Hafeez's first delivery and got a leading edge; Chris Lynn swept Shadab's first ball and was caught at midwicket; and Glenn Maxwell played a needless big shot to give Malik one of his three catches. Ben McDermott (21) was run out for the third time in the series and Mitchell Marsh, who also scored 21, gave an easy catch at long on. ___ More AP sports: https://apnews.com/tag/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) - Rescuers in inflatable boats retrieved human remains, pieces of aircraft and personal belongings from the Java Sea on Monday after a new-generation Boeing jet operated by an Indonesian budget airline crashed minutes after takeoff, killing all 189 people on board. Distraught family members struggled to comprehend the sudden loss of loved ones in the crash of the 2-month-old Lion Air plane with experienced pilots in fine weather. They gathered at crisis centers set up by the authorities at airports, hoping desperately for a miracle. But a top search official, citing the condition of the remains recovered, said no survivors are expected. The disaster is a setback for Indonesia's airline industry, which just emerged from decadelong bans by the European Union and the U.S. over safety concerns. President Joko Widodo ordered an investigation and urged Indonesians to "keep on praying." The crash of the Boeing 737 Max 8 is the latest in a series of tragedies that have struck Indonesia this year, including earthquakes and a tsunami that killed several thousand people. A member of Indonesian Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) inspects debris believed to be from Lion Air passenger jet that crashed off Java Island at Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta, Indonesia Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. A Lion Air flight crashed into the sea just minutes after taking off from Indonesia's capital on Monday in a blow to the country's aviation safety record after the lifting of bans on its airlines by the European Union and U.S. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana) An air transport official, Novie Riyanto, said the flight was cleared to return to Jakarta after the pilot made a "return to base" request two to three minutes after taking off. It plunged into the sea about 10 minutes later. Weather conditions were normal but the plane, which Lion Air received in August, had experienced an unspecified technical issue on its previous flight. Relatives and friends wept, prayed and hugged each other as they waited at Jakarta's airport and at Pangkal Pinang's airport on Bangka island off Sumatra where the flight was headed. Some including Indonesian Finance Minister Sri Mulyani headed to the search and rescue agency's headquarters in Jakarta for information. About 20 ministry staff were on the flight. Latief Nurbana said he and his wife Yeti Eka Sumiati stayed up late Sunday talking to their 24-year-old son Lutfi Nuramdani, squeezing every moment they could from his weekend visit to Jakarta to catch up on his life in Pangkal Pinang. Nurbana said they talked until falling asleep and Sumiati woke up early to take their son, a post office worker, to the airport. "Last night, we were chatting together about his wife who is now seven months' pregnant, his plans and his dreams with his own small family until we fell asleep," he said as his wife wept and clung to him. "Now he's gone. We can't believe that he left us this way, we can't believe that his plane crashed. That's something we only see on TV news, now it happened to my son," Nurbana said. "We want to see his body, his face, his remains." More than 300 people including soldiers, police and fishermen are involved in the grim search, retrieving aircraft debris and personal items such as a crumpled cellphone, ID cards and carry-on bags from the seas northeast of Jakarta. Search and Rescue Agency chief Muhammad Syaugi said he's certain it won't take long to locate the hull of the aircraft and its black box due to the relatively shallow 25 to 30 meter (100 to 115 foot) depths of the waters it plunged into. Three specialized search ships, including one from Singapore, were headed to the crash location. The jet, on a 1-hour flight, was carrying 181 passengers, including one child and two babies, and eight crew members. Lion Air said there were two foreigners on the plane: one of the pilots, Indian national Bhavye Suneja, and an Italian citizen. Friends and relatives gathered at the pilot's family home in New Delhi to comfort his immediate family. "His father is stunned and not in a condition to talk or do anything. Sister and mother have not come out. They are distressed," said family friend Anil Gupta. The pilot of Flight 610 had more than 6,000 flying hours while the co-pilot had more than 5,000 hours, according to Lion Air. The Transport Ministry said the plane took off from Jakarta at about 6:20 a.m. and crashed just 13 minutes later. Data from FlightAware showed it had reached an altitude of only 5,200 feet (1,580 meters). Boeing Co. said it was "deeply saddened" by the crash and was prepared to provide technical assistance to Indonesia's crash probe. The 737 Max 8 was leased from China Minsheng Investment Group Leasing Holdings Ltd., according to the official China News Service. Malindo Air, a Malaysian subsidiary of Lion Air, was the first airline to begin using the 737 Max 8 last year. The Max 8 replaced the similar 800 in the Chicago-based plane maker's product line. Lion Air president-director Edward Sirait said the plane had a "technical problem" on its previous flight from Bali to Jakarta but it had been fully remedied. He didn't know specifics of the problem when asked in a TV interview. "Indeed there were reports about a technical problem, and the technical problem has been resolved in accordance with the procedures released by the plane manufacturer," Sirait said. "I did not know exactly but let it be investigated by the authorities." The crash is the worst airline disaster in Indonesia since an AirAsia flight from Surabaya to Singapore plunged into the sea in December 2014, killing all 162 on board. Indonesian airlines were barred in 2007 from flying to Europe because of safety concerns, though several were allowed to resume services in the following decade. The ban was completely lifted in June. The U.S. lifted a decadelong ban in 2016. Lion Air, a discount carrier, is one Indonesia's youngest and biggest airlines, flying to dozens of domestic and international destinations. Earlier this year it confirmed a deal to buy 50 new Boeing narrow-body aircraft worth an estimated $6.2 billion. It has been expanding aggressively in Southeast Asia, a fast-growing region of more than 600 million people. In a record transaction, Lion Air signed a deal to buy 230 Boeing jets for $21.7 billion during a visit by then-President Barack Obama in November 2011 ___ AP journalists Elaine Kurtenbach in Bangkok, Shonal Ganguly in New Delhi and Achmad Ibrahim and Ali Kotarumalos in Jakarta, Indonesia, contributed to this report. A wallet belonging to a victim of the Lion Air passenger jet that crashed is seen in the waters of Ujung Karawang, West Java, Indonesia, Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. A Lion Air flight crashed into the sea just minutes after taking off from Indonesia's capital on Monday in a blow to the country's aviation safety record after the lifting of bans on its airlines by the European Union and U.S. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim) A relative of passengers prays as she and others wait for news on a Lion Air plane that crashed off Java Island at Depati Amir Airport in Pangkal Pinang, Indonesia Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. Indonesia disaster agency says that the Lion Air Boeing 737-800 plane crashed into sea shortly after it left Indonesia's capital Monday morning. (AP Photo/Hadi Sutrisno) Relatives of passengers comfort each other as they wait for news on a Lion Air plane that crashed off Java Island at Depati Amir Airport in Pangkal Pinang, Indonesia Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. Indonesia disaster agency says that the Lion Air Boeing 737-800 plane crashed into sea shortly after it left Indonesia's capital Monday morning. (AP Photo/Hadi Sutrisno) Members of Indonesian Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) inspect debris recovered from near the waters where a Lion Air passenger jet is suspected to crash, at Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta, Indonesia Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. A Lion Air flight crashed into the sea just minutes after taking off from Indonesia's capital on Monday in a blow to the country's aviation safety record after the lifting of bans on its airlines by the European Union and U.S. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana) Members of Indonesian Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) stand near debris and personal belongings believed to be from Lion Air passenger jet that crashed off Java Island at Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta, Indonesia Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. A Lion Air flight crashed into the sea just minutes after taking off from Indonesia's capital on Monday in a blow to the country's aviation safety record after the lifting of bans on its airlines by the European Union and U.S. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana) Members of Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) carry body bags containing the remains recovered from the area where a Lion Air passenger jet is suspected to crash, at Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta, Indonesia Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. A Lion Air flight crashed into the sea just minutes after taking off from Indonesia's capital on Monday in a blow to the country's aviation safety record after the lifting of bans on its airlines by the European Union and U.S. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana) Rescuers search for victims of Lion Air passenger jet that crashed in the waters of Ujung Karawang, West Java, Indonesia, Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. A Lion Air flight crashed into the sea just minutes after taking off from Indonesia's capital on Monday in a blow to the country's aviation safety record after the lifting of bans on its airlines by the European Union and U.S. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim) A police officer carries debris recovered from the area where a Lion Air passenger jet is suspected to crash, at Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta, Indonesia Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. A Lion Air flight crashed into the sea just minutes after taking off from Indonesia's capital on Monday in a blow to the country's aviation safety record after the lifting of bans on its airlines by the European Union and U.S. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana) A member of Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) inspects debris recovered from the area where a Lion Air passenger jet is suspected to crash, at Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta, Indonesia Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. A Lion Air flight crashed into the sea just minutes after taking off from Indonesia's capital on Monday in a blow to the country's aviation safety record after the lifting of bans on its airlines by the European Union and U.S. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana) A member of police forensic team examines the remains recovered from the area where a Lion Air passenger jet crashed, at Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta, Indonesia Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. A Lion Air flight crashed into the sea just minutes after taking off from Indonesia's capital on Monday in a blow to the country's aviation safety record after the lifting of bans on its airlines by the European Union and U.S. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana) In this photo released by Indonesian Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) a rescuer inspects debris believed to be from Lion Air passenger jet that crashed off West Java on Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. A Lion Air flight crashed into the sea just minutes after taking off from Indonesia's capital on Monday in a blow to the country's aviation safety record after the lifting of bans on its airlines by the European Union and U.S. (BNPB via AP) Relatives of passengers arrive at Lion Air's crisis center at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Indonesia Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. A Lion Air flight crashed into the sea just minutes after taking off from Indonesia's capital on Monday in a blow to the country's aviation safety record after the lifting of bans on its airlines by the European Union and U.S. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana) In this photo released by Indonesian Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) rescuers inspect oi slick debris believed to be from Lion Air passenger jet that crashed off West Java on Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. A Lion Air flight crashed into the sea just minutes after taking off from Indonesia's capital on Monday in a blow to the country's aviation safety record after the lifting of bans on its airlines by the European Union and U.S. (BNPB via AP) Relatives of passengers comfort each other as they wait for news on a Lion Air plane that crashed off Java Island at Depati Amir Airport in Pangkal Pinang, Indonesia Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. Indonesia disaster agency says that the Lion Air Boeing 737-800 plane crashed into sea shortly after it left Indonesia's capital Monday morning. (AP Photo) FILE - In this May 12, 2012 file photo, a Lion Air passenger jet is parked on the tarmac at Juanda International Airport in Surabaya, Indonesia. Indonesia's Lion Air said Monday, Oct. 29, 2018, it has lost contact with a passenger jet flying from Jakarta to an island off Sumatra. (AP Photo/Trisnadi, File) KARAWANG, Indonesia (AP) - The Latest on the crash of a Lion Air plane in Indonesia (all times local): 2:00 a.m. Rescuers in inflatable boats have retrieved human remains, pieces of aircraft and personal belongings from the Java Sea after a new-generation Boeing jet operated by an Indonesian budget airline crashed minutes after takeoff, killing all 189 people on board. Distraught family members struggled to comprehend the sudden loss of loved ones in the crash of the 2-month-old Lion Air plane with experienced pilots in fine weather. They gathered at crisis centers set up by the authorities at airports, hoping desperately for a miracle. But a top search official, citing the condition of the remains recovered, said no survivors are expected. ___ A member of Indonesian Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) inspects debris recovered from near waters where a Lion Air passenger jet is suspected to crash off, at Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta, Indonesia Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. A Lion Air flight crashed into the sea just minutes after taking off from Indonesia's capital on Monday in a blow to the country's aviation safety record after the lifting of bans on its airlines by the European Union and U.S. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana) 7:45 p.m. Pope Francis has conveyed his condolences to those affected by the crash of a jetliner minutes after taking off from Indonesia's capital, likely killing all 189 people on board. The Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, said in a telegram to the Vatican's representative in Indonesia that the pope "offers the assurance of his prayers for all who have died and for those who mourn their loss" following Monday's crash. Indonesia's search and rescue agency says it's not expecting to find survivors from the plane that plunged into seas off Jakarta just 13 minutes after takeoff. ___ 7:30 p.m. Friends and relatives have offered their condolences to the parents of an Indian pilot who was flying a Lion Air plane that crashed in Indonesia. After receiving friends and relatives who rushed to their New Delhi home upon hearing news of the crash, the parents of pilot Bhavye Suneja left for New Delhi's airport to board a flight for the Indonesian capital. "Please pray for us," Suneja's sobbing mother said as she got into a car. A family friend, Anil Gupta, said Suneja's father was stunned and couldn't talk, and his sister and mother had not come out of their rooms. All 189 people on board the plane are believed to have died in Monday's crash. ___ 7 p.m. The European Commission says it has no immediate plans to ban Indonesian airline Lion Air again after one of its planes crashed into the sea off Jakarta, likely killing all 189 people on board. Indonesian airlines were barred in 2007 from flying to Europe because of safety concerns. The ban was lifted for Lion Air in June 2016 and the countrywide ban was lifted completely in June this year. Commission spokesman Enrico Brivio said Monday that there "have been no indications that the safety levels at Lion Air or the safety oversight in Indonesia" were deteriorating. Brivio says the commission will analyze the results of the investigation into Monday's crash. ___ 6:10 p.m. The official China News Service says a Chinese company, China Minsheng Investment Group Leasing Holdings Ltd., owned a Lion Air plane that crashed Monday with 189 aboard and leased it to the airline. CNS quoted CMIG Leasing as saying it was extremely sad about the accident and was in close contact with Lion Air, Boeing and other organizations. The company said it is a common practice for airlines to obtain large aircraft though leasing arrangements with third companies. The statement was not on the company's website and calls to it were unanswered Monday afternoon. CMIG Leasing is part of the sprawling CMIG group, which has interests in fields including logistics, energy and health care. ___ 6 p.m. Australia's foreign affairs ministry says Australian government officials and contractors "have been instructed not to fly on Lion Air or their subsidiary airlines" following the crash of a Lion Air jet carrying 189 people. The statement posted on the ministry's website said the decision will be reviewed when the findings of the crash investigation are clear. It said its overall level of travel advice for Indonesia was unchanged from its recommendation to exercise a high degree of caution. Indonesia's search and rescue agency says it's not expecting to find survivors from the plane that plunged into seas off Jakarta just 13 minutes after takeoff. ___ 5:10 p.m. A search and rescue agency official says he's not expecting any survivors from the Lion Air plane that crashed into seas off Jakarta with 189 people aboard. The operations director at the agency, Bambang Suryo Aji, says the search effort is focusing on finding bodies. He said six body bags have been used so far for human remains recovered. Aji said the location of the plane hull hasn't been identified yet. Waters where it sank are up to 30 meters (100 feet) deep. The search is currently planned to last seven days and could be extended. ___ 4 p.m. Indonesian aviation and transport safety officials say a Lion Air plane that crashed into the sea with 189 people on board had been cleared by air traffic controllers to return to Jakarta's airport following a request from its pilot about two to three minutes after takeoff. The plane, which was delivered to Lion Air in August, crashed about 13 minutes after taking off. Novie Riyanto, the head of AirNav, which manages air traffic in Indonesia, said the pilot made a "RTB" or return to base request "just two or three minutes after it took off and the ATC has approved." At the same news conference, a Lion Air official said there were two foreigners on board the plane: its pilot, originally from New Delhi, and an Italian citizen. ___ 3:30 p.m. An Indian Embassy official in Jakarta says one of the pilots of a Lion Air plane that crashed in Indonesia was an Indian citizen. Debashis Biswas identified the pilot as Bhavye Suneja. He said there were no Indian passengers on board the flight, which crashed minutes after takeoff early Monday. ___ 2:45 p.m. Indonesian President Joko Widodo says he has ordered the National Commission for Transportation Safety to investigate crash of a Lion Air plane. He said rescuers are making their best efforts to find victims and urged Indonesians "to keep on praying." Widodo, speaking in Bali where he was attending a conference, said he feels the anxiety of families and hopes they can remain calm while rescuers are working hard at the crash location at sea northeast of Jakarta. The plane with 189 people on board crashed minutes after takeoff early Monday. ___ 1:50 p.m. Lion Air's president says the plane that crashed into the sea Monday had a technical problem on its last flight that was resolved. Airline President Edward Sirait said Monday the technical problem on Boeing 737 Max 8 plane was resolved in accordance with the manufacturer's procedures. He wasn't more specific but said the problem on the earlier flight would be part of the investigation of Monday's crash. Separately, Indonesia's Directorate-General of Air Transportation said the flight from Jakarta to Pangkal Pinang requested to return to Jakarta shortly after takeoff from the capital's airport. The plane crashed into the sea about 13 minutes after takeoff. In a statement about the tragedy, the air transportation agency's spokesman Sindu Rahayu said, "The plane had requested a return to base before disappearing from the radar." It gave no other details about the request. ___ 1:30 p.m. Boeing says it is "deeply saddened" by the crash of a Lion Air plane off the Indonesian coast and offered to help with the investigation. Lion Air Flight 610 crashed shortly after takeoff from Jakarta on Monday morning. Searchers so far have found plane debris and personal items but no bodies. The 737 Max 8 plane was bound for Pangkal Pinang on an island chain off Sumatra. The Chicago-based planemaker said it is prepared to provide technical assistance into the crash probe, which will be carried out by Indonesian investigators. In its statement, Boeing Co. expressed its concern for the 189 people onboard, and offered "heartfelt sympathies to their families and loved ones." ___ Noon Families are turning up at Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency headquarters in Jakarta for word of their loved ones after a Lion Air plane crashed at sea. Indonesia's Finance Minister Sri Mulyani met with the agency chief, seeking information about 20 finance ministry staff who were on the flight. The Boeing plane disappeared Monday morning and the search is concentrating in oil-slickened waters where debris has been found. Feni, who uses a single name, said her soon-to-be-married sister was on the flight, planning to meet relatives in Pangkal Pinang. "We are here to find any information about my younger sister, her fiance, her in-law to be and a friend of them," said Feni. "We don't have any information," she said, as her father wiped tears from reddened eyes. "No one provided us with any information that we need. "We're confused. We hope that our family is still alive," she said. ___ 11 a.m. Aviation tracking website Flightradar24 says the Lion Air plane that crashed after takeoff from Jakarta was a brand-new aircraft that has only been in use for a couple of months. The site says the 737 Max 8 plane was registered as PK-LQP and was delivered to the airline in August. Vessels searching in the water for the Flight 610 wreckage have found various items of debris. The Max 8 is part of Boeing Co.'s latest narrow-body 737 series. It replaced the similar 737-800 in the Chicago-based planemaker's product line. Boeing spokesman Paul Lewis says Boeing is "closely monitoring the situation" but did not provide details on the aircraft in question. ___ 10:20 a.m. Indonesia's disaster agency says a Lion Air passenger jet crashed into the sea shortly after takeoff from Jakarta and was carrying 188 passengers and crew. Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho posted photos on Twitter of debris including a crushed smartphone, books, bags and parts of the aircraft fuselage that had been collected by search and rescue vessels that have converged on the area. He said the flight was carrying 181 passengers, including one child and two babies, and seven crew members. Indonesian TV broadcast pictures of a fuel slick and debris field. ___ 10 a.m. A search and rescue effort is being conducted at sea for a Lion Air passenger jet that lost contact shortly after it left Jakarta. The Boeing 737-800 departed the Indonesian capital about 6.20 a.m. for Pangkal Pinang on an island chain off Sumatra. Data for Flight 610 on aircraft tracking website FlightAware ends just a few minutes following takeoff. "We can confirm that one of our flights has lost contact," said Lion Air spokesman Danang Mandala Prihantoro. "Its position cannot be ascertained yet." A telegram from the National Search and Rescue Agency to the air force has requested assistance with the search of a location at sea off Java. A report to the Jakarta Search and Rescue Office cites the crew of a tug boat reporting a Lion Air flight falling from the sky. It said several vessels have headed to the location. ___ 9 a.m. Indonesia's Lion Air says it has lost contact with a passenger jet flying from Jakarta to an island off Sumatra. A search and rescue effort has been launched for the Boeing 737-800 plane which departed Jakarta about 6.20 a.m. on Monday. Lion Air spokesman Danang Mandala Prihantoro said "we can confirm that one of our flights has lost contact, its position cannot be ascertained yet." In this photo released by Indonesian Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) rescuers inspect debris believed to be from Lion Air passenger jet that crashed off West Java on Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. A Lion Air flight crashed into the sea just minutes after taking off from Indonesia's capital on Monday in a blow to the country's aviation safety record after the lifting of bans on its airlines by the European Union and U.S. (BNPB via AP) In this photo released by Indonesian Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) a rescuer inspects debris believed to be from Lion Air passenger jet that crashed off West Java on Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. A Lion Air flight crashed into the sea just minutes after taking off from Indonesia's capital on Monday in a blow to the country's aviation safety record after the lifting of bans on its airlines by the European Union and U.S. (BNPB via AP) Relatives of passengers arrive at Lion Air's crisis center at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Indonesia Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. A Lion Air flight crashed into the sea just minutes after taking off from Indonesia's capital on Monday in a blow to the country's aviation safety record after the lifting of bans on its airlines by the European Union and U.S. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana) A relative of passengers arrive at Lion Air's crisis center at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Indonesia Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. A Lion Air flight crashed into the sea just minutes after taking off from Indonesia's capital on Monday in a blow to the country's aviation safety record after the lifting of bans on its airlines by the European Union and U.S. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana) By Trend Turkmen Foreign Ministry hosted a meeting with Secretary of State of Romanian Foreign Ministry Maria Magdalena Grigore, the Ministry said in a message. During the meeting, prospects for trade and economic cooperation between the two countries were discussed. The role of transport corridors was emphasized. Noting the developed logistics infrastructure of the two countries, the parties discussed opportunities of the Turkmenbashi International Seaport in providing multi-modal transportation, the message said. It was earlier reported that Turkmenistan and Romania agreed to intensify political and diplomatic efforts to sign in the future a political declaration on the establishment of the Caspian Sea-Black Sea transport and transit corridor. It is expected that Constanta may become a point for transshipment to the EU of the goods transported from the Turkmen port of Turkmenbashi, as well as from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in the context of ensuring access of goods from Turkmenistan and other Central Asian countries to European markets. LOS ANGELES (AP) - Authorities say they have arrested a fourth member of a white supremacist group on charges of inciting violence at California protests and at last year's deadly riot in Charlottesville, Virginia. The FBI said in a Tweet on Sunday that 38-year-old Aaron Eason surrendered himself. He has an initial court appearance Monday. Prosecutors say the group's leader and two other members were arrested last week. All four are charged with traveling to incite or participate in riots. Rise Above Movement leader Robert Rundo, Robert Boman and Tyler Laube were each denied bail in Los Angeles federal court on Wednesday. Attorney information for the defendants could not immediately be found. The latest arrests come just weeks after the indictments of four other California members of RAM for allegedly inciting the Virginia riot. FILE - In this Aug. 12, 2017, file photo, people fly into the air as a vehicle drives into a group of protesters demonstrating against a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Va. The leader of a Southern California white supremacist group and three other members have been arrested weeks after indictments of other group members for allegedly inciting the riot last year in Charlottesville, Virginia. U.S. Attorney's Office spokesman Thom Mrozek says Rise Above Movement leader Robert Rundo was arrested Sunday at Los Angeles International Airport and is expected in Los Angeles federal court Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2018. (Ryan M. Kelly/The Daily Progress via AP, File)/The Daily Progress via AP) SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - A South Dakota inmate who killed a correctional officer seven years ago during a failed prison escape on the guard's 63rd birthday was put to death Monday evening, marking the state's first execution since 2012. Rodney Berget, 56, received a lethal injection of an undisclosed drug for the 2011 slaying of Ronald "R.J." Johnson, who was beaten with a pipe and had his head covered in plastic wrap at the South Dakota State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls. Berget's execution was the state's fourth since it reinstituted the death penalty in 1979. It originally was to be carried out at 1:30 p.m. CDT, but was delayed for hours while the U.S. Supreme Court weighed a last-minute legal bid to block it. Berget joked in his last words about the wait, saying, "Sorry for the delay, I got caught in traffic." He was soft-spoken and appeared emotional. He also thanked people for their support and mentioned two by name. "I love you, and I'll meet you out there," he said while appearing to give a peace sign with his left hand. After the administering of the drug started at 7:25 p.m., Berget groaned and pushed out his chest. He drifted off and snored briefly before his eyes closed. He was pronounced dead at 7:37 p.m. CDT. Lynette Johnson, second from left, hugs Derrick Schafer and Cindy Schmit before a news conference with her daughter Toni Schafer, right, after Rodney Berget is executed Monday, Oct. 29, 2018, at the South Dakota State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls, S.D. Berget was put to death for killing prison guard Ronald "R.J." Johnson in a failed escape seven years ago, marking the state's first execution since 2012. (Briana Sanchez/The Argus Leader via AP) Johnson's widow, Lynette Johnson, who witnessed the execution, said her husband experienced "cruel and unusual punishment" but Berget's lethal injection was "peaceful" and "sterile." "What's embedded in my mind is the crime scene. Ron laid in a pool of blood. His blood was all over that crime scene," she said. "That's cruel and unusual punishment." She sized down her husband'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. Berget was serving a life sentence for attempted murder and kidnapping when he and another inmate, Eric Robert, attacked Johnson on April 12, 2011, in a part of the penitentiary known as Pheasantland Industries, where inmates work on upholstery, signs, furniture and other projects. After Johnson was beaten, 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. Berget admitted to his role in the slaying. Robert was executed on Oct. 15, 2012. The state also put an inmate to death on Oct. 30, 2012, but that was the last one before Berget's. Lynette Johnson said the executions held Robert and Berget accountable, and she asked that people not feel bad for the men. She spoke at a guard training academy that was named for her husband and dedicated one year after his death. Johnson turned 63 on the day that he was killed, and he was nearing the end of a nearly 24-year career as a guard. Berget's mental status and death penalty eligibility played a role in court delays. Berget in 2016 appealed his death sentence, but later asked to withdraw the appeal against his lawyers' advice. Berget wrote to a judge saying he thought the death penalty would be overturned and that he couldn't imagine spending "another 30 years in a cage doing a life sentence." The Department of Corrections planned to use a single drug to execute Berget. Policy calls for either sodium thiopental or pentobarbital. Pentobarbital was used in the state's last two executions. South Dakota has not had issues with obtaining the drugs it needs, as some other states have, perhaps because the state shrouds some details in secrecy. Lawmakers in 2013 approved hiding the identities of its suppliers. Berget was the second member of his family to be executed. His older brother, Roger, was executed in Oklahoma in 2000 for killing a man to steal his car. Opponents of the death penalty gathered for a vigil Monday outside the South Dakota prison, some joining in a circle and singing. Sioux Falls resident Elaine Engelgau, 62, who sat behind a sign attached to a cross reading: "JESUS: HE WITHOUT SIN, CAST THE FIRST STONE," told The Associated Press that she prayed the execution would be halted and for Berget's soul. "I don't think it's right to kill a person, and I think the citizens of the state of South Dakota are wrong to kill someone," said Engelgau, a retired court reporter. Scott Johnson told the Argus Leader that he didn't know R.J. Johnson, but stood across the street in support of the death penalty. Scott Johnson said a prisoner in the penitentiary killed his sister and was sentenced to life without parole. "I know there's two sides to everything, but I don't understand their side at all," he said. ___ For the latest updates on Berget's execution: https://bit.ly/2JmEL7S FILE - In this April 13, 2011, file photo, Rodney Berget, who was convicted of killing a Sioux Falls prison guard during an escape attempt, is escorted to court in Sioux Falls, S.D. Berget is to be put to death for the 2011 slaying of Ronald "R.J." Johnson, who was beaten with a pipe and had his head covered in plastic wrap at the South Dakota State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls. It will be the state's first execution since 2012 and just its fourth since reinstating the death penalty in 1979. (Elisha Page/Argus Leader via AP, File) Toni Schafer hugs her brother Jesse Johnson, left, while their mother, Lynette Johnson, third from left, speaks to the media after Rodney Berget is executed Monday, Oct. 29, 2018, at the South Dakota State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls, S.D. Berget was put to death for killing prison guard Ronald "R.J." Johnson in a failed escape seven years ago, marking the state's first execution since 2012. (Briana Sanchez/The Argus Leader via AP) FILE - In this Oct. 15, 2012, file photo, a portrait commemorating Ronald "R.J." Johnson hangs in the training center of the South Dakota Penitentiary in Sioux Falls, S.D. South Dakota has set Monday as the execution date for Rodney Berget, one of two inmates convicted in the 2011 killing of prison guard Johnson during a failed escape attempt at the state prison in Sioux Falls. The other inmate, Eric Robert was executed by lethal injection in 2012. (AP Photo/Amber Hunt, File) Lynette Johnson addresses the media with her family after Rodney Berget is executed Monday, Oct. 29, 2018, at the South Dakota State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls, S.D. Berget was put to death for killing Johnson's husband, a prison guard, on his 63rd birthday in a failed escape seven years ago, marking the state's first execution since 2012. (Briana Sanchez/The Argus Leader via AP) Elaine Engelgau holds a sign outside of the South Dakota State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls, S.D., before Rodney Berget is executed Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. The U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way Monday for the execution of the South Dakota man who killed a prison guard in a failed escape seven years ago after a last-minute legal bid to block Berget's death delayed his execution for hours past its scheduled time. (Briana Sanchez/The Argus Leader via AP) Mary Ihli prays the rosary outside of the South Dakota State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls, S.D., before Rodney Berget is executed Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. The U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way Monday for the execution of a South Dakota man who killed a prison guard in a failed escape seven years ago after a last-minute legal bid to block Rodney Berget's death delayed his execution for hours past its scheduled time. (Briana Sanchez/The Argus Leader via AP) Toni Schafer, daughter of Ronald "R.J." Johnson, addresses the media with her family after Rodney Berget is executed Monday, Oct. 29, 2018, at the South Dakota State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls, S.D. Berget was put to death for killing Johnson, a prison guard, on his 63rd birthday in a failed escape seven years ago, marking the state's first execution since 2012. (Briana Sanchez/The Argus Leader via AP) Media witnesses Dave Kolpack, from left, Don Jorgensen and Danielle Ferguson talk to the media after Rodney Berget is executed Monday, Oct. 29, 2018, at the South Dakota State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls, S.D. Berget was put to death for killing prison guard Ronald "R.J." Johnson in a failed escape seven years ago, marking the state's first execution since 2012. (Briana Sanchez/The Argus Leader via AP) Lynette Johnson talks about her late husband RJ Johnson Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2018, at her home in Sioux Falls, S.D. RJ was killed while on duty as a correctional officer in 2011 by two inmates trying to escape. One of those inmates, Rodney Berget, is being executed. The other inmate, Eric Robert, was executed in 2012. (Briana Sanchez/The Argus Leader via AP) DETROIT (AP) - A prosecutor urged jurors on Monday to convict a former Michigan state trooper of murder in a Detroit boy's death, saying it defied "common sense" for him to fire a Taser at a 15-year-old who was driving an all-terrain vehicle at high speed without a helmet. Damon Grimes, who was black, crashed the ATV and died after he was struck by Mark Bessner's Taser. The August 2017 incident on a Detroit street caused the state police to change its policy and stop high-speed chases for routine traffic offenses. Bessner, who is white, is charged with second-degree murder. Jurors also can choose involuntary manslaughter. Bessner quit the state police after Grimes' death. "Common sense tells you no one on God's green earth thinks it's a good idea to shoot a Taser at someone who's not wearing a helmet, who's going that fast. ... Was that reasonable? The answer is no," assistant prosecutor Matthew Penney said in his closing argument. Bessner, who has a history of questionable Taser use, fired the immobilizing weapon from the passenger seat of a moving patrol car. At one point, his partner was driving at 61 mph (98 kilometers per hour). Bessner last week told jurors that he believed Grimes had a gun. The teen wasn't armed. Former Michigan State Police trooper Mark Bessner testifies, Thursday, Oct. 25, 2018 at the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice in Detroit. Bessner whose use of a Taser preceded the death of a 15-year-old Detroit boy says he "absolutely" believed the teen was armed and was "shocked" to learn there was no gun. . (John T. Greilick/Detroit News via AP) Defense attorney Richard Convertino urged jurors to put themselves in Bessner's shoes at the time and not use "20-20 hindsight." He acknowledged that Grimes' death was an "unspeakable tragedy." "Maybe this was a joyride. Maybe it was exciting. Maybe it was fun. Fifteen-year-old boys do those kinds of things," Convertino said. "Trooper Bessner at the time didn't know any of that. He had no idea what was in the mind of Damon Grimes." Jurors were dismissed for the day at 4 p.m. after failing to reach a verdict during a few hours of deliberations. State police officials supported the Wayne County prosecutor's decision to charge Bessner. ___ Follow Ed White at http://twitter.com/edwhiteap ___ The Latest on Bessner's trial: https://bit.ly/2CM029Q DURHAM, N.H. (AP) - In the aftermath of the mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue, Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey declared on a weekend visit with New Hampshire Democrats that "we are in a moral moment in America." Booker told young Democratic activists gathered Sunday at the University of New Hampshire that what worries him in moments like these is that "we pause and express grief and then we move on as if this is normal." But he emphasized: "This is not normal. This is not who we are." Eleven congregants were killed in the recent Pittsburgh shooting, called one of the deadliest attacks against the Jewish community in this country. The high-profile senator from New Jersey was one of several prominent Democrats, including former President Obama as well as Hillary Clinton, sent pipe bombs recently through the mail, authorities said. All of the explosive devices were intercepted and no one was injured. "I was protected by vigilant first responders that stopped the package before it even came to New Jersey," Booker said at Sunday's get-out-the-vote event at the university. He was joined in Durham by Democratic gubernatorial nominee Molly Kelly, First Congressional District nominee Chris Pappas, as well as Sen. Jeanne Shaheen. New Jersey Democratic Sen. Cory Booker speaks at a get out the vote event hosted by the NH Young Democrats at the University of New Hampshire in Durham, N.H. Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Cheryl Senter) While he refrained from directly criticizing President Donald Trump, Booker appeared to indirectly target the president for his divisive rhetoric on Twitter and at his political rallies. "In general we have to understand that words matter and that we all need to be mindful of what we're saying," Booker told reporters. "Since 9/11 the majority of our terrorist attacks have been rightwing groups and the majority of those have been white supremacist groups, people that are peddling hate against blacks or Jews or other minorities. It's so antithetical to who we are," Booker said. "And a lot of them are using the rhetoric of the leaders in this country in their propaganda." Booker's swing through New Hampshire - to help Democratic candidates running in the Nov. 6 election - was his first visit in more than two years to the state the traditionally holds the first primary in the race for the White House. And it comes after he made stops this month and in August in Iowa, South Carolina and Nevada, the other early voting states on the primary and caucus calendar. The senator also organized a visit later Sunday to the state Democratic campaign office in Portsmouth and a rally with Rep. Ann Kuster at Dartmouth College in Hanover. Those visits have helped intensify speculation that Booker is gearing up for a possible run for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. But Booker told the Associated Press that "I'm not even focusing on that" and will "start thinking about 2020" after Nov. 6. New Jersey Democratic Sen. Cory Booker looks up as he takes a selfie with an attendee after speaking attends at a get out the vote event hosted by the NH Young Democrats at the University of New Hampshire in Durham, N.H. Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/ Cheryl Senter) New Jersey Democratic Sen. Cory Booker takes a video selfie with attendees after speaking at a get out the vote event hosted by the NH Young Democrats at the University of New Hampshire in Durham, N.H. Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/ Cheryl Senter) New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker speaks at a get out the vote event hosted by the NH Young Democrats at the University of New Hampshire in Durham, N.H. Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/ Cheryl Senter) New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker takes selfies with attendees after speaking at a get out the vote event hosted by the NH Young Democrats at the University of New Hampshire in Durham, N.H. Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/ Cheryl Senter) New Jersey Democratic Sen. Cory Booker exits the stage after speaking at a get out the vote event hosted by the NH Young Democrats at the University of New Hampshire in Durham, N.H. Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/ Cheryl Senter) Democrats Chris Pappas, left, New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker wait in the wings to be introduced at a get out the vote event hosted by the New Hampshire Young Democrats at University of New Hampshire in Durham, N.H. Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Cheryl Senter) RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) - Just as many opponents of Donald Trump considered him unelectable in 2016, detractors of Brazil's President-elect Jair Bolsonaro always believed the far-right candidate himself was the ultimate fail-safe mechanism. Like Trump, who was caught on video boasting that he grabbed women by the genitals, Bolsonaro came to the race with a long history of comments that were offensive to many people. He twice told a female colleague in Congress she was too ugly to be raped, said a dead son was preferable to a gay one and often disparaged blacks and indigenous people. The former army captain also frequently cast aspersions on democratic institutions and argued that if the 1964-1985 dictatorship made any mistake, it was that it didn't go far enough in killing communists who threatened the nation. All of that, the reasoning went, made him simply too toxic for the majority in Brazil, a conservative nation but also one where many people pride themselves on a certain live-and-let-live approach to life. That belief was so strong that parties across the spectrum never considered a unifying strategy against Bolsonaro. Instead, they jockeyed for position, believing that whoever among the other dozen candidates placed second to Bolsonaro in the first round of voting Oct. 7 would beat him in the runoff Sunday. The leftist Workers' Party, which had won the previous four presidential elections, was seen as the best positioned to do that despite its problems - the decimation of its ranks and tarnishing of its image by the huge "Operation Car Wash" corruption investigation involving billions of dollars in bribes to politicians via inflated construction contracts. Jair Bolsonaro, presidential candidate with the Social Liberal Party, gestures 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) Working on the assumption that a Bolsonaro victory was impossible, the party decided its best shot to get to the second round - and thus to victory - was to rely heavily on its standard bearer, former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, even though he began serving a 12-year sentence for corruption in April. Though it was clear da Silva's candidacy would eventually be barred, he was adored by enough Brazilians to lead preference polls for over a year. The thinking went that the party could appoint a stand-in at the last minute and da Silva's support would just shift to the new candidate. Enter former Sao Paulo Mayor Fernando Haddad, whose central campaign slogan was "Haddad is Lula, Lula is Haddad." But at no point did the Workers' Party recognize its role in the "Car Wash" scandal. Nor did the party look beyond da Silva. While he is loved by many, he is also widely loathed because of "Car Wash" and a recession under his successor, President Dilma Rousseff, who was removed from office in 2016 for illegally managing the federal budget. Haddad was not named to replace da Silva until Sept. 11, less than a month before the first round. Still, he outdid the other candidates to finish second with 29 percent of the votes in the first round and earn a spot in the runoff. Bolsonaro almost won outright, though, getting 46 percent. And Haddad could never make up the ground. Bolsonaro easily won Sunday with just over 55 percent of the votes, compared to just under 45 percent for Haddad. The Workers' Party and others betting against Bolsonaro underestimated the power of his simple campaign platform and messaging ability, particularly on social media. His promises, like Trump's, were easy to digest: He would bring the fight to criminals with brute force, clean up corruption by jailing politicians on the take and give the Brazilian economy the kind of tough love it needed via pension reform and privatization. Perhaps nowhere did Bolsonaro better make his case than during his near-daily Facebook Live sessions. Wearing a T-shirt and sitting at an empty table, he looked into the camera and just talked. For many Brazilians exhausted by stories of politicians plundering public coffers and living lavish lifestyles, the image of a stern and austere father figure ready to bring order to the house was refreshing. Bolsonaro doubled-down on his social media strategies after he was stabbed and nearly died while campaigning Sept. 6. Within a few days of the attack, he resumed talking to followers via videos and tweets issued from his hospital bed. "Bolsonaro is the voice of people who want to speak but don't feel they can because they fear being politically incorrect," said Carlos Manhanelli, political marketing specialist and chairman of the Brazilian Association of Political Consultants. "He presents himself as he is, and in the minds of voters that is authentic." While Trump's victory was a surprise, a Bolsonaro win looked increasingly inevitable the last month. Perhaps the clearest sign came in late September when anti-Bolsonaro marches organized by women's groups brought tens of thousands to the streets, yet polls soon started saying Bolsonaro's support among women was actually rising steadily. That trend continued to the point that polls Saturday had him supported by 42 percent of women voters, compared with 41 percent for Haddad. Valentina Collet, a 48-year-old doctor in Sao Paulo who voted for Bolsonaro, summed up the calculus that many women made. Bolsonaro "is everything I don't believe in. I'm against violence. I'm against weapons. I'm against his attitude," she said, then added: "We fought so hard to pull the Workers' Party from power. So, in the end are you going to vote the same thing back in?" ___ Peter Prengaman is the AP's Brazil news director, based in Rio de Janeiro. Follow him: twitter.com/peterprengaman. Sarah DiLorenzo reported from Sao Paulo. Follow her: twitter.com/sdilorenzo 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/Silvia Izquierdo) Jair Bolsonaro, presidential candidate with the Social Liberal Party, flashes a victory sign alongside his wife Michelle during the presidential runoff election in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. Jair Bolsonaro is running against leftist candidate Fernando Haddad of the Workers' Party. (Ricardo Moraes/Pool Photo via AP) A supporter of Workers' Party presidential candidate Fernando Haddad embraces a fellow weeping 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) Presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro speaks to supporters televised from his home, after he was declared the winner of the presidential runoff, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. 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. (AP Photo/Leo Correa) Supporters of Jair Bolsonaro pose for a "selfie" as they celebrate in front of his residence in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018, after he was declared the winner of the runoff election . Brazil's Supreme Electoral Tribunal declared the far-right congressman the next president of Latin America's biggest country. (AP Photo/Leo Correa) A supporter of presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro wears a mask depicting U.S. President Donald Trump during celebrations on Paulista Ave., in Sao Paulo, 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/Nelson Antoine) Supporters of Jair Bolsonaro celebrate in front of his residence 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. (AP Photo/Leo Correa) KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - A suicide bombing targeting the Afghan election commission's office in Kabul on Monday killed a police officer and wounded five people, the police said. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack, the latest surrounding Afghanistan's embattled parliamentary election process. The bomber was walking toward the gate of the heavily fortified election commission offices when the police became suspicious of his intentions and opened fire, prompting him to detonate his explosives vest, said police chief Bismillah Taban. Both the Taliban and the IS had threatened to disrupt parliamentary elections in Afghanistan, which were held in most provinces on Oct. 20 and in southern Kandahar province last Saturday. Earlier reports said the bomber in Monday's attack drove an explosives-laden vehicle but Taban clarified later that he was on foot. In a statement, the Islamic State group said "martyrdom-seeker, Abu Usama al-Badkhishi" exploded his vest near two Afghan security vehicles and a van carrying commission employees. Afghanistan's parliamentary elections were held against a backdrop of violence, with a multitude of attacks killing at least 36 people. Voting in Kandahar was postponed after an Oct. 18 attack by a turncoat Afghan guard who opened fire at a high-profile security meeting in the provincial capital that was also attended by American troops. Afghan security personnel inspect the site of suicide attack near the election commission office in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. The bomber exploded his vehicle early Monday morning outside the heavily fortified office of the Independent Election Commission after police suspected his intentions and opened fire, says Basir Mujahid, Kabul police chief spokesman. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul) The province's powerful provincial police chief, Gen. Abdul Raziq, was killed, as well as at least another provincial official and several policemen. The Taliban claimed that attack and said they also targeted Washington's top commander in Afghanistan, Gen. Scott Miller, who was unhurt. U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Smiley was wounded in the assault. Raziq's death dealt a huge blow to the Afghan government's already flagging war against a resurgent Taliban. Unofficial election results of the parliamentary balloting are not expected before mid-November and official results sometime in December. ___ Associated Press writer Maamoun Youssef in Cairo contributed to this report. An Afghan security personnel inspects the site of suicide attack near the election commission office in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. The bomber exploded his vehicle early Monday morning outside the heavily fortified office of the Independent Election Commission after police suspected his intentions and opened fire, says Basir Mujahid, Kabul police chief spokesman. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul) Afghan security personnel inspect at the site of a suicide attack near the election commission office in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. An Afghan official said the bomber exploded his vehicle early Monday morning outside the heavily fortified office of the Independent Election Commission after police suspected his intentions and opened fire. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul) Afghan security personnel inspect the site of suicide attack near the election commission office in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. The bomber exploded his vehicle early Monday morning outside the heavily fortified office of the Independent Election Commission after police suspected his intentions and opened fire, says Basir Mujahid, Kabul police chief spokesman. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul) Afghan security personnel inspect the site of suicide attack near the election commission office in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. The bomber exploded his vehicle early Monday morning outside the heavily fortified office of the Independent Election Commission after police suspected his intentions and opened fire, says Basir Mujahid, Kabul police chief spokesman. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul) Afghan security personnel inspect the site of suicide attack near the election commission office in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. The bomber exploded his vehicle early Monday morning outside the heavily fortified office of the Independent Election Commission after police suspected his intentions and opened fire, says Basir Mujahid, Kabul police chief spokesman. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul) Afghan security personnel inspect the site of suicide attack near the election commission office in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. The bomber exploded his vehicle early Monday morning outside the heavily fortified office of the Independent Election Commission after police suspected his intentions and opened fire, says Basir Mujahid, Kabul police chief spokesman. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul) BANGKOK (AP) - Lion Air, the airline whose plane crashed early Monday while traveling from Jakarta to an island off Indonesia's Sumatra with 189 people on board, is a fast-growing low-cost airline with a mixed safety record. The privately owned carrier was founded in 1999 to provide access to air travel to everyone. It offers dozens of flights a day both internationally and within the archipelago's more than 17,000 islands. The biggest airline in the country in terms of passenger numbers and one of the largest low-cost carriers after Malaysia-based AirAsia, it mostly flies Boeing 737s. Before Monday's crash the airline had not reported a fatal accident since 2004, when 25 people died when the DC-9 they were on crashed amid heavy rain at Solo City in central Java. Monday's disaster was a blow to the country's aviation safety record after the lifting of bans on its airlines by the European Union and United States. The European Union barred Indonesian airlines from flying to Europe in 2007 due to safety concerns. Lion Air was allowed to resume flights to Europe as of June 2016, and the ban on all other Indonesian airlines was lifted earlier this year. A relative of passengers prays as she and others wait for news on a Lion Air plane that crashed off Java Island at Depati Amir Airport in Pangkal Pinang, Indonesia Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. Indonesia disaster agency says that the Lion Air Boeing 737-800 plane crashed into sea shortly after it left Indonesia's capital Monday morning. (AP Photo/Hadi Sutrisno) The U.S. lifted a decadelong ban in 2016. Last month, two Lion Air-owned aircraft had a wingtip strike while they were on the tarmac at Jakarta's airport. An investigation attributed the incident to a rushed departure. In April, a Lion Air Boeing 737-800 overran the runway at Gorontalo Airport on the island of Sulawesi. Afterward, investigators and the airline issued instructions on improving safety awareness and procedures. No one was reported injured in either of those incidents, according to reports on the website Aviation Safety Network. Lion Air announced early this year that it was among three major Indonesian airlines, including Garuda Indonesia and Batik Air, that were upgraded to the highest level of safety rating after Indonesia passed a key international audit under the International Civil Aviation Organization's Universal Safety Oversight Audit Program. Lion Air has been expanding bullishly in Southeast Asia, a fast-growing region of more than 600 million people. Earlier this year it confirmed a deal to buy 50 new Boeing narrow-body aircraft worth an estimated $6.24 billion. In a record transaction, Lion Air signed a deal to buy 230 Boeing jets for $21.7 billion during a visit by then-President Barack Obama in November 2011. The carrier was founded by Indonesian-Chinese brothers Rusdi and Kusnan Kirana, who pooled money to set up a travel agency and then began their airline with one leased aircraft. Rusdi Kirana, chief executive officer of the airline, was named Indonesia's ambassador to Malaysia in 2017 after serving as an adviser to Indonesian President Joko Widodo. The carrier operates with regional partners Thai Lion Air, Malindo Air, Wings Air, Batik Air and Lion Bizjet. It also has a freight business, Lion Parcel. A member of Indonesian Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) inspects debris recovered from near waters where a Lion Air passenger jet is suspected to crash off, at Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta, Indonesia Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. A Lion Air flight crashed into the sea just minutes after taking off from Indonesia's capital on Monday in a blow to the country's aviation safety record after the lifting of bans on its airlines by the European Union and U.S. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana) Rescuers conduct search operation in the waters of Ujung Karawang, West Java, Indonesia after a Lion Air plane crashed into the sea Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. A Lion Air flight crashed into the sea just minutes after taking off from Indonesia's capital on Monday in a blow to the country's aviation safety record after the lifting of bans on its airlines by the European Union and U.S. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim) FILE - In this May 12, 2012 file photo, a Lion Air passenger jet is parked on the tarmac at Juanda International Airport in Surabaya, Indonesia. Indonesia's Lion Air said Monday, Oct. 29, 2018, it has lost contact with a passenger jet flying from Jakarta to an island off Sumatra. (AP Photo/Trisnadi, File) KARBALA, Iraq (AP) - Millions of Shiite Muslims from around the world are making their way this week to their sect's holy shrines in the Iraqi city of Karbala, a pilgrimage that is as much about community as it is about religion. The shrines are of two revered Shiite imams: Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, and his half-brother Abbas. The annual commemoration, called Arbaeen, draws more pilgrims each year - according to Iraqi figures - than the hajj in Saudi Arabia, a pilgrimage required once in a lifetime of every Muslim who can afford it and is physically able to make it. Pilgrims stream toward Karbala on foot from the cities of Najaf, 70 kilometers (45 miles) away, Baghdad, 90 kilometers (55 miles) to the north, and other places farther afield, resting along the way in tents lined with foam mattresses and fleece blankets. "Our fathers and our grandfathers walked to Karbala, and God willing, our children will, too," said Karrad Karim, a 24-year-old pilgrim journeying with four friends from Baghdad. They brought with them large flags bearing devotional sayings to the Shiite saints, but little in the way of supplies for the four-day journey. That's because along the roads, stalls set up by charities, mosques, and devotional groups see to it that no traveler goes hungry. Cooks prepare vast amounts of stewed lamb, grilled fish, fresh bread, and rice for the pilgrims, refusing payment for the meals. The pilgrimage, known in Arabic as the Ziara, marks the 40th day of mourning of the anniversary of Hussein's 7th century death at the hands of the Muslim Umayyad forces in the Battle of Karbala, during the tumultuous first century of Islam's history. Shiite Muslim worshippers pray inside the holy shrine of Imam Abbas to mark the Muslim festival of Arbaeen in Karbala, Iraq, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. The holiday marks the end of the forty day mourning period after the anniversary of the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the Prophet Muhammad's grandson in the 7th century. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban) Hussein was seen by his followers as the rightful heir of the prophet's legacy. When he refused to pledge allegiance to the Umayyad caliphate, he was killed in the battle, cementing the schism between Sunni and Shiite Islam. Hussein's half-brother Abbas was also killed in the battle. Modern depictions of Hussein, stitched on banners displayed along the pilgrimage, show him with blood on his brow and bearing a Christ-like countenance. But the mood is not all somber among the pilgrims. Spirits were high as travelers approached Karbala, and improved further with generous helpings of dates and tea. "This is a walk to heaven," said Alaa Dadi, 45, who was making his way with his wife and three children. Sunnis outnumber Shiites by a wide margin among the world's estimated 1.5 billion Muslims, and Shiite rituals are far less known. The hajj is considered one of the five pillars of Islam, and an obligation for all Muslims - Sunni and Shiite. The Ziara is voluntary and holds little significance in Sunni tradition. In recent years, the Iraqi government says Karbala received 10-20 million visitors during the event, with many Shiite pilgrims coming from Iraq. No figures have yet been released for 2018. This year's pilgrimage is the first since Iraq's government declared victory over the Islamic State group in January, but the threat of insurgent attacks still lingers. The militant group has deliberately targeted Shiites in Iraq and elsewhere to destabilize the region. Thousands of Iraqi soldiers and special police forces have been deployed to protect the pilgrims along the routes. Iranian religious affairs official Hussein Zulfighari said 1.7 million Iranians had already crossed into Iraq for the pilgrimage, and predicted the number could reach 2 million by the event's climax on Tuesday. Zulfighari, quoted in Iran's Fars news agency, said the visitors include 50,000 Afghan Shiites living in Iran. Muhammad Thiqawi, 57, from Iran, said he was initially hesitant about making the journey this year. A month ago, protesters in Iraq's southern city of Basra burned down Iran's Consulate over what they felt was the country's undue influence over Iraqi affairs. Iran, the region's Shiite power, exerts considerable sway over Iraqi politics through its support for Shiite parties and government-backed militias. But, he said, "the Iraqis hosted us in their homes and welcomed us. They said Iranians are our friends and guests of Hussein." On his child's stroller, he pinned a poster of the two countries' flags. Ali al-Alizi, 35, traveled from Qatif, a Shiite province in eastern Saudi Arabia that has been the target of repression by the Sunni monarchy. Lord Maurice Glasman, a Labour peer in Britain's House of Lords who was raised Jewish, said he came at the encouragement of his Iraqi friends to better understand the country that defeated the Islamic State group's insurgency. "Politically, ethically, spiritually, it has been an extremely elevated visit," said Glasman, who arrived in Karbala on Sunday, after walking several days from Najaf. The hajj saw 2.4 million pilgrims this year but Saudi authorities regulate the tradition tightly, driving up costs for pilgrims and depriving it of some of the spontaneity seen in the Ziara. For many Muslims who cannot afford to go on the hajj or cannot get the Saudi visa, the Ziara is a satisfying alternative. "The hajj is required by God, but the Ziara is voluntary," said Sayyid Abdelamir Mousawi, 46. "Those who go do it out of love." ___ Issa reported from Baghdad. Associated Press writer Maamoun Youssef in Cairo contributed to this report. This Monday, Oct. 29, 2018, aerial photo shows Shiite pilgrims gathering between the holy shrine of Imam Hussein and the holy shrine of Imam Abbas in Karbala, Iraq. Millions of Shia Muslims from around the world are making the journey to the holy shrines of their saints Hussein and Abbas in Karbala, Iraq, in a pilgrimage that is as much about camaraderie as religion. The annual commemoration, called Arbaeen, brings more pilgrims each year than the Hajj, in Saudi Arabia, yet it is hardly known outside Islam. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban) Shiite pilgrims march to their holy shrines for Arbaeen, outside Karbala, Iraq on Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. Millions of Shia Muslims from around the world are making the journey to the holy shrines of their saints Hussein and Abbas, in a pilgrimage that is as much about camaraderie as religion. The annual commemoration, called Arbaeen, brings more pilgrims each year than the Hajj, in Saudi Arabia, yet it is hardly known outside Islam. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban) In this Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018 photo, Shiite pilgrims rest during a pilgrimage to their holy shrines for Arbaeen, outside Karbala, Iraq. Millions of Shia Muslims from around the world are making the journey to the holy shrines of their saints Hussein and Abbas, in a pilgrimage that is as much about camaraderie as religion. The annual commemoration, called Arbeen, brings more pilgrims each year than the Hajj, in Saudi Arabia, yet it is hardly known outside Islam. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban) Shiite pilgrims march to their holy shrines for Arbaeen, outside Karbala, Iraq on Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. Millions of Shia Muslims from around the world are making the journey to the holy shrines of their saints Hussein and Abbas, in a pilgrimage that is as much about camaraderie as religion. The annual commemoration, called Arbaeen, brings more pilgrims each year than the Hajj, in Saudi Arabia, yet it is hardly known outside Islam. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban) It was the kind of security lapse that gives election officials nightmares. In 2017, a private contractor left data on Chicago's 1.8 million registered voters - including addresses, birth dates and partial Social Security numbers - publicly exposed for months on an Amazon cloud server. Later, at a tense hearing , Chicago's Board of Elections dressed down the top three executives of Election Systems & Software, the nation's dominant supplier of election equipment and services. The three shifted uneasily on folding chairs as board members grilled them about what went wrong. ES&S CEO Tom Burt apologized and repeatedly stressed that there was no evidence hackers downloaded the data. The Chicago lapse provided a rare moment of public accountability for the closely held businesses that have come to serve as front-line guardians of U.S. election security. A trio of companies - ES&S of Omaha, Nebraska; Dominion Voting Systems of Denver and Hart InterCivic of Austin, Texas - sell and service more than 90 percent of the machinery on which votes are cast and results tabulated. Experts say they have long skimped on security in favor of convenience, making it more difficult to detect intrusions such as occurred in Russia's 2016 election meddling. The businesses also face no significant federal oversight and operate under a shroud of financial and operational secrecy despite their pivotal role underpinning American democracy. CORRECTS FROM TOM BURT TO BRYAN HOFFMAN, AND ADDS ID OF MAC BEESON - In this July 14, 2018, photo, Election Systems & Software (ES&S) VP's of Sales, Bryan Hoffman, right, and Mac Beeson look at some of the company's election equipment in the vendor display area at a National Association of Secretaries of State convention in Philadelphia. Experts say top election vendors have long skimped on security in favor of convenience and use proprietary systems, making it more difficult to detect election meddling. (AP Photo/Mel Evans) In much of the nation, especially where tech expertise and budgets are thin, the companies effectively run elections either directly or through subcontractors. "They cobble things together as well as they can," University of Connecticut election-technology expert Alexander Schwartzman said of the industry leaders. Building truly secure systems would likely make them unprofitable, he said. The costs of inadequate security can be high. Left unmentioned at the Chicago hearing: The exposed data cache included roughly a dozen encrypted passwords for ES&S employee accounts . In a worst-case scenario, a sophisticated attacker could have used them to infiltrate company systems, said Chris Vickery of the security firm Upgard, which discovered the data lapse. "This is the type of stuff that leads to a complete compromise," he said. ES&S said the passwords were only used to access the company's Amazon cloud account and that "there was no unauthorized access to any data or systems at any time." All three of the top vendors declined to discuss their finances and insist that security concerns are overblown. ES&S, for instance, said in an email that "any assertions about resistance to input on security are simply untrue" and argued that for decades the company has "been successful in protecting the voting process." STONEWALLING ON SECURITY Many voting systems in use today across the more than 10,000 U.S. election jurisdictions are prone to security problems. Academic computer scientists began hacking them with ease more than a decade ago, and not much has changed. Hackers could theoretically wreak havoc at multiple stages of the election process. They could alter or erase lists of registered voters to sow confusion, secretly introduce software to flip votes, scramble tabulation systems or knock results-reporting sites offline. There's no evidence any of this has happened, at least not yet. The vendors say there's no indication hackers have penetrated any of their systems. But authorities acknowledge that some election mischief or malware booby traps may have gone unnoticed. On July 13, U.S. special counsel Robert Mueller indicted 12 Russian military intelligence operatives for, among other things, infiltrating state and local election systems. Senior U.S. intelligence officials say the Kremlin is well-positioned to rattle confidence in the integrity of elections during this year's midterms, should it choose to. Election vendors have long resisted open-ended vulnerability testing by independent, ethical hackers - a process that aims to identify weaknesses an adversary could exploit. Such testing is now standard for the Pentagon and major banks. While the top vendors claim to have stepped up their cybersecurity game, experts are skeptical. In an April 2014 meeting with Colorado elections officials, ES&S objected to a new state requirement for vulnerability testing because it didn't allow for the results to be kept secret, Colorado Deputy Secretary of State Suzanne Staiert said in an interview. She said the company ultimately didn't seek certification because the system it was offering didn't meet state requirements. ES&S did not directly respond to a query about this incident. A company spokeswoman said a review of company correspondence found no sign that it resisted the testing requirement, although it did "ask clarifying questions." "The industry continues to stonewall the problem," said Bruce McConnell, a Department of Homeland cybersecurity czar during the Obama administration. Election-vendor executives routinely issue assurances, he said, but don't encourage outsiders to inspect their code or offer "bug bounties" to researchers to seek out flaws in their software. Sen. Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat, has long criticized what he calls the industry's "severe underinvestment in cybersecurity." At a July hearing, he accused the companies of "ducking, bobbing and weaving" on a series of basic security questions he'd asked them. ES&S told The Associated Press that it allows independent, open-ended testing of its corporate systems as well as its products. But the company would not name the testers and declined to provide documentation of the testing or its results. Dominion's vice president of government affairs, Kay Stimson, said her company has also had independent third parties probe its systems but would not name them or share details. Hart InterCivic, the No. 3 vendor, said it has done the same using the Canadian cybersecurity firm Bulletproof, but would not discuss the results. ES&S hired its first chief information security officer in April. None of the big three vendors would say how many cybersecurity experts they employ. Stimson said that "employee confidentiality and security protections outweigh any potential disclosure." SLOPPY SOFTWARE AND VULNERABILITY Experts say they might take the industry's security assurances more seriously if not for the abundant evidence of sloppy software development, a major source of vulnerabilities. During this year's primary elections, ES&S technology stumbled on several fronts. In Los Angeles County, more than 118,000 names were left off printed voter rolls. A subsequent outside audit blamed sloppy system integration by an ES&S subsidiary during a database merge. No such audit was done in Kansas' most populous county after a different sort of error in newly installed ES&S systems delayed the vote count by 13 hours as data uploading from thumb drives crawled. University of Iowa computer scientist Douglas Jones said both incidents reveal mediocre programming and insufficient pre-election testing. And voting equipment vendors have never seemed security conscious "in any phase of their design," he said. For instance, industry leader ES&S sells vote-tabulation systems equipped with cellular modems, a feature that experts say sophisticated hackers could exploit to tamper with vote counts. A few states ban such wireless connections; in Alabama, the state had to force ES&S to remove them from machines ordered for one of its counties earlier this year. "It seemed like there was a lot more emphasis about how cool the machines could be than there was actual evidence that they were secure," said John Bennett, the Alabama secretary of state's deputy chief of staff. California conducts some of the most rigorous scrutiny of voting systems in the U.S. and has repeatedly found chronic problems with the most popular voting systems. Last year, a state security contractor found multiple vulnerabilities in ES&S's Electionware system that could, for instance, allow an intruder to erase all recorded votes at the close of voting. ES&S referred the AP to a brief California report that found "two out of the three initially identified vulnerabilities" were fixed and that a third would be handled in "future ES&S releases." The company did not say whether the third problem was ever resolved. In 2014, the same contractor, Jacob Stauffer of the security firm Coherent Cyber, found "multiple critical vulnerabilities" in Dominion's Democracy Suite that could allow skilled hackers to compromise an election's outcome. "These systems are Frankenstein's monster, essentially," Stauffer said. The federal Department of Homeland Security began offering confidential vulnerability testing to vendors over the summer. But only one vendor has submitted to such testing, said an agency official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. STALLED INNOVATION More competition might help, but industry barriers to smaller vendors are "absolutely enormous," said Larry Moore, president of upstart Clear Ballot. Its auditable voting system took two and a half years to win federal certification at a cost of $1 million. Startups are hard-pressed to disrupt an industry whose main players rely heavily on proprietary technologies. ES&S and other vendors have jealously guarded them in court - and also unleash lawyers against election officials who purchase competitors' products. In October, ES&S sued Cook County, Illinois, seeking to void its $30 million, 10-year contract with a competitor. It also recently threatened Louisiana and Douglas County, Kansas, with lawsuits for choosing other suppliers. Cook County elections director Noah Praetz said litigious behavior only chills modernization. Competition and innovation are already hampered in an industry with "really low" margins, especially considering limited government funding for election equipment. "The market isn't functioning real well," he said. LIMITED OVERSIGHT Elections are run by the states, whose oversight of suppliers varies. California, New York and Colorado are among states that keep a close eye on the vendors, but many others have cozier relationships with them. And the vendors can be recalcitrant. In 2017, for instance, Hart InterCivic refused to provide Virginia with a paperless e-Slate touchscreen voting machine for testing, said Edgardo Cortes, then the state election commissioner. In this year's midterms - as in the 2016 election - roughly 1 in 5 voters will use such electronic machines. Their tallies cannot be verified because they produce no paper record. Cortes decided to decertify all such systems. If anyone tried to break in and alter votes, he concluded, "there was really no way for us to tell if that had happened." Hart InterCivic's vice president of operations, Peter Lichtenheld, did not dispute Cortes' account in July Senate testimony, but said its Virginia customers were already moving to newer machines. At the federal level, no authority accredits election vendors or vets them or their subcontractors. No federal law requires them to report security breaches or to perform background checks on employees or subcontractors. Election vendors don't even have to be U.S. companies. Dominion was Canadian-owned until July, when a New York private equity firm bought a controlling interest. Federal oversight is limited to the little-known Election Assistance Commission, a 30-employee agency that certifies voting equipment but whose recommendations are strictly voluntary. It has no oversight power and cannot sanction manufacturers for any shortcomings. "We can't regulate," EAC chairman Thomas Hicks said during a July 11 congressional hearing when the question came up. Neither can DHS, even though it designated the nation's election systems "critical infrastructure" in early 2017. ___ Frank Bajak on Twitter: https://twitter.com/fbajak In this July 11, 2018, photo, Peter Lichtenheld, vice president of operations for voting systems vendor Hart InterCivic, testifies during a Senate hearing on election security in Washington. Experts say top election vendors have long skimped on security in favor of convenience and use proprietary systems, making it more difficult to detect election meddling. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen) In this March 13, 2018, photo, voters cast their ballots in Illinois primary elections in downtown Chicago. A security lapse last year by voting system vendor Election Systems & Software publicly exposed data on Chicago's 1.8 million voters for months online. The lapse provided a rare moment of public accountability for a closely held business that is a front-line guardians of U.S. election security. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato) CORRECTS FROM TOM BURT TO BRYAN HOFFMAN, AND ADDS ID OF MAC BEESON - In this July 14, 2018, photo, Election Systems & Software (ES&S) VP's of Sales, Bryan Hoffman, right, and Mac Beeson look at some of the company's election equipment in the vendor display area at a National Association of Secretaries of State convention in Philadelphia. Experts say top election vendors have long skimped on security in favor of convenience and use proprietary systems, making it more difficult to detect election meddling. (AP Photo/Mel Evans) In this July 11, 2018, photo, Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., speaks at a Senate hearing on election security in Washington. Wyden complained that election systems vendors "want to be gatekeepers of our democracy but they seem completely uninterested in safeguarding it." Two of the top three election vendors declined invitations to appear at the hearing. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen) In this July 14, 2018 photo, an Election Systems & Software (ES&S) employee demonstrates company equipment at the vendor display area of a National Association of Secretaries of States convention in Philadelphia. Experts say the proprietary and insecure technologies - which have long stressed convenience over security - are impeding federal efforts to make U.S. voting systems harder for the Russians or anyone else to hack. (AP Photo/Mel Evans) This July 14, 2018 photo shows computer mouse pads with Secure the Vote logo on them, displayed on a table at the Election Systems & Software (ES&S) vendor at a convention of state secretaries of state in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Mel Evans) This July 18, 2018, photo shows a warehouse in North Canton, Ohio, where previously used AccuVote TSX voting machines purchased from an Ohio county are sold by an electronics recycler them for less than $100 apiece. The antiquated, vulnerable machines, still in use in across the nation, are a legacy of an industry that has long stressed convenience over the kind of security experts say is required to protect the nation's elections systems from sophisticated hackers. (AP Photo/Frank Bajak) POINT PLEASANT, N.J. (AP) - Tom MacArthur is doing something that's familiar to dozens of candidates in the most fiercely contested congressional races: Tiptoeing around President Donald Trump. The Republican congressman has done more than anyone in New Jersey to help Trump. He was the only member of his delegation to vote for Trump's tax cuts. And he personally authored a provision that briefly resurrected Trump's health care plan. But on the eve of the election, he might be mistaken for a member of the Trump resistance. "I've worked with Democrats to get things done that matter to South Jersey," MacArthur told The Associated Press after addressing hundreds of veterans at an American Legion weekend celebration without mentioning the president's name. "I work with the president when I can, and when I think he's doing something that's bad for Jersey, I resist that, I push back on that." In an election that hinges on Trump's standing, candidates from both parties are struggling to find the right balance when it comes to Trump. While liberals demand Trump's impeachment, many Democratic candidates are focused on health care. Republicans in Washington, meanwhile, are all in for Trump, but the party's most important House candidates are spending their final days attacking Democrats for resisting - without saying much about the president who's being resisted. In an interview, Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel suggested the midterm elections are not a referendum on Trump. In this July 10, 2018, photo, U.S. Rep. Tom MacArthur speaks about the opioid epidemic during a talk at the Express Scripts mail-in pharmacy in Florence, N.J. In an election that hinges on Trump's standing, candidates from both parties are tiptoeing around the man in the Oval Office as they deliver closing messages in the nation's top House battlegrounds. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) "I don't see it," she said. "The candidates that we have that are doing better are the candidates that are focused on district specific issues and not nationalizing the race." "Democrats don't talk about results because they have none to stand on," McDaniel added. "I've never seen this level of obstruction." Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez downplays Trump's impact on the midterms as well. "Health care is on the ballot," he said in an interview. "They want to take it away, we want to preserve it." Perez said his party's closing message addresses Trump only in that Democrats would provide a check on Trump's policies on health care, the economy and the ethical lapses in his administration. "The rule of law has been replaced by the rule of Trump," Perez said. "We need guardrails in Washington." Voters will decide whether the president's party will maintain control of the House and Senate on Nov. 6. A setback in either chamber would almost certainly derail Trump's agenda. It would also give Democrats subpoena power to probe the president's many personal and professional controversies - in addition to giving them an opportunity to pursue impeachment. In the fight for the Senate, Republicans running in states where Trump remains popular are eager to make the president the centerpiece of their closing messages. Trump and his favorite policies are featured in final-days campaign ads for Republican candidates in Montana, North Dakota, Missouri, Indiana, Tennessee and West Virginia. But in the high-stakes battle for the House, which is playing out among a more suburban and educated electorate, candidates on both sides are handling Trump with great care. Republican Rep. David Young is locked in a dead heat with Democrat Cindy Axne in Iowa's 3rd Congressional District. Young steered clear of the president as he chatted with voters strolling through Des Moines' farmer's market over the weekend. After one woman proclaimed her devotion to Trump, Young ignored the president and thanked her for the support. "We're running on our record of delivering solutions for Iowans and, on the broad scope of things, the economy," Young later said when asked about his closing message. He's stressing his effort to avoid partisan national debates, focusing instead on local issues like expanded renewable fuel sales, a $190-million ethanol plant in western Iowa and farm measures aimed at protecting soil and water. Nowhere in Young's closing argument does he mention the president, except to say he disagrees with the administration's imposition of tariffs that threaten Iowa's export-heavy agricultural economy. Nor does Young address health care, even though it's the centerpiece of his Democratic opponent's message against him. "We need to send people out to Washington who understand how important it is to protect people with pre-existing conditions," Axne said after rallying volunteers over the weekend. The Democrat is not attacking Trump directly either. She hints at a climate of intolerance coming from the administration by calling her candidacy "a choice that will represent every voice in this district, no matter what color you are." In Kentucky's 6th District, it's easy to find Democrats who want to attack Trump. But at least one Democratic volunteer backing Amy McGrath against Republican Rep. Andy Barr knows not to mention the president's name. McGrath, a former Marine, has alternated between condemning Trump's more controversial statements and supporting some of his policies. "I'm not somebody who is this total anti-Trumper," McGrath said in a weekend interview. "I think his style and his leadership traits are not the traits that I have learned of what good leaders are supposed to be. I think he divides more than he unites Americans." But, she continued, "if Donald Trump has a good idea, I'll be with him." It's much the same dynamic in Minnesota's 1st District, one of the few GOP pickup opportunities this cycle. Democratic candidate Dan Feehan described America in "a moment of chaos" as he rallied around 100 volunteers Sunday morning. "There is something out there that is dark, that is filled with hate," said the Army veteran, not once mentioning the president's name in his remarks. In a subsequent interview, Feehan said his message has been focused on the need for independent voices in Washington to counter its dysfunction. As for Trump, Feehan said his biggest hope is that Congress becomes a functional co-equal branch of government to serve as a check and balance. "That means working with President Trump when it makes sense for southern Minnesota, but having the independence again to stand up to him when it does not," he said. In Michigan's 8th District, Democrat Elissa Slotkin is emphasizing her work for both Republican and Democratic presidents and three tours in Iraq in her quest to defeat Republican incumbent Rep. Mike Bishop. She's particularly focused on health care while decrying "the tone and tenor" of the nation's political climate. Just don't ask her to blame Trump - as many Democratic activists do. "To me, it's not any one person, though leadership climate is certainly set from the top," Slotkin told The AP. "For me, it's just more than one person." Back in New Jersey, Republican MacArthur said Trump is a factor in virtually every other race in the nation. He acknowledged he has done more to help the president than any other member of his state's delegation. "I'm certainly not running away from it," MacArthur said. He reinforces the point in a TV ad running across the region in the campaign's final days: "Andy Kim is running to protest Trump," he says of his Democratic opponent. "I'm running to represent you whether you like Trump or not." ___ Beaumont reported from Des Moines, Iowa. AP writers Adam Beam in Winchester, Kentucky; Steve Karnowski in Mankato, Minnesota; David Eggert in Detroit; Michelle Price in Las Vegas and Brendan Farrington in Tallahassee, Florida, contributed to this report. By Trend Turkeys Tasyapi company and the State Committee of Uzbekistan for Geology and Mineral Resources signed an agreement on the development of two gold deposits in the Samarkand region on Oct. 25, Uzbek media reported. In accordance with the agreement, the parties will organize joint exploration and development of the Galabulak and Kushtepa fields. During four months, the Turkish company will carry out drilling operations at the facilities, tests for the development of technological regulations and will also develop preliminary feasibility study of the project for the fields development. In case of positive results of the first stage of the project, the parties will agree on the forms and conditions for cooperation on the development of gold deposits. In accordance with the information provided in the Resolution of the Uzbek Cabinet of Ministers dated May 31, 2017, the predicted resources of gold-quartz and gold-sulphide-quartz ores at the Galabulak and Kushtepa fields amount to about 5.9 tons of gold. In total, 31 promising sites and 12 deposits for precious metals with estimated reserves of 151 tons of gold and 1,200 tons of silver have been approved by the government. In May, the State Committee of Uzbekistan for Geology and Mineral Resources and the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of Turkey signed an agreement to study three prospective gold ore areas in the Jizzakh and Navoi regions. Exploration is expected to begin this year. During three years, the Turkish side plans to allocate $5 million for the project. PITTSBURGH (AP) - The victims of the deadliest attack on Jews in U.S. history were doctors and dentists, accountants and academics, retirees and senior citizens who didn't let age get in their way. Two were brothers, another two a married couple. One was 97. All 11 shared a dedication to the Tree of Life synagogue, where they were killed Saturday in a shooting rampage. And they were "all very gentle, caring, compassionate, good people," said Brian Schreiber, the president of the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh and a member of Tree of Life. Said Stephen Cohen, co-president of one of the congregations that meet there: "The loss is incalculable." CECIL AND DAVID ROSENTHAL: 'SWEET, GENTLE, CARING MEN' Cecil and David Rosenthal went through life together with help from a disability-services organization. And an important part of the brothers' lives was the Tree of Life Synagogue, where they never missed a Saturday service, people who knew them say. This undated photo provided by Barry Werber shows Melvin Wax. Wax was killed when a gunman opened fire at a Pittsburgh synagogue on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. (Courtesy of Barry Werber via AP) "If they were here, they would tell you that is where they were supposed to be," Chris Schopf, a vice president of the organization Achieva, said in a statement. Achieva had worked for decades with Cecil, 59, and David, 54. The developmentally disabled brothers lived independently together in an Achieva building, spokeswoman Lisa Razza told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. David had worked with Achieva's cleaning service and at Goodwill Industries, and Cecil was hoping to start working soon, she said. While David was quieter, Cecil had a personality that got him dubbed "the honorary mayor of Squirrel Hill," the venerable Jewish enclave where the synagogue sits. Cecil was up for all sorts of activities: a concert, lunch at Eat 'n Park - a regional restaurant chain known for its smiley-face cookies - even a trip to the Duquesne University dining hall, recalls David DeFelice, a Duquesne senior who was paired with him in a buddies program three years ago. The two became friends, DeFelice said. "He was a very gregarious person - loved being social, loved people. ... You could put him in any situation, and he'd make it work," chatting about the weather or asking students about their parents and talking about his own, said DeFelice. And when DeFelice recognized Hebrew letters on Cecil's calendar, the elder man was delighted to learn his buddy was also Jewish and soon invited him to Tree of Life. DeFelice joined him on a couple of occasions and could see Cecil cherished his faith and the sense of community he found at temple. Emeritus Rabbi Alvin Berkun saw that, too, in Cecil and David. "They really found a home at the synagogue, and people reciprocated," he said. Cecil also frequented the Jewish Community Center, where he'd greet Schreiber with a comedic bit: "Brian, you're fired!" "Cecil, you've fired me a thousand times, and I keep coming back to work," Schreiber would respond with a smile. Cecil carried a photo in his wallet of David, whom Schopf remembers as a man with "such a gentle spirit." "Together, they looked out for each other," she said. "Most of all, they were kind, good people with a strong faith and respect for everyone around." The two left an impression on state Rep. Dan Frankel, who sometimes attends services at Tree of Life and whose chief of staff is the Rosenthals' sister. "They were very sweet, gentle, caring men," Frankel said. "I know that this community will really mourn their loss because they were such special people," he added. BERNICE AND SYLVAN SIMON: HELPING OTHERS AS A TEAM Bernice and Sylvan Simon were always ready to help other people, longtime friend and neighbor Jo Stepaniak says, and "they always did it with a smile and always did it with graciousness." "Anything that they could do, and they did it as a team," she said. The Simons, who were among those massacred Saturday, were fixtures in in the townhome community on the outskirts of Pittsburgh where they had lived for decades. She'd served on the board, and he was a familiar face from his walks around the neighborhood, with the couple's dog in years past. Sylvan, 86, was a retired accountant with a good sense of humor - the kind of person his former rabbi felt comfortable joking with after Sylvan broke his arm a couple of weeks ago. (The rabbi emeritus, Alvin Berkun, quipped Sylvan had to get better so he could once again lift the Torah, the Jewish holy scripture.) Bernice, 84, a former nurse, loved classical music and devoted time to charitable work, according to Stepaniak and neighbor Inez Miller. And both Simons cared deeply about Tree of Life Synagogue. "(They) were very devoted, an active, steady presence," Berkun said. The Simons had married there in a candlelight ceremony nearly 62 years earlier, according to the Tribune-Review. Tragedy has struck their family before: One of the couple's sons died in a 2010 motorcycle accident in California. And now the Simons' deaths are reverberating through their family and community. "Bernice and Sylvan were very good, good-hearted, upstanding, honest, gracious, generous people. They were very dignified and compassionate," Stepaniak said, her voice breaking. "Best neighbors that you could ask for." MELVIN WAX: 'A SWEET, SWEET GUY' Melvin Wax was always the first to arrive at New Light Congregation, which rented space in the lower level of Tree of Life, and the last to leave. "He was a gem. He was a gentleman," recalled fellow congregant Barry Werber. "There was always a smile on his face." Myron Snider remembered "Mel" as a friend who would stay late to tell jokes with him, a retired accountant who was unfailingly generous, and a pillar of the congregation, filling just about every role except cantor. "If somebody didn't 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," said Snider, a retired pharmacist and chairman of the congregation's cemetery committee. "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 won't 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. Snider had just been released from a six-week hospital stay for pneumonia and was not at Saturday's 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' Dr. Jerry Rabinowitz and his partner in his medical practice were seemingly destined to spend their professional lives together. He and Dr. Kenneth Ciesielka had been friends for more than 30 years, since they lived on the same floor at the University of Pennsylvania. Ciesielka was a few years behind Rabinowitz, but whether by fate or design, the two always ended up together. They went to the same college, the same medical school and even had the same residency at UPMC a few years apart. "He is one of the finest people I've ever met. We've been in practice together for 30 years and friends longer than that," Ciesielka said. "His patients are going to miss him terribly. His family is going to miss him terribly and I am going to miss him. He was just one of the kindest, finest people." Former Allegheny County Deputy District Attorney Law Claus remembered Rabinowitz, a 66-year-old personal physician and victim in Saturday's 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. "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. He had a truly uplifting demeanor, and as a practicing physician he was among the very best." Rabinowitz, 66, was affiliated with UPMC Shadyside hospital, where he was remembered as one of its "kindest physicians." The UPMC hospital system said in a statement that it "cannot even begin to express the sadness and grief we feel over the loss." "Those of us who worked with him respected and admired his devotion to his work and faith. His loss is devastating," chief quality officer Tami Minnier wrote on Twitter. Rabinowitz also was a go-to doctor for HIV patients in the epidemic's early and desperate days, a physician who "always hugged us as we left his office," according to Michael Kerr, who credits Rabinowitz with helping him survive. "Thank you," Kerr wrote on Facebook, "for having always been there during the most terrifying and frightening time of my life.... You are one of my heroes." Olivia Tucker, who is transgender, went to Rabinowitz for a checkup after he treated her grandmother for cancer. "He's the only doctor who ever has made a misstep about my trans-ness, and followed it up with really insightful questions with the purpose of learning and growth," Tucker said. "I felt blessed to have had him." JOYCE FIENBERG: 'MAGNIFICENT, GENEROUS, CARING' Joyce Fienberg and her late husband, Stephen, were intellectual powerhouses, but those who knew them say they were the kind of people who used that intellect to help others. Joyce Fienberg, 75, who was among the victims in Saturday's shooting, spent most of her career at the University of Pittsburgh's Learning Research and Development Center, retiring in 2008 from her job as a researcher looking at learning in the classroom and in museums. She worked on several projects including studying the practices of highly effective teachers. Dr. Gaea Leinhardt, who was Fienberg's research partner for decades, said she is devastated by the death of her colleague and friend. "Joyce was a magnificent, generous, caring, and profoundly thoughtful human being," she said. The research center's current director, Charles Perfetti, said Fienberg earned her bachelor's degree in social psychology from the University of Toronto, in her native Canada. She brought a keen mind, engaging personality and "a certain elegance and dignity" to the center, Perfetti said. "One could have elevated conversations with her that were very interesting," even if they were brief, he said. "I was always impressed with her." Stephen, who died in 2016 after a battle with cancer, was a renowned professor of statistics and social science at Carnegie Mellon University. His work was used in shaping national policies in forensic science, education and criminal justice. The couple married in 1965 and had moved to Pittsburgh in the early 1980s. Joyce began her work at the center in 1983. The couple had two sons and several grandchildren. DANIEL STEIN: 'PASSIONATE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY AND ISRAEL' Daniel Stein was a visible member of Pittsburgh's Jewish community, where he was a leader in the New Light Congregation and his wife, Sharyn, is the membership vice president of the area's Hadassah chapter. "Their Judaism is very important to them, and to him," said chapter co-president Nancy Shuman. "Both of them were very passionate about the community and Israel." Stein, 71, was president of the Men's Club at Tree of Life. He also was among a corps of the New Light members who, along with Wax and Richard Gottfried, 65, made up "the religious heart" of the congregation, said Cohen, the congregation co-president. Stein's nephew Steven Halle told the Tribune-Review his uncle "was always willing to help anybody." With his generous spirit and dry sense of humor, "he was somebody that everybody liked," Halle said. ROSE MALLINGER: SHOOTER'S OLDEST VICTIM Rose Mallinger was 97, but you'd never know it, Schreiber said. "She just had spring in her step," he said. So much so that when congregants at the synagogue were told to stand if they were able, there was no question: Mallinger stood, even while some seniors younger than she stayed seated. She was at services every week, accompanied by her whole family on major holidays. "Her faith and her connection to Judaism was very, very important to her," Schreiber said. Mallinger was routinely called on to lead one of the English-language prayers - the country, the community and peace - that her congregation recited after Hebrew prayers, he said. Her daughter, Andrea Wedner, 61, was among the wounded, the family said. RICHARD GOTTFRIED: READYING FOR RETIREMENT Richard Gottfried was preparing for a new chapter in his life. Gottfried ran a dental office with his wife and practice partner Margaret "Peg" Durachko Gottfried. He and his wife met at the University of Pittsburgh as dental students, according to the Washington Post, and opened their practice together in 1984. Gottfried, who often did charity work seeing patients who could not otherwise afford dental care, was preparing to retire in the next few months. He, along with Wax and Stein, "led the service, they maintained the Torah, they did what needed to be done with the rabbi to make services happen," Cohen said. "He died doing what he liked to do most," said Don Salvin, Gottfried's brother-in-law, told the Washington Post. IRVING YOUNGER: 'NEVER HAD AN UNKIND WORD' A neighbor in Pittsburgh's Mount Washington neighborhood on Sunday remembered victim Irving Younger as "a really nice guy." Jonathan Voye told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that Younger, 69, was personable and occasionally spoke with him about family or the weather. "I'm scared for my kids' future," Mr. Voye told the Post-Gazette. "How can you have that much hate for your fellow neighbor?" Tina Prizner, who told the Tribune-Review she's lived next door to Younger for several years, said he was a "wonderful" father and grandfather. The one-time real estate company owner "talked about his daughter and his grandson, always, and he never had an unkind word to say about anybody,' Prizner told the Tribune-Review. Beth Markovic, owner of Murray Avenue Kosher grocery and deli, said Younger was a dedicated customer who was especially fond of her meatloaf and chicken salad and asked her to alert him when she was making it. "So every time I make those things, I will certainly be thinking of him," Markovic said. "I have his phone number right in front of me where I do my work. . So, we feel it. We feel it very much." ___ Lauer reported from Philadelphia, Peltz reported from New York and Dale reported from Pittsburgh. Associated Press journalists Allen G. Breed and Robert Bumsted in Pittsburgh and researcher Monika Mather in Washington contributed to this report. This undated photo provided by David DeFelice shows Cecil Rosenthal. Rosenthal was killed when a gunman opened fire at a Pittsburgh synagogue on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. (Courtesy of David DeFelice via AP) This undated photo provided by David DeFelice shows DeFelice, left, and his friend Cecil Rosenthal. Rosenthal was killed when a gunman opened fire at a Pittsburgh synagogue on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. (Courtesy of David DeFelice via AP) This undated photo provided by Barry Werber shows Danny Stein. Stein was killed when a gunman opened fire at a Pittsburgh synagogue on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. (Courtesy of Barry Werber via AP) Rabbi Jeffrey Myers of Tree of Life/Or L'Simcha Congregation hugs Rabbi Cheryl Klein of Dor Hadash Congregation on the stage in Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum during a community gathering held in the aftermath of a deadly shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) People attend a community gathering in Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum in the aftermath of the deadly shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) People attend a community gathering in Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum in the aftermath of Saturday's deadly shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) People gather outside the Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018, in Pittsburgh, during a community gathering in the aftermath of the deadly shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue a day earlier. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) People stand outside the Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum due to over-capacity and listen via speakers to a community gathering inside, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018, in Pittsburgh, in the aftermath of the deadly shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue a day earlier. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) This undated photo provided by Barry Werber shows Cecil Rosenthal, left. Rosenthal was killed when a gunman opened fire at a Pittsburgh synagogue on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. (Courtesy of Barry Werber via AP) ISTANBUL (AP) - Top Saudi and Turkish prosecutors on Monday discussed the investigation into the killing of Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi, a show of cooperation amid Turkish demands that Saudi Arabia turn over 18 detained suspects for a murder trial. Saudi Arabia's top prosecutor, Saud al-Mojeb, met with Istanbul's chief public prosecutor, Irfan Fidan, for an hour and 15 minutes at Istanbul's main courthouse, Turkey's state-run Anadolu news agency said. The two countries have announced a joint investigation of the journalist's killing in Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul, although Turkey has leaked evidence to the media in an apparent effort to pressure its regional rival over the crime committed by Saudi officials. Turkey alleges a hit squad from Saudi Arabia traveled to Istanbul to kill the journalist who was critical of the Saudi leadership and then tried to cover it up. Under mounting international pressure, Saudi Arabia has changed its narrative about Khashoggi's killing several times, only recently acknowledging that Turkish evidence shows it was premeditated. Turkey says a trial in Turkey would be transparent, reflecting concerns about Saudi attempts to dodge responsibility for the killing. A Saudi Arabia's flag flies over the country's consulate in Istanbul, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. Saudi Arabia's attorney general is scheduled to arrive in Turkey on Sunday to hold talks with investigators looking into the slaying of Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi, who was killed in the kingdom's Istanbul consulate earlier this month. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) Turkey's foreign minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, on Monday welcomed the cooperation between Turkish and Saudi investigators and said he hoped there would be no further delays. "The investigation should be concluded as soon as possible," Cavusoglu said. "The whole world is curious. All the truth should be revealed." Turkey has been pushing Saudi Arabia to help locate Khashoggi's body, which has not been found. Turkey is seeking the extradition of the Saudi suspects detained for the killing, which happened after Khashoggi entered the consulate on Oct. 2. Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, however, says the kingdom will try the perpetrators and bring them to justice after the investigation is completed. Saudi officials characterize the killing as a rogue operation carried out by Saudi agents who exceeded their authority. Yet some of those implicated in the killing are close to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom's heir-apparent whose condemnation of the killing has failed to ease suspicions that he was involved. Khashoggi, a onetime Saudi insider and U.S. 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. Al-Mojeb, the prosecutor visiting Istanbul, was named attorney general by Saudi King Salman last year after a palace shakeup that saw Prince Mohammed sideline his elder, more experienced cousin, Mohammed bin Nayef, for the title of crown prince. Months later, al-Mojeb played a key role when high-level Saudi princes, businessmen, government officials and military officers were detained and stripped of significant sums of their wealth in exchange for freedom. The sweep, described by Prince Mohammed bin Salman and his backers as an anti-corruption drive, helped the new crown prince consolidate his power and weaken potential rivals. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says his country will reveal more evidence about the killing but is not in any rush to do so. U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has said the killing undermines regional stability and has urged Saudi Arabia to conduct a full and complete investigation. In a video released Monday, journalists from a number of media organizations read extracts from Khashoggi's last Washington Post column, titled "What the Arab world needs most is free expression." "We will continue to campaign for truth and accountability for his horrific murder, by those who planned, ordered and executed it," said Kumi Naidoo, secretary general of Amnesty International, which released the video. The entrance to Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. The post to the left, notifies in Turkish and Arabic that the consulate will remain closed Oct. 29 because of national holiday in Turkey. Saudi Arabia's attorney general is scheduled to arrive in Turkey on Sunday to hold talks with investigators looking into the slaying of Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi, who was killed in the kingdom's Istanbul consulate earlier this month. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) Security barriers block the road leading to Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. Saudi Arabia's attorney general is scheduled to arrive in Turkey on Sunday to hold talks with investigators looking into the slaying of Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi, who was killed in the kingdom's Istanbul consulate earlier this month. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) The ultimate gatekeepers of U.S. election integrity may well be its weakest security link. A trio of privately held companies sells and services more than 90 percent of U.S. elections systems. But the companies have long stressed convenience for its customers over product security, security experts and elections officials said. That complicates efforts to detect a repeat of Russia's 2016 election meddling, or other intrusions by sophisticated hackers. The three companies - ES&S of Omaha, Nebraska; Dominion Voting Systems of Denver and Hart InterCivic of Austin, Texas - face little public accountability and operate under a shroud of financial and operational secrecy despite their pivotal role underpinning American democracy. They face scant federal oversight yet effectively run elections, directly or through subcontractors, in much of the nation - especially where tech expertise and budgets are thin. No federal authority accredits the vendors or vets them. High barriers to entry and low profits discourage the very innovations that could enhance security, experts say. In this July 11, 2018, photo, Peter Lichtenheld, vice president of operations for voting systems vendor Hart InterCivic, testifies during a Senate hearing on election security in Washington. Experts say top election vendors have long skimped on security in favor of convenience and use proprietary systems, making it more difficult to detect election meddling. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen) "They cobble things together as well as they can" because building truly secure systems would likely erase their profits, said University of Connecticut election-technology expert Alexander Schwartzman. Executives of all three of the top vendors refused to discuss their companies' finances and have resisted exposing their products to the scrutiny of independent researchers and Congress. "These companies want to be gatekeepers of our democracy but they seem completely uninterested in safeguarding it," Sen. Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat, complained in a July congressional hearing. The top three vendors call such concerns overblown, and say there is no indication hackers have penetrated any of their systems. But authorities say serious election mischief may have gone unnoticed, and hackers could theoretically wreak havoc at multiple stages of the election process. They could alter or erase lists of registered voters to sow confusion, secretly introduce software to flip votes, scramble tabulation systems or knock results-reporting sites offline with denial-of-service attacks. On July 13, U.S. special counsel Robert Mueller indicted 12 Russian military intelligence operatives for, among other things, infiltrating state and local election systems. Election vendors have long resisted open-ended vulnerability testing by independent, ethical hackers - a process that aims to identify weaknesses an adversary could exploit. Such testing is now standard for the Pentagon and major banks. Nevertheless, the vendors insist security is a priority. ES&S, for instance, said in an email that "any assertions about resistance to input on security are simply untrue" and argued that for decades the company has "been successful in protecting the voting process." Experts point to numerous indications of sloppy software development and unfixed vulnerabilities. "The industry continues to stonewall the problem," said Bruce McConnell, a Department of Homeland cybersecurity czar during the Obama administration. Election-vendor executives issue bland assurances but don't, for instance, offer "bug bounties" to researchers who look for software flaws, he said. In July, ES&S told The Associated Press that it allows independent, open-ended testing of its corporate systems as well as its products. But the company would not name the testers and declined to provide documentation of the testing or its results. Dominion's vice president of government affairs, Kay Stimson, said her company has also had independent third parties probe its systems but would not name them or share details. Hart InterCivic, the No. 3 vendor, said it has done the same using the Canadian cybersecurity firm Bulletproof, but would not discuss the results. ES&S hired its first chief information security officer in April. None of the big three would say how many cybersecurity experts they employ. Dominion's Stimson said "employee confidentiality and security protections outweigh any potential disclosure." During this year's primary elections, ES&S technology stumbled on several fronts. In Los Angeles County, more than 118,000 names were left off printed voter rolls. A subsequent outside audit blamed sloppy system integration by an ES&S subsidiary during a database merge. No such audit was done in Kansas' most populous county after a different sort of error in newly installed ES&S systems delayed the vote count by 13 hours as data uploading from thumb drives crawled. University of Iowa computer scientist Douglas Jones said both incidents reveal mediocre programming and insufficient pre-election testing. And voting equipment vendors have never seemed security conscious "in any phase of their design," he said. California, New York and Colorado are among states that tend to keep a close eye on the vendors. States with cozier relationships have in the past let them use remote-access software to do maintenance on election systems, a widely discredited security faux pas. And ES&S continues to sell vote-tabulation systems equipped with cellular modems, a feature experts say hackers could potentially exploit, entering election management modules and tamper with vote counts. A few states ban such wireless connections. Maryland recently got rid of them and Alabama forced ES&S in January to remove them from machines. Said John Bennett, the Alabama secretary of state's deputy chief of staff who worked the issue: "It seemed like there was a lot more emphasis about how cool the machines could be than there was actual evidence that they were secure." ___ Frank Bajak on Twitter: https://twitter.com/fbajak CORRECTS FROM TOM BURT TO BRYAN HOFFMAN, AND ADDS ID OF MAC BEESON - In this July 14, 2018, photo, Election Systems & Software (ES&S) VP's of Sales, Bryan Hoffman, right, and Mac Beeson look at some of the company's election equipment in the vendor display area at a National Association of Secretaries of State convention in Philadelphia. Experts say top election vendors have long skimped on security in favor of convenience and use proprietary systems, making it more difficult to detect election meddling. (AP Photo/Mel Evans) In this March 13, 2018, photo, voters cast their ballots in Illinois primary elections in downtown Chicago. A security lapse last year by voting system vendor Election Systems & Software publicly exposed data on Chicago's 1.8 million voters for months online. The lapse provided a rare moment of public accountability for a closely held business that is a front-line guardians of U.S. election security. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato) In this July 11, 2018, photo, Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., speaks at a Senate hearing on election security in Washington. Wyden complained that election systems vendors "want to be gatekeepers of our democracy but they seem completely uninterested in safeguarding it." Two of the top three election vendors declined invitations to appear at the hearing. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen) This July 14, 2018 photo shows computer mouse pads with Secure the Vote logo on them, displayed on a table at the Election Systems & Software (ES&S) vendor at a convention of state secretaries of state in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Mel Evans) This July 18, 2018, photo shows a warehouse in North Canton, Ohio, where previously used AccuVote TSX voting machines purchased from an Ohio county are sold by an electronics recycler them for less than $100 apiece. The antiquated, vulnerable machines, still in use in across the nation, are a legacy of an industry that has long stressed convenience over the kind of security experts say is required to protect the nation's elections systems from sophisticated hackers. (AP Photo/Frank Bajak) FILE - In this Nov. 8, 2016, file photo, residents of Chicago' 33rd Ward mark their ballots at Marie's Golden Cue pool hall. A security lapse last year by voting system vendor Election Systems & Software publicly exposed data on Chicago's 1.8 million voters for months online. The lapse provided a rare moment of public accountability for a closely held business that is a front-line guardians of U.S. election security. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File) CORRECTS FROM TOM BURT TO BRYAN HOFFMAN, AND ADDS ID OF MAC BEESON - In this July 14, 2018, photo, Election Systems & Software (ES&S) VP's of Sales, Bryan Hoffman, right, and Mac Beeson look at some of the company's election equipment in the vendor display area at a National Association of Secretaries of State convention in Philadelphia. Experts say top election vendors have long skimped on security in favor of convenience and use proprietary systems, making it more difficult to detect election meddling. (AP Photo/Mel Evans) GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) - Hundreds of Palestinians on Monday laid to rest three teenage boys killed in an Israeli airstrike, with their families insisting they had no militant ties as mourners called on Gaza's militant groups to retaliate. The deaths a day earlier of the teens - ages 13 to 15 - threaten to plunge the area into further violence after a brief exchange of fire over the weekend. The Israeli army struck 80 targets in Gaza in response to the heaviest rocket salvos from the Hamas-ruled territory in months. The boys' bodies were wrapped in Palestinian flags and carried by mourners who shot in the air as they chanted "God is Great." Aisha Abu Daher said her 13-year-old son Abdel-Hamid had "nothing to do with resistance," referring to the militant factions. Abdel-Hamid and his friends drank tea in the afternoon and rode a donkey cart, a daily habit, and did not come home, she said. "I went to a wedding, and in the evening I worried when he did not return," she said over the phone from her home in the central Gaza Strip, about 1 kilometer (a half mile) away from the border area. "I don't know why they went or what they were doing there, but I'm sure they were not doing anything bad." The three boys all lived in Wadi al-Salaqa, a farming village in central Gaza near the Israeli border. Relatives mourn over the bodies of three teens, wrapped in Palestinian flags, who were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Sunday, during their funeral in the town of Deir el-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. Hundreds of Palestinians laid them to rest, with their families insisting they had no militant ties and calling on Gaza's militant groups to retaliate. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra) Residents said Abu Daher had dropped out of school and hoped to become a car mechanic. His friend, 15-year-old Mohammed al-Satari, fixed bikes for neighborhood children to earn money to feed pigeons he raised on the roof of his family's home. Khaled Abu Isied, 14, used to collect grass and other feed for livestock his family kept in their backyard. Residents said children often go to the border area to plant traps used to catch birds, to forage for food for livestock or tend to crops. "It's normal for them to go there, and that's why we did not expect them to be martyred," said Salwa Abu Isied, Khaled's mother. She said she had no idea that anything was wrong until she received a phone call from the hospital that her son had been killed. Medics said they recovered the bodies 200 meters (yards) from the border, which has been volatile for months as the Islamic militant Hamas group has led protests there demanding an end to a decade-old Israeli-Egyptian blockade on Gaza. The Israeli military said the teens had attempted to damage the border fence and "were apparently involved in placing an improvised explosive device" near it. The area where the incident occurred has never been used as a site for protests. "They were there late, and that's why an aircraft hit them," said Fatma Abu Isied, Khaled's aunt. "Is this something that deserves an airstrike?" Omar Shakir, Human Rights Watch director in Israel and the Palestinian territories, said the killing of the boys appeared to be a violation of human rights law. "Army or states can use lethal force only when there is an imminent threat to lives," he said. Entering a restricted area along the border, or even planting explosives there, "doesn't mean someone's life is at imminent threat," he said. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres "deplores" the deaths of the three Palestinian children, a spokesman said. "The targeting of children or exposing them to risk leading to violence is utterly unacceptable," Stephane Dujarric said. The secretary-general "appeals to all to refrain from any act that could lead to further casualties, in particular any measures that could place children in harm's way." Hundreds of Palestinians took to the streets Sunday night, burning tires and demanding Gaza militants fire rockets into Israel in retaliation. The sit-ins went on through dawn Monday. Thousands gathered Monday on the beach for a Hamas-led protest against the blockade. Several threw rocks and firebombs at the fence near the beach in northwestern Gaza. The Gaza Health Ministry said a 27-year-old Palestinian was shot dead during the protest. Egyptian mediators have been working to restore calm, and hope to bring about national reconciliation between Hamas, which seized Gaza by force in 2007, and the West Bank-based administration of President Mahmoud Abbas. Hamas says the blockade must be lifted first and has vowed to continue the weekly protests, in which more than 160 Palestinians have been killed since March. A Palestinian sniper killed an Israeli soldier in July. Israel accuses Hamas of using the protests as cover to stage border infiltrations and attacks. It says it is defending its border and accuses Hamas of exploiting young protesters. Relatives mourn over the bodies of three teens, wrapped in Palestinian flags, who were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Sunday, during their funeral in the town of Deir el-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. Hundreds of Palestinians laid them to rest, with their families insisting they had no militant ties and calling on Gaza's militant groups to retaliate. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra) Mourners carry the bodies of three teens, wrapped in Palestinian flags, who were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Sunday, during their funeral in the town of Deir el-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. Hundreds of Palestinians laid them to rest, with their families insisting they had no militant ties and calling on Gaza's militant groups to retaliate. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra) Mourners carry the body of 13 year-old, Abdel-Hamid Abu Daher, one of three teens, who were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Sunday, during their funeral in the town of Deir el-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. Hundreds of Palestinians laid them to rest, with their families insisting they had no militant ties and calling on Gaza's militant groups to retaliate. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra) A photograph of 14 year-old, Khaled Bassam Iseid, who was killed along with two other teenagers in an Israeli airstrike on Sunday, is displayed with his name in Arabic on his chair at his school classroom in the town of Deir el-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra) A protester wears a mask hurls stones at Israeli troops while others burn tires near the fence of the Gaza Strip border with Israel during a protest on the beach near Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza Strip, Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. Thousands gathered Monday on the beach for a Hamas-led protest against the blockade. Several threw rocks and firebombs at the fence near the beach in northwestern Gaza. The Gaza Health Ministry says a 27-year-old Palestinian was shot dead during the protest. (AP Photo/Adel Hana) Medics evacuate a wounded youth from near the fence of the Gaza Strip border during a protest on the beach near Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza Strip, Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. Thousands gathered Monday on the beach for a Hamas-led protest against the blockade. Several threw rocks and firebombs at the fence near the beach in northwestern Gaza. The Gaza Health Ministry says a 27-year-old Palestinian was shot dead during the protest. (AP Photo/Adel Hana) Protesters and farmers inhale teargas fired by Israeli troops at their farms as others burn tires during a protest on the beach at the border with Israel near Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza Strip, Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. Thousands gathered Monday on the beach for a Hamas-led protest against the blockade. Several threw rocks and firebombs at the fence near the beach in northwestern Gaza. The Gaza Health Ministry says a 27-year-old Palestinian was shot dead during the protest. (AP Photo/Adel Hana) TBILISI, Georgia (AP) - Georgia is heading for a presidential runoff by early December after no candidate achieved the 50 percent of the vote to win the election on Sunday. The Central Election Commission said Monday that preliminary results showed two former foreign ministers - Salome Zurabishvili and Grigol Vashadze - won 39 and 38 percent of the vote, respectively, in an election with 25 candidates. A runoff between the two is expected to be held by Dec. 1 in what will be Georgia's last presidential election. Constitutional changes kick in at the end of the next president's term that will leave it to a delegate system to choose the president. The changes will make the prime minister the most powerful political figure in the country. Zurabishvili served as Georgia's foreign ministry for a little more than a year when she was sacked in 2005 amid disagreements with parliament. She is running as an independent but is backed by the powerful Georgian Dream party which dominates the parliament. Vashadze has been backed by a coalition that includes the United National Movement that was founded by former president Mikheil Saakashvili who opposes the current government. Election observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation and Europe in their mission's report released on Monday hailed the vote as "competitive and professionally administered." Voters lineup to get their ballots 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) "Candidates were able to campaign freely and voters had a genuine choice, although there were instances of misuse of administrative resources, and senior state officials from the ruling party were involved in the campaign," the report said. A woman exits a polling booth as she prepares to cast her ballot 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) 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) ISTANBUL (AP) - Turkey's president inaugurated a gleaming new aviation hub in Istanbul on Monday, a megaproject that he has pushed to fulfill his dream of making Turkey a global player. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that Istanbul Airport was open for operations on a special day - the 95th anniversary of Turkey's establishment as a republic following its war of independence. With the sprawling new airport on shores of the Black Sea, Erdogan declared that Turkey has become the "most important transit location on the north-south, east-west axes, connecting 60 countries and $20 trillion economies." "With this airport, we are furthering our country's key role in the integration of global economies," he said. It was a symbolic opening, with only a few flights scheduled this week. But by the end of the year, the massive airport will replace Istanbul's Ataturk International Airport, named after Turkey's founder. Istanbul Airport is expected to host 90 million passengers per year in its first phase, and in 10 years handle 200 million travelers on six runways. That's almost double the traffic at the world's current busiest airport, Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan centre, along with other officials inaugurates the new airport in Istanbul, Monday, Oct. 29, 2018, a project that he has pushed to fulfill his dream of making Turkey a global player. Erdogan announced that Istanbul Airport was open for operations on a special day - the 95th anniversary of Turkey's establishment as a republic following its war of independence. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel) In a reversal, Erdogan said the old airport would remain open for non-commercial flights, aviation fairs and other activities. Some of its grounds will be turned into a park. Turkish Airlines will launch its first flights out of the new airport to three local destinations: Ankara, Antalya and Izmir. It will also fly to Baku and Ercan in northern Cyprus. Erdogan slammed critics who doubted that the megaproject could be completed safely on time. The 5-company consortium Istanbul Grand Airport, which built the airport and will run it for 25 years, said 36,000 workers completed the first phase of the project in 42 months. But labor issues have also tarnished the airport's image. "The prestige project has been marred by reports of accidents and arrests of protesting workers," said Emma Sinclair-Webb of Human Rights Watch, which cited at least 38 workplace deaths over the past three years. Hundreds of workers were detained in September after a strike against poor working conditions, including unpaid salaries, bedbugs, unsafe food and inadequate transport to the site. Human Rights Watch said some protesters were fired and at least 31 people, including a union leader, were arrested. Posters of Erdogan in the shiny terminal read "This is not just an airport. This is a monument to victory." Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and foreign dignitaries attend an inauguration ceremony for a new aviation hub in Istanbul on Monday, Oct. 29, 2018, a project that he has pushed to fulfill his dream of making Turkey a global player. Erdogan announced that Istanbul Airport was open for operations on a special day - the 95th anniversary of Turkey's establishment as a republic following its war of independence.(AP Photo/Emrah Gurel) Istanbul's new airport ahead of its opening, Monday Oct. 29, 2018. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is set to inaugurate Istanbul's new airport, slated to be the world's biggest, a megaproject that he has pushed to meet its symbolic deadline. The airport will start operations on the 95th anniversary of Turkey's establishment as a republic Monday but will initially only serve limited destinations. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel) Backdropped by posters of modern Turkey's founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, left, and Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, airlines employees stand in Istanbul's new airport ahead of its opening, Monday Oct. 29, 2018. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is set to inaugurate Istanbul's new airport, slated to be the world's biggest, a megaproject that he has pushed to meet its symbolic deadline. The airport will start operations on the 95th anniversary of Turkey's establishment as a republic Monday but will initially only serve limited destinations. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel) Istanbul's new airport ahead of its opening, Monday Oct. 29, 2018. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is set to inaugurate Istanbul's new airport, slated to be the world's biggest, a megaproject that he has pushed to meet its symbolic deadline. The airport will start operations on the 95th anniversary of Turkey's establishment as a republic Monday but will initially only serve limited destinations. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel) Airlines employees stand in Istanbul's new airport ahead of its opening, Monday Oct. 29, 2018. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is set to inaugurate Istanbul's new airport, slated to be the world's biggest, a megaproject that he has pushed to meet its symbolic deadline. The airport will start operations on the 95th anniversary of Turkey's establishment as a republic Monday but will initially only serve limited destinations. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel) An airline employee stands in Istanbul's new airport ahead of its opening, Monday Oct. 29, 2018. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is set to inaugurate Istanbul's new airport, slated to be the world's biggest, a megaproject that he has pushed to meet its symbolic deadline. The airport will start operations on the 95th anniversary of Turkey's establishment as a republic Monday but will initially only serve limited destinations. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel) PITTSBURGH (AP) - The Latest on a deadly shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue (all times local): 6 p.m. Funerals for all but one of the victims of the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre have been scheduled. They run from Tuesday to Friday. The first funeral service is for Jerry Rabinowitz and will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. A funeral is also set for Cecil Rosenthal and his younger brother, David, on Tuesday at noon. A woman touches a tree as she pauses near a memorial in front at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. Tree of Life shooting suspect Robert Gregory Bowers is expected to appear in federal court Monday. Authorities say he expressed hatred toward Jews during the rampage Saturday and in later comments to police. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Both come on the same day President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump will visit to "express the support of the American people and to grieve with the Pittsburgh community." Only services for Irving Younger have not yet been announced. Alleged gunman Robert Bowers appeared in court Monday. He's been charged with deadly hate crimes. Police say he killed 11 people in the deadliest attack on Jews in U.S. history. ___ 4:25 p.m. The president of the hospital that treated the man accused in the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre says he was shouting "I want to kill all the Jews!" Allegheny General Hospital President Jeffrey Cohen tells Good Morning America on Monday that the first people who took care of Robert Bowers were Jewish. Cohen says he stopped by Bowers' room to see how he was doing. He says he hopes to one day forgive Bowers the way relatives of victims killed in 2015 at the Emanuel AME Church forgave the shooter. Cohen is also Jewish and a member of Tree of Life synagogue, where the shooting rampage happened Saturday. He said he lives near the synagogue and heard the shots from his home Saturday. Bowers has been charged with deadly hate crimes. He appeared in court Monday. ___ This story has been corrected to show the hospital president's name is Jeffrey, not Jeffery and that his comments were made to Good Morning America, not WTAE-TV. ___ 2:50 p.m. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump will visit Pennsylvania on Tuesday to mourn a synagogue massacre that left 11 people dead. White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Monday that Trump will go "to express the support of the American people and to grieve with the Pittsburgh community." There have been mixed responses to Trump's plan to visit. Leaders of a liberal Jewish group in Pittsburgh penned an open letter to the president, saying he was not welcome until he denounced white nationalism. Rabbi Jeffrey Myers with the Tree of Life synagogue made clear he would be welcome, telling NBC that "it would be my honor to always meet a president of the United States." ___ 1:55 p.m. The man accused in the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre has appeared briefly in a federal courthouse in a wheelchair to face charges he killed 11 people in the attack. Robert Bowers was wearing a blue sweatshirt in the Pittsburgh courtroom Monday. He was released from a hospital in the morning and turned over to federal authorities. Bowers spoke with lawyers before the judge took the bench, going over documents and confirming his identity to the judge. He accepted a court-appointed defender. Bowers was shot and wounded in a gun battle with police Saturday after what is believed to be the deadliest attack on Jews in U.S. history. Authorities say he expressed hatred toward Jews during the rampage Saturday and in later comments to police. ___ 1:15 p.m. Attorney General Jeff Sessions says a massacre at a Pittsburgh synagogue was not just an attack on the Jewish faith, but "an attack on all people of faith." Sessions called Saturday's shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue "an attack on America's values of protecting those of faith." He says it "cannot and will not be tolerated." Sessions' remarks came Monday during a discussion on the future of religious liberty hosted by the Boston chapter of the Federalist Society. On Sunday, U.S. Attorney Scott Brady said he has begun the process to get Sessions' approval as required by law to pursue a capital case against Robert Bowers, who authorities say carried out what is believed to be the deadliest attack on Jews in U.S. history. Sessions says people must be protected in houses of worship. He says the Justice Department will pursue the case with "vigor and integrity." ___ 1:05 p.m. Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee are calling for congressional hearings on hate crimes and domestic terrorism in the wake of the killing of 13 people by individuals with white supremacist views. Democrats said the nation has witnessed three acts of terror in the past week, including the murders of 11 Jewish people at a synagogue in Pittsburgh and two African-Americans at a supermarket in Jeffersontown, Kentucky. The Democrats also cited explosive devices sent to former President Barack Obama and other prominent figures. New York Rep. Jerrold Nadler and other Democrats on the Judiciary panel said in a letter to the panel's Republican chairman that the committee is charged with assessing federal hate crimes statutes, protecting civil liberties and addressing gun violence, adding: "white supremacy ... must be stopped." ___ 11:40 a.m. U.S. marshals say the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting suspect has arrived at a federal courthouse ahead of an afternoon appearance. A government car with a wheelchair visible inside could be seen arriving Monday. Robert Gregory Bowers traded gunfire with police during Saturday's massacre at the Tree of Life synagogue and was shot multiple times. He underwent surgery and survived. Bowers is scheduled to appear before a U.S. magistrate judge in downtown Pittsburgh at 1:30 p.m. Authorities say he expressed hatred toward Jews during the rampage Saturday and in later comments to police. Authorities released Bowers' driver's license photo Monday. ___ 10:25 a.m. A spokeswoman says the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting suspect has been released from the hospital. Stephanie Waite of Allegheny Health Network says Robert Bowers was released Monday morning from Allegheny General Hospital. Bowers traded gunfire with police during Saturday's massacre at the Tree of Life synagogue and was shot multiple times. He underwent surgery and survived. Bowers is due in federal court Monday afternoon. Authorities say he expressed hatred toward Jews during the rampage and in later comments to police. ___ 8:55 a.m. A social media site popular with far-right extremists and where the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting suspect had a profile has been taken down. Gab.com writes it has been "systematically no-platformed by App Stores, multiple hosting providers, and several payment processors." In an audio statement on Twitter, co-founder and CEO Andrew Torba called Saturday's shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue that killed 11 an "act of terrorism." Torba says the site has a zero-tolerance policy for terrorism and violence. Gab.com says it suspended the account of suspect Robert Gregory Bowers and contacted law enforcement immediately, turning over his account. The site says Bowers had accounts on other social media platforms. Bowers is due in court on Monday. ___ 8:40 a.m. Fundraising campaigns are quickly pulling together relief after the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, including at least one organized by Muslim Americans. A crowdfunding campaign called Muslims Unite for Pittsburgh Synagogue has raised more than $90,000 for survivors and families. The activist who started the effort said when he saw the news, he thought "this could have very well been at a mosque or a Hindu temple." Meanwhile, a graduate student in Washington, D.C., has increased his fundraising goal from $500 to $1 million. Shay Khatiri's fundraiser had raised nearly $545,000 as of Monday morning. The Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies student says the funds will go directly to the Tree of Life congregation. Khatiri says he's a political refugee from Iran who has been a recipient of the Jewish community's generosity. ___ 7:20 a.m. A rabbi who helped alert authorities to the synagogue shooting that killed 11 people says it was because of recent security training that he had a cellphone on him and was able to make the call. Rabbi Jeffrey Myers of the Tree of Life in Pittsburgh said Monday on ABC's "Good Morning America" that he hadn't always carried a cellphone on the Sabbath. But he says a security expert had told him in August that he was living in a new era and needed to carry it. Myers says that he spent 20 minutes on the phone with authorities and that it "felt like an eternity." Shooting suspect Robert Gregory Bowers is due in federal court Monday. Authorities say he expressed hatred toward Jews during the rampage Saturday and in later comments to police. ___ 6 a.m. Survivors are recounting the terror of hiding in a dark closet during the massacre that killed 11 at a Pittsburgh synagogue and asking why the gunman blames them for the world's problems. Suspect Robert Gregory Bowers is expected to appear in federal court Monday. Authorities say he expressed hatred toward Jews during the rampage Saturday morning and in later comments to police. U.S. Attorney Scott Brady says federal prosecutors intend to pursue the death penalty. Barry Werber says members of the synagogue's New Light Congregation were in the basement and beginning to pray when they heard crashing coming from upstairs. They looked out and saw a body on the staircase. Werber says he called 911 but was afraid to say anything for fear of making noise as gunshots echoed upstairs. Samina Mohamedali, left, and her husband Kutub Ganiwalla, members of the Dawoodi Bohra Muslim community, both of North Hills, prepare to place flowers on a memorial in front of the Tree of Life Congregation, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018, in Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh. (Alexandra Wimley/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP) Rabbi Jeffrey Myers of Tree of Life stands at the podium in Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum during a community gathering held in the aftermath of Saturday's deadly shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Mourners, most of whom stood in the rain because of over crowdedness, attend a vigil for the victims of the Tree of Life Synagogue mass shooting at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018, in Pittsburgh. (Michael M. Santiago/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP) Elected officials, civic leaders and clergy join arms and sing together at the conclusion of an Interfaith Vigil of Solidarity and Hope at Rodeph Shalom in Philadelphia on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018, in commemoration of the anti-Semitic attack at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. The vigil was hosted by the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia. (Tom Gralish/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP) Clifford Pearlman, of Center City, is among the hundreds attending an Interfaith Vigil of Solidarity and Hope at Rodeph Shalom in Philadelphia on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018, in commemoration of the anti-Semitic attack at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. The vigil was hosted by the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia. (Tom Gralish/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP) BERLIN (AP) - German authorities say they've charged a 33-year-old German man with spying on a mosque for Jordan. Federal prosecutors said Monday that Alexander B., whose last name wasn't given in line with German privacy rules, is accused of working with Jordanian intelligence services between March 2016 and May 2018. The man, who was arrested in August, is alleged to have spied on the DIK mosque in the central city of Hildesheim to gather information on people he suspected of planning to travel to Syria to join Islamic militant groups or who had already traveled there. Prosecutors say he passed along information on multiple people, primarily German citizens. German authorities banned the organization that ran the mosque in March 2017. They long considered the DIK group to be a magnet for radicals. TOKYO (AP) - The leaders of Japan and India agreed Monday to step up their cooperation in defense, trade and a range or other areas amid China's growing influence in the region. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, said they are expanding ammunition sales and high-level defense talks and joint military exercises. "Relations between Japan and India have the biggest potential in the world," Abe told a joint news conference after holding talks with Modi. "A strong Japan benefits India and a strong India benefits Japan." Modi, through an interpreter, responded, "Without India-Japan cooperation, there will be no development in Asia into the next century." India is one of the countries that Japan has reached out to form defense partnerships, as Tokyo seeks to expand its military cooperation beyond its traditional alliance with the U.S. amid China's increasingly assertive military presence in the region. Japan in recent years has stepped up defense ties with Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines and other Asia-Pacific nations. Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, right, and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi observe an honor guard ahead of a meeting at Abe's official residence in Tokyo Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. (Kiyoshi Ota/Pool Photo via AP) Abe and Modi welcomed joint exercises by their ground, sea and air forces and the start of negotiations toward an acquisition and cross-servicing agreement, or ACSA, which would enable sharing of supplies and ammunition between the two militaries as a way to "enhance the strategic depth of bilateral security and defense cooperation." They also signed a second-phase agreement for a Japanese super-express railway project in India. Their meeting came immediately after a trip by Abe to Beijing, where he met with Chinese leaders, showcasing their improving relations. The Asian neighbors agreed to cooperate more in areas of common interest and concern. Modi has called for regional unity against protectionism. He arrived Saturday and was invited to Abe's vacation house near Mount Fuji on Sunday for private talks. Concerns about China's expanding influence on the regional economy and U.S. trade policy are also bringing Japan and India closer in their economic ties. The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to achieve a free and open Indo-Pacific. Abe pledged low-interest loans worth 316 billion yen ($2.8 billion) for seven infrastructure projects in India. Half of the amount would be allocated to the railway project in western India using Japan's "bullet train" technology, according to the signed documents. Japan and India also discussed joint infrastructure projects in the region, including Sri Lanka. ___ Follow Mari Yamaguchi on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/mariyamaguchi Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, left, shakes hands with Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe prior to their meeting at Abe's official residence in Tokyo Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara, Pool) Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, left, and Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe watch a video introducing the high-speed rail project during a joint news conference at Abe's official residence in Tokyo Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. (Kiyoshi Ota/Pool Photo via AP) BRUSSELS (AP) - A strike by baggage handlers is disrupting flights to and from Belgium's main airport for a fifth day. Workers at the Aviapartner luggage handling company are striking to back their demands for better working conditions. The company serves major companies like Ryanair, TUI, EasyJet and British Airways. Dozens of flights to and from Brussels Airport were canceled Monday as union representatives and management continue negotiations. The work stoppage left passengers wondering how they would reach their destinations. Jason Glassy, who was supposed to be flying to Barcelona, says, "I am just waiting in the line to see what the alternative is, I am not too sure." A woman sits in a check-in desk of the departures hall of the Zaventem international airport during a luggage handling workers strike in Brussels, Friday, Oct. 26, 2018. Hundreds of passengers have been left stranded at Brussels international airport after luggage handlers went on strike over workload and pay demands. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) 4th Panhellenic Congress of Thermal Medicine, co- organized by the Hellenic Academy of Thermal Medicine and the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece, 12-14 October 2018, Kamena Vourla The 4th Panhellenic Conference of Thermal Medicine, which is organized, annually by the Hellenic Academy of Thermal Medicine, is kicking off on Friday, October 12th,2018 at Kamena Vourla, Central Greece Region. The Congress attracts for fourth consequent year international participants and opinion leaders of the fields of Thermal and Wellness Medicine and Thermal and Wellness Tourism, and will be held under the auspices of the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece. The conference, under the title "Supplemental Therapeutic Applications of Thermal Medicine", highlights the new trends and developments of Thermalism and Wellness Tourism, the two dynamic pillars of Greeces Health Tourism development. The conference will discuss the new institutional and legislative framework for the country's thermal springs network, as well as the developmental opportunities and challenges of spa and thermal Tourism in Greece. The National Tourism Strategy for Health Tourism will be presented by the President of KEDE ( Central Union of Municipalities of Greece), President of ISA ( Athens Medical Association), and President of ELITOUR Giorgos Patoulis. . Thermal Medicine gains scientific ground internationally, and is becoming a trend among tourists visiting Greece . The millions of international travelers of the Wellness Tourism Market are particularly interested in the ancient and natural spas of our country, some of which have been the first Medical Tourism destinations in the world in antiquity. The Greek State has acknowledged and institutionalized Thermal Medicine as a Complementary Medicine, while the National Kapodistrian University has established a diploma and an e-learning department of Thermal Medicine. The President of KEDE and President of the Hellenic National Tourism Tourism Council ELITOUR Giorgos Patoulis stated: "In 2025, Thermal tourism will be the world's 2nd largest health care industry, and it is the only type of tourism that creates forced repeaters. It is Greeces greatest challenge to play a leading role in the rapidly rising international market of spa and wellness tourists, teaching the original Greek experience of "wellness" to the global audience." "Thermal tourism is a dominant lever in the National Health Tourism Strategic Plan, while the hundreds of our natural Thermal Springs remain a dominant advantage for the promotion of Greeces Health tourists worldwide," KEDE President and President of the Hellenic National Tourism Council Mr. George Patoulis added. The President of the Hellenic Academy Thermal Medicine, President of the World Academy of Chinese and Complementary Medicine and President and Chief Organizer of the 4th Panhellenic Conference, Professor Konstantinos Kouskoukis, stated: "Thermal hydrotherapy has until now been empirical, but has become a complementary method of classical medicine by the documentation of the chemical action of natural healing resources, through Thermal and chemical mechanism . Today, Thermal hydrotherapy is targeted to millions of wellness tourists of the international market , who enjoy the healing benefits of hot springs around the world for a wide range of illnesses, a form of Health Tourism that is covered by the health insurance of the Health travelers. The challenge for our country remains high, and it is important not to waste a moment on promoting Greece for its thermal and natural healing resources." Professor Konstantinos Kouskoukis added. At the conference , specialized doctors of different specialties will present the complementary therapeutic actions of Greeces thermal natural resources in a wide range of diseases, and will also discuss the therapeutic properties of the natural hot springs in Kamena Vourla and the wider area. The 4th Panhellenic Congress of Thermal Medicine is co-organized by KEDE President Mr. George Patoulis, the Regional Governor of Central Greece Mr. Bakoyannis, the Organization for the Cultural Development of Central Greece, and the mayor of Kamena Vourla, Mr. Sykiotis. Greek Minister of Tourism Mrs. Elena Kountoura will address the conference, as well as the Deputy Minister of Economy and Development Mr Stergios Pitsiorlas, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Tourism, Mr George Tzillas, the Secretary General of the Greek Tourism Organization, Mr. Kostas Tsegas, the President of Central Union of Municipalities of Greece and of the National Council of Health Tourism, Mr. George Patoulis, the Regional Governor of Sterea Ellada, Mr. Konstantinos Bakoyannis, the Mayor of Kammena Vourla Ioannis Sykiotis and representatives of embassies of foreign countries. Tel.: 2132147514, 2132147540, Fax: 2103899651, E-mail : info@kedke.gr, kedkegr@gmail.com Photo Source: pixabay.com WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump's campaign rallies continued. Attack ads stayed on the airwaves. Political combat largely carried on. Amid a wave of election season violence that left many Americans on edge, the contentious midterm campaign has barreled forward with little pause. Trump and other politicians disavowed the pipe bombs sent to prominent Democrats and condemned the massacre of 11 people at a Pittsburgh synagogue this past week. But the divisiveness that has dominated the nation's politics kept creeping back. During a rally Saturday night, Trump asked a crowd of red-hatted supporters if it was OK for him to "tone it down, just a little bit." When the crowd roared back with a decisive "No!" Trump replied: "I had a feeling you might say that." The attacks are a grim capstone to a midterm campaign that will serve as a referendum on Trump, whose unorthodox approach to the presidency is particularly glaring in times of tragedy. With less than two weeks to go before Election Day, Trump was among many politicians who largely stuck to the script, raising questions about whether Americans are becoming increasingly desensitized in the wake of tragedy. "It feels in this moment like there's a numbness," said Jennifer Psaki, who served as a campaign and White House adviser to former President Barack Obama. "When there's a tragedy, the nation is a little rudderless." Some Trump supporters have begun to suggest that the president modulate his searing and personal attacks on his opponents - including those targeted by the Trump supporter accused of mailing pipe bombs to several Democrats. President Donald Trump pumps his fist as he leaves the stage after speaking to supporters during a rally at Southern Illinois Airport Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018, in Murphysboro, Ill. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) "In general, we got to tone it down," said Anthony Scaramucci, who briefly served as Trump's White House communications director, in an interview on CNN's "State of the Union." ''He's the president of the United States. He controls the news cycle and the bully pulpit. And he could do it." Trump appears unlikely to take that advice. In a Monday morning tweet, Trump pinned blame for the nation's divisiveness on the media, saying "there is great anger in our Country caused in part by inaccurate, and even fraudulent, reporting of the news." The president did not cite any examples of the type of reporting he believes is stoking division. Trump did strike some conciliatory notes in recent days, including vowing to do "everything in my power as president" to stop political violence. He condemned the synagogue shooting as an "evil anti-Semitic attack" and called it "an assault on all of us." But with just over a week before elections that will determine the control of Congress, Trump has also expressed frustration that outside events are distracting from what he sees as rising GOP momentum. In a tweet last week, he put the word "bomb" in quotation marks and said the media was "not talking politics." He's also kept up some of his attacks on others targeted with pipe bombs. On Sunday he called Democratic megadonor Tom Steyer a "crazed & stumbling lunatic" and warned that backing Democratic candidates would be a vote for California Rep. Maxine Waters, who he has previously said has a low IQ. The president also did nothing on Saturday to stop his supporters from chanting "lock her up" - a frequent rally refrain about Hillary Clinton, his opponent in the 2016 presidential election. Asked about Trump's decision to keep campaigning amid tragedy, White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Trump was "committed to the safety and security of all Americans, and he mourns with the nation in the aftermath of the evil anti-Semitic attack in Pittsburgh." She added that Trump was committed "to supporting leaders who will fight alongside him to protect the safety and security of all Americans, grow our booming economy and move our country forward." Of course, Democrats have been just as blistering in their condemnation of Trump during the midterm campaign. Some have declared him unfit for office and a danger to democracy. Many were also quick to blame him for creating the atmosphere that led to this week's violence. "There's no escaping the tone that he sets," U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff, a California Democrat and frequent Trump critic, said Sunday on CNN. "It's going to fall on the rest of us to make this a more perfect union to bring people together, to accentuate our common humanity." It was mainly in Pennsylvania where the impact of the violence on the campaign was really noticeable. Pennsylvania Democrats Sen. Bob Casey and Gov. Tom Wolf, as well as Wolf's Republican opponent, Scott Wagner, all announced on Sunday that they were canceling campaign events. Wolf also took campaign ads off the air. But across the country, millions of dollars in negative political advertisements still filled the airwaves, including some referencing billionaire George Soros, a liberal donor who received the first pipe bomb last week. Rep. Steve Stivers, chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, defended one such ad, saying "you know, that ad is factual." Violence has intruded in political campaigns before. When a gunman killed 12 people in a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado, during the height of the 2012 presidential campaign, both Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney paused some campaign activities. "There are going to be other days for politics," Obama said at the time. Trump's explanation for going forward with his political events was far different. "We have our schedules, and nobody's going to change it," he said. "So we're here." ___ Editor's Note: Catherine Lucey has covered politics and the White House for AP since 2012. Follow her at http://twitter.com/catherine_lucey. Washington Bureau Chief Julie Pace has covered politics and the White House for AP since 2007. Follow her at http://twitter.com/jpaceDC MILAN (AP) - Venice was inundated by an exceptional high tide Monday, putting three-quarters of the famed Italian lagoon city under water as large swathes of the rest of Italy experienced flooding and heavy winds that toppled trees and other objects, killing six people. Tourists and residents alike donned high boots to navigate the streets of Venice after strong winds raised the water level 156 centimeters (over 5 feet) before receding. The water exceeded the raised walkways normally put out in flooded areas in Venice, forcing their removal. Transport officials closed the water bus system except to outlying islands because of the emergency. Venice frequently floods when high winds push in water from the lagoon, but Monday's levels were exceptional. The peak level was the highest reached since December 2008, according to Venice statistics. Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro said a series of underwater barriers that are being erected in the lagoon would have prevented the inundation. The project, nicknamed Moses, is long overdue, beset by cost overruns and corruption scandals. Brugnaro said he had asked to talk with Premier Giuseppe Conte to underline the urgency of the project, which would raise barriers when the tide reaches 109 centimeters (43 inches). That happens, on average, four times a year in Venice. Residents and businesses typically reinforce their doors with metal or wooden panels to prevent water from entering the bottom floors, but photos on social media showed shop owners using water pumps this time to try to protect their wares. A woman walks in a flooded street of Venice, Italy, Monday, Oct. 29, 2018, as, according to city officials, 70 percent of the lagoon city has been flooded by waters rising 149 centimeters (more than 58 1/2 inches) above sea level. Venice frequently floods when high winds push in water from the lagoon, but Monday's levels are exceptional and forecast to rise even higher, to 160 centimeters (nearly 63 inches) by mid-afternoon. (Andrea Merola/ANSA via AP) Much of Italy is under alert for flooding from heavy rains, a problem exacerbated by a lack of maintenance of the country's many river beds. High winds toppled trees that killed passers-by in four incidents in Naples, Lazio and Liguria. Officials closed major tourist attractions in Rome, including the Colosseum and Roman Forum, early because of heavy rains. Veneto regional governor Luca Zaia says flooding this week could reach the levels of the 1966 flood that struck both Venice and Florence. The Interior Ministry urged officials in storm-struck regions, about half of the country, to consider closing schools and offices for a second day Tuesday. People walk in a flooded street of Venice, Italy, Monday, Oct. 29, 2018, as, according to city officials, 70 percent of the lagoon city has been flooded by waters rising 156 centimeters (more than 61.41 inches) above sea level. Venice frequently floods when high winds push in water from the lagoon, but Monday's levels are exceptional. (Andrea Merola/ANSA via AP) A woman removes water from a shop in a flooded street of Venice, Italy, Monday, Oct. 29, 2018, as, according to city officials, 70 percent of the lagoon city has been flooded by waters rising 149 centimeters (more than 58 1/2 inches) above sea level. Venice frequently floods when high winds push in water from the lagoon, but Monday's levels are exceptional and forecast to rise even higher, to 160 centimeters (nearly 63 inches) by mid-afternoon. (Andrea Merola/ANSA via AP) A man walks in a flooded street of Venice, Italy, backdropped by St. Marks Basilica bell tower, Monday, Oct. 29, 2018, as, according to city officials, 70 percent of the lagoon city has been flooded by waters rising 149 centimeters (more than 58 1/2 inches) above sea level. Venice frequently floods when high winds push in water from the lagoon, but Monday's levels are exceptional and forecast to rise even higher, to 160 centimeters (nearly 63 inches) by mid-afternoon. (Andrea Merola/ANSA via AP) People stand in a flooded street of Venice, Italy, backdropped by St. Marks Basilica bell tower, Monday, Oct. 29, 2018, as, according to city officials, 70 percent of the lagoon city has been flooded by waters rising 149 centimeters (more than 58 1/2 inches) above sea level. Venice frequently floods when high winds push in water from the lagoon, but Monday's levels are exceptional and forecast to rise even higher, to 160 centimeters (nearly 63 inches) by mid-afternoon. (Andrea Merola/ANSA via AP) Buildings are seen behind a window covered with rain drops, in Milan, Italy, Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. The national Civil Protection Agency has issued red and orange alerts -- meaning possible "loss of life" from landslides, floods, and infrastructural damage due to an Atlantic storm system that has brought torrential rains and hail, electrical storms, powerful winds and high seas to Italy from North to South. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) A car is crushed under a fallen tree after it was torn down by heavy winds, in Rome, Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. The national Civil Protection Agency has issued red and orange alerts -- meaning possible "loss of life" from landslides, floods, and infrastructural damage -- due to an Atlantic storm system that has brought torrential rains and hail, electrical storms, powerful winds and high seas to Italy from North to South. (Angelo Carconi/ANSA via AP) People stand in a flooded street of Venice, Italy, backdropped by St. Marks Basilica bell tower, Monday, Oct. 29, 2018, as, according to city officials, 70 percent of the lagoon city has been flooded by waters rising 149 centimeters (more than 58 1/2 inches) above sea level. Venice frequently floods when high winds push in water from the lagoon, but Monday's levels are exceptional and forecast to rise even higher, to 160 centimeters (nearly 63 inches) by mid-afternoon. (Andrea Merola/ANSA via AP) A branch of a tree is collapsed on a building's roof after being torn down by heavy winds, in Rome's Garbatella neighborhood, Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. The national Civil Protection Agency has issued red and orange alerts -- meaning possible "loss of life" from landslides, floods, and infrastructural damage -- due to an Atlantic storm system that has brought torrential rains and hail, electrical storms, powerful winds and high seas to Italy from North to South. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) A car is crushed under a fallen tree and a balcony is partially destroyed by its branches after it was torn down by heavy winds, in Rome, Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. The national Civil Protection Agency has issued red and orange alerts -- meaning possible "loss of life" from landslides, floods, and infrastructural damage -- due to an Atlantic storm system that has brought torrential rains and hail, electrical storms, powerful winds and high seas to Italy from North to South. (Angelo Carconi/ANSA via AP) People look at the branch of a tree collapsed on a building's roof after being torn down by heavy winds, in Rome's Garbatella neighborhood, Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. The national Civil Protection Agency has issued red and orange alerts -- meaning possible "loss of life" from landslides, floods, and infrastructural damage -- due to an Atlantic storm system that has brought torrential rains and hail, electrical storms, powerful winds and high seas to Italy from North to South. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) PITTSBURGH (AP) - The man charged in the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre was brought into court in a wheelchair Monday, as some members of the Jewish community and others objected to President Donald Trump's plans to visit, accusing him of contributing to a toxic political climate in the U.S. that might have led to the bloodshed. With the first funerals set for Tuesday, the White House announced that Trump and first lady Melania Trump will visit the same day to "express the support of the American people and to grieve with the Pittsburgh community" over the 11 congregants killed Saturday in the deadliest attack on Jews in U.S. history. Some Pittsburghers urged Trump to stay away. "His language has encouraged hatred and fear of immigrants, which is part of the reason why these people were killed," said Marianne Novy, 73, a retired college English professor who lives in the city's Squirrel Hill section, the historic Jewish neighborhood where the attack at the Tree of Life synagogue took place. Meanwhile, the alleged gunman, 46-year-old truck driver Robert Gregory Bowers, was released from the hospital where he was treated for wounds suffered in a gun battle with police. Hours later he was wheeled into a downtown federal courtroom in handcuffs to face charges. A judge ordered him held without bail for a preliminary hearing on Thursday, when prosecutors will outline their case. He did not enter a plea. This courtroom sketch depicts Robert Gregory Bowers, who was wounded in a gun battle with police as he appeared in a wheelchair at federal court on Monday, Oct. 29, 2018, in Pittsburgh. Bowers, accused in the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre, appeared briefly in federal court in a wheelchair and handcuffs Monday to face charges he killed 11 people. (Dave Klug via AP) During the brief proceeding, Bowers talked with two court-appointed lawyers and said little more than "Yes" in a soft voice a few times in response to routine questions from the judge. Courtroom deputies freed one of his cuffed hands so he could sign paperwork. He was expressionless. "It was not the face of villainy that I thought we'd see," said Jon Pushinsky, a congregant who was in court for the hearing. Federal prosecutors are pressing for the death penalty against Bowers, who authorities say expressed hatred of Jews during the attack and later told police, "I just want to kill Jews" and "All these Jews need to die." After the hearing, U.S. Attorney Scott Brady called the shootings "horrific acts of violence" and added: "Rest assured we have a team of prosecutors working hard to ensure that justice is done." The weekend massacre - which took place 10 days before the midterm elections - heightened tensions around the country, coming just a day after the arrest of the Florida man accused of sending a wave of pipe bombs to Trump critics. The mail bomb attacks and the bloodshed in Pittsburgh set off debate over whether the corrosive political atmosphere in Washington and beyond contributed to the violence and whether Trump himself bears any blame because of his combative language. Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto, a Democrat, said the White House should contact the victims' families and ask them if they want the president to come. He also warned Trump to stay away when the first funerals are held. "If the president is looking to come to Pittsburgh, I would ask that he not do so while we are burying the dead," Peduto said. "Our attention and our focus is going to be on them, and we don't have public safety that we can take away from what is needed in order to do both." The White House did not immediately respond to the mayor's request. Asked if Trump has done enough to condemn white nationalism, spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said he has "denounced racism, hatred and bigotry in all forms on a number of occasions." Some looked forward to the president's visit. Tree of Life Rabbi Jeffrey Myers said that Trump is "certainly welcome." "I am a citizen. He is my president," Myers told CNN. But Barry Werber, 76, who hid in a dark storage closet as the gunman rampaged through the synagogue, said he doesn't want Trump to come to Pittsburgh. He said Trump is trying to "instigate his base," and "bigots are coming out of the woodwork." Kristin Wessell, a homemaker who lives near Squirrel Hill, also said Trump should steer clear of Pittsburgh, to let the victims' families "grieve how they see fit." "I feel a lot of his comments are very much dog whistles to nationalists and white supremacists and racists. So, yeah, I do place part of the blame on this on him," said Wessell, a Democrat, who was passing out bouquets to passersby across the street from a kosher grocery store. "Anti-Semitism has always existed. But I feel like he is giving cover to people to be more blatant about it. And to be more violent about it, rather than trying to calm and heal." The youngest of the 11 dead was 54, the oldest 97. The toll included a husband and wife, professors, dentists and physicians. Bowers was charged with offenses that included causing death while obstructing a person's right to the free exercise of religion - a hate crime - and using a gun to commit murder. He was also charged under state law with criminal homicide, aggravated assault and ethnic intimidation. The president of the hospital where a wounded Bowers was taken said that he was ranting against Jews even as Jewish staff members were treating him. "He's taken into my hospital and he's shouting, 'I want to kill all the Jews!' and the first three people who are taking care of him are Jewish," Jeffrey Cohen of Allegheny General Hospital told ABC's "Good Morning America." ''Ain't that a kick in the pants?" Cohen, who is also Jewish and a member of Tree of Life synagogue, said he stopped by Bowers' room. "I just asked how he was doing, was he in pain, and he said no, he was fine," Cohen said. "He asked who I was, and I said, 'I'm Dr. Cohen, the president of the hospital,' and I turned around and left." He said the FBI agent outside Bowers' room told him he didn't think he could have done that. "And I said, 'If you were in my shoes I'm sure you could have,'" Cohen said. Just minutes before the synagogue attack, Bowers apparently took to social media to rage against HIAS, a Jewish organization that resettles refugees under contract with the U.S. government. "HIAS likes to bring invaders in that kill our people," he is believed to have written on Gab.com, a social media site favored by right-wing extremists. "I can't sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, I'm going in." HIAS had recently weighed in on the migrant caravan heading toward the U.S. from Central America, urging the Trump administration to "provide all asylum seekers the opportunity to present their claims as required by law." The president has vilified the caravan and pledged to stop the migrants. One of the targets of the mail bomb attacks last week was liberal Jewish philanthropist George Soros, who has been accused by far-right conspiracy theorists of paying migrants to join the caravan. Bowers was a long-haul trucker who worked for himself, authorities said. Little else was known about the suspect, who had no apparent criminal record. ___ This story has been corrected to fix the spelling of "Pushinsky" and "Jeffrey" and to show Jeffrey Cohen's comments were made to "Good Morning America," not WTAE-TV. ___ Associated Press reporters Claudia Lauer and Kristen de Groot contributed to this report from Philadelphia. ___ For AP's complete coverage of the Pittsburgh synagogue shootings: https://apnews.com/Pittsburghsynagoguemassacre This courtroom sketch depicts Robert Gregory Bowers, who was wounded in a gun battle with police as he appeared in a wheelchair at federal court on Monday, Oct. 29, 2018, in Pittsburgh. Bowers, accused in the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre, appeared briefly in federal court in a wheelchair and handcuffs Monday to face charges he killed 11 people. (Dave Klug via AP) A person pauses in front of Stars of David with the names of those killed in a deadly shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue, in Pittsburgh, Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) This undated Pennsylvania Department of Transportation photo shows Robert Bowers, the suspect in the deadly shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. (Pennsylvania Department of Transportation via AP) Rabbi Jeffrey Myers of the Tree of Life/Or L'Simcha Congregation stands near the synagogue and wears a yarmulke with a Pittsburgh Pirates logo, in Pittsburgh, Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. Robert Gregory Bowers, the suspect in the synagogue shooting that killed more than 10 people on Saturday is due for a court appearance on Monday. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Rabbi Jeffrey Myers of the Tree of Life/Or L'Simcha Congregation stands across the street from the synagogue in Pittsburgh, Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. Tree of Life shooting suspect Robert Gregory Bowers is expected to appear in federal court Monday. Authorities say he expressed hatred toward Jews during the rampage Saturday and in later comments to police. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) A person stands in front of Stars of David that are displayed in front of the Tree of Life Synagogue with the names of those killed in Saturday's deadly shooting in Pittsburgh, Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Rabbi Jeffrey Myers of the Tree of Life/Or L'Simcha Congregation stands across the street from the synagogue in Pittsburgh, Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. Tree of Life shooting suspect Robert Gregory Bowers is expected to appear in federal court Monday. Authorities say he expressed hatred toward Jews during the rampage Saturday morning and in later comments to police. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) In this Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018, frame from video, Barry Werber describes how he survived the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting during an interview, in Pittsburgh. He and other terrorized worshippers concealed themselves in a supply closet as gunman Robert Bowers stepped over the body of a man he had just shot and killed, entered their darkened hiding spot and looked around. "I can't say anything, and I'm barely breathing," recalled Werber in an interview with The Associated Press. "He didn't see us, thank God." (AP Photo/Robert Bumsted) A police vehicle is posted near the Tree of Life/Or L'Simcha Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. Tree of Life shooting suspect Robert Gregory Bowers is expected to appear in federal court Monday. Authorities say he expressed hatred toward Jews during the rampage Saturday morning and in later comments to police. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) In this Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018, frame from video, Barry Werber describes how he survived the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting during an interview, in Pittsburgh. He and other terrorized worshippers concealed themselves in a supply closet as gunman Robert Bowers stepped over the body of a man he had just shot and killed, entered their darkened hiding spot and looked around. "I can't say anything, and I'm barely breathing," recalled Werber in an interview with The Associated Press. "He didn't see us, thank God." (AP Photo/Robert Bumsted) RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) - Seven people were shot and wounded early Monday during a Halloween party at a Southern California nightclub, police said. The shooting was reported at a nightclub called Sevilla in the city of Riverside that had promoted a weekend of Halloween-themed events, including a Sunday night rap show billed as "The First Purge" or "The Purge Election Year." Two victims found by officers inside the nightclub were taken to a hospital for treatment. Five other victims later arrived at local hospitals with gunshot wounds, police said. Police watch commander Sgt. Ryan Wilson said none of the victims' wounds were life-threatening. One witness who did not want to be identified told KTLA-TV that he was dancing when gunshots rang out. He said he saw multiple people firing guns and that there was a bottleneck of people trying to get out of the exit as he hid behind the bar and prayed. Members of the Riverside Police Department investigate the scene of a shooting at Sevilla Nightclub in Riverside, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. Several people were shot and wounded during a Halloween party at the nightclub, police said. (Stan Lim/The Orange County Register via AP) The initial police investigation shows that a fight broke out at the club and those involved began exchanging gunfire both inside and outside, said Officer Ryan Railsback, a department spokesman. Investigators are looking into whether the shooting was gang-related, Railsback said. The investigation was being handled by the department's robbery-homicide and gang intelligence units. Riverside is about 55 miles (88.5 kilometers) inland from Los Angeles. Members of the Riverside Police Department collect evidence in the parking lot of Lee and Associates, which is next door to Sevilla Nightclub, were an overnight shooting occurred in Riverside, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. Several people were shot and wounded during a Halloween party at the nightclub, police said. (Stan Lim/The Orange County Register via AP) Members of the Riverside Police Department collect evidence in the parking lot of Lee and Associates, which is next door to Sevilla Nightclub, were an overnight shooting occurred in Riverside, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. Several people were shot and wounded during a Halloween party at the nightclub, police said. (Stan Lim/The Orange County Register via AP) SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - The Latest on the execution of South Dakota inmate Rodney Berget (all times local): 9:05 p.m. A South Dakota inmate put to death for the 2011 killing of a prison guard in a failed escape joked in his last words about a several-hour delay to his execution. Rodney Berget was killed by lethal injection Monday for the 2011 killing of Ronald "R.J." Johnson. The execution, originally scheduled to be carried out at 1:30 p.m. CDT, was delayed for hours while the U.S. Supreme Court weighed a last-minute legal bid to block it. Before he was executed, Berget said, "Sorry for the delay, I got caught in traffic." The 56-year-old inmate was soft-spoken and appeared emotional. He also thanked people for their support. After the drug was administered, Berget groaned. He drifted off and snored briefly before his eyes closed. He was pronounced dead at 7:37 p.m. CDT. FILE - In this April 13, 2011, file photo, Rodney Berget, who was convicted of killing a Sioux Falls prison guard during an escape attempt, is escorted to court in Sioux Falls, S.D. Berget is to be put to death for the 2011 slaying of Ronald "R.J." Johnson, who was beaten with a pipe and had his head covered in plastic wrap at the South Dakota State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls. It will be the state's first execution since 2012 and just its fourth since reinstating the death penalty in 1979. (Elisha Page/Argus Leader via AP, File) ___ 8:45 p.m. The widow of a South Dakota prison guard killed during a failed 2011 escape says her husband experienced "cruel and unusual punishment," but his killer's execution was "peaceful" and "sterile." Lynette Johnson, wife of correctional officer Ronald "R.J." Johnson, spoke Monday after witnessing the execution of 56-year-old inmate Rodney Berget, saying the crime scene in which her husband died is embedded in her mind. A state Department of Corrections spokesman says Berget died at 7:37 p.m. Berget and fellow inmate Eric Robert beat Johnson with a pipe and covered his head in plastic wrap. Robert was executed in October 2012. Lynette Johnson says the executions held Robert and Berget accountable and asked people not to feel bad for them. She says someone has to be "pretty evil" to be on death row. ___ 8:15 p.m. South Dakota has executed a 56-year-old inmate for the killing of a prison guard in a failed escape seven years ago. Rodney Berget was killed by lethal injection Monday for the 2011 killing of Ronald "R.J." Johnson. Berget and fellow inmate Eric Robert beat Johnson with a pipe and wrapped his head in plastic before taking his uniform in their escape attempt. Robert was executed in October 2012. South Dakota's last execution was later that month. Berget's mental status and death penalty eligibility played a role in court delays. He eventually dropped appeals. Berget wrote to a judge saying he thought the death penalty would be overturned and that he couldn't imagine spending "another 30 years in a cage doing a life sentence." ___ 6:40 p.m. The U.S. Supreme Court has cleared the way for the execution of a South Dakota man who killed a prison guard in a failed 2011 escape attempt. South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley says the high court denied a request Monday from attorney Juliet Yackel to stay the execution of 56-year-old Rodney Berget. Berget's execution was delayed for more than five hours, but Jackley says it will move forward Monday evening. The state Supreme Court earlier denied a motion from Yackel arguing that Berget lacks the intellectual capacity to receive capital punishment. Berget asked that court to dismiss Yackel's petition. Berget is to be put to death for the slaying of Ronald "R.J." Johnson in a failed 2011 escape. Berget and fellow inmate Eric Robert beat Johnson with a pipe and covered his head in plastic wrap. Robert was executed in 2012. Berget in 2016 appealed his death sentence, but later asked to withdraw it. ___ 2:20 p.m. South Dakota's attorney general says the state is waiting for direction after a lawyer asked the U.S. Supreme Court to halt the execution of an inmate who killed a prison guard. Rodney Berget was scheduled to be put to death at 1:30 p.m. Monday. Attorney General Marty Jackley said after the scheduled execution time had passed that he would address reporters once a decision is reached. Attorney Juliet Yackel says in her U.S. Supreme Court filing that Berget is intellectually disabled. The state Supreme Court earlier denied a motion from Yackel arguing that Berget lacks the intellectual capacity to receive capital punishment. Berget asked that court to dismiss Yackel's petition. Berget is to be put to death for the slaying of Ronald "R.J." Johnson in a failed 2011 escape. ___ 11:55 a.m. A lawyer who unsuccessfully asked South Dakota's highest court to stop the death sentence of a man who killed a prison guard has petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to stay his execution. Rodney Berget is to be put to death at 1:30 p.m. Monday. Attorney Juliet Yackel says in the U.S. Supreme Court filing that Berget is intellectually disabled and therefore ineligible for the death penalty. The state Supreme Court earlier denied a motion from Yackel arguing that Berget lacks the intellectual capacity to receive capital punishment. Berget in an affidavit asked that court to dismiss Yackel's petition. Berget is to be put to death for the slaying of Ronald "R.J." Johnson in a failed 2011 escape. Berget and fellow inmate Eric Robert beat Johnson with a pipe and covered his head in plastic wrap. Robert was executed in October 2012. ___ 11:30 a.m. A South Dakota inmate facing execution has received a last meal that included pancakes, waffles, breakfast sausage, scrambled eggs and French fries. Corrections officials say Rodney Berget also ordered Pepsi and Cherry Nibs licorice for his last meal. It was served Sunday night. Berget's execution is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Monday. He's to be put to death for the slaying of prison guard Ronald "R.J." Johnson in a failed 2011 escape. Berget and fellow inmate Eric Robert beat Johnson with a pipe and covered his head in plastic wrap. Robert was executed in October 2012. Berget in 2016 appealed his death sentence, but later asked to withdraw it. ___ 9:05 a.m. South Dakota's attorney general says the state Supreme Court has rejected two motions to stop the execution of a man who killed a prison guard in a failed 2011 escape attempt. Attorney General Marty Jackley says there are currently no court orders to stop or delay Rodney Berget's execution, which is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Monday. One motion was filed by a woman whose son is serving a life sentence, the other by an attorney without Berget's support. Berget is to be put to death for the slaying of Ronald "R.J." Johnson. Berget and fellow inmate Eric Robert beat Johnson with a pipe and covered his head in plastic wrap. Robert was executed in October 2012. Berget in 2016 appealed his death sentence, but later asked to withdraw it. ___ 12 a.m. A man who killed a South Dakota prison guard in a failed 2011 escape is facing execution in what would be the state's fourth lethal injection since reinstating the death penalty in the late 1970s. Rodney Berget is scheduled to die Monday for the slaying of Ronald "R.J." Johnson. Berget and fellow inmate Eric Robert beat Johnson with a pipe and covered his head in plastic wrap. Robert was executed in October 2012. South Dakota's last execution was later that month. Berget in 2016 appealed his death sentence, but later asked to withdraw it. Berget wrote to a judge saying he worried the death penalty would be abolished and he feared spending "another 30 years in a cage." Johnson's family plans to attend the 1:30 p.m. execution. FILE - In this Oct. 15, 2012, file photo, a portrait commemorating Ronald "R.J." Johnson hangs in the training center of the South Dakota Penitentiary in Sioux Falls, S.D. South Dakota has set Monday as the execution date for Rodney Berget, one of two inmates convicted in the 2011 killing of prison guard Johnson during a failed escape attempt at the state prison in Sioux Falls. The other inmate, Eric Robert was executed by lethal injection in 2012. (AP Photo/Amber Hunt, File) Lynette Johnson talks about her late husband RJ Johnson Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2018, at her home in Sioux Falls, S.D. RJ was killed while on duty as a correctional officer in 2011 by two inmates trying to escape. One of those inmates, Rodney Berget, is being executed. The other inmate, Eric Robert, was executed in 2012. (Briana Sanchez/The Argus Leader via AP) Lynette Johnson talks about her late husband RJ Johnson Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2018, at her home in Sioux Falls, S.D. RJ was killed while on duty as a correctional officer in 2011 by two inmates trying to escape. One of those inmates, Rodney Berget, is being executed. The other inmate, Eric Robert, was executed in 2012. (Briana Sanchez/The Argus Leader via AP) TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) - A female suicide bomber wounded nine people, mostly police officers, on a busy avenue in Tunisia's capital on Monday afternoon, authorities said. The 30-year-old woman set off the blast in Tunis just before 2 p.m. (1300 GMT) on Habib Bourguiba avenue, the Interior Ministry said. The bomber, who wasn't previously known to authorities, blew herself up near a police patrol, a ministry statement said. It said eight police officers and one civilian were wounded. Apart from the bomber, there were no further reported deaths. An AP reporter at the scene saw ambulances arriving to take the wounded to hospitals. The avenue, as well as several adjacent streets, was cordoned off by police. Habib Bourguiba avenue is considered the cultural, political and economic heart of Tunis - and is sometimes called Tunisia's Champs Elysees. Tunisian radio station Mosaique FM said the attacker was wearing a homemade bomb belt with a small quantity of explosives. The station cited a security source it did not name. The bomber's body appeared largely intact after the explosion. Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi called the bombing a terrorist attack, in comments reported from Germany, where he was attending an investment conference. Tunisian forensic experts work on the scene of an attack after a 30-year-old woman blew herself on the Habib Bourguiba avenue in Tunis, Tunisia, Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. A suicide bomber blew herself up on a busy Tunis avenue on Monday afternoon, killing herself and wounding many others, Tunisia's TAP news agency reported. (AP Photo/Riadh Dridi) There were no immediate claims of responsibility. Mosaique FM said the bomber came from the Mahdia region of eastern Tunisia and that security services raided her home after the attack. Tunisian authorities have been on high alert in recent years following a spate of attacks including a deadly shooting in Tunis' Bardo National Museum in 2015 in which 22 people, including many European tourists, died. Three months later, an Islamic extremist attack in the beach resort of Sousse killed 38 people, mostly British tourists. In November that year, a suicide bomber blew himself up on a bus carrying members of the Tunisian presidential guard, killing 12 on a main Tunis road. The Islamic State group later claimed responsibility. ___ Thomas Adamson reported from Paris. John Leicester in Paris contributed. ** EDS NOTE GRAPIC CONTENT ** Tunisian forensic experts work on the scene of an attack after a 30-year-old woman blew herself on the Habib Bourguiba avenue in Tunis, Tunisia, Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. A suicide bomber blew herself up on a busy Tunis avenue on Monday afternoon, killing herself and wounding many others, Tunisia's TAP news agency reported. (AP Photo/Riadh Dridi) A Tunisian forensic expert works on the scene of an attack after a 30-year-old woman blew herself on the Habib Bourguiba avenue in Tunis, Tunisia, Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. A suicide bomber blew herself up on a busy Tunis avenue on Monday afternoon, killing herself and wounding many others, Tunisia's TAP news agency reported. (AP Photo/Riadh Dridi) Tunisian police officers detain a man at the scene of an attack after a 30-year-old woman blew herself on the Habib Bourguiba avenue in Tunis, Tunisia, Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. A suicide bomber blew herself up on a busy Tunis avenue on Monday afternoon, killing herself and wounding many others, Tunisia's TAP news agency reported. (AP Photo/Riadh Dridi) Tunisian forensic experts work on the scene of an attack after a 30-year-old woman blew herself on the Habib Bourguiba avenue in Tunis, Tunisia, Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. A suicide bomber blew herself up on a busy Tunis avenue on Monday afternoon, killing herself and wounding many others, Tunisia's TAP news agency reported. (AP Photo/Riadh Dridi) Tunisian forensic experts work on the scene of an attack after a 30-year-old woman blew herself on the Habib Bourguiba avenue in Tunis, Tunisia, Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. A suicide bomber blew herself up on a busy Tunis avenue on Monday afternoon, killing herself and wounding many others, Tunisia's TAP news agency reported. (AP Photo/Riadh Dridi) Tunisian police officers secure the site of an attack after a 30-year-old woman blew herself on the Habib Bourguiba avenue in Tunis, Tunisia, Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. A suicide bomber blew herself up on a busy Tunis avenue on Monday afternoon, killing herself and wounding many others, Tunisia's TAP news agency reported. (AP Photo/Riadh Dridi) Tunisian police officers secure the site of an attack after a 30-year-old woman blew herself on the Habib Bourguiba avenue in Tunis, Tunisia, Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. A suicide bomber blew herself up on a busy Tunis avenue on Monday afternoon, killing herself and wounding many others, Tunisia's TAP news agency reported. (AP Photo/Riadh Dridi) Tunisian forensic experts stand around the lifeless body of a suicide bomber after she blew herself on the Habib Bourguiba avenue in Tunis, Tunisia, Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. A suicide bomber blew herself up on a busy Tunis avenue on Monday afternoon, killing herself and wounding many others, Tunisia's TAP news agency reported. (AP Photo/Riadh Dridi) LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Before he was accused of shooting and killing two black people in a Kentucky grocery store last week, Gregory Bush knocked on the door of a predominantly African-American church. It was 2:44 on a sunny Wednesday afternoon, a day when many churches have midweek services. About 70 people had been inside First Baptist Church Jeffersontown for a Bible study, but it had ended by the time Bush arrived and the doors were locked. If Bush had been there just 45 minutes earlier, "it probably would have been very different," said Pastor Kevin L. Nelson. "We caught him on camera at the front door, after he knocked and pulled on it and banged on it, he stood there and put his hand on his gun," Nelson said, adding that he believes the gunman would have shot whoever came to the door. "We felt that that was his attempt to make it another Charleston," he said. A police chief in Kentucky has acknowledged the shooting deaths of two black people at a Kroger grocery store in suburban Louisville were racially motivated. Bush, who is in custody, is white, and the FBI has said it is investigating the shooting as a potential federal hate crime. 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. (Scott Utterback /Courier Journal via AP, Pool) On Saturday, a man killed 11 people in the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, adding to a growing list of violence at houses of worship. Nelson mentioned the 2015 racially motivated shooting deaths of nine black people at an African-American church in Charleston, South Carolina. Others followed, including the shooting deaths of two people at a New York City mosque in 2016 and the murder of 26 people at a Baptist church in Texas in 2017. Federal prosecutors set in motion plans to seek the death penalty against Robert Gregory Bowers, the man charged in the Pittsburgh shootings. Authorities say Bowers expressed hatred for Jews during the rampage and later told police that "I just want to kill Jews" and that "all these Jews need to die." Speaking to a gathering of the conservative Federalist Society in Kentucky, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said of the Kentucky and Pennsylvania shootings: "if these aren't the definitions of hate crimes, I don't know what a hate crime is." Asked by a reporter if overheated political rhetoric bears any blame for violent actions, McConnell replied: "It's hard to know. The political rhetoric is always pretty hot before an election. It's not the first time." "I think the whole tone in the country right now needs to be ratcheted down," McConnell said. "And these horrible, criminal acts only underscore the need for all of us to kind of dial it back, and to get into a better, more respectful place." The violence has prompted church leaders to grapple with finding a balance between securing their congregations and maintaining robust outreach programs they say are the core of their faith. "I think it is sad you have to even lock the doors of the church," Nelson said. "It was just the mindset where I grew up; you didn't do certain things around the house of worship or even among the people of God. All that is changed today." In March, the Kentucky Baptist Convention - one of the state's largest denominations - held a statewide church security conference for the first time. More than 1,000 people attended, said Paul Chitwood, the convention's executive director. He said many people come to church because "they are hurting and they are confused." "The church wants to receive those people. And just because somebody looks different or acts a little different, well we want them in our churches," he said. "But sometimes there is an individual who wants to do harm. We want for our churches to be prepared to respond to that and protect the congregants." Nelson said his church, which is not affiliated with the Kentucky Baptist Convention, has police officers in their services. He said they would likely "tighten up" security. In the meantime, he says he his praying for the victims and for the men charged with the crimes. "Every soul is precious to God," he said. "And it should be to us." 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. (Scott Utterback /Courier Journal via AP, Pool) Gregory Bush, right, 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. (Scott Utterback /Courier Journal via AP, Pool) MIAMI (AP) - The Latest on the series of package bombs sent to media offices and prominent people seen as critical of President Donald Trump (all times local): 4 p.m. FBI spokesman Kevin Rowson says evidence collected in connection with a suspicious package addressed to CNN has been sent to the agency lab in Quantico, Virginia. The FBI said a suspicious package found Monday morning at the postal facility just south of downtown Atlanta was addressed to CNN and was "similar in appearance" to other packages sent to prominent Democrats and other critics of President Donald Trump. Atlanta is home to CNN's world headquarters. CNN President Jeff Zucker says all mail to CNN has been screened offsite since last week, when a series of package bombs began appearing around the country. Agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms work outside a post office, Monday, Nov. 29, 2018 in Atlanta. Bomb squads were called to the post office about a suspicious parcel, just hours before a court hearing for a Florida man accused of sending packages containing explosive material to prominent Democrats. (AP Photo/Jeff Martin) ___ 3 p.m. Federal prosecutors want no bail for a man accused of sending pipe bombs to prominent Democrats around the country. Prosecutors said at the initial court hearing Monday for 56-year-old Cesar Sayoc that they believe he is a risk of flight and a danger to the community. A judge will hold a hearing Friday on whether Sayoc can be released on bail. Sayoc was arrested last Friday on five federal charges relating to the bombs sent to Democrats and other prominent critics of President Donald Trump. He has not yet entered a plea, but his lawyers say Sayoc is entitled to be presumed innocent at this stage. Sayoc will be prosecuted in New York rather than Miami. Friday's hearing will also involve when he would be removed to New York. ___ 2 p.m. A U.S. official says the man accused of sending pipe bombs to prominent Democrats had a list of elected officials and others who investigators believe were intended targets. The official said investigators are scrutinizing the social media posts of 56-year-old Cesar Sayoc, who is due to appear in federal court Monday. Sayoc is accused of sending explosive material to Democrats and other prominent critics of President Donald Trump. The official said that investigators believe Sayoc made the explosives in his van and that authorities recovered soldering equipment, a printer, and stamps similar to those used on the package bombs. The official wasn't authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press. ___ Associated Press writer Michael Balsamo contributed from Washington. ___ 1:15 p.m. Atlanta police have reopened several streets as local and federal police probe a suspicious package found at a postal facility near the downtown area. At noon Monday, a robot was being maneuvered outside the facility and about 100 feet (30 meters) from a row of U.S. mail trucks in the parking lot. An Atlanta Police Department bomb squad unit was parked at the entrance to the parking lot. Federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service were investigating on the street just outside the postal facility's parking lot. The FBI has confirmed that the package recovered at the Atlanta facility was addressed to CNN. ___ 12:45 p.m. The FBI has confirmed that a suspicious package recovered at a post office in Atlanta was addressed to CNN and was "similar in appearance to others." The statement sent via the agency's Twitter account confirms the announcement earlier in the day by CNN President Jeff Zucker, who said a suspicious parcel being sent to the network had been intercepted at an Atlanta post office. Zucker says all mail to CNN has been screened offsite since last week, when a series of package bombs began appearing around the country. One of those bombs was mailed to CNN offices in New York. The latest suspicious package comes just hours before a federal court hearing was to begin in Miami for 56-year-old Cesar Sayoc, whom authorities accuse of sending explosive material to Democrats and other prominent critics of President Donald Trump. ___ 11:10 a.m. The FBI says its bomb squad in Atlanta is responding to "a suspicious package" at the U.S. Postal Service in downtown Atlanta. Spokesman Kevin Rowson said via email that the agency had been notified by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service of a suspicious package that arrived at 400 Pryor Street in downtown Atlanta, which is the address of a post office. The FBI did not identify to whom the package was addressed. But earlier in the day, CNN President Jeff Zucker announced that a suspicious package addressed to the cable television network was intercepted Monday at an Atlanta post office. Zucker said there was no imminent danger to the CNN Center. ___ 10:45 a.m. CNN President Jeff Zucker says another suspicious package addressed to CNN was intercepted Monday at an Atlanta post office. Zucker announced that there is no imminent danger to the CNN Center. Atlanta Police have confirmed they responded to a suspicious package at a post office Monday morning. He says all mail to CNN has been screened offsite since last week, when a series of package bombs began appearing around the country. One of those bombs was mailed to CNN offices in New York. An initial hearing is set for Monday afternoon in Florida federal court for 56-year-old Cesar Sayoc, who faces five federal charges. Sayoc was arrested Friday in Florida after investigators said they linked him to the packages through fingerprint and DNA evidence. ___ 2:25 a.m. The Florida man accused of sending packages containing explosive material to prominent Democrats and other opponents of President Donald Trump is due to make his first court appearance. An initial hearing is set Monday afternoon in Florida federal court for 56-year-old Cesar Sayoc, who faces five federal charges. Sayoc was arrested Friday in Florida after investigators said they identified him through fingerprint and DNA evidence. Sayoc is being prosecuted in New York, so his Florida hearing will likely be brief and process-oriented. The main issue will be whether he waives extradition to New York and whether he seeks release on bail. Authorities say Sayoc faces more than 50 years in prison if convicted on all charges related to pipe bombs sent to political figures across the country. EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. (AP) - An auxiliary police officer is dead after falling 50 feet (15 meters) while chasing suspects across a bridge in East St. Louis. Authorities say 44-year-old Ricardo Davis vaulted over a concrete barrier on the Poplar Street Bridge Saturday afternoon, but apparently didn't realize the span didn't continue on the other side. Davis suffered multiple broken bones and internal bleeding, and was pronounced dead at a hospital. The car that he and other Washington Park police officers were chasing had collided with several vehicles on the bridge. When the two suspects jumped out of the car, Davis pursued them on foot. The suspects have been arrested. Davis was an unpaid auxiliary police officer in Washington Park and was about to begin the police academy in the hopes of joining the force. This Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018 photo shows a view of the scene where Ricardo Davis, a Washington Park auxiliary officer fell through the opening of the bridge and landed underneath the Poplar Street Bridge on the Illinois side of the Mississippi River. Davis died after he fell from the bridge while chasing a suspect on Saturday, Oct. 27. Bridge construction and reinforcement is ongoing. (J.B. Forbes/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP) In this Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018 photo, Kiara Mosely puts a picture of Ricardo Davis on the counter of the Gas Mart in East St. Louis, Ill., after a candlelight vigil for Davis, a Washington Park auxiliary police officer who died after he fell from the Poplar Street Bridge while chasing a suspect on Saturday, Oct. 27. Mosely works at the gas station. Davis worked security there at night. (J.B. Forbes/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP) In this Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018 photo, friends and family members gather around a candlelight message at a gas station in East St. Louis, Ill., during a vigil for Ricardo Davis, a Washington Park auxiliary police officer who died after he fell from the Poplar Street Bridge while chasing a suspect on Saturday, Oct. 27. Davis worked security at the gas station. ( J.B. Forbes/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP) JERUSALEM (AP) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that the 11 Jewish victims of the Pittsburgh shooting attack were killed in a "synagogue," taking a veiled swipe at the country's ultra-Orthodox chief rabbi, who had refused to designate the Conservative Jewish congregation as such. The exchange exposed some of the recent strains between Israel and the more liberal Jewish Diaspora, even in the wake of the deadliest anti-Semitic attack against Jews in U.S. history. The shooting has drawn fierce condemnations and calls for unity among Jews in Israel and around the world. Several ultra-Orthodox Israeli newspapers, however, refrained from calling Pittsburgh's Tree of Life Synagogue a Jewish place of worship since they don't recognize non-Orthodox denominations, instead mostly referring to it as a "Jewish center." Similarly, Chief Rabbi David Lau told a local newspaper that the shooting attack was "unforgivable" but also referred to the Conservative synagogue merely as "a place with a profound Jewish flavor." In a tweet, Netanyahu seemed to rebuff him. "Jews were killed in a synagogue. They were killed because they are Jews. The location was chosen because it is a synagogue. We must never forget that. We are one," he wrote. People walk past a projection on the Old City wall in Jerusalem, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018 in a commemoration of the victims of a deadly shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue. A shooter opened fire at a Pittsburgh synagogue, killing 11 people in one of the deadliest attacks on Jews in U.S. history. (AP Photo/Dusan Vranic) Israel's ultra-Orthodox authorities maintain a strict monopoly over daily Jewish life in the Holy Land, including oversight of weddings, divorces, conversions and burials. They often question the faith and practices of the more liberal Reform and Conservative streams of Judaism, to which most American Jews belong. Netanyahu's coalition government relies on the support of key ultra-Orthodox parties and he has often had to capitulate to their demands on matters of religion and state. The ultra-Orthodox establishment views other strains of Judaism as too lax and is deeply opposed to interfaith marriage and the ordination of women and gays, while American Jews have increasingly felt that they haven't been valued in Israel as equals despite their ardent backing and identification. A government decision to scrap plans for a mixed-gender prayer area at Jerusalem's Western Wall, and insults hurled at those pushing for it, has led American Jewish leaders to warn that it could undermine their long-standing political, financial and emotional support for Israel. The recent passing of a controversial law enshrining the state's Jewish character, which critics at home and abroad say has undercut Israel's traditional democratic values, has also irked American Jews, who increasingly find themselves at odds with the government's nationalist, religious and pro-settlement bent. Yair Lapid, head of the centrist opposition Yesh Atid party, said the tragic shooting should serve as a reminder to "those who claim the Reform and the Conservative are not real Jews." He called on the government to restore the mixed-gender prayer site and to recognize the conversions of all strains. "The state of Israel bows its heads for their deaths, but this is not enough," he said in parliament. "Not only in their deaths are they Jews like us, but in their lives. Not only in their deaths should the government respect them, but also in their lives." People light candles in Tel Aviv, Israel, in a commemoration of the victims of a deadly shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. A shooter opened fire at a Pittsburgh synagogue, killing 11 people in one of the deadliest attacks on Jews in U.S. history. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) UAEs Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme has approved the names of 252 citizens who are eligible for housing support valued at Dh190 million ($51.7 million), a media report said. The move comes as part of the third and final group of 800 housing support decisions that were announced at the start of the month, on the occasion of World Population Day, reported Emirates news agency Wam. The decisions are in implementation of the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, as well as the monitoring of H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs. The housing support announced today includes 226 loans and 26 housing grants, which is composed of 177 applications for new housing, 22 for home completions, 50 home purchases, two housing additions and one for government housing. TAPANATEPEC, Mexico (AP) - The Latest on Central American migrants trying to reach the U.S. (all times local): 9:30 a.m. A crowd of several hundred migrants appears to be preparing for a second day of confrontations on a bridge between Mexico and Guatemala, even as a much larger group ahead is resuming its trek through southern Mexico in hopes of reaching the U.S. The larger caravan is advancing peacefully from the town of Tapantepec toward Santiago Niltepec in the southern state of Oaxaca. Meanwhile, at the Guatemala border, an Associated Press journalist on Monday saw about 600 migrants on the border bridge over the Suchiate River. Mexican federal police have blocked one end. Some of the migrants had gasoline bombs made of soft-drink bottles, and improvised PVC tubes to launch fireworks or other projectiles. WARSAW, Poland (AP) - Poland's president won't take part in an Independence Day march in the capital organized by nationalist organizations, his spokesman said Monday in an announcement that follows the leader urging Poles to participate in the controversial event. Andrzej Duda's change of mind is the latest mixed message coming from Poland's conservative ruling authorities toward far-right groups. Authorities have at times appeared to seek the support of those on the far right as their policies have alienated many centrist voters. Last year, around 60,000 people marched on Nov. 11, some with banners calling for a "white Europe" and "pure blood." Organizers are hoping for a larger turnout this year to coincide with the centennial of Polish independence. Last year, Duda condemned expressions of racism at the march, while some officials at the time, including the interior minister, praised what they saw as a show of patriotism. Duda's spokesman, Blazej Spychalski, said Monday that the president won't take part in this year's march in Warsaw, without giving a reason. The announcement came only days after Duda had asked Poles to join it. Polish media on Monday reported that Duda's change of mind resulted from disagreements over conditions for the march. But Robert Bakiewicz, the chairman of the organizational group, tweeted that he had taken part in seven meetings with elected officials regarding the march and that the organizers hadn't insisted on any conditions that the president's office objected to. Poland's President Andrzej Duda addresses the media during a joint news conference with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at Bellevue Palace in Berlin, Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber) The organizers of the march, which became an annual ritual a decade ago, include the Radical National Camp, which traces its origins to an anti-Semitic political movement that existed in Poland before World War II, and the National Movement, a far-right party with only one member in parliament. Rafal Pankowski, who monitors extremism as the head of the Never Again association, said that even though Duda now won't be participating, he "did much harm already by legitimizing" the march with his initial endorsement. "It's incredible to see how mainstream politicians have no problem dealing with extremists," Pankowski said. PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Sitting in his office beside photos of grandchildren decked in Philadelphia Flyers jerseys, Christopher Scott shakes his head. Another email has come in from another supplier. It wants to raise prices to cover the cost of President Donald Trump's tariffs. For weeks, emails and letters have been arriving in a steady stream at Howard McCray, the small Philadelphia factory Scott runs with about 85 workers. It's mostly bad news. One supplier is charging more for shelving brackets, another for electrical switches, a third for wheeled castors. McCray needs those parts for the refrigerated display cases it produces for convenience stores and restaurants. Since Trump imposed tariffs on imported steel and aluminum and on Chinese products, Scott, like many other American manufacturers, has had to rapidly switch gears. He had been optimistic about 2018, with plans for hiring and investment in new machinery. He had hoped, for example, to replace two 30-year old machines that cut holes in stainless steel sheets with a newer version that uses lasers and works twice as fast. All that's now on hold. This year, McCray has slashed in half its spending on large equipment. Scott is also leaving four jobs unfilled and instead adding more overtime for his current staff. "That's what the tariffs are doing to us," Scott, 59, said while giving a visitor a tour this month of the factory floor, straining to be heard above the pneumatic drills and hydraulic equipment. "We're just going to delay it until they come off." In this Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, photo Workers build refrigerators at the Howard McCray's commercial refrigeration manufacturing facility in Philadelphia. This year, McCray has slashed its spending on large equipment in half. Christopher Scott, president of Howard McCray, is also leaving four jobs unfilled and instead adding more overtime for his current workers. "That's what the tariffs are doing to us," Scott said. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Tax cuts that Trump pushed through Congress last year sharply reduced the tax burden on businesses. The administration argued that lower taxes would accelerate investment in machinery and high tech equipment. Over time, such capital spending tends to make workers more productive and speed the economy's growth. Yet Scott says that for his company, the higher tariffs - which are taxes on imports - have largely nullified any benefit from the tax cuts. There is growing evidence that other companies are feeling similar strains. Business investment in large machinery and other equipment grew just 0.4 percent in the July-September quarter, the government said Friday. It was the slowest pace in nearly two years. And demand for computers, industrial equipment and other capital goods has dropped in the past two months. "The prospect of a full-blown trade war with China and tariffs more generally are prompting some companies to delay investments for next year," noted Diane Swonk, an economist at Grant Thornton. The tariffs have also injected a new layer of uncertainty into Scott's business. Right now, for instance, Scott is trying to decide what prices to quote for two potential customers he is pitching. Should he pass on to those customers the higher costs of the tariffs - or eat them, as he is doing now? "If you price the tariffs in now, you risk losing the account," he says. "If you don't price them in, you risk losing money on the account." The stated goal of the Trump administration's 25 percent tariffs on steel and 10 percent on aluminum, imposed June 1, was to limit cheap imports and spur hiring and growth in America's metals industries. In imposing the tariffs, Trump invoked national security: His reasoning was that low-priced imports hurt America's ability to produce items needed for national defense. Many critics have disputed that assertion. Some companies have indeed benefited. Braidy Industries, an aluminum manufacturer, has broken ground on a plant in Kentucky that it says will create 600 jobs. U.S. Steel is spending $750 million on modernizing a factory in Gary, Indiana. But across more industries, higher costs for businesses have begun spreading and leading economists to predict slower economic growth next year. And Trump has also imposed tariffs on roughly half the goods the U.S. imports from China. 3M Corp., for example, has said it's raised prices to offset the higher cost of goods subject to tariffs. Ford Motor Co. says the import taxes will raise its costs $1 billion through 2019. And Caterpillar says the steel tariffs will cost it roughly $100 million in 2018. Trade concerns are among the factors that are rattling the U.S. stock market; the Standard & Poor's 500 stock index has tumbled 9.3 percent from its record high in September. In the meantime, with costs rising, Scott has had to scramble to limit his company's expenses. When he visited Las Vegas this month for a trade show, only he and his wife and co-owner, Diane, went, rather than the half-dozen from his company who attended last year. It meant their booth wasn't fully staffed during the whole show. Rob Martin, an economist at UBS, notes that U.S. tariffs are now at their highest levels since 1971. And back in the early '70s, trade constituted a much smaller portion of the economy. Now, import taxes are rising at a time when the U.S. has become far more integrated with the global economy, which means tariffs now tend to inflict heavier damage. "No one has seen this phenomenon in the U.S.," Martin said. Though Scott has absorbed his higher costs for now, he hopes to eventually pass some of them on to his customers, which include Shell Oil's convenience stores and Texas Roadhouse restaurants. First, though, he wants to see how his larger competitors handle the higher costs. "Little Howard McCray can't go out and raise prices 10 percent and lose all the market share that we've worked so hard to gain," Scott said. Especially when his business, small as it is, is entwined in international trade. Like many companies, McCrary both benefits and suffers from globalization. Scott has worked to expand his business to Canada; 10 percent of his sales now come from that country. He felt relief when the U.S. agreed last month on an updated trade agreement with Canada and Mexico. On the other hand, the company produces a commercial refrigerator that Scott says Chinese companies sell for less than the cost of his parts alone. He'd favor a tariff on that refrigerator. Howard McCray buys its parts from distributors that acquire them from other manufacturers. If its American suppliers were to acquire their parts from China or some another country, Scott wouldn't always know about it - maybe not until an email arrived announcing a price hike to reflect new tariffs. Like a family shopping at a department store for clothes or toys imported from China, Scott didn't choose to acquire parts from overseas. "The source of where their factories are is very hard for us to stay on top of," Scott says, standing before dozens of bins holding screws, wiring and electrical components. For many products, there aren't any alternative U.S. suppliers. "If one moves (to China), they all move," says Bill Warren, his business partner. Scott holds up a handful of Chinese-made shelf brackets dipped in chrome. One of his suppliers now charges 10 percent more for them because of the latest round of tariffs on Chinese imports. And the tariffs are set to rise to 25 percent on Jan. 1. Environmental regulations make it too expensive to manufacture them in the United States. Scott decided to gamble a bit, and bought a year's supply of the brackets in August, when he first heard the tariffs might be imposed. That decision could save the company money if the tariffs increase as scheduled. On the other hand, if the Trump administration reaches an agreement with Beijing before year's end and the tariffs come off, Scott will have bought too many. Yet he has no alternative. "We are still buying Chinese," Scott says. "If there was an American manufacturer that made a shelf bracket, we would shift to that." ____ Contact Chris Rugaber on Twitter at http://Twitter.com/ChrisRugaber In this Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, photo Minh Pham bends tubing at the Howard McCray's commercial refrigeration manufacturing facility in Philadelphia. The experience Christopher Scott, president of Howard McCray, has had suggests that the impact of the tariffs is still playing out. Though has absorbed the higher costs for now, he hopes to eventually pass some on to his customers. First, though, he wants to see how his larger competitors handle the higher costs. "Little Howard McCray can't go out and raise prices 10 percent and lose all the market share that we've worked so hard to gain," Scott said. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) In this Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, photo Jose Hernandez operates a turret press at the Howard McCray's commercial refrigeration manufacturing facility in Philadelphia. Since President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on imported steel and aluminum last spring and on Chinese goods last summer, Christopher Scott, president of Howard McCray, has had to rapidly switch gears. Scott had hoped to replace two 30-year old machines that cut holes in stainless steel sheets with a newer version that uses lasers and works twice as fast. All that's now on hold. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) In this Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, photo Luis Ramos works at the Howard McCray's commercial refrigeration manufacturing facility in Philadelphia. The experience Christopher Scott, president of Howard McCray, has had suggests that the impact of the tariffs is still playing out. Though has absorbed the higher costs for now, he hopes to eventually pass some on to his customers. First, though, he wants to see how his larger competitors handle the higher costs. "Little Howard McCray can't go out and raise prices 10 percent and lose all the market share that we've worked so hard to gain," Scott said. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) In this Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, photo Sarmad Eskandar, left, and Mustpha Damen work on electrical components at the Howard McCray's commercial refrigeration manufacturing facility in Philadelphia. The tax cuts that President Donald Trump pushed through Congress last year sharply reduced the tax burden on businesses. Yet Christopher Scott, president of Howard McCray, says that for his company, the higher tariffs, which are taxes on imports, have largely nullified any benefit he expected from the tax cuts. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) In this Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, photo Minh Pham works on a compressor unit at the Howard McCray's commercial refrigeration manufacturing facility in Philadelphia. The experience Christopher Scott, president of Howard McCray, has had suggests that the impact of the tariffs is still playing out. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) In this Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, photo Christopher Scott, president of Howard McCray poses for a photograph at the company's commercial refrigeration manufacturing facility in Philadelphia. The tax cuts that President Donald Trump pushed through Congress last year sharply reduced the tax burden on businesses. Yet Scott says that for his company, the higher tariffs, which are taxes on imports, have largely nullified any benefit he expected from the tax cuts. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) In this Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, photo Gil Rodriguez constructs a door at the Howard McCray's commercial refrigeration manufacturing facility in Philadelphia. This year, McCray has slashed its spending on large equipment in half. Christopher Scott, president of Howard McCray, is also leaving four jobs unfilled and instead adding more overtime for his current workers. "That's what the tariffs are doing to us," Scott said. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) MOSCOW (AP) - Russia's defense minister has urged Europe to consider what impact Washington's intended withdrawal from a key nuclear arms pact would have on its security. Sergei Shoigu told his visiting Greek counterpart Monday that the European Union and NATO should weigh the consequences of a U.S. exit from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, warning it will entail "serious consequences" for Europe. President Donald Trump has declared his intention to opt out of the pact over alleged Russian violations. Russian President Vladimir Putin denied any breaches of the treaty, claiming it was the U.S. that violated the pact. Putin said he hoped Washington wouldn't follow up by positioning intermediate-range missiles in Europe. He warned that if the U.S. does that, Russia would have to target the nations that would host them. LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - The Latest on the shooting deaths of two people at a Kentucky grocery store (all times local): Noon U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre and Kentucky grocery store shooting fit the definition of hate crimes, and he says the death penalty should apply in such cases. The Kentucky Republican said Monday that political rhetoric in the country needs to be "ratcheted down." He told reporters at the Kentucky Capitol in Frankfort that these "horrible, criminal acts" underscore the need to "dial it back, and to get into a better, more respectful place." McConnell spoke briefly about the shootings in Pennsylvania and Kentucky while speaking to members of the conservative Federalist Society at the Kentucky statehouse. He told the gathering that if the shootings "aren't the definitions of hate crimes, I don't know what a hate crime is." McConnell told reporters later that he still supports the death penalty in certain instances, and he said the two shootings "are the kinds of circumstances I would apply it to." 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. (Scott Utterback /Courier Journal via AP, Pool) ___ 10:51 a.m. A police chief has acknowledged that the killings of two black people at a Kroger grocery store were racially motivated, days after the FBI announced that it is investigating the shootings as a potential federal hate crime. The Courier Journal reports Jeffersontown Police Chief Sam Rogers told the congregation at First Baptist Church on Sunday that racism is "the elephant in the room" of this case. Civil rights activists in Kentucky are calling for a hate crime prosecution of Gregory Bush, who is being held on state murder charges in last week's shootings of two shoppers in the store outside Louisville. Both victims were black. Bush is white. Police said Bush tried to break into First Baptist, a predominantly African-American church, shortly before the shooting. ___ Information from: Courier Journal, http://www.courier-journal.com 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. (Scott Utterback /Courier Journal via AP, Pool) Gregory Bush, right, 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. (Scott Utterback /Courier Journal via AP, Pool) NEW YORK (AP) - At the world premiere of his new film, "Nobody's Fool," Tyler Perry hoped that "good people" from all backgrounds will "step up and do the right thing" to end the divisive speech that many believe has led to violence. Perry, who serves as the film's writer, director and producer, expressed his anger on the purple carpet before a screening in New York on Sunday. He denounced "people using their microphone and platform for division to tear us apart just to win." "I'm hoping that good people will step up and do the right thing. Black, white, Republican, Democrat, gay, straight - step up, vote, do the right thing to make sure that this kind of voice and rhetoric is extinguished," Perry said. Perry was reeling from violent events over the last few days, including 11 people killed after a gunman opened fire in a Pittsburgh synagogue and a Florida man arrested for allegedly mailing pipe bombs former president Barrack Obama, CNN, Bill and Hillary Clinton's home and actor Robert De Niro. "Nobody's Fool" star Tiffany Haddish hopes that in some way the film can provide an escape from the violence and threats over the last couple of days. "Well, it has been a lot of tragedy, and a lot of bad things going on this past week. And I think the best medicine for that is to laugh, to find some way to escape a little bit," Haddish said. Tiffany Haddish and Tyler Perry attend the world premiere of "Nobody's Fool" at AMC Loews Lincoln Square on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018, in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP) Haddish stars in the comedy as a woman recently released from prison who reunites with her sister. But she soon discovers that her sister, played by Tika Sumpter, is in an online relationship with a man she thinks may be manipulating her. "Nobody's Fool" is out Nov. 2. Omari Hardwicke, who also co-stars in the film, thinks it's the entire world that has become harsher, and sees some non-political issues as contributors. "I feel the country is colder, way more callous. People don't care as much. There is a spiritual nature that is gone in households, and kids are growing up way too fast," Hardwicke said. Mehcad Brooks, who plays one of the men in Sumpter's character's life, said he's especially bothered by President Donald Trump's continued attacks on the press. "My mother is a journalist. I take it very personally," he said, referring to Austin American-Statesman editorial writer, Alberta Phillips. At a rally in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Sunday, the president continued his attacks on the media, saying they are taking the "sinister actions of one individual to score political points." The crowd broke into frequent chants of "CNN sucks!" Brooks says as long as progressive thinkers are split over minor issues, those people who attack democracy will continue to thrive. "I think when more open-minded people fragment themselves, and fragment the movements, it's easier for that side to win," he said. "It's easier for the exclusive mind that doesn't want to allow inclusion and diversity - it's easier for them to win." ___ Follow John Carucci at http://www.twitter.com/jacarucci TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iranian officials say President Hassan Rouhani's mobile phone was tapped, without providing details on who was behind it or what information they might have gleaned. The semi-official ISNA news agency on Monday quoted Gen. Gholam Reza Jalali, the head of a military unit charged with combatting sabotage, as saying Rouhani's phone was tapped "recently" and would be replaced with a more secure device. He did not provide further details. Iran moved to boost its cyber capabilities in 2011 after the Stuxnet computer virus destroyed thousands of centrifuges involved in its contested nuclear program. Stuxnet is widely believed to be an American and Israeli creation. WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) - A judge has temporarily halted the trial of four inmates charged with murder, kidnapping and other crimes after a riot at Delaware's maximum-security prison that left a guard dead. The trial was to have resumed Monday with testimony from a convicted murderer who defense attorneys say played a key role in the February 2017 uprising but was allowed to plead guilty to a single count of riot after agreeing to testify for the prosecution. The judge huddled with attorneys behind closed doors for more than an hour Monday before dismissing jurors. The trial is to resume Tuesday. The judge did not disclose the issues that caused the delay but said they "have not gone away," and that cancelling Monday's proceedings will give him and attorneys time to work through them. U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, a young rising star in the Republican Party, stood with President Donald Trump before cheering soldiers at Fort Drum in August. Her Republican colleague in a neighboring district, Rep. John Katko, is at times standing apart from his party, blaming hard-liners in the GOP for gridlock in Washington. The contrasting styles reflect distinctly different congressional districts in upstate New York - the rural, overwhelmingly Republican North Country represented by Stefanik and the more urban Democratic-leaning district to the south, where Katko was one of only 23 House Republicans in 2016 to win a district carried by Hillary Clinton. "Ms. Stefanik's district is gun country, and it's truly Trump country," said Cornell political science professor Glenn Altschuler. "She has no incentive to do anything other than to embrace President Trump. Mr. Katko's constituency is different. He's not risking a loss of support in distancing himself from the president." Stefanik's 21st Congressional District, which includes the northernmost region of the state, including the Adirondack Mountains, elected Trump by a nearly 14 percent margin in 2016 after twice electing President Barack Obama by a slim margin. Katko's central New York 24th District, which includes Syracuse, carried Obama by a wide margin twice before voting for Clinton. Both districts are targeted by Democrats seeking to flip the House. Stefanik burnished her image with her district's sizeable military population and solid Republican base when she brought Trump to Fort Drum to sign the $716 billion defense spending bill in August. She agrees with Trump on key issues such as dismantling the Affordable Care Act and a dramatic expansion of military spending. "Another very important issue in this district is the Second Amendment," Stefanik said in an interview, noting that she has an A rating from the National Rifle Association. "Second Amendment voters are going to turn out in this district." FILE - In this Aug. 13, 2018 file photo, President Donald Trump, left, listens as Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., speaks before signing a $716 billion defense policy bill named for John McCain at Fort Drum, N.Y. In two New York congressional districts just miles apart, Republican incumbents facing re-election battles are waging two different campaigns: One, Stefanik, has embraced Trump. The other, John Katko, is running as a moderate. (AP Photo/Hans Pennink, File) While she is considered one of the more conservative members in New York's congressional delegation, the 34-year-old Stefanik has sought to portray an image of across-the-aisle cooperation in Washington. She has also distanced herself from some of Trump's positions, declaring her opposition to trade tariffs, criticizing him for withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris climate accord and denouncing his disparaging rhetoric toward women. Tedra Cobb, Stefanik's Democratic opponent, has accused Stefanik of failing to challenge the president's actions in meaningful ways, noting she has voted in line with Trump's position nearly 90 percent of the time. Cobb, 50, is a former St. Lawrence County legislator who has worked as an AIDS educator, substitute teacher and founder of a health care nonprofit. She said she decided to run for Congress when Stefanik voted for the American Health Care Act. Katko, a 55-year-old former federal prosecutor in Syracuse, is staking his bid for a third term on an anti-gridlock message that blames hard-right conservatives in his own party for keeping Congress from acting on key issues such as health care reforms and infrastructure. As part of the Problem Solvers Caucus, a group of 48 House members from both parties, Katko supports rule changes intended to make it easier for bipartisan bills to pass. In 2016, after criticizing candidate Trump for a divisive tone, misogynist rhetoric and lack of substance, Katko said he wrote in former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley on his presidential ballot. "Katko needs to show his independence to win over key swing voters," said Christopher Mann, a political scientist at Skidmore College. "His path to victory depends on holding voters who split their ticket between him and Clinton in 2016." Katko's Democratic opponent, Dana Balter, disputes his bipartisanship claims, saying he votes 90 percent of the time with Trump. "Our voters see through his rhetoric and see he is a party guy who votes in the interest of his corporate donors," Balter said. "At the top of the list of issues I'm focusing on is campaign finance reform. Right now Washington is dominated by big money interests." Balter, 42, has worked as a community organizer in a Syracuse organization formed to fight Trump's agenda and as a visiting assistant professor at Syracuse University's school of public affairs, where she teaches courses while pursuing her doctorate. A Spectrum News/Siena College poll Oct. 18-22 showed Katko with a 14-point lead over Balter. A privately funded poll showed Stefanik leading Cobb by 10 points, with health care and gun control listed as top issues for voters, but no major polling organization has surveyed that district. WASHINGTON (AP) - The Pentagon said Monday it is sending 5,200 troops to the Southwest border in an extraordinary military operation ordered up just a week before midterm elections in which President Donald Trump has put a sharp focus on Central American migrants moving north in slow-moving caravans that are still hundreds of miles from the U.S. The number of troops being deployed is more than double the 2,000 who are in Syria fighting the Islamic State group. Trump, eager to keep voters focused on illegal immigration in the lead-up to the elections, stepped up his dire warnings about the caravans, tweeting, "This is an invasion of our Country and our Military is waiting for you!" But any migrants who complete the long trek to the southern U.S. border already face major hurdles - both physical and bureaucratic - to being allowed into the United States. In an interview Monday, Trump said the U.S. would build "tent cities" for asylum seekers. "We're going to put tents up all over the place," told Fox News Channel's Laura Ingraham. "They're going to be very nice and they're going to wait and if they don't get asylum, they get out." In this Oct. 27, 2018, photo, President Donald Trump speaks during a rally at Southern Illinois Airport in Murphysboro, Ill. Eager to focus voters on immigration in the lead-up to the midterm elections, Trump on Oct. 29 escalated his threats against a migrant caravan trudging slowly toward the U.S. border as the Pentagon prepared to deploy thousands of U.S. troops to support the border patrol. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) Under current protocol, migrants who clear an initial screening are often released until their cases are decided in immigration court, which can take several years. Trump denied his focus on the caravan is intended to help Republicans in next week's midterms, saying, "This has nothing to do with elections." The Pentagon's "Operation Faithful Patriot" was described by the commander of U.S. Northern Command as an effort to help Customs and Border Protection "harden the southern border" by stiffening defenses at and near legal entry points. Advanced helicopters will allow border protection agents to swoop down on migrants trying to cross illegally, said Air Force Gen. Terrence O'Shaughnessy. Troops planned to bring heavy concertina wiring to unspool across open spaces between ports. "We will not allow a large group to enter the U.S. in an unlawful and unsafe manner," said Kevin McAleenan, commissioner of Customs and Border Protection. Eight hundred troops already are on their way to southern Texas, O'Shaughnessy said, and their numbers will top 5,200 by week's end. Some of the troops will be armed. He said troops would focus first on Texas, followed by Arizona and then California. The troops will join the more than 2,000 National Guardsmen that Trump has already deployed to the border. It remained unclear Monday why the administration was choosing to send active-duty troops given that they will be limited to performing the same support functions the Guard already is doing. The number of people in the first migrant caravan headed toward the U.S. has dwindled to about 4,000 from about 7,000 last week, though a second one was gaining steam and marked by violence. About 600 migrants in the second group tried to cross a bridge from Guatemala to Mexico en masse Monday. The riverbank standoff with Mexico police followed a more violent confrontation Sunday when the migrants used sticks and rocks against officers. One migrant was killed Sunday night by a head wound, but the cause was unclear. The first group passed through the spot via the river - wading or on rafts - and was advancing through southern Mexico. That group appeared to begin as a collection of about 160 who decided to band together in Honduras for protection against the gangs who prey on migrants traveling alone and snowballed as the group moved north. They are mostly from Honduras, where it started, as well as El Salvador and Guatemala. Another, smaller caravan earlier this year dwindled greatly as it passed through Mexico, with only about 200 making it to the California border. Migrants are entitled under both U.S. and international law to apply for asylum. But there already is a bottleneck of would-be asylum seekers waiting at some U.S. border crossings to make their claims, some waiting as long as five weeks. McAleenan said the aim of the operation was to deter migrants from crossing illegally, but he conceded his officers were overwhelmed by a surge of asylum seekers at border crossings. He also said Mexico was prepared to offer asylum to members of the caravan. "If you're already seeking asylum, you've been given a generous offer," he said of Mexico. "We want to work with Mexico to manage that flow." The White House is also weighing additional border security measures, including blocking those traveling in the caravan from seeking legal asylum and preventing them from entering the U.S. The military operation drew quick criticism. "Sending active military forces to our southern border is not only a huge waste of taxpayer money, but an unnecessary course of action that will further terrorize and militarize our border communities," said Shaw Drake of the American Civil Liberties Union's border rights center at El Paso, Texas. Military personnel are legally prohibited from engaging in immigration enforcement. The troops will include military police, combat engineers and others helping on the border. The escalating rhetoric over the migrants and expected deployments come as the president has been trying to turn the caravans into a key election issue just days before elections that will determine whether Republicans maintain control of Congress. "This will be the election of the caravans, the Kavanaughs, law and order, tax cuts, and you know what else? It's going to be the election of common sense," Trump said at a rally in Illinois on Saturday night. On Monday, he tweeted without providing evidence, "Many Gang Members and some very bad people are mixed into the Caravan heading to our Southern Border." "Please go back," he urged them, "you will not be admitted into the United States unless you go through the legal process. This is an invasion of our Country and our Military is waiting for you!" It's possible there are criminals mixed in, but Trump has not substantiated his claim that members of the MS-13 gang, in particular, are among them. The troops are expected to perform a wide variety of functions such as transporting supplies for the Border Patrol, but not engage directly with migrants seeking to cross the border, officials said. One U.S. official said the troops will be sent initially to staging bases in California, Texas and Arizona while the CBP works out precisely where it wants the troops positioned. U.S. Transportation Command posted a video on its Facebook page Monday of a C-17 transport plane that it said was delivering Army equipment to the Southwest border in support of the operation. The U.S. military has already begun delivering jersey barriers to the southern border in conjunction with the deployment plans. ___ Associated Press writers Elliot Spagat in San Diego and Lolita C. Baldor in Prague contributed to this report. The worlds first 3D-printed steel bridge created by Dutch robotics company MX3D, mathematicians from The Alan Turing Institute and Arup is completed and will be installed across a canal in Amsterdam next year, a report said. The bridge has already been on display during the Dutch Design Week that took place from October 20 to October 28, reported 3ders.org. Since 2015, Dutch designer Joris Laarman has been working with the robotic manufacturing technology start-up to build this ambitious 12-metre-long pedestrian bridge project. Now, nearly four years after he started the project, the bridge is fully printed and ready to start its final installation in Amsterdams De Wallen red-light district. "We hope it will be installed in summer. We just started the permit process as we have now all the positive results from the tests," MX3D was quoted as saying in the report. "The city just started the renovations work on the canal wall we have been waiting for two years. This work could be done in six months." The bridge is 12 metres (40 feet) in length, and was 3D printed at a larger MX3D facility outside of Amsterdam, before being shipped into the main workshop in the north of the city. The initial plan was to 3D print the entire thing in place in mid-air, using custom robotic 3D printing arms suspended over the canal to gradually build supporting structures underneath and move their way across. As exciting as this possibility was, the project was eventually abandoned due to concerns about control over the environment and interference from pedestrians. After some other teething problems and delays for this pioneering 3D printed bridge project, it is now completely finished. 3D printing technology isnt the only cutting-edge aspect of this remarkable new project. To ensure safety and optimized performance of this and other bridges, the 3D printed steel structure will be equipped with a series of sensors that will relay important information back to the designers and engineers. This smart bridge will monitor its own health, record the number of people walking across it and their speeds, and take measurements of things like weight dispersion and air quality. A digital twin bridge model will also be created from the gathered data, allowing future designs to be compared and adapted accordingly. The designers and engineers say the ultimate goal is to have robots that can someday autonomously build our infrastructure, tirelessly toiling away on site without the help of humans. As well as being a one-of-a-kind project, the aesthetics of the bridge are also relatively unique. Its design is organic and fabric-like, with lots of curves, and the surface of the bridge has been left unbuffed after construction. This means that the many different layers of deposited steel from the 3D printing process are visible, giving it a rough, unusual finish. TORONTO (AP) - The mother of a toddler abducted in 1987 said Monday she was stunned when she learned he had been found and overcome with emotion at finally being reunited with him 31 years later. She urged others to never give up hope of finding their missing loved ones. Lyneth Mann-Lewis, who found out last week that authorities had found her son in Connecticut, told a news conference in Toronto that when they met, "I grabbed him, and I squeezed his head and wanted to feel if he was real. I touched him and said, 'Oh my God, my baby.'" Jermaine Mann, now 33, responded by saying, "Mommy you have my eyes' and he hugged me, and he kissed me, and we held there for a long time." She said she had endured many hard days over the 31 years and boarded a flight to reunite with her son shortly after hearing Thursday that he'd been found. "The words 'your son is alive, we found him,' that is breathtaking," she said. "Constant worry is finally over." Mann-Lewis said she cooked for her son and recounted the details of her life during hours-long conversations at her hotel. Lyneth Mann-Lewis, right, of Brampton, Ontario, alongside family members, discusses her reunion with her son Jermaine Mann, who until recently, was living under an alias in the U.S., during a press conference at Toronto Police Headquarters in Toronto on Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. Allan Mann Jr. was arrested in Vernon, Conn., on Friday and accused of abducting his 21-month-old son 31 years ago during a court-ordered visitation. (Tijana Martin/The Canadian Press via AP) "I want to encourage other families with missing children and loved ones not to ever, ever give up in finding them. I am the proof that after 31 long years of suffering one should never give up," she said. "Be patient, be strong, and believe that all things are possible." Allan Mann Jr. was arrested in Vernon, Connecticut, on Friday and accused of abducting his then-21-month-old son during a court-ordered visitation in Toronto on June 24, 1987. Authorities say he then entered the U.S. - where he had relatives - and obtained fake identification for himself and his son, including bogus Texas birth certificates. Authorities received a tip from a relative that he might be living in Connecticut under another name. The 66-year-old Mann appeared briefly Friday in federal court in Hartford, facing charges of making false statements in transactions with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Hartford Courant reported that the son sobbed quietly in the front row with his head in his hands and left the courthouse without commenting. Jermaine Mann had been told his mother died shortly after his birth, Toronto police said. "They lived, basically, a life of lies as to who they were and what they did, unbeknownst to Jermaine," Toronto Police Det. Wayne Banks said. Allan Mann, who has dual Canadian and Ghanaian citizenship, was found living under the name Hailee DeSouza in HUD-subsidized housing in Vernon, about 12 miles east of Hartford, federal officials said. After facing his charges in the U.S. Allan Mann is expected to be extradited to face an abduction charge in Canada. In August, U.S. marshals interviewed several of Allan Mann's relatives and friends, including a family member who led authorities to Connecticut and his alleged alias, according to an arrest warrant affidavit prepared by a HUD special agent. Later that month, a forensic specialist from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children analyzed an old photo of Allan Mann and the 2015 photo on DeSouza's Connecticut driver's license and determined they were likely the same person, the warrant said. The investigation has involved multiple U.S. agencies including HUD, the U.S. Marshals Service, Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration, as well as Toronto police and Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders said that his agency had held a conference on fugitive training in 2016 and said this very case was discussed with U.S. law enforcement officials. Lyneth Mann-Lewis, right, of Brampton, Ontario, is joined by family members while discussing her initial reaction to reuniting with her son Jermaine Mann, who until recently, was living under an alias in the U.S., during a press conference at Toronto Police Headquarters in Toronto on Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. Allan Mann Jr. was arrested in Vernon, Conn., on Friday and accused of abducting his 21-month-old son 31 years ago during a court-ordered visitation. (Tijana Martin/The Canadian Press via AP) PARIS (AP) - French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed support for Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's ambitious reforms and diplomatic peace efforts. The 42-year-old African leader was on a working visit Monday to France in his first trip to Europe since taking office in April. In a joint declaration, France welcomed "the rapprochement between Ethiopia and Eritrea." Both countries pledged to "continue their efforts in order to promote peace and prosperity in the region." Ethiopia's new leader "chose a courageous path, we will stand by his side," Macron said at a news conference. Abiy said he expects Macron to play a key role in peacemaking efforts between Eritrea and Djibouti - Ethiopia's neighbors which have agreed last month to normalize ties a decade after a border dispute led to brief military clashes. Within a few months, Abiy has implemented sweeping economic and political reforms, among them making peace with longtime rival Eritrea, which has set off a series of diplomatic thaws in Africa's turbulent Horn of Africa region. Ethiopian Prime Minister Ably Ahmed, left, and French President Emmanuel Macron shake hands after a media conference at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, Monday Sept. 29, 2018. Ethiopian Prime Minister Ably Ahmed is in Paris for bilateral talks. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, Pool) Abiy has released thousands of prisoners, promised free and fair elections in 2020, welcomed home once-banned opposition groups and begun opening up the state-run economy. Last week, Ethiopian lawmakers approved the country's first female president, who is also Africa's only current female head of state. But the push for democratic reforms in Africa's second most populous country hasn't been smooth. With the widening political space and returning opposition voices, ethnic and other tensions have flared and human rights groups have warned against a return to the repressive tactics of mass arrests and internet cutoffs. Abiy also has been the target of an assassination attempt. "Overall the reform process is contributing to the greater peace in the country," Abiy said in Paris. Macron and Abiy also pledged to increase cultural cooperation, especially on World Heritage sites such as the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela. France will contribute to the maintenance and renovation of the site, Abiy said. Macron announced he will visit Ethiopia in March. ___ AP writer Cara Anna in Johannesburg contributed to the story. Ethiopian Prime Minister Ably Ahmed, left, is welcomed by French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) LOS ANGELES (AP) - A New Hampshire state lawmaker producing and starring in a porn film assaulted his business partner in California after he felt his scenes didn't go well, according to a civil lawsuit filed by the partner. Jonathan Carter filed the suit Friday in Southern California seeking unspecified damages following a June incident that he claims involved state Rep. Frank Sapareto. Sapareto has denied the allegations and said he is the victim of an extortion attempt. Police issued a citation to Sapareto for a misdemeanor battery investigation when he was in California in June but prosecutors declined to file charges because of insufficient evidence, said Simi Valley police Sgt. Steve Shorts. The civil suit said that Carter, 38, and Sapareto, 58, formed a partnership to make adult movies and Sapareto would star in the first film. It said Sapareto filmed scenes for the movie in California but became upset with how they went and the next day went to Carter's home and hit him in the head, face and body. Carter claims he suffered a concussion. Sapareto, a Republican from Derry, New Hampshire, denied the allegations, knowing Carter or having any business involvement with the adult film industry. FILE - This Feb. 16, 2017 file photo shows N.H. Rep. Frank Sapareto, R-Derry, in the chamber at the State House in advance of voting in Concord, N.H. Sapareto, producing and starring in a porn film, assaulted Jonathan Carter, his business partner in California, after he felt his scenes didn't go well, according to a civil lawsuit filed by the partner. Carter filed the suit Friday, Oct. 26, 2018. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File) "I don't know what you're talking about," Sapareto said in a phone interview Friday. "Wow, that's a great story," he said, laughing. "I haven't heard that one. I thought we were all done going after men." He said Monday that he joined with Carter and invested roughly $5,000 to make tourism videos but got concerned on his trip to California when Carter told him he was involved in an insurance fraud case and knew people involved in porn movies. Sapareto said he dropped off cameras he had bought for the venture at Carter's home and denied assaulting him. "I said, 'here is the equipment, everything is fine, goodbye, and shook hands and that's it," Sapareto said. "I trusted him and I should never have done that, obviously. In today's age, all it takes is an accusation - everybody is guilty now. He knows that, so he figured, 'I am going to finish this guy's career.'" Sapareto said Carter called him in July to demand money - a claim that Carter's attorney Eric Dubin denied. Carter, who makes graphic T-shirts, has not contacted Sapareto since the reported assault, Dubin said. He said the suit seeks unspecified punitive damages and "reaches a new level of needing to deter others, especially in high office." Carter has about seven hours of footage for a film that purported to tell the story of an apocalypse with adult film actresses searching for the last remaining man, Dubin said. In a police report provided by Dubin, authorities say Sapareto told them that he met Carter online under a different name while seeking a business partner to make an adult film. Sapareto said he told police that Carter - not he - was involved in the porn industry. A certificate of formation for a company in New Hampshire called Standard Video LLC lists Sapareto as a "member." Sapareto, who is in his seventh term in the House and is vice chair of the criminal justice and public safety committee, previously served in the state Senate. In 2013, he was convicted of simple assault for pushing his girlfriend's daughter but served no jail time. He once sponsored legislation to change the simple assault laws so that any fight entered into by "mutual consent" would only be a violation, not a misdemeanor. That bill failed to pass the Legislature. He is running for re-election next month and said if he wins, he plans to run for House speaker. "I imagine this is probably just another bump along the way," he said. ___ Ramer reported from Concord, New Hampshire. Advertisement A super typhoon that ravaged a Pacific US territory sent more than 3,000 tourists fleeing as residents struggled with a power outage, destroyed homes and long lines for gasoline. At category 5, Super Typhoon Yutu was the strongest storm to hit any part of the US this year when it ripped through the Northern Marianas Islands. Saipan, the largest island, is a popular tourist destination for travelers from South Korea and China. There were 3,200 tourists when Yutu hit, said governor spokesman Kevin Bautista. The South Korean government flew most of their nationals out on military planes over the weekend, he said, and other tourists have been flying home now that commercial flights have resumed out of the Saipan airport. A super typhoon that ravaged a Pacific US territory sent more than 3,000 tourists fleeing as residents (pictured) struggled with a power outage, destroyed homes and long lines for gasoline At category 5, Super Typhoon Yutu was the strongest storm to hit any part of the US this year Saipan, the largest island, is a popular tourist destination for travelers from South Korea and China. There were 3,200 tourists when Yutu hit, said governor spokesman Kevin Bautista A vehicle was flipped over on the island of Saipan, after Super Typhoon Yutu swept through the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands earlier in the week The South Korean government flew most of their nationals out on military planes over the weekend, and other tourists have been flying home now that commercial flights have resumed out of the Saipan airport Rota suffered the least amount of damage with 51 badly damaged or destroyed homes, but like Saipan (damage on Saipan) and Tinian, Rota was still without power The American Red Cross and other volunteers have been giving out meals and water for drinking. There are water stations where each vehicle can receive up to 50 gallons of non-potable water for needs such as bathing. Medical teams were sent to shelters to provide services. Nearby territory Guam has sent 140 members of its National Guard to help with recovery efforts, according to Torres' office Facebook page. 'There were so many people in line and some were unable to get anything or only able to get very little,' Edwin Propst, a member of the House of Representatives, said Tuesday. Yet, he's confident the US Federal Emergency Management Agency is doing its best to help. 'They have shown they do care. So we are grateful for whatever they can give,' he said. President Donald Trump approved a disaster declaration, making federal funding available to affected people in the Northern Marianas. Most of the homes on the island of Tinian were destroyed by a direct hit from Yutu, residents said. According to initial assessments, there were 183 homes on Tinian that were destroyed or suffered major damage. On Saipan, that number was 779. Bautista didn't have estimates for how many homes are on each island. Rota suffered the least amount of damage with 51 badly damaged or destroyed homes, but like Saipan and Tinian, Rota was still without power. Most of the homes on the island of Tinian were destroyed by a direct hit from Yutu, residents said. According to initial assessments, there were 183 homes on Tinian that were destroyed or suffered major damage. On Saipan, that number was 779 Most of the homes on the island of Tinian were destroyed by a direct hit from Yutu, residents said The American Red Cross and other volunteers have been giving out meals and water for drinking There are water stations where each vehicle can receive up to 50 gallons of non-potable water for needs such as bathing. Medical teams were sent to shelters to provide services On Saipan there were two-mile gas lines and it could take three months to restore 50 per cent power to Tinian, according to the territory's recovery assessment released Monday. Over 96 hours after the storm, there were 121 typhoon-related emergency room visits, the assessment said. There was one storm-related death: a woman who took shelter in an abandoned building that collapsed. 'I look to this as a miracle in some respects,' Propst, the lawmaker, said of there not being more casualties. 'We are a predominantly Catholic community. I just think we were graced by God. For so many people that I talked to that were in these structures that were totally destroyed and to come out with only minor bruises and cut is in itself a miracle.' The territory has building codes meant to withstand typhoon winds, but many poor families can't afford to build full concrete structures, Propst said: 'Most of our families live in a mix of wood and tin and semi-concrete structures.' On Saipan (top) there were two-mile gas lines and it could take three months to restore 50 per cent power to Tinian, according to the territory's recovery assessment released Monday This satellite image provided by DigitalGlobe on October 26 shows part of San Jose, a village in Tinian, an island of the Northern Mariana Islands, after Super Typhoon Yutu Officials say Typhoon Yutu slammed into Dinapigue town in northeastern Isabela province before dawn Tuesday with sustained winds of 93mph and gusts of up to 130mph. It knocked down trees and power posts and ripped roofs off small houses, but there were no immediate reports of casualties. US Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Gov Ralph Torres said on his office's Facebook page that elections will be postponed until November 13. Early voting will now begin November 6. The delay won't affect a balance of power in Congress since the islands only have one non-voting member. In addition to the delegate to Congress, residents will vote on governor and other local races. Tropical weather has affected other elections in the past. Some results in the 2014 Hawaii primary were delayed nearly a week as residents in two rural districts on the Big Island couldn't vote on election day because of damage from Hurricane Iselle. A make-up primary for about 8,000 of those residents was held six days later. Torres and his lieutenant governor running mate will suspend campaign events to focus on recovery, he wrote on Facebook. 'Exercising your right to vote is an important part of our democracy and our freedom,' he said. 'Taking care of yourself and your family is even more important.' The deadly crash of a Lion Air jet in the Java Sea has renewed questions about the safety of Indonesian airlines soon after U.S. and European regulators removed prohibitions against them. A growing middle class and affordable fares have led to a boom in air travel in Asia, putting pressure on airlines, government overseers and infrastructure to keep up. The surge has been particularly keen at Asia's budget airlines such as Lion Air, whose Flight 610 disappeared into the sea shortly after takeoff from Jakarta. The Boeing 737 Max 8 carried 189 people and was bound for Pangkal Pinang on a smaller island in the Indonesian archipelago. Data pinged from the plane showed erratic speed, altitude and direction in the minutes after takeoff. Safety experts cautioned, however, that the data must be checked for accuracy against the plane's so-called black boxes, if they are recovered. Indonesia's aviation industry has a checkered past. The United States and the European Union banned its aircraft from their skies in 2007 after a string of accidents. The Federal Aviation Administration lifted that ban in August 2016. This past June, European regulators - who had already allowed Lion Air and a few other Indonesian carriers to resume flying to Europe - lifted theirs on remaining Indonesia airlines. A spokesman said Monday that the European Commission has no immediate plans to renew the ban on Lion Air, but Australia told government officials and contractors not to fly on the carrier pending findings from the crash investigation. FILE- In this Monday, Oct. 29, 2018, file photo members of Indonesian Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) inspect debris recovered from near the waters where a Lion Air passenger jet is suspected to crash, at Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta, Indonesia. A Lion Air flight crashed into the sea just minutes after taking off from Indonesia's capital on Monday. The deadly crash has renewed questions about the safety of Indonesian airlines soon after U.S. and European regulators removed prohibitions against them. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana, File) The bans directly affected few flights, but Europeans were discouraged from flying on Indonesian airlines while visiting the country, where planes are the only practical way to hop among tourist-destination islands including Bali, Java and Sumatra. Among notable Indonesian accidents: - In 2015, a turboprop operated by Indonesia's Trigana Air crashed in Papua province, killing all 54 people on board. Indonesia's safety agency blamed a number of mistakes by the crew and poor regulatory oversight of the airline. - In 2014, an Indonesia AirAsia jet flying to Singapore crashed into the Java Sea, killing all 162 passengers and crew members. Investigators blamed a rudder-control system that had malfunctioned nearly two dozen times in the previous year, combined with the pilots' response. - Miraculously no one was killed in 2013 when a Lion Air jet descended too low, missed the runway and crashed into the sea off Bali, forcing some passengers to swim for their lives. Investigators blamed the crash during poor visibility largely on pilot errors. In the only previous fatal accident of a Lion Air flight, a plane skidded off a rain-slicked runway and crashed into a cemetery in Surakarta in 2004, killing 25 passengers and crew. The airline has had other problems too, including the arrests of four pilots for drug possession in 2011 and 2012. Harro Ranter, who runs the Aviation Safety Network, said Indonesian airlines must contend with difficult terrain in some provinces, frequent bad weather that leads to poor visibility, and shortcomings with air traffic controllers, who have on occasion put two planes on the same active runway. There have also been fears that the country would be unable to train or attract enough qualified pilots and that airlines would struggle to manage rapid growth, he added. "Indonesia does stand out ... they did have some really bad accidents in the past," Ranter said. "It's hard to judge if they have made sufficient progress with regard to safety." He said it is difficult to pin a specific accident on the safety culture, but that international regulators will be closely watching the investigation into Flight 610. Boeing and rival Airbus have been stepping up production to meet the seemingly insatiable demand for new planes among global airlines, many of them in Asia. Traffic on the world's airlines - measured in the number of miles or kilometers flown by passengers - jumped 8.1 percent last year, the fastest rate of growth since 2005, according to the International Air Transport Association, a trade group for the industry. It marked the third straight year of traffic growth above the long-term average of 5.5 percent growth in traffic. China led the way in most new domestic passengers, by a wide margin. Indonesia ranked sixth. Aircraft operators in the Asia-Pacific region have had the highest number of accidents in the last five years, accounting for about one-fourth of all accidents, according to the trade group. But the accident rate has declined - from 2.33 every million flights in 2016 to 1.54 every million flights last year. Southeast Asia and the Pacific have a far lower accident rate than Africa and South America, according to figures from the trade group and the UN's International Civil Aviation Organization. The Lion Air crash appears to be the first involving the Boeing 737 Max 8, a more fuel-efficient update of Boeing's popular 737, the best-selling airliner ever. Lion Air received the jet involved in the crash just two months ago. In a statement, Chicago-based Boeing Co. said it was "deeply saddened" by the crash and was prepared to offer technical help to investigators. Boeing shares fell on news of the accident. They were down $12.47, or 3.5 percent, at $346.80 in early-afternoon trading. Jim Corridore, an analyst for CFRA Research, said Boeing planes have a good safety record and the accident is unlikely to hurt orders for new planes. Lion Air became the first airline to get a 737 Max, in May 2017, and has received 13 of the 201 Max planes that Boeing has delivered, according to the Boeing website. Boeing has taken nearly 4,800 orders for the plane, including 201 from Lion Air. Southwest Airlines was the first U.S. carrier to fly the plane and has taken 23 of them, according to Boeing. ___ David Koenig can be reached at http://twitter.com/airlinewriter FILE- In this Monday, Oct. 29, 2018, file photo a wallet belonging to a victim of the Lion Air passenger jet that crashed floats in the waters of Ujung Karawang, West Java, Indonesia. A Lion Air flight crashed into the sea just minutes after taking off from Indonesia's capital on Monday. The deadly crash has renewed questions about the safety of Indonesian airlines soon after U.S. and European regulators removed prohibitions against them. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim, File) LOS ANGELES (AP) - The Latest on a lawsuit against a New Hampshire state lawmaker (all times local): 3:35 p.m. A New Hampshire state lawmaker accused of assault in a civil lawsuit in California says he's the victim of an extortion attempt. State Rep. Frank Sapareto was sued by Jonathan Carter of Simi Valley. Carter said he and Sapareto were business partners in the making of an adult film that Sapareto produced and appeared in. Carter said Sapareto was upset with how the filming went and hit him. Sapareto said Monday he never assaulted Carter and only worked with him to produce tourism promotion films. He says Carter later called him to demand money. Carter's attorney says his client has hours of footage from the adult film featuring Sapareto. Police investigated the incident but no charges were brought. In a police report, authorities said Sapareto told them he was involved in making an adult film. Sapareto said police misinterpreted comments he had made about Carter. ___ 1:25 p.m. Authorities say Southern California prosecutors have declined to file criminal charges against a New Hampshire state lawmaker accused in a lawsuit of assault. Simi Valley police Sgt. Steve Shorts said Monday the Ventura County district attorney's office found there was insufficient evidence to charge state Rep. Frank Sapareto. The Republican lawmaker has denied the allegations in a lawsuit by a California man who claims the two were business partners making adult films. Jonathan Carter said in a lawsuit filed last week that Sapareto assaulted him in June after becoming upset with his experience starring in the film. Shorts says police issued a misdemeanor battery citation to Sapareto after Carter reported the alleged attack and referred the case to prosecutors. Shorts says prosecutors declined to charge him. ___ 12:19 p.m. A California man who claims he was producing a porn film starring a New Hampshire lawmaker has filed a lawsuit accusing the politician of assault. Jonathan Carter of Simi Valley sued Friday seeking unspecified damages following a June incident he claims involved state Rep. Frank Sapareto. The Republican legislator from Derry, New Hampshire, denied the allegations or knowing Carter. The suit says Carter and Sapareto formed a partnership to make adult movies and Sapareto would star in the first film. It says Sapareto filmed scenes for the movie in California but became upset with how they went and the next day assaulted Carter at his home. Carter's attorney says police issued Sapareto a misdemeanor battery citation and no criminal charges have been filed. ___ Ramer reported from Concord, New Hampshire. FARGO, N.D. (AP) - A North Dakota man was sentenced Monday to life in prison for conspiring to kidnap a baby that his girlfriend had cut from their neighbor's body and lying to police about it, but with a chance at parole that the slain woman's mother said he should not have. "We want justice. He deserves a life sentence. I don't think this man should ever walk free," Norberta Greywind, mother of 22-year-old Savanna Greywind of Fargo, said of William Hoehn. "He betrayed our family. He looked us in the eye with a straight face while our daughter lay dead in his apartment. Please don't ever consider letting him out." Hoehn, 33, was found not guilty last month of conspiracy to commit murder in Savanna Greywind's August 2017 death. Brooke Crews admitted that she sliced Greywind's baby from her womb and is serving life in prison without the possibility of parole in that killing. Hoehn denied knowing anything about Crews' plan to kill Greywind and take her baby. But he admitted to hiding the newborn and giving false information to law enforcement to cover up the crime. Hoehn apologized during the hearing, saying his actions were "impossible to justify." "I could have and should have brought closure to this tragedy as soon as possible," he said. "Instead, I made it worse by helping." William Hoehn awaits sentencing on Monday, Oct. 29, 2018, in Cass County District Court in Fargo, N.D. Hoehn, a North Dakota man, was sentenced Monday to life in prison for conspiring to kidnap a baby that his girlfriend had cut from their neighbor's body and lying to police about it, a sentence that didn't entirely satisfy the slain woman's mother. (Ann Arbor Miller/The Forum via AP, Pool) Hoehn had faced a maximum 21 years behind bars on the conspiracy and lying counts, but state Judge Tom Olson on Monday granted prosecutors' request to label Hoehn a dangerous offender, enhancing his maximum sentence to life with the possibility of parole. Defense attorney Daniel Borgen, who had asked for a seven-year prison sentence, could not immediately be reached for comment. Crews testified during Hoehn's trial that she concocted a phony pregnancy because she was afraid of losing him, and that when he figured out she was lying, he told her she needed to produce a baby. Crews said she took that as an ultimatum. Crews said she never explicitly told Hoehn what she planned to do, but she also said that when he arrived home to find a newborn and a bleeding Greywind, he twisted a rope around Greywind's neck to make sure she was dead. A coroner was unable to determine if the cause of death was strangulation or blood loss. "Savanna would have been an amazing mother, and she was an awesome daughter," Norberta Greywind said in her victim impact statement to the court. "This man took something that can't be brought back. He devastated our family. Every day is a struggle." Crews testified during Hoehn's trial that officers missed Greywind's body and her baby during three searches of the couple's apartment. Police eventually found the baby alive in the apartment, and the child is in the care of her father. Greywind's body was found by kayakers several days after she was killed, shrouded in plastic and dumped in the Red River. Attorney Gloria Allred, who represents the Greywind family, criticized the police investigation in remarks outside the courtroom Monday. "How could the police have searched and failed to find Savanna's body and the baby earlier? These questions demand answers," she said. Fargo Police Chief David Todd has defended the investigation, saying officers during their initial searches were looking for a missing person, not a hidden body. He also has said his department dedicated dozens of personnel to the case that included the use of airplanes, boats and police dogs. BARRON, Wis. (AP) - Prosecutors have charged a man with burglarizing a Wisconsin home where a couple was killed and their 13-year-old daughter went missing, but authorities say he's not a suspect in the case. Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald says 32-year-old Kyle Jaenke-Annis was arrested over the weekend at the home of James and Denise Closs. The couple was found shot dead early on Oct. 15 and their daughter, Jayme, was missing. Authorities believe Jayme was abducted, and she has been ruled out as a suspect in her parents' killings. According to the complaint, authorities discovered Jaenke-Annis in the Closs home early Saturday, the morning of the couple's funeral. Jaenke-Annis told investigators he found the house unlocked, walked in and took some of Jayme's clothing. Fitzgerald did not say why Jaenke-Annis was cleared of any involvement in Jayme's disappearance. He is due in court Nov. 7. PANAMA CITY, Fla. (AP) - Two U.S. senators and three congressmen are asking federal officials to bring recreational vehicles and mobile homes to the Florida Panhandle to help residents who lost their homes to Hurricane Michael. Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio and Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson on Monday said in a letter to FEMA's director that the alternative housing must be deployed immediately to the Panhandle to alleviate suffering. They were joined in their request by three U.S. congressmen who represent the Panhandle - Republicans Neal Dunn and Matt Gaetz and Democrat Al Lawson. Hurricane Michael devastated parts of the Panhandle when it made landfall almost three weeks ago as a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 155 mph (250 kph). FILE - In this Oct. 17, 2018 file photo, Lanie Eden and her husband Ron stand in the destroyed vacation home they rented every year as they look for their possessions in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael in Mexico Beach, Fla. The tropical weather that turned into monster Hurricane Michael began as a relatively humble storm before rapidly blossoming into the most powerful cyclone ever to hit the Florida Panhandle, causing wrenching scenes of widespread destruction. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File) FILE - In this Oct. 14, 2018 file photo, Marla Wood pulls a framed art piece out of the rubble of her damaged home from Hurricane Michael in Mexico Beach, Fla. The tropical weather that turned into monster Hurricane Michael began as a relatively humble storm before rapidly blossoming into the most powerful cyclone ever to hit the Florida Panhandle, causing wrenching scenes of widespread destruction. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File) NEW YORK (AP) - A social media service believed to be used by the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting suspect to post hateful rants advertises itself as a haven for free speech. No, not Twitter. The site is Gab, which has become a breeding ground for white nationalists, neo-Nazis and other extremists as more mainstream sites cracked down on hate speech and threats of violence. By Monday, Gab was effectively - if momentarily - left internet-homeless. It was long ago cut off from smartphone app stores, but it's now banned by payment processors such as PayPal and internet infrastructure providers. Its founder, Andrew Torba, says the site is being censored and smeared. WHAT HAPPENED Police have identified the shooting suspect as Robert Bowers, 46, of Pittsburgh. A man with the same name posted virulently anti-Semitic posts on the morning of Saturday's shooting. Gab says it suspended the account and contacted law enforcement immediately. In a note posted on Gab.com, Torba said the service has been working with authorities to "bring justice to an alleged terrorist." Still, Gab is getting the blame. A slew of tech companies, including domain-name provider GoDaddy and payment companies PayPal and Stripe, dropped Gab. Torba decried that it was "no-platformed" - or kicked off, essentially - by internet infrastructure providers "at every level." FILE- In this Oct. 28, 2018, file photo a Pittsburgh Police officer walks past the Tree of Life Synagogue and a memorial of flowers and stars in Pittsburgh in remembrance of those killed and injured when a shooter opened fire during services Saturday at the synagogue. The social media site popular with far-right extremists and apparently used by the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting suspect, advertises as a haven for free-speech fans. As more mainstream sites have cracked down on hate speech and threats of violence, critics say Gab has become a breeding ground for white nationalists, neo-Nazis and other extremists. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File) GoDaddy said Monday that it has given Gab 24 hours to move its domain name to another company for violating its terms of service against promoting violence. GoDaddy said it didn't act earlier because it had not received "any viable complaints" until this weekend. PayPal said it had been "closely monitoring" Gab before the shooting and was in the process of canceling the account before Saturday's events. Stripe declined comment. Gab now has just a simple home page with Torba's message. In it, Torba vowed that "Gab isn't going anywhere." He said the service is moving to a new hosting provider and "working around the clock" to resume its forums. He didn't say which company was willing to provide the services. NOTORIETY IN JUST TWO YEARS Torba created Gab in August 2016 to counter what he saw as a left-wing censorship of other social networks. While he has insisted that Gab welcomes "everyone," he told Fox News in 2016 that the site is "getting a lot of people on the right" because they are being censored. It gained popularity during the U.S. presidential campaigns as Twitter and Facebook were cracking down on false news and banning members of the so-called "alt-right" movement associated with racism, sexism and anti-Semitism. Based on his interviews at the time, Torba was especially incensed by a report in 2016 that Facebook editors were biased against conservative sites when picking the since-shuttered "trending" topics on the social networking giant. HOW IT WORKS Gab's logo, a green frog, has been compared to "Pepe the Frog," a cartoon frog used as a meme by the alt-right. Instead of tweets, Gab users post "gabs," which can be up to 300 characters (slightly longer than Twitter) and up- or down-voted by other members (similar to Reddit). Though it bills itself as a free-speech bastion, Gab still has rules. An archived snapshot from the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine shows that Gab bans "illegal pornography" while permitting "legal pornography" as long as it's clearly marked as #NSFW (not safe for work). Sending spam, selling illegal drugs, impersonating others and violating copyrights are also prohibited, along with sharing people's private information such as addresses and phone numbers. OTHER CONTROVERSIES The latest bans may have been the most extreme, but it's not Gab's first. Google banned Gab from its Android app store in August 2017 as tech companies cracked down on sites popular with white nationalists following a deadly clash at a white-nationalist rally in Virginia. At the time, Gab's app was already unavailable on Apple's app store. Until now, Gab remained accessible on the web. Two months ago, Microsoft threatened to kick Gab off its Azure hosting platform if it didn't remove violent anti-Semitic content from its service. According to reports and tweets at the time, the Gab user who sent the posts complied and Gab remained on Azure a bit longer (but isn't any more). Microsoft said it felt uncomfortable with Gab's ability to adhere to Microsoft's service terms and terminated its Azure agreement with Gab in September. A message on the site Gab is displayed on an iPhone in New York on Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. The social media site popular with far-right extremists and apparently used by the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting suspect, advertises as a haven for free-speech fans. Its founder, Andrew Torba, says the site is being censored and smeared. On Monday Gab was effectively, if momentarily, left internet-homeless, long ago cut off from smartphone app stores but now banned from payment processors such as PayPal and internet infrastructure providers. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane) This image shows a portion of an archived webpage from the social media website Gab, with a Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018 posting by Pittsburgh synagogue shooting suspect Robert Bowers. HIAS, mentioned in the posting, is a Maryland-based nonprofit group that helps refugees around the world find safety and freedom. (AP Photo) Avivo Group, one of the fastest growing healthcare organisations in the GCC, has announced the launch of Breasthetica, a social impact campaign for breast cancer survivors in the UAE providing post-cancer breast aesthetic surgery. The campaign aims to help breast cancer survivors in the country through their recovery process by offering three women free breast aesthetic surgeries. After a mastectomy, breast aesthetic surgery can make a woman feel better about how she looks and can renew her self-confidence. The aesthetic surgeries will be performed by Avivos renowned team of board-certified plastic surgeons, giving hope to women who desire to look their original self but dont have the resources to have the surgery, said a statement. Dr Dilshaad Ali, group CEO, Avivo Group, said: Breast cancer is a tough battle to fight; physically, emotionally and psychologically. Through Breasthetica we not only want to spread awareness about the disease, but we also want to empower women to regain their confidence, and have happy and fulfilled lives, like everyone else. Breasthetica is Avivos contribution to society. Besides providing access to such specialized surgery to deserving patients, we see this as an opportunity for us to raise awareness that there is life after cancer, especially when detected early, Dr Ali said. Breasthetica will be led by Aesthetica Clinic Dubai an Avivo group enterprise that focuses on anti-ageing, aesthetic medicine and plastic surgical procedures. Deserving candidates will be chosen by an independent medical committee comprising an internationally renowned team of surgeons and independent representatives from leading UAE healthcare entities. The programme will support the candidates throughout the pre-selection process, pre-surgery, surgery and follow up aftercare that will run continuously for a lifetime. - TradeArabia News Service FORSYTH, Ga. (AP) - Authorities say Georgia sheriff's deputies fatally shot a 42-year-old woman confronting them with a pellet gun after the officers were dispatched on a 911 call. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said in a news release that Ida Christy Stiles died after three Monroe County deputies fired their guns at her. The GBI says a woman called 911 on Monday morning asking for deputies to be sent to Stiles' address. The news release says Stiles refused to come to the door when three deputies arrived, so deputies entered the house and were "confronted by Stiles, who brandished a pistol." The GBI says authorities discovered after the shooting that the pistol Stiles held was a pellet gun. The woman's father, David Stiles, told WMAZ-TV his daughter had a history of mental illness. President Michael D Higgins is on course for a landslide victory in the Irish presidential election after exit polls suggested he had secured more than 56% of the vote. An RTE exit poll predicted incumbent president Mr Higgins received 58.1% of first-preference votes, while an Irish Times poll projected Mr Higgins topped the vote with 56%. The results put controversial businessman and former Irish Dragons Den star Peter Casey in second with about 20% of first-preference votes. It means Mr Higgins is likely to be easily re-elected on the first count for a second seven-year term. The polls have closed & we want to thank everyone for all your help. We don't know the outcome yet, but we do know we could not have run this campaign without you. Thank you. #MichaelDforPresident #Aras18 pic.twitter.com/9jFQvuRivF Michael D Higgins (@MichaelDHiggins) October 26, 2018 More than 3,400 people were interviewed for the RTE poll by Red C outside 138 polling stations across the country on Friday. The results indicate Sinn Fein MEP Liadh Ni Riada received 7.4% of the vote, Senator Joan Freeman 6.3% and businessman and former Dragons Den investor Sean Gallagher 5.5%. The Irish Times poll, conducted by Ipsos/MRBI, questioned more than 4,300 voters outside 160 polling stations across the country. Its results put Mr Gallagher at 7%, Ms Ni Riada on 8% and Ms Freeman on 6%. The six candidates in the presidential election (PA) The results of both polls, which were published at 10pm as polling stations across the country closed, indicate that Gavin Duffy secured the lowest number of votes at 2%. More than 3.2 million people were entitled to vote in 40 constituencies across the country. As well as deciding who they wanted to see in Aras an Uachtarain for the next seven years, electorates were also asked whether they wanted to remove the offence of blasphemy from the Irish constitution. Go raibh mile maith agat to everyone that came out to vote for me today. Your support throughout this campaign has been phenomenal and hasn't gone unnoticed. Together we can build a new Ireland.#Aras18 #LiadhForPresident pic.twitter.com/77k7JERmfx Liadh Ni Riada (@LiadhNiRiada) October 26, 2018 The exit polls suggest that the referendum will be passed by a significant majority. RTEs exit poll found that 71.1% said they had voted Yes and that 26.3% had voted No, while the Irish Times poll predicted that 69% had backed the proposal and 31% had voted against the change. Opinion polls throughout the campaign consistently placed Mr Higgins as the favourite to win, despite being plagued by questions over presidential expenses. During the campaign, Mr Higgins also came in for criticism over his use of the Governments jet to travel from Dublin to Belfast. Mr Casey faced calls to withdraw after he claimed Travellers were simply people camping on someone elses land and that Irelands recognition of them as members of an ethnic minority was a load of nonsense. It was Mr Gallaghers second time running for the presidency after a failed bid in 2011. At the time he secured more than half a million first-time votes. Exit polls put Peter Casey in second with about 20% of first-preference votes (Rebecca Black/PA) During the campaign, however, he was pressed over what he had done in public life in the past seven years. Ms Ni Riada was forced to reject claims that she did not support the HPV vaccine, Ms Freeman was quizzed on a 130,000 euro loan she had received from donors to fund her campaign, while Mr Duffy faced questioned over his past driving convictions. Mr Higgins is the countrys ninth president. He was elected in 2011. If re-elected, the 77-year old will become the fifth president to serve for two terms. Four presidents Sean T OKelly, Eamon de Valera, Patrick Hillery and Mary McAleese served for 14 years. Douglas Hyde, Irelands first president, was elected in 1938. Counting of votes will begin on Saturday morning with a result expected by the evening. The counting process has started in Irelands presidential election, with incumbent Michael D Higgins on course to secure a landslide victory. Staff at 28 count centres across the country began sorting and collating the ballot papers at 9am. Mr Higgins, 77, looks set to be re-elected for a second term after exit polls suggested he had secured more than 56% of the vote. An RTE exit poll predicted Mr Higgins received 58.1% of first-preference votes, while an Irish Times poll projected Mr Higgins topped the vote with 56%. The results put controversial businessman and former Irish Dragons Den star Peter Casey in second with about 20% of first-preference votes. President and Sabina Higgins have cast their votes in the Presidential elections and the referendum on the proposal to change the Constitution of Ireland in relation to the issue of blasphemy. #Aras18 pic.twitter.com/OKfLfnHikt President of Ireland (@PresidentIRL) October 26, 2018 Mr Caseys support had been as low as 1% in opinion polls in the early stages of the campaign but his vote appears to have surged following his critical comments about the Travelling community and his assertions that there was a culture of welfare dependency in Ireland. If the exit polls are correct, Mr Higgins is likely to be easily re-elected on the first count for a second seven-year term. If he secures more than 56.3% of the vote he will record the highest ever winning percentage in a presidential election. That would be all the more remarkable given it was a six-horse race the 56.3% won by Eamon de Valera in 1959 was in a two-way contest. The presidents communications director Bernard Harbour told RTE: If the exit polls are correct, and obviously they are very close together, I think that shows the people have voted for decency, for inclusiveness, for competency and experience that Michael D has brought to the role. Mr Casey denied his comments on Travellers were the reason for his apparent vote surge. This is not about the Travelling community, he told RTE. He said his advocacy for middle Ireland people who are struggling to pay bills and get on the housing ladder resonated with the voters. I think people are looking for voice, someone who will say things that are in the mind, he said. I think there is a breath of fresh air coming through Irish politics. Mr Casey hinted that he might now turn his focus to securing another elected office, potentially in the Dail. I will definitely be doing something where I think I can make a difference, he said. More than 3,400 people were interviewed for the RTE poll by Red C outside 138 polling stations across the country on Friday. The results indicate Sinn Fein MEP Liadh Ni Riada received 7.4% of the vote, Senator Joan Freeman 6.3% and businessman and former Dragons Den investor Sean Gallagher 5.5%. The Irish Times poll, conducted by Ipsos/MRBI, questioned more than 4,300 voters outside 160 polling stations across the country. Its results put Mr Gallagher at 7%, Ms Ni Riada on 8% and Ms Freeman on 6%. Sinn Fein MEP Liadh Ni Riada casts her vote in Cork (Aoife Moore/PA) The results of both polls, which were published when polling stations across the country closed on Friday night, indicate that Gavin Duffy, the third Dragon in the race, secured the lowest number of votes at 2%. More than 3.2 million people were entitled to vote in 40 constituencies across the country. As well as deciding who they wanted to see in Aras an Uachtarain for the next seven years, electorates were also asked whether they wanted to remove the offence of blasphemy from the Irish constitution. The exit polls suggest that the referendum will be passed by a significant majority. RTEs exit poll found that 71.1% said they had voted Yes and that 26.3% had voted No, while the Irish Times poll predicted that 69% had backed the proposal and 31% had voted against the change. Opinion polls throughout the campaign consistently placed Mr Higgins as the favourite to win, despite being plagued by questions over presidential expenses. During the campaign, Mr Higgins also came in for criticism over his use of the Governments jet to travel from Dublin to Belfast. His nearest contender, Mr Casey, faced calls to withdraw after he claimed Travellers were simply people camping on someone elses land and that Irelands recognition of them as members of an ethnic minority was a load of nonsense. Peter Casey casts his vote at the polling station in Greencastle National School, Co Donegal (Rebecca Black/PA) Mr Gallagher is running for the presidency for a second time after a failed bid in 2011. He secured more than half a million first-time votes at the time. During the campaign, however, he was pressed over what he had done in public life in the past seven years. Ms Ni Riada was forced to reject claims that she did not support the HPV vaccine, Ms Freeman was quizzed on a 130,000 euro loan she had received from donors to fund her campaign, while Mr Duffy faced questioned over his past driving convictions. Mr Higgins is the countrys ninth president. He was elected in 2011. If re-elected, the 77-year old will become the fifth president to serve for two terms. Four presidents Sean T OKelly, Eamon de Valera, Patrick Hillery and Mary McAleese served for 14 years. Douglas Hyde, Irelands first president, was elected in 1938. Counting of votes will begin on Saturday morning with a result expected by the evening. Police are appealing for help to trace two young brothers missing in Dundee. Christopher, 12, and Steven Gallacher, 11, were last seen in the city centre at about 2pm on Saturday. Christopher is 5ft 5in with dark brown hair, and he was wearing a bright yellow hooded jumper and shorts. His younger brother is about the same height and has dark brown hair in a mohawk style, with patterns shaved into the sides. He was wearing a light coloured T-shirt, green jogging bottoms, glasses and was carrying a backpack. Officers from Police Scotland are searching the city centre area for the youngsters, and anyone who has seen them or knows of their whereabouts is urged to contact 101. Sinn Fein has blamed the personalised nature of the brief Irish presidential campaign for its disappointing showing. The party effectively triggered the election but did not name its candidate, Liadh Ni Riada, until September for a contest dominated by incumbent Michael D Higgins. Sinn Feins share of the vote dropped sharply. Mrs Ni Riada said: You just have to take it on the chin. A chairde, I want to say a big mile buiochas for all your support and hard work over the past six weeks. We certainly made sure that there was no coronation & that a United Ireland is firmly back on the agenda. We've just started to climb the mountain, agus beidh la eile ann. pic.twitter.com/EPLzvpKo0u Liadh Ni Riada (@LiadhNiRiada) October 27, 2018 Much of the focus during the campaign was on the expenses of Mr Higgins, until the final week when candidate Peter Casey said Irish Travellers should not be treated as a separate ethnic minority. Mrs Ni Riada said: It is different to political elections in that regard, it is much more personality-based, and had we had more time people would have got to know me better, I am hoping. But she said it was good to take a chance. It is always good to put yourself forward, it is always good to challenge yourself and ideas, that is really important. Leader Mary Lou McDonald has defended her partys decision to contest the election, the first in seven years, rather than giving Mr Higgins a second term without challenge. She told broadcaster RTE the presidency should not run for 14 years without punctuation for a role that costs the state 8 million euro (7.1 million). The last poll was in 2011, when her party fielded the hugely-recognisable former Stormont deputy first minister and peace process negotiator Martin McGuinness. He won 14% of the vote. Mrs Ni Riada received the vociferous backing of her party leader. But her posters did not feature the partys logo. Liadh Ni Riada, left, with Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald at Dublin Castle (Niall Carson/PA) In the closing days of the campaign, she focused her attack on the president on his finances, repeatedly questioning his expenses spending and use of a Government jet to fly from Dublin to Belfast for an engagement. Polling ultimately suggested that expenses played a relatively minor role in deciding peoples voting intentions. The turnout was also low, with no sign of the large youth vote which has galvanised past Sinn Fein campaigns. Traditionally, the party has faced challenges in the Republic because of its support for the IRA during the Northern Ireland conflict, which largely ended in 1998. It has fended off continued criticism from unionists about what they term the glorification of terrorism, which republicans justify as commemorating their dead. While votes were being counted on Saturday, in west Belfast republicans remembered Thomas Begley, who was killed by his own bomb which exploded prematurely at a fish shop on the Shankill Road 25 years ago, killing nine innocent people. Candidates for the presidential election were asked during a live TV debate if they would wear the poppy, the symbol of the Royal British Legion, on Armistice Day next month. Ms Ni Riada replied that she would. Her answer drew criticism from members of her own party, some of whom see the poppy as too closely associated with the British military, and she admitted the topic was divisive, especially within Sinn Fein. A man has been charged with murder following the death of a teenager in a drive-by shooting last month. Guled Farah, 19, died after being shot in Walthamstow, east London, on September 22. Delston Galloway, 25, was charged on Saturday with his murder. Another man, 27-year-old Andre Campbell, was charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition. They were both arrested on Friday, and will appear at Hendon Magistrates Court on Monday. Mr Farah, from Newham, was shot at from a car and died around 40 minutes later. Guled Farah, 19, died after being shot in Walthamstow in September (Met Police/PA) A post-mortem examination gave his cause of death as a gunshot wound to the chest. A 23-year-old man arrested on September 23 over the incident has been released with no further action. Irelands premier Leo Varadkar has hailed the presidential election as an historic victory as Michael D Higgins could receive a million first preference votes. Mr Varadkar was speaking as the last few constituencies declared an overwhelming victory for the incumbent. Mr Higgins is believed to have secured over half of the first preference votes. I am really pleased at the result tonight, this is an historic victory, a resounding victory for President Higgins, who is going to be re-elected to a second term, Mr Varadkar said. Leo Varadkar has hailed the election result (Niall Carson/PA) His vote may well approach a million first preference votes, which would be an historic result and he is going to be the highest polling candidate, topping the poll in every single constituency. So this is a resounding endorsement from all sections of the Irish community, every constituency, every age group, rural and urban, so I am really pleased. While Mr Higgins is on course for a potentially historic winning tally, much focus has been on the contender set to come second: controversial businessman Peter Casey. Mr Caseys vote appears to have surged on the back of his critical comments about the Travelling community and assertions that Ireland has a culture of welfare dependency. Election candidate Peter Casey speaks to the media at the convention centre in Dublin (Niall Carson/PA) Sinn Fein on the other hand look on course for a disappointing result, with candidate Ms Ni Riada potentially only going to secure half of the support achieved by the late Martin McGuinness in 2011. Mr Higginss communications director Bernard Harbour said the exit polls demonstrated that people were very happy with how the president had conducted himself in his first seven years in office. I think it shows resounding support for the message he was giving to people, which was that he has been, and will be, a president for all of the people, a message of quality and inclusiveness that everybody in Ireland should be represented and should be represented well by their president, he told the Press Association. President and Sabina Higgins have cast their votes in the Presidential elections and the referendum on the proposal to change the Constitution of Ireland in relation to the issue of blasphemy. #Aras18 pic.twitter.com/OKfLfnHikt President of Ireland (@PresidentIRL) October 26, 2018 The exit polls results put former Irish Dragons Den star Mr Casey in second with about 20% of first-preference votes. His support had been as low as 1% in opinion polls in the early stages of the campaign but his vote appears to have rocketed after what rivals characterised as a populist move to criticise Travellers and welfare recipients. Mr Casey denied those controversial comments were the reason for his apparent vote surge, though said if he had won the election he would have advocated moving members of the Travelling community into Dublins vast Phoenix Park. The millionaire said his advocacy for middle Ireland people who are struggling to pay bills and get on the housing ladder resonated with the voters. He added: The real reason I got a bump in the polls is because I spoke out and said middle Ireland, they are the people who are hurting, they are the people who got nothing out of the last Budget and they are the ones who are paying all the bills. Speaking at Dublin Castle, Mr Casey refuted once again that he had used the racist card to gain his vote. You cant be a racist if you dont regard the people you are talking to as a different race, he said. Theyre not. Theyre Irish and theyre proud Irish people so thats not possible really. Mr Casey hinted he might now turn his focus to securing another elected office, potentially in the Dail. I have had about 30 minutes over coffee with my wife this morning, I think we need to sit down, take stock and make a decision very shortly, he said. Mr Casey said he was still waiting on the Taoiseach to apologise for asking people not to vote for him in the election. He said it was disgraceful Mr Varadkar had called on the public not to vote for him over his comments on the Traveller community. Staff at 28 count centres across the country began sorting and collating the ballot papers at 9am. Vote-counting in Dublin (Niall Carson/PA) More than 3.2 million people were entitled to vote in 40 constituencies across the country. As well as deciding who they wanted to see in the presidents residence at Aras an Uachtarain for the next seven years, the electorate was also asked whether they wanted to remove the offence of blasphemy from the Irish constitution. The exit polls suggest the referendum will be passed by a significant majority. A gunman has killed several people and injured six others after opening fire during a baby naming ceremony at a Pittsburgh synagogue. 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 was unclear how many people have been killed, with indications the death toll might be considerably higher. Wendell Hissrich, Pittsburgh public safety director, said among the six injured were four police officers who rushed to the scene. It is a very horrific crime scene. It was one of the worst that Ive seen. It is very bad, he said. 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. (PA Graphics) 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. 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. President Donald Trump called the shooting far more devastating than anyone thought, saying: Its a terrible thing whats going on with hate in our country. But Mr Trump added the outcome would have been different if the synagogue had an armed guard. They didnt have any protection, he told reporters at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. Offering a different take, Pennsylvania Democrat Governor Tom Wolf, a Democrat, 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. 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. 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. The Tree of Life synagogue on Wildins Avenue in the Squirrel Hill neighbourhood (Pam Panchak/Post-Gazette via 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! Michael D Higgins has welcomed his re-election as president of Ireland as a vote for hope over fear. He secured his second term in office with a landslide margin of more than 55% of the vote. All 40 constituencies around Ireland were declared shortly after 7.30pm. Some 1,492,338 people voted. Michael D Higgins has been re-elected President of Ireland on the first count, with 822,566 #aras18 #PresidentMichaelDHiggins pic.twitter.com/6lXYEu3itr Michael D Higgins (@MichaelDHiggins) October 27, 2018 Mr Higgins said: The people have made a choice as to which version of Irishness they want reflected at home and abroad. It is the making of hope they wish to share rather than the experience of any exploitation of division or fear. He said his version of Ireland is one which draws on traditional genius and contemporary creativity. The presidency belongs not only to any one person but to the people of Ireland. I will be a president for all the people, for those who voted for me and those who did not. Mr Higgins celebrates with his wife Sabina at Dublin Castle (Niall Carson/PA) I am so proud of this country, I am proud to be a president for all of you and with all of you, and I look forward with joy and hope to all that we will achieve together. There were loud cheers as the 77-year-old poet, professor and campaigner embraced friends and supporters as he celebrated his victory. Irelands premier Leo Varadkar hailed Mr Higginss re-election as an historic victory. Businessman Peter Casey, initially an outside contender whose last-minute surge in the polls following critical comments about the Travelling community saw him propelled into second place, got 23% of the vote. Peter Casey was a controversial candidate but he came second to Mr Higgins (Niall Carson/PA) Sinn Fein, on the other hand, faced a disappointing result, with candidate Liadh Ni Riada gaining half of the support achieved by the late Martin McGuinness in 2011. Mr Higgins, who has served at almost every level of politics, is a fluent Irish speaker and a long-time campaigner for equality. He made history in 2014 when he became the first Irish president to undertake an official state visit to the UK. Historians may yet correct me but I think @MichaelDHiggins has won the highest first vote for any candidate since the foundation of the State Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) October 27, 2018 The father-of-four attracted criticism when he labelled Fidel Castro, the former Cuban leader, as a giant among global leaders after his death. He has long championed an ethical Republic and has repeatedly addressed issues surrounding memory, commemoration, identity and the conflicting traditions on the island. The refugee crisis in Europe and the plight of migrants has been a favourite topic, as well as the importance of the arts and Irelands great literary tradition. 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. 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. 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. Pittsburgh 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! BASFs Construction Chemicals division has launched a new regional competence centre, a development laboratory, at Dubai Science Park, a holistic science-focused business community in Dubai, UAE. The laboratory opening is fully in line with BASF Construction Chemicals drive to expand its global research and development (R&D) infrastructure for the construction industry and to reinforce the commitment to its regional customers. Seeking to ensure that its products are tailored to the challenging climatic conditions and the unique construction and infrastructure needs of the region, BASFs main R&D focus with its new development laboratory will be on technologies to improve the performance of concrete and construction materials. The new 6,000+ sq ft facility at Dubai Science Park will be one of only eight regional development laboratories, three of which are located in Europe, two in North America and two more in the Asia Pacific region. The facility comprises a reactive resin laboratory, a powder laboratory, an analytical laboratory and office spaces, featuring state-of-the-art equipment that can characterize raw materials and determine the physical properties of diverse construction materials. The core competencies of the laboratory (cementitious binder systems, polyurethane/polyurea chemistry, epoxy resins and hardeners as well as water- based emulsion chemistry) are covering all key technologies of modern construction materials such as repair mortars, tile fixing products, protective coatings, sealants, waterproofing membranes, car park coatings and decorative flooring material. With a currently ongoing expansion of the existing concrete admixture laboratory, the new competence center is expected to serve not just the local market, but the wider Middle East, West Asia, CIS and African region. Dr Michael Schmidt, head of Development, Construction Chemicals Division ORA: Middle East, West Asia, CIS and Africa, said, The inauguration marks a significant milestone for us. This region is now part of an incredible global R&D network within BASF Construction Chemicals. The new operation in Dubai will enable us to develop and test innovative products and solutions specifically for this region much faster than before. As R&D is now closer to our regional customers we also will be able to capture their needs at a very early stage and feed them back into our R&D pipeline. Our new technologies will offer benefits across the complete lifecycle of buildings and all other types of construction, including improved health and safety standards, higher energy efficiency, faster progress and lower overall costs. Dubai Science Park has provided us with specialized facilities, as well as proximity to our suppliers and partners, he added. Dr Christian Geierhaas, vice president, Construction Chemicals Middle East, West Asia, CIS & Africa, said: BASF Group recently announced to evaluate strategic options for its Construction Chemicals division, with the goal to form a global leader of the industry. This investment in local R&D capacity is another step to reinforce BASFs continued full commitment to both its customers in the Middle East and to the construction industry. We are a leading player in the region and our new state of the art research center further cements this, together with other ongoing investments into our local production footprint in the GCC. Marwan Abdulaziz Janahi, managing director of Dubai Science Park and chairing member of the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Equipment Taskforce of the Dubai Industrial Strategy 2030, said, We are delighted to welcome BASF Construction Chemicals to our vibrant community of more than 350 companies and over 3,600 industry professionals. BASF Construction Chemicals enjoys an excellent reputation as a market leader, offering durable and energy efficient construction materials customized to the needs of the regional construction sector. The opening of this development laboratory marks the latest addition of top German companies to our growing community and we look forward to building successful synergies for years to come. TradeArabia News Service Theresa May has joined international condemnation after a gunman opened fire in a synagogue in Pittsburgh, killing at least 10 people. At least six other people four of them police officers were wounded in the attack during a baby-naming ceremony at the Tree of Life Congregation. "Im deeply shocked by the reports of a shooting at a synagogue in the US today. Our thoughts are with the Jewish community in Pittsburgh and all those affected by this sickening and cowardly act." PM @theresa_may UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) October 27, 2018 Mrs May said in a statement: Im deeply shocked by the reports of a shooting at a synagogue in the US today. Our thoughts are with the Jewish community in Pittsburgh and all those affected by this sickening and cowardly act. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: My thoughts are with those killed or injured in this horrific act of antisemitic violence, and with their loved ones. We must stand together against hate and terror. The scene at the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh (Alexandra Wimley/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette/AP) Our hearts go out to the innocent worshippers gunned down in cold blood at a Pittsburgh synagogue. According to reports, the shooter said "all these Jews must die". The UK's Jewish community stands in solidarity with everyone affected in the US, now and always. - @BoDPres Board of Deputies of British Jews (@BoardofDeputies) October 27, 2018 London mayor Sadiq Khan expressed his condolences to the victims while seeking to reassure the capitals Jewish community. Synagogues and all places of worship should be sanctuaries, he said. London stands with the congregation of the Tree of Life in Pittsburgh you are in our thoughts and prayers. I want to reassure the Jewish community in London that City Hall has been in touch with the Met and we will do everything possible to support and protect you. Board of Deputies of British Jews president Marie van der Zyl condemned the killing of innocent worshippers gunned down in cold blood. It is particularly chilling to hear reports that the shooter said All these Jews need to die, she said. The UK Jewish community stands in solidarity with everyone affected in the US. Michael D Higgins has pledged to be a president for all the people of Ireland as he stormed to a resounding and convincing victory. He promised commitment to an inclusive and shared world as he celebrated with friends and supporters at Dublin Castle. The left-leaning politicians campaign focused on a message of equality and togetherness, building strong and sustainable communities and sharing the islands at times divisive history while shaping the future. Mr Higgins said: This is a time to be active rather than passive, and clear choices are opening up as to what will be the character of our Irishness. Will it be a commitment to inclusion and a shared world or a retreat to the misery of an extreme individualism? He said he was deeply moved by the support he received from those of all political parties, and none, and from every strand of Irish life. Michael D Higgins has won another seven-year term in office (Niall Carson/PA) He said he accepted his mandate for the next seven years with humility, determination and excitement. A real republic is a life lived together. Words matters, they can hurt, heal, empower or divide. A real Republic is a Republic of Equality, or shared possibilities and capabilities #PresidentMichaelDHiggins #aras18 pic.twitter.com/StxWet0Pxy Michael D Higgins (@MichaelDHiggins) October 27, 2018 This election shows that our journey is under way and that it includes all age categories and, while led by young people, can be seen amongst all ages and in all the regions, urban and rural, women and men. He said there is momentum behind empathy and compassion. A real republic is a republic of equality, of shared vulnerabilities and of collective capacities. He said people want security in housing and to live in a healthy community. In a landslide win President @MichaelDHiggins has been re-elected as President of Ireland for a second term #Aras18 @PA pic.twitter.com/UsqXF49bFu Michelle Devane (@michelledevane) October 27, 2018 The presidency can bring together the different strands of our nation, past, present and future. Mr Higgins pledged to represent Irelands voice in responding to global challenges like climate change, Brexit, hunger, and the scourge of violence against women. I will, on your behalf, represent an Ireland committed to a peaceful world and a shared planet and together we will ensure that Irelands voice matters, he said. Temperatures will return to normal next week after parts of the UK saw snow during the first cold snap of the year. Snow was seen in higher parts of Scotland and north-east England on Saturday in what one meteorologist called some of the coldest October days in a decade. But after the freeze, while temperatures will stay cool, they will begin to climb as we head into next week. Met Office meteorologist Mark Wilson told the Press Association things will remain chilly overnight into Sunday, but its not going to be excessively cold reaching about minus three or four in rural Scotland and Northern Ireland. He explained: Its going to be a better day for most tomorrow with less snow around. There will be a little bit of snow in the northern hills, but milder than today. Gritters out in Greencroft, County Durham, on Saturday (Owen Humphreys/PA) It will still be cold, but with highs of ten or 11 in the south. It will be a chilly week, but temperatures will recover closer to what they should be for the time of year. After some woke up to flurries, Met Office meteorologist John West told the Press Association on Saturday morning: With temperatures [] struggling to reach double figures across the country these are some of the coldest October days in a decade. We have seen some snow this morning, more up in Scotland. Aviemore has had around 1cm. Images taken on Saturday morning showed people having to clear their cars of snow. But Mr West predicted the cold weather would relent after the weekend. The #cold, Arctic wind will make it feel much colder than temperatures suggest today pic.twitter.com/iONjS1ywC9 Met Office (@metoffice) October 27, 2018 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. Temperatures will recover quite slowly but it is not likely to be as wintry. After an at times bruising campaign, the five defeated candidates were united in congratulating returning president Michael D Higgins. All were fulsome in praise for Mr Higgins, and his wife Sabina, as they took to the stage in Dublin Castle after the presidents impassioned victory speech. Second placed Peter Casey said: Id like to congratulate President Higgins and wish Sabina a wonderful seven years. Im sure the sentiments you described so wonderfully there, Im sure they are shared by everyone here wishing you all the very, very best. Peter Casey offered his congratulations to Mr Higgins (Niall Carson/PA) Mr Casey also reflected on an amazing campaign. Its been a real experience the past six weeks or so, he said. Gavin Duffy joked that he was glad that times allotted for speeches were not in proportion to the number of votes gained. Otherwise I would be departing straight away from the podium, he said. Mr Duffy said he did not regret standing. Was I disappointed? Yes. Did I have regrets? No, he said. He said there are huge changes facing workplaces in Ireland and around the world. I think its important we address those as a united society rather than allowing division, he said. Gavin Duffy said he was disappointed with his result, but he does not regret standing (Niall Carson/PA) In her speech, Joan Freeman singled out the presidents wife Sabina. Im so happy for you Sabina, she said. She added: The people who voted for me thank-you for that. Ms Freeman also praised her fellow candidates. Its not easy to have yourself scrutinised, criticised and sometimes brutalised but you all showed great courage, she said. The defeated candidate said she had hopes to share a glass of wine with the five others who contested the election. In the longest speech of any of the beaten candidates, Sean Gallagher expressed pride in the campaign he and his team had run. Joan Freeman said she hoped to share a drink with the other candidates now the election race is over (Niall Carson/PA) Together we put forward ideas that can shape the future and today is not the end of those ideas, he said. He said he wants an Ireland where opportunity wins out over cynicism. New ideas are driven by brave people willing to step into the arena rather than commentate from the side lines, he said. Sean Gallagher voiced pride in his campaign (Niall Carson/PA) Mr Gallagher added: Looking back, I am proud of what we have achieved and the people we have impacted. Liadh Ni Riada said it was important the election was held, rather than allowing Mr Higgins to return to office unchallenged. The people of Ireland spoke today and spoke with a resounding yes to put Michael D Higgins back in office, she said, congratulating the president. The MEP said she looked forward to the conversation about a united Ireland being firmly on the agenda in the coming seven years. Liadh Ni Riada said holding the election was vital to challenge Mr Higgins (Niall Carson/PA) Mrs Ni Riada also said she hopes voters in Northern Ireland would soon be able to vote in Irish presidential elections. A referendum on the issue is anticipated next year. They must have a vote next time round, she said, to loud cheers from her supporters. Philip Hammond has signalled the Government is ready to invest billions in Britains infrastructure as he prepares to unveil his Budget in the Commons on Monday. The chancellor is expected to announce 28.8 billion to upgrade Englands motorways and other major arterial roads in a drive to improve economic performance and address the productivity gap. 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. Philip Hammond is to announce an extra 28.8 billion for the major road network (Ben Birchall/PA) Despite the continuing the uncertainty over Brexit, the Chancellor insisted the economy was in good shape as the country prepares to leave the EU. The fundamental health of the economy is plain to see. We are operating under a cloud of uncertainty. But notwithstanding that the behaviour of the economy is buoyant, he said. 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. He made clear he was determined to maintain long-term investment in the countrys infrastructure. Sometimes the easiest thing for a government to cut in the short term if its under pressure is capital investment, he 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. 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. Mr Hammond said it was only through such measures the UK could hope to close the productivity gap with other major industrialised nations. The bottom line is that if were going to deliver rising real wages and rising living standards for the British people we have to raise Britains productivity performance, he said. It is just not acceptable, and neither is it necessary that a German worker or an American worker produces 30% more output per hour worked than a British worker. We compensate for that by a culture of long hours and lower pay. Thats not my vision for the future of this country. After having previously having clashed with Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson over defence funding, 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. Its about how we support the men and women of our armed forces going forward to ensure weve got the configuration that we need to keep Britain safe, to project our power and influence in the future, and there is nobody more committed to that mission than me. 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. It will be much more effective and much more durable and much less easily avoidable if its done on an international basis, he said. But 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. And when you get a really strong, across the board, sense of unfairness among the population something has to be done. While he said acting unilaterally would be sub-optimal, it would still be preferable to doing nothing and looking as though were being walked all over by companies that are too big for us to control. Reducing the tax paid by passengers on flights from Scotlands airports could reduce cash public services by 780 million, it has been claimed. The Scottish Government had aimed to replace Air Passenger Duty (APD) with an Air Departure Tax (ADT), set at half the current rate. However, it said plans to continue exempting journeys from airports in the Highlands and Islands required EU approval under state aid rules. Control over aviation tax was handed to the Scottish Parliament as part of the latest phase of devolution. Figures provided by the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) indicate APD is expected to raise around 1.6 billion by 2023/24. However, projections suggested cutting the tax by at least 50% in the 2019/20 Scottish Government budget and retaining that level for the following five years until 2023/24 would lead to forecast revenues being reduced to 780 million. The SNP had planned to replace Air Passenger Duty with an Air Departure Tax (Lesley Martin/PA) Finance Secretary Derek Mackay has already said implementing the new tax at the start of the next fiscal year in April 2019 is not possible. Despite that he said: The Scottish Government has a longstanding commitment to reduce ADT by 50%. Scottish Labour said a reduction in the rate would deliver a tax cut for first class passengers and a lower investment in public services. James Kelly MSP, the partys finance spokesman, said: These figures reveal just how much the SNP and Tory coalition to cut APD would harm Scotlands public services. Rather than delivering a boon for first class passengers in cahoots with the Tories, the SNP should focus on using the powers of the Scottish Parliament to invest in Scotlands lifeline services. Ahead of the budget, it is now the right time for SNP Finance Secretary Derek Mackay to announce he is dropping the unworkable and economically damaging plan to cut APD. A Scottish Government spokeman said: It is simply wrong to say only first class passengers would benefit from any tax cut. Our plan to cut Air Departure Tax for passengers will improve Scotlands international connectivity, provide a boost to our economy, and a financial benefit to all types of households. This being especially important given the economic threat posed by Brexit. UK Air Passenger Duty is the most expensive tax of its kind in Europe and one of the highest in the world and continues to act as a barrier to Scotlands ability to secure new direct international services and maintain existing ones. While it continues to operate in Scotland, we call on the UK Government to act now and reduce APD rates to support connectivity and economic growth across the UK. The Chancellor must follow up on a pledge to end austerity with concrete actions in the Budget, Scotlands Finance Secretary has said. Theresa May told the Conservative party conference earlier this month that austerity is over and people need to knowthat their hard work has paid off. Derek Mackay has called for a meaningful uplift in public services funding in Mondays Budget. The Finance Secretary has already written to Philip Hammond to asked for the rollout of Universal Credit to be postponed until issues are addressed. Mr Mackay said: The Prime Minister recently announced she would bring an end to austerity and I want to see this delivered within the UK Governments Budget. This statement must be backed up by concrete actions to provide a meaningful uplift in funding for public services, in addition to the funding increases announced for the NHS being delivered as a true net benefit and not offset by other cuts to the Scottish budget. Derek Mackay said "concrete actions" are needed to end austerity (Jane Barlow/PA) He added: I urge the Chancellor to ensure he produces a Budget that ends austerity, boosts the economy and properly invests in public services in Scotland. This Budget also comes as the prospect of a no-deal Brexit looms ever larger something which poses the biggest threat to the UK economy and public finances. That is why the UK Government should commit to continued membership of the single market and customs union, if staying in the EU is not possible, which is around eight times larger than the UK market alone. Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard has called on the Chancellor to change the rules on Universal Credit and Child Tax Credits. In a letter to Mr Hammond he wrote: It has been widely reported that the forthcoming Budget will finally end the age of austerity that Britain has lived under for eight years now. If that is the case, the Budget must end the two-child cap on tax credits. No single policy sums up the immorality of the age of austerity better than the two-child cap. To punish families by limiting how much support they can get by their number of children is simply wrong. In its first year, this policy has impacted on 3,800 households in Scotland, and the numbers of the families affected will only grow. The Scottish Conservatives want the Scottish Government to spend every penny of extra funding from the Budget to be spent on health and social care. MSP Miles Briggs said: We need to see more of our funding going to support GPs on the front line. We need to see improvements to cancer treatment and it is time to cut the waste and inefficiency that is stopping doctors and nurses from getting on with their jobs. The NHS in Scotland has a bright future. The SNP has run out of excuses. Lets see Nicola Sturgeon set out a plan not a grievance for once. 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) 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. More than 2,800 companies from over 130 countries and regions will meet with over 150,000 buyers at the first China International Import Expo (CIIE) to be held in Shanghai, China, from November 5 to 10. In addition to over 200 industry-leading companies who are to display, many exhibitors of CIIE 2018 come from G20 member states as well as countries with links to the Belt and Road Initiative, said a statement. Geared toward opening China's consumer market, more than 100 companies from 30+ African countries will also attend. Sun Chenghai, deputy director-general of the China International Import Expo Bureau and president of the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), said: CIIE provides an excellent opportunity for exhibitors to go beyond the norm and to expand the status-quo of current trading levels. It also gives developing countries an opportunity to engage with Chinese companies and showcase their products. At CIIE I am sure we will witness new trends in trade and cooperation emerge, he said. Over 90 Brazilian companies will present their products in the food and agriculture, clothing and consumer products, medical equipment, healthcare and service sectors; with coffee being one of their highlights, as more than 10 Brazilian coffee producers are preparing to feature their gourmet lines at the expo, looking to capture a greater share of the Chinese market. Igor Brandao, director of agribusiness at the national Foreign Trade Promotion Agency (Apex), said: We are the world's largest producer and exporter of coffee. Yet, Brazilian coffee is put into a blend of the best-known global brands. The expo is a great platform for supporting and promoting the entry of Brazilian brands into the Chinese market, considering the advantage Brazilian coffee has in the world, he added. The UK, one of the Guests of Honor to the event, will bring more than 30 British companies across sectors such as healthcare, life sciences, financial and professional services, education, creative industries, consumer goods, food and agricultural products, aviation and aerospace, automotive, AI and Big Data; featuring companies including JLR, Standard Chartered, HSBC, Kenwood and British Airways. John Edwards, British Consul-General in Shanghai, said: Britain has a reputation for being strong in the creative industry, education and financial services. But Chinese consumers see less of some of its high-end manufacturing, aerospace, automotive products. We hope that CIIE can be a good opportunity for Chinese consumers to see some of the very best British products from a variety of different industries, he added. Exhibitors including Germany, France and Russia were eager to join the world-first event. Delegates from Russia, who will host a "Russian exporters" fringe event with 2000 sq m of products from several industries. Germany will provide the expo with its largest exhibit: A 200-tonne milling machine provided by Waldrich Coburg. Trade envoys from the Republic of Korea will also be looking to expand opportunities beyond traditional sectors such as the lucrative $4.96 billion a year cosmetic industry to higher-value sectors, it stated. TradeArabia News Service Angela Merkel has told her conservative party that she intends to step down as its leader but remain as Germanys chancellor following a pair of state election debacles, German media reported. Mrs Merkel had previously indicated that she planned to seek another two-year term as leader of her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) at a party congress in December, but appeared to be moving quickly to acknowledge pressure for renewal. The German chancellor has led the CDU since 2000 and has led the country since 2005. News agency dpa cited unidentified party sources as saying Mrs Merkel told an ongoing CDU leadership meeting that she is prepared to step down as party leader but intends to remain chancellor. The mass-circulation daily Bild also reported that she said she will not run again as party leader. Mrs Merkels predecessor, Gerhard Schroeder, stepped down as leader of his centre-left Social Democrats in 2004 as his government struggled, but remained chancellor. For years, Mrs Merkel insisted that the chancellor should also be party leader. Social Democratic Party leader Andrea Nahles (AP) Mrs Merkel currently governs Germany in a grand coalition of what traditionally have been the countrys biggest parties the CDU, its Bavaria-only sister, the Christian Social Union, and the Social Democrats. Her fourth-term government only took office in March, but has become notorious for squabbling. Sundays election in the central state of Hesse saw both Mrs Merkels conservative CDU and the centre-left Social Democrats lose significant ground, while there were gains for both the Greens and the far-right Alternative for Germany. Mrs Merkels party managed an unimpressive win, narrowly salvaging a majority for its regional governing coalition with the Greens. German defence minister Ursula von der Leyen and health minister Jens Spahn, arrive for a CDU partys leaders meeting in Berlin (AP) The debacle followed a battering in a state election in Bavaria two weeks ago for the CSU and the Social Democrats. The Social Democrats leader, Andrea Nahles, demanded on Sunday a clear, binding timetable for implementing government projects before the coalition faces an already-agreed midterm review next fall. Ms Nahles declined to comment on reports that Mrs Merkel might step down as CDU leader. The chancellor is scheduled to hold a news conference later in the day. German chancellor Angela Merkel has told her conservative party that she is ready to step down as its leader following state elections in which it lost ground but plans to stay on as chancellor for the rest of her term in office, according to reports. Mrs Merkel also reportedly said that she will not seek re-election to parliament after its current term ends, indicating that this will be her final term as chancellor. This is something that had been widely assumed, but Mrs Merkel has not offered confirmation until now. The 64-year-old had previously indicated that she planned to seek another two-year term as leader of her conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) at a December party conference, but appears to be moving quickly to acknowledge pressure for change as her fourth-term government struggles to gain traction. Social Democratic Party leader Andrea Nahles (AP) Mrs Merkel has led the CDU since 2000 and has been Germanys chancellor since 2005. There is no single obvious successor, but several potential contenders. The current parliamentary term is due to expire in 2021, and the dpa news agency reported that Mrs Merkel said she will not seek re-election. She currently governs Germany in a grand coalition of what traditionally have been the countrys biggest parties the CDU, Bavarias conservative Christian Social Union, and the centre-left Social Democrats. Her fourth-term government only took office in March, but has become notorious for squabbling. An election in the central state of Hesse saw both the CDU and the Social Democrats lose significant ground amid gains for both the Green party and the far-right Alternative for Germany party. German defence minister Ursula von der Leyen and health minister Jens Spahn, arrive for a CDU partys leaders meeting in Berlin (AP) Mrs Merkels party managed an unimpressive win, narrowly salvaging a majority for its regional governing coalition with the Greens in Hesse. The debacle followed a battering in a state election in Bavaria two weeks ago for the CSU and the Social Democrats. Citing unidentified party sources, the dpa reported that Mrs Merkel told an ongoing CDU leadership meeting that she is prepared to step down as party leader but intends to remain chancellor. The mass-circulation daily Bild also reported that she said she will not run again as party leader. That is a major concession for Mrs Merkel, who for years has insisted that the chancellor should also be party leader. However, there is precedent for splitting the two jobs. Mrs Merkels predecessor, Gerhard Schroeder, stepped down as leader of his centre-left Social Democrats in 2004 as his government struggled, but remained chancellor until he narrowly lost an election 18 months later. Helmut Schmidt, West Germanys chancellor from 1974 to 1982, never led the Social Democrats. The CDU faces a turning point, Mike Mohring, a regional party leader from eastern Germany, told Welt television. Angela Merkel knows best what to do, and now she has decided. And that demands respect. He said that it is important to avoid long personnel debates and restore peoples confidence in the CDU as a governing party. Mrs Merkel dragged the CDU to the political centre in her years as leader, dropping military conscription, introducing benefits encouraging fathers to look after their young children and abruptly accelerating the shutdown of Germanys nuclear power plants following Japans Fukushima disaster in 2011. She allowed large numbers of asylum-seekers into Germany in 2015, many fleeing the fighting in Syria, declaring that we will manage it, before gradually pivoting to a more restrictive approach. That decision has led to lasting tensions in her conservative Union bloc, particularly with the CDUs Bavaria-only sister party, the CSU, and helped the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany party gain support. The Social Democrats leader, Andrea Nahles, demanded a clear, binding timetable for implementing government projects before the federal coalition faces an already-agreed upon mid-term review next autumn. Reports that a group of people dressed as Ku Klux Klan (KKK) members posed outside an Islamic prayer house are being investigated as a hate incident, police said. Images circulating on social media purport to show individuals dressed as members of the far-right group in a town close to Belfast over the weekend. The suspected incident happened in the Co Down town of Newtownards on Saturday evening. The group are understood to have posed near an Islamic prayer house. A local resident, who asked not to be named, said: I saw them on Saturday night, passing by Georges Street, Newtownards. They were fully robed and crossing over to The Pub, a bar in Ards. One of them gave a fascist salute to his KKK clad friends before they all crossed over and went into the bar. PSNI Chief Constable George Hamilton has condemned reports of an incident where people dressed up as the Ku Klux Klan in Northern Ireland (PA) This was about 10.30pm, Saturday evening. I saw them again, leaving the bar, still robed, at 2am. One of the bars they entered was The Spirit Merchant JD Wetherspoon. Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: We can confirm that a group dressed in KKK clothing came to our pub, The Spirit Merchant, in Newtownards. They were refused entry by door staff, but pushed past them into the pub. They were told by bar staff that they would not be served. They remained in the pub for five minutes, unserved, and then left. The KKK was a group based in the southern United States which was responsible for lynchings and mob attacks on black people. The incident has been roundly condemned, and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) is treating it as a hate crime. Inspector Richard Murray said: We received a report around 5pm yesterday, Sunday 28 October, about a group of people dressed as KKK members in the vicinity of Greenwell Street in the town on Saturday night. We are also aware of images that are circulating that show people dressed as Ku Klux Klan members. Our inquiries are ongoing, and we are treating this as a hate incident at this time. PSNI Chief Constable George Hamilton told BBC Radio Ulsters Nolan Show: Its disgusting, distasteful. Its horrible, we dont need it, theres no place for it anywhere in Northern Ireland. We will investigate this, well gather evidence and well report that evidence to the Public Prosecution Service. What sort of group of idiots go round Newtownards dressed in KKK costumes? That the same group appear photographed outside the Islamic Centre shows malevolent intent. Totally unacceptable Peter Weir (@peterweirmla) October 28, 2018 Democratic Unionist MLA Peter Weir said there scenes are totally unacceptable. The PSNI will be investigating this matter, and I call on anyone with any information to come forward to the police, he said. Such boorish and malevolent behaviour has no place in our town and it is right that it is condemned across the board. Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong said: Everyone knows exactly what the KKK stands for. The KKK represents a brand of hatred not wanted or welcome in the area. This group did not simply dress up for Halloween, rather they deliberately posed outside the prayer house in Newtownards. This is a clear demonstration of aggression and bullying towards one particular religion and that is a hate crime. Last year, a pigs head was placed outside the same centre in Newtownards. Sinn Fein MLA Mairtin O Muilleoir welcomed the universal condemnation of the incident. The people who posed as members of the Ku Klux Klan outside an Islamic Centre should know that the entire society is appalled by these actions and will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the victims of this intimidation, he said. I call on the PSNI to do all they can to bring those responsible for this hate crime to book. Shared and integrated cross-community education programmes in Northern Ireland are to receive an extra 300 million following Mondays Budget, the Chancellor said. Fifteen schools projects to free up more places across the country could be progressed, integrated education authorities said. The money is part of a previously-announced commitment made by the UK Government following the Stormont Fresh Start Agreement with the main local political parties. Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley said: Todays announcement shows this governments support for an inclusive future in Northern Ireland, with 300 million for shared and integrated education. Integrated education involves the teaching of Catholic and Protestant children together. Most schools are overseen by either the state, attended mainly by Protestant youngsters, or the Catholic church, meaning traditionally pupils were separated by denomination. Chancellor Philip Hammond (Victoria Jones/PA) Over the next month we will be promoting https://t.co/WLnEPMCTIT at cinemas across NI. Let us know if you see our Liam Neeson advert. #IsawLiam #integratededucation pic.twitter.com/MDMSTINO2O Integrate My School (@IntegrateMS) October 25, 2018 Integrated Education Fund chief executive Tina Merron welcomed the draw down of extra cash from Westminster coffers. She said: Fifteen integrated schools around Northern Ireland have been waiting for more than two years for proposals to progress, and we look forward to seeing these projects now being able to move forward so that more families can access places in integrated education. A shared education campus in Omagh in Co Tyrone is under construction, separately from Mondays announcement. The biggest school building project in Northern Ireland will see six schools built on the site of the former Lisanelly army barracks in the town. The Government has previously announced a 140 million contribution towards the cost, unrelated to Mondays Budget. Cross-community Alliance Party Assembly member Kellie Armstrong said: I look forward to reading the detail and to seeing which schools have finally been allocated the necessary capital funding to increase the provision of integrated and shared education. I recently met with the NIO as I was concerned by the lack of movement and announcements regarding this funding. Today it fell to the Chancellor and the Treasury to announce the expenditure. I will be encouraging the NIO to use the small remaining amount to further develop opportunities such as nursery provision. The fiancee of Jamal Khashoggi has called for the evil criminals and their cowardly political masters to be held to account for his death. Speaking at a memorial event held in Westminster, Hatice Cengiz, through a translator, said: I believe that the Saudi regime knows where his body is. They should answer my demand, for this is not only the demand of a fiancee, but a human and Islamic demand, from everyone, every nation. At Remembering Jamal, @mercan_resifi receives a standing ovation for her moving speech on her beloved Jamal #JamalKhashoggi Please follow our live blog at https://t.co/JJvej7a4cp if you can't be here pic.twitter.com/z8Dkerx2O6 Middle East Monitor (@MiddleEastMnt) October 29, 2018 She also expressed disappointment in the actions of leaders in other countries and called for US President Donald Trump to help reveal the truth and ensure justice be served. Mr Khashoggi, a former Saudi insider and US resident, was killed in Saudi Arabias consulate in Istanbul on October 2. The Washington Post columnist was picking up paperwork from the consulate needed for his upcoming marriage. People attend a memorial event for murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Mechanical Engineers Institute in London (John Stillwell/PA) Ms Cengiz told the memorial that the disappearance of Mr Khashoggi has left a void in [her] heart and soul. She said: If only I knew what would happen, I would have entered the consulate myself. If only I knew that would be the last time I would see my Jamal, his smile, hear his laughter, I would have stood in front of that murderous team myself. The event on Monday was organised by the Middle East Monitor (MEMO), in association with the Al Sharq Forum. Hatice Cengiz speaks at the memorial event (John Stillwell/PA) Mr Khashoggis last public appearance was at an event in London last month, which was organised by MEMO. Other speakers at the memorial included Crispin Blunt MP and Michelle Stanistreet, Secretary General of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ). Wadah Khanfar, president of the Al Sharq Forum and former director general of Al Jazeera, spoke about Mr Khashoggi, who he referred to as a friend. Mr Khanfar said: Jamal could have had the opportunity to live very comfortably in Saudi Arabia, could have accepted to be an adviser to the regime there, could have had the most comfortable life. But he gave up all of that and chose to live free and we should choose the same. The recent happenings at the CBI are unprecedented. Never has the premier investigating agency of the country been in similar crisis. These events will have ramifications on the dignity, discipline and image of CBI. Dealing with crisis is a part and parcel of officialdom, a daily routine, almost. The negativity of the situation is not because the CBI is embroiled in it. It is the type of controversy that makes one squirm. Never has the premier investigating agency of the country been in similar crisis. (Photo: India Today) The question that should be troubling us is how are things so opaque within our investigative agency? With serious charges and counter-charges flying thick and fast, the ordinary citizen may be left wondering as to what really goes on behind closed doors at the CBI. It is not as if the agencys neutrality and transparency are being put under the microscope for the first time. From time to time, establishments and individuals have questioned its role. But, in an organisation that is mandated to be on eternal vigil against crime and corruption, top officials having a go at each other in full public view levelling charges of corruption against one another, registering FIRs, moving court, removing one, arresting one is unprecedented. Reports suggest the legal wing is also virtually divided down the middle in their opinion. We do not know who is speaking the truth. Is it Alok Verma or is it Rakesh Asthana? Hard to say. One thing is sure not both are lying outright. There may be lots of reading between the lines, but one of them is telling the truth. That alone can lead to an inference that corruption has touched the highest offices of the central probe body. It may have infiltrated its echelons long before, but never have we been confronted with such specific charges. Naturally, the unease in the government is understandable. The central government has stepped in. Refusing to take sides, it has sent both officers on leave, saying it did so in the interest of maintaining the dignity of the office. Very understandable. Although a question remains what took it so long? This issue has been simmering for months now. Intervention was welcome, though of course, it would face public scrutiny. One of them must be telling the truth. (Photo: India Today) Verma in his plea in the Supreme Court has made another argument that may have serious implications. He has implied that the autonomy of the CBI is being repeatedly and seriously compromised whenever investigations dont proceed on the lines desired by the dispensation of the day. The veracity of Alok Vermas charges is yet to be verified. While the apex court has asked the CVC to complete probe against him in two weeks, it has stopped short of giving him a clean chit, outright. The way politics have seeped into every aspect of life, including the bureaucracy, is a sad reality of our times. Also disheartening is the fact that the Opposition is picking and choosing agendas to suit themselves. The nomination of Alok Verma was met with an official note of dissent from Mallikarjun Kharge in January 2017. NGO Common Cause moved the Supreme Court on Thursday (October 25) challenging the Centres arbitrary decision to divest the CBI chief Verma of his powers. It would be worthwhile to recollect that the same NGO had unsuccessfully challenged Vermas appointment in January 2017, alleging that due procedure was not followed in his selection. The Opposition has been aggressively trying to link the CBI crisis with the Rafale deal. (Photo: PTI) Moreover, the Opposition had been aggressively trying to link the CBI crisis with the Rafale deal. That, however, fell flat as the agency rejected outright a report that files related to several crucial cases, including that of the Rafale fighter aircraft deal, was under the consideration of its Director Verma when he was divested of his powers by the Centre. The Opposition, thus, is either naive or simply opportunistic. Surely, there are more pressing issues, and surely, the voters can read between the lines. However, the charges emanating from both sides are serious. Besides, they are an indication of the internal ebbs and flows in the corridors of powers. Vigorous debates on such situations are certainly not adding to the comfort levels, or the firefighting reputation, of the government. The task of rebuilding the image of and ensuring transparency in the CBI rests squarely with the government. India will be watching. Also read: Rahul Gandhi says Rafale deal is behind the CBI crisis. How right is he? The year that went by has been more about course corrections and realignment rather than that of carrying forward the firm policy decisions taken in previous years. The three key wheels of this policy vehicle were "Neighbourhood First", "Act East" and "India and the Gulf" but the administrations focus was more on realigning and balancing the West and the East. There certainly has been a shift in the US policy in 2017-2018 after Donald Trump took over. Major resets While foreign policymakers in India do not wish to call it so but 2018 saw two major resets, one with China and the other with Russia. The informal meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Wuhan early this year ended the diplomatic and military stand-off at Doklam. Despite the dip in ties, China continues to remain Indias largest trading partner. We should not be alarmed by the fact that Chinas influence in South Asia is increasing. Instead, we should focus on whether the influence is good or bad and how to respond to it, said former Foreign Secretary of India, S Jaishankar, in his article published in the March-April issue of the India Foundation Journal. The informal summit meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin where the two leaders upgraded this traditionally close relationship to a special privileged strategic partnership, came in the backdrop of closer ties and defence cooperation between Moscow and Islamabad an unprecedented diplomatic manoeuvre that left New Delhi with little option. The annual summit with Russia culminated with the two sides signing the S-400 Long Range Surface to Air Missile System. While the Modi-Putin meeting emphasised the importance of staying the course on strategic partnership which seemed to have fallen by the wayside with a focus on relations with America, the deal came under the shadow of Americas CAATSA (Countering Americas Adversaries Through Sanctions Act) wherein India is yet to get a waiver from President Trump. The annual summit with Russia culminated with the two sides signing the S-400 Long Range Surface to Air Missile System. (Photo: Reuters) India took two important policy decisions that could have deep ramifications on ties with the United States of America continuing buying defence equipment from Russia and oil from Iran. Despite the strain caused due to the positions taken by New Delhi, the Indo-US 2+2 dialogue took place with India and the US signing Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) that will lead to a new generation of bilateral military partnership. Experts believe that most of the countries see that India is the largest emerging market. Therefore, one is witnessing tremendous accommodation of Indian interests. While looking at the larger picture, India floundered on regional and neighbourhood policies with China gaining ground in the region and India losing much of its grip. The change of tide in the Maldives was a welcome development for India. Focus on neighbours Bhutan has seen a change in power that India would have to work towards. Nepal witnessed Oli return to power, one who is considered close to Beijing. Sheikh Hasina in Bangladesh is having a difficult time explaining to her constituents, ahead of elections in December, why Teesta waters agreement still hasnt come through and what would Dhaka do if India were to implement NRC and oust the so-called illegal immigrants back to Bangladesh. On the issue of Rohingya refugees, while India took a tough position against the Suu Kyi administration, the refugees got no real support from New Delhi. India went on to call the Rohingya a threat to national security and relegated its position to merely an aid provider. In the immediate neighborhood, ties have reached a new low with Pakistan after the announcement and then cancellation of talks with the Imran Khan administration on the sidelines of the UNGA Summit in New York. Afghanistan certainly has been a focus area and the recent decision to stay the course on the Chabahar project with Iran is to ensure that there is a route to Afghanistan circumventing Pakistan that would give India and its partners strategic space. India has also managed to keep some semblance of continuance in its West Asia policy with some major incoming and outgoing visits. Prime Minister Modi broke the jinx of an Indian premier never travelling to Israel because of the Israel-Palestine hyphenation. Prime Minister Modi broke the jinx of an Indian premier never travelling to Israel because of the Israel-Palestine hyphenation. (Photo: Reuters) Growing influence Finally, in the strategic sphere, coining of the phrase Indo-Pacific and finding acceptance from US, Australia and Japan with Russia and China reluctant or averse to the idea of this change shows Indias growing influence in these waters. But unfortunately, India is yet to take the bold step and upgrade its engagement on the Quadrilateral front. The Quad meetings that have taken place so far have not moved beyond joint secretary level. The political will is still amiss on taking a leadership position on this front. While the world is divided between US and China and who favours whom, India managed to become a member of the SCO with a strong push from Russia at the same time as China pushed Pakistan in. Similarly, while India has become a member of three out of the four key multilateral nuclear export control regimes. India became a part of the Wassenaar Arrangement (WA) on Export Controls for Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies in December 2017. Earlier it became part of, the Australia Group (AG) for control of chemical and biological technology that could be weaponized and the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) for the control of rockets and other aerial vehicles capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction. The fourth one is the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), for the control of nuclear related technology; where India has found China to be the biggest impediment. China argues that if India gets in so should Pakistan although Islamabad has a terrible nuclear proliferation record. Despite the many engagements between Modi and Xi Jinping, the former has failed to convince the latter to corner Pakistan on two fronts nuclear and terrorism. (Courtesy of Mail Today) Also read: The Great Asian Game-Changer: Why PM Modi's Tokyo visit could cement a Japan-India strategic alliance The sacking of Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on October 26 has plunged the country into political turmoil, threatening to undermine the democratic progress made in the last three years, not to mention the balancing act in keeping both India and China in good humour. Wickramesinghe was removed by President Maithripala Sirisena after the United People's Freedom Alliance party (UPFA), the mainstay of which is President Sirisenas Sri Lankan Freedom Party (SLFP), quit the national unity government. Sri Lanka's ousted PM Ranil Wickremesinghe reacts during a news conference in Colombo on October 27. (Credit: Reuters photo) The move, which caught the nation by surprise, was a dramatic reversal of fortunes for Opposition leader and former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who has been appointed the new Prime Minister. Rajapaksa was battling for his political future since losing both the Presidential election in January 2015, and the Parliament poll in August the same year. Once a staunch Rajapaksa ally in the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and a senior cabinet minister when he was President between 2005 and 2015, Sirisena had ditched the Rajapaksa camp a month before the 2015 presidential elections, running against him as the joint Opposition candidate with the backing of Wickremesinghes United National Party (UNP), to score a victory. Sirisenas win was hailed as a triumph for people power in Sri Lanka after all its reversals. Democracy and civil liberties suffered during the decade-long rule of an increasingly authoritarian Rajapaksa, who styled himself the saviour of the nation by ending the island nation's 26-year-long civil war in 2009. With the latest political crisis, the country may well be re-entering the era of a deeply fractured polity, a climate that bred authoritarianism and all the attendant ills of the past. The removal of Wickremesinghe ends not only the national unity government formed after the 2015 parliamentary election by the UNP and SLFP but also a chapter of democracy in Sri Lankas post-civil war politics. The immediate risks of political instability were heightened by the constitutional crisis as the UNP has termed Sirisenas move a coup. Moreover, Wickramasinghe has refused to step down, saying he remained leader until removed by Parliament, not by the President, where the UNP could muster a majority in the 225-member House. The 19th Amendment to the Constitution, passed in 2015, had ended executive presidency the dispute has to be settled within Parliament, which was due to meet on November 5 when the 2019 national budget was scheduled to be unveiled. However, President Sirisena has prorogued the session until November 16, giving him time to engineer a majority. Relations between the two leaders had soured particularly after the coalitions defeat in the provincial elections in February this year. The differences were out in the open in April when Wickremesinghe survived a no-confidence vote in Parliament. But it seems that the rift between them was apparently widened by Rajapaksa, whose Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Party (LPPP) made gains in the provincial polls. Sirisena and Wickremesinghe differed over several vital issues but apparently, the issue of balancing relations with India and China was a tipping point, the same issue also unsettling politics in Indias neighbourhood, within, for instance, the Maldives. Newly appointed Lankan PM Mahinda Rajapaksa after meeting his supporters in Colombo, Sri Lanka on October 26. (Credit: AP photo) Behind the scenes, there is a tussle going on between Chinese and Indian companies to obtain infrastructure projects in Sri Lanka and reports suggest the Sri Lankan President was not pleased with Wickremesinghe when he pledged to speed up Indian projects on a visit to Delhi on October 21. Observers believe that it was at the former Presidents behest that Sirisena levelled allegations that India's RAW was plotting his assassination. Wickremesinghe had reportedly questioned Sirisena about this in last week's cabinet meeting. Rajapaksa was the leader of the country when Sri Lanka became the first nation to fall victim to the Chinese 'debt trap', laid in the name of infrastructure building, forcing the country to then build a series of white elephants. Last year, the debt trap squeezed the country to the point to give up control to China of its Hambantota Port, a white elephant but with a strategic location close to the busy Indian Ocean shipping lanes. Sirisena may soon find that he was foolish to ally with Rajapaksa to settle his scores with Wickremesinghe. Given that Rajapaksa is a far more canny and ruthless political operator than Sirisena, it is hard to believe that the former President would be happy to play second fiddle to his former minion for very long. Moreover, it was not long ago that Sirisena betrayed him and then became President. It was the pro-China stance, coupled with a high level of alleged corruption, that put an end to Rajapaksas rule in 2015. As he rises again, strains on the nation's foreign policy are in full display. As on Sunday, new twists and a cycle of violence made things worse. Just after a few days after his sacking, Ranil Wickremesinghe has been recognised as the countrys Prime Minister by the Sri Lankan Parliament Speaker on Sunday. In a letter to Sirisena, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya questioned the decision to suspend the House until November 16 and said it will have serious and undesirable consequences on the country, PTI reported. Meanwhile, Preident Maithripala Sirisena maintained his stance and said that Wickremesinghe was sacked for the alleged involvement of a Cabinet minister in a plot to assassinate him. In a much-publicised address to the nation on TV, President Maithripala Sirisena said a person questioned by investigators had revealed the name of a minister in an alleged plot to assassinate him and Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, a former Defence Secretary and brother of ex-president Mahinda Rajapaksa. It is obvious that these recent developments in Colombo resulted in a total breakdown in ties between Sirisena and Wickremesinghe. This has reflected also in their growing differences on key economic and security-related policies. Counting the figures, the Rajapaksa and Sirisena combine has only 95 seats and is far short of a simple majority in the 225-member House. On the other side, Wickremesinghes UNP still has 106 seats on its own. While his opponents efforts are to send him to the sidelines are apparently on, the political fundamentals are not so unkind to Wickremesinghe; they in fact seem to be positively conspiring in his favour to keep him at the centre. PM Narendra Modis campaign of 'Neighbourhood First' has not fared very well anywhere. (Credit: File photo/Twitter) Even through a stage-managed show and not through the ballot, Rajapakses return to Sri Lankan politics is raising concerns about the countrys potential positioning with its economy, foreign policy and internal security now. It was not long ago when Sri Lanka faced economic sanctions from the West over Rajapakses brutal military crackdown on the banned Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and alleged human rights violations in case he sustains his momentum and gets eventual command now, the situation can turn uglier in the days to come. In its typical style, China is playing safe and giving an impression it has nothing do with the situation in Sri Lanka. So far, India has responded on the Colombo episode with silence and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who reputedly handles all important foreign policy issues himself, is away in Japan. Hardly surprising that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is not in a position to hand-hold Modis pet-slogan, Neighbourhood First. Noticeably, be it Nepal, Bangladesh, Maldives or Pakistan, Modis campaign of 'Neighbourhood First' has not fared too well anywhere. Now, as Sri Lanka hurtles towards choas, India needs to stand by its neigbour before it gets too late. India has to be much more aware in dealing with the new Sri Lankan leadership that seems to be awed by Chinese largesse. India would do well to learn from its past mistakes, and keep neighbours in good humour. Also read: The Great Asian Game-Changer: Why PM Modi's Tokyo visit could cement a Japan-India strategic alliance